Number: 169 UK £3.95 Europe €5.00 January 2017 Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz This month we are dealing with the sixth bid of an auction. You are West in the auctions below, BRIDGEplaying ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no- (12-14 points) and four-card majors.

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

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

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

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

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1NT Pass 1♦ Pass 1♣ Pass 1♦ Pass 2♦1 Pass 2♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 3♣ Pass 3♥ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ Pass 2♦1 Pass 3♥ Pass 2♥1 Pass 3♥ Pass ? 1Transfer ? ? 1Fourth suit forcing ? 1 Fourth suit forcing Answers on page 39 Answers on page 43 Answers on page 45 Answers on page 47 2017/18 Mr Bridge cruises

Cruise ID Date Nights Departure Port Prices from Cruise ID Date Nights Departure Port Prices from Islands of the Mediterranean (hosted by Bernard Magee) German Waterways Sold out for bridge L1718 14th Aug 2017 9 Newcastle £1,139pp Cities & Waterways of Europe Scandinavian Waterways L1706 22nd Apr 2017 8 Dover £719pp L1722 17th Sept 2017 11 Newcastle £1,169pp Fjords, Mountains & Glaciers River Seine Sojourn L1707 30th Apr 2017 7 Dover £759pp L1723 29th Sept 2017 3 Southampton £359pp Espana Verde Discover the Baltic L1708 7th May 2017 8 Dover £859pp L1724 2nd Oct 2017 13 Southampton £1,259pp Scenic Norway & Celebrations Canaries Christmas & New Year L1709 15th May 2017 9 Dover £949pp L1728 21st Dec 2017 16 Southampton £1,999pp Fred’s Favourite Fjords Rio Carnival & River Plate L1716 30th Jul 2017 7 Newcastle £999pp L1803 23rd Jan 2018 46 Southampton £4,179pp UK Scenes from the Silver In Search of the Northern Lights L1717 6th Aug 2017 8 Newcastle £1,049pp L1804 10th Mar 2018 14 Southampton £1,429pp

Benefits of cruising with Mr Bridge: • Daily evening bridge on and bridge fees included in the fare • Each voyage accompanied by the bridge team including two cruises by Bernard Magee • Mr Bridge Welcome & Farewell parties* • Reduced solo fares (a bridge partner will always be found) • Extra discounts for Oceans Members • Morning seminars & afternoon bridge on sea days

UPGRADE TO ALL INCLUSIVE, FROM ONLY £10 pppn

Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

Fares are per person, based on twin occupancy of the lead-in twin cabin, subject to availability. Offers may be amended or withdrawn at any time without prior notice, are subject to availability &cannot be applied retrospectively. All bookings are subject to Fred. Olsen’s standard terms & conditions, available on our/their website & on request. Some ports may be at anchor, intermediate daysare at sea. FOCL reserve the right to amend itineraries for operational reasons. All Inclusive Upgrade offer covers selected beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks, subject to availability.Tours, tips, premium drinks, medical facilities and other optional spend, during travel to the ship and while on board, are not included. The all inclusive drinks package on mini cruises is £29pppn. Any additional expenditure will need to be paid separately. All Inclusive Upgrade Package must be booked at least 8 days prior to departure.* The Mini cruise L1723 will offer one welcome drinks party only. E&OE.

SW HAPPY NEW YEAR Organisation is very much can start its advertised 2017 QPLUS 12 a family business with programme from Madeira two of our seven children, on 3 May. This new cruise If you have a QPlus 11, you don’t really need to upgrade Leanora and Bernard, is across the Middle Sea, holding senior positions. In as the Mediteranean is this time around, but if you have QPlus 9 or below addition, Ann’s 80 year old called by antiquarians, at sister, Elizabeth, looks after the start of the 2017 season then I believe you should. the names and addresses. leaving Piraeus, Athens on As for QPlus 11, I have 17 April. This new cruise I now realise that I had also some that I have taken takes in some lovely Greek overlooked everyone else in part exchange. These I Islands at just the right can offer for £39 including working for me every day time of year, then three postage. These will give you A very happy New Year to in the office. Young they stops around Sicily and a great deal of enjoyment all our many readers. It will may be but all have been in three more in southern and place you well to be interesting to see what place for at least five years. Spain, ending up in almost trade-in in a couple of years turns up in 2017. Let’s all I also overlooked the evergreen Madeira. time when who knows hope for fewer surprises. feelings of our wonderful There are four full days what improvements will teams of hosts and at sea in the course of the have been thought of. LAID TO REST helpers. While owning cruise for some bridge up to all this, I had better Remember, QPlus is Ann had a wonderful send tuition and supervised play include the writers, proof- the best Acol-playing off. After the Requiem Mass with optional duplicate readers and production software on the market at the St Hugh of Lincoln every evening in our usual team of BRIDGE. with the best graphics Church, Knaphill, she was way. I understand you can and lots of extra features laid to rest in the wooded- book any cabin you wish that are a delight when peace of Bisley Churchyard. EXTRA CRUISE with no single supplement. eventually discovered. Those who would like a Last week, when asked to If you think you might copy of the Order of Service promote a cruise on lovely wish to travel, do make a GOOD SET and Bernard Magee’s Aegean Odyssey, I would provisional no obligation Those of you already moving eulogy should usually find it easy to talk booking, then go to set-up and enjoying contact the office. I will to you about it, especially the website for further QPlus should try: be happy to post them to if Mrs Bridge and I were information. Finally, you you. Many sent donations planning to be on board. make your decision. Set 8463 boards 1-16 in support of Little Voice However, I am sure you Foundation instead of Let me know what will understand that it flowers. Thank you. MY 30th you think. is altogether too soon ANNIVERSARY The Church was packed for me to take on such and overflowed in to a commitment. Ann’s Hopefully, my spirits will GOFFIE’S STAMPS the next door hall, the recent passing leaves have recovered sufficiently service being relayed using me too raw to even to actively participate modern technology. contemplate such a thing. in the events planned in September, October and One thing I can tell you for After the interment I was November to celebrate my certain is that if Mrs Bridge pleased to be able to say a landmark anniversary. quick hello to some of those had spied this itinerary on attending the reception at my desk, she would have I have changed the adverts the Lord Robert’s Centre, nagged me until I agreed to ‘With Mr Bridge and on Bisley Ranges, where that we should be on board, friends’ and hope they all the family exchanged so let me tell you about it. will be well supported. If you need stamps for a stories and celebrated club mailing or for your her love-filled life. RIVER CRUISES own use, stamps from Clive Goff’s service really CORRECTION The first of the two river are just what you need. Do cruises is fully booked. see his advert on page 4. When writing to you last The second was advertised month, I rather selfishly in the last issue. Up and 2017 DIARIES told you about my own down the Danube to situation following The owner has decided Vienna and Budapest, Luxurt finish, ruby red, Ann’s sudden death and put on an early relocation 12-21 October 2017. bottle green or navy blue, overlooked the pain of cruise so that Aegean Hosted by Sandy Bell and £14.95 each including others. The Mr Bridge Odyssey, pictured above, serviced by a good team. postage.

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 3 Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ 1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee INDEX

BRIDGE 3 Mr Bridge 2 2017/18 Fred.Olsen Cruise Summary Ryden Grange, Knaphill, 6 The EBU by Jeremy Dhondy Surrey GU21 2TH 9 Catching Up with Sally Brock 4 Clive Goff’s Stamps ( 01483 489961 7 Mr Bridge Bridge Events [email protected] 10 Julian Pottage Answers Your Questions www.mrbridge.co.uk 13 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett 8 Italian & Adriatic Highlights with shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/ 14 Slow Play by David Stevenson Voyages to Antiquity mrbridge-shop 15 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett 9 QPlus 12 Publisher and Managing Editor 16 Will Scarlet’s Golden Card by David Bird 20 Ancient Greece, Sicily Mr Bridge & Spain with 18 All You Need to Know About Developing Winners Voyages to Antiquity Associate Editor and by Andrew Kambites Bridge Consultant 23 Club Insurance Bernard Magee 21 About Developing Winners Quiz bernardmagee by Andrew Kambites 23 Travel Insurance @mrbridge.co.uk 22 About Developing Winners Quiz Answers 26 Better by Andrew Kambites Cartoons & Illustrations 27 Fred.Olsen 2017 Cruises Marguerite Lihou 24 Suit Break Odds by Michael Byrne www.margueritelihou.co.uk 39 Acol Bidding with Bernard Magee Technical Consultant 25 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage Tony Gordon 26 Sally’s Slam of the Month 41 Denham Filming 2017

Typesetting & Design 39 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee 43 Declarer Play Ruth Edmondson with Bernard Magee [email protected] 40 A History of Playing Cards by Paul Bostock 45 Defence Proof Readers 42 Readers’ Letters with Bernard Magee Julian Pottage 43 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee Mike Orriel 47 Croatia with Mr Bridge Catrina Shackleton 44 Wendy Wensum’s Diaries 48 Bernard Magee DVDs Richard Wheen 45 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee Sets 1-3 Customer Services Catrina Shackleton 46 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage 49 Bernard Magee DVDs Sets 4-6 [email protected] 47 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee Events & Cruises 57 Charity Events ( 48 Take-Out Doubles by Bernard Magee 01483 489961 59 Jessica Galt 50 Three Gates in Poland by Shireen Mohandes Rules Simplified [email protected] Megan Riccio 54 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions 59 Clive Goff’s Stamps [email protected] 58 Seven Days by Sally Brock 59 Mr Bridge Playing Cards Sophie Pierrepont [email protected] 60 Teachers’ Corner by Ian Dalziel 60 Designs for Bridge Table Covers Clubs & Charities 62 More Tips by Bernard Magee Maggie Axtell 61 Designs for Bridge [email protected] Tables REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE Address Changes 62 Bernard Magee’s ( 01483 485342 Postage stamps for sale at 85% of face-value, Tutorial Software Elizabeth Bryan all mint with full gum. Quotations for [email protected] commercial quantities available on request. 63 Seville, Morocco & Canary Islands with Values supplied in 100s, higher values Voyages to Antiquity Printed in the UK by available as well as 1st and 2nd class The Magazine (eg 2nd class: 100x38p+100x16p). 64 A Voyage through the Printing Company Middle Sea with www.magprint.co.uk ( 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected] Voyages to Antiquity

Page 4 BRIDGE January 2017 BALMORAL SALE Congratulations to FILMING 2018 SUBSCRIPTIONS Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines The centrefold of this issue on winning the ‘Best Cruise is given details of some Line for Groups’ at the 2016 Fred.Olsen Mr Bridge Group Leisure Awards for a cruises with no single record sixth time. supplement. luxury bridge mat TABLE MATSJust £24.99 plus £4.99 p & p These Denham Grove useful 12-15 January 2018 Aegean Odyssey have mats make replaced Minerva as a worn The 2017 filming takes sponsors of the 36 months table place in the middle of this for £50 subscription. This I pride myself on my team usable month. The 2018 headings has been extended to the ensuring that all singles are again and can even make a are listed below and those 10 January 2017. Thereafter, found a partner and no one non-card table into a card wanting to book may now the annual rate will apply. is left to feel alone. table with a really lovely do so. The founder subscription surface.These £24.99English made plus tables £4.99 renewal rates remain at On cruises with a large offer superb Thickquality woven and surface have makes Teams of Four p&p. Availablean ideal from playing SRsurface and 12 for £20, 24 for £35 and the genuine Pelissierprotects yourhinges. table. number of singles, we use Choose from Verythe populargreat with value Bridge Game Tries Designs for Bridge.Clubs. 78cms wide so it fits 36 for £50 as previously the dance-card principle. Club, the Premiera standard 80cms or the card table promised. This helps you to try a few elegant Royal. Disrupting Declarer BRIDGESpecial PricesPadded TABLES for tableBridge bag. partnerships in the hope of £39.00 + £4.99 p&p Club orders of 5 or more. Defending against High RESOLUTIONS 2017 finding a compatible one. Level Contracts

Overcalling To cut my editorial column GROUP AWARD to a half page, thus making WINNERS Pressing the Defence room for even more bridge. Large enough to take a standard 80cms bridge table. Made from tough nylon with carrying straps Book now to secure the To find some new UK and Velcro fixing. Ideal for storing or carrying your table. same price as this year. venues for our weekend

Club Table withOrder traditional online or green by phone £399 for three nights full events. www.designsforbridge.co.uk Incidentally,felt playing surface SR £159.00 Designs board with no single 01483 270 100 These are mine. I wish you has recently acquired supplement, including all SR Designs for Bridge well with yours. Pelisier, the FrenchUnit A1, Send hand-Business Park, filmed sessions and six Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF crafted bridge table sessions of supervised play. A Very Happy New Year. manufacturers, now Enjoy the atmosphere. Feel relocated in Devon. the buzz. Mr Bridge

Premier Table, bevelled edges and baize playing surface £199.00

Royal Table, elegant surround and baize playing surface £249.00 Order online or by phone www.designsforbridge.co.uk 01483 270 100 SR Designs for Bridge Unit A1, Send Business Park, Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF

Fred.Olsen Group Manager, Ellie Fulcher, receives the coveted Group Leisure Award 2016 from Erin Boag and Anton Du Beke

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 5 About the EBU by Jeremy Dhondy

What is the EBU doing for non-members of the organisation?

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

he EBU has about 54,000 social activities are often high on the run games for beginners who often members. The estimates of the agenda and learning or refreshing feel, initially at least, intimidated number of bridge players in skills at bridge is one way to get by experienced players. Both in the TEngland is several times that number. players into a club and breathe fresh North and Midlands new events have Some, of course, play only irregularly life into it. Many clubs, both affiliated been run to seek to attract improvers and at home and never visit a club and unaffiliated, are suffering from a to a competitive game whether they let alone play in a tournament. Many decline in membership mostly caused are members of the EBU or not. are not duplicate players. Others by an ageing membership. How to (including readers of this magazine) replace these members, and even may play at an unaffiliated club. increase the totals, is a key concern. Acquiring new players I think people are less patient these days. Better the 20-20 cricket match In August, EBED ran an advert in the Charity begins at home over in an evening than the five day test Daily Telegraph for those interested match for many, and the same applies in learning bridge. When interested The EBU is the regulating body for to activities such as bridge. Some who people were in contact they were duplicate bridge in England. The first played in clubs are now playing online. directed to lessons being organised thing needed is players and lots of It gives them the flexibility to play only near to where they lived. Teachers them, so a significant responsibility a few boards if they wish and to drop registering for this were members of is to organise teaching and teacher out, drop back in again, and even play the EBU, members of EBTA, affiliated training. About two years ago, all at 3am if that is their wont. club teachers but also non-members our education activities were moved and those who teach in unaffiliated to our new sister charity: English clubs. Preliminary analysis shows Bridge Education & Development this to have been worthwhile (indeed (henceforth EBED). This, I hope, gives enquires are still coming in) and them a higher profile and stresses the it is likely to be repeated in 2017. importance attached to them. Part Interestingly, it also showed that there of being a charity requires EBED to were some parts of the country where promote activities to all players, not little or no teaching was going on. just EBU members. EBED, amongst other things, runs the teaching association: English Bridge Teachers EBED are developing a course to teach Setting the rules Association (EBTA). The association bridge to run alongside traditional publishes materials and runs courses. courses. It will use accelerated learning Of course, having got players into a Teaching the young is a sound and will become available in Autumn club you will only keep them if they investment for the future, but there is of this year. The idea is to get people like the activity. All clubs are required also a need to attract older people to playing in a club sooner than with a to follow the laws which are set and the game. Perhaps they are moving traditional course. The materials will promulgated by the World Bridge towards retirement or their children be available to all. Of course, if your Federation. So, if you fancy re-dealing have left home. In either case, new club is big enough it might be able to a board if it is passed out, bidding

Page 6 BRIDGE January 2017 when it is not your turn or making Younger players an insufficient bid then whether you are playing in an affiliated club or not, The number of juniors in the EBU has Mr Bridge 2017 you are bound by the law book. On risen in the last couple of years, but BRIDGE EVENTS the other hand, there are regulations. from a low base. Getting those who are These are set by the EBU and it is at school to learn bridge (often, at first, generally up to a club, affiliated or not, through the vehicle of ) is a as to whether to use them. Examples of positive way forward. It has to compete these are announcing or alerting. You with many other activities. Many who might imagine that unaffiliated clubs do become involved and play for a few would get rid of some regulations, years then perhaps give up as work and but if you look on many club websites family life takes precedence. Hopefully, you will see that they often use the they will return later. One positive re- EBU regulations. Clearly, unless you cent move is the Junior Award Scheme. disagree strongly, it is easier to adopt This is available to be used in schools, Trouville Hotel a set of regulations someone else has clubs, indeed almost anywhere there Sandown, Isle of Wight already thought about. When I was are juniors learning. What is it? It is Chairman of the Laws and Ethics an initiative from EBED, designed to 23-27 February £399 Committee of the EBU, it was my stimulate enthusiasm for junior bridge Slam Bidding view that the book of regulations was among young players, parents and edu- hosted by Bernard Magee too long and complex (72 pages of it). cators. It is an award scheme that offers Now we have something that is half the graded attainment levels, dependent length and I don’t think we are worse upon teacher assessed ability, demon- off. There are some who think that is strated at the table. There are award still too long, but I think it is a step in levels all the way from minibridge to the right direction, not least because the top Diamond level. much bridge is played without anyone worrying about which conventions or agreements they may have or use. The Belonging EBU provides advice on regulation and law to clubs whether affiliated or not. To some extent the question posed in Above all, you have to create the the title of this article is odd. Any na- Inn on the Prom St Anne’s on Sea FY8 1LU right atmosphere in the club, so re- tional organisation has a responsibility straining the barrack room lawyers for the whole game, how it is regu- and those whose idea of a good even- lated and how it develops. It needs to 7-9 March £245 ing is to belittle beginners is also a develop a strategy which makes its of- Seminar Weekend good idea. Clubs, affiliated or not, hope ferings attractive and makes clubs and Hosted by Bernard Magee not to have to invoke any disciplinary people wish to join, but in the end, if processes but occasionally they do and there are those who would rather con- 7-9 July £189 a model constitution is available for tinue to play in their own club without Just Duplicate1 those who want to use all or part of it. being involved in the national game Hosted by Patrick Dunham It makes life simpler if you have some- then that is their prerogative. I think it thing in place before the nasty incident is a sad and negative position to take. 28-30 July £199 takes place. The EBU, like many national member Game Tries They say that the best referees are organisations, depends on some very those who aren’t noticed and the same hardworking volunteers. Sometimes Hosted by Gwen Beattie may well be true for tournament di- their work, perhaps because it is good, rectors. It is a thankless task but if is taken for granted by those who don’t we are to have a smooth and harmo- contribute. Look at some websites for Full Board nious game, then a director is a key clubs who are not affiliated to their No Single Supplement2 part of that. They will likely benefit county or the EBU. You will find refer- from training and courses are run for ence to EBU ideas and policies. Shar- all, whether they be members of the ing is good but so is contributing. ( 01483 489961 EBU or not and whether they direct That may not be a universally See www.mrbridge.co.uk in an affiliated or unaffiliated club. popular view, but it is one I believe in for any new dates You might want to test whether you quite strongly. We all want our game 1Please note there are no seminars, would be any good at this. If so a free to both survive and flourish. I think a set hands or prizes at these events. online short course is available here: national body is a key to that, whether 2subject to availability https://goo.gl/YnxeJu you are in or out of it. ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 7 2189 Mr Bridge FULL page 170915BR_Layout 1 05/12/2016 15:16 Page 1

2017 AUTUMN BRIDGE CRUISE

ITALIAN & Venice

Urbino Croatia Ancona Split ADRIATIC Italy Dubrovnik Adriatic Rome Pompeii Sea Sorrento Brindisi Salerno albania Lecce Sarande HIGHLIGHTS Paestum Butrint Corfu greece Sicily Taormina

