Number One Hundred and Thirty-Two December 2013 Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz BRIDGEYou are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no- (12-14 points) and 4-card majors.

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

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

2. Dealer East. Love All. 5. Dealer West. N/S Game. 8. Dealer East. Game All. 11. Dealer East. Love All. ♠ J 8 7 6 5 ♠ K Q J 10 9 8 7 ♠ A K 7 6 ♠ 3 2 ♥ 4 N ♥ N ♥ 7 2 N ♥ 8 7 N W E W E W E W E ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ A 7 6 5 4 S 4 3 2 S A 9 8 3 S 9 5 4 3 S ♣ 3 2 ♣ 6 5 4 ♣ K 9 3 ♣ 10 7 6 5 2

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

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♥ 1♠ Pass Pass 1♥ Pass 2♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass 1NT Dbl Pass ? ? 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass ? ?

Answers on page 15 Answers on page 19 Answers on page 21 Answers on page 23 BERNARD MAGEE Boxed Sets of six DVDs

Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks 7 Leads 13 This seminar deals with declarer’s Bernard takes you through all the Going beyond just the point-count use of ruffing to make extra tricks basic leads and the importance of is important if you want to improve. and then looks at how the defenders your choice of lead. If you start to Reaching & making 3NT on 24 HCP; might counteract this. (74 mins.) think not just about your hand, but and avoiding 3NT on 26 HCP when about your partner’s too, then you there are only 7 or 8 tricks. (110 mins.) 2 Competitive Tricks will get much better results. (95 mins.) This seminar focuses on competitive 14 Pre-Empting auctions from the perspective of the 8 Losing Trick Count The art of pre-empting is so important overcalling side and then from the A way of hand evaluation for when in the modern game. Understanding perspective of the opening side in you find a fit. Bernard deals with the the right types of hand to bid up the second part. (86 mins.) basics of the losing trick count then on and realising the importance of looks at advanced methods to hone position and vulnerability. (96 mins.) 3 Making the Most your bidding. (92 mins.) of High Cards 15 Splinter & Cue-Bids This seminar helps declarer to use 9 Making a Plan Take your slam bidding to another his high cards more carefully and as Declarer level. Splinter bids are a vital tool to then looks at how defenders should Bernard explains how to make a plan add to your armoury & try your hand care for their high cards. (83 mins.) then expands on how to make the at Italian style cue-bidding. (116 mins.) most of your long suits. The first half 4 Identifying deals with no-trumps, the second with 16 Avoidance & Bidding Slams suit contracts. (87 mins.) As declarer, an important tactic is The first half of this seminar is about to be in control of the defenders: identifying when a slam might be on 10 Responding to 1NT avoiding a particular defender getting – one of the hardest topics to teach. This seminar deals with Transfers the lead. As a defender, you can try to The second half covers some slam- and Stayman in detail. The 1NT make sure the right player gets the bidding techniques. (96 mins.) opening comes up frequently, so lead at the right time. (88 mins.) having a good, accurate system of 5 Play & Defence responses is paramount. (93 mins.) 17 Pairs Play & Defence of 1NT Contracts Duplicate Pairs is the game most of This seminar looks at the most 11 Signals & Discards us play and getting used to the tactics common and yet most feared This seminar deals with Count, will make a lot of difference to your of contracts: 1NT. The first half Attitude and Suit-preference signals: performance. Making more overtricks looks at declaring the contract and aiming to get you working as a and making sure you do not give the second part puts us in the partnership in defence. (92 mins.) away tricks as a defender. (90 mins.) defenders’ seats. (88 mins.) 12 Endplays 18 Thinking Defence 6 Doubling & Defence Bernard takes you through the basics By far the hardest aspect of bridge, against Doubled Contracts of the technique before showing some but if you can improve your defence The first half of this seminar magical hands where you take extra your results will quickly improve. explores penalty doubles and the tricks from defenders. In the second Learn how to think through the second half discusses the defence half, Bernard looks at how to avoid defence and get your mind in gear for against doubled contracts. (88 mins.) being endplayed. (80 mins.) the decisions that await you. (87 mins.)

Individual DVDs. £25 each. Individual DVDs. £25 each. Individual DVDs. £25 each. Boxed Set of 6. £100. Boxed Set of 6. £100. Boxed Set of 6. £100.

Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop FEATURES 8 Bridge Event 1 Bidding Quiz Booking Form Mr Bridge by Bernard Magee 8 Bridge Events with AT THE BRIDGE 5 Mr Bridge Bernard Magee Ryden Grange, Knaphill, 9 Defence Quiz 9 Bridge Events at: ROYAL KENZ Surrey GU21 2TH by Elstead Hotel Blunsdon House Hotel TUNISIA ( 01483 489961 11 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions 10 Bernard Magee’s Half- e-mail: Tutorial Software 13 Declarer Play Quiz [email protected] by David Huggett 12 Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified Holidays website: 15 Bidding Quiz Answers www.mrbridge.co.uk (1-3) by Bernard Magee 14 Wentworth Jigsaws 17 Real Results at Our Club 15 Defence Publisher and by Hugh Tarran with Bernard Magee Managing Editor 19 Bidding Quiz Answers 16 Embrace the Middle Mr Bridge (4-6) by Bernard Magee East Crackers 16 Bridge Events at: Bridge Consultant 21 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee Chatsworth House Bernard Magee Ardington Hotel 23 Bidding Quiz Answers Technical Consultant (10-12) by Bernard Magee 18 Bridge Cloths Tony Gordon 26 Things You Should 18 Pens Know About . . . 18 Bridge Events at Typesetting & Design by Andrew Kambites The Olde Barn Hotel Ruth Edmondson 27 Weak Twos 18 Bridge Tie by Andrew Kambites Proof Readers 19 Declarer Play 30 WeakTwos Quiz by with Bernard Magee Tony & Jan Richards Andrew Kambites 20 Denham Grove Catrina Shackleton 31 Defence Quiz Answers Filming Events Richard Wheen by Julian Pottage 20 Mr Bridge Christmas 23 Feb – 9 March 2014 Hugh Williams 32 Julian Pottage & New Year 2013/2014 Bernard Magee Office Manager Answers Your Questions 21 Bridge Events at £799* Rachel Everett 34 Bridge and Travel Tips The Inn on the Prom 35 The Diaries of 22 Samuel Windsor Shoes 30 March – 13 April 2014 Events & Cruises Wendy Wensum Crombie & 23 Mr Bridge Playing Cards Helen McNeil ( 01483 489961 37 Catching Up 24 2014 Med Cruises with £899* Rosie Baker by Voyages to Antiquity Jessica Galt 39 Arrow-Switches 25 Rubber / Chicago 2-16 November 2014 by David Stevenson Megan Riccio Bridge Events Tony & Jan Richards Sophie Pierrepont 40 Readers’ Letters 25 Bridge Events at: £789* 43 Seven Days Denham Grove Clubs & Charities by Sally Brock The Olde Barn Hotel *per person half-board sharing a twin-bedded room and is Maggie Axtell 46 Declarer Play Answers 30 Tips for Better Bridge inclusive of bridge fees. Single [email protected] by David Huggett supplement £6 per night. 36 2014/15 Cruises These prices are based on air 47 Weak Twos Answers onboard Voyager travel from Heathrow to Tunis. Address Changes by Andrew Kambites Flights from other UK airports ( 38 Better Hand Evaluation are available at a supplement. 01483 485342 Prices for seven-night stays are Elizabeth Bryan 40 Stamps available on application. ADVERTISEMENTS 41 Charity Events Pay £70 per fortnight per person [email protected] extra and have a garden-facing 2 Bernard Magee DVDs 42 S R Designs Bridge Tables room, tea & coffee making All correspondence should facilities, bath robe and a bowl of 3 Tunisia 2013/2014 45 Mr Bridge 2014 Diaries seasonal fruit. be addressed to Mr Bridge. 4 Mr Bridge 46 Begin Bridge These holidays have been Please make sure that all organised for Mr Bridge by Tunisia Just Duplicate Bridge with Bernard Magee letters and e-mails carry First Limited, ATOL 5933. full postal addresses and 6 BRIDGE Subscriptions 48 East to Myanmar telephone numbers. 7 Mail Order Form and the Orient DETAILS & BOOKINGS Cut-out Form onboard Voyager ( 01483 489961

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 3 JUST DUPLICATE BRIDGE

10-12 January £199 9-11 May £199 Blundson Blunsdon House Hotel House Hotel

10-12 January £199 16-18 May £169 Elstead Hotel The Olde Barn

17-19 January £169 30 May – 1 June £199 The Olde Barn Chatsworth Hotel Blunsdon House Hotel The Olde Barn Hotel Swindon SN26 7AS Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT 24-26 January £199 Elstead Hotel 28 Feb – 2 March £199 18-20 July £199 Chatsworth Hotel Blunsdon 31 Jan – 2 Feb £199 House Hotel Elstead Hotel £50 28 Feb – 2 March £199 Blundson House Hotel 1-3 August £169 31 Jan – 2 Feb £199 OFF* The Olde Barn Chatsworth Hotel Just Duplicate Events 14-16 March £199 in 2014. See page 5 for terms and Blundson House Hotel conditions. 12-14 September £169 The Olde Barn 14-16 March £169 The Olde Barn 10-12 October £199 Blunsdon 13-15 June £169 House Hotel 21-23 March £199 The Olde Barn Chatsworth Hotel 10-12 October £199 28-30 March £199 Elstead Hotel Ardington Hotel Denham Grove Worthing BN11 3DZ 17-19 October £169 28-30 March £199 The Olde Barn 31 Jan – 2 Feb £199 Elstead Hotel Clifton Park Hotel 24-26 October £199 Lytham St Annes 25-27 April £199 Chatsworth Blundson House Hotel Hotel 7-9 February £199 Chatsworth Hotel Denham Grove Worthing BN11 3DU

14-16 February £199 27-29 June £169 Chatsworth Hotel The Olde Barn

14-16 February £199 4-6 July £199 Elstead Hotel Denham Grove

21-23 February £199 Elstead Hotel 11-13 July £169 Chatsworth Hotel Blundson House Hotel Bournemouth, BH1 3QP The Olde Barn Worthing BN11 3DU

Full Board – No Single Supplement Booking Form on page 8. Please note there are no seminars, set hands or prizes at these events. *Offer ends 31st December 2013. LATEST DVDs DESPERATE CRACKERS OCTOBER PRIZE

‘We are a very small club The Chatsworth Hotel quiz with an ageing membership prize has been won by and we are in dire need of Mrs Rose from Camberley. new members. You are dealer, both sides

Could you give us a plug not vulnerable. and tell your readers of our predicament giving them ♠ 5 our website address?’ ♥ A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 I have donated a half page ♦ 2 So writes Bill Seymour, the to Embrace the Middle ♣ A K secretary of Orpington BC. East, see page 16, a charity www.bridgewebs.com/ that endeavours to support orpington health, education and What would you open? Winning answer: 4NT. Sorry to have to tell you community development The filming in May of this this Bill, but until your club projects. I think it is worthy year has now been through becomes new-membership of your support. BOXED CARDS all its processes and has friendly, it will continue its emerged to a wonderful I’m clearing twin packs of downhill spiral. I could GOFFIES STAMPS reception. All the three my lovely premium quality find no means of making series 2011, 2012 and now playing cards, in a tasteful quick human contact to 2013 are listed on page 2 of gold-coloured drop-lid box. discuss your predicament. this issue, with thumbnail £7 per box, 2 for £12. These A dedicated membership descriptions of the are not on my list so please secretary and an odd-bod contents. Playing times are write in or phone. service will help but the all around 90 minutes. most important thing is a Now is the season when The wonderful thing about ARDINGTON telephone number. you want to see the most a tutorial DVD is that If this comes across as obvious savings on postage. students have a permanent being rude, it is because I So try Clive Goffs record which they can truly care. A beautiful discounted service. re-visit over and over again. website is boring when it These are the very best Value supplied in two doesn’t provide the available, but as the proud stamps, combined to make information you need producer, I would say that up the 50p 2nd class rate, quickly and easily. Other wouldn’t I. 2nd class to you at 41p. 1st bridge clubs in the same class 60p, only 50p to you. All the just duplicate predicament please note. FILMING Available in lots of 100. promotions mean that The ( 0208 422 4906. Ardington Hotel in The introductory offer for £50 OFF Worthing is feeling the 2014 Tutorial Filming EXTRA DATE neglected. As they have a weekend has now expired. serious programme of If you missed your chance, A new venue has been refurbishment in hand try a bit earlier next year. added to our listing of Just their management has Duplicate events. come up with a mind SCOTLAND £50 31 January – 2 February boggling deal that simply Clifton Park Hotel, cannot be missed. Lytham St Annes, Lancs. Readers from the north- Tutorial events at £215 no OFF west, here is your chance. single supplement. If a double or twin bedded The fun of duplicate lies in NEW YEAR’S EVE room is shared, there is an the numbers, so to be additional charge of £35 certain of these, most of the As usual I am going to the making it £250 for the two Bernard Magee goes to places are sold ahead of the New Year’s Eve Gala occupants sharing. I do The Queensferry Hotel on event at special prices. Dinner at Denham Grove. hope this is clear as it seems 14-16 March. This venue Payment is taken in full at I’m hoping to stay on for a too good to be true. overlooks the Firth of Forth the time of booking, by game afterwards and and is now under new cheque or debit card. I have looking forward to meeting It is so good I am sure they management. Book early to extended this offer so that it as many people as possible. will never be able to repeat avoid disappointment. closes 8 January. See you there. it. Call Jessica for details.

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 5 2014 DIARIES FESTIVE BERNARD LITTLE VOICE

There are a few bridge Jenna Hoyt, driving force players’ diaries still in of the rescue home for BRIDGE stock. Standard or luxury children in Addis Ababa, versions as per mail order has been diverted by a child Make sure you form on page 7. of her own, Zöe, already fourteen months old. Time don’t miss your flies by. She tells me, ‘thank GIFT SUGGESTIONS favourite monthly all your readers for saving articles. Either or both of the David the used stamps and for Bird Robin Hood Books. buying the second hand Send 4 postage stamps per software.’ Please keep book or use PayPal at our We are filling up for the saving the stamps and I will online shop. Both make festive season earlier than provide details of where excellent stocking fillers. usual this year. As a result, and to whom to send them we have put on an extra SPECIAL Ball point pens with a when space permits. event between Christmas built-in torch at the other OFFER and New Year in north- end. Boxed £5 inc p&p. ANTIQUITY PRICE west England. Quality silver-coloured key Mrs Bridge and I join ring with a spring loaded Inn on the Prom, Lytham Aegean Odyssey in March reusable pound-sized coin. 27-29 December 2013 on a lovely Voyage that Boxed £5 inc p&p. Signals and Discards includes the Holy Land. I Bernard Magee £245 am really looking forward l Acol Bidding Bernard Magee’s Tutorial No single supplement. to visiting these historic Quiz & Answers CDs, See page 2. Bernard Magee sites. I am also looking A year’s subscription to BRIDGE forward to going to the l Ask Julian Pottage BRIDGE from £20. See Black Sea in Autumn 2014. For those who would like l Julian’s FAQs adjacent mail order form. See the advert for both in their friends to receive an the centrefold or better still, l Misleading Cases as occasional copy of this ring for a brochure. reported by R Wheen CHRISTMAS magazine, do send in their CRUISE ( 01483 489961. l Ask David Stevenson details using the form on the edge of page 7. l David’s FAQs TIME OF YEAR If you do and have not l Mary’s First Lesson recently registered, please It is the season for saying l Helpful Conventions do likewise. thank you. So, to all my and Related Quiz office staff, my growing army of weekend hosts and This year’s Christmas QPLUS 11 l Defence Quiz helpers and my advertisers cruise is on m.v. Voyager All the outstanding and sponsors, a great big l Tales from hosted by Sandy Bell and Sherwood Forest trade-in and new orders thank you. And this year, Graham Crane. See the by have now been sent out. whether she likes it or not it back page for an outline or is time to say a great big l Things You telephone for a brochure. Here are some more thank you to Ruth Should Know... Our bridge room has been interesting hands for your Edmondson, my typesetter improved and can now hold amusement. l Catching up extraordinaire and her up to 15 tables. 6001-13 2683-13 l Seven Days team of consultants and 8677-12 6071-05 proof–readers. l Jeremy Dhondy 2014 ON VOYAGER 6071-10 And another great big l Sally Brock Tip Next year’s cruising on thank you, to you, the BARON FOR MAC l Travel Tip board Voyager will have readers, as without your bridge on every sailing with enthusiastic support l Readers Letters Bridge Baron 24 has just my experienced hosts been published. See mail BRIDGE would not be the providing on board tuition order form for details. magazine it currently is. Special Introductory on days at sea and a Subscription: £20 for Best wishes for me are love, duplicate after dinner every BRIDGE TABLES twelve monthly issues. evening. For full details see peace and blessings, so that See adjacent form. is what I wish for you, too. page 39. ( 01483 489961 If you are looking for a for brochures or bookings. bridge table see page 42. Mr Bridge

Page 6 BRIDGE December 2013 ✄ ✄ Mr Bridge MAIL ORDER If you have not contacted us recently, PLAY SOFTWARE TUTORIAL DVDs NOVELTIES please enter your QPlus 11 NEW £92.00 ...... 2011 Series – £25 each Mr Bridge details in the box Torch Pen (boxed) £5.00 ...... QPlus Trade-in £49.00 ...... Ruffing for Extra Tricks ...... below to re-register: Mr Bridge Pound for Life QPlus 10 (S/Hand) £50.00 ...... Competitive Auctions ...... Keyring £5.00 ...... Bridge Baron 24 NEW £69.00 ...... Making the Most of High Cards ...... Name (Mr, Mrs, Miss) Bridge Baron BOOKS Trade-in for 24 £35.00 ...... Identifying & Duplicate Bridge Rules ...... Bidding Slams ...... Simplified £5.95 ...... TUTORIAL SOFTWARE Address ...... Play & Defence of Better Hand Evaluation Begin Bridge - Acol £66.00 ...... 1NT Contracts ...... Bernard Magee £14.00 ...... Acol Bidding £66.00 ...... Doubling & Defence Tips for Better Bridge Advanced to Doubled Contracts ...... Bernard Magee £14.00 ...... Acol Bidding £96.00 ...... All 6 DVDs Robin Hood’s Bridge Memoirs Postcode ...... Declarer Play £76.00 as a boxed set £100.00 ...... David Bird £12.00 ...... Advanced 2012 Series – £25 each Bridge Adventures of Robin Telephone ...... Declarer Play £81.00 Hood – David Bird £12.00 ...... Leads ...... Defence £76.00 ...... E-mail ...... Losing Trick Count ...... MR BRIDGE DIARIES Five-Card Majors with Making a Plan as Declarer ...... Red £6.95 ...... Strong No-Trump £89.00 ...... Responding to 1NT ...... Navy £6.95 ...... Please send BRIDGE Better Bridge 2011 with to the following Bernard Magee £69.00 Signals & Discards ...... Burgundy £6.95 ...... enthusiasts: Bundleware Offer Endplays ...... Club Prices 10 for £35 ...... Any two CDs £140.00 ...... All 6 DVDs Luxury Kidrell Covers & ball-point pen: TEA TOWELS as a boxed set £100.00 ...... Name (Mr, Mrs, Miss) Ruby Red £14.95 ...... Life’s a Game, but 2013 Series – £25 each Navy Blue £14.95 ...... Bridge is Serious £7.00 ...... Hand Evaluation ...... Bottle Green £14.95 ...... Address ...... The Pot Boiler. A Double Pre-Empting ...... Dummy Problem £7.00 ...... Club Prices 10 for £90 ...... Splinter & Cue-Bids ...... 10 Commandments for Avoidance ...... SUBS (Introductory Rates) Bridge Players £7.00 ...... 12 Months £20.00 ...... 10 Commandments for Pairs Play & Defence ...... Duplicate Players £7.00 ...... Thinking Defence ...... 24 Months £35.00 ...... Postcode ...... 36 Months £50.00 ...... 25 Road Traffic Signs for All 6 DVDs Telephone ...... Bridge Players £7.00 ...... as a boxed set £100.00 ...... 12 Months Overseas: E-mail ...... Back In Our Day £7.00 ...... MR BRIDGE TIE Europe £50.00 ...... We Are Survivors £7.00 ...... £15.00 ...... Outside Europe £95.00 ......

