sign in sign up
<<
Home , Acol, Andrew Robson, Bidding box, Bridge Magazine, British Bridge League, English Bridge Union

Number: 171 UK £3.95 Europe €5.00 March 2017 Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz This month we are dealing with competitive auctions. You are West in the auctions below, BRIDGEplaying ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no- (12-14 points) and four-card majors.

1. Dealer West. Love All. 4. Dealer West. Love All. 7. Dealer West. Love All. 10. Dealer East. Game All. ♠ 7 4 ♠ A Q J 9 8 7 6 ♠ A 10 9 4 ♠ 4 2 ♥ K 4 2 N ♥ 4 3 2 N ♥ 5 N ♥ A 9 8 2 N ♦ A Q 6 W E ♦ 7 6 5 W E ♦ 8 5 W E ♦ A J 7 6 5 W E S S S S ♣ A K 7 5 4 ♣ ♣ A K 8 7 6 4 ♣ 10 8

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♣ 1♠ Dbl 2♠ 3♠ 4♣ Dbl Pass 1♣ 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ 1♠ Dbl ? ? 2♣ 2♦ Dbl Pass Rdbl 2♣ Dbl Pass ? ?

2. Dealer North. Love All. 5. Dealer East. Love All. 8. Dealer West. Love All. 11. Dealer South. Love All. ♠ Q 8 7 6 ♠ A J 8 7 6 ♠ 4 2 ♠ K 9 8 7 ♥ 4 N ♥ 4 N ♥ A 6 3 N ♥ 7 2 N ♦ Q 4 3 2 W E ♦ 8 7 4 W E ♦ A K W E ♦ A J 8 7 W E S S S S ♣ 7 6 5 4 ♣ K 7 3 2 ♣ A Q 8 7 6 5 ♣ A Q 4

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♣ 1♠ Dbl 1♦ 1♥ 1♣ 1♠ 2♣ 2♠ 1♥ ? 1♠ 2♥ Pass Pass ? Dbl 2♥ Dbl 3♥ ? ?

3. Dealer West. N/S Game. 6. Dealer South. Love All. 9. Dealer East. Love All. 12. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ 4 ♠ A K 6 5 ♠ 8 7 6 ♠ 7 6 5 ♥ A Q J 8 7 4 N ♥ 4 2 N ♥ A 4 3 N ♥ A 2 N ♦ 7 6 5 W E ♦ A 9 8 7 W E ♦ J 6 5 3 W E ♦ K 9 4 3 W E ♣ 4 3 2 S ♣ Q 6 5 S ♣ 7 6 5 S ♣ Q J 5 2 S

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 2♥1 Pass Pass Dbl 1♥ 1♣ 1♠ 1♥ Dbl 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass Pass Dbl 2♥ Dbl Pass Pass 2♠ Dbl Pass Dbl Pass 3♦ 3♥ ? 1Weak two ? ? ?

Answers on page 29 Answers on page 41 Answers on page 45 Answers on page 47 Fred.’s Favourite Fjords Hosted by Bernard Magee

30th July 2017 • 7 nights • Sails from Newcastle • Balmoral • L1716 From only £999 per person

Hornelen Nordfjord Olden Sognefjord Bridge Flåm every Bergen Nærøyfjord Eidfjord evening Hardangerfjord Fureberg Waterfall, Maurangerfjord Lysefjord (Pulpit Rock & Kjerag Boulder) Seminars To/from Newcastle on sea days Date Arrive Depart Destination JULY 2017 Sun 30 PM Newcastle Mon 31 late pm late night Cruising Lysefjord (Pulpit Rock & Kjerag Boulder) This special sailing combines many of the fjords and ports of AUGUST 2017 call most highly rated by both Norwegians and Fred. Olsen Tue 01 early am late pm Bergen, Norway guests, such as tranquil Nordfjord; Sognefjord, the longest Wed 02 early am late pm Olden, Nordfjord, Norway D fjord in Norway; and mesmerising Hardangerfjord with its Wed 02 late pm late night Cruising Nordfjord majestic waterfalls and glacier-topped mountains. You’ll also Wed 02 late night late night Cruising by Hornelen see staggering geological features amid stops in picturesque Thu 03 early am late pm Flåm, Aurlandsfjord, Norway D places set deep within the landscapes. Thu 03 late pm late night Cruising Nærøyfjord to Dyrdal Cruising Lysefjord (Pulpit Rock & Kjerag Boulder) late night late night Thu 03 Cruising Sognefjord As you make the unforgettable journey along the Lysefjord, only accessible Fri 04 early am early am Cruising by Fureberg Waterfall, to smaller ships like those in the Fred. Olsen fleet, you’ll be running out of Maurangerfjord superlatives to describe the incredible scenery that presents itself before Fri 04 early am early pm Cruising Hardangerfjord you. Look out for the unmistakable Pulpit Rock, a flat-topped cliff with a Fri 04 early pm late night Eidfjord, 604-metre plummet into the fjord below – that’s twice as high as the Shard Hardangerfjord, Norway in London – and the fascinating Kjerag Boulder. Intriguingly wedged in a Sat 05 Cruising mountain crevice, this rock has become a popular spot for brave (or Sun 06 AM Newcastle foolhardy) tourists to have their photo taken. D Anchor Port Bergen, Norway Single friendly: The beautiful UNESCO-listed Bryggen Wharf, with its colourful timbered We will always offer an Ocean View houses and cobbled walkways, is the historic and cultural centrepiece of Twin Room at a reduced price for sole Hanseatic Bergen, though the famous fish market, Troldhaugen Museum and occupancy. Please call for details. fascinating art galleries are worth exploring too. Head to the top of Mount Fløyen via the funicular railway for an unrivalled perspective of the city.

Room Type Interior Room from: £999pp All of the following included from only £143 per person, per night: Ocean View Single Room from: £1,149pp Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, 5-course à la carte dinner, late night Suite from: £2,349pp buffet & self-service tea & coffee • Varied daytime activities • Lectures Interior Single Room from: £1,919 & talks • Swimming pools, Jacuzzis & gym • Choice of live evening Prices are correct at time of going to print, but entertainment • 2 formal nights may change at any time. Call for latest prices.

Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489 961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk Recommended Experience each twist and turn gives the impression of heading towards Take a sightseeing tour of Bergen, followed by a ride on the a dead end, which opens up as you turn each corner. funicular railway to the top of Mount Fløyen for wonderful panoramic views. Cruising Sognefjord At an impressive 127 nautical miles long, the Sognefjord is Olden, Nordfjord, Norway the longest fjord in Norway and the third longest in the Both charming and incredibly beautiful, the village of world. With a steep and rocky appearance, in places it can Olden is a springboard for discovery. It’s the gateway to feel almost eerie. the astonishing Jostedalen Glacier and its famous branch, Briksdal, as well as the stunning Lovatnet Lake and Olden Cruising by Fureberg Waterfall, Maurangerfjord Church, built in 1759. All this means you’ll never be far from Experience unforgettable views as you cruise along the a fantastic photo opportunity. Maurangerfjord, past the imposing Fureberg Waterfall – be sure to keep your camera to hand. Cruising Nordfjord & by Hornelen Deeply tranquil, the Nordfjord is utterly enchanting and is Cruising Hardangerfjord flanked by stunning scenery in every direction. Cruising Sail along the breathtaking Hardangerfjord. Known as along this magnificent waterway, you’ll pass Hornelen, ‘Queen of the Fjords’, it was voted by Norwegians as a top Europe’s highest sea cliff. 10 fjord experience. There’s inspirational scenery wherever you look, from towering mountains to shimmering Flåm, Aurlandsfjord, Norway waterfalls, and magical glaciers to idyllic orchards. Flåm is a delightful, unspoilt treasure, with quaint orchards, cottages and farmland surrounding the spellbinding Eidfjord, Hardangerfjord, Norway waterfront. The views are nothing short of magical, whether Sited on moraines left behind by the Ice Age, Eidfjord you’re standing at the Stegastein Lookout or admiring the is reached by sailing along the glassy waters of the mighty waterfalls, Tvinde and Kjosfossen. And don’t miss the picturesque Hardangerfjord. Tour to the Hardanger Juice magnificent Flåm Railway, a 20km-long spiralling sensation and Cider Factory or Hardangervidda Nature Centre for with an abundance of photo opportunities along the way. an authentic Norwegian cultural experience; embark on a kayaking adventure against a dramatic backdrop of Recommended Experience towering cliffs; or discover the breathtaking beauty of Have your camera at the ready as you journey up high into the Vøringfoss Waterfall. the mountains on the world-famous Flåm Railway, on our popular ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ tour.

Cruising Nærøyfjord to Dyrdal “You really do get to see places that The Nærøyfjord has been rated joint top in National Geographic’s list of natural heritage sites worldwide: bigger ships can’t get to.” evidence enough that you’re in for something special. The passage through is one of the most dramatic in Europe; Independent customer reviews

Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489 961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

Fares are per person, based on twin occupancy of the lead in twin/single room, subject to availability. prices are correct at time of print but can change or may be withdrawn at any time. Off ers may be amended or withdrawn at any time without prior notice, are subject to availability & cannot be applied retrospectively. All bookings are subject to Fred. Olsen’s (FOCL’s) standard terms & conditions, available at www.fredolsencruises.com & on request. Some ports may be at anchor, intermediate days are at sea. FOCL reserves the right to amend itineraries for operational reasons. Tours, tips, premium drinks, medical facilities & other spend whilst on & during travel to the ship are not included, any additional expenditure will need to be paid separately. E&OE. Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ BRIDGE 1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee INDEX 5 Mr Bridge Ryden Grange, Knaphill, 2 Fred.’s Favourite Fjords 6 Answers Your Questions with Fred.Olsen Surrey GU21 2TH 10 Bridge Movies by Heather Dhondy ( 01483 489961 4 Clive Goff’s Stamps 11 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett [email protected] 5 Bernard Magee DVDs www.mrbridge.co.uk 12 Strong Opening Bids by Bernard Magee Set 7 shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/ 13 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett 24 Club Insurance mrbridge-shop 14 Tournament Bridge in England 1925-1945 Publisher and by Richard Fleet 24 Travel Insurance Managing Editor 15 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage 25 Mr Bridge 16 Wendy Wensum’s Diaries Rules Simplifies Associate Editor and 17 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage 25 Mr Bridge Playing Cards Bridge Consultant Bernard Magee 18 Teachers’ Corner by Ian Dalziel 25 QPlus 12 bernardmagee 20 The Perils of Parsimonious Peters @mrbridge.co.uk by Shireen Mohandes 26 Croatia with Mr Bridge Cartoons & Illustrations 22 The Sheriff’s Humiliation by 28 Acol Bidding Marguerite Lihou 24 Unauthorised Information: As the Director Sees It with Bernard Magee www.margueritelihou.co.uk by David Stevenson 29 Defence Technical Consultant 26 Sally’s Slam of the Month with Bernard Magee Tony Gordon 27 About the EBU by Jeremy Dhondy 30 Bernard Magee DVDs Typesetting & Design Sets 1-3 Ruth Edmondson 29 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee [email protected] 30 A History of Playing Cards by Paul Bostock 31 Bernard Magee DVDs Sets 4-6 Proof Readers 32 Managing That Awkward Suit by Michael Byrne Julian Pottage 34 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions 41 Declarer Play Mike Orriel with Bernard Magee Catrina Shackleton 37 More Tips by Bernard Magee Richard Wheen 38 All You Need to Know About Advanced Finessing 44 Charity Events Customer Services by Andrew Kambites 48 Designs for Bridge Catrina Shackleton 40 About Advanced Finessing Quiz by Andrew Kambites Table Covers [email protected] 41 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee 48 Bernard Magee’s Events & Cruises 42 Readers’ Letters Tutorial Software ( 01483 489961 Jessica Galt 43 About Advanced Finessing Quiz Answers 48 Designs for Bridge [email protected] by Andrew Kambites Tables Megan Riccio 45 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee 51 2017/18 Fred.Olsen [email protected] 45 Catching Up with Cruise Summary Sophie Pierrepont [email protected] 46 Sandra by Sally Brock 52 Ancient Greece, Sicily 47 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee & Spain with Clubs & Charities Voyages to Antiquity Maggie Axtell 49 Seven Days by Sally Brock [email protected] Address Changes ( 01483 485342 REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE Elizabeth Bryan Postage stamps for sale at 85% of face-value, all mint with full gum. [email protected] Quotations for commercial quantities available on request.

Printed in the UK by Values supplied in 100s, higher values available as well as The Magazine 1st and 2nd class (eg 2nd class: 100x38p+100x16p). Printing Company www.magprint.co.uk ( 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected] EMAILS SOFTWARE One thing about software is that it doesn’t know it is second hand. I mail limited BERNARD numbers of readers offering traded-in early versions of QPlus so as to enable the merits of this useful MAGEE software to be sampled. Some readers complain Send £10 in postage stamps about the frequency of my and I will post one to you. TUTORIAL DVDS emails. Some even ask to be Likewise, a version of unsubscribed. I dutifully Bernard Magee’s interactive comply with this request tutorial CDs. Send £15 in as I cannot sort out which Coming stamps. Some may still be Set 7 Soon offers or what news will be available – post your 37 MORE SIGNALLING of particular interest to you. stamps in before February I will be looking at different times when you and May I make a simple 28 to avoid disappointment. the messages you might want to give. Using signals in new suggestion as a sensible ways can greatly improve your enjoyment of defence as well as pushing up your scores. solution if you have this LATEST DVDs problem. Just delete the 38 4-4-4-1 HANDS unwanted email. It really The digitally filmed material takes no time at all. I do of Bernard Magee’s lectures Everybody’s least favourite type of opening hand. I will at Denham Grove earlier be going through the methods for choosing the right suit this up to 60 times a day to open as well as coping with responses. As responder and don’t resent the couple this year are in the edit you need to be aware of the options and work out your of minutes it takes to do so. suite, see the adjacent partner’s type of hand. Strong 4-4-4-1 hands can be just as advertisement. Orders will difficult and will be dealt with too. When someone rings me be ready for 31. up to see what I thought of 39 DRAWING TRUMPS a special offer, I can always ABOUT THE EBU This seminar sounds straightforward, but we will not be rescue it from my delete simply drawing trumps, we will be considering the reasons box, but if unsubscribed the The chairman of EBU, for delaying. Keeping control of trumps is an important email will bounce back to Jeremy Dhondy, is happy to part of declarer play. Knowing when to risk leaving trumps the sender and remain answer readers’ questions. out and when not. unread and unknown. Do send these in, as a 40 FIVE-CARD MAJORS Some recent complaints strong and growing union is needed to ensure the Popular around the world, this method is becoming more have arisen because readers popular here. It is not a method I would advocate for club have unsubscribed and development of our players, however it is important to understand the method have thereby missed out. wonderful pastime. as you will need to defend against it. However, many of my EXTRA CRUISE 41 FUNDAMENTALS OF DEFENCE recent offers are Defence is by far the hardest aspect of bridge: this seminar regionalised as lots of my On the front inside pages seeks to show the building blocks that can start you off on business is low key and of are details of an extra a wonderful journey. If you can get the basics right then interest only to certain Bernard Magee hosted the more complicated aspects of defence can follow. restricted groups. cruise on board Balmoral. 42 SUPPORTING MINORS Minors are not as important as majors, but we have to bid AN EXAMPLE CENTREFOLD them and it is important to know your system. Bidding One example of these offers Having miscalculated the more 3NT contracts will get you better scores, but being able to spot a slam will put you a cut above. relate to a cruise on m.v. timings of the second River Magellan, 28 May – 2 June, Cruise to celebrate my 30th around Medieval Cities and Anniversary, I have asked the River Seine from £299 Bernard Magee to be the £25 per DVD or £105 for the set of six per person sharing (five host, see the advertisement nights away) full board in the centrefold. Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 with optional bridge every evening. It’s not a holiday, All good wishes, www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop just a little treat. Mr Bridge

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 5 Julian Pottage Answers your Bridge Questions

Are Responses Forcing After LHO Doubles?

If I open the that extra overtrick by and declarer’s line of play. hand on your right has bidding with not cashing an ace. If you judge that partner a doubleton nine or an Q1♦ and my LHO I am quite clear that will gain the lead or that the honour-9-x combination. doubles, is my partner’s it is wrong to lead an declarer is going to have to bid of 1♥ or 1♠ forcing? unsupported ace as the play the suit in which you ♣♦♥♠ Does the vulnerability . What I am hold the ace, you do not cash make any difference? not sure about is after that? it. If you can see a long suit If you play Modified Ellis Spero by email. I am concerned that by in dummy on which declarer Benji, where cashing an ace, I allow them can take discards and little Qopening 2NT = 20- A long time ago it to make a trick with the king prospect of getting partner 21 HCP, 2♣-2♦-2NT= 22-23 was customary to that they otherwise would on lead, then you cash it. HCP and 2♦-2♥-2NT = 24-25 A play a change of not have made. Of course HCP, is there any point in suit non-forcing because you it is possible that partner ♣♦♥♠ playing the Modern Acol could redouble on any strong has the king and we can no-trump rebids where a hand. These days, it is usual make two tricks in the suit. You hold the 1NT rebid = 15-17 HCP and a to reserve a redouble as Maybe I should be more following 2NT rebid shows 18-19 HCP? showing a hand that wishes concerned about stopping Qcombination Terry Gregory by email. to penalise the opponents the overtricks and less in a trump suit … no and to play a change of about helping them to difficulties. The ranges you suit as you would without make their contract? have listed cover the double. The change of Bruce Paul by email. A all the possible suit is thus usually forcing ♦ A J 6 point counts nicely, which unless the player making the At matchpoints, seems to be a good reason N bid has already passed. if the opponents W E for using them. You do not S The vulnerability makes no A are in a slam, it want to rebid 3NT if you can difference, although if you often pays to cash an ace ♦ 10 8 7 5 4 help it, because this uses are playing at trick one. This might not up a lot of space, making and an existing partscore represent the best chance it difficult to investigate makes the response sufficient of beating the contract but What is the best line for one alternative contracts. for game, then a non-jump will stop any overtrick. loser? Is it to run the ten change-of-suit response Against lower level and then against the ♣♦♥♠ would be non-forcing. contracts, an ace is rather nine if it has not appeared? less likely to run away, so Name and address supplied. In a recent pairs ♣♦♥♠ bashing out an ace at trick competition as one is losing policy. It is Leading low seems Qdealer I held: Please can you difficult to suggest a hard better. This picks help with a doubt and fast rule about cashing A up a singleton or QI have about an ace later. You need to doubleton honour onside and ♠ K J 8 leading aces as a defender build up a picture of the a doubleton or tripleton king- ♥ Q 7 6 4 3 against a suit contract? unseen hands based on the queen combination onside. ♦ A K 2 Often it seems to allow bidding, partner’s signals (if Leading the ten does ♣ Q 10 the opposition to make any), partner’s line of defence not work so well if the

Page 6 BRIDGE March 2017 Playing a weak no- bid 3NT facing not just your 3. 2♣-2♦ (relay) -3♦ (eight lack of a fifth diamond, this trump, I opened 1♥ actual 2♠, but also facing a playing tricks in diamonds). sequence describes the hand and our uninterrupted jump to 3♠. Partner is likely to Ken Smith, Chesterfield. well. Slightly exaggerating auction continued: 1♠ – be 4-2 in the minors (with a your length in a minor 1NT – 2♣ (checkback). 4333 shape he might simply This is a tricky suit rarely causes a big At this point I decided to have raised 1NT to 3NT) hand. If the long problem. If you were not suppress my grotty five card and, for sure, you do not A suit were a major, planning to rebid 2♥, you heart suit, as it was pairs want to play in 3NT with a the hand would be worth a might have opened 1♥. and I had strength in spades doubleton club in each hand. game force. With an extra 2. This is an easier and the minors, so bid 2♠ trick required for game in a question. With six HCP you showing four hearts, three ♣♦♥♠ minor, it is more debatable, have a minimum responding spades and a minimum. although of course you hand. Since you clearly prefer Partner now bid 3NT What should I may end up in 3NT. The partner’s second suit and implying three hearts and respond to 1♥ with likely auctions if you open the 1♠ rebid is not forcing, four spades (although he Qthe following hand? 2♦ are 2♦-2♥-3♦-3♠-3NT you pass. With a slightly could be around 16/17 and 2♦-2♥-3♦-3NT. better hand and the same and just wanted to know While it is less of an issue shape, you would rebid 1NT. my range) and I passed. ♠ A 5 3 2 because you do not have After a diamond lead, ♥ 10 9 7 5 any tenaces, I would not ♣♦♥♠ dummy put down: ♦ Q J 10 9 be keen on a 2♣ opening, ♣ 9 because it is likely that the In ‘Partnership strong hand will be on the Bidding at Bridge‘ ♠ Q 6 5 2 table. Perhaps a 1♦ opening QMessrs Robson ♥ A J 10 After being told that the with the plan to rebid 3♣ and Segal state that a ♦ 5 3 losing trick count might is best; if you do that, you change of suit opposite ♣ A K 5 2 be inaccurate on 4441 might still have to guess an is non-forcing, hands, I just bid 2♥. how to bid later, because which I have always taken Martin Epstein by email. partner will not envisage as the definitive position. So the best score at pairs a hand quite this strong. I was therefore surprised now depended on the heart This is a close by an answer to a problem finesse which failed, so 3NT decision. If the ♣♦♥♠ in BRIDGE to find that, in made nine tricks (diamonds A Q-J-10-9 suit were the UK, a change of suit is were 4-4) but playing in hearts, I think I would give 1. Playing Acol now almost universally a hearts would make 11 tricks. a jump raise to 3♥. With the and a 12-14 no- one round force (Americans 3NT will score better actual hand, I would settle Qtrump, you have are apparently still old whenever the heart for 2♥. If the opponents 18 points, with two little fashioned), and that finesse works or a compete or if partner makes clubs, four diamonds, four endorses diamond is not led. a , you may get a hearts and three spades to this view. When did this What do you think? chance to show some extras. the A-J. You open 1♦ and change happen? What Mike Allen, Bromley. partner says 1♠. What do are the reasons? ♣♦♥♠ you now bid, and why? Tony Richards by email. Treating the poor 2. Partner opens 1♦. You five-card heart suit As dealer, playing have four clubs to the J-9, a I am not sure A as a four-card suit Benji, which is small diamond, five hearts when the change does not seem unreasonable Qthe best opening to the A-J-10 and three little A happened. I have because a 5-3 spade fit bid with this hand? spades. You say 1♥ and been playing a change of might play better than a 5-3 partner says 1♠. What do suit forcing for as long as I heart fit. You might revisit you now bid, and why? can remember: 20-30 years. the decision over 3NT. ♠ J Peter Calviou by email. One big reason for playing Since partner has bid ♥ A 7 5 the change of suit as forcing game facing a minimum, ♦ A K Q J 8 1. Although I am is that a of opener’s you could reasonably infer ♣ A K 10 2 as much a fan as suit can promise support for that he has three hearts. A anyone of bidding the overcaller’s suit. If you Indeed, if you could rely on no-trumps with balanced play the change of suit as partner to raise 1NT to 2NT Options seem to be: hands, on this occasion I non-forcing, then sometimes if he has a game invitational 1. 2♦ (23+ points would prefer a 2♥ rebid. you would have to cue bid hand without five spades or or game force). The plan is to show three- on strong hands without three hearts, you could place 2. 1♦ followed by 3♣ (18+ card spade support on the support. I suppose you could him with three hearts if he points and 5-4 distribution). next round. Apart from the play a jump change of suit

