Number: 166 UK £3.95 Europe €5.00 October 2016 Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz This month we are dealing with opener’s rebid. You are West in the auctions below, playing BRIDGE‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no- (12-14 points) and four-card majors.

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

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

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass Pass Pass ? ? ? 1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass ?

3. Dealer West. Love All. 6. Dealer West. Love All. 9. Dealer West. Love All. 12. Dealer West. Love All. ♠ J 10 7 6 3 ♠ 7 ♠ A K 9 5 ♠ A J 8 7 6 N ♥ J 10 2 N ♥ K 8 7 6 N ♥ K Q 10 4 3 ♥ 4 N W E ♦ K 2 W E ♦ A Q J 5 2 W E ♦ K 5 4 ♦ A 5 W E S ♣ A K Q S ♣ A 3 2 S ♣ 3 ♣ K Q J 8 7 S

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass ? ? ? ?

Answers on page 5 Answers on page 9 Answers on page 11 Answers on page 13 2172 Mr Bridge FULL page 171109BR_Layout 1 04/09/2016 00:37 Page 1

NEW – 2017 AUTUMN BRIDGE CRUISE

SEVILLE, S PA I N Seville Jerez Cadiz Malaga MOROCCO & Strait of Gibraltar Rabat Casablanca Fez Morocco Atlantic CANARY ISLANDS Ocean Marrakesh Agadir Taroudant Canary La Palma Islands Lanzarote Tenerife

DEPARTS UK NOVEMBER 9, 2017

NOV 9 Fly to MALAGA Spain Transfer to Aegean Odyssey NOV 10 At Sea NOV 11 River cruising along the Guadalquivir River SEVILLE Spain overnight NOV 12 SEVILLE Spain NOV 13 CADIZ Spain (Jerez) NOV 14 CASABLANCA/FEZ Morocco Morning drive to Fez for afternoon sightseeing hotel* NOV 15 FEZ/RABAT/CASABLANCA Morocco Morning drive to Rabat. Rejoin ship in Casablanca overnight NOV 16 CASABLANCA/MARRAKESH Morocco Drive to Marrakesh for afternoon sightseeing hotel* SEVILLE 12-day fly-cruise from £1,795 per person NOV 17 MARRAKESH/AGADIR Morocco Rejoin ship in Agadir. with Mr & Mrs Bridge Afternoon sightseeing to Taroudant NOV 18 LANZAROTE Canary Islands This fascinating journey takes you from Moorish Spain to the NOV 19 LA PALMA Canary Islands NOV 20 TENERIFE Canary Islands treasures of the Canary Islands and the very best of Morocco with Disembark and transfer to a land tour to the great cities and sites, including hotels stays in Fez Tenerife Airport for flight home and Marrakesh. Cruise through the Strait of Gibraltar and inland AEG171109BR to moor in the centre of Seville. Sailing out into the Atlantic Ocean, MR BRIDGE VALUE FARES you’ll visit the sun-blessed Canary Islands and visit Lanzarote’s Standard Inside from £1,795pp famous Fire Mountains and the verdant landscapes of La Palma. Standard Outside from £2,195pp Premium Outside from £2,295pp Odyssey Club Members enjoy an additional 5% discount on prices shown above. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FARES INCLUDE: JUST 10%† • Scheduled economy class flights CALL NOW ON 01483 489961 • One night hotel stay in both Fez and Marrakesh • Expert guest speaker programme OR VISIT www.mrbridge.co.uk • Mr Bridge drinks party Cabins can be held at no obligation for 7 days • every evening • Morning seminars and afternoon bridge when at sea • Sightseeing excursions in all ports of call • All meals on 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 *No bridge during hotel stays. WELCOME END OF SEASON CROATIA This year has been really 2016 JUST good for weekend events. Hooray for that but a DUPLICATE 2-16 May good promoter always BRIDGE From 2017 over caters, so there are £1,425 still a few spaces to fill, sharing Bernard here and there. Have a look at the Just Duplicate Magee advert on the right and HOTEL EDEN A great big hello to all give the office a ring. ROVINJ the new subscribers who have recently enrolled, as LOOKING Rovinj is situated on the the result of the special FORWARD Chatsworth Hotel western coast of Istria in Croa- Minerva 36 issues for £50 Worthing BN11 3DU tia, the largest peninsula on the subscription promotion. Adriatic coastline, a one hour 7-9 October £199 drive from Trieste, 2.5 hours Regular subscribers receive 11-13 November £199 from Zagreb. Boasting a rich, their monthly ration in a natural and cultural heritage, 25-27 November £199 with beautiful landmarks such clear plastic envelope. Not as the old town, the Golden so the newly enrolled. They Cape Park Forest, protected is- receive two issues and the Next year will see the 30th lands and coastal area. 2017 diary in a large white anniversary of my career The climate is warm and semi- envelope which I adorn as Mr Bridge. This I will be dry, with more than four months marking at sea on lovely a year without wind. with assorted postage stamps purchased from the Aegean Odyssey with Mrs Hotel Eden is wedged right Bridge. For details see the between a peninsula covered Clive Goff Postage Service. facing page advert and by a one hundred year old park The discount he offers forest and a quiet cove. The old those on the inside and Ramada Resort city centre of Rovinj is just a 20 reduces my costs and outside of the back cover. minute walk away. promotes his business – see Grantham Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT his advert on page 4. These Rooms: All rooms are 2017 DIARIES equipped with a direct phone amazingly varied labels 14-16 October £189 line, LCD SAT TV, mini-bar, also make my packages safe, bathtub or shower, toilet, 4-6 November £189 hair dryer, balcony, air con- more interesting, especially 18-20 November £189 ditioning/heating. Suites are as we still save all our available, details on applica- incoming used stamps for tion. Little Voice, the children’s Singles: There is a sole oc- home for orphans in Adis cupancy supplement of £11 per room per night. If you are Ababa, Ethiopia. We a single bridge player, please do have helped to support not worry about being on your it for some years now All new subscribers will own. We will always be able to by this and other fund- receive a 2017 bridge find you a partner and you can players’ diary, its cover always have a game. raising initiatives. Denham Grove colour chosen randomly Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DG Beaches & Pools: The but there is a choice when playful curves of the pool offer CROATIAN SPRING 21-23 October £199 refreshment in the summer with ordering extra copies. a salty breeze coming from the 4-6 November £199 natural stone and pebble beach They have soft kidrell only a few steps away. The vast covers, Ruby Red, Navy outdoor pool will cool you down Blue or Bottle Green, with Full Board after a day of lounging in the freely available deck chairs. a built-in ballpoint pen. No Single Contents include 16 months Terms and conditions apply. Supplement* These holidays have been organised diary portion, Bernard for Mr Bridge by Great Little Magee’s summary of Acol, ( 01483 489961 Escapes LLP, ATOL 5933 This Bernard Magee laws and ethics and scoring www.mrbridge.co.uk Details of the bridge land-based holiday, tables. Do see the carrier really is filling up fast for Please note there are no programme sheet for the order form. seminars, set hands or 2017. Book now to avoid prizes at these events. All good wishes, ( 01483 489961 disappointment. Please see *subject to availability adjacent advertisement. Mr Bridge

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 3 Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ 1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee INDEX

BRIDGE Mr Bridge 2 Seville, Morocco 3 Ryden Grange, Knaphill, & Canary Islands with Surrey GU21 2TH 5 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee Voyages to Antiquity 3 Croatia with Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 6 Moments of Madness by Shireen Mohandes 3 Mr Bridge Just [email protected] 9 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee Duplicate Bridge Events www.mrbridge.co.uk 4 Clive Goff’s Stamps 11 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/ 5 Renaissance mrbridge-shop 13 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee & Rivieras with Voyages to Antiquity Publisher and 15 Answers Your Questions 7 Madeira, Morocco Managing Editor & Seville with Mr Bridge 20 Wendy Wensum’s Diaries Voyages to Antiquity Associate Editor and 21 Catching Up with 8 Old Empires Bridge Consultant onboard Minerva Bernard Magee 21 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett 9 Acol Bidding bernardmagee with Bernard Magee 22 High, but Flat by John Barr @mrbridge.co.uk 10 Italian Overture Cartoons & Illustrations 23 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett onboard Minerva Marguerite Lihou 11 Declarer Play www.margueritelihou.co.uk 24 Logic at Trick 2 by Andrew Kambites with Bernard Magee 12 Fiestas de Navidad Technical Consultant 26 Sir Guy’s Downfall by onboard Minerva Tony Gordon 28 Readers’ Letters 13 Defence Typesetting & Design with Bernard Magee Ruth Edmondson 29 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage 14 Atlantic Isles [email protected] onboard Minerva 31 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage Proof Readers 18 Archipelagos Julian Pottage 32 Sally’s Slam of the Month onboard Minerva Mike Orriel 25 Club Insurance 33 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions Catrina Shackleton 25 Duplicate Bridge Richard Wheen 36 Teachers’ Corner by Ian Dalziel Rules Simplified Customer Services 25 Clive Goff’s Stamps Catrina Shackleton 38 (1942-2016) 30 Aegean Classics onboard Minerva [email protected] 40 Why Play Low Level Doubles for Take-Out? Events & Cruises by Julian Pottage 32 Bridge Events with Bernard Magee ( 01483 489961 Jessica Galt 41 The Gambling 3NT by Jeremy Dhondy 36 QPlus 37 Designs for Bridge [email protected] 44 Combining Your Chances by Michael Byrne Megan Riccio Table Covers [email protected] 46 Weak Twos by Bernard Magee 37 Travel Insurance Sophie Pierrepont 37 Designs for Bridge [email protected] 47 More Tips by Bernard Magee Tables Clubs & Charities 49 Seven Days with Sally Brock 43 Denham Filming 2017 Maggie Axtell 45 Better [email protected] 47 Mr Bridge Address Changes REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE Festive Season 2016 ( 01483 485342 48 Maritime Iberia Postage stamps for sale at 85% of face-value, onboard Minerva Elizabeth Bryan all mint with full gum. Quotations for [email protected] commercial quantities available on request. 51 Ancient Greece, Italy Values supplied in 100s, higher values & Spain with Printed in the UK by available as well as 1st and 2nd class Voyages to Antiquity The Magazine (eg 2nd class: 100x38p+100x16p). 52 Italian & Adriatic Printing Company Highlights with www.magprint.co.uk ( 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected] Voyages to Antiquity

Page 4 BRIDGE October 2016 2161 Mr Bridge third page ad 170527BR_Layout 1 2 Answers to Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quizzes 1-3 Renaissance on the Cover and

three-card support. Your job will often 1. Dealer West. Love All. be to find the best partscore contract on ♠ A K 8 7 6 ♠ 2 hands like these: if you choose 2♥, your Rivieras ♥ A 9 4 N ♥ K 8 6 3 partner will generally pass. hosted by ♦ A 3 2 W E ♦ 6 5 4 Depending on your style, your partner S BERNARD MAGEE ♣ 7 6 ♣ A 9 8 3 2 should support to 2♥ on some weaker distributional hands with three-card support, which means you are likely to West North East South have a seven-card fit in hearts at best. 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass In spades, much of the time your partner ? will have a five-card suit, but even if he has just four, the contract might turn out Pass. to be the best. This is the case here – 2♠ You have 15 HCP and a good five- is likely to score best – aiming for ruffs in card suit, so you might count it as 16 both hands, you will get close to making. points, but even so you would need a Quite often on misfitting hands, one good maximum from partner to give off will be a good score – you are aiming game a chance. Generally, with 15-16 to limit the damage. LIMITED points you should settle for a partscore. SINGLE With a which includes AVAILABILITY a five-card major, you should settle for 3. Dealer West. Love All. no-trumps. In fact, a rebid of 2♠ should ♠ J 10 7 6 3 ♠ A 2 Culture and glamour combine promise at least six spades. 1NT is as ♥ J 10 2 N ♥ 9 8 5 on a cruise that will take you high as you would want to be. ♦ K 2 W E ♦ A Q J 7 6 from Imperial Rome to the S ♣ A K Q ♣ 8 7 4 Italian Riviera and the Cote d’Azur.

May 27, 2017 - 11 days 2. Dealer West. Love All. from Rome to Nice ♠ 9 7 6 ♠ A K 5 4 West North East South Fly to Rome and transfer to ♥ A K 8 7 6 N ♥ 4 1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass Aegean Odyssey in Civitavecchia. ♦ J 4 2 W E ♦ 8 6 5 3 ? Cruise to Olbia (overnight on board) S ♣ A 3 ♣ J 7 6 2 • Bonifacio • Elba • Florence • Pisa 2NT. • Marseilles (Avignon) • Cannes (overnight on board) • Monte Carlo • Nice • Fly home Some players will cry foul on this hand, Great value Mr Bridge fares West North East South claiming that they would have opened Standard Inside from £2,195pp 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT because of the weak spade suit. Standard Outside from £2,650pp ? However, they would be short-sighted. Premium Outside from £2,795pp This West had already fully evaluated his Single cabins are limited - 2♠. hand. With two tens and a five-card suit call for details Some players choose to open 1NT with he had upgraded it from 14 HCP to a For reservations call a hand with a five-card major, but when 15-count and planning to rebid no- the major is strong it is generally best to trumps. Your partner’s 2♦ bid enhances open the major, hoping to find a fit, as your hand even more – the ♦K increases on 01483 489961 well as advertising the best lead if the in value – it is now at least a ‘good’ 15. opponents win the contract. Here, your You rebid 2NT and end in 3NT. partner responds 1♠ and you have to As long as the hearts are 4-3 you will choose your rebid. take nine tricks, in fact when the honours With a weak hand your choices are are awkward for the defenders, you www.mrbridge.co.uk ♥ limited: 2 looks obvious, but you could may well make even if the hearts break Terms and conditions apply – see brochure or website for details also choose to support to 2♠ with your 5-2. ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 5 Moments of Madness by Shireen Mohandes

hat makes a mature adult in November 1995, described Neil of Madness, discussed one of the ‘lose it’ and carry out Kinnock’s, oh so memorable, downfall: largest such occurrences after the an impetuous act with death of Princess Diana: Wcalamitous consequences? When The former Labour leader Neil Zenedine Zidane head butted his Kinnock is haunted by the It has become an embarrassing opponent, Francescoli, in the World conviction that a rush of blood to memory, like a mawkish, self- Cup Final in Berlin in 2006, he took the head, lasting a few seconds, pitying teenage in a diary. the number one spot in the football cost him victory in the 1992 We cringe to think of it. It is our madness charts. Even Uruguayan election. In a television interview collective moment of madness, a Luis Suarez’s penchant for biting to be screened next month, Mr week when somehow we lost our opponents, though noteworthy Kinnock describes the emotional grip. A decade on, we look back even to non-football fans, pales by spasm that overwhelmed him at and wonder what came over us. comparison to Zidane’s action at the the controversial Sheffield rally There were some who felt that France v Italy match. in the week before polling day, way at the time, but they were the destroying the statesmanlike minority. Indeed, they complained image that had been constructed they were a marginalised, even World Cup for him over his nine years as oppressed, group – gagged red card statistics leader. dissidents in a new totalitarian He believes that three little state of the emotions. Some looked Rigobert Song became the first words caused his defeat, ‘We’re at the mountain of Cellophane- player to receive two red cards all right.’ He shouted them wrapped bouquets that piled up – one in 1994 and one in 1998. three times in a tone of frenzied outside Buckingham Palace – a Zinedine Zidane replicated triumphalism, punching the air, million of them, it was said – and this in 1998 and 2006. just after he entered the Sheffield sniffed ‘floral fascism’ in the air. arena to a mighty ovation. That Later, Christopher Hitchens wrote The single World Cup match with was the part of his address shown that in the week after Princess the greatest number of red cards on television news programmes, Diana was killed in a Paris car was the Netherlands-Portugal rather than his carefully scripted crash, Britain became a ‘one- game in the second round of the arguments. party state’, such was the coercive 2006 World Cup. This match In the interview he explains, nature of the public reaction. He is also known as ‘The battle of ‘This roar hit me and for a couple sought out the Britons who had Nüremberg’. Four players, two of seconds I responded to it; and all been forced to close their shops from each team, were sent off; of the years in which I’d attempted or cancel sporting events on the overall, referee Valentin Ivanov to build a fairly reserved, starchy day of the funeral, lest they feel dished out 16 yellow cards and persona – in a few seconds they the rage of the tear-stained hordes four red cards, the greatest slipped away.’ outside. The writer Carmen Callil number of players booked and was more specific, ‘It was like the sent off in any one match. There are also mass ‘moments of Nüremberg rallies.’ madness’. There have been numerous Source: Wikipedia incidents of mob psychology affecting Bridge is not exempt, as was looters, demonstrators, hooligans, demonstrated in the US this summer. and even police. Jonathan Freedland Two USA teams, comprising mixed What about politics? Michael writing for The Guardian in August ability players, but including national Leapman, writing for The Independent, 2007, in an article entitled A Moment and international standard players,

Page 6 BRIDGE October 2016 2161 Mr Bridge third page ad 170503BR_Layout 1 2 were playing in a Swiss Teams event. or unwise comment, without due One team comprised six players, and consideration. What’s more, if one the other four. The two players who does so, and is publicly taken to task, were not playing the match were not in the very public nature of that shaming the playing area and were not directly is often publicised so instantly and involved in the incident. extensively that it becomes even more When the two teams completed noteworthy than the original content. Madeira, their match and returned to their Jon Ronson’s book So You’ve Been home tables to score up, they learned Publicly Shamed, a New York Times that they were both sitting in the bestseller, has this write-up on same direction. In other words, Team Amazon: Morocco A, for example, was North/South at both tables. In the UK, the penalty for For the past three years, Jon doing this is an outcome of 8-8 out Ronson has travelled the world & Seville of 20 victory points. Not too severe meeting recipients of high-profile hosted by a penalty. In the USA, however, the public shamings. The shamed are penalty is a score of 0-0. Quite harsh, people like us – people who, say, SANDY BELL you may think, for an inadvertent made a joke on social media that situation which can only lead to harm came out badly, or made a mistake for both teams. at work. Once their transgression is But what happened next is surely revealed, collective outrage circles a moment of madness amongst eight with the force of a hurricane and brilliant brains. Allegedly, the players the next thing they know they’re agreed to enter a score of a draw, and being torn apart by an angry mob, thus both receive 10 victory points. jeered at, demonized, sometimes What was going through their minds? even fired from their job. Might it have been the case that one A great renaissance of public player convinced the others? Did shaming is sweeping our land. they all jointly say to themselves, ‘I Justice has been democratized. The don’t like the rule, I am not going silent majority are getting a voice. to follow it.’ The rule is pretty clear: But what are we doing with our Enjoy the spring sunshine of you submit the true result of the voice? We are mercilessly finding Madeira, the dramatic landscapes of match to the organisers. There are people’s faults. We are defining the Canary Islands and the Moorish no circumstances where entering any the boundaries of normality by splendours of Morocco and Seville. other result is allowable. One might ruining the lives of those outside further wonder: did they really think it. We are using shame as a form May 3, 2017 - 11 days they could all keep it a secret? of social control.’ from Funchal to Seville Another USA player caught wind Fly to Funchal to join Aegean Odyssey of the incident and reported it to Returning to the gang-of-eight for 2 nights on board. Cruise to La Palma the ACBL (the equivalent of the American bridge players. If they did • Lanzarote • Agadir (Taroudant) • Marrakesh (overnight hotel) EBU in England). The incident is what they are alleged to have done, • Casablanca (Rabat) • Seville (overnight being investigated at the highest their moments of madness were (a) on board) • Fly home level in America. is their collusion to break the rules, and astonished and aghast. (b) thinking that in this day and age Great value Mr Bridge fares After last year’s revelations about they’d be able to conceal it. Perhaps Standard Inside from £1,995pp pre-planned and collusive cheating, they subconsciously calculated the Standard Outside from £2,550pp Premium Outside from £2,695pp the community expects squeaky- odds: they thought the likelihood Single supplement only 10% clean behaviour from players. Most of getting caught was low, and they of us will have either had our own would avoid punishment, public For reservations call personal moment of madness, or have shaming and democratised justice, as seen one first hand. Such individual Ronson puts it. spontaneous poor decisions are on 01483 489961 regrettable but understandable, but it [Author’s note: at the time of writing, is the collective decision that is so hard the date of the hearing is not known, to fathom. but it is expected to be in November In today’s age of people using 2016. When the outcome has been Twitter, Facebook and other social determined, for the eight players, and www.mrbridge.co.uk media, it is all too easy to get into the extra two, a notice will be published Terms and conditions apply – see brochure or website for details trouble simply by posting a flippant in BRIDGE]. ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 7 TAPESTRY of BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN EMPIRES