Mediterranean Sea DEPARTS UK SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

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

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

10093 Mr Bridge fares are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please see website for full terms and conditions. ABTA No.Y2206 †Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability. Catching Up QPLUS 12 Really user-friendly bridge-playing with Sally Brock software FEATURES INCLUDE

l Help button – explains t’s birthday month in for the queen of trumps unbalanced hands, who is the features for bidding October – or rather and Pamela bid 6♥. Bril- to say how the hands fit? It and card play advice birthday week. First, on liant – the only pair to bid may be that the weaker hand l Displays Ithe 11th, my eldest son Ben the excellent 6♥ on the 4-4 fits better than a stronger on HD Now is 40. That does make me fit, rather than the no-play one. So, in my partnerships and Ready feel old. Briony and I took 6♠ on the 5-4 fit. Actually, I generally play ‘picture large him out for lunch which I am lying. The bidding was jumps’, so to jump to game screens was very nice. Then on the as I said, but in the event when one level lower would l Comprehensive 14th, it was Barry’s (and it instead of the minor-suit be forcing, shows a mini- manual was also Raymond’s – quite holdings I have given her mum hand, but one where l Feed in your a coincidence). He likes to here, she held ♦Q-x and ♣x- all the high cards are where own deals do nothing. I cooked him x-x so both slams were cold. they would be expected to l Minibridge option dinner in his flat and we Other than that it has be. just had a quiet evening. been the Premier League. I was South on this deal l 5,000 preplayed hands Then on the 15th it was my The first weekend, in Lon- and the auction was: for teams father’s. don, was rather indifferent l 4,000 preplayed hands Bridge-wise we won the and we were slightly below West North East South for matchpoint pairs semi-final of the NICKO average. This was a dramat- 1♠ l Save match function surprisingly easily, which ic flat board: Pass 2♥ Pass 3♥ l Closed room – button Pass 4♠ Pass 6♠ leaves us to play Janet de to view other table Botton’s team in the final All Pass next month. We played Dealer South. E/W Game. a one-day Swiss teams at ♠ Q 9 6 As you can see, partner was Lords with Dominic and ♥ Q J 6 4 2 not on my wavelength! And Pamela Flint (our wedding ♦ A K 10 3 they weren’t in the other £99 including present to them). It was a ♣ Q room either. p&p ♠ K ♠ A J 5 great day – playing in the N The second weekend of ♥ 7 5 W E ♥ 10 8 3 Long Room (I am not a S the Premier League, in cricket fan but I am told I ♦ Q J 9 8 5 ♦ 7 6 4 2 Manchester, went even less should have genuflected in ♣ J 10 6 5 4 ♣ K 8 7 well, and at the end of it we TRADE-IN awe of the venue). This was ♠ 10 8 7 4 3 2 were lying in seventh place, one of my favourite deals: ♥ A K 9 out of eight, with the bot- OFFER ♦ tom two teams to be relegat- Send in ANY ♣ A 9 3 2 ed. We will have to play well bridge software, ♠ ♠ A K Q 5 4 J 7 6 2 next weekend to get us out together with a ♥ K 7 6 3 N ♥ A Q J 2 of the mire. W E cheque for £50 ♦ A K 5 S ♦ 7 6 2 When you are in a forcing Another feature of this ♣ 5 ♣ Q 6 auction and partner could period is that Barry has and receive bid, say, 3♠ or 4♠, it is im- been (and still is) doing a QPlus 12. portant to know which is trial in Leeds. That means I opened 1♠ and Pamela which. Some people, spe- that he is only around at responded 3♦, a limit raise cially those playing two- weekends, and for two of Mr Bridge in spades. I am very keen over-one systems, play the those running he was play- ( 01483 489961 on playing natural meth- Principle of Fast Arrival, ing in the Premier League www.mrbridge.co.uk ods here, so tried 3♥ and ie the higher you bid the away from home, so was Pamela raised to 4♥. I bid weaker your hand. In my away for a long time. None System: 8mb RAM, CD-ROM, 4NT and after the one-ace opinion, that is OK with of that helps put us in the Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10 response, bid 5♦, asking balanced hands but with best frame of mind. ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 9 Julian Pottage Answers your Bridge Questions

After a Double of 1NT, How Should Subsequent Doubles be Played?

Please could In the tournament world, playing the double as even against suit contracts) you clarify the however, it is common to value showing (enough – most pairs would have Qmeaning of play the first subsequent to raise to 2NT or maybe not have that refinement. some calls following double by the partnership a fraction weaker), but Whether you are playing a 1NT opening? for take-out. This crops up unsuitable for other actions. strong ten leads or not, 1. 1NT-Dbl. Should this more frequently and makes 7. If you follow my advice the lead of the ten denies be penalties (16+ pts)? it easier for the partnership to play an immediate a jack-high suit. Playing 2. 1NT-Dbl-2♥ to take further action. double as showing values, strong ten leads, the ten (natural)-Dbl. Is this It is rare for both members the delayed double must shows the nine or the jack double for penalties of the partnership to be so be for take-out because plus a non-touching higher or take-out of 2♥? long in the opposing suit a strong defensive hand honour (A-10-9, A-J-10, 3. 1NT-Dbl-2♥- that neither can make a would have doubled 2♣. K-10-9, K-J-10 or Q-10-9). pass-pass-Dbl. Is the take-out double. You can second double for still collect a penalty when ♣♦♥♠ ♣♦♥♠ penalties or take-out? the other member of the 4. 1NT-Dbl-2♥ (transfer partnership has sufficient Playing The strong to 2♠)-Dbl. Should length in the opposing suit to strong tens, I artificial 2♣ this show hearts? convert the take-out double Qunderstand that Qopening often 5. 1NT-Dbl-2♥ (transfer to penalties by passing. this promises the jack causes discussion at to 2♠)-pass-2♠-Dbl. Is 3. This is the same as 2 and ace or king but my club. I read the this second double for above; tradition says this is what if I want to lead textbook to my players, penalties or take-out? for penalties but it is better a doubleton (which I but two-suited hands 6. 1NT-2♣ (Astro)- to play a first subsequent rarely do) from 10-x or with low point counts are Dbl. Should we play double as for take-out. I lead partner’s known not easily evaluated. this as showing clubs? 4. It is reasonable to show suit 10-9-8? One of my Pearl Evans by email. 7. 1NT-2♣ (Astro)- this double as showing partners says that if I pass-2♥-pass-pass- hearts. Many pairs would lead the ten I promise The traditional 2♣ Dbl. Is this double for not have an agreement either the jack or 10-9. requirement for a take-out or penalties? about this sequence. What do you suggest? A hand without 23 HCP Ann McMahon, Newbury. 5. This is the same as 2 Shirley Durrant by email. is a powerful game-going and 3 above. As it is the first hand with five quick tricks. 1. If 1NT shows subsequent double by the It is usual to play To assess quick tricks, you 12-14, I recommend partnership, I recommend strong ten leads only count two for an ace-king A doubling with 15+ playing it as for take-out A against no-trump combination, one and a rather than 16+. 15 is rather than the traditional contracts, in which case you half for an ace-queen, one enough to have more than treatment as penalties. are unlikely to want to lead for an ace or a king-queen the opener. The danger of 6. Playing the double as from 10-x. If partner has bid and a half for a king. missing game or a useful showing clubs is inefficient. the suit, strong ten leads do Hands with fewer high penalty if you pass with If you have clubs, it is better not normally apply. If you cards, you open an Acol 15 is not worth taking. to bid 3♣ or use have promised four-card strong two if you are 2. Traditionally, once the (see article by Jeremy support for partner’s suit then playing those. If 2♣ is your doubling starts subsequent Dhondy in last month’s you can play strong ten leads only strong opening, you doubles are for penalties. BRIDGE). I recommend as applying (and doing so might shade the quick trick

Page 10 BRIDGE January 2017 requirement to four and same suit, responder you can help it. With three might be; (ii) the information a half rather than five. can pass. 1♥-2♣-2♥ and good diamonds, you are is more helpful to declarer Hands with fewer high similar are non-forcing. happy to give preference to than to partner. For example, cards, you open at the one 3. After a two-level change diamonds, so you should if dummy has A-Q-10-x level. Depending upon of suit response, an opener’s jump to 3♦. You might have and declarer cashes the whether your second suit creates a game force. held six HCP to respond 1♠, king (from K-x-x), telling is higher or lower ranking, With 15+ facing 9/10+, the but here you have 10 HCP. everyone that you have a you either reverse or jump values for game will normally doubleton (and so partner on the next round. be present. Just occasionally, ♣♦♥♠ has J-x-x-x) is unwise. when both parties are 2. In the trump suit, it is ♣♦♥♠ absolutely minimum, game I look after a usual to play a high-low will be a stretch – but no small school as indicating a third trump ‘Two over one bidding method is perfect. Qbridge club. rather than a doubleton. response is 4. Just occasionally the What elements of card It is difficult to indicate Qforcing for an bidding will reach 2NT play / defence / bidding a doubleton trump. extra round.’ (Bernard with no fit and 22 points would you advise 3. On the it Magee, Bidding Quiz or sometimes fewer. If teaching first to children is rarely right to underlead an Q8 July 2016). responder has a 1-4-3-5 learning the game? ace against a suit contract. 1. After a two over one 10 count and the bidding Name and address supplied. You would normally need to response, is the auction starts 1♠-2♣-2♦, he has have a good idea that forced to at least 2NT? to rebid 2NT even though First, please can I say neither opponent has a 2. Is responder opener might have 12 or that it is great you singleton, that the king required to bid again even 11. Bidding is not an A are running the club. is likely to be in dummy, if opener rebids two exact science – one has to go I would start with the card declarer is weak in the suit of his opening suit with percentages rather than play because the bidding and that confusing partner or does two over one being afraid of ever getting only makes sense if you will not be an issue. Possibly only apply if opener into a challenging contract. know what you are trying if partner has shown the introduces a third suit? to achieve. Many teachers king (it is quite common to 3. Since using two ♣♦♥♠ recommend starting with play 1♣-1♠-Dbl-Rdbl and over one, the sequence: minibridge before moving similar as showing a top 1♥-2♣-2♠ forces My partner on to standard bridge. spade honour) then that responder to bid again, opened 1♦. I had Getting students hooked would be another reason. it would appear to be Qthe following often means getting them After the opening lead it unnecessary to restrict 10 HCP hand: into something they can do. is very different. When you such a sequence to hands can see dummy, it is far with at least 16 points. ♣♦♥♠ more common to be able As opener can show ♠ A 9 7 6 5 4 to tell that underleading an his extra strength, if ♥ K 8 3 1. Under what ace is sensible, so much any, after responder’s ♦ Q J 7 circumstances so that nobody should rebid. How does two ♣ 6 Qmight a high-low regard it as a surprise. over one affect the for a doubleton concept of reverse bids? be a bad idea? ♣♦♥♠ 4. Is there not a I responded 1♠ and 2. Should a doubleton danger that playing my partner rebid 2♣. in trumps be signalled After partner’s two over one as forcing, Should I rebid to partner? 1NT opening, rather than encouraging, my six-card spade 3. Are there any Qhow do we can force the auction to suit or support my circumstances when use transfers with 2NT or to three of a suit partner and bid 2♦? leading away from an two five-card minors with no fit and with 22 Which is the correct ace in a trump contract and 14 points? points or even fewer? bid and why? will not be scorned at? Do we leave partner Rod Smith, Saddleworth. W Bernard Coffey by email. Anup Biswas by email. in no-trumps, bidding 3NT? 1. The auction can Actually I would not 1. Two common Pamela Fletcher by email. stop below 2NT if recommend either reasons for not A responder gives A 2♠ or 2♦. Since A playing high low If you have a way to preference to opener’s partner is quite likely to hold with a doubleton are: (i) the ask opener to bid 3♣ first suit at the two level a singleton spade, you do top card is too high to spare, A (this is 1NT-2♠ on eg 1♠-2♣-2♦-2♠. not want to rebid the spades the queen almost always is Bernard’s methods or 2. If opener rebids the with a poor six-card suit if too high and lower cards 1NT-2NT the way that

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 11 many people round here You are correct hand (some people play you responder might be making play), you do that and then that with a good 18 show a second suit, some the bid is a lack of a stopper. rebid something other than A points the hand was play you show shortage). 3♦ or pass. One possibil- too strong for a 1♥ ♣♦♥♠ ity for responder’s sec- – and finding a 4-4 spade ♣♦♥♠ ond bid is as follows: fit could be difficult after a How should we Pass (of opener’s forced 1♥ start. Doubling and then How would you evaluate these 3♣) = weak with clubs bidding 2♥ was the textbook bid these hands Qhands using the 3♦ = weak action. Taking action a third Qplaying Standard losing trick count (LTC)? with diamonds time was aggressive – you American Yellow Card? Both times we went down 3♥ = both minors and had already shown a good in game when others shorter hearts, game forcing hand – but the second stayed in 2♥ or 3♥. 3♠ = both minors and double was clearly right ♠ K Q 10 9 3 shorter spades, game forcing if you were not passing. ♥ Q J 3NT = singleton With ♥Q-x-x, your partner ♦ A J 9 8 4 Hand 1 in both majors should have taken out the ♣ 7 ♠ A Q 8 7 ♠ 5 3 If you play four-suit second double to 3♥. You ♥ K 10 6 4 2 ♥ A Q 9 8 N transfers (1NT-2♠ = clubs, cannot suddenly have a club W E ♦ A 7 N ♦ Q 5 4 3 2 S W E 1NT-2NT = diamonds), I am stack – the second double is ♣ J 5 S ♣ 7 2 not sure they help a lot with just showing extra values. ♠ J this particular hand type. ♥ K 8 7 4 While you could bid 2NT and ♣♦♥♠ ♦ K Q 6 3 West opened 1♥ and East then 4♣ to show both suits, ♣ A Q 4 3 bid 4♥ (having seven this would take you past 3NT. I normally play losers). If East had bid the Losing 2♥ or 3♥, devaluing ♣♦♥♠ QTrick Count, North South for poor intermediates but there is one aspect 1♠ 2♣ and an unsupported My partner which bothers me. 2♦ 3♦ queen, West might still and I had a If partner opens one 3♥ 3NT have tried 3♥ (with six Qdisaster. I held: of a major and I have losers) – East then going six losers with four-card Is South too strong 4♥; or bidding game support, how should I for the 3♦ bid – and over 3♥. We were one ♠ K Q J 7 respond? We might miss is 3♦ passable? down on a heart lead.

♥ A K J 10 4 N a slam if I just bid game. Is 3♥ better used as Most pairs stayed in 2♥ W E ♦ A 6 S G R Tate, Watford. (i) FSF (ii) stopper asking (five) or 3♥ (two). Four ♣ 8 5 (iii) stopper showing? pairs bid 4♥, one making Most hands in this Huw Jones, Swansea. (on a spade lead), others category sound minus one or two. West North East South A as if they would In SAYC, responder 1♣ be suitable for a Jacoby promises a second Dbl1 2♣ Pass Pass 2NT raise. The Jacoby 2NT A bid after making Hand 2 2♥2 Pass Pass 3♣ response to 1♥ or 1♠ shows a two-over-one response. ♠ J 8 3 Dbl3 All Pass at least an opening hand This being the case, 3♦ is ♥ A 7 5 (12+ HCP) and four-card that second bid and sounds ♦ 10 9 6 5 1I choose to double as if partner or better support. If you non forcing. South might do ♣ 5 4 3 is weak with spades, he will do not play this yet, now is better in theory to rebid 2♥ ♠ K 2 ♠ A Q 9 5 likely pass 1♥. the time to persuade your (FSF). When the partnership ♥ K Q 6 4 3 ♥ 9 8 2 N 2I was unsure whether I should partner to do so. If you have has bid three suits and is ♦ Q 7 4 3 W E ♦ J 8 2 S double again. a balanced 11, you simply clearly looking for 3NT, a ♣ J 8 ♣ A 9 7 3Intended as take-out but taken bid a suit first and can then bid of the fourth suit asks ♠ 10 7 6 4 as for penalties. rebid 2NT, so giving up a – if you had a stopper, ♥ J 10 natural 2NT response causes you could bid no-trumps ♦ A K Partner held a three- very little inconvenience. yourself. 3♥ on your auction ♣ K Q 10 6 2 count including ♥Q-x-x. There are various ways to is asking for a stopper. 3♣ doubled made. continue after the 2NT raise. If responder had bid 2♥ What should we do Opener can jump to game on rather than 2♦, that would West North East South if we get a similar a seven-loser hand (minimum be a general force rather 1♥ Pass 1♠ 2♣ situation again? opening) or do something than specifically asking for a 2♦ Pass 3♥ Pass Ian Blackburn by email. descriptive with a better stopper, although one reason 4♥ All Pass

Page 12 BRIDGE January 2017 We were two down highly as an ace. You would as were one other never do that with point pair, whilst most pairs count or in assessing quick DECLARER stayed in 2♥ or 3♥. tricks. Treating a queen as East had problems if it is worth as much as an PLAY evaluating the hand (the ace does not work for the LTC is not accurate on losing trick count either. 4333 shape), 11 points, a QUIZ useless jack, yet two aces. ♣♦♥♠ Angela Buckley, Leeds. by David Huggett Why are (Answers on page 15) 1. East does not have we taught a seven-loser hand. Qthat before ou are South as declarer playing teams or . A Whether you add at embarking on a cross- YIn each case, what is your play strategy? least half a loser for having we should first take more queens than aces (old all our outside winners? version of LTC) or whether Jane Fryer, Bedford. you simply count Q-5-4-3-2 1. ♠ A 10 5 4 3. ♠ 10 3 2 as two and a half (or maybe If you ruff in both ♥ 9 3 2 ♥ A 6 5 three) losers, East has more hands, you often ♦ K J 10 8 3 ♦ 7 5 2 than seven losers and hence A end up with fewer ♣ A ♣ 8 7 5 4 is worth only a limit raise. trumps than one or other N N I must admit it is hard to opponent. This means you W E W E avoid the sequence 1♥-3♥- cannot draw the opposing S S 4♥ with standard valuation trumps. If the opponents still of the East hand. It surprises have trumps when you try ♠ K J 9 6 2 ♠ K J me to hear that most pairs to cash your side winners, ♥ K 6 5 ♥ K Q 8 stopped in a partscore. they may score ruffs. ♦ A Q 5 ♦ A K 6 4 4♥ might well make if, for ♣ 8 2 ♣ A K Q 2 example, the ♠K is onside or if the opening lead is away ♠ A Q 10 8 6 ♠ K J 9 7 5 You are declarer in 4♠ and You are declarer in 3NT from the ♠K or the ♦K. ♥ Q 9 7 5 4 N ♥ Void W E West leads the ♣K. How and West leads the ♥J. Note that if East bid a ♦ Void S ♦ Q 10 6 4 3 timid 2♥, West should pass ♣ A Q 2 ♣ K 10 3 do you plan the play? How do you plan the play? expecting to be facing a nine- loser hand. A six-loser hand does not normally make a Suppose you are playing in a facing a single raise. spade contract and, luckily, 2. Apart from the final 4♥ do not get a trump lead. On 2. ♠ 8 3 4. ♠ 7 6 5 bid, your second sequence a normal 4-3 club break, you ♥ 6 4 2 ♥ A 10 7 6 was reasonable. With an can make all thirteen tricks: ♦ K J 10 3 ♦ A 6 5 aceless 11 count and poor five heart ruffs, five diamond ♣ Q J 6 3 ♣ J 9 2 spot cards, West has a ruffs and three clubs. N N minimum opening bid and If you take all the ruffs W E W E no justification for accepting before cashing the clubs, S S East’s invitation to bid game. you will finish with only Holding two more queens clubs in the two hands for ♠ A K 4 ♠ A 8 2 than aces, West should the last three tricks, while ♥ A K 9 ♥ Q J 9 8 3 evaluate the diamonds as a the opponents will have ♦ A Q 7 ♦ K Q full three losers, making the three trumps among their ♣ 10 9 4 2 ♣ K Q 6 hand a seven-loser hand remaining cards, at least and an easy pass of 3♥. two of which are bound to ♥ On both deals, it would win tricks. You will make at You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 4 and ♠ ♠ seem that the problem most eleven tricks, possibly and West leads the Q. West leads the 3. How do arose because someone only ten if one opponent has How do you plan the play? you plan the play? was valuing a queen as discarded all his clubs. ■