Name (Mr, Mrs, Miss) Prices are inclusive of VAT and postage to UK mainland...... I enclose a cheque for £...... Address ...... Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... Address...... Postcode ......

Postcode...... ( ...... Telephone ......

E-mail ......

Please complete all or Expiry: ...... CVV ...... Issue No...... (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) part of this form and return to: Mr Bridge, Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH Ryden Grange, Knaphill, ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop Surrey, GU21 2TH. ✄ ✄

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 7 ✄ BRIDGE BRIDGE EVENTS BREAKS with Bernard Magee June 2014 ♦ Full-board ♦ Two seminars* 6-8 Olde Barn Hotel ♦ All rooms with ♦ Two supervised £245 Bidding NEW en-suite facilities play sessions* Distributional ♦ No single supplement ♦ Four bridge sessions** Hands

Please book ..... places for me at £...... per person, 20-22 Olde Barn Hotel £245 Finding Slams Single .... Double .... Twin .... Chatsworth Hotel OCTOBER 2014 Name of Hotel/Centre...... Worthing BN11 3DU 3-5 Chatsworth Hotel Date(s) ...... JANUARY 2014 £245 Game Tries Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... 10-13 Denham Grove 10-12 Olde Barn Hotel £399 Filming £245 & Address...... Weekend Avoidance

...... 17-19 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Better Leads Postcode ...... & Switches

( ...... March 2014 21-23 Inn on the Prom Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, £245 Doubles but we will do our best to oblige). 14-16 Queenferry Hotel ...... £245 Endplay & Avoidance Blunsdon House Hotel Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking. Blunsdon, Swindon SN26 7AS April 2014 ...... 4-6 Chatsworth Hotel Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place by £245 Finding Slams NOVEMber 2014 cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice for the balance will be sent with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, 11-13 Blunsdon House 7-9 Chatsworth 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent £245 Leads & Defence Hotel together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you £245 Hand require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker. Evaluation 14-16 Blunsdon House £245 Further into the Auction 21-23 Elstead House £245 Doubles Expiry: ...... CVV...... Issue No...... (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) 28-30 Blunsdon House £245 Bidding NEW Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. Queensferry Hotel Distributional ( 01483 489961 North Queensferry KY11 1HP Hands e-mail: [email protected] website: www.holidaybridge.com Full Board. No Single Supplement. *on tutorial weekends only. **6 sessions on rubber/Chicago events. See Adjacent Booking Form. Please note: Just Bridge events contain no seminars and do not award prizes. ✄

Page 8 BRIDGE December 2013 Elstead Blunsdon DEFENCE House Hotel Hotel Bournemouth Swindon SN26 7AS BH1 3QP QUIZ by Julian Pottage (Answers on page 31)

ou are West in the defensive positions below. It is your Yturn to play. Both sides are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT.

1. ♠ K 3. ♠ Q ♥ A 7 5 ♥ A 7 5 ♦ A Q J 9 6 5 ♦ Q J 9 8 6 5 ♣ A 8 2 ♣ A 8 2 ♠ Q 10 7 2 ♠ J 10 9 6 N ♥ K J 6 ♥ K J 6 N W E W E ♦ 10 4 ♦ K 4 S S BRIDGE EVENTS ♣ Q 9 6 4 ♣ J 9 5 4 BRIDGE 10-12 January 2014 £199 EVENTS Just Duplicate Bridge West North East South West North East South 1♦ Pass 1NT 1NT 10-12 Jan 2014 £199 Pass 3NT End Pass 3NT End 21-23 February £199 Just Duplicate Bridge Just Duplicate Bridge You lead the ♠2, won by You lead the ♠J. Partner ♠ ♠ ♠ 24-26 January £199 the A ( 5 from South). wins with the A and 28 Feb – 2 March £199 Partner returns the ♠4, returns the ♠4, covered by Just Duplicate Bridge Just Duplicate Bridge covered by the ♠J. What the ♠5. How do you do you do? defend? 14-16 March £199 31 Jan – 2 Feb £199 Just Duplicate Bridge Just Duplicate Bridge

2. ♠ Q 4. ♠ K 7 11-13 April £245 14-16 February £199 ♥ A 7 5 ♥ K Q J 9 5 Bernard Magee Just Duplicate Bridge ♦ Q J 9 8 6 5 ♦ A J 10 5 Leads & Defence ♣ A 8 2 ♣ 10 2 ♠ A 10 4 3 2 ♠ Q 10 6 5 28-30 March £199 N 25-27 April £199 ♥ K J 6 ♥ A 10 6 W E Just Duplicate Bridge N Just Duplicate Bridge ♦ 10 4 ♦ 6 4 S W E ♣ Q 9 4 S ♣ Q J 9 5 11-13 April £215 14-16 November £245 Stan Powell Bernard Magee Signals & Discards West North East South West North East South Further into the Auction 1NT 1♥ Pass 1♠ ♦ 21-23 November £245 Pass 3NT End Pass 2 Pass 2NT 28-30 November £245 Pass 3NT End Bernard Magee Bernard Magee You lead the ♠3. Partner Bidding NEW Doubles TOPIC wins with the ♠K and You lead the ♣Q. Partner Distributional Hands returns the ♠5, on which plays the ♣7 (high encour- Full Board South plays the ♠J. What ages, low discourages) and Full Board No Single Supplement do you do? South the ♣4. How do No Single Supplement you continue? Booking Form on page 8. Booking Form on page 8.

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 9 BERNARD MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS

BEGIN BRIDGE ACOL MORE DECLARER ACOL VERSION BIDDING (ADVANCED) PLAY l Card Play Technique ACOL BIDDING l Opening Bids and l Suit Establishment l Planning Card Play Responses l Basics in No-trumps l Bidding Balanced l Slams and Strong l Advanced Basics l Suit Establishment Hands Openings in Suits l Bidding Suits l Weak Twos l Support for Partner l Hold-ups l Responding to a Suit l Strong Hands l Pre-empting l Ruffing for l Supporting Partner l Defence Extra Tricks l Responding to 1NT l to Weak Twos l Entries in l Stayman l No-trump £66 l Defence to 1NT No-trumps £76 l Strong Two Opening Openings l Doubles and Response and Responses l Delaying l Two-suited Drawing Trumps l Overcalls l Opener’s and £96 Overcalls l Doubles £66 Responder’s Rebids l Using the Lead l Defences to l Pre-empting l Minors and Misfits l Trump Control Other Systems l Defence against No l Doubles l Endplays & Trump Contracts l Misfits and Avoidance l Competitive l Defence against Suit Distributional Auctions l Using the Bidding Contracts Hands

ADVANCED DEFENCE FIVE-CARD BETTER DECLARER PLAY MAJORS & BRIDGE l Lead vs Strong No-Trump l Making Overtricks No-trump Contracts l Ruffing for in No-trumps l Opening Bids Extra Tricks l Lead vs & Responses l Making Overtricks Suit Contracts in Suit Contracts l No-Trump l Doubling and l Partner of Leader Openings Defence l Endplays vs No-trump Against Contracts l Support £89 £69 l Avoidance Doubled for Partner l Partner of Leader Contracts l Wrong £81 vs Suit Contracts l Slams Contract & Strong Openings l Play and Defence l Count l Simple of 1NT Contracts Signals l Rebids Squeezes l Attitude l Minors l Counting £76 l Finding and Signals & Misfits the Hand Bidding Slams l Discarding l Pre-empting l Trump Reductions l Making the & Coups l Defensive Plan l Doubles Most of High Cards l Playing Doubled l Stopping Declarer l Overcalls Contracts l Counting l Competitive l Competitive l Safety Plays the Hand Auctions Auctions

Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop Fax 01483 797302

System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics Is Alerted or Announced?

Does my partner this way. When he corrects In a duplicate ing at the time of the have to alert his you may change session at my incident. Half the tables Qor announce your card. Furthermore, your Qlocal club, I were not in spades. when we use Landy card is now unauthorised was declarer in 3♠. On One had made 3♠ and as our defence to information to him but completion of trick 7, another had gone two a 1NT opening? authorised to your partner. an opponent dropped down so the director Evan St Clair Sepion I have checked in Hoyle’s a card on the floor. She decided that my ‘two by email. Games Modernised and put her cards face down down’ needed no adjust- the rule would be exactly on the table and, after ment. I said that I ac- Your partner has to the same in whist. some considerable time cepted her decision, but alert it. Currently, and effort, retrieved it. I felt I had been placed A announcements ♣♦♥♠ After playing another in an unfair position. are solely by opener or two tricks, she realised The player who dropped responder, though since they Further to she had only three cards her card and, more are popular, their use may your answer in her hand instead of importantly, messed up be extended in the future. Qin BRIDGE, four. I called the director her hand after retriev- September 2013, does who took another five ing it, escaped without ♣♦♥♠ the requirement for the minutes or so to estab- any form of penalty. Do boards to remain on the lish what had happened you consider this fair? The ♦10 was led table throughout play and look through the Name and address supplied. on my left, my also apply to the boards tricks. She then said to Qpartner following not being played? proceed and she would It seems the director with a small diamond, At our club, one assess whether I had handled it very badly, RHO discarded and I person, whilst leaving been disadvantaged on A though missing cards took the trick with the the board being played completion of the ses- are a problem. Not allowing ♦K. RHO apologised, on the table, insists on sion. Although it was everyone to have their say is picked up his discard putting the remaining I who had called the always wrong, though silenc- and put down the ♦A. I boards on the floor. director, she cut off my ing people who all want to picked up my ♦K to play Is this allowed? succinct explanation of talk at the same time is rea- a lower card, but RHO Peter Godfrey by email. what had happened and sonable and often necessary. said I could not do this. asked questions of the When the card was found What is correct and There are no laws defenders who talked it is put back in the hand does your answer about other boards. over each other. A dia- and play continues. It is also apply to whist? A Partly it is a matter mond was then led. After unfortunate that there was Joan Taylor, of custom and practice, or such a delay and discus- so much faffing around that West Wickham, Kent. a club could make a rule. sion I could not remem- you lost concentration. It Nevertheless, no player ber how many had gone is difficult to see what was I think your opponent has a right to upset another or the precise trump being said if the facts were as is trying it on with so this matter should be position. I went down simple and clear as you said. A you. Of course he by agreement, not by by two tricks instead of Nevertheless, there seems no cannot gain from a revoke in being tiresome about it. the one I was anticipat- reason for any adjustment.

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 11 Ask David continued that unreasonable play declarer is also at fault. to decide the number of was allowed to be taken When a claim is made, tricks. Certainly all players into account to determine it is required for claimer to make mistakes, often fairly the outcome. At no stage state the line of play. If the silly and in the case of a Can I open 2♣ was declarer asked claimer does not, then the claim with no statement, the without 23 HCP? to state her proposed director is not required to director will often consider QI had a 20 count method of play. It was ask the declarer to state silly mistakes, though not with a singleton king, quite clear that had she the line of play later. It is completely stupid ones. For so I opened 2♣ forcing been allowed to play, often pointless asking later example, if there is a my partner to bid. or state her proposed because claims are often to be taken players do mess The opposition said method of play, that all contested because declarer up their entries and the that this was not allowed. the tricks would have has overlooked something, director can allow for that. Bruce Stevens by email. been made. The only but once the director is called However, he would never way they could not have and the claim contested, assume that a player would Your opponents are been made was, not by the claimer will realise play a king under an ace. wrong. Certainly unreasonable play, but what the item overlooked The results at other tables A there are rules, by really stupid play. is and will get it right. are not relevant: we have all which are often published Declarer is not a ‘stupid’ Apparently, your declarer got bottoms from misplaying in this column, but it is legal player, in fact she is did not give a line of play hands when every other to open 2♣ with any hand very experienced and and it is now correct that table made the contract. of 16 HCP or more, though claimed to save time. the director will decide I do not know what the not necessarily sensible. The director continued how the play goes, though actual ruling should be on to insist that it was standing at the table and this board without seeing ♣♦♥♠ possible to play the cards discussing it is not best. it, but I strongly advise in a manner that would As with other judgement declarer to make a statement Declarer, in 1NT, result in tricks being lost rulings, the director should of her line in future. claimed the and declarer continued take it away, consider and Qremaining tricks to protest that she wasn’t consult and come back ♣♦♥♠ with about 6 cards still going to play them like with a number of tricks. to play. The opponents that. She tried to explain When a claim is made, Can you touch disputed this (very nicely) what her method of doubtful points (as a matter the bidding and the (EBU Qualified) play would have been, of law) are always decided Q box when it is director was immediately but the director refused against the claimer. not your turn to bid? called. The situation to listen. The director After deciding the Raihana Ehsanullah, Bucks. was explained and she then declared that she number of tricks, the stated that she, the was going to ‘void’ the director tells both sides While this is a bad director, would play the board and walked away and if one side does not habit, there is no remaining hands (all 4 from the table. She like it they can appeal. A actual rule to prevent of them) and see if it was was overheard saying Giving average plus and it. A few people do this, possible to NOT make to someone else, that minus is illegal, an idea from it’s not a good idea, but all the remaining tricks the board would be the 1950s. The director has tolerated. and that she was allowed scored as average plus to do this by applying a (60%) to the opponents methodology of ‘careless and average minus play’. She started to (40%) to declarer. do this and declarer We got a bottom on DUPLICATE BRIDGE protested that she was that board because of the not intending to play the director’s ruling, when RULES SIMPLIFIED remaining cards in the every other pair in the manner proposed by the room made the contract. (otherwise known as the Yellow Book) director. The situation Would you have was getting rather handled this situation in only heated and the director’s this manner and was the by John Rumbelow and 95 husband, also a qualified director’s ruling correct? revised by David Stevenson £5 director, come over and Patricia Watson by email. started to advise the current director and I certainly would not Available from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 declarer (and read from have handled it as Mr Bridge’s Yellow Book) A the director did, but

Page 12 BRIDGE December 2013 Ask David continued ties. Whether the pass was seen or not is irrelevant: if it did not leave the box, then the call was not made and DECLARER The bidding went may be changed legally. If as far as South it did leave the box, then it PLAY Qwho bid 2♠, may be changed if it was having made a take- an unintended call, often out double on the first called a mechanical error. QUIZ round. West passed and Possible, but pretty unlikely North started to pull out with a change from pass to by David Huggett a pass card which was 3♠. If, as is most likely, the seen by E/W and then player changed her mind, the (Answers on page 46) put it back in the box. A change is too late once the bid of 3♠ was then made pass card left the box and the ou are South as declarer playing teams or . In each case, what is your play strategy? by North and converted pass card would be restored. Y to 4♠ by South. E/W called the director on the ♣♦♥♠ grounds that the contract 1. ♠ K 6 3. ♠ K 7 2 should have been 2♠ not Can a director ♥ A Q 10 3 ♥ 10 8 6 4 4♠ as the pass card, hav- impose penalties ♦ 8 7 6 5 ♦ A 7 3 ing been seen, constitut- Qor sanctions, ♣ Q 5 4 ♣ K J 3 ed the bid. South main- beyond the normal N N tained that any calling of penalties, against a W E W E the director should have player who regularly S S been made after the 3♠ ? In our club, bid and not at the end. we have one player ♠ A 7 ♠ A 8 1. What should have who makes at least half ♥ 8 5 4 ♥ 3 been the correct contract? of all the revokes. It is ♦ Q J 10 9 3 ♦ K Q 6 4 (The director ruled 2♠). frustrating for other ♣ A K 6 ♣ A Q 10 7 6 2 2. Was South right players to keep calling to say that any ob- the director and for the ♣ jection should have director to sort out how You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 6 ♠ ♥ been made earlier? many tricks might or and West leads the 4. and West leads the A, K. Chris Simmons, Croydon might not have been How do you plan the play? Trumps break 3-1. How (similar from Pearl Evans). made without the revoke. do you plan the play? Stephen Down, Selby. I would have ruled that the contract It is legal for the was 4♠. Whether director to penalise 2. ♠ A 6 4. ♠ K J 7 5 3 A ♥ ♥ the change from pass to 3♠ a player for any Q 9 7 5 J 10 9 A ♦ ♦ was legal or not, by bid- repeated offences, no ques- A 4 3 K 6 4 ding on, the opposition tion. Whether it is appropri- ♣ K J 7 3 ♣ 10 3 have accepted the change ate is another matter. If a N N so 3♠ was the bid made. player is very elderly and/or W E W E Certainly, the opponents a bit scatty, it does not seem S S should have called the suitable. Maximum tolerance director earlier. If some- is what this game needs. ♠ 2 ♠ A Q 9 8 6 2 one does something wrong On the other hand, if it is ♥ A 10 8 6 4 2 ♥ A 7 3 then the director should just someone who cannot be ♦ Q 7 6 ♦ A 8 2 be called immediately. bothered to concentrate, a ♣ A 6 4 ♣ K What would have hap- few penalties (10% of a top) pened if the director had might stop the revoking. It is ♥ ♠ been called immediately? a judgement for the director You are declarer in 4 and You are declarer in 4 af- ♠ There are three possibili- to make. ■ West leads the K. How ter West has doubled the do you plan the play? 1♠ opening bid. West leads the ♦Q. How do you plan E-mail your questions on bridge laws to: the play? [email protected]

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least a singleton in its distribution, I like 1NT. 1. Dealer West. Love All. to raise to game. To make or to save. With 19 HCP, you may have been tempted ♠ 4 ♠ K Q 9 8 7 So often, these hands are won by the to open at the 2-level, but you wisely ♥ A 9 7 3 N ♥ K 4 2 boldest and fastest bidders. If you give started with a 1♥ opening bid. Now, W E ♦ A 10 4 3 S ♦ K 8 2 North the chance, he will make a bid and when the bidding comes back round to ♣ A J 5 2 ♣ 4 3 bring his side in to the auction, but over you, surely you need to make a jump? 4♠ it is not easy for him. Both sides can The answer would be ‘yes’ if your make at least 10 tricks, so if North-South partner had responded, but, on this West North East South bid 5♥ or 5♣, they will get a better result. occasion, your partner has passed. ? When you have a weak hand with big He may have very few points indeed. trump support, bid high and fast. To cater for this possibility, you should 1♦. downgrade your no-trump rebids one With 13 HCP, you must surely open, even level. if you do not like 4-4-4-1 hands. With Modern Acol would have rebid 2NT a black suit singleton, open the middle 3. Dealer West. Love All. with this hand (18-19). Even in old suit: 1♦. You plan to rebid 2♣. It does ♠ A K 2 ♠ 6 4 3 fashioned Acol, the hand is so flat you mean you are missing out your major, ♥ A K 7 6 N ♥ J 5 should downgrade it: I like to take a full W E but if your partner has hearts, he will ♦ Q 5 4 ♦ J 10 9 3 point off a 4-3-3-3 hand because of its S bid them. You do not want to start with ♣ K 9 4 ♣ 10 8 7 6 lack of potential. hearts because, when you rebid, you will Whatever the system, the best bid is suggest five cards in the suit and your 1NT: this shows about 17-19 points, so if partner will raise in hearts with 3-card West North East South partner does have some strength, he can support. In a minor, he is more likely 1♥ 1♠ Pass Pass invite you to game, or bid game himself. to try no-trumps: 1♦-1♠-2♣-2NT; East ? Here, he finds an easy pass. ■ bids no-trumps rather than raising your diamonds. DEFENCE

2. Dealer East. Love All. The Interactive Way of Improving Your Defence ♠ J 8 7 6 5 ♠ A K 9 4 2 with Bernard Magee ♥ 4 N ♥ 7 6 5 W E ♦ A 7 6 5 4 S ♦ K Q 3 Contents (20 hands each) ♣ 3 2 ♣ 10 9 l Lead vs No-trump Contracts l Attitude Signals

l Lead vs Suit Contracts l Discarding West North East South 1♠ Pass l Partner of Leader l Defensive Plan ? vs No-trump Contracts l Stopping Declarer l Partner of Leader vs Suit Contracts 4♠. l Counting You have only 5 HCP, but with 5-card l Count Signals the Hand spade support, you should certainly make a supporting bid: raising your partner. How high should you bid? System Requirements Using the losing trick count, you have Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8, 8 losers and five trumps, so this would 8mb RAM, CD-ROM £76 including postage and packing suggest 3♠ or with a push 4♠. When I have 5-card support for my partner’s See Mail Order Form on page 7. opening major and a weak hand with at

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Page 16 BRIDGE December 2013 Real Results at Our Club by Hugh Tarran

’ve come to realise from observing bridge players that anything may happen on a hand. Bidding and play rarely follow the ‘recommended’ bidding and play. So although a ‘recommended line’ is useful for learning, there are several outcomes to each bridge hand and this can be understood only by comparing actual results from a bridge club. Comparison with Iother bridge players provides learning and often helps build confidence for new players who feel they fail if they do not use the ‘recommended’ bids. In this article, I look at some ordinary hands from our (mainly Acol) club as examples.

