+fA 7 3 2 CVIK 0 K Q 10 4 • Q 9 85 • 85 + K 1 10 6-' CVI98654 CV1 10 7 3 0 86532 0 g7 .2 + A43 • Q9 CVIAQ12 0 A1 + K 1 10 7 6

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TO CLUB SECRET ARIES. lli Spread the ?£ews of your ~~:O P EAN . l~ activities. Write and tell us l BRIDGE of your special events. Items of general i11terest are always l REVIEW I welcome. l~ Annual Subscription Rate : l~ l 301- post free. The copyright of this magazine is vested in Priestley Studios Ltd. European Bridge Review It is published under the aut hority l Klintcn, Sweden. ~ of the English Bridge U nion. l Single copies 3/- from Ncwsagents l The Editorial is composed of, &nd the E ditor is appointed by . tho L~ ...... • _...... J E nglish Bridge Union.

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e Y 0 11 can always rely ou a good game of Bridge at The Ralph · Evans's Hotel JOURNAL OFFICIAL ORGAN OF T H E ENGLISH BRIDGE UNJOr..·

VoLmiE 4 SEPTEMBER, 1950 Nu~rBER II

CONGRESS · CONTENTS · E ASTBOURNE, a Congrc s Page running from October 6 t;> October 9, fittingly in:tugur­ 2 EDITORIAL •.• ates the 1950-51 Tournament FLEXIBILITY Season. This event-taken over j oh11 Brow11 4 by arrangement from Mr. Te:-ence .\.NALYSIS EXTRAORDINARY ReesP's T.B.A. by the E.B.U.­ 11!. Harrisn11-G•ay ... 9 is featuring all the varif'd !:'elec­ LoNDON CoNGRESS . • 12 tion of events which have di'iting­ SECOND THOUGHTS ON uished it heretolore: no:.tbly, BRIGHTON the Twc> Stars (one of 1_he premier Guy Ramsey 15 P~>ir events) ; the Inter City ORDER OF ~lJmiT 18 Cup ; the Cavalcade Cup, given THE " ·o TTINGllA~I CLuB" by the newspaper of that n~e ~d J1 largery Bums 19 organised by Dr. Edward Smci?-Ir; RIO GRAND SLA~I 2 1 the Riviera Cup ;tnd the Burling­ THREE Bros ton Cup. M 'llfi,l Healc 23 TheGrand Hotel is Congres'iH.Q. hiPORTANT ~ OTICE 26 Co-incidentally, unhappily for COVER PROBLEM SOLUTION 27 those teams \vhich (like the THIS l\loNTH's Co~tPEnnoN 29 Percys of old) intended to raid ANSWE RS TO jULY "over the border," the S.B.U. CoMPETITION 30 is holding its Autumn Congress • • • at Gleneagle,;. A II Bridge Correspo11dence to llu The thronged programme of ' Editor: Tation;tl and County events ~~ GUY RAMSEY, alreadv begun to move, With I 13 Cannon Place, the i!:>£tie of brochures and calend­ London, N .W.3. ars. A detailed list of events

All Correspondenu 011 and dates will appear next mont!~. Subscriptions or Advertising In In the meantime, Blackpool IS Publishers : a fi~ · cd star. Licensed by the PRIESTLEY STUDIOS Ltd., E.H.U., the North-Western. Con­ Commercial Road, gr~ss on November 17 i~ hopmg to Gloucester. break its rPcord-hrcakmg atten­ dance of la: t year. 1 EDITORIAL HILE the majority of bridge­ quarter the difficulties and frus­ W players have spent the tration of the present arrangement. dog-days in team-building, the As it is the E.B.U. Southern beavers of the game-the Com­ Congress at Eastbourne-October mitteemen and women-have 6th. to October 9th-clashes with been busy striving to press a the Scottish Brid~e Union's gallon of essential fixtures into Autumn Congress at ··Gleneagles: the pint-pot of available dates. an inconvenience, 'doubtless, to Heaven defend the game from but a few teams, but still a matter the submergence under yet more for regrP-t. Committees ; and yet, there is It might be well if such a room-urgent room-for just one Committee (to save travelling) more : viz., a Co-ordinating Com­ were synchronised with the E.B.U. mittee (blessed phrase!) on the Council :Meeting of appropriate question of the Calendar. date ; well, too, if the Members of Between the B.B.L., the E.B.U. such a Committee were themselves and all the County Committees, Delegates to the E.B.U. the over-loaded programme runs Such a Committee could then the gravest risk of regrettable together fix ALL calendars with clashes. Frantic telephone calls, the minimum of clashing and impassioned juggling of pro­ friction. grammes, insuperable difficulties The l\Iembers would, of course, of fixing venues, anxiety to space have to have individually dis­ properly the engagements that covered venues and filed must occupy the all-too-few week­ provisional dates for the several ends, the incidence oi bank events of each autonomous organi­ holidays and school holidays : all zation before the Committee met. these make the task of the Such a Committee might then Committees all but impossible. inexorably perceive that the bridge ' Nevertheless, somehow, with more programme of the whole country kicks than ha'pence for the is grossly over-crowded; and organizers, the rank-and-file of take appropriate corporate steps competitive bridge-players get to pool events or othenvise thin their programmes scheduled and them out. fulfilled. * * * The existence of such a Co­ Now that a new Season is upon ordinating Committee, to be us, with its intra-Britain Inter­ attended by a representative of nationals, the Camrose matches, the B.B.L., of the E.B.U., of the we beg to suggest yet another L.C.C.B.A., of the Y.C.B.A., and innovation : the holding of Trials of one or two of the other lead­ for the Metropolitan area. ing tournament-and Congress­ As things stand at present, a running organizations ; holding very small Panel of Internationals one meeting (or, at most, two) among the (mainly London) 1\Ias­ some time in July or August ters has been compiled, from might-would, if the Committee which four plavers are selected members were co-operative- for each Camrose : sometimes, 2 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL though not always, B.B.L. Nomi- T?e whole quesbon of Vni­ nations for E. B.L. Internationals. verstty players neerls considerable :\clditionall y, for every other attention and not only revision match, a Pair is chosen either but careful original tho-ught. Ex­ from the orth or the South to perts form the senior University, till the six places in the team ; for example, receive scant en­ and these Provincials are chosen coura.gement-since they are but as a result of a gruelling Trial. transients-from the Oxfordshire No such machinery, however, A~!"ociation which this yem exi ts for the very considerable failed to nominate Truscott and bod\' of London players who are, d'Unienville for the CamrosP and. are doomed to remain, within Trial even though, on record, onl y " smelling distance " of an this pair was appreciably stronger International Cap. than most County players. Such an innovation would It may well be possible that assuredly, give a fillip to Duplicat~ Mr. .\ and i\Irs. B from London are equally (or even more) worthy of bridge throughout the country. " Third Pair " status as l\Ir. X and * * * l\lrs. Y from Leeds, or as that pair One third suggestion we offer; of Birmingham stalwarts, K and despite the inherent difficulties, Q. But if K. and Q win the to those at the top who control Sou thern, X and y win the bridge: this is, the widening,

orthern Trials, 011 merit, these through cheapening, of the Dupli­ two pairs wi ll play against cot- cate net. land, \Vales, Eire or Northern There is in (as in Irel