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 7 as strong without support the suit fit before checking Since we can thus only the misfit (if that is what it – but that might propel you on key cards. Partner would be assured of six cards in is) will discourage partner. rather high and would take bid 4♥ to show a good raise hearts (and possibly not Unless you are playing away the ability to make a fit- to 4♠. You could then check even that if she was 4-4-4- teams and are vulnerable, showing jump. Of course, if on key cards and continue 1), but guaranteed of seven you might do better to the player making the change with 5NT to confirm that diamonds, I then passed, not start with 1NT rather than of suit is a passed hand none are missing. With the having found an eight-card 2♣. A singleton in your then the bid is not forcing. singleton heart and the fit, because we could only be partner’s suit suggests king of clubs, partner might guaranteed 21 HCP between caution. While you might ♣♦♥♠ simply bid 7♠ over 5NT, us (12+9). In fact, she had languish in 1NT with nine rather than show kings. 17 HCP, so we had 26 HCP points facing a balanced My partner and Even aside from the fact between us, and most likely 16, most of the time partner I play five card that it scores more, 7NT a good basis for trying to will be unbalanced or Qmajors, short club is a better spot than 7♠. If find a game-level bid. not have exactly 16. (diamonds are four or more), spades were 4-1, you would I had always thought that Since opener’s 2♦ a weak no-trump, and RKCB. be unable to draw trumps a jump-shift from opener rebid should have been ending in dummy and so promises 19 HCP after a forcing, it did not limit her need something friendly one level response, but hand to 12-15 points. ♠ 7 4 in one of the minor suits. after a two level response Regarding your final ♥ 8 5 2 On the actual layout, after a slightly weaker hand will question, with 18 HCP points ♦ 9 4 3 all follow to two rounds do (would that be 16?). as opener and getting a ♣ 8 7 5 4 3 of trumps and the ♣10 How does an opener one-level response, you ♠ K Q 10 8 5 ♠ A J 9 drops on the first round with a strong hand in these would try to avoid making a ♥ A K N ♥ Q of clubs, you have a bit of examples, with 17 HCP, non-forcing rebid consistent W E ♦ A 8 7 2 S ♦ Q J 10 6 a guess. If North has the prevent the bidding from with a minimum opening. ♣ Q J ♣ A K 9 6 2 third trump and the ♦K, it ending at the two level? Depending upon playing ♠ 6 3 2 could be that the only way As her bids were not strength and suit quality, ♥ J 10 9 7 6 4 3 to succeed is to cash a in order, was you might make a jump ♦ K 5 second round of clubs before she telling me that she shift rebid or, with stoppers ♣ 10 drawing the last trump. had 12-15, and no more, in both unbid suits, jump I am sure that not everyone as she had not rebid to 2NT. Occasionally, playing a strong 1NT would through a barrier of 2♥? you might reverse into a West North East South open 1NT on the East Finally, what if, with no strong three-card suit. 1♣ 3♥ cards. While opening 1♣ fit and a non-reversing 5-4 Bridge is not an exact Dbl1 Pass 4♦ Pass and rebidding 1NT over a shape, you have 18 HCP science and there will 4♠2 All Pass 1♥ response would not be after a one-level response? always be some awkward 1Hoping to find partner with four an option because a 1NT Nigel Goodwin, Adel, Leeds. hands. Playing a strong spades. rebid would show 12-14, club system might help with 2I thought about bidding 4NT. opening 1♣ with the plan Once upon a time, the hands you have been to reverse to 2♦ seems a you would be right asking about. Most people We made 13 tricks (as did reasonable description. A in thinking that 1♥- prefer not to do that. no-trump, diamond and club 2♣-2♦ was passable and contracts). Should I have ♣♦♥♠ that opener had to jump ♣♦♥♠ bid 4NT over South‘s bid or (or reverse) on a hand that might East might assume I am How do you wished to insist on game. If dummy has agreeing clubs as trumps? indicate strength Nowadays it is standard K-x and a lower Those pairs playing a strong Qwhen bidding in to play that a change of Qcard is led from no-trump arrived in 7♠. non-reverse order, while suit rebid by opener after a left of declarer, should Martin Kennedy-Bell, avoiding a jump-shift which two-level response creates a declarer play the king? London W4. might incorrectly promise one-round force. Once you If declarer holds K-x and it even greater strength? have decided to respond 2♣, is led from right of declarer, After the 3♥ overcall, My partner opened 1♥, you should see it through should the king be played? you do best to bid so I, having six clubs with and find another bid. If your Declarer does not have A 3♠. You have a a 3136 shape and nine clubs are good, you can the ace in either case. strong five-card spade suit HCP, replied 2♣. Partner rebid 3♣. If not, you have a Jean Gill by email. and no reason to deny the then rebid 2♦, which I took problem – 3♦ and 2NT both fifth spade; an immediate to mean that she had four distort your hand. Maybe you The absence of jump to 4NT would be diamonds, but longer hearts rebid 3♣ even if the clubs the ace does precipitate – you should find in a 54 or 64 distribution. are not so good – at least A not in itself give

Page 8 BRIDGE March 2017 sufficient information to My confusion is made and good playing strength, but I said 4♣. Partner got answer the question. worse by your esteemed something like the following: excited and went into 1430 If only low cards face the colleague in BRIDGE, RKCB, to which I had to doubleton king, going up Bernard Magee, advocating reply 5♦ to show no ace. with the king is likely to be (I seem to remember) ♠ 9 4 Now we were committed correct in both situations doubling a strong no-trump ♥ A 6 to 6♣ which went two off. – you will not make the also with 15 HCP. On the ♦ A J 10 The rest of the world king otherwise. In a suit one hand, you must have ♣ K Q J 9 8 4 received a 3♦ opening contract, if the lead through more than the maximum of bid from West over dummy is at trick one, you the opposition bid, on the which North was pretty might reasonably assume other hand, you need only to happy to say 3NT. the ace is offside and play be equal to the minimum. ♣♦♥♠ My questions are: how low as an , Alan Mansell, would you have bid this? if you wish to keep the Milford-on-Sea Bridge Club. I was dealer Do you think we were opening leader off lead. as South. a little bit fixed here? If three cards headed by If you have a good Q David Gilbert by email. the jack face the doubleton suit to lead, you king, it will usually be correct A might sometimes Like you, I play 2♣- to play low. This will ensure double a weak 1NT with ♠ A K 5 2♦-3♣-3♦ as just a third round winner. 14 HCP. The 15 point ♥ K Q A keeping the bidding If a doubleton jack faces limit is not a hard and fast ♦ A 3 open rather than showing the doubleton king, it makes rule. The reasons why it is ♣ A K 6 5 4 2 diamonds. I play more a big difference whether generally prudent to wait ♠ Q 6 N ♠ J 10 9 4 that it denies a five-card ♥ W E ♥ the K-x is visible or not and until you hold more than 8 6 S A J 10 7 2 major, than that the hand whether the lead is at trick opener are as follows: ♦ K Q J 8 7 5 4 ♦ 10 2 is necessarily very weak. one or not. At trick one, in 1. Low level contracts are ♣ 10 9 ♣ Q 8 Being concerned about a a suit contract, you would often easier to play than to ♠ 8 7 3 2 possible misunderstanding definitely play low expecting defend. Declarer can see ♥ 9 5 4 3 of 3♦ following the earlier the lead to be away from one side’s combined assets ♦ 9 6 double is reasonable, though the queen, rather than the whereas the defenders ♣ J 7 3 I think I would take the ace. Later in the play, or in do not know what chance – you do not really a no-trump contract, it is each other holds. want to go past 3NT – and much more of a guess. 2. The opponents will often I passed, West passed, you do have four-card If three cards headed by retreat from 1NT doubled partner opened 2♣, East support for both majors. the queen face the K-x and and you will want to know passed, I responded 2♦, As you have suggested, a you are playing in a no- whether to compete further West doubled, partner bid fast arrival 5♣ would have trump contract, it is likely to or double them in their 3♣, and East passed. been better than 4♣. If you be right to go up with the rescue suit. At least half the I should love to have are playing a 5♦ reply to king. If the king loses to the time they retreat, they will said 3NT to end the matter 4NT as showing no aces/ ace, you can the do so to a major. Since 2♥ before we got too high, key cards, you have to be queen until the third round. doubled or 2♠ doubled is but after that double very careful about expressing If the king holds, the game if made, you will want of 2♦ I was wary. slam interest on hands remaining Q-x will give some safety margin for We play cheaper minor with no aces when your you a second stopper defending those contracts. as a second negative, so side has agreed clubs. if the opening leader 3. The chance of missing 2♣ – 2♦ – 3♣ – 3♦ is weak. Incidentally, if West regains the lead. game if you pass with Here, after the double opens 3♦, North is too a weak no-trump hand on my left, 3♦ might be good to overcall 3NT ♣♦♥♠ yourself is fairly low. Partner a Directional , (even facing a passed hand) will need to hold nearly all showing a partial stop in the and should double first, Why do you need the missing high cards for suit and asking for a second bidding 3NT over your 3♥. 15 HCP to double game to be on your way. stop. So, that was out. Other pairs would not have Qan opposition I very much doubt that Now I probably should the chance to bid the club fit, weak 1NT opener? Surely Bernard would suggest have just said 5♣, following which is a little unlucky you should be able to doubling a strong no-trump the principle of fast arrival, for you. ■ double with 14 HCP? You on any hand that would are at least as strong as the double a weak no-trump. opener and the odds of your Perhaps he was talking E-mail your questions (including your postal address) partnership having at least about a specific 15 point for Julian to: [email protected] 21 HCP are in your favour. hand with a good lead

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 9 Bridge Movies by Heather Dhondy A Slam Challenge

t is teams; dealer West. Both sides hold at least five spades since you have suit, he is allowed to jump directly to a vulnerable. You are North, holding: not guaranteed four. grand slam in the confident knowledge This puts you in slam territory, and that all the key cards are held. On this I with a known good fit, it’s time for deal, South jumps to 7♠ which ends ♠ A J 10 3 Roman Keycard Blackwood. the auction. ♥ A 7 2 West leads the ♦6, and these are the ♦ K J West North East South combined hands: ♣ A K 5 4 2♥ Dbl Pass 4♠ Pass 4NT Pass 5♠ N Pass ? ♠ A J 10 3 W E ♥ A 7 2 S What now? ♦ K J ♣ A K 5 4 ♣♦♥♠ West North East South N W E 2♥ (weak) ? Answer: Partner has shown the two S missing key cards and the ♠Q. If he What should North do? has anything to spare for the bidding ♠ K Q 9 6 5 4 so far, there could be a grand slam ♥ Q 5 ♣♦♥♠ on. A bid of 5NT confirms to partner ♦ A Q 8 that all the key cards are present and ♣ J 7 Answer: You are too strong to invites a grand slam. overcall 2NT, so you must begin with a double. Why does 5NT guarantee all the key Now take the South seat. You have cards? twelve top tricks, but it looks difficult West North East South to dispose of your heart loser. Perhaps 2♥ Dbl Pass 4♠ ♣♦♥♠ South was a little optimistic to jump Pass ? to a grand slam. Whilst it’s true that Answer: You have gone beyond the he held an extra trump, he had no side What has South shown? point of stopping at the five level, and kings and the ♥Q was unlikely to be a What should you call with the if you were missing a key card you great card. North cards? would simply sign off at the six level. However, even though the contract The fact that you have not done so is not great, can you see any way that ♣♦♥♠ means that you must still be thinking you might prevail? of a grand slam, and you would only Answer: South knows that you have be thinking in those terms if all key What is your plan? opening values for your double, but cards were present. not necessarily a lot more, therefore Partner will often show his kings ♣♦♥♠ the South hand must be of roughly at this point. However, if he has an opening strength itself to jump additional source of tricks, such as Answer: You might as well begin directly to game. In addition, it must extra trump length or a running side by drawing trumps. You will discover

Page 10 BRIDGE March 2017 that West began with one, third one. This now ensures and East two. You can also that West is in sole charge cash your diamonds, and of guarding the clubs. Now, DECLARER on the third round West provided he holds the king discards a heart. of hearts, he will be subject- PLAY This is the position you ed to a positional squeeze. have reached, with dummy This means that you still to play to this trick: must cash all your trumps. QUIZ This is the position as you are about to play the last by David Huggett ♠ J 10 one: (Answers on page 13) ♥ A 7 2 ♦ — ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge. ♣ A K 5 4 ♠ — YIn each case, what is your play strategy? ♥ A 7 N ♦ — W E S ♣ 5 1. ♠ 7 5 3 3. ♠ A 7 3 ♥ ♥ ♠ Q 9 6 5 N A Q 2 6 4 W E ♦ A J 10 9 ♦ J 2 ♥ Q 5 S ♣ ♣ ♦ — J 8 2 A Q J 4 3 2 ♣ J 7 ♠ 9 N N ♥ Q 5 W E W E ♦ — S S What do you know about ♣ — ♠ ♠ the distribution, and what K J 2 K Q 2 ♥ ♥ do you discard from dum- K 9 5 A K 7 2 ♦ ♦ my? West is forced to discard his K 4 3 2 A 10 6 5 ♣ ♣ last club or bare the king of A Q 6 6 5 ♣♦♥♠ hearts. Whichever suit he discards, you must discard Answer: West began with from the other one from You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 4NT ♠ ♠ just one spade and two dia- dummy. Perhaps that queen and West leads the 6. and West leads the 5. ♠ monds. The of hearts wasn’t of such East plays the 10. How How do you plan the play? tells you that he began with dubious value after all. do you plan the play? six hearts. So, this puts him This was the full deal: with four clubs and leaves East with three. Can you ♠ ♠ see, therefore, that West ♠ A J 10 3 2. A J 10 4. Q J 9 7 ♥ ♥ will be the only one who ♥ A 7 2 A 7 6 2 8 6 4 ♦ ♦ can guard both suits, since ♦ K J Q 6 5 K 3 ♣ ♣ you can be confident that he ♣ A K 5 4 A 7 4 A J 10 3 holds the king of hearts for ♠ 8 ♠ 7 2 N N his vulnerable opening. This ♥ K J 10 8 6 4 ♥ 9 3 W E W E could potentially expose ♦ 6 5 N ♦ 10 9 7 4 3 2 S S W E him to a squeeze. ♣ Q 8 6 3 S ♣ 10 9 2 ♠ ♠ If you are going to squeeze ♠ K Q 9 6 5 4 K Q 9 8 7 A K 10 8 5 ♥ ♥ West, your fourth club in ♥ Q 5 9 10 7 ♦ ♦ dummy is vital, to ensure it ♦ A Q 8 A K J 2 9 2 ♣ ♣ is only West that can guard ♣ J 7 8 6 2 K 9 6 4 that suit. Discard a heart from dummy. ♠ ♠ The contract was a rather You are declarer in 6 and You open 1 fourth in ♣ What now? fortunate make, but it still West leads the Q. How hand and soon find your- took some good technique do you plan the play? self in game. West plays ♥ ♥ ♣♦♥♠ to make it on the squeeze. A, K and a low heart. So any successful declarer How do you plan the play? Answer: Cash the ace should feel rightly proud of and king of clubs and a themselves. ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 11 Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Twenty-Seven Strong Opening Bids

his DVD starts with the topic of a trick against the contract (one of suit. So both auctions start the same how many strong bids you need. them might have a void in spades). way 2♣-2♦-2♥. If you support hearts, Experts seem to manage with Your main job should be to close off then you will end up in game, so 3♥ is Tone balanced strong bid (2NT) and the auction to your opponents in case stronger than 4♥. one general strong bid (2♣), but this is they have the strength – make a pre- not an easy system to manage and I see emptive opening of 4♠. Auction 1 Auction 2 it go wrong so often. There is too much Hand 2 is certainly strong, but it North South 1 North South 2 onus on the strong 2♣ bid and the would need some help from your part- 2♣ 2♦ 2♣ 2♦ partnership struggles to understand ner to make a game contract: an ace or 2♥ 4♥ 2♥ 3♥ what is forcing and what is not. Fur- king might be enough, but without at All Pass 4♣ 4♠ thermore, this system requires a lot of least one trick game would be beyond 4NT 5♦ strong hands to open at the one-level, you. Needing a little help you should 6♥ All Pass which is something a lot of club play- open 2♣ in the Benji system. ers find difficult to do. I explain that I Hand 3 has a great chance of mak- South 1 has no interest beyond game, feel it is better to have a more balanced ing game even if your partner has a so he jumps to 4♥ expecting partner view: using 2♣ and 2♦ for strong bids Yarborough. You need to force the to pass, as he does. South 2 has three- and 2♥ and 2♠ for weak twos. After bidding by opening with 2♦. card heart support and ten points, all, a weak 2♦ is not the most power- In the DVD, you will come across so certainly has thoughts beyond ful of pre-emptive tools. With this a number of the tactics that are used game. He shows support with 3♥ balance, you can use one bid to show in strong hand bidding, particularly encouraging his partner to bid on. game-forcing hands (2♦) and the other the principle of fast arrival. When you At this point the DVD talks about to show strong hands that need a little are in a forcing-to-game auction at the cue bidding and how important it can help from partner (2♣). This system two-level, it is stronger to support at be to identify strength (or shortage) is often called Benji (or Benjamin). I the three-level than to jump to game. in every suit. Playing Italian style cue also talk about the difference between The reason for this is that supporting at bids, you cue bid in the lowest suit you strong hands and pre-emptive hands: the three-level leaves room to explore have control in (first or second round for a slam, whilst jumping straight to control). So North cue bids 4♣ (he can game uses up a level of the auction. win the second round of clubs by ruff- Hand 1 In the hand below, North counts ing). The key thing to note about the ♠ A K Q J 9 8 7 6 2 eight playing tricks with hearts as 4♣ bid is that North has missed out ♥ 7 trumps, so can open 2♣ in the Benji spades (3♠), which means he has no ♦ 3 system. (With just one strong bid you control in that suit. Without a control ♣ 7 2 should open this hand 1♥). in every suit, the partnership cannot make a slam. However South 2 does have control in spades, so he shows it. Hand 2 Hand 3 North North now knows that the partner- ♠ 4 ♠ A K 8 6 4 ♠ J 6 3 ship can only lose two tricks off the ♥ A K Q J 10 6 ♥ 2 ♥ A K Q J 9 7 top if they are missing two aces, so he ♦ K Q 2 ♦ A K 5 ♦ A K 3 uses Blackwood to check and finding ♣ A 6 4 ♣ A K Q J ♣ 4 just one ace missing, he goes for 6♥. Strong hand bidding is not an exact South 1 South 2 science, but it is fun. Getting the right Hand 1 is not ‘strong’ but does have ♠ A 8 5 ♠ K Q 5 balance between your strong hands the potential to make nine tricks. ♥ 8 3 2 ♥ 8 3 2 and your weak hands is up to personal What level should you open this at? ♦ 8 7 ♦ 8 7 choice, but I find that most players A strong hand has potential to make ♣ J 9 8 7 2 ♣ A J 8 7 2 get a lot of joy out of bidding slams. tricks against any contract, but this Bearing this in mind, the DVD rec- hand will only make a lot of tricks ommends that you have at least three in a spade contract. If your oppo- Generally, you respond 2♦ (a relay) to strong opening bids at your fingertips: nents bid to 6♥, you might not make 2♣ to allow your partner to show his 2♣, 2♦ and 2NT. ■

Page 12 BRIDGE March 2017 Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 11

You are declarer in 6♠ and West leads opposition to win. No return can harm 1. ♠ 7 5 3 the ♣Q. How do you plan the play? you and you can safely play clubs from ♥ A Q 2 It really does look as though there the top while you still have a spade entry ♦ A J 10 9 are only eleven tricks available, but the in dummy. In all you make three spades, ♣ J 8 2 twelfth is always there as long as trumps two hearts, one diamond and four clubs. ♠ A Q 9 6 4 ♠ 10 8 break 3-2. Win the opening lead and play ♥ J 7 N ♥ 10 8 6 4 3 the ace of hearts and ruff a heart. Enter ♦ 8 5 W E ♦ Q 7 6 dummy with a trump and ruff another S ♣ K 10 5 4 ♣ 9 7 3 heart. Then repeat the process one more ♠ K J 2 time. You won’t have any more trumps in 4. ♠ Q J 9 7 ♥ K 9 5 hand by this time, but you will still have ♥ 8 6 4 ♦ K 4 3 2 one in dummy and you can reach there ♦ K 3 ♣ A Q 6 with the diamond queen to draw the last ♣ A J 10 3 trump, throwing a club from hand. It is a ♠ 6 4 2 ♠ 3 complete dummy reversal and in all you ♥ A K 9 3 N ♥ Q J 5 2 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads will make six trump tricks, one heart, four ♦ A 7 5 4 W E ♦ Q J 10 8 6 S the ♠6. East plays the ♠10. How do you diamonds and a club. ♣ 8 2 ♣ Q 7 5 plan the play? ♠ A K 10 8 5 You know from the rule of eleven that ♥ 10 7 East has at least one more spade and ♦ 9 2 there is an obvious danger if he ever gains ♣ K 9 6 4 the lead. So, after winning the opening 3. ♠ A 7 3 lead with the ♠J, play a diamond to the ♥ 6 4 ace and run the jack. If it wins you can ♦ J 2 You open 1♠ fourth in hand and soon find make an overtrick by later taking a club ♣ A Q J 4 3 2 yourself in game. West plays ♥A, ♥K and finesse, but even if it loses, you are safe ♠ J 9 6 5 4 ♠ 10 8 a low heart. How do you plan the play? because West cannot lead a spade with- ♥ 8 5 3 N ♥ Q J 10 9 Most likely you are regretting opening out giving you your ninth trick and you ♦ K 9 4 3 W E ♦ Q 8 7 that South hand, but it seemed a good S can always establish a ninth yourself by ♣ 7 ♣ K 10 9 8 idea at the time and to be fair the values taking the club finesse into the safe hand. ♠ K Q 2 are ‘hard’, you have the boss suit and ♥ A K 7 2 partner didn’t have to go leaping to ♦ A 10 6 5 game. Apart from the two hearts already ♣ 6 5 lost, you have two more potential losers in diamonds and a potential club loser, 2. ♠ A J 10 but it is in understanding all that that ♥ A 7 6 2 You are declarer in 4NT and West leads makes the task at hand easier. You are ♦ Q 6 5 the ♠5. How do you plan the play? only ever going to make ten tricks if ♣ A 7 4 It is tiresome to have overreached, but West holds the ace of diamonds and if ♠ 5 4 ♠ 6 3 2 nevertheless you would be unlucky not he holds that card he cannot possibly ♥ K J 8 5 N ♥ Q 10 4 3 to make at least ten tricks. But you do hold the queen of clubs because then he ♦ 10 4 3 W E ♦ 9 8 7 have to be careful. Suppose you take an would have opened the bidding with his S ♣ Q J 10 5 ♣ K 9 3 immediate club finesse which wins and thirteen points. So draw trumps and play ♠ K Q 9 8 7 aim to repeat it. If West now shows out, a low diamond to the king. If East wins, ♥ 9 you are in deep trouble and you can only too bad, and then you are desperate not ♦ A K J 2 ever make two club tricks because of lack to lose a club trick, but if the king wins ♣ 8 6 2 of entries to dummy. So, the first in dummy then you can play East for the round of clubs completely, forcing the club queen with some assurance. ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 13 Tournament Bridge in England 1925-1945 by Richard Fleet

ate last year, the English Bridge the history of the rubber game apart of pre-War British Bridge World Union published on its website from periodic revisions to its laws. magazines: without Wolf’s assistance, I a book that I had written about For over 20 years, I had been Tax doubt that I would have written a single Lthe history of tournament bridge in and Pensions Manager for a family- word. The significance of this is that, England up to the end of the Second owned construction company, Sir in the pre-War period, there were two World War. The book can be found on Robert McAlpine Ltd. I was not due to rival bridge organisations, the British the EBU website in the monthly news retire until the end of 2018 but, during Bridge League and the National Bridge archive for December 2016 (http:// 2012, I realised that I wasn’t enjoying Association. These were respectively www.ebu.co.uk/node/2613). it as much as I had previously and backed by Waddington and De La Shortly after publication, Shireen decided that I would rather go early. Rue, manufacturers of playing cards Mohandes contacted me on behalf Viewed in purely financial terms, this and publishers of (of of Mr Bridge and asked if I would be decision was ludicrous but it remains which I had a complete set) and British interested in writing an article for this one of the best that I have ever made. Bridge World. magazine about the book’s gestation I gave my employer a year’s notice of Much of the history of bridge in this process. Since it’s normally quicker to my intentions, though I’m not sure period was only documented (if at agree to a suggestion of Shireen’s than that anyone thought that I was serious all) in the two published magazines: to attempt evasive action, I acquiesced until the point that I formally notified without access to British Bridge World, and this is the result. the fact that I would be retiring on 31st it would have been futile to attempt I have been interested in history since December 2013. to produce a reliable account of what the age of eight. My parents bought Debbie (my wife) and I had always happened. The archives of both the a children’s encyclopaedia for me in planned to retire to the coast. Whilst and National the early 1960s and I was fascinated most people move to a smaller Bridge Association had disappeared by the history volume. At university, property on retirement, we did the without trace and the only official when I wasn’t playing bridge, I studied opposite: our house in Hertfordshire documentation available was the first Classics for two years and Anglo- sold for what I privately thought was EBU minute book: the EBU did not Saxon, Norse and Celtic for one year, a ridiculously large amount of money come into existence until 1936 and concentrating on the historical side as and we purchased a far bigger house in did not play any great part in the much as possible. Devon for less. administration of the game prior to Although I had always enjoyed It remained for me to start the the War. reading old bridge magazines, it was retirement project. I decided that I The next step was to review the not until relatively late in the day that would write the book because I wanted mass of material and compile a source my love of history and my interest in to, not out of any hope of financial gain. reference list. I regarded it as important bridge came together. I can’t remember Having got this far, a logical step was to to document the sources that I had used exactly when it was that I formulated involve the EBU: the Chairman (Jeremy so that, in the event of queries, I could the idea, but at some point I decided Dhondy, a friend for many years) was point to a contemporary reference. that it would be a good retirement keen on the project and we agreed that The most interesting part of the project to write the history of the game. the EBU would cover my expenses project was the research. I learned a lot A frustrated historian? Maybe. and publish the book electronically. about the history of the game and was Fortunately, I realised fairly rapidly Nothing much happened until 2015 able to fill in a number of gaps that had that this was ludicrously ambitious since refurbishment of our house took puzzled me. One aspect that surprised and that a far more realistic plan was priority up to the end of 2014. me, though in retrospect it shouldn’t to write the history of the game in this The first step was to assemble the have, was the number of demonstrable country. And this meant the history of source material that I needed. Here I errors that appeared in previous works. tournament bridge, since there is not was very fortunate in that Wolf Klewe Some writers were careless beyond much that can usefully be said about kindly agreed to lend me his collection belief whilst others seemed to have