Board A l at one table, North ended in 3NT Recommended Bidding and, on a spade lead, made 11 tricks; l another North replied 1♠, was This is a harder hand to predict due Dealer South. Love All. raised to 2♠ and the bidding to potential competitive bids. A ♠ A Q 10 3 stopped in 3♠; recommended line may suggest the ♥ K 5 l another North replied 1♠ and South sequence below, adding that East ♦ 10 7 5 2 passed, thinking game was not on; probably leaves the double in and ♣ K 8 5 l another North raised to 3♦, passed South will then pass. East may fear 1♥ ♠ 8 2 ♠ J 9 7 4 by South. will make and so bid 2♣. N ♥ A J 8 4 2 ♥ Q 7 6 W E ♦ J 8 S ♦ Q 6 So, when played at our club, we had West North East South ♣ 10 9 7 2 ♣ A J 4 3 the following contracts: 1♥ Pass Pass ♠ K 6 5 Dbl All Pass ♥ 10 9 3 3♠ North –1 ♦ A K 9 4 3 3NT North +2 ♣ Q 6 1♠ North +3 In Our Club . . . 3♦ South +2 In practice, when North opened 1♥, Although no contracts are the West doubled: Recommended Bidding ‘recommended’ one, they have been reached by generally used Acol l one East passed and so did South; Maybe one of the sequences below principles. l one East took out the double to 2♣, would be recommended. The tens in South bid 2♥ and was lucky not to the North hand make it worth a raise be doubled. to 3NT rather than 2NT. ♣♦♥♠ When North opened 1♠, the West West North East South hand did not fit a double: 1NT Board B Pass 3NT All Pass l one West passed; l one West overcalled 2♦ and North West North East South Dealer North. Love All. ended in 3♠. 1NT ♠ A Q 3 2 Pass 2♣* Pass 2♦* ♥ Q J 10 7 So, when played at our club, we had Pass 3NT All Pass ♦ A J 5 the following contracts: *Stayman ♣ Q 10 ♠ K 10 7 4 ♠ 9 5 2♥ North –2 If a low heart is led, South can take the ♥ Void N ♥ K 9 6 5 3 2 1♥ Dbld North –1 W E ♦ ♦ ♥K and cash winners to make 9 tricks. K Q 9 4 3 S 7 6 1♠ North –1 ♣ A J 9 3 ♣ K 6 5 3♠ North –3 ♠ J 8 6 In Our Club . . . ♥ A 8 4 Although the recommended Acol ♦ 10 8 2 opening is 1♥, planning to rebid in no- At our club South often opened ♦1 ♣ 8 7 4 2 trumps, students can see that it is not and: just they who forget this and open

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 17 The Olde Real Results continued Barn Hotel 1♠. It also highlights the di- a good result due to the Marston, lemma caused by the double favourable vulnerability. Lincs NG32 2HT of a bid at the one level. 17-19 January 2014 £169 In Our Club . . . Just Duplicate Bridge ♣♦♥♠ 21-23 February £179 In practice, after East opened Stayman & Transfers 1♦ and South overcalled 1♥: 14-16 March £169 Board C l ♦ Just Duplicate Bridge one West raised to 2 which was passed out; 25-27 April £179 Dealer South. E/W Vul. l one West bid 1♠ and Will Parsons ♠ 10 6 reached 4♠. Further into the Auction ♥ 9 7 9-11 May £179 ♦ A Q 5 When East opened 1♠, Gwen Beattie – Overcalls ♣ J 7 6 5 4 3 preventing the 1♥ ♠ Q 8 5 4 2 ♠ A K J 9 by South, two pairs stopped 16-18 May £169 ♥ 8 6 5 4 N ♥ A 10 in 3♠. Just Duplicate Bridge W E ♦ K 10 8 S ♦ J 9 7 3 2 6-8 June £245 ♣ A ♣ Q 8 So, when played at our Bernard Magee NEW ♠ 7 3 club, we had the following TOPIC Bidding ♥ K Q J 3 2 contracts: Distributional Hands ♦ 6 4 13-15 June £169 ♣ K 10 9 2 3♠ East –1 Just Duplicate Bridge 2♦ East +3 4♠ West = 20-22 June £245 ♠ Bernard Magee 3 East +1 Finding Slams Recommended Bidding North-South never played 27-29 June £169 in clubs and only one pair Just Duplicate Bridge West North East South bid game. 11-13 July £169 Pass Just Duplicate Bridge Pass Pass 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ Pass* 2♠ Pass Conclusion 1-3 August £169 4♠ All Pass Just Duplicate Bridge When looking at your 29-31 August £169 West is worth a raise to 4♠ bridge bidding and play, Diana Holland with the king in partner’s remember to look at what Rubber / Chicago suit and singleton club. If others do, and don’t be too 12-14 September £169 North (at his Pass*) risks disappointed if you did Just Duplicate Bridge 2♣, then South may find not achieve one person’s a 5♣ which gives ‘suggested result’. ■ 26-28 September £179 Stan Powell Declarer Play

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Page 18 BRIDGE December 2013 Answers to Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quizzes 4-6 on the Cover

want to compete over 2♣, knowing that is making, he can bid 4♠ himself. On this 4. Dealer West. Game All. your side has the majority of strength. occasion, it does not take too much nous ♠ J 6 ♠ A 9 5 3 Had he not been long in clubs, he would to work out that 4♥ is not making and he ♥ A K 8 7 6 N ♥ 4 2 have bid another suit. will double it. W E ♦ A J 3 2 S ♦ 8 7 6 However, on this occasion your partner Your opponents are in a 4-4 heart fit, ♣ 7 2 ♣ A K 9 8 is happy to play in 2♣ doubled and will which, with a normal 3-2 break, might hope for at least two off, which would be allow them to make 4♥. However, with worth 500 points. the bad break, they will really struggle. West North East South The void in your hand might make it look 1♥ 1NT Dbl 2♣ as though they have a big heart fit, but ? it might also mean that they have a very 5. Dealer West. N/S Game. bad break. Pass. What does the auction mean so ♠ K Q J 10 9 8 7 ♠ 2 Once you have pre-empted, you far? North has shown a strong balanced ♥ Void N ♥ Q J 10 7 6 should not bid again unless your partner W E hand and your partner has made a ♦ 4 3 2 S ♦ A K 6 asks you to. penalty double. Almost all doubles of ♣ 6 5 4 ♣ J 9 8 7 no-trump bids are for penalties. South has bid 2♣ which has not been alerted, so it must show a natural suit. South is West North East South 6. Dealer West. Game All. trying to escape from 1NT doubled: he 3♠ Dbl Pass 4♥ ♠ Q 3 2 ♠ 9 8 7 likely has 0-2 points and long clubs. ? ♥ K Q 9 3 N ♥ A J 10 5 W E Your partner’s double has identified ♦ A 2 ♦ J 8 4 3 S that your side has the majority of the Pass. This is a common trick question. ♣ A 9 8 6 ♣ 7 2 points. There may be a temptation to bid The vulnerability is set to tempt you in. out your hand by bidding 2♦ (showing You are at favourable vulnerability, so five hearts and four diamonds), but that that if 4♥ is making, then surely 4♠ will West North East South gives up on one important option, which be a good sacrifice. That is indeed good 1♥ Pass 2♥ Pass is when your partner wants to penalise reasoning – 4♠ will be a good sacrifice if ? 2♣. If he is long in clubs, he will double 4♥ is making. However, who is the only for penalties (after a first penalty double player who knows whether 4♥ is making? Pass. Your partner has made a weak all subsequent doubles should also be Your partner. He knows what you hold – response, but he has shown support. He for penalties). you have advertised a 7-card spade suit has shown 6-9 points which added to Your partner will bid again: he will in a weak hand already. If he thinks 4♥ your 15 HCP leaves you short of game. Although you had planned to rebid 1NT with your hand, those plans are changed if your partner makes a limit Improve Your DECLARER PLAY bid response. A limit bid is when you with Bernard Magee describe your hand neatly: he has shown 6-9 points which allows you to assess the prospects of the partnership. Had he l Suit Establishment in No-trumps l Delaying Drawing Trumps responded simply 1♠, you would have l Suit Establishment in Suits l Using the Lead rebid 1NT to show 15-17 points: a limit l Hold-ups l Trump Control bid of your own. l Ruffing for Extra Tricks l Endplays & Avoidance Once one player has limited his hand, l Entries in No-trumps l Using the Bidding it is up to the other player to estimate the level of the final contract. System Requirements Counting losing tricks, you must Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8, remember to devalue your queens by 8mb RAM, CD-ROM £76 themselves. In spades, you should count including postage and packing 2½ losers: this gives 6½ in total; not See Mail Order Form on page 7. enough to try for game. ■

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 19 BERNARD MAGEE Mr Bridge at Festive 2013/2014 Denham Grove near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG.

Denham 10-13 January 2014 Grove Near Uxbridge, £399 full board UB9 5DU Hosted by Jo Walch Topics 23-27 Dec Just Duplicate Bridge £495 SACRIFICING (with a small section for rubber/Chicago with Diana Holland) An exciting aspect of the auction is outbidding your 27-29 Dec Signals and Discards £215 opponents and going down, but gaining by doing so. Learning to bid more aggressively and make the best 29 Dec–2 Jan Doubles £445 of your cards will enhance both your scores and your enjoyment levels.

TRUMP CONTROL Handling the play of the hand when trumps break badly is The Olde an important attribute: playing calmly and using a variety Barn of tactics to pave the way to success. Marston, Lincs, WEAK TWOS It is important to bid more in the modern game and weak NG32 2HT twos are an important choice for the competitive player. They allow for pre-emptive and accurate bidding. Hosted by Val Passmore 23-27 Dec Just Duplicate Bridge £495 DEFENSIVE PLAN Looking at your own hand, then at dummy and envisaging 27-29 Dec Finding Slams £215 how partner’s hand will allow you to make a plan for the defence. By having a framework to make your way across 29 Dec–1 Jan Leads and Defence £445 you will hopefully learn to identify various defensive situations and solve the problems you face.

FURTHER IN TO THE AUCTION Inn on The first two bids of an auction are usually easy, but beyond that the complications increase. Learn about your various options and how to ‘talk’ to your partner during the Prom the bidding. St Annes-on-Sea, FY8 1LU IMPROVING BRIDGE MEMORY Remembering every card is a dream for most of us. Hosted by Bernard Magee However, learn ways in which to remember the important things. What was the first discard or how many trumps 27-29 Dec Signals and Discards £245 are left out?

( 01483 489961 6 seminar sessions with Bernard1 e-mail: [email protected] 6 sessions of supervised play2 website: www.holidaybridge.com Contact Mr Bridge to book your place or for further details: ( 01483 489961 Booking Form on page 8. 1Filmed 2Not with Bernard Magee

Page 20 BRIDGE December 2013 Answers to Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quizzes 7-9 on the Cover

might take 2♥ doubled as many as four for game you should jump to 3NT. 7. Dealer East. Love All. off for 800 points (twice the value of a The problem with supporting dia- ♠ 3 2 ♠ A 9 8 6 4 game). monds is that your partner, with a mini- ♥ A Q 10 9 N ♥ 7 When you want to make a penalty mum hand, might pass, especially if he ♦ 8 7 6 3 W E ♦ A K 4 double, but your system does not allow has no club stop. S ♣ A 10 5 ♣ Q J 3 2 it, then consider passing and hoping that As long as you play the no-trumps your- your partner will make a take-out double self, then a king is good enough to stop a which you can then pass. suit. There is some risk involved, but no- West North East South trumps so often pay dividends when the 1♠ 2♥ final scores appear on the traveller. ? 8. Dealer East. Game All. Pass. Your partner opens 1♠ and South ♠ A K 7 6 ♠ 2 surprises you by overcalling 2♥. You ♥ 7 2 N ♥ A K J 10 3 9. Dealer West. Love All. W E would like to make a penalty double, ♦ A 9 8 3 S ♦ K Q 5 4 ♠ A K 8 5 4 ♠ 9 2 but most players play doubles of suit ♣ K 9 3 ♣ 8 4 2 ♥ K Q 3 2 N ♥ 8 6 bids on the first round for take-out, so ♦ K 7 W E ♦ Q J 4 2 S your partner would respond. The other ♣ 6 2 ♣ A 9 7 5 3 obvious option is 2NT: showing 10- West North East South 12 points and a heart stop. This is a 1♥ Pass reasonable choice, but it does give up on 1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass West North East South the opportunity for a good penalty. ? 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass If South and you are long in hearts, 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass then your partner is likely to be short. 3NT. You have 14 HCP, which, opposite ? When the bidding goes around to your an opening hand is enough for game, partner, as the last player to bid he but which game? Pass. It looks as though East has shown should try hard to make a call: borrow- With three suits bid, the focus is on the support for your spades, so it is tempting ing a king from you to help him. fourth suit: clubs. You have the ♣K and to count your losers and bid accordingly. Here, East will make a take-out dou- that should be enough to persuade you Five losers would suggest bidding ble and you will pass this with glee. You to bid no-trumps. And with the strength towards game. However, your partner’s 2♠ bid is a preference bid rather than a supporting bid. A lot of the time, he will have just two-card spade support. Your The Inn on the Prom hand is worth so much less if you do not have a fit. St Annes-on-Sea FY8 1LU On most hands, when East has decent three-card spade support (with a little distribution), he does best to respond 27-29 December 2013 2♠ directly rather than 1NT. This means Bernard Magee that even when partner has three spades Signals & Discards – £245 he will be flat and weak, which will put game out of reach. 21-23 March 2014 One more important aspect about your hand is the evaluation of 5-4 hands in the Bernard Magee losing trick count. It does not differentiate Doubles – £245 between hands with two doubletons and hands with a singleton and a tripleton. Full Board. No Single Supplement. Hands with a singleton are much more desirable, whilst two doubletons should Booking Form on page 8. generally slow your bidding down. Here, 2♠ is certainly high enough. ■

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el is riskier. 3♠. When your partner opens 2♣ and 10. Dealer North. Love All. Furthermore, it tells your partner that rebids in a suit, he is showing a hand that ♠ 4 3 2 ♠ A K 8 7 6 5 you have a few trumps for him, which wants to play in game even if you hold a ♥ K Q 8 6 5 N ♥ 3 2 means he can compete even further. 3♠ Yarborough. W E ♦ 9 3 S ♦ A 4 2 might go one off, but this will be better You must keep bidding until a game ♣ 9 7 6 ♣ 10 8 than allowing your opponents to make contract is reached. Your 2♦ was the 3♣. When you remember that going off negative response and then 2NT was a is not such a bad thing in bridge, then second negative, showing 0-3 points. West North East South you should be inspired to bid on weaker Partner knows now that you are very 1♣ 1♠ Pass and weaker hands. weak but you still have to bid. East is ? taking his time to find the best contract, showing his four hearts before reverting 2♠. Show support when you can. Your to spades if necessary. partner has made an overcall, which 11. Dealer East. Love All. With equal length in partner’s two should promise five or more cards in his ♠ 3 2 ♠ A K J 7 6 5 suits, you give preference to the first bid suit, which means you need just three ♥ 8 7 N ♥ A K 9 5 suit: spades. Over 3♠, East will make a W E cards to support. ♦ 9 5 4 3 S ♦ A K slam try of 4♦, but you would rebid 4♠ to You might think that 1♠ is high enough, ♣ 10 7 6 5 2 ♣ 3 end the auction. but that is to forget about your oppo- nents. North will surely be bidding again and his side will try to bid higher. West North East South If you pass 1♠, his life is easy, he can 2♣ Pass 12. Dealer North. Game All. bid at the 2-level or make a take-out 2♦ Pass 2♠ Pass ♠ 6 4 2 ♠ 9 8 7 3 double. Instead, your raise to 2♠ puts 2NT Pass 3♥ Pass ♥ 5 4 2 N ♥ A K 3 W E him under pressure: bidding at the 3-lev- ? ♦ 8 3 S ♦ K Q J 10 ♣ K Q 6 5 3 ♣ A 2

Mr Bridge West North East South 1NT Dbl Pass Premium Quality Cards ?

Pass. Your partner has made a penalty double of North’s 1NT. You have a weak Standard Faces hand with a five-card suit, so you might be tempted to rescue your partner. with or without However, your partner will not nec- bar codes. Unboxed. essarily be disappointed by your hand: he has shown about 16 points, so that 6 red / 6 blue leaves your side with the majority and £19.95 therefore favourites to defeat 1NT. Furthermore, your partner might have 30 red / 30 blue more than 16 points which means 1NT is only £60 very likely to be defeated. 1NT doubled one off vulnerable is worth 200 which is much more than is possible from a 2♣ contract. It is possible that 1NT might The London Bridge Centre make on some days, but more often than ( 020 7388 2404 www.bridgeshop.com not, you will be able to defeat 1NT and get a great score. ■

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 23 1597 MR BRIDGE dps ad_Layout 1 20/08/2013 18:36 Page 1

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BRIDGE CRUISES TO THE MEDITERRANEAN IN 2014

Great value fares with in 2014

Join a Voyage to Antiquity and explore the history of the ancient world while enjoying the benefits of small-ship cruising, personal service join join Hosted by Hosted by MR & MRS MR & MRS and intimate surroundings of the Bernard Bernard bridge bridge Magee Magee award-winning Aegean Odyssey. MARCH 24, 2014 and team JULY 7, 2014 AUGUST 21, 2014 OCTOBER 7, 201 and team MEDITERRANEAN ISLES TREASURES OF ANCIENT GREECE, TURKEY & THE VOYAGE AROUND Plus with Mr Bridge special fares & THE HOLY LAND GREECE AND TURKEY CRIMEAN PENINSULA THE BLACK SEA CRUISES TO including flights, shore excursions Istanbul ukraine Istanbul Odessa Odessa CLASSICAL CIVILISATIONS IN 2014 UKraine in most ports, wine with dinner, Turkey Sevastopol Greece Izmir Canakkale Feodosiya Palermo Athens Sevastopol Russia on-board bridge programme, an Trapani sicily Mykonos Iskenderun Turkey Istanbul Syracuse Santorini Antalya Greece Yalta Sochi Special fares & Rethimnon Rhodes Tasucu Izmir Canakkale Bulgaria Valletta Greece Nessebur outstanding lecture programme crete Limassol Athens Turkey malta Athens Izmir Trabzon Haifa Syros Mykonos Batumi LOW SINGLE SUPPLEMENT and on-board gratuities, you'll Jerusalem Antalya Nauplia Delos Israel Santorini Bodrum Santorini Istanbul TURKEY GEORGIA Kos Fethiye crete also find exceptional value for money. Rhodes Rethimnon Voyages to Antiquity fares include: 24 days from £3,295 pp 13 days from £2,095 pp 13 days from £2,095 pp 12 days from £1,995 pp •SCHEDULED FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS A journey through the history of Combine the classical sites of Greece Cruise to Minoan Crete and the gems This itinerary brings to life the the Mediterranean – from ancient and Turkey with quintessential white- of the Aegean and beyond. This journey intriguing history of the regions you •EXPERTLY PLANNED ITINERARIES Greece to the Holy Land and the washed islands on this two-week voyage combines the monuments of antiquity will visit, from the history of Mongols •SHORE EXCURSIONS IN MOST PORTS heart of the Byzantine Empire. through the beautiful Aegean Sea. and natural beauty of the Greek isles and Persians in Georgia to stories with the heritage of the Black Sea. of the Crimean War in Sevastopol. •EXPERT ANTIQUITY GUEST SPEAKERS DATE PORT DATE PORT MAR 24 Fly to ATHENS Greece JUL 7 Fly to ATHENS Greece DATE PORT DATE PORT •OPEN-SEATING DINING Transfer to Aegean Odyssey in Piraeus Transfer to Aegean Odyssey in Piraeus AUG 21 Fly to ATHENS Greece OCT 7 Fly to ISTANBUL Turkey MAR 25 At Sea JUL 8 SYROS Greek Islands Transfer to Aegean Odyssey in Piraeus Transfer to Aegean Odyssey •WINE INCLUDED WITH DINNER ON BOARD MAR 26 SYRACUSE Sicily JUL 9 SANTORINI (Akrotiri) AUG 22 NAUPLIA (Mycenae) Greece OCT 8 At Sea Greek Islands MAR 27/28 PALERMO Sicily AUG 23 RETHIMNON (Knossos) Crete OCT 9 TRABZON (Sumela) Turkey •GRATUITIES ON BOARD JUL 10 KOS Greek Islands MAR 29 TRAPANI Sicily AUG 24 SANTORINI (Akrotiri) Greek Islands OCT 10 BATUMI Georgia JUL 11 RHODES Greek Islands MAR 30 VALLETTA Malta AUG 25 DELOS Greek Islands OCT 11 SOCHI Russia JUL 12 RHODES (Lindos) PAST PASSENGERS SAVE MORE MAR 31 At Sea MYKONOS Greek Islands OCT 12 FEODOSIYA (Sudak) Ukraine Greek Islands Please call for details APR 1/2 RETHIMNON Crete AUG 26 IZMIR (Ephesus) Turkey OCT 13 YALTA Ukraine JUL 13 ANTALYA (Aspendos) Turkey APR 3 At Sea AUG 27 IZMIR (Pergamon) Turkey OCT 14 SEVASTOPOL (Balaklava) JUL 14 FETHIYE (Patara) Turkey APR 4 HAIFA Israel AUG 28 CANAKKALE (Troy) Turkey Ukraine ADD A HOTEL STAY JUL 15 BODRUM (Halicarnassos) OCT 15 SEVASTOPOL Ukraine APR 5 HAIFA/JERUSALEM Israel hotel Turkey AUG 29 Cruise into the Black Sea BOOK NOW FOR A Add extra time at the beginning or OCT 16 ODESSA Ukraine APR 6 JERUSALEM/HAIFA Israel JUL 16 IZMIR (Ephesus) Turkey AUG 30 SEVASTOPOL Ukraine VOYAGE TO REMEMBER OCT 17 NESSEBUR Bulgaria end of your cruise with a 2-night APR 7 LIMASSOL Cyprus JUL 17 IZMIR (Pergamon) Turkey AUG 31 ODESSA Ukraine OCT 18 ISTANBUL Turkey APR 8 ISKENDERUN Turkey JUL 18 CANAKKALE (Troy) Turkey SEPT 1 Cruise the Black Sea hotel stay in Athens and/or Istanbul. Transfer to airport for flight home TO APR 9 TASUCU Turkey JUL 19 ISTANBUL Turkey SEPT 2 ISTANBUL Turkey VOYAGES ANTIQUITY Transfer to airport for flight home Please call for details. APR 10 ANTALYA Turkey Transfer to airport for flight home APR 11 RHODES Greek Islands APR 12 SANTORINI Greek Islands APR 13 DELOS/MYKONOS Greek Islands APR 14 IZMIR Turkey APR 15 At Sea Call on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk APR 16 ISTANBUL All prices, savings and offers shown are subject to availability at the time of booking. Prices are per person, based on Transfer to airport for flight home double occupancy, are available only on certain cabin grades on the sailing shown and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability. Denham Grove Things You Denham, Bucks, UB9 5DG Should

10-13 Jan 2014 – £399 Know About . . . Filming Weekend Bernard Magee 7-9 February – £199 by Andrew Kambites Just Duplicate Bridge 28-30 March – £199 Just Duplicate Bridge r Bridge has you not to reinvent the Third Criterion 4-6 April – £169 invited me to wheel: the large number of Rubber / Chicago write a new series homegrown systems that In real life, does it gain or Diana Holland Mentitled, ‘Things you should I see at club level have the lose? I am afraid that Gerber 4-6 July 2014 – £199 know about . . .’ I have disadvantage of bypassing fails my test. Just Duplicate Bridge started with 12 articles on the accumulated experience In real life, people regu- the most important aspects of experts over many years. larly have misunderstand- Full Board ♣ No Single Supplement of the uncontested auction. Other articles will feature ings about when 4 is or Some of my articles will be common conventional bids. isn’t Gerber. Bridge is a Booking Form on page 8. on basic bridge knowledge. I have criteria I apply to game played by fallible hu- The emphasis will be on conventions. man beings and any con- explaining why something vention which does not rec- is the recommended path, ognise this is flawed. RUBBER / rather that just telling you First Criterion Whatever the merits of a what to do. Too many convention, do understand CHICAGO people decide on a system Any convention invariably that all conventions need as though it is a series of replaces a natural bid. discussion and such discus- EVENTS unconnected decisions. For example, the best of sion can only take place in a Any good system is all conventions, Stayman, regular partnership. Chatsworth Hotel an integrated whole, put prevents you from signing If you sit down for a casual Worthing BN11 3DU together as a result of many off in ♣2 . Is that a price session opposite somebody 7-9 February 2014 years of experience by strong worth paying? The answer is you hardly know, you might with Sheila Rogers players. One part affects the a very strong Yes. Finding a both agree to play red suit rest. For example, I will be 4-4 fit is far more transfers, but that does not Denham Grove recommending that you important than signing off necessarily mean you mean Bucks UB9 5DG open all balanced hands in in 2♣. the same thing. 4-6 April the 12-14 point range with My articles try to with Diana Holland 1NT, even if you have a weak anticipate problems, for doubleton. There are huge Second Criterion example, if 1NT is doubled, hidden gains by doing this, is 2♣ still Stayman? If you The Olde Barn for example, if you open 1♠ How often does it occur? If and your partner both Marston, and rebid 2♥, you guarantee the answer is every week, study my ideas and accept Lincs NG32 2HT five spades. Of course, you it is worth the effort in them, you should find them 29-31 August may decide not to accept learning it and you won’t helpful. with Diana Holland my recommendation about forget it at the table. If it I will also try to advise opening 1NT with a small occurs once a year, then you whether your partner’s doubleton, but then you inevitably one of you will bid needs announcing or £169 Full Board must accept that there are get it wrong. Of course, alerting under current EBU No Single Supplement drawbacks that you might the more you play with a rules. Booking Form on page 8. not have anticipated. I partner, the more ambitious Good luck, and enjoy would strongly advise you can be in your system. your bridge. ■

Page 26 BRIDGE December 2013 Things You Should Know by Andrew Kambites Weak Twos

n opening bid of 2♥ or to the clubs good. On the other would suggest that you have a guilty 2♠ shows a 6-card suit hand, suppose you try playing it in no- conscience about your pre-empt. Aand 6-10 points. trumps. The defenders will find it easy So does it matter if you mislead to cut you off from the spade suit and partner? After all, you will be Some pairs prefer to play it as 5-9, or you will end up having to lead away misleading two opponents and only maybe 5-9 when non-vulnerable, but from the tenaces in the East hand: a one partner. 6-10 if vulnerable. That is a matter of pretty horrific prospect. The biggest gain comes when personal choice. opponents are strong and you bully Some pairs play weak two bids in the ♣♦♥♠ them out of their best contract. The major suits as part of Benjaminised greatest cost comes when partner is Acol. Others play 2♦ as a f you open a weak 2♥ or strong and misjudges. If you are in as well – a method known as ‘Three 2♠, usually you should not second seat, one of your opponents weak twos.’ Ihave four cards in the other has passed already. That increases major. the chances that your partner may be ♣♦♥♠ strong. To see the dangers of this, look This is because the responses are so at Layout B. enerally, opener should geared to playing in opener’s suit. If have a good suit and you choose to open 2♠ when you also Gmost of his points in his have 4 hearts, you have no chance Layout B long suit so that responder can whatsoever of finding a 4-4 heart fit. ♠ A 8 6 5 4 3 ♠ 9 judge accurately what to do. In practice, you might well miss a 5-4 ♥ K 8 6 5 N ♥ Q J 7 3 2 ♦ 8 6 W E ♦ A K 7 5 heart fit, as seen in Layout B. S The reason is that, if you have a weak ♣ 2 ♣ A 7 6 hand but a strong suit, unless that suit ♣♦♥♠ is trumps, the hand may well prove useless. f you decide to depart from West North East South the strict criteria for weak Pass Itwos, the best time to do so 2♠ All Pass Layout A is third in hand: the worst is ♠ K Q J 7 6 5 ♠ 8 second in hand. ♥ 8 6 N ♥ A Q 3 2 West’s 2♠ pre-empt in second seat is ♦ J 10 2 W E ♦ K 8 3 S This is true for pre-empts in general. highly undisciplined. The spades are ♣ 6 5 ♣ A Q 7 4 2 The reasoning is this. If you pre-empt, weak (poor intermediates) and he has then, provided your pre-empts are 4 hearts. East has a misfitting 14 points predictable, partner is in the privileged and could not see where 10 tricks for The hands don’t fit well but, if spades position of being the player at the table game could come from so, correctly, are trumps, you will probably make 4 best able to know what is going on. he passed. Of course, 4♥ is the right or 5 spade tricks. You will also be able From now on, he will take decisions. contract. to use spades (by trumping) as entries For example, if the opponents overcall Third in hand, the situation is very to the West hand to take . It is and he doubles, that is for penalties different. East has passed already so he even possible that you might be able and if you remove his double, that cannot have the East hand in

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 27 Weak Twos continued competitive auction (ie the opponents spade fit and realises that, if North/ overcalling your 1♥ opening bid with South can get into the bidding, they 1♠ and outbidding you in the higher can almost certainly make a game or ranking suit). Usually, partner will slam of their own. 4♠ is pre-emptive. Layout B. If West chooses to open 2♠, pass but, knowing that you are in the In each of these cases, the bidding he can at least do so in the knowledge 10-14 range, there is nothing to prevent will come to South after this sequence: that his partner is unlikely to do him bidding on with a suitable, well anything but pass, so he is safer in fitting hand. West North East South taking unilateral action. 2♠ Pass 4♠ ? Note that you have every right to ♣♦♥♠ open 2♥ or 2♠ with a 5-card suit, but Poor South. East could have a if you do so regularly, your convention f your partner opens a weak powerhouse (as in Layout E), delighted card must say so. Whatever your two bid and you have a to double South if he dares enter the agreement, I would doubt if there is Imisfit, be cautious in the auction. Or East could just be pre- a good player in the country playing bidding. empting North/South out of their weak two bids who would not open 2♠ rightful dues as in Layout F. South has on Hand C, third in hand with only Layout A demonstrates a hand where no way of knowing. the opponents vulnerable. Passing is East has good opening values but an open invitation for opponents to can only pass West’s 2♠ opening bid. ♣♦♥♠ bid and make 4♥. Looking at Layout A, the correct contract is 2♠. Even that modest pposite a weak two contract could fail if finesses lose and bid, a change of suit is Hand C spades break 4-2. Onatural and forcing. ♠ K Q J 10 9 ♥ 9 8 ♣♦♥♠ Partner will expect a 6-card suit: ♦ J 10 9 8 maybe a very good 5-card suit can be ♣ 7 4 f your partner opens a weak justified. two, usually the correct It is a wide ranging principle of pre- Icontract has his suit as empting that, unless the pre-empt Sadly, there are some opponents who trumps. runs into a penalty double, you should would object. Provided they have not try to ‘rescue’ partner. Suppose not been misinformed, no laws have In Layout E, West opens 2♠. East partner opens a weak 2♥. been broken. Perhaps they would not realises there is a misfit but, with this do it. We all need to understand that excellent hand, game is obvious. The nobody at the bridge table has the only good game contract is 4♠ and Hand G Hand H right to impose their judgement on that is what East should bid. ♠ Q J 8 7 6 5 ♠ Q J 8 7 6 5 others. Intolerance drives people away ♥ Void ♥ Void from the game. ♦ A Q 6 3 ♦ A Q 6 3 Layout E ♣ Q 3 2 ♣ A K 2 ♣♦♥♠ ♠ K Q J 7 6 5 ♠ 8 ♥ 8 6 N ♥ A K 3 2 ourth in hand, it makes ♦ J 10 2 W E ♦ A K 3 S With Hand G, you have no option but sense for a weak two bid ♣ 6 5 ♣ A Q 7 4 2 to pass. Yes, 2♠ might be better but Fto show 10-14 points and you don’t have the option of playing in a 6-card suit. 2♠. If you try 2♠, what are you going to Try comparing this with Layout F. do if partner rebids 3♥? If 3 players have passed, you are highly With Hand H, you have not given unlikely to have fewer than 10 points. up on game, so start with 2♠. Partner Layout F will try to avoid rebidding his hearts ♠ K Q J 7 6 5 ♠ A 8 3 2 and should support you with ♠K-2 or Hand D ♥ 8 6 N ♥ 9 4 3 ♠4-3-2. If he just rebids 3♥, I would ♠ 9 7 ♦ J 10 2 W E ♦ K 9 6 5 4 S give up on game and pass. ♥ A Q J 7 6 5 ♣ 6 5 ♣ 4 ♦ K Q 6 ♣♦♥♠ ♣ 10 4 The bidding is identical. West opens direct raise of a weak 2♠ and East raises to 4♠. This time, two to the three level Of course, this hand qualifies for a ♥1 East is not expecting to make 4♠. He A is pre-emptive, not a bid, but you don’t really want to start a is aware of the excellent East/West .

Page 28 BRIDGE December 2013 Weak Twos continued West East Layout K 2♥ 2NT1 ♠ 8 7 2 ♠ 6 4 3 3NT2 Pass3 ♥ A Q 10 7 6 5 N ♥ J 4 3 ♥ ♦ 9 8 W E ♦ A Q J 1 In Layout J, West opens 2 and East S Conventional and asking. raises to 3♥. ♣ 6 5 ♣ A K 4 3 2♥A-K-Q. 3East had been intending to play in hearts but now he can count 9 top Layout J West East tricks in no-trumps. He has a stopper ♠ 8 7 ♠ 9 4 3 2♥ 2NT1 in every suit, so settles for the obvious ♥ A Q J 7 6 5 N ♥ K 4 2 3♦2 3♥3 game. ♦ Q 10 7 W E ♦ K J 5 ♥ S Note that 4 could easily fail if the ♣ 7 5 ♣ A 9 4 2 1Conventional and asking. Reasonable defenders manage a spade ruff, or lead because of the good (9-card) trump a club through your ♣K-J-10. fit. East reasons thus: 2Minimum hand, good suit (2 of the ♣♦♥♠ If West is maximum, 3♥ may make. top 3 honours). If West is minimum, 3♥ may fail 3High enough. If West has at most f you open a weak two bid, but, in that case, surely North/South 8 points and two top honours, he you must never bid again can make 3♠ or even 4♠. It is sensible cannot have anything outside trumps. Iunless your partner invites to make it hard for North/South to Looking at the two hands, you can see you to do so. enter the auction. Note that West is that 4♥ requires both red suit finesses maximum for 2♥ but doesn’t double- to work: not good odds. This is a statement of the obvious cross East by raising 3♥ to 4♥. because it is true for all pre-emptive In Layout L, the 2NT gets a bids. ♣♦♥♠ reply promising more points. However, let me stress it. Suppose you open 2♥ with this hand. pposite a weak two bid, a 2NT response Layout L Ois conventional and ♠ A 7 2 ♠ 6 4 3 Hand N forcing, accepting opener’s ♥ A 10 9 8 6 5 N ♥ J 4 3 ♠ 8 suit as trumps and asking ♦ 9 8 W E ♦ A Q J ♥ A K J 10 8 7 S him to clarify further. This is ♣ Q 5 ♣ A K 4 3 ♦ J 9 3 2 called the . ♣ 8 6 Requirements: 16+ or a little less with a good fit. West East 2♥ 2NT1 Your left hand opponent overcalls There are various types of responses 3♥2 4♥3 with 3♣ and it is passed back to you. but the following, known as Yes, you are maximum. However, it is responses, are the most popular. 12NT is conventional and asking. an act of betrayal of partner to bid 3♥ Opener is required to make two Reasonable because of the good (9- or 3♦. decisions: card) trump fit. The argument, ‘I have no defence i) In the context of his weak two bid, 23♥ shows maximum hand, but denies to 3♣,’ implies you think of bridge as is his hand minimum (6 to bad 8 two of the top three honours. an individual rather than partnership points) or maximum (good 8 to 10 3You would be unlucky to fail in game. game. You have no idea what partner points)? has: he has a far better idea of your ii) Is his suit good (ie 2 of the top 3 Sometimes, the 2NT Ogust enquiry hand. He has decided it is best to trump honours) or bad? can lead to a surprising choice of game defend 3♣. The responses to 2NT are as follows: contract. When this hand occurred at the In Layout M, the 2NT asking bid table West could not bring himself to 3♣ shows minimum hand, bad suit. also gets a more promising reply. pass. 3♦ shows minimum hand, good suit. 3♥ shows maximum hand, bad suit. West North East South 3♠ shows maximum hand, good suit. Layout M 2♥ 3♣ Pass Pass 3NT shows solid trumps (ie A K Q). ♠ 7 4 2 ♠ Q J 6 3♥ 3♠ Pass 4♠ Obviously nothing outside. ♥ A K Q 8 7 6 N ♥ J 3 2 End ♦ 6 3 W E ♦ A K Q 4 S In Layout K, East is not encouraged ♣ 9 5 ♣ K J 10 The opponents made 4♠ with an by West’s response to 2NT. overtrick. ■