E-mail your questions (including your postal address) for Julian to: [email protected]

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 13 David Stevenson answers your Frequently Asked Questions Slow Play

large number of the problems initially consisting of no more than they are sick of the slow players. In that directors in clubs face are watching them, asking them to speed general, the main reason for issuing based on the fact that different up, hurrying them once the last card penalties, apart from where a board is Atables play at different speeds. To be is played and asking them to catch up. lost, is when a player or pair commits truthful, this is a problem at many If a table has not started its last board an infraction repeatedly: it means other levels of the game as well. Some when the move is called, then it should they are not bothering to get it right. hands are much easier than other not be started. In some clubs a ‘late It is very important to penalise pairs hands, and even in hands which one play’ is considered normal, allowing who are frequently slow. So the correct person finds easy, another person the players to play the board at the end approach is to note who is slow: when might see a difficulty. Bridge is a timed (or in the break if there is one). If a late a pair is repeatedly slow, warn them game and there is a certain amount of play is not the accepted thing, or if the and tell them they have to catch up. If time allotted for each round. Some director decides not to allow this, then they are late again, then you tell them tables will finish their boards later he must cancel the board and give them that next time they finish late they than others, often after the allotted averages. Sometimes, he decides that will have a small penalty, 10% of a top. time has elapsed. Does it matter, how one side is at fault in which case they They may moan and complain, but it long they should take and what does get average minus, their opponents is in the best interests of the club and the director do about slow tables? average plus. More normal is to give you must give them the penalty. Each club has its own speed for a both sides average minus. Certain Some directors feel that it is not round, and it does not matter if other directors have been known to enter possible to police the room like this, clubs play quicker or slower. I tend ‘Not played’: this is illegal, benefits the since it may affect their own play. This to think of seven minutes per board slow pairs and disadvantages the rest of assumes they are playing directors as plus two extra minutes as about right, the room. Using Bridgemates, there is is the normal in clubs in the British so for two board rounds, 16 minutes, a problem with a late play: the machine Isles. Good club directors assume they for three, four, five boards, 23, 30, is expecting a score and will not move are at a disadvantage when directing 37 minutes respectively, but if your on until it gets one. The director should and accept it as part of the job. It is club has a normal speed you should enter a temporary score. I recommend important that they are aware of the accept it, unless there are continuous giving both sides average minus since room towards the end of each round. complaints about slow play: if there if the omitted board is never played They should be prepared to move the are then an effort should be made to that will probably be what the score room even when their own table is the speed up. This is easier said than done! should be. last to finish. Whether it matters when a table Some directors have been known to If a bridge club has fixed premises is slow depends on how late a table allow a board to be bid and then they then a timer is essential. While various is, and whether the same pairs take it away without it being played timers can be purchased or even are consistently slow. While some when a table is behind. This is illegal adapted (a kitchen timer, for example), directors wait for every table to finish and very unfair. One pair may have best is to get an efficient bridge one before calling the move, this is not achieved a good score in the bidding, that works on the club computer. I considered good directing practice: it maybe by doubling a bad contract, and advise Mike Rothwell’s Bridge Timer is recommended that the director calls are set for a top. which is relatively cheap, and has the move once the number of tables Another point often overlooked options for everything you could in play falls below one third of the is that there is often a pair who is think of. A timer has two advantages: total. So with ten tables, the director regularly late, in fact clubs come to some players take note and they try to should move them when three tables find certain pairs are late week after speed up when behind; the director are still playing. It is perfectly normal week: it is very important to issue finds it easier to keep to time and to for the late tables to be up to four penalties for repeated lateness. It has demonstrate whether a table is late or or five minutes late finishing and been said that if you penalise the slow not. It is more difficult to have a timer usually they will catch up. If a table is pair then they may leave the club: what if a club has not got premises, but it considerably later than this, a director people do not realise is the number of might be possible if the club takes a might feel action should be taken, players who abandon clubs because computer to its sessions. ■

Page 14 BRIDGE January 2017 Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 13

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads In fact, once you count your tricks, the 1. ♠ A 10 5 4 the ♠Q. How do you plan the play? contract is 100% guaranteed because ♥ 9 3 2 For once, there is no guarantee that you must make a spade trick by force, ♦ K J 10 8 3 this contract will make, for you are in thanks to that ten sitting in dummy. ♣ A danger of losing three spades and two Simply win the heart lead in hand and ♠ 3 ♠ Q 8 7 clubs, so is there anything you can do to play the ♠K. Win the heart continuation ♥ A 8 4 N ♥ Q J 10 7 make the defenders’ task harder? in hand and play the ♠J, which sets up ♦ 9 6 4 W E ♦ 7 2 Indeed there is. the opening lead the ten in dummy while you still have an S ♣ K Q J 7 5 3 ♣ 10 9 6 4 and win the continuation, but if you now . If you mistakenly duck a diamond, ♠ K J 9 6 2 simply lead a low club from hand, it will say, early on, then repeated heart leads ♥ K 6 5 be easy for West to duck if he holds one will deprive you of an entry to dummy. ♦ A Q 5 honour in that suit. East will win, return ♣ 8 2 his last spade and now if the other club honour is with West, you will be defeated. Make it difficult for East by crossing to You are declarer in 4♠ and West leads dummy and leading the ♣3. If he plays 4. ♠ 7 6 5 the ♣K. How do you plan the play? low and the club honours are split, you ♥ A 10 7 6 The normal way to play trumps would will have cut communications between ♦ A 6 5 be to bash out the ace and king, but that the two hands. If both defenders duck, ♣ J 9 2 cannot be right here. You can afford to you have nine tricks. ♠ Q 10 4 3 ♠ K J 9 lose a trump, but perhaps not to East ♥ 4 2 N ♥ K 5 who might lead a heart through your ♦ J 9 8 3 W E ♦ 10 7 4 2 S king and then if the ace of that suit is ♣ A 10 3 ♣ 8 7 5 4 with West, you are in danger of losing ♠ A 8 2 three hearts and a spade. So, play safe 3. ♠ 10 3 2 ♥ Q J 9 8 3 by playing the ace of trumps and then fi- ♥ A 6 5 ♦ K Q nessing against the queen, not really car- ♦ 7 5 2 ♣ K Q 6 ing if the loses to West because ♣ 8 7 5 4 you still have tricks to spare. It is often ♠ A Q 8 ♠ 9 7 6 5 4 best to fear the worst. ♥ J 10 9 7 3 N ♥ 4 2 You are declarer in 4♥ and West leads ♦ Q 9 8 3 W E ♦ J 10 the ♠3. How do you plan the play? S ♣ 9 ♣ J 10 6 3 Thinking ahead is absolutely essential ♠ K J at bridge and that certainly applies to the ♥ K Q 8 hand above. Your potential losers are 2. ♠ 8 3 ♦ A K 6 4 two spades, one heart and a club while ♥ 6 4 2 ♣ A K Q 2 your potential winners are one spade, ♦ K J 10 3 four hearts, three diamonds and two ♣ Q J 6 3 clubs – so something doesn’t add up. In ♠ Q J 10 6 5 ♠ 9 7 2 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads fact, you have to get rid of a loser fast, ♥ J 8 5 N ♥ Q 10 7 3 the ♥J. How do you plan the play? which means not losing the lead early ♦ 8 6 4 W E ♦ 9 5 2 With such an easy looking contract you on. S ♣ A 7 ♣ K 8 5 have to be extra careful. Suppose you Simply win the lead, play both ♠ A K 4 win the lead in hand and test the clubs. diamonds in hand and then play a trump ♥ A K 9 If they don’t break, you might be tempted to the ace, refusing the finesse. Once ♦ A Q 7 to duck a diamond in the hope of a 3-3 there, you can play a third diamond ♣ 10 9 4 2 split, but if you do that – and they don’t pitching a spade loser and only then can break – you will be defeated. you continue playing trumps. ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 15 Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird Will Scarlet’s Golden Card

he sunset was inconveniently Will Scarlet led the ♥K, won in the light is so bad, even Robin can’t see his early at this time of year. dummy, and Hood paused to plan his cards properly!’ The outlaws took their time play. If trumps broke 3-2, there would Robin Hood won the club switch Tover whatever supper was at their be thirteen tricks on top. What if one and drew the remaining trumps in disposal. When the last morsels had of the defenders held four trumps? three further rounds. He then pointed disappeared, washed down with Playing three top trumps and a finger at dummy’s club suit, claiming home-made ale, there was little to do switching to clubs was no good. The the remainder. but play bridge. defenders would kill the club suit with ‘Have you got a club in your hand to ‘I can barely see my cards, sitting a ruff. Since he could afford to lose a reach them?’ demanded Will Scarlet. here,’ complained Will Scarlet. He trump trick, it made good sense to do Nazir’s eyes blackened. ‘You would looked across at Friar Tuck. ‘I see you so when it was safe – while dummy speak to our leader like that?’ he cried. were quick to sit on the side that’s well still had a trump to deal with a heart ‘You think he would try to cheat you?’ lit by the brazier.’ continuation. Robin Hood smiled as he showed ‘I didn’t consider the matter,’ the Robin Hood led the ♠3 from dummy Will Scarlet his two remaining clubs. Friar replied. ‘It makes no difference and contributed the ♠4 from his hand. ‘The light is so bad that Will couldn’t to me. I have excellent eyesight.’ ‘What did I tell you?’ exclaimed Will see how rude he was being!’ ‘Shall we swap places then?’ persisted Scarlet, as he won with the ♠9. ‘The Not long afterwards, Hood bid a his partner. ‘No, no. I’ve settled myself,’ declared Friar Tuck. ‘It’s No Bid from me.’ This was the deal before them:

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

West North East South Will Nazir Friar Robin Scarlet Tuck Hood Pass 1♠ Pass 3♣ Pass 3♠ Pass 6♠ All Pass

Page 16 BRIDGE January 2017 game contract despite a strong 1NT his hand. When the suit divided 3-2, opening against him. he drew the last trump and claimed ♠ K J 7 5 2 the contract. ♥ 9 ‘In fact you had two good cards for ♦ 6 Dealer East. Game All. me, Nazir,’ said Robin Hood. ‘Not the ♣ — ♠ 10 5 ♥Q, though. It was your two tens that ♠ 9 4 ♠ Q 10 8 ♥ Q 8 5 2 made the difference.’ ♥ 7 N ♥ — W E ♦ 10 6 4 3 A cold wind was blowing through ♦ 5 S ♦ Q J 10 9 ♣ 7 3 2 the trees. ‘Just one more rubber for ♣ Q 10 8 ♣ — ♠ 7 3 ♠ K 4 2 me,’ said Will Scarlet. ‘Some of us are ♠ A 6 3 ♥ 10 7 4 3 N ♥ K J 9 6 better protected against the cold than ♥ Q J 10 W E ♦ 8 5 ♦ Q 9 2 ♦ 3 S others.’ ♣ Q J 10 8 5 ♣ A K 9 ‘I’m told that the human brain works ♣ — ♠ A Q J 9 8 6 best at low temperatures,’ said Friar ♥ A Tuck. ‘Take that last deal, for example. ♦ A K J 7 Playing on a midsummer afternoon, I Robin Hood played the ♦6 and Friar ♣ 6 4 expect Robin would have gone down.’ Tuck had to win the trick. Since a Robin smiled. ‘Nazir would not spade return was clearly hopeless, he agree with you,’ he replied. ‘Where he returned another diamond. West North East South comes from it’s hot all the time.’ Hood discarded a spade from his Will Nazir Friar Robin The final rubber had reached Game hand and ruffed with dummy’s last Scarlet Tuck Hood All when this deal arose: trump. A spade to the ace allowed 1NT 4♠ him to draw West’s last trump and the All Pass slam was made. Dealer East. Game All. Nazir leaned towards Will Scarlet. Will Scarlet led the ♣Q and Nazir laid ♠ K J 7 5 2 ‘Allah awarded you a chance to make out his unimpressive dummy. ‘Just one ♥ A 9 8 6 a fine lead,’ he informed him. ‘You good card for you, partner,’ he said. ♦ A 6 had one golden card in your hand. To ‘Not that I have promised anything ♣ A 7 beat the contract you must lead the more.’ ♠ 9 4 ♠ Q 10 8 ♦5!’ The defenders persisted with two ♥ 7 4 2 N ♥ 3 ‘What difference does that make?’ W E ♦ 7 5 ♦ K Q J 10 9 8 4 more rounds of clubs. Robin Hood S Will Scarlet retorted. ruffed the third round and could now ♣ Q 10 8 6 5 2 ♣ J 4 ‘It depends on whether Tuck retains afford only one more loser in spades ♠ A 6 3 the one golden card that Allah and diamonds. Tuck’s opening bid ♥ K Q J 10 5 awarded to him,’ Nazir continued. ‘If meant that he held both the ♠K and ♦ 3 2 he keeps the ♦4, he can play it under the ♦Q. What could be done if the ♦Q ♣ K 9 3 dummy’s ♦6 and you can win with was not about to fall doubleton? your ♦7. There is no end-play.’ Hoping for some assistance from the ‘Wouldn’t make no difference then,’ defenders, Robin Hood led the queen West North East South Will Scarlet concluded. ‘Tuck kept of trumps from his hand. If this card Will Nazir Friar Robin the Q-J-10-9 of diamonds. He’d be was taken, he would be able to cross Scarlet Tuck Hood endplayed anyway.’ to the ♠10 for a diamond finesse. 3♦ 3♥ ‘There was no point in keeping Diagnosing the position, Friar Tuck Pass 6♥ All Pass my ♦4 when the ♦6 was in dummy,’ allowed the trump queen to win. exclaimed Friar Tuck. ‘Of course I Robin Hood gave the friar a friendly Will Scarlet led the ♦7 and Robin Hood would have kept it otherwise. I had a smile. ‘Not willing to surrender at this leaned forward to win with dummy’s fistful of other diamonds to throw.’ stage?’ he queried. ace. Friar Tuck followed with the king Will Scarlet rose to his feet. ‘There ‘Not for the moment,’ Friar Tuck to show his sequence of honours. ain’t much point giving people golden replied. ‘No doubt you have further When the ace and king of trumps cards if you don’t say what to do with plans.’ were played, Friar Tuck threw the them. Everyone’s going to lead the ♦7 Robin Hood’s next move was to lead ♦4. With a diamond loser exposed from my hand.’ the jack of diamonds from his hand. by the opening lead, it seemed that Nazir smiled, nodding his Friar Tuck could not afford to duck all would depend on finding the ♠Q agreement. ‘I will sleep by the dying this card too, or he would never score onside. Robin Hood could see an extra embers of the fire,’ he declared. a diamond trick. He won with the ♦Q chance, however. He played the ace ‘Freezing temperatures are not known and returned a low diamond. and king of clubs and ruffed his last in my homeland. The brain may work Hood won with dummy’s ♦10 and club in the dummy. well in the cold but the rest of my body led the ♠10, overtaking with the ♠J in These cards were still at large: does not!’ ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 17 All You Need to Know by Andrew Kambites About Developing Winners

t is incredibly hard to start Assume there are no trumps. The dummy’s last two diamonds will be learning bridge. You are instantly diagram for each suit shows the declarer able to take tricks separately. Note bombarded with too much to holding and dummy. Try to play these also, that in playing diamonds, it is Igrasp: the laws, mechanics, bidding, combinations to make as many tricks correct to start with the ♦K, allowing card play etc. Not surprisingly, the as possible. Assume you can lead from you to take the second diamond trick holy grail of teaching bridge has been either hand. You might find it helpful in dummy and persevere with the suit. to find ways of breaking down this to construct the combinations from a Start by cashing the high cards from bewildering array of information into pack, randomly dealing the missing the shorter holding. smaller units that can be learned one cards to East and West. In the clubs shown in Suit D, there bit at a time. A significant breakdown is even less wastage and you can make has been the introduction of mini- five tricks. Start with the ♣K and bridge, which initially removed the Suit A Suit B overtake it with dummy’s ♣A, leaving complex art of bidding from the ♠ A Q 5 ♥ A Q 9 you with the lead in the right hand to equation until the learner had come to continue playing clubs. These tricks, N N terms with following suit, dummy and W E W E being immediately cashable, are called S S elementary card play. However, even top tricks. basic card play by itself requires a huge ♠ K 6 4 ♥ K J 10 amount of skill. The poor beginner ♣♦♥♠ was thrown in at the deep end: told to count winners, count losers, look for Suit C Suit D he maximum number of tricks ways of developing winners that were ♦ A Q J 10 ♣ A Q J 10 9 you can make in a suit is the not immediately cashable, consider number of cards held by the N N T communications and much more. As W E W E longer holding, minus the number S S he/she tried to faithfully put all this of top cards you must force out. into practice, the clock ticked away ♦ K 9 ♣ K and there was the danger that rigor Now try to work out how many mortis might set in for the other three potential tricks you have with these players. Card play needed to be broken The spade and heart holdings each holdings: down into more easily manageable provide three tricks. Your heart chunks and in my new series, All you holding in Suit B appears to be more need to know about card play, I start by sturdy than your spade holding in Suit E Suit F considering single suit combinations, Suit A, but despite having the top six ♠ K 10 9 ♥ K 10 9 8 which are the building blocks of card hearts you cannot expect to take more N N play. First master how to handle 13 than three heart tricks. To see why, W E W E S S cards in a single suit, then when you try playing this combination. Suppose are reasonably familiar with this, try you start with the ♥A. The rules force ♠ Q J 8 ♥ Q J 7 6 to put it into practice with a whole deal you to continually play two of your of 52 cards. ‘winners’ on the same trick. All your winners disappear on just three tricks. Suit G Suit H ♣♦♥♠ In the minor suits shown in Suits C ♦ 10 9 7 ♣ 10 9 7 6 5 and D you hold the same cards as in N N n no-trumps the maximum hearts, but if you have the diamonds W E W E S number of tricks you can make in shown in Suit C you can make four S Ia suit is the number of cards held tricks. Admittedly, there will be ♦ Q J 8 ♣ Q J 8 by the longer holding. wastage on the first two tricks, but

Page 18 BRIDGE January 2017 With Suit E, you have all of the top cards held by the longer holding). West can take the ♠A and cash four spades except the ace. This reduces the 2. You have the potential to make two hearts to defeat you. number of tricks by one, leaving you spade tricks, after driving out the In Layout K, you are lucky enough with two. Suppose you immediately ♠A. to have enough top tricks to fulfil your play on spades. A defender takes the 3. You have only seven top tricks, the contract without taking any risk, but ♠A and leads another suit which you ♥A, four diamonds and the ♣A- Layout J is more common. In most can win. You now have two spade tricks K. Therefore, you need to develop contracts you need to develop tricks to cash. Similarly, in Suit F, with hearts, your two spade tricks. from cards that are not immediately once you have dislodged the ♥A you 4. If you lose the lead, the defenders winners. It is losing bridge to run have three tricks for the taking. may be able to cash enough heart away from the problem. The beginner In the minor suits, you have two top tricks to defeat you, however, if with Layout J cashes seven tricks and cards missing, the ace and the king. If that is the case there is nothing you then wonders where the next two are you need to develop tricks, you must can do about it. coming from. He loses the last 6 tricks. patiently play on the suit, forcing out When you take your ♥A, you can Trick 13 counts as much as trick 1. these missing honours and regaining safely cash four diamond tricks (in So far, I have concentrated on the lead in other suits. The diamonds case defenders make careless discards), developing tricks by brute force. Now, in Suit G give you one trick and the but now the moment of truth has I turn my attention to developing clubs in Suit H provide three. come. You must now play on spades, length winners. whatever the risk. We say that the ♣♦♥♠ missing eight hearts break 4-4 if each ♣♦♥♠ defender has four (see explanation ou must be prepared to lose below). With the opposition hearts n no-trumps a lowly two is a the lead temporarily in order breaking 4-4, the defenders cannot winning card if nobody else has Yto develop tricks. cash more than three hearts so you Ia card left in the suit. are lucky. Of course, there was no You will have seen that with the suits guarantee that hearts would break How many tricks do you expect to in E to G, you must lose the lead before 4-4, but if you are dominated by fear make with these combinations? you can enjoy your winners. It is worth of losing the lead and cash the ♣A-K, mentioning now that it is natural for you have now set up two extra club inexperienced players to have great winners for the defenders, so you fail Suit L Suit M fear of giving up the lead. They fear in 3NT even though the heart split was ♠ A K Q 2 ♥ A K Q 2 that the opponents can do something kind to you. You must concentrate N N dreadful. Much of the time this fear on making your contract when it is W E W E S S is misplaced, for example, consider possible to succeed and not worry too Layouts J and K. In each case, you are much about the possibility of failure. ♠ 6 5 4 3 ♥ 5 4 3 in 3NT and West leads the ♥K.