played. On the King, the Nine Clubs ; ~orth, Three Diamonds ; was pl ayed. Then the Kna\·e was outh, Five Diamonds. thrown on the Queen. This left + A] 9 6 :~ the fiv e in the dummy and the \/ Q :i Eight and Two in the closed hand ; 0 9 6 5 Declarer has thus maintained a + A] 6 two-way street ready for any • Q 10 7 4 • 8 52 emergency. This preparedness to \/106:1 \/AJ9742 meet a situation costs nothing, 0] 2 0 10 7 :~ and although in the present in­ + Q542 + K stance it proved unnecessary, + K owing to East's misplay, South \/ K 8 had something up his sleeve OAKQS-t ready to be of service had the + 109873 defence been better. A Heart was led and East played At trick five, outh played the his Ace following with a second Eight of Clubs and ran it to East's round. On winning, outh Knave. East then made the played out the Ace and King mistake of leading a low Heart. of trumps and the King of pades. After \Vest had made his Ace and He then led the ~ine of Clubs the Diamond return had been won and when West played low the in dummy, the Queen of Hearts Kna\·e was played in the :'\orth put East in a hopeless position. hand. East's Singleton won. Had East's best play at trick six outh careless!\• led his valuable is the King of Hearts ; This is Three and then played ~orth's fol lowed bv another round. Kna\·e, he could not ha,·e made West after \\-: inning with his Ace, his contract. And if South leads a Diamond. If South after leading the Three, had believes that East holds the played dummy's Six, what a Di:unond Queen, he resorts to a lot of information he would han sq ueeze for his contract. This given to West, who could then sq ueeze is rendered possible mark East's King as being a because outh, by thP mnnner of singleton. \\'est could probably • . playing his trump suit, is per- assume it was a singleton on the mitted to enter his own hand calling, but there was no need to after he has cashed the Ace emphasize the fact. Besides all and King of Diamonds. l'or this, the hand would not then be the Five of trumps would be so flexible. East got rid of the O\·er-taken with the Eight ; on lead bv playing his last Diamond. the last trump, the Diamond is He might ha\·e tried tempting thrown in Dummy and East is South by giving him a useless Sf1urezccl. · and discard. ~are in manipulating the Club "South won, and then made the SUit made a essential play of a fourth round possible in this hand. North of trumps, on which a Spade wc:s opened with one Spade (\'ienna) ; thrown in the Dummy. Thts South, Two Diamonds; North, lead squeezed West ; . he could Two pades ; South, Three not discard a Club wtthout per-

5 CO~TR:\CT BRIDGE JOUR~AL mitting his Queen to be captured ; VJ 7 so a Spade was thrown. Now 0 J 9 the flexibility preserved in the + S Club suit bears fruit. For South VJ9 0 Q 87 is able to enter the North hand 0 A 53 + Q twice. YJ3 The Club Three was led and 0 K 10 6 the Six won the trick.* This additional entry into the If South ruffs his losing Club North hand permitted the Spade the contract is defeated if West Queen to be ruffed out and the refuses to over-ruff. As the cards now established Knave to be lie, South makes contract by reached by the Club Ace . putting in West by the trump lead, The squeeze is rather an and thus forcing him to lead unusual one ; so is the one in the Diamonds. This play fails, how­ next hand which was also made ever, if East holds the Diamond possible by maintaining this Ace. ductile quality. South decided to lead a + K Q J 5 Diamond. Although the Knave YJA764 and Nine rank as equals, it is 0 J 9 the Knave lead that keeps the + KS2 hand most pliable, the choice + 10 8 6 :2 • 9 7 4 widest. The Knave was covered VJ K982 YJ5 by the Queen, King and Ace. OA 53 OQ8743 West then made the last trick + AJ + Q974 for the Defence, the Master + A3 trump. East was squeezed, for

• CO:\TR:\CT BRIDGE jOURNAl

+ K ~ ha\·e gone on second pade trick, \!)K7G, an underlead by West which 0 Q 9 -t permits East's Eight to win the + AQ653 third round. Then a Heart return + A 9 7 54 + j 10 8 defeats the contract. \!)Q105-t \!)932 outh can make his contract 0 62 OKS74 if he is prepared to play \\'est for + S~ + KJ7 three Hearts to the Queen and • Q 6 ;{ a singleton Club, after the \!)A]S Diamonds have been run. For 0 A] 10 5 the Ace of Clubs followed by the + 10 9 4 King and Ace of Hearts ,,;11 Played in a contract of Three enable South to throw in West No Trumps, there was at one with the Heart Queen ; this table no difficulty experienced in forces West to lead up to declarer's making the contract, for East Queen of Spades. uch a line failed to unblock in Spades. of plav is, of course, a ,·ery The was the Five unlike!\• one for South to choose. of pades. North's King won, In t.he last hand it was seen and East failed to throw an that an unblocking procedure Honour. The suit therefore be­ was necessary to give the defend­ came blocked. For when East ers the best chance. It was necess­ got in and led the K na ,·e, it was ary for the short hand to get covered by the Queen and an out of the way of the long hand. Ace, and the Ten blocked the This, of course, is the usual and running of the suit. accepted thing. But bridge is a Let us examine the play after game of such remarkable com­ the unblock bv East. South's task plexity, and is so replete with is now much· more difficult, and exceptions and paradoxes that he is quite likely to go down. At it cannot surprise anybody to most tables, at trick two, the know that sometimes the long Nine of Diamonds was Jed and hand has to get out of the short followed, when it held, by the hand's way to defeat the contract. Queen. outh runs four Diamond If bridge were not so full of tricks, discarding a club in the surprises it could surprise us Dummy. \Vest's discards were a more ; we have in fact grown H eart and a Club. lf South takes accustomed to its wavward be­ the view that \Vest now holds haviour, its versatile "c haracter. only one Club, he may try to make I looked on at one table where his contract as follows. The Ace the next hand was played. There of Clubs is cashed, followed by were several defensive errors in the King of Hearts. A Spade the play. East made an early lead the puts West in . And after mistake. If the cards did forgive \Vest has made his four Spade East for this bad mistake, they tricks, he has to lead up to must have done it ve_ry grudgingly South's Ace Knave of Hearts. for the second line of defence The defence against this is, was a much more difficult one after the Knave, Queen and Ace to hold than the first, and it was