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 29 Bernard Magee’s Tips Things You Should Know for Better Bridge About Weak Twos Quiz 65 invaluable tips in 160 pages by Andrew Kambites (Answers on page 47) Bidding Tips 33 A low lead usually promises 1 Always consider bidding length and an honour 1 Consider Hands A, B, C and D. Which of these hands spades if you can 34 When declaring 1NT, is suitable for a weak 2♠ opening bid with nobody 2 Bid more aggressively try to be patient when non-vulnerable 35 an early round when vulnerable: 3 Always double when the you are short of entries Second in hand (ie after one pass)? opponents steal your deal 36 Lead up to your Third in hand (ie after two passes)? 4 A shows two-honour holding shortage in the suit doubled 37 Do not always assume 5 ‘Borrow’ a king a suit will break well to keep the auction open 38 Drop a high card Hand A Hand B Hand C Hand D 6 After a penalty double, to put off the defence ♠ K Q 10 9 6 2 ♠ K Q 10 9 6 2 ♠ J 7 6 4 3 2 ♠ A Q J 8 7 don’t let the opponents escape 39 Play your highest card to tempt 7 Halve the value of a singleton a defender to cover ♥ 8 ♥ K 9 5 3 ♥ K 9 4 ♥ 9 7 honour when opening 40 Draw trumps first unless you ♦ K 9 5 3 ♦ 8 ♦ A 3 2 ♦ J 10 6 8 Only add length-points for a have a good reason not to ♣ 9 7 ♣ 9 7 ♣ 6 ♣ 6 3 2 suit that might be useful 41 Do not waste your trumps 9 Isolated honours are bad 42 Consider leaving a lone defen- except in partner’s suit sive trump winner out 10 Use the jump shift sparingly 11 Consider passing and letting Defence Tips partner decide 43 Keep four-card suits intact 12 You need two top honours whenever possible 2 At love all your partner opens a weak 2♠ first in hand for a second-seat pre-empt 44 Give count on declarer’s leads and the next hand passes. What should you bid with 45 Keep the right cards 13 Put the brakes on if you have a Hands E to M? misfit rather than 14 Strong and long minors work 46 Take your time well in no-trumps when dummy is put down

15 One stop in the opponents’ suit 47 High cards are for killing Hand E Hand F Hand G Hand H can be enough for no-trumps other high cards ♠ J ♠ J ♠ K 8 7 ♠ 7 16 Keep your two-level 48 Do not waste responses up to strength intermediate cards ♥ A Q 9 7 ♥ A J 7 6 ♥ 6 3 ♥ A Q J 8 7 2 17 Use your normal methods in 49 Pick two key suits to ♦ A K 8 7 ♦ K Q 7 2 ♦ A J 9 2 ♦ A K Q 6 concentrate on during the play response to a 1NT overcall ♣ A Q 3 2 ♣ Q J 5 4 ♣ K 8 6 3 ♣ K 2 18 Don’t overcall just because 50 If in doubt, cover an honour you have opening points with an honour 19 Overcalls can be quite weak, 51 If a lead is from two honours, it so be prudent when responding is best not to cover 20 Weak overcalls must be based 52 Keep your honour to kill

on strong suits dummy’s honour Hand J Hand K Hand L Hand M 21 6NT requires 33 points 53 Try to show partner your ♠ K 7 ♠ K 7 2 ♠ 3 ♠ K 8 6 4 not 4 aces and 4 kings solid honour sequences ♥ 9 8 6 ♥ A K 8 ♥ A Q ♥ 7 54 Lead the normal card when 22 Raise immediately, if weak ♦ A J 5 4 ♦ A K Q J ♦ Q J 10 ♦ Q J 10 9 7 with four-card support leading partner’s suit 23 In a competitive auction, 55 Never underlead an ace at trick ♣ A K 3 2 ♣ A Q 2 ♣ A K Q J 8 7 2 ♣ 7 3 2 show support immediately one in a suit contract 56 Be wary of leading from 24 Bid to the level of your fit quickly with weak hands four cards to only one honour 25 With strength and support, 57 Lead a higher card from use the opponents’ bid suit a suit without an honour 58 Lead through ‘beatable’ 3 As West, you open a weak 2♥ with Hands N, Q, R and strength and up to weakness Declarer Play Tips 59 Cash your winners before try- S. What is your rebid if the auction continues as shown? 26 When your contract depends ing for a on a finesse, think ‘endplay’ 60 Be patient when defending 27 Consider what a defender 1NT West North East South might be thinking about 61 Trump leads can be safe 2♥ Pass 2NT Pass 28 Always take your time throughout the play at trick one ? 29 Establish extra tricks before General Tips cashing your winners 62 Do not put important cards 30 Use your opponents’ at either end of your hand Hand N Hand Q Hand R Hand S bidding to your advantage 63 Avoid being declarer when 31 Avoid the ‘baddie’ you are dummy ♠ 9 8 ♠ 9 8 ♠ 9 8 ♠ 9 8 gaining the lead 64 Before you lead, ask for a ♥ A J 9 7 6 4 ♥ A Q 9 8 7 6 ♥ A J 9 8 7 6 ♥ A K 10 8 5 4 32 Use the Rule of Seven when review of the auction ♦ J 10 5 ♦ 8 6 5 ♦ K J 9 ♦ K 6 5 holding up in no-trumps 65 Enjoy the Game! ♣ 4 2 ♣ 4 2 ♣ 4 2 ♣ 4 2 £14 including postage and packing from Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. ( 01483 489961

Page 30 BRIDGE December 2013 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 9

West North East South spades straight away. For one thing, 1. ♠ K 1NT partner would have played the lower of ♥ A 7 5 Pass 3NT End touching honours at trick one if holding ♦ A Q J 9 6 5 the ♠A-K. For another, South needs the ♣ A 8 2 You lead the ♠3. Partner wins with the ♠K ♠K to have 12+ points. ♠ Q 10 7 2 ♠ A 9 6 4 3 and returns the ♠5, on which South plays Fortunately, as you have the ♦K, you ♥ K J 6 N ♥ 10 8 4 2 the ♠J. What do you do? hope to enjoy the spades later. As the ♠2 W E ♦ ♦ 10 4 S 7 3 A count of points tells you that partner is missing, partner may well have started ♣ Q 9 6 4 ♣ J 3 can have at most a queen as well as the with five spades. ♠ J 8 5 ♠K. You had 10 points, dummy had 13 This being so, you want partner to win ♥ Q 9 3 and declarer had 12-14, leaving at most the fourth round. So win with the ♠9 (not ♦ K 8 2 5 for partner. the ♠6) and use the ♠10 to drive out the ♣ K 10 7 5 This being the case, declarer has nine ♠K, unblocking the suit. top tricks: the ♥A, the ♣A-K and six diamonds. West North East South To defeat the contract, your side needs 1♦ Pass 1NT to win the first five tricks. Partner’s return 4. ♠ K 7 Pass 3NT End of the ♠5 is good news: it must be fourth ♥ K Q J 9 5 highest, which means South has only ♦ A J 10 5 You lead the ♠2, won by the ♠A (♠5 from one spade left. If you take the ♠A and ♣ 10 2 South). Partner returns the ♠4, covered ♠10, you will make only four spade tricks ♠ Q 10 6 5 ♠ 8 4 2 by the ♠J. What do you do? because partner will have to win the ♥ A 10 6 N ♥ 8 7 4 This is an easy one to start with. From fourth round. Instead, having taken the ♦ 6 4 W E ♦ K 8 7 3 S the bidding, you place declarer with only ♠A, lead a low spade: the ♠2 and hope ♣ Q J 9 5 ♣ K 7 3 three spades; this means the suit is ready partner holds the ♠9. ♠ A J 9 3 to run. ♥ 3 2 Since partner has more spades than ♦ Q 9 2 you do, you want to get your high spades ♣ A 8 6 4 out of the way. 3. ♠ Q So take the ♠Q, cash the ♠10 and play ♥ A 7 5 a fourth round. If your partner had the ♦ Q J 9 8 6 5 West North East South ♦K, it would not matter if you played the ♣ A 8 2 1♥ Pass 1♠ spades less efficiently – but there is no ♠ J 10 9 6 ♠ A 8 7 4 2 Pass 2♦ Pass 2NT need to rely on that. ♥ K J 6 N ♥ 10 8 4 Pass 3NT End ♦ K 4 W E ♦ 7 3 S ♣ J 9 5 4 ♣ Q 6 3 You lead the ♣Q. Partner plays the ♣7 ♠ K 5 3 (high encourages, low discourages) and 2. ♠ Q ♥ Q 9 3 2 South the ♣4. How do you continue? ♥ A 7 5 ♦ A 10 2 Since the ♣6 and ♣3 are missing, you ♦ Q J 9 8 6 5 ♣ K 10 7 can reasonably assume the ♣7 is a high ♣ A 8 2 club, asking you to lead the suit again. ♠ A 10 4 3 2 ♠ K 9 6 5 While it may seem tempting to continue ♥ K J 6 N ♥ 10 8 4 West North East South with the ♣J to ‘squash’ dummy’s ♣10, W E ♦ 10 4 S ♦ 7 3 1NT you do not need to do that. Partner ♣ Q 9 4 ♣ J 6 5 3 Pass 3NT End presumably holds the ♣A or ♣K and can ♠ J 8 7 beat the ♣10 anyway. ♥ Q 9 3 2 You lead the ♠J. Partner wins with the ♠A If, mistakenly, you lead the ♣J at trick ♦ A K 2 and returns the ♠4, covered by the ♠5. two, declarer can block the clubs by ♣ K 10 7 How do you defend? taking the ♣A and drive out your ♥A. This time, your side cannot run the Lead the ♣5. ■

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 31 Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions A Always Shows Extra Values

What is the best Whether you are Yes, with a weak You need to be able to show way of bidding playing Standard 3-suited hand short a good hand when you have Qthese hands (a) A American or Acol, A in clubs, it is a good one and to pick up a useful playing 5-card majors a reverse shows extra idea to respond Stayman to penalty when your side has and (b) using standard values, 16 or 17 points plus. partner’s 1NT and pass any the balance of power. Acol? Does a reverse Playing Acol and a weak reply. A 4-4-4-1 or 4-4-5- If they open a strong no- have the same meaning no-trump, North has to 0 shape would be ideal. A trump, many people over in both systems? rebid 2♦. Playing Standard 4-3-5-1 or 3-4-5-1 shape here still play the double as American, North can again is likely to be suitable too: for penalties. Remember, rebid 2♦ or perhaps 1NT at worst, you will play in a if you have a good suit, ♠ 9 (the 1NT rebid is a weak 4-3 fit with any club ruffs you have the advantage of ♥ A J 6 2 action when playing a strong in the short trump hand. If the , helping ♦ K 8 5 3 2 no-trump opening). 2♥ you are 4-3-4-2 or 3-4-4-2, you to win the race to set ♣ A 10 5 is not the correct rebid in you are likely to be better up tricks. Moreover, if the either system. South would off passing: the chance of opening bid was on your N W E pass 2♦ or take out 1NT. finding a worthwhile fit is right, your high cards will be S A few pairs could reach a not great and you are hardly in a good position relative ♠ 8 7 6 5 2 club contract via 1♦-1♠-1NT- making life harder for your to the opener’s high cards. ♥ Q 5 2♣. To do that, you would opponents because you are In countries where almost ♦ 4 have to be playing a strong giving them two chances everyone plays a strong ♣ K Q J 9 7 no-trump, be comfortable to bid instead of one. no-trump, many people play about rebidding 1NT with the a double as conventional. singleton and not be playing ♣♦♥♠ For example, some play Our sequence, playing any sort of checkback; this the double as either the 5-card majors was: does not sound very likely. I always majors or the minors, understood others as a 5-card minor North South ♣♦♥♠ Qthat a double plus a 4-card major. 1♦ 1♠ of 1NT is penalty. Now If you play the double 2♥ 2♠ If partner opens I understand it could as conventional, partner 1NT, might it be a be penalty or take-out might judge to pass with Incidentally, our Qgood idea to use double. What is the the right hand. Even if it is opponents failed to Stayman with the inten- thinking behind this? conventional, doubling a remove my trumps, tion of passing partner’s Niranjan Doshi by email. strong no-trump when you so 2♠ made, giving us reply? The hands I am have a hand weaker than a rather undeserved thinking about have only If the opponents opener’s is risky. Sometimes top. Most pairs went one or two clubs, a 4-4- open a weak 1NT, partner will have a weak down in something. 4-1 shape being ideal. A almost everyone hand and no particular fit Anne Lee, Glasgow. John Watts by email. plays double as for penalties. for your suits.

Page 32 BRIDGE December 2013 Ask Julian continued would you recommend that to work you need to it depends upon the rest any particular bidding be reasonably confident of the hand. Usually you method with Blackwood that partner can work should look to support or RKCB to show a void out where your void is. partner. However, if you The way I in response to 4NT? have a lot of secondary play Landy ♣♦♥♠ values in the other suits Q(2♣ overcall and not much in diamonds of 1NT to show the ♠ Void I know my 2♥ then 1NT could be best. majors) is as follows: ♥ K J 9 8 6 2 response on ♦ A Q J 4 3 Qthis hand was ♣♦♥♠ Non-Vulnerable: ♣ A 10 not strictly by the book 5-4 majors with 10+HCP with only four hearts. RHO opened 1♠; N 5-5 majors with 7+ HCP W E I bid 3♦, pre- Vulnerable: S Qemptive. At the 5-4 majors with 12 HCP ♠ K 7 4 ♠ 9 5 4 inquest, the opponents 5-5 majors with 10 HCP ♥ A Q 7 5 4 ♥ A K Q 10 said I should have bid ♦ K 10 ♦ A 6 4 4♦ over a major, as 3♦ In reply, the only ♣ K 7 4 ♣ Q 7 5 shows a very strong artificial bid is 2♦, hand over a major. asking for the longer What do you think? major. Does this all David Brayshaw by email. Partner Me Joan Kelly, seem reasonable? 1♠ 2♥ Golders Green, London. Evan StClair Sepion, On the hands you 3♥ 4♥ East Horsley, Surrey. give, a possible End The strength of A auction is: a single jump Yes, we recommend 4♥ made 10 tricks while A overcall is a matter playing 2♣ over an North South 4♠ would have made 11. of partnership agreement. A opposing 1NT as 1♥ 2NT1 How would you bid? You can play them as weak, showing both majors and 4♦2 4NT3 J Bardun by email. intermediate or strong. using 2♦ in reply to ask for 6♥4 7♥ Traditionally, most people the longer major (usually While you should played them as strong. used with equal length). 1Game forcing heart raise normally respond Since strong jump overcalls Your point count (Jacoby). A 2♣ with this shape do not come up very requirements also 2Good second suit. and values, with such a often, many people have look about right. 3RKCB. chunky 4-card heart suit switched to playing them Bear in mind that, 4An odd number of key cards you are entitled to exercise as weak. With a stronger especially at matchpoints, and a void in a suit ranking some judgement and treat hand, it usually works to whether the opponents higher than the trump suit. it as a 5-card suit. However, start with a simple overcall are vulnerable also has a you might have bid 3♠ and then repeat your suit bearing. With neither side Various methods exist for over 3♥ to offer partner or double next time to vulnerable, anyone going showing a void in reply to a choice of games. show extras. If you play down is doing so at 50 a 4NT. Kantar recommends in a tournament or watch time, so making a contract is that you bid 5NT with an ♣♦♥♠ bridge on BBO, you will find usually better than collecting even number of key cards that almost everyone there a penalty, while conceding plus a void, six of your void My partner plays weak jump overcalls. a penalty is usually better (or the trump suit if the void opened 1♦. I had The weaker strength than letting them make a is in a higher-ranking suit) Q8 points and four comes up more often and contract. This means you if you have an odd number diamonds. Should the enables you to obstruct are most inclined to bid with of key cards plus a void. In answer be 2♦ or 1NT, the opposing bidding. neither side vulnerable. the latter case, you expect which is what I bid? What the opponents partner to work out from your James Harrington by email. thought was irrelevant ♣♦♥♠ previous bidding whether the (assuming your partner gave odd number is one or three. It depends upon a correct explanation of the Is there a way A fair alternative is that your shape. If you strength of your overcall). to bid a grand you reply at the six level if A have a 4-card They are entitled to play Qslam on the you have a void, bidding major, you might well show strong jump overcalls if they hands below (North the same suit as you would that in preference to raising wish but they cannot stop dealer)? Nobody bid it. have done without the void diamonds. Assuming you you from playing them as As a more general point, only one level higher. For do not have a 4-card major, weak.