Layout K Suit N Suit P Layout J ♠ K 10 9 ♦ A K 6 2 ♣ A K 6 2 ♠ K 10 9 ♥ A 3 N N ♥ A 3 ♦ K J 10 9 8 7 W E W E S S ♦ A 10 9 8 ♣ K 6 ♣ K 6 3 2 ♠ A 3 2 ♠ 7 6 5 4 ♦ 7 5 4 3 ♣ 5 4 3 ♠ A 3 2 ♠ 7 6 5 4 ♥ K Q J 9 2 N ♥ 10 7 4 W E ♥ K Q J 9 N ♥ 10 7 4 2 ♦ 5 3 ♦ 6 4 2 S ♦ 5 3 W E ♦ 6 4 2 ♣ 10 9 7 ♣ Q J 4 S With Suit L, you cannot be sure. ♣ 10 9 7 5 ♣ Q J ♠ Q J 8 Consider this spade suit. There are ♠ Q J 8 ♥ 8 6 5 five spades missing, the ♠J-10-9-8- ♥ 8 6 5 ♦ A Q 7. Suppose they are distributed as in ♦ K Q J 7 ♣ A 8 5 3 2 diagram Layout Q below. ♣ A 8 4

In Layout K, you have the same high Layout Q In Layout J, the following facts are cards between your hand and dummy, ♠ A K Q 2 relevant: but this time you can make six N 1. Although you have the top eight diamond tricks, so you have nine top ♠ J 9 W E ♠ 10 8 7 S diamonds between the two hands, tricks. You should make sure you cash you can never make more than four them to fulfil your contract. If you are ♠ 6 5 4 3 diamond tricks (the number of lured by the potential of the spade suit,

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 19 2189 Mr Bridge FULL page 171018BR_Layout 1 05/12/2016 15:20 Page 1

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Mr Bridge fares are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be 10093 withdrawn at any time without notice. Please see website for full terms and conditions. †Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability. ABTA No.Y2206 In Layout Q, by the time you have cashed the ♠A-K-Q, neither opponent About Developing Winners Quiz has a spade left. Nobody can beat by Andrew Kambites your ♠6, which takes a fourth trick by length. (Answers on page 22) On the other hand, they may be as 1 With each of the following suit combinations: in Layout R. This time, your top three (i) Assuming you have plenty of leads to each hand and can afford to lose the honours fail to draw the missing spades lead a sufficient number of times, how many tricks do you hope to make? and East’s remaining ♠J prevents your (ii) Does your answer depend on the distribution of the missing cards? ♠6 scoring. (iii) If the suit behaves kindly for you, how many times do you expect to lose the lead before you can enjoy the fruits of your persistence?

Layout R Suit A Suit B Suit C Suit D Suit E ♠ A K Q 2 ♠ J 10 9 ♥ J 10 9 8 ♦ J 10 9 8 7 ♣ A 6 5 4 3 ♠ A 7 6 5 4 3

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

There are two noteworthy points here. Suit F Suit G Suit H Suit J Suit K First, that while it does not require ♥ A K Q 7 6 ♦ A K 8 7 6 ♣ A 9 8 7 6 ♠ 9 8 7 6 ♥ 9 8 7 6 5 great skill to make tricks by brute N N N N N W E W E W E W E W E strength, if you learn to take tricks S S S S S with lowly sixes you are starting to ♥ 5 4 3 2 ♦ 5 4 3 2 ♣ 5 4 3 2 ♠ 5 4 3 2 ♥ 4 3 2 master card skills. Secondly, the trick making capacity of your small cards may depend not In Layouts 2-7 you have insufficient top tricks to fulfil your contract. From where only on which cards are missing, but will you develop the necessary extra tricks? also which opponent has them. You need a little bridge terminology here. In Layout Q, one opponent has three Layout 2 Layout 3 Layout 4 spades and the other two. We say ♠ A K 6 ♠ K Q J ♠ K Q J ♥ 9 6 2 ♥ K 6 2 ♥ A 6 2 that the missing spades break 3-2. In ♦ 8 7 6 5 ♦ 8 7 6 5 ♦ 9 8 7 6 5 Layout R spades break 4-1. ♣ 7 3 2 ♣ 7 3 2 ♣ 7 3 It is worth considering how to count N N N the missing cards. Start by subtracting W E W E W E your eight spades from 13. That leaves S S S them with five. Count them down as ♠ 8 7 4 ♠ 10 3 2 ♠ 8 7 4 you play the suit. On the first round ♥ A 8 7 ♥ A 8 7 ♥ K 9 7 they both follow, so they now have ♦ 10 4 3 2 ♦ 10 4 3 2 ♦ 10 4 3 2 three, etc. ♣ A K Q ♣ A K Q ♣ A K Q So how about Suits M, N and P? (i) 1NT. Lead: ♣J. (i) 1NT. Lead: ♣J. (i) 1NT. Lead: ♣J. ♣ In Suit M, you are missing six hearts (ii) 2NT. Lead: J. and North’s fourth heart will be worth a trick if hearts break 3-3. Layout 5 Layout 6 Layout 7 The diamond suit in Suit N will ♠ A K 5 4 ♠ 5 4 2 ♠ Q 10 9 8 give you a third trick if the missing ♥ A 6 ♥ 8 3 ♥ 8 4 five diamonds break 3-2. In that case, ♦ A 8 7 6 ♦ A 8 6 5 4 3 ♦ A K Q 10 cashing your ♦A-K leaves just one ♣ 7 3 2 ♣ A K ♣ J 4 3 diamond at large, and you must force N N N them to take it. Then the♦ 7 becomes a W E W E W E S S S length winner. Finally, in Layout P if the clubs break ♠ 6 3 2 ♠ A J 6 3 ♠ J 3 ♥ K 9 7 ♥ A 7 6 2 ♥ A K Q 3-3, playing the ♣A-K and conceding ♦ 5 4 3 2 ♦ K 2 ♦ J 6 3 a club will give you a third trick. ♣ A K Q ♣ 8 5 4 ♣ Q 7 6 5 2 I will look at the probabilities of suit (i) 3NT. Lead: ♣J. (i) 3NT. Lead: ♣J. (i) 3NT. Lead: ♥J. breaks and how it affects your choice of play in a later article. ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 21 Answers to About Developing Winners Quiz on page 21

1 With each of the following suit three times. break 3-1 you can give up two tricks combinations: D You can make four tricks if the and make three tricks. If clubs break missing clubs break 3-3, losing the 4-0 you must give the defenders (i) Assuming you have plenty of lead once on the way. Alternatively, three tricks to make two club tricks. leads to each hand and can if they break 4-2 you can make three afford to lose the lead a sufficient tricks, losing the lead twice. number of times, how many Suit J Suit K tricks do you hope to make? ♠ 9 8 7 6 ♥ 9 8 7 6 5 Suit E Suit F N N (ii) Does your answer depend on the ♠ A 7 6 5 4 3 ♥ A K Q 7 6 W E W E S S distribution of the missing cards? N N W E W E ♠ 5 4 3 2 ♥ 4 3 2 S S (iii) If the suit behaves kindly for you, how many times do you ♠ K 2 ♥ 5 4 3 2 expect to lose the lead before J If spades break 3-2 you can concede you can enjoy the fruits of your three tricks and end up with one persistence? E You can make five tricks if the missing winner. spades break 3-2, losing the lead once. Alternatively, if they break 4-1 K If hearts break 3-2 you can concede Suit A Suit B you make four tricks after giving up three tricks and end up with two ♠ J 10 9 ♥ J 10 9 8 the lead twice. winners.

N N W E W E F You can make all five hearts tricks In Layouts 2-7 you have insufficient top S S without needing to lose the lead if tricks to fulfil your contract. From where ♠ 8 7 6 ♥ 7 6 hearts break 2-2 or 3-1. If they are will you develop the necessary extra 4-0 you must give up a trick in order tricks? to make four tricks. A You cannot make any spade tricks. Layout 2 Layout 3 B You can make one heart trick, Suit G Suit H ♠ A K 6 ♠ K Q J independently of the distribution of ♦ A K 8 7 6 ♣ A 9 8 7 6 ♥ 9 6 2 ♥ K 6 2 the missing cards, but first you must ♦ 8 7 6 5 ♦ 8 7 6 5 N N drive out the ♥A-K-Q, losing the lead W E W E ♣ 7 3 2 ♣ 7 3 2 S S three times. N N ♦ 5 4 3 2 ♣ 5 4 3 2 W E W E S S

Suit C Suit D ♠ 8 7 4 ♠ 10 3 2 ♦ J 10 9 8 7 ♣ A 6 5 4 3 G You can make five tricks without ♥ A 8 7 ♥ A 8 7 losing the lead if diamonds break ♦ 10 4 3 2 ♦ 10 4 3 2 N N W E W E 2-2. If diamonds break 3-1 you can ♣ A K Q ♣ A K Q S S give up a trick and make four tricks. ♦ 6 ♣ K 2 If diamonds break 4-0 you must give Contract 1NT. Contract 1NT. the defenders two tricks to make Lead: ♣J. Lead: ♣J. three diamond tricks. C You can make two tricks without worrying about where the missing H You can make four tricks, losing the 2 You have six top tricks, the ♠A-K, diamonds are, again losing the lead lead once if clubs break 2-2. If clubs ♥A and ♣A-K-Q. You should play on

Page 22 BRIDGE January 2017 diamonds for your seventh trick. You you will develop an extra trick if the require diamonds to break 3-2. missing diamonds break 3-2. You CLUB have no great fear of losing the lead 3 You have five top tricks, the ♥A-K and as you have good stoppers in all suits, INSURANCE ♣A-K-Q. You should play on spades so it is correct to play on diamonds. for two extra tricks. I will deal with percentages in future Every club should be Note that you may be able to articles, but even if you don’t know covered and my inclusive develop an extra diamond trick if you the figures, common sense dictates package, to suit clubs of up patiently persevere with the suit, but that missing five diamonds, the to 300 members for less than you require two extra tricks for your prospect of no opponent having four contract. is higher than the same when you are £75 per year, is the right missing six spades. package at the right price.

Layout 4 Layout 5 Contact FIDENTIA for a quote ♠ K Q J ♠ A K 5 4 Layout 6 Layout 7 ♥ A 6 2 ♥ A 6 ♠ 5 4 2 ♠ Q 10 9 8 ( 020 3150 0080 ♦ ♦ ♥ ♥ 9 8 7 6 5 A 8 7 6 8 3 8 4 [email protected] ♣ 7 3 ♣ 7 3 2 ♦ A 8 6 5 4 3 ♦ A K Q 10 ♣ A K ♣ J 4 3 N N W E W E S S N N W E W E S S ♠ 8 7 4 ♠ 6 3 2 ♥ K 9 7 ♥ K 9 7 ♠ A J 6 3 ♠ J 3 ♦ 10 4 3 2 ♦ 5 4 3 2 ♥ A 7 6 2 ♥ A K Q ♣ A K Q ♣ A K Q ♦ K 2 ♦ J 6 3 ♣ 8 5 4 ♣ Q 7 6 5 2 (i) Contract 1NT. Contract 3NT. Lead: ♣J. Lead: ♣J. Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. For those with Pre-existing health (ii) Contract 2NT. Lead: ♣J. Lead: ♥J. conditions (No Age Limit) Lead: ♣J. l Travel Insurance with online Medical Screening 6 You have six top tricks, the ♠A, ♥A, l Cover for medical conditions, 4 (i) You have five top tricks, the ♥A-K ♦A-K and ♣A-K. up to a high level of severity, and ♣A-K-Q. If diamonds break 3-2, you can even a terminal prognosis You should play on spades for two develop three extra diamond tricks, extra tricks. You don’t need spades but you must play diamonds in the l No age limits to break well. Note that by playing right order: starting with the high card l Instant online cover on diamonds you may be able to from the shorter holding. Win the ♣A, generate three diamond tricks (if they cash the ♦K and cross to dummy with We fully understand that you may break 2-2), but being too greedy may the ♦A. Now give up a diamond. Note wish to speak to us direct about jeopardise your contract if diamonds that if you mistakenly start with the ♦A cover and your medical conditions break unfavourably. you will take the second diamond trick and assure you of the best attention in your hand, leaving you unable to by senior staff on a direct phone line (ii) Now you need to develop three play a third diamond. that does not require you to hold or extra tricks for your contract. Spades press buttons for departments. will only provide two so you must 7 You have seven top tricks, the ♥A-K-Q play on diamonds, hoping for a 2-2 and ♦A-K-Q-J. ( break. You must develop two extra tricks 01268 524344 in the black suits. Playing on spades We look forward to 5 You have eight top tricks, the ♠A-K, guarantees you two extra tricks speaking with you soon ♥A-K, ♦A and ♣A-K-Q. because the suit is solid. Playing You have a choice of playing on on clubs might give you three extra Email: [email protected] spades or diamonds for your ninth tricks, but because you are lacking Website: www.genesischoice.co.uk trick. Your spades seem stronger and the ♣10-9-8 it is all rather uncertain. you may be able to develop an extra Settle for the two guaranteed Genesis Choice Ltd are an appointed spade trick by losing the lead only tricks in spades. Note that this is representative of NDI Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Ltd who once, but you require spades to break an example where it is not correct are authorised and regulated by the 3-3. If you play on diamonds, you will to attack your longest suit in no- Financial Conduct Authority No.446914 need to lose the lead twice, but then trumps. ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 23 Michael Byrne on Playing with the Odds Suit Break Odds

hen finding the right doesn’t matter to you who has got four The fault lies in the fact that we are line as declarer it is often cards, whether the suit breaks 4-2 or not comparing any 4-2 break with any a good idea to have a 2-4, both are equally bad. 3-3 break, but a specific 4-2 break with Wgeneral handle on the numbers and The most likely number for any a specific 3-3 break. percentages that dominate our game. particular opponent to hold is actually I can restrain myself no longer and I am not suggesting that as a keen three, but holding two cards or four must show you the percentages: bridge player you memorise tables cards is most likely when you add the (Note that these are the a priori of odds and attempt to turn yourself odds together. odds at the start of a hand. If someone into a human calculator (although Have a look at this hand below and subsequently turns out to have an if Maths was your favourite subject see if you can avoid the trap: eight-card heart suit, you should take at school you will probably find that into account.) that interesting), merely that you understand the general principles to ♠ A K Q 10 West started with Odds guide you in the right direction. ♥ J 6 3 Void 0.5 % The first axiom, easy to remember is ♦ Q 4 3 1 spade 7.5 % that: ♣ 6 4 3 2 spades 24 % 3 spades 36 % N 4 spades 24 % An odd number of cards tends to W E break evenly, and an even number S 5 spades 7.5 % of cards breaks oddly. 6 spades 0.5 % ♠ 7 6 3 ♥ 10 8 2 (So the odds of a 6-0 split are 1%, 5-1 is To be more precise if you are missing ♦ A K J 8 15%, 4-2 48%, 3-3 36%) an odd number of cards in a suit, say ♣ A J 2 Although a 4-2 spade break was more five, then they will break 3-2 most of likely at the start of the hand, we can the time, whereas if you are missing discount the odds of a 4-2 break with six cards, then rather than being 3-3, You reach 3NT (1NT – 3NT) and West having two, since he has followed they will break 4-2 most of the time. receive a club lead to the queen. Since suit to the third one. The odds of West Why is this? Very simply when you have no wish to suffer a heart having four spades are 24%; however, bridge players refer to a suit breaking switch, you win immediately and must West’s four cards will include the jack 4-2, they do not mean the odds of West decide how to play the spades. only two-thirds of the time which having four cards and East having You cash the ♠A-K first to see what reduces the odds for J-x-x-x to 16%. two, rather they mean that West might happens, then you cash four diamonds Similarly, the odds of West having have either four cards in this suit or ending in hand. An uneven diamond three spades are 36%, but those three two cards and therefore East might break would affect the odds in the cards will exclude the jack half the have two cards or four cards. spade suit, but let us assume the hand time which reduces the odds for x-x-x Imagine you have this suit below: is nice and boring and diamonds to 18%. break 3-3. The odds as you can see are close, so You lead a spade to dummy and in the absence of any clues from the ♠ A K Q 2 West follows – do you finesse or play bidding or the distribution so far, you

N for the drop? should bang out the top spades every W E Finessing would be right if West time and make four tricks as often S began with ♠J-x-x-x; playing for the as you can, as playing for the drop is ♠ 6 5 4 drop succeeds when he began with correct. three small cards. A lot of people In that previous hand, we had a (quite incorrectly) apply this logic, straight either/or choice and we had to You are in 3NT and you need to make ‘A 4-2 break is more likely than a 3-3 guess which one. Sometimes, we can four tricks. You cash the ace, king and break so I will take the finesse.’ Can make a contract if a suit breaks very queen and hope that the suit is 3-3. It you see where their logic is failing? well or even just reasonably well.