GREECE • TURKEY 15 – 27 November 2016 13-day cruise from £1,499pp

BLUE XANTHI Kavala MOSQUE Thessaloniki Istanbul

GREECE MOUNT PELION Volos

Piraeus EPHESUS TURKEY Kusadasi

Highlight port (3 days)

Departing Piraeus, Minerva sails towards Volos, Meteora Monastery, Greece from where you can discover the spectacular Meteora Monasteries. On to Thessaloniki, Greece’s vibrant second CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS city and your gateway to ancient Pella and the intriguing archaeological site of Aigai. Step ashore in picturesque • Visit the awe-inspiring monasteries of Meteora, Kavala before sailing for Istanbul, whose highlights include perched high atop towering peaks the Topkapi Palace. Continue to Kusadasi, gateway to the • Visit Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great ruins at Ephesus, and fi nally return to Piraeus, from where • A two-night stay in Istanbul, with plenty of time to you can follow St Paul’s journey to the Areopagus Hill. discover its unique highlights including the ornate Ottoman Blue Mosque FARES PER PERSON MIN161115 • Overnight in Kusadasi to make the most of Ephesus Cabin Type Fares from with its magnifi cent library, theatre and Roman houses Balcony Savers from £2,999 • During an extended stay in Piraeus, visit Ancient Outside Cabins from £1,799 Corinth where St Paul preached and lived for two years Inside Cabins from £1,499 • Full Mr Bridge programme

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SH_16_2097_Mr Bridge_Tapestry of Byzantine_A4.indd 1 24/05/2016 17:32 Answers to Bernard Magee’s BERNARD Bidding Quizzes 4-6 MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE on the Cover TUTORIAL CD ACOL BIDDING simplified version of things. 4. Dealer West. Love All. Once you are immersed in the game ♠ 7 2 ♠ Q 9 8 6 5 you will understand that a 3♦ rebid is ♥ K J 7 6 5 4 3 N ♥ 2 forcing to game – your partner has to ♦ 4 W E ♦ K Q 6 respond so that the partnership will S ♣ A K Q ♣ 9 8 6 5 finish in a game contract. This means that you need to be able to guarantee MAC or a game contract when your partner has Windows West North East South only promised six points with his one- 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass level response. You need 19 total points ? to make a jump rebid. You have 16 HCP and two good five- 2♥. card suits, but without a fit you cannot Your partner has replied at the one level, evaluate for your shortage, in fact your promising only six points, so you have singleton in partner’s suit is not usually no reason to harbour hopes for game a good sign. unless he can bid again. Therefore, you Just rebid 2♦ and see what your partner should make your natural rebid of 2♥. If has to say. Here, he would pass 2♦ and Throughout 200 deals split into he does respond again, you will know you would have stayed at a relatively ten chapters, Bernard evaluates that game might be on – here he would safe level. your bids, praising the correct pass. ones and discussing the wrong The jump rebid of 3♥ is reserved for ones. strong hands: encouraging partner to bid on. A 4♥ rebid would be for hands 6. Dealer West. Love All. l Opening Bids with a much more robust suit. ♠ 7 ♠ Q 6 5 4 and Responses 2♥ is certainly high enough with these ♥ K 8 7 6 N ♥ A 2 l Slams and two hands – if you manage to lose just ♦ A Q J 5 2 W E ♦ 9 8 S Strong Openings two heart tricks you will make your ♣ A 3 2 ♣ J 9 8 7 6 partscore. l Support for Partner l Pre-empting West North East South l 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass £66 5. Dealer West. Love All. ? l No-trump ♠ 3 ♠ A Q 6 5 4 Openings ♥ K Q 8 7 3 N ♥ 5 2♦. and Responses ♦ A K Q 6 4 W E ♦ 7 3 2 You have 14 HCP so your options are S l Opener’s and ♣ Q 3 ♣ 8 7 6 4 limited: you cannot afford to Responder’s Rebids (showing hearts with 2♥ would take you above your barrier and push the auction l Minors and Misfits West North East South too high). Could you stretch to bid 1NT? l Doubles 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass Your good diamond suit is worth a l Competitive Auctions ? point, but at the same time, your singleton in your partner’s suit is not a good sign. 2♦. You do best to slow things down and bid You have 16 HCP so you might have 2♦ which will end the auction. Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, been taught as a beginner to show your 1NT might work well if the diamonds Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH strength by rebidding 3♦: showing 16+ behave, but an adverse division in ( 01483 489961 points and 5+-4+ in your two suits. diamonds will leave you well short, whilst www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop However, beginners are taught a very 2♦ has reasonable chances. ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 9 ITALIAN OVERTURE

ITALY • MONTENEGRO 9 – 21 December 2016 13-day cruise from £1,499pp

Venice DOGE'S PALACE

Ravenna PISA Livorno ITALY Kotor MONTENEGRO Civitavecchia Naples POMPEII Brindisi LECCE Pompeii, Italy

Highlight port (2 full days) CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

Join Minerva in the amazing fl oating city of Venice and • Embark Minerva in Venice before spending the day then head to Ravenna, home to the important Basilica of exploring this remarkable city San Vitale. Sail to Montenegro and the charming walled • Discover Ravenna, a glittering showcase of Byzantine city of Kotor before returning to Italian shores, stopping art and culture at Brindisi. From here discover the iconic Trulli houses • Wander the ancient cobbled streets of Kotor, of Alberobello and then continue to Naples, a stone’s dramatically situated at the head of Southern Europe’s throw from Pompeii. Experience Tuscany’s treasures from deepest fjord Livorno, enjoy an extended stay in Florence and arrive in • Uncover the fascinating treasures of Pompeii and Civitavecchia to uncover Rome’s ancient treasures. Herculaneum from Naples • Enjoy an overnight stay in Livorno, gateway to FARES PER PERSON MIN161209 Florence and Pisa Cabin Type Fares from • Extend your cruise with an optional 3-night pre-cruise Balcony Savers from £2,999 city stay in Venice and Verona or 3-night post-cruise Outside Cabins from £1,799 stay in Rome Inside Cabins from £1,499 • Full Mr Bridge programme

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ON ALL SAVER CABINS LIMITED AVAILABILITY SO BOOK NOW

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SH_16_2097_Mr Bridge_Italian Overture_A4.indd 1 24/05/2016 17:31 Answers to Bernard Magee’s BERNARD Bidding Quizzes 7-9 MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE on the Cover TUTORIAL CD

West North East South 7. Dealer West. Love All. 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass DECLARER ♠ A K 9 4 2 ♠ Q 5 ? ♥ 7 6 N ♥ 9 8 PLAY ♦ A 6 2 W E ♦ K Q 9 8 4 3 3♥. You have a lovely six-card spade suit S ♣ K Q J ♣ A 4 3 and it is tempting to rebid it. However, when you find a fit it is best to show it: your partner’s 2♥ response MAC or West North East South promises five or more hearts, so you Windows 1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass have at least an eight-card fit. Show ? your fit by raising to 3♥ and your partner will probably bid on to 4♥. If you can 3♣. Your partner has shown you ten manage two ruffs in dummy, then 4♥ will points, so you know game is on, but scrape home. If instead you rebid 2♠, which game? your partner might even leave you there. Rebidding 2NT is reasonable, show- ing your strength and shape, but that will tend to lead to a 3NT contract, whether 9. Dealer West. Love All. or not your partner has a heart stopper. ♠ A K 9 5 ♠ Q J 8 7 3

Your aim should be to set up the auc- ♥ K Q 10 4 3 N ♥ A 2 tion in such a way as to discover whether ♦ K 5 4 W E ♦ A 9 S Bernard develops your partner can stop the heart suit. ♣ 3 ♣ 7 6 4 2 declarer play technique in You need to make a and the course of ten 3♣ is probably your best bet: even if your introductory exercises and partner takes your bid seriously and rais- West North East South es clubs, you can correct the contract to 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 120 complete deals. diamonds where you will have a reason- ? l Suit Establishment able fit. By bidding clubs you advertise in No-trumps the weakness in hearts, allowing your 4♣. You have fine support for your partner to continue his description, you partner’s suit, so you want to show your l Suit Establishment in Suits also show your five spades by rebidding liking for spades. 15 HCP, a five-card in a new suit. suit and a singleton, or counting losers l Hold-ups You are of course showing 4+ clubs, (5 losers) would suggest going for game. l Ruffing for but you are willing to overlook that for However, direct raises to game often Extra Tricks getting your message across. Here the end up with missed slams. Try to be £76 complete auction might be: 1♠-2♦-3♣- more descriptive: you have the perfect l Entries in No-trumps 3♦-3♥*-3♠-4♠. opportunity to make a . You use the (3♥) to A splinter is an unnecessary jump be- l Delaying ask for a stopper directly, but your part- yond three-of-the-major: it does not need Drawing Trumps ner cannot bid no-trumps so he gives de- to be used as natural and instead can be l Using the Lead layed support for spades. Although 5♦ used to show support for spades, points will make 11 tricks, 10 tricks in 4♠ scores and distribution for game and shortage l Trump Control better. in the suit bid. Jump to 4♣ and this will l Endplays & Avoidance allow your partner to take control. His l Using the Bidding only weakness in his hand is in clubs and 8. Dealer West. Love All. you have taken care of that, by saying, ♠ A K 8 6 3 2 ♠ 4 ‘Partner, I will be able to some of your Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, ♥ J 6 5 N ♥ A K 9 4 2 clubs as I have a singleton or .’ Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH ♦ A 4 W E ♦ K 7 6 5 6♠ makes since the hands fit well: noth- ( 01483 489961 S ♣ 3 2 ♣ J 6 5 ing wasted in clubs means the high cards www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop are working together in the other suits. ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 11 FIESTAS de NAVIDAD CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

ITALY • SARDINIA • MALLORCA • SPAIN • FRANCE 21 December 2016 – 3 January 2017 14-day cruise from £1,699pp

FRANCE Marseille ITALY

MONTSERRAT TARQUINIA MONASTERY POBLET Civitavecchia MONASTERY Barcelona Tarragona SPAIN SARDINIA Valencia Palma de Mallorca ALBUFERA Cagliari NATIONAL PARK NORA Plaza de la Virgen, Valencia Highlight port (2 nights) CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS Your cruise begins in Civitavecchia from where you can discover the treasures of Rome, then make sure • An extended stay in Civitavecchia allows time to you’re on deck as Cagliari’s spectacular domes and discover the treasures of ancient Rome façades come into view. Continue to Palma de Mallorca • Delve into a wealth of fascinating history in Cagliari, followed by Spain’s Valencia for overnight stays before the Sardinian capital Minerva makes her maiden call in Tarragona. Explore • Enjoy two full days in Valencia – one of Spain’s this charming resort ahead of an unforgettable New largest cities Year’s Eve in the vibrant city of Barcelona and conclude your cruise in fascinating Marseille. • Join Minerva on a maiden call in Tarragona and discover its fascinating medieval quarter FARES PER PERSON MIN161221 • Celebrate the New Year in Barcelona, a vibrant city Cabin Type Fares from fi lled with the spectacular works of Antoni Gaudi Balcony Savers from £3,499 • Extend your cruise with an optional 3-night pre-cruise Outside Cabins from £1,999 city stay in Rome or a 3-night post-cruise city stay in Inside Cabins from £1,699 Aix-en-Provence • Full Mr Bridge programme

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SH_16_2097_Mr Bridge_Fiestas de Navidad_A4.indd 1 27/05/2016 09:52 Answers to Bernard Magee’s BERNARD Bidding Quizzes 10-12 MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE on the Cover TUTORIAL CD DEFENCE the start of the auction because they are 10. Dealer West. Love All. all-important. Because your partner has ♠ K 6 ♠ Q 8 7 passed, he has limited his hand, which ♥ A 2 N ♥ K 4 3 means you can place him with fewer ♦ Q J 4 W E ♦ 9 8 2 than 12 points. This, in turn, means that S ♣ K Q 8 7 6 5 ♣ A 9 4 2 his response is non-forcing: you can MAC or choose to pass if you think game will be Windows beyond you and you have found the best West North East South denomination. 1♣ Pass 1NT Pass You have 12 HCP, so game is likely ? to be beyond the partnership and since your fit appears to be in clubs, it will be 3NT. a long way away. You should pass and The important aspect of this question is make things easier for your partner. to identify the meaning of your partner’s On a bad day, declarer might lose two 1NT response. A 1NT response to 1♣ is trumps along with the other three top unusual: why has your partner not bid a losers, so 2♣ will be high enough. suit? Bernard develops your Because he has not got a suit to show. defence in the course of ten Then why has he not supported clubs? introductory exercises and This is the crux: he has a choice and the 12. Dealer West. Love All. 120 complete deals. standard method is to use a raise to 2♣ to ♠ A J 8 7 6 ♠ 4 3 show weaker hands and a 1NT response ♥ 4 N ♥ Q J 8 6 l Lead vs to show the upper range: 8 to a bad 10. ♦ A 5 W E ♦ K 9 8 7 2 No-trump Contracts S You have 15 points with a six-card suit ♣ K Q J 8 7 ♣ A 2 l Lead vs that will have support: you can surely Suit Contracts hope for six club tricks and the ♦A and, l Partner of Leader with your partner being in the 8-10 West North East South vs No-trump ♠ ♦ range, you can reasonably hope for two 1 Pass 2 Pass Contracts more tricks from your two hands. Go for ? game – a bit of a gamble, but it will often l Partner of Leader pay off. 3♣. vs Suit Contracts Only 15 HCP so you appear to be too l Count weak to do a high reverse. However, Signals whenever contemplating making a l Attitude £76 11. Dealer East. Love All. strong bid, consider the circumstances. Signals ♠ 6 4 ♠ Q J 3 Clearly, if you rebid in your second suit, ♥ K Q 7 5 3 N ♥ 9 2 it will be a game-forcing bid – are you l Discarding W E ♦ A J ♦ K 4 3 prepared for that? l Defensive Plan S ♣ Q 9 4 3 ♣ A 8 7 5 2 Yes, you are: your partner has promised l Stopping Declarer 10 points for his two-level change of suit response and with your 15 that should l Counting the Hand West North East South add up to a game contract. Bearing this Pass Pass in mind you should bid your hand out 1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass naturally. Over 3♣, your partner will try Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, ? 3NT, which you should pass, hopeful of Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH success. ( 01483 489961 Pass. Your partner is minimum for his bid, www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop Hopefully you noted the two passes at but 3NT has every chance of success. ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 13 GATEWAY to ATLANTIC ISLES

FRANCE • SPAIN • GIBRALTAR • PORTUGAL • MADEIRA • CANARY ISLANDS 3 – 17 January 2017 15-day cruise from £1,499pp

FRANCE MONTPELLIER Sete Marseille

PORTUGAL SPAIN ALHAMBRA FERRAGUDO PALACE

Portimao Cadiz Cartagena

Gibraltar Motril

Funchal Carcassonne, France CANARY ISLANDS Tenerife Highlight port (full day) MOUNT TEIDE CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

Minerva begins her journey in Marseille and then • Discover the pristine harbour of the cosmopolitan continues to Sète, known as the ‘Venice of Languedoc’. In town of Sète on the French Riviera Spain, step ashore in Cartagena followed by Motril, from • Spend a day marvelling at the Moorish Alhambra where you can visit the magnifi cent Alhambra Palace. The Palace in Granada Rock of Gibraltar, whose imposing silhouette can be seen for miles, is next to be discovered, then on to historic • Explore Cádiz, which was founded by the Phoenicians Cádiz. Explore cosmopolitan Portimao in the Algarve in around 1100 BC and boasts a rich maritime history and enjoy an overnight stay in picturesque Funchal before • Visit Portimao, a small, colourful city with a thriving your cruise concludes in Tenerife. fi shing port and an old centre dotted with manicured parks and plazas FARES PER PERSON MIN170103 • Overnight stay in Funchal, with plenty of time to Cabin Type Fares from appreciate its gardens and vistas Balcony Savers from £2,999 • Extend your cruise with an optional 3-night pre-cruise Outside Cabins from £1,799 city stay in Aix-en-Provence Inside Cabins from £1,499 • Full Mr Bridge programme

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SH_16_2097_Mr Bridge_Gateway to Atlantic Isles_A4.indd 1 24/05/2016 17:30 Julian Pottage Answers your Bridge Questions

Should I with my Higher Ranked or Longer Suit?

My right-hand showing both suits at once. cannot tell which you have. opponent If a 2NT overcall does not If you have supported ♠ A K J 7 3 Qopened 1♠ and fit in with your agreement, partner’s suit, when a ♥ J 4 I wondered what to do you should start with 2♣ doubleton is impossible, ♦ Q J 3 2 with the following hand: and be willing to come you can agree to lead ♣ Q 4 back in with 4NT over 4♠. top of nothing even if you would lead second highest ♠ Void ♣♦♥♠ in a weak unbid suit. Thirteen tricks rolled in ♥ 7 4 when the ♠Q dropped on ♦ K Q 8 7 3 What is the ♣♦♥♠ the first round. Should ♣ A Q 8 6 4 2 general practice I have jumped, then he Qfor the opening With a new might have bid beyond lead against a suit partner using 4♠? Alternatively, should Would you bid 2♣, as it contract when your Qordinary I have guessed at 6♠? is the longer suit, or 2♦, partner has bid a suit Blackwood and no What would 5♠ (rather so that you can next bid during the auction? agreements about than 4) have meant – clubs twice, if necessary? Does one lead high, fourth suit, cue bids or does it ask about the Peter Calviou by email. low or what? splinters, on the very quality of his spades? Bryan Stephens, first hand, I held: Ron Tomsett by email. For sure, I would East Preston, West Sussex. not overcall 2♦. You 2♣ initially was fine. A might end up in a The general practice ♠ 10 9 8 If you use fourth-suit high-level doubled contract for club and home ♥ A 7 A forcing (2♥) and and be subject to spade A players is to lead the ♦ A 5 then bid 3♠, this sets up a forces. Playing in your best same in partner’s suit as you ♣ A K J 8 3 2 forcing situation and gives trump fit may be worth would in an unbid suit, top you more room to explore. several tricks in the play of a sequence, high from a Even in the traditional Acol if it means the difference doubleton, second from poor Partner opened 1♠. I method of playing fourth between losing control or not. suits and fourth from suits replied 2♣ (I believe the suit forcing not as game Whether you should with an honour. For sure, it modern way is to take forcing, any bid past 2NT make an unusual 2NT is rarely a good idea to lead things slowly to give should create a game force. (both minors) or start with high from three to an honour. more room, so did not Your hand is not good 2♣ depends upon your At a higher level of play, jump). Partner bid 2♦, enough to be sure you partnership agreement it is customary to lead a bit so I knew he had five have slam values facing about the strength of a 2NT differently, typically third and spades. However, I had a minimum opening bid overcall. Some play that fifth in partner’s suit. The no idea about the quality and so you want to consult the hand can be weak or reason for this is that a lead of the spades, or if my partner. Quite often, having strong but not, as is the case from a three-card holding clubs would run as a side bid spades and diamonds, with the hand you cite, of is so much more likely in suit. I wanted to be sure partner will have a small intermediate strength. If you partner’s suit than in an of making game, so bid singleton club, in which case have no such agreement, unbid suit. If you lead low 4♠, which was passed. there will be work to do to set 2NT has the advantage of from three or four, partner Partner’s hand was: up the club suit.