7 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL one, moreo,·er, 111 which both The defenders have \\on one defenders had to co-operate in a Heart, one Diamond and one perfect manner- a thing almost Club, It is therefore necessary impossible in bridge. The second for them to win two of the remain­ defence crumbled without either ing tricks to defeat the contract. defender making any contribution The last Diamond was led from to what was wanted- an excep­ the 1 orth hand. South threw a tional unblocking play to avoid Club, and West has only one a fa tal end-play. good discard, a Heart: he made the mistake of throwing a Spade. + A J 4 ~ After this, there was no defence. \? K 3 For South led a low Spade to 0 A Q 10 8 her King, and returned a Spade. + 9 6-+ This was ducked to East, who + s 7 • Q 10 9 6 then had to lead up to Dummy's QJ10S-l 75'2 Ace-Knave. 0 ;13'2 0 K96-l Very careful play is required +A 3 2 + K 7 to beat the contract. . Not only + K 53 must \Vest retain two Spades, \?A 9 3 but when the first round of Spades 0 J 7 is played, at trick 10, East + Q J 10 8 5 must unblock by playing the Played in Three No-Trumps by Nine, preserving the valuable South, West led the Queen of ix. If the Nine is permitted to Hearts. South held up and a win, East returns the Six and second round followed. After the defenders must come to a winning with Dummy's King, further trick. declarer led a low Club and East If South, however, takes the failed to put up his King. After Nine with his King and then leads this let off, South made her con­ a low Spade, West's last Spade, tract as follows. \Vest correctly the eight, goe up. o an attempt permitted the Queen of Clubs to East would fail, since the to hold trick 3. East's King of Six could be played under the Clubs won trick-!. Then the Heart Eight. And should declarer play were cleared. A Diamond the KnaYe on West's Eight, was taken. \Vhen East won he East wins and must gather a got rid of the lead by returning second trick in the suit. the suit. The importance of keeping the Before North's last J)iamonrJ hand flexible is, 1 think, demon­ was made, the position was : strated by these hands. To main­ + AJ4'2 tain a valuable quality when it OA can cost nothing to do so is onl • common sense. In some • Q 10 9 f) hands, ho'' ever, it is worth 09 while attempting to maintain a certain flexibility, even though + K 53 the attempt may be attended by + 10 8 some risk. 8 A NALYSIS EXTRAORDINARY by M. HARRlSON-GRA Y :\ booklt·t. Clrampionship But he is shown, for instance, Hands Hl50, rontaining 50 hands two excessively dull slam hands selected by Ewart 1\L'mpson from on which ~orway gained points. the ma ldws pll1~·~·d by Great They bid Seven Spades, vulner­ Britain in I l11• n•cen t European able, on the first and made it Championships at Brighton has with a successful finesse against been puhlislll'd hy .Joiner and the King of Trumps and a good tcelc at -Is. ()d. and has full guess in dropping a ,;tal Queen diaeTams, naml's of players, bid­ in a side suit ; Britain stopped in ding, tirst three leads and result Six. The second hand is the in both rooms, followed by a brief following : + A Q J 7 analysis. \J):\65-t H.ecords of big matches usually 0 :\3 2 offer the opportunity for an + A9 instructi,·e study of rival bidding • 10 -t 3 + K methods and the finer points in \? Q 8 3 \?Jl02 play. In this case the effect 0985-t 0 KQJ76 has been lost by over-hasty + J 82 + 10 7 6 5 preparation and the fact that the + 98652 anonymous authority responsible \? K 9 7 for the comments seems not to be 0 10 rwfaitwith his subject. This leaves + KQ-13 the reader bewildered and frust­ Dodds and Konstarn bid Six rated ; wondering how we came Spades and went one down ; to win a single match at Brighton, Nonvay stopped in Four. I let alone the title ; puzzled to don't suppose the ::\on\·egians lind that, out of the 320 hands are particu)arly proud of the 13 played in duplicate by om team, match points they picked up only a handful (apparently) on these two hands, howe\·er brought out points of average acceptable they might be in a interest. match eventually lost by a margin A clue to this is given in a of :iS. And what can be gleaned curious, and surely unnecessary, in the way of instruction? Only editorial apologia for possible this, judging by the official discrimination in the apportion­ analysis : " Six can be made by ment of " good and bad deeds;" the double dummy play of with a noble suggestion that, dropping !~ast's lo~e King." since we were the host country This supreme ghmpse of_ the a number of hands must be in­ obvious is by no means umquc. cluded where the visiting teams The double dummy motif con­ came out best. The a vt~rage stantly recurs whenever the reader, I feel sure, cares little for analyst is hard-pressed to_ fill these things. All lw wants is his allotted space. Here IS a hands that are intcn•sting and hand from our match against instructive. I >1mmark. CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL Dealer Easl. Neither side doubt as to the location of the vulnerable. Two. But let the reader be + J ~ reassured : l\Iarx did 11ot con­ c:}Q 1084~ tinue with a fourth Diamond and 0 J 10 52 thereby bring our partnership + ~ to a premature end. + Q642 + 1075 A little licence may be forgiven c:)K95 c:)J6 our reporter, for how can North O A4 O KQ983 make the suggested play of the + J 9 6 5 + Q 10 7 Knave of pades unless he gains + AK98 · access to his hand ? What l\Iarx c:}A72 did in practice was to make a 0 7 6 devastating switch at trick 4 + AK-1 ~ to the Ten of Clubs. Dummy's At one table South (Gardener) King won and the Ace of Hearts opened One Spade and three was followed by the Two. North passes followed. He was allowed played the Ten on my Nine to make 7 tricks by ruffing two (apparently his best chance), so Clubs in Dummy. In the other East won and led the Queen of room the Danish bidding was Clubs. I won the next Heart One Club- One Diamond ; One lead and cashed our seventh Spade- One No Trump ; Two trick ; a low pade now gave No Trumps- all pass. North was North his final headache, but two down. No comment is made he played his Knave and thus on the auction ; not even a avoided a three-trick defeat. suggestion that, with all t,his In spite of the editorial dis­ bidding, Hearts might perhaps claimer, ] ack l\Iarx seems to be ha\'e been mentioned. But here singled ont for special contumely. is the analysis of the play, the A grudging pat on the back was f1rst three tricks having been won spoiled by a colossal implied by the Ace, Queen and King of iJ1Snlt in the analysis of this Diamonds : "Two No-Tmmps can hand against Finland : be made on the rather double + A 87 Dummy play of winning the c:JJ652 fourth trick (a Diamond) and 0 A K 2 running the Knave of Spades. + ~ 6 3 Subsequently a. Heart is lost." + 32 + KQJ65 . Instead of this display of c:}Q98 c:}AK103 omiscience, it would have been ·o 9 5 -t :1 o 1 1 better to give the play as it + 1~ 9 7 -l + A 5 actually occurred. East (Marx) + 10 9 -l led the Eight of Diamonds, al­ c:} 7 -l though the suit had been bid on 0 Q 10 8 6 his right; West won and returned + Q J 10 2 the Four. lorth played the Ten Dealer, East, neither side and East the Queen ; f arx then vulnerable. cashed the King, for North had In Room I the Finnish bidding cleverly dropped the Five on was One Spade- One No Tmmp : the opening lead, leaving some Three Hearts- Three No Tmmps. 10 CONTRACT BRIDGE jOURNAL " ... ~larx found a good lead (the It is points like these that King of Diamonds) and down should be brought out in the went the contract. On a Club or analysis of hands selected on this Heart lead West would steal basis and not because they a game unless :Marx leads a respond to a double dummy Diamond after the Ace of Spades." expertise quite impractical at Is this commentary really the table. But the comment on necessary? the Room 2 bidding reads as Let us take our analyst at follows: "South's bid of Two his word and suppose that North Clubs in preference to Two leads, say, a small Heart. \Vest Diamonds cannot have been made wins with the Eight and tackles with the intention of going out Spades. Sooner or later North into Two Diamonds if doubled.·· takes his Ace, and the spectators This remark is the epitome of hold their breath-what will he the arm-chair analyst. South play next? West is now known to did 11ot make a " bid of Two have at least 9 tricks in the bag­ Clubs." What he did was to four Spades, four Hearts and the give the Herbert negative Ace of Clubs-but, of course, reponse to a double of One Spade. it takes a genius to lay down the West's double of this cypher King of Diamonds ! put North in a peculiar position. In Room 2, with Tarlo East and A pass is tantamount to saying Gardener West, the bidding went " It's all right, Clubs is my best like this: suit." But South may ha\·e East South West North two or three small Clubs onh·. 