Number: 174 UK £3.95 Europe €5.00 June 2017 Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz This month we are dealing with 4-4-4-1 hands. You are West in the auctions below, BRIDGEplaying ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no- (12-14 points) and four-card majors.

1. Dealer West. Game All. 4. Dealer South. Game All. 7. Dealer West. Love All. 10. Dealer West. Love All. ♠ K 7 6 5 ♠ K 7 6 5 ♠ A J 9 2 ♠ 6

♥ A 8 7 4 ♥ 4 ♥ Q J 9 7 ♥ K Q 7 2 N ♦ K 8 7 6 N ♦ K 9 3 2 N ♦ A K 3 2 N ♦ K Q 5 4 W E ♣ Q W E ♣ Q J 6 5 W E ♣ 6 W E ♣ A 9 7 6 S S S S

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South ? 1♥ 1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass ? ? 2♣ Pass 2♥1 Pass ? 1Fourth suit forcing

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

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

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South ? 1NT 1♥ Pass 1NT Pass 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass ? ? 2♣ Pass 3♠ Pass ? Answers on page 41 Answers on page 43 Answers on page 45 Answers on page 47 BRAND NEW CRUISE - WINTER 2017

EASTERN CARIBBEAN & THE GRENADINES 5 December 2017

Fly to BRIDGETOWN Barbados DEC 5 O Embark Aegean Odyssey DEC 6 BRIDGETOWN Barbados O DEC 7 BRIDGETOWN Barbados DEC 8 ST GEORGE’S Grenada O ST GEORGE’S Grenada Cruising the Grenadines - Union Island, DEC 9 Palm Island, Mayreau and Mustique BEQUIA Grenadines DEC 10 SOUFRIERE St Lucia DEC 11 RODNEY BAY St Lucia DEC 12 CHARLESTOWN St Kitts and Nevis

Grenada DEC 13 FALMOUTH HARBOUR Antigua DEC 14 FORT-DE-FRANCE Martinique BRIDGETOWN Barbados 12-day cruise from £2,295pp DEC 15 Disembark Aegean Odyssey and transfer to Barbados Airport HOSTED BY SANDY BELL DEC 16 Arrive UK When George Washington visited Barbados, the island O Overnight stay in port AEG171205BR left an indelible impression on him. Discover why on MR BRIDGE SPECIAL FARES this cruise around the eastern Caribbean, taking you Standard Inside Cabin from £2,295pp from the Barbadian capital of Bridgetown to the Spice Standard Outside Cabin from £2,795pp Isle of Grenada, the “best kept secret” of Bequia, plus Premium Outside Cabin from £2,995pp the Windward Islands of St Vincent, St Lucia and Martinique. Whilst basking Single fares from £2,445 in the warmth and calm waters of this idyllic region, you can also indulge your Odyssey Club Members enjoy an additional 10% discount passion for bridge on the premier class Aegean Odyssey. There will be on prices shown above until 31 May 2017. morning seminars and afternoon bridge when the ship is at sea, in addition to the duplicate session held every evening. Call us today for more information. FARES INCLUDE • Scheduled economy class flights from London Cabins can be held for seven days without obligation. • Mr Bridge drinks party • Morning seminars and afternoon bridge when at sea • every evening (singles will always be found a bridge partner) • Sightseeing excursions at most ports of call • Expert destination speaker programme • Specialist excursion guides plus personal QuietVox devices • All meals on board in choice of two restaurants • Complimentary wine with dinner on board Call on 01483 489961 • Gratuities for on-board cabin and restaurant staff or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk • Overseas transfers and baggage handling

All Mr Bridge fares shown are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Single accommodation is available only in certain grades. Please see Voyages to Antiquity brochure or website for full terms and conditions. Ship’s registry: Panama.

VTA_170215_Mr Bridge Ad_March 2017.indd 2 31/03/2017 09:44:06 Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ BRIDGE 1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee INDEX 5 Mr Bridge 2 Eastern Caribbean Ryden Grange, Knaphill, 6 Fargo Series 3 & the Grenadines with Surrey GU21 2TH 7 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee Voyages to Antiquity ( 01483 489961 9 Readers’ Letters 3 Clive Goff’s Stamps [email protected] 10 A History of Playing Cards by Paul Bostock www.mrbridge.co.uk 4 Christmas in Cuba 12 The King Causes Trouble by Michael Byrne & the Caribbean with shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/ Voyages to Antiquity mrbridge-shop 14 About Disrupting the Opponents’ Entries by Andrew Kambites 8 Mr Bridge UK Events Publisher and Managing Editor 17 Defence Quiz by 10 Bernard Magee DVDs Set 7 Mr Bridge 17 About Disrupting the Opponents’ Entries Quiz by Andrew Kambites 11 Denham Filming 2018 Bridge Consultant Bernard Magee 18 Julian Pottage Answers Your Questions 12 Bernard Magee DVDs bernardmagee 22 More Tips by Bernard Magee Sets 1-3 @mrbridge.co.uk 23 All About Handicapping 13 Bernard Magee DVDs Cartoons & Illustrations by Jeremy Dhondy Sets 4-6 Marguerite Lihou 25 About Disrupting the Opponents’ Entries Answers 16 Fred Gitelman Joins www.margueritelihou.co.uk by Andrew Kambites Technical Consultant 26 Wendy Wensum’s Diaries 21 Bernard Magee’s Tony Gordon 27 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage Tutorial Software Typesetting & Design 28 Enhanced Point Counting by Ian Dalziel 22 Designs for Bridge Ruth Edmondson Table Covers 29 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett [email protected] 30 Sally’s Slam Clinic 24 Designs for Bridge Proof Readers Tables 31 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett Julian Pottage 31 QPlus 12 Mike Orriel 32 Kirsten’s Magical Moment by Catrina Shackleton 34 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions 41 Club Insurance Richard Wheen 37 Code Breakers in WWII - Part One 41 Travel Insurance Customer Services by Shireen Mohandes 46 Declarer Play Catrina Shackleton 40 What is the Principal of Fast Arrival? with Bernard Magee [email protected] by Julian Pottage 47 Defence Events & Cruises 41 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee with Bernard Magee ( 01483 489961 42 Bidding Distributional Hands by Bernard Magee Jessica Galt 50 Acol Bidding with Bernard Magee [email protected] 43 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee Megan Riccio 44 Small or Grand Slam? by Heather Dhondy 51 The Cuba Experience 1 with Voyages [email protected] 45 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee Sophie Pierrepont to Antiquity 46 Glass Half Full or Glass Half Empty? by John Barr [email protected] 52 A Passage to the 47 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee Clubs & Charities Caribbean with Maggie Axtell 48 Seven Days by Voyages to Antiquity [email protected] Address Changes ( 01483 485342 REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE Elizabeth Bryan [email protected] Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, all mint with full gum. Quotations for commercial quantities available on request.

Printed in the UK by Values supplied in 100s, higher values available as well as The Magazine 1st and 2nd class (eg 2nd class: 100x38p+100x18p). Printing Company www.magprint.co.uk ( 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected]

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 3 BRAND NEW CRUISE - WINTER 2017

CHRISTMAS IN

&CUBA THE CARIBBEAN Fly to BRIDGETOWN Barbados DEC 15 O 15 December 2017 Embark Aegean Odyssey DEC 16 BRIDGETOWN Barbados DEC 17 RODNEY BAY St Lucia DEC 18 FALMOUTH HARBOUR Antigua DEC 19 GUSTAVIA St Barts DEC 20 CHARLESTOWN St Kitts and Nevis DEC 21 AT SEA DEC 22 AT SEA DEC 23 PORT ANTONIO Jamaica DEC 24 SANTIAGO DE CUBA Cuba DEC 25 CHRISTMAS DAY CELEBRATIONS AT SEA DEC 26 CASILDA Cuba DEC 27 CIENFUEGOS Cuba DEC 28 AT SEA Trinidad (from Santiago de Cuba) DEC 29 HAVANA Cuba O pp HAVANA Cuba 17-day cruise from £3,895 DEC 30 Disembark Aegean Odyssey and transfer to Havana Airport Follow the trail of Carrie Gibson’s epic history of the Caribbean, “Empire’s DEC 31 Arrive UK Crossroads”, sailing from Barbados to St Lucia and St Barts, the Leeward O Overnight stay in port AEG171215BR

Isles of Antigua and St Kitts, and Jamaica. MR BRIDGE SPECIAL FARES Explore the hidden depths of Santiago and Cienfuegos in Cuba, before Standard Inside Cabin from £3,895pp arriving in the capital of Havana for an exploration into the heart of the Standard Outside Cabin from £4,850pp nation. Whilst soaking up the scenery, you can also indulge your passion Premium Outside Cabin from £5,150pp Single fares from £4,295 for bridge on board the premier class Aegean Odyssey. There will be morning seminars and afternoon bridge when the ship is at sea, in addition to the Odyssey Club Members enjoy an additional 10% discount on prices shown above until 31 May 2017. duplicate session held every evening. Call us today for more information. Cabins can be held for seven days without obligation. FARES INCLUDE • Scheduled economy class flights from London • Mr Bridge drinks party • Morning seminars and afternoon bridge when at sea • Duplicate bridge every evening (singles will always be found a bridge partner) • Sightseeing excursions at most ports of call • Expert destination speaker programme • Specialist excursion guides plus personal QuietVox devices • All meals on board in choice of two restaurants • Complimentary wine with dinner on board Call on 01483 489961 • Gratuities for on-board cabin and restaurant staff or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk • Overseas transfers and baggage handling

All Mr Bridge fares shown are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Single accommodation is available only in certain grades. Please see Voyages to Antiquity brochure or website for full terms and conditions. Ship’s registry: Panama.

VTA_170215_Mr Bridge Ad_March 2017.indd 3 31/03/2017 09:46:34 FEEDBACK do get you nowhere. And delegates. It is my hope FARGO remember, my office is here that the revised booklet The new series of this to help you. If you do have can be published at or popular TV show involves a legitimate claim, you around the same time as bridge-playing characters might be surprised that the laws come into effect. with a bridge theme we can help you to resolve that runs through the the matter. More to the 30TH ANNIVERSARY whole of series three, see point, your suggestions for I know I have been banging page 6 of this issue. improvements are always the drum for about 30 years taken into consideration as Mr Bridge, but I do think HUMANS and have been the key it is something well worth In the last issue, I said to the growing success celebrating. Bernard will that if you needed travel of my organisation. I still read all the feedback be on the two river cruises insurance you should forms from weekends and 2018 DIARIES in October and I will be consider Genesis Choice cruises. Of course, it is too on board Aegean Odyssey as they employ humans. These diaries are now in late to change anything for September, October Do see their advert on stock and have a starting but at least I get a feel and November cruises page 41 of this issue. date from 21 August this for how it was for you as advertised. Details are What I was trying to say year. They are so designed on your holiday and, by available from the office. was when buying into a so that all competitions, taking in everyone’s views, service, it is more user matches and other LITTLE VOICE I end up with a pretty friendly to deal with an engagements right up until good overview, especially Jenna Hoyt, driving force informed human being the end of 2018 can be as each team member of the eponymous than a scripted zombie. recorded. Next year you is expected to submit a charity, is no longer will be able to take your TERMS AND short report as well. heavily pregnant. 2019 diary and confidently CONDITIONS If you have a complaint, transfer your future dates. She gave birth to my 19th do try and make a point of Arising from all the This diary formula is used grandchild yesterday. complaining at the time. bonding and compliance, widely in the academic A boy, 7lb 5oz, as yet Try to have it resolved at it is proving necessary to world where it is very much unnamed. Further the start of your holiday. have more comprehensive the norm. The diaries are details next month. terms and conditions for I cannot rebuild the hotel £14.95 each and the soft bookings and services. We or reconfigure the ship, kidrell covers incorporate are finalising these and so please make your the ball point pen in the they will be published in suggestions things that can spine. Covers come in the the next issue as well as be adjusted rather than usual Ruby Red, Navy being issued with every radically altered. Presenting Blue or Bottle Green. booking form that is me with your wish list that 2017 RULES issued in the future. would cost several millions to implement is not helpful. The International Laws FRED OLSEN of Duplicate Bridge are While talking of The 46-night 2018 cruise subject to review and While talking of Little complaints, those that are from Southampton to Rio revision every ten years. Voice, I still have made firmly but politely for Carnival and back has The revised laws will be some traded-in and will usually achieve the a group of 40 travelling promulgated in September therefore second-hand best results. I used to be under the Mr Bridge of this year. Duplicate versions of QPlus. very forceful and forthright banner. We still have some Bridge Rules Simplified, when I was younger but Version 7 is available, availability and a team of the much loved Yellow I have mellowed as I’ve just send a cheque for £10 hosts so that your friends Book, will need to be fully grown older and I have payable to Little Voice could learn to play bridge revised and updated to been surprised at how along with a first class and take part in their first incorporate any changes. much more successful I stamp and I will post it to few duplicates before it is have been in resolving I have arranged for David you. Send a little more and time to disembark back in arguments and disputes to Stevenson to attend the I will send you version 8. Southampton. It’s just a the long term satisfaction international conference for Every little helps. Thank thought but it might suit of all concerned. Blunt the European region. He you once again for your some. If so give it a go or at statements like, ‘I’m never will be able to assimilate all support. CDs don’t know least ask for the brochure. going to go on a Mr Bridge the necessary information they are second-hand and All good wishes, holiday again,’ switch as well as being able to so come guaranteed by everybody off and really discuss it with like-minded the Mr Bridge service. Mr Bridge

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 5 Fargo Series 3

he multi award-winning series Fargo, produced by MGM Television and FX Productions Treturns to Channel 4 for its third season this summer. Leading the cast are Scotsman Ewan McGregor and American Carrie Coon. As with the two previous series, it is a story on its own, but shares some common ground with previous series. The first two seasons were widely praised by the British press. The Times thought they were ‘Intriguing and funny’. The Independent went as far as ‘The best new crime drama since Breaking Bad and True Detective’. So why is this news? The series contains a storyline about bridge and Michael Stuhlbarg as Sy Feltz and Ewan McGregor as Emmit Stussy (photo Channel 4/MGM) bridge players. It is good to see bridge appear in fiction. Other memorable instances Emmit Stussy is the Parking Lot King of Minnesota. A handsome, self-made real are: estate mogul and family man, Emmit sees himself as an American success story. l The movie Moonraker (1979), the His slightly younger brother, Ray Stussy, on the other hand, is more of a cautionary eleventh in the James Bond series, tale. Balding and pot-bellied, Ray is the kind of guy who peaked in high school. and fourth to star Roger Moore. Now a parole officer, Ray has a huge chip on his shoulder about the hand he’s been l The Agatha Christie novel Cards on dealt, and he blames his brother, Emmit, for his misfortunes. the Table, published in 1936 l The movieAnimal Crackers (1930), featuring the Marx Brothers

More about the show

BAFTA-winning actor Ewan McGregor (Beauty and the Beast, American Pastoral, T2: Trainspotting) will play the two brothers, Emmit and Ray Stussy, at the centre of the story.

McGregor was recently asked in an interview: Bridge is a game that my parents always used to play. Do you think, after Fargo, Bridge is going to become the hipster’s choice of card Ewan McGregor as Ray Stussy (photo Channel 4/MGM) game?

He replied: I think we are the first McGregor is joined by Carrie Coon (The Leftovers, Gone Girl) who plays Gloria show of any sort that has made Burgle, a practical woman…the kind of woman who grabs the fire extinguisher bridge sexy. I’m very proud of that. I when the bacon catches fire and everyone else panics. The Chief of Police in Edna think bridge has got a new future. Valley, and a newly divorced mother, she struggles to understand this new world A sexier one. around her where people connect more intimately with their phones than the people directly in front of them. ■

Page 6 BRIDGE June 2017 Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz

This month we are dealing with 4-4-4-1 hands. You are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no-trump (12-14 points) and four-card majors.

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South ? 1♥ 1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass ? ? 2♣ Pass 2♥1 Pass ? 1Fourth suit forcing

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

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

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

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

My Answers: My Answers: My Answers: My Answers:

1...... 4...... 7...... 10......

2...... 5...... 8...... 11......

3...... 6...... 9...... 12......

Answers on page 41 Answers on page 43 Answers on page 45 Answers on page 47

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 7 Mr Bridge UK Events

Tutorial Events Denham Grove PROGRAMME 21-23 July £252 DAY 1 with 4-4-4-1 Hands NEW 1500 Mr Bridge Elstead Hotel TOPIC Bournemouth BH1 3QP Bernard Magee Welcome Desk open Chatsworth Tea or coffee on arrival Hotel 1745 to 1830 Ramada Resort 22-24 September £252 Welcome drinks Grantham Better Finessing 1830 to 2000 Dinner Tue-Thu 11-13 July £252 Inn on 2015 BRIDGE 1 DUPLICATE PAIRS Bidding Distributional Hands the Prom Wed-Fri Mon-Wed DAY 2 8-10 November £252 11-13 December £252 0800 to 0930 Denham Grove Ruffing for Extra Tricks Finding Slams Breakfast Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DG NEW 1000 to 1230 TOPIC SEMINAR & PLAY of SET HANDS or DUPLICATE BRIDGE (Just Duplicate Events) Just Duplicate Tutorial Events 1230 to 1330 Cold Buffet Lunch Events Blunsdon House 1400 to 1645 BRIDGE 2 Chatsworth Hotel 16-18 June £222 TEAMS of FOUR Losing Trick Count (Bernard Magee Events) 2-4 June £212 Ramada Resort, Grantham Hosted by Elaine Duff DUPLICATE PAIRS Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT Hosted by Val Passmore (otherwise) 15-17 September £222 28-30 July £212 1815 to 2000 Play and Defence of 1NT 6-8 October £212 Dinner 3-5 November £212 13-15 October £222 2015 BRIDGE 3 Doubles DUPLICATE PAIRS Inn on the Prom 10-12 November £222 DAY 3 7-9 July £189 Splinters and Cue Bids 0800 to 0930 Hosted by Patrick Dunham Breakfast Inn on the Prom 1000 to 1230 Denham Grove SEMINAR & PLAY Chatsworth Hotel 28-30 July £199 of SET HANDS or Worthing BN11 3DU 7-9 July £212 Game Tries DUPLICATE PAIRS Hosted by Gwen Beattie Hosted by Will Parsons (Just Duplicate Events) 4-6 August £212 1230 to 1400 8-10 September £212 Ramada Resort Sunday Lunch (weekend events only) 24-26 November £212 Grantham 1400 to 1645 29 Sep – 1 Oct £212 Blunsdon House BRIDGE 4 Further into the Auction DUPLICATE PAIRS 29 Sep - 1 Oct £212 Elstead Hotel Elstead Hotel Inn on the Prom 3-5 November £222 Full Board St Annes On Sea FY8 1LU Mon-Wed Better Leads and Switches 9-11 October £212 No Single 24-26 November £212 Denham Grove Supplement* 17-19 November £222 Ramada Resort Better Grantham ( 01483 24-26 November £199 Chatsworth Hotel Hosted by Will Parsons 24-26 November £222 489961 Game Tries Please note there are no seminars, www.mrbridge.co.uk Blunsdon House Hotel set hands or prizes at these events. Swindon SN26 7AS *subject to availability ADVANCE BOOKINGS when the game is finalised Further to my telephone call by the director. It would come READERS’ to you this evening, I should to about £4 for a 24-board be grateful if you could game with say six tables. clarify something for me. BriAn lets the director set I would like to take up the movements from advantage of the £30 its own library. If a pair LETTERS discount to book the arrives late they can easily Mr Bridge holiday at be accommodated. It does the Ramada Resort not require it, but ideally SOME FRIEND for non EBU members. All Grantham on 8th to each pair should have a Alas, my bridge-playing elements are covered during 10th November. mobile phone or tablet days are behind me now, the Eastbourne Summer I should be grateful for loaded with the BriAn app. so I will not be renewing my Congress in early August, clarification as to how much Ideally there should be subscription to your very if he wishes to do all the money I would lose if I had Wi-Fi access in the room but interesting and informative course in a short time. to cancel nearer the time. the system can work with magazine. A friend has There is also a series of I have never yet had to data access on the phones. introduced me to poker, so a short videos covering some cancel a holiday I have It also depends on people life of dissolution lies ahead. common situations. Go to: booked with you, but I being happy with using Derek Dickson, http://www.ebu.co.uk/ would like to know a little modern technology. I would Leamington, Warwicks. laws-and-ethics/td-videos more about the terms and definitely recommend at Jeremy Dhondy, conditions of this offer. least trying out BriAn if 2018 NOW READY Chairman, Could bookings be your members are not Every year at Christmas, my . transferred for example? too technophobic. sister gives me a Mr Bridge I am aware that costs Tony Wilson, diary. At this stage, the SCORER WANTED can be involved when Chiswick Bridge Club. previous August to December I am an assistant scorer for cancellations happen. pages are of no use. three clubs using Scorebridge You need to clarify your NEW SCORER 2 Diaries are most often and bridgemates. However, terms and conditions. Your correspondent, bought or given as a I also score for a small Joan Waters by email. Barbara Hill of Lytham present at the end of the learners club with 5-6 tables, See my editorial page 5. St Annes, Lancs, seeks a year. I personally would not using bridgemates. duplicate scoring system: find it much more useful As a secondary licencee, NEW SCORER 1 see BRIDGE number 171, if additional months were I have Scorebridge on I would like to reply to March 2017, page 42. added on at the end of the my home computer. Barbara Hill’s letter in the I recommend BriAn year, instead of before the Each week, I bring home March issue of BRIDGE. from Victor Lask. Easy and beginning. Most diaries are the travellers for 12-15 She is looking for a simple complete (once mastered!). structured in this way and I’ve boards and enter the scores modern scoring system. We use it at our local club, never seen the logic in it. (the contracts can also be I belong to a similar- Crouch End, North London Moira Hogg, Luxembourg. entered if required), hav- sized club and we normally which has grown from See my editorial page 5. ing selected the movement, get about five tables for about 8-10 tables to 14-16 number of tables and names. our duplicate sessions. over the last 2-3 years. CORRECTION It takes about 20-25 min- We have been You could contact In the Readers’ Letters utes. Select ‘results’ and up experimenting with BriAn, a Victor through our club pages of issue 172 of comes the . This is scoring system which runs chairman Alan Whitehouse, BRIDGE, Mr Rylands then attached to an email on mobile phones or tablets. [email protected] from Kent asked about a and sent out to members. It requires no capital outlay Sarah Bowman, director’s course. He was According to the and the charges are applied London N8. ■ given some wrong advice. website, the cost of the These days, the courses programme licence is £45, are run by EBED which is a and our annual renewal Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH charity. You can find details is £36 of which I pay a or email [email protected] of the courses offered at percentage. There is on- Email correspondents are asked to http://www.ebedcio.org. line support if required. include their name, full postal uk/td-course-calendar I hope this could offer one address, telephone number and Mr Rylands is welcome to solution to Barbara Hill. to send no attachments. attend whether he is, or is Irene Martin, Letters may be edited for length not, an EBU member. There Newcastle, Co Down, and clarity. is a small supplement (£5) Northern Ireland.

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 9 A History of Playing Cards: Part Six by Paul Bostock BERNARD MAGEE TUTORIAL DVDS Illustrated Playing Cards £25 per DVD SET 7 llustrated playing cards are absolutely useless for playing bridge – or any other 37 MORE SIGNALLING . In ‘illustrated’ or ‘pictorial’ packs, the standard card faces are replaced with drawings and text. A common format is for the cards to be used I look at different times when you Ilike a story-board with illustrations and text telling the reader all about a specific and the messages you might want to give. historical event. Well known examples cover topics like The Spanish Armada, The Popish Plot, The South Sea Bubble, Marlborough’s Victories and the reigns 38 4-4-4-1 HANDS of King James II and Queen Anne. These cards were particularly popular from Everybody’s least favourite type around 1680 until 1760 or so. of opening hand. I will be going through the methods for choosing the right suit to open as well as coping with responses.

39 DRAWING TRUMPS This seminar sounds straightfor- ward, but we will not be simply drawing trumps, we will be con- sidering the reasons for delaying. Keeping control of trumps is an important part of declarer play. 40 FIVE-CARD MAJORS Popular around the world, this method is becoming more popular here.

41 FUNDAMENTALS Illustrated cards from c. 1679 showing The Spanish Armada of 1588. OF DEFENCE Defence is by far the hardest Once this idea had gained popularity, many variations followed. There are aspect of bridge: this seminar seeks to show the building blocks that satirical packs, entertaining packs, educational packs (covering numeracy, can start you off on a wonderful literacy, astronomy) and geographical packs. The Geographical packs – showing, journey. If you can get the basics for example, the Counties of England and Wales – are quite early examples of right then the more complicated printed maps and as such they can reach tens of thousands of pounds at auction. aspects of defence can follow. Many of these packs have survived intact and in this respect they fare much better than standard cards. At this time, cards were very expensive, so a standard 42 SUPPORTING £105 pack would have been bought to use, almost certainly, for gambling. The standard MINORS set of 6 backs were plain (usually the ivory colour of the card used) and as soon as one Minors are not as important as majors, but we have to bid them card had gained a distinctive scuff or mark, the cards would have to be thrown and it is important to know away for any serious play or gambling. The illustrated packs were designed to be your system. Bidding more 3NT looked at, shared with friends and then they would be kept – after all they were contracts will get you better scores, expensive. but being able to spot a Many examples have survived even from the seventeenth century. The British slam will put you a cut above. Museum has a collection inherited from a Victorian expert, Lady Charlotte

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

Page 10 BRIDGE June 2017 A History of Playing Cards: Part Six by Paul Bostock BERNARD MAGEE at Illustrated Playing Cards Denham Grove near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG. Schreiber. The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards has an excellent range of these too, given by another prominent Victorian, a former Master of the Company, H D Phillips. The illustrations in this article come from packs in the WCMPC Collection. 12-15 Jan 2018

£399pp Friday – Monday

Full Board No Single Supplement1 Limited places for Thursday night avail- able. £67pp single, £45pp double/twin.

Topics Teams of Four

A pack of ‘Pastime Cards’ probably published by Lenthall c. 1715. Game Tries

The Pastime Cards, illustrated, are typical in that they have a carefully engraved Disrupting Declarer picture with an accompanying text and they are educational but with a light touch. The publisher, Lenthall, acquired the rights for a number of illustrated packs and Defending Slams was their main producer in the later years of their popularity. Some of these cards are particularly appealing, and my own preference is for a Overcalling pack that leaves behind the weighty events of the day and looks at the people on Pressing the Defence London’s streets. The oarsman is offering transport to Vauxhall Gardens, a grand evening venue at the time, and the seller of the Evening Post has a job that we are still familiar with today. ■ 6 seminar sessions

with Bernard2 6 sessions of supervised play3

Contact Mr Bridge to book your place or for further details: ( 01483 489961

1Subject to availability 2Filmed 3Not with Bernard Magee John Kirk, Cries and Humours of London, 1750s.

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 11 Michael Byrne on Playing with the Odds BERNARD MAGEE The King Causes Trouble TUTORIAL

n the last few months, we have it is your only chance to bring the suit DVDS been looking at the situation where in for no losers, for if you lead the jack you have been missing the queen and run it round, someone will surely Iand can choose where and how best to cover it with the king. (You might get SET 1 trap it. Indeed, when you are missing away with this once or twice against 1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks the queen, it is quite common to an inexperienced player, but the have a two way guess, where you just winning long term strategy is to make 2 Competitive Auctions need to work out who has it and play the best technical play and not rely on 3 Making the Most accordingly. mistakes by your opponents.) of High Cards This month, however, we are going In the second example, the presence £25 to look at a few hands where you are of the ten between the two hands gives 4 Identifying per DVD missing the king and need to try to you a much greater chance; you can & Bidding Slams negate its power. cope with K-x or K-x-x onside if you Everyone knows that when you have run the jack round. However, that is 5 Play & Defence a holding where you are missing just not the best play. Imagine the jack is of 1NT Contracts the king, then you take the ; in covered by the singleton king, as in 6 Doubling & Defence its simplest form it is this: this layout: against Doubled Contracts ♠ A Q 3 ♥ A Q 4 3

SET 2 N N W E ♥ K W E ♥ 9 8 7 6 7 Leads S S 8 Losing Trick Count ♠ 5 4 ♥ J 10 5 2 9 Making a Plan as Declarer I am sure I don’t need to tell anyone Your smile at seeing the king cover the 10 Responding to 1NT that cashing the ace and trying to drop jack will quickly fade once you realise the king (1/8 of 3%) is a significantly that you have to lose the fourth round. 11 Signals & Discards worse play than leading low to the The correct play is to lead a low card 12 queen (50%). to the queen, then return to the South However, the matter is more hand and run the jack round. This will SET 3 complicated when I give you honours cope with K, K-x and K-x-x onside, in different hands and some pip cards although lacking the pips you will still 13 Hand Evaluation as well. Compare and contrast these lose a trick if West began with K-x-x-x, 14 Pre-Emptive Bidding three cases: providing that he covers at any point. In the final example, you will make 15 Splinter all four tricks if the king is onside and & Cue Bids ♥ A Q 4 3 ♥ A Q 4 3 ♥ A Q 10 3 three winners if it is offside by taking £105 the finesse and, in fact, there is no 16 Avoidance set of 6 N N N W E W E W E need to worry about 4-1 breaks. Play S S S However, with this combination 17 Play & Defence at Pairs ♥ J 6 5 2 ♥ J 10 5 2 ♥ J 9 4 2 you should ensure that you save your entries; start the suit by running the 18 Thinking Defence nine. If it wins, you can then run the In the first case, the right play is low jack and play the ten under it. This to the queen, hoping that the king is ensures that the lead stays in the South Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 doubleton onside. This is not very hand so that you can finesse a third www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop likely, but it is your best chance to time if needs be. bring the suit in for no losers. In fact, The question you need to ask

Page 12 BRIDGE June 2017 Michael Byrne on Playing with the Odds BERNARD The King Causes Trouble MAGEE TUTORIAL

yourself when you are missing the ♠K-10-4 onside, since you won’t king and need to bring the suit in be able to capture the remaining DVDS for no losers is, ‘If I lead an honour ♠K-10. So this needs the finesse and it is covered by a singleton king, and a 2-1 break, half of 78% which am I still all right?’ Let’s put this into is 39%. SET 4 practice with an example: 3) Leading the queen on the first 19 Defensive Plan round is correct, as with ten trumps you will get the full 50% available, 20 Further Into the Auction ♠ A J 9 5 whenever the king is onside. If the 21 Weak Twos ♥ A Q 7 suit is 3-0, then the player with ♦ K 3 ♠K-10-4 will be forced to cover, his 22 Trump Control ♣ 8 7 5 4 partner will show out and you can 23 Sacrificing ♦ £25 N return to your hand with the A to per DVD 24 Improving W E take a further finesse. S So you lead the queen of trumps and it Bridge Memory ♠ Q 8 7 6 3 2 is indeed covered, the 3-0 break comes ♥ J 3 2 to light and you return to hand and SET 5 ♦ A 4 pick up trumps. 25 Defence as Partner ♣ K 3 What now? You a club (the jack of the Leader falls) then run a few trumps and see a lot of hearts being thrown on your 26 Aggressive Bidding You reach 4♠ as South and get the right. Should you play that suit by at Duplicate Pairs ♣Q lead. With the contract looking leading the jack or low to the queen? 27 Strong Opening Bids safe (surely only one club, one heart Remembering our rule we lead and one spade to lose at most), you low to the queen…. not so fast, the 28 Take-Out Doubles singleton king pops up on our left and suddenly realise that you are playing 29 Suit Establishment pairs, and with 4♠ surely being the we make 12 tricks for a good score. in Suit Contracts room contract, you need to make as This is the full deal: many tricks as you can. 30 / Defending The opponents win the ace and play Against a 1NT Opening a low club back and your king holds. ♠ A J 9 5 First problem is how to tackle the ♥ A Q 7 SET 6 trumps – normally missing the king ♦ K 3 and ten, you lead a low one on the first ♣ 8 7 5 4 31 Counting Defence round, but is that right here? ♠ K 10 4 ♠ 32 Extra Tricks Think about what you are missing ♥ K N ♥ 10 9 8 6 5 4 W E in No-Trumps ♠ ♠ ♠ ♦ ♦ – K, 10 and 4. There are three J 9 8 7 6 5 S Q 10 2 plausible lines of play: we could lead ♣ Q J 6 ♣ A 10 9 2 33 Supporting low to the ace, low to the jack, or run ♠ Q 8 7 6 3 2 Partner £105 ♥ the queen; let’s look at each one in turn. J 3 2 34 Finessing set of 6 1) Leading low to the ace gains ♦ A 4 when there is a singleton king on ♣ K 3 35 Bidding either side. This will need a 2-1 Distributional Hands break (78%) and the king being 36 Coping with Pre-Empts in the singleton holding not the Checking the travelling score-sheet doubleton, so that is 78% divided reveals that many declarers had either by 3, conveniently 26%. led a low trump on the first round 2) Leading low to the jack will gain and been shocked at the 3-0 break, or Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 when the king is onside, 50%, but tackled hearts by leading the jack and www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop you will still lose a trick if there is ran into a late loser in that suit. ■

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 13 All You Need to Know by Andrew Kambites Disrupting Your Opponents’ Entries

hroughout this article, assume ♦A while you have no spade stopper tricks to defeat you. your opponents didn’t bid un- seems risky, but is your only chance Now try the effect of allowing the less you are told otherwise. of making 3NT. You cannot delay this ♥K to win trick 1. You haven’t lost TIn Hand A, you are in 3NT. You have by cashing all your top tricks because anything because you still have two only seven top tricks. You will have you will be setting up other winners heart stoppers. East returns the ♥4, another three after you have driven for the defenders. but the crucial difference is that when out the ♦A, but the ♠K lead attacks he subsequently wins the ♣A he has your only spade stopper. How do you laying a no-trump contract, if no heart left to return, so you establish fancy your chances? your weakest suit is headed your club winners before the defenders Pby the ace consider holding it can overwhelm you with hearts. up until one defender may have no Note that if East’s ♥K is singleton, Hand A Hand B cards left in the suit. allowing it to hold trick 1 is also right ♠ 7 5 ♠ Q 4 2 because he cannot return a heart. Even ♥ A 10 4 2 ♥ 6 3 2 In Hand B, West has led the ♥J and if West has both club honours your ♦ K Q J 6 ♦ A K Q East has risen with the ♥K. That seems contract is safe. ♣ 8 6 5 ♣ 9 4 3 2 a good start because you now have two Also note that you might consider heart stoppers. However, you still have entering dummy with the ♠Q to lead N N W E W E only eight top tricks. You will need a club from dummy. Good try, but if S S at least one club trick, which means East is awake he will rise with the ♣A ♠ A 3 2 ♠ A K J driving out the ♣A and ♣K. If the and return a heart. To give yourself ♥ K Q J ♥ A Q 7 hearts are 4-3, your opponents cannot the best chance of making 3NT you ♦ 10 9 3 2 ♦ 7 4 3 take more than two heart tricks to must allow the ♥K to win trick 1. ♣ A K 7 ♣ Q J 10 5 go with the ♣A-K, so you must plan for hearts to break 5-2 or 6-1. Look at f you have two stoppers in your Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. Layout C. weakest suit, consider holding Lead ♠K. Lead ♥J Iup on the first round if you need to East’s ♥K. to lose the lead twice. Layout C ♠ Q 4 2 How about Hands D and E? Clearly if the missing spades break ♥ 6 3 2 4-4 your opponents can only take only ♦ A K Q three spades to go with the ♦A, but ♣ 9 4 3 2 Hand D Hand E how about if they break 5-3? ♠ 10 8 5 ♠ 9 7 6 3 ♠ 6 5 ♠ 9 7 5 ♥ J 10 9 8 5 N ♥ K 4 ♥ 6 5 ♥ K 4 You should be able to cope if the W E hand with five spades doesn’t hold ♦ 10 8 S ♦ J 9 6 5 2 ♦ K Q J 6 4 ♦ K Q J 6 4 the ♦A. Allow the ♠K to hold trick 1, ♣ K 8 6 ♣ A 7 ♣ K Q 8 3 ♣ K Q 8 and the inevitable spade continuation ♠ A K J N N wins trick 2. Only take your ♠A on the ♥ A Q 7 W E W E third round of spades. You have ‘held ♦ 7 4 3 S S up’ your ♠A to break your opponents’ ♣ Q J 10 5 ♠ A 7 2 ♠ K 6 2 communication. Switch to a diamond ♥ A 7 ♥ A 7 at trick 4. Your prospects are good. If ♦ 10 9 7 3 2 ♦ 10 9 7 3 2 West held five spades to the ♠K-Q and Suppose you thankfully win trick 1 ♣ A J 9 ♣ A J 9 the ♦A he might well have entered the with the ♥A and play the ♣Q at trick bidding. East takes the ♦A but has no 2. East wins the ♣A and returns a Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. spade left to return. heart. You try another club but West Lead ♠4 to ♠K. Lead ♠4 to ♠Q. Please note that losing a trick to the wins the ♣K and cashes three heart

Page 14 BRIDGE June 2017 In Hand D, do you want to allow the to withhold it for as long as you wish, highest, but you cannot see the ♠3 so ♠K to take trick 1? Of course, if the without the risk of losing it. you cannot tell whether West has four defenders continue spades and you Do you win trick 1 with Hands F spades or five. Whatever you do will withhold your ♠A until the third and G? be successful if the missing spades round, you will succeed if the hand break 4-3. Therefore, assume they with the ♦A has no more spades to break 5-2. return. However, if you allow the ♠K Hand F Hand G Plan A. Suppose you take the ♠A, to win and East switches to hearts you ♠ 8 6 3 ♠ 8 5 2 hoping your ♠J will provide a second have no chance, so you must take your ♥ K 5 ♥ K 5 stopper. If West has the ♦A, he cannot ♠A at trick 1 and hope the missing ♦ K J 7 3 2 ♦ K J 7 3 2 lead another spade without making spades are breaking 4-4. ♣ A 8 5 ♣ A 8 5 the ♠J a stopper. However, if East has Don’t withhold your stopper at the ♦A, he will lead his remaining N N trick 1 if the defenders can switch to W E W E spade through your ♠J and West will S S another suit that will give you even defeat 3NT with four spade tricks. more problems. ♠ K 10 5 ♠ A J 6 Taking the ♠A at trick 1 leads to It is worth commenting at this stage ♥ A Q 4 ♥ A Q 4 a successful outcome if West has the that you would really like to know ♦ Q 10 5 4 ♦ Q 10 5 4 ♦A. which defender has one particular ♣ K Q 3 ♣ K Q 3 Plan B. Now imagine you the card. Can you tell which one? ♠K. East will return a spade, setting The answer is not a regal honour Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. up a total of four spade tricks for the card but the humble ♠3. West led the ♠9 to ♠J. (i) Lead ♠K. defence. If West has the ♦A he will ♠4. Presumably this is a fourth highest (ii) Lead ♠4 to ♠K. take it as soon as possible and cash spade. You have the ♠2. The only card the rest of his spade tricks. However, if below the ♠4 that you cannot see is the East has the ♦A he will have no spade ♠3. If West has it, he has led from a What is happening in Hand F? left to return. Withholding the ♠A at five-card suit. If East has it, the spades Assuming West is following standard trick 1 leads to a successful outcome if are 4-4. lead methods, the ♠9 cannot be a East has the ♦A. With Hand E, are you tempted to fourth highest: it can only be an So is it just a guess? Yes, but look at allow East’s ♠Q to win trick 1? You attempted passive lead which has it this way. If West has five spades and never get another chance to make your struck gold. East must hold the ♠A. East has two, then there is more room ♠K because this is the spade layout. Suppose the suit is as shown here: in the East hand to hold the ♦A, so in the absence of any other clues, I would tend to favour plan B. ♠ 9 7 5 ♠ 8 6 3 Sometimes you can interfere with

N N the defender’s communications by ♠ A J 8 4 W E ♠ Q 10 3 ♠ 9 7 W E ♠ A Q J 4 2 winning a trick, blocking their suit. In S S Hand H, West led the ♥2 to East’s ♥A. ♠ K 6 2 ♠ K 10 5 East returned the ♥3.

If East is allowed to win the ♠Q, If East holds the ♦A as well you have Hand H he returns the ♠10 through your no chance, so assume West has the ♠ 4 2 exposed ♠K and the defenders make ♦A. If you win the ♠K at trick 1, West ♥ 8 5 four spade tricks to go with the ♦A. will get in with the ♦A and continue ♦ K Q 8 7 6 3 In this example, your main chance spades. You must allow the ♠J to win ♣ A K 6 was to find spades 4-3. In attempting trick 1. East can continue spades, but to guard against a 5-2 spade break, when West gets the lead with the ♦A N W E you have taken your eye off the ball he will have no spades left. Note that S and neglected your main chance. You Hand F differed from Hand E in that cannot succeed on Hand E unless you could be certain that East held the ♠ A K 8 7 6 spades are 4-3, so you must take your ♠A. You still had the ♠K as a stopper. ♥ K J 10 ♠K while you still can at trick 1 and In Hand G, part (i) your contract is ♦ J 10 4 drive out the ♦A. 100% safe if you allow the ♠K to win ♣ 9 8 Don’t withhold a stopper if doing trick 1. West cannot continue spades so might lead to your failing to make at trick 2 without giving you a second a trick with it. spade stopper. This position is known West North East South Note that Hand E shows why the as a Bath . 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ ace is such a good stopper. It is the Hand G part (ii) is harder. The 2♥ Pass Pass 3NT only honour card which allows you ♠4 lead at trick 1 looks like a fourth All Pass

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 15 At this stage you should However, you now have four Press Release be asking some questions immediate losers after you about the defenders’ leading take the ♠A: two spades, the style. What would West lead ♦A and ♣A. You still have from three small hearts? If some chance, if you Fred Gitelman the answer is that they play your ♠A until trick 2. West MUD (middle-up-down) has no to his second Joins The Bridge World from three small cards, then winning spade, giving you West (who must have three time to drive out the ♦A. onthly magazine, The North-South bidding hearts to support East) has However, you must al- The Bridge World was sensible. North led from the ♥Q. ways heed the advice given Mhas announced overcalled what he hoped If you routinely finesse in my previous article. that Fred Gitelman has he could make, if necessary the ♥J at trick 2, West will joined their editorial staff. by holding up the ace of win the ♥Q and lead his last f you are in a position Gitelman, well-known spades to shut out the heart. East gains the lead to win a trick when to enthusiasts around West hand during the with the ♦A and cashes two Iyour partner cannot the globe as one of the play. Gitelman, South, hearts to defeat you. win it, take the trick un- pioneers of online bridge offered a choice of red- Better play is to rise with less you have a positive play and the broadcasting suit slams, justified by the the ♥K. West’s ♥Q now reason otherwise. of major events over the overwhelming likelihood blocks the suit. East gains Internet, is also one of the that North-South had the lead with the ♦A and Declarer’s downfall in lay- world’s leading experts. at least an eight-card fit leads a heart to West’s ♥Q, out K should be a warning. He has represented in one of those suits. but that is the end for the his country in the most West led the eight of defence. important events. clubs, an obvious singleton Withholding an ace when Layout K One of the hallmarks and the dummy was a playing in a suit contract is a North of a top player is the disappointment to South. lot less common than in no- ♠ K 8 5 4 ability to play out of the Declarer took the first trick trumps, but it can be nec- ♥ A 7 5 rough, putting forth best in the North hand and essary. Consider layout J. ♦ 7 5 2 effort despite adverse continued with the king Declarer is in 4♥ and West ♣ A K 3 circumstances. On this and nine of diamonds, leads the ♠K. West East deal, from a trial to reaching the critical point ♠ 6 2 ♠ A 3 select the members of in the play. If East had ♥ K Q J 9 8 3 ♥ 10 an international team, begun with three diamonds Layout J ♦ 9 4 3 ♦ J 10 8 6 Gitelman faced a difficult to the queen, it would North ♣ 9 7 ♣ Q 10 8 6 5 2 challenge after his side have been necessary to ♠ 7 5 4 South was preempted into a finesse and soon to cash ♥ Q 9 8 6 ♠ Q J 10 9 7 dangerous contract: the ace of diamonds. ♦ K Q 3 ♥ 6 4 2 Gitelman recognised that ♣ K Q J ♦ A K Q the bidding made it more West East ♣ J 4 Dealer West. Love All. likely that East had begun ♠ K Q J 8 6 ♠ 10 9 ♠ A 3 with four diamonds to the ♥ 5 4 ♥ 3 2 Contract 4♠. ♥ Q 8 queen, so he let the nine of ♦ 10 9 8 6 ♦ A 7 5 4 Lead ♥K. ♦ K 9 diamonds hold, discarded ♣ 7 4 ♣ A 6 5 3 2 ♣ K Q J 10 5 3 2 the ace of clubs on the South ♠ K J 9 8 7 5 2 ♠ Q 10 6 4 ace of spades, then led ♠ A 3 2 Declarer was in the excellent ♥ 9 6 4 N ♥ A 10 3 winning clubs from dummy. W E ♥ A K J 10 7 contract of 4♠. The ♥K was ♦ 8 2 S ♦ Q 7 5 3 East was helpless. If he ♦ J 2 led. He has just three losers, ♣ 8 ♣ 9 7 did not ruff a club, South ♣ 10 9 8 the ♠A and two hearts. He ♠ Void would discard all his has no way of getting rid of ♥ K J 7 5 2 hearts. After East ruffed, Contract 4♥. the heart losers, so he can ♦ A J 10 6 4 declarer overruffed, drew Lead ♠K. easily succeed by taking the ♣ A 6 4 the last trump and lost ♥A and drawing trumps. only to the ace of hearts. Instead he ducked trick 1 Fred Gitelman joins The Without the spade lead your for no particular reason and West North East South Bridge World’s editorial heart game would have been saw his ♥A ruffed by East at 3♠ 3NT 4♠ 5NT staff with the May issue. easy. You could have drawn trick 2. Pass 6♣ Pass 6♦ For more information, visit: trumps and set up a dia- Now try the quiz on All Pass www.bridgeworld.com mond for a spade discard. disrupting entries. ■

Page 16 BRIDGE June 2017 About Disrupting Your Opponents’ Entries Quiz DEFENCE by Andrew Kambites (Answers on page 25) QUIZ Plan your declarer play in Hands 1-8. by Julian Pottage (Answers on page 27) Hand 1 Hand 2 Hand 3 ♠ K 6 5 2 ♠ 8 6 3 ♠ 9 6 ♥ A 7 5 3 ♥ 7 5 4 ♥ K 3 2 ou are East in the defensive positions below playing matchpoint pairs with North-South vulnerable. Both sides ♦ A 5 ♦ 7 4 3 2 ♦ K Q 10 9 Y are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman. ♣ A 7 6 ♣ 8 6 3 ♣ A Q 5 4

N N N W E W E W E S S S 1. ♠ Q 7 5 3. ♠ 10 3 ♠ A 8 7 3 ♠ A 7 ♠ A 10 5 ♥ A 10 ♥ K J 9 4 ♥ 8 4 2 ♥ K Q ♥ A 7 6 ♦ A K 8 4 3 ♦ A Q 9 ♦ K Q 2 ♦ K Q J 10 6 ♦ J 6 3 2 ♣ J 9 2 ♣ 9 8 5 2 ♣ K Q 2 ♣ A K 5 2 ♣ K J 2 ♠ 10 4 ♠ A 8 5 4 N ♥ K 9 6 4 2 N ♥ 3 W E W E Contract 4♠. Contract 2NT. Contract 3NT. ♦ Q 10 9 7 ♦ 10 8 7 4 3 2 S S Lead ♥K. Lead ♠4 to ♠Q. Lead ♠3 to ♠K. ♣ 8 5 ♣ K 4

West North East South West North East South Hand 4 Hand 5 Hand 6 1♠ 1♥ Pass 1♠ 2♣ ♠ J 6 ♠ A K 7 2 ♠ J 3 2 Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ 2♠ 3♣ Pass Pass ♥ K 3 2 ♥ K Q 3 ♥ A K 7 Pass 4♠ All Pass 3♠ 4♣ All Pass ♦ K Q 10 9 ♦ A 4 ♦ K J 8 ♣ A Q 5 4 ♣ 10 9 3 2 ♣ Q 10 3 2 Partner leads the ♣A. Partner leads the ♠K. What is your plan? What is your plan? N N N W E W E W E S S S ♠ A 10 5 ♠ 8 4 ♠ A 7 ♥ A 7 6 ♥ A 9 8 ♥ 8 4 3 ♦ J 6 3 2 ♦ 10 9 6 5 ♦ A Q 6 2 ♣ K J 2 ♣ K Q J 7 ♣ K J 6 5 2. ♠ Q 6 5 3 4. ♠ J 3 ♥ Q 6 ♥ K J 9 4 Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. ♦ 10 ♦ A Q J 10 3 Lead ♠3 to ♠K. Lead ♦3. Lead ♠K. ♣ A K Q 9 5 2 ♣ A 8 ♠ J 10 4 ♠ A 8 N ♥ A 9 N ♥ Q 10 3 W E W E ♦ A 9 7 4 3 ♦ 8 2 Hand 7 Hand 8 S S ♣ 8 6 4 ♣ J 10 6 4 3 2 ♠ K J 10 7 2 ♠ A Q 9 8 6 4 3 ♥ 7 3 ♥ 7 3 ♦ A Q J ♦ 7 2 ♣ K 6 4 ♣ 8 2 West North East South West North East South 2♥1 3♣ Pass 3♠ 2♠1 Dbl Pass 3♥2 N N W E W E Pass 4♠ All Pass Pass 4♥ All Pass S S 1Weak 1Weak 2 ♠ A Q 9 8 6 4 3 ♠ K J 10 7 2 Natural, value showing ♥ A J ♥ A J Partner leads the ♥5. What ♦ 7 2 ♦ A Q J is your plan? Partner leads the ♠K. ♣ 8 2 ♣ K 6 4 What is your plan?

Contract 4♠. Contract 4♠. Lead ♥2 to ♥K. Lead ♥2 to ♥K.

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 17 Julian Pottage Answers your Bridge Questions

How Should We Have Stayed out of a Slam?

The North/ Was I too precipitous Stayman enquiry), you should The key point here South hands in raising the bidding to (certainly at matchpoints) is that because West Qwere as follows 4NT holding only one bid 4NT to signify a lack A has the fast winner with South (me) dealer: ace – obviously I didn’t of slam interest. With only with the ♥A, 4♠ is likely to give sufficient thought to one ace yourself and no play better than 3NT more the dangers ahead? reason to suppose partner often than not. If West’s ♠ J 4 2 If my partner had bid 2♦ has more than one, you hearts were K-Q-x-x ♥ 10 (a negative), then I would want to sign off. While you with the rest of the hand ♦ J 2 have bid 3NT. My partner could also show a relative the same, 3NT would be ♣ A J 8 7 5 4 2 could then have bid 4♣ lack of enthusiasm with the better choice over 3♥. and I would have raised 5♣ (a would be N W E this to 5♣ which is what stronger) and your 2♣ West North East South S other members made. opening means the hearts Pass Pass 3♥1 ♠ A K Q Name and address supplied. will be safe from attack, 4NT Dbl2 Pass 4♠3 Pass ♥ K J 8 6 scores more if it makes. 6♠4 All Pass ♦ K Q 7 3 When you open ♣ K Q 2♣, you are already ♣♦♥♠ 1Vulnerable against not and with A saying that you a 7222 shape, 3♥ is enough. have a good hand (23+ Please can you 2West is too good for 3♠ – you I opened 2♣ and partner points if balanced). You do recommend a do not assume a Yarborough replied 3♣. I took this to not need to jump on the Qbidding sequence opposite when coming in over mean that she had at least next round to convey the on this deal (North-South a pre-empt. 3NT might be right, an ace and a king (not same message. You can just vulnerable, dealer North)? but often partner will have short necessarily in clubs) or rebid 3NT. If partner has Nearly all the scores were hearts and a few spades. 8/9 points (Acol). I had the a decent club suit and two 450 or 480 to East-West. 3Holding five spades, a nice ♣K and ♣Q in a balanced aces, she will not pass 3NT. seven HCP and a void, East is hand with stoppers in Partner’s positive worth the jump to 4♠. all other suits, so I bid response was marginal, ♠ 2 4No need to check on key cards 4NT asking for aces. although something we ♥ 7 6 when you have enough yourself. Disaster lay ahead for can understand given ♦ Q J 10 7 2 us. North bid 5♦ showing the playing potential. ♣ Q 8 6 4 3 Despite the scores you one ace. I couldn’t leave If partner had responded ♠ A K Q 9 3 ♠ J 8 7 5 4 quote, reaching 4♠ actually ♦ ♥ N ♥ it in that suit and couldn’t 2 , you should have rebid A J 3 2 W E Void seems quite difficult. bid 5♣, so I had to go on 2NT rather than 3NT. You ♦ 9 S ♦ K 8 5 4 3 Somebody has to underbid to 6NT which my partner are actually minimum in ♣ A J 5 ♣ K 9 7 to stop there – either West converted to 7♣. With two terms of high cards for the ♠ 10 6 3♠ or East bids aces missing we obviously 2♣ opening. If partner has ♥ K Q 10 9 8 5 4 only 3♠ after the double. went down, but fortu- anything, she will not pass ♦ A 6 With both the ♦A and the nately were not doubled. 2NT. If partner continues ♣ 10 2 ♣Q offside, making 12 tricks Should I have just bid 3NT with a natural 4♣ (3♣ is is not trivial. However, even over the 3♣ and passed unavailable because that if you start the diamond suit up the chance of a slam? would be some sort of Margaret Williams by email. with low to the king, you

Page 18 BRIDGE June 2017 can recover by squeezing tricks, six diamonds and two 2Inviting a spade slam and 1Playable in clubs and willing to North in the minors. aces comes to thirteen. asking for good trumps. defend if partner wants to pass. If you do not play that ♣♦♥♠ a 2♠ response promises The small slam in spades 3♦ went two off. Which one such a good suit, you can is a good contract even on of us, if either, should bid 3♣? I would be find out later by raising to the most hostile lead of Hand 2: interested in a 3♠ and then checking on a diamond. Declarer can Qbidding sequence key cards with 4NT. When discard one club on the ♥A and reasons to get to South shows two key cards, and another on the second ♠ A 9 6 5 3 a grand slam on these they must be the ♠A-K. top diamond. It would ♥ K Q J hands. Playing Benji be unlucky if someone ♦ A 2 and RKCB, we played in ♣♦♥♠ could ruff the second ♣ Q 6 3 6♠ making 13 tricks, at diamond and there was N teams. North is dealer. Our club’s still a trump trick to lose. W E computer produced A diamond lead is also S Qthese hands for best against a diamond ♠ 4 ♠ Q 4 3 a regular duplicate: contract, leaving declarer ♥ A 10 9 8 5 4 ♥ A J with a lot of heart losers. ♦ 10 7 5 3 ♦ A K Q 10 9 6 Without a trump lead, you ♣ K 2 ♣ A 4 ♠ A K Q 10 9 6 2 might make 6♦ by unblocking ♥ Void the ♣A, ruffing a heart and N W E ♦ 2 getting enough discards on North South S ♣ K Q 7 6 4 West’s black suit tops just to 1♠ 1NT ♠ A K J 8 6 2 lose a trump but nothing else. 2NT1 3♥ N ♥ Q 6 2 W E Communications are Pass ♦ 5 3 S hopeless in a no-trump ♣ J 10 ♠ Void contract unless the opponents 1A bit pushy at pairs but lets ♥ A 9 7 6 4 are kind enough to lead a partner bid a weak six card suit ♦ A K 10 9 8 7 4 spade. Even then you need at the three level. Pat Dunham, ♣ A the ♠J to fall quickly enough Coleorton, Leicestershire. and something reasonable Which of us should have to happen in diamonds. been bidding game? In response to Contracts reached included Mike Allen by email. a Benjamin 2♣ 4♠, 6♦, 6♠ and 7NT (-4). ♣♦♥♠ A opening, I play Communications were 1. I do not think that a positive response in a problem in the play at Hand 1: South can bid 3♣. a suit shows two of the top some tables. What should Playing A North might have three honours in the suit, North open and how should Qpairs, neither three or four hearts and with a waiting 2♦ reply the bidding continue? side was vulnerable: be short in clubs. Double, used on other hands. The Angela Thompson, as chosen, seems best. reasons for refraining from Tunbridge Wells. North, having more or less showing a moderate suit ♠ Q 7 denied four clubs with 2♦, straight away are twofold: Playing Benjamin, ♥ J 2 was the one to bid 3♣. (i) if opener has a balanced I would open 2♣ ♦ A Q 10 5 4 2 2. After the 2NT raise, hand, waiting to show your A on the North hand. ♣ K 9 3 I usually play 3♣ or 3♦ suit later often means you One cannot reasonably as non-forcing but 3♥ as N can make a transfer bid, force to game with 14 W E forcing, offering a choice enabling the strong hand HCP, no matter what the S of games. If you play 3♥ as to be declarer; (ii) if opener playing strength. The ♠ A 8 5 3 forcing, North raises to 4♥. has a long suit, it is going auction might go like this: ♥ 10 7 5 to be better than yours. ♦ 3 ♣♦♥♠ When you actually have North South ♣ A J 10 6 5 a good suit, as South does 2♣ 3♦1 1♥-3♠, 1♥/♠-4♣/♦ here, this can really simplify 3♠ 4♦ are splinter bids but the auction. As soon as South 4♠ 5♠2 West North East South Qwould you explain shows ♠A-K-x-x-x or better 6♠ All Pass 1♦ Pass 1♠ what is meant by 1♠-4♥? by responding 2♠, North Pass 2♦ Pass Pass If this is a , is immediately thinking of 1Natural positive showing a very 2♥ Pass Pass Dbl1 what do you bid holding a grand slam: five spade good suit. Pass 3♦ All Pass a solid heart suit and

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 19 shortage in the opener’s Partner Me I thought my choices were When the opponents bid suit? For example: 1♠ 2♦ double or 2♥. Would double open your long suit, 3♥ ? be for penalties… and A you cannot show it would 2♥ be a ? first time round. You need ♠ 3 I decided to bid 3NT but On the day, I bid 2♥. to pass at your first turn ♥ K Q J 10 9 7 4 changed my mind, thinking We were game all and and hope for the chance ♦ J 4 that partner was very 60 below, so my partner’s to next time. ♣ 6 4 3 distributional, maybe 6-5 or 3♥ was inviting. I passed 5-5. So, I bid 4♥. Disaster. thinking I had already ♣♦♥♠ Was I wrong in my overstated my hand. I This hand has seven analysis? Did the void lost the ♦A and ♠K so As North at love losers and opposite an in diamonds weaken a pass was good. all, playing three opening hand is likely to partner’s hand? Alun Williams, Qweak twos, I make game in hearts. Margaret Bleakley, Belfast. Llanfairpwll, Anglesey. opened 2♣ (Acol game David Cree, Strathaven. force). East overcalled 3♣, I strongly recommend It is good to see and partner doubled. If you play splinter that after a two- a problem from bids, it is normal for A level response, A . A them to apply in any you play a non-reverse 2♥ would have been a ♠ A 3 of the unbid suits, so you are change of suit rebid as reverse without the overcall, ♥ A K 8 6 right that 4♥ is not available forcing for one round. so remains so after it. ♦ A K Q 10 7 6 as a natural response. Partner can then rebid Without the partscore, 2♥ ♣ 3 With the hand you cite, 2♥ rather than 3♥, which would be an overbid. With it, ♠ K 8 7 5 ♠ 10 6 2 I do not think you have leaves you much more room stretching slightly to compete ♥ Q 4 N ♥ 10 3 2 W E enough to insist on game to explore and would surely and to reach game seems ♦ J 8 5 4 S ♦ Void facing a minimum to a 3NT contract. If fine, though sometimes ♣ 8 7 5 ♣ K Q J 10 bid. You could respond 2♥ 2♥ has to be non-forcing, I raising to 2♠ will work better. 9 6 4 and rebid 3♥, which would would rather rebid 2NT or Partner’s raise to 3♥, beyond ♠ Q J 9 4 invite game. With a slightly 3♣ than jump on J-x-x-x. game in the circumstances, ♥ J 9 7 5 better hand, you could With no club stopper, is a mild slam try in case ♦ 9 3 2 respond 2♥ and rebid 4♥. you had a difficult choice you are full value for 2♥. ♣ A 2 Remember, a change of suit over 3♥. Placing partner Playing duplicate (or response is forcing for one with either five hearts or without the partscore at round. With a hand any four good ones, as you did, rubber bridge), I would At the table, I took the weaker than this, or indeed seems a reasonable choice. recommend a raise to 2♠. double as being for some would on this hand, Although ideally you should penalties and reluctantly you could respond 1NT and ♣♦♥♠ have four-card support to decided to pass, which introduce the hearts later. raise what might well be a scored poorly as the cards In our rubber bridge four-card suit, you do have lie. If I had been certain ♣♦♥♠ club, I (North) and a singleton and should that the double showed Qpartner held: be keen to compete. values in clubs, I might well My partner have bid 3NT instead. and I (South) ♣♦♥♠ Is double the best bid Qhad a disaster ♠ 9 5 4 with that South hand and with these hands: ♥ A Q J 7 in general how should I ♦ J What would interpret a double in that ♣ K Q 8 4 3 you bid after sequence: is it for take- ♠ A K Q 9 5 your right hand out, penalties, showing N Q ♥ J 8 7 4 W E opponent opened 1♦? a stopper or what? ♦ Void S Dave Simmons, ♣ A J 10 3 ♠ A Q 8 6 2 Buckland, Hertfordshire. ♥ K 9 5 3 ♠ J 6 N W E ♦ Q 8 2 ♥ A 7 Traditionally a double S ♣ A ♦ A K 8 7 6 3 2 in this situation was ♠ 3 ♣ K 6 A a penalty double. ♥ A 3 2 Some people still play it that ♦ A K J 6 5 West North East South way because a pass must be ♣ 9 8 5 2 1♣ Pass 1♠ Doreen Parrington by email. forcing and thus responder 2♦ ? does not need a take-out

Page 20 BRIDGE June 2017 double. A more practical and certainly a more ♠ J 8 4 3 BERNARD MAGEE’S commonly occurring use is ♥ K 9 4 2 to play double as showing ♦ J 7 2 something about the strength ♣ 6 5 INTERACTIVE of the hand. You could play double as 5-7, leaving pass TUTORIAL CDS as either 0-4 or a positive We ended up in a contract with no clear direction, or you of 3♣ as I just repeated my ADVANCED FIVE-CARD could agree to play double club bid in the absence of DECLARER PLAY MAJORS & as 0-4. As you suggest, a better idea. My partner Strong No-Trump many partnerships have not then passed as she expected l Making Overtricks discussed the situation. me to have six cubs. in No-trumps l Opening Bids If South passes over We went two off as l Making Overtricks & Responses 3♣, North bids 3♦ and one opponent held in Suit Contracts l No-Trump South raises to 4♦. North most of the clubs. l Endplays Openings then tries a 4♥ cue bid Name and address supplied. l Avoidance l Support £89 and, whether South cue for Partner bids 5♣ or takes control With the singleton l Wrong l Slams with 4NT, you reach 6♦. king not pulling full Contract £81 & Strong Openings£66 I am not sure how you weight, I would not l Simple A l reach the higher scoring open 2♣ on your hand. If Squeezes Rebids 6♥ after the intervention. you do not have an Acol 2♦ l Counting l Minors available, I would open 1♦. the Hand & Misfits ♣♦♥♠ If partner responds to 1♦, l Trump Reductions l Pre-empting you can rebid 3♣, which & Coups l Doubles What should we will create a game force. l Playing Doubled l Overcalls have done? My Once you had decided Contracts l Competitive hand was as to open 2♣, your partner Q l Safety Plays Auctions follows with 22 points: cannot pass 3♣. Unless you rebid 2NT, the 2♣ opening creates a game ♠ K force. Partner’s choice of ADVANCED ♥ A J continuation is an interesting ACOL BIDDING ♦ K Q 8 5 4 one. In the absence of any ALSO ♣ A K Q 7 4 agreement, 3NT is the best l Basics bet – the bid of either major l Advanced sounds like a five-card suit. Basics l Acol I wanted to open the With my regular partners, l Weak Twos Bidding bidding with a bid that I play that 2♣-2♦-3♣-3♦ l Strong Hands required my partner to does not show diamonds; (see p50) answer so (with some it just denies a five-card l Defence to Weak Twos misgivings) I opened 2♣. major. Playing responder’s l Declarer l Defence to 1NT As soon as I had done it 3♦ rebid as a sort of waiting Play I realised that if my partner bid enables opener to show l Doubles gave the negative bid of a four-card major if held or l Two-suited (see p46) 2♦ it would be difficult for to declare a 3NT contract. Overcalls £96 Having opened 2♣, I me to show my diamonds l Defences to l Defence as she would then be think you should have seen Other Systems playing the hand with my it through, bidding 3♦ over (see p47) l Misfits and ♦ ♣ good hand on the table. 2 , prepared to bid 4 next Distributional As I had feared, my time if necessary. Both 3NT Hands partner did indeed bid 2♦ and 5♦ look like reasonable as she had only five points: contracts. ■ ( 01483 489961

E-mail your questions (including your postal address) www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop for Julian to: [email protected] System: MAC OSX (Intel chip), Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10, CD ROM