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 15 If you go to 5♠ when play 2♦, 2♥ and 2♠ weak). major-suit slam. A single to play that responder does your side has bid three My RHO overcalled discard on the ♣Q will not not need positive values to suits, it sounds as if you are 5♦. I held a balanced help partner much in 6♠. bid – just a good suit. At looking for a control in the seven-point hand: the three level, a five-card unbid (heart) suit rather ♣♦♥♠ major headed by a top than for good trumps. A honour is just about worth guess to bid 6♠ would ♠ J 7 3 In a teams event, showing. Opener might have be an optimistic guess. ♥ K J 8 4 at game all, my guessed that responder had ♦ 7 3 QRHO opened something apart from the ♣♦♥♠ ♣ Q 9 6 3 with an Acol 2♣ (holding ♥Q and gone on to 6♦ – but 25 points and a string I suppose that something Please can you of diamonds). I held: did not have to be the ♦K. explain reverse I knew it was dangerous, You need to take some Qbidding? but I wanted to take credit for your overcall in Name and address supplied. the opportunity to tell ♠ A J 9 6 5 4 keeping the opponents partner something about ♥ 6 2 N out of a slam. W E I think you are talking my hand. I ventured 5♥. ♦ 4 S about a reverse LHO passed and ♣ Q J 8 5 ♣♦♥♠ A (typically by opener partner puzzled... before but could be by responder) raising to 6♥. He held: Sitting South, when a player bids his suits With a degree of I had a strong in reverse order. On most devilment I overcalled Qhand and at hands, one bids the higher- ♠ A K Q 10 4 2♠. My LHO held: some stage bid 4NT, ranking suit before the ♥ 10 7 6 3 asking for aces. The lower ranking-suit so that if ♦ A K opponent on my left, partner prefers your first suit ♣ A K ♠ 8 7 2 West, then bid 5♦. My it is possible to go back to ♥ Q 10 7 4 3 partner, who had one it without raising the level. ♦ K 9 2 ace, was then unable to You can follow this normal The ♥A-Q were with my ♣ 7 3 make her bid, as West

order either if the suits are LHO, who sagely failed N had bid her response. of equal length or if the to double, or we might W E My partner doubled. S higher-ranking suit is longer. well have found 6♠. I took this as meaning If the lower-ranking suit is Rupert Timpson by email. she was doubling for longer, you do not want to He bid 3♥, RHO bid 4♦, penalties. I passed, start with the higher-ranking Partner, who has and their final contract and we took opponents suit. So, if your hand is announced a strong was 5♦. They made down by two. However, relatively weak, you either bid A hand, is hardly 12 tricks with ease, my partner said that the lower-ranking suit twice going to let the opponents my ♠A being the only her double was to (eg 1♦-1♠-2♦), or you rebid play in 5♦ undoubled. possible defensive tell me that she had a higher suit at the one level If you bid when you do trick. Our teammates wanted to bid 5♦. Who (eg 1♦-1♥-1♠), but with a not have to and at such a duly made the slam, was correct please? stronger hand, you can rebid high level, you should only so it was a good result Sir John Olrog, the higher-ranking suit at do so if you have something for us. What do you Virginia Water, Surrey. the two level (eg 1♦-1♠-2♥); descriptive to say. I suggest recommend in such this is a reverse. For a reverse you need at least a six-card cases where a strong An established as opener, you need at least heart suit for the 5♥ bid. 2♣ or 2♦ is overcalled? partnership would 16 or 17 points as well as With your actual balanced Jim Miller, Loughborough. A have an agreement the appropriate shape, at hand, you have no idea about what to do if the least five cards in the first of the best denomination The general principle opponents intervene over suit and at least four in the because so much depends when it comes to 4NT. A common agreement second, with the second upon what your partner A an overcall of a is DOPI, whereby double suit shorter than the first. holds. It is debatable whether two level opening is ‘strong shows no aces (or no key pass or double is the best way over weak and weak over cards if you are playing a ♣♦♥♠ to show a few values – but strong’, so you are right to form of Keycard Blackwood) for sure 5♥ shows a much bid over their strong 2♣ and pass shows one ace (or My partner shapelier hand than you held. with a weak shapely hand. key card). In this case, the opened 2♣, with Incidentally, it would For the opening side, double of 5♦ would show Qthe strength of seem you have two heart after a strong artificial 2♣ no aces and a pass one an Acol strong two (we tricks to lose in either and an overcall, it is usual ace. Higher bids show

Page 16 BRIDGE October 2016 aces in steps: the next bid My partner rebid 2♠, because opener could bid opener to give preference, it (5♥ in your example) shows to which I replied 3♣. I 4♦ to agree diamonds. is perfectly playable to use two aces and the next bid know this bid was wrong Stayman on any hand with after that (5♠ in your ex- but if I had said 3NT, ♣♦♥♠ both majors. I use Stayman ample) shows three aces. my partner would have myself on most hands with When the partner of the passed. Should I have I have always both majors. The exception 4NT enquirer does have just jumped to 6NT? played that would tend to be when my only one ace or no aces Ann Yeldon, Qyour ‘support limited values are mainly at all, it is quite possible Seaford, East Sussex. suits’ must have at in the minors. A weak 4-3 that a slam is not on. In least three cards but fit might not play anywhere this case, particularly if Your 2♦ response that a three-card suit near as well as 1NT. the opposing bid is higher and 3♣ rebid can be just low cards. Hands with at least the than five of the agreed A were both fine. So if the opponents values to invite game present suit, it is useful for you as You have not said what bid clubs – I play that no problem because then the 4NT bidder to have the happened after that. I you can make a take-out responder can rebid 2NT option to play for penalties. guess from your comments double with these hands: or 3NT as appropriate. You can leave in the one that your partner bid 3NT ace double or, if partner and you passed. If that is ♣♦♥♠ passed to show no aces, the case, you were overly ♠ A K J 7 5 ♠ K Q 7 5 you can double yourself. cautious in passing 3NT. ♥ K Q 8 3 ♥ 9 6 3 Can you advise Given that the 4NT bidder Your partner’s bidding ♦ 9 6 3 ♦ A K J 7 5 what the SID is asking about aces, the certainly was not correct. For ♣ 2 ♣ 2 Qconvention is, other player cannot really a start, although the aces please? It evidently make a pure penalty double. and kings are nice, the poor arises after a 4-4 fit If a slam is on, you may need spot cards mean that the My partner believes that has been found, after to defeat the opponents by a opening hand is not too good there must be an honour a Stayman enquiry. lot of tricks to compensate. for a weak 1NT opening. card in all support suits. John Shingler by email. After your 2♦ response, May I ask for your ♣♦♥♠ partner does not have a view on this? Since you have sensible rebid available to Bruce Paul by email. asked, I shall explain How could show a minimum opening. A – but this is one of we have bid The best option, having When it comes to those conventions that one Qthe hands created the problem by choosing a trump is better off not playing. below? 6NT was an failing to open 1NT, would A suit, length counts SID stands for Stayman easy contract. be to rebid 2NT. This for more than strength. You in Doubt. You would use would be a slight overbid cannot make it a rigid rule to it if you use Stayman on but at least describes the have an honour in all three- a 4333 shape to find out ♠ K 5 3 2 general nature of the hand. card unbid suits. Sometimes whether partner is 4333 ♥ A K 5 3 Partner’s actual choice, a your shape will be 4432 too. If neither of you has ♦ 7 5 2♠ reverse, not only showed rather than 5431, in which a ruffing value, 3NT may ♣ A 7 5 extra strength but also a case making an overcall produce as many tricks non-existent fifth heart. would not be sensible. as the 4-4 fit in a major- N W E Bidding slams without cue suit game (and sometimes S bidding is tricky. You are ♣♦♥♠ more tricks if the opponents ♠ A going to be guessing on could score a ruff). ♥ Q 10 some occasions. You really A few years The way it works is that ♦ A Q J 10 8 ought to try adding this ago, you after 1NT-2♣-2♥/2♠, a rebid ♣ K Q J 9 6 weapon to your arsenal. Even Qsuggested that of 3♦ asks opener to bid 3NT at the table, responder should use with a 4333 shape or rebid where systems are necessarily Stayman on all hands the major with any other My partner (North) simple, cue bids are part of with both majors, shape, presumably jumping opened 1♥ (although the standard. If the bidding including weak hands. to game if non-minimum. she said afterwards starts 1NT-3♦-3NT-4♣, 4♥ Is this still the case? If you play this convention, that she had wondered cannot be an attempt to play Tim Lines, Ferndown, Dorset. you give up whatever you whether to open 1NT). there. If wishing to play in currently play the 3♦ rebid as My response was hearts (facing a minor-two So long as you play meaning. You also give away 2♦ (just a simple suiter to boot), opener would that 1NT-2♣-2♦-2♥ information about opener’s change of suit – should have bid hearts previously. A shows a weak hand shape when you use the I have jumped?) Logically, 4♥ agrees clubs with both majors and invites convention. I would

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 17 ATLANTIC ARCHIPELAGOS

CANARY ISLANDS • CAPE VERDE ISLANDS 17 – 30 January 2017 14-day cruise from £1,499pp

Tenerife FUENCALIENTE Gran La Palma Canaria CAPE VERDE MASPALOMAS Sao Vicente CANARY ISLANDS

Boa Vista Santiago PRAIA

Highlight port (1 night)

This memorable cruise begins with an overnight stay in Maspalomas sand dunes, Gran Canaria Tenerife before heading to La Palma, the greenest of the Canary Islands. Sail to Cape Verde and explore the CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS lovely island of Sao Vicente during an overnight stay, and continue to Santiago, where an array of architectural • Stroll through the lava fi elds of Mount Teide on the treasures await. Discover Boa Vista, whose name volcanic island of Tenerife translates as ‘beautiful view’, before Minerva reaches • Discover the ‘green island’ of the canaries, UNESCO- Gran Canaria, where a diverse gives way to listed La Palma picturesque villages and modern cities. • Enjoy an extended stay on Sao Vicente to explore the remote Cape Verde archipelago FARES PER PERSON MIN170117 • Admire the old colonial buildings that line the streets Cabin Type Fares from of Praia on the island of Santiago Balcony Savers from £2,999 • Wander the UNESCO-listed district of Vegueta, the Outside Cabins from £1,799 city of Las Palmas’ Old Town Inside Cabins from £1,499 • Full Mr Bridge programme

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SH_16_2097_Mr Bridge_Atlantic Archipelagos_A4.indd 1 24/05/2016 17:30 recommend simply not forcing. Having already Playing teams, Who should using Stayman on 4333 shown a limited hand with I was East when have bid what shapes (unless perhaps all 2♣, partner can bid 2NT to Qwe had this deal. Qon this deal the strength is in two suits). show the heart stopper. You (nobody vulnerable)? could raise that to 3NT. ♣♦♥♠ In fact, 3NT is not the best ♠ K Q 10 spot. Even with spades 4-2 ♥ 5 3 ♠ Q 10 8 4 3 My partner and I (when one needs to ruff a ♦ A K Q 10 3 ♥ A K J 10 7 3 (South) held the round to set up the suit) and ♣ Q J 10 ♦ K 5 Qfollowing hands: the ♥A offside, 6♣ played ♠ A J 8 4 ♠ 9 7 ♣ Void by North looks good. If East ♥ A J 4 N ♥ K 10 7 2 ♠ A K 5 2 ♠ J 9 6 ♥ ♦ W E ♦ ♥ ♥ does not cash the A at trick J 8 2 S 9 7 6 4 Q 9 8 4 N 6 ♠ A Q one, declarer can discard one ♣ K 8 5 ♣ 9 7 2 ♦ A 7 W E ♦ J 9 8 4 S ♥ K 7 heart on the ♠K and another ♠ 6 5 3 2 ♣ A Q 5 ♣ J 9 6 4 3 ♦ J 5 3 on the fifth spade, just losing ♥ Q 9 8 6 ♠ 7 ♣ K 9 7 6 5 3 a diamond. If East does cash ♦ 5 ♥ 5 2 the ♥A at trick one, declarer ♣ A 6 4 3 ♦ Q 10 6 3 2 N W E discards two diamonds ♣ K 10 8 7 2 S instead of two hearts and ♠ K 9 6 4 2 again makes twelve tricks. West North East South ♥ 3 2 1♦ Pass 1NT As North, I saw West ♦ A 2 ♣♦♥♠ Dbl All Pass open 1♥ and I made a 1♠ ♣ A J 8 2 overcall. I played there How would N/S made nine tricks for and went down after East you respond some score I prefer not led her singleton heart. West North East South Qto partner’s to think about. My Results at our club: 2♠ 1♣ Dbl Rdbl1 2NT(20-22) opening with partner said that his minus two by West; 1♥ 1♥ 2♣ Pass 2♠2 the following hand? double was for take-out minus four by West; 2♠ All Pass of 1♦ so I should not have made by North (I wonder 1Showing 9+ points passed. I thought that how); 1♠ minus one by 2Intended as forcing ♠ 8 7 doubles of 1NT were for North (I might have ♥ 9 penalty unless agreed made it); 3♥ doubled Was I right to redouble ♦ Q 10 4 2 otherwise. What is the minus one by North. initially and should I ♣ A Q 10 6 4 3 general rule on this? Keith Rylands by email. then have gone 3♠? John Collins, Hertfordshire. Martin Epstein by email. A possible auction One partner suggested Most doubles of is as follows: After an opponent 4♣ (Gerber). Is there a no-trump bids A doubles partner’s way to explore a possible A are for penalties, A opening, you can slam? however a double of a 1NT West North East South play a jump shift as a fit- Huw Jones, Swansea. response is an exception 1♥ 1♠1 Pass Pass showing jump – you are and is a take-out of opener’s 1NT2 2♥3 All Pass very unlikely to have the The simplest thing suit. You should have bid 1North takes the chance to strength for a strong jump is to give up playing 2♥, though that would not show the spades at the one shift if an opponent shows A Gerber – it is one have gone very well either. level. strength. Playing fit jumps, of the worst conventions Your partner’s flat hand is 2The 1NT rebid with nothing from 2♠ shows five spades and ever invented. The chance not ideal for the double, partner shows 18-19 or maybe at least four clubs, with at of having the perfect hand especially with both sides 17-19. You risk missing game if least the values to reach 3♣; for it is extremely remote. A vulnerable and undertricks you pass with this many points. this describes your hand natural jump to 4♣ would at their most expensive. 3The delayed bid in opener’s suit quite well. If you do not play describe the hand well. Incidentally, South’s is natural. fit jumps, I recommend a If you cannot persuade 1NT response with four 1♠ response. You want to your partner to give up cards in each major is It is interesting that none show the spades and the Gerber, you can bid 3♣ and bizarre. South should have of the tables at your club clubs if you can; redouble then 4♣. If you do not have a responded 1♥, not 1NT. reached 2♥. ■ conveys neither feature. natural jump to 4♣ available, On your actual sequence, that sequence must show E-mail your questions (including your postal address) the redouble followed clubs without saying anything for Julian to: [email protected] by 2♠ should indeed be specific about the majors.

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 19 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum

Episode 54:

Soft Landings

s boys, my big brother and his With only 10 HCP, I (South) was Jane argued that Jon could have made best friend, Peter, used to play concerned about opening this things easier by leading a diamond. I on the flat roof of the shed at hand. On the plus side, we weren’t queried Millie’s bid of three spades, Athe bottom of Peter’s garden, even vulnerable and the hand reached 20 noting that I would have bid four though this dangerous venture had opening points, so in the end I found spades with her trump holding. Millie been banned by both sets of parents. one spade. Ignoring the vulnerability, sensibly countered this suggestion by Access was by ladder, which I was too Jon made a rather weak overcall of pointing out that three spades was the young to climb. I threatened to spill the three diamonds. Sitting North, Millie last making contract for North-South beans on their activities unless I was simply confirmed her liking for spades as with better defence, game should allowed to join the boys on the roof, as trumps by bidding three spades. not make. so they fitted large springs to the bot- Holding the best hand at the table, As we scored up later, Kate and Jo tom of a wooden barrel and with ropes Jane bid four diamonds suppressing explained they were rather lucky to attached attempted to haul the barrel her strong club suit. The void in get a good result on the hand as the with me as passenger up to the roof. diamonds encouraged me to declare auction took a fairly undistinguished Having left the ground, the weight of in four spades. route to a partscore. After three me and the barrel was too great and passes, Kate opened one club as East. control was lost. The barrel returned West North East South With no specific bid available in their to earth under gravity, precisely as pre- Jon Millie Jane Wendy system to show a major two-suiter, dicted by Isaac Newton, and bounced 1♠ South chose to overcall one heart. Two on its springs a few times before spill- 3♦ 3♠ 4♦ 4♠ passes followed and Kate’s final bid of ing me uninjured onto the grass below. All Pass two clubs made her declarer. I ran home to mother and blamed my brother for the incident. On mature Spurning perhaps the more obvious West North East South reflection years later, I realised this option of a diamond, Jon went for the Jo Kate conclusion was rather unfair as I had trump lead and led the nine of spades. Pass taken part in the escapade as a willing I won the first trick, removed the Pass Pass 1♣ 1♥ participant. remaining trump, finishing in dummy Pass Pass 2♣ All Pass It was a teams event at the Riverside and then led a small heart towards my with teammates Jo and Kate. Jon and hand. Jane popped up with the ace South led the ace of spades, Jane were our opponents on this board. and continued with the king. With the North encouraged, and the spade ace and king to lose in clubs, I nearly continuation was trumped by Kate. She claimed my nine tricks at this point now played the ace and king of hearts, Dealer South. E/W Game. for one off. followed by a small heart ruffed high ♠ K Q 10 8 5 Fortunately, I resisted this negative with the jack in dummy. The club lead ♥ 7 5 approach; in bridge one never knows from the table lost to South’s queen, ♦ K J 6 5 what might happen next. Still on lead, but the contract made nine tricks in ♣ 9 6 after much thought, Jane failed to test all for 2♣+1 and a score of plus 110 ♠ 9 7 ♠ 2 clubs, but instead played the diamond to our team. Rather unnecessarily, ♥ 10 3 N ♥ A K 8 2 ace. I ruffed in hand and the queen Millie pointed out that a diamond W E ♦ ♦ Q 10 9 7 4 3 2 S A 8 and jack of hearts took care of the two contract might have produced ten ♣ J 7 ♣ A K 10 8 5 2 losing clubs in dummy. The apparently tricks for plus 130. Rather like the ♠ A J 6 4 3 hopeless contract came home for 4♠+1 childhood incident of the bouncing ♥ Q J 9 6 4 and a score of plus 450. Our opponents barrel, bridge too produces conflicting ♦ Void left the table still bickering about choices, and like life itself does not ♣ Q 4 3 their defence. Jon blamed Jane for always apportion blame as fairly as it not taking her two club tricks, while might. ■