Page 24 BRIDGE January 2017 Have a look at this hand: you can still make it by not drawing all the trumps, but that is not good technique). DEFENCE ♠ K 5 4 3 2 By playing on spades to ♥ A 3 2 make the thirteenth spade a ♦ K 4 3 boss, you will make the con- QUIZ ♣ K 7 tract if spades are 3-3 (36%) or 4-2 (48%), which gives by Julian Pottage N you total odds of 84%, more (Answers on page 46) W E S than enough to justify bid- ding your bold grand slam. ou are West in the defensive positions below playing ♠ A 6 On a similar theme, how Ymatchpoint pairs with both sides vulnerable. Both sides ♥ K 7 6 would you play this hand? are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman. ♦ A Q J 9 7 6 ♣ A Q ♠ 7 6 5 3 2 1. ♠ K Q 9 3 3. ♠ K 9 ♥ 9 4 3 ♥ Q J 10 6 ♥ J 10 4 You bid briskly to 7♦ after ♦ 10 2 ♦ Q ♦ K Q 4 North opens a weak no- ♣ A Q J ♣ K J 9 4 ♣ K J 9 8 3 trump and you find out that N ♠ 7 6 ♠ A J 10 partner has diamond sup- W E ♥ A 8 5 3 N ♥ 7 6 S N port, the other ace and three ♦ J 10 8 6 3 W E ♦ J 10 9 7 W E S kings. ♠ A ♣ 8 2 ♣ 7 6 5 4 S Dummy comes down and ♥ A 6 5 you are immediately disap- ♦ A K Q J 9 4 pointed that dummy has the ♣ K 4 3 West North East South West North East South same doubleton as you, (this 1NT 1♥ is called having mirror dis- Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ tribution and is frequently You reach 6♦ by South and Pass 4♠ All Pass Pass 4♥ All Pass annoying). get the ♥K lead; what now? However, the good news There is only one hope on You lead the ♦J. Partner You lead the ♦J. Partner ♦ ♦ ♦ is that dummy has a long this hand and that is to set wins with the A and takes the Q with the A, switches to the ♥9, on cashes the ♣A and switches suit and you can attempt up the spades. It may seem which declarer plays the to the ♠6. What do you do? to set it up. Winning the you have a tough task ruff- ♥2. What is your plan? jack of clubs lead in hand, ing them out, but remember you draw trumps in three we are missing seven spades rounds and play ace, king and they will break 4-3 most and another spade ruffing of the time. 2. ♠ K Q 9 3 4. ♠ K 7 5 3 in hand. Win the heart lead and ♥ K 8 6 ♥ K ♠ ♦ If spades break 3-3 (36% of cash the A. Go to the 10 ♦ K ♦ Q J 3 the time) then all the spades and ruff a spade, then draw ♣ A J 8 4 3 ♣ A K J 9 4 have gone and you have two trumps throwing hearts ♠ A 6 2 ♠ A J 10 9 N spade winners in dummy to away and go to the jack of ♥ A J 9 N ♥ J 8 3 W E make your contract. clubs. Ruff a second spade ♦ Q 10 8 6 3 W E ♦ 8 6 5 S However, even if the and go back to the queen of ♣ 10 6 S ♣ Q 8 2 spades break 4-2 (48%) you clubs. Ruff the fourth spade can carry on ruffing the suit and the final one is good; good. Go back to the ace of just hop across to dummy West North East South West North East South hearts in dummy and ruff with the ace of clubs and 1♣ Pass 1♠ Pass 3♥ another spade, and the last you have 12 tricks. Pass 3♠ All Pass Pass 4♥ All Pass spade will be your thir- 12 rather lucky tricks teenth trick. it must be noted, because You lead the ♦6. Partner You lead the ♦6: ♦J, ♦K Have you got an entry to you need a 4-3 spade break wins with the ♦A and and ♦4. Partner returns dummy? Well I hope you (62%) and a 3-2 trump break switches to the ♥7, on the ♠8, on which declarer remembered to win the (68%). However, good play- which declarer plays the plays the ♠4. What is your ♥ first club in hand with the ers in this game make their 2. What is your plan? plan? ace, keeping the king to own luck. At least they do get to the table. (If you win when they remember their the first trick with the ♣Q, percentages… ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 25 Better Hand Sally Brock Looks at Your Slam Bidding Evaluation Bernard Magee Introduction Sally’s Better Hand Evaluation is aimed at helping readers to add greater accuracy to their bidding. It deals with auc- Slam Clinic tions in which you and your partner, against silent op- ponents, can describe your hands fully to each other and, by evaluating them ac- Where did we West should have respond- with that West hand. If you curately, find the best final go wrong? ed 5♠ and then East would were opening the bidding, contract. The emphasis of all have had a reasonable pot at I would think the hand too good, accurate bidding is on This month’s deal, sent in the grand slam. strong, but once the op- hand evaluation. by Rupert Timpson, illus- ponents have opened it is There are two general types of trates a common error: much less likely that slam is auction: a) a fit is found and b) Slam of the on. As it was, West did well no fit is found. Month to keep on bidding because When you do not have a fit, ♠ K J 9 7 6 5 4 3 2 ♠ A 10 certainly 5♥ was cold for you are aiming to describe the ♥ 3 ♥ A 6 2 strength of your hand as soon N This month there were rath- North-South. ♦ A W E ♦ K 7 4 as possible, most often using S er more ‘Where did we go West led a spade, ruffed, no-trump bids. This book be- ♣ Q 4 ♣ A K J 9 5 wrong’s than ‘Slam of the and another spade when in gins by discussing balanced- month’s, and the best one, with the ace of hearts. De- hand bidding in Acol, as it is very important that both sent in by Philip Dendy, is a clarer could now have suc- members of a partnership West North East South little flawed. ceeded. What he needed to have an accurate knowledge of Pass do was play out his trumps. how to show hands of different 4♠ Pass 4NT Pass This is the end position: strengths. 5♥ Pass 5NT Pass Dealer South. E/W Game. When a fit is found, there is 6♣ Pass 6♠ All Pass ♠ 7 4 much re-evaluation of the ♥ Q J 10 5 2 ♠ — hand to be done; point count, though still important, needs I was asked who was to ♦ A K 10 6 5 ♥ 5 to be evaluated together with blame for missing the cold ♣ 3 ♦ A K 10 6 5 distribution. The best way of grand slam. ♠ A Q J 10 9 6 3 2 ♠ K 8 5 ♣ 3 reaching an accurate assess­ Suppose your partner ♥ A 9 N ♥ 4 ♠ J 10 9 6 ♠ — ment is to use the Losing Trick W E Count; this is an important opens 1♠ (playing five- ♦ Void S ♦ Q 8 7 4 ♥ — N ♥ — W E method of hand evaluation and card majors). You make ♣ J 10 7 ♣ 9 8 5 4 2 ♦ — S ♦ Q 8 7 takes up a number of chapters. some fit-showing response ♠ Void ♣ J 10 7 ♣ 9 8 5 4 Finally, we move on to different and, maybe after some ♥ K 8 7 6 3 ♠ — forms of evaluation including cue-bids, your partner uses ♦ J 9 3 2 ♥ — game tries and splinter bids. ♣ A K Q 6 ♦ J 9 3 You can never know enough RKCB. Suppose you hold methods of hand evaluation; five trumps. Surely you ♣ A K Q 6 the more you learn, the better should show your aces and you get at judging your hand. the queen of trumps. That West North East South Although the Losing Trick fifth trump is as good as 1♥ When declarer plays dum- Count is used more easily in the queen when you have a 1♠ 3♥* Pass 4♥ my’s last trump, East is tandem with your partner, a ten-card fit. If partner holds 4♠ Pass Pass 5♥ squeezed and declarer must large proportion of the ideas ♠ ♥ in this book can be used by an the queen himself, he will 5 6 Pass Pass make his slam. individual. For example, eval- know that you must have Dbl All Pass Note that either a club uating your hand to be worth five trumps. *There are better bids. opening lead (virtually im- an extra point is going to help That is the situation here. possible) or switch at trick anyone you partner – as long as you get it right. Even if partner has the sin- These distributional hands three (careful thought might gleton ace of trumps, when are always difficult to judge. come up with this) will de- £14 including UK postage you have nine of them you I think I would have over- stroy declarer’s communica- ♠ ■ Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 have a ten-card fit and the called 4 immediately tions and beat the slam. www.mrbridge.co.uk queen is not essential for a no-loser trump suit. Here, Send your slam hands to [email protected]

Page 26 BRIDGE January 2017 F r e d . O l s e n ’s Cruise Sale

No Single Supplement on selected cruises & rooms*

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Fred.Olsen’s Cruise Sale

No single supplement on selected cruises & rooms* Smaller, friendlier ships make Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines the perfect choice for single travellers. The atmosphere is sociable, but never forced, so you’ll feel right at home from the very first day.

Within this brochure there are a variety of cruises on offer with selected Twin Rooms available for single travellers at no extra cost. So you can enjoy great savings if you book now.

* These offers are not combinable. Please see the back cover for further terms and conditions.

Benefits of Cruising with Mr Bridge • Daily evening bridge on board and bridge fees included in the fare • Each voyage accompanied by the bridge team – including one cruise hosted by Bernard Magee • Mr Bridge welcome and farewell drinks parties* • Reduced Solo’s fares (a bridge partner will always be found) • Extra discounts for Oceans Members • Morning seminars & afternoon bridge on days at sea

Cruise with real confidence, with Fred. Olsen’s Enjoyment Promise** We’re so confident that you’ll enjoy the whole Fred. Olsen experience that if within a couple of days of sailing you find it’s not for you, let us know and we’ll arrange for a flight back to the UK from the next port and give you your money back. So your relaxation starts the moment you choose Fred. Olsen.

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Mysterious Morocco & Seductive Spain 22nd March 2017 • 14 nights • Sails from Southampton • Balmoral • CRUISE ID: L1704

Choose from countless ‘must-do’ experiences in Morocco, from an exotic cooking class to an overnight adventure in Marrakech, before four Spanish calls offering Moorish architecture, traditional tapas, beaches, museums and more.

Lisbon, Portugal SINGLE Portugal’s alluring capital is spread out To/from La Coruña OFFER FROM over seven hills on the north of the River Southampton Tagus, with fascinating museums and the adorable backstreets of the Alfama district Lisbon £1,399 awaiting your discovery. Architectural Malaga Cádiz Almería wonders include the Belém Tower and Gibraltar the Monument to the Discoveries, and be Casablanca sure to visit Pasteis de Belém – this café’s Agadir famous egg pastry recipe has remained unchanged for nearly 200 years. Prices per person Agadir, Morocco Room type Prices from Take a bus ride to view the ruins of the Special single offer £1,399 ancient Kasbah, built in 1540; learn about Interior £1,169 Morocco’s original inhabitants at the Ocean View £1,349 Musée Municipal; explore the colourful El Superior Balcony £2,249 Had souk; taste Moroccan street life on Suite £2,519 the buzzing beachfront promenade; or tour to the surrounding Atlas Mountains. Prices are correct at time of going to print, but may change at any time. Call for latest prices. Spain

Cities & Waterways of Europe 22nd April 2017 • 8 nights • Sails from Dover • Balmoral • CRUISE ID: L1706

This unique itinerary is timed perfectly to take in the annual King’s Day celebrations in Amsterdam, where you’ll be greeted by a sea of orange as the locals get into the spirit. No fewer than three overnight stays feature.

Hamburg, Germany SINGLE Hamburg boasts a Hanseatic League Elbe River OFFER FROM heritage harking back 700 years and an Hamburg infectious maritime spirit. Impressive (overnight) landmarks, including the neo- Amsterdam (overnight) £849 Renaissance style Rathaus (City Hall) and North Sea Canal St. Michael’s Church, populate the city’s Antwerp (overnight) skyline, while vibrant neighbourhoods, Western Scheldt River such as the famous Reeperbahn, thrive To/from Dover with stylish bars and multicultural eateries. For something a little different, visit Miniature Wonderland – the world’s Prices per person biggest model railway. Room type Prices from Amsterdam, Netherlands Special single offer £849 Interior £719 The effervescent Dutch capital oozes Ocean View £809 appeal, from stylish galleries and trendy Superior Balcony £1,399 boutiques to a plethora of museums Suite £1,439 satisfying all tastes; the Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House are two fine examples. Prices are correct at time of going to print, but may change at any time. Call for latest prices. Amsterdam, Netherlands

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Fjords, Mountains & Glaciers 30th April 2017 • 7 nights • Sails from Dover • Balmoral • CRUISE ID: L1707

Glide along the glassy waters of Lysefjord – passing the unmistakable Pulpit Rock and Kjerag Boulder – and along Naeroyfjord, where dramatic views unfold with every twist and turn.

SINGLE OFFER FROM £859

Norway

Bergen, Norway Flåm, Aurlandsfjord, Norway The beautiful UNESCO-listed Bryggen Flåm is a delightful, unspoilt treasure, Wharf, with its colourful timbered houses with quaint orchards, cottages and and cobbled walkways, is the historic farmland surrounding the spellbinding and cultural centrepiece of Hanseatic waterfront. The views are nothing short Bergen, though the famous fish market, of magical, whether you’re standing at Bergen Troldhaugen Museum and fascinating art the Stegastein Lookout or admiring the galleries are worth exploring too. Head mighty waterfalls, Tvinde and Kjosfossen.

to the top of Mount Fløyen via the And don’t miss the magnificent Flåm Hornelen Olden funicular railway for an unrivalled Railway, a 20km-long spiralling sensation Nordfjord perspective of the city. with an abundance of photo Flåm opportunities along the way. Bergen Nærøyfjord Olden, Nordfjord, Norway Both charming and incredibly beautiful, Lysefjord (Pulpit Rock & Kjerag Boulder) the village of Olden is springboard for To/from discovery. It’s the gateway to the Dover astonishing Jostedalen Glacier and its famous branch, Briskdal. Prices per person

Room type Prices from Kirkwall, Orkney Islands Special single offer £859 Situated on the beautiful Orkney Islands, Interior £759 and home to a range of wildlife, including Ocean View £949 migrating Arctic Terns, Kirkwall is Superior Balcony £1,519 surrounded by gloriously rugged Suite £1,619 countryside just begging to be explored. Prices are correct at time of going to print, but may change at any time. Call for latest prices.

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España Verde 7th May 2017 • 8 nights • Sails from Dover • Balmoral • CRUISE ID: L1708

Uncovering the cultures of the four coastal communities in this gorgeous region makes for an in-depth discovery – and is as gratifying as it gets.

Gijon, Spain SINGLE OFFER FROM £969

La Coruña, Spain Bilbao (from Getxo), Spain Uncover the many galleries and museums Take a tour from Getxo to stylish Bilbao, a of the Old Quarter, or admire the diverse city bursting with northern Basque architecture ranging from Medieval to charm. Don’t miss opportunities to Modernist, and you’ll experience a mous savour the refreshingly modern design of museums; to sample a Pintxo or two, the the Guggenheim, one of the world’s La Coruña traditional local skewered delicacy; and most famous museums; to sample a to discover the Rioja or Txakoli wine the Pintxo or two, the traditional local area is renowned for – a glass or two of skewered delicacy; and to discover the Dover either of these tasty local tipples is a must. Rioja or Txakoli wine the area is renowned for – a glass or two of either of these tasty local tipples is a must.

Gijon, Asturias, Spain Perched on Spain’s Atlantic coastline, Bilbao with botanical gardens, an attractive (from Getxo) Gijón marina and a buzzing local food scene, La Coruña Santander the Gijon of today places little emphasis on its gritty industrial roots. Prices per person Room type Prices from Special single offer £969 Interior £859 Ocean View £1,099 Superior Balcony £1,709 Suite £1,809

Prices are correct at time of going to print, but Bilbao, Spain may change at any time. Call for latest prices.

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Scottish Highlands to the Lizard Peninsula 6th August 2017 • 8 nights • Sails from Newcastle • Balmoral • CRUISE ID: L1717

This carefully constructed itinerary features destinations – and even scenic cruising highlights – with links to iconic TV and film locations; an immensely rewarding journey. Including Poldark, Harry Potter, Broadchurch and Game of Thrones.

Duart Castle SINGLE OFFER FROM £1,149

Falmouth, England Oban, Scotland Falmouth is home to a network of creeks Oban’s stunning surroundings – shaped and rivers, along with a sandy beachfront; by mountains, lochs and islands – have the spectacular landscapes of the area inspired artists, authors and poets for were used as the setting for the iconic centuries. Small yet fascinating, it’s a series Poldark. The town is also the humble Scottish treasure overlooked by gateway to some of England’s most the prominent McCaig’s Tower. resplendent attractions: the Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Belfast, Northern Ireland St. Michael’s Mount and Lizard Peninsula. In Northern Ireland’s vibrant capital, star Oban attractions appear wherever you look, Duart Castle Firth of Lorn Newcastle including Titanic Belfast, while tours to the Portland, England Belfast The Isle of Portland is a thoroughly exceptional natural phenomenon that is Dublin compelling destination. Clinging to the the Giant’s Causeway are not to be missed. south coast of the UK via the shingle- Portland covered Chesil Beach (part of the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast) you’re Falmouth just a tour away from West Bay, the dramatic beach location for ITV’s Prices per person Broadchurch. Portland’s harbour – the Room type Prices from second largest man-made harbour in the Special single offer £1,149 world – connects to the Fleet Lagoon. Interior £1,049 Here you’ll spot the Abbotsbury Ocean View £1,239 Swannery, the world’s only managed Superior Balcony £2,089 colony of nesting Mute Swans. Suite £2,189

Prices are correct at time of going to print, but may change at any time. Call for latest prices.

6 Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

Discover the Baltic 2nd October 2017 • 13 nights • Sails from Southampton • Balmoral • CRUISE ID: L1724

Wonder at the beauty of St. Petersburg; stroll through Tallinn’s UNESCO-listed Old Town; marvel at Riga’s diverse architecture and be sure to visit the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen.

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin SINGLE OFFER FROM £1,499

Cruising the Kiel Canal can be viewed here. Other highlights Take in the charming German countryside include the striking Alexander Nevskij along what is said to be the world’s Cathedral, Kadriorg Palace and the Kumu busiest man-made waterway, the Kiel Art Museum. Canal. At almost 100 kilometres long it links the North Sea with the Baltic. Only St. Petersburg, Russia smaller ships are able to navigate it. A culture-rich, lavish and stylish city, many visitors fall in love with St. Tallinn, Estonia Petersburg. Among the elegant streets Tallinn appears like a fairy-tale and curving canals, the overwhelming St. Petersburg wonderland, with its UNESCO-listed Old beauty extends from the unmistakable Tallinn Town, picturesque churches and cobbled structures of Peterhof Palace, the streets. The oldest part is the medieval Hermitage Museum and the Church of Riga Copenhagen Toompea Hill, remains of the City Wall the Saviour on Spilled Blood, to the Kiel world-famous jewelled eggs on display at Canal Warnemünde the Fabergé Museum. To/from Southampton Riga, Latvia Home to historic castles, beautiful Prices per person churches and houses inspired by a Room type Prices from diverse range of architectural styles, Riga Special single offer £1,499 is one of the area’s must-visit destinations. Interior £1,259 Wonder at the iconic Freedom Ocean View £1,489 Monument, a superb photo opportunity; Superior Balcony £2,569 explore Town Hall Square; sample the Suite £2,699 Latvian tipple – Black Balsam – and some Prices are correct at time of going to print, but local culinary specialities; or tour to the may change at any time. Call for latest prices. beach resort of Jurmala.

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FOC356719_Mr_Bridge_12pp_A4_Brochure_FV.indd 7 01/12/2016 17:05 Rio Carnival & River Plate 23rd January 2018 • 46 nights • Sails from Southampton • Balmoral • CRUISE ID: L1803

With sun, sea, sand and samba awaiting you, this is South America at its finest. Let Balmoral be your guide to discovering an incredible array of places, from Fortaleza and the cultural delights of Buenos Aires, to the tropical beaches of Ilha Grande and Rio’s iconic landmarks.

Ilheus, Brazil SINGLE OFFER FROM £4,749

Rio de Janeiro

With sun, sea, sand and samba awaiting chance to unwind after all that you, this is South America at its finest. Let exhilaration; blissful serenity combines Southampton Balmoral be your guide to discovering an with some fascinating native animal incredible array of places, from Fortaleza species that may come out to play. and the cultural delights of Buenos Aires, Continuing on, there are two days at sea Madeira Lisbon to the tropical beaches of Ilha Grande to catch your breath and enjoy all the Tenerife and Rio’s iconic landmarks. comforts of your ‘home from home’ at Lanzarote sea, before the intoxicating cultural hub Mindelo Praia Your journey starts at a leisurely pace, of Montevideo provides the perfect hors Fortaleza taking in the floral blooms and volcanic d’oeuvre for an overnight stay in Salvador scenery of Madeira, Tenerife and Cape seductive Buenos Aires. With a plethora Rio de Janeiro Verde. Succeeding calls into Fortaleza of historic monuments to discover, and (3 nights) Maceió and Maceió present chances to relax the mighty Iguazu Falls within reach, São Paulo (from Santos) amid the white-sand beaches and you’ll need the extra time to explore all Montevideo crystal-clear waters, go surfing, or go the highlights of the home of the Buenos Aires Punta del Este snorkelling, before the excitement of the Argentine Tango. (overnight) annual Carnival takes over in Rio de Janeiro. Dazzling displays of swirling Heading back up the coast, you’ll visit sequins, feathers and colourful floats are the glamourous resort of Punta del Este; Prices per person accompanied by entrancing Samba Santos, the gateway to the cosmopolitan Room type Prices from beats, creating a euphoric atmosphere city of São Paulo; and Salvador, with its Special single offer £4,749 that you’re sure to remember forever. UNESCO-listed historic centre, colonial Interior £4,179 And with three full days in port, there’s architecture and nearly 300 churches. A Ocean View £4,939 plenty of time to admire Christ the relaxing sailing back to Southampton via Superior Balcony £8,549 Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and Mindelo, Lanzarote and Lisbon follows; Suite £8,789 Copacabana Beach too. the perfect way to round off your Prices are correct at time of going to print, but expedition. Filled with endless memories, may change at any time. Call for latest prices. In Ilha Grande, you’ll benefit from a this is the adventure of a lifetime.