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 33 Ask Julian continued shows such a strong hand. One well-known textbook EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY says that a jump to 3NT should show an aceless Bridge tip from Sally Brock: Use your Defending 10-12, so you would be honour cards to give a suit preference signal against a slam, about right for the values. ♠ QI held the A but Obviously, the bid is ou won’t have been West leads the five of dia- no other high cards. forcing facing 23+ or out of the beginners’ monds. Plan the defence. I led the ♠A but then game-going values. Yclass for very long be- It looks obvious that switched; my part- fore you get a lesson on suit you are going to win and ner, at the time, told ♣♦♥♠ preference signals. When continue diamonds, hoping me never to do that partner leads a singleton to promote a trump trick in but to carry on the If five cards are to your ace, the card you your partner’s hand. Then, same suit even though missing, the return should tell partner you need him to switch to they were all small. Qprobability of a what to play next: a high a spade to give you a ruff. Is this correct? 3-2 break is 67.83%. card for a high-ranking suit, How can you persuade him Name and address supplied. I have worked out a low card for a low-rank- to do this? the following card ing suit. But sometimes you You are going to win Whether you combinations: can’t afford to play a low with one honour, hopefully should continue card at all. cash another and then A or switch depends 3-2 break has 20 lead another. If you play upon your hand, partner’s combinations, ten, jack, queen, you would signal and the dummy. 4-1 break has 10 Dealer East. E/W Vul. clearly ask for a club; if you ♠ 7 6 4 2 play ace, king, queen, you If your partner encourages combinations, ♥ A 5 clearly ask for a spade. (with a high card) it would 5-0 break has 2 ♦ 7 6 2 With no preference, you be usual to continue the combinations. ♣ A Q 10 9 would do something else, suit, hoping to find the ♠ K J 10 9 5 3 ♠ Void perhaps winning the jack king opposite your ace. I thought that the ♥ K 7 4 ♥ 6 2 and then playing the ace, If you can tell from percentage probability ♦ 5 N ♦ A K Q J for example. dummy that the best hope for a 3-2 break would W E S 10 8 3 Notice that you need of defeating the contract is be (20/32)x100 but this ♣ K J 3 ♣ 6 5 4 2 your spade ruff to beat the to give your partner a ruff, gives 62.5% not 67.83%. ♠ A Q 8 contract and partner will again you continue the suit. Could you explain ♥ Q J 10 9 8 3 take a lot of persuading to where I have ♦ 9 4 lead one from his king. ♣♦♥♠ gone wrong? ♣ 8 7 When your honour David Cree by email. holding is known (or shortly Could you tell me going to be known), then what the correct You need to take West North East South use the order in which you Qresponse to a into account that 4♦ 4♥ play your honours to give 2♣ opening would be as A players have a finite All Pass suit preference. ■ responder with 12 points, number of cards (13). While a and no the number of combinations idea of partner’s shape? you have given is right, Travel tip from Emma Thomson: I replied 3NT and, as they are not equally likely. it happened, partner If one suit breaks 3-2, it oliday snaps are a great reminder of the good had a balanced hand means the other 21 cards times. Only when you get back home and are and we made 6NT, but in the opposing hands Hshowing them to family and friends do you real- I am not sure what are breaking 11-10 and ise the photograph doesn’t quite live up to the real-life my initial response so on. There are more version. To improve your photos, try spending a little should have been. ways of having an 11-10 longer setting up the shot. Look around the corners of Liz Luffingham by email. break than there are of the viewfinder to be sure no telegraph wires are cutting 12-9 or 13-8 breaks. across the frame and or there’s no lamp post sticking You are rarely lucky This is why a 3-2 break is a out the top of your loved-one’s head; don’t shoot into the sun as faces will be covered in shadow; and try enough to hold 12 hotter favourite than your raw photographing people and scenery from different an- points when partner calculations suggest. ■ A gles – low, high, even upside down – instead of just at head height. Relatives will be cooing over your handi- E-mail your questions for Julian to: work in no time. [email protected]

Page 34 BRIDGE December 2013 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum Episode 20: Double Trouble

s a teenager at school, I enjoyed of bridge regarding this situation. the ♥8, Kate covered in dummy and most team sports, like hockey In particular, does Rule 76 apropos East had to win with the ♥A. A club and netball, but athletics was spectators apply to parrots during return gave Kate the rest of the tricks Aa different matter. In the sixth form, a match played in a private house? for a score of +630. Could anything on compulsory cross-country runs, a When Jo and Kate joined us to score go wrong now? Oh, yes. At our table, friend and I would soon be trailing the up the first half, Millie greeted them South passed and Millie with two five- field and would take a short cut along mischievously with, ‘That parrot has card red suits and rule of 19 opened a footpath by a stream. We would then just told us a great joke.’ ‘The parrot?’ one heart. The complete disastrous rejoin the official route still behind the queried Jo suspiciously. ‘Well, perhaps sequence was: other girls now on their return jour- I exaggerated,’ admitted Millie, ‘The ney. On one occasion, we had stopped joke wasn’t really that good, but not West North East South to watch a pair of kingfishers, lost our bad for a parrot.’ We enjoyed a splendid Millie Ann Wendy sense of time and had to hurry back to tea provided by our opponents and Pass school. To our surprise and dismay, Jo and Kate had the pleasure of the 1♥ 1♠ Pass 2♣ we were the first to finish; we had not parrot’s company for the second half. 2♦ 3♠ Dbl All Pass realised the course had been length- Being only a few IMPs down, we knew ened that day as a trial for the school we had everything to play for. The With six trumps in my hand and an inter-house event. Our performance following board proved to be pivotal ace, I doubled, expecting to defeat the gained us the unwanted honour of to the final result. contract. What a mistake. I led the selection for our house team. Pro- ♦5 and Ann, as declarer, played the tests on the grounds that others were ♦J. Millie won with the ♦K, won the more deserving were ignored. We ex- Dealer South. N/S Vul. second trick with the ♦A and returned celled ourselves on competition day ♠ A K Q J 5 the ♦6. I ruffed then took the ♥A, but by completing the full cross-country ♥ K J 6 3 three spades doubled came home for course in the slowest time ever re- ♦ 8 3 -730. It would have been a part score corded in the school’s history, to the ♣ K 6 of -140 had I been more conservative. great amusement of classmates and I ♠ Void ♠ 9 7 6 4 3 2 Kate’s excellent 3NT contract had been N suspect the games’ teacher. In bridge, ♥ Q 9 8 7 4 W E ♥ A 2 cancelled out by my over-exuberance. one can also be too clever. ♦ A K 10 7 6 S ♦ 5 2 That unnecessary double cost us Jo, Kate, Millie and I entered a ♣ 10 9 7 ♣ Q 5 2 dearly, a difference of -100 for -3 IMPs national knock-out teams competition ♠ 10 8 instead of +490 for +10 IMPs. As a for the first time. In the qualifying ♥ 10 5 result, we lost a match we could have round, we drew a useful local team ♦ Q J 9 4 won by 4 IMPs. In bridge, like cross- captained by Ann, who we knew ♣ A J 8 4 3 country, it does not pay to be too clever. vaguely but had not seen for some As we congratulated our opponents on time. As we entered her house for the their victory, Ann responded silently contest, I commented quietly to Millie West North East South with a gleefully exaggerated broad and that Ann appeared to look slightly Jo Kate toothy grin. different around the face. ‘I’m sure it’s Pass We retreated to a local hostelry to her new false teeth,’ responded Millie Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT lick our wounds and soothe Millie’s unkindly and certainly too loudly. Pass 3♥ Pass 3NT troubled nerves. It was then that Millie ‘I think the dentist fitted the wrong All Pass noticed the new lucky charm on my ones,’ she continued unnecessarily. bracelet. ‘I think you should ask for Throughout the first twelve boards, West led the ♦A and East played the a refund,’ she observed drily. It did Ann’s parrot, on its perch in the corner ♦5. West switched to the ♥9, dummy not seem to be the moment to suggest of the room, kept up an incessant played low, East ducked and Kate won that Millie’s minimum opener might chatter. I couldn’t help wondering with the ♥10. Now the play of the ♦Q have been a contributing factor in the if there was anything in the laws knocked out the ♦K. West exited with debacle. ■

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 35 SUMMER & WINTER ₂₀₁₄/₁₅ CRUISES

SUMMER 2014 AND WINTER Fares per person from 2014-15 CRUISES NATIONAL TREASURES of the BRITISH ISLES CONTRASTS of INDIA and ARABIA May 4, 2014 – 14 days Inside £1,745pp November 19, 2014 – 15 days Inside £1,709pp Portsmouth ~ Port of Tyne ~ Rosyth ~ Scrabster Outside £1,889pp Dubai (overnight) ~ Khasab ~ Porbandar Outside £2,123pp Stornoway ~ Belfast ~ Liverpool ~Cardiff ~ Scilly Isles Balcony SOLD OUT Mumbai ~ Marmagao ~ Cochin ~ Tuticorin Balcony £3,167pp Falmouth ~ St Peter Port ~ Portsmouth Colombo (overnight) NATURAL WONDERS and WILDLIFE TREASURES of the INDIAN OCEAN May 17, 2014 – 14 days Inside £1,619pp December 3, 2014 – 16 days Inside £2,366pp Portsmouth ~ Lerwick ~ Heimaey ~ Reykjavik ~ Ísafjördur Outside £1,790pp Colombo (overnight) ~ Hambantota ~ Malé ~ Kuda Outside £2,618pp Húsavík ~ Djúpivogur ~Tórshavn ~ Kirkwall Balcony £2,879pp Bandos ~ Port Victoria ~ Praslin ~ La Digue ~ Port Louis Balcony £3,869pp Portsmouth (overnight)

May 30, 2014 – 16 days CLASSIC BALTIC Inside £1,844pp SPLENDOURS of the INDIAN OCEAN January 3, 2015 – 15 days Inside £2,231pp Portsmouth ~ Copenhagen ~ Stockholm ~ Helsinki Outside £1,880pp St Petersburg ~ Gdynia ~Warnemünde ~ Kiel Canal transit Port Louis (overnight) ~ Pointe Des Galets Outside £2,735pp Balcony £4,085pp Portsmouth Port D’ehoala ~ Richards Bay ~ Durban ~ Port Elizabeth Balcony £4,085pp Cape Town (overnight) SUMMER SOLSTICE and the NORTH CAPE June 14, 2014 – 15 days Inside £1,529pp THE MAGIC of SOUTH AFRICA Inside £2,186pp Portsmouth ~ Stavanger ~ Bergen ~ Kristiansund Outside £1,691pp January 17, 2015 – 14 days Outside £2,681pp Honningsvåg ~ Tromsø ~Leknes ~ Brønnøysund Balcony SOLD OUT Cape Town (overnight) ~ East London ~ Maputo Balcony £3,995pp Trondheim ~ Ålesund ~ Haugesund ~ Harwich Richards Bay ~ Durban ~ Port Elizabeth ~ Cape Town

THE MAGIC of the MEDITERRANEAN September 10, 2014 – 15 days Inside SOLD OUT IN SEARCH of the NORTHERN LIGHTS March 1, 2015 – 16 days Inside £1,529pp Marseille ~ San Remo ~ Ajaccio ~ Cagliari ~Trapani Outside £1,898pp Portsmouth ~ Kristiansund ~ Brønnøysund ~ Sortland Outside £1,898pp Valletta ~ Catania ~ Brindisi ~Venice ~ Pula ~ Split Balcony SOLD OUT Alta ~ Honningsvåg ~ Tromsø ~ Leknes ~ Bergen Balcony £2,834pp Dubrovnik (overnight) Portsmouth

ADRIATIC, IONIAN and AEGEAN ODYSSEY REFLECTIONS of the NORWEGIAN FJORDS September 24, 2014 – 15 days Inside £1,750pp Inside £944pp March 29, 2015 – 9 days Outside £1,946pp Outside £1,178pp Dubrovnik (overnight) ~Kotor ~Sarandé ~ Corfu Town Portsmouth ~ Ulvik ~ Eidfjord ~ Bergen ~ Flåm Balcony £3,127pp Balcony £1,754pp Argostoli ~ Chania ~Rhodes Town ~ Santorini ~ Mykonos Alesund ~ Haugesund ~ Portsmouth Kavala ~ Thessaloniki ~ Volos ~ Piraeus (overnight)

A BLACK SEA ADVENTURE October 8, 2014 – 15 days Inside £2,231pp YOUR CRUISE FARE INCLUDES: Piraeus (Overnight) ~ Çanakkale ~ Sinop ~ Sochi Outside £2,402pp Novorossiysk ~ Feodosiya ~ Yalta ~Sevastopol ~ Odessa Balcony £4,454pp Standard Autumn Sale Below is a summary of what's included in our fares: Nesebur ~ Istanbul (Overnight) Fare Saver Fare All meals and entertainment on board   EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN and RED SEA All onboard gratuities   October 22, 2014 – 13 days Inside £1,359pp All onboard service charges   Istanbul (overnight) ~ Dikili ~ Kusadasi ~ Antalya Outside £1,691pp All port and pre-paid airport taxes   pp Limassol ~ Port Said ~Suez Canal transit ~ Aqaba Balcony £2,719 Flights (on fl y cruises) and overseas transfers Sharm el Sheikh (overnight)   Guest Speaker programme   Cabin category   GEMS of the RED SEA and ARABIAN SEAS Inside £1,223pp November 3, 2014 – 17 days Cabin location and number   Outside £1,351pp Sharm el Sheikh (overnight) ~ Safaga ~ Djibouti City Complimentary chauffeur service*   Balcony £2,014pp Salalah ~ Muscat ~ Fujairah ~ Dubai (overnight) Car parking at port or coach transfers on selected no-fl y cruises  

Additional Cruises and Grand Voyages available 01483 489961 for brochures and bookings www.mrbridge.co.uk

Fares shown are per person based on two people sharing lowest twin-bedded cabin category currently available, are subject to availability and include all applicable discounts for new bookings. Fares shown include current fuel supplements correct at time of printing, but subject to change. Onboard spend applies per cabin. All offers are subject to availability, cannot be combined with any other offer or loyalty offer, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. See brochure for full terms and conditions. Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd. 13/0278

VOD_13_0278_Mr Bridge mag ad 1.indd 1 07/11/2013 17:05:55 Catching Up by Sally Brock

Sally was a member of the British Ladies’ Team that qualified for the World Championships in Bali.

fter our disappointing NICKO a promontory, and second to Taman continue over the next few days, is match, we went back to High Ayun, a huge royal water temple. that of the air-conditioning in my Wycombe and out to dinner Then we went to the shopping capital room. One day, after we had been here Awith friends on the Saturday evening. of the island, Ubud, and wandered roughly a week, I was woken in the Then, at 3.40am, Ed picked Barry up around the market for a while, before middle of night by a steady drip-drip- to go to Stansted for his trip to Pula – returning to our hotel. In the evening, drip in my room. There were drops of to play in a tournament with Bernard we went back to the same restaurant condensation dripping onto the floor. Teltscher. on the beach. It was just too good an I eventually resorted to stuffing bits of Things were a bit hectic after that, experience not to share. toilet paper in my ears to get back to culminating in flying off to Bali on the The next day was spent mostly sleep despite the dripping. Friday. I was pleased that Nicola had relaxing until the evening when there Although the hotel fixed this - had the foresight to book a taxi to take was an opening ceremony. I am sure rarily, the problem arose every couple us to our hotel, because leaving Bali that there are very good reasons for all of days. And several times I was woken airport is bedlam. You come out of the the speeches and performances that go in the night by the heat in my room as main entrance and there are throngs on at these affairs but it is purgatory I lost my power supply and therefore of people, some of whom are holding for bridge players. my air conditioning. Much of the time placards with names on while the ma- Here we are, within spitting distance I was in my room, it was in the com- jority are just waving wildly. Luckily, of all our friends from far-flung places pany of three hotel employees, one we found our driver quite quickly and whom we don’t see often enough standing on a step ladder, one in the were soon settled into our hotel. and, instead of being able to talk roof above the ladder and one holding The next day, we relaxed and read to them, we have to sit through not the ladder. At one stage, they seemed the system. Simon, who with David only speeches, but also exhibitions of to have plugged the leak, but the wa- Gold had been here for a few days in Balinese dancing and music. However ter just dripped a bit further along, order to have a bit of a holiday and brilliant these may be, it is not what this time drenching all my hanging acclimatisation, met us for lunch. In the players want and they put up with clothes in water. The team had trouble the evening, we went with them to a it with varying degrees of politeness. containing their eagerness to hear the wonderful restaurant on the beach While I was settling into Bali, next instalment each day at breakfast. at Jimbaran. We sat on the sand on Briony was settling into her rooms In the round robin, we were generally folding chairs with the sea a mere at university. It was a pity I couldn’t lying somewhere between fourth and ten feet away. We chose our own fish be with her for this important rite of eighth, not really in any serious danger which was cooked freshly for us and passage, but we Skyped a lot and she of not qualifying, but clearly needing for a starter there was a stall on the seemed to settle in well. All I could do an improvement in performance if we beach selling corn on the cob. Later for her birthday was arrange a gluten were going to do really well. Nicola on, there were fireworks. In different and dairy free birthday cake to be and I were generally played against company, it would have been very delivered and then Skype even more. weaker teams but even so I didn’t romantic. Later on that evening, the Then the bridge started. There were feel we played particularly well in rest of the team arrived and we all had 22 teams in each event. The format the round robin. And our opponents a drink before retiring to bed. was a complete round robin of three seemed to bid a huge number of slams The following day was the only real 16-board matches a day, with the top against us which were not generally opportunity we would have to venture eight to qualify for the quarter-finals. bid either by our other pair, or by the further afield. So, for about £30, we Then it was knock-out (96 boards rest of the field. hired a car and a driver for the day. He played over two days) until there was On this deal, from our match against took us to see a couple of temples: first, only one team left standing. USA2, it was our turn to be aggressive the beautiful Tanah Lot, perched on An ongoing saga, which will in the slam zone:

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 37 Catching Up continued I realised I might now be in West could not overruff and Better Hand trouble if West had the ♥9. the grand slam was home. I played the ♣K and ran it Going into the final day Evaluation discarding a diamond, then of the round robin, we were ruffed a club and ruffed -an lying fifth, 17 VPs ahead of Bernard Magee Dealer East. Love All. other spade. Luckily for me, ninth place… ■ Introduction ♠ A 10 7 6 4 ♥ Q J 8 6 5 Better Hand Evaluation is ♦ A 9 7 aimed at helping readers to add greater accuracy to their ♣ Void Sally’s Dramatis bidding. It deals with auctions ♠ Q 2 N ♠ K J 8 5 3 in which you and your partner, ♥ W E ♥ Personae 7 S 9 2 against silent opponents, can ♦ Q 10 5 4 3 ♦ J 6 describe your hands fully to Sally Brock lives in High Wycombe with her two teenagers, her each other and, by evaluating ♣ A 10 9 7 6 ♣ J 8 4 3 husband Raymond having died in early 2008. She works partly as them accurately, find the best ♠ 9 a bridge professional, occasionally playing for pay but more often final contract. The emphasis of ♥ A K 10 4 3 writing (she is the bridge columnist for The Sunday Times) and all good, accurate bidding is on ♦ K 8 2 teaching online; the rest of the time she works on the production hand evaluation. ♣ K Q 5 2 of travel guides – hence the occasional reference to rather There are two general types of obscure countries. She has been a member of the British/English auction: a) a fit is found and b) women’s team on and off since 1979. no fit is found. West North East South Briony & Toby are Sally’s 18-year-old daughter and 19-year-old When you do not have a fit, Pass 1♥ son. you are aiming to describe the strength of your hand as soon Pass 2NT Pass 3♣ Barry Myers is Sally’s new partner, both at and away from the as possible, most often using Pass 3♦ Pass 3♠ bridge table. He is a criminal defence barrister and lives in no-trump bids. This book be- Pass 5♣ Pass 5♠ Shepherd’s Bush. gins by discussing balanced Pass 5NT Pass 6♦ hand bidding in Acol, as it is Sally’s current international bridge partner. They Pass 7♥ All Pass is very important that both formed a last-minute partnership in 2008 to join the England members of a partnership women’s team for the in Beijing where have an accurate knowledge of The bidding needs a bit how to show hands of different they won the gold medal. Nicola has been playing international strengths. of explanation. 2NT was bridge since she was 17, which is rather a long time ago. game-forcing, agreeing When a fit is found, there is ♣ ♦ Nevena Senior is slim, elegant and feisty, and bridge partner much re-evaluation of the hearts. 3 was natural, 3 of Heather, was born and raised in Bulgaria, but now lives ♠ hand to be done; point count, a relay and 3 showed extra in Nottingham with husband Brian. She is a full-time bridge though still important, needs values (about 14+ HCP) professional. to be evaluated together with with a singleton spade. 5♣ distribution. The best way of was Exclusion Blackwood Heather Dhondy is youthful and athletic, a professional bridge reaching an accurate assess­ player, teacher and writer, and lives in Dorset with husband and 5♠ showed two ‘aces’ ment is to use the Losing Trick Jeremy. She played with Nicola until 2007 but now plays with Count; this is an important outside of clubs. 5NT asked Nevena. Jeremy Dhondy is the captain of the women’s team at method of hand evaluation and for my lowest useful king takes up a number of chapters. the moment. and 6♦ showed the ♦K. Finally, we move on to different Nicola worked out that I Susan Stockdale first played for England when she was 14. Big, blonde and gorgeous, Susan works as director of a company forms of evaluation including would probably be able to game tries and splinter bids. that markets and distributes products to the veterinary and You can never know enough establish her fifth spade for animal healthcare sectors. Her partner is . . . methods of hand evaluation; a diamond discard. What the more you learn, the better she forgot was that then Fiona Brown, a small redhead who is always smiling, comes you get at judging your hand. I wouldn’t have a trump from Australia, but now lives in Harrogate with her boyfriend, Although the Losing Trick left to ruff her third-round Irish international Hugh McGann. Last year she finished her IT degree and at the moment works part-time in a pharmacy – Count is used more easily in diamond loser. tandem with your partner, a which leaves her plenty of time to concentrate on her bridge. large proportion of the ideas So, there I was in a grand in this book can be used by an slam that seemed to depend David Burn is coach of the English women’s team. One of the individual. For example, eval- on the location of the ♣A. wittiest writers and commentators in the game. uating your hand to be worth At least that would have an extra point is going to help Simon Cope is a friend, team-mate and sometime bridge coach. anyone you partner – as long been all it depended on had He was captain of the English open team in Bali. as you get it right. I not misplayed it. West led ♥ Richard and Gerry are two of Sally’s regular online clients. Richard the 7 and I forgot to play lives in North London and Gerry lives in Toronto. Every week Sally including postage ♥ £14 the 8 from dummy. I won plays against them for a couple of hours, stopping to discuss See Mail Order Form in hand, played a spade to problems that arise – sometimes with Barry if he is not working, on page 7. the ace and ruffed a spade. and sometimes with herself (when she is almost flawless). When West’s ♠Q appeared,

Page 38 BRIDGE December 2013 David Stevenson answers your Frequently Asked Questions Arrow-Switches

n arrow-switch is when the gressively on them. a pair plays, they compare their score boards are rotated ninety Another belief depends on the fact with other pairs all playing the same degrees so that pairs switch that, with arrow-switches, a pair will way with the same cards. That is what Aorientation for a round. play a different set of hands from an- makes an arrow-switch fair, similar to Many players distrust arrow-switches other pair: is that fair? Perhaps not in a Howell movement which works on for a variety of reasons. Some players one way of looking at it: a pure dupli- the same principle. If you get a top, believe they have an evening when cate session is probably one in which you have out-scored other pairs play- they do not get the cards – and when each N/S pair plays the same boards as ing with the same cards, if you get a it comes to the arrow-switch round or each other and finishes with two lists, bottom, they have out-scored you, but rounds, they still do not get the cards. one for E/W, one for N/S. Many clubs still with the same cards. So if you feel There are two answers to this. First, do, in fact, try to follow this approach, it is a hand where your side should be players’ perception of whether they with two winning pairs on the night, declarer, then that is true for every hold the cards or not is notoriously though, with some numbers of tables, other pair with whom you compare wrong and this bias really happens they do not play everyone or every your score on that board. If you get incredibly rarely. Also, it does not board. The problem with that ap- bad hands, then you are comparing matter anyway since it does not affect proach comes in events where a single your score with other players who got your chance of success. On every board winner is required. Also, many clubs the same bad hands. you play, your score is compared with want a single winner or single list, for I think the greatest problem with other people holding the same cards, example, if one free play is handed arrow-switches is that players think good or bad, with lucky or unlucky out per evening, or if the scores go only of the three or four boards at the breaks – it is the same for all of you. through to a further competition. end of the session when the boards are Some think that declarer has an Consider an ordinary Mitchell with switched. In fact, there are some ar- advantage and arrow-switches affect 15 tables, playing 13 rounds with no row-switches on every board you play. the number of times a side gets to be arrow-switch. On no board do you Suppose you are a moving pair. Most declarer. However, you can get a good compete with every other pair sitting of the time you play E/W and you com- score as a defender by stopping declar- your way, merely with 12 other pairs – pare your score with other E/W pairs. er making a tenth trick in no-trumps but not the same 12 other pairs. How- Now, you think of them as other mov- by a judicious lead, or by careful dis- ever, you compete directly with each ing pairs, but, on every board, there carding. You can set up your defence pair only on each board that both of will be some stationary pairs, the ones during the bidding by lead-directing you play. The same applies in an ar- who play it at the end of the evening. bids. Counting hands is very impor- row-switch: you do not compete with Every single board is affected by the tant, especially when defending, and every other pair on every board, but arrow-switch, not just the last three or good signalling between defenders is comparisons are worked out between four, but, on every board, your score most important. My guess is that more you and each other pair that played the is compared only with people playing matchpoints are lost by sloppy defend- same hands as you on the same board. with your cards – and that is fair. ing than by poor declarer play. What about the suggestion of calling The other complaint about arrow- Such players seem to ignore the bid- the winner the pair with the higher switches is that people do not under- ding and feel it is pre-ordained that percentage between the N/S and E/W stand why it should be one-eighth of one side will play the hand. A lot of winners, a common approach in the the boards. That is quite difficult to matchpoint bidding revolves around USA? That is completely illegal and explain, being based on an abstruse contesting part scores and judging faintly ridiculous: you might just as mathematical argument and a future whether to bid one more and play the well call the winner the pair with the article will look at this. For those peo- hand or defend. There are also sacri- higher percentage between this week ple who think instinctively it should fices and pre-emptive bids to try and and four weeks ago. The point is that be half the boards, mathematicians deflect the other side from their best they have not played the same hands have proved that it is not correct to contract, so many hands might be as each other, so the scores cannot arrow-switch half the boards. Remem- played by either side. In many ways, be compared. In a fair competition, ber you are comparing with people in good players look forward to weaker you compete against every other pair the other direction on every board. hands and less experienced players on some of the boards, which cannot Strangely, many people who do not would perhaps enjoy the game more if happen with the American approach. trust arrow-switches are perfectly they realised the scope offered to them So how does an arrow-switch work? happy with Howell movements, which by poor hands and if they bid more ag- What happens is that, on each board work in the same way. ■

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 39 visitors from Bridport which the gremlins somehow should, at least, get over breached our security. READERS’ the problem of distance. Jeremy Dhondy, PLEASE EXPLAIN Chairman. It has always been my . understanding that a double of an opening first round LETTERS QUIZ ANSWER bid of 1NT is for penalty. I and a few bridge buddies Recently, I have played the Chatsworth Hotel encountered such a double TD Training BOGOFF and may attend further days Quiz hand last month and it for take-out. How can I know I was surprised at on such topics as ‘book occasioned some interesting that it isn’t for penalty? Mr Tarsnane’s comments rulings’. An assessment and discussions as to the correct Niranjan Doshi by email. in BRIDGE 131. He alleges certificate can be gained if way to bid and play. This is another FAQ. Julian that EBU courses for training all parts of the course are I see the prize has been Pottage will write about it tournament directors are completed to the required awarded in your November and that really is a promise. too long, too expensive standard, but this is optional. edition of BRIDGE, but and too far away. The club A director who has had no definitive answer as WELL DONE directors’ Essential Course a modicum of training can to the correct bid. POST OFFICE is held at venues all over the make the evening more Could you please put us On Friday 18 October, country, it lasts for one day enjoyable for all the players out of our misery . . . I phoned and ordered a and, for all affiliated clubs, when the movement works what is the answer? 2-year subscription for if they send one director they without fault, the scoring is Thanking you in BRIDGE. I’d had it for years qualify to take a second for prompt and anytime there anticipation. and years and missed it for a nothing, so the total cost for is an incident at the table Mr John Lees by email. few months. When I phoned, the course for two directors the director deals with it See my column on page 5. I seemed to have missed is £38. BOGOF at its best. calmly and authoritatively. the info about subscription, If the booking comes from In most games training REPLAY REQUEST so I paid by phone. Next an EBU member and not via is offered to organisers, At my local bridge club, day came the receipt and the club then the discount umpires and referees. It playing rubber bridge one the November magazine. does not apply but the makes for a better game. night, I mentioned the Mrs Maureen Burke attendee is still welcome. In both the affiliated ‘Murder Hand’. Everyone by email. These courses are both clubs I attend in his county, was intrigued but I cannot popular and frequently full. the game is run by trained find my copy of the story nor NOT SERIOUS We’d be delighted to see volunteers and makes the actual hand. Would you I was most amused that either of the clubs he attends the evening all the more please publish the tale and Sally Brock thought herself in Bridport join the EBU and smooth and enjoyable. One its hand in your next issue. a complete idiot for the local county and take of those clubs (Allendale) Mrs B Clarke, Newbury. missing a triple squeeze. advantage of the offer above. is about to hold an EBU If not in the coming issue, Most of us would be More training is available for course and would be then in the one after. over the moon even to those who wish to go further delighted to welcome spot such a play double WELL PICKED UP dummy. However, I suppose Bernard Magee’s bidding at Sally’s level, missing a quiz is my favourite spot in triple squeeze is like me REDUCE THE COST the magazine. I have one miscounting trumps. OF YOUR POSTAGE question and one comment She says she briefly to make about the current thought about giving up the Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, issue (BRIDGE 130). game. Was she serious? Sally all mint with full gum. Quotations for Deal 5. Bernard says giving up bridge would be commercial quantities available on request. game on 18 HCP might like the Prime Minister giving Values supplied in 100s, higher values seem ambitious – I see up politics – it’s in the blood. available as well as 1st and 2nd class 22 HCP. Perhaps this is a However, we have all been (eg 2nd class: 100x37p+100x13p) deliberate mistake to see if there, if a game can’t destroy we are paying attention. you occasionally it’s not (/Fax 020 8422 4906 Mrs J Windle, worth playing. It’s good to Truro, Cornwall. know that Sally, genius as she e-mail: Well spotted. Bernard is, is just one of us at heart. [email protected] Magee’s correct answer, Ian Dalziel 22 HCP, was input but Troon, Ayrshire.

Page 40 BRIDGE December 2013 READERS’ LETTERS HAPPY HOLIDAYS continued Once again I write to say how THANK YOU CHARITY much we enjoy your holidays A fantastic boxed set of six and enclose a few verses bridge DVDs. My husband EVENTS (below). This time – with won- and I have already dipped JANUARY 2014 JUST NOT ON derful weather, a happy ship into them to refresh I found David Stevenson’s (our first time on Voyager) ourselves of Bernard 20 North West Cancer Research. Circle of friends recent article on Pass-Outs and exciting bridge organ- Magee’s teaching and his rubber bridge drive and tea. interesting. ised by Bernard Magee and recommended systems. Loreto Centre, Abbey Road, During a recent afternoon his ‘crew’. He has the gift of I must say that I Llandudno. 2pm. Prizes for duplicate session my partner being able to empathise with would recommend them winners and raffle prizes. £5. Bill Carter and I experienced two us all – old & young – good to any bridge player ( 01492 868589 passed out hands. As we or bad at bridge. No wonder wishing to improve. FEBRUARY 2014 are fairly quick players it set he has such a fan club. Pat and Peter Roberts, my mind wondering if there Mrs Anne Briscoe, Downham Market, 27 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE ROTARY CLUB could be a way of playing Windsor, Berks. Norfolk. Bridge Lunch with tea and these hands, but without Tempting you with Bernard in biscuits £48 per table. scoring them. As a result I the coming July and August. From italy 12.00 for 12.30. Outlane came up with this idea and Would you please pass Golf Club, Huddersfield. Rtn Sam Smith I am wondering whether on our thanks to Bernard. ( 01924 492540 it would be allowed: HARDLY TENNYSON We attended his recent samuelsmith396 1 Because no player had weekend at Blunsdon House @btinternet.com an opening bid it is September is a Hotel where he introduced MARCH 2014 probable that all four good month us to Italian cue bids. 11 ST NEOTS’ BOWLING CLUB hands had between 9 To join Bernard on a cruise Once again, we had a St Neots, Cambs. and 11 points. The dealer To leave behind the lovely weekend. Bernard 10.00 for 10.30am. £14.00. then has to make a bid. household chores explained the topic very John Shaw 2 The dealer has to bid a 5 And all the dreadful news. clearly and with his usual ( 01480 475454 card suit if they have one. humour. Our thanks also 12 WIMBORNE ROTARY CLUB 3 If the dealer has not got a We read the brochure to his team of helpers who Allendale Community Centre, Wimborne, Dorset. 2p.m. 5 card suit they either bid every night were all very friendly. £28 per table, including tea 1 of a suit or one no trump To blow away the blues Lesley and Richard Budgen, and good prizes. depending on distribution. And dreamt of gourmet Kidlington, Oxon. Don Phillips 01202 972211 4 Either no further bids are food to eat APRIL 2014 allowed or each player Accompanied by booze. MIS-READ 4 Conservative Association in turn is allowed one Dear oh dear – someone Gt Stukeley Village Hall. bid – penalty doubles We packed a suitcase has slipped up, letting Sally Tickets £13.50. are not allowed. – full to brim Brock’s tip past the editor’s Sheila Stephenson 5 Play then proceeds along With t-shirts, pants scrutiny, BRIDGE 131 p33. ( 01480 457338 Kay Brownlow normal playing rules and trews Surely Sally does not ( 01480 880663 but it is obviously not And left perhaps mean that, ‘she plays 25 CHILDREN’S CHARITIES scored on the traveller. a little room against many over-aged Doddington Village Hall, We feel that this would For just one pair of shoes. club players.’ Since when March. 10.00 for 10.30am. be a bit of fun and it avoids has bridge been ageist? Tickets £14.00. sitting around waiting to September is a My local club, like most Val Topliss ( 01354 653696 move to the next table. happy month others, has it’s fair share of Mr Brian Berlanny, To join Bernard on a cruise elderly players. As long as MAY 2014 Portsmouth, Hants. To dream of making they are willing and capa- 15 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE Don’t even go there. slams each night ble of arriving at the bridge ROTARY CLUB Bridge Lunch with tea and To blow away the blues. club they are welcome. biscuits £48 per table. MY CHOICE Nobody will ever be turned 12.00 for 12.30. Outlane Following receipt of BRIDGE And so our thanks away because we feel that Golf Club, Huddersfield. 131, the November issue, to Mr Bridge they are ‘over-aged’. Rtn Sam Smith ( 01924 492540 please find my cheque for We thought it was a ruse Yours, rather shocked. samuelsmith396 £20 as subscription for When through the post Andrew Mountain @btinternet.com this coming year. I much his mag arrived Wrexham. prefer a hard copy. To tempt us with Go to Specsavers, then have E-mail your charity events: Robin Bridger, this cruise. another look at the printed [email protected] Romsey, Hants. word on page 33.

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 41 READERS’ LETTERS strength) had put down ♠8. continued Thankfully, I called for ♠9 even though it could not take the trick. It would have taken HARKING BACK a true expert in East’s seat Back in 1961, I was playing to withhold ♠J and when this for the Martins Bank Bridge appeared, 13 tricks were a team with aggregate scoring lay down. Without the spade – ie there was no conversion lead, my call for the ♠9 and to international match East’s play of ♠J my contract points or victory points. The would have been doomed. importance of slam hands Yes, the odds had been was thus tremendous and against 7NT succeeding but the very occasional grand at least it had a chance. The slam hand more so. better contract of 7♦ would Think of me, sitting South be bound to fail on the with this power-house and terrible trump break I think. hearing my partner opening There were eight on the bidding 1S: if ever I was a team, four tables and going to bid and make a despite my triumph (all right, grand slam surely this must lucky triumph) we lost the be the time. Having checked match by 570 points. At through Blackwood that least my partner and I had all Aces and Kings were a vulnerable grand slam to held, I reasonably bid 7NT. brag about. The modern day Dummy was to be something Weak 1NT would simply have of a disappointment. been raised to 6NT and there would be no story to tell. Mr Raymond Prior, ♠ Q 10 9 2 Stockport. ♥ A Q ♦ J 8 6 3 IT KEEPS ME GOING ♣ K 7 5 Thank you for the super

♠ 8 4 N ♠ J 7 6 5 3 magazine and for sending ♥ J 5 4 3 W E ♥ 10 8 7 me the itineraries of the S ♦ 10 9 7 5 2 ♦ Void various voyages. I wish ♣ 10 4 ♣ Q J 8 3 2 I could go but age has ♠ A K caught up with me. I do, ♥ K 9 6 2 however, play every day. ♦ A K Q 4 Mrs Vera Sand, ♣ A 9 6 Stanmore, Middlesex.

TELL ME WHY I should explain that in those Could you ask one of your days we were not playing experts to explain why some 1NT weak all through, we favour the strong no-trump. played weak no trump non- Mrs Rowntree, vulnerable and strong no Mundesley, Norfolk. trump vulnerable. On this Look in the February issue. ■ board, North had dealt at Game All so that 1NT had Write to Mr Bridge at: not been available to him. Ryden Grange, Let’s now look at all four Knaphill, hands – not a luxury avail- Surrey, able to me at the time. GU21 2TH or e-mail By the time I saw dummy, [email protected] West had made his open- Letters may be edited ing lead and (perhaps on for length and clarity. the basis of leading through

Page 42 BRIDGE December 2013 Seven Days by Sally Brock

Monday the round robin is to choose quarter- which we have a 43 IMP lead. final opponents from the teams Nicola chooses a good moment for Nicola and I are sitting out the first finishing in 5th–8th place. Apart from an unorthodox action on this deal. match and the others have to play personal opinion about the strength One of the problems playing a strong against Pakistan, lying in 20th of the other teams, there is a carry- no-trump is when you have 15 or 16 position. Uncharacteristically, they forward from the round robin. A points and a 5431 distribution where don’t have a great time of it and we percentage of the score in the round your longest suit is lower-ranking than only win narrowly. That sends us back robin match is continued to the knock- the four-card suit. If you open your into sixth place, but we are still 17 out, so the result of that individual five-card suit and partner bids your VPs ahead of ninth. But in ninth place match is a consideration when singleton as expected, what do you are Japan and that is our next match, choosing opposition. Anyway, the bid next? You don’t want to bid 1NT so if we lose heavily, our chances of Dutch choose Turkey, USA1 choose because that shows 12-14, you don’t qualifying would be severely reduced. us, Poland choose USA2, which leaves want to reverse because that shows We do lose but still score 7.71 VPs. China to play France. a better hand and to make a simple To digress a little, for years there As well as the women’s event rebid in your suit is inadequate too. has been a fairly normal victory point (), there is the open event One solution is to open 1NT despite scale. In the old days it was a 20-point () and seniors (d’Orsi holding a singleton, and that is what scale but if you did very badly it Trophy). We have British interest in Nicola does here. was possible to score negative VPs, both those competitions. Our open the worst case being –5. The minus team has surpassed itself and qualified number apparently caused all sorts of in sixth place. They had a bit of drama Dealer South. Game All. technical problems, so they changed to mid-week when Simon, their captain, ♠ J a 25-point scale, whereby a normal win developed a severe infection in a ♥ 7 5 4 3 would be 25-5, but the losers could go wound in his leg and eventually flew ♦ 10 9 8 6 3 down as far as 0. The problem with this home to get expert medical advice. ♣ 9 6 3 type of scale, where a range of IMPs Thankfully, he is now fine, though ♠ K Q 8 5 3 ♠ 7 6 4 2 N ♥ J 10 9 6 ♥ A K 8 2 is covered by a single victory point, is taking a while to heal. Their reward W E that it is possible to be at the wrong for qualifying is a quarter-final match ♦ K 2 S ♦ 7 5 end of the range. Why should it be against Monaco, which is a first-rate ♣ 8 7 ♣ A K 5 that losing by 8 IMPs, say, is the same professional team sponsored by Pierre ♠ A 10 9 as losing by 11? To rectify this they Zimmerman. In the seniors event, ♥ Q have produced a new scale, but it runs Scotland have qualified. After a flying ♦ A Q J 4 to two decimal places, and appears start where they were in the top few ♣ Q J 10 4 2 much more complicated. Anyway, that for a while, they dropped off a bit but explains our rather curious 7.71. finally qualified in seventh place. Their But losing at all has narrowed the quarter-final opponents are USA2. At the other table, our pair bids the gap. We are now in eighth place, 12 laydown 4♠, but, in our room, Nicola VPs ahead of Japan. So, provided chooses to open 1NT as South. West we score 12 more than they do we Tuesday does not have enough to bid in direct are guaranteed to qualify. But we USA1 have two of the strongest pairs seat and East feels she is too balanced are playing the mighty France while in the world and, if the competition to bid in the pass-out seat. Nicola goes they are playing Indonesia who are was for teams of four, would probably two down in 1NT for a 10 IMP gain midway in the table. In addition, we be clear favourites. However, they are when compared with the 650 in the are only 4 VPs behind France, so if all professional players and have a other room. we can beat them heavily and Japan sponsor on their team who is not so We continue in the second set and win heavily, it is possible that France strong. In order to receive the title of gain another 12. That is a big deficit for might not qualify. We discuss with the world champion, all players on a team their star pairs to retrieve. Nicola and French the possibility (only joking) have to play a third of the boards and I retire for the day to let the others do of agreeing to a draw and going for a the normal practice for professional what they can and they do brilliantly drink. In the event we lose narrowly to teams is to play the sponsor for the against the professionals, putting on France and the Japanese only manage minimum number of boards as early another 29 IMPs to leave us with a lead a narrow win, so we qualify in eighth as possible. Nicola and I play the first of 84 IMPs at the end of the first day. place. set against the American sponsor and This sounds a lot but Heather, The reward for topping the table in we have a great time, at the end of Nevena, Nicola and I are mindful of