Page 20 BRIDGE October 2016 Catching Up DECLARER with Sally Brock PLAY QUIZ riony and I went away 12–14 counts, including for a little holiday on those with five diamonds). I by David Huggett our own. The (rather chose a slightly conservative (Answers on page 23) Bfoolish) original plan was 1NT. East passed and Barry to have two nights in Lille, bid a 2♦ transfer. West ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge. then drive to Annecy for chose to double for the YIn each case, what is your play strategy? three nights and return for lead, I passed (showing two nights in Bruges. As the fewer than three hearts) time drew nearer, I found and Barry redoubled, a re- ♠ ♠ myself wondering why we transfer, asking me to please 1. 9 3 3. 6 4 ♥ ♥ were going to drive quite so bid 2♥ this time. Well, the K 7 6 5 Q 10 9 ♦ ♦ far for such a short stay, so opportunity was too good A 8 2 J 10 9 7 4 ♣ ♣ at the last moment we can- to resist, so I passed and let A J 6 4 7 6 4 ♦ celled Annecy, and instead him take his chances in 2 . N N had an extra night in Lille W E W E before spending a couple S S of nights in Brussels and Dealer South. Love All. ♠ ♠ then moving on to Bruges. ♠ A 6 4 K J 4 A K 5 3 ♥ ♥ Much more sensible. We ♥ A A 2 A J 2 ♦ ♦ had a great time. We enjoy ♦ A J 10 7 4 K Q 7 K Q 3 ♣ ♣ each other’s company and ♣ A J 5 2 K 10 5 3 2 A K 3 both like to do lots of shop- ♠ 8 7 2 ♠ K 10 5 3 N ping – especially when we ♥ K 9 4 W E ♥ Q 7 6 3 are in the car and therefore ♦ K Q 9 8 6 S ♦ 2 You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 3NT ♠ ♥ not limited by what we can ♣ K Q ♣ 9 8 6 3 and West leads the 5. and West leads the 3. ♠ ♥ fit into a suitcase. ♠ Q J 9 East plays the Q. How do East plays the 4. How do As well as that, we have ♥ J 10 8 5 2 you plan the play? you plan the play? had the odd bridge fix- ♦ 5 3 ture. We won a NICKO ♣ 10 7 4 match and so are now in the quarter-finals of that ♠ ♠ event. I organised a bridge West led the ♣K, won with 2. 6 3 4. K J 10 ♥ ♥ evening for Tove who had the ♣A. Barry cashed the A J 7 A 7 6 4 ♦ ♦ paid handsomely for my ♥A and played a club to 9 7 5 3 A J 5 ♣ ♣ services at Briony’s charity the ten and queen. West K 8 6 4 K 7 4 bridge evening. As usual, switched to the ♦K and N N we played a couple of times dummy won the ace. He W E W E at the Young Chelsea. now played a low spade. S S As well as that, I continue East went in with the king ♠ ♠ to do my online coaching and continued spades. Two Q 10 2 A Q 9 8 7 ♥ ♥ sessions, though it is a bit more spade tricks, ending K Q 10 9 5 3 2 ♦ ♦ more patchy over the sum- in hand, brought declarer’s A K Q 8 3 ♣ ♣ mer as people go on holiday. trick total to five, and he now A Q 2 A 6 5 This was quite a fun deal played a diamond. There from a session with one of is no way the defence can ♥ ♠ my Irish pairs. take more than five tricks You are declarer in 5 and You are declarer in 7 and ♦ ♠ I held the North hand (see now (nor could they have West leads the Q. How West leads the 2. How do next column) and had to find done anything earlier), and, do you plan the play? you plan the play? a bid after partner passed in practice, an overtrick and West opened 1♣ (E/W slipped through so we made open 1♣ with all balanced the unusual score of +760. ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 21 Letters from Overseas High, but Flat by John Barr

love living in the mountains, and I As is often the case when a very strong love walking in the mountains, but hand is held, South overbid and played ♠ 2 I’m not partial to walking up (or in 6NT in both rooms. ♥ 8 7 Idown) mountains. For me, the perfect In one room, East had opened a ♦ 8 walk starts with a gondola or chair lift multi 2♦ (which was shown later in the ♣ 7 that whisks me from the floor of the auction to be a weak two in spades), ♠ — valley up to somewhere between 1,500 while in the other room East had ♥ 10 9 6 4 N immaterial and 2,000 metres. I can then walk opened with 3♠. ♦ Q W E S along the mountain tops for a few In the first room, declarer had ♣ — ♠ — ♥ A K Q 2 ♦ 7 ♣ —

At the other table where East was ex- pected to have a seven card spade suit, declarer decided to win the first spade and play on clubs. Again, West has a discard to find on the last club:

♠ 4 3 ♥ 8 7 ♦ 8 6 3 hours before stopping at a mountain ducked the of the queen ♣ 7 hut for some refreshment. High, but of spades (overtaken by East’s king) ♠ — flat is the theme for my mountain without giving it too much thought ♥ 10 9 6 4 3 N immaterial walks, and it’s also the theme for this – probably thinking along the lines ♦ Q 10 9 W E S hand from a recent teams competition: that it’s often right to to cut ♣ — communication with the six-card suit. ♠ — At trick three (yes, two tricks too ♥ A K Q 2 ♠ 4 3 2 late), declarer started to think in detail ♦ A K J 7 ♥ 8 7 about his prospects. ♣ — ♦ 8 6 3 He couldn’t avoid the club , ♣ A J 8 7 2 but had no obvious discard on the final ♠ Q ♠ K J 10 9 7 6 5 club. Reckoning that the diamond A further diamond discard allows ♥ 10 9 6 4 3 N ♥ J 5 finesse would probably be wrong, he declarer to drop the queen, while af- ♦ Q 10 9 4 W E ♦ 5 2 cashed the two top diamonds and ter a heart discard, declarer can play S ♣ Q 5 3 ♣ 6 4 continued with the king and ten of four rounds of hearts, throwing West ♠ A 8 clubs, taking the finesse and running in to lead away from the queen of dia- ♥ A K Q 2 the club suit. This was the position monds. ♦ A K J 7 when dummy leads the last club: South Both declarers were disappointed ♣ K 10 9 discarding a diamond. West could not that their clever card play in a slam avoid being squeezed in the red suits. only resulted in a flat board. ■

Page 22 BRIDGE October 2016 Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 21

You are declarer in 5♥ and West leads winners. You won’t be able to do that if 1. ♠ 9 3 the ♦Q. How do you plan the play? you win the first trick with any card other ♥ K 7 6 5 Flirting for a slam has got you to the than the ace. By winning with the ace, it ♦ A 8 2 five-level. There are ten tricks ‘on top’ is true that you set up the king for the ♣ A J 6 4 and at first glance it looks as though the defenders, but you do guarantee an entry ♠ A 10 8 5 2 ♠ Q 7 6 eleventh might come from a fourth club to dummy’s precious diamond winners ♥ Q 10 4 3 N ♥ J 9 8 if they break 3-3, or a spade if East has and with a double stop in every other suit ♦ 10 6 3 W E ♦ J 9 5 4 the knave and a higher honour. But it’s you have no fears in that department. S ♣ 9 ♣ Q 8 7 much more simple than that. Simply go ♠ K J 4 for a spade ruff in dummy by leading ♥ A 2 one from hand. Maybe the defenders will ♦ K Q 7 switch to a trump but you just win and 4. ♠ K J 10 ♣ K 10 5 3 2 lead another spade and eventually ruff ♥ A 7 6 4 the third in dummy. ♦ A J 5 Notice that it would be wrong to cross ♣ K 7 4 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads to dummy with a trump in order to lead ♠ 4 2 ♠ 6 5 3 the ♠5. East plays the ♠Q. How do you a spade, because the defenders might ♥ J 9 8 3 N ♥ K Q 10 5 plan the play? be able to continue leading trumps and ♦ 10 6 4 2 W E ♦ 9 7 S The Rule of Eleven tells you that East deny you your ruff. ♣ 10 3 2 ♣ Q J 9 8 has at least three spades, so there is no ♠ A Q 9 8 7 use in trying any sort of hold-up. Nor is ♥ 2 there any need, for all you have to do is ♦ K Q 8 3 try to ensure that East never gains the lead 3. ♠ 6 4 ♣ A 6 5 to push a spade through your remaining ♥ Q 10 9 holding. Although the odds favour play- ♦ J 10 9 7 4 ing the clubs from the top there are other ♣ 7 6 4 You are declarer in 7♠ and West leads considerations here, so play a club to ♠ Q 8 2 ♠ J 10 9 7 the ♠2. How do you plan the play? the ace and finesse on the way back. If ♥ K 8 7 3 N ♥ 6 5 4 Try as you might the total number of it loses, West can do you no harm with ♦ 6 5 W E ♦ A 8 2 tricks on offer only seems to be twelve, S another spade lead. Win or lose you have ♣ J 8 5 2 ♣ Q 10 9 via five spades, one heart, four diamonds at least enough tricks for your contract. ♠ A K 5 3 and two clubs – but there is a way to make ♥ A J 2 thirteen tricks if you look hard enough. ♦ K Q 3 Curiously enough, the contract is ♣ A K 3 a sound one and virtually laydown if 2. ♠ 6 3 trumps are no worse than 3-2. ♥ A J 7 Win the spade lead in dummy and play ♦ 9 7 5 3 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads ace and another heart, ruffing in hand. ♣ K 8 6 4 the ♥3. East plays the ♥4. How do you Now enter dummy with a trump (both ♠ A J 9 4 ♠ K 8 7 5 plan the play? defenders following suit) and ruff another ♥ 6 4 2 N ♥ 8 You have been dealt a spectacular heart. Go back to dummy with a club and ♦ Q J 10 2 W E ♦ K 8 6 4 hand and it would be a shame to waste ruff the last heart in hand. Your hand will S ♣ 9 5 ♣ J 10 7 3 it. Dummy has a fine potential source be out of trumps now, but dummy will still ♠ Q 10 2 of tricks in the diamond suit, but if have one, so you go across with a dia- ♥ K Q 10 9 5 3 the defenders the ace until the mond and play the last trump, drawing ♦ A third round – and they certainly will if the outstanding trump in the opponent’s ♣ A Q 2 they can – you have to make sure you hand in the process. On that last trump can reach dummy to cash the remaining you throw your club loser. ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 23 Improve Your Defence with Andrew Kambites Logic at Trick 2

ou have won trick 1 and must ♠10-9-x-x. Many experts would state decide what to do next. As that South’s 2♥ rebid guarantees six Example B I have shown earlier in this hearts because it takes up so much ♠ A Q J Yseries, there are a lot of clues from the space. However, even if you believe ♥ 6 4 3 2 bidding that are available to help the that South may have only five hearts, ♦ Q 10 discerning mind find a good opening that leaves South with only eight side ♣ A K Q 2 lead, but once dummy appears and suit cards, and it looks likely that ♠ K 2 you have seen the cards played to trick declarer will have winners in dummy Lead ♠ 9 N ♥ A 7 5 1, the information available to you to discard at least some club losers in W E ♦ 9 8 7 6 5 3 S increases exponentially. Logic and his hand. So returning partner’s suit is ♣ 7 4 counting become paramount. In the unlikely to be successful. examples considered, you are playing So where are three extra tricks for teams of four so you can focus your the defence coming from? It is just West North East South attention on beating the contract about possible that you might have two 1♥ Pass 1NT rather than preventing overtricks. trump tricks to go with your ♣A, but Pass 2NT Pass 3NT In Example A, partner leads the ♠9 it is far more likely that you will need All Pass to dummy’s ♠K and your ♠A. What two club tricks to supplement just one next? trump trick, or even three club tricks. North is certainly a believer in opening An immediate club switch is clearcut, the major. What clues do you have? but which one? With four spades declarer should Example A Suppose declarer has: have preferred a 1♠ response to 1NT, ♠ K Q J 8 hence, you know partner has led from ♥ J 6 4 a weak suit of at least five cards. You ♦ A K J ♠ 6 3 2 could return the ♠2, but partner is ♣ 5 3 2 ♥ A Q 10 7 3 2 marked with at most 7 points and is ♠ A 7 4 ♦ Q 8 unlikely to have enough entries to set N ♥ 8 5 ♣ K J up and cash his length spade tricks. W E ♦ 7 6 4 2 How about hearts? There is a subtle S ♣ A 8 6 4 clue here. If declarer had three hearts If you cash your ♣A declarer cannot he should have tried a forcing 3♥ over go wrong, but suppose you switch to 2NT, rather than just raise to 3NT. By West North East South your ♣4. Declarer has a guess, and if doing so, he would have given partner 1♥ he guesses wrong (playing the ♣J in a chance to prefer a possible 5-3 heart Pass 1♠ Pass 2♥ the hope that you have the ♣Q) you fit. ♥3 is forcing because South cannot Pass 4♥ All Pass have four tricks. At this point I can see possibly have four hearts (otherwise you all reaching for your back copies he would have raised 1♥ to 2♥ rather Dummy is depressingly strong and of BRIDGE, searching for my advice than respond 1NT) and North might there is no reason to believe that the on underleading side suit aces against well have only four hearts. You don’t cards are behaving badly for declarer. suit contracts. What I said was, ‘Don’t sign off at the three level in a 4-3 fit. Where are four tricks coming from? underlead a side suit ace against a suit So, assuming you believe South to be You can start by dismissing the idea contract at trick 1.’ This isn’t trick 1. a sound bidder, he cannot have more that you can give partner a spade ruff. By this time logic has taken over from than two hearts. Dummy’s hearts If partner started with a doubleton soundbites. are very weak. If partner has the ♥K spade then declarer has four spades, In Example B, your partner leads you can clearly take four heart tricks but surely he would then have raised the ♠9 against 3NT. Declarer tries the immediately. Suppose declarer has the spades in his rebid. Partner has led finesse but your ♠K wins trick 1. How ♥K. He has a stopper, but he might passively from a holding of ♠10-9-x or should you continue? have a guess if he has the ♥J as well, ie:

Page 24 BRIDGE October 2016 ♠ 7 4 3 Example C CLUB ♥ K J ♠ J 6 2 ♦ A J 4 ♥ 7 3 INSURANCE ♣ 9 8 6 5 3 ♦ 6 3 2 ♣ A K Q J 8 Every club should be ♠ A K Q 5 4 covered and my inclusive ♥ ♥ N Underleading your A is called for K 2 package, to suit clubs of up here. Could declarer have the ♥K ♦ K 10 7 W E S to 300 members for less than singleton? That would give West ♥Q-J- ♣ 7 4 3 10-9-8 and with such a solid sequence, £75 per year, is the right West would surely have led the ♥Q package at the right price. even though North bid hearts. West North East South Before committing yourself it is 1♥ Contact FIDENTIA for a quote worth looking at the superficially 1♠ 2♣ Pass 3♥ attractive diamond switch. Setting Pass 4♥ All Pass ( 020 3150 0080 up diamonds requires partner to [email protected] hold three good diamonds (eg ♦A-K- Dummy’s clubs look menacing. 2), but that leaves declarer with only Declarer’s bidding shows six strong two diamonds. If declarer has at most hearts so it is easy to declarer three spades and only two cards in discarding all his diamonds on clubs, each red suit he must have six clubs. after conceding a trick to the♥ K and DUPLICATE This is certainly possible but you are drawing trumps. So, do you need to playing for very specific holdings in switch immediately to a diamond BRIDGE the minor suits. while you still have the ♥K? While returning a spade (partner’s If you look at the bidding you will RULES suit) or diamonds (your long suit) soon come to the conclusion that could be successful, a heart return declarer must have the ♦A and is SIMPLIFIED ♥ ♦ looks far more promising. So the 5 almost certain to have the Q as well. (otherwise known as the Yellow Book) it shall be. There is a useful principle So do you have any hope? here. If dummy has bid a suit and it A club switch will work if partner has by John Rumbelow turns out to be very weak, carefully a singleton club because you can give only and revised by consider switching to that suit. Partner him a ruff when you take the ♥K. Less 95 David Stevenson £5 might have been put off leading the obviously, a club switch will also work suit by dummy’s bid. if declarer has a doubleton club, for Please note, there is one thing that example: Available from Mr Bridge I have not considered when deciding ( 01483 489961 on my return at trick 2, and that is www.mrbridge.co.uk partner’s reaction if it turns out to be ♠ 8 3 unsuccessful. I know that for many of ♥ A Q J 10 9 8 you the prospect of facing the accusing ♦ A Q J question, ‘Why didn’t you return my ♣ 10 6 REDUCE THE COST suit?’ would lead you to return a OF YOUR POSTAGE spade just to escape partner’s wrath. If you have a reasonable partner, he Switch to a club now and persevere will give you the benefit of any doubt, with another club when you come in assuming you had a good reason for with the ♥K. your switch until proven otherwise. Declarer now has no club left in his Then you can discuss it at the end of hand, so he cannot draw the remaining the session when you have got time trump and return to dummy to run to explain your logic. If you have an clubs. By playing clubs here you are unreasonable partner who flares up at attacking declarer’s entries to dummy the table, divorce him and find a new before he is ready to use dummy’s club Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, all mint with full gum. Quotations for partner! suit. commercial quantities available on request. In Example C, you start by cashing Attacking declarer’s entries is ♠ Values supplied in 100s, higher values your A-K, partner following with an aspect of defence that is largely available as well as 1st and 2nd class. the ♠3 and ♠7, so there is no third neglected in bridge literature, but (/Fax 020 8422 4906 spade trick for you. How should you plays a large part in the thinking of e-mail: [email protected] continue? experts. ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 25 Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird Sir Guy’s Downfall

ir Guy of Gisborne did not greatly plan should he make? replied. ‘I’ll be as swift as I can.’ enjoy his bridge partnership with Gisborne soon saw that the contract This was the next deal: the Sheriff. After any bad board was assured. East could hold no more Sthe blame came his way, regardless of than one diamond, on the bidding, the circumstances. The Sheriff was not and could be endplayed in the trump Dealer North. N/S Game. averse to open criticism of a knight of suit. He drew two more rounds of ♠ A 10 8 4 2 the realm, even when the opponents trumps and continued with the ace ♥ 9 6 were some hapless serfs. and king of diamonds. ♦ 6 2 The present scenario was entirely The black-bearded Gavin Todde, ♣ A 7 4 3 different. Sir Guy was enjoying a known as a fine archer, surveyed ♠ J 6 ♠ K Q 9 game in the castle armoury with three the scene uncertainly. Gisborne had ♥ J 10 7 4 N ♥ 3 W E ♦ Q 10 7 ♦ K J 8 4 3 soldiers under his command. Easily carelessly forgotten to draw the last S the best player in such company, trump! ‘Bad luck, my Lord, I still ♣ K Q J 6 ♣ 10 9 8 5 he ruled the roost. Anyone foolish have a trump and can ruff,’ he said, ♠ 7 5 3 enough to speak against him would displaying his ♠9. ‘Mind you, I have to ♥ A K Q 8 5 2 risk extra drill and a night in some lead into dummy’s hearts. It may be a ♦ A 9 5 squalid cell. lucky escape for you.’ ♣ 2 This was the deal before them: ‘You great oaf!’ cried Gisborne, as he won the heart return with dummy’s queen and cashed the ace, throwing West North East South Dealer West. Love All. his diamond losers. ‘You think I’m Jacob Sgt. Gavin Guy of ♠ 6 4 so bone-headed that I can’t count Blayke Fyggis Todde Gisborne ♥ A Q 9 5 trumps?’ Pass Pass 1♥ ♦ 8 5 3 ‘Er.. no, of course not, my Lord,’ Pass 1♠ Pass 4♥ ♣ 9 7 4 3 Todde replied. ‘Had I thought for a All Pass ♠ None ♠ 9 8 7 5 moment, I wouldn’t have ruffed. Then ♥ 10 7 4 N ♥ K J 8 6 3 2 you’d have to give Jacob two diamond Emboldened by his masterful play on W E ♦ Q J 9 6 2 ♦ 4 S tricks.’ the previous deal, Gisborne opted to ♣ A K J 10 6 ♣ Q 8 ‘The brilliance of my play obviously overbid by a trick. If partner could ♠ A K Q J 10 3 2 escaped you,’ retorted Gisborne. ‘If cover his spade losers, all would be ♥ Void you don’t ruff the diamond I throw well. ♦ A K 10 7 you in with your last trump.’ The ♣K was led and down went ♣ 5 2 ‘You played it very well, Sir Guy,’ the dummy. Gisborne paused to plan declared Sergeant Fyggis. He hadn’t the play. Six hearts, three aces and a actually followed the deal but it could diamond ruff in dummy would bring West North East South hardly be wrong to compliment his the total to ten. What could be done if Jacob Sgt. Gavin Guy of senior officer. Gisborne no doubt did the trumps were 4-1? Blayke Fyggis Todde Gisborne the same when partnering the Sheriff. ‘Where’s that accursed wench?’ 1♦ Pass 1♥ 4♠ Gisborne turned towards the cried Gisborne, turning once more All Pass doorway, where a bored-looking towards the doorway. ‘By the Saints, if wench was surveying her fingernails. she’s not back in thirty seconds, she’ll West launched the defence with the ‘More ale!’ he cried. ‘Fill them to the pay dearly for it.’ ace, king and jack of clubs. Gisborne brim this time or you’ll regret it later Perhaps he could survive a bad ruffed the third club and played the tonight!’ trump break by ruffing clubs in his ♠A, West discarding a diamond. What ‘Right away, my Lord,’ the girl hand? Yes, if he could ruff three