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 21 luxury More Tips from Bernard Magee bridge mat Just £24.99 plus £4.99 p & p Always Contemplate Leading the Unbid Suit

hen you are first taught to that you do not have much strength in defend, you are given simple the suit – when leading you should lead Wguidelines that tend to feel like a high spot card to deny strength in rules. One of the most common of these contrast to leading low from an honour. is to lead your longest and strongest suit. Here is the full hand: However, as you progress in the game, you soon come to realise that defence is a partnership game and that your side’s ♠ Q 10 7 6 5 best suit might not be your longest. This ♥ K 9 6 3 might be because your partner has bid, ♦ K 5 or because the opponents have bid your ♣ A 3 long suits. There are many good reasons ♠ A 8 ♠ J 9 4 3 why you might not lead your longest suit. ♥ J 8 7 2 N ♥ Q 4 W E When your opponents have bid three ♦ 9 7 3 S ♦ A 8 6 4 2 suits, it is not unreasonable to think that ♣ J 5 4 2 ♣ 10 7 their weakest suit might be the unbid suit. ♠ K 2 Thick woven surface makes You do not have to lead this suit, but you ♥ A 10 5 an ideal playing surface and should contemplate leading it. When you ♦ Q J 10 protects your table. are weak, it can be a good idea to lead ♣ K Q 9 8 6 Very popular with Bridge the suit your partner is strongest in and Clubs. 78cms wide so it fits this might well be the unbid suit. a standard 80cms card table You are West holding this hand after Your partner will certainly be pleased the auction given and have to decide on with your lead, but when dummy plays Padded table bag. your lead: the king he doesn’t play the ace: he follows with the ♦8 – an attitude signal £39.00 + £4.99 p&p saying that he likes the suit. East is Dealer North. E/W Game. cunningly retaining his ♦A as an entry ♠ A 8 to his hand. Declarer plays a spade to ♥ J 8 7 2 N the king and your ace and you persist ♦ 9 7 3 W E with diamonds. Once again, your S ♣ J 5 4 2 partner plays low – keeping his ace as the important entry. Declarer has eight tricks, but cannot afford to lose the West North East South lead, since both defenders can lead a 1♠ Pass 2♣ diamond, so he goes one down. Had Large enough to take a standard Pass 2♥ Pass 3NT East played his ♦A too early, then at this 80cms bridge table. Made from tough nylon with carrying straps All Pass point declarer could play four rounds of and Velcro fixing. Ideal for clubs to develop his extra trick and West storing or carrying your table. Your two mediocre suits have both been would have no diamond to lead to get to bid and since North chose to open East’s winning diamonds. Order online or by phone spades first and rebid in another suit, This hand shows two defenders playing www.designsforbridge.co.uk you expect him to hold five spades. You in harmony and the action that started should choose a diamond lead, guessing off the defence was the lead of the unbid 01483 270 100 that it will be your partner’s best suit – not suit. So often, the opening lead is the necessarily harbouring huge hope, but at thing that sets the tone for the defence: SR Designs for Bridge least having the chance of making your generally contemplate leading an unbid Unit A1, Send Business Park, partner smile because he will have some suit, particularly when precisely three Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF length in diamonds. Make sure you lead suits have been bid. Very often, the unbid a high spot card, to warn your partner suit will be your side’s strongest suit. ■

Page 22 BRIDGE June 2017 About the EBU by Jeremy Dhondy

All About Handicapping

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

Is bridge a suitable game attracted some strong players, but the has existed for the last six years: for using a handicapping event had a handicap applied to all the National Grading Scheme. Qsystem? A local bridge club players and there was a separate prize Several clubs already use this for I sometimes play at has introduced list for those players. You could not, of handicapping (amongst other things). such a system, possibly to encourage course, win prizes in both categories. If you aren’t familiar with it, a grade less able players and give them the Other countries also organise such is produced which depends on your pleasurable feeling of winning or games. In American tournaments, level, your partner’s level and the doing well, but this is at the expense you will see reference to such things opponents’ levels. Therefore, if you of the stronger players. as the 49er pairs. If you’d like to play with a strong partner against play, you must have fewer than 50 weak opponents, then you will need The short answer is that it . As there is also a 99ers a higher score to improve, whereas if is, in my opinion, a game game this restricts the game to a you play with a weak partner against A well suited for handicap small section of the membership. strong players you need a lower score competitions. It will hardly be the Because masterpoints build up over to improve your grade. Your grade is only activity. Horses are handicapped the years and don’t reflect current expressed from a two to an ace and by carrying different weights in races, form, they aren’t perhaps best suited can change quite regularly. golf and squash players participate to the method. Some clubs in England To run a handicap, you can pick a with a handicap which acts as a run similar types of games to the date, eg when the event is due to start leveller. Chess players surrender a American tournaments which can and give players a percentage based on piece or pieces or the weaker player lead to a county competition. their and their partner’s grade. You has more time on the clock. Snooker In the local club, the main game might find a king starting with a 5% players may give the weaker player a is a pairs game, perhaps enlivened handicap over an average player (a points start. A handicap may benefit with the occasional teams event. A seven). I don’t suppose players would the weaker player by giving him or handicap competition can provide want to do this every game, but as an her a better chance, but it also benefits welcome variety. The first step is what occasional change I think it has a role the better player by producing more to base the handicap on. It has to be to play. You could also use it to have a of a challenge. If you play golf against something which is accepted and can split game, so that those with a higher someone each week and beat him by be easily updated. Arpad Elo invented rank are in a separate section to those fifteen or more strokes, then after a a scheme for chess which rates players with a lower rank. This, of course, while, whilst there is the joy of the and games can then be based on the would depend on having enough game itself, the competitive element scores. Bridge is a bit more difficult players. dies away. because it is a partnership game, but Another method that can be used is A handicap can also be used to there are still workable methods. stratification. You choose some levels stratify competitions, so that there is (call them A, B and C). Players are put an incentive for players to participate into one of them depending on their even if they would be regarded in the Step forward the NGS NGS grade and then at the end of the weaker half of the field. I used to go to evening, as well as an overall winner, a French tournament held each year in Fortunately if you play at an EBU you can have B and C flight winners. La Baule. The major pairs competition affiliated club, the right system If you are an affiliated club,

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 23 there is detail on all this in the Club moved into the area recently, you can Management Handbook. always produce a temporary handicap until things settle down. Bridge players, of course, are Unaffiliated Clubs competitive creatures so if a club is to run a handicap it is best to give These clubs don’t have the benefit of the some thought to the regulations. For NGS, but that does not stop them from example, is the handicap fixed for running such a game. You could run the season or does it get recalculated a handicap game based on percentage at any point? How do you deal with a These English made tables scores over the past year, so if you had substitute? Must you play all the games offer superb quality and have averaged 55%, then you would start off or should it be, say, at least eight out of the genuine Pelissier hinges. with a 5% handicap against the 50% ten. If your club is unaffiliated, then Choose from the great value player, but a 5% advantage against the those players who are EBU members Club, the Premier or the 60% player. You can publish the scores can still use their NGS rating; perhaps elegant Royal. with or without handicap, if you wish. the club could affiliate. You’d be very Special Prices for Bridge Most scoring programs (including welcome. Club orders of 5 or more. EBUScore and Scorebridge) will deal quite adequately with handicaps. You might decide that the whole handicap Teams as well as pairs really does make it too difficult for the better players to overcome. If that’s the It doesn’t have to be a pairs game. I case then it can always be adjusted or played in a league many years ago and maybe only 80% of the difference in there was also a league cup which was score counts. a knock-out event. A match between a first division team and a sixth division team (yes, there were six divisions Club Table with traditional green How to handicap then) could be quite unbalanced, so felt playing surface £159.00 the division six team started 20 imps Here is a method to use if you don’t up in a 24 board match, a fifth division have access to the NGS: team 16 up etc. This seemed to work quite well. l In determining the handicap win- In teams, a poorer team may often ners, normal match-pointed per- beat a stronger team in a seven or centage scores are adjusted by the eight board Swiss match, but this is less handicap of each competing pair. likely in a 24-board league match and rare in something like a 48-board Gold l Each member’s handicap is Cup Match. Therefore, a handicap may Premier Table, bevelled edges calculated as follows: be an incentive for a team which is and baize playing surface £199.00 fed up with losing in round one every l Take the average percentage score year. With entries falling in many for the previous calendar year in competitions that may be a useful club pairs events (minimum of ten fillip. events). Subtract this from 50 and Perhaps your club might like to try divide the result by two to give the this method once a month or so, as a handicap. variant on the normal game or perhaps over a few weeks at one time of year. If l The handicap of each pair will be the club is worried about how it might the sum of the handicaps of the two be received (and the writer of the letter Royal Table, elegant surround and partners. This combined handicap at the start of the article had some baize playing surface £249.00 is added to their match-pointed doubts) then asking the members at Order online or by phone percentage score in the event, to the AGM might be one way to gauge www.designsforbridge.co.uk give their percentage score in the its likely acceptance and success. handicap competition. (Note that I looked up a few club websites whilst 01483 270 100 some handicaps will be positive preparing this article and found quite SR Designs for Bridge and some negative). a few clubs offering a handicap pairs in Unit A1, Send Business Park, one form or another, so there is some Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF If someone wishes to play and hasn’t popularity out there which perhaps played ten games, perhaps they have your club can build on. ■

Page 24 BRIDGE June 2017 Answers to About Disrupting Your

Opponents’ Entries Quiz on page 17

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

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

Contract 4♠. Contract 2NT. Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. Contract 4♠. Contract 4♠. Lead ♥K. Lead ♠4. Lead ♠3. Lead ♠3. Lead ♦3. Lead ♠K. Lead ♥2. Lead ♥2 to ♠Q. to ♠K. to ♠K. to ♥K. to ♥K.

1 If you withhold your ♥A, you need to have a good reason. Can you think of one? If not, don’t risk having your ♥A ruffed ♦ A 4 at trick 2 by a defender with only two trumps. You have a N simple main chance here: spades need to be 3-2. Don’t ♦ K J 8 3 2 W E ♦ Q 7 S jeopardise that. ♦ 10 9 6 5 2 There are two reasons to take your ♠A at trick 1. First, a heart switch might be worse. Second, the ♠4 lead suggests that the spades are breaking 4-4 or 5-3. The ♠3 is in dummy Now consider rising with dummy’s ♦A at trick 1. East cannot and the only spade lower than the ♠4 you cannot see is the afford to unblock the ♦Q. Continue by driving out the ♣A. ♠2. If they are 4-4, your contract is secure. If they are 5-3 it West wins and leads a diamond to East’s ♦Q. East now has is impossible to withhold your ♠A for long enough to sever no diamond left to return. the defensive communications, so withholding your ♠A at trick 1 won’t help you. Take your ♠A, turn your attention to 6 Are you tempted to withhold your ♠A at trick 1? Think again. diamonds and hope for a 4-4 spade break. West’s ♠K lead shows the ♠Q. If you take your ♠A, dummy’s ♠J is sitting after West’s ♠Q giving you a second spade stopper. If 3 Withhold your ♠A until the third round, then turn your attention you allow the ♠K to win, West might continue with a low spade to diamonds. You will make your contract if spades break 4-4 at trick 2. You have to win this with your ♠A, but now dummy’s or they break 5-3 and the hand with three spades has the ♦A. ♠J is not guarded, so West’s ♠Q can swallow it up.

4 Look carefully at the spade pips. If you play the ♠6 from 7 What is your plan? You want to finesse dummy’s ♦Q. If it wins, dummy and take the ♠K with your ♠A, you are guaranteed a all well and good. If it loses to the ♦K, you have the ♦J for a second spade stopper. If you withhold your ♠A at trick 1, East club discard, provided the defenders don’t take a second heart returns a spade and if the opening leader started with ♠Q-9- trick and switch to a club through dummy’s ♣K. 7-3-2 and the ♦A you will go off. You need to try to prevent West getting the lead with a heart and the foolproof solution is to allow East’s ♥K to win trick 1. 5 This answer might surprise you. Your contract is only in This theme will be developed in a later article. East can danger if diamonds split 5-2, so assume they do so. do you no harm: East is called the ‘Safe Hand’. If East has With ♦K-Q-J West would surely have led the ♦K, so you the ♣A, West can jeopardise your contract by leading a club can be pretty confident that East has a diamond honour, and through dummy’s ♣K. West is called the ‘Dangerous Hand’. if diamonds are breaking 5-2 then it must be doubleton, so look at the presumed diamond position (in the next column). 8 Similar arguments apply but this time East is the ‘Dangerous If you play low from dummy East’s ♦Q wins the trick and he Hand’. You should take your ♥A at trick 1, draw trumps and returns the ♦7. West doesn’t need to play an honour because finesse your ♦Q. This plan is almost certain to succeed even he can see dummy will have to play the ♦A. Now West has if the diamond finesse loses, because if East has the ♥Q he three diamond winners and if he also has the ♣A you have would surely have played it at trick 1. (Third hand plays the five losers. lower of touching honours.) ■

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 25 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum

Episode 62: The Regional Final

ne Saturday, two cars set forth our foursome an IMPs score of plus westward from Norwich on Dealer East. Game All. 19. In the ‘A’ section with the Riverside the A47 to Peterborough ♠ 8 pair sitting North-South, the action Oon the way to the regional finals of ♥ Q 4 2 took another twist with Justin playing the Garden Cities teams-of-eight ♦ A 7 2 in five clubs doubled from the North competition. Millie had wanted the ♣ A K Q 10 9 3 seat. He later justified his action by vehicles to be decked in the green and ♠ 7 5 4 3 2 ♠ A K Q 10 assuming that Spouse would be void yellow favours of our local football ♥ A 10 9 7 3 N ♥ K J 8 6 5 in hearts, therefore hoping he had W E club, but the idea had been vetoed as ♦ 9 6 S ♦ K some length in clubs. inappropriate by the remaining seven ♣ J ♣ 8 7 6 team members. An early arrival at our ♠ J 9 6 West North East South destination enabled Kate to lead us ♥ Void Justin Spouse on a morning tour of the magnificent ♦ Q J 10 8 5 4 3 1♥ Pass Peterborough cathedral, a fine ♣ 5 4 2 4♥ 5♣ Dbl All Pass example of Romanesque architecture, in inspirational anticipation of the East led the spade ace and followed it challenge facing us at the bridge tables West North East South with the king, ruffed in hand by Justin. later. Wendy Millie In the play, he lost to the singleton Temporarily missing from our ranks 1♥ 3♦ king of diamonds. On hearing this was George the jogger who, deprived 4♥ 5♦ Dbl All Pass piece of news, Millie was not amused, of his traditional dawn run, prepared rather like a latter day Queen Victoria. for the battle ahead by plodding Assuming the ♦9 was not from ♦K-9 Nevertheless five clubs doubled through the local streets at his slow or ♦K-9-6, Millie went up with the making eleven tricks for plus 750 was lumbering pace. The team of eight ace and dropped the king. The club another unexpected result. At the other was finally united for lunch at a pub suit disposed of the losing spades and ‘A’ section table for once there was no where Millie had a couple of brandies Millie brought home five diamonds sight of a double. In comparison to to ‘steady her nerves’. A short walk doubled with two overtricks for plus the other sequences, the auction was took us to Peterborough Bridge Club 1150. simple and rather mundane. where we were warmly welcomed with As we scored up later with Jo and coffee and tea. It turned out that the Kate, our teammates in the ‘B’ section, West North East South club no longer had an alcohol licence it emerged that the first three bids Sarah George but it was never proven that Millie in their auction had been identical. 1♥ Pass knew this in advance. Teams from the However, North then found a bid of 4♥ All Pass eastern region settled down to serious five clubs over four hearts, presumably bridge and at the halfway stage the suggesting a game contract in either George played in four hearts from Riverside was well down the field. An minor. Kate bravely bid five hearts, the East hand, losing to the minor excellent plated tea provided us with which was doubled by North. suit aces and the queen of trumps, much needed energy for the second making his contract exactly for plus half. With its outbreak of doubles this West North East South 620. Swings of 19 IMPs and 16 IMPs deal proved a major bonus (see next Jo Kate on that board meant we won that column). 1♥ 3♦ match. It was to no avail. Overall, we East opened one heart. Excited by the 4♥ 5♣ 5♥ Pass finished well down the field. The list void and perhaps forgetting we were Pass Dbl All Pass of finalists for the Garden Cities did vulnerable, Millie overcalled three not contain Riverside BC. No worries, diamonds. West pre-empted with four Kate lost the two minor aces on the before leaving Peterborough we had hearts. I decided five diamonds was first two tricks, but fortunately did not an excellent meal at a local Indian a good shot. East promptly doubled lose a trump trick. She led the ten from restaurant where Millie needed the and the auction ended. Rather than dummy on which North obligingly calming influence of a brandy or a heart lead, West went for the rather played the queen. The contract was two following the excitement of an unexpected nine of diamonds. made on the nose for plus 850 giving enjoyable day. ■

Page 26 BRIDGE June 2017 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 17

West North East South favourite to hold the ♥A. Thus, you can 1. ♠ Q 7 5 2♥1 3♣ Pass 3♠ hope to score a heart ruff. ♥ A 10 Pass 4♠ All Pass 1Weak Two heart ruffs would be ideal and ♦ A K 8 4 3 could yield the magic 200, outscoring ♣ J 9 2 Partner leads the ♥5. What is your plan? those making 3♠. Overtake the ♠K with ♠ J 8 3 ♠ 10 4 Given the bidding, you can reasonably the ♠A and switch to the ♥3. Ruff the N ♥ 8 5 ♥ K 9 6 4 2 hope that the lead is from the ♥K. This next heart with the ♣4 and put partner W E ♦ 6 5 S ♦ Q 10 9 7 being so, you can foresee overruffing the back in with the ♠Q. Then ruff the third ♣ A K 7 6 4 3 ♣ 8 5 third round of hearts or making a trump heart with the ♣K. Even though declarer ♠ A K 9 6 2 trick later, if dummy ruffs high. Should overruffs, this promotes the ♣Q, hence ♥ Q J 7 3 you simply win with the ♥A and return the the need for ruffing low the first time. ♦ J 2 ♥9? ♣ Q 10 If you return a heart straight away, an astute declarer will call for dummy’s diamond on the third round of hearts. West North East South You will lose your ♦A. 4. ♠ J 3 1♠ You need to cash the ♦A before ♥ K J 9 4 Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ returning a heart. Then dummy will surely ♦ A Q J 10 3 Pass 4♠ All Pass ruff the third heart high. As the cards ♣ A 8 lie, this ensures you a trump trick. Even ♠ K Q 9 6 5 4 ♠ A 8

Partner leads the ♣A. What is your plan? if partner did not have the ♠9, declarer ♥ 2 N ♥ Q 10 3 Expecting partner to hold the ♣K with would need X-ray vision to take a first- ♦ 9 6 4 W E ♦ 8 2 S the ♣A, you begin a high-low with the round finesse. You do, of course, plan to ♣ K 7 5 ♣ J 10 6 4 3 2 ♣8. Then, on the second round, you play low, not splitting your honours. ♠ 10 7 2 complete it with the ♣5. On the third ♥ A 8 7 6 5 round, unless partner leads the ♣Q (or ♦ K 7 5 the ♣A having taken the ♣Q at trick two), ♣ Q 9 you will ruff. If declarer must follow suit, it will not matter how high you ruff. If 3. ♠ 10 3 not, it is important that you ruff with the ♥ K J 9 4 West North East South ♠10. This forces out a high trump on your ♦ A Q 9 2♠1 Dbl Pass 3♥2 left and could promote a trump trick for ♣ 9 8 5 2 Pass 4♥ All Pass partner. You wait to score the ♥K later, ♠ K Q 9 6 ♠ A 8 5 4 1Weak 2Natural, value showing exiting with the ♠4 if the ♠10 wins. ♥ A 10 8 7 5 2 N ♥ 3 ♦ J 6 W E ♦ 10 8 7 4 3 2 Partner leads the ♠K. What is your plan? S ♣ Q ♣ K 4 Holding a natural trump winner, a ruff ♠ J 7 2 is no use. Only if you could ruff twice – ♥ Q 6 something that is not going to happen 2. ♠ Q 6 5 3 ♦ K 5 here – could a ruff gain. ♥ Q 6 ♣ A J 10 7 6 3 Since your best chance to beat the ♦ 10 game is to find partner with the ♣K, you ♣ A K Q 9 5 2 might take the first spade and switch to ♠ 9 ♠ J 10 4 West North East South the ♣J. The snag is that if declarer holds ♥ K 10 8 5 4 2 N ♥ A 9 1♥ Pass 1♠ 2♣ ♣K-Q-x, this allows dummy’s spade to go W E ♦ ♦ Q 6 5 S A 9 7 4 3 2♠ 3♣ Pass Pass on the third club, an overtrick resulting. ♣ J 10 3 ♣ 8 6 4 3♠ 4♣ All Pass At matchpoints, it is safer to play the ♠8 ♠ A K 8 7 2 and hope partner works out to play a low ♥ J 7 3 Partner leads the ♠K. What is your plan? spade next. Then, with two spade tricks ♦ K J 8 2 Prospects look good: two spades will in the bag, you lead the ♣J. Later you ♣ 7 stand up. Furthermore, partner, who ruff in on the diamonds as soon as you opened the bidding with 1♥, must be can. ■

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 27 Teacher’s Corner – Teaching Tips from Ian Dalziel Enhanced Point Counting

ll bridge players count their and gone out of fashion somewhat. to bid accurately. Many learners find high card points (HCP) and When you have a trump fit, the losing it difficult so just add their HCP and many count extra points for trick count (LTC) is an alternative to make adjustments for ‘shape’ – but it’s Along suits, but when it comes to adding point counting. Used properly, it is all very vague and inaccurate and they for shortages there is little agreement. quite a good system but is not without get the worst of both worlds. This means adding points for its flaws and you have to make quite a I have found that the point distribution has got itself a bad name lot of adjustments to the basic concept count with proper adjustments for distribution can be just as accurate as the LTC, but is easier to understand THE ENHANCED POINT COUNT and remember. If you are happy with the LTC that’s fine but, if not, I offer Basic Scale: an alternative – the Enhanced Point A=4, K=3, Q=2, J=1, five-card suit=1, six-card suit=2, seven-card=3. Count system (EPC). I normally use this system, but in When bidding your own suits: Add length in all your suits but add shortages only if partner has shown borderline situations, the LTC can help four-card support. (Void +3, Singleton +2, Doubleton +1). me decide. Often the LTC and EPC give the same result and sometimes one No-Trumps: is better than the other. The experts Add points for length in no-trumps if you think the suit can be estab- count their HCP and sometimes use lished. the LTC but actually, when bidding, they are playing the hand in their head When raising partner’s suit: – but most learners can’t do this. With four-card support or better: Void +3, singleton +2, doubleton +1 and add for length in all suits. Average (Use above scale if planning to support partner later, eg a jump shift) West East Tricks With three-card support: Void +2; singleton +1 and don’t add any length. A Q J x x Void 2.3 With two-card support: Void +1 and don’t add any length. A Q J x x x 2.7 UNGUARDED HONOURS (UGHs): Deduct 1 for each bare K, Q, J. A Q J x x x x 3.7 Deduct 1 for K-J, Q-J, Q-x, J-x, J-x-x each time an opponent bids that A Q J x x x x x 4.1 suit, but don’t go below zero (view these negatively in unbid suits).

MISFIT: A Q J x x K x 4.8 Deduct points if short in partner’s suit (singleton -1, void -2). K Q x x x Void 1.3 INTERMEDIATES: K Q x x x x 2.0 In borderline cases up value tens and nines, especially in no-trumps. K Q x x x x x 2.5 VALUE OF ACES: It is not a disadvantage if your points consist mainly of Aces. K Q x x x x x x 3.1

UNUSUAL HAND: K Q x x x J x 3.2 Count playing tricks and use your judgement. The more freakish the hand the less useful is the point count. K Q x x x A x 4.2

Page 28 BRIDGE June 2017 A unique feature of my table is the deduction of ♠ A 8 7 5 3 ♠ K Q 6 4 DECLARER points for a shortage in part- ♥ Void N ♥ Q 7 3 W E ner’s suit. To see why, look ♦ K 10 6 5 S ♦ Q J 7 3 at the table in the previous ♣ K Q 8 4 ♣ 7 5 PLAY column. You can see that these good five-card suits don’t produce many tricks West North East South QUIZ opposite a void or a single- 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass ton, but the tricks are greatly 4♠ All Pass by David Huggett increased opposite a double- (Answers on page 31) ton honour or three cards. East has 11 points includ- Here are some examples of ing shortage and West adds ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge. bidding using the method: his own shortage after four- YIn each case, what is your play strategy? card support is shown, giv- ing 16 points. Game is made ♠ K Q J 5 3 ♠ A 7 4 2 with a combined 22 HCP 1. ♠ 6 4 2 3. ♠ K 10 6 4 ♥ Q 8 5 N ♥ 3 and a wasted ♥Q. ♥ ♥ ♦ 8 6 5 W E ♦ K Q J 7 2 K 9 5 A K 5 S ♦ ♦ ♣ A 4 ♣ 8 7 3 8 6 5 2 8 7 5 4 ♣ ♣ ♠ J 5 3 ♠ K 9 6 4 K Q 6 A 4

♥ K Q 8 5 4 N ♥ A 7 3 N N W E West North East South ♦ A Q 6 5 S ♦ 7 3 W E W E 1♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass ♣ 4 ♣ A 9 7 5 S S

♠ ♠ With four-card support, A Q A J 2 ♥ ♥ East adds length and short- West North East South A J 10 8 4 3 7 4 ♦ ♦ age which makes 13 points, 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 9 3 Q J 10 9 6 3 ♣ ♣ so goes to game. The fourth 2♦ Pass 3♥ All Pass A 7 5 K 8 trump ensures a ruff in dummy and an entry to the West has 13 points origi- ♦ diamonds. nally and doesn’t add his You open after three pass- You are declarer in 5 and ♣ shortage, as partner’s de- es and finish as declarer in West leads the 2. How ♥ ♦ layed raise denies four-card 4 . West leads the A-K do you plan the play? ♦ ♠ K Q J 5 3 ♠ A 7 4 support – so they stop in 3♥ and another to East’s Q. How do you plan the play? ♥ Q 8 5 N ♥ 3 which is high enough. ♦ W E ♦ 8 6 5 S K Q J 7 2 If you know your bidding ♣ A 4 ♣ 8 7 5 3 system, but your bidding is not as accurate as you would like, then try the EPC. Your ♠ ♠ West North East South partner doesn’t need to use 2. 7 4. K J 3 ♥ ♥ 1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass the method, or even know 6 4 2 A 5 ♦ ♦ 2♠ Pass 3♠ All Pass anything about it, for it to A Q 10 9 7 5 7 6 3 ♣ ♣ work. Amazingly, you can A 4 2 A J 7 5 3 With three-card support, use the EPC and partner N N East adds fewer points for can use the LTC and, if you W E W E the shortage and doesn’t both know your own meth- S S add length, so with 11 points od, you will get on fine to- ♠ ♠ only invites game. With no gether. A K 6 2 A Q 6 2 ♥ ♥ sure entry, the diamonds I have extensive lesson A 7 5 3 J 7 6 4 ♦ ♦ may not run and with only notes, quizzes and prepared K K 2 ♣ ♣ three trumps, the ruffs in hands which show the EPC 8 6 5 3 K 4 2 dummy are more difficult. in action and explain fur- Adding shortages in both ther the logic behind it. If hands only works with a 4-4 you are a teacher, learner or You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 3NT ♠ ♠ fit or better. Then you make player and would like a free and West leads the Q. and West leads the 10. either declarer or dummy PDF and/or WORD copy How do you plan the play? How do you plan the play? the ‘master hand’ and ruff of the material please email in the other. [email protected] ■

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 29 Sally Brock Looks at Your Slam Bidding Sally’s Slam Clinic

Where did we he would simply raise 2NT to 3NT. often arrived at the top spot by some go wrong? So, North’s bid of 3♦ is, in itself, a sort of guess or fluke. This month, the mild slam try. South has a tremendous Slam of the Month was bid against me This month’s deal was sent in by Danny hand: three top winners in the majors, at the Young Chelsea. Hamilton and comes from an online probably covering all North’s outside game. Digressing slightly, I cannot losers, and the most magnificent recommend strongly enough that you support for clubs. I think South should Dealer North. E/W Vul. get used to playing online. While it can bid 4♣ over 3♦. North will continue ♠ A Q J 5 3 2 never replace over-the-table bridge, as with a 4♥ cue-bid and over South’s 4♠ ♥ A 2 you get older and less mobile, it can can jump to the slam. ♦ J 6 give you a lifeline of something to do The slam is cold with a 2-2 club break. ♣ A J 5 without leaving your home. There are Declarer should win the lead, a trump ♠ K 4 ♠ 10 9 8 7 several playing sites, but the one I use say, and take a diamond finesse. If it ♥ Q 7 4 N ♥ 6 5 W E ♦ ♦ is BBO (bridgebase.com) because I am holds, draw trumps and take a second Q 9 5 3 S K 8 7 a cheapskate and it’s free. diamond finesse. If clubs do not break, ♣ Q 10 9 6 ♣ 8 7 4 3 declarer should run all his black-suit ♠ 6 winners, then try for a 3-3 diamond ♥ K J 10 9 8 3 Dealer East. N/S Vul. break and, in the end, take a heart ♦ A 10 4 2 ♠ 7 3 finesse. The problem opening lead is if ♣ K 2 ♥ 2 East tries the ♥J (or switches to it after ♦ A Q J 3 the diamond finesse loses) – quite a ♣ A 10 8 7 6 2 good shot with the suit bid on his left. West North East South ♠ Q 10 6 5 4 ♠ J 8 2 After this lead (or switch), I am sure 1♠ Pass 2♥ ♥ 8 7 6 N ♥ K J 10 5 4 declarer will go up with the ace, take a Pass 2♠ Pass 3♥ W E ♦ ♦ ♣1 ♦1 10 9 8 7 S K 4 diamond finesse, if necessary, and play Pass 4 Pass 4 ♣ 3 ♣ J 9 4 off a couple of trumps. It would not be Pass 4♠1 Pass 5♣1 ♠ A K 9 wrong to play diamonds now, hoping Pass 5NT Pass 6♥ ♥ A Q 9 3 that, if the suit is not 3-3, the hand with All Pass 1Cue bid ♦ 6 5 2 the short diamonds is out of trumps. ♣ K Q 5 That line will fail. If, however, declarer A good natural two-over-one instead plays off all his trumps, he can sequence to the top spot (5NT was succeed via a – I will meant as ‘pick-a-slam’, trying to West North East South leave the reader to play it through to suggest spades as an alternative trump Pass 1♥ see how it works – please email me if suit). I managed to find the best lead Pass 2♣ Pass 2NT you can’t manage it. – a diamond. Declarer won in hand Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT and played the ♠A and ruffed a spade. All Pass Slam of the Month When my ♠K dropped, he knew I had only two spades compared with This was a fairly normal auction and We British are a modest nation, partner’s four and so played me to have one I would expect to be reproduced I believe, preferring to tell of our the longer trumps (and therefore more around the room at a local duplicate. errors than to boast of our successes. likely to have the queen). He ran the However, I think South has overlooked Consequently, while I get plenty of ♥J and when it held was soon claiming one thing: North would not bother hands from readers asking where they thirteen tricks for a complete top. introducing diamonds on a hand with went wrong, I receive very few telling Well done to John Cox (declarer) no slam interest. With a weaker hand of a triumph – and those that do have and Peter Taylor. ■

Send your slam hands to [email protected]

Page 30 BRIDGE June 2017 Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 29

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads queen for you – or conceding a ruff and 1. ♠ 6 4 2 the ♠Q. How do you plan the play? discard, when you would ruff in dummy ♥ K 9 5 It is absolutely imperative when you are and discard your low spade in hand. ♦ 8 6 5 2 declarer to count your tricks to see how ♣ K Q 6 many you have and, as a consequence, ♠ K 10 7 3 ♠ J 9 8 5 how many you need to develop. First, you ♥ 2 N ♥ Q 7 6 must win the first trick as you really don’t 4. ♠ K J 3 ♦ A K J 4 W E ♦ Q 10 7 want a club or a heart switch. Second, it ♥ A 5 S ♣ 9 8 3 2 ♣ J 10 4 would be all too easy to cash the king of ♦ 7 6 3 ♠ A Q diamonds at trick two and cross to dummy ♣ A J 7 5 3 ♥ A J 10 8 4 3 with the ace of clubs, with the expectation ♠ 10 9 8 7 4 ♠ 5 ♦ 9 3 of bringing in all the diamond suit. The ♥ K 10 N ♥ Q 9 8 3 2 ♣ A 7 5 chances of that happening are good, but ♦ A 8 4 W E ♦ Q J 10 9 5 S not cast iron and a much better plan is to ♣ 10 9 6 ♣ Q 8 realise from the outset that you need only ♠ A Q 6 2 You open after three passes and finish five diamond tricks to fulfil your contract. ♥ J 7 6 4 in 4♥. West leads the ♦A-K and another Therefore, overtake the king of diamonds ♦ K 2 to East’s ♦Q. How do you plan the play? with the ace and continue playing the ♣ K 4 2 Apart from the two diamond tricks suit. Unless you are very unlucky, you will already lost you have potential losers in make at least five tricks in that suit and at spades and hearts, if the spade finesse least nine in total. You are declarer in 3NT and West leads fails and if the queen of trumps doesn’t the ♠10. How do you plan the play? appear early. In fact, things could hardly With only seven tricks immediately be better. Remember, West has passed as available, you have to bring in the club dealer and therefore cannot be expected 3. ♠ K 10 6 4 suit for four tricks, but you should try to to hold as many as twelve points and he ♥ A K 5 avoid East gaining the lead as he might has already show up with seven. This ♦ 8 7 5 4 meanly play a diamond through your means he cannot hold both the king of ♣ A 4 king. So, play safe by cashing the ace of spades and the queen of trumps. So you ♠ Q 9 7 3 ♠ 8 5 clubs, then the king and then lead up to can either cross to dummy and take a ♥ 8 6 3 2 N ♥ Q J 10 9 the jack. If the finesse is right, you don’t spade finesse, knowing that East must ♦ K W E ♦ A 2 need to take it while, not infrequently, S hold the heart queen if it fails or take a ♣ Q 10 7 2 ♣ J 9 6 5 3 you will find East with queen doubleton heart finesse through East first, playing ♠ A J 2 and West with the dangerous ace of that hand for the spade king if that fails. ♥ 7 4 diamonds. ■ ♦ Q J 10 9 6 3 ♣ K 8

2. ♠ 7 PLUS 12 ♥ 6 4 2 You are declarer in 5♦ and West leads Q ♦ A Q 10 9 7 5 the ♣2. How do you plan the play? l Help and Hint buttons ♣ A 4 2 You have done well to bid the minor l Comprehensive manual ♠ Q J 10 9 3 ♠ 8 5 4 suit game and will be extremely unlucky l Feed in your own deals £99 ♥ K J 9 8 N ♥ Q 10 to fail. But rather than just guess who has including W E l option ♦ 6 2 ♦ J 8 4 3 the spade queen, let the defenders find p&p S ♣ Q 7 ♣ K J 10 9 her for you. Cash both clubs, play both l 5,000 preplayed hands for teams and 4,000 preplayed ♠ A K 6 2 the top two hearts and ruff the third. Now hands for matchpoint pairs ♥ A 7 5 3 exit with a trump. Unless one defender ♦ K started with all three missing trumps, Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 ♣ 8 6 5 3 they will be endplayed into either leading www.mrbridge.co.uk a spade – and thereby finding the

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 31 Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird Kirsten’s Magical Moment

he village of Burton Jorz, some Robin Hood wasted no time on the well-built man, with amazing brown five miles from Nottingham, bidding, jumping to 3NT at his first eyes. And he had complimented her held a weekly duplicate of turn. The ♣J was led and he was play. Maybe she would relive the Taround ten tables. No prize money pleased to see the ♣Q win the first moment in her dreams tonight. was awarded but Robin Hood and trick. Right, what next? Not long afterwards, Hood and Nazir sometimes played in the game Many players in a game like this Nazir faced two girls who worked for to sharpen their cardplay. would think it appropriate to run the their parents in the village bakery. As was the outlaws’ custom, they ♥Q. The finesse was very likely to lose, Apparently they had not had time to had posted guards on the two tracks though, and West would then clear her change from their work clothes, which leading to the small village hall. If club suit. If she had started with five were liberally sprinkled with flour. there was any sign of approaching clubs, the game would go down. The ‘I see you two are parading the latest soldiers, Hood and Nazir would be defenders would have five tricks before fashion!’ exclaimed Hood, taking spirited into the nearby forest. declarer could score a ninth from the the East seat. ‘I might perhaps get Samuel and Aalis Burnett exchanged diamond suit. something like that for Maid Marian. a glance as the outlaws took their seats Robin Hood crossed to his ♠Q and Can you tell me where I can buy such for the first round. led a diamond towards dummy. Aalis garments?’ Mrs Burnett saw it was true what her Burnett played low and he called for Kirsten Rawkin giggled. ‘That would women friends had told her. How lean the king. With his intended ninth be a sight – Maid Marian wearing a and muscular the two men were! Her trick already in the bag, he turned to baker’s overall,’ she replied. ‘We don’t Samuel had looked a bit similar when the small matter of establishing the normally look like this. We came she first met him. That was thirty seventh and eighth tricks. ‘Queen of straight from work.’ years ago now. hearts, please,’ he said. This was the first board of the round: This was the deal before them: Mrs Burnett won with the ♥K and cleared the clubs. Robin Hood was then able to claim three spades, three Dealer North. E/W Game. Dealer West. Love all. hearts, one diamond and two clubs. ♠ K Q ♠ K J 6 The game was his. ♥ 10 5 3 ♥ Q 6 Sam Burnett smiled at his wife. ‘He ♦ A 6 2 ♦ K 10 9 8 5 3 caught you napping there, my love,’ he ♣ A 8 7 5 3 ♣ Q 7 said. ‘You needed to rise with the ♦A ♠ J 10 9 4 ♠ A 7 5 2 ♠ 7 4 ♠ 9 8 5 3 2 and clear the clubs. Then we make five ♥ Q 8 N ♥ J 9 4 W E ♥ N ♥ ♦ ♦ K 8 2 7 5 4 3 tricks when he plays on hearts.’ K 10 9 5 3 S J 8 W E ♦ ♦ ♣ ♣ A J 4 S Q 6 ‘No, no, I always make it,’ Hood 10 4 Q J 9 6 ♣ K J 10 9 2 ♣ 5 3 declared. ‘If your wife rises with the ♠ 8 6 3 ♠ A Q 10 ♦A, I can win the club return and ♥ A K 7 6 2 ♥ A J 10 9 finesse the ♦10 into your hand. I score ♦ Q 7 4 ♦ 7 2 four diamond tricks.’ ♣ K 2 ♣ A 8 6 4 ‘You make an overtrick, then,’ observed Nazir. ‘Quite right,’ said Hood. ‘Aalis West North East South West North East South defended extremely well to hold me to Nazir Rosamond Robin Kirsten Aalis Nazir Sam Robin nine tricks. It will be a good score for Wyke Hood Rawkin Burnett Burnett Hood y ou .’ 1♣ Pass 1♥ 1♣ 1♦ Pass 3NT Aalis Burnett felt a tingle run Pass 2♥ Pass 4♥ All Pass through her. Such a handsome and All Pass

Page 32 BRIDGE June 2017 Nazir led the ♠J, covered by the king never forget. The♥ 9 was led to dummy’s ace. Robin and ace. Hoping to prevent a ruff in A couple of rounds later, Hood and Hood called for a club from dummy the dummy, Robin Hood returned a Nazir faced strong opposition. The and East won with the ♣10, returning low trump to South’s ace. brothers Ricard and Tebald Oger were the ♥Q. Hood won with dummy’s king With two certain losers in the notorious money-lenders, known for and ruffed a club in his hand. He then majors, Kirsten Rawkin saw that she their harsh treatment of recalcitrant crossed to the ♠K and ruffed dummy’s could not afford two diamond losers. debtors. last club. It seemed right to set up dummy’s Robin Hood met the eye of the From the cards that Hood had seen, clubs. elder brother, Tebald. ‘How fares your it was likely that East had begun with The young declarer drew a second business in these times?’ he enquired. 1-5-1-6 shape. round of trumps, pleased to see them ‘Well enough,’ came the reply. ‘Not When he played the ♦A, only a break 3-2. She then played the king that I expect any trade from you.’ humble ♦7 fell from East. How could and ace of clubs, followed by a club ‘Indeed,’ said Hood. he restrict his losers to one spade, one ruff in her hand, West showing out. Ricard Oger was first to speak on diamond and one club? A spade to the queen allowed her this deal: Hood led the ♦J and ducked in to ruff another club, setting up a club dummy when West covered with the winner in dummy. She then ruffed her ♦Q. These cards remained in play: last spade and called for the good club, Dealer East. Game All. discarding a diamond. The outlaws ♠ K 4 could choose when to take their master ♥ A K 5 ♠ 4 trump but the contract was secure. ♦ K 8 6 5 3 ♥ 5 ‘You played it well,’ said Robin Hood. ♣ 9 7 4 ♦ K 8 6 A delighted Kirsten Rawkin ♠ Q 10 9 7 ♠ 3 ♣ — returned her cards to the wooden ♥ 9 4 N ♥ Q J 10 7 6 ♠ Q 10 9 ♠ — W E ♦ Q 10 9 4 ♦ 7 ♥ — N ♥ J 10 7 board. S W E ‘Sad to say,’ Hood continued, ‘but I ♣ 5 3 2 ♣ A K Q J 10 6 ♦ 10 9 S ♦ — had a chance to beat you. You spotted ♠ A J 8 6 5 2 ♣ — ♣ A K it, Nazir? I should have held up the ♠A ♥ 8 3 2 ♠ A J 8 at trick 1. Then she’s an entry short to ♦ A J 2 ♥ 8 enjoy a long club.’ ♣ 8 ♦ 2 Nazir smiled at his partner. ‘Yes, I ♣ — see,’ he replied. ‘Perhaps these pretty girls bewitched you?’ West North East South Rosamund and Kirsten looked Tebald Nazir Ricard Robin The thick-necked Tebald Oger, sitting happily at each other. What an Oger Oger Hood West, had no easy exit. If he led from adventure they had enjoyed, against 1♣ 1♠ his trump holding, Hood would win two of the most famous outlaws in the Pass 2♣ 2♥ 3♠ with the ♠J, cross to the ♦K and ruff shire. It was an evening they would Pass 4♠ All Pass a diamond with the ♠8. The♠ A would then bring his total to ten. West chose to return the ♦10 instead. Robin Hood won with dummy’s king, ruffed a diamond with his ♠8 and exited with a heart. Muttering under his breath, West had to ruff his partner’s heart winner and lead into declarer’s ♠A-J. The game had been made. ‘By the Saints!’ Tebald Oger cried. ‘The man had losers in every suit, including two in the trump suit. T’is the devil’s work to make a contract like that.’ ‘I found a lucky lie of the cards,’ Hood declared. ‘I expect others will make it.’ Ricard Oger snarled at the outlaw. ‘Yeah,’ he exclaimed. ‘And this table will sprout roots and grow into a large oak tree!’ ■

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 33 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions on Laws and Ethics

Can I Lead to Prevent Partner from Bidding?

Having read your common situation, slightly Dealer opened your system and make the answer to Alistair different from above, is 1NT, announced by wrong bid or miscount your QLove (BRIDGE 173), where a player passes out of Qhis partner as 15 points or lead or play the I’d like to ask you a follow turn with a worthless hand to 17 points. It was passed wrong card by accident. up question. South arrives in to stop his partner making out. It transpired that the These things happen all 4♥ in a competitive auction, some sort of bid or double dealer only had 11 points. the time, the unintentional West and North pass and East that could be dangerous. For My partner and I had 25 ones more often than the thinks for a while weighing example, holding ♠xx ♥xxx points between us, but were intentional ones. So long up his options; bid 4♠, ♦xxxx ♣xxxx, vulnerable deterred from entering the as partner is as much in the double or pass. At this point, against not, and hearing auction by the misinformation dark as the opponents, it is West, who is quite happy to 1NT on his left, and seeing and missed a vulnerable just part of bridge. So, in the defend 4♥ undoubled, leads partner looking interested, game. When challenged, case you quoted, the dealer the ♠K to the contract. The a player has been known dealer said that he could bid made a dangerous psyche law says that the leader’s to pass, silencing partner. what he liked and the director which could easily have got partner must pass at his The way the law is worded, ruled that the result was to him a bad board, perhaps first turn to call, which was if any infraction, which stand. Is bridge really a game by his partner raising to West’s plan. Is this legal? includes calls out of turn or where cheats can prosper? slam with 18 points, and Name and address supplied. leads during the auction, David Iwi, London. got lucky. That’s bridge. could be seen at the time No, it is not legal. of the infraction by the Bridge is not a ♣♦♥♠ There is a very person doing it to work to game where cheats A great difference the benefit of his side, then A prosper, but it is In rubber bridge, between the vast majority the director can adjust the unfortunately a game where when there is a of infractions which are score at the end of the hand ignorance of the rules causes Qlapse of time after unintentional, because a if, in fact, it does work to his a lot of unpleasantness. a hand is finished, can a player does not know the benefit. The advantage of the Your opponents are entitled, decision about that hand be laws or the regulations, or wording is that the director at all times, to a complete taken? Last night, I played in because a player does not does not have to decide description of the meanings 6NT (making seven) and we realise what is happening, whether it was deliberate of your calls and carding, but were chatting away while or because a player has or not, though he will rarely they do not have a right to the other four tables finished, forgotten something and the invoke this law unless he know what is in your hand. when my partner suddenly fairly rare situation where has some suspicion. If you decide at any time to gasped and said, ‘I should a player does something So in the case quoted in vary from those agreements, have been playing that last wrong intentionally, or the question, if the leader eg by a psyche, where you hand!’ Quite right. Was our apparently intentionally. To could have known that deliberately misdescribe your score then null and void? do so intentionally with intent leading during the auction hand or by a ‘bash’ where Iris Clyde, Kirkwall, Orkney. and knowledge is cheating. could work to his side’s you make an unreasonable Some years ago, the benefit and if, in fact, it bid, perhaps of 3NT, in the The result is perfectly WBFLC crafted a law, Law does work to their benefit, hopes you will get away with valid. Whenever 23, which allows a director then the director adjusts, by it, or by a false card when A there is a lead from to deal with possible or considering all or part of defending, then that is just the wrong hand, once the apparent cheating without the possible scores obtained bridge. Of course, sometimes next hand plays to it then having to declare that if the partner of the player these things happen it becomes perfectly legal. anyone is cheating. The most who led had not passed. accidentally when you forget This applies just as much

Page 34 BRIDGE June 2017 to an opening lead out lead. I felt that I could that your 2♦ is alertable, it finished and the director of turn, as to any other. only call the director after would be safer if you alert it feels it cannot be finished) the play of the hand. in future. Some players who that is different. There is no ♣♦♥♠ Bert Potts, play a short diamond do score to be adjusted and Bramhall, Stockport. treat responses of 2♦ and 3♦ now averages are given. Our opponents’ as raises, they just need more For example, a player bidding went You have no diamonds than over a natural gets a phone call before Qas follows: evidence whatever diamond, so it would make the last round and has to A that East intended life simpler if you alerted, to leave, missing three boards, West North East South anything by his slow alert. make it clear you were not those three boards will be Pass For all you know that was his doing that. I play Acol with scored as average plus to 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass belief. As for it being slow, : it sounds as the opponents who were 2NT Pass 3NT Dbl players often have difficulty though I respond 2♦ on the there, but did not get to All Pass remembering their system. same hands that you do, so I play them, average minus This seems a simple can see how people might be to the pair where the player As South, I speculatively misinformation case. You confused if you do not alert. had to leave. Note that doubled 3NT, holding call the director at the end, ‘Not Played’ is completely ♠K-Q-10-x-x and ♣A-x-x and he will investigate and ♣♦♥♠ illegal in such a case. – I thought this might be if he finds the explanation History complicates matters. profitable playing teams of was wrong then he will I’d be grateful if Forty years ago, there four, a handsome profit if the adjust to 3NTx -2 since your you would explain was little faith in directors, contract failed, a small loss partner’s lead was affected Qwhat seems to be an especially in certain countries, if the contract succeeded. by the misinformation. He anomaly in your article in the and it was expected that However, East went into will also explain to West January magazine. On page instead of adjusting to a a lengthy huddle after my that he was required to 55 you state that ‘giving score, directors would give double and eventually correct it before the opening average minus and average average plus/average minus produced his alert card, well lead. If the explanation plus was made illegal about and leave it to appeals after West and North had was correct and West had 35 years ago’, yet on page committees to sort it out. passed my double of 3NT. forgotten, then there is no 57 you state ‘you should get This became illegal in North, on lead, asked need for an adjustment. average plus, your opponents the UK over 30 years ago, about this alert, to be told Of course, you tell the average minus’. They are though in the USA the that West’s pass after my director it was a slow alert both bidding queries. practice continued until double advertised either a and so forth: if he felt there Lesley Colligan by email. much more recently. three-card spade holding or was anything more than Are there any exceptions a ‘mini‘ stop, when holding straight misinformation then That is an excellent to the above? There are a only two cards in the suit. he can investigate. But it question and few occasions where the Thus, my partner (holding seems very unlikely to me. A maybe others have regulations currently in use ♠A-x) chose a different lead been confused as well. As are to be followed, even and, afterwards, claimed that ♣♦♥♠ the laws stand at present, when they do not seem to East’s belated explanation when a board is played comply with the above rules. of his partner’s pass of my Last night, my and something goes wrong The two most obvious ones, double persuaded her to partner opened 1♦ and the director decides the in England and Wales, are avoid the requested spade Q(we were playing result must be adjusted, then use of an illegal agreement lead (which would have a so he makes an adjustment to and a fielded psyche. When set 3NT by two tricks). 1♦ is artificial), which I a new score, or frequently an illegal agreement is used, I suspected gamesmanship announced, ‘May have no to a set of scores with the board is completed, and on East’s part (holding diamonds.’ I bid 2♦, showing percentages. For example, then the non-offenders get only 9-7-x-x in spades), he 10+ HCP and a diamond suit. if a board was played in 4♥ average plus, the offenders surely knew, having been The director maintained making eight tricks and the average minus, unless the doubled in 3NT by a hand this should have been director felt the opponents non-offenders have scored that could not open the alerted as it was an inverted would bid differently if they better than 60% on the bidding, that 3NT would fail raise, despite the opening had not been misinformed, board. When a psyche has on a spade lead by North. bid not showing diamonds. he might adjust it to 25% been fielded, the board is At what stage should I David Tattersall by email. of 4♥-2, and 75% of 4♠ completed, and then the non- have reserved my rights or making by the opponents. offenders get average plus, called the director? It seems There are always To give averages in such the offenders average minus, to me that any such action some borderline a case is not legal. unless the non-offenders would have emphasised A cases. While it is However, when a board have scored better than my demand for a spade not clear that the rules say is not played at all (or not 60% on the board.

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 35 Furthermore (for a RHO opened 1NT qualified EBU TDs. I know director amend the result? fielded psyche only) the and LHO bid 2♦ we should have done so. If Alan Cooke, Henlow, Beds. offenders also get a standard Q(transfer to hearts). you had been the director penalty as well (10% of a My partner doubled. I didn’t and had been called, how Let us remember top, 3 IMPs or 0.5 VP). know what she meant would you have ruled? who is at fault: all by it because we had not Name and address supplied. A four players. Once ♣♦♥♠ discussed it, though with attention is drawn to an another partner I would I would have irregularity, all four are I adjudicated at have taken it to be lead explained to the required to call the director. a recent teams directing. RHO transferred A opponents that if they I believe that if the more Qof four event and to hearts and I passed (I believed that bidding this experienced players know was required to deal with had six points). It turned way would be understood, the rules and they could a situation which arose out that my partner had then they have an agreement work to the other side’s and am not comfortable 18 points and wanted me and they must change their benefit, it is unethical not to with my decision. to bid my best suit. If we description from, ‘Landy,’ to, tell them. More experienced East was dealer, but North have an understanding that ‘Both majors, or just clubs.’ players have a greater immediately faced his 1NT this double is for take-out Since it seemed to responsibility to play the bidding card (12-14 balanced) with a shortage in hearts, be understood, it is an game according to the rules. and the tournament is the double alertable? agreement and you were As for dummy, if he called director was called. Name and address supplied. misinformed. Since it was me at the end to complain, Please will you explain the fairly obvious what was going he would get nothing except action which should have Yes, it is. Since 2♦ is on, you were not damaged a lecture on how to call been taken and the specific artificial, a double of by the misinformation. the director. If the players rules to be used to correct A it is either showing give wrong rulings at the the infraction, particularly diamonds or it is alertable. ♣♦♥♠ table instead of calling the the options available to director, then they live with the dealer, who rejected ♣♦♥♠ I know you have the consequences, and the bid out of turn having said many times that includes dummy. been offered the choice I was West in the Qto call the director of accepting it. Would the following auction: immediately there is a ♣♦♥♠ decision be different if Q penalty card, but, in practice, West had been dealer? West North East South at the club, typically what I was surprised by John Hamilton, 1NT1 2♣2 Pass 2♥ happens is that declarer your reply that, Bearsden, Glasgow. Pass 3♣3 All Pass leads, say, a spade, defender Q‘there is no rule as 112-14 plays a club by mistake, then to whether the boards are The Laws concerned 2Alerted and explained as Landy says sorry I have a spade. left on the table or not,’ as I are 29A, 29B and when asked. Their spade is played, their have understood that Law A 31B, then 26B. As 3South looked puzzled and club is left on the table as a 7A states, ‘that it should stay you say, East may accept when asked for an explanation penalty card and then their in the centre of the table.’ the call out of turn which said North must have forgotten partner wins the trick. Now Has this law been changed? makes it legal and the the convention and has clubs. if declarer does not know Peter McWhirter by email. auction proceeds on from he has lead rights, should there, though it should not The opponents made seven experienced opponents who The question I was be offered to him until all the tricks in clubs for plus 100 do know, tell declarer this asked was about the options have been explained. to us. This was a bottom fact and call the director A boards not being Assuming he does not because most pairs were themselves or can they played. So, if it is a three- accept it, South must pass in two or three spades our simply take advantage of board round, sometimes throughout, though North way making ten tricks. declarer’s ignorance and three boards are on the table, can call whatever he likes. North had 10 HCP including cash some winning tricks? sometimes one. There is If North-South become ♣A-Q-J-10-6-3. The Is dummy allowed to no rule to cover this, unless defenders, declarer can ban explanation of Landy was intervene on his partner’s the club makes such a rule. any one suit the first time correct, but North decided behalf? If dummy mentions Of course, the board being South is on lead, for as long that he would bid as he did, the lead rights at the played must remain on the as South retains the lead. as it would be obvious once end of the hand, can the table. ■ If West is the dealer, he rebid 3♣. We didn’t make then if West passes North a fuss or call the director repeats his 1NT with no because our opponents are E-mail your questions (including your postal address) penalty. Otherwise the not very experienced and on bridge laws to: [email protected] laws are just the same. my partner and I are both

Page 36 BRIDGE June 2017 A Blast From the Past by Shireen Mohandes

Code Breakers in WW2 Part One

or many years after the Second World War, details of American bridge players ‘Ozzie’ Jacoby is a household name. the Allied code-breaking activities at Bletchley Park, His bridge career spanned seven decades, and he won 27 and its US equivalents, remained a closely-guarded North American championships. He was even a member of Fsecret. Even the code-breakers’ immediate families often President Eisenhower’s bridge-playing circle. knew nothing about what they had done. According to an article on the ACBL website, ‘…In a 1978 With the passage of time, however, and with the help of Sports Illustrated article, Roger Dionne wrote, “Now at 75, Hollywood, we now know quite a lot more about the people Oswald Jacoby will bet you on backgammon, bridge and involved, many of whom were among the brightest of their poker, or who can multiply 647,992 by 435,638 fastest in his generation, hand-picked for their special skills or intellect. head, and the odds are he’ll take your money”.’ It is perhaps no surprise therefore to learn that this rather Not all of Jacoby’s military career has been made public, exclusive group included several bridge and chess players. but we know that he served in both World Wars and Korea. Unfortunately, many of the characters are no longer Fellow American, Richard Pavlicek, said of Jacoby, ‘What with us, so I am delighted to have had the opportunity to impresses me the most about this man was his unselfish, interview several surviving veterans of Bletchley Park. Their devotion to our country. At the outbreak of World War II, personal reflections will appear in the second part of this he voluntarily curtailed his bridge career to rejoin the article, next month. Navy, where he served as a Commander in Intelligence. His expertise as a code-breaker was invaluable to the Allied The Americans cause. He did so again during the Korean War, and was a staff member at the final armistice conference.’ Oswald Jacoby (1902-1984) Charles Goren, in an article in 1967, Sports Illustrated tells us, ‘I still recall the memorable occasion on the final day of the 1941 Winter National Championships in Richmond. Word came of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Jacoby stood up, immediately found a substitute to play for him and left at once for Washington. What he did during the war he has never described exactly, but one of the reasons his name does not appear in the recent book, The Codebreakers, is that the Director of Naval Intelligence asked Jacoby not to talk if approached.’ Sidney Lazard, interviewed by The Bridge World in 2011, added a sequel, ‘In 1962, I was walking with Ozzie down Park Avenue in New York. A man approaches, and he and Jacoby spot each other. The man asks: “How’d you do?” Jacoby says, “Down one.” We continue walking, and I ask for an explanation. Jacoby says the man was kibitzing him in a grand slam on December 7th, 1941, when the word came that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. The kibitzer jumped Photo: ACBL up and left. As soon as the deal was over, Jacoby (on his way to enlist) did the same. They hadn’t seen each other since.’ A story told by in The Bridge Immortals It would be difficult to find any serious bridge player that about Jacoby’s service in the Korean War demonstrates the has not heard of the name Jacoby. In the UK, this might extent of his fame. be mainly in connection with a convention, but amongst ‘On his arrival in the battle zone, a Public Relations

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 37 Alfred Sheinwold (1912-1997) Officer asked him, “How do you spell your name, Commander? Like the bridge expert?” Alfred ‘Freddy’ Sheinwold was born in London, to Russian- “Yes,” admitted Jacoby. Polish immigrant parents. The Sheinwold family emigrated “Come to think of it,” went on the P.R.O., “you look a bit to the USA when Freddy was nine years old. He excelled as a like him, too. Any relation?”’ player, theorist, administrator, and writer. Oswald’s and his wife Mary’s son, Jim, inherited outstanding David Kahn, in his book, The Codebreakers, explains that bridge and games skills. It would do him no justice to simply The O.S.S. (Office of Strategic Services, the forerunner of appear as a footnote in this essay, so more about James Jacoby the CIA) employed a variety of cipher systems in several (1933-1991) and the another time. branches around the world. In the Washington office a specialist department was headed by Alfred Sheinwold, ‘… The Jacoby 2NT convention whose task it was to untangle badly garbled messages, to When partner opens one-of-a-major and the next hand make sure that O.S.S. ciphers were secure and that keys were passes, 2NT is conventional and shows a game-forcing raise not being used too long, and to train cryptographers for the with four or more trumps. After that, the opener shows branches.’ shortage at the three-level. With no shortage he rebids the Writer Colin Burke, in his Papers and Documents on major or bids 3NT, depending on strength. For a detailed Codebreaking explained that Sheinwold recruited fellow explanation, see BRIDGE 160 (http://www.mrbridge.co.uk/ bridge player Geoffrey Mott-Smith in 1944, to train those library/magazine.php?issue=160). who encoded messages. He added that Sheinwold was held in high regard by the O.S.S. and that at the end of WW2 he resigned to concentrate on bridge, ‘… the agency felt it had ♠ K 9 8 7 4 ♠ A Q 5 3 lost a man who could be of the greatest value to what seemed ♥ 5 N ♥ K J 9 to be a coming conflict with Russia.’ W E ♦ A Q 8 S ♦ 10 6 2 ♣ A Q 3 2 ♣ K 8 5

The recommended auction, using Jacoby 2NT:

West East 1♠ 2NT1 3♥2 4♠3 1Jacoby 2Singleton 3Ill-fitting minimum, so sign off

On a bad day, 5♠ would go down. But what if West’s red suits were the other way round?

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

West would respond 3♦, then East would be encouraged Photo: ACBL to invite slam by initiating a cue bidding sequence. The partnership would reach a good small slam, needing only to bring in the trump suit for no loser. Geoffrey Mott-Smith (1902-1960)

West East Co-chairman of the ACBL Laws Commission, and editor 1♠ 2NT1 of the ACBL Bridge Bulletin 1935–36, Mott-Smith was a 3♦2 3♥3 contributor to The Bridge World, a writer and cryptographer. 3♠4 4♣5 During World War II, Mott-Smith served as chief instructor 1Jacoby 4Waiting for the O.S.S. in the training of cryptographers and 2Singleton 5Cue-bid cryptanalysts. He wrote or co-wrote more than 29 books on 3Cue-bid, showing a suitable hand games and served as games consultant for the Association of American Playing Card Manufacturers. Then West would be off to the races. Source: Penguin Random House

Page 38 BRIDGE June 2017 Herbert O Yardley (1889-1958) senior. Smith’s startled father put a garden fork through Of an earlier generation and not a bridge, but a poker player, his own foot on learning of the engagement; but it was an Yardley had a distinguished career as a cryptotologist. outstandingly happy marriage.’ Amongst other achievements he founded the Black Chamber (also known as The Cipher Bureau), which was the USA’s first Asa Briggs, Lord Briggs of Lewes (1921-2016) peacetime cryptanalytic organisation, and forerunner of the National Security Agency (NSA).

The British Hut 6 Bridge Players

Asa Briggs was recruited by the Intelligence Corps, and in 1942 progressed to the Park, Hut 6. Bletchley needed non- mathematicians too. After the war he was a historian, author, and Vice Chancellor of Sussex University. Two obituaries of Briggs in British newspapers referred to his playing chess with Howard Smith, but it seems this was ©Crown copyright, reproduced by kind permission, Director, GCHQ. not correct. An interview with Briggs in History Today in 2011 quotes Briggs as confirming that the game was indeed At Bletchley Park, Hut 6 was tasked with cracking the bridge. German’s fiendishly complex Enigma code. It wasn’t actually How did he become part of the Bletchley set up? one building, it was more a virtual name for whichever ‘I used to play bridge in the late 1930s with Howard Smith... building at the time contained the team. The original physical Gordon Welchman, who devised the system on which Hut 6 was later renamed ‘Hut 16’. The people listed below are Bletchley operated, took three people from my college on the said to be the bridge-playing members of the Hut 6 cadre. outbreak of war, including Howard.’ In a video interview, Briggs pays Conel Hugh O’Donel Alexander (1909-1974) great tribute to the role of the Post Of- fice, Tommy Flowers (the designer of Known as C.H.O’D and Hugh in person, he was an the Colossus computer, which broke International Master at chess and also a bridge player. He the Lorenz cipher), and the women of came from Cork, but the family later moved to Birmingham. Bletchley. He won a scholarship to study maths at Cambridge. He Link: https://goo.gl/IHSCPm initially joined Hut 6, then moved onto Hut 8, Naval Enigma, Asa Briggs wrote Secret Days: Code- heading that team in November 1942. A post war successful breaking in Bletchley Park. ISBN: career at GCHQ followed. In the movie, The Imitation Game, 9781848326620 he is played by actor Matthew Goode. Hugh was a regular at Cheltenham Bridge Club. He is James Macrae Aitken (1908-1983) remembered by a few existing members as being friendly and hospitable. Another denizen of Hut 6 was Scotsman James Macrae If you find yourself playing at Cheltenham, you may want Aitken, from Calderbank, Lanarkshire. He was better to look out for his name on the club notice board. known for his chess than his bridge, having been Scottish chess champion ten times in four decades. ■ Sir Howard Frank Trayton Smith GCMG (1919-1996)

Mathematician Howard Smith (later head of MI5 1978- Bletchley Park’s summer opening times are: 09:30 to 1981), and Asa Briggs, a contemporary of his at Cambridge, 17:00. Admission for adults is £17.75. Admission price were bridge partners. includes annual season ticket giving you unlimited free Albert Buckley of The Independent, wrote in Smith’s returns for a year. More details about visiting, and more obituary, ‘At 23 he married a university English teacher and prices from: https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/visit-us Bletchley colleague, Mary Cropper, who was 15 years his

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 39 Julian Pottage answers your Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Principle of Fast Arrival?

ast Arrival means reaching Hand 3, with poor shape and minimal Partner You a contract (normally a game points, indicates a Fast Arrival bid 1♠ ? contract) quickly. Doing so of 4♥. Hand 4, with fitting cards in Findicates a lack of interest in higher both of partner’s longer suits and fast With Hand 7, you jump straight to things (ie a slam). If, conversely, you winners in partner’s shorter suits, 4♠: getting to game quickly implies take the auction slowly, you indicate is much more suitable for a slam if weak high cards. With Hand 8, you interest in other contracts, either a partner has the right hand; bid 3♥ start with 2NT (Jacoby) if played slam or, in some auctions, a different (forcing) with Hand 4. or, in the absence of a conventional denomination. By bidding weaker and method, with 2♣. stronger hands differently, you help partner judge whether to go higher. Hand 5 Hand 6 The simplest example of a Fast ♠ K 7 4 ♠ K 7 4 Hand 9 Hand 10 Arrival bid is a jump to game in a ♥ 9 8 4 ♥ 9 4 ♠ J 9 5 3 ♠ K 9 7 3 game forcing auction. ♦ 10 7 6 4 ♦ 10 9 8 5 2 ♥ J 4 ♥ 7 3 ♣ 10 7 3 ♣ K 10 3 ♦ A K J 8 6 3 ♦ A K J 8 2 ♣ 3 ♣ A 9 Hand 1 Hand 2 ♠ J 7 4 ♠ K 4 ♥ Q 8 4 ♥ Q 10 4 Partner You Partner You ♦ A Q J 4 ♦ A K Q 4 2 2♦1 2♥1 1♣ 1♦ ♣ 10 7 3 ♣ 10 7 3 2♠ ? 1♠ ? 1Artificial game force and negative (Benjamin) With Hand 9, you make a Fast Arrival Partner You With Hand 5, you are happy to commit jump to 4♠, indicating the bid is a bit 1♥ 2♦ to playing in spades, but do not wish to of a punt based on shape. 2♠ ? enthuse partner about higher things. Hand 10, which contains far more Make the Fast Arrival bid of 4♠. Hand high cards, offers slam possibilities Hand 1, with which you do not wish 6, which has a high card on the side, as with the right hand opposite. Bid to excite partner, you make the Fast well as a ruffing value, offers distinct 2♥ () and support Arrival bid of 4♥. Hand 2 offers far slam possibilities facing a game- spades next time. more potential and should bid 3♥, forcing hand; raise to 3♠. As you can see from all these leaving space for partner to explore. You can also use the principle of examples, the two possible hands in Fast Arrival in auctions that are not each case have different strengths, game forcing so long as you have a sometimes markedly so. It is really Hand 3 Hand 4 strong bid available. Depending upon important that you do not bid them ♠ K 7 4 ♠ A 4 the previous auction, the strong bid the same way. If you were to bid ♥ Q 8 4 ♥ Q 9 4 might be fourth suit forcing, a cue bid, them the same way, you would need ♦ A Q J 4 ♦ A 10 8 5 2 some other or a redouble. to have a very good guesser across ♣ 10 7 3 ♣ K 10 3 the other side of the table. With a normal partner, you would end up in Hand 7 Hand 8 the wrong contract quite often – an Partner You ♠ Q 9 5 3 2 ♠ Q 9 7 3 optimistic partner opposite would 1NT ♥ 8 4 ♥ 7 3 mean you regularly fail in some slams 2♦1 2♥ ♦ K J 8 6 3 ♦ A J 2 and some five of a major contracts – 3♣ ? ♣ 3 ♣ A K J 9 a pessimistic partner opposite would 1Transfer result in missing some good slams. ■

Page 40 BRIDGE June 2017 Answers to Bernard Magee’s CLUB INSURANCE Bidding Quizzes 1-3 Every club should be covered and my inclusive package, on the Cover and page 7 to suit clubs of up to 300 members for less has the majority of the points. than £75 per year, is 1. Dealer West. Game All. In fact, if you pass, then the 3. Dealer West. Game All. the right package at ♠ K 7 6 5 ♠ J 8 hand might be passed out, ♠ A K 8 7 ♠ 9 6 4 the right price. N ♥ N ♥ ♥ ♥ A 8 7 4 Q 3 2 which would be a great score A K 8 7 W E 9 6 5 W E S Contact FIDENTIA ♦ K 8 7 6 S ♦ A 3 2 for you. Anybody opening ♦ A K J 4 ♦ Q 8 6 2 ♣ Q ♣ A 9 8 7 6 the deal with the West hand ♣ 2 ♣ K Q 6 for a quote is likely to get a minus score: ( 020 3150 0080 perhaps even, 3♥ minus two. West North East South West North East South [email protected] ? ?

Pass. 4-4-4-1 hands can be 2. Dealer West. Game All. 1♦. With 4-4-4-1 hands awkward to bid and the worst ♠ 7 ♠ A 9 3 2 things do not get any eas- of the lot is when you hold ♥ K Q 4 2 N ♥ 9 6 5 ier when you have lots of a singleton club. Unless you ♦ J 6 5 3 W E ♦ 10 4 strength, because they can S hold a very strong hand you ♣ A Q J 4 ♣ K 8 7 3 still be awkward to bid. Gen- should never open the suit just erally, unless you feel you For those with Pre-existing above the singleton, because have enough strengt h to un- health conditions you will have a very awkward West North East South derwrite a game, you do best (No Age Limit) rebid. This means that if you ? to start low – this gives you l Travel Insurance with choose to open this hand enough room to explore all of online Medical Screening ♦ you would need to start with 1 . The modern rule for open- your suits. It will result in some l Cover for medical a . However, you ing 4-4-4-1 hands is: with a poor scores when your open- conditions, up to a high would prefer not to start with red suit singleton open the suit ing is passed out, but that is a level of severity, even a a major because when you below and with a black suit risk worth taking. terminal prognosis rebid in your second suit, you singleton open the middle of Whenever you are super- l No age limits will be suggesting five cards your touching suits. Here you strong you can choose the l Instant online cover in your first suit. should choose 1♦ – the middle order in which you bid your All of the above suggests of your three touching suits. suits, because you will be We fully understand that you may wish to speak to that you are faced with a nas- Generally, when opening a aiming to make a reverse bid us direct about cover and ty situation. However with just 4-4-4-1 hand you try to open later. your medical conditions 12 HCP including a singleton in a minor suit, because your Opening the lowest suit and assure you of the best queen in your count, you are rebid will suggest five cards in makes sense because it gives attention by senior staff only very borderline for an your first suit and, as you will more room for your partner on a direct phone line that does not require you to opening at all. In fact, I like to be lying, you should prefer a to respond (you do not mind hold or press buttons for downgrade singleton honours ‘minor’ lie to a ‘major’ lie. an overcall because it makes departments. (except the ace) when I open Here the full auction would sure you get another bid). the bidding by cutting their be: 1♦-1♠-2♣-End Here, you open 1♦ and plan ( 01268 524344 value in half. That leaves you You would rebid 2♣, un- to rebid 2♥ (a reverse). As it is, We look forward to with just 11 points and a clear derneath your first bid suit your partner responds 2♦ and speaking with you soon cut pass. Furthermore, with and your partner would pass, all that remains for you to do a poor 12 HCP I might still happy with the fit. Note that is to explore for a no-trump Email: sales@ genesischoice.co.uk choose to pass, knowing that I after a one-level response, contract. You should end up Website: www. could make a take-out double a change of suit at the two- in 3NT. genesischoice.co.uk on the next round if the auc- level below your first bid suit is If you start with 2♣, then the Genesis Choice Ltd are an tion was suitable. non-forcing. Had you opened auction could get out of hand, appointed representative of NDI Here, all of your suits are 1♥ and rebid 2♣, your part- particularly if you rebid 2♥ Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Ltd who are authorised poor and it is no surprise to ner would have reverted to because East is likely to agree and regulated by the Financial see that you can make very 2♥, expecting to have an hearts as trumps expecting Conduct Authority No.446914 little even though your side eight-card fit there. you to hold five. ■

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 41 Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Twenty-Nine Bidding Distributional Hands

his DVD covers a lot of topics My rules are slightly different – a revolving around distribution- hand must be worth more than nine ♠ Q 4 al hands. It starts with what to HCP to open, but you can include the ♥ K J 8 6 3 2 Topen with these hands and how light value for your inner strength in a long ♦ 9 6 we should open. It talks about the rule suit (tens and nines). Whenever you ♣ 8 3 2 of 20 (or even the rule of 19) and how are borderline, look for suit strength best to employ such a rule. and/or at least one ace. The rule of 20 aims to give you an Soon after you see this hand: Your partner opens 1♠ and with six idea of when your hand might be worth HCP you feel you have to respond: 2♥ an opening bid, even if it is a little light is way beyond your values (it should in high-card points. The rule asks you ♠ Q J 10 9 5 4 promise at least nine HCP), so you to add the length of your two longest ♥ 8 6 have little choice but to respond 1NT. suits to the number of your high-card ♦ Void However, when your partner then bids points: if the total comes to 20 or more, ♣ K Q J 4 3 2NT, inviting game, you can describe then you can open. However, a better your hand neatly: 3♥ – I am weak and name to give it would be the ‘guideline have a long heart suit. Your partner of 20’: the word ‘rule’ suggests that you You hold just nine HCP again, but the will usually pass unless he fits well should always follow the answer, whilst inner strength in the spade suit makes with hearts. His hand was: a guideline gives more leeway. it worth nine-and-a-half HCP and the quality of your two suits make it hard to believe that playing in spades or clubs ♠ A K 7 5 ♠ Q 8 7 6 5 4 is not best. Open 1♠ and be prepared ♥ 5 4 ♥ Q 6 to take 3NT out to one of your suits. 4♠ ♦ A K 5 4 ♦ Void opposite an opening hand surely has a ♣ Q J 4 ♣ K Q 8 4 3 reasonable chance, with your two suits both playable by themselves. So use the ‘guideline of 20’ and A good hand, but he held himself back Here is the first hand that comes up on make sure that when you open light and passed 3♥ – with no fit in hearts, the DVD. Should you open or not? you have decent suits. it does little good to bid on when he With 11 cards in your two long The subject of opening bids continues knows you have 6-7 points (with 8-9 suits and nine HCP, you hit the 20 as you will touch upon opening 4-4-4-1 you could have jumped to 4♥). Note barrier, so there is the potential for an hands, including the idea of doing the that had you responded 2♥ with the opening bid. If it was a ‘rule’ then you opposite of the above – passing on top hand, there would have been no would open 1♠, but if it is a guideline, some ugly 12-counts because 4-4-4-1 stopping your partner. In 3♥, you will then you would look a little deeper. hands can be so awkward to bid, hope to lose just two trumps and two Opening light almost always works if particularly with a singleton club. clubs. Any higher contract and you you find a fit, but it is the misfits that And finally on the subject of opening would need a lot of luck. In 3NT you go badly wrong. Remember that your bids, there are the very strong hands, might make six tricks outside hearts, partner will assume that you hold a where it can be sensible to start low, to but you might make no hearts at all. hand worth at least 12 points. give yourself the best chance to find a As can be seen on the above hands, In the hand above, your suit quality fit before getting excited. when distributional hands do not fit is poor and your suit order even worse. Responding with distribution can be together, life is not so rosy: dealing Imagine you choose to open 1♠ and much more dynamic – once you have a with misfits is an important aspect partner responds 2♦, you cannot even fit you will often be able to jump high, of distributional hand bidding – show your second suit – you rebid 2♠ in an effort to disrupt your opponents. the excitement of a fit can have you and probably have a sinking feeling, Another interesting topic is jumping high, but the worry of a knowing your partner is probably making the 1NT response on weak misfit should have the opposite effect, going to try for 3NT. distributional hands: keeping you low. When one hand

Page 42 BRIDGE June 2017 has two suits and the other holds the Answers to Bernard Magee’s Bidding other two, it can be very difficult to get from hand to hand – we have all Quizzes 4-6 on the Cover and page 7 been in 3NT going a few off when we get stuck in one hand, through lack of Pass. 14 HCP and a 4-4-4-1 shape, but communication. 4. Dealer South. Game All. this time the opponents have bid one of The second part of the DVD deals ♠ K 7 6 5 ♠ A 9 3 2 your suits. You cannot make an overcall more with the overcalling side: the ♥ 4 N ♥ Q J 3 2 because that would be at the two-level different conventions and styles you ♦ K 9 3 2 W E ♦ A Q and the bare minimum requirement S can use to get in your opponents’ way, ♣ Q J 6 5 ♣ 8 7 3 would be a five-card suit. Neither can you as well as bidding your own contracts. double, because too often your partner Not necessarily aiming to make these will respond in clubs and leave you stuck. contracts, but looking to get better West North East South With a stopper in spades you might con- scores: sacrificing – giving a smaller 1♥ template 1NT, but you are understrength score away by going down, than you ? and not balanced, so that would involve would have given up by allowing them multiple lies. Better is to stay quiet. to make their contract. Weak jump Pass. 4-4-4-1 hands with a singleton in If you do double then your partner overcalls are advocated as a way to bid the opponents’ suit are perfect for take- will indeed bid clubs, he might even be more, get in the way and find some out doubles – a shape of hand that we drawn to compete to 3♣, expecting some very good sacrifices. dislike to have to open with, we actually support from you. With no fit between enjoy once the opponents have opened. you, you do better to defend against However, the shape of your hand is not whatever your opponents end up in. ♠ K 10 8 2 ♠ A Q J 5 4 3 the only requirement for a first round ♥ 10 7 5 4 N ♥ 3 take-out double – the other aspect is that W E ♦ Q J 6 2 S ♦ 7 4 3 you should have the values for an opening 6. Dealer South. Game All. ♣ 4 ♣ 9 8 7 hand. Nine HCP is not enough – although ♠ K Q 6 5 ♠ 9 8 3 some may have counted seven losers, it is ♥ K Q 10 9 N ♥ J 7 2 an aceless hand so you should value it as ♦ A J 9 2 W E ♦ K 4 S At love all, North opens 1♥. East seven and a half losers. You should pass, ♣ 2 ♣ 9 8 7 6 3 makes a weak jump overcall of 2♠: this but that might not be the end of things. shows six spades and 6-10 HCP (very On this hand, North raised to 2♥ and similar to a weak two opening). Note then the auction came back to you. Now West North East South that you do have to agree this method it might seem strange to contemplate 1NT with your partner, otherwise he might doubling 2♥ and not doubling 1♥, but ? get some nasty surprises. the situation has changed. The opponents South passes and now West bids to have limited their strength and shown Double. If you play some sort of two- the level of the partnership’s fit. East their fit – you are allowed to borrow some suited overcall convention, you might has shown six spades, he has four, so strength from your partner. Importantly, contemplate using with this hand, he bids to make ten tricks – jumping your partner will know you are not so although you should really have nine to 4♠. North probably doubles, but strong because you did not double on the cards between two suits. However, all East will need to do is make eight first round. East would bid 2♠ only and more important than your shape is your tricks to see a profit, since he expects your side will not go overboard. strength – with 15 HCP, you are stronger that his opponents can make 4♥ or 5♣. Clearly, if you make a first round double, than the 1NT opener so you should be 4♠ doubled minus two would be -300 then your partner, with an opening hand, contemplating a penalty double. instead of -420 for 4♥ making. East will expect to have a chance of making Generally with 16 or more you should might even make nine tricks. game and will certainly bid to at least 3♠, always double, but with 15 you are Finally, there is a mention about which would take you too high. borderline and should decide whether having a strong hand opposite an you like your hand or not. Here, you have overcall and how to deal with the three suits that have two honours, which problem: bid the opponents’ suit to 5. Dealer South. Game All. is good news, and you also have the ten show your strength and excitement. ♠ K 7 6 5 ♠ 8 2 and nine of hearts to bolster that suit. I This DVD covers a great deal of ♥ A K 3 2 N ♥ 8 7 would call it at least a ‘good 15’ if not ideas and concepts – opening your ♦ A 9 3 2 W E ♦ K 7 6 even 15½ so I would certainly double. S mind to the different aspects of coping ♣ 4 ♣ Q J 8 7 6 3 Your partner turns up with only four with distributional hands – from the HCP, but since South held the ♦Q, you excitement of fits to the downgrading were able to take seven tricks and rack of misfits. Above all, the emphasis West North East South up 200 points. Give your partner a few is on the fun and potential that 1♠ more points and you might have got a lot distributional hands give you. ■ ? more. ■

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 43 Bridge Movies by Heather Dhondy

Small or Grand Slam?

t is teams; dealer South. East-West What has your partner shown? two in dummy regardless of the trump vulnerable. You are North, hold- What should North call? break. Can you see a problem with ing: this? I ♣♦♥♠ Your entries to hand could become an issue if West wins the spade and ♠ 3 Answer: Partner responds with a switches to a diamond. You can cash ♥ A K 10 disappointing 5♦ showing one key- a trump, and play one to the ten and ♦ A K 10 6 3 card, so, since you are missing one, ruff a spade. Now ruff a heart and ruff ♣ K Q J 5 you must settle for 6♣. a spade, but if trumps are 3-1 you may West leads the ♥7, and these are the go down by suffering a ruff if diamonds combined hands: are 4-1, or a trying to West North East South get back to hand, even if diamonds are 1♣ 3-2. Although this would be unlucky, Pass ? ♠ 3 it is not the best line. ♥ A K 10 Instead, you should be drawing at What should North do? ♦ A K 10 6 3 least two rounds of trumps. You have ♣ K Q J 5 already worked out that the contract ♣♦♥♠ is 100% on a 2-2 break, with plenty of N good chances still to come if they are W E Answer: You have a fabulous hand S not. and must be thinking in terms of at Play the king of clubs to which both least a small slam. You could make a ♠ K Q 10 5 defenders follow, and follow up with splinter bid of 3♠ to show your club ♥ J the queen, on which West discards a support and spade shortage, but is ♦ J 5 4 heart. there any point? ♣ A 10 8 6 4 To be honest, if partner holds an What do you do now? ace you are going to play in 6♣ and if partner holds two aces you will Now switch to the South seat to declare ♣♦♥♠ probably have a go at 7♣. That being the contract. the case, a jump straight to 4NT looks The contract looks to be a very good Answer: The third diamond in hand reasonable. one. Your potential diamond loser will be discarded on the king of hearts Don’t reveal more about your hand can be disposed of from hand on the and if they break 3-2, one ruff will set than necessary unless you need to ex- second heart and, if trumps are 2-2, up enough tricks for you. Do you have change more information with part- you will be able to ruff your two low any further chances if diamonds are ner to help decide on the final contract. spades in dummy. If not, then your 4-1? This is especially true if you are going diamonds can be established to take Yes. The spades provide you with to be declarer, since the opponents will care of your low spades provided they some extra chances. If you view them find it harder to defend if they have lit- break 3-2. correctly, you may make an extra tle information about your shape and/ Start by putting up the ace from trick in that suit. Therefore, it is not or strength. Even when you are going dummy and you will see East follow worth taking the chance of cashing to be dummy, it is better to reveal as with the eight. two diamonds before drawing the last little as possible, since West will still trump, since you may suffer a ruff. have to find a blind opening lead. What is your plan? Draw the final trump and West discards another heart. Now you can West North East South ♣♦♥♠ try the ace and king of diamonds, but 1♣ unfortunately East discards the two of Pass 4NT pass 5♦ Answer: You could consider playing spades. You discard your diamond on Pass ? a spade at trick two, intending to ruff the king of hearts.

Page 44 BRIDGE June 2017 What do you do now? Answers to Bernard Magee’s ♣♦♥♠ Bidding Quizzes 7-9 Answer: Your options are becoming limited. With only one entry left on the Cover and page 7 to dummy, you will not be able to establish, and cash, the fifth diamond. go for game. However, rather than leap- Therefore, you will need to examine 7. Dealer West. Love All. ing to 4♠, wouldn’t it be wonderful to the spade position. ♠ A J 9 2 ♠ Q 8 bid to game and tell your partner about Play a spade off the dummy, to which ♥ Q J 9 7 N ♥ 10 8 4 your singleton club as well. Splinter bids East follows low. ♦ A K 3 2 W E ♦ Q 7 4 are double jump bids in a new suit, that S ♣ 6 ♣ A K 5 4 2 show your full hand – enough strength for Which card do you play from hand? game, primary support and shortage in the suit bid. 4♣ fits the bill. Your partner’s ♣♦♥♠ West North East South hand fits perfectly with a singleton club 1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass – you will be able to ruff his two losers, Answer: Your options are to try the ? so he will suggest a slam by cue bidding ten, hoping to find the jack with East, 4♥. His diamonds are a worry, but by by- or to play a top one, hoping that the ace 2NT. You opened with the middle of passing them he suggests this weakness is with East. your touching suits and your partner – playing Italian style cue bidding, he is There are two reasons why it is a better responds in your short suit. You could showing first or second round control. shot to play the ten. Firstly, it might continue by bidding a second suit, but Note that the king in your partner’s suit is be hard for East to duck the ace, if he that tells a slight lie about your major, usually a good holding. With good news has it, seeing the singleton in dummy. because it would suggest a five-card suit. confirmed, you can use Blackwood and Secondly, and more importantly, if East Another option is to consider a no-trump on finding just one missing key card you does hold the jack, you have made your rebid: this would show your 15 HCP, but could bid 6♠. Just 27 HCP, but the beau- contract for certain, since you only would lie about your holding in clubs – tiful fit makes a slam straightforward. now require one spade ruff in dummy. your partner will expect at least two. However, consider what will happen if When confronted with the choice be- you play a spade to the king and it does tween two lies, tend to choose the minor 9. Dealer West. Love All. hold the trick. Okay, you haven’t lost a lie rather than the major. Rebidding 2NT ♠ K Q 3 2 ♠ A 7 4 trick yet, but are you up to twelve? You does lie about your club holding but how ♥ K Q 9 7 N ♥ J 8 can ruff a spade in dummy, but will still often will partner get excited about clubs? ♦ Q J 3 2 W E ♦ 10 5 4 S be left with the queen and ten in hand, Here, East will suggest a heart contract by ♣ 6 ♣ J 9 5 4 2 and no further trumps to ruff with. bidding 3♥, but you finish in 3NT. Therefore, when East follows low, If you rebid in a second suit, then East insert the ten and play for the jack to is likely to want to play in hearts. West North East South be onside. This was the full deal: 1♥ Pass 1NT Pass ? 8. Dealer West. Love All. ♠ 3 ♠ K Q J 2 ♠ A 9 8 7 5 3 Pass. You open the middle of your touch- ♥ A K 10 ♥ Q J 9 7 N ♥ K 4 ing suits and your partner responds 1NT. ♦ A K 10 6 3 ♦ A K 3 2 W E ♦ 9 7 Your partner will not have four spades – S ♣ K Q J 5 ♣ 6 ♣ A 4 2 by bypassing 1♠ he has denied this. You ♠ A 7 6 ♠ J 9 8 4 2 are not balanced so it might seem obvi- ♥ 9 7 6 5 4 N ♥ Q 8 3 2 ous to bid 2♦, but the problem with this ♦ Q 9 8 7 W E ♦ 2 West North East South is that you will rarely end up in your best S ♣ 2 ♣ 9 7 3 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass fit. Your partner will more often than not ♠ K Q 10 5 ? give preference to hearts, because we are ♥ J conditioned to go back to partner’s major ♦ J 5 4 4♣. This time you get a nice surprise, unless we have much better support for ♣ A 10 8 6 4 your ugly 4-4-4-1 hand turns in to a thing the minor. For example if you bid 2♦ here, of beauty when your partner responds in East will give false preference to hearts by one of your suits. Now it is time to get bidding 2♥ and you would finish in a 4-2 At last something worked for you on excited and fully evaluate your hand. Your fit. Better is to leave your partner in 1NT, the hand and after the bad breaks in singleton moves your hand in to the high- hoping that his clubs are longer than his the minors, you deserved a bit of luck er echelon of opening hands: 19 points diamonds. 1NT is not a perfect contract, in what was a fine contract. ■ or five losers, which means you should but it is a lot better than 2♥. ■

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 45 BERNARD Letters from Overseas MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL CD Glass Half Full or DECLARER PLAY Glass Half Empty? by John Barr

MAC or Windows hen it snows in At one table, South opened der day, or if I should pack Austria, you can 4♥ and played there. After a up and go home as the tell who looks spade lead, he tried the ace visibility was so bad. Won the bright side of life and and another heart, which Even allowing for the who is more negative. Half East won and returned his likely trump loser, I still of the population rush out last heart. Now there was had 15 winners, but com- with their skis in munications search of fresh were hopelessly powder, while tangled and I Bernard develops the rest stay in, was sure that your declarer play complaining of the opponents technique in the poor visibility would eventu- course of ten and heavy snow. ally lead clubs introductory Of course, both when they won exercises and 120 are right, but the heart king. complete deals. if you wait for Suddenly, l Suit Establishment the snowfall a smile crept in No-trumps to stop before across my face venturing out, as I spotted a l Suit Establishment the powder will play usually in Suits have been skied confined to the l Hold-ups £76 out. pages of bridge l Ruffing for This hand books, but that Extra Tricks from a recent I seldom see at Kitzbühel du- the table. To be l Entries in plicate also di- honest, I usu- No-trumps vided opinion – ally have my l Delaying is it a good hand ‘Aha’ moments Drawing Trumps for declarer, or a bad hand? nothing declarer could do about a potential brilliant l Using the Lead to avoid the loss of three play after waking up at 3am club tricks and the contract following a game at the club. l Trump Control ♠ K Q J 10 7 5 was one down. The answer was so simple. l Endplays & ♥ Void After an auction that my I won the ace of diamonds Avoidance ♦ A 6 5 4 partner and I have decided chucking the ace of spades. I ♣ Q 7 2 l Using the Bidding not to make public, in case could then discard my three ♠ 6 4 2 ♠ 9 8 3 anyone with a weak consti- small clubs on spades, los- N ♥ 5 W E ♥ K 9 4 tution is upset, we alighted ing only a trick to the king Mr Bridge, Ryden ♦ J 10 9 7 2 S ♦ K Q 8 3 in 6♥ and West led a dia- of trumps and making my Grange, Knaphill, ♣ K J 9 5 ♣ A 8 6 mond, after his partner slam. Surrey GU21 2TH ♠ A had doubled a diamond bid So, the next time it snows ( 01483 489961 ♥ A Q J 10 8 7 6 3 2 from North. are you going to go out and www.mrbridge.co.uk/ ♦ Void I stared at dummy for have fun, or stay at home mrbridge-shop ♣ 10 4 3 some time wondering if and complain about the vis- this was a wonderful pow- ibility? ■

Page 46 BRIDGE June 2017 Answers to Bernard Magee’s BERNARD MAGEE’S Bidding Quizzes 10-12 INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL CD on the Cover and page 7 DEFENCE

Cue bidding and Blackwood 10. Dealer West. Love All. might allow the partnership to 12. Dealer West. Love All. ♠ 6 ♠ A 9 8 4 2 get to 6♣. Even if your partner ♠ 6 ♠ A K 9 8 4 2 ♥ K Q 7 2 N ♥ J 3 settles for 3NT, at least you ♥ K Q 7 2 N ♥ 8 3 W E W E ♦ K Q 5 4 S ♦ A 2 have given him the chance to ♦ K Q 5 4 S ♦ J 2 ♣ A 9 7 6 ♣ K Q J 4 find better things. ♣ K 9 7 6 ♣ A 5 4 MAC or Windows

West North East South West North East South 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass 11. Dealer West. Love All. 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥1 Pass ♠ 6 ♠ A 9 8 4 2 2♣ Pass 3♠ Pass ? ♥ K Q 7 2 N ♥ J 3 ? W E 1Fourth suit forcing ♦ K Q 5 4 S ♦ A J 3 2 ♣ Q 9 7 6 ♣ J 4 Pass. You start in the same Bernard develops 3♥. Once again you opened way again, by bidding the two your defence in the the middle suit of three touch- minors, but now your part- course of ten ing four card suits, 1♦, and West North East South ner jump rebids in spades. introductory then over the 1♠ response you 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass Once again, the question exercises and 120 showed your clubs. Now East 2♣ Pass 3♦ Pass revolves around trying to complete deals. bid 2♥ – this is the fourth suit ? work out what East’s second l Lead vs forcing – an artificial forcing bid means. Strong respond- No-trump bid asking you to describe Pass. With a similar shape ing hands often need to use Contracts your hand further. The most to question 10, albeit a little the fourth suit forcing to get common question your part- weaker, you started the same across their strength, as you l Lead vs ner is asking is whether you way: 1♦ then 2♣. You chose saw in question 10. Here, Suit Contracts have a stopper in the heart to open the bidding because rather like in question 11, East l Partner of Leader suit. If you have, you bid no- a singleton spade is easier to has made a non-forcing bid: vs No-trump trumps. handle than a singleton club. his jump to 3♠ is very encour- Contracts So the obvious answer is Over your rebid your partner aging, showing at least six l Partner of Leader 2NT (or 3NT). However, there jumps to 3♦. What kind of spades and 11-12 HCP. vs Suit Contracts is a much more descriptive hand is he showing? However, it looks as if you bid, which gets across the He is not forcing to game – have a misfit: you have a l Count same message: 3♥. A raise of with stronger hands that want pretty minimum hand with a Signals the fourth suit generally shows to do this, they have to start nasty singleton in your part- l Attitude £76 a genuine suit and a better by bidding the fourth suit forc- ner’s suit. 3NT would be the Signals than minimum hand. Bidding ing (rather like the East hand common answer, but more l Discarding this way gives your partner from question 10, which had realistic is to pass. a perfect description of your a fit for clubs). He is showing A lucky spade break and l Defensive Plan hand – you have bid three about 11 points – an invita- you can make plenty of tricks, l Stopping Declarer suits, so you must be short in tional hand with reasonable but the more common 4-2 l Counting spades. support for diamonds. Hold- break makes any game con- the Hand Usually shortage oppo- ing a minimum hand yourself, tract hopeless. In 3♠, part- site his longest suit would you should simply pass. You ner might scrape home if he not please East, but with him do have a heart stopper for can throw a club loser quickly Mr Bridge, Ryden holding the ♠A he can see no-trumps, but you have no enough. Grange, Knaphill, that your hands are fitting reason to think that your part- However, even if you go Surrey GU21 2TH well and that a club contract nership has the strength to one off in 3♠ you will likely ( 01483 489961 might well do better than no- make 3NT, particularly with score well, because others www.mrbridge.co.uk/ trumps. He might imagine your singleton in your part- will be two off in higher con- mrbridge-shop that 6♣ would have a chance. ner’s suit. tracts. ■

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 47 Seven Days by Sally Brock

Catching Up Monday feeling too good. She has been on a new treatment plan for her tummy After our extremely hectic February, Today I go to Tove’s house to give a problems and it’s not making her feel life calmed down a bit in March. lesson to her and three of her friends well at all. After dinner, she sets off I have now started to look for (another of the deals struck at Briony’s for home, but 15 minutes later I get a somewhere new to live in London for charity evening). I have prepared call to say that her car is making such when my lease at the church runs out some hands (with no particular point a dreadful noise that she really thinks at the end of May. Briony has finally to them) and I let them bid them, then she should go no further. I dash out moved out and seems settled – she we discuss the bidding, then they play/ in my pyjamas to rescue her (halfway comes back now and then and we like defend. After eight hands we have a there I start to worry about what will to share an Indian takeaway. We get delicious lunch, and then play eight happen if anyone should see me). We on a lot better now – it suits us both more. It seems to go well and I think go home and ring the AA and the not to be on top of each other all the they all learn something and enjoy police to establish that it is OK to leave time. The future looks quite exciting. themselves. the car on the side of the road and sort When Briony ran her charity event I leave at tea-time and drive to everything out tomorrow. in January, an ongoing venture during Shepherd’s Bush. As I get there with the evening was a written auction nothing special to do, I decide to go to for future games with professionals. one of the local estate agents to enquire Wednesday The bidding for a duplicate (or the if they have any suitable properties We are up early, and ring the AA just equivalent) with a pro started at £100 on their books. In the twinkling of before we leave the house to go back to and ended at £400. You could bid on an eye, Charlotte takes me to look at the car. Now she is without a car I need any professional, or several. When the this fantastic house near the Young to insure my car for her (£100 for five bidding got to £400 the deal was settled, Chelsea. It is above my budget, but she days) so she can get around. So after but anyone could buy other games with persuades me that they may accept a dropping her I go home, sort out the that pro (provided the pro was willing) lower offer as it has been empty for insurance and get a taxi to the station for another £400. So March saw me a while. So I am excitedly waiting to to go to London for my weekly game fulfilling those obligations. I played a hear. at the Acol. duplicate at the Young Chelsea with It is the first Monday of the month Meanwhile, Briony waits for the AA. Gilly and played in the Portland Pairs and the arrangement is that any of It turns out that she has neglected to with Bertie. All good fun and in a good the U26 women in my squad who put oil in the car to such an extent that cause. can make it to the Young Chelsea are it needs a new engine – £2,500. As the Briony and I had an overnight guaranteed a game with a top female car is only a seven-year-old Citroen shopping trip to Bruges towards the player. This scheme doesn’t seem to C1, it is effectively dead. end of the month, which was fun. be as popular as it might be, and this I play with Allie, as usual, but Bruges, with all those chocolate shops, evening the only one to take me up on nothing goes right. We have a good is one of her favourite places and we the offer is Alex. We have an enjoyable time, as always, but score very badly. like to go at least once a year. game and finish third. This is the board everyone is talking I’ve also started practising (online) about (see next column). my new partnership with Fiona. Our I’m not sure that I could really first thoughts for a system were too Tuesday recommend our opponents’ bidding complicated. After a sleepless night of Not much on the cards today. My on this deal, but it gets the job done. worrying how I was going to remember car has been recalled for some rather Not much of a score for us. It is very it all, I suggested something a lot obscure reason, so I have to take it to hard to know how to deal with such simpler (and don’t think I imagined High Wycombe, to the Citroen dealer, a freak hand. I can sympathise with the sigh of relief from her as well). for them to fix whatever it was that was those who open 5♦ (I might well do Other than that, it’s been a case of wrong. While doing it, they discover the same), leaving their partner with keeping going with my online clients a nail in one of my tyres, so sort that no way to investigate anything – – and down to earth after our fantastic as well. Then I come home to do some indeed, they do well to bid 6NT rather trip in February. work. Briony is waiting for me – not than 6♦.

Page 48 BRIDGE June 2017 At my table, West leads the ♥3. This several other places before going Dealer South. Love All. doesn’t look like a doubleton, so it home. She decides to try to get cheaper ♠ A K 9 seems to me that my best chance is insurance and discovers that she can ♥ A J 10 8 2 for East to hold one of the minor-suit save £500 by agreeing to have a black ♦ K kings – and as the opening bid was in box installed in the car. That reduces ♣ K Q J 10 third seat, where pretty much anything the problem for her, so we ring them ♠ 8 7 5 ♠ Q 10 6 4 3 2 goes, that is quite possible. So I win in up and agree to buy it. We go over to ♥ 9 7 5 4 3 N ♥ K Q dummy and take a club finesse. West get it straightaway – without even a W E ♦ ♦ 9 S 5 4 clears hearts and I have to decide test drive. They have been hurriedly ♣ 8 6 4 3 ♣ 9 7 5 whether or not to cash out for one cleaning it while we are away (it only ♠ J down or take the diamond finesse and came in a few hours before we saw it) ♥ 6 risk going three down. I actually think so after filling in all the paperwork she ♦ A Q J 10 8 7 6 3 2 I should have cashed out. East, playing drives it home (the first time she has ♣ A 2 reverse attitude, had discarded the ♠4 driven an automatic) and she loves it. and ♦7, so it looked as if she had the Sometime during the day, Charlotte ♠A and not the ♦K. However, in the sends an email to say that despite the West North East South end, I do take the diamond finesse and Goldhawk Road property being on the 1♦ duly go three down. market for a year, someone else viewed Pass 1♥ 2♠ 4NT In the other room, for our team, East- it on the same day that I did and has Pass 6NT Pass 7♦ West are not a regular partnership and made a better offer. Oh well, it did Pass 7NT All Pass have agreed that they play MUD from seem too good to be true. three small with no difference in a Then I get the train to Shepherd’s Bush partnership suit, so West leads the ♥5. and go to view a few properties. All are Declarer wins and lays down the ♠K, Friday OK, but nothing quite right. Briony is which East, not thinking that West Up early and off to Chalfont St Peter in London with some time to kill so would have three hearts, ducks and where I am doing two seminars on we meet at Carluccio’s in Westfield now it is all over. slam bidding. I met Tessa Templeton for a drink and some supper. She is Afterwards I have a glass of wine and back in October when she contacted taking Barry to the Arsenal v West talk about the hands, and then Barry me through the ProBridge website Ham football match (she supports and Briony turn up (3-0 to Arsenal) (www.pro-bridge.co.uk). She had a few Arsenal and he West Ham), but Barry and Briony drives me home. online sessions and then approached is running late, so I wait with her for me about doing these seminars. She him and off they go. I wander back seems to have the most amazing knack to the flat, stopping off at yet another Thursday of attracting people. Every time I have estate agent, and then proceed to the I get up and do 40 minutes on my tried to organise a seminar before, Young Chelsea where I am playing exercise bike. I’ve just finished in the or a bridge holiday, or something of a London Super League match with shower when Briony arrives and we go the sort, I have never managed to get Robert. This is the most contentious off car-hunting. First to Hemel to look enough people interested. Here she deal: at some garages she has picked out. told me she didn’t dare advertise it or She can’t decide whether she wants a she would be hugely oversubscribed. small convertible such as a VW Beetle There are two sessions of nine tables Dealer West. N/S Vul. or a much larger vehicle. The problem each – different people each time, but ♠ Q J 9 3 2 is that she often needs something with the same seminar, so I only have to ♥ K 2 a good boot for kayaks, wheelchairs do one lot of preparatory work. I had ♦ 5 4 2 (which she sometimes needs for work) prepared several deals (most of which ♣ Q 10 4 or her bike. We see a few interesting were sent to me by BRIDGE readers). I ♠ 7 5 ♠ A 10 6 4 small cars but nothing bigger, so go talk a little, then the whole table works ♥ 8 5 3 N ♥ Q J 10 7 6 4 home for lunch to think about it. out how the hand should be bid, then I W E ♦ ♦ K 10 8 6 S J 7 3 We decide to go to High Wycombe go through the various bids, and then ♣ K 9 8 5 ♣ Void in the afternoon as we know where they play it. And so on. It seems to go ♠ K 8 everything is there. Our first stop is down well. I will be interested to hear ♥ A 9 a smallish general secondhand car what feedback she gets. ♦ A Q 9 dealer from which we bought her last I feel exhausted afterwards and as ♣ A J 7 6 3 2 car. There she falls in love with a huge soon as I get to Barry’s flat I sleep until Volvo automatic with an enormous sevenish, when we have to get ready to boot. However, the problem is the go out to the regular Friday night drive West North East South insurance. She checks online on their at the YC. Two of my U26 girls are Pass Pass 3♥ 3NT computer and it seems to be at least playing. I had offered that we would All Pass £2,000. We leave reluctantly and visit split up and play with them, but in

BRIDGE June 2017 Page 49 the end they prefer to play together – At the table I am watching, East is BERNARD which is fine. So Barry and I play – we allowed to open 1NT (15-17) in fourth don’t get a lot of luck and screw up a seat. West bids 3NT and that is that. MAGEE’S couple of hands, finishing third. South leads a spade and declarer is INTERACTIVE soon scoring ten tricks. At both the Saturday other two tables, North opens a weak TUTORIAL CD 2♦ – horror from the purists. But when Up early to meet with an estate agent partner has passed, it is a safer thing and view a couple of properties – both to do as it is unlikely that she will try ACOL BIDDING hopeless. One I have seen before and 3NT, hoping the suit will run. As it is, it is nearly OK, but not quite, and the gives East a problem. Had the Easts bid other is interesting and funky but too 2NT there would have been no story, vertical. If I am going to live in this but they both prefer to start with a place for twenty years or so (fingers double. Now it is difficult for West and, crossed) then the last thing I want is in practice, both East-West pairs play lots of steep stairs. in hearts, one in 3♥ (making) and the MAC or Then it’s off to the Young Chelsea other in 4♥ (going down). So, a success Windows for the final training weekend before for the offbeat 2♦ opener. I pick the U26 women’s team for the We wind up at about seven o’clock. European Championships. We have Bryony and I walk to Barry’s for a a good turnout of ten young women, glass of wine before going over the along with Bryony Youngs (who road to our local Indian restaurant helps me run the squad) and Alan while we talk about the pros and cons Shillitoe, who has been the U26 open of our various options. squad leader for many years but has just retired, because of the arrival six weeks ago of his new son. Sunday Throughout 200 deals split into The basic format is to play eight It’s an earlier start today: 10am. We ten chapters, Bernard evaluates boards and then go through them. have an extra squad member who your bids, praising the correct Today I make them cut for partners. had work duties yesterday. We don’t ones and discussing the wrong I am impressed by two newcomers to have Alan, but Barry comes instead. ones. the squad – they are first year students Today they are playing in their best at Oxford University and look as if partnerships, but one by one I drag l Opening Bids they are going to be a huge asset to the them away from the table for a quick and Responses team. interview (Barry is there to take their l Slams and One of the recurring themes of the place – by the end of this he plays quite Strong Openings weekend is how often putting in a well, as he has seen a lot of hands more slightly disruptive bid seems to make than once). I listen to what everyone l Support for Partner life difficult for opponents. This seems has to say and a decision is beginning l Pre-empting to happen so often that it is a good to take shape. Towards the end Tom l Overcalls style just to bid whenever you can Townsend drops in. He lives very near £66 (especially non-vulnerable) and see the Young Chelsea and very kindly l No-trump what happens. This is a good example: had a couple of the girls to stay. He is Openings also on the Selection Committee so his and Responses advice is more than welcome. After l Opener’s and Dealer South. N/S Vul. we have finished, he, Bryony and I go Responder’s Rebids ♠ 7 across to Costa and mull things over. ♥ K Q 8 A decision is made – it’s not going to l Minors and Misfits ♦ 10 8 7 6 4 2 please everyone, but I think it is going l Doubles ♣ Q 4 3 to please the selected team. I am quite ♠ Q 9 8 ♠ A K J 4 excited as I think it is an excellent team l Competitive Auctions ♥ A J 10 4 N ♥ 9 6 3 who will all get along and which has W E ♦ ♦ Q J 9 S K 3 a very good chance to qualify for the ♣ 10 5 2 ♣ A J 8 7 World Championships in 2018. Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, ♠ 10 6 5 3 2 I dash back to Barry’s to pack up Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH ♥ 7 5 2 my stuff and go home via the Indian ( 01483 489961 ♦ A 5 takeaway. Briony is there and we www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop ♣ K 9 6 spend the rest of the evening watching our favourite trashy TV. ■

Page 50 BRIDGE June 2017 BRAND NEW CRUISE - WINTER 2018

THE CUBA EXPERIENCE 1 23 February 2018

Fly to HAVANA Cuba FEB 23 O Embark Aegean Odyssey FEB 24 HAVANA Cuba FEB 25 AT SEA FEB 26 CIENFUEGOS Cuba FEB 27 CASILDA Cuba FEB 28 AT SEA MAR 1 SANTIAGO DE CUBA Cuba MONTEGO BAY Jamaica MAR 2 Disembark Aegean Odyssey and transfer to Montego Bay Airport MAR 3 Arrive UK Havana, Cuba O Overnight stay in port AE180223BR

MR BRIDGE SPECIAL FARES 9-day cruise from £2,650pp Standard Inside Cabin from £2,650pp HOSTED BY WILL AND SYLVIA PARSONS Standard Outside Cabin from £3,150pp Premium Outside Cabin from £3,295pp Cruise the coast of Cuba from the UNESCO Single fares from £2,935 World Heritage site of Old Havana in the capital, to Cienfuegos, “the Pearl of the South”, the city of Trinidad, and Odyssey Club Members enjoy an additional 10% discount on prices shown above until 31 May 2017. Santiago de Cuba, the nation’s second great metropolis and the birthplace of Bacardi. Then sail the Caribbean to the historic sugarcane port of Montego Bay FARES INCLUDE in Jamaica. With two days at sea you can also indulge your passion for bridge • Scheduled economy class flights from on board the premier class Aegean Odyssey. There will be morning seminars and London afternoon bridge when the ship is at sea, in addition to the duplicate session • Mr Bridge drinks party held every evening. Call us today for more information. • Morning seminars and afternoon bridge when at sea Cabins can be held for seven days without obligation. • Duplicate bridge every evening (singles will always be found a bridge partner) • Sightseeing excursions at most ports of call • Expert destination speaker programme • Specialist excursion guides plus personal QuietVox devices • All meals on board in choice of two restaurants • Complimentary wine with dinner on board • Gratuities for on-board cabin and Call on 01483 489961 restaurant staff or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk • Overseas transfers and baggage handling

All Mr Bridge fares shown are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Single accommodation is available only in certain grades. Please see Voyages to Antiquity brochure or website for full terms and conditions. Ship’s registry: Panama.

VTA_170215_Mr Bridge Ad_March 2017.indd 4 06/04/2017 13:34:25 BRAND NEW CRUISE - WINTER 2017 A PASSAGE TO THE CARIBBEAN 20 November 2017

Arrive into TENERIFE Canary Islands NOV 20 O Embark Aegean Odyssey NOV 21 TENERIFE Canary Islands NOV 22 AT SEA NOV 23 AT SEA NOV 24 PRAIA Santiago Island, Cape Verde NOV 25 MINDELO Sao Vicente Island, Cape Verde PORTO NOVO NOV 26 Santo Antao Island, Cape Verde NOV 27 AT SEA - DEC 2 NO SINGLE DEC 3 BRIDGETOWN Barbados O SUPPLEMENT DEC 4 BRIDGETOWN Barbados O BRIDGETOWN Barbados DEC 5 Disembark Aegean Odyssey and transfer to Barbados Airport Santiago Island, Cape Verde DEC 6 Arrive UK O Overnight stay in port AEG171120BR

MR BRIDGE SPECIAL FARES pp 17-day cruise from £1,995 Standard Inside Cabin from £1,995pp HOSTED BY BERNARD MAGEE Standard Outside Cabin from £2,750pp Premium Outside Cabin from £2,995pp Mr Bridge is pleased to present this brand new bridge NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT cruise that crosses the Atlantic Ocean from the dramatic volcanic landscapes of the Canary and Cape Verde Odyssey Club Members enjoy an additional 10% discount on prices shown above until 31 May 2017. Islands, to the tranquil blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. You’ll have plenty of time at sea to indulge in your FARES INCLUDE passion for bridge, especially as Bernard Magee is going to • Scheduled economy class flights from run some set hands sessions to complement some of the seminars. You can also London enjoy the many amenities of the premier class Aegean Odyssey, and return home • Mr Bridge drinks party refreshed and fulfilled. Call us today for more information. • Seminars and set hands available on this sailing Cabins can be held for seven days without obligation. • Duplicate bridge every evening (singles will always be found a bridge partner) • Sightseeing excursions at most ports of call • Expert destination speaker programme • Specialist excursion guides plus personal QuietVox devices • All meals on board in choice of two restaurants • Complimentary wine with dinner on board • Gratuities for on-board cabin and Call on 01483 489961 restaurant staff or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk • Overseas transfers and baggage handling

All Mr Bridge fares shown are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Single accommodation is available only in certain grades. Please see Voyages to Antiquity brochure or website for full terms and conditions. Ship’s registry: Panama.

VTA_170215_Mr Bridge Ad_March 2017.indd 1 09/03/2017 09:09:34