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 43 Seven Days continued pair, Yan Liu and Ru Yan. They did West North East South rather well against us and not surpris- Pass 1♣ 1NT 2♠ ingly, in the second set, as soon as it is Dbl All Pass their choice, they opt to play against us the World Mindsports Final in Beijing in this match. We have rather a miser- Nicola’s 1♣ opening is what we do on in 2008 when we were also 84 IMPs able time of it, but luckily our team- all weak balanced hands and East’s ahead with one day’s play to go. We mates play well and we lose only a sin- 1NT is normal. After a ♣1 opening, won by a single IMP. gle IMP. Still, I’m pleased that when we treat a 1NT overcall like a 1NT In the other matches, the leaders are we play our two sets tomorrow, we will opening, so my 2♠ overcall shows Netherlands, USA2 and China. have choice of opponents. five spades and a four-card or longer In the third set, the others put on minor. West’s double is for take-out another 17. And then we meet for according to West, or showing general Wednesday dinner. A Balinese speciality is roast cards according to East, and there I Our lead remains comfortable. We suckling pig, but at our favourite lo- am. dribble out a few IMPs (19 in all) to cal restaurant you have to order it West leads her singleton and I win emerge comfortable winners. The 24 hours in advance. We did this on with the ace to play the ♠A and another Netherlands and USA2 win comfort- Tuesday and now it is time to experi- spade. East wins the king and switches ably too, but France v China is very ence this treat. It looks spectacular: a to a diamond. I win the ace and play exciting, with China eventually win- roast baby piglet appears and we all clubs. East wins eventually and plays ning by 12. take photos. The meat is delicious, a heart. West wins the ♥A and plays Unfortunately, British interest is now but it is all a bit carnivorous for me. another diamond. This allows me to confined to our team as both the Eng- There is a huge amount of meat. I don’t ruff, cash my remaining club and lead land open team and Scottish senior think we eat half even and, apart from my second highest heart from hand. teams are comprehensively trounced. a few chips and a free salad bar, there East cannot prevent my making a After dinner, I manage a teaching isn’t much to go with it. Anyway, we heart trick and both my remaining session against Richard and Gerry. all stuff ourselves and they package up spades for a doubled overtrick. Barry is working so I inveigle David the rest for us to take back to our hotel. The other semi-final is much more Burn to play with me against them It does me sandwiches (the food at the exciting. At the beginning of the day which is good fun. It really makes the convention centre is not very good so USA2 are 12 IMPs ahead, the next set world seem a small place when I am Nicola and I are in the habit of mak- is flat and then the Dutch pull 5 back. in Bali, say, and playing online with ing ourselves a sandwich at breakfast Watching the final set on my laptop, Richard in London and Gerry in To- to take with us) for a couple of days, with four boards to go it looks as if ronto. but the fridge in our room is not very the Dutch have done it as they have a cold and after that I think it’s probably 14 IMP lead, but then disaster strikes: better not to risk it. first they bid a game and redouble Thursday when it is doubled (one down), then Our semi-final match is against Chi- they bid a slam on a finesse which is na, while the Dutch play USA2. Our Friday doubled (one down), and then have pattern of Nicola and I playing the first We make small but steady gains in a carding mix-up to let through a two sets, Susan and Fiona playing one every set to run out comfortable win- vulnerable game. and three, while Heather and Nevena ners, the eventual margin being 72.5 When the smoke has cleared, USA2 play the last two, seems to be work- IMPs. This was a cheerful moment in win by 16. ing well. As the oldies on the team, the fifth set. we have a greater tendency to tire, so finishing play early suits us well. Also, Saturday it means that when I am sitting out, Dealer West. Game All. The final starts slowly, unlike the Barry is awake in England and I can ♠ A 4 Bermuda Bowl where Italy establish a watch on my laptop and talk to him on ♥ 10 4 2 67 IMP lead over Monaco. Skype at the same time. ♦ A 6 5 2 We lose 16 on the first set, and then China is perhaps not the force it was ♣ A Q 6 4 gain 25 on the second. a few years ago, but is still a team to ♠ 9 8 ♠ K J 7 3 That set is trundling along with be taken very seriously. There is a lot ♥ A 8 6 3 N ♥ K 9 5 honours fairly even, until the last W E ♦ ♦ of money in bridge in China (perhaps J 10 8 7 4 3 S K Q board. the only country where that can really ♣ 7 ♣ K 9 8 5 be said) and they spend a lot of time ♠ Q 10 6 5 2 West North East South working hard at their game. Neverthe- ♥ Q J 7 1♠ less, we start off well, with a 20 IMP ♦ 9 Pass 1NT Dbl 2♥ lead. In the round robin, Nicola and I ♣ J 10 3 2 Pass 3♥ Dbl All Pass were particularly impressed by a new

Page 44 BRIDGE December 2013 Seven Days continued system of shuttle buses be in a better position, we (free) between the two and, are only a few down and if you miss the bus, a taxi the match is still eminently Mr Bridge costs only £1.50. winnable. Halfway between the The last set is on , Dealer South. N/S Vul. two is Bali Collection, a proper VuGraph, that is, not 2014 ♠ 9 8 very attractive open plan just on BBO (www.bridge- ♥ K Q 9 8 5 area with lots of shops and base.com) which broadcasts ♦ J 10 8 3 restaurants. most of the matches. Bridge ♣ 7 6 This evening, Nicola Male chauvinism be- ♠ J 10 6 5 ♠ A 7 chooses to stay in the hotel ing what it is, it is rare to Players’ ♥ J 2 N ♥ 3 and eat quietly on her own, show a women’s match on W E ♦ Q 5 4 2 S ♦ A K 9 7 6 while I go with Annabel VuGraph and we are given ♣ Q 8 3 ♣ A K J 4 2 (a friend who is generally house room only because Diaries ♠ K Q 4 3 2 hanging out with the team) Italy are leading Monaco by ♥ A 10 7 6 4 to Bali Collection to choose nearly 100 IMPs. ♦ Void a restaurant, get a table We have a fair set and ♣ 10 9 5 for all of us and then text think we have chances of the others where to come. winning, but not all the We have a good meal, boards we think might be I think the standard sitting outside in the balmy gains turn out to be so and strength of opening bids evening, trying to relieve there are losses we had not must be higher in the US the stress of competition at anticipated, so, in the end, than in the UK, because I this level. the Americans win by 9 think most British players IMPs and we have to settle Contents include would open Nicola’s South Sunday for the silver. hand. East intends her first Having congratulated ♦ Acol Summary double to show strength and The captain has decided to our opponents, it is a rather by Bernard Magee. her second double to be for start with Heather, Nevena, sombre ride back to the ♦ Guide to the Laws. take-out. West thinks the Nicola and me for a change. hotel for a drink or two first double is take-out of We have an excellent set, before heading back for the ♦ Scoring Tables for spades, therefore showing putting on 48 IMPs to leave victory banquet. duplicate and some hearts, and thinks us with a lead of 43. The medal winners are rubber bridge. that the second double is Nicola and I go back to the sitting off to one side, while ♦ Distributional odds. simply card-showing. hotel to rest in anticipation the hoi polloi sit around As the cards lie, Nicola of the final set. I go to the dining tables. ♦ Hand patterns and fascinating figures. has no problem in making gym and then have a swim We are beginning to ten tricks for a score of 930, before going to my room to regret winning a medal ♦ Cover colours remaining: which goes well with the see on my laptop how we are at all as we can’t see the Red, Navy and +400 from 5♦ making in the doing. We have lost 50 IMPs Balinese dancers who are Burgundy. other room. Actually, in a in the first four boards. there to entertain us and a ♦ All covers printed in way, it was a lucky board for Things swing backwards bit later on the food arrives gold-coloured ink. the Americans as our good and forwards thereafter and, for everyone else and we ♦ Individual diaries £6.95 board at both tables only when the smoke has cleared, just have to wait to be called each including p&p. results in one big swing. we lose 51 IMPs on the set on to the stage. I manage We lose a few IMPs on the and now trail by 7.7 IMPs. to cause a bit of a stir by ♦ Special concession third set, to leave us with a 5 When this sort of thing fainting on the stage while to clubs and teachers. 10 for £35, IMP deficit at the end of the happens, obviously you waiting for my medal. I thereafter £3.50 each first day. are not happy, but the guess it is low blood sugar including p&p. Our hotel is a couple of secret of a good team is to but I feel very strange and ♦ Luxury version with super- kilometres away from the pull together. You know embarrassed by the fuss soft kidrell cover, gilded convention centre where that they are feeling more everyone is making over page edges and the bridge is being played. miserable about this than me, instead of awarding a ball-point pen attached, in ruby red, navy blue It would be OK to walk it you are and it is important medals. or bottle green. in English weather, but here that you do all you can to Before long, I am feeling £14.95 each including p&p. it is so hot that walking enable the pair that is going better though and up to a that distance would be too to play the final set to regain nightcap back at our hotel See Mail Order exhausting. its equilibrium. Although to round off another long Form on page 7. However, there is a good it is disappointing not to championship. ■

BRIDGE December 2013 Page 45 Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 13

You are declarer in 4♥ and West leads third trump will have started with four 1. ♠ K 6 the ♠K. How do you plan the play? diamonds when you still get that ruff in ♥ A Q 10 3 You can guarantee one trump loser at dummy after all. ♦ 8 7 6 5 most by leading a low heart from dummy ♣ Q 5 4 at trick two and covering whatever ♠ Q 10 8 4 3 ♠ J 9 5 2 East plays. However, if you do have ♥ K J 2 N ♥ 9 7 6 a trump loser and take a club finesse 4. ♠ K J 7 5 3 W E ♦ ♦ ♥ K 4 S A 2 subsequently, you might find that East J 10 9 ♣ 10 8 2 ♣ J 9 7 3 can win and play a diamond through ♦ K 6 4 ♠ A 7 your queen and then, on a bad day, you ♣ 10 3 ♥ 8 5 4 might lose one heart, two diamonds and ♠ 4 ♠ 10 ♦ Q J 10 9 3 a club. Give yourself an extra chance by ♥ K Q 6 5 N ♥ 8 4 2 W E ♣ A K 6 playing a low club to the king followed by ♦ Q J 10 7 S ♦ 9 5 3 a low club to the ace. If the queen hasn’t ♣ A J 9 6 ♣ Q 8 7 5 4 2 appeared, play a third round and you will ♠ A Q 9 8 6 2 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads always have an extra winner in the suit, ♥ A 7 3 the ♠4. How do you plan the play? unless East started with the queen and at ♦ A 8 2 With only six tricks immediately avail- least three others. If that is the case, you ♣ K able, the initial reaction might be to play will need to find the king of diamonds on diamonds for the extra tricks. How- favourably placed. ever a moment’s thought will prove this You are declarer in 4♠ after West has to be a futile plan for, by the time the doubled the 1♠ opening bid. West leads second diamond is played, the defence the ♦Q. How do you plan the play? will have established enough winners in 3. ♠ K 7 2 You have four potential losers: two spades to defeat you. Instead, you must ♥ 10 8 6 4 hearts, one diamond and a club. Win play for a slight chance and hope that ♦ A 7 3 the diamond in hand and draw trumps West started with three hearts includ- ♣ K J 3 ending in dummy and lead a club to ing the king and jack. So win the lead in ♠ J 10 6 5 4 3 ♠ Q 9 the king. (You never know, it might win.) hand and play a heart to the ten. If this ♥ A K J 5 N ♥ Q 9 7 2 Assume West wins and plays another W E ♦ ♦ wins, return to hand with a club and play 10 5 S J 9 8 2 diamond. You win in dummy, ruff your a heart to the queen and finally cash the ♣ 4 ♣ 9 8 5 club loser and exit with your remaining ace. With everything right, you will make ♠ A 8 diamond. You will find whoever wins will nine tricks without touching diamonds at ♥ 3 either have to give you a ruff and discard all. The chance of success is only small ♦ K Q 6 4 or open up the heart suit, which will give but better than no chance at all. ♣ A Q 10 7 6 2 you two tricks in the suit either sooner or later. ■

You are declarer in 6♣ and West leads 2. ♠ A 6 the ♥A, K. Trumps break 3-1. How do ♥ Q 9 7 5 you plan the play? BEGIN BRIDGE ♦ A 4 3 Superficially, it might seem that you ♣ K J 7 3 need either trumps to break 2-2 when ACOL £66 ♠ K Q J 3 ♠ 10 9 8 7 5 4 you can ruff any potential diamond ♥ K 3 N ♥ J loser in dummy, or for diamonds to VERSION W E ♦ K 8 5 S ♦ J 10 9 2 break 3-3 if trumps do not split evenly. ♣ 10 9 8 2 ♣ Q 5 But that is not entirely the case. Ruff the An Interactive ♠ 2 second heart and play two top trumps. Tutorial CD with ♥ A 10 8 6 4 2 If they break 2-2 there is no problem, Bernard Magee ♦ Q 7 6 but if they break 3-1, leave one trump ♣ A 6 4 outstanding and play three rounds of See Mail Order form on page 7. diamonds. Sometimes, the hand with the

Page 46 BRIDGE December 2013 Answers to Weak Twos Quiz on page 30

1 Consider Hands A, B, C and D. Which Hand M: 4♠. Your left-hand opponent of these hands is suitable for a weak 2♠ Hand E Hand F must be very strong. You have an excellent opening bid with nobody vulnerable: ♠ J ♠ J spade fit so make it hard for opponents Second in hand (ie after one pass)? ♥ A Q 9 7 ♥ A J 7 6 to enter the auction. On a really lucky Third in hand (ie after two passes)? ♦ A K 8 7 ♦ K Q 7 2 day (eg partner has a singleton club), 4♠ ♣ A Q 3 2 ♣ Q J 5 4 might even make.

Hand A Hand B Compare Hands E and M. In each case, ♠ K Q 10 9 6 2 ♠ K Q 10 9 6 2 Hand G Hand H you bid 4♠ but for very different reasons. ♥ 8 ♥ K 9 5 3 ♠ K 8 7 ♠ 7 Note that if opponents do bid over your ♦ K 9 5 3 ♦ 8 ♥ 6 3 ♥ A Q J 8 7 2 4♠, partner is not allowed to bid under ♣ 9 7 ♣ 9 7 ♦ A J 9 2 ♦ A K Q 6 any circumstances. ♣ K 8 6 3 ♣ K 2 The basic rule is this: if you pre-empt, you must never bid again unless partner Hand C Hand D invites you to do so. 2♠ is a pre-emptive ♠ J 7 6 4 3 2 ♠ A Q J 8 7 Hand J Hand K bid. ♥ K 9 4 ♥ 9 7 ♠ K 7 ♠ K 7 2 ♦ A 3 2 ♦ J 10 6 ♥ 9 8 6 ♥ A K 8 ♣ 6 ♣ 6 3 2 ♦ A J 5 4 ♦ A K Q J 3 As West you open a weak 2♥ with ♣ A K 3 2 ♣ A Q 2 Hands N, Q, R and S. What is your re- bid if the auction continues as shown? A weak two bid shows 6-10 points and a good 6-card suit. In second seat, when Hand L Hand M West North East South your partner might be very strong, you ♠ 3 ♠ K 8 6 4 2♥ Pass 2NT Pass should be disciplined. In third position, ♥ A Q ♥ 7 ? when your partner is known not to have ♦ Q J 10 ♦ Q J 10 9 7 the values for an opening bid, you can ♣ A K Q J 8 7 2 ♣ 7 3 2 express more freedom, if you so wish, Hand N Hand Q because partner will almost certainly ♠ 9 8 ♠ 9 8 pass unless he has a very good spade fit. Hand E: 4♠. Not 3NT which might well ♥ A J 9 7 6 4 ♥ A Q 9 8 7 6 have no to partner’s spades. ♦ J 10 5 ♦ 8 6 5 Hand A: Second or third in hand: 2♠. Hand F: Pass. No chance of game, ♣ 4 2 ♣ 4 2 Perfect. A 4-card minor shouldn’t hold despite your opening values. Be cautious you back if the hand is otherwise suitable. with a misfit opposite a pre-emptive Hand B: Second in hand pass because bid. Hand R Hand S you have four cards in the other major, Hand G: 3♠. Not a game try. Partner ♠ 9 8 ♠ 9 8 hearts. If you open 2♠, you may miss will pass. If he is maximum, then 3♠ ♥ A J 9 8 7 6 ♥ A K 10 8 5 4 a heart fit. Third in hand, I would open might make. If he is minimum, your op- ♦ K J 9 ♦ K 6 5 2♠. ponents can probably make 4♥. ♣ 4 2 ♣ 4 2 Hand C: Pass in any position. The Hand H: 3♥. If necessary, you will play spades are too poor and you have too in 4♠, but give partner a chance to raise much outside defence. The biggest to 4♥. 2NT is conventional. danger in opening 2♠ third in hand is Hand J: 2NT. Conventional, asking if opponents bid to 4♥ and partner, partner to describe his hand further. If he Hand N: 3♣, showing a minimum 2♥ imagining good spades and little outside is maximum, you will play in 4♠, other- and denying two of the top three heart defence, sacrifices unnecessarily in 4♠. wise you will sign off on 3♠. honours. Hand D: Second in hand pass. Third Hand K: 2NT. If partner has a good suit Hand Q: 3♦, showing a minimum 2♥ in hand 2♠, though that is a matter of (two of the top three honours), you will and showing two of the top three heart personal choice. play in 7♠ or 7NT. Why not? You could honours. count 13 tricks: (6 spades, 2 hearts, 4 Hand R: 3♥, showing a maximum 2♥ diamonds and the ♣A). Otherwise, you and denying two of the top three heart 2 At love all, your partner opens a weak will choose 6♠. honours. 2♠ first in hand and the next hand Hand L: 3NT. To play. Partner is not Hand S: 3♠, showing a maximum 2♥ passes. What should you bid with allowed to remove it under any circum- and showing two of the top three heart Hands E to M? stances. honours. ■

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