Page 26 BRIDGE October 2016 clubs with low trumps and take one the next rubber, this deal arose: rose with the ace, this would set up diamond ruff in the dummy... two winners in the dummy. ‘Your ale, my Lord,’ said the serving Dealer South. E/W Game. ‘Ah, you have the ace,’ Gisborne wench, spilling some drops on the ♠ Q 5 3 2 exclaimed. ‘The slam is mine, then.’ table in her hurry. ‘Filled to the brim ♥ 7 5 4 Blayke played low and dummy’s ♦K as you requested.’ ♦ K Q 2 won the trick. Gisborne ruffed the ♦2 ‘A knight of the realm doesn’t ♣ 8 7 2 in his hand, played his three top clubs request,’ said Gisborne scornfully, ♠ 10 9 ♠ 4 and returned to dummy with the pausing to take a draft of the ale. ♥ K J 8 3 N ♥ 10 9 6 trump queen. These cards remained W E ♦ A J 6 5 ♦ 10 9 7 4 3 ‘He demands! Mop up those drops, S in play: woman, or my sleeve will get wet.’ ♣ 6 4 3 ♣ J 10 9 5 The wench dried the table with ♠ A K J 8 7 6 her own sleeve, deposited the other ♥ A Q 2 ♠ 5 players’ tankards of ale and departed ♦ 8 ♥ 7 5 4 as quickly as she could. ♣ A K Q ♦ Q Gisborne attempted to regain his ♣ — composure. He won with the ♣A ♠ — ♠ — and ruffed a club in his hand. He West North East South ♥ K J 8 N ♥ 10 9 6 W E Jacob Sgt. Gavin Guy of ♦ ♦ then ducked a round of diamonds, A J S 10 preparing for a ruff in that suit. Blayke Fyggis Todde Gisborne ♣ — ♣ J When East won the trick and 2♣ ♠ K 8 switched to a trump, Gisborne rose Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ ♥ A Q 2 with the trump ace, cashed the ♦A Pass 4♠ Pass 6♠ ♦ — and ruffed a diamond in the dummy. All Pass ♣ — A second club ruff in his hand was followed by the ♥K, a spade was Blayke led the ♠10 and Sgt Fyggis thrown from dummy and East showed scattered his cards on the rough Gisborne leaned forward to play the out. wooden table. ♦Q. He threw the ♥2 from his hand ‘Hah!’ exclaimed Gisborne. ‘God ‘Line them up!’ cried Gisborne. and West won with the ♦A. willing, you will all soon appreciate With the dummy neatly arranged, ‘No way out of the ambush,’ declared the merits of my play so far.’ Gisborne won with the ♠J and drew Gisborne triumphantly, facing his He returned to dummy with the ♠A trumps with a second round. His cards. ‘You must play a heart or give a and ruffed dummy’s last club in his next move was a diamond towards ruff-discard.’ hand. When West followed suit, the the dummy. Jacob Blayke knew from ‘Gisborne!’ cried a commanding contract was his. the 6♠ bid that this card must be a voice. Unperceived, the Sheriff had Play continued and midway through singleton. What should he do? If he entered the chamber. ‘I’ve come to see Robin Hood. Take me to his cell immediately.’ ‘Er... do you speak in , my Lord?’ asked Gisborne. ‘Hood is not yet captured.’ ‘And yet you see fit to while away your time, playing cards?’ demanded the Sheriff. ‘Should you not be making plans to take the wolf’s-head and his gang of thieves, on the morrow if not sooner?’ ‘That was my intention, my Lord,’ Gisborne replied. ‘I joined the game for just one deal.’ ‘I see that you take ale before planning such a campaign,’ retorted the Sheriff. ‘When Hood is under lock and key, your men may drink ale. Not a drop passes your lips or theirs before then. You understand?’ Gisborne blinked furiously. ‘Indeed I do, my Lord,’ he replied. ‘Not one drop ‒ it shall be so.’ ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 27 It is difficult to tell what the gently placed it on my desk. total readership think of my Two minutes later this READERS’ column and other writers. same colleague reached The people who email me over my desk to retrieve in such a positive way may some papers and shock, not be representative of the horror – suddenly the air was majority. If I wasn’t offering blue, my mug was empty LETTERS the freebies, I probably would and my copy of BRIDGE not get any feedback at all. was learning to swim. You said you don’t get much Just let all BRIDGE readers feedback about my column know – don’t try this at NEW UNDER THE SUN holding paper in my hands or those of other writers, home – Bridge cannot swim Can I thank you for adding and follow all the games apart from some negative but it can go extremely Ian Dalziel’s column to your and articles in your lovely feedback about Sally. In the soggy and the wet pages great magazine? As a long . As a course of our phone call I stick together really well! time bridge teacher myself I matter of fact, a friend from suggested you use ‘survey Please could you always find something new Argentina liked it so much monkey’ to get readers send me another? to try in each of his columns, that she took the June issue to rate the columnists. Andrew Mountain, the bidding tents and made- with her. Do you think you Of course, if my column Wrexham. up play hands are now could send me another one? was rated badly, I’d have one of my teaching tools. G Tomacelli by email. shot myself in the foot but GOOD EXPERIENCE I have set up a bidding A replacement copy is in the that’s a risk I’ll take. It was to be my first tents template on Pages post. We also have a new I do enjoy the magazine. experience playing duplicate (Mac & iPad) and a couple subscriber in Argentina! You have some great away from home. As a of readers have contacted columnists and I’m proud keen bridge player, I found me for these. Anyone INTERIM REPORT to be side by side with combining duplicate with else should email me at My column is primarily these stars of bridge. the opportunity to meet new [email protected] intended for bridge teachers, Ian Dalziel, people in a lovely location I will send it back by return. but I do try to make it Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland. by the sea very appealing. I am looking forward interesting and varied so that Although I did not bring to more articles from it is a good read for bridge A SUGGESTION a regular bridge partner to Ian Dalziel. students and bridge players. Would it be possible to print this event, the organisers Jim Barker (EBU I sometimes offer free the answers to the Bidding ensured that I had a game professional teacher) digital copies of the teaching Quizzes at the bottom of every session. The event was by email. material in my column and I the page (preferably upside well organised and the Mr have had 145 requests since down)? I am not always Bridge team of helpers were OVERSEAS SUB the column started in August quick enough to cover friendly and accommodating. A very big thank you for the 2015. I also got 66 requests them with my thumb which Jaya Gunatillaka, lovely bridge diary. It is so for my ‘simplified rules card’ spoils the fun of coming Waterlooville. smart, I shall be very proud which was offered in a letter up with an answer myself to use it throughout the next in February 2015. I reply before reading it! And I BLUE MOON year. I still belong to the to each person individually do need the practice!! On the last day of the old habits die hard brigade by name. If I am at home Anna Pinson by email. florin and once again since and cannot live without a I respond immediately, decimalisation, I was refused diary in my hand bag. otherwise all emails are ON ITS WAY eight-level bids when holding Also, I would like to tell you answered by the end of the I received my latest copy of 11 sure club winners. At that the articles that I enjoy day. I get quite a few follow- BRIDGE (number 164) and duplicate scoring, in a weekly a lot are the ones by Shireen up thank you emails saying was delighted by its shiny teams off-season practise Mohandes. In her last one they like the material and new cover! I was also excited session, always friendly, of the April issue, it ended those teachers who have by its lovely shiny contents enjoyable occasions when TD saying, ‘Watch this space.’ tried it at the classes they give – so much so that I took my was a for ritual half- But the space has since been say the students love it. In copy to work to read during time tea drinking, I had to empty…What has happened? all I have had 375 emails in my lunch break. I only have watch partner record massive However, I do still enjoy the last 18 months from Mr a small desk and my copy minus figures when -800 and your magazine enormously Bridge readers. I have to say of BRIDGE sat quietly by -1100 would have hurt less. and when I travel I always that without exception they my side whilst I worked. Footballers have recently bring it with me. In spite of are all really pleasant people My work colleague kindly been granted sensible kick- having bridge games on and I have made some offered me a mug of tea half off rules. When will bridge my iPad, I still always like e-friends through the column. way through the morning and players be allowed bids up to

Page 28 BRIDGE October 2016 8♠ rather than limit bidding those who construct the to the seven level? It seems laws of bridge. I imagine unfair, to me, for example, to that this type of situation DEFENCE QUIZ condemn someone holding would get swiftly resolved all thirteen of a suit to at more than 95% of tables by Julian Pottage impotence and commitment at the clubs I know, without (Answers on page 31) to the defence of a grand the director being called. slam. Extra deterrent The majority of club bridge ou are East in the defensive positions below playing might be appropriate for players would have no Ymatchpoint pairs with neither side vulnerable. Both sides are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman. anyone wishing to idea that their partner’s at such a high level. explanation is unauthorised Incidentally, I think to them, nor would they be that Ronald Keith’s letter able to exclude that piece 1. ♠ A K 10 9 5 3. ♠ 9 8 published in your August of information from their ♥ J 6 5 ♥ K J 9 5 issue tries to bring a mental calculations. (It is ♦ 9 5 ♦ J 7 breath of fresh air to the very difficult to ignore a ♣ J 8 4 ♣ Q 10 7 5 4 bridge scenario and is well fact even when you know ♠ J 7 4 3 2 ♠ 10 7 5 2 ♥ Q 9 8 ♥ Q 6 2 worth reading; especially you shouldn’t have it.) In my N N ♦ 10 8 4 ♦ Q 9 4 2 by EBU supporters. estimation, the vast majority W E W E S ♣ A 3 ♣ 9 6 Mr Charlie Richardson, of club bridge players S Hessle, East Yorkshire. would allow the auction to continue without remark, in West North East South West North East South HENCE DBRS the belief that East-West’s 1♦ 2NT1 The discussion about the messing up of their bids Pass 1♠ Pass 3♦ Pass 3♣2 Pass 3♠ players’ dilemma in the first was punishment enough. Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT Pass 3NT All Pass letter to David Stevenson in But this would not be in All Pass 120-22 2Stayman your September 2016 issue accordance with the laws highlights one of the ways of bridge and, as David Partner leads the ♣6. You Partner leads the ♦6: in which bridge law has replies to another letter win and return the ♣3. ♦J, ♦Q and ♦K. Declarer become far too abstruse for in the same issue, ‘If you West wins with the ♣K and leads the ♣A, ♣K and ♣J; the vast majority of players. do not play to the laws, it leads the ♣2 to South’s partner plays the ♣8-3, (To summarise the situation is not bridge.’ That is the ♣Q. Declarer runs the dia- then the ♥8. What is your as I understand it: East did fundamental problem: monds. Partner plays the plan? not notice North’s double, the elite have evolved the ♦7-2, then the ♥7-2. What so he intended a different nuances of the game’s is your plan? meaning for his next bid. laws to such an arcane and West did notice North’s detailed level that it has double, alerts East’s bid, and become separate from the 2. ♠ A 9 5 4. ♠ Q 5 3 when asked, explains the game as played in most clubs ♥ K 8 ♥ K Q 8 partnership agreement. But and homes. The elite have ♦ J 9 5 3 2 ♦ J 10 5 according to bridge law, this clung to the nomenclature, ♣ K 8 4 ♣ 10 9 8 4 ♠ 6 2 ♠ K J 10 6 2 explanation is ‘unauthorised’ insisting that what they play N N ♥ Q J 7 4 3 2 ♥ J 3 to East.) Among the questions is called ‘bridge’ – even W E W E ♦ 4 ♦ A K 8 4 raised are a) when, if ever, though they cannot agree S S ♣ J 9 6 3 ♣ 6 3 is East allowed to realise on some of their rulings – his mistake, and b) when, so what is it that the rest if ever, is West allowed of us are playing? Though West North East South West North East South to realise that he and his I may dislike the name, I 1NT Pass 2♦1 2♠ 1♠ 1NT1 partner have been bidding would agree with another Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ Pass 2NT Pass 3NT to different conventions? anonymous correspondent All Pass 1Transfer to hearts All Pass 115-18 David Stevenson’s analysis who suggests that a much- that, ‘this is a very difficult simplified ‘Duplicate Partner leads the ♦A-K- Partner leads the ♠8: ♠3, case,’ and that, ‘even at the Lite’ set of fixed rules is 7. You discard the ♥7 ♠10, ♠A. Declarer leads the top level, different directors needed for club bridge. and then ruff. Declarer ♣A-K-Q, partner playing might rule differently,’ should Gavin Wilson, overruffs and runs all his the ♣2-7-J. What is your sound an alarm bell for Claygate, Surrey. trumps, partner playing the discarding plan? ♠8-J, then a heart. What is Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, your strategy? Surrey GU21 2TH. [email protected]

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SH_16_2097_Mr Bridge_Aegean Classics_A4.indd 1 24/05/2016 17:29 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 29

West North East South tell that the ♦K was the only diamond 1. ♠ A K 10 9 5 1NT Pass 2♦1 2♠ declarer had higher – you could see ♥ J 6 5 Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ the ♦Q-J-9-7. This means that the suit is ♦ 9 5 All Pass ready to run. ♣ J 8 4 1Transfer to hearts Two other clues come from South’s 3♠ ♠ Q 8 ♠ J 7 4 3 2 bid and partner’s ♥8 discard. The for- ♥ K 7 4 2 N ♥ Q 9 8 Partner leads the ♦A, ♦K and ♦7. You mer warns you of four spades on your ♦ 7 2 W E ♦ 10 8 4 discard the ♥7 and then ruff. Declarer left while the latter suggests that partner S ♣ K 9 7 6 2 ♣ A 3 overruffs and runs all his trumps, partner holds the ♥A. This being the case, you ♠ 6 playing the ♠8-J, then a heart. What is must not part with any spades, because ♥ A 10 3 your strategy? to hold 20 points without either red ace ♦ A K Q J 6 3 Since partner followed to two rounds declarer must hold ♠A-K-Q-x. You dis- ♣ Q 10 5 of trumps, declarer must have started card diamonds and maybe one heart. with six. This means you need to find four discards – I know it sounds a lot. West North East South Only partner can keep diamonds. How 1♦ do you know what to keep? Declarer’s 4. ♠ Q 5 3 Pass 1♠ Pass 3♦ line of play provides a massive clue. It ♥ K Q 8 Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT would have been very easy to ruff a los- ♦ J 10 5 All Pass ing heart in dummy. This did not hap- ♣ 10 9 8 4 pen because declarer has a doubleton ♠ 8 4 ♠ K J 10 6 2

Partner leads the ♣6. You win and return heart in each hand. You can thus discard ♥ 10 7 6 5 2 N ♥ J 3 the ♣3. West wins with the ♣K and leads hearts and keep at least three clubs. ♦ Q 7 2 W E ♦ A K 8 4 S the ♣2 to South’s ♣Q. Declarer runs the ♣ J 7 2 ♣ 6 3 diamonds. Partner plays the ♦7-2, then ♠ A 9 7 the ♥7-2. What is your plan? ♥ A 9 4 Declarer must have started with six dia- 3. ♠ 9 8 ♦ 9 6 3 monds (West followed twice). As well as ♥ K J 9 5 ♣ A K Q 5 the discard on the third club, you must ♦ J 7 find three more. From the spades you can ♣ Q 10 7 5 4 see in dummy and your hand, you know ♠ J 6 4 ♠ 10 7 5 2 West North East South that partner cannot help much in the suit. ♥ A 8 4 N ♥ Q 6 2 1♠ 1NT1 You can discard one spade for sure and, ♦ A 10 8 6 3 W E ♦ Q 9 4 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3NT S if dummy discards two spades (or you are ♣ 8 3 ♣ 9 6 All Pass sure partner holds the ♠Q), a second. ♠ A K Q 3 115-18 Your other discards should be hearts. ♥ 10 7 3 ♦ K 5 Partner leads the ♠8: ♠3, ♠10 and ♠A. ♣ A K J 2 Declarer leads the ♣A-K-Q, partner playing the ♣2-7-J. What is your 2. ♠ A 9 5 discarding plan? ♥ K 8 West North East South Counting points should help again. ♦ J 9 5 3 2 2NT1 You have seen the ♣A-K-Q and the ♠A ♣ K 8 4 Pass 3♣2 Pass 3♠ on your left. To hold 17 points, declarer ♠ J 8 ♠ 6 2 Pass 3NT All Pass must hold the ♥A but not the ♦Q. Declar- ♥ 10 6 5 N ♥ Q J 7 4 3 2 120-22 er is going to cash whatever winners are W E ♦ ♦ 2 A K Q 10 7 S 4 Stayman available (including four hearts if he has ♣ Q 10 2 ♣ J 9 6 3 ♥A-10-x-x, three on most layouts) and ♠ K Q 10 7 4 3 Partner leads the ♦6: ♦J, ♦Q and ♦K. then exit with a diamond. You must make ♥ A 9 Declarer leads the ♣A, ♣K and ♣J; sure you do not leave yourself with ♦A-K ♦ 8 6 partner plays the ♣8-3, then the ♥8. alone and have to lead round to the ♠Q. ♣ A 7 5 What is your plan? Either discard only one diamond or save If the ♦6 was fourth highest, you can a high diamond and a low one. ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 31 BRIDGE EVENTS Sally’s Slam of the Month 2016/17 with Bernard Magee Chatsworth Hotel Grand Slams Worthing BN11 3DU 28-30 October £245 ne of the reasons people tell to the grand slam … and misguessed Signals & Discards you that you need very good diamonds to go one down. odds before bidding a grand Oslam at teams is that it is possible that ♣♦♥♠ your opponents in the other room won’t bid the small slam. In the recent The second deal was against Scotland. European Championships in Buda- pest, there were two such deals involv- ing our team, one of which worked in Dealer North. N/S Game. our favour and one against us. ♠ Q 10 9 8 Elstead Hotel ♥ J Bournemouth BH1 3QP ♦ A K Q 9 4 4-6 November £245 Dealer South. Love All. ♣ 7 6 3 Competitive Bidding ♠ K 8 7 ♠ 7 5 2 ♠ 4 ♥ A 7 6 ♥ K Q 8 5 3 N ♥ 10 7 6 4 2 Blunsdon ♦ A J 4 ♦ 10 W E ♦ J 8 6 5 S House Hotel ♣ K 7 3 2 ♣ 10 9 8 5 ♣ K Q 2 Swindon SN26 7AS ♠ 9 5 3 2 ♠ A Q J 10 6 4 ♠ A K J 6 3 ♥ 10 9 5 4 2 N ♥ Q J ♥ A 9 11-13 November £245 ♦ 8 3 2 W E ♦ Q 6 5 ♦ 7 3 2 Partner of the Leader S ♣ 5 ♣ 10 4 ♣ A J 4 ♠ Void ♥ K 8 3 ♦ K 10 9 7 Here, our Scottish opponents, ex- ♣ A Q J 9 8 6 tremely feebly, stopped in 4♠. How- ever, our teammates, Heather Dhondy and Nevena Senior had an excellent West North East South auction to the good grand slam: Denham Grove 1♣ Near Uxbridge UB9 5DG Pass 1♠ 2♠ 3♣ West North East South 18-20 November £245 Pass 3NT Pass 4♦ 1♦ Pass 1♠ Penalty Doubles Pass 5♣ All Pass Pass 2♠ Pass 3♣ Pass 3♦ Pass 3♥ Trouville Hotel North would have done better to make Pass 4♦ Pass 4NT Sandown, Isle of Wight a bid that showed club support on the Pass 5♦ Pass 5♥ first round – an ‘inverted minor’ 2♣ Pass 6♦ Pass 7♠ 23-27 February £399 Slam Bidding (forcing with clubs), if available, or 3NT (13–15 balanced with four clubs). North’s 2♠ raise showed four-card ♠ ♣ Inn on the Prom As it was, the 1 bid was a transfer re- support and South’s 3 was a natural St Anne’s on Sea FY8 1LU sponse and could have been on a num- slam try. North responded by bidding ber of different hand types without a her diamonds twice more. After the 7-9 March £245 four-card major. When South bid on RKCB response of 5♦, 5♥ asked for tba over 3NT, North was afraid that any the , and 6♦ promised forward-going noise would have been that card, along with the ♦Q (as the Full Board. taken as a cue-bid agreeing diamonds, ♦A and ♦K had already been shown). No Single Supplement*. and so settled for a preference to 5♣. The operation was successful but the See www.mrbridge.co.uk Never mind, in the other room, patient died when the 4-1 diamond for any new dates our Greek opponents bid all the way break left declarer a trick short. ■ *subject to availability Send your slam hands to [email protected]

Page 32 BRIDGE October 2016 David Stevenson Answers your Questions on Laws and Ethics

Can I Change My Bid?

On a recent Was this the correct reply to a query from Ray one by one. If it makes any bridge holiday, ruling and should Andrews, by saying that sense then we take them Qmy partner the director have his card inadvertently in the order they occur, opened 2NT. With eight butted in like that? played must nevertheless but we do not have to. points, I thought that even Gail Davis, be played. Law 45C4B In this case, consider with 22 points opposite Haverfordwest, Pembs. says that it may be South’s first pass out of it was not enough for a changed as long as turn. The law book says that slam, so I was ready to It sounds as if the there is no pause for any call out of turn may be bid 3NT. My RHO asked ruling was wrong. You thought. It looks as accepted by the player to the point count of 2NT, A intended to bid 3NT, if this was just such a the left of the call, so West is I said 20-22 and she pulled out the wrong card, case. Can you advise me given the chance to accept then passed. For reasons and attempted to change it when it is appropriate it. Let us suppose he does. known only to the Bridge immediately. The law says the to apply 45C4B? Then East’s 1♥ is out of Gods, I took out my pass change is permitted. While Nick Mayfield by email. turn, condoned by South’s card which was rapidly a director can judge you did second pass, and the bidding returned to the bidding not intend to bid 3NT, or that Law 45C4B only progresses from there. All box and followed by you did not attempt to change applies to cards the calls have been legalised 3NT. I apologised to my your pass immediately, the A designated, ie so there is no penalty. opponents and said, evidence here is strong spoken, which means cards Now suppose West does ‘Do you want to call the that the director is wrong. played from dummy (except not accept the first pass by director?’ They both If the opponents thought in amazingly rare cases). A South. The law says it is said, ‘No, we can see it it was a genuine mistake, card played by a defender is cancelled and South must is a genuine mistake.’ why didn’t the director? not designated so may not be pass at his first turn to call. Before my LHO could put Incidentally, I do not changed even if inadvertent. That means now we go to his pass card down, the approve of directors listening East’s 1♥, which is out of director, having heard to conversations and offering ♣♦♥♠ turn. South’s pass condones ‘director’ mentioned, themselves. While it is legal this, and since he was asked if she could help. to deal with anything they West is dealer. required to pass at his first I told her what had become aware of, good South passes opportunity and has done so happened and both director practice is not to get Qout of turn, East we have no problem there. opponents said they were involved unless specifically immediately bids 1♥, So either way, we have OK with it, but she got requested, except where bad South promptly passes now reached the position her book out and ruled behaviour is concerned. again. How should I rule? of a legal auction with East that the 3NT bid should Pearl Evans by email. opening 1♥, South passing, go back into the box and ♣♦♥♠ and it is West’s turn to call, be replaced with a pass The law book is with no penalties. The only card. I realise now that In the June not very good on difference is that in the first I should have said, ‘We edition of A multiple irregularities, case South’s first pass is also are all fine, thanks.’ QBRIDGE, you and we generally take them part of the legal auction,

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 33 in the second case it is not, done anything after the there is any unauthorised shows 5+ hearts and 7 to but there seems no effec- attempted heart lead information. If players 9 points. Can he double? tive difference whatever. from dummy to avoid this followed the rules, these Yes, because this bid is While the approach of situation? Perhaps West problems would not occur, more specific, so there is dealing with them one should immediately call and we have several no extra information given at a time seems to have the director, but this is a infractions here. I do wonder by the original 1♥ bid. come to a very simple and relatively common faux what players think the How about a general consistent conclusion, that is pas by declarer. What’s director is for. If anyone had take-out double, promising coincidental. Usually, it would the correct ruling seen fit to call the director nothing? No, because the be much more complicated. in this situation? immediately dummy illegally original insufficient bid Chris Catchpole, pointed out the irregularity, of 1♥ showed some extra ♣♦♥♠ Normandy Bridge Club. then West would have had information, namely that he plenty of time to decide what had four or more hearts. The contract is Whilst a lot of players to do while the director was 4♠ by North. do it, I should point coming and speaking. ♣♦♥♠ QDeclarer wins A out that dummy As for what the players the third trick in hand has no right to tell declarer could do to avoid the When declarer and after a short he has led from the wrong problems, calling the director says to dummy, pause calls for a low hand and should not do so. would seem to solve them all. Q‘Any card,’ heart from dummy. Certainly, he has the right 1. Can the declarer Dummy immediately tells to warn him before he does ♣♦♥♠ change their mind? declarer that he is in his it, but once he has called 2. Can the defenders hand. North apologises for a card, that card must On a recent choose? and promptly leads a be played and it is too late hand, East Ron Turner, Alton BC. trump from his hand. for dummy to do anything Qopened 2NT, This all happens within a about it. The declarer then announced by partner No, the declarer few seconds, before West has no right to play from as 20-22 points. South may not change his has had a chance to his hand after dummy has passed. West bid 2♦. Is A mind. It is similar accept or reject dummy’s illegally pointed out the this one of the occasions to him saying, ‘Spade ace,’ heart lead out of turn – lead out of turn. As far as where West can correct and then changing his mind: West thinks he has this he is concerned, the lead to 3♦ (Law 27.1(b))? he is stuck with what he right. West, apparently from dummy stands until Could you tell me of said. Either defender may still considering the the director says otherwise. any other situations nominate which card is to best defence, asks So at this point declarer where this law might be played from dummy. East not to play to has broken the laws twice apply as it is a grey However, a part of this declarer’s trump before and dummy once. area to me. law, often forgotten, is he decides whether to Certainly, a player can Robert Johnston, Halifax BC. that it includes ‘except accept dummy’s heart freeze play at any time to when declarer’s different lead. North calls the summon the director, which Yes, it is suitable. intention is incontrovertible’ director, surprised is what technically should Any time the which applies, and it is the by West’s request. happen. It is a very minor A insufficient bidder director’s job to decide My questions are: Is matter that he froze play corrects his call, and there whether his intention is clear. any player allowed to ask and did not call the director: is no more information For example, if dummy in his partner not to play at after all, attention has been given by the insufficient bid, no-trumps has five small any time in an attempt drawn to the irregularity then it is a legal change. cards left, none of which to protect his side? so all four players are Suppose the bidding goes can win a trick and the ♦A, Is West correct required to call the director. 1♣-(1♠)-1♥. The player tells the director might accept he in thinking he can Anyway, there is certainly the director away from the meant any one of the five accept/reject the no problem whatever with table that he did not see the small cards, but not the ace. attempted (heart) lead a player stopping play 1♠ bid so was just responding from dummy at any time after an irregularity. 1♥ to 1♣. Now, if they play a ♣♦♥♠ up to the point when West can accept or reject Sputnik double as 5+ points East plays a card? the lead out of turn, and the and 4+ hearts, then he can Can a penalty How do you prevent director, if summoned, will change it to a double without be imposed for North using UI, if it offer that right. However, penalty because the original Qa when later becomes apparent if either defender decides insufficient bid has not shown discovered after the that West has a and says so then he has any extra information than play is finished and decision to make? decided for the partnership. the changed call has. the hand scored? Could the players have I am not convinced that Now suppose double Sue Hager by email.

Page 34 BRIDGE October 2016 At rubber bridge, Regarding the scorer has recently prefers spades then I adjust there is no penalty first question died and no one can on the basis that West would A imposed once the Qon p16 of July score the boards. have bid 4♠. This might hand is finished. At duplicate, BRIDGE, I was faced Penny Wurzal, lead to various results such there is a slightly longer with this many years ago Holly Walk BC, Enfield. as 4♠ or 5♥ going off. time period: if the revoke and the answer I have is realised before the non- abided by ever since, One of the best ♣♦♥♠ offending side call on the next is that if you recognise scoring programs hand, or before the round you have taken a long A has been developed I was TD last ends, then penalties are in time, you must bid. Then by Jeff Smith. They do take evening at my time: after that, they are not. there is no problem. a little getting used to, but Qclub and one of In either case, a player Philip Mucklow, once you have got the hang the tables had just put should not gain from a Duffield, Derbys. of them they will do very well. dummy down on the revoke: if the revoke actually Unfortunately, they are no table when everyone cost the non-offenders tricks, This works in some longer free unless you are else had finished. I those should be transferred, situations no doubt. an EBU affiliated club. If you asked them to take an either by the director at A However, it has grave write to Ian Mitchell (ian@ average. Was I correct? duplicate or by agreement flaws. On some occasions, ebu.co.uk) he will help you. Beryl Pattinson, between the players at you will realise that to bid Castley, Leeds. rubber. This is called restoring is definitely wrong and then ♣♦♥♠ equity, and can be done it seems a bad idea to bid. It is not legal to stop any time up until the end On other occasions, the fact Here is a a board part way of the correction period in you have doubt is enough problem that I A through. It is not duplicate, or until the rubber to cause partner problems. Qwould like an legal to give an average score is agreed at rubber. Suppose you are wondering answer to, please. without finding fault: if one whether to protect or not side is at fault then they ♣♦♥♠ after (1NT)-Pass-(Pass)-?. If West North East South get average minus and the after consideration you bid, 1NT1 Pass 2♥2 3♦ other side average plus in Can an arrow- your partner will have a good Pass Pass 4♥ situations where an average switch be used idea you are minimum which 112-14 is legal, unlike here. Qwith an odd may cause him problems. 2West said spades, playing It is incredibly unfair on number of pairs? I On the other hand, if you transfers. At the same time, anyone who has got a good recently directed a pass, the auction is over and East intimates not transfers by result during the bidding game when I needed partner will have no problem tapping her bid and generally to have it taken away from one winner, we had six in the bidding. Of course, indicating that it showed hearts. them like this. It also seems and half tables and he will probably realise unnecessary: why not just the pair who came last you have a borderline bid/ At this point in the move the room and let them complained that the pass during the defence, bidding, South called catch up? The normal way arrow-switch made it but one look at dummy’s the director. He to run a duplicate is to move unfair. Is this correct? point count will probably declared that a mistake the room when just under Incidentally they tell him that anyway. was made and there one third of the tables are scored 41% so would There are times when you was no penalty. still playing. If a table has not have been bottom need to think and then take What would your started a board, then you can however it was scored. whatever action you believe ruling have been? give averages but you have Pam McRobbie, Preston. to be correct. You just have Tony Mortimer by email. to check to find out who is at to trust partner to follow the fault. This means that they An arrow-switch can laws and take no advantage The first thing is to have not played part of a be used with an odd from your thought. give West a short board and know what sort of A number of pairs and A lecture on his ethical result they might get. If you is perfectly fair. The pair ♣♦♥♠ obligations when partner do this, you will rarely get that complained will have has misunderstood a call. problems. If one particular compared their score not just We are a small The actual ruling depends pair is consistently behind, with other pairs sitting their bridge club of on West’s hand: if he prefers then give them a 10% of a way, but also with one pair Q51 years and hearts then the result stands, top penalty to encourage sitting in the other direction often play a Howell but if he has equal length or them to play more quickly. ■ on every board they played. movement of 21 boards. The arrow-switch works for Is it possible to buy E-mail your questions (including your postal address) every pair on every board. a program that can on bridge laws to: [email protected] score this? Our manual

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 35 Teachers’ Corner – Teaching Tips from Ian Dalziel QPLUS 11 Really user-friendly bridge-playing software A New Meaning FEATURES INCLUDE

l Help button – explains the features for bidding and card play advice for Double Dummy l Displays on HD and large screens

l Comprehensive manual don’t like playing no-trump turn to be declarer comes round more l Feed in your own deals contracts,’ is a common cry often. Declarer plays dummy’s cards from beginners – and even from and a defender turns them over after l option ‘Isome who have been playing for years. each trick. Both declarer’s and dummy’s cards are stacked from declarer’s left l 5,000 preplayed hands They even admit to avoiding bidding for teams no-trumps for that reason which, of to right so that the play can be more course, means that they don’t get any easily reviewed if required, see below. l 4,000 preplayed hands better. In fact, playing a no-trump Now comes the radical bit – declarer for matchpoint pairs contract is actually easier than a suit and dummy’s hands are face up on the l Save match function contract because all the no-trump table during the play. Although there skills can be used in suit contracts – are two dummies, it’s not ‘double l Closed room – button though not the other way round as the dummy play’ as the word is normally to view other table trump suit adds another dimension. used – for the defenders’ hands are hidden. From declarer’s point of view, l Receive QPlus 11 There are six basic techniques for now and QPlus 12 at the playing in no-trumps. These are: it makes no difference, he sees only two end of October hands as would be the case in a game. l suit establishment Defenders, however, see three hands l unblocking so can ‘work out’ the fourth; for them l overtaking it’s true ‘double dummy’ defence. l preserving entries There are three reasons for this l ducking seemingly bizarre method of play: £99 l the hold up including post and packing 1. It’s essential that declarer receives I cover these topics over several lessons the best defence; otherwise an and anyone who grasps these skills will incorrectly played contract might TRADE-IN OFFER never fear playing in no-trumps again. make. In my previous articles on declarer 2. The exercise is not to teach defence; Send in ANY bridge play, I demonstrated my flash cards the defenders are merely making software, together with and wallet pairs where the students up the numbers at the table. a cheque for £50 and worked in twos, getting much more By seeing both hands, the defenders receive QPlus 11 now practice than playing in fours. When can be thinking how they would teaching no-trumps, however, I use have played the contract, but say and QPlus 12 at the end normal play with wallets after a short nothing at the time. So they learn of October when ready. spoken lesson. There is no bidding, the even when it’s not their turn and contract is specified (usually 3NT), are better able to discuss the hand South is always declarer and they take afterwards. Mr Bridge turns to be South. 3. The teacher can observe the play at ( 01483 489961 These wallets don’t include finessing any table without having to stand as that over-complicates the issue, so behind declarer. www.mrbridge.co.uk finessing is taught separately. There is no need for a ‘human’ The contract is played to the point of no System: 8mb RAM, CD-ROM, Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10 dummy so they practise in tables of return – play stops when the contract three where possible. This means their is made or defeated. The players then

Page 36 BRIDGE October 2016 Teachers’ Corner – Teaching Tips from Ian Dalziel A New Meaning for Double Dummy

have their own post-mortem and play is less intimidating than standing over the hand again if they feel it would the players. These hands, though, are help. really self teaching, so one teacher Each wallet has a booklet with the can cope with quite a large number of contract and lead on the outside and tables. the answer inside as shown. The suit Each lesson has at least nine hands to be established is called the ‘work with duplicates and they play three TR AVEL suit’ and I use each. Some the mnemonic have grasped INSURANCE WISH (Win In the topic after Short Hand) to the spoken les- For your own quote from prevent block- son and whizz ing it. through the If the contract wallets, others fails but no-one are just starting knows why, the to get the hang cards are left of it when time in order of play is up. Hence it’s and turned over essential that giving a visual the slower stu- record of the dents go over ( 01268 524344 card play – and the hands at www.covercloud.co.uk the teacher can home from the show them eas- printouts, pref- ily where they erably playing went wrong. them out with Hence a writ- cards or on a ten record of computer. card play is not ‘Play only’ needed. wallets are hard I put the work for the tables in a circle; students and 45 at each table the minutes is long ‘true dummy’ is nearest the middle of enough, so they are glad to have their the room and all declarers have their tea break – after which it’s computer backs to the wall. dealt random hands with post-mor- The wallets circulate anti-clockwise tems. and each table has an ‘IN’ and ‘OUT’ I have designed 100 hands in booklet card and they note the wallet number. form on basic no-trump declarer play They swap seats after every wallet to (like the one shown). If you would like take turns as declarer. a free PDF and/or Publisher copy with When explaining a hand, the associated lesson notes, then email teacher sits in the vacant chair which [email protected] ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 37 Patrick Jourdain 1 November 1942 — 28 July 2016

Ever the professional journalist, Patrick ensured that the media were suitably prepared, and wrote his own obituary shortly before his death - further evidence (if needed) that his phrase ‘the bridge journalist’s journalist’ was particularly fitting. An edited version of this obituary appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 30th July 2016.

atrick Jourdain, who was born it. In 1965, on the morning the trials bridge match between Scotland and on 1st November 1942, was for the Welsh Bridge team were Wales now bears his name. bridge correspondent of the due to start, a player was taken ill. In 1976 Jourdain had won the PDaily Telegraph from 1992 and Wales’ Jourdain was called in as a substitute, , the British knockout most-capped bridge player with more and after a few minutes preparation Championships, and was already than seventy appearances over six with his new partner, Roy Griffin of earning money as a writer and teacher decades for the Principality in the Swansea, the pair went on to win the of bridge. He took the major decision to Home Internationals. trials. The Selectors had promised the switch to bridge full time, something Jourdain was the bridge-journalist’s winners a match and so Wales fielded that came as a surprise to British Steel journalist. The International Bridge its youngest ever-player at the age who had him on a high-flier list for Press Association is a club senior management. of the world’s leading bridge Jourdain returned to columnists and journalists. Cardiff in 1977 as manager For twenty years, from 1982, of the main bridge club Jourdain was editor of its in Cardiff and bridge monthly bulletin which acted correspondent of the Western as the source of many of the Mail. He also became the world’s bridge columns, read bridge journalist for Channel by many millions of players. 4’s teletext section on bridge. In 2003 he was elected IBPA’s After re-qualifying for Wales President. by residence, he became Jourdain was born to the squad’s most frequent a middle-class family in member. From 1982 when Woking, Surrey. His father, a he became Editor of the vicar’s son, was a patent officer Press Association he also who later rose to become understudied GCH Fox, Assistant Secretary in the bridge correspondent of the Treasury. His mother was the Daily Telegraph, reporting daughter of a radiologist, one Photo: Peter Hassenson for the newspaper from of the first with a practice each World and European outside London. Jourdain Championship. was educated at St. Edward’s School, of 23 in the match against Northern When ‘Foxy’ retired from the post of Oxford where he founded the school Ireland in Belfast in early 1966. For six correspondent in 1992, retaining the bridge club in his last year at school. consecutive decades Jourdain was a post of columnist, Jourdain became He won a scholarship to Peterhouse, regular feature on Welsh teams. the correspondent, reporting bridge Cambridge where, in theory, he read In 1973 Jourdain was promoted by news. On the rare occasion bridge Physics and Natural Sciences whilst British Steel to run a team in Glasgow made the front page it was mostly actually spending much of his time designing computer systems for the scandal. When a quirky story, about a playing bridge. He was Secretary of nationalised company. In bridge two computer coming fifth in a field of the the University Bridge Club and played years’ residence of a country qualifies world’s top bridge players in solving in the 1964 Varsity match. you to represent it, and Jourdain bridge problems, made the front page, His first job after graduation was played two matches for Scotland in Jourdain was exhilarated. ‘Today,’ he in Operational Research for the GKN 1977 helping Scotland win the Home told a friend, ‘my words have been read Steel Company in Cardiff, which was Internationals for the Camrose by more people than saw Shakespeare nationalised shortly after he joined Trophy. The trophy for the annual when he was alive!’ ‘Ah,’ his friend

Page 38 BRIDGE October 2016 Patrick Jourdain 1 November 1942 — 28 July 2016

Ever the professional journalist, Patrick ensured that the media were suitably prepared, and wrote his own obituary shortly before his death - further evidence (if needed) that his phrase ‘the bridge journalist’s journalist’ was particularly fitting. An edited version of this obituary appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 30th July 2016.

replied, ‘but how many of them will had refused a drugs test but no name In 2010, Jourdain was organiser of remember your words two hundred had been released. At the prize-giving the bridge match between years after you are dead?’ banquet he noticed that when the Europe and the USA that preceded In 1999, Jourdain was the key per- American women’s team went up to the Ryder Cup golf match between the son in the exposure of a Welsh inter- get their medals a player was missing. two. Two of the finest bridge teams national bridge player as a cheat. In He located the missing player and she ever to compete in Britain saw a win such cases, allegations are frequent, told her story of being stripped of her for the USA. convictions rare, but once Jourdain medal for refusing to take the drugs In 2014, Jourdain was on the team realised what was happening he spent test, asking him to make her treatment that won the first Welsh Premier months gathering League. evidence. At the The team rep- denouement at a resented Wales Welsh National in the Common- Championship wealth Nations independent wit- Bridge Champi- nesses observed onship and won the player ex- the gold medal. changing shuf- The same team fled packs for was selected for prepared decks the 2015 Camrose where he knew Home Interna- every card. At tionals, finishing the subsequent a narrow second Laws & Ethics to the Republic of Hearing, faced Ireland. This was with the irrefuta- Jourdain’s first ble evidence, the Camrose season player confessed for ten years. and was suspend- Jourdain was ed for ten years. co-author with The story made Photo: Ron Tacchi of the front page of is the Daily Tele- Easy (1980) and graph and was picked up by the media public. The story made the front page on his own wrote Play the Game Bridge throughout the world. of the Telegraph and was picked (1990), The Daily Telegraph Easy Guide At the 2002 World Championships up from there by the BBC World to Acol Bridge (2005) and Patrick Jour- in Montreal, Jourdain competed News, the main American press and dain’s Problem Corner (2009). against Bill Gates. At the Press television stations who interviewed At the Cardiff School of Bridge Awards, Jourdain was declared Bridge the player on prime time television. where he was Principal, he taught Personality of the Year. As a journalist The following year in Menton for the more than a thousand people to play there, he achieved a world scoop. At European Open, she spotted Jourdain bridge. the time bridge was trying to get into and came rushing over. ‘When I told Jourdain was a social golfer and the Olympic Games and had taken you to make my treatment public,’ she tennis player. He never married. He up the same drug-testing procedures. said, ‘I did not expect the whole world is survived by his two older sisters, On the grapevine he heard a player to know!’ Jennifer and Susan. ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 39 Julian Pottage answers your Frequently Asked Questions Why play Low-Level Doubles for Take-Out?

n the modern world of duplicate You cannot bid 2♠ with a weak five- bridge, more and more doubles ask card suit; you cannot bid 2NT with no Example 4 partner to bid rather than to pass. heart stopper; you cannot bid 3♣ with ♠ A Q 8 5 IWhy is this? a doubleton. ♥ K 9 7 N W E ♦ A K J 4 What else can you do but double? S 1. At a low level, it is rare that you ♣ 8 3 can collect a big penalty. Even if a penalty is available, you may have a Example 2 better score your way in your own ♠ K 9 7 5 2 West North East South contract. ♥ 10 7 N 1NT W E ♦ K J 6 Dbl Pass Pass 2♣ 2. You are more likely to hold a hand S short in the opposing suit than a ♣ A 8 4 ? hand long in it. Take-out doubles thus occur more frequently. Your initial double of the 1NT opening 3. Some hands are impossible to bid West North East South was for penalties. The first subsequent without a take-out double as an 1♦ 1♥ 2♣ double by your side can be for take- option. ? out. Assuming that the opponents run 4. Some low-level bids by the to a suit in which they hold length, one opponents are forcing. It is With 11 HCP, your hand is too good or other of your side will be relatively pointless making a penalty double to pass. You cannot raise with a short in the suit. Whoever that is can of a bid that will not end the auction doubleton; nor do you want to bid a make a take-out double. If, by contrast, anyway; it is much better, if you do mouldy five-card spade suit. you play the second double as for pen- have a good defensive hand, to let A competitive double fits the bill. alty, you might both be unable to act. the opponents go higher. It would be illogical for a double of Partner does of course have the option, 5. When playing take-out doubles, the forcing 2♣ to be for penalties with length in the opposing suit, to you can still collect a penalty if the anyway. convert the double into a penalty dou- doubler’s partner has the trumps ble by passing – indeed you will quite and converts the double to penalties often collect a penalty this way. by passing. Example 3 6. Low-level contracts are often easier ♠ A Q 8 5 to play than to defend. ♥ K 9 7 3 N Example 5 W E ♦ 6 4 ♠ A Q 8 5 S Let us study some example hands and ♣ 9 8 3 ♥ 9 7 N W E ♦ 10 8 4 appropriate actions. S ♣ A J 8 3 West North East South Example 1 1NT 2♦ ♠ K 9 7 5 2 ? West North East South ♥ 10 7 4 N 1♥ 2♦ W E ♦ K J 6 ? S Historically, because partner has ♣ A 8 opened 1NT, this would have been a penalty double situation. You are What call can you make apart from a much more likely, however, to have take-out (negative) double? 2♠ shows West North East South a hand like this where you want to five spades; 2NT shows better dia- 1♣ Pass compete but have no suitable bid to monds; raising hearts is unthinkable; 1♠ 2♥ Pass Pass make. If played for take-out, double is 3♣, being a new suit at the three level, ? perfect. may propel the auction too high. ■

Page 40 BRIDGE October 2016 Conventions Part 21 with Jeremy Dhondy

The Gambling 3NT

ne of the things noticeable Pass You hope to make 3NT in modern bidding is how 4♣ Asks partner to pass with clubs ♠ A Q J 10 8 7 6 5 often no-trump bids are given or correct to 4♦ N ♥ 6 Oartificial meanings. The unusual no- 4♦ An enquiry: See below W E ♦ Q 7 S trump is an example as is the Jacoby 4♥/♠ Natural and to play (at least a ♣ 5 4 2NT. In the world of opening bids, six card suit) 3NT has long been abandoned as 5♣ Pass or correct to 5♦ showing some enormous balanced 5♦ Pass or correct to 6♣ You might not make 4♠ but almost hand. This is not only on the grounds certainly you will go lots off in 3NT of infrequency, but also because these If you have a hand where the defence and 5♣ is not very likely to make. hand types can be better investigated are unlikely to be able to cash too starting with a 2♣ opening bid. A many tricks then you might choose to common way, therefore, to use a 3NT pass. The 4♦ Response opening is to show a hand with a solid An example hand might be: minor but not much outside. A typical That leaves ♦4 as a response. It is usual hand for it might be: to play this as asking for a singleton (or ♠ A 5 4 void). N ♥ Q J 6 4 2 The responses to ♦4 are: ♠ 6 W E ♦ 7 S ♥ 7 5 N ♣ A 9 7 3 4♥/♠ Singleton or void in that suit ♦ A K Q J 9 5 4 W E S 4NT No singleton or void ♣ J 6 2 5♣ Singleton or void diamond With seven tricks in a minor and a 5♦ Singleton or void club couple of aces you will make 3NT, You will never have fewer than seven almost for certain, and even if you At this point, you might be wondering cards in the minor and you won’t have removed an ace and made it a king, why you bid 5♣ with a singleton an outside ace or king. If partner is a you would still have a reasonable diamond. passed hand then you might choose to chance of making it. This can be seen by considering the muddy the waters a bit but in first or Quite a lot of the time you will want following 3NT opener: second position, you should be strict to remove the partnership from 3NT in the requirements to help partner to because there is a risk you will go a lot judge the hand. down. It is not a pleasure for the fourth ♠ 8 5 3 hand to have to deal with the auction: ♥ 10 3 N ♣ ♦ 7 W E 3NT-Pass-4 . Later on in this article, S Responding to a I’ll suggest how you might defend a ♣ A K Q J 10 9 6 3NT Opening 3NT opening. If you were to bid 4♥ or 4♠ over 3NT If partner opens 3NT and the next then this would be because you think West North East South hand passes you should respond as you are more likely to make this. 3NT Pass 4♦ Pass follows: A typical hand for a 4♠ bid might be: ?

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 41 You should bid 5♣ to show your recent match where I opened 3NT. We ♥Q, but here, you need to be aware singleton diamond. If you were to bid won by fewer than 10 IMPs and this that declarer will take at least seven 5♦ and partner was intending to bid a hand was worth 18 of them. tricks in a minor when he gets in, so slam if you had a singleton spade and it is quite usual to lead an ace to get otherwise settle for game in clubs, he an idea of what the successful defence would not now be in a great position. ♠ Q J 8 7 4 3 might be. He might hold something like: N ♥ A Q J 7 5 2 If you lead the ♠A from the hand W E ♦ 5 above, then dummy might be either of S ♣ Void the following hands ♠ Q 7 N ♥ A 9 6 4 W E ♦ A K Q J 2 My partner bid a disciplined 4♣. At Hand A S ♣ 8 3 the other table they responded 4♥ to ♠ Q 5 4 the same opening. Our reward came N ♥ A 7 6 W E ♦ A 5 4 3 2 when the bidding continued: S Of course, a gambling 3NT opposite ♣ 6 5 a slam try is quite rare so don’t make West North East South things too complicated because the 3NT Pass 4♣ Pass hand won’t happen that often. I once Pass1 4♠ Dbl2 All Pass If you lead the ♥Q, then declarer will sat with teammates on a train journey 1Showing solid clubs. 2Oh, happy days. take two aces and seven or eight clubs. from Newcastle to York and they If you lead the ♠A, then you may be discussed continuations after this start The hand that bid 4♠ had five spades able to take five spade tricks before for all 73 miles of the journey. When and five diamonds and hoped for a declarer gets in. On another day, they (very occasionally) drew breath, I fit. The end result was an 800 penalty. dummy might have: offered thanks that it was an inter-city They might have escaped slightly not a stopping journey. cheaper in 5♦ but it was very hard to get there. Hand B At the other table, the hand that ♠ K Q J 7 Responding after responded with 4♥ to the 3NT opening N ♥ K 6 W E ♠ ♦ A K 5 4 3 Intervention was doubled so he tried 4 which was S also doubled. His partner put him ♣ 6 5 First, if you have a convention then it is back to 5♥ (with no spades and three wise to be able to cope if the opponents hearts) and the end result was an 1,100 interfere and secondly, you want to be penalty and 18 IMPs to the good guys. After the ♠A lead, you can switch at able to penalise them if it is the right Well done partner. trick two to the ♥Q and hope to take thing to do. six hearts as well as the ♠A. In short, If they bid a suit, then double by the ace lead gives you more flexibility partner is for Penalties with a capital Defending to find the right defence. P. A standard rule if you pre-empt is against 3NT Sometimes, you will want to bid that double of one of their bids is for over 3NT. I suggest: penalties and it is no different here. If The first pillar of defence is leading. If you open 3NT, the next hand bids 4♥ the auction goes: 3NT-All Pass, then Dbl High cards and a hope of and partner doubles and you then bid it is not the same as leading against a beating the contract or taking a 5♣ because you have ♣A-K-Q-J-x-x-x 3NT contract bid in a slower way. You penalty if they escape and nothing else, then is too know a lot more about the opening 4 ♣/♦ See below good for you. You have shown your bidder’s hand. Suppose you hold: 4 ♥/♠ Natural and to play hand, don’t show it again or you may need a new partner. You can, of course, play 4♣/♦ as If they double 3NT, then bidding N natural and non-forcing but the most W E is as follows: a bid of a minor asks S likely thing you want to do if you can’t partner to pass or bid his minor at the defend and beat their contract, is to lowest available level and a bid of a ♠ A 7 3 bid four of a major. Quite often, if you major is natural and to play. ♥ Q J 10 9 5 4 have a single suited minor you can That leaves redouble. This shows a ♦ J 8 6 double and then bid it or perhaps jump good hand and means that: a) you have ♣ 7 to the five level. good chances of making it and b) if So, a use for 4♣/♦ is to show both they remove the redouble then doubles majors. 4♣ shows better hearts and 4♦ by your side will be for penalties. If your opponents had bid 3NT via a shows better spades. If you hold the Here is my partner’s hand from a slow route you would likely lead the following:

Page 42 BRIDGE October 2016 N W E S BERNARD MAGEE ♠ K Q J 5 3 2 ♥ K Q 9 8 7 at Denham Grove ♦ K 8 near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG. ♣ Void then the lack of aces should deter you 13-16 January 2017 from doubling. The wrong lead could be disastrous. Imagine leading a spade £399pp Friday – Monday against 3NT doubled and seeing the £369pp Friday – Sunday opponents take eight clubs and the 1 ♠A, when you can cash around ten Full Board – No Single Supplement tricks in the red suits and also make a Limited places for Thursday night available. £65pp single, £45pp double/twin. game your way. Instead, you can bid 4♦ to show the majors with better spades. You wouldn’t want to have to bid 4♠ Topics and find partner with one spade MORE SIGNALLING and four hearts. The other merit I will be looking at different times when you signal and the messages you might of this is that partner may know want to give. Using signals in new ways can greatly improve your enjoyment of better what to do if the opponents defence as well as pushing up your scores. seek to save by bidding five of their minor. ■ 4-4-4-1 HANDS Everybody’s least favourite type of opening hand. I will be going through the methods for choosing the right suit to open as well as coping with responses. As responder you need to be aware of the options and work out your partner’s type Summary of hand. Strong 4-4-4-1 hands can be just as difficult and will be dealt with too. DRAWING TRUMPS l A 3NT opening makes the This seminar sounds straightforward, but we will not be simply drawing trumps, we will be considering the reasons for delaying. Keeping control of trumps is an opponents’ life difficult. important part of declarer play. Knowing when to risk leaving trumps out and Don’t make your partner’s when not. life difficult too, by having FIVE-CARD MAJORS an unsuitable hand. Popular around the world, this method is becoming more popular here. It is not a method I would advocate for club players, however it is important to understand l Responses are mostly the method as you will need to defend against it. natural, but 4♦ can be used FUNDAMENTALS OF DEFENCE as a singleton enquiry to aid Defence is by far the hardest aspect of bridge: this seminar seeks to show the slam bidding. building blocks that can start you off on a wonderful journey. If you can get the basics right then the more complicated aspects of defence can follow.

l If you are on lead against a SUPPORTING MINORS gambling 3NT consider Minors are not as important as majors, but we have to bid them and it is leading an ace to gauge the important to know your system. Bidding more 3NT contracts will get you better best defence after trick one. scores, but being able to spot a minor suit slam will put you a cut above.

l Consider how you bid after 6 seminar sessions with Bernard2 an opponent opens 3NT. It is 6 sessions of supervised play3 rare but you don’t want to Contact to book your place have a misunderstanding Mr Bridge or for further details: ( 01483 489961 when it does happen. 1Subject to availability 2Filmed 3Not with Bernard Magee

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 43 Michael Byrne on Playing with the Odds Combining Your Chances

good approach to declarer suit, which here is clubs. You could would try cashing four heart tricks, play involves making a plan duck a club, win the spade return and ‘to see what happens.’ The only thing at the start of play, then then carry on with clubs. Sadly, that this achieves is to butcher your Amaking the necessary changes as more will not work – the enemy will knock communications and make it hard information comes to light. out your second spade stopper the for you to cross back and forth from When you are declarer you can’t moment you give them the first club dummy. It might well be a good time- make every contract and guess every trick. Effectively, they are a trick ahead wasting tactic, but it is better to take suit, all you can do is go with the odds of you in the race to dislodge stoppers. the bull by the horns and start going and be right most of the time. If the (The bridge expression is, ‘you are a after your ninth trick immediately. cards lie in unfortunate fashion then behind the defence.’) Although many players play as if the you will go down, but at least you’ll Had you received a heart lead, then contrary is true, I can assure you have had the satisfaction of knowing that would have been fine but we will that there are no prizes in bridge for you have played the hand correctly. need plan B given that we actually got procrastination. Take this simple hand, 3NT by a spade lead. Fortunately, we have a On the previous hand, we looked at South on a spade lead. fair diamond suit to fall back on. the case where you took two separate You have this combined holding: chances and only needed one to work, the next hand is similar in nature. ♠ A K ♥ Q 6 2 ♦ A 10 2 ♦ A 10 2 ♠ 9 7 3 ♣ A 8 4 3 2 N ♥ A Q 7 5 3 W E ♦ S K Q 10 4 N ♣ 6 W E ♦ Q 6 4 3 S N W E ♠ Q J S ♥ A K J 5 You have two chances and can take ♦ Q 6 4 3 them both. Win the spade lead in ♠ A 8 5 ♣ 9 7 6 dummy and play a low diamond to- ♥ J 10 9 8 2 wards your ♦Q. If East has the ♦K (a ♦ J 7 decent 50/50 shot) then even if he rises ♣ A Q 5 With 30 points between you, a contract with it your ♦Q becomes a winner. of 3NT would normally be child’s What happens if East plays low, play, but, alas, the spade holding is your queen loses to the king and they You reach a fairly good 4♥, only to find rather annoying. If either hand had carry on with spades? Now you win the opponents fish out the spade lead the ♠2 you would have nine top tricks, in dummy, cross to your hand with a with alarming accuracy. West leads without it you are stuck at eight. heart and lead a diamond to the ten. the ♠2 and East plays the king – what Taking careful stock, you see that This second finesse will win if the jack is your plan? you have two spade tricks, four heart is with West, again a 50/50 chance. You might try ducking the first tricks and two minor suit aces to bring What are the odds that either finesse spade, (who knows maybe the oppo- you up to eight. What suit will you works? A full 75%, since you will only nents will lose their marbles and forget play on to get you to nine? go down when both are wrong (50% x to play another), but today they play The normal tactic in no-trumps 50% = 25%), which is fairly unlikely. another one and knock out your ace. is to play on your combined longest Note that in real life a lot of players You have four possible losers – two

Page 44 BRIDGE October 2016 spade tricks, one trump club finesse, giving us a full have three but can trick and the ace of dia- 63% chance of making our only take two of them (if Better Hand monds. There are a few game, a big improvement the first two finesses lose Evaluation chances to get rid of losers; on the all or nothing heart you are down already). You you could for example run finesse. should aim to combine your Bernard Magee the ♥J round at at your first What is the moral of the chances. opportunity and crush the story? When you are in a At trick two, lead a spade Introduction king if it is under your ♥A- contract and can only see to the ten, (the normal play Better Hand Evaluation is Q. That is a straight forward one way of making it, try with this combination) aimed at helping readers to add greater accuracy to their 50/50 chance (a 3-0 break is and look for a fall back plan, which will lose, no doubt bidding. It deals with auc- of no consequence), but if it a second string to your bow to the jack. The defence will tions in which you and your loses we are down straight so that if your first plan return a red card and you partner, against silent op- away as the opponents will doesn’t work you have an can cash a few diamonds ponents, can describe your hands fully to each other cash their other spade trick extra chance to increase the and hearts and try another and, by evaluating them ac- and there is no way to avoid odds. This final hand shows finesse – which one? curately, find the best final losing the diamond ace. the idea perfectly: The general scheme when contract. The emphasis of all The club finesse also gives you have a choice of finesses good, accurate bidding is on us a 50/50 chance, since to take, but can only take hand evaluation. if the ♣K is with East, we ♠ A Q 10 one is to play for the drop There are two general types of could play low to the ♣Q, ♥ A Q in the combined longer auction: a) a fit is found and b) no fit is found. cash the ♣A and discard a ♦ K 10 9 7 6 suit and then finesse in the spade from dummy. ♣ K 3 2 shorter. The idea behind When you do not have a fit, you are aiming to describe the Alas, we can only try one this is that a missing honour strength of your hand as soon N of these finesses – if we take will drop more often when as possible, most often using W E no-trump bids. This book be- the heart finesse and it loses, S the opponents have fewer they will cash their spade, cards between them, a sim- gins by discussing balanced- hand bidding in Acol, as it ♠ 8 3 2 there is no second chance ple enough premise that we is very important that both with the clubs. ♥ K J 4 should put into practice. members of a partnership Or is there? Let us try and ♦ A Q J So you cash the king and have an accurate knowledge of combine our chances… ♣ A J 5 4 ace of clubs, checking to how to show hands of different strengths. Start by leading the jack see if the queen falls, be- of trumps boldly from your fore playing all your red suit When a fit is found, there is much re-evaluation of the hand, intending to play the With 34 points between you winners and finally taking hand to be done; point count, ace of trumps from dummy and a long diamond suit as the second spade finesse. though still important, needs come what may. If West well, you zoom into 6NT You will make it if: to be evaluated together with has ♥K-x, he should duck and find it has 11 tricks and a) the jack of spades is distribution. The best way of reaching an accurate assess­ smoothly, (giving nothing lots of chances for 12. onside or ment is to use the Losing Trick away) but now and again, The opponents sensibly b) the king of spades is Count; this is an important someone might put the king lead a passive heart (against onside or method of hand evaluation and on (perhaps thinking you 6NT lead from long weak c) the queen of clubs falls takes up a number of chapters. have ♥J-9-8-x and are going suits and give nothing away) doubleton under your Finally, we move on to different to run the ♥9 on the next and you take stock; with 11 ace and king. forms of evaluation including game tries and splinter bids. round). cashable tricks you have In addition, you will prob- You can never know enough Assuming your jack col- these two suits to cope with: ably make it when the same methods of hand evaluation; lects nothing but fresh air, hand has the ♣Q as well as the more you learn, the better rise with the ace and take the missing spade honour you get at judging your hand. the club finesse. Can you ♠ A Q 10 and throws his ♣Q to keep Although the Losing Trick see why? ♣ K 3 2 the ♠K guarded, (although Count is used more easily in This way you will make a canny opponent should tandem with your partner, a large proportion of the ideas ♥ N 4 if the club finesse is right in practice come down to a in this book can be used by an W E ♥ ♠ individual. For example, eval- or the K falls singleton S singleton K; far harder to from either opponent. A do in real life as he doesn’t uating your hand to be worth 2-1 break in hearts is 78%, ♠ 8 3 2 know his ♣Q is crucial be- an extra point is going to help anyone you partner – as long ♣ and one third of that is A J 5 4 cause he can’t see the jack in as you get it right. 26%. We have to halve that your hand). (since we don’t make the All you can do is give £14 including UK postage contract twice when both Each offer a choice of extra yourself the best chance Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 things come to pass) and tricks but which one should every time; in the long run www.mrbridge.co.uk add it to our 50% from the you go for? Effectively, you you’ll be a big winner. ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 45 Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Twenty-One

Weak Twos

ecoming more and more In response to weak twos, the 2NT bid ‘When I open 2♦, partner, you are not common on the club scene, I do is used artificially: there are a number allowed to pass until we reach game.’ recommend playing weak twos. of ways of playing the follow-up BThey come up more often than strong responses, but I prefer an up-the-line twos and they are good fun. set of responses: the weaker you are, ♠ A K 4 2 Should you play two weak twos or the lower you bid. ♥ A 7 6 three weak twos? The strength of suit is also included ♦ A K 5 To get a good balance between on this slide so the four basic responses ♣ A K J strong and weak you should just play are: weak twos in the majors. Although N ♣ W E many players do play three weak twos 3 Weak in all departments S now (including 2♦), I find that most of 3♦ A strong suit them do not really know how to bid (2 of the top 3 honours) ♠ 9 8 7 6 their strong hands. Now, although it but little outside ♥ 4 3 is true that the weak hands come up 3♥ Strong in points but ♦ 9 8 7 6 2 more often than the strong hands, it is not such a strong suit ♣ 5 3 also true that we do enjoy our strong 3♠ Strong in all departments hands and it is important to be able to bid them sensibly. Some players get the middle two North South With all this in mind the DVD deals responses confused, but the thing 2♦ 2♥ with Benjaminised Acol, where the 2♥ to remember is that the stronger the 2NT 3♣ and 2♠ bids are weak and the 2♣ and hand the higher it bids. 3♠ 4♠ 2♦ bids are strong. On the pair of hands above, South After discussing suit quality and has four tricks outside spades as North has 26 points so opens 2♦, vulnerability, I move on to responding well as decent trump support. Game South responds with the negative to the weak twos: depends on partner’s hand, so he uses 2♥ and North rebids 2NT showing a 2NT. North shows a good suit but little strong balanced hand (25+) but South outside. This is enough for South to is still not allowed to pass. South ♠ A K 10 9 5 4 go for game because he can count ten bids Stayman and on finding the ♥ 8 7 tricks: six spades and four top tricks. spade fit goes for 4♠. 4♠ should make ♦ 6 3 2 This auction shows that weak comfortably whilst others would be ♣ 9 4 twos can be constructive as well as stuck in 3NT which may well go off on destructive. a heart lead. N The second part of the DVD The DVD finishes with a simple W E S shows the strong opening bids and message: bidding weak hands is fun demonstrates the system’s flexibility and bidding strong hands is fun too; ♠ Q 3 2 for showing most types of strong hand. enjoy them and above all, smile if they ♥ A K Q 4 This allows the partnership to enjoy go wrong. ■ ♦ A 9 4 both their weak and strong hands. ♣ 5 3 2 One thing that I do suggest, as an option, is playing 2♦ as always game Bernard Magee Tutorial DVDs forcing, so that the 2♦ opening followed £25 each. £105 set of 6. North South by 2NT shows 25+. (2♣ followed by Set 6 now available 2♠ 2NT 2NT for 23-24). The advantage of this www.mrbridge.co.uk ( 01483 489961 3♦ 4♠ is that it leaves no room for doubt:

Page 46 BRIDGE October 2016 More Tips from Bernard Magee 2016 FESTIVE SEASON When defending against Denham Grove 1NT think of two suits Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DG and not just one

Christmas When we learn how to defend against with an overtrick if West tries a club. 23-27 Dec £495 no-trump contracts, most of the teaching Instead as East, you think beyond Duplicates and Seminars is based around defending against just your partner’s spades – you place Game Tries hosted by Will Parsons 3NT. Your plan is to lead your side’s him with winners in that suit, but where best suit, knock out declarer’s stoppers might your other tricks come from? Twixmas and then make your length tricks. Surely the answer is clubs: and 27-29 Dec £245 Duplicates and Seminars The tactics are very similar against with weakness on your right, it is Better Defence 1NT except that tricks from just one the perfect suit for you to switch hosted by Bernard Magee suit will not be enough to defeat the to after winning the ♥A. contract. In 3NT, if you make four Furthermore, since it is your last New Year length tricks and an ace, your job is chance to lead, you should choose a 29 Dec-2 Jan £445 done, but in 1NT you still need two high club in an effort to retain the lead. Duplicates and Seminars more tricks. What this means is that The ♣10 is best, since the ♣Q would Better Finessing you have to think beyond your best suit: imply the jack, whilst the ten promises hosted by Bernard Magee you have to find the next best one too. nothing (since the nine is in dummy). Most importantly, as with Your ♣10 works perfectly; it might Ramada Resort so much of defence, the right even hold the trick and then when you Grantham ♣ defender will often need to lead lead the Q declarer can cover but Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT the right suit at the right time. your partner makes all his clubs and spades and poor declarer is two down.

♠ 8 5 4 2 ♥ K 6 5 ♠ 8 5 4 2 ♦ A K 3 ♥ K 6 5 Christmas ♣ 9 6 3 ♦ A K 3 ♠ 9 7 3 ♣ 9 6 3 23-27 Dec £495 Just Duplicate N ♥ A 8 3 2 ♠ K Q J 10 ♠ 9 7 3 W E hosted by Shelia Rogers ♦ 10 8 7 ♥ 10 9 N ♥ A 8 3 2 S W E ♣ Q 10 4 ♦ 6 5 2 S ♦ 10 8 7 Twixmas ♣ A J 7 5 ♣ Q 10 4 27-29 Dec £215 ♠ A 6 Duplicates and Seminars You are sitting East after the simplest ♥ Q J 7 4 Doubles hosted by of auctions: South opened 1NT and ♦ Q J 9 4 John & Rebecca Ronan this was passed out. Your partner ♣ K 8 2 New Year leads the ♠K; declarer wins and 29 Dec-1 Jan £345 ♥ plays the Q which, if you duck, is Duplicates and Seminars followed by a heart to the king. Which 1NT contracts are very difficult for Signals and Discards of these you choose to win is up to both declarer and defenders alike, hosted by you, but sooner or later you need to because there is so much more to think John & Rebecca Ronan choose which card to lead back. about – results can vary hugely – on Back to Back bookings It is so common to find yourself on this hand there will be some making save £50 (per additional event) autopilot and lead back your partner’s 1NT+1 and some will be 1NT-2. suit, which will please your partner 1NT is one of the most common ( 01483 489961 in some way because he takes three contracts, so getting better at defending For details and itineraries spade tricks, but he is then left with the it will make a lot of difference. Try to mrbridge.co.uk/ukbreaks lead and declarer can get home easily, look further than just one suit. ■

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 47 A MARITIME HISTORY of IBERIA

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SH_16_2097_Mr Bridge_Maritime History_A4.indd 1 24/05/2016 17:31 Seven Days by Sally Brock

Friday heart finesse, or to play ace and another Dealer South. Love All. heart immediately, hoping to ruff two Up early and off to Heathrow for ♠ A K 7 4 hearts in the dummy. There is no fear our 11.25am flight to Stockholm ♥ 10 7 of a club ruff as the seven can only be to play in the Chairman’s Cup (the ♦ A 8 6 2 from a three- or four-card suit. So you most prestigious teams event in the ♣ A Q 5 play ace and another heart and then Swedish bridge calendar). It all passes ♠ 8 3 2 ♠ Q J 10 9 6 lose a club ruff! You ask your opponent off peacefully, more enjoyable than ♥ K 6 N ♥ Q 8 5 4 3 why he led fourth highest, and you are ♦ 5 4 W E ♦ 9 3 usual because teammates Frances and S told that is their systemic agreement Graham have some sort of enhanced ♣ K 10 8 7 6 4 ♣ J when holding a six-card suit. If you BA membership that allows us to ♠ 5 had known that, you would definitely join them in the posh lounge. When ♥ A J 9 2 not have risked the line you chose we arrive, they disappear to get the ♦ K Q J 10 7 so we call the tournament director. prearranged hire car while we wait for ♣ 9 3 2 Eventually, he rules in our favour and our luggage and then Graham drives we score up the slam (they go down in us all to Örebro, 250km or so away. We the other room). Our opponents are check into our hotel, have a short rest West North East South charming and apologetic, saying they and then go out for a Lebanese dinner. 1♦ understood our problem and that he Pass 1♠ Pass 2♦ had simply forgotten to tell us. Pass 3♣ Pass 3NT This helps us towards a heavy victory Saturday Pass 4♦ Pass 4♥ and we in 18th place. The bridge doesn’t start till 1pm today, Pass 4♠ Pass 5♦ in order to allow Swedish teams to Pass 6♦ All Pass travel on the day. Over the next two Monday days, we have thirteen eight-board Maybe I did too much in the bidding, We now face a 32-board match against Swiss matches. We need to finish in but latterly I seem to have been mildly a Swedish team. We are 16 IMPs up at the top 32 (out of 173). Our first match conservative in the slam zone and the halfway stage, but the second half goes well, but the next two are dire – found that, although I haven’t been doesn’t start too well. I get a bit too particularly at our table. After lunch, missing particularly good slams, my busy and protect when I shouldn’t. I things go a bit better and we finish opponents have been bidding them think perhaps Barry could have done the day only just out of the qualifying and I have often lost points. Here, I better in the play but he goes for 1,400 range. We finish late, and go out for think slam will probably depend on a on a partscore deal. Later on in the sushi – just about warm enough to sit club finesse, but might be better, and I set, we collect an 1,100 penalty after outside. think my opponents will bid it (and I an opponent doubles our weak no- was right). So, how do you play on the trump, and there is also a board on seven of clubs lead? (Cover up the E/W which we make 3NT doubled with Sunday cards before reading on.) two overtricks for +1150. It is a bit of Things are more serious today with a You have no choice but to play the a roller coaster, but on balance we are 10am start. We have a good win that queen, and East plays the jack. The first plus and win the match by 48 IMPs. puts us in a qualifying position. The thing to do is to ask your opponents After lunch, we move on to the day continues with ups and downs, about their leading methods. Your Round of 16. Again, we are playing a but with one match to go we are lying opponent tells you that they play, ‘first, local team (they have chosen to play us 28th, so a small win should be enough. third and fifth,’ the most common so we are mildly insulted) and are 12 We start OK by making a thin game, method we have come across here. So IMPs up at half-time, but the second and then beat 2♥ by two, vulnerable. your possible lines are to draw trumps half is a bit of a whitewash. We enjoy This is the third board: and if they don’t break to take a double this one:

BRIDGE October 2016 Page 49 in 5♠ over a 5♦ that probably would we play well and are 30 IMPs up at Dealer East. Love All. have made. Then Barry picks up: halftime. In the second half, we are ♠ 8 6 2 steady enough and put on a few more. ♥ Void That qualifies us for the semi-finals N ♦ K 9 8 7 4 W E of the Bonus Cup, and we choose to ♣ 6 5 4 3 2 S play Harpever, a team we beat heavily ♠ 9 7 ♠ Q J 10 4 3 ♠ 10 8 6 5 2 in the main event. Things do not go ♥ Q 7 3 2 N ♥ K 10 8 5 ♥ J 2 so well this time though and at the ♦ A J 5 2 W E ♦ 3 ♦ K Q J 8 4 3 S halfway stage we are 50 IMPs down, ♣ Q 9 7 ♣ A J 10 ♣ Void after a pretty poor performance in ♠ A K 5 both rooms. We are all tired and a bit ♥ A J 9 6 4 disillusioned, so we decide to call it a ♦ Q 10 6 West North East South day and go for a beer instead of playing ♣ K 8 2♣ Pass 2♦ the second half. Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ A pitcher of beer, followed by a Pass 2NT Pass ? pitcher of Margaritas, and a good West North East South steak, and we all feel a lot better. 1♠ 1NT I have shown 23-24 balanced. How Dbl 2♣ Dbl 2♦ should he proceed? He chooses to bid Dbl Pass Pass 2♥ 3♠ (forcing me to bid 3NT), followed Thursday Pass Pass Dbl All Pass by 4♠, showing a single-suited slam We decide to play in a seven four-board try with diamonds. I then bid 6♦. match Swiss teams in the morning. Barry’s double of the 1NT overcall is What now? Given the state of the There is a discussion about splitting on the thin side and North’s 2♣ shows match (this was the second board of up and playing in cross-partnerships, both minors. I seem to have reasonable the last set when we were 72 down) he but in the end we decide that we’d be defence to 2♣ (and it is not game even plumps for 7♦. This is the full deal: better sticking with what we know. if it makes) so I double that and South That was a mistake because it doesn’t gives preference to diamonds. Barry go particularly well. We complain that doubles that and I decide to let it go. ♠ A K Q 4 the hands are a bit boring in the first Imagine our surprise when South ♥ A 3 two matches, but then Barry picks up: decides to try 2♥. This is passed to me ♦ A 9 7 and I double and we are even more ♣ K Q J 3 surprised when North passes it out. ♠ J 7 ♠ 9 3 ♠ Void When the smoke clears, that is 500 ♥ K Q 9 5 N ♥ 10 8 7 6 4 ♥ A K 10 6 5 2 W E ♦ ♦ ♦ in the ‘In’ column, while 2♦ doubled 10 S 6 5 2 Void would have made with an overtrick. ♣ A 10 8 7 5 4 ♣ 9 6 2 ♣ A K J 10 7 6 3 Winning this match allows us to ♠ 10 8 6 5 2 choose our opponents in the next ♥ J 2 round – an awesome responsibility. We ♦ K Q J 8 4 3 He hears his RHO open 1♠, he bids a choose a Norwegian team called Abax, ♣ Void quiet 2♣ and his LHO bids 3♠, raised whom we beat in the very first round to 4♠ by RHO. Barry tries 5NT, forcing of the Swiss teams a couple of days ago. me to choose between his suits at the Although 7♠ is clearly superior, 7♦ six level. I try 6♦ and he converts to is not such a bad slam. To start with, 6♥. LHO doesn’t believe he has quite Tuesday West has to avoid a club lead. And such a good hand and doubles, but my The first set doesn’t go very well for even then, either a 2-2 trump break, ♥J-9-x and singleton club are quite us, but teammates have a good card or the ruffing club finesse would have sufficient for +1,660. and we are level. Then neither pair is brought it home. But it is not to be. In the other room, they had a any good and we lose 39 IMPs. After After the match, we drown our bidding misunderstanding. Barry’s lunch, we are full of enthusiasm and sorrows in the local tapas bar, and look hand started with 2NT which his fire but the third set is pretty dire and forward to our match in the subsidiary partner thought was 20–21 balanced we find ourselves now 72 IMPs down. event against Denmark Open 1. and therefore raised to 3NT. Graham Should we concede and all go out to weighed in with 4♦, and Barry’s hand dinner? It is a close decision. We sug- settled for 5♣ which made exactly, so gest comparing after eight boards but Wednesday we gained 14 IMPs. We can’t really neither the tournament director nor Our first match goes very well. Barry complain that that was boring! our opposition are too keen on this and I play against the Danish stars, Tomorrow, we drive to Stockholm idea, so instead we decide to play the Dennis and his father Morten Bilde. for a couple of days before flying home last set. The first board is OK. We save Apart from one over-aggressive slam, on Sunday. ■

Page 50 BRIDGE October 2016 2172 Mr Bridge FULL page 171018BR_Layout 1 03/09/2016 23:59 Page 1

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SEP 15 Fly to ROME Italy Transfer to Civitavecchia and board Aegean Odyssey SEP 16 SORRENTO Italy overnight (Pompeii & Herculaneum) SEP 17 SORRENTO Italy overnight SEP 18 SORRENTO Italy Cruise past Capri and Amalfi Coast SALERNO Italy (Paestum) SEP 19 Cruise past Stromboli and through the Strait of Messina TAORMINA Sicily SEP 20 At Sea SEP 21 CORFU Greek Islands SARANDE Albania (Butrint)

VENICE 13-day fly-cruise from £2,150 per person SEP 22 LECCE Italy SEP 23 DUBROVNIK Croatia with Mr & Mrs Bridge SEP 24 SPLIT Croatia SEP 25 URBINO Italy Cruise around Italy to the pleasures of beautiful Sorrento and SEP 26 VENICE Italy overnight Sicily, and along the glorious Adriatic coast to Venice. Begin with SEP 27 VENICE Italy Disembark and transfer to Venice Airport an extended stay in Sorrento with time to explore the ruins of both for flight home Pompeii and Herculaneum. Sail past romantic Capri and south AEG170915BR to Taormina with its magnificent Graeco-Roman theatre. Get a flavour of the Greek Islands in Corfu and visit charming Croatian MR BRIDGE VALUE FARES ports en route to one of the world’s greatest destinations – Venice. Premium Inside from £2,295pp Standard Outside from £2,650pp Premium Outside from £2,795pp Odyssey Club Members enjoy an additional 5% discount SINGLE on prices shown above. SUPPLEMENT JUST 10%† FARES INCLUDE: CALL NOW ON 01483 489961 • Scheduled economy class flights • Expert guest speaker programme OR VISIT www.mrbridge.co.uk • Mr Bridge drinks party Cabins can be held at no obligation for 7 days • Duplicate bridge every evening • 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

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