1 Spade ~o Bid No Bid Double On the other hand, if )l'orth bids Redouble 2 Clubs Double No Bid his rescue suit (Hearts!) he may ~o Bid No Bid find that South has four Clubs Perfect defence held South to and a doubleton Heart. 5 tricks for a penalty of 500 ; Can we· draw any helpful con­ but the real interest lies in the clusions from this review ? Yes­ bidding. Playing , there was Herr Walter Herbert, in\'entor no need for West to keep the of the convention that bears his bidding open on a barren 5 points, name, has a lot to answer for ! a luxury not permitted by the Culbertson system in the other room. North's protective double cont. frolll p. 31 was impeccable, and East showed ,\cc. But if he docs not, South can a powerful hand with his redouble. put up the Jack, forcing West to CO\'er, and Xorth can foil the elimination by ~lanv players insist on treating the !carl of a small I;>iamond. An this· as an S.O.S., confusing it immediate Heart ruiT is therefore with the situation where South essential. At the fourth trick, \\'est doubles the Spade bid and North plays Diarnond King. ~om~elling :\orth to win, ami now nothmg l'l:orth can do makes a penalty pass. East will prevent the complet!on of the cannot redouble for a take-out elimination. After ru!Tmg Three until he has been doubled for Hearts and Two Diamonds, \Vest plays penalties. In this case the result ·\ce and a small Spade. still retaining was an enterprising but logical ~ trump in each hand Xorth is now double of Two Clubs. helpless. 11 LoNDON CoNGRESS T is not often that a Congress Pairs, won with Guy Ramsey ; I runs without a hitch- the sort and the Consolation Teams of of cream - smooth performance Four, when the team she graced where there are no kicks even for (i\Irs. Harison-Gray, Rodney the Tournament Directors. But Smith and Guy Ramsey) returned the London Con~:,rress of 1950 was the gigantic score of +59 IMP : just such an event. 67 for, 8 against. Held over-late in the cason, The main event of the Congress, because of Brighton, it attracted the London Cup, was collected by upwards of 400 entries, among two Brighton boys ( whom were a large number of and ) accom­ stellar performers ; and, although panied by Joel Tarlo and Jordanis the first London Congress had Pavlides, who nosed out just enjoyed the professional direction ahead of the ­ of Mr. Terence Reese and the Boris Shapiro-.i\Irs. Fleming­ highly-trained personnel of the Bruce Parker line-up. Tournament Bridge Association, The Congress was notable for there was no decline in 1950 when the emergence of new names to 1\Ir. Louis Tarlo took over: the rank among the stars. V. Gerrard timing, the good-humoured but, and i\Iiss Curry stormed through alas!, necessary chivvying, the to beat such distinguished London organization were not to be players as Dr. Leist and R. Swimer, faulted. l\I. Savage and A. \Volfeld in the The Richmond Hall, Earl's London Pairs; Oxford University Court, which most people feared (Truscott, d'Unienville, Doran and would be inacessible, bleak Gardner) and Cambridge (Atkin, draughty, and wholly inadequate mart, Glauert and Swinnerton­ for feeding arrangements proved Dyer) both registered prizes ; the both comfortable and commo­ " i\I and B " boys-trained on dious ; and, although on the first Prontosil ? - (Paddle, Beasley, e\·ening dinners (of unexpectedly hort and Cheshire) ; the charm­ high quality) were slow, the ing Durran team (i\Ir. and !\Irs. service rapidly improved and the G. Durran, i\frs. Richards and good-humour of the staff compen­ G. Turnbull). sated in some measure for the S. Bloom and ]. Abrahams lack of speed. produced their usual meteoric The programme was crowded, session in one of the manv Pairs but there was- a triumph- no events ; and other winners were overlapping. frs. Holland and i\Ir . Burns; The ongress was notable i\liss J. . Lord and i\Irs. l'rancis­ especially for the performance of Jones; J. 1 unes and A. Field; ~Irs. i\ladeline Lester, whose jour­ W. D. E . Hall and C. H. Dodson ; neys (all necessary !) to the prize­ and- not to be wondered at, givingrostrum became monotonous perhaps- Leslie Dodds and i\Irs. and who scored top-marks in no Gottesman, once a star of Vienna fewer than three events : the and now the I elgian International. Earl's Court Pair , won with Another welcome sight was that l\1 rs. Phyllis Williams ; the i\1 ixed doyen of bridge-scribes, N. de V. 12 Hart who scored in a match­ Hamsey Doubled and licked pointed event with B. Lamb; his chops when, over the response North-Western's A. C. Douglass (\\·hich left him on the repulsi\·e in company with Competition­ guess whether to take his partial, winner, Dr. olon ; J. Talbot and if it could be made) or attempt H. Macl\Jahon and, from the No Tmmps, Opener (with A K J x.-.: Gloucester Club, H. i\lcNair Jones in Spades and a 16-coun t) burst and l\Iiss Harris ; Tony Lederer into 2+. The Double was worth and \V. Langert ; Dr. Lee playing 800 and a top. Opener should with P. Swinnt~ rton-Dyer. rather Double the take-out on a Hunners up in the i\lixed Pairs ;)-3-3-2, e\'en though the " normal" were .J. Sharples and l\lrs. ~ell negati\'e double announces weak­ Kahn, only a fraction behind the ness in the bid suit. The old winners ; runners-up in the Earl's ''i\lasked Double," to quote the Court Pairs were l\I. Ashley almost forgotten nomenclature and E. Lewis-Dale ; and the of Wilbur Whitehead, is superior, Sectional wmners included if only as a surprise measure, to Oxford's Tmscott and l\frs. the trap-pass to which most Harper ; Oxford's .Gardner and modern players are alert. Doran ; J. Pearlstone and A. When the luck is mnning with ' Wolfeld, and J. Tarlo partnering you, all sorts of liberties may be N. Smart of the Light Blues. taken. r\ quite horrible 3NT was Apropos, it i good to sec brought home on this:- .(Lee-Swinnerton-Dyer, Tarlo­ + K 8 6 2 + 10 7 Smart) the established constella­ \?Kxxx \?AQ9x tions in partnership with the OJIOxx 0987 starlets of today, the rising stars + Q X + A K ·9 8 of tomorrow. South opened a Spade and Other ladies and gentlemen who West Passed ; East 0\·er-bid marched to the dais to receive North's No Trump with 2+ . at the hands of l\lr. Bonar Colleano \Vest now, eye on the match­ (whose welcome, witty appearance point, bid 2NT, raised (to in the role of hander-out of prizes \Vest's horror and with some was due to 1\lr. Karel Stepanek, trepidation by East) to :i::\T. who played well but unluckily This was Doubled by North in throughout the Congr~ss) wen! som_e dudgeon and ti1e ~inc of i\Iiss Jonas and i\liss Harvey; pa,des was led. G. Coulter and .J. A. Parsons of \Vest percei\'ed a Spade- the Sperry Gyroscope Coy., and possibly two ; three Hearts, the Civil Service stars, A. E. possibly four : three Clubs, field and i\lrs. Waller. possibly four and a Diamond One of the hands which puzzled when he could come to it. He a whole section of the mixed Pairs co\·ered the :\'inc and won the was this : Knave of Spades with the King + Q10xxx \?A.Jx 0 Kx + KQx and pushed out another Spade. A Vulnerable Spade is opened He won the fourth Spade and ahead of you : what do you do? noted two Clubs discarded by Bid No Trump? Trap-pass? North ; he then played three Double ? Horrible ! rounds of Hearts, but the Kna\·e- 13 CONTRACT !HOOGE JOURN:\1. Ten did not fall ;·this was followed The one-session "mixed" event by• the Queen of Clubs on which the Piccadilly Cup, pro\·ided the North dropped tlw Ten. Another Doctors. Lee and l~ockfelt , Club saw North Yoid, and the partnering Standish Booker and count was fixed. On this, _outh Mrs. Markus, with a \·ictory as was ill-advised enough to throw popular as it was deser\'ed : the his small Diamond : either the Lincolns, R. Phillips and W. Rees la~t Spade or the Ace of Diamonds with the runner-up prize. was the proper discard : the latter Ail-in-all, a very good week-end because so far, North has shown indeed, to which the backroom nothing whatever to justify the boys and the frontroom boys Double. Ploughed in with the (and girls)-including to name Diamond to the now blank Ace but a few, i\fr. and i\frs. Louis the hapless South could only Tarlo, P. R. G. Charters, ~r. cash the Spade and resign the Harrison-Gray, F. 0. Bingham and last two tricks to the Dummy's i\Iajor and i\Irs. George Gray­ Club tenace. contributed in no small mea nrc.

r',...... _.,_, __. -....~~ ...... , ; . Conli111wl jl'o111 page :1 : f who ne\·er enter for the great , , con tests. There may well be among them-not to name living f . DROITWICH I players - some Simon, some Lederer, who ought, on sheer f CONGRESS l ability, to qualify for the highest honours; but will remain, for t t mere lack of money, mute and l f inglorious. t The E.B.U. and, especiall y, the London Association, have taken JAN. 12th, 13th & 14th, I the admirable step of reducirtg 1951 l entr -fees and membership-fees for certain types of players. I· urlher steps in the same direction would serve a two-fold purpo e : increase competition entries, so \VINTER GARDEN that the reduction in fee would not diminish revenue; and make our DROIT\VICH game genuin.ely as nerland Hotel, not at the Butlin~,;­ Duplicate. ton as stated. 14 SECOND ·THOUGHTS

ON BRIGHTON by G Y RAni EY A LO 'G, and very gracious, held. There is the chance of a letter from i\1 r. Leslie Diamond finesse ; the chance of Dodds points out certain quest­ a Club break : the chance of ionable analyses in the July both Spade honours right ; the issue which dealt with Brighton. chance of a Heart lead ; the ln the interests of justice, of chance (no worse than 50/50) accuracy, and the intrinsic fascin­ of the Heart :\ce being right e\·en ation of the hands, I venture to if the uit be not led. · re,·ert to them, appending i\lr. The next hand occurred "· Dodds's criticisms of mv original Sweden and was this criticisms, and mv rebuttals to + Qx + 9xxxx them when l do not merely cry \?Qx y>AJxx "Peccavi." - · O AQI09x OJ The l1rst hand occurred in the + AQxx + Kxx Dutch match, and Dodds held 1 " crimed " Leslie for open­ + AQ IOxxx \? Kxx 0 Jx + xx ing I NT · on the \\'est cards. Over Konstam's opening Pccwl'i. Konstam took this shot Diamond, he bid I + ; over ~ + . at a 1\Iaster-bid. Dodds de­ he bid merely ~ + - I contended precates his own 4\? bid after that 3+ was the better bid and I :\TT - 3+ -3NT ; but points out 'crimed 'him for' missing a game.' that 4 + (which was doubled) The Dummy held : is ' on '- as is 4.\'T, to which + xx y>IOx OAKIOx + AJxxx the contract was remo\·ed. I On a Club lead (found b~ · i\larx should hate to make ten tricks against 4+ in Room 1), a 4+ on this myself as I see a minimum contract will fail, provided trumps of a Diamond and three Spades are led whenever the Opponents to lose even if the Heart King is gain entry, for the Heart King right and the Clubs break. and Diamond Queen are alike The slam against Xonmy, wrong. Dodds comments that which I characterised as a " not his ' mere ' 2+ should have very good slam anyway " but brought a swing since 4+ could which I admitted was certainly ha\·e heen broken. He exonerates unfortunate in that the two Marx, since "the bidding was hands fitted ven· badly, was this : so cra7.\' in the other room that + .-\ Q .) X • + g· X X X X he was put off the defence in \?Axxx \?Kxx spite of his correct opening lead." OA~x Ox It is quite true that 4+ can + Ax + KQxx be defeated by the line of play " Small slams had to be bid found by Dodds for the defence ; under the 1\Iatch-point scoring but I believe that the chances employed . at Brighton," says arc ' on ' rather than against Dodds, •; where the chances were a 4+ contract with the 26 cards even. This is definitely better 15 CO fltACT 13RTDGE JOURNAL than an c\·en chance ; for, with outh from bidding an unbreak­ all 111\" controls, I know that able 5+ . This is questionable, Konstam must ha\·e three second­ since . outh had not bid 4+ over round controls to accept the :~ + - Dodds regards the 5+ slam-try. If his singleton is oppo­ bid as " automatic," but this I site my longest outside suit, the take leave to doubt; it is raising the slam is cold ; or, as the cards the level, and it is possible that arc, G+ will be made with the West may hold Clubs. Still, Spade finesse wrong but with there is a possibility that outh either hand holding four Hearts might take the Double to ;) + and and four Clubs ... I do con idcr then in pades, at t 1e that this was a good slam on ;1-le\·el, would surely be Double:!. all ground except the result." Leslie also comments that -1\? Objection sustained. is a make unless, with one pade The hand in the Iceland match cashed, the defence makes an where 1 commented that the immediate (and very difficult) Home team " were far from their switch to Diamonds. This pre­ best in both rooms " fell thus :- supposes (a) that Declarer 1 orth + XX . takes the right view and, after \?A Q _x x x one trump, plays on Clubs, 0 j 9 X forcing West ; (b) takes another + K 10 X right view, and sheds a loser + J 10 X X + A K Q X X X when West ruffs for the second CVJI09xxx CVJx time : in other words, that De­ OKx OQxx clarer can produce the inspired + Jx + xxx Dummy-play that my critic him­ + x self features. A second pade, \? K J incidentally, forcing one of OAlOxxx Dummy's Honours, does not + AQxxx make North's task terribly easy. Half my original statement The Italian hand, where I was true, at least ; ·for in Room 2 suggested that Dodds played for we played in 3+ making an I down rather than ri king going in fiLllible II tricks. When Dodds two clown or making the contract ;wd Konstam were E- \V, Leslie he defines, rightly enough, as opened 1 + (as did the Icelander " really most interesting." The holding his cards). South bid cards fell :- 20 and West 2+ . North bid + AKx + xxxx ~\? and East 3+ . outh found CVJAKQJx CVJxxx a doubtful -1\? which Konstam Ox OKxxx Doubled. 1 wrote: " !)odds, + Kxxx + Qx consciou of his weak opening The opening is a trump. How and the fact that Spades wcr ', should the hand be played ? aftrr the raise, at best worth I said that the immediate lead of one trick, removed to the compara­ a Di

by MARGERY BURi~S THE "1\ottingham Club" is a usually attended the game, (if recognised system. i\f r. Geoffrey they picked it up well enough) : Butler, (when Chairman of the Terence H.eese, the late S. J E.B.U.) said so, so that settles it. Simon, H. Pressburger, S. Booker, For years we've been a sort of Kenneth Konstam, Harold Bridge Joke-I came upon an Franklin-only just a little old in which game with the 1\ottingham write , "The Palookas, but it was a pleasant Nottingham crowd, with their little game surely, and a winning somewhat comic system, carried one. off, as usual, the Harrogate It is so simple you can learn , the Queen Cup, and it in a few minutes, and there is most of the other events." less argument between partners And what a record ! the White­ than happens in any other system. law up three times at least, It is a Point Count system, when Daphne Kleuser led the first and foremost : .i.\filton Women's teams to Victory with \Vork count, of course. almost monotonous regularity ; Our I -bids except for I+ are the Queen Cup on more occasions plain ordinary bids and show II than any other system ; the to 15 points, and preferably a Harrogate Gold Cup at least 5-card suit. We tell an awful twice ; England versus Ireland ; lot in that first bid. \Ye say: England in the European Chapion­ " I haven't a big hand or I should ships before the War. hid I+ " That is where we gain Then after the War, newcomers over systems which do not tell and the T.B.A. Women's cham­ so much in their first bid. If pionship, and successes at our suit is Clubs we bid 2+ and Congresses by Notts. players out it means the same. Partner of all proportion to the entry. knows that he need not respond This year already, the Hamilton under about 9 points. If he has a up, the Eastbourne Invitation poor little hand with a long suit, Event, players in the Camrose nine times out of ten the bidding is match against Scotland, (not, kept open by the opposition alas! playing the 'Nottingham' and then he can bid distibutionally but trained in it and surely knowing the Opener will probably checking up all the time on it pass, but the vital information as one docs automatically when has been exchanged at a very one knows two or three systems low level as to whether the game well) and minor successes too is likely or not. numerous to mention. If the Responder to a One-bid And what is this quaint comic has an opening bid in his hand, system that many of the Experts he jumps the bidding to show ha\'e tried out with us, only for points and dis~ribution, an_d the a joke maybe, and names pulled game is arnved at wtthout out of a hat, but success has the opposition knowing what 19 ------~--· ---

they ha\·e not got. Sometimes Our ' heavy forcing' bid IS it lakes two or three bids to 2 Diamonds, and is similar to get in to the right contract, any other Forcing Two bid. It but it cuts out that slow approach should be made only with a bidding which reveals so much game in the openers hand. The to a clever Defender. negative response is 2\? (Herbert) lf we have a good-looking but the bidding should never stop hand, but not a ' power house', short of a game. we open 'I + .' This bid is conven­ We make an opening bid of tional and indicates some I G-21 2 No Trumps with 22 points and points. Now our Partner sits a ' flat pattern ' This, of course, up and takes notice ! First he can be passed. replies 'I O' if he hasn't 8 points; Our No Trump is weak, ~~~-15 1 ~o Trump if he has more than points, ·and we protect it with a eight points and that distributjon ; weak sign off into a long suit. and one of a suit if he has a 5 In effect we say ' Partner, I card , or two of a minor can't bear your No Trump but or 1 No Trump if he thinks it I can play it in this miserable will play better that way. suit; leave it, please!' Then the bidding runs calmly We 'asked ' in a minor for to game. Slam tries are made as a a four card-major before Acol rule if the responder to the Club was !thought of,* but otherwi!;e call ha.o:; violent distribution or we have learnt a lot from ' Acol ' some 'shape' and more than 13 about the treatment of the \\ eak points. Every bid (with a positive No Trump. response) is a true and honest bid If we really are in a quandary and the correct declaration is for a bid, having lost the chance found without the slightest of playing a weak Club bid, third difficulty. or fourth in hand we " push a \Vith the ' negative response' little Diamond bid round the of I O, made on a hand with table " We call this the "Loose fr.wer tl1an 8 points, the Openrr Diamond!" \ Vhatever our partner sh9ws distribution at the lowest bids distributionally, unless he possible level, and his partner jumps the bidding, weleaye him in. with a little distribution or 7 Our l\Iajor 3-bids are weak. points makes a bid to show his Our l\Iinor 3-bicls show a long hand.- The Opener can leave and about 15 points, it or bid again according to his · and ask partner to go to game in ' lit ' with the new information No Trumps if he has two other supplierl. There is one proviso to snits covered. this. If the opening hand has We have another s1=ecialised 20 or 21 points, he makes a 2-bid bid with an exact meaning. Two to show this, and then his partner Hearts or Two Spades. This can raise with -1 or 5 points, shows 15 Points, an outside Ace or a bit of distribution and a or King and complete control of hope! Trumps. Partner can respond with The only time we pass I+ is less than the requirements for with a completely bust hand a 1-bid. with five Clubs. *So did J\empson.-Eonon BRIDGE ARTICLE APPEARS EVERY FRIDAY

together with a WEEKLY PROBLEM

RIO GRANDE SLAM F ROl\I the far-flung spaces me not lightly to be undertaken. of Southern Rhodesia, Says J\Ir. Forbes: " The simple P. P. ("Teddy") Forbes, once device of ruffing a Heart was a stalwart of Crockford's, sends us, ' off ' since it depended on the via i\Ir. A. L. Marx, the following even break in trumps." Note, hand which cropped up at rubber­ by the way, that North held bridge in Salisbury, in the '::}Q 10 9, doubleton Diamond Rhodesias. and 10 8 to four spades, as it + QJ9xx + AK happened, witlz ] 10 9 x in Clubs. '::}]xx I::}AK Forbes cashed two Spades and OKJ OA9xxx entered his hand with the high + KSx + AQxx Diamond. A third Spade found J\lr. Forbes (" the cards he him looking at Dummv for a holds !") reached 7 + and North Discard. He might set- _up the Jed a trump. Diamonds; the Clubs might You can count five Spades, two break : but to set up Diamonds Hearts, two Diamonds and three against a -l -~ split would require Clubs (barring an improbable Trumps to fall in 3 rounds : 5- 0 Spade break) . But where, which thev did not. He therefore oh where, is Trick No. 13 to decided to play for the break come from ? or 3-:; in one minor or, failing this, breaks against the odds in Sevens a Squeeze. He played off four 21 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL Spades, Ace and King of table, we tested the market by IJi amoncl , ruffing a third cashing one Spade. This was Di amond, and _\Vest's goose was incontinently ruffed by the de­ cooked : he held the Queen of plorable i\lr. Baldwin and we Hearts and four Clubs! retired hurt. Teddy Forbes comments Subsequent wrangles inclined pertinently that )Vest could to point out that we had chucked easily have created a very good badly : we should, it was suggest­ chance of breaking the contract, ed, have drawn trumps and then by dropping the Ten of pades played for the Knave of pades on the third round, which would to be susceptible to ruff on the surely have induced him to shed fourth round. This, plus a proven a Club in Dummy, in the hope of Spade 11nesse, when North shows establishing a Diamond for dis­ on the first round, brings card : unle s, of course, East in 1:; tricks. General comment played' an off-suit before the was satisfied that we had played Dummy played anything, as is badly, against the odds, like a t.he deplorable habit of too many palooka and e\·en like a lunatic : defenders. in fact, to quote an old crack of Our congratulations to 1\f r. Stanley l\Ierkin's, like a Paloon­ ForbE -and our envy. atic. This cropped up at the Hamil­ We begged-and till recalcit­ ton. We did not like it :- rant, still beg- to differ. \\"e + AKQ9x + lOx embarked on the demonstration : ry A K 10 X X X ry Q J X X but, happy to see the cribe 0 X 0 A Q J 10 X discomlited, the kibitzers said : +A + x " Next hand" briefly, and re­ Pia •ing \\"e t, we ventured 2+ tained their happy opinion of (our y tem was CAB, almost " monumental and cia ic inevitably, in that haunt of Col. chuck." That always makes Walshe and Leslie Dodd , Mrs. kibitzers happy. ;\Jarkus, Lady Rhodes

THE Weak Three bid features one East passed. A Spade was in most popular bidding led and declarer, holding systems, and yet it appears to + 2 \?AJ109862 OQ108 + Q-! trouble many players. made 12 tricks. For example there are those But not all decisions in this who bid One Heart on field are as easy, and players +G \?KJ87543 OAJ96 + J who dislike unnecessary problems either because of the I 0 points, in bridge may be interested in or because of the fine Diamond the following rules, which ha,·e suppport. On the next round been thoroughly tested in practice they decide to pre-empt with and which fit the example hands Three Hearts, thus considerably in text-books on bidding very overstating their high card adequately. strength. _ An opening bid (or jump over­ Or consider this East hand from call) of three in a suit shows a recent duplicate match. KQJ432, 8765-!32 or better in +AS4 \?K75 OAJ32 + J83 trumps and denies 18 Vienna At love all \Vest opens Three points. It also denies 8 winners, Hearts. With only three winners and if vulnerable shows at least

r·~~..._...... _....._..~ ...... ~ .. ~· ...... ~l II I I .. I I ...... , l THE AUTUMN CONGRESS l ~ of the I .~ l North Western Contract Bridge Association l l will be again held at the J' l CLIFFS HOTEL, NORTH PROMENADE BLACKPOOL I - ~~ :~:~ ~~ :.. ~:~,:.8:~ u:•:oo~~ :~;.,,I:~oPI•Y'" I ! """arc strongly advised to book.. their hotel accommodation early, with a ! view to securing the best rooms. In addition, within a few yards, three ~ f Private Hotels," \'OHI\ HOUSE,"" CHE X playing Cambridge, so my arnbi- 2'Vl 3 0 tions were restricted to a part- +10 led 9 tricks made NS + 110 score in Clubs with 100 honours. Here we were lucky, since N2 + J109 fo rgot that was playing Herberts <:V>K876 over Three bids : Incidentally 04 readers wishing to criticise these + Q 10 7 53 sequences may like to know that + QS76532 + AK4 all pairs except E-\V2 played <:V>A932 'Vl54 Acol. OKS 0 9832 + JI052 + - + J942 A 10 7 3 2 0 Q 7 4 Q J 10 + 7 ·0 -A Q J 10 7 6 + 9 8 6 3 + A 4 + AK86 <:V> KQ4 8 6 Game all. Dealer South 0 K J 10 5 0 9 6 3 Room 1 63 + A Q J 10 8 2 South West N orih East + KQ7 10 2NT 3+ <:V>J95 40 50 0 A82 + 6 led, 10 tricks made. + K954 No Score. Game all. Dealer West. Room 2 South !Vest Norilz East Room 1 20 + 4 West North East South .3 - 04 led, 9 tricks made. NS + 100. I + Room 3 10 2+ South West North East + K led, 8 tricks made EW + 190 10 3<:V> X Room 2 04 led, 10 tricks made. West North East South EW + 630. 3+ Room 4 + K led, 7 tricks made NS + 100 South ll'est North East Room 3 10 .3 West North East South 40 I+ + 2 led, 9 tricks made. 10 2+ No Score. X Here I raised to Four Spades XX with five Beale points, and + K led, 8 tricks made E\V + 810 apparently lost points. Hm\'e\·er Room .4 Four Spades is unlucky to fail West North East South on the E- W hands, while Five 3+ Clubs is on for N- S, so the bid + K led, 7 tricks made NS + 100 needs no apology. The hand On this hand I disobeyed my contains several bidding problems. own rules, holding 18 points, (Continued 011 page 27) Important Notice

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26 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL E-\V, were experimenting with a conventional-psychic 2NT over­ Cover Problem Solution · call as suggested by 1\'lollo. + A732 Playing a jump of three IVK in a lower ranking suit as strong, 0 K Q 10 4 the bid can be useful; but why + Q9 8 5 + 8 5 + KJ 1064 \V, made it here is still obscure. IV 98654 IV 10 7 3 Note that a player who has pre­ 0 86532 0 9 7 empted should not repeat him­ + 2 + A 4 3 + Q9 self. If his partner passes he IVAQJ2 must always pass subsequently. 0 A J Otherwise he should still not + K J 10 7 6 South reaches the optimistic con­ rebid his suit above the game tract of 6+. West leads + 8 to East's level : but should double an overbid. Can South make the contract? adverse bid with more than one If so, how? probable defensive trick, passing ANSWER with less. Hence my rebid of The bidding given was I + -I O whereupon East shoved in I+ ; South five Spades, violating these prin­ bid 21V and :s'orth 4+. South ciples, suggests a semi-two-suited emerged with 4 ~ . T. (Culbertson) and hand which has been improved North, with nothing to be ashamed of, by the knowledge that partner bid 5 + . Nobody Doubled the final bid of 6+. has trump support (what else l\lissing the trump .-\ce, South must can his raise contain when oppo­ win the Spade opening in Dummy. nents are bidding so strongly?) To lead trumps is hopeless, since there So Ivan knew that Six Clubs was arc two black losers on top. To run Hearts, throwing Dummy's Spades, is on, and that Six Spades would also hopeless, for East will (as the So Ivan knew that Six Clubs was cards lie) make the :\ce and a small on, and that Six Spades would trump. be fairly cheap. So two Diamonds arc cashed, ending in the Dummy and a third The methods advocated may be Diamond compels East to ruff, lest extended. South chucks his Spade. This is ovcr-ruJicd ; Dummy is re-entered with An opening four bid shows a the Heart King to lead a fourth Dia­ hand weak in defensive strength, mond : again ruffed and 0\·er-ruffed. but containing a strong seven Now, three rounds of Hearts are card trump suit and 8 winners played, Dummy throwing Spades ; on the last of them, East may, if he or eight trumps and at least 7 will, ruff-but only with the Ace of winners. Clubs I A minor four bid is raised to A contract not to be recommended : 6 N.T. by North being very much game on 4 Beale points, and a easier-but even more difficult to bid. slam try should be made over any The hand comes from Frank Perkins, a four bid with 6 Beale points notable U.S. writer, quoted by George including two Aces. This rule Coffin. can give curious results with an abnormal number of small trumps which are less valuable than opposite a three bid. However such occasions are too infrequent to matter much. 27 # , ~1.. ~ (o111 nettlt1Jn This IHDiflnS r by J. .. H. ·rvrarx

Answers to J. C. 1-1. ;\fARX, E . q .. and theu discnnls the Spndc Three and Competition Editor, Co11/rttc/ /Jr idgr Four. Spade Jnck is led from I h11nm · . ./ ourrwl, 63 13 •clford Gardens, London, ·o"c:red h • East's 1\ing ancl taken hy W.R, not Inter lhnn Od. 7th, 1950. outh's ,\cc, Wl'sl discanlin~-: 1-l enrl Solutions allllnam ·s of prize winners in Four. South leacls a small Cluh, \\'est the ,\ug. Competition will nppcar next winnin!( with Jack, East discarding month. Spnclc Fiv ·. This competition continue the \\'hal should \\'c. l now Jcacl ? \\'h · ? Lndclcr Contest, announced last • ov­ ember. l'HOIII.I"I No. :1 (11 points) Prizes of I Os. Gel. will be awarded At the score Gnmc All, :'\orth cleats •ven· month henceforth to those ancl bicls One Spad ·. E.ast-\\'cst clo not comjletitors who reach the top of the hid .• outh bids Two Diamonds, ~orth ladder. They will then automatically Two padcs. outh's hand is: fall to U1e bottom, starling with a + Q 9 \;)4 2 0 '' 10 8 4 :l +-' 10 4 2 score of zero. \\'hal ~hou ld he bid ? E\•ery contestant will therefore, iu time, win a prize; but the successful PIWIILEM :'\0. 4 (3() points) scorer, by reaching the top with greater speed, will win more prizes­ In the course of a post-mortem, a and grca tcr distinction. certain player sought to silence his partner with the scornful remark, I'ROIILE~I • 'o. I (12 points) " You can't •ven di ·tinguish betwe •n a sig' ll-ofl ami a slam-try." Though few :'\orth clcals and bids One Heart. players would cnre to admit that such East passes lhroug"houl. South bid incnpacit ·applies to themselves, mnny Two Diamonds, \\'c. t Two padcs, nrc pu7.7.lcd by certain bidding si tua­ . ' orth clouble . . tion on which text-books ofTcr little South's hand is guiclnncc. A selection of these is + 2 \;)K 103 0•\ K5-4 :1 + V IOS3 g-iven below, the opponents being What should South hid (n) nt the nssumcd to take no part in the bidding. score North- outh Game (h) al the Classify the last bid in each auction as . core East-\Vcst Game? (a) Forcing (b) Encouraging (c) Neutral (d) Discouraging, and briefly stat • PnouLE~I No. 2 ( 12 points) reasons for each answer. The hands of \\'est and Xorth arc: (Credit will he given C\'en where the + J 10 answer diflcrs from the Competition \;) 7 6 Editor's opinion, provided the reasoning 0 Q 9 R 7 is self-consistent). + :\9753 .\'cnlh (a) I 0 2 ~.T (b) I \;) 2 N.T . South I + ao I + 3\;) \;)• K9, 5-4 Snrlh (c) I\;) :1 ~ . T . (d) I 3 ~.T. 0 J 10 3 0 + "Q J 2 S oulh I + 4\;) I + 40 South is playing the hand in • 1x Xorlh (c) I + 4\;) (f) I \;) 4 + Diamonds, East having dealt nntl So11/h :1 ~:r. 3 N.'f. op •nt'

CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL ohtains at least as good a score as the double raise to Three Spades, even if majority of his competitors and shou.ltl played as forci ng, far too good in high i~nore Clubs as a possible trump su1t. canis for a treble raise to Four Spades, and not really quite good enough for a PIWULE~I No. 3 (14 points) forci ng take-out. The method is to bid South deals at the score Love All and a suit at the minimum level, even a opens the bidding with One of a suit. non-biddable one of lower rank, and East-West do not bid. North responds then, following a neutral rcbitl, to One Spade and South raises to Three jump to game in opener's first suit. l f Spades. opener's rebid is very encouraging, it North's hand is: may be necessary to jump above the +K Q I 0 3 2 '\}A fi 0 J 9 :1 + 1\: 4 2 game level. It is not of great import­ \Vhat should he bid next when ance 'which suit is selected for the first South's opening bid has been (a) One response. but Clubs is to be preferred, Club, (b) One Heart? being both the longer and a minor suit. ANS\\"EI! 3. (a) Four Hearts- 7 points. PIWBLE~I No. 5 (28 points) Four Clubs--! points. Five Spades- At the score Game All, North deals 2 points. and bids One Spade. His hand is : (b) Four Clubs-7 points. Five +K Q 9 7 5 4 '\}- 0 K Q 11 + K Q 8 5 Spadcs-3 points. East-\Vest do not hid. \\' hat should (a) Clearly on general values North North bid next if South responds with has enough to hope for a slam and (a) Two Hearts, (b) Two Diamonds, should feel certain of makin~ at least (c) Two Clubs, (d) Three Spades? eJe,·en tricl>s. An honest cue bid in Hearts is his best course, and he will .'\NSWEil bid Six if South shows he controls the 5. (a) Three Clubs-7 points. Diamonds. A bid of Four Clubs, Two Spacles-3 points. though not to be ruled out, is apt to (b) Three Clubs-7 points. Three be misleading, in that it suggests the Spades- 3 points. Three Diamonds- hand ought to be played in Clubs and 2 points. hy implication that the Spade holding (c) Four Clubs-7 points. Three is far from solid. Diamonds- 5 points. Three Spades, (b) Here the honest cue bid must be Fi~·e Clubs-2 points. ruled out, since a bid of Four Hearts (d) Four Clubs-7 points. Four means that North wishes to play at l-T<;a rts-4 points. that contract. His hand was probably (a) In spite of the void Heart, a worth a raise of between 1[wo and mere Two Spades does not do justice to Three Hearts, and so he compromised the playing trick strength of the hand. with a mark-time bid of One Spade. Three Spades is of course out of the With his actual hand, he cannot risk question, as it may provoke South into conveying such a misleading message. bidclin~ Four Hearts on some far from Of the alternatives, Four Clubs, though solid six card suit. The best wav out not" strictly honest, is to be preferred , is to bid Three Clubs and await since it stresses the necessity for South developments. Tf South now bids to hold control of Diamonds. Three Hearts, North can bid Three Spades. PnOBLI~ M No. 4 (8 points) (h) The waitin~ bid is again the ~orth deals at the score Love All and best . With the Diamond fit, Three hid~ One Spade. East passes. South's Spades is more jus tifiable. Three hand is : Diamonds is a possibility, but it makes + K Q 10 a 2 '\}As OJ 9 :1 +K4 2 hut a poor attempt to describe the What should he bid? hand. ;\NSWEil (c) This is a dillicult situation. The 4. Two Clubs-8 points. Two forcin~ rehicl take·out of Three 1-lcarts- 6 points. Three Clubs­ Diamonds is tempting, but the bidding -! points. Three Hcarls-:l points. may rise undesirably high before Three Spadcs- 2 points. Four Spades Clubs. hav~ been confirmed, and by - 2 points. thai: brnc 1t may be too late to check This is a hand for the " dclaye(J up on which Aces South holds, if an\·. game misc.'' lt is rather loo good for a The recommended bid of Four Clubs ·is 30 CONTRACT BRiDGE JOURNAL not perfect , since, being a direct raise lengths. Two Clubs is by far the bes t in partner's suit, it is not by definition available bid, for though it does not forcing ; on the other hand, a double quite. do justice to the strength and r<~i se in a minor in this situation is very promtse of the hand, it is made at a r<~r e l y passed by the responder, who level low enough to entice the other h<~ s already announced himself as three players to come out into the open strong enough to bid at the level of two and disclose ·the nature of their hands, Five Clubs runs the risk of partner and it is fear of the unknown which bidding six on the Ace and other values causes South to view his hand with a in Hearts, when there will be two Aces certain misgiving. H later he should to Jose. Three Spades is not very decide to bid Spades, he will at least constructive and runs the risk of being not be given preference by his partner passed and, what is worse, of being for a suit he does not prefer. defeated . (d) The hand is too promising not to PROBLEM No. 7 (16 points) try for a slam, even though cue­ The hands of West and East arc : bidding a non-existent Ace is slightly + A 9 8 6 4 3 + Q 10 7 52 hazardous. If South now starts ~2 ~A654 bidding H earts, North will put the <) K 10 9 <) 2 brakes on hard. + AJ9 + 876 \Vest, the dealer at the score Game PttOnLDt No. 6 (10 points) All, has become the declarer at Four -\ t the score Game All, East deals Spades Doubled, the bidding having <~nrl bids One Heart. South holds: proceeded: q. \ Q 10 7 ~A 10 R 4 <)- + A J 10 8 2 West One Spade Four No Bid ami is faced with a choice of bids, none Spades of which is entirely satisfactory. North Double Double Arrange the following possible bids for East Three Spades No Bid South in order of prcfercnce- (al One South Four Spade, (b) Two Clubs, (c) Three Clubs, Diamonds No Bid (d) Pass, (c) One No-trump, (f) Double. North's opening lead of the Club :\:-

SEASON 1950- 1951

/Inn. Sarflnrv a,,.; Trramrcr: 11 . Col.l.ISS, EsQ., ~lll>l>l . t:SEx-~lrs. I. Frre111an , The :o;ook. \.C. A , r /n :\lcssr!'. L l·a\'t•r, Cole~'\.:. Co., 30,Budg~ Lyndhur5l Tt•rrace, N. \\'.3. How, Cannon Street, London, l.!. .C.4. (l hone . NoRfUI . K-1~. :\lallinson, EstJ., Shihdt."n, Lower Cit )" 4H~7) . Hcllc~don, Norwich. /lo,1. To'lnltlmru' Srrrclar)' : :'II_ AJOn (~1:nn: 1 ~1 : Y Fu.1., Crtt\'(' 11 Lead \Vorks, Skipton, ' orkslurc. NoRTH EASTERS-G. I. Rhode:-;, E~q., 5 \\"oodbine ' !'hone : Skipton :1~). Avcuuc, Ncwcastlc-on-Tynr, :t

fl o 'L N t t:,i ~ trars: :'\ l cssn~ . Lr.AVEH, Cu r.t: ~\:. Co. NoRTH \VESTt-: kN- F. F : 1rriu~t on, Esq., :\loor Erlg(', Chapcltown Hoad, Turton, ~r . Uolton. Th1· Co uncil of the English Bridge Union is TJnd t· up of Dt•ll•gatcs fro111_ County and Area NoTTISGIIA~l!-'IIIRE-0. G. F . BlaJI(l, E~q., .-\..:-.od a lion :o , whose Sern·tancs arc as follows: 57 Friar Laue, Nottingham.

Ill RU\' ~ IIIRE - S. c. Batt·, Esq., s:l \Villowcroft O:uoKt>S IIIR E- ~Ir s. H. G. l.lcck, I Blenheim Hoad, Spomlon, Dcrl>y. _ Orin~ , Oxford. l> L\ o:-o ..:lltH:t - G. Graham \\'ilsou, Esq., h:inrora, So11T1n:ns CouNTIEs-:\lrs. \V. J. Davy, Flat 4, ~ 1-l i~ hr • r \\'arUcrry Road, Tnrquar. ~\.5 \\'imbournc Hoad, l\ourue1nouth.

E s..:~:. x - F. )f. Fletcher, Esq., ~~ Fontayuc STAHOIWSIIJRE-W. H. Cato, E;oq., ~04 Thorn· A \'('nuc, Chigwcll. hill Road, Strcl"lly, Sutton Cnlrlficltl, lr1 ourESTFRSII IR E-S. E. Franklin, Esq., Hcd \Varwick ~ hirc. \t<~yt •s, Belmont A ,·cnuc, Hucclccotc. SuttREY-R. F. H. Phillips, Esq., 110 Banstead llt: JI T Fonns HtRE- \r. 11. \VcightmaH, Esq., Four Road South, Sutton. \\ ' ind ~, St. :\ndrcws An~ nue, Harpcnclcn. SussEx-\.. F. Spashc tt, Esq., 31 St. Genrgc"s Kr.s1-:\l rs. R. H. Corbett, \\'est Kent CJuh' Road, \ \'orthing. Boyne Park, Tunhri '"Jcc \Vrlls. \VAH\\'I C lo; S IIIR E-F. 0. Bingham, Esq., 64a L1 JCESTF.RSI11RE-L. C·. Cayless, Esq., Farm Greenhill Road, HirminF;ham 13. EdE!c, Lricestrr H.oad, Thurcaston. \VnR ci::S TI ~ RSIIJRE-R. D. A11Pn, Esq., ~S LtscoLs-~ lr s . A. Brumpton. :!.fl Scacroft Ro11r1, Britannia Square, \Vorcestcr. Cl~t·tht•rpt • :i. LotHJos-F. P. H'•yunlcl :-:, E ... q., :J:! Hi ghhury Y O HKS IIIRE- H . H. C110P1: , E~Q., ~fl Riverdale Plact\ Lonclon, :\'.5. Road, SlwfTit•hl, 1!1.

CO N TRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL Regional Editors- Eire .... 1\"oEL BYRNE North \.Vestern A . C. DouGLASS Scotla nd H . l(EI!£HAW Yorkshire !\IRs. L. L. BEDFOR D Wales H. J. GOULD London u A LI BI •• N orth Eastern EWART 1\:EMPSON Competition Editor- J. C. H . ;\ IAHX ,. The CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL is the official organ of t he Enslish Bridse Union. Publis hers- PRIESTLEY STUDIOS LTD., Phone- COI\11\lEHCIAL ROAD, GLOUCESTEH Gloucester 22281 {3 All llrhlge Correspondence to- EunoH. CONTRACT BRIDGE jOURNAL, 13 CANNON PLACE, LONDON. N. \V .3

32 BRIDGE INDEX CLASSIFIED LIST OF HOTELS AND CLUBS

NOTTINGILUI CRAIITOCK BRIDGE CLuo-480 Mansfield HARROW Road, Nottingham. Tel. No. Nottingham • IIAHHOW IIHJOGE CLuu-16 Northwick 6S921 . Proprietress: MR s. D. M. HorEWELL. Park Hoad, !lARROW, Midndge Wells. Resodent1al Urirlge Club. Fully Licensed. Stakes 3d. and 6d. Regular CnocKFORn's-16 Carlton House Terrace, Partnership and Duplirate. For further details London, S. \\'.1. . Tel. No. ~Vhitehall 1131 . apply to'R. H. Corlrett, Secretary. Tel. Tunbridge 5/- Parturrs.hip, Tucsd:-~y Evenings. '!.f- Parl· Wells 211~3 . ucrship, \ Vcdncsday and Friday evenings. Duplicate Pairs, uudcr direction of l\lr. P. R. G. WO RTHING Charter~, aJtcrnatc Thursdays :ll 8-15 p.m. MIRABELLE R ES IDENTIAL BRIIJG E CLUB, H. l'Rovus r, Managing Director. Sea . Front, Heene Terrace, Worthing. Daily A. J. Honssr.LL, Secretary. Sess1ons ~.30 & 8 p.m. Moderate Stakes. Fo~tnigbtly Duplicate. Licensed Restaurant. DoRSET CLUn-3-5 Glentworth Street .. Vtslt?rs Welcomed. :: Telephone 6431 /2. Baker Street, N.W.I. Tel: \\'elbeck 1039 Particulars from Secretary. Re0ular partnership and duplicate. Stakes 1/·, ~,,; and 10/-. · r~~~ ...... ~· ...... ,

Ln;nnunsT CLUu-36 Finchley Road, N. \V.S: 'Phones PRimrose 5858 and 3435. f DUPA~li~~!SE}B~~~?!q ~~~ ~e~!.CES I Shilling Partnership c\·cry afternoon. Duplicate ~airs C\'ery :\lomlay fortnight at 1:! p.m. Fully Price List on application to Mrs. B. ~! . King, l l!rense