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Sl'l· page H. r ...... ~~·~·~~ ...... CHAS. BRADBURY LIMITED ~ 26 SACKVILLE ST., PICCADILLY l LONDON, W.I. l Phouc REG: 3123-3995 LOANS ARRANGED With or without Security ll THE TO CLUB SECRETARIES. EUROPEAN spread the news of your I activities. ·write and tell us l BRIDGE of your special events. Items of general interest are always REVIEW welcome. I l Annual Subscription Rate : l 30/- post free. The copyright of this magazine is vested in Priestley Studios Ltd. l per Mr. 0 . A. Goldenberg, 10 King's Mansions, Lawrence St., It is published. under the authority l London, S.W.3. of the . l The Editorial is composed of, l Single copies 3/- from Ncwsagents and the Editor is appointed by, the L~~~...._...... •• ...J English Bridge Union.

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COl'JTRA. CT BRIDGE- JOURNAL ,. ' OFFICIAL OR(AN OF THE ENGLISH BRIDGE . UNION

. ' VOLU ~IE 4 1\IAY 1950 NUMBER 7

FULL MARX! . CONTENTS · The British team for the Page Brighton " Open " series has_now Eunu HIAI. .... 2 (barring accidents and . illness) CHAHTmuin HosT .... 3 T .B .A . SPHI NG CoNGHESS taken its final form; ' · : Mrs . •- 1. L. Fleming 4 _ ] . C. 'tl. Marx is replacing Adam · COVE R PROULEM SoLUTI ON 8 Meredith · and will partner · DOUBLE B UB B LE " .vorth " 9 1\L Harrison-Gray. Tm;: NIGHT!NGALL SYSTEil I 3 The line-up _,yin probably be, ORDER OF MEHIT .... 14 therefore :- 1\hsTRESs PLAYs Gray and l\Iarx· David Brown I 5 · SANITY FOR THE AVEitAGE Dodds and Km1stam PLAYER Tarlo and Gardener - J1iarlin B~ale . 17 The sole criticism of -- this BltlDGE AT BURTON (UPON sextette is that its partnerships • TRENT) . C. H . Guilford .... IH are far less fluid and inter­ CAN PALOOKAS THINK . changeable than - the winning ·w: ]. s. Robb 22 groups of the_last two years. · OR ' ,i A Vmw Two The· presence of the J oumal's Guy Ramsey .. .. 25 • Competition Editor, for too long a BooKs '' I Heuicwctl by The Editor 2tl stranger- to competitive bridge, Tms MoNTH' s CoMPETITION adds a supreme analyst and a . j . C. H . Marx. .... 29 most dangerous opponent to the ANSWEHS TO "\ PHll. - side. One of the original · · C o MPET ITi o N .. .. ao team which walked away with • • • every trophy in ight before the Alll31' idgc Ca~nspmr tfc u rc to tht war; an inventor of Acol- and Editor : of its .most effective newest. G UY RAMSEY, development, the Two Club take­ 13 Ca nnon Plucc, out of a No with standard­ London, N.W.3. ised responses- he and Harrison A II Correspomleuce 011 Gray had a flawless partnership Su/Jscn'ptious or· Atl1•rr·tisirrg to against Scotland recently, which J>u/Jlislr crs : should aug- ur well for June. PR IF.STLEY ST DIOS Ltd ., Om team fort lu: Ladies n ·mains Ccunnw r clul H. uucl , as annoll!ICL'll. G loucester. (;nod hll'k to hi1th sith•:-; . . - . ~ .. : ~ : ...... ~-.. .· ••• # • . ~ ~· EDITORIAL . :. ··:·:. . -. A MONTH -rrom now, the 13 Any of the!>e gentlemen arc teams in the Open , the competent, and empowered, to H teams in the Ladies will assemble give a ruling ; and in the event­ I ; ' at Brighton to engage in 114 absi/ o·men- of a major query, a -.. matches of ~~2 Boards each in a committer. of them, or all of them, ' single week. will adjudicate ~ Already the preliminary The Tournament will be arrangements arc cut-and-dried. inaugurated by a sherry party Under the direction of 1\fajm given on the morning of l\Ionday, George Gray, l-Ion. Secretary of ] une 5th, at the Royal Pavilion--:- t.he , who is the George IV rococo residence the JHatch Manager, the tricky at " Brighthelmstone " of which. programme has been worked out. the witty Smith of Smiths Under the direction of Major remarked maliciously that it Basil Tatlow, the complicated looked as if St. Paul's had come system of Hecorders, Stewards to the seaside and littered. At and Scorers is almost <;omplete. this party, the Mayor will be the i\lajor Tatlow has evolved a host and extend a persona] system of col om -guides, whereby · ·welcome to the competitors from every individual match has Great Britain, France, Norway, boards, scoring-slips, recording Sweden, Demnark, Belgium,. slips of a giv:en colour; so that ' l-Iolland, Iceland, Finland, t\ustria '· _.: the Boards ·or records from t.he {a post-war new-comer), Italy, Great-Britain-Iceland encounter Ireland and- a newcomer to do not go by accident to the international bridge- Switzer- Italy-Denmark room. land. The ~taft under Major Tatlow The week will clo~e with a has already reached about 70 ; banquet, under the Chairmanship it will be near I 00 by the time the of Sir Noel Mobbs, on Sundav final arrangements are complete. ·evening, ] une 11th. - If any reader intends to visit As is usual in any British Brighton for the Tournament and entPrprise, it is the last minute · would care tu volunteer for which is decisive. The finance, service as steward, taking boards which had been regrettably from one room to the other, or -. static, is now coming in- not in as· scorer, will he, or she, please quite such full measure as had get into direct- personal touch . been anticipated, but very much with 1\fajor Tatlow direct at more generously than at one time .22 Trinity Square, Llandudno. seemed probable. The Board of Toumament -The cash already available Directors-who are also Referees, amounts to just on £I;soo. · The consist of Sir Noel 1\Jobbs, Leicestershire Association ran, · Baron de Nexon (FrancP), l\Iajor under the spur of Mrs. Cole, a Gray, Hr. · Neilsen {Norway). tournament which realised £50 ; ... H_r. lkdichcn (llenmark), Hr. Birmingl1am University, under . --. , l ~lgaard - {I>cnmark), l\ly1ilteer the leadership of Jc!!Jn \'ugh, is Hcltlring {Holland) and Mr. mnning a 50-table event at the · · · ·, Geoffrey Hutter: cud of A pri I, wilh which ·Mr. ·

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CONTRACT BRIDGE JOUlm~ F. 0. Bingh;.u!t associated himself CHARTERED. HO$T. as Tournarr.e; .l Uircdor, for the HE gleaming dome, the benefit c,f the hrighton week ; T flashing spectacles of Percy _· l\Ir. J. Doig is r ,mning an event Charters-missing officially from .. in Preston, and a Yorkshire bridge since he relinquished the ,.. - tournamcJLt 1:: •tlso in t rain. Secretaryship of the . London Me5sr.s. r:·2 la Kue have con­ Association to every~ne's regret­ .( tributed 1,000 pac;:s d cards-a ,. : -- . are n,ow, once again, perman~ntly .: Gonsider.J.ble clonal tO!I. in residence· in an established The k een ::.p1ri l

WING lo lhe proximity of pioneers of Van:ity bridge, lain O Easter, there were fewer MacLeod, and competitors than usually attend Colin Hanling, it is certain that a T.B.A. Congress ; but this their keenness has made bridge­ rcsul ted in increased com fott for players undergraduate-conscious the 250 people who did travel for the first time since the middle to Eastbournc to play at the 'thirties. Grand Hotel. The fourteen pairs to qualify The main event, the Richard for the final of the Men's Pairs Lederer Memorial Cup, was Championship were as follows : allocated three sessions and was Foster and Cooke (Birmingham), therefore as thorough a test as is Truscott and d'Unienville (Oxford possible at a congress. The holders, University), Varley and Browne Louis Tarlo's team, were not (Civil Service), FransC's and defending; but nothing daunted, Albuquerque (Brighton), Thorpe Dr. Rockfelt, one of its members, and l\linhinnick (Civil Service). • first enrolled Dr. Leist py promis­ Rose and l\leredith (London), ing him the captaincy and pro­ Booker and Lee (London), ducing the right stimulant at Swinnerton-Dyer and Smart t he right moment to keep him (Cambridge University), Gower awake, during the afternoon and Cocks (Sussex) , l~ockfelt and sessions-no mean achievement. Leist (London), Ricardo and Saul H e then persuaded those season­ (\Vorthing), !\Ia yer and Cutter, ticket holders of congress cups, (London), Briscoe (Birmingham) Sidney Lee and Standish Booker, and Berger (London) , Harvey and to complete the team. Adams. This represented a fair After some preliminary excite­ cross section of the entries with ment ill the lirst two sessions~ one or two illustrious casualties. they romped awa)r with the cup Once again 1 Dr. Rock felt and with 45 points. A. 0. L. Aitken's Leist romped home, this time by Cambridge University team was the huge margin of 45 match sec':md with_ 24 points, followed points from A. . l~ose and A. by another young team, A. F. l\Ieredith. One slight lapse Truscott's Oxford University- occurred when the Herr Dr. Surrey four. - revoked no less than three times People arc continually lament­ in one hand before the offendins ing the lack of young players card was found still in the board. coming on ; it was a fine achieve­ (I ca1l. picture the men's scorn if ment for these two teams to a woman had bid anti played a flnish above the star studded one hand with only twelve cards in of Baron, l~ose, Meredith and it !) . In spite of this resounding . Gardener. Jl is always