8 Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

FOC356719_Mr_Bridge_12pp_A4_Brochure_FV.indd 8 01/12/2016 17:05 In Search of the Northern Lights 10th March 2018 • 14 nights • Sails from Southampton • Balmoral • CRUISE ID: L1804

Visit Norway at the time of year when the landscapes are at their most dramatic. A host of spellbinding adventures and awe-inspiring wonders await.

Alta, Finnmark, Norway SINGLE OFFER FROM £1,599

Trondheim, Norway Alta, Finnmark, Norway The former capital of Norway, Trondheim An overnight stay in Alta provides the is packed with interesting attractions, perfect chance to spot the incredible many of which can be explored easily on Northern Lights – the stuff dreams are foot. Marvel at the vividly-painted made of. But the list of inspirational wooden houses of Bakklandet or the experiences to tick off while you’re here Gothic-style Nidaros Cathedral, while goes on. Explore the unique Sorrisniva intriguing museums cover everything Igloo Hotel; unearth ancient Sami culture from musical instruments to the history of at the Alta Museum; learn of the town’s Alta (overnight) skiing in Norway. For a unique perspective connection to WWII at the Tirpitz Torghatten Tromsø of the city, Kayak down the Nidelva River. Museum; or opt for the full adventure and Narvik Rørvik Seven Sisters go snowmobiling or husky sledding mountain range Tromsø, Norway through the flawless Arctic landscapes. Trondheim Surrounded by snow-topped mountain Åndalsnes peaks, Tromsø is hidden away in Norway’s Åndalsnes, Romsdalsfjord, Bergen intercoastal passage. Diverse experiences Norway range from snowmobiling and husky Don’t be fooled by Åndalsnes’ smaller To/from Southampton sledding to perusing the many captivating stature; an enchanting journey of museums on offer, including the Tromsø discovery awaits you. Step aboard the Prices per person War Museum. Alternatively, savour the awe-inspiring Rauma Railway, which Room type Prices from neoclassical architecture, marvel at the weaves past plummeting waterfalls and Special single offer £1,599 views from Mount Storsteinen, or tour to the Trollveggen (Troll Wall), the tallest Interior £1,429 the unique, iceberg-shaped Arctic vertical rock face in Europe. The scenery’s Ocean View £1,669 Cathedral, the Tromsø Wilderness Centre, connection to Harry Potter and the Half- Superior Balcony £2,659 or the charismatic Mack Brewery. Blood Prince ensures you are in for a Suite £2,849 magical adventure. Prices are correct at time of going to print, but may change at any time. Call for latest prices.

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FOC356719_Mr_Bridge_12pp_A4_Brochure_FV.indd 9 01/12/2016 17:05 MARQUEE DECK 11 HIGHLAND DECK 10 BRIDGE DECK 9 LIDO DECK 8 LOUNGE DECK 7 MAIN DECK 6 ATLANTIC DECK 5 CORAL DECK 4 MARINA DECK 3

Balmoral Deck Plans Key to symbols

Ê 6002 6001 5002 5001 4 berth room Room with restricted view 4002 4001 6004 6003 5004 5003 4004 4003 6006 6005 5006 5005 3 berth room Room with fully restricted view 4006 4005 NEPTUNE 6008 6007 5008 5007 LOUNGE 6010 6009 5012 5010 5009 5011 4008 4007 Room with bathtub Adapted for wheelchair users 4009 6012 6011 5016 5014 5015 5017 4012 4010 4011 4014 4015 6016 6014 6015 6017 5020 5018 5019 5021 4016 4017 3002 8008 8006 8005 8007 (Shower is usually also 5024 5022 4020 4018 4019 6020 6018 6019 6021 5023 5025 4021 3004 8012 8011 5028 5026 5027 5029 4024 4022 4023 4025 included over the bath) 8010 8009 6024 6022 6023 6025 3006 3008 6028 6026 6027 6029 5032 5030 5031 5033 4028 4026 4027 4029 8014 8015 3010 3012 6032 5036 5034 5035 5037 4032 4030 4031 4033 6030 6031 6033 3014 3016 8016 8017 6036 6034 6035 6037 5040 5038 5039 5041 4034 4035 BRIDGE LIFTS FITNESS CENTRE 6038 6039 5042 5043 4036 4037 8018 8019 3018 6040 5044 5045 4038 4039 6041 LIFTS 3020 8020 8021 LIFTS 6042 LIFTS 6043 5046 LIFTS 5047 4040 4041 ATLANTIS SPA 3022 8022 8023 PHOTO 6044 6045 5048 5049 9008 9006 9007 9009 LIFTS SHOP 3024 3001 6046 6047 5050 5051 4042 4043 8024 8025 BOUTIQUES 3026 3003 9012 9010 9011 9015 6048 6049 5052 5053 4044 4045 3005 3028 8026 8027 5054 5055 5057 9014 9017 PORT 6050 6051 4046 4047 3007 PHOTO 3030 5059 MEDICAL 3009 SHOP 6052 6053 5058 5056 5061 4050 4048 4049 4051 9016 9019 GALLERY 8028 8029 5062 5060 5063 5065 CENTRE 3032 3011 6054 6055 4054 4052 4053 4055 3015 9018 9021 8030 8031 5066 5064 5067 5069 3034 6056 6057 4058 4056 4057 4059 LIFTS 3036 3017 8032 8033 FUTURE 6058 5070 5068 5071 5073 9020 9023 6059 4062 4060 4061 4063 3019 CRUISE 3038 3040 8034 8035 5074 5072 5075 5077 3021 9022 9025 SALES 4066 4064 4065 4067 8036 8037 SHORE 5078 5076 5079 5081 3042 3044 3023 GUEST 6060 6061 4070 4068 4069 4071 9024 9027 8038 8039 CARD TOURS 5082 5080 5083 5085 3046 3048 3025 SERVICES 6062 6063 4074 4072 4073 4075 ●◄ LIFTS ●◄ ROOM OFFICE 5084 5087 3050 3052 3027 9026 9031 9029 8040 8041 6064 6065 1002 1001 4078 4076 4077 4079 5086 5089 3054 3029 8042 8043 6068 3056 ●◄ ●◄ 9028 9035 9033 6066 6067 6069 4082 4080 4081 5088 5091 3058 3060 3031 1004 1003 8044 8045 6072 6070 6071 9037 4086 4084 4083 4085 9032 9030 5090 5092 5095 5093 3062 ●◄ ●◄ 8046 8047 6076 6075 3033 1006 1005 5094 5096 5099 5097 4090 4088 4087 4089 ARTS & 9036 9034 9039 6077 3064 3035 OBSERVATORY 8048 8049 THE ART 6078 6074 6073 CRAFTS 5098 5100 5103 5101 4094 4092 4091 4093 ●◄ ●◄ 6079 3066 3037 LOUNGE 9040 9038 9041 8050 8052 8051 BOOKMARK GALLERY 6080 ROOM 1008 1007 5102 5104 5107 5105 4098 4096 4095 4097

CAFÉ 6082 6081 6083 3068 3039 LIFTS ● 9042 9043 8054 6084 ● 5106 5108 5111 5109 4102 4100 4099 4101 ●◄ ●◄ 8056 8053 6086 6085 8058 6088 6087 3070 3041 1010 1009 ● 9044 ● 9045 5110 5112 5115 4106 4104 4103 MARQUEE LIBRARY 6092 6090 6089 8060 8062 8055 LAUNDRY 3072 3043 BAR ●◄ ●◄ ● 9046 ● 9047 5114 5116 5117 4110 4108 4105 6096 6094 6091 ROOM 3076 3045 1012 1011 8066 8064 6093 5118 5119 4112 4107 ●◄ ●◄ ● 9050 ● 9049 6098 3080 3047 8057 5122 5120 5121 5123 4111 1014 1015 9048 8068 MORNING 6102 6100 6095 6097 4116 4114 4109 ● 9052 ● 9051 3084 3049 ●◄ LIGHT PUB 5126 5124 5125 5127 ●◄ 6106 6104 6099 6101 4120 4118 4115 4117 3051 1016 1017 8070 3086 ● 9054 ● 9053 8059 6105 5128 5228 5129 5131 9056 6108 6112 6103 4124 4122 4119 4121 3053 ●◄ 8072 8061 5133 3088 ● 9058 ● 6110 6107 6109 5130 4126 4123 3055

1018 9055 F F 8074 8063 5132 5135 3090 3057 ●◄ ● 9060 4128 4125 1019 JACUZZIS ●◄ 8076 8065 5134 5137 4130 4127 1020 ● 9062 ● 5136 5139 9057 8078 8067 4132 4129 POOL ●◄ ● 9064 5138 5141 1022 8080 8069 4134 4131 5140 5143 9066 9059 LIFTS 4136 4133 ●◄ ●◄ LIFTS 1024 1021 9068 9061 LIFTS 4138 LIFTS 4135 8071 8082 5142 5145 SUN 4140 4137 DECK 9070 9063 5144 5147 4142 4139 8073 1026 1023 8084 5146 5149 9072 9065 4144 4141 LIFTS 5148 5151 9074 9067 PALMS 4146 4143 8075 8086 5152 5150 5153 5155 CAFÉ 4148 4145 ◄1028 ◄1025 9076 9069 5156 5154 5157 5159 BALLINDALLOCH 4152 4150 4147 4149 RESTAURANT 5160 5158 5161 5163 ◄1030 ◄1027 9078 LIFTS 9071 4156 4154 4151 4153 5164 5162 5165 5167 4160 4158 4155 4157 LIFTS 9080 9073 5168 5166 5169 4164 4162 4159 ●● 5170 5171 9082 9100 9093 9075 4166 4161 ●● 5172 5173 9084 9102 9095 9077 THE 5174 5175 9104 LIDO 9086 9079 GRILL 5176 5177 4168 4163 SPEY AVON 9106 LOUNGE 5178 5179 4170 4165 RESTAURANT RESTAURANT 9088 9081 GAMING 5180 5181 4172 4167 9090 9083 TABLES 5182 5183 4174 4169 9110 9097 9108 9092 9085 5184 5185 4176 4171 LAUNDRY LIDO BAR 4178 4173 ROOM 9094 9087 4180 4175 9098 9091 9096 9089 AFT POOL

GOLF NET JACUZZIS

Marquee Deck 11 Highland Deck 10 Bridge Deck 9 Lido Deck 8 Lounge Deck 7

Room details All rooms have a hairdryer, safe, interactive television, tea and coffee making facilities and an en-suite with shower (some rooms include a bathtub as indicated on the deck plan). Any additional features are detailed below.

Suites (with balcony/terrace Suites (with balcony, refrigerator Picture window Rooms balcony, refrigerator, mini-bar & & mini-bar) A Superior Ocean View E Ocean View Suite Dreams benefits*) BJ Balcony Junior Suite Lido Deck Approx 200 sq ft Coral Deck Approx 165 sq ft PS Premier Suite Highland, Bridge Approx 200 sq ft B Superior Ocean View K Single Ocean View Highland Deck From 430 sq ft & Lido Decks Lido & Main Decks Approx 165 sq ft Coral Deck Approx 165 sq ft MS Marquee Suite Adapted Suites available Adapted rooms available Highland Deck Approx 390 sq ft C Superior Ocean View Porthole Rooms SS Superior Suite Balcony Rooms Atlantic Deck Approx 165 sq ft F Ocean View Highland From 275 sq ft BA Superior Balcony Room & Bridge Decks Bridge Deck Approx 190 sq ft J Single Superior Ocean View Atlantic, Coral Approx 165 sq ft Lido Deck Approx 160 sq ft & Marina Decks JB Single Balcony Suite BC Balcony Room Rooms 8061 & 8072 have a small balcony L Single Ocean View Bridge Deck Approx 200 sq ft Bridge & Lido Decks Approx 180 sq ft D Ocean View Marina Deck Approx 140 sq ft Atlantic & Approx 165 sq ft Coral Decks

10 Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

FOC356719_Mr_Bridge_12pp_A4_Brochure_FV.indd 10 01/12/2016 17:05 MARQUEE DECK 11 HIGHLAND DECK 10 BRIDGE DECK 9 LIDO DECK 8 LOUNGE DECK 7 MAIN DECK 6 ATLANTIC DECK 5 CORAL DECK 4 MARINA DECK 3

6002 6001 5002 5001 4002 4001 6004 6003 5004 5003 4004 4003 6006 6005 5006 5005 4006 4005 NEPTUNE 6008 6007 5008 5007 LOUNGE 6010 6009 5012 5010 5009 5011 4008 4007 4009 6012 6011 5016 5014 5015 5017 4012 4010 4011 4014 4015 6016 6014 6015 6017 5020 5018 5019 5021 4016 4017 3002 8008 8006 8005 8007 5024 5022 4020 4018 4019 6020 6018 6019 6021 5023 5025 4021 3004 8012 8011 5028 5026 5027 5029 4024 4022 4023 4025 8010 8009 6024 6022 6023 6025 3006 3008 6028 6026 6027 6029 5032 5030 5031 5033 4028 4026 4027 4029 8014 8015 3010 3012 6032 5036 5034 5035 5037 4032 4030 4031 4033 6030 6031 6033 3014 3016 8016 8017 6036 6034 6035 6037 5040 5038 5039 5041 4034 4035 BRIDGE LIFTS FITNESS CENTRE 6038 6039 5042 5043 4036 4037 8018 8019 3018 6040 5044 5045 4038 4039 6041 LIFTS 3020 8020 8021 LIFTS 6042 LIFTS 6043 5046 LIFTS 5047 4040 4041 ATLANTIS SPA 3022 8022 8023 PHOTO 6044 6045 5048 5049 9008 9006 9007 9009 LIFTS SHOP 3024 3001 6046 6047 5050 5051 4042 4043 8024 8025 BOUTIQUES 3026 3003 9012 9010 9011 9015 6048 6049 5052 5053 4044 4045 3005 3028 8026 8027 5054 5055 5057 9014 9017 PORT 6050 6051 4046 4047 3007 PHOTO 3030 5059 MEDICAL 3009 SHOP 6052 6053 5058 5056 5061 4050 4048 4049 4051 9016 9019 GALLERY 8028 8029 5062 5060 5063 5065 CENTRE 3032 3011 6054 6055 4054 4052 4053 4055 3015 9018 9021 8030 8031 5066 5064 5067 5069 3034 6056 6057 4058 4056 4057 4059 LIFTS 3036 3017 8032 8033 FUTURE 6058 5070 5068 5071 5073 9020 9023 6059 4062 4060 4061 4063 3019 CRUISE 3038 3040 8034 8035 5074 5072 5075 5077 3021 9022 9025 SALES 4066 4064 4065 4067 8036 8037 SHORE 5078 5076 5079 5081 3042 3044 3023 GUEST 6060 6061 4070 4068 4069 4071 9024 9027 8038 8039 CARD TOURS 5082 5080 5083 5085 3046 3048 3025 SERVICES 6062 6063 4074 4072 4073 4075 ●◄ LIFTS ●◄ ROOM OFFICE 5084 5087 3050 3052 3027 9026 9031 9029 8040 8041 6064 6065 1002 1001 4078 4076 4077 4079 5086 5089 3054 3029 8042 8043 6068 3056 ●◄ ●◄ 9028 9035 9033 6066 6067 6069 4082 4080 4081 5088 5091 3058 3060 3031 1004 1003 8044 8045 6072 6070 6071 9037 4086 4084 4083 4085 9032 9030 5090 5092 5095 5093 3062 ●◄ ●◄ 8046 8047 6076 6075 3033 1006 1005 5094 5096 5099 5097 4090 4088 4087 4089 ARTS & 9036 9034 9039 6077 3064 3035 OBSERVATORY 8048 8049 THE ART 6078 6074 6073 CRAFTS 5098 5100 5103 5101 4094 4092 4091 4093 ●◄ ●◄ 6079 3066 3037 LOUNGE 9040 9038 9041 8050 8052 8051 BOOKMARK GALLERY 6080 ROOM 1008 1007 5102 5104 5107 5105 4098 4096 4095 4097

CAFÉ 6082 6081 6083 3068 3039 LIFTS ● 9042 9043 8054 6084 ● 5106 5108 5111 5109 4102 4100 4099 4101 ●◄ ●◄ 8056 8053 6086 6085 8058 6088 6087 3070 3041 1010 1009 ● 9044 ● 9045 5110 5112 5115 4106 4104 4103 MARQUEE LIBRARY 6092 6090 6089 8060 8062 8055 LAUNDRY 3072 3043 BAR ●◄ ●◄ ● 9046 ● 9047 5114 5116 5117 4110 4108 4105 6096 6094 6091 ROOM 3076 3045 1012 1011 8066 8064 6093 5118 5119 4112 4107 ●◄ ●◄ ● 9050 ● 9049 6098 3080 3047 8057 5122 5120 5121 5123 4111 1014 1015 9048 8068 MORNING 6102 6100 6095 6097 4116 4114 4109 ● 9052 ● 9051 3084 3049 ●◄ LIGHT PUB 5126 5124 5125 5127 ●◄ 6106 6104 6099 6101 4120 4118 4115 4117 3051 1016 1017 8070 3086 ● 9054 ● 9053 8059 6105 5128 5228 5129 5131 9056 6108 6112 6103 4124 4122 4119 4121 3053 ●◄ 8072 8061 5133 3088 ● 9058 ● 6110 6107 6109 5130 4126 4123 3055 F 1018 9055 F 8074 8063 5132 5135 3090 3057 ●◄ ● 9060 4128 4125 1019 JACUZZIS ●◄ 8076 8065 5134 5137 4130 4127 1020 ● 9062 ● 5136 5139 9057 8078 8067 4132 4129 POOL ●◄ ● 9064 5138 5141 1022 8080 8069 4134 4131 5140 5143 9066 9059 LIFTS 4136 4133 ●◄ ●◄ LIFTS 1024 1021 9068 9061 LIFTS 4138 LIFTS 4135 8071 8082 5142 5145 SUN 4140 4137 DECK 9070 9063 5144 5147 4142 4139 8073 1026 1023 8084 5146 5149 9072 9065 4144 4141 LIFTS 5148 5151 9074 9067 PALMS 4146 4143 8075 8086 5152 5150 5153 5155 CAFÉ 4148 4145 ◄1028 ◄1025 9076 9069 5156 5154 5157 5159 BALLINDALLOCH 4152 4150 4147 4149 RESTAURANT 5160 5158 5161 5163 ◄1030 ◄1027 9078 LIFTS 9071 4156 4154 4151 4153 5164 5162 5165 5167 4160 4158 4155 4157 LIFTS 9080 9073 5168 5166 5169 4164 4162 4159 ●● 5170 5171 9082 9100 9093 9075 4166 4161 ●● 5172 5173 9084 9102 9095 9077 THE 5174 5175 9104 LIDO 9086 9079 GRILL 5176 5177 4168 4163 SPEY AVON 9106 LOUNGE 5178 5179 4170 4165 RESTAURANT RESTAURANT 9088 9081 GAMING 5180 5181 4172 4167 9090 9083 TABLES 5182 5183 4174 4169 9110 9097 9108 9092 9085 5184 5185 4176 4171 LAUNDRY LIDO BAR 4178 4173 ROOM 9094 9087 4180 4175 9098 9091 9096 9089 AFT POOL

GOLF NET JACUZZIS

Main Deck 6 Atlantic Deck 5 Coral Deck 4 Marina Deck 3

Interior Rooms NOTES G Superior Interior Room I Interior Room Room layouts, colour schemes and bed layouts may vary across the ship. Balcony sizes vary and many are under cover (shaded). Bridge & Lido Decks Approx 160 sq ft Atlantic, Coral Approx 160 sq ft & Marina Decks rd th Adapted rooms available Any 3 /4 beds on B - I grade rooms will be in bunk-bed style (folded away when not in use). M Single Superior Interior N Single Interior Room Bridge Deck Approx 160 sq ft Main & Approx 130 sq ft Further information, including details on our smoking policy, can be Marina Decks found on pages 234-237. H Interior Room This information is correct and up-to-date at the time of going to Main & Approx 160 sq ft Atlantic Decks print, but may be subject to change without prior notice. E&OE. *Suite Dreams – see pages 30-31 for more details.