Page 14 BRIDGE March 2017 been content to take on trust without the requirements secondary sources. of the EBU website. I had One great frustration was written everything in Times DEFENCE the opportunity that I had New Roman 14 font but the missed. Had I had this idea EBU wanted it in Calibri 12. in my 20s, there were still Converting to Calibri totally QUIZ people around who could messed up my careful for- have provided missing infor- matting and many last min- by Julian Pottage mation. I had known people ute changes had to be made. (Answers on page 17) who had been prominent in This, however, was a mi- before the nor irritation. The work ou are West in the defensive positions below playing War, players such as Pat Cot- was released on the EBU’s Ymatchpoint pairs with both sides vulnerable. Both sides ter, Dimmie Fleming, Jack website on 14th December, are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman. Marx, , Louis the day before my 63rd Tarlo and Lionel Wolfers. I birthday, and was generally had played against them – well received. One comment 1. ♠ 10 8 5 3. ♠ Q 10 5 2 in teams with two of them that particularly pleased ♥ A Q 9 2 ♥ K 6 3 2 – and, had I thought of it, it me was, ‘This is a work of ♦ A 10 5 4 3 ♦ K 10 5 4 would have been easy to ob- real scholarship, thoroughly ♣ Q ♣ J tain their recollections. researched and well-writ- ♠ 6 4 ♠ A K 6

The research took about ten.’ I could have asked for ♥ J 5 4 N ♥ Q J 10 N six months and I started no more. ♦ J 9 6 2 W E ♦ 8 6 W E S writing in July 2015. Three At present, I have no plans ♣ A K 8 4 ♣ 10 8 4 3 2 S months later, it ground to a to continue the project. If I halt. I had written the rela- write another instalment, it tively easy stuff, covering will cover the period from West North East South West North East South the period up to the early 1946 to 1964 – Britain’s ‘glo- 1♠ 1♠ 1930s, but had reached no ry years’: six wins in the Eu- Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ firm conclusions about what ropean Championship plus Pass 4♠ All Pass All Pass I wanted to say about the the 1955 World Champion- years leading up to the War. ship for the Open Team; and You lead the ♣A: ♣Q, ♣7 You lead the ♥Q, on which ♣ ♥ ♥ I put it aside and took it up six European wins together and 3. What do you do go the 2, 4 (low shows again in April: with renewed with the 1964 Olympiad for next? an odd number or discourages) and ♥9. How enthusiasm, a concentrated the Women. do you continue? effort led to me finishing the Any new book would text inside three weeks. therefore be quite different The next six months or so to the one just published, were occupied with proof- with greater concentration 2. ♠ Q 4. ♠ 10 3 reading (I wanted the text on the international scene. ♥ J 10 7 2 ♥ A K J 7 2 to be error-free; inevitably For one thing, the period ♦ 10 8 5 4 ♦ A Q J 8 4 it wasn’t, but the only mis- 1946 to 1964 was a rela- ♣ Q J 7 3 ♣ J takes of which I am aware tively quiet one domestically ♠ 10 6 5 ♠ K 9 5 N were relatively minor typo- (once the EBU had nar- ♥ K 8 6 N ♥ 10 8 3 W E graphical issues), deciding rowly avoided bankruptcy ♦ J 6 W E ♦ 7 6 S which photographs should in 1948). ♣ A K 9 5 4 S ♣ A K 7 5 4 be included and finalising In any case, I have a new the appearance of the fin- challenge coming up: I have ished work. agreed to take over as Treas- West North East South West North East South I am a bit obsessive about urer of the Sid Vale Associa- 1♠ 1♥ Pass 1♠ presentation. I really dislike tion, the oldest civic society Pass 1NT Pass 2♥ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ ‘widows and orphans’, the in the country, and have no All Pass Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ term used when a single line illusions about the tension All Pass at the beginning or end of a between the requirements You lead the ♣A: ♣3, paragraph is left at the bot- of this role and my relatively ♣2 and ♣8. How do you You lead the ♣A: ♣J, ♣2 tom of one page or the top limited accounting knowl- continue? and ♣8. How do you con- of the next. edge. Perhaps, once I have tinue? I had ensured that there settled into this post, the en- were no widows and or- thusiasm for bridge writing phans but had reckoned will return. ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 15 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum Episode 59: All the World’s a Stage

pouse looked puzzled. He was reading an email from his old Dealer West. E/W Vul. ♠ — university friend, Travis, who ♠ 8 7 5 ♥ Q 2 Shas a career touring musical venues as ♥ Q 2 ♦ — Blue Denim Hank, the Singing Cow- ♦ 8 5 ♣ — boy. Apparently Travis had recently ♣ K Q J 9 8 2 ♠ — ♠ K changed his act to include a drummer. ♠ J 6 ♠ K 10 4 3 ♥ J 9 N ♥ K N His usual drummer was not avail- ♥ J 9 7 6 ♥ K 8 4 ♦ — W E ♦ — W E S able, and optimistically he wanted ♦ K Q 9 4 3 S ♦ A J 7 2 ♣ — ♣ — Spouse to accompany him on drums ♣ 7 6 ♣ 10 3 ♠ — at his next Norwich gig. At university, ♠ A Q 9 2 ♥ A 10 Spouse used to play percussion in a ♥ A 10 5 3 ♦ — spectacularly unsuccessful undergrad- ♦ 10 6 ♣ — uate pop band called Alan Ace and the ♣ A 5 4 Five Diamonds. I recall that these par- ticular diamonds were not regarded as Neither declarer nor the defenders a girl’s best friend. ‘My old drum kit is covered themselves in glory. With still in the garage somewhere,’ Spouse West North East South seven tricks in the bag, Spouse can mused aloud. This set me off and I Wendy Millie now make his contract by playing couldn’t stop laughing. ‘You haven’t Pass 3♣ Pass 3NT the two of hearts to the king, ace and played for years,’ I reminded him, All Pass nine. The queen of hearts produces the ‘Anyway, I remember how ordinary ninth trick to bring home the contract. you were; it used to bring tears to my When Spouse and Travis played the Unfortunately, Spouse played the ears.’ ‘And I well remember your role board, they reached the same contract queen of hearts first, thus losing the as soothsayer in the college production by an alternative route. Following final trick to West’s jack of hearts and of Julius Caesar; in fact I’m still trying three passes Spouse opened a weak again the contract went one off. As to forget it,’ Spouse retorted, grinning no-trump. Travis bid an invitational he admitted later, ‘What’s the use of from ear to ear. His mind was made up three clubs which Spouse accepted by stupidity if you can’t share it with your and we were soon rummaging under bidding game. friends.’ plastic sheets in the garage as various The following day Travis and Spouse symbols and drums of assorted sizes West North East South rehearsed frantically in our garage. were revealed. On the evening before Travis Spouse That evening I accompanied them to the scheduled performance, Travis Pass Pass Pass 1NT their gig with distinct trepidation as joined us for duplicate pairs at the Riv- Pass 3♣ Pass 3NT to the outcome. There was no need erside. For Millie and I, this deal did All Pass for panic. The performance from not seem unduly significant (deal in Blue Denim Hank and his makeshift the next column). West led the king of diamonds, drummer were well received by their After my initial pass as West, followed by the queen and nine. East audience. Their music was certainly North bid a pre-emptive three clubs now won with the ace and played the better than their bridge. Our daily nominally showing a seven card suit. jack. The suit was now blocked and lives away from the green baize follow Millie passed and South accepted East chose to exit with a spade. Fearful very different patterns. Over four the challenge with three no-trumps, of playing the queen in case West held centuries ago in As You Like It, William presumably hoping for seven club the king, Spouse, as declarer, popped Shakespeare aptly and concisely tricks to add to his two aces. up with the ace and ran the six club recognised this diversity with, ‘All I led the king of diamonds. Millie tricks. the world’s a stage, ... And one man overtook with the ace and returned This process forced increasingly in his time plays many parts.’ Maybe the jack. We took the first five tricks. difficult discards for the opponents for Spouse a new career beckons, but Declarer won the remaining eight and and produced this simple two card on second thoughts perhaps he should the three no-trumps went one off. ending: keep his day job. ■

Page 16 BRIDGE March 2017 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 15

You lead the ♣A: ♣3, ♣2 and ♣8. How with five hearts, declarer will have a 1. ♠ 10 8 5 do you continue? singleton in each hand as on the previous ♥ A Q 9 2 You would expect partner to play high- deal. With the ace-king and another ♦ A 10 5 4 3 low with a doubleton. The ♣2 therefore spade in your hand, you are in a great ♣ Q shows either three clubs or one. Given position to cut your opponents’ ruffing ♠ 6 4 ♠ A K 2 that South has bid both majors and that power by playing three rounds of trumps. N ♥ J 5 4 ♥ 10 8 7 3 partner did not overcall 2♦, you can be When partner discards a heart on W E ♦ J 9 6 2 S ♦ 8 7 almost certain that the singleton club is the second round, you are sure that you ♣ A K 8 4 ♣ 10 7 6 2 on your right. have read the heart layout correctly. If, ♠ Q J 9 7 3 Believing that both of your opponents unexpectedly, partner followed to two ♥ K 6 hold a singleton, a trump switch is surely rounds of trumps, you would have time ♦ K Q right. Your king remains guarded even then to revert to hearts. ♣ J 9 5 3 after you lead away from it. Partner can win with the ace and return the suit, enabling you to win and play a third West North East South round. The contract then fails. 4. ♠ 10 3 1♠ If partner’s hand was weaker, the ♥ A K J 7 2 Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ switch might not beat the contract – but ♦ A Q J 8 4 Pass 4♠ All Pass avoiding an overtrick might save many ♣ J matchpoints. ♠ K 9 5 ♠ Q 2

You lead the ♣A: ♣Q, ♣7 and ♣3. What ♥ 10 8 6 N ♥ 9 4 3 do you do next? ♦ 7 6 W E ♦ K 5 2 S With the singleton club in dummy, you ♣ A K 7 5 4 ♣ 10 9 6 3 2 do not want to continue clubs. Indeed, 3. ♠ Q 10 5 2 ♠ A J 8 7 6 4 you want to cut down on dummy’s ability ♥ K 6 3 2 ♥ Q 5 to ruff. You should switch to a trump. ♦ K 10 5 4 ♦ 10 9 3 As the cards lie, partner can play two ♣ J ♣ Q 8 more rounds, enabling you to draw all of ♠ A K 6 ♠ 8 dummy’s trumps and defeat the contract. ♥ Q J 10 N ♥ A 8 7 5 4 On another day, partner’s trumps will be ♦ 8 6 W E ♦ J 9 7 2 West North East South S weaker and you will save an overtrick. ♣ 10 8 4 3 2 ♣ Q 9 6 1♥ Pass 1♠ ♠ J 9 7 4 3 Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ ♥ 9 Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ ♦ A Q 3 All Pass 2. ♠ Q ♣ A K 7 5 ♥ J 10 7 2 You lead the ♣A: ♣J, ♣2 and ♣8. How ♦ 10 8 5 4 do you continue? ♣ Q J 7 3 West North East South Yet again, dummy has a singleton. ♠ 10 6 5 ♠ K J 8 2 1♠ Does this mean another switch to a ♥ K 8 6 N ♥ A 4 Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ trump? W E ♦ ♦ J 6 S Q 9 7 2 All Pass The circumstances here are different. ♣ A K 9 5 4 ♣ 10 6 2 For one thing, if partner has Q-x or J-x ♠ A 9 7 4 3 You lead the ♥Q, on which go the of trumps, leading the suit will blow ♥ Q 9 5 3 ♥2, ♥4 (low shows an odd number a defensive trump trick. For another, ♦ A K 3 or discourages) and ♥9. How do you dummy’s strong holdings in the red suits ♣ 8 continue? mean that removing dummy’s trumps With the less than revealing bidding, might not help much. You should instead you cannot be quite so sure of the layout switch to a diamond. You know that no West North East South of the suit you have led. Partner might tricks are coming in hearts (South never 1♠ have started with three hearts rather raised). Moreover, you might interpret Pass 1NT Pass 2♥ than five. the ♣2 as a suit-preference signal for All Pass Assuming for now that partner started diamonds. ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 17 Teacher’s Corner – Teaching Tips from Ian Dalziel Getting the Movement Right

hen I started playing du- I wanted to avoid this shambles, so ‘Movecards for Mitchells’ are al- plicate about 40 years ago, produced movement cards for all our most foolproof. The director needs bridge movements were a Mitchell movements, even 13 tables no knowledge of movement theory. Wbit of a mystery to the ordinary player. playing 26 boards. There is a move- If he makes a mistake with the initial The director was usually a board layout or forgets technical genius who ei- to announce the special ther set out the movement moves (which are high- from memory or delved lighted in colour on each into the red Farringdon table card) the players cor- book. There were only one rect him. My directors are or two people at each club not fazed by more com- who understood move- plicated Mitchell move- ments and everyone was ments as they just follow happy with that situation. the instructions on the That was fine until ‘the ‘director’s guide’ card knowledgeable ones’ were (as shown) and the table absent and then the fun cards ensure nothing goes started. Someone else put wrong. None of my direc- out the boards, follow- tors could set out a basic ing the instructions and share and relay Mitchell everything was fine – or without the cards, as, in so it seemed till half time my experience of Mitch- when some East-Wests ells, a little knowledge is a met boards they had dangerous thing. played before. On the next Bridgemates surely round, it got worse; tem- make movement mix ups pers got frayed, the whole a thing of the past as they event was abandoned and check the correct play- we all went home. I’m sure ers and boards are played you’ve had the experience; each round, but the addi- it’s not a happy one. tion of movecards makes Mix-ups with basic things easier for the play- Mitchell movements hap- ers. Your computer scor- pened occasionally at most ing software should be clubs I attended. However, able to produce movecards when a more complicated or you can get them from movement like a Howell me. was used, all went well. The ‘book’ movements The reason, of course, was that move- ment card on each table (Table 1 is are usually for 24-26 boards, however ment cards are always used for How- shown) stating the correct boards and some daytime clubs play 18-22 boards ells but not for Mitchells – as they are pairs for each round and instructions and learners’ clubs might play only deemed too simple. And there lies the for the next move. My ‘movecards’ 12-16. You can curtail the movement problem – their simplicity lulls people have been used at many bridge clubs if it’s matchpoints, but this is undesir- into a false sense of security. for many years and, as far as I know, able for the reasons I give below. I have When I started my own bridge clubs, the movement has never gone wrong. compiled 240 completed movements

Page 18 BRIDGE March 2017 playing 12 to 28 boards for 3 to 26 ta- some boards are more equal than ells. Anyway a bit of exercise does bles. Some movements came from ‘the others: some are swingy, some are bridge players no harm at all. book’, others I adapted from standard flat, in some boards you control 5. Many people dislike a two-board principles and some I invented myself. your own destiny but in others you share as one table can hold up an- These are all two winner complete are at the opponents’ mercy and other. As a director, I actually like movements so suitable for aggregate can’t do much about it. this share, as I can easily spot a or matchpoint scoring. I feel aggre- 3. If you stop a movement with shar- slow table as their sharing table is gate scoring is best for learners (see ing tables or a half table, you get waiting and I can hurry them on. BRIDGE 165) which means that you different tops. The software will Without a share, a slow table can must complete the movement anyway. adjust the scores but if you use fall behind and the director isn’t Two winning pairs is preferable to Neuberg you get decimal fractions aware of it till he calls the move. one winner for two reasons; first you for the match points. Other meth- If you really must avoid the two have four happy people at the end of ods add whole numbers but are not board share, then have two sets the session instead of two, second it easily understood when we really of duplicated boards – easily pro- saves the hassle of arrow duced if you have a dealing switches. However, if you machine. have fewer than 6 tables, 6. It’s true that complete including a half table, a movements may include Howell movement is a some revenge rounds necessary evil to prevent a where you play a pair long sit out. But I’m sure twice, but isn’t that fairer your club is well supplied (and more sociable) than with Howell movement missing some opponents cards. completely? The 10 ta- I do feel strongly that ble 24-board Blackpool movements should be (everyone playing all 24 completed. I have never boards) is surely better used an incomplete move- than a 10 table 30-board ment in my life and I have movement (everyone run many events with all playing just 24 boards of number of tables playing the 30 boards in play). all ranges of boards. As 7. I think clubs have just most clubs play aggregate got into the habit of in- and matchpoints in Scot- complete movements land, all our movements and haven’t realised have to be complete. My there are excellent al- current afternoon club, ternatives which make Darley, runs 6 to 18 tables, the game fairer and plays exactly 18 boards in more enjoyable. one section and always 8. J.R. Manning, who completes the movement. wrote The Mathemat- I now set out the case ics of Duplicate Bridge, for completing the move- says that incomplete ment. movements should be 1. Surely one of the joys avoided if possible and of duplicate is playing EBU chief TD Gordon the same hands as eve- Rainsford agrees. ryone else especially if So I rest my case for ‘com- you get a hand print- pleting the movement’. out? It’s not much fun if the board want people to understand match Andrew Kambites and I are in com- you want to discuss afterwards point scoring. plete agreement – we both dislike the wasn’t played by your friends. If 4. It is true that incomplete move- 70% rule. He wants it reduced to 50% a bridge teacher wants to go over ments are ‘easier’ but are they and I want it increased to 100%! hands in class which were played easier for the players or the direc- For a free copy of my 36 page at the club or on a bridge holiday tor? Good movement cards make document with a list of 240 ‘two session, then the students need to things simple for both and even winner’ complete movements have played all the boards. a complicated Mitchell has fewer with full descriptions, and sam- 2. Although every board scores moving pairs than a Howell, and ples of my own movecards, email equally at matchpoint scoring, people seem to cope with How- [email protected] ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 19 A Blast From the Past by Shireen Mohandes

The Perils of Parsimonious Peters

erence Reese is of course a about to write. Since Reese hated the idea of bidding household name in the world of In their book, the vulnerability and round the houses to reach 3NT, Bridge. One of his co-authors dealer are not provided for the cards probably when the deal occurred the Tmay be less well known to a British au- below; we are only informed that auction went 1NT (16-18) – 3NT. dience, but not so in his own country. South is in 3NT with no suit having A 21st century auction playing four Frenchman Roger Trézel was one half been mentioned. It is assumed that the card majors might be: of the world famous and hugely suc- scoring is teams. cessful Trézel-Jaïs partnership. Away West North East South from the bridge table he was a very 1♥ talented tennis player, known also for ♠ A 5 1♠1 2♠2 Pass 4♥ his enjoyment of hunting, fishing and ♥ 10 6 4 2 All Pass good food. ♦ K J 5 2 1 Some tournament players will overcall on Trézel teamed up with Terence ♣ J 9 3 this hand. But if you choose to pass, that’s Reese to write several books. One of ♠ J 10 8 6 3 ♠ 9 7 4 acceptable too. It is a matter of style. these has the beguiling title Snares ♥ K 9 5 N ♥ 7 3 2An unassuming cue bid (UCB) showing W E and Swindles in Bridge. ♦ 10 6 S ♦ 9 8 4 3 four or more hearts, and a limit raise or As an aside, I can imagine that if ♣ A 7 2 ♣ K Q 8 5 better. An immediate 3♥ bid would be Terence Reese, who was not known ♠ K Q 2 pre-emptive and, in most systems, an for accepting criticism gracefully, ♥ A Q J 8 underbid. happens to be reading this article from ♦ A Q 7 the Great Bridge Club in the sky, he ♣ 10 6 4 Now have a look at both possible may well be a bit annoyed at what I am contracts.

Pierre Jaïs (1913-1988) was a French bridge player and writer. He and his regular partner Roger Trézel (1918-1986) were on the France team that won the inaugural in Turin, 1960, and they won the inaugural World Open Pairs Championship in Cannes two years later (both competitions are quadrennial). As they had won the 1956 on a French team representing Europe, they were the first to win the so-called , something that has only been achieved five times in the history of the game. The other Triple Crown winners are: Americans and , and , Brazilians Marcelo Branco and , and Italians Fluvio Fantoni and . They used a canapé system, generally bidding the second-longest suit first … becoming one of the world’s strongest pairs by demonstrating the effectiveness of that style. New York Times bridge editor remarked in his column that they were, ‘one of the greatest partnerships in the history of the game.’ Roger Trézel Source: Wikipedia

Page 20 BRIDGE March 2017 In 3NT on the lead of ♠6 it appears ♥10 is played, and run. If the finesse The suggestion is this: that there are eight top tricks, and a succeeds declarer is home and dry. If If you play attitude and you have ninth potentially available by taking a it fails, West may well be tempted to ♠ 9-7-4, then you will play the 4. heart finesse. But as you can see, when persevere with his attack to establish If you play count, with that same this loses, West may choose to look the spade suit. holding, you will play the 4. elsewhere for defensive tricks and sniff A spade trick is sacrificed, but there Now let’s say that you have the out a club switch. are spare heart tricks to come as long ‘Reese-Trézel swindle hand’ and have We will come back to this in a as the defence fall for the ploy. this: ♠ 9-7-4-2. moment. West may think the full deal is Again, playing attitude, you will play How about 4♥? That looks as if it has something like this: the 2. But playing standard count, you three top losers and will then depend will peter to show an even number. on a heart finesse (and hearts not But will you peter with the 4? Really? breaking 5-0). But at least in 4♥ the ♠ A 5 Are you that stingy? opponents may choose to lead a heart, ♥ 10 6 4 2 Conventional wisdom is that with diamond or a spade. Any of these leads ♦ K J 5 2 four cards, you should play the second will give you the chance to play three ♣ J 9 3 highest, unless you cannot afford it, or rounds of top spades and discard a ♠ J 10 8 6 3 ♠ 9 7 4 2 unless it is unclear. club from dummy, reducing the losers ♥ K 9 5 N ♥ 7 3 W E ♦ 10 6 ♦ A 8 4 3 by one. S So for example, moving aside from ♣ A 7 2 ♣ Q 8 5 But maybe in 3NT there is a swindle this deal, in each of the holdings ♠ K Q available for the declarer? below, the recommended count ♥ A Q J 8 Remember that declarer only needs peter card is in red. to build one extra heart trick to reach ♦ Q 9 7 the tally of nine. ♣ K 10 6 4 9 7 4 2 Reese and Trézel propose that Q 10 8 7 (may not be able to declarer should try to dissuade a afford the ten) switch by creating an illusion that the Now, after winning with the ♥K, ace spade suit falls like this: and another club would allow the Q 9 8 7 contract to make with an overtrick (two 5 4 3 2 (the 4 could be unclear, spades, three hearts, two diamonds play the highest) ♠ A 5 and three clubs). But playing a spade at trick three, to establish the suit, will eventually defeat the 3NT contract The analysis in the book fails to N ♠ J 10 8 6 3 W E ♠ 9 7 4 2 by two (three spades, one heart, one consider that with a four card spade S diamond and one club). suit, whatever the carding method the defence use, East would never play ♠ K Q So what might be wrong with the 4. And if they do sometimes play Reese and Trézel’s analysis? the 4 from this type of holding, they are miserable scrooges and deserve to They suggest that, at trick one, the Go back to the real deal. Put yourself be swindled. But, of course, declarer ♠A is played from dummy, dropping in the East seat, and decide what card has nothing to lose by trying this the ♠Q from hand. At trick two, the you are going to play at trick one. gambit. ■

Illusionists at card play (currently in the Great Bridge Club in the sky)

Reading the Reese-Trézel book Snares and Swindles in Bridge has been entertaining. A few hands don’t stand the test of time because of superior signalling. Yet, it is an excellent read. It made me wonder: of the great bridge players in the sky, who were the best at pulling off such formidable ploys?

Amongst the greats were Englishman John Collings, famous for making a grand slam missing K-Q-10-x-x of trumps. The EBU has a short biographical link to John. http://www.ebu.co.uk/biographies/john-collings

The British Bridge World, Feb 1964, remarks that he is ‘Britain’s leading authority on making slams with two Aces missing.’ http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ebumagazine/1964-02.pdf

One can only imagine with delight what adventures would take place if these teams (UK v the rest of the world) played each other: Terence Reese, John Collings, , Irving Rose (all UK) vs Giorgio Belladonna (Italy), John Crawford (USA), Marshall Miles (USA), Tim Seres (Australia).

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 21 Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird The Sheriff’s Humiliation

n the previous year’s Feast of St ‘Perhaps we shall meet you in the West North East South Barnabas open pairs, the Sheriff second half,’ continued Lady Du Bois. Guy of Sgt The Captain and Sir Guy of Gisborne had held ‘I look forward to it.’ Gisborne Garble Sheriff Shanke Ia lead of more than three tops at the Play restarted and the Sheriff faced 2♣ half-way point. It was a mere formality two members of the castle armoury. Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ to cruise through the second half and Surely they would not be looking for Pass 4♠ Pass 6♠ collect the trophy. good scores against Gisborne, their All Pass On the present occasion, their commanding officer. progress had not been so smooth. This was the first board of the round: Gisborne was happy to have an ‘By St Judas!’ exclaimed the Sheriff, opening lead that even the Sheriff surveying the interval results sheet. would find difficult to criticise. He ‘We’re barely one top above average. Dealer South. Love All. placed the ♣Q on the table and You’ve played worse than usual, ♠ J 10 9 turned towards Captain Shanke, as if Gisborne, but how can we have such ♥ A K 7 4 2 defying him to make the slam against a feeble score playing against this riff- ♦ 8 6 a superior officer. raff?’ ♣ 9 7 4 ‘Some fine cards for me,’ declared ‘Riff-raff, my Lord?’ exclaimed Lady ♠ Q 8 7 ♠ 4 the Captain. ‘Play low.’ Du Bois, who had moved within ear- ♥ Q 6 N ♥ J 10 8 3 Declarer won with the ♣A and W E ♦ ♦ shot. ‘I hope you don’t include Harold J 10 3 2 S Q 9 7 5 4 turned his mind towards setting up and myself in that category.’ ♣ Q J 10 2 ♣ 8 5 3 dummy’s heart suit for a club discard. The Sheriff spun round. ‘Er... of ♠ A K 6 5 3 2 All followed to the ace and king of the course not, my Lady,’ he replied. ‘I ♥ 9 5 suit, the queen falling from Gisborne was referring only to the dunderheads ♦ A K on the second round. who visited our table on the last few ♣ A K 6 ‘Play another heart,’ instructed the rounds.’ Captain. The Sheriff followed with the ♥10 and he paused to consider how high he should ruff. If he ruffed with a spot-card and was overruffed with the ♠7 or ♠8, a club loser would surely follow and he would be one down. It seemed he would have to ruff high. When the ♠A appeared from declarer’s hand, Gisborne discarded the ♣2. Captain Shanke continued with a low trump towards dummy’s ♠J-10-9 and Gisborne won with the ♠Q. Declarer won the ♣J continuation and crossed to dummy with the ♠J. A heart ruff with the ♠K then established a long winner in the suit. A trump to the 10 allowed him to throw his club loser on the ♥7 and the slam was home. ‘A lucky line of play!’ declared the

Page 22 BRIDGE March 2017 Sheriff, turning to glare at the Captain. No-one could fault his leap to 4♠, after followed by this last deal of the day: ‘How did you know Gisborne held no adding two length-points for the fifth more hearts? He might easily have spade. His partner’s undisciplined false-carded the ♥Q from Q-J or Q-J- opening bid must take the blame. Dealer East. Game All. 10.’ Now, how should he play it? ♠ 8 5 2 ‘Not in my experience,’ Captain He would clearly have to pick up the ♥ A 8 4 2 Shanke replied. ‘Sir Guy always plays trumps without loss. Unfortunately, ♦ K 8 7 5 2 the obvious card.’ the ♣2 lead was a near certain ♣ 4 The Sheriff slumped in his chair. singleton. What hope was there if the ♠ K J 9 6 3 ♠ A 7 ‘You hear what the man says?’ he clubs were 4-1? Perhaps something ♥ J 10 5 N ♥ 6 W E ♦ ♦ demanded. ‘You handed him the could be done if West held only two J 10 9 S Q 6 4 3 winning line on a plate.’ trumps. ‘Win with the ace,’ he said. ♣ A 10 ♣ J 9 8 6 3 2 ‘But the queen was my only The Bishop continued with a ♠ Q 10 4 remaining card in the suit,’ protested low trump to the jack, nodding his ♥ K Q 9 7 3 Gisborne. ‘What would you have me approval when this card won the trick. ♦ A play, my Lord?’ Both defenders followed to the ♠K. ♣ K Q 7 5 A few rounds later, the Sheriff faced The contract could now be made if the Bishop of Derby. Not known as clubs unexpectedly broke 3-2 or if the a star performer, he had occupied a defender with a singleton club held West North East South surprising third position at the half- only two trumps. Guy of Lord The Lady time break. Leaving the ♠A in dummy, the Gisborne Du Bois Sheriff Du Bois ‘I’ve played above myself today,’ Bishop played the ♣Q from his hand. Pass 1♥ the Bishop declared. ‘No idea why. ‘That’s what we need!’ he exclaimed 1♠ 4♥ All Pass Sometimes I just find the game so when Gisborne showed out but could easy.’ not ruff. A club to the king was Gisborne led the ♦J, won with the ace. The Sheriff nodded politely. He followed by a club ruff in declarer’s Lady Du Bois crossed to the ♥A and would do what he could to prevent the hand. Declarer was then able to cross disposed of the ♠4 on the ♦K, looking overweight cleric from finding this to the ♠A, drawing the last trump, pleased with herself. The Sheriff particular round easy. This was the and to discard a red-suit loser on the winced. Could Gisborne not stir layout before them: thirteenth club. himself to find the right lead just once? ‘You played it well,’ said the Lady Du Bois paused to plan her cadaverous Brother Gryste. continuation. Sir Guy would have led Dealer North. E/W Game. ‘No other way to play it after that a spade if he held the ♠A-K, so surely ♠ A 6 2 helpful lead,’ declared the Bishop. ‘It he was marked with the ♣A. She led ♥ 10 6 2 could hardly be more obvious that the the ♣4 from dummy and surprised ♦ 9 5 ♣2 was a singleton. On any other lead, all present by playing the ♣5 from her ♣ A K 8 4 3 I would simply draw trumps and play hand. Gisborne won with the ♣10 and ♠ 9 7 ♠ Q 10 4 for a 3-2 club break.’ switched to the ♠6. ‘Too late!’ cried the ♥ J 8 5 4 N ♥ K Q 9 The Sheriff looked wearily across Sheriff. W E ♦ ♦ A Q 8 6 4 3 S K J 2 the table. Winning this event was an The defenders claimed two spade ♣ 2 ♣ J 10 9 7 impossible task when the other three tricks and Gisborne returned the ♠J. ♠ K J 8 5 3 players ganged up against him at Lady Du Bois ruffed and played the ♥ A 7 3 every table. What a foolish opening ♥K. She was confident that he had led ♦ 10 7 lead. Had Gisborne not heard the club from ♦J-10-9 and his shape was there- ♣ Q 6 5 opening bid? fore 5-3-3-2. When she led the ♣7 from On the last round of the event, the her hand, the ♣A duly appeared on her Sheriff and Gisborne arrived at the left. She ruffed in dummy, drew the last West North East South table of Lord and Lady Du Bois. Any trump and claimed the contract. Guy of Brother The Bishop of chance of winning had faded long ago, The Sheriff rose grimly to his feet Gisborne Gryste Sheriff Derby but the Sheriff was determined to end and, after a token bow of leave to his 1♣ Pass 1♠ with a flourish. opponents, strode from the table. Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ Lord Du Bois smiled at the Sheriff. His man, Charles Hatcham, would All Pass ‘So, now you have to play against the be scoring the event but there was riff-raff,’ he said. a limit to the doctoring that could A contract of 4♠ was reached and ‘A misunderstanding,’ replied the be performed. Just imagine how the Gisborne led the ♣2. The Bishop Sheriff. ‘You and Lady Anne are general populace would laugh at surveyed his assets with no great among the strongest players in the their hopeless finishing position. By affection. Ten points opposite eleven? shire, ‘tis well known.’ the martyred saints... it was Was that enough for a game contract? An uneventful first board was intolerable! ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 23 CLUB David Stevenson Answers Your Frequently Asked Questions INSURANCE Every club should be covered and my inclusive package, to suit clubs of up Unauthorised Information: to 300 members for less than £75 per year, is the right package at the right price. As The Director Sees It Contact FIDENTIA for a quote ( 020 3150 0080 [email protected] ome time ago, I wrote an article his partner. (BRIDGE 160, April 2016) on The first thing to do is to decide Unauthorised Information (UI) whether it happened or not: you ask Ssuggesting how you should avoid all four players, and make a judgement taking advantage of it. In this article, I based on the answer. Note that you am looking at what the director should are not calling anyone a liar if they do in a UI case. say something you disagree with: you There are two types of cases from the are required as a director to make a director’s point of view: those where judgement on the evidence. If you the UI is agreed, and those where it decide there was no UI, that ends the is not. Sometimes, you are called in matter, otherwise you tell them that in For those with Pre-existing health the middle of the hand, often with your judgement there was UI and ask conditions (No Age Limit) a heated disagreement going on. So them to call you back at the end of the l Travel Insurance with online the first thing you must do, once you hand if they are unhappy. Medical Screening have discovered it is a UI case, is to Consider a situation where one of ask questions to establish whether the two things has happened: either you l Cover for medical conditions, UI occurred if it has not been agreed. have judged there was UI and told the up to a high level of severity, The most common form of UI is where players so, or they are in agreement even a terminal prognosis someone is alleged to have hesitated, about UI. What next? Let us look at l No age limits which tells his partner that he has the steps you, the director, must take. doubt over the action he takes. For If they have not finished the hand you l Instant online cover example, if over an opponent’s 1NT, tell them to finish the hand and call We fully understand that you may a player agonises then passes, he has you back, if necessary, trying to stop wish to speak to us direct about something like an opening hand. To them telling you everything such as, cover and your medical conditions find out whether there was a hesitation ‘But it’s not fair, director, he would and assure you of the best attention you must never say, ‘Did you hesitate?’ never have bid 3NT if his partner had by senior staff on a direct phone line since every player on the planet has an not hesitated.’ They may even try to that does not require you to hold or inbuilt reaction to always say, ‘No.’ if show you their hands but you should press buttons for departments. asked. Much better is to ask whether never look. the player thought before calling. You Once the hand has ended, then you ( should then ask the other three players find out the facts and now you can 01268 524344 and make a judgement. Do not assume look at all the hands. If there has been We look forward to the loudest and angriest are in the an alleged problem in the bidding, speaking with you soon right. find out the bidding, including the Other possible occurrences are an meaning of calls. I advise writing it Email: [email protected] allegation that a player fiddles with down. Similarly, if the problem was Website: www.genesischoice.co.uk his bidding cards, perhaps taking one in the play, you need to get some idea partly out of the box before choosing of what happened, though taking Genesis Choice Ltd are an appointed another, or a player scowling when his down all the details of the play is often representative of NDI Insurance partner took out his penalty double, impractical. You let everyone have and Reinsurance Brokers Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the or looked shocked over partner’s their say, often meaning they each Financial Conduct Authority No.446914 switch in the middle of the hand, or tell you the same thing four times, explained a call in a way that surprises and then tell them to put the score

Page 24 BRIDGE March 2017 David Stevenson Answers Your Frequently Asked Questions DUPLICATE BRIDGE RULES Unauthorised Information: SIMPLIFIED (otherwise known as the Yellow Book)

by John Rumbelow only and revised by £595 As The Director Sees It David Stevenson

Available from Mr Bridge obtained in the Bridgemate or on the of them actually chose pass, then it is ( 01483 489961 traveller, and that you will return later a logical alternative. The best way to www.mrbridge.co.uk with a ruling. Never hurry over a UI decide whether it is a logical alternative ruling, never give it immediately, and is often to ask a few players, giving always consult with at least one other them the bidding sequence, but not Mr Bridge person before deciding. One of the telling them about the UI and judge better players will do for consultation, from their answers. Do not just ask Premium Quality Cards as it is bridge judgement that is the them, ‘What would you call?’ but also, question since we hope that you, the ‘What alternatives do you consider?’ director, know the relevant laws. If pass is a logical alternative in your Let us take an example to see the judgement then you ask yourself, ‘Was process by which a UI decision is bidding suggested over pass by the made. Suppose the bidding goes: hesitation (UI)?’ In the example the answer is surely, ‘Yes’. West North East South If you decide there is no logical 1♥ 4♦ 4♥ Dbl alternative to 5♦, or that 5♦ is not Pass 5♦ Dbl All Pass suggested by the UI over a logical Standard Faces, alternative, then you rule that the with or without bar codes. Unboxed. The double of ♥4 was very slow. E/W result stands. If you judge pass is 6 red/6 blue £25 scored +100 from 5♦ doubled which is a logical alternative and 5♦ was 30 red/30 blue only £85

quite a poor score for them. Either the suggested by the UI then you adjust: Available from The London Bridge Centre. players have agreed that it was slow, you disallow the 5♦ call and work out ( 020 7288 1305 www.bridgeshop.com or you have judged it from what they what would or might have happened have told you, and you have told them otherwise. Perhaps when you look that is your judgement. The question is at the hand, you decide that declarer whether 5♦ is acceptable, and what to might have made nine, ten or eleven do if it is not. tricks in 4♥ doubled, so you give them PLUS 12 You have to decide what the UI a weighted score, such as: Q

suggests. That is the pause before the l Help and Hint buttons double, and whether the player chose 40% of the matchpoints for 4♥ X +1 l Displays on HD and large screens a call suggested by the UI, rather than + 30% of the matchpoints for 4♥ X an obvious alternative, called a ‘logical + 30% of the matchpoints for 4♥ X–1 l Comprehensive manual alternative’. l Feed in your own deals A slow penalty double suggests the As long as this gives the non-offending l option doubler would not be averse to hearing side a better result than they got at the l 5,000 preplayed his partner take it out: he would have time, then you adjust to this. Note hands for teams doubled briskly and happily with four the weighted score: this is the norm £99 and 4,000 pre- including post trump tricks! So is there a logical in judgement rulings, as explained in played hands for and packing alternative to 5♦? How about a pass? BRIDGE 144 (December 2014). matchpoint pairs The laws say that if you were to ask That is enough for this article: in a similar players, playing a similar future article we shall look at a further Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 system and style, and if at least two complication, called Reveley rulings. www.mrbridge.co.uk out of ten considered pass, and some Watch this space. ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 25 CROATIA Sally Brock Looks at Your Slam Bidding 2-16 May 2017 Bernard Magee Sally’s

HOTEL From EDEN £1,499 Slam Clinic sharing ROVINJ

Where did we West East go wrong? 2♦ 2♥ 2♠ 3♣ This month’s deal was sent in by 3♦ 3♠ Martin Epstein who missed the 3NT 4♣ excellent 6♣ on this deal: 4♥ 4♠ 6♣

Dealer West. E/W Vul. ♠ A K 8 7 2 ♠ Q 5 Slam of the Month N ♥ A 10 ♥ 5 3 2 Rovinj is situated on the western coast W E of Istria in Croatia, the largest peninsula ♦ A K 6 4 S ♦ Q 8 The winner of this month’s star prize on the Adriatic coastline, a one hour ♣ A Q ♣ K 9 8 7 3 2 is Hugh Williams. drive from Trieste, 2.5 hours from Zagreb. Boasting a rich, natural and cultural heritage, with beautiful landmarks such as the old town, the Golden Cape Park Forest, West East ♠ A K 6 3 ♠ 7 protected islands and coastal area. 2♦ 2♥ ♥ K 6 5 2 N ♥ A Q J 8 W E The climate is warm and semi-dry, with 2NT 3♣ ♦ A Q 7 2 S ♦ K 10 9 8 more than four months a year without wind. 3♠ 3NT ♣ 9 ♣ A K 10 7 Hotel Eden is wedged right between a peninsula covered by a one hundred year West chose to describe his hand as old park forest and a quiet cove. The old West East city centre of Rovinj is just a 20 minute strong and balanced. I would have walk away. preferred a 2♠ rebid, but the selected 1♥ 3♠ 4♣ 4♦ Rooms: All rooms are equipped with a route should have turned out well. direct phone line, LCD SAT TV, mini-bar, There are many structures of bidding 4NT 5♠ safe, bathtub or shower, toilet, hair dryer, over what is effectively a 2NT opening. 7♥ balcony, air conditioning/heating. Suites are available, details on application. One of the most straightforward is to play four-suit transfers to show East-West were playing Acol and Singles: There is a sole occupancy ♣ ♠ supplement of £12 per room per night. If six-card suits at the four level: so 4 the 3 response was a splinter. It is you are a single bridge player, please do not shows hearts, 4♦ spades, 4♥ clubs and my preference for such a splinter to worry about being on your own. We will 4♠ diamonds. Using this style East show fewer than full opening values always be able to find you a partner and you would bid 4♥ over 2NT. With all those can always have a game. (I like to go through a Jacoby 2NT controls and the strong doubleton with a stronger hand) but the splinter Beaches & Pools: The playful curves of ♣ the pool offer refreshment in the summer club, West would surely bid at least a response worked well. After the 4 with a salty breeze coming from the natural small slam – and it is easy for him to cue-bid, East showed the ♦K and stone and pebble beach only a few steps see the benefit of a trump suit. West wheeled out Roman Keycard away. The vast outdoor pool will cool you The grand slam is just the wrong Blackwood. On discovering that down after a day of lounging in the freely ♥ available deck chairs. side of being with the odds (70% is the five key cards and the Q were generally considered to be what is present, there was enough information Half-board only. Terms and conditions apply. These holidays have been organised for needed and a 3-2 break falls just below for West to know that there would be Mr Bridge by Great Little Escapes LLP, ATOL 5933 this), but would not be a terrible place good play for the grand slam. ■ Details of the bridge programme to be. If West started by showing spades, ( 01483 489961 Send your slam hands to this would be my recommended [email protected] auction:

Page 26 BRIDGE March 2017 About the EBU by Jeremy Dhondy

How to Encourage More People into Bridge

My name is Jeremy Dhondy and I am the Chairman of the . This column is to answer questions or comments about the EBU that you might have. If you have a comment or a question I would be happy to hear from you. [email protected]

How can we encourage more players can be aggressive and rude. in life when their children have gone people into the game? The net effect has been a drop in the off to university and retirement is on Q number of players at tournaments and the horizon. That is, however, rather a drop in the number of junior players. too long a pay back period given the ‘I think bridge clubs have Add to that the perception that some health of the game. The charity EBED a problem with our ageing bridge clubs are unfriendly places and ran an advert last August in the Daily A bridge population and not the internet now provides a very real Telegraph which attracted hundreds of enough people from 20-45 or so alternative, you see that thus far it is all replies. It was for those who wanted to playing. Some young people are gloom and doom. learn to play bridge. Those who replied playing poker online – but most were put in touch with local teachers. simply don’t have the time. Younger The first thing revealed was that there people today are often not home from What can be done? are parts of the country where there are work until 7pm or later. So how can few teachers so that leads to another they go to a bridge club in the week Noting a decline is one thing we can need: to train more teachers. Some of starting by 7.30pm? I think there may probably agree on. What to do is less those students will go off to learn in be a case for some bridge clubs to offer easy to agree on, not least because a bridge club and others to learn with 18 board movements, starting around the problem is multi-faceted. There someone who teaches privately. What 8.15pm. More weekend afternoon are things to make the everyday will be the quality of the teacher? There sessions too. Some original thinking game of club bridge more attractive. are some horror stories of people with is certainly required – not just by the Perhaps an increase in the number of no qualifications teaching systems EBU. Bridge clubs will die out unless daytime games, perhaps experienced that haven’t been played for 60+ years they find a practical way to welcome players being nicer to newcomers, such as Modified Beasley. That means “younger” professional people.’ perhaps, in larger clubs, games for having a system whereby teachers can relative beginners. All important, be assessed and a student knows that but rather at the periphery. Similarly, the teacher they are going to has some What’s the problem? efforts by the EBU to win its VAT case sort of validation is useful. That is would result in a reduction in entry the role of EBTA, the English Bridge Bridge, whether organised by the EBU fees and better value for those who Teacher’s Association although, of or not, has come under pressure in attend tournaments. Helpful, but not course, there are also good teachers all sorts of ways in the last thirty or revolutionary. who don’t choose to be certificated or so years. Young people have many join. more competing demands on their Irrespective of the quality of time and many schools are not all that Getting new players teaching, I think the place of teaching supportive. More competitive players, is quite important. Those who learn as they get older, are a bit less inclined At the heart of what needs to happen in clubs are likely to play in the clubs. to travel and if you need to depend is a push to teach more new players. Those clubs who have a teaching on public transport to get you home Teaching young people of school age programme are more likely to survive after a club game outside a big city, attracts good headlines but it is a brutal and thrive than those who don’t. then you can forget that. Some newer fact that many who are keen give up Another relevant issue is how long it players find the club environment when job and family become a higher takes to learn. A friend of mine learnt unappealing because experienced priority. Still, many do come back later at a ‘Bridge in a Weekend Course’.

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 27 He enjoyed it and wished to continue, is not for very long. That means the BERNARD but unlike many players, recognised club committee has to create the right he was not yet very good and probably atmosphere. Everyone will get upset MAGEE’S not up to the standard for a normal from time to time, but what happens INTERACTIVE duplicate. He made enquiries of a if it is a regular occurrence. At my local club, which was very dismissive local club they introduce guests and TUTORIAL CD of where and how he had learnt and newcomers at the start of an evening. noted tuition for at least six months Nearly everyone will greet people would probably be required to correct and tell them their names when they ACOL BIDDING some of the ‘nonsense’ he had learnt. sit down. Few people proffer advice Fortunately, he is made of sufficiently unless asked. The net effect is that the stern stuff that this did not put him club (and there are plenty more like it) off. The other relevant factor was how will more than likely prosper. About long some courses can be. The cynic ten years ago, the EBU introduced Best in me says that some teachers outside Behaviour at Bridge. It evolved from a clubs get a captive audience and US code of ‘zero tolerance’. Does your wish them to come back for as many club use it or something like it? You can MAC or lessons as possible. EBED are currently find detail at http://www.ebu.co.uk/ Windows developing something called ‘Fast documents/laws-and-ethics/articles/ Track Bridge’ which will be available best-behaviour-at-bridge.pdf. But it is later in 2017. The idea is that people about creating the right atmosphere of can function at the table after a dozen which this is only a part. two hour lessons. I think the days when people wanted to commit to a couple of year’s lessons have gone. Of Flexibility course, even if this is a success some people will drift away unless there is a One of the questions posed at the Throughout 200 deals split into suitable game for them to play in. One beginning was related to flexibility. Is ten chapters, Bernard evaluates club I know of runs a game each week there a case for starting earlier, playing your bids, praising the correct for inexperienced players. They play fewer boards or playing at a different ones and discussing the wrong slightly fewer boards, they don’t allow time of the day. There is no doubt that ones. the more esoteric systems, they expect the daytime session has become very good behaviour and it is very popular. popular in some parts of the country. l Opening Bids Of course, you have to probably have It won’t suit those who work regularly, and Responses both your own premises and enough but it will suit some players who may l Slams and students to make this likely to be a be getting to the point that travelling Strong Openings success. The message of this club and at night is no longer at all enjoyable. others is that first you have to get the A weekend afternoon session may l Support for Partner teaching right, then you have to get the appeal to working players and others. l Pre-empting game right that students will play in. Certainly, events taking place at l The hope is that once new players have weekends attract those too busy £66 learnt a bit, played in supervised lessons during the week. Those who have more l No-trump and played in a novice duplicate, they limited time in the evening because of Openings will be ready for the full game. The club pressures of work may prefer that, at and Responses has to get this right too. least some of the time, they play online l Opener’s and where a shorter session or even one that Responder’s Rebids starts at a seemingly very anti social Is Bridge enjoyable? time is preferable. There is an affiliated l Minors and Misfits online Bridge Club (Bridge Club Live l Doubles Will you go to a game where you are at http://www.bridgeclublive.com/); amongst the worst players, get 32% it gives master points and the EBU l Competitive Auctions each week and then have to suffer also organises an online knock-out players complaining about your tournament each year. speed, your failure to alert, announce Like most games, bridge will have to Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, and stop appropriately and worst of be more flexible in years to come if it Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH all lecturing you, uninvited, on how is to survive. A good starting point is ( 01483 489961 you should have endplayed your left to teach more new players and be nicer www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop hand opponent or should have bid 6♣ to them and more encouraging when because it was ‘obvious’. The answer they arrive at the club to play. ■

Page 28 BRIDGE March 2017 Answers to Bernard Magee’s BERNARD Bidding Quizzes 1-3 MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE on the Cover TUTORIAL CD

3♠. You only have four high card points, 1. Dealer West. Love All. but you have excellent spade support DEFENCE ♠ 7 4 ♠ 6 5 and a singleton. On competitive hands, ♥ K 4 2 N ♥ A 9 8 7 it so often pays to bid to the level of your ♦ A Q 6 W E ♦ K 9 8 4 2 fit: add the length of your support to your S ♣ A K 7 5 4 ♣ 8 2 partner’s suit length and bid to make that number of tricks. He should have five, you have four, so bid to make nine West North East South tricks: 3♠. MAC or Windows 1♣ 1♠ Dbl 2♠ When you are vulnerable you might be ? a little more circumspect, but with good distribution – a singleton for example Double. You have 16 high card points – then so often your bravery will be and your partner has made a call, so you rewarded. would like to compete for the deal. What 3♠ puts North under real pressure – does East’s double mean? he has only 12 points, so does he really After two suit bids, it is for take-out, want to bid at the four-level? You make showing at least four cards in the unbid him guess and hopefully he will guess major – it is called the wrongly. (or Sputnik double). Bernard develops your You do not have four-card support for defence in the course of ten hearts and your clubs are not quite good 3. Dealer West. N/S Game. introductory exercises and enough to rebid at the three-level – you ♠ 4 ♠ J 9 7 6 3 120 complete deals. would like to have a six-card suit for that. ♥ A Q J 8 7 4 N ♥ 2 Since you are unable to pick a suit ♦ 7 6 5 W E ♦ A 9 8 2 l Lead vs S yourself, you should invite your partner ♣ 4 3 2 ♣ K Q J No-trump Contracts to – the perfect call is a second double l Lead vs from your side. When your opponents Suit Contracts agree a suit at the two-level (both players West North East South l Partner of Leader ♥1 have bid the suit), then you should not 2 Pass Pass Dbl vs No-trump ♠ play penalty doubles, because with Pass 2 Pass Pass Contracts them having a fit, there is little chance of ? collecting a good penalty. Instead your 1Weak two l Partner of Leader doubles should be for take-out. vs Suit Contracts You should double here, asking your Pass. You opened the bidding with a l Count partner to choose the best suit, bearing weak two bid, showing 6-10 HCP and a Signals in mind that with four hearts you could six-card suit. In fact, this is rather an easy l Attitude £76 ♥ have bid 3 yourself. Here, East would question. Signals bid 3♦, finding your partnership’s best fit. As you have described your hand perfectly, why would you want to bid l Discarding again? If it was right for your side to bid l Defensive Plan 2. Dealer North. Love All. again your partner should have made l Stopping Declarer ♠ Q 8 7 6 ♠ A K 9 4 2 that bid. Instead, your partner left 2♠ ♥ 4 N ♥ 7 6 3 2 because he is comfortable defending that l Counting the Hand ♦ Q 4 3 2 W E ♦ A J 7 contract. He might have doubled 2♠, but S ♣ 7 6 5 4 ♣ 3 was not completely confident of defeating the contract. With the vulnerability in your Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, favour, weak twos have been known to Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH West North East South become rather weak. ( 01483 489961 1♣ 1♠ Dbl Both 3♥ and 2♠ are likely to be www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop ? defeated. ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 29 A History of Playing Cards: Part Three by Paul Bostock BERNARD MAGEE TUTORIAL Card Design: DVDS Experiments with Indices SET 1 1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks The Index

2 Competitive Auctions A playing-cards ‘index’ is the combination of a suit sign and a printed number 3 Making the Most or letter showing the card’s value. These indices (plural of index) are most often of High Cards placed in the top left and bottom right corners but they are sometimes printed £25 in all four corners. This invention meant that players could review their cards 4 Identifying per DVD merely by fanning them slightly (the four corner versions can be fanned by players & Bidding Slams holding the cards left-handed as well as right-handed.) 5 Play & Defence We take these markings so much for granted today, and they are so useful, that it is surprising that they are a fairly late addition to the standard pack. From their of 1NT Contracts origins in the late 14th century until 1864, cards had no corner markings. 6 Doubling & Defence against Doubled American Invention Contracts The index is the first of two American inventions that changed playing-cards, the SET 2 other being the Joker. We are confident of the date for this particular innovation, because Cyrus D Saladee of Washington DC registered a patent and from 1864 the 7 Leads firm of Samuel Hart began printing the first cards with index markings. 8 Losing Trick Count Card players are highly resistant to change, but corner indices were quickly 9 Making a Plan adopted in most countries. There are as Declarer some games in which players don’t hold a 10 Responding to 1NT hand of cards – like Faro – and for these games, players preferred traditional 11 Signals & Discards cards until they became obsolete around 12 40 years later. The cards that Samuel Hart and Co. SET 3 manufactured under Saladee’s patent had indices with three markings – a 13 number or letter in the corner with suit 14 Pre-Emptive Bidding signs to the right and below (for the top left corner). I do not have an example 15 Splinter personally, but the indices looked like & Cue Bids the illustration here. £105 So, given the obvious usefulness and 16 Avoidance set of 6 popularity of this new idea on the one Play hand, and the patent on the other, how 17 Play & Defence at Pairs did other card manufacturers manage to compete? The answer is that we see a 18 Thinking Defence period of great inventiveness leading to some new designs. Examples Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop The examples below show some of the various innovations that the English playing-card makers adopted so that they could use indices but also claim that

Page 30 BRIDGE March 2017 A History of Playing Cards: Part Three by Paul Bostock BERNARD MAGEE Card Design: TUTORIAL Experiments with Indices DVDS SET 4 they were not copies. Personally I doubt that the patent design would have stood 19 Defensive Plan up to a court hearing, simply because throughout the entire history of playing- cards, makers have copied the best of the available designs. 20 Further Into the Auction All three of these cards date from the 1880s. 21 Weak Twos The first Jack of Diamonds on the left is by Willis and it is called a ‘Triplicate’. As you can see, a full Jack is reproduced in both corners. Dougherty had produced 22 Trump Control a similar design in the US. The designs are rather cluttered, and players would 23 Sacrificing £25 have to make a wide fan to see the pictures in the corner. These were not a great per DVD success, so they are relatively rare and more expensive to acquire now than the 24 Improving more conventional designs. Bridge Memory The middle card is by Woolley & Co and was named ‘Eureka’. The card on the right is by De La Rue and was called ‘Dexter’. In both cases a very clear and SET 5 economical design has been created without having an extra border. However, 25 Defence as Partner with the cards named inside the suit signs, once again you would have to fan the of the Leader cards out widely to see these letterings. 26 Aggressive Bidding at Duplicate Pairs 27 Strong Opening Bids 28 Take-Out Doubles 29 Suit Establishment in Suit Contracts 30 Landy / Defending Against a 1NT Opening SET 6 31 Counting Defence 32 Extra Tricks The card index may seem humble, but it liberated the design of the playing card in No-Trumps faces. Nowadays we have souvenir cards where the faces can be 52 artworks, 52 football players, 52 flags of the world… and these can all be played with if they 33 Supporting have indices added in their corners. Partner £105 Lastly, in terms of style, bridge players tend to be happy with regular, highly 34 Finessing set of 6 readable indices that avoid any ambiguity, while poker players prefer small narrow indices so that they can peek at the corners of their two cards from the dealer 35 Bidding without revealing anything to their opponents. ■ Distributional Hands 36 Coping with Pre-Empts

The author is a Court Assistant in the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards – see www.makersofplayingcards.co.uk. Many more sets of cards are Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 illustrated on the author’s website www.plainbacks.com www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 31 Michael Byrne on Playing with the Odds Managing that Awkward Suit

ast month we were looking at Now there is not much point playing various key suits and how to play ♦ A Q 8 4 3 the ace first, as then we won’t be able to them. cope with 4-0 in either hand. At least LWith this suit: N by playing low to the king we can cope W E S with West having four cards, even if East having ♠J-8-7-4 will have slipped ♠ K Q 10 3 ♦ K 10 9 2 by us. Let’s look at a deal where we have N W E a few card combinations to play and S Since we are missing the jack and consider each combination. three other cards, the suit is very easy ♠ A 6 5 2 to manage when it is 2-2 or 3-1. We need only concern ourselves with a ♠ A 3 4-0 break. ♥ J 5 4 We should cash the king first and then This will come to light on the first ♦ K Q 8 4 3 cross to the ace. We will make four round of the suit and providing you ♣ Q 3 2 tricks if the suit breaks 3-2 or West has have left a top honour in each hand ♠ J-x-x-x, as when East shows out on you can cater for it, so start the suit N the second round we can play low to by cashing the ace (or queen): a top W E the ten and pick up his holding. honour from the hand that has two S (Whilst it wouldn’t be fatal to honours to begin with. play the ace first and then low to the This is perhaps less easy to see when ♠ K Q 10 2 king we would end up in the wrong you have a 6-3 fit: ♥ A K Q hand, and have to waste an entry to ♦ A 9 7 get back). ♣ K J 4 With this suit: ♠ A Q 10 4 3 2

N W E ♥ A Q 10 3 S West North East South 2NT N ♠ K 9 8 Pass 6NT All Pass W E S We reach 6NT by South and the ♥ K 9 5 4 Again start by cashing the ace. If opponents lead the ♣10 to the ♣A and instead we lead low to the king then a club back, our king winning. we will come a cropper if East has all What is our plan? We should cash the ace first and lead four missing cards. Counting our top tricks we feel through the hand we think has the However there is an exception to the pretty good about this contract. We singleton. rule: have three spades, three hearts, three This is effectively just a guess, but we diamonds and two clubs. are of course thinking about any clues If the diamonds break 3-2 then we from the bidding or opening lead to ♠ A Q 10 6 5 3 2 have plenty of tricks, if they are 4-1

guide us on our way. We can make N then we will have to produce an extra W E four tricks if the suit is 3-2 or the suit S one from spades. is 4-1, providing we guess which hand Looking at the diamond suit gives has J-x-x-x. ♠ K 9 us mixed thoughts. Our usual rule (if What about this trump suit? it was a 4-4 fit) would be to cash one

Page 32 BRIDGE March 2017 Michael Byrne on Playing with the Odds Managing that Awkward Suit

of the double honours first in case an and when we play the ace and the nine succeed. honour drops, but that is not correct to the king we realise we have a loser. The only critical time is when East here: In that case it is time for plan B. has the length – let’s suppose he has We must turn to spades to get the four cards and West has three cards. extra trick. If you recall we had this All we have to do is decide which ♦ K Q 8 4 3 combination to play: is more likely – the jack being in the four-card holding or the jack being in N W E the three-card holding. S ♠ A 3 Do you see what I mean about simple logic? Any missing card is more likely ♦ A 9 7 N W E to be with the length, so this suggests S we should finesse. The case is even simpler if East Let’s imagine we did cash the king of ♠ K Q 10 2 has five or six cards, then it is this suit and East played an honour, overwhelmingly likely that the finesse we could lead low to the ace and then will be the better play. finesse on the way back if East showed And we now know we need to make Note that as a matter of good out, making five tricks. (If East is try- four tricks from it. technique, before taking the spade ing to fool us by playing the jack from This is one of my personal favourite finesse, you should cash your winners J-10 or J-10-x, this will show up on the card combinations to teach because in the other suits. It is possible that one second round when he follows suit). there is no maths required to under- of the opponents will misread your What about if West has a (seemingly) stand the right answer, just simple distribution and throw a few spades singleton honour? Now we would play logic and common sense. away, which would be right if you held low to the nine on the second round… There are two possible ways of only three of them. This might be the but wait – West wins the second playing this suit: full hand: diamond. a) Cash the ace, king and queen He might have J-10 doubleton which hoping the jack will drop. is unlucky, but he might also have b) Cash the ace and play the three to ♠ A 3 J-10-x and have fooled us simply by the ten, finessing East for the jack. ♥ J 5 4 playing one of his big ones at random. Which will gain when and which ♦ K Q 8 4 3 Taking this into account, the right should we choose? ♣ Q 3 2 way to play this suit is to cash the ace A lot of the time it won’t make any ♠ 9 7 4 ♠ J 8 6 5 first. If everyone follows low we will difference, and we should try and ♥ 10 8 7 N ♥ 9 6 3 2 ♦ J 10 6 5 W E ♦ 2 lead the nine to the king (playing a discount those cases immediately, to S high pip card may cause a nervous leave us with the ones that do make ♣ 10 9 8 ♣ A 7 6 5 defender to cover from J-10-x-x) and a difference. If, for example, West ♠ K Q 10 2 hope the suit splits 3-2. has any five cards then our play is ♥ A K Q If instead East drops a high honour irrelevant – either the jack is popping ♦ A 9 7 then we play the nine to the king once up doubleton in the short hand or it is ♣ K J 4 more, and if he shows out we can go guarded many times in the West hand. back to the ace of hearts and finesse, Actually, if we think about it, if West making four tricks. has any four cards then our decision Note that it would be quite wrong to We will also make four tricks if East doesn’t matter either. Once again he cash the ♠A-K-Q before embarking on shows out on the ace, as we can finesse either has the jack guarded, or he has the diamonds, that would effectively twice through West. four little cards, in which case the burn one of your bridges before you However, today there is no solace jack will fall from East if you cash the find out whether the one you plan to since West does indeed have ♦J-10-6-5 A-K-Q and finessing the 10 will also use is broken. ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 33 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions on Laws and Ethics Can You Refer to Your ?

If you fill in a and the contracts become was discarded at any time start of next week’s session. convention card, 2NT and 3♦ respectively. then it will win the trick, As to this happening Qare you allowed to However, on rare and in theory the director frequently, I do not really refer to it during the course occasions no-one notices needs to go through the believe it. There may be of play to remind yourself and both contracts tricks to find out any that stupidities like these but what your agreements are? are played in 3NT. were scored the wrong way. once they were not noticed Mike Fairclough, If the error is now spotted If it was realised at the end at the time, the likelihood is Caldy, Wirral. in the first auction, then I of the hand this might be that no-one will notice them assume the director allows practical. Later in the evening later so it does not matter. You may refer to the card play to stand, it might be impractical. The it between hands, but it is scored as 2NT. fact that there may have ♣♦♥♠ A but not once you However, what does the been some leads out of turn have taken your cards director do in the second after a player won a trick At a local club from the board until you case? I assume the board with a trump, but did not recently, we had put your cards back. is cancelled and as both realise does not matter since Qa ruling that parties are complicit in it became legal as soon I am unsure about. ♣♦♥♠ the error, do they both get as the next player played East was declarer in average minus? However, to the lead out of turn. 4♠. South had placed his what if this is not discovered Dependent on the hand, opening lead face down on Sometimes a till the session ends or even it might be quite easy for the table and his partner had player unwittingly later? What is the correction the director to ascertain said, ‘No questions.’ At this Qmakes a bid period? Or does the result how many tricks would have point, East started displaying after the final pass: have to be cancelled been won by each side, or her cards, thinking she regardless of time? near impossible. In the latter was dummy. The director West North East South I have the most awful case, I would have sympathy was called and ruled 1♥ Pass 2♣ feeling that such errors for him awarding average that West was to become Pass 2NT Pass Pass happen more often than minus to both sides (both declarer and East dummy. Pass 3NT Pass Pass we think with the less sides are at fault in allowing I could not find a precise Pass experienced players, but the extra round of bidding). reference for this situation no one ever finds out. Once the correction in my rule book. Perhaps West North East South Ian Dalziel, Ayrshire. period has passed, any East should be told to pick 1♠ Pass 2♦ result stands and cannot her cards up, and remain Pass 2NT Pass 3♦ The law is clear be altered. Unlike England as declarer, with N/S being Pass Pass Pass 3NT enough: all calls after which has worked out several able to take advantage of Pass Pass Pass A the final pass are different correction periods the information gained? cancelled, so as you say the in different situations, I What is your view? If this is discovered before first hand is simple enough: it believe in Scotland it is John Williams by email. play commences, the is scored as 2NT making the nearly always the default director applies Law 39 number of tricks they made. of half an hour after the If declarer wants to (Call after final pass). The In the second case, it was results are published. In a show her cards to irregular bid is cancelled played in 3♦. If a diamond club we recommend the A the defence, that

Page 34 BRIDGE March 2017 is her choice. It does not North, non-vulnerable, West then played the ♥4, as 3♦, which I thought was a stop her being declarer and opened 3♠. East passed, he had no spades. North at transfer and announced it as certainly the opponents and South bid 3NT with: first didn’t notice the small such, then I bid 3♥. Should I may take advantage. trump and started to take have just bid 3♥ without any The reason you cannot the ♥2 from her hand as announcement or passed? find a law is that there isn’t ♠ Q 9 3 2 she also was out of spades. Martin Epstein by email. one. Declarer has been ♥ 7 3 At no point did the ♥2 card decided during the bidding. ♦ A 8 7 6 5 leave her hand or was it You have to make It would be grossly unfair ♣ Q 9 placed on the table. She the correct bid in on the defenders if a player, then noticed the ♥4 and A your system without who thought the lead would played the ♥7 instead. West using his alert, so you did be better coming up to West, who had a good then said because he had the correct thing in bidding partner, could just face her hand, thought for some time seen the ♥2, North couldn’t 3♥. You also should alert cards and let it be so. and eventually passed. change her mind and play as the system requires, This was not a success, the ♥7. Is this correct? so you should alert 3♦ if ♣♦♥♠ as E/W can make a slam Jane Davies, your understanding of the in hearts or clubs. 3NT Romsey, Hants. system is that it is a transfer. The scoring of a by South went seven off Announcements never always and should really have The law says that apply when the other side Qcauses discussion in gone nine off. 3♠ by North declarer has played opened the bidding. So our small club (no qualified would have made easily. A a card when they you did the correct thing director). North was in 2♠. South’s 3NT looked to face it on the table, or hold except that you should have There were five cards still E/W like a it stationary face up close alerted not announced. to be played when North (an effective one), as it to the table. It sounds as led a diamond which West converted a good contract though neither of these was ♣♦♥♠ trumped with the master (3♠) into a terrible contract the case so the card may be ♠10. West had led to the (3NT), with no hope of changed. Declarer’s reason In a recent next trick before he realised making, intending only to for changing the card is competition, our he had a diamond. He deceive opponents. Cutting irrelevant: until it is played it Qopponent (North) immediately admitted the a long story short, the may be changed. It also does opened 1♣ third in hand revoke. E/W took no more director initially thought not matter who has seen it. with a tricks after the master trump South’s bid was psychic, What puzzles me is why the and 11 points (below). and N/S made their contact. but then decided it wasn’t. director did not rule this way. They were not damaged. What is your view? All players are required to call What should the ruling be? Steven Bliss, Woodstock. the director when attention ♠ Q 8 3 2 Fred Sleight by email. is drawn to an irregularity ♥ 5 3 2 I hope your club does which is clearly the case here. ♦ A Q When West led, allow psyches: it is It sounds as though West ♣ K 10 9 3 the revoke was A illegal to ban them, gave an incorrect ruling at A established and play though it is reasonable to the table, in which case all proceeds. When a player do so in novice and similar four players are at fault in This opening prevented wins the trick by revoking events. But requiring them accepting it. Of course, it may my partner from opening (by ruffing presumably), to be recorded is sensible have been rubber bridge, 1NT (with a balanced 12 then it is what is called a to avoid abuses such as in which case the law is the points) and gave them a two trick revoke, but tricks fielding or frivolous psyching. same and it is understandable successful contract in 1♥. won before the revoke are Certainly the hand shown why the players had to Is North’s opening bid not transferred. Since this is a psyche: South bid 3NT decide at the table. of 1♣ legal playing Acol? pair did not take another not because he thought it the We didn’t challenge it at trick after the revoke, best contract, but to mislead ♣♦♥♠ the time but afterwards only the revoke trick is the opponents which is the we wondered. transferred to the other side whole point of a psyche. East opened 1♠. Nick Goulder, Alresford. at the end of the hand. I had 19 points ♣♦♥♠ Qwith ♠K-Q-x and It is legal to play any ♣♦♥♠ doubled, West bid 2♠ and opening in third My partner, North, when the bidding came A hand with at least My local club was playing in 3♥. round to me, I bid 2NT to eight points. Legality of allows psychic bids QEast led a spade show my 19 points. Partner bids does not depend Qbut requires them and North asked for a spade alerted, thinking I was on the system played. to be recorded. Recently from dummy to be played. showing the minors, and bid Furthermore, opening light

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 35 third in hand has been part the bridgemates. On doing whether to play it but has At the end of the hand, of Acol ever since it was so, we realised our table was definitely decided to do N/S pointed out, in friendly invented and is very normal. an arrow switch. We called so and is merely making fashion, that the second the director and he told us sure his opponents are not double should be alerted ♣♦♥♠ to score as normal and he misled into thinking he has as it was for penalties would make the necessary a decision on this trick. not take-out. What is the Our opponents led adjustment. At our table, If a player puts his card ruling on this, please? their master ♣Q South was the only player in face down and then plays Chris Williams by email. Qupon which my the room to pass his 12 HCP a different one, I feel this partner discarded a spade. (including ♥K-Q-x-x-x) and might be illegal insofar N/S are certainly She won the next trick, then as my partner and I both as it misleads opponents, correct. It is a very led the now master ♣10. had 10 HCP, the hand was which you are not allowed A simple rule: if a Clearly she had revoked, but passed out. The results at to do by actions. player doubles a natural had not won the revoke trick. the 10 tables were a positive There is no specific suit bid at the one, two The director awarded two for E/W ranging from +100 prohibition on putting a or three level then it is for tricks to the non-offending to +710. In good humour, I card face down. For the take-out or it requires an side. We thought one trick did suggest to the director opening lead, of course, alert. Strangely this rule, the was sufficient to restore that North‘s failure to ensure it is a requirement. simplest alerting rule of all, is equity. The Yellow Book is the polarity was correct had very often got wrong. What not clear, please advise. seriously disadvantaged ♣♦♥♠ players do is to think that Joan Bronkhorst by email. us, as we would have the earlier auction matters: opened the South hand Declarer‘s LHO it does not. Alternatively, You (and probably and received somewhere leads a heart to a players think that whatever the director) are in the range above, instead Qtrick (dummy has is usual matters: it does A confusing penalty of a complete bottom. no hearts left). Declarer not. The aim is to have the tricks and equity. When Any comments? calls for the ♣Q from simplest rule possible. your partner revoked she Ted Crump, Aston Clinton. dummy, which is played, but did not win the revoke trick, realises immediately that ♣♦♥♠ so one trick is transferred Bridge is a game of he meant the ♦Q and says to the other side because technique, judgement so without hesitation and I was very this is a one trick revoke. A and luck. When before declarer‘s RHO has interested in an But equity is a different your opponents make a played a card. Is declarer Qanswer you gave matter: it means that the judgement that is abnormal allowed to rectify this error in BRIDGE 168 stating, revoking side never gains you will often find you get and play the ♦Q instead? ‘a card is not played by from a revoke. So if, by her a top or a bottom: that is David Bowers by email. declarer until he puts it revoke, your side gained the nature of bridge. The on the table and leaves it two tricks, then two tricks failure to arrow-switch is If it was merely an there or holds it stationary are transferred not one. irrelevant. You and your error in calling for just above the table.‘ In extreme cases, this opponents do the best you A the card and not Law 45 states, could be several tricks. can with the cards you hold. a change of mind he is ‘maintained in such a Without seeing the full allowed to change it since position as to indicate hand, I do not know whether ♣♦♥♠ he attempted to do so it has been played.‘ the director was correct, immediately. It is irrelevant Surely different directors since I cannot tell from Can a player place whether RHO has played, but could interpret this in your description whether a card face down if he had then he would be different ways. Can you the revoke gained your Qon the table while allowed to change his card. offer any guidance? side two tricks or not. they ‘think‘ about whether Philip Hickman by email. to actually play it? I can ♣♦♥♠ ♣♦♥♠ see nothing to forbid this, I think my description but it does puzzle some of Our bidding is close to the intent We were playing a our players who think it sequence was: A of the law, but really double hesitation should not be allowed. Q it is up to the director to QMitchell, which in Susan Hanrahan by email judge whether it has been the later rounds required West North East South played. Note that opponents arrow switches at various It is generally 2♥1 saying that they had seen tables. Having sat down at accepted amongst Dbl 3♥2 Pass Pass it is irrelevant to whether one table, we had started A ethical players that Dbl All Pass it has been played. The to sort our cards when the a player who puts his card 1Announced as weak. wording of the law does director reminded us to check face down is not thinking 2Pre-emptive cover other possibilities

Page 36 BRIDGE March 2017 where it clearly has been told her I could not really played, for example, if a answer RHO without giving More Tips from Bernard Magee player holds it against his unauthorised information forehead it could easily be to partner. The director did interpreted as played. But not know what to do. With a weak 5-card usually put on the table, held That ended the bidding. stationary above the table, RHO was two down playing major consider held stationary touching the me for length in hearts – table, or even possibly held he would have been one opening 1NT just above the table but be- down otherwise – as I had ing rotated are all played. not alerted the double. ive-card majors are you to make that plan. The main exception is that That gave us a top, but powerful things, but if where a declarer takes a fortunately did not affect Fthe quality of the suit card out, takes it down to the the competition as our is poor, bidding it twice ♠ A 7 6 5 3 ♠ 8 2 table and immediately takes opponents came top overall can be misleading for your ♥ Q J 10 N ♥ 7 6 ♦ W E ♦ it back, then it is not played. anyway. Should I have partner. When you hold A 7 S K 8 6 5 done anything differently? just one honour in a five- ♣ K 7 5 ♣ A Q J 4 3 ♣♦♥♠ Keith Jackson, card major and the hand Cheam, Surrey. is balanced with 12-14 My RHO (dealer) points, it can work better West East opened 1♥ There is nothing to open 1NT – you are 1♠ 2♣ Qand I bid 3♣ illegal about giving emphasising the balanced 2NT 3NT holding this hand: A unauthorised nature of the hand rather information to partner: it is than the strength and A poor spade suit, but with partner‘s problem to deal length of the major. 14 HCP, a strong heart ♠ 5 2 with it legally. However, holding and a five-card suit, ♥ J not telling your opponents you can evaluate the hand ♦ K 10 3 your system is illegal. ♠ A 7 6 5 3 ♠ J 2 as worth 15 points and

♣ K Q 9 8 6 4 2 If you believe that the ♥ K 5 2 N ♥ 7 6 plan to rebid in no-trumps, W E correct explanation of your ♦ Q 7 S ♦ K 8 6 5 giving you the best of both system is that partner‘s ♣ A 8 7 ♣ K Q J 4 3 worlds – able to show your LHO asked my partner double was for penalties then major and the balanced the strength of my jump you should alert it (penalty nature of the hand. overcall, who said, ‘strong,‘ doubles of suit bids are With this West hand, you So, whenever you are (forgetting we play weak always alertable), explain should open 1NT, which choosing your opening jump overcalls even at it as penalties when asked East would pass. If you bid you should also be unfavourable vulnerability, and let partner worry choose 1♠, then over East’s planning your rebid, unless which this was). LHO bid 3♥. about his ethical position. 2♣ response you are a you open in no-trumps. Partner doubled Then, at the end of the little stuck – 2♠ is the likely Therefore with a five-card presenting me with a hand, you explain that choice, but that is ugly. major, if you choose to problem. I knew it was a partner‘s description of your The key when choosing open it, you should be take-out double because bid was wrong and they whether to open 1NT planning your next move. partner had given the wrong can ask for a ruling and or one-of-a-major is With two long suits, your explanation. However, if adjustment if necessary. contemplating your second plan will be to rebid in the the correct explanation had That covers the alerting bid: with a strong major, second suit. However, with been given, I would have and explaining but there then rebidding your suit just one long suit, then you assumed the double was is a further complication: is comfortable, but with need to think carefully about for penalties even though your partner‘s explanation a weak one, it is not so. your next bid. If you are not our system card showed has given you unauthorised Contemplating your rebid strong enough to rebid take-out doubles up to 3♠. information as well. You must can also allow you to stretch no-trumps and your suit RHO asked me whether it not take anything from his with some 14-counts. If you looks too feeble to bid was a take-out or penalty explanation and must make hold a five-card major and twice, then you should double. I called the director sure you do not gain from it 14 HCP, then you are on contemplate opening 1NT. and away from the table in any way. ■ the borderline of being able With a strong five-card to rebid in no-trumps, you major with more than one can add strength for your honour, then open in the E-mail your questions (including your postal address) five-card suit, so holding suit, particularly when you on bridge laws to: [email protected] a ten as well might sway hold spades. ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 37 All You Need to Know by Andrew Kambites

About Advanced Finessing

n my last article, I considered are split between the two defenders. With Suit B, you start by leading finesse positions where you were With Layout D, dummy’s ♠10 loses towards the ♥J, and subsequently lead concerned with the position of to East’s ♠J, but not to be deterred towards the ♥K. Ionly one card. In this article, I consider you subsequently successfully finesse If West has both the ♥A and ♥Q, suits where the position of more than dummy’s ♠Q. Two spade tricks. With you will make two heart tricks. If East one card is under the microscope and Layout E, your lead to dummy’s ♠10 has the ♥A-Q, you cannot make a how our decisions are influenced by loses to East’s ♠K, and your ♠A Q are single heart trick. If the missing heart the whole hand. How should you play both winners. Two spade tricks. honours are split, you make one heart Suits A and B for maximum tricks, trick. assuming you have plenty of outside entries to both hands and can afford to Layout D ♣♦♥♠ lose the lead as often as necessary? ♠ A Q 10 aving identified your N ♠ K 8 5 W E ♠ J 9 7 6 main chance of finessing S Suit A Suit B Hsuccessfully, look for a ♠ A Q 10 ♥ K J 5 ♠ 4 3 2 second chance, but only if it does not jeopardise your main chance. N N W E W E S S Layout E ♠ 4 3 2 ♥ 4 3 2 ♠ A Q 10 Suit G Suit H ♦ A Q 9 ♣ A J 10 N ♠ J 8 5 W E ♠ K 9 7 6 N S N For Suit A, there are four possible W E W E S S layouts of the missing honours, as ♠ 4 3 2 shown in Layouts C to F. You should ♦ 4 3 2 ♣ 4 3 2 aim for three tricks and hope for a layout such as Layout C. Start by Layout F demonstrates the ‘unlucky’ finessing the ♠10. When it wins, return position. Your finesse of the♠ 10 loses With Suit G, your main chance of a to your hand and finesse the ♠Q. to East’s ♠J. When you then finesse second diamond trick is to finesse dummy’s ♠Q, that also loses. All that dummy’s ♦Q, but provided losing the hard work has given you just the one lead does not worry you, you have a Layout C spade trick you started with, the ♠A. second chance. ♠ A Q 10 Start by finessing the ♦9. Most of the ♦ ♦ N time this will lose to the 10 or J and ♠ K J 5 W E ♠ 9 8 7 6 Layout F you will later have to finesse dummy’s S ♠ A Q 10 ♦Q if you want a second diamond ♠ 4 3 2 N trick, but occasionally the diamonds ♠ 9 8 5 W E ♠ K J 7 6 will be distributed as in Layout J. If S that is the case your play of the ♦9 Layouts D and E illustrate the ♠ 4 3 2 will force the ♦K. This is just one little positions when the missing honours extra chance.

Page 38 BRIDGE March 2017 particular defender to hold both of Layout J two cards is inferior to a line of play Hand P Hand Q ♦ A Q 9 that requires a defender to hold one ♠ A 5 4 ♠ A Q 6 ♥ J 3 2 ♥ A 3 2 N particular card. ♦ J 10 6 5 W E ♦ K 8 7 I shall now concentrate on some ♦ 8 6 3 ♦ Q 5 4 S suits where you have a choice of plays ♣ K 6 5 4 ♣ K 5 3 2 ♦ 4 3 2 available. Suppose you have to play N N suits M and N for the maximum tricks W E W E S S

possible. In each case, you cash the ace N Suit H is interesting. You are missing and lead towards the remaining king- ♠ K 3 2 ♠ KW 3 2E S the ♣K and ♣Q, touching honours. jack. Both defenders play low on the ♥ A 5 4 ♥ 6 5 Correct play is to start by finessing the first round and West plays low when ♦ A K 2 ♦ A K 2 ♣10. Usually it will lose to a higher you lead towards dummy. Do you ask ♣ A J 3 2 ♣ A J 7 6 4 honour. However, if you subsequently for dummy’s king, hoping the queen finesse the ♣J, it is more likely than drops, or do you finesse the jack? Contract 3NT. Contract 6♣. not to win. You make two club tricks if Lead ♦Q. Lead ♥K. West has the ♣K-Q, or if the missing club honours are split. You only lose Suit M Suit N both if East has the ♣K and ♠ K J 6 5 ♥ K J 7 6 5 In Hand P, your contract depends on ♣Q. That is only about a 25% chance. making four club tricks. Win the ♦K, N N Your chances of success are roughly W E W E enter dummy with the ♣K and finesse S S 75%, far better than a basic finesse. your ♣J (eight ever). You are hoping A line of play that requires one ♠ A 4 3 2 ♥ A 4 3 2 for East to hold the ♣Q and the suit particular defender to hold either of to break 3-2. two cards is superior to a line of play However, consider your play if West that requires a defender to hold one opened the bidding with 1NT (12-14). particular card. ♣♦♥♠ Between your hand and dummy you have 27 points. It is impossible for East ight ever, nine never. to have the ♣Q, otherwise West would Suit K Suit L not be strong enough to open 1NT. ♠ K J 10 ♥ Q 10 9 E Therefore you should hope to drop the ♣Q doubleton in West’s hand. N N W E W E There is a saying, ‘Eight ever, You need a very good reason to depart S S nine never’ which is worthy of from the ‘eight ever’ principle. Here ♠ 4 3 2 ♥ 4 3 2 consideration. It means that with your reason is pretty conclusive. eight cards in a suit, missing queen In Hand Q, the ‘nine never’ saying and four others, you tend to finesse, suggests you should play for the In Suit K you are missing the ♠A whereas if you hold nine cards in the drop in the absence of any clues to and ♠Q. Which card are you really suit, missing queen and three others, the contrary. Therefore, you cash the interested in? you tend not to finesse. ♣A-K rather than finesse the ♣J. You will lose to the ♠A wherever Thus if you rigorously apply this However, it is fairly close and it is, but you can avoid losing to the with Suit M, you will finesse the ♠J on sometimes you might have good ♠Q if West has it. Aim to lead twice second round, whereas with Suit N, reason to depart from this. Suppose towards dummy’s ♠K-J-10, inserting you will ask for dummy’s ♥K (called West had opened 3♥ before you got the ♠10 and ♠J if West plays low. ‘playing for the drop’ or trying to to 6♣. Now you expect that West Similarly in Suit L, the ♥J is the drop the missing queen). This saying started with seven hearts, therefore interesting card. Start by leading has assumed the status of a holy grail leaving him with just six other cards. towards the ♥9. If that forces the ♥A among some players so it is sensible to Common sense would suggest that or ♥K subsequently lead from your examine it in detail. the ♣Q is far more likely to be with hand again towards the ♥10. You can The phrase: ‘Eight ever’, meaning East than West, so be prepared to back develop a heart trick if West has the ever, or always, take the finesse rather your judgement. Enter dummy with ♥J. It might seem to you that there is a than play for the drop is fairly clearcut. the ♣K and finesse your ♣J. second plan that might generate you a You need a good reason to depart from Sayings like, ‘Eight ever, nine never’ heart trick, namely leading from your this principle. have some use but I don’t like using hand towards the ♥Q. That requires The phrase, ‘Nine never’ is far less the word ‘never’ at bridge. It gives rise West to have the ♥A and ♥K, two clearcut. The slightest clues to the to a dogmatic approach which harms cards. Leading towards the ♥10 only contrary might persuade you to do the game. needs West to have one card, the ♥J. otherwise. Frequently, something looks right in A line of play that requires one Look at Hands P and Q below. isolation but when looked at in the

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 39 context of the whole hand there is a different story to tell. About Advanced Finessing Quiz Consider Hands R and S. by Andrew Kambites

(Answers on page 42) Hand R Hand S In Layouts 1-8 you have insufficient top tricks to fulfil your contract. From where ♠ 8 7 2 ♠ 8 7 2 will you develop the necessary extra tricks? ♥ 9 3 2 ♥ 8 3 2 ♦ 7 5 4 ♦ 7 5 4 ♣ K 4 3 2 ♣ K 4 3 2 Layout 1 Layout 2 Layout 3 ♠ 5 3 2 ♠ 5 3 2 ♠ K 10 3 N N W E W E ♥ K J 10 ♥ A J 10 ♥ 6 5 4 S S ♦ 7 5 2 ♦ A Q 3 ♦ 6 5 3 ♠ A K 3 ♠ A K 3 ♣ 8 5 4 3 ♣ A K Q J ♣ 6 5 4 2

♥ A 8 4 ♥ A Q 4 N N N W E W E W E ♦ A K 3 ♦ A K 3 S S S ♣ A J 7 6 ♣ A J 7 6 ♠ A K 6 ♠ A K ♠ 7 6 4 2 ♥ 7 3 2 ♥ 6 4 3 2 ♥ A K Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. ♦ A 6 4 ♦ 9 5 4 ♦ A K 2 ♦ ♦ Lead Q. Lead Q. ♣ A K Q J ♣ 8 5 4 3 ♣ A K Q J

Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. In Hand R, you need four club tricks Lead ♠Q. Lead ♠Q. Lead ♣10. for your contract. It is an easy hand to play: enter dummy with your ♣K and finesse the♣ J. Either it works, or it doesn’t. Layout 4 Layout 5 Layout 6 Hand S is harder to play because ♠ K 10 3 ♠ 3 2 ♠ 3 2 with the ♥Q you have more options. ♥ 4 3 2 ♥ 7 5 4 3 ♥ 7 5 4 3 ♦ ♦ ♦ The club suit is the same as in Hand 7 6 4 7 5 3 7 5 3 ♣ 6 4 3 2 ♣ A K 6 5 ♣ A 7 6 5 R, but that involves you using your only entry to dummy, the ♣K, to N N N W E W E W E take the club finesse. If clubs don’t S S S provide you with four tricks, then ♠ 7 6 4 2 ♠ A K J 10 9 8 ♠ A K J 10 9 8 you have no further entry to dummy ♥ A K ♥ 8 6 2 ♥ 9 6 2 to try the heart finesse. You might be ♦ A K 3 ♦ A K ♦ A K aware that a different approach might ♣ A K Q J ♣ 7 4 ♣ K 4 work, involving using your ♣K entry to finesse hearts rather than clubs. For Contract 3NT. Contract 4♠. Contract 4♠. example, cash the ♣A, enter dummy Lead ♥Q. Lead ♦Q. Lead ♦Q. with the ♣K and then finesse the ♥Q. You might then wonder which line gives you the better chance of success. Experts can calculate the respective Layout 7 Layout 8 ♠ ♠ probabilities: most club players A Q J 7 6 ♥ 7 6 ♥ 8 3 2 cannot. ♦ A Q 10 6 5 ♦ A Q 10 5 This line gives you two chances ♣ A 10 9 ♣ A Q 9 8 (doubleton ♣Q or the heart finesse) rather than just one (club finesse) and N N W E W E there is a useful principle that two S S chances are better than one. ♠ K 10 9 ♠ A 9 Of course, if the heart finesse works, ♥ A K 8 2 ♥ A K 6 5 you can then develop your ninth trick ♦ 4 3 2 ♦ 4 3 2 from the fourth round of clubs. ♣ K Q J ♣ K J 10 3 Frequently in bridge you have a choice of plays for your contract. Contract 6NT. Contract 3NT. Make as well informed a decision as Lead ♥Q. Lead ♠K. you can, follow it through, and don’t worry if it doesn’t work. ■

Page 40 BRIDGE March 2017 Answers to Bernard Magee’s BERNARD Bidding Quizzes 4-6 MAGEE’S on the Cover INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL CD

almost always correct to compete to the 4. Dealer West. Love All. three-level over the two-level if both sides DECLARER ♠ A Q J 9 8 7 6 ♠ 2 have a fit. ♥ 4 3 2 N ♥ Q J 10 Once again you have seen your PLAY ♦ 7 6 5 W E ♦ A K 4 2 opponents agree a suit at the two-level, S ♣ Void ♣ K Q 10 9 6 which means you should be playing take- out doubles over it. So often, if your side has not located a fit yet, then the best call MAC or West North East South will be a take-out double allowing your Windows 3♠ 4♣ Dbl Pass partner to choose. You would be happy ? with any choice your partner made. The take-out double suggests that you are Pass. Once again, you have opened short in the opponents’ suit and would with a pre-emptive opening, this time at like to compete for the deal. Here, East the three level: showing 5-9 HCP and a would bid 3♣ and you find your best seven-card suit. No surprise then that the contract. rule is the same – no need to bid again. Your partner is in charge of the auction – there is no sense in playing a double as take-out, because he knows you have 6. Dealer South. Love All. ♠ ♠ a seven-card spade suit. East’s double is A K 6 5 8 4 Bernard develops your undoubtedly for penalties. The fact you ♥ 4 2 N ♥ 6 5 3 declarer play technique in have a void in clubs only means that your ♦ A 9 8 7 W E ♦ J 6 5 3 S the course of ten partner is likely to have more. ♣ Q 6 5 ♣ A K 4 2 introductory exercises and This is such an important aspect of pre-emptive bidding to stick to – once 120 complete deals. you have chosen what level to open at, West North East South l Suit Establishment stick by your decision and let partner do 1♥ in No-trumps the rest of the bidding. Dbl 2♥ Dbl Pass l ? Suit Establishment in Suits 3♦. You made a take-out double on l Hold-ups 5. Dealer East. Love All. the first round, showing opening values l Ruffing for ♠ A J 8 7 6 ♠ 5 and shortage in their suit (hearts). Your Extra Tricks ♥ 4 N ♥ A 5 3 2 partner has now responded with another £76 W E ♦ 8 7 4 ♦ A 9 6 2 double, what does he mean? l Entries in S No-trumps ♣ K 7 3 2 ♣ A J 5 4 The opponents have agreed a suit at the two-level so his double will be for l Delaying take-out. He is asking you to choose a Drawing Trumps West North East South suit rather than him making the choice. l Using the Lead 1♦ 1♥ However, the key element in the auction 1♠ 2♥ Pass Pass is that there is only one unbid major. If l Trump Control ? your partner had four spades, he would l Endplays & Avoidance surely have bid spades rather than make l Using the Bidding Double. You have eight HCP and your a ‘responsive’ double. partner has opened, so your side has at Bearing this in mind, you should least half of the points. In these ‘shared’ choose your better minor. As you can Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, hands it is so important to compete see, East could not support spades but Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH aggressively for the partscore. Generally, was equally happy to play in the minor ( 01483 489961 if one side has a fit then so does the other, of your choice: 3♦ is certainly the best www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop but it can take time to locate your fit. It is contract. ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 41 have been introduced to the WANTED ‘beautiful game’ through this Can anyone recommend READERS’ medium. We have shared a simple, modern scoring in life’s joys and sorrows, computer program for a births of grandchildren (and weekly event averaging recently great-grandchildren), 5 to 7 tables? divorce, marriage and death. We don’t use bridgemates LETTERS Through bridge we have met and the programme I use and forged friendships with so currently is very inflexible, BRIDGE IN OZ I suspect the answer would many lovely people. Without eg. it won’t allow me to I would like to add a rider be university, although there exception, it has enriched all replace past players’ names to Margaret Williams’ email is a core of ex-police officers our lives and we are justifiably with a new name beside in Readers’ Letters, see in the clubs that I frequent. proud of achieving our Silver their number. I just want a BRIDGE 168, regarding How do you generate Anniversary. We celebrated result for the evening, not playing bridge in Australia. an interest that was never with lunch at Hartwell House calculating handicaps or The reason they play from there? For me, learning Hotel, Aylesbury followed anything beyond the result. 9am onwards until late to play bridge went on by an evening of bridge. Barbara Hill, afternoon and not in the my bucket list in 2000, Margaret Holman (on Lytham St Annes, Lancs. evenings, is that it is so hot after continually seeing behalf of the Aylesbury Vale during the day, everyone the hands in newspapers Bridge Group) by email. STAMPS FOR LITTLE VOICE is glad to escape to an and not understanding Further to my telephone call air-conditioned room and what they meant. A REMEDY today, I have pleasure in play cards. By evening it Is there any way of I wish to express my great enclosing a pack of assorted has cooled down slightly. attracting pupils at school? sympathy on your wife’s used stamps which I hope I must say, I did find (Before uni) there must passing. Clearly, you had will be of use for the above it strange playing at 9 be education and school devoted years to raising charitable organisation. in the morning, but it is magazines where there and loving a devoted family I am so pleased to have horses for courses and would be an opportunity and it is inevitable you found an outlet for these their facilities are great. to promote the benefits of feel a great sense of loss. and will continue to collect Davina Arkell, bridge as an activity/interest The best antidote for these them on their behalf. Godalming, Surrey. (recently as well as its social rewards? situations is to be busy (the Sheila Richie, on holiday in Queensland). Mike Rennolds, voice of experience) and it Surbiton, Surrey. East Wickham, Kent. is my hope that, with your ABOUT THE EBU family and your multitude LOOKING FOR… SPIES I read with interest the article SOLID SILVER of bridge activities, you will I am doing some research by Jeremy Dhondy on page 6 Can this be matched? We presently find some comfort, for an article about bridge of BRIDGE 169 about the fall are a group of bridge players peace and great thankfulness players who may have worked in membership. Diminishing who met at evening classes at for all you had shared. at either Bletchley Park or interest is not confined to The Grange School, Aylesbury Our bridge class for the similar listening stations. bridge. Bowls and golf clubs in 1991 under the tutorage of last six years has been at I would very much like to have similar problems and Mike Robinson. Arising from the Wilmslow Guild with hear from people who have are also looking for ways to that, eight of us got together our excellent tutor, Jenny anecdotal information. The increase their membership. playing bridge in respective Morris. All the class is fully angle I am pursuing is this: My experience of bridge homes on Wednesday aware of the honour I felt on were they recruited because is that it is predominantly evenings. 25 years later – we playing with you (hopeless of their ability to play bridge, confined to a certain type are still playing. Sadly, in the as I was) during a cruise amongst other reasons? and group. The EBU pitch intervening years two of our around the Black Sea in Please contact me via in The Daily Telegraph just group have passed away. 2008. They also know [email protected] reinforces my observations. However, two of our what a wonderful helpful Shireen Mohandes by email. There are very few bridge holiday ‘stand-ins’ then atmosphere you created clubs in the London borough joined us on a permanent during the cruise, culminating SACRIFICES of Bexley. The posher London basis. All of our members in a very happy party on I have read with interest the borough of Bromley, with subsequently progressed to the last day. You did such articles on the EBU. It is good a ‘better postcode’ on the playing bridge at club level. a lot for so many people. to hear that the organisation other hand, is positively Two of whom, Peter Holman With reiterated condolences has done much in the last awash with clubs. and Russell Tobin, successfully and every good wish 2-3 years to promote the If a straw poll was run tuition groups for The for the New Year. game and examine the conducted on where the Buckingham and District Muriel Semple, situation regarding younger players first learned to play, U3A. Over 100 players Wilmslow, Cheshire. players. 44

Page 42 BRIDGE March 2017 Answers to About Advanced Finessing Quiz on page 40

In Layouts 1-8 you have insufficient top tricks to fulfil your contract. From where will you develop the necessary extra tricks?

Layout 1 Layout 2 Layout 3 Layout 4 Layout 5 Layout 6 Layout 7 Layout 8 ♠ 5 3 2 ♠ 5 3 2 ♠ K 10 3 ♠ K 10 3 ♠ 3 2 ♠ 3 2 ♠ A Q J ♠ 7 6 ♥ K J 10 ♥ A J 10 ♥ 6 5 4 ♥ 4 3 2 ♥ 7 5 4 3 ♥ 7 5 4 3 ♥ 7 6 ♥ 8 3 2 ♦ 7 5 2 ♦ A Q 3 ♦ 6 5 3 ♦ 7 6 4 ♦ 7 5 3 ♦ 7 5 3 ♦ A Q 10 6 5 ♦ A Q 10 5 ♣ 8 5 4 3 ♣ A K Q J ♣ 6 5 4 2 ♣ 6 4 3 2 ♣ A K 6 5 ♣ A 7 6 5 ♣ A 10 9 ♣ A Q 9 8

N N N N N N N N W E W E W E W E W E W E W E W E S S S S S S S S

♠ A K 6 ♠ A K ♠ 7 6 4 2 ♠ 7 6 4 2 ♠ A K J 10 9 8 ♠ A K J 10 9 8 ♠ K 10 9 ♠ A 9 ♥ 7 3 2 ♥ 6 4 3 2 ♥ A K ♥ A K ♥ 8 6 2 ♥ 9 6 2 ♥ A K 8 2 ♥ A K 6 5 ♦ A 6 4 ♦ 9 5 4 ♦ A K 2 ♦ A K 3 ♦ A K ♦ A K ♦ 4 3 2 ♦ 4 3 2 ♣ A K Q J ♣ 8 5 4 3 ♣ A K Q J ♣ A K Q J ♣ 7 4 ♣ K 4 ♣ K Q J ♣ K J 10 3

Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. Contract 4♠. Contract 4♠. Contract 6NT. Contract 3NT. Lead ♠Q. Lead ♠Q. Lead ♣10. Lead ♥Q. Lead ♦Q. Lead ♦Q. Lead ♥Q. Lead ♠K.

1 You have seven top tricks: ♠K. However, you don’t fear have two options. cash the ♠A, enter dummy the ♠A-K, ♦A and ♣A-K-Q-J. losing the lead, so you can af- Option 1: You can cash the ♠A with the ♣A and take a spade You need two heart tricks. It ford to give yourself a second (in case West has the ♠Q sin- finesse. doesn’t matter who has the chance without jeopardising gleton) and then enter dummy ♥A, but you require West to your main chance. Win the with the ♣A to finesse the ♠8. 7 You have eight top tricks hold the ♥Q. Win the ♠A and ♣A and lead a spade, intend- You will escape a spade loser outside diamonds: three lead the ♥2 to dummy’s ♥10. ing to insert dummy’s ♠10 if if West has two or more small spades, ♥A-K and three clubs. If it wins the trick or loses to West plays low. Most of the spades, but you cannot avoid Remember, ♠A-K-Q-J-10-9 the ♥A you can later lead a time, East will win with the ♠Q a spade loser if West has a will only produce three tricks second heart to your ♥J. or ♠J, forcing you to fall back small singleton spade, giv- because neither hand has on a finesse of dummy’s ♠K. ing East the ♠Q and 3 small more than three spades: simi- 2 You have eight top tricks: Just occasionally, West will spades. larly with clubs. You need four the ♠A-K, ♥A, ♦A and ♣A-K- have the ♠Q and ♠J and the Option 2: You can cross to diamond tricks. Q-J. You need a ninth trick. ♠10 will force out the ♠A. dummy with the ♣A to finesse Win the ♥A and finesse Having won the ♠A you could the ♠8, then re-enter dummy dummy’s ♦10. Later, finesse try the diamond finesse, a 4 The spade suit is identical with the ♣K to take a second the ♦Q and hope for a 3-2 50% chance, or you could try to Layout 3, but this time you spade finesse. That succeeds diamond break. There are taking two heart finesses. This probably haven’t got enough if East has the ♠Q and three three things that can work for latter play will succeed 75% time to investigate all your small spades, but you will you: West might have the ♦J, of the time, only failing you if chances. The heart lead forc- feel silly if West has the ♠Q West might have the ♦K and East has the ♥K and ♥Q. es out your ♥A, then when the singleton. diamonds might break 3-2. Start by finessing the ♥10. defenders win a trick, a sec- Now compare the two op- You need at least two of these East is likely to win and re- ond heart will force out your tions. Either works if spades three favourable positions to turn a spade. When you take ♥K, leaving you unable to break 3-2 with the ♠Q onside. work. the ♠K you should keep to lose the lead again. You must Option 1 is best if West has your original plan, finessing rely on your main chance. the singleton ♠Q. Option 2 8 You have eight top tricks, the ♥J. Win the ♥A and lead a spade is best if West has any other the ♠A, ♥A-K, ♦A and four to dummy’s ♠K. small singleton. Option 2 is clubs. You need one extra 3 You have eight top tricks, clearly preferable. diamond trick. If you lose the the ♥A-K, ♦A-K and ♣A-K-Q- 5 You have three inescap- lead it is likely to be fatal as J. Your ninth trick must come able heart losers so you must 6 You have only one entry the defenders will be able to from the spade suit. Your best avoid a trump loser. Missing to dummy, the ♣A so Option cash enough spade tricks to chance is to hope that West five spades including the ♠Q, 2 (finessing spades twice) is beat you, so win the ♠A and has the ♠A, leading up to the you intend to finesse but you now not possible. Win the ♦A, finesse dummy’s ♦Q. ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 43 42 While I agree with most companies now make Jeremy Dhondy that we need their products available a National Organisation to to be downloaded and CHARITY EVENTS govern the game, I consider use a protection code. MARCH 2017 APRIL 2017 it somewhat arrogant and Bob Blower (‘Most Dutiful thoughtless to say it is a sad Husband prize-winner’, 2 WARWICKSHIRE AND and negative attitude by Aegean Odyssey, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE AIR AMBULANCE those who do not wish to be September 2016). Rugby Bridge Club, involved in tournaments etc. Railway Club, Surely he realises that this is GLOSSY COVERS Hillmorton Road CV22 5AL true in any sport...eg when I thought I had read £14 per person to include an excellent supper. a football club supporter sometime that you proposed Chris Malthouse does not go to the club’s to remedy this matter but I ( 01788 561779 matches to give just one have been unable to find Peter Langley example. Secondly, he totally the reference. I therefore ( 02476 540211 ignores the considerable look forward to your advice 21 ST NEOTS MUSEUM expense incurred in playing in the next issue, that there Eacon Soton Church. in tournaments, even county will be an imminent return 10am for 10.30am start. £15. 2 ANIMALS ASIA Jean Searle ( 01480 212298 ones; we haven’t all got the to paper which will accept Bridge Masterclass income to cope with it. When, written references relevant with Andrew Robson. occasionally, I did play in such to the bidding quizzes. St John’s Church Centre, MAY 2017 Hartley Wintney, competitions, it was a I am baffled as to the Hampshire 12 CHILDREN’S CHARITIES for me and I didn’t feel it was assumption that a glossy RG27 8ED. Doddington Village Hall, March. right to indulge my interest paper cover is somehow 10am – 3.30/4pm 10am for 10.30am start. £16. at my family’s expense. indicative of quality, as surely (Doors open at 9.45am). Val Topliss ( 01354 653696 £46 each or £184 per table I know there were then it is the content that matters. including lunch. 25 STAMFORD BURGHLEY and still are many local Whilst I don’t always follow Kay ( 01252 793811 ROTARY CLUB players who feel this way. the discussions related to the [email protected] Bridge Tea in Tinwell Village They still love the game. management of the EBU, Gary ( 07800 555863 Hall, PE9 3UD. [email protected] 1.15 for 1.30pm. £8.00. Mr R Sendall, your magazine seems to Alan Kinch ( 01780 444276 Retford, Notts. offer much that is pertinent 3 LETCHWORTH HOWARD [email protected] to the enjoyment and ROTARY CLUB AWAITING improvement of bridge for Garden House Hospice Care, The Settlement, Letchworth. JUNE 2017 DEVELOPMENTS players of varying ability. 2.00pm. Chicago Bridge Drive. My wife has bought dozens Peter Ashby, London, W13. £7.50 pp inc full afternoon tea. 16 GT STUKELEY of instructional DVDs over You read it right. Alan Fraser ( 01462 685448 CONSERVATIVE CLUB [email protected] Village Hall, Gt Stukeley. the years, but we now are I’m still working on it… 10am for 10.30am start. £15. starting to have a problem 17 ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY Kay Brownlow as most new laptops and JUST IN TIME AND LITTLE EARS ( 01480 880663 all tablets (eg iPad) do not I would like to say thank you Kenilworth Bridge Club Sheila Stephenson Afternoon Bridge and ( 01480 457338 have CD/DVD drives. for the articles you published Cream Tea. Tickets £14. It would be nice to play by Julian Pottage and Jeremy Tournament Director: the videos whilst on holiday Dhondy on ‘Multi Twos’. Michael Sallis. JULY 2017 on her iPad or laptop but One of my partners and Jane McClements ( 07779 799905 14 GT BARFORD CHURCH this can’t be done without I have given them a try. ( 01926 511066 Village Hall, Gt Barford, Beds. taking the DVDs with us. Sometimes they don’t come 10am for 10.30am start. £15. Have you any plans to up for several sessions, but 24 MS THERAPY CENTRE Graham Evans ( 01832 293693 make your videos available at a belated Christmas party Village Hall, Hemingford Abbots. Gill Wilkes ( 01234 870428 for download to either a competition between two 10am for 10.30am start. £15. [email protected] tablet or laptop as, sooner or clubs, we used the ‘Lucas’ Jenny Lea ( 01480 455810. later, it will be impossible to part three times to very 30 RNLI OCTOBER 2017 find something to watch the good effect. We came top, Village Hall, Roxton, Beds. videos on and over £1000 if only by a whisker, against 10am for 10.30am start. £15. 6 ST NEOTS MUSEUM will have been wasted. a good field where I was Catherine Wootton St Neots Outdoor Bowling Club. 10am for 10.30am start. £15. I appreciate they will only hoping for middle. ( 01234 772127 ( 01234 870234 Jean Searle ( 01480 212298 need to be protected but Alun Williams by email. ■

Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. E-mail your charity events: [email protected] [email protected]

Page 44 BRIDGE March 2017 Answers to Bernard Magee’s Catching Up Bidding Quizzes 7-9 on the Cover with Sally Brock

7. Dealer West. Love All. 8. Dealer West. Love All. 9. Dealer East. Love All. fter all the hectic ♠ A 10 9 4 ♠ 3 2 ♠ 4 2 ♠ A 7 ♠ 8 7 6 ♠ 9 bridge of Octo- ♥ 5 N ♥ A K 6 4 2 ♥ A 6 3 N ♥ 8 4 2 ♥ A 4 3 N ♥ K 8 7 6 ber/November, W E W E W E ♦ 8 5 S ♦ Q J 10 4 ♦ A K S ♦ 9 7 3 2 ♦ J 6 5 3 S ♦ A 9 4 ADecember was rather ♣ A K 8 7 6 4 ♣ 9 3 ♣ A Q 8 7 6 5 ♣ K 9 4 2 ♣ 7 6 5 ♣ A K 8 3 2 quiet, bridgewise. The Super League came to an end, but it was a bit West North East South West North East South West North East South of a damp squib for us, 1♣ 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ 1♣ 1♠ 2♣ 2♠ 1♣ 1♠ because our opponents 2♣ 2♦ Dbl Pass ? Pass 2♠ Dbl Pass in the last round decided ? ? to pull out of the league 3♠. You have a strong hand: without playing their last Pass. This one can depend 17 HCP and a six-card suit. 3♣. Your opponents have match, so we finished be- a little on partnership style Your partner has not suggest- shown a fit at the two-level, fore most other teams – and perhaps even the nature ed much strength, but a look so your partner’s double is for in the middle of the field of your partnership. However, at your hand would suggest take-out. This is such an im- this time, never in much I like to keep the rules on dou- that you may have nine easy portant rule – when they have danger of relegation, but bling simple. If no-trumps are tricks. a fit at the two-level, it is so not much chance of win- bid in the auction, doubles are Give your partner just the rarely right to go for penal- ning either. generally for penalties, but ♣K and you have six clubs ties that it has to make sense The only important with all suit bids, doubles are and three more top tricks. to use the double for take-out. competition was the generally for take-out. There Nine is the key number and You only have one suit, so Senior Camrose trials are a few exceptions, one of not eleven. Whenever you 3♦ looks the normal response, in Solihull in the mid- which is when all the suits are have a good minor suit fit, but you must bear in mind dle of the month. We bid and no side has found a you should contemplate a that your partner has already performed without dis- fit. In this auction with all suits no-trump contract because bid a suit: clubs. Whenever tinction, finishing in the bid, why would you need a making nine tricks tends to be you have three-card support middle of the field. Look- take-out double? Surely, you much easier than eleven. for a suit your partner has ing through the hands have already shown six clubs, However, you have a very bid, then the safest response now I can’t find anything so what can your partner want weak spade holding so will to his take-out double will of- of interest. to know? Your partner is sim- need help from your partner ten be to return to that suit, We are working hard ply suggesting that he thinks there. You need to make a unless you have a five-card again on Briony’s char- 2♦ is going to go down. Hav- bid that will ask your partner suit to show. The reason this is ity event in aid of Stoke ing listened to your bids and to bid 3NT if he has a spade the case is because your part- Mandeville Spinal Re- shown his own suit, he now stopper. ner will rarely have four-card search. It is a little ear- feels the need to double for The answer is to bid the op- support for both of the unbid lier than last year, but penalties. The key difference ponents’ suit: 3♠. If you have suits (he would have to be we have already reached here is that your opponents your own stopper then you void in spades for that to be the number of players have not found a fit – only one can bid 3NT, so you use the the case), so if you bid just a we had last year and, as player has bid diamonds. In 3♠ bid to ask your partner four-card suit, you might be in I write this there is still fact it is likely that South has if he has a stopper. Without a 4-3 fit, whereas in this kind nearly a month to go. a singleton diamond. East’s one, East would bid 4♣, but of auction your partner will Otherwise life chugs double basically says, ‘Part- here he is able to bid 3NT, almost always have five cards along. Briony and I had ner, we have the majority of trusting you to have the rest of in his first suit. (Note that with a really good day out in points and I have good dia- the strength required. a 1-4-4-4 shape your partner Canterbury, doing some monds, so I do not expect 2♦ A bid of the opponents’ would usually open 1♦, hence Christmas shopping and to make.’ suit in competitive auctions is you can expect five clubs.) then going to a carol ser- With all the suits bid natu- used to show strength and 3♣ is likely to go one off, vice in the cathedral. I rally, it is reasonable to use excitement and, particularly but that will be better than 2♠ had never been there be- doubles for penalties as long when your side is bidding making, and better still will be fore and it has long been as the opponents have not a minor, it asks about a no- 3♠ going one off if they de- on my wish list. shown a fit at the two-level. trump contract. cide to bid on. ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 45 1938-2016 by Sally Brock

andra Landy was one of the great score. Sandra was later persuaded to Award in recognition of her excellence names in the world of bridge come out of retirement and play with and success over a sustained period for from the mid-seventies until Sally in the European Championship England’s international teams. Sabout eight years ago, when her health in 1979. The team won that, and the As well as being a top-class player began to decline. As a player she won following one in 1981. That qualified herself, she also took an interest in two World and five European titles, as them to play in the world champion- youngsters, and helped kickstart the well as most national titles. She was ship () and the team won British Bridge League’s junior camps – ranked number one woman player in that, the first time the Venice Cup had her lecture on Triumphs and Disasters the world from 1992 to 1996. However, gone to a non-USA team. And they was always one to get the teenagers out she also worked hard to bring the game won again in 1985 (when they played of bed in the morning. to other people, both young and old. virtually throughout). She was always a very busy person Sandra Landy (née Ogilvie) was who managed to pack a lot into her life. born on 19th June 1938, and lived When she retired, she moved to Ayles- most of her life in Hove, Sussex. She bury to work for the English Bridge first started to play bridge when she Union with a brief to devise a national was 17; her mother died and her father learning programme; the Bridge For needed a partner. She liked it because All teaching structure is perhaps her it meant she didn’t have to run around greatest legacy to the game. It com- in shorts in the freezing weather (and prised the Standard English Acol bid- always be the last one picked for the ding system, two year-long course team). When she was 18 she went to workbooks, and ten Really Easy … Oxford University to read maths and accompanying titles. But this wasn’t then went to Cambridge University to enough. In her spare time, she also do one of the first post-graduate diplo- produced her village newsletter, and in mas in computing. Hence, she is one 2004 it won the NALC Council News- of a very small number of people who As a player she was a world star, both letter of the Year. She declared that that have played in the Varsity match for before and after that partnership. They was just as exciting as winning any both sides. Post-university she went to tried to play together in the British world championship, especially when work for Brighton University in their open team, and almost made it, hav- the ceremony was closed with a Welsh computing department, having a vari- ing to settle for a bronze medal in an choir singing Men of Harlech. ety of jobs that culminated in head of EEC tournament. They also won the When Peter died in 2005, she moved the Information Systems Division. in partnership in 1984. The back to Hove to be nearer her children She met her future husband, Peter, at only European Championship (and and grandchildren. There she kept the bridge table. They were married in she won five of them) she missed in up with her teaching, both travelling 1967, and were soon sharing their lives the years between 1967 and 1999 was around the country giving seminars, with children Joanna and Richard. in 1991 when she captained the British and teaching beginners two days a This didn’t stop her working, or play- Open team to victory instead. week at Worthing Bridge Club. The ing bridge. She was a very practical player and two phrases ‘you can always tell a Her most successful partnership fond of making life as difficult as pos- teacher but you cannot tell them much’ was with Sally Brock, columnist of sible for her opponents. The ‘Landy and ‘teachers never stop teaching’ were the Sunday Times. Their partnership Game Try’ (bid game and then try both true about her. She liked to read, started when Sally was due to play in to make it) is an expression that has walk, go to the theatre, entertain and the Lady Milne (women’s home inter- passed into everyday bridge language. in any spare moment she was also the national) but at the last minute her She could be a little fierce to her part- local Keep Britain Tidy representative. partner was ill. She rang her captain, ners but they soon realised that if they From the words of an admirer, ‘I am Sandra Landy, who didn’t think it was just said nothing while she railed at not ashamed to say that she was my a problem; despite the fact that they them for whatever idiocy they had per- hero. She kept things simple, got the had never played a board together be- petrated, she would soon start apolo- best out of her partners and scared the fore, they could make their debut in an gising for her tirade instead. **** out of her opponents. I have a feel- international event. So they did and In January 2016 she received the ing that Sir Alex Ferguson would have the team won with a record-breaking English Bridge Union’s Diamond liked her in his team.’ ■

Page 46 BRIDGE March 2017 Answers to Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quizzes 10-12 on the Cover

West North East South 10. Dealer East. Game All. 1♥ 12. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ 4 2 ♠ A K 8 7 6 Dbl 2♥ Dbl 3♥ ♠ 7 6 5 ♠ A Q 4 2 ♥ A 9 8 2 N ♥ 5 4 ? ♥ A 2 N ♥ 7 6 ♦ A J 7 6 5 W E ♦ 3 2 ♦ K 9 4 3 W E ♦ A 6 5 2 S S ♣ 10 8 ♣ A J 9 4 Double. ♣ Q J 5 2 ♣ K 4 3 You made a normal take-out double on the first round: with 14 HCP and shortage West North East South in hearts. Your partner replied with a West North East South 1♠ Dbl double of his own. This shows some 1♥ Dbl 2♥ Rdbl 2♣ Dbl Pass strength, but would generally deny four Dbl Pass 3♦ 3♥ ? cards in the unbid major (he would have ? bid spades if he had them). However, Pass. your opponents are determined to keep Double. Once again, this answer can depend on you out of the auction. These competitive auctions can get partnership understanding. However, You would expect your partner to have complicated, but because they come I like to keep the doubling scenario four or more cards in both minors, so you up so often it is important to try to get simple, so another straightforward rule is have a fit in diamonds, but 4♦ does not them right. When both sides are non- that after a strong redouble, all doubles look appetising, is there another option? vulnerable, the auction can go up a little are for penalties. When you redoubled With 14 HCP and your partner having higher more freely, because both sides 1♠ on the first round, you were telling shown some strength, your partnership feel safer. Remember going for -50 or your partner that your side had the needs to do something and this is what -100 tends to represent a good score majority of the points, but no fit as yet. you need to convey to your partner. because it gives away fewer points than This, in turn, implies that your opponents Make a third double: called an action letting them make a partscore. might already be out of their depth, so double. This is most likely going to be Your partner made a normal take-out the partnership should be looking for the passed out, but if your partner is very double on the first round and then you opportunity to penalise them. Therefore, distributional then you are asking him responded with another double. Without East puts down a double after 2♣ and to bid. The key here is that you get the four spades, you wanted your partner you can pass. impression that your opponents are to choose his better minor. East did as It is surprising how many healthy punching beyond their strength, knowing he was told and bid 3♦, but South then penalties you can get at the two-level that when non-vulnerable they can pushed on to 3♥. You have a couple of when the opponents are outgunned. As usually get away with it. options now: 4♦ or 3NT. With a balanced long as you have the majority of points If East is distributional then we might hand, 4♦ seems a bit of a stretch and and good trumps, you can double for have a chance in 4♦, but when he is 3NT seems a long shot too. You only have penalties. 2♣ doubled is likely to go two flattish too, then your best result will one stopper and where are nine tricks or three off for 500 or 800 points. come from doubling 3♥ on your weight going to come from? Even if your partner Redoubles do not come up often but of points. has 14-15 points, after a heart lead you are important calls – for those of you who North could be particularly weak in would need eight more top tricks. The don’t know, they are the dark blue cards this auction – stretching to bid 2♥ over two options for your own contract being in the . your double. optimistic, you should turn the focus to As you can see, 4♦ is unlikely to make, your opponents’ 3♥. You have 10 HCP whilst 3♥, even on their nine-card fit, and your partner has shown the values might go a couple off. 3♥–2 would be for an opening hand. So, double and 11. Dealer South. Love All. good for North-South: -100 beats your expect your partner to lead a trump. 3♥ ♠ K 9 8 7 ♠ A 10 3 diamond partscore, but the double will make every so often, but it will go two ♥ 7 2 N ♥ 8 6 changes things, making it -300 and a off a lot more of the time. Doubling on ♦ A J 8 7 W E ♦ Q 4 3 2 top score for you. Make sure that you hands like this is important at duplicate S ♣ A Q 4 ♣ K 8 7 6 lead a trump to stop too much ruffing if pairs. South is trying to push you and if you their hands are highly distributional. pass or bid on he will have succeeded. ■

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 47 luxury bridge mat BERNARD MAGEE’S Just £24.99 plus £4.99 p & p INTERACTIVE

luxury TUTORIAL CDS bridge mat Hand-crafted Card Tables Just £24.99 ADVANCED FIVE-CARD These English made tables These English made plus £4.99 p & p DECLARER PLAY MAJORS & offer superb quality and have the genuinetables offer Pelissier superb hinges. Strong No-Trump quality and have the l Making Overtricks ChooseThese Englishfrom the made great tables value genuine Pelissier hinges. in No-trumps l Opening Bids offerTheseClub, superb Englishthe Premierquality made and ortables the have theChoose genuineelegant from Pelissier Royal the great. hinges. l Making Overtricks & Responses offerThese superb English quality made and tables have ChoosevalueSpecial Club, from Prices thethe forPremiergreat Bridge value or offerthe genuine superb qualityPelissier and hinges. have in Suit Contracts l No-Trump ClubClub,the orders theelegant Premier of 5Royal. or or more. the theChoose genuine from Pelissier the great hinges. value l Endplays Openings elegant Royal. SpecialChooseClub, fromthe Prices Premier the greatfor orBridge valuethe Special Prices for Bridge l Avoidance l Support £89 ClubClub, orderselegant the Premier of Royal 5 or or. more. the for Partner ClubSpecial orderselegant Prices of Royal for5 or Bridge. more. l Wrong Club orders of 5 or more. Contract £81 l Slams Special Prices for Bridge & Strong Openings£66 Club orders of 5 or more. l Simple l Rebids Thick woven surface makes Squeezes an idealThick playing woven surface and l Counting l Minors protects your table. surface makes the Hand & Misfits Club Table with traditional green Very popular with Bridge l felt playing surface £159.00 Clubs.an 78cmsideal wideplaying so it fits l Trump Reductions Pre-empting a standardsurface 80cms and card table & Coups l Doubles ClubClub Table Table with with traditional taditional green protects your table. l Playing Doubled l Overcalls felt playing surface £159.00 Padded table bag. Clubgreen Table felt with playing traditional surface green ThickVery woven popular surface with makes Contracts felt playing surface £159.00 l Competitive Club£159 Table with traditional green an ideal£39.00 playing + £4.99 surface p&p and Bridge Clubs. l Safety Plays Auctions felt playing surface £159.00 78protects cms wideyour table. so it Very popular with Bridge Clubs.fits 78cms a standard wide so it fits a standard80cms 80cmscard cardtable. table ADVANCED Padded table bag. ACOL BIDDING Premier Table, bevelled edges and baize playing surface £199.00 £39.00 + £4.99 p&p ALSO l Basics l Advanced Premier Table, bevelled edges and baize playing surface £199.00 Large enough to take a standard Basics l Acol PremierPremier Table, Table, bevelled bevelled edges 80cms bridge table. Made from and baize playing surface £199.00 bevelled edges tough nylon with carrying straps l Weak Twos Bidding Premieredges andTable, baize playing and Velcro fixing. Ideal for andsurface baize playing £199 surface £199.00 storing or carrying your table. l Strong Hands (see p28) l Defence Order online or by phone to Weak Twos www.designsforbridge.co.uk l Declarer Royal Table, elegant surround and l Defence to 1NT Large enough to take a standard Play baize playing surface £249.00 0148380cms bridge table.270 Made 100 from l Doubles toughLarge nylon enough with carrying to take straps a (see p41) Order online or by phone standardandSR VelcroDesigns 80cmsfixing. for Bridge Idealbridge for l Two-suited £96 Royalwww.designsforbridge.co.uk Table, elegant surround and Unitstoringtable. A1, or MadeSend carrying Business from your tough table. Park, Overcalls Royalbaize playing Table, surface elegant £249.00 surround and Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF baize01483 playing surface 270 £249.00 100 nylon with carrying straps l Defences to l RoyalOrder Table, online elegant or bysurround phone and Order online or by phone Defence RoyalSR DesignsTable, forelegant Bridge and Velcro fixing. Ideal baizewww.designsforbridge.co.ukOrder playing online surface or £249.00 by phone www.designsforbridge.co.uk Other Systems surroundUnit A1, Send and Businessbaize Park, for storing or carrying (see p29) www.designsforbridge.co.uk playingSend,Order Woking, online surface Surrey or £249 by GU23 phone 7EF your table. l Misfits and 01483 270 100 www.designsforbridge.co.uk 01483 270 100 Distributional SR Designs for Bridge 01483 270 100 UnitSR A1, Designs Send Businessfor Bridge Park, OrderSR Designs online orfor by Bridge phone Hands 01483Order online 270 or by phone100 UnitSend, A1, Woking, Send SurreyBusiness GU23 Park, 7EF www.designsforbridge.co.ukUnit A1, Send Business Park, www.designsforbridge.co.ukSR Designs for Bridge Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF Unit A1, Send Business Park, 01483 270 100 ( 01483 489961 Send,01483 Woking, 270Surrey GU23 100 7EF SR Designs for Bridge www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop SR Designs for Bridge Unit A1, Send Business Park, Unit A1, Send Business Park, Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF System: MAC OSX (Intel chip), Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10, CD ROM Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF

Page 48 BRIDGE March 2017 Seven Days by Sally Brock

for a couple of days, and then going to such a double as showing four hearts, Christmas Day Australia for a couple of weeks, so there meaning that a direct 2♥ shows a As arranged we are all up and ready for is lots for her to do at home. I go to see five-card suit and a weak hand, with bacon and eggs and presents at 10am. some friends in Biddestone, the village a cue-bid of left-hand opponent’s suit I get a suitcase from Briony and lots where my parents used to live. Then I showing a good hand with five hearts of bits and pieces from both children. dash off to pick up Toby and my father (but non-forcing). The first time it Barry doesn’t do presents and that’s and all go to the local Indian restaurant comes up it works well: OK – but we do make him put up where we meet John, Sally and two of with receiving a few from us. Just after their kids, Kasia and Freddie. A good 11am, I set off for my parents’ house via curry and excellent company. Dealer North. N/S Vul. taking Barry home to Shepherds Bush. ♠ Q 10 7 6 4 His dearest wish is to spend Christmas ♥ J 6 Day alone, and some years I humour Tuesday ♦ 9 8 6 4 him. Briony drives herself and Toby Today is the day for the family lunch ♣ J 8 there via her workplace as she wants to but I will not be there because I’m going ♠ A K 5 ♠ J 9 3 pick up the mail. However, we all arrive to London to play with Susanna in the ♥ A 10 5 3 N ♥ Q 8 7 4 W E ♦ K Q 7 ♦ J 10 at more or less the same time – about Year End Congress. After an excellent S 2.30pm. We have a glass of champagne breakfast I set off, hoping to meet up ♣ K 7 5 ♣ Q 10 6 4 and open more presents. My brother with Ben and family at Chieveley ♠ 8 2 John and his wife Sally drop in and Services to have a coffee and exchange ♥ K 9 2 then we prepare the meal – homemade presents. However, not surprisingly ♦ A 5 3 2 steak and kidney pies we brought with they are running late (I remember ♣ A 9 3 2 us – maybe not traditional fare but when I had small children, it always family favourites. Of course, as usual took at least half an hour longer than there is much too much food. Later I thought it would to get ready to leave West North East South we play mahjong which is great fun – the house) and stand me up. But it is Pass Pass 1♣ especially as I win. good to have the break anyway. I get to Dbl 1♠ Dbl 1NT At about 8.30pm we leave and check Barry’s in time for lunch, and then pick Dbl All Pass into our hotel, the Rudloe Arms, which up Susanna to go to Russell Square for turns out to be Marco Pierre White’s the bridge. I guess that without this toy I would home establishment, just a mile up the It is Swiss Pairs and we start terribly, have passed 1♠ rather than bid 2♥, but road. Then we collapse in front of the but it does eventually improve and we as it was it seems a reasonable idea to T V. end up with 45 VPs (40 = average) on double and then pass Susanna’s double the day – everything to play for. of 1NT. On a heart lead, declarer had We have started playing a new toy and nowhere to go for tricks and our 800 Boxing Day the ramifications of it are unfamiliar. penalty was an excellent score. After much deliberation, we decide to When I first started playing, psychic After the session, I drive back to go to Longleat Safari Park. The price bids were much more prevalent. If the Shepherds Bush to have dinner with structure is such (£31.95 for a day pass) bidding started 1♦ – Dbl – it was almost Barry, joined by Chris, Binkie and that it is pretty expensive if you don’t mandatory for the next hand to psych Gilly. A second curry – it’s a good job I want to spend that much time there, 1♠. Consequently, we all played double really like Indian food. but otherwise it is a really good thing showing four cards in spades (and 2♠ to do. The weather is lovely and sunny showing a five-card suit). These days so all the animals are out, and we have psychic bids have rather gone out of Wednesday a great time. Afterwards we go for fashion. That is partly because they are We do OK for a while but tail off lunch to a canalside pub in Bradford- not so successful when the opponents towards the end, culminating in a on-Avon, and then float Briony’s new know how to deal with them, and terrible last match which sees us fall remote-controlled hovercraft on the partly because the ethics of the game way down the field. In the evening water. Then it is back to the hotel. have changed a little and any regular Barry comes over and we have dinner Briony sets off for home – tomorrow pattern of psychs would be frowned with a different crowd of friends. This she is going to Brighton with a friend upon. So now we have decided to play Year End Congress is a very sociable

BRIDGE March 2017 Page 49 affair – because it is in London, many West North East South our hands, or after the bidding. For of our friends play in it. 1NT Pass 2♣ example, ‘The bidding order is North, Pass 2♦ Pass 3♠ East, West, South.’ Or, ‘You can only Pass 4♣ Dbl Pass look at eight of your cards until after Thursday Pass Rdbl Pass 4♦ the bidding.’ Then after the bidding, Today I am not playing bridge, but Pass 4♥ Pass 4♠ ‘aces become low, and jacks become rather going to my youngest grandson’s Pass 4NT Pass 5♣ high.’ christening. I set off by car, and first go Pass 6♠ All Pass Because she wanted to play, she to my cousin’s where I meet up with applied these instructions to various my father for lunch. Ben, Gemma and It works well for our methods, I think. boards randomly, so some work family are a bit frantic entertaining As South, I am not really quite worth better than others. This is an amusing godparents, so we think it will be a a full-blooded slam try of my own, sequence: kindness to them to leave them alone but when Susanna shows one, I have and go to Liz’s (who lives very near) enough to cooperate. for lunch. I haven’t seen her for a while With such an amazingly suitable Dealer South. Love All. so it is good to catch up, both with hand Susanna is happy to take control ♠ Q 7 her and her daughter Annie, who has and check on aces. In practice, West ♥ Q J 8 7 just started a history degree course at leads a diamond so I can just draw ♦ A 7 Trinity College, Dublin. We get to the trumps and claim. ♣ K Q 7 5 2 church at three and the service goes Afterwards, we go out to dinner ♠ K 9 5 4 2 ♠ A 10 8 3 ♥ 9 6 2 ♥ K 10 well – Parker, now eight months old, with Margaret, Martin and Debbie. N seems happy enough to be christened. The restaurant we had booked did ♦ 5 4 W E ♦ 9 8 6 3 It’s also good to see my first husband not have room for us. However, after ♣ A 6 4 S ♣ J 10 8 (Ben’s father) Tony Sowter. We only see grumbling a lot, we go over the road ♠ J 6 each other at family dos these days. I and have an excellent bistro dinner ♥ A 5 4 3 leave at about five and drive home to somewhere new. ♦ K Q J 10 2 spend the evening with Briony, who ♣ 9 3 is flying to Australia for a two-week holiday tomorrow. We’re into The Saturday Crown at the moment and manage to I go out to meet some old friends On this deal you are allowed to bid cram in a couple of episodes. for coffee. Paulette and David used whatever you have left in your bidding to live in High Wycombe, but have box, so the auction is: lived in Vienna for 15 years or so Friday now. I haven’t seen them since they West North East South Briony takes me to Hemel station and found me at a bridge tournament in Pass I get the train in time for the 11.30am San Remo, Italy, in 2008 and took me Pass 1♣ Pass 1♦ start of the Swiss Teams. Our team is out to dinner. I knew they now have 1♠ Pass 3♠ Dbl Susanna and me, with Barry and Frank. a house in London and walked past it Pass 1♥ Pass 2♦ We start well and are joint leaders at the recently – they were not in but I put a 2♠ 3♦ All Pass break (after three matches). However, note through the door and they got in the second half doesn’t go as well and touch. David has now retired and they On the way home, Barry and I dis- we finish 20th. I liked our auction to are moving to Portugal (although they cuss his best bid over the double. this slam: are keeping on the London house). Maybe 2♥ would have shown the Again, it is good to keep up with each decent hand and four-card suit (per- other’s news, and we make promises to haps South thought he had only a Dealer North. N/S Vul. see each other more often. three-card suit). I am West and, de- ♠ A Q 2 I get a regular report from Briony as spite having a terrible overcall, I know ♥ K 2 she reaches one stopover after another, my partner could not bid again be- ♦ K J 9 8 5 and eventually lands in Oz safe but low the level of 3♠, and it seems a bit ♣ A 10 9 tired. pathetic not to bid at least 2♠. Anyway, ♠ 5 4 ♠ 10 7 6 Then it’s back to the flat for a bit there is no defence to 3♦, but we score ♥ J 9 6 5 N ♥ Q 10 7 of chilling before we go out to a OK because they are not in hearts. ♦ Q 10 4 2 W E ♦ 7 New Year’s Eve party at Paul and Maybe I should bid 3♠ – only two S ♣ J 4 2 ♣ K Q 8 7 6 3 Stephanie’s. Excellent food and drink down – which works better as long as ♠ K J 9 8 3 and then we play some party bridge. they don’t double. ♥ A 8 4 3 Stephanie has set up some boards with With free public transport run- ♦ A 6 3 extra rules. ning all night we stagger back home at ♣ 5 On each board we either look at about 3.30, all ready to face what 2017 an instruction before we look at has in store. ■

Page 50 BRIDGE March 2017 2017/18 Mr Bridge cruises

Cruise ID Date Nights Departure Port Prices from Cruise ID Date Nights Departure Port Prices from Islands of the Mediterranean (hosted by Bernard Magee) German Waterways Sold out for bridge L1718 14th Aug 2017 9 Newcastle £1,139pp Cities & Waterways of Europe Scandinavian Waterways L1706 22nd Apr 2017 8 Dover £719pp L1722 17th Sept 2017 11 Newcastle £1,169pp Fjords, Mountains & Glaciers River Seine Sojourn L1707 30th Apr 2017 7 Dover £759pp L1723 29th Sept 2017 3 Southampton £359pp Espana Verde Discover the Baltic L1708 7th May 2017 8 Dover £859pp L1724 2nd Oct 2017 13 Southampton £1,259pp Scenic Norway & Celebrations Canaries Christmas & New Year L1709 15th May 2017 9 Dover £949pp L1728 21st Dec 2017 16 Southampton £1,999pp Fred’s Favourite Fjords Rio Carnival & River Plate L1716 30th Jul 2017 7 Newcastle £999pp L1803 23rd Jan 2018 46 Southampton £4,179pp UK Scenes from the Silver In Search of the Northern Lights L1717 6th Aug 2017 8 Newcastle £1,049pp L1804 10th Mar 2018 14 Southampton £1,429pp

Benefits of cruising with Mr Bridge: • Daily evening bridge on board and bridge fees included in the fare • Each voyage accompanied by the bridge team including two cruises by Bernard Magee • Mr Bridge Welcome & Farewell parties* • Reduced solo fares (a bridge partner will always be found) • Extra discounts for Oceans Members • Morning seminars & afternoon bridge on sea days

UPGRADE TO ALL INCLUSIVE, FROM ONLY £10 pppn

Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

Fares are per person, based on twin occupancy of the lead-in twin cabin, subject to availability. Offers may be amended or withdrawn at any time without prior notice, are subject to availability &cannot be applied retrospectively. All bookings are subject to Fred. Olsen’s standard terms & conditions, available on our/their website & on request. Some ports may be at anchor, intermediate daysare at sea. FOCL reserve the right to amend itineraries for operational reasons. All Inclusive Upgrade offer covers selected beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks, subject to availability.Tours, tips, premium drinks, medical facilities and other optional spend, during travel to the ship and while on board, are not included. The all inclusive drinks package on mini cruises is £29pppn. Any additional expenditure will need to be paid separately. All Inclusive Upgrade Package must be booked at least 8 days prior to departure.* The Mini cruise L1723 will offer one welcome drinks party only. E&OE.

FOC356895_Mr_Bridge_Summary_A4_Advert_WC_21.11.16_FV.indd 1 05/12/2016 09:17 2189 Mr Bridge FULL page 171018BR_Layout 1 05/12/2016 15:20 Page 1

2017 AUTUMN BRIDGE CRUISE ANCIENT GREECE, spain Greece CartagenaMediterranean Seville Athens Jerez Sea Palermo Granada Trapani Segesta Santorini SICILY& SPAIN Cadiz Malaga sicily Valletta Heraklion malta Knossos crete

DEPARTS UK OCTOBER 18, 2017

OCT 18 Fly to ATHENS Greece Transfer to Aegean Odyssey in nearby Piraeus OCT 19 SANTORINI Greek Islands (Akrotiri) OCT 20 HERAKLION Crete (Knossos) OCT 21 At Sea OCT 22 VALLETTA Malta OCT 23 PALERMO Sicily overnight OCT 24 PALERMO Sicily (Monreale) OCT 25 TRAPANI Sicily (Segesta) OCT 26 At Sea OCT 27 CARTAGENA Spain OCT 28 MALAGA Spain (Granada)

SEGESTA, SICILY 14-day fly-cruise from £2,150 per person OCT 29 CADIZ Spain (Jerez) overnight OCT 30 CADIZ Spain River cruising along the With Mr Bridge and friends Guadalquivir River SEVILLE Spain overnight Combine your desire to travel with your passion for bridge OCT 31 SEVILLE Spain on a voyage across the Mediterranean Sea. Explore Minoan Disembark and transfer to Santorini and Crete. Sail into the grand harbour of Valletta. Seville Airport for flight home Enjoy the monumental sites of Sicily and the magnificent AEG171018BR Alhambra Palace at Granada before Aegean Odyssey sails MR BRIDGE VALUE FARES inland along the Guadalquivir River to the heart of Andalusia and its splendid capital – Seville. Standard Inside from £2,150pp Standard Outside from £2,650pp Premium Outside from £2,795pp Odyssey Club Members enjoy an additional 5% discount on prices shown above. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT JUST 10%† FARES INCLUDE: • Scheduled economy class flights CALL NOW ON 01483 489961 • Expert guest speaker programme OR VISIT www.mrbridge.co.uk • Mr Bridge drinks party • Duplicate bridge every evening Cabins can be held at no obligation for 7 days • Morning seminars and afternoon bridge when at sea • Sightseeing excursions in all ports of call • All meals on board in choice of two restaurants • Complimentary wine with dinner on board • Gratuities for on-board cabin and restaurant staff • Overseas transfers and baggage handling

Mr Bridge fares are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be 10093 withdrawn at any time without notice. Please see website for full terms and conditions. †Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability. ABTA No.Y2206