. (·' •'..-!. ;.nN"i'HACT BRJIJGi~ jOUHNAL . ' -, the Oxft,rd i :!, ,.· .. r:--ity capta!n. to all cornpetitors. It is hoped to ·- ....-J - · Alan Truso·otc , '' , , , ,i, ~ ts ahead of make this· Cup an annual cvcn_t . .,,· 1\lr. R. E.,·,\n·, 'I• ·· ,.,·er-popnlar and, when it is more_widely known, " Penguin,' wic ' ., ,-,j; h(! represent­ I have no doubt it will attract a ;>L .· .; i-ng Grea t Jlri . ,,,, Brighton in larger antry than the eight teams - .· June. Qui tt_ ,. ~ '•" tiwr r~ f players which turned up this year. - fuund the ; , '- ,, : · ;,,im;;; of the It was· Jitting that Baroness­ .• -· . ·excellent ( l.t !.· ' ! I, 'I ,{ : (l(J strong Il~rgan and Mrs. Brewer In the first session of 28 boards (Worthing}, Mrs. Shairp and Mrs. they established such a lead-37 Parker-(Kent), Miss E. Birch and match points ahead of my team Miss H. Birch (Bexhill), Baroness and -tO ahead of l\frs. Evans's­ Knoop _and Mrs. Kahn (Kent), that they.were.virtually uncatch­ ' · - ·... Mrs. 0. S. B. Cole (Leicester) and ablc over the remaining 24 b'oards. . ' l\lrs. A. C. Cullen ( ottiJ;Jgham), Both teams made a valiant effort, 1\Irs. · S. Smith and Mrs. mine reducing the lead to single ilrs. Allen (Eastbourne). good result. The favourites, Mrs. Renshaw + A9 and J\Irs. Gordon, won with ~u1 cy J -lOxx excellent score of G4 Dft, with Lady 0 AKQxxx Rhodes and myself runners-up + x with GO % . + K Q X + 10 t\ X X X 1 In place of the Mixed Teams of cy K X cy AQxx · Four, the · T.B.A. this spring 0 x.xxx 0 X · . inaugurated a Women's Four.<; + xxxX' + A J X event for the Anne Reese Mem­ + J X X orial Cup, presented by Terence \? X X X in memorv of his mother- who will 0 j X ., always be rcmcmhcrecl as a + KQxxx pionrcr of tourn:u11enl organisa~ l .ove all. Dealer North. t ion and whose unfailing good The bidding in both ro< I IllS humour and charm endeared her started tilL' same way. I 0 by . , . ·.·, ~ ~ ·.• !:': ~~: •'":• ',:-•· :I ·- ,. .·-. •' •,:.· to.NtRACT' .tmlDGE JOURNAl .. ·...... North, doubled by East; but The usual bid~ing was~ ':N:r.-.:. _: · ;,· whereas in one room the contract 4 N.T.-6 N.1. and the play· -: was Two N.T. by North in the varied from the extremely dull- ~ other it was Three N .T. by South. where a Diamond was led and West has an _interesting defensive Declarer guessed the Club · pn:>blem at trick nine. She has situation correctly- to the wildly, · :: found the of the exciting- where after a Spade.· ... + · K and received an encouraging lead and a wrong Club guess, the.· . , · · discard from partner. Dummy declarer looked to be in the soup, ':-­ has taken the first seven tricks but extricated herself with great .. with + A and six Diamonds, resource. After her early troubles ·... •• partner discarding Two Clubs, she had to hope for the OQ with · · . one Heah and two Spades. \Vest. She therefore entered her .. : Now + x is led a_nd East goes hand with the + A. led 0 x to ·=· up with + A, leading back a small the Knave on which \Vest went up ·· Spade. What card should West with the Queen anJ returned -a · - •• now play? Spade, South discarding a Club, ,. She did, in fact, return a Spade, The end game is now as follows:' thus allowing Mrs. Burns to make + 430, while a defensive slip in the ~ A x x x other room gave N-S a score of 0 J 120. + 10 X On East's double, she is marketl + x + • ·.• r .. ,' _;. wi th at least the ~A and ~ x x ~ J 10 .x x probably the Queen, as all she has 0 10 x x x 0 x .. turned up with so far is the + A J + - + ~ J ' .m el the supposed + J. If thi£ + card is indeed with East, as West ~ K Q x :tssumed, it would still clarify the 0 A K x si tuation to lead the ~K. As the + 9 cards actually sat, it was essential. TheOJis played off and South's · ·· The most interesting hand, hand re-entered with a heart. The _ .. however, in the Anne Reese Cup, -O A K played on which North's . ·:· ~_,. ·. which gave several teams· a two clubs are jettisoned. East is : ·,._: swing of I 0 ·match points was · the squeezed at trick 9, being unable -:· : _· following from the s-econd session. to keep her + Q (menaced by· _ ··. + Q x x South's + 9) and her Heart ·_· ~ _ ~ A x x x guard. . - 0 J 9 Declarer would of course also + A 10 x x . have landed_ her contract if the \ '- . + 9 8 x x x· + J x x _ _ Hearts had been divided, but it --~ ~ x x . ~ J ·10 x x \youldn't have given her the same·_· .--:- .- 0 Q 10 x x x · 0 x x pleasure. + x · + Q J x x The remaining two-session _ . , . + A K · C\'ent was the East bourne . · ·, - · ~ K Q X . Invitation Pairs for players liying . :· r :0 A K x x - •!utsidc the London area. A touch · .-.:-. · + - K 9 x x of light relief was provided on the- .·· _ - l;mue all. Dealer South. first board of the qualifying round,.,- . _, · s . I .' • .

• 1-: - . -- ·- ' ... ·... ' l ."' "\. . ... -.. . ~ -.:''.." .. ~ -· . - . . . cO NTRACT BR~bGE jOURNAl _ _ .~·.

_• ,: \vhen a pai1, · i ,: !: iing to play opportu.nity. off~red them. -- At · _-: _ ·< Acol, present .. d '.:· ,J if!r ie Summers game all, West dealt·alld bid~ + ;; - _. .< • :. . ..:. .. - 1 I ,:,: ... ' and me with J:' I' l j' J i ll ts . by the which was passed round· to South - _.- .... 0 following bitlcci··' ,; .. guence. ,who bid 3<;?, \_Vhich was doubled . ,-. ~·- ;:, Love ali. l · .. •-r Cast. by East. - . . :·: .: ·' 1 N.T. -~ ~.J X • 9 8 X X ._ 3 N.T.! X X :.-· .· .. \? 0 A 10 X X -.· . . .The han d ~ \· , , ~ : ._. AX X X . : •. ' i~." . ·.. • J,: i · ~ ~ · X + ··· +' AQJxx~ - : ··; i ... \? K '· ...: \? lOxx \? Axx ::· \...:•. 0 ,\ ~-2 ··: 0 XXX -o .KQxx -;_, - K.Jx + KQJIOxxx ._ .+,- · . .- ..... •.l ; .. -·. "' X X A Jx .l{ 10 X · -·~~ ~ ~:. .+-x + - \? J •<:) QHx \? K Q] 9 87 ·o X X X 0 KJHx 0] X . -+ Ql09X X X • Axx + xx ·_· • Q XX It will .be seen that, on the \? A 10 X X X X best defence put up by this ·p~ir, ' ~; 0 XXX the unfortunate South ·has a + x very rough time, eventually '· On a Heart lead the Declarer emerging with fiv~ tricks and a ~- :-.. -- made - t~vo tricks. I was asked by mim,1s score of 1,100. To add, to --: _: · _ \V~st if l knew Acol and if so the declarer's discomfiture, the :, ~- -- whether I. didn't agree that her travelling slip re\•ealed . that ~-~ · _ 2+ _bid · was impeccable. I· ·almost all E-W players.were in ~~ ·- venture9. to agree.* East then trouble ori this hand__:_perialties . showed me her hand and said that varying up to 800. One East · ·- 1-must agree she had a maximum opened with a 2+ bid to his :·····;_. 'nun-nilnerablc o-Trump bid. subsequent regret. ::~.··.~· :· I had to a·grec.' She then said There is not room to print the ...' " \.Yell, in that case there m'ust . results of the numerous open be something wrong with the pairs events, - system." No congress, however, would · Oh Acol , what sins arc com- be complete without Ur. Hartley mitted in thy name ! of " The Times " going up fm his * .PrOlll.ding 2+ over I NT is not prize. This time his partner came used to fish for a maior- EDITOI< . from ·Nottingham. The ·field . of 52 l)airs was re­ Richard Lederer Cup ' .\ duced (n <1 fourteen-pair lin a! , won I. Dr. Leist, Dr. Rockfelt, Dr. by 1\Irs. Clarke and l\lrs. Shortland Lee, S. Hooker. -!5 m.p. exponents of the Nottingham One '1 1\ . 0. L . .:\itkcn's teatn. 2.t n1 .p. Club system, with a score of 188 Anne Reese Cup match points. l\lrs. Summers and Baroness Knoop, i\J rs. Kahn, i\Jiss I were second, four points l>C'hind . Shanahan, ~lrs : Summers. 53 m.p. This hand from the final illnstralcs :!. i\lrs. Fleming's team. -!-! m.p. how well the Cambridge University Men 's Pa irs pair, P. Swinncrton-Dyt·r and L Dr. l~u r kfell and Dr. Leist. N .' S. L. Smart, grasped the :22-l Ill. p. - 7 ~.. . ~ ' .., . : ;' . ., .: J ~ .. •• ,1 . ... ·, . .:.··... .:. . ~ ...... ·',' I CoNtl{AC1' HRiJJGE jOURNAl. j. 2. A.· Rose and A. i\[eretli th. I 79 m.jJ . . Cover Problem· Solution Women's Pairs + A .1. Mrs. N. Henshaw and 1\lrs. <;? K96:J 0 K 108H5 F. Gurdon. 201 m.p. + 1093 2:· Lady Rhodes and Mrs. A. L. + 10 H 3 + 9 6 Flcn1ing-. 188 m.p. <;?]R <;?~J7542 One Star 1 OAQJ2 094 I. A. F. Truscott, + KJR6 + Q742 . :m7. ~ - K (,J J 7 5-1 2 ·····'· 2. 1\lr. Evans, 280. .

.' .. .. : . ·' DouBLE Bu BBLE. by NORTH T HE Informed 0r:; Do ub~e is a assist the second suit (ha\;ng weapon <:\.Pit more m usc Passed) that a Game will be today than i11 t hr excitement reached. . I (roundabout l~! i 'i) r.iitsdiscovery Therefor~. Fourth-hand Doubles at.Auction-:twl :_'t· 1: it was used because it is odds on he will to death. :\l 1 :·. ·•···· t. there are either (a) find a Partial score of ·.· man~r occasio1. - , · :, lhe Double his own; (b) find a Game of his cail' ·be used t t• . 1. t;,·a ble effect, own ; (c) push the opposition even on weak i:-J, :. •:,d:;. too high; or (cl) at worst, let them The " Ledl':, .,- · l ,,uble of the make Two Som·ethines with one 1930's; the ·· :·.,:,w!t" Double of overtr'ick instead· of ietting them the mid-194 !c anyway-i.e., both going to do in this situation~ you have tlH.. ad\·ersc suit i1t As for the leave-in of a suit .strong sequence (without this Double-everyone knows what to qualification. ::,· ..~~1 should not do with the Double of a No leave in an Infr.mtatory Double Triunp-I _would suggest 'that anyway) ; 1H.. '.V else are you going caution in such a leave-in is of fo expose a bluff (or Psychic) the essence of winning play in H.edouble? Partner, by Doubling, view of the modern weak Double. : ... has shown ' Preparation ' for any The other day, I -saw a Double ;_,. -. Response ; Rt:spond, therefore, of a Heart left in by the Doubler's · you damphool and tell Partner partner on Q J 9 8 to five Hearts what he has asked." and a-total count of 9. No power , This is one of the situations on earth could have stopped 1 (!) . _ · ' that occurs rarely but can cost a from mah.-ing ; anq although the million. It MUST be cleared· up hand was mis-defended to yield before a session-even before a Declarer an over-trick, it was a . single rubber : rather like the bad resulf for the Doubling side strength of the No Trump or the could have made 1 NT or 1 + or action after 3-bids. For without 2 + ~ If Doubler's Partner 11ad such intra-partnership clarifica- ·been conversant with the infra­ tion, this is what may happen. Lederer, sub-Simon Double be- l cut-above my usual stake- loved of that particular player, into a table to " oblige " three he would have bid 1 NT. miserable waiting people. 1\'Iy · . So I say: In these days of partner and I got vulnerable. shady (rather than .shaded) My partner then opened a Doubles, beware of leaving them . Diamond ; Doubled to my right. in, unless you can count a full I had almost a forcing take-out live tricks in your own hand under and Re-doubled. Fourth-hand, the bid ; or, with a conservative on , a shapeless nonsense, Passed. partner, four tricks. And even Opener Passed- of· course ; and then, consider preferring a take­ Doubler, reauing his Partner for out unless you have considerable strong Diamonds, Passcu confidence in Partner's defensive (unwisely) on a 4-.t-4- 1. " It did play- including his lead in such not give them Game even if they circumstances of a Business Pass mauc 0 below- and you said by you: viz .. can you rely on him you wanted to play against 1 0 to lead a trump? rc-exed, Partner ! " · One final won! : this lime for 1\ut when Declarer (Mr. Iloris the Doubler. t\ Double is the best Shapiro) rolled up a small shun o\'cr-bid lo make on a dubious with ;1 overtricks at .JOO apiece, the hand ; il gives Partn er: ~ (i JL>;lt!acl fur lwgan to fly. In this case, it of I) possible landing-gnnuHk 11 ,. .. CoNTRACT BRll>GE JOUUNAL '' l3t~t do not embark on the The Double in this !)osition,. . - AmeriCan practice of Doubli~g (after Passing) would be inflnjtely nierely to show, that. tl~e ov~r-btd preferable : it offers, as I said · is a good one I Thts mvahdates above, three possible landing- ~ the whole theory of Doubles. places-and, in this specific · If you have an overbid, ma_kc instance, the best. it. If you have a strong over-_btd, the snag about failing to ta~Q · jump. If you have a two ~ smter, immediate action on this hand · don't Double in any circumstances: occurs if the Auction goes: ' you will rarely have time ~o show No bid I 0 No Bid I NT . both suits. No Bid ~ 0 ? .' :: Lastly, if you arc playing the A Double now · is Business. · Double (infonnatory) as most_ Even though the hand on the experts play it1 use it when you left is limited by its 1 NT effort, · · can ; don't try to combine.it with this is still a Busi~ess Doubl_~ ·.; .. ·. the Trap Pass. This is no more situation, for )rou are requirin~ ·~ than saying : Play one system partner to answer at the Two (or . _ (o r style) and be content to lose possibly Three) level, when you . , .·­ when your system (or style) docs might have asked him to reply at . . not fi t the hands that crop up. the One or Two range. · . '. . To illustrate :- You arc compelled by til is· . . .":; You hear your dealing partner se4uence to plunge into 2 \? (on Pass and Onl! Diamond to your :\ Q x x- when the No Trumper • _·' · right. You hold might hold, easily, K 10 xbehind . · ._ . + l Oxx l\1 AQxx 0 A + QJ9xx you- or ] 9 x x even) or Three lf you are a Strong Butt-inner, Clubs on a QJ high 5 suit. · vou must Pass this hand. If you After all-13 points and · ;lre not, you Double. " preparation " for any answer-: · ... This cropped up in the Quali-: even if the Spade support is thin. :- .r-, (yin g Round of the l\lasters' On such a hand, Double the -· · :­ Pairs. . One Baronise"d Acol Diamond immediately-or else, - . ~ , player elected to Pass. One No go quietly over Two Diamonds: Trump came from the left ; you will never reach Spad~ • . · · :: and now-after two Passes- what which is the only contract you · - to do? Two Clubs was the cry. will make. ·. The No Trumpist covered this with Two Diamonds and again came two Passes. Two Hearts LET US HELP YOU came next. . The net result ·of all this Our staf/ of experts will .6e · shenanigans was that Two Hearts_ pleased to advise you OJ£ all could- be played for I down ; 2 problematic points in bidclin~ · .: ~ Clubs could be played for 1 down . or play. A prompt reply to : · . (it . went 2 dowh in practice 1 all your queries is guaranteed. · lwcausr: Dealer '1 I'OITectcc\ " tu Wr£tt• 1/w Editor :- Cur - '·· Tlm\e Clubs) _; hut Spades, R11msn•, I:~ Cannon fllllc;·:' · · which could make an infallible [.oncluit, N .ll'.3. nine tricks, were never mentioned! 12

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. :rr is eli! i :111 ·.l l>y the au~hors that I N.T., a pre-emptive two of a : r: · the :"\ :d;;,nc;all system of bid­ ·suit, 2 N.T. or 3 N.T. ding i!lt'"•, ;I•J'.til',S all the best The opening ca_ll of 1 N.T. I : .. ·feature,. ' ( ·:~'I ;~r systems without shows an honour- p<;>int strength any of J h ·. n] •igu ity. It has a of 24 or more. The response is mathem:ii i ;,:~;;is and carries . 2-9- if holding 0-2 points ,and one the ' Vl•rl-. ,; ;·Jt Pl us cEstributional pid higher for every additional points L ·' ·. 1.·;·;1 .:onclusions. two points held. Subsequent bids The U]'l· ':n;; hid is always endeavour to· find the best suit forcing :n,fi rmT~ Iy , indicates bv the usual methods. honour ! " 'illL strength: I+ · A pre-emptive opening bid of ·: signifies a huldmg of I~- I-t- honour two of a suit is made with a · pain ts, 1 (I IS- J 7 hqnour points, holding of si.x of the sui.t with three etc. A minimum response honours or seven with two honours shows a total honour point count with a total honour plus distribu­ of less than 22 ; any other tional point count of thirteen. response at the level of one shows H.csponder shows · first round - a combined honour point strength controls in ascending order qf of 22-24, and a response of two rank, but always shows the trump shows a total of 25 or more and is ace last. A N.T. response indicates·. forcing to · ga~11e . . If the response two second round controls. ,. . is 1nade in a suit it indicates a An opening .bid of 2 N.T. is holding of at least five cards in forcing to game and similarly ' that suit. asks for aces. The opening bid o£ ... ,. Once a . suit' has' been agreed 3 N.T. is U!\ed . only for those ·.... · ·· distributional points are added as exceptional hands · where it is . .follows : 1! points for every important to know the exact - .. ··.. · · trump above the eighth,- It points holding . of kings. Responder '· - for a sif!gleton and 3 fpr 'a . again shows his kings in ascending order of rank. Thus a response of ··· If. the re&ponder can ~ake the . 4+ would indicate that only the total honour point count to 25 or king of spades \\~ as held. more, is without any .five card A variety of \vays for investiga­ suit but has two four-carders, he ting slam possii}ilities exist in this first makes the minimum overcall system. It may_be sufficient here and then follows · in . the next to state that the 4 N.T. demand round by bidding 2 N.T. This asks for controis, counting ace or undeceives the opener as regards void as one control, king or point strength and at the same sit1gleton as haJf a control. The time invites him to bid a four-card response 5+ indicates 0-1 control, . suit, commencing with the lowest and every upward signifies an in rank. , additional half control. Thus 5y> It will be seen that the res­ indicates 2 controls and 5+ 3 ponder is generally in control of .controls. Asking bids are a 1so the bidding, as he alnne knows used. The various method ~ of just how far to go. The _excep~im~s slam l' xploration always allow the occur when the opemng b1cl 1s controlling hand to stop at li\'e. . ') ..;~ ' '• , .. ,.. . :. · CON'l'I~Ac'l' . DRIDGE JOURNAL • I ·~ ..' ~· ~ • .The·· follo\vjng · h:uid is alleged . ORDER ·oF MERIT -: ~ ' . to have caused some trouble at .. The monthly prize of Two t:uiueas· ·'•,' Uw Crillltock Club :· for lhe best sel of solution to the March : .. North South' Competition is awarded to Lt. Col. .- ... ' (;, H. F. Broad, The Grammar School, • AK Q 6 + H :i Lutterworth, Rugby, who scored '7.1 ·

l \7 ( 19 points) t+ (waiting) :'IIISS \V. jEWSUN, ·157 . ·. ~ ~~,) (5) -!

,' ·. • • !" .. _,.

'! . MISTRESS PLAYS by DAVID Bl{OWN

I OFTEN think :tboul lhe ladies Is it telepathy, intuition or is it who play so P'~rs i s le ntly in the card equivalent of . green ' our club bul 1 shall never under­ fingers, that enables them to' - stand them. make so unhesitatingly that · Take, for ~'Xam;Jie . the famous devastating play that you, as a ~Irs. R. She p n ~hl · ~ her spectacles mere male, might get round to in along her noo;P, pnlls down the an hour or so- if all four hands : corners of he,- mo uth and fixes were exposed ? her hand antl tlnmmy· with such a . This is, as they say, _a matter fur menacing gaze lhal you would discussion. As evidence I submit think that all the fift \'- two cards three hands. · would yield to her inilcxible will. About two years ago I sat and perform her behest. Is she Sontli in the following deal. . really planning a + K J 10 9 that will land her contract of ~ Q98 Seven Spades, or is she thinking of 0 10 9 2 ·.. some · other fantastic method of + 7 3 2 taking thirteen tricks? You take + AS . + S74::l another look at the Ace of trumps r;;J KJIO 6 4 3 2 ~ 7 in your hand and gaze around you. 0 5 0 K H :~ · There, playing her cards with + Q JO H + J 9 6 5-1 careless abandon, is Mrs. D. who • Q62 you · remember cunningly under- ~AS · trumping- the ninth trick and 0 AQJ764 luring the (male) Declarer into + AK placing all the other trumps with· The bidding, such as it was, her, much to his eventual regret. proceeded. . • I . · And across the room is Mrs. B. NS Vul. who pats her hair, puffs smoke into · South ·west North East ' . the ceiling and sloshes the cards 20 2~ 2+ No bid about at such a rate that everyone a+ -l \'J so No bid else loses track · of the middle 60 No bid No bid No bid cards and she triumphantly lands It is not, I admit a brilliant "'( · her contracts. contract, but as you will see What really goes on in the minds f.rom the lie of the cards, the of women? Surely it i~ - not Diamond is right and the intelligence as men understand it, fourth Spade affords a discard for •: that clear ratiocination by whkh the losing Heart so only the + A, ,.. .. they inexorably deduce the need be t;onceded. ~ . correct line of play. Hut equally Now, sitting in the West surely, although the gentler sex position was a lady who, I can skip the intervening mental truthfully say, is a good cook. I spade-work, thev arrive bang dare not say any more about her home on the target on a suspicious­ bridge because she is related to my ly high number of occasions. wife. Certainly she has nc\·er 15 :. ,I ......

I' toN'l'ltACT .ImiDGE. jolJllNAl: , · · ' rc~id ·a 'line about Bridge in her South · West North East life and she is quite unaware of the 2+ 2\? . · No bi~ 3\? • :. fact that the modern tendency is 3+ 4\? 4+ No bid t·o lead the 1Gng from such a No bid 5\? 5+ . No .bid . holding as K J 10 x x ·x x'-if, 6+ No bid No bid No bid • '' initially, you lead the suit at all. West led his singleton Club, ·Still, ·it was. !;ome two years ago dummy went down and South _ . and !>O far as 1 am aware, she had took the trick with the Ace. ,always been told to lead the Looking over South's shoulder· I Knave. was prepared for her playing the On ·this · oc c a~ ion , without any O A followed by Ace and anotlier · ado, she nipped the King of Heart, ruffing in: Dummy, ~. Hearts on to the table and when I throwing one Club on the 0 K and · took it with the Ace and played a fin essing her A Q of Spades in the Spade in an endeavour to cross to hope that East had, K x of trumps Dummy, .she smartly put up her only. .· Ace and led another Heart for her l\fost unsportingly I peeped partner to . (Of course the round at East's hand to inspect lead of any other H eart but the his trumps and found that this' King allows the

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t:ONTRACT BR1DGE jOU~NAL - '• 011 his parlnt:r :L few unhoneyed the Queen, the Club suit would words, Soulh t nrned to me and have been · blocked and the said blithely " Don't you think defence can only collect three Club it was clever of me to trump my tricks and the OK. On Ea£t's own Ace of Hearts ! " play of the + 2 South can take I don't kno\\ 10 this day what the trick ·with the Knave but to say about the play of that hand then later, when East makes 'his - I can't im:t ,!.!in~ 11fJw she can OK and returns the + Q. \\'est have planned i l can overtake and cash four Club . The final e~amplc \His reported tricks to defeat the game. to me and toor; place in a ladies South's spectacular blocks four. the suit once more and Three No -- K 8 -t Trumps ·must be made.

CONTHACT UHIDGE joUHNAL

'1 1..\t he ignores ·· the equai!y im­ for the losses when he has nothing. portant questlon of opponent's · Then it is important to avuitl One bidding. No Trump Redoubled, which If second player has a good contract is nearly always' hand he will not pa:;s One Club. catastrophic for the defence. The He will probably double, although best convention is for the this gives opponents a chance to doubler's partner to rescue the retire ; while,had the opening bid redouble unless he has 7 points. · been One No Trump he would Now even if he goes down 800 to · have, doubled for penalties.* save a non-vulnerable game he Does this mean that we ·arc nol only loses 400 on balance. This, of very clever doubling One Cfub on course, is a pity but a douhle of · say: One No Trump is a gamble which + KQ107 ~A:32 OK1096 + K4? cannot always succeed. The Here it might be more profitable point is that if you do not double, to wait and double the One No only opponents can gain these Trump rebid, but if bidding big swings-by going 3 down proceeded 1 +-1~-2+ we undoubled to save a game. would feel very uncomfortable. Finally note that fourth player So lurking tac~ics would only pay does not double on 10 points against a One Club which merely because opener's partner guaranteed a rebid of One No has passed. i\Ir. quire rightly Trump, which happens on no points out that this pass is system. irrelevant, as ·responder may still - Note that Baron tries to protect have a good hand against which his 13 point No Trump by you can easily lose 500 to save a sponsoring an inept defence to part score, which is just as bad as this weapon-namely: the 17 losing 800 to save a game. And point double. If a double cif there is no need to double on 10 One No Trump shows that you point if partner cannot have 1-l. expect to defeat that contract, In this same article i\Ir. Squire it merely requires a better hand gives a hand showing how badly than the opening bidder's. So a some pseudo-scientists bid. weak No Trump is doubled on Apparently in a recent match the 14 points (by . either second or opener, North, held ·: fourth player). When the out­ + KJ8 6 ~A~l s 6 OQ.I7, + QlO standing high cards arc evenly and South held divided the contract should go + i09 ~KJIO 7 010865 + AJ9 ' down, especially if the defenders· Mr. Squire opened 1 NT on the rely on the narrow range of the North hand, which was left. in, opening bid to' \Vot k out declarer's while the either team bid 1+ - holding, (This disadvantage of 1 0 - 1 ~-4 ~- This second the Baron No "_frump · is rarely auction is worth exammmg, . stres:,ed). When the doubler's because the obvious sequence partner is strong, One ]'Jo Trump using a Prepan•d Club is 1+ - ·' should go seyeral down, and this 1~-2~. will compe,nsatc · iti the long run But South responus I 0, al­ I ' * This should not l~e a disaster for tl~ough t.his is most unlikelv to be Opener tj he is not. vuluernble. the best trump suit, and although is

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CONT.HACT BRIDGE JOURN~L a bid in Spades by West would considerable, while in the other make it very awbvard to fmd a sequence both· opponents have Heart fit (opposite

1: .. opener' may be weaker in playing that something more logical than strength than he could be for an natural conservatism ·makes. the opening bid of One Heart. Also majority of good players retain the shut-out effect of 1 ~-3~ is the Strong No Trump Vulnerable. BRIDGE AT BURTON , ·\ .· (UPON TRENT) by G. H. GUILFORD , B URTON Bridge Club, launched • xxxx _ Y last October, now has a ~ Jx 1 ~ · membership of approximately 70. · (> A .K Q x x 7 :~ ~ Evening meetings are held on + Kx i\londays, Wednesdays and • A J 10 X X + KQxx t."' · · Fridays at the George Street ~XX ~X Club, Burton- upon- Trent, and 0 X 0 XX - visitors, always welcome, will + Qxxxx + A J 10 X X X discover that our lack of ex­ . pcrienceissometimes compensated ' 'VAKQxxxxx for by enthusiastic and unin­ ·O ­Jxxxx hibited bidding. Incidentally the + - · ·· " A " Team, in its first debut in The bidding in Room 1 b)~ the Derbyshire League has won Burton's North outh players · ·' 4 out of 5 matches. Two of. the (the newcomer!>) was typically team's five members are new­ "hell for leather,"•namely comers to '. N orlh East South "Jil' est The following hand occurred 1 0 2 + 6 'V Pass in a recent League match which Pass Pass Pass Bur~on won by a men· 730 and South netted a Vulncrahh: points : Grand Slam for a score of 1-460. 19 , ~oNtHACT BlUOG~ JOUltNAL ln .Hoom 2 the bidc)ing was a Tarrying at the table, I wat.ched little more tortuous:- the same pair bid and make North East Soztlh II'est 2 Spades. Then with 60 Vul. 1 0 2 + 3 ry ~J + North' opened third in hand with Pass 4 + 6 0 6 + a " Nottingham 2 Diamoncl<;" on Dble · Pass Pass Pass the following :- + A 10 X West collected 11 tricks for a ry A K x x x minus score of 100. I 1 was an interested kibitzer ~ ~~ l( x last Monday when the followin,g , + J x x + K Q x x l1and was 'dealt :- · M M Q 'x x· . yXXXX V J + A x 0 Q I 0 9 8 0 x ·x MAJ98xxv + x + xxx 0 Qxxx + xxx +·X r:::} - + Kxxx + xx OKxxx r:::} X X r:::} .1( X X + Q j 10 9 8 6 0 1 10 x - 0 K x The ?-J"ottingham 2 Diamond· + J x x x + A K Q x x x normally forcing to game shows . · + Q J 9 8 x of course 22 or more points and Q 10 rec1uires 8 or more voints for a - r::;.· A x ·x x 0 positive response, which may be + x x either 2 N.T. or a bid in a 5 suit Sprightly bidding as follm\·s : 2 Hearts is the negative, and 3 North East South West Hearts a positive response. South · 1 r:::} 2 + (?) 2 + Pass replied with 2 Hearts whereupon a 3 0 (?) Pass · -l 0 (?) Pass hurried 4 N .T. from North · -! r:::} All pass elicited an unrufiled Blackwood(?).- 4 Hearts on the combined reply of 5 Clubs. 5 . r.T. from tlie hands appears to be a good if undaunted Two Diamonder and difficult ·' contract to reach. his partner paused (ethically I (Editorial · comment as to best hope) to consiqer the next bidding and play of hand response. To my unbounded welcomed). In actual fact, the delight 7 Clubs was the reply K of Clubs was led, followed by showing preswnably umpteen 1•. the Ace, ruffed by North. Kings . His partner seemed some7 Declarer · went over to · the what surprised and, unable- · Diamond Ace and unsuccessfully rapidly to count the number of · finessed : Queen of Hearts to a 1.-ings indicated, finally passed: ,_ ·. hasty. King. The heart return A small trump was led. When was taken in Dummy and Queen 2 small hearts were ruffed and the of Spades led: Defence put up finesse in Diamonds successfully ·. another · hasty King, greedily taken the hand was cold for 13 pounced cin by the Ace, trumps tricks. The 7 Club bidder, not· were drawn, and Dummy entered wishing to reproach his forceful with . Jack of Spades. Low partner -after such a happy diamond led and a ·· " donald outcome, enquired the reason for duck " landed the contract. , such strong bidding on what, 20 . . I . ... - ' ' i . • I . ~ ·~ - ,·' ...

BRIDGE ARTICLE APPEARS .

. .. . EV-~E RY FRIDAY

=~-=-=--======

together with a WEEKLY PROBLEM

'\ .·.:· : .· . aft~r all, hardly looked worth a ·probability of a -Heart lead and <' · small . slam after a denial of the likelihood of cashing· seven · strength. Partner lamely replied tricks. Two Clubs is a .poor ' · . that he had misconstrued the effort, and three Clubs · is , too · 2 Hearts denial as ,a positive bid ' hopeful. North, however, should sl10wing a 5 card heart suit. not regard the Double with favour; : :-=- •.. Collapse of opponents, who soon he has, a singleton Club, \vhich ..-:~.-· - ·revived (stakes .Id. _- per hundred) indicates just what the 2 NT is , . to join in the hilarious laughter based upon ; and SoutJ!'s Double · . which is, luckily, .of frequent gives promise of Heart support . occurrence at the Club. Notwith- A straggly, spidery 6-4-2-1 hand ... _ standing, ·a grand slam from a is not likely to produce its best troublesome part score is no mean advantage in No Trumps, let achievement especially with alone in defence. partners ·not speaking the, same If East bids Clubs and South · ·. · " bridge language." Spades, North should re-bid Hearts : the Diamonds are too . The Editor considers the se­ weak fo~ exploitation, despite quence on Mr. Guildford's second Simon's recommendation to try hand should go : , " rubbishy " suits on the second ."lnrlh East Snulh lVcsl round in search of a fit. I 'V ~ NT ! Dhl. No hid In playJ North ruffs.the second :l 'V No bid -l 'V End Club and luacl.; low to the Queen Tlw best bid on the East hand of Hearts, East ducking. The is. unquestionably, 2 NT with the Contiuuetl ou page 27 21 •. CAN PALOO~AS THINK · ~ by 'vV. j: S. H.OBB . ·>· l. + A 8 :~ -- H AVING an l.Q. which was Q 10 6 4 . · ; the despair of my mentors, I O' 10 8 7 took to Bridge and became the + Q j 5 . original Palooka. That's me, + J 10 6 52 + I\. Q 9 7 4 · always original. 2 M My wife, .whom I married under ~ J 9 8 7 v - . 02 0954 fal!!C pretences, not confessmg + + 8 6 4 3 2 that I Bridged, has great faith in 10 9 + _ '. my reasoning 'powers. (" He ~ A K 5 3 I' ·married 1\IE, didn't he ? " she O A K Q J 6 :i gloats with true feminine logic). + A K 7 So, na~urally, I play Acol. Yes, South North Acol is the system for my simple + .2 0 I. soul-and the operative word is 2 \ 4 0 4 ~ simple. Of course, Acol is not M 7 ~ (Just good enough. How could I be a 6 v . real Palooka if any system was 2. + K Q stup•.d) · · good enough for me? So I set ~ Q ] 5 3 .·. about to improve it. 0 Q 7 4 .3 The species Palovlw (Homo + J 9 8 Insapicus or Pour Sap) is rccog- + 6 + 9 ·s 4 3 2 nised by its unwarranted interest ~ 10 9 8 6 2 ~ 7 4 in the Big Hand. The crest of the 0 ] 10 9 0 K 6 52 Palooka family consists of + Q 10 7 2 + 5 3 thirteen Spades on a field vert, + A J 10 8 7 traversed. by a bend sinister and ~ A K the mott.o is " Per Culbertsonia 0 A 8 ad Grandslamia." + A K 6 4 The Acol Two Club bid will South North ' ' • I ~ have to do until I invent a new 2 + 2 0 one, but the present responses 2 + :~ ~ won't do at all. They must' be 4 + 5 + (lt deserveil . added to ; what they have arc all G + a better fate). · - right so far as they go, but I am This is not the easie~t of hancls·_·. · about to push them a bit further. lu play with the J Diamonds led _ : During the ,past ·two years I and my partner reluctantly ·. -· have held these hands and heard. conceded three tricks. (When this ·,· ·; my· partner open with Two· Clubs. hand was played, South, in the .. (For convenience sake, North is other room, went six Clubs, got a ' - my chosen-and frozen- . scat). Heart lead and made his contract!) -, . · (sec top of. next cvlmnn~ Six No Trump couldn't be brokc.n .... With the ~K led I managed to with a sledge hammer. t · . · · go one light- with 7 N :r. ami . t Six Clubs is quite horrible. : 70 on icc.* . · ll'c prefer:~ NT on tht' North hand ·. * Who said Ihe 4--l tmmp _suit m•a ~ + - after 1vhich .c·ioulh hids : ii'IIS always ioorth Jl trir/{, ch?- ED. -: ~ or

CO.NTRAC1' BRIDGE jOURNAL

- :t IJJ9 won't happen often, unf_or~unate­ cy> Q9R-l ly ; · but when the hand comes up 0 A 10 four or 'five times a year, for four + Q 10 5 ~ or five times a year you'll be -- • 10 2 ~ 7 s -l pleased. _ cy> 7 5 rv 1o 3z Pity you don!.t know my part­ 0 KJ9H :'i 0 7 6 3 2 ner. Fine feller. . Last September_ . + J874 ~., \-1 6 3 we - were room-mates at the A i\. '-l t1 :{ Northern Ireland Congres<> in ••cy> A K i •1 -Portrush. The middle of the 0 0 -1 night saw me retiring to said _ + AK room, weak but still. under· my South · own steam, after a session with George Sloane, _the Tournament .-; ') + 2' • Director. (If you don't know what 4 N.T. a session with George means­ .- does that guy ever sleep ?-then 6+ 1 recommend a visit- to. Portrush Why didn't 1 gel busy on this next September, for, brother, 'you hand ? No corruncn t. t haven't yet lived). True to form, on no occasion, Quietly undressing so as not to . after' my two Diamond response, waken Bob, I had an idea. It \Vas -did we reach the correct contract. startling. No, not so much the_ I either got too busy or not busy ·- idea of my having an idea, as the ·. ~ ' enough. So, after deliberation, idea itself. This just could not picking other people's brains, wait, so by dint of dropping my · consultation and research, I shoes forty-seveQ times, coughing, decided that my Aco\ would L· sneezing, gargling, giving my incorporate two more bids. Hold­ inimitable but horrific rendering of ing 9 or 10 points, without positive " 0 Sole Mia," raising the window, bid requirements, I would bid shutting the window and calling 2 N.T. in response to a Two Club for the local fire brigade, I finally opener, and with 11 to 12 paints, managed to convince him that he with the same proviso, I would bid was really still alive. 3 N .T. And, to my amazement, it " Gardiner " I said-and note worked.* It means tl-iat the Two that we are still after the big Club wallah knows to within one stuff- " Which 4-5 No Trump do point lhe combined holdings of the you prefer? " two hands and with all those · " Depends on the hand " was _ poinls there is still plcn ty of the reply I got and had -hoped to bidding space to tell stories. 1t get. t Here, again, we bid :~ N.T. " 1:-iow would you like a con­ ·uver 2 cy> , but on the sequwce ~iv e-11, vention which would let you play Sou/It sltould make a Grn11d Slam either Culbertson or Blackwood lrv of 6 + or 6 cy> or even 5 or depending on the type of hand

~ l{ 10 52 " Diario de Noticia~ II prints a · 0 ]8 ' · bridge quiz with these hands: + K64 What" do you bid on : - North South . 1. + A1075 \?Al06 OKQ8 + K-!.2' 2~ a~ 2. + AK3 \?A62 085-l + AK97 4 + 4 \:? (Foresight aJHl gives tht! replies : ·. 4 N.T. (Cui.) and restraint) - I. " No Trump" iu a muted 7 ~ . 5 N.T. voice; Had ·we decided on Blacicwood ~ . ·· One No T'rutnp " in a strong for that session, it would have voice. 24 ,· . . . :_':

A VIE\lv oR Two by GUY RAlVISE Y "A ROOM ,. ith ''· \'il'w" we over-taken ·with the Ace. The sang t \'. ·-" '. \ years ago ; Knave of Clubs was taken by the but it is a 1-blll: " . 1.'1 1 ,·iew that (now blank) Queen in an opposing / is the perenn:. ~ -·' 1~ of the hand and another Heart Jed. Two 1 bridge-player. :.: 1.; , to adapt more rounds ~f Clubs put East jn, · the phrase o[ .tt < ,;_ ., :;peculator and a third Heart was Jed. Now,­ on the Stock L ' : '" "t?. <' of my how'to play the Diamonds? Lead acquaintance: .. ll -~·· ;:r foresight Ten and finesse_. and, if held off, were ~ as good a -; t.r hindsight, lead small, finessing Eight ? Lead you'ld make<· d 1&1.:t .·. ight. " King and, jf held off, take View All of which p:'c.t.nl:le is de­ on second round ? Lead small and signed to lead up ttJ :.t hand or two finesse Seven ? Lead smaiJ and where a question lli guessing is play Queen? :·,_ .._ , -the paramount co nsideration. (By · Or, at Trick ·2, lead King of tlte way, do you notice how Clubs, cross to Dummy with .. · . pompous we card-players arc: Heart and play for a - Do~bleton we call a bluff, a psychic ·; and Queen of Clubs ? a 'gUeSs, a view; then deliberate Or, at either Trick 2 . or, after loss of a trick is a rectification of cashing the + K, tackle the the count while, like a hotel Diamonds first ? -· .... 1nenu, \\·e call upon the langugae Personally; I play on Diamonds of ·diplomacy to enhance a stroke first, on the theory that certain of good play by calling it a ). opposing tricks should be con­ However, who cares for pre­ ceded early ; but which way I ambles? " Let . us have some play them, I wouldn't know. I _ figures," demanded a group of certainly do NOT play the financiers, considering an imagina­ winning (in the event) way of tive enterprise; and,. recalling playing for a Doubleton Club Skid · Simon, "Give hand," cry Queen~so Mrs. Lester and her ·· ... · - their opposite numbers at the partner would have attained an card-table. equally bad result in fact ! Consider the plight of i\lrs. - Or, again in 3 NT, what do you i\ladeline Lester, sitting South, in play from a Western Dtmtmy at tlie l\lixed Pairs Final. She had Trick I ? got herself into 3. NT and tlte + 107-t - + Aj6:.! · Dummy held : '\) Q 10 I y> A 2 + xxy>Qx OQ~7 + AJ 10653 0 KQ9-t 0 A7652 l\Jrs. Lester herself had : + A 8 6:.! + 10 9 + KJxx y>AKxx OK109 x +K Louis Tarlo led the SevCii of _ A Heart opening was care- Hearts and Harold Franklin fully won in the closed hand, huddled. A huddle at this point - to preserve the certain for can do no good at all beyond the Clubs, and the ' preliminary the Good player's automatic planning huddle that marks a evaluation ! That there ar<' good player was terminated when li\'c Diamonds, a Club, a Heart the King of Clubs was led and and a SjJade on top. l [ you can .·. , ·' · . '. . . - ., ·. ~- , .·, ' :: CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL inake two Hearts, you are home + K X + A J X X • '· : and dry, with ~~ chance to make a ~AKQxx ~J . . , secqni::l Spade ~fter the opponents 0 K x 0 Q 10 x x· ·- ·.: .: ,. . '• have been compelled to discard + AK87 + JI065 , on the Diamonds. 'If you cannot Six No Trumps, do you think_:_ .~ .. make two Hearts, you may as at Match Points? Six Clubs

·well say " One Down II at Trick 1. preferable ? A Master bid b)r ·.. · . A 11d 110 n11101111l ~J though/ will East of Six Hearts on the Knave . · enable you lo cwalyse the mea11i11g blank? You are all wrong : the · .· .· of ·tlte Seve11 of H earls. par- of success- is 3 N. T. I What .' opening do you recommend· for ·. ;. I.t may_(improbably) be top of a fuble 4-card suit ; in which case it \Vest? Two No Trumps-with a ·. _. makes no dif-ference. what you quantitative -! NT from-East m1d . · . _play; ,it · may be fourth best a shot at 6 NT on the strength of · .· from King-Knave-in which case the " solid II five-card ' Hearts ~ - ·' · ditto. It may be from Knave (i1~ or a Pass owing to the two King- ~. . which case the Ten is the card) or double tons ? Two Clubs with a .. · from King (in which case the rebid of ~ ' T to show a minnie? ~ ·,·, Queen wraps up the contract). Two Hearts with a re-bid of ..-·-; .­ Three Clubs (and now keep out 'of ' ::-: At such moments, hope your stars are in Trine, say (since Six !) ? Two Clubs with a rebid ·. ~-:: . cards are the Devil's picture­ of 2 ~? The answer is - a Guess.' ·-: · books) a prayer backwards, Or consider the plight · of ·- .' consult ' the auguries or toss a :\1. Harrison-Gray holding :. . ::-- . coin. · Franklin played the Queen + x x x x x ~x Ox x x x x + Ax. . ·· and went down ; in the other after an opposing bidding c ·-· : room, Kenneth Konstam and . sequ~ce of.: 2 + - 2 O ; 2 NT.;·. ,. : Graham Mathieson. reached Four (forcmg)- 3 ~ - ; 3 NT. Grafs·;:.·: Spades! partner led the Knave. of Clubs - : The hand, ·from the North­ and Gray ducked. II J. Palooka o; - ~ :: South· ·Match, won by the South i\Irs. Guggenheim did such · a - - by upwards of 6,000 points, was thing at 3d. or £1 ,: :::._; something of a joke. Mathieson the partner would shrug resignedly·, .- , · ·opened third-in-hand with a and murmur : " Tvpical." When ·.--~: . Diamond ; Konstam .psyched a Gray did it, in-_the ~laster:;' ~::.:: Spade·;· Mathieson bid " Hone'st Individual, he reckoned -Declarer·:·_ ~-~ (who had refused to support Three Spades ~ ' . and Konstam his ::: .:~ removed rapidly to 8 NT. partner's major with a giant, but ·-. :·~: ~alanced ·, hand) must hold K Q:x.. ·-._:. ·Mathieson on his fi-4-~-~. pre­ 1 m Clubs. This hold-up would give-' '· ·.:: ferred Four . ~pades and, on the lead of a-trump 'from K x x (an Declarer ~he illusion that Leader · : :; : had A moreover if the-: -· . . excellent lea~ · on the bidding- if J 10 ; Club lead happened to be from ?· · : the bidding had been ' correct ') ] 10 x , the play of the Ace wciuld··:- ,· the contra.ct was duly made ! The set up four tricks for' Declanir ~:.--.. =- -leader should also have consulted Alas ! Partner held + KJ 1Oxx; ~· · ·: the oracle! and the play of Ace and another ' ·, Here is another. Hand' ,,;ith ;t' Club nets an immediate th·c·.: View -from · th~ Mixed, Pa.irs : tricks! 26

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; t' ===-===-- JtTf'-1~ 30th JULY 2nd ··.· ------=-~-··.:.....:·======.:

. Then there IS this notable single picture, goC an end-play headache :- and made nine tricks : the < · .. + Q x + A x x timing of the band being extremely ~-:.::.: -~ A K x x y> ] x x good. ·Mrs: Lester decided ·(who ; ·- 0 A ] 9 x O x x x shall blame her?) that to play ~-:~ + K x x + A x x x - North for not holding one card (the - ::'.'· . , The Rt. Hon. West is in 3 NT Heart Queen) was better than -J" and gets a Spade lead. It is won playing North for 110t .holding one '/ ·' by the King and a Spade retumed. of two cards (viz. the Diamond Where do you now go for honey ? Ten plus a Diamond pictur~). Mrs; :;'.' You want, obviously, to knock put Fleming reckoned that, for this ·North's entry~if only you knew plan to ?ucceed, b~th Clubs and what it was. A low .lead to Hearts must break 3-3: both of Dummy's Knave o.f Hearts would which were against the odds. The :.:·. be admirable-if North has the Scribe is only thankful he did not ,., Queen; or you could cross to have to play it himself . . , Dummy and lead Diamond, ,.. '· finessing Nine-if North has not (Con/inuetl from page 2lt the Ten ; or you might duck a Club at once. Queen of Spades is led and not T\vo 1nembers of the Paris covered ; the second Heart is led Ladies (how improper that and the Ace put on. Now the sounds ! ) played it. Mrs. Diamond is led to the Ace and the Fleming, who finessed the 1\ncsse obligatory taken on the Diamond, found North with a return. 27 , ' -- .. ' ,. .,'.-:-

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"CUT FOR PARTNERS" they will do il by guess .anti hy Cod : one possible sequence l>cing (if \\'cs.t . _. by S . .f. Simo1t opens, which is clouhtful) . ,. (Nicllolsou & Watson ll/-) -- I ~ :l 0 .j 0 ;; c;:? , This is Skid's last posthumous word un the game he loved and to which he and \\'est grows enamoured enough 4!1 contrib'uted so much in technique, in his voicl to hid the slam (ouch!) . . , :\. R. Hester puts these two hands humour and in humanity. ' !t. is th.e ·- story of a "pivot: three rub.bcrs piayeti on the cover of his :12-p

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-This titS tDmpetitiiJii by ]. C. H. Marx Answers lu I. < " \ lC\ ., ES ancl small card in the same suit. You of · Xorth n •hids to Thn•c Hearts. .-oursc know that partner has Three \\'hat should :>:orlh hid, if Suulh Spa

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CONTRACT BRIDGE jOURNAi ANsWER South, bid, holding : 5. Four Clu bs- J'l points. Three . (i) + A 7 ~K 8 ()A 10 2 + A I{ Q 8 4 2 No Trumps--!:! p oint~. (ii)' + A K Q 7 4 3 ~Q J 7 OK 9 + A 4? .. ,.. The palooka bid on this hand is ANSWER Three Clubs : t!t: b~st authorities, however, arc agrct:d th~tl this bid is 7. (i) Two No Trumps-8 points. ·. required as a sign·•>ff, ,,h•>wi ng a hand Three No Trumps-6 poi.J?.ts. ' with distribution sir'''lar t~< that in the The prospects of this hand, if any, problem, but with rn.>,· 5 or 6 points are at No Trumps. Not vulnerable, instead of 10. As a '"·- t ~ • r of fact, you you might risk an immediate bid of should have no ft ,\J !•er:' of Three No Three, but, vulnerable, the possibility Trumps not bein.:: P1ake: partner of a large p_!!nalty if Clubs do not preak would have opened ''"'' _.,o Trump had is too great a deterrent. There is no his hand been stu- •i-!~. ~·· il may be virtue in a Double which simply allows inf~rred that he h;,~ 1l1:.: Hl points or - the opponents to investigate a- possible a weak doubleton i1. ~ i·"d''" ; with these cheap contract in the majors. - conditions, it is di!1u:ult I•J construct (ii) Double-S points. _ Two a hand where Tin"" :.~'-'Trump s is not Spades-4 points. Four !?pades--2 almost a lay-dowu The• preference points. for Four Clubs ts on th.-, ~imp l c grounds The playing strength is a little less that there may well he a ,lam if partner than in the preceding hand but an has a maJdmum, and atleq ua te controls. equally determined effort to reach game is justified . by the greater PROBLEM No. G (1 2 puints) flexibility-there are possibilities in Spades, No-trumps or even ·Hearts. Love All. You, South, hold : The best tactic is to double and jump in IU 9 + Q 3 2 ~9 7 5 4 2 08 6 + Q Spades on the next r~und, unl~ The bidding proceeds : partner bids One No Trump wh1ch East South IVes t No1•lh you can raise to Three. 1 ~ No bid No bid Double .":• . .-..: 2 ~ No bid No bid Double PROBLEM No. 8 (12 points) '.~.!:-·- No bid ? North What do you bid ? + K 85 2 ~ 6 • .-\NSWER 0 A Q 10 9 8 7 ... 6. Two Spades- 12 points. No • 54 -:: bio- 3 points . East . ·. . • A Q 10 7 3 , Pa,rtner is nol necessarily so very ~ lq432 strong; his first double- in the fourth 0 J54 - hand position ~might have been on 9 points, and his second docs not The bidding: -~ -·· guarantee more than 15. At the same East South II'est North time, East's unperturbed continnation, I + 3 + No bid· -3'0 opposite a confessedly bankrupt • r= No bid -l NT No bid 50 partner, suggests a very strong heart No bid G + · All Pass holding that will not be 1-(l'ently :-.1 ~. ' ;:, embarrassed by your live lillie ones. West opens the Jack of Spades nnd There must still he about an even North plays small. What is East's best chance of defeating Two Hearts but plan of .defence? (South plays 4 of this is not gooc\ enough when the price Spacles to trick 1). of failure is a game, and yon should take refuge in your cheapest three ANSWER care\ suit. 8. On the bidding, declarer must ha\'e Ace of Spades, King of Clubs and a singleton Hellft. The only chance of a ,l'l< oo lll.l·.. \1 /';u_ 7 ( IIi pooinb) st>cmul trit•kis in the trump suit. You ~ hould tllt'reforc llverlakc partner's ;o-.;urth-Suuth (;,lllll'. \\'o·S l , lho· .1 ack with your I,Juel'n, an1l return a ·. -- olo ·alt:r, and ::-lorth pa~s. and East opens Un e I >iamunol. \VItal du you, (Cc:uliwtt·d a/ fool / colrmw 2, pa;;c 29) 31 . : ' CONTRAC'r BRIDGE JOURNAL ENGLISH BRIDGE UNION LIST OF SECRETARIES

DIIITIIII DRIOGII LrAour-Major George MIDDLEUX CosTRACT DRtDG& AssociATlO"­ Gray, 23 Clydesdale - Gardens, Richmond, Mrs. H . Freeman, Tho Nook, Lyndbunt Surrey, Ttrrace, Loudon. N.W.:t. ~.' ENGLIS II Dawon VJ CONTRACT llRIIlOE AssociATION­ OxroausmRr Co,.TutT DIIIDGII AssociATION W. Durn>tonebEsq., efo Town Clerk's Oflire, -Capt. F. W. Tnylor, 433 Dnnbnry Road, Market Place, erby. O.dord. DEvo,- CoNTRACT DaroaE A~sOCIATtON~ SoMERSET CoNTRACT DRIDO£ AssocJATIOII- G. Graham Wilson, E•'l·· Flat 2, ' Klnr<'ra,' 0. H. Dolley, Esq., Kellsall . Lodge Hl~bcr Wnrberry l!oad, Torquay. Staplegrove, Taunton, Somerset. SouTUERN CoUJ

CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL Regional Editors- Eire .... - .. NOEL BYRNE North " 'estern A. C. DouGLASS ' Scotland .. .. H . KEIISIIAW Yorkshire MRS . L. L. BEDFORD Wales : .. . H. J. GouLD London " ALIBi '' North Eastern E wAnT KEMPSON Competlt!on Editor-EmmND PlllLLIPS The CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL is '. the ofiicial organ of the English Bridge Union. Publlshers-;-PRIESTLEY STUDIOS LTD., Phone- COMM,ERCIAL ROAD, GLOUCESTER Gloucester22281/3 -. AI! Bridge Correspondence to- .· Enl'fon, CoN'fRA CT BttlllGI\ jllUI!NAt. , 1:1 C.-I.NNuN l'r.Acl·:, LuNuoN, N.W.:I

I ..I ... .- .... - • > BRIDGE INDEX CLASSIFIED UST OF HOTELS AND CLUBS

HARROW NOTTINGHAM HARROW BRIDGE CLuo-u; h w :t•·.q-·J. CRANTOCK BRtOGI!: CLus-480 Man•field Park Road, HARRO"~ , Middx. T el. t '.tttt•''' Road, Nottingham. Tel. No. Nottingham 3908. Good ~tandard Bridge in tal!• ~-•1•11· 65921. Proprietress : MRS. D. M. Hn..:wuL. atmosphrre. Sessions twice daily, P olr l Hl'I:tup s Hon. Secretary : N. R. C. FRtTII. Visitors and DuphLate. w•lromed. Excellent nnue for match~ In Midlands.

LONDON TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT CROCKFORO's - 16 Carlton Hou .. , '' .r .• l• ' , London, S. \V.I. Tel. No. \\" lu :.·: '•. W EST K EN T CLuo-12 Boyne Park, 51· Partnership, Tupsdav E v eni n~>. Tunbridge Wells, Residential Bridge Club. Fully nersbip, Wednesday and Frid." Licensed. Stakes 3d. and 6d. Partnerships on Duplica te Pairs, under direction ot Monday afternoons at 3d. and Wedne•day after· Charters, every Thursday ev rnin1~ 11 oons a t 6d. Duplicate last Saturday in e•·ery R. Paovo~T, Managing DirertP:. month. For further details apply to R. H . , A. J. HoRSN ELL, Secretary. Corbett, Secretary. Tel. Tunbridge Wells 21133.

DoRSET CLuo-3-5 Glen tv• r' Baker Street, N.W.l . Tel. v. •·it:· , 3!1 WORTHING Regular partnership and d uplic.tt••. ~~t.lk t ·"' If·, 2t6 and 10/·. )hN.ABELLE Rt:SJDF.NT1AL BJUDG£ CLUB, Sea Front, Heene Terrace, Worthing. Daily LYNDUURST CLUB-36 Finchlc v Rei, N.\\'.R. Sessions 2.30 & 8 p.m. Licensed Restaurant. ' Phones PRimrose 5858 and 3~:is . Slu ll inr Yisi tors Welcomed. :: Telephone 643tr.l. Partnership every afternoon. l..>uvli ca tc pairs Particulars from Secretary. every Monday fortnight at 8 p.m. Fully li ccn"'•d restaurant. For full details apply Secretary.

CUT .._ ... • • • • I r··---··-··..__...... -...... , , . - ~ i ,...... -.. .. -··-··--·...... J . B. U. l i l l l l _A.il \Vho ,. desire to further the l l l l of Contra.ct Bridge l i l f l l l l L..J >"·r E. E··:-·:.- Membership of the Union may be r "1 l l obtained by: n l l (a) Direct application to l l L.J ~ LEAVER COLE & CO., 30 Budge Row, LONDON, E.C.4, B. Registrars, B. r··, or l l (b) Through Appropriate Affiliated fl l l l l L.J County Associations. 4. L.J

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