11 1 9 For more information on our ships, including digital deck plans, room images and virtual reality videos, please visit the ‘our ships’ 5 section of our website at fredolsencruises.com

Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk 11

FOC356719_Mr_Bridge_12pp_A4_Brochure_FV.indd 11 01/12/2016 17:05 F r e d . O l s e n ’s Cruise Sale

There’s so much included with your cruise With Fred. Olsen you’ll find so much is included in the cruise price. Rest assured that all of the following comes as standard: Comfortable rooms and suites with flat-screen TV, hairdryer, tea & coffee making facilities and individually controlled air conditioning Tempting dining throughout your cruise – from five course à la carte dinners to casual buffets and late-night snacks Self-service tea & coffee at selected venues, afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes, and in-room sandwiches and snacks Use of gym, swimming pools and Jacuzzis A wide choice of on board activities and lectures throughout the day All evening entertainment, including dancing, cabaret shows and live music Captain’s Drinks Party and Gala Buffet All UK port taxes (where collectable in advance) So you can relax and enjoy it all.

Contact Mr Bridge to book now on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

These terms and conditions are in addition to Fred. Olsen’s standard Terms and Conditions which are available on our website, www.fredolsencruises.com and on request. Both must be read before booking information shown is correct at time of going to press (December 2016). Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a cabin, unless otherwise stated Solo offer: Offer applies to single occupancy of selected twin room grades (twin room for one person), subject to availability and can be withdrawn or amended at any time without prior notice. This offer is not combinable with any other offer (except the Enjoyment Promise) unless specified and only applies to specific cruises and on selected room grades. Offer ends 01 March 2017. E&OE.

FOC356719_Mr_Bridge_12pp_A4_Brochure_FV.indd 12 01/12/2016 17:05 Answers to Bernard Magee’s BERNARD Bidding Quizzes 1-3 MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE on the Cover TUTORIAL CD

We would prefer the auction to finish before the sixth bid, but sometimes it can take a little longer to make the final decision, either because two misfitting hands have ACOL BIDDING to find the best partscore, or because two stronger hands have more to discuss.

3♣ opening, but will have one extra high 1. Dealer East. Love All. card in it. You need to find out where his ♠ K 3 ♠ A Q 4 2 strength/length outside clubs is, so you ♥ A 8 7 6 3 N ♥ 2 need to get him to bid again. The right ♦ J 10 9 4 2 W E ♦ Q 3 game contract could be 3NT, 4♥, 4♠ or S MAC or ♣ 3 ♣ Q J 10 9 8 2 5♣. You can use a bid in the fourth suit to Windows ask East to bid again. Fourth suit forcing can always be used artificially even when West North East South it arrives at the sixth bid of the auction. 1♣ Pass Over 3♦ East would bid 3♥ and now 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass you can go for 4♥. 1NT Pass 2♣ Pass ?

Pass. You probably expected your 1NT 3. Dealer East. Love All. rebid to finish the auction, but your ♠ A ♠ K J 6 5 Throughout 200 deals split into partner had other ideas and has rebid ♥ K Q 7 6 5 N ♥ A 4 3 ten chapters, Bernard evaluates his first suit. He has done this in the ♦ 3 2 W E ♦ A 9 8 7 S your bids, praising the correct knowledge that you probably do not like ♣ K Q J 4 3 ♣ 7 6 ones and discussing the wrong his suit. This means that he should have ones. a good six-card suit and be prepared to play opposite a singleton in your hand. West North East South l Opening Bids You do have a singleton club, but should 1NT Pass and Responses trust your partner’s decision and pass. 2♦1 Pass 2♥ Pass l Slams and East is quite right, his hand is only 3♣ Pass 3♥ Pass Strong Openings really suitable for a club contract, unless ? 1Transfer you had held four-card spade support. l Support for Partner 3♠. You showed five hearts by making a l Pre-empting transfer (2♦) and then rebid in your second l suit, to show a strong distributional hand. £66 2. Dealer East. Love All. Your partner reverted to 3♥, which shows l No-trump ♠ A K Q 2 ♠ 8 7 a fit (3+ cards) otherwise he would bid Openings ♥ K Q J 7 6 N ♥ A 2 3NT or perhaps even 4♣. and Responses ♦ 8 3 W E ♦ 6 5 With a fit, you can re-evaluate your S l Opener’s and ♣ 7 4 ♣ A K J 6 5 3 2 hand and with it your expectations for Responder’s Rebids the hand. 5-5 hands are wonderful if you find a fit, particularly if the suits are l Minors and Misfits West North East South good. It is just a four loser hand, so there l Doubles 1♣ Pass is no doubt if your partner has aces and l Competitive Auctions 1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass kings rather than queens and jacks, a 2♠ Pass 3♣ Pass slam could be on. ? With hearts agreed by partner’s 3♥ bid, you can make a of 3♠. You Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, 3♦. Your partner has been stubborn: are hoping your partner can return the Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH persisting on bidding his clubs – he favour by bidding 4♣ or 4♦. Here, East ( 01483 489961 should have six or seven of them. His would bid 4♦ and you could use Black- www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop hand will be very similar to a pre-emptive wood, finishing in 6♥. ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 39 A History of Playing Cards: Part One by Paul Bostock

Many Kinds of Playing Cards

Standard Playing Cards Bells, Hearts and Leaves. Indian cards, called Ganjifa, are round, beautifully hand painted and come in sets of different Serious bridge players want their cards to look like … sizes, 96 and 120 being common. Japan, China and Iran also playing cards. Makers of cards have tried many innovations have traditional designs. over several centuries but almost all failed to catch on. Even the great ideas, like the index letters and numbers in cards’ corners, took time to become accepted. After all, anything unusual is a distraction and a possible source of mistakes. As a result, cards for use in competitive games and gambling have a small range of accepted designs, and these we call Standard. The modern pattern for bridge competitions is called English Standard or International Standard. The illustrated cards below give some idea of the range.

Back Through Time

Our second journey is back through time. The earliest cards are very different. They are rectangular with squared corners and the court cards show full length figures standing up. They were made by hand using wooden blocks to print the outlines, and paintbrush and stencils to fill in the colours. A future article will show the steps that took these ancient cards to the modern standard. Some variations are shown Across the World below; these are the original English Standard pattern and the cards shown were all made around 1760. While considering standard cards, we can make two journeys. Our first journey is across the world, and we find that different areas have different standard designs. English cards evolved from French, so the French pack is very similar except that the court cards have different figures and the indices are ‘R D V’ (Roi, Dame, Valet). Note also that French Standard court figures have names (the ♥Q below is Judith). The cards of Spain and hence South America have Clubs, Coins, Cups and Swords as suits, 12 cards in each suit and a Cavalier instead of a Queen (the card 11 below). Italian Cards vary by region, some with French suits some Spanish, and usually 40 cards in all. German suits are Acorns (below),

Page 40 BRIDGE January 2017 Non-Standard Playing Cards

Non-standard cards have re-designed faces and they may or BERNARD MAGEE may not be intended for playing with. The most common types are those where the courts depict real people (often at Denham Grove with a particular theme) or where all the cards are re-drawn near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG. by a graphic artist. Illustrated cards were very popular around 1700, where the 52 faces are used as a story board, the full set depicting historic events or capturing other 13-16 January 2017 information. Examples include accounts of the Spanish £399pp Friday – Monday Armada, the Victories of Marlborough, the Cries of London and the Counties of England and Wales. £369pp Friday – Sunday Full Board – No Single Supplement1 Playing Card Backs Limited places for Thursday night available. £65pp single, £45pp double/twin. So far we have only been concerned with the fronts of the cards. Backs were in fact plain for many centuries – literally unprinted or sometimes a single colour – and gradually became patterned from about 1800. With improvements in Topics printing, colourful designs became the norm from the 1840s MORE SIGNALLING and now they are often the main interest for many collectors. I will be looking at different times when you signal and the The basic artistic back is generally intended to showcase messages you might want to give. Using signals in new ways can the artist or simply to make the cards more attractive to greatly improve your enjoyment of defence as well as pushing up play with. It was not long before card backs were used for your scores. promotional purposes too. Collectors nowadays follow 4-4-4-1 HANDS categories like films, drinks, cigarettes and airlines. Everybody’s least favourite type of opening hand. I will be going through the methods for choosing the right suit to open as well as coping with responses. As responder you need to be aware of the options and work out your partner’s type of hand. Strong 4-4-4-1 hands can be just as difficult and will be dealt with too. DRAWING TRUMPS This seminar sounds straightforward, but we will not be simply drawing trumps, we will be considering the reasons for delaying. Keeping control of trumps is an important part of declarer play. Knowing when to risk leaving trumps out and when not. FIVE-CARD MAJORS Popular around the world, this method is becoming more popular here. It is not a method I would advocate for club players, however it is important to understand the method as you will need to defend against it. Other special back types are Souvenir and Commemorative. FUNDAMENTALS OF DEFENCE Souvenir cards feature a specific place or event, whereas Defence is by far the hardest aspect of bridge: this seminar commemorative cards relate to a date or anniversary. The seeks to show the building blocks that can start you off on a cards above show some travel souvenirs. Royal births, wonderful journey. If you can get the basics right then the more deaths, coronations and marriages are a collectible theme. complicated aspects of defence can follow. The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing-Cards has SUPPORTING MINORS produced a set of cards every year since 1882 and their Minors as the name suggests are not as important as majors, but backs are almost all in this commemorative category, recent we have to bid them and it is important to know your system. examples being the Queen’s 60th year as monarch (2013), Bidding more 3NT contracts will get you better scores, but being the centenary of the Christmas truce (2014) and the 800th able to spot a slam will put you a cut above. Lord Mayor’s Parade (2015). This is another very collectible series. ■ 6 seminar sessions with Bernard2 6 sessions of supervised play3 The author is a Court Assistant in the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards – see Contact Mr Bridge to book your place www.makersofplayingcards.co.uk. Many more sets of cards or for further details: ( 01483 489961 are illustrated on the author’s website www.plainbacks.com 1Subject to availability 2Filmed 3Not with Bernard Magee

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 41 Acol with its weak no-trump even more about how the and four-card majors is game should be taught. READERS’ superior in the part-score Brian Barrett, Northampton. contest; / were superior for slam A VIEW OF THE EBU bidding; / I must ask you give some majeure cinquième/2-over-1 good news to the EBU. I LETTERS game-forcing, which are understand that mistakes all five-card major/strong have been made which no-trump systems, are are detrimental both to the HAPPY ENDING Spouse and Dave more superior in game bidding. organisation and to bridge. See Readers’ Letters in than compensate for my The tactics and skills But let us have some balance. BRIDGE, Number 167. temporary abstinence with required for duplicate The EBU has much that November 2016, page 43. their consumption of real pairs are quite different is greatly to its credit. It Unfortunately, not ale. However, I still regularly from those required for should now be allowed to successful, but in the end, enjoy a glass of red wine at teams/Swiss pairs, etc. take account of the advice I feel it was a good result. the Riverside Club, where I This means that when given in your columns to Although I had hoped to do not deny that partnering the beginner/improver, ensure that Best Behaviour be elected, it was perhaps Millie can be a factor in who is getting reasonable at Bridge (an excellent policy ambitious. I was very pleased requiring a later refill. results in club matchpoint which has really helped) with all the support. I think Malcolm’s pairs, ventures forth into the goes from top to bottom. Most of all I detected, in combination of social bridge competitive arena of teams As a player of whist and both ‘official’ words at the and wine sounds ideal, and and Swiss pairs, they are solo in my youth, I was shown meeting and in informal urge him to continue with at a distinct disadvantage. how to play rubber bridge by chats, that discussion has his established tradition. They are playing against friends who had just picked switched to some of the areas Wendy Wensum, the field, with an inferior it up. We were dunces but I believe urgently need airing. Norwich, Norfolk. system for the scoring system were quite happy doing I was very glad that a date in use; they are up against our own thing. How could for the Chairs’ meeting was SWIFT SERVICE players playing, to them, anyone really think the EBU announced for July next year. I recently arranged my an unfamiliar system and should take responsibility I would love to get some subscription to your monthly their card-play and defence for social bridge? ‘real’, rather than time-filling magazine BRIDGE. I was lacks safety-play ability and Once, there were whist topics, on to the agenda. both surprised and very other tactical knowledge. drives everywhere. Now I am going to have a bit pleased to receive the Is it any wonder that a there are none. The of a break from it all now, November issue together large percentage go once reason is the same as as I have a club to run and with a Mr Bridge 2017 to a competition and do the fall in the numbers Christmas things to sort. diary the following day. not then return, but play playing bridge. Modern Nicky Bainbridge by email. The diary is first class and socially where they are life offers opportunities for the magazine seems to be comfortable? In my view this entertainment which used WINE AND WENDY an excellent production, the is an additional reason why not to exist. The competition content being informative, a lot of players choose to is overwhelming. At least instructive and interesting. remain social players and the we do have many thriving John Hamilton by email. competitive area withers. bridge clubs and the Name and address supplied. teaching scheme is bringing MATTERS ARISING more members. The EBU Julian Pottage’s article and PASS IT ON initiative of advertising is Andrew Kambites’ EBU Just a suggestion as to how promising. The situation description in the December to fill a dark, wet Sunday does need promotion and magazine raise several afternoon – play a Bernard effort, which is where the I would like to assure points. Our bridge clubs have Magee tutorial DVD. EBU could be effective. Malcolm Freeth, Lifestyle a high percentage of social You will learn a lot about Ann Stevenson, Choice in Readers’ Letters, players and they can get bridge and you will learn Hopton, Stafford. ■ BRIDGE 168, that I have reasonable results playing the not turned teetotal. same system as the majority Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey It is true that when playing (the field) in the dominant GU21 2TH or e-mail [email protected] with my friend Sally, a keen matchpointed pairs. E-mail correspondents are asked to include their name, full postal address, telephone number and to send no walker, we often drink herbal It is well-known that attachments. tea after a day’s rambling. different systems are Letters may be edited for length and clarity. On these occasions, designed for different games:

Page 42 BRIDGE January 2017 Answers to Bernard Magee’s BERNARD Bidding Quizzes 4-6 MAGEE’S on the Cover INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL CD because if you had only four spades, you 4. Dealer East. Love All. would be in an uncomfortable position. ♠ 8 4 3 2 ♠ 9 7 However, listening closer to his bidding DECLARER ♥ 7 6 N ♥ K Q J 3 will allow you to picture his hand: he ♦ A Q J 7 5 4 W E ♦ Void has suggested five diamonds, four clubs PLAY S ♣ 7 ♣ A Q J 10 5 4 2 and three spades, which leaves just one heart. This fits perfectly with your hand – you have five spades, so have a fit and West North East South your ♥A is perfect opposite a singleton. MAC or 1♣ Pass Your hand could not be much better so Windows 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass you should raise to 3♠ and your partner 2♦ Pass 3♣ Pass will be happy to go to game. ? East made a good third bid – with 16 points and knowing that you might have Pass. Do you trust your partner? just two diamonds, he wanted to find You thought that he had to pass your the best fit: had you been weaker, but 2♦ bid, but he has surprised you by with five spades you could have passed bidding on. You have suggested six good 2♠ and that would have been the best diamonds and a weak hand, so why partscore. However, with such a good fit, would he bid on? you have found an excellent game. Because he believes that he knows better. Given that you have perfectly de- Bernard develops your scribed your hand, you should trust him 6. Dealer East. Love All. declarer play technique in and let him play in 3♣. If he is wrong, you ♠ J 10 7 6 ♠ 9 4 3 the course of ten can discuss it (calmly) afterwards. Howev- ♥ K Q J N ♥ 7 introductory exercises and er, East is quite right to persist with his suit ♦ 4 3 2 W E ♦ A K 8 7 6 S and 3♣ is a much better contract than 2♦. ♣ 7 6 5 ♣ A K Q 9 120 complete deals. On a bad day, against accurate l Suit Establishment defence against 3♣, you may well lose in No-trumps two spades, two hearts and a club, but West North East South l Suit Establishment one off is likely to be a reasonable score 1♦ Pass in Suits with such a nasty misfit. 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ Pass l Hold-ups ? l Ruffing for 5. Dealer East. Love All. Extra Tricks ♠ A 8 7 6 5 ♠ 9 4 3 2NT. East has the same hand as on the £76 l Entries in ♥ A 8 4 N ♥ 7 previous question – he has pushed on the W E No-trumps ♦ 4 3 2 ♦ A K 8 7 6 auction unexpectedly in order to find the S ♣ 7 6 ♣ A K Q 9 best contract. This time you have just four l Delaying spades, so things are not so good. Know- Drawing Trumps ing the shape of your partner’s hand, you l Using the Lead West North East South have to estimate the best partscore and 1♦ Pass with such robust hearts opposite partner’s l Trump Control 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass singleton you should suggest 2NT. l Endplays & Avoidance 2♦ Pass 2♠ Pass This is not an invitational bid because l Using the Bidding ? you have already shown your weakness with the 2♦ rebid. Your 2NT bid is 3♠. Not unreasonably, you thought your estimating the most likely best partscore. Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, 2♦ bid might end the auction, but your East should pass and you have a Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH partner has made another bid. This has reasonable chance in 2NT – likely ( 01483 489961 to be based on strength and be a game losing four tricks in the majors and one www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop try. He would not bid 2♠ on a weak hand, diamond. ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 43 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum

Episode 57: A Cornish Jaunt Part 2: Makeshift Teams

Spouse and I are on a short holiday in Cornwall with our friends Sally and Dave and their walking group.

ally and Dave suggested we join took a different route. The first two them and the group for the day’s Dealer West. Love All. bids were the same, but Ed in the East ramble. Fully prepared for any ♠ K J 9 7 6 seat used Blackwood to discover that Sweather, we all set off in the minibus ♥ A 7 2 Stan, West, held two aces and bid the for the Lizard peninsula. The day was ♦ 5 slam. windy with occasional showers. The ♣ K 10 9 6 walk was exhilarating, especially on ♠ 10 3 ♠ A Q 8 5 4 2 West North East South the open coastal stretches from Cadg- ♥ Void N ♥ K Stan Spouse Ed Dave with to Kynance Cove but the inland ♦ A J 10 9 8 7 3 2 W E ♦ K Q 4 3♦ Dbl 4NT1 Pass return route across the Lizard with its ♣ A 4 3 S ♣ Q J 8 5♥2 Dbl 6♦ All Pass swamp-like conditions proved very ♠ Void 1Blackwood tricky in places and several unexpect- ♥ Q J 10 9 8 6 5 4 3 2Two Aces ed diversions were necessary. Corn- ♦ 6 wall seems to be a county that appre- ♣ 7 5 2 Spouse led the ace of hearts which was ciates signs. At head height a notice ruffed then trumps were drawn. The read, ‘Dogs must be on leads.’ Below spade finesse worked and declarer lost this at knee level another sign read, West North East South only the club king to make twelve tricks ‘Dogs, keep your owners on a leash.’ It Wendy Harry Sally Brian for plus 920. The net score against us was a weary band of wet and muddy 3♦ Dbl 5♦ 5♥ converted to minus 17 IMPs. ramblers who eventually arrived back Dbl All Pass All this was against a team which at the hotel to thunder and lightning. claimed it had never played duplicate While Dave and Spouse set about the With two aces and only six losers, I before. Just like rambling can be real ale, Sally and I got to grips with thought the hand was a bit strong for a affected by the weather, results at the hot mugs of tea. pre-empt, but opened three diamonds bridge table can be struck at any time After dinner, our fearless foursome anyway. Harry made a take-out by an unexpected thunderbolt. Had intended to play rubber bridge, but double. Sally bid five diamonds. With a we been deceived? Were they a team it was not to be. Instead, we received nine card suit Brian found five hearts, of ringers? Probably not. We won an unexpected challenge from four which I doubled with the anticipation the match comfortably enough by walkers to play them as a team. Group of a trick in Sally’s hand. Wrong! 32 IMPs, winning each of the other leader, Brian, and other members of I took the two aces and then played eleven of the twelve boards played, the group, influenced by Dave and the ten of spades. The jack and queen saving us further embarrassment. Sally’s enthusiasm, had gone to classes. followed and Harry trumped in Even so there is a moral here; at all As a result, Brian was now a bit of a hand. In spite of the number of pints levels of the game, beware beginners. bridge addict. His team of ramblers consumed, he was still capable of Strange though, when we rejoined the had no experience of duplicate, but counting to thirteen and dropped rest of the karaoke-mad walkers, it this was a chance to show their mettle. Sally’s singleton king of trumps with was the hand with the 17 IMP swing We already had several packs of cards, his ace. He then set up a winning and not their overall defeat that was and with rubber bands and envelopes spade making his doubled contract for emphasised by our opponents. to act as boards, the scene was set. The plus 650. Spouse, Brian, Dave, Harry, Stan and walking team were all male, so as soon Worse for us was to follow. After Ed gave a mind-numbing rendition of as six pints of beer were matched with successfully negotiating a transfer ‘We are the Champions’. A number of six players, the battle commenced. of the hands from table to table, ramblers would have sore heads in the This deal caused great amusement, solemnly delivered using envelopes morning. Dave and Spouse would be especially for our opponents. and rubber bands, the bidding now among them. ■

Page 44 BRIDGE January 2017 Answers to Bernard Magee’s BERNARD Bidding Quizzes 7-9 MAGEE’S on the Cover INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL CD learn more about your partner’s hand, 7. Dealer East. Love All. but he has failed to bid no-trumps, which ♠ A 4 3 ♠ K 8 6 5 means he does not have a diamond stop- DEFENCE ♥ K Q J 3 2 N ♥ 6 per. With 3NT out of the equation, there ♦ 4 W E ♦ A 7 3 are still three options: 4♥, 4♠ or 5♣. S ♣ K Q 3 2 ♣ A J 8 6 5 With some heart support, your partner might have tried to show it in response to fourth suit forcing; your best bet now is to West North East South suggest a spade contract. 3♠ is a natu- 1♣ Pass ral bid showing three-card support. With MAC or 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass both of you aware of the diamond weak- Windows 2♦1 Pass 2NT Pass ness, a Moysian fit in the major might ? 1Fourth suit forcing be the best option (a 4-3 trump fit). Had East held a sixth club and poor spades 3♣. You have a lovely responding hand, then he might go back to clubs, but here, with great support for your partner’s first with respectable spades, he can go on to suit. However, supporting minors is not 4♠ and hope there are ten tricks. easy when you are very strong – it is dif- 5♣ looks the normal contract, but it ficult to show your strength without going does not score as much as 4♠. past 3NT. The best way of doing it is to use the fourth suit forcing and then fol- Bernard develops your low up by supporting the minor. Bear- 9. Dealer East. Love All. defence in the course of ten ing this in mind you bid 3♣ now – you ♠ K 2 ♠ A 8 7 6 introductory exercises and have shown your strength by bidding 2♦ ♥ K Q J 4 3 N ♥ A 8 5 120 complete deals. (the fourth suit) and now when you fol- ♦ 7 6 5 4 W E ♦ 2 S low up with 3♣ over partner’s 2NT bid, ♣ K J ♣ A Q 8 7 5 l Lead vs he should work out that you have a fit in No-trump Contracts clubs and thoughts for higher things. l Lead vs If East has a flattish hand, or a hand West North East South Suit Contracts with queens and jacks, he might settle for 1♣ Pass l Partner of Leader no-trumps, but with two aces, a king and 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass vs No-trump ♦1 ♥ a singleton, he is happy to play in clubs. 2 Pass 3 Pass Contracts He would cue-bid 3♦ and then you might ? 1Fourth suit forcing launch towards a slam. l Partner of Leader 4NT. 13 HCP opposite partner’s opening vs Suit Contracts bid means game is on, so you used the l Count 8. Dealer East. Love All. fourth suit forcing to get another descrip- Signals ♠ K 3 2 ♠ A Q 6 5 tive bid from your partner. His 3♥ was l Attitude £76 ♥ N ♥ A K 8 5 3 7 a pleasant surprise: his jump response Signals ♦ 7 6 W E ♦ 8 4 2 shows three-card heart support, which S ♣ K 4 2 ♣ A Q J 5 3 means you have a great picture of his l Discarding hand: five clubs, four spades and three l Defensive Plan hearts, leaving room for just one dia- l Stopping Declarer West North East South mond. A look at your hand shows the two 1♣ Pass fitting together perfectly – your rubbish l Counting the Hand 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass diamonds can be ruffed away and you 2♦1 Pass 3♣ Pass have high cards to go with both of your ? 1Fourth suit forcing partner’s suits. If your partner has three Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, aces, slam should be straightforward. You Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH 3♠. With 13 HCP, you want to play in should jump to Blackwood to discover the ( 01483 489961 game after your partner opens the bid- truth. He does indeed have three aces www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop ding. You tried the fourth suit forcing to and 6♥ is a very good slam. ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 45 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 25

West North East South thinking of inserting the ten to save the 1. ♠ K Q 9 3 1♣ Pass 1♠ ace for capturing the queen later? One ♥ Q J 10 6 Pass 3♠ All Pass reason why this will not work is that ♦ Q dummy has a doubleton spade and can ♣ K J 9 4 You lead the ♦6. Partner wins with the ♦A potentially ruff spades later. Another ♠ 7 6 ♠ A 8 2 and switches to the ♥7, on which declarer is that dummy has a source of tricks in N ♥ A 8 5 3 ♥ 9 4 plays the ♥2. What is your plan? clubs. Indeed you should ask yourself W E ♦ J 10 8 6 3 S ♦ A 7 5 2 If you take the ♥A and return the suit, why partner cashed the ♣A, setting up ♣ 8 2 ♣ 10 6 5 3 this will set up a trick if partner has the the suit. ♠ J 10 5 4 ♥Q – but not if declarer holds this card. The only rational explanation for ♥ K 7 2 Given partner’s high ♥7 return, it seems partner’s sequence of plays is a singleton ♦ K 9 4 more likely that declarer holds the ♥Q. ♣A. You thus take the ♠A and lead a club. ♣ A Q 7 This being the case, your best bet is to insert the ♥9. From South’s pass after North’s encouraging jump raise, you West North East South can reasonably hope that partner has a 4. ♠ K 7 5 3 1NT club entry. It would be unlucky if waiting ♥ K Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ for partner to lead hearts gives your ♦ Q J 3 Pass 4♠ All Pass opponent an overtrick. ♣ A K J 9 4 Note that when you gain the lead with ♠ A J 10 9 ♠ 8 6 2

You lead the ♦J. Partner wins with the ♦A your ♠A, you should exit safely with a ♥ J 8 3 N ♥ 9 4 and switches to the ♥9, on which declarer spade. A club switch could blow your ♦ 8 6 5 W E ♦ A K 10 2 S plays the ♥2. What is your plan? side’s trick in the suit if partner has the ♣ Q 8 2 ♣ 10 6 5 3 You can see two tricks with your side’s ♣Q but not the ♣9. ♠ Q 4 red aces and are hoping for two more ♥ A Q 10 7 6 5 2 tricks. A count of points tells you that ♦ 9 7 4 partner cannot have the ♣A-Q. The heart ♣ 7 ruff and a black ace is more realistic. Since 3. ♠ K 9 it is normal for opener to reply 2♥ rather ♥ J 10 4 than 2♠ with 4-4 in the majors, the ♥9 ♦ K Q 4 West North East South is far more likely to be from a doubleton ♣ K J 9 8 3 Pass 3♥ than a singleton. So you encourage with ♠ A J 10 ♠ 8 6 5 3 Pass 4♥ All Pass the ♥8 and hope you get the chance to ♥ 7 6 N ♥ 8 5 2 give partner a heart ruff later. ♦ J 10 9 7 W E ♦ A 8 6 5 3 You lead the ♦6: ♦J, ♦K and ♦4. Partner S ♣ 7 6 5 4 ♣ A returns the ♠8, on which declarer plays ♠ Q 7 4 2 the ♠4. What is your plan? ♥ A K Q 9 3 Again you must decide whether to hold 2. ♠ K Q 9 3 ♦ 2 back the ♠A to deal with declarer’s ♠Q. ♥ K 8 6 ♣ Q 10 2 This time you cannot envisage giving ♦ K partner a ruff. Even so, you should take ♣ A J 8 4 3 the ♠A. This is because you can tell from ♠ A 6 2 ♠ 8 7 West North East South the bidding and dummy’s clubs that you ♥ A J 9 N ♥ 7 5 4 3 1♥ are not going to make two spade tricks. W E ♦ ♦ Q 10 8 6 3 S A 7 5 2 Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ To open 3♥ vulnerable, South is sure to ♣ 10 6 ♣ K 9 2 Pass 4♥ All Pass hold a seven-card heart suit. This leaves ♠ J 10 5 4 only six cards in the side suits. ♥ Q 10 2 You lead the ♦J. Partner takes the ♦Q You take the ♠A and revert to ♦ J 9 4 with the ♦A, cashes the ♣A and switches diamonds. Your luck is in when partner ♣ Q 7 5 to the ♠6. What do you do? has the ♦10 and declarer has to follow to With your ace-jack-ten, are you a third round. ■

Page 46 BRIDGE January 2017 Answers to Bernard Magee’s CROATIA Bidding Quizzes 10-12 2-16 May 2017 on the Cover Bernard Magee

What does this mean? HOTEL From 10. Dealer East. Love All. He will be at least 5-5 in the minors EDEN £1,425 ♠ K 8 7 6 ♠ A 4 2 and should be suggesting that there sharing ♥ K Q 8 7 6 N ♥ 5 3 might be a better denomination for the ROVINJ ♦ 2 W E ♦ A 9 3 partnership than no-trumps. S ♣ K 8 7 ♣ A Q J 5 3 Although you do hold a good heart stopper, more important are your three top cards that cover your partner’s three West North East South cards in the major suits. With a big club 1♣ Pass fit and singleton in partner’s other suit, 1♥ Pass 1NT Pass it is looking good for a club contract, 2♠ Pass 2NT Pass perhaps even a slam. Encourage your ? partner by supporting with 4♣. The two hands are not so rich in high 3♣. Your partner rebid 1NT, showing card points but they fit beautifully and so a strong (15-17 points). 6♣ is easy. Rovinj is situated on the western coast You neatly described your hand, by of Istria in Croatia, the largest peninsula rebidding your second suit: this is a on the Adriatic coastline, a one hour responder’s reverse, since your second 12. Dealer East. Love All. drive from Trieste, 2.5 hours from Zagreb. Boasting a rich, natural and cultural suit was higher than the first suit and it is ♠ A 8 7 4 ♠ 9 heritage, with beautiful landmarks such as forcing to game. However, East has still ♥ K 2 N ♥ A Q J 5 the old town, the Golden Cape Park Forest, parried you by bidding 2NT. He does not ♦ 8 7 3 W E ♦ A 9 6 5 protected islands and coastal area. S like hearts, nor spades, so surely 3NT is ♣ K Q J 4 ♣ A 9 7 3 The climate is warm and semi-dry, with the best spot? more than four months a year without wind. Better is to complete the description of Hotel Eden is wedged right between a your hand and let your partner choose West North East South peninsula covered by a one hundred year old park forest and a quiet cove. The old ♣ 1♦ Pass the final contract. By bidding 3 , you city centre of Rovinj is just a 20 minute show a 4-5-1-3 shape and your partner 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass walk away. ♥1 ♥ can decide whether to play in 3NT or 2 Pass 3 Pass Rooms: All rooms are equipped with a a suit contract opposite your singleton ? 1Fourth suit forcing direct phone line, LCD SAT TV, mini-bar, diamond. Here he would raise in clubs safe, bathtub or shower, toilet, hair dryer, balcony, air conditioning/heating. Suites and you will hopefully reach 5♣. 4♣. Your partner’s bid of 3♥ over your are available, details on application. fourth suit forcing is unusual: it shows Singles: There is a sole occupancy a genuine heart suit and therefore supplement of £11 per room per night. If 11. Dealer East. Love All. suggests a three-suited hand. Very often you are a single bridge player, please do not ♠ A 9 8 7 3 ♠ 6 5 he will hold a 4-4-4-1 shape, but he worry about being on your own. We will always be able to find you a partner and you ♥ A K 2 N ♥ 5 might also hold a 5-4-4-0 shape. His bid can always have a game. ♦ 7 W E ♦ A K J 8 4 should also show a better than minimum S ♣ 8 7 4 2 ♣ A K 9 6 3 opener. Beaches & Pools: The playful curves of the pool offer refreshment in the summer Since your partner has four hearts, you with a salty breeze coming from the natural could bid 3NT, however, his shortage stone and pebble beach only a few steps West North East South in spades fits neatly with your spade away. The vast outdoor pool will cool you down after a day of lounging in the freely ♦ 1 Pass holding so there may well be more on in available deck chairs. 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass a club contract. Bidding 4♣ makes sense, Terms and conditions apply. 2NT Pass 3♣ Pass showing primary club support and an These holidays have been organised for ? ambition for higher things, particularly Mr Bridge by Great Little Escapes LLP, ATOL 5933 since 3NT was clearly an option. Details of the bridge programme 4♣. Your partner has bid his two 3NT makes ten tricks, but 6♣ should minors, but then over your suggestion of make comfortably: two spade ruffs add ( 01483 489961 no-trumps, he has continued with 3♣. to the ten top tricks. ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 47 Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Twenty-Eight BERNARD MAGEE TUTORIAL Take-Out Doubles DVDS

his DVD focuses on doubles of Take an auction like 1♦-P-2♦-P-P-? SET 1 suit bids, which are generally Your opponents have limited 1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks used for take-out. I talk about themselves, by giving up at the Tthe type and shape of hand that two-level, but surely if they have a 2 Competitive Auctions you need: opening strength and diamond fit, then your side may well 3 Making the Most particularly focusing on being short in have a fit and, if that is the case, you of High Cards the opponents’ suit. should be bidding. You should lean £25 What do you call on these hands over backwards to try to make a call. 4 Identifying per DVD after your right hand opponent opens Borrow a king from your partner – & Bidding Slams with 1♠? add three points to your hand – then see if you can call. 5 Play & Defence You might laugh at this tactic, but of 1NT Contracts Hand A Hand B the idea is that if the opponents have 6 Doubling & Defence ♠ A 6 5 4 ♠ 7 given up in the bidding, then someone against Doubled ♥ 7 ♥ A 6 5 4 must have strength and if you are Contracts ♦ A K 4 2 ♦ A K 4 2 relatively weak, then it must be your ♣ Q 7 6 5 ♣ Q 7 6 5 partner. Look at Hand A above – you SET 2 saw that it was not able to make a call with 13 HCP – it is the player who is 7 Leads Both hands have 13 HCP, opening short in the opponents’ suit that finds 8 Losing Trick Count strength, and many players feel the it so much easier to bid. need to do something with both. Here is an example layout for the 9 Making a Plan However, Hand A, has nothing to say: auction I gave above: as Declarer you have no five-card suit to overcall 10 Responding to 1NT and if you make a double you can guess which suit your partner will Dealer South. Game All. 11 Signals & Discards respond in. He will surely be bidding ♠ 7 2 12 hearts and might even jump in the suit ♥ 9 8 3 if he is particularly long. Just pass and ♦ K Q J 9 SET 3 the let the auction progress – bear in ♣ Q 8 4 3 mind that your hand is quite suitable ♠ A 10 8 3 ♠ Q J 9 5 13 Hand Evaluation for playing in spades, so even if 1♠ ♥ 10 7 6 4 N ♥ K Q J W E ♦ 2 ♦ 10 7 6 5 14 Pre-Emptive Bidding gets passed out you should be happy S enough. ♣ A 7 6 5 ♣ 10 2 15 Splinter Hand B, of course, is a perfect take- ♠ K 6 4 & Cue Bids out double: shortage in the opponents’ ♥ A 5 2 £105 suit, opening strength and support for ♦ A 8 4 3 16 Avoidance set of 6 all the unbid suits. ♣ K J 9 Play I go on to talk about how you 17 Play & Defence at Pairs can use doubles to compete more aggressively for partscores, which is West North East South 18 Thinking Defence such an important part of duplicate 1♦ bridge. When the auction stops at a Pass 2♦ Pass Pass low level, a take-out double can allow Dbl Pass 2♠ All Pass Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 you to push your opponents up to www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop more uncomfortable levels, or find a The auction is normal until it reaches good contract of your own. West for a second time. With just eight

Page 48 BRIDGE January 2017 Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Twenty-Eight BERNARD MAGEE Take-Out Doubles TUTORIAL DVDS

points he was unable to bid on the West North East South first round, but now that the auction 1♠ SET 4 ♦ Dbl Pass 2♥ 3♠ has died out at 2 and he is the last to 19 Defensive Plan bid, he should reconsider. His partner ? must have some strength (since the 20 Further Into the Auction opponents’ have not bid game), so Your first round double shows an 21 Weak Twos West adds three points (‘borrows a opening hand with shortage in spades king’) and with the perfect shape for – you have pretty much shown your 22 Trump Control a take-out double, he makes the call. hand, so you have no reason to bid 23 Sacrificing £25 This allows East to bid ♠2 and win the again. Pass and wait to see what your per DVD partscore. partner calls. Your partner holds: 24 Improving North-South might choose to bid Bridge Memory on to 3♦, but they are likely to be defeated. ♠ J 10 8 6 SET 5 N ♥ These types of deals are fairly K 8 7 6 25 Defence as Partner common and it is so important that W E ♦ 7 5 S of the Leader you learn to compete more aggressively ♣ 8 7 6 – pushing your opponents up and 26 Aggressive Bidding sometimes winning the contract for at Duplicate Pairs yourself. He certainly won’t be bidding again. 27 Strong Opening Bids After more doubles, such as 3♠ may or may not make, but had reopening doubles and negative you bid 4♥, then North would have 28 Take-Out Doubles doubles I move on to how to respond doubled – he has a weak hand but four 29 Suit Establishment to doubles, making sure that the chunky hearts and you would have in Suit Contracts responder fully evaluates their hand. ended with a nasty minus score. The most important aspect of Another aspect of responding is to 30 Landy / Defending responding to a take-out double is to understand when to pass a take-out Against a 1NT Opening understand that you are being asked double: passing is a positive option; it to bid by your partner, so a minimum is not a weak choice – passing means SET 6 suit response could show no strength that you are disobeying your partner at all. You simply bid your best suit – so you must make sure you are doing 31 Counting Defence as partner is asking you to do. the right thing. The type of hand that 32 Extra Tricks Therefore, it is important to consider chooses to pass a take-out double in No-Trumps bidding higher when you do have a is strong in the opponents’ suit and good hand. expects to take their contract down, 33 Supporting It is also important for the doubler to aiming for the best score. Passing is Partner £105 remember that his partner’s minimum very rare at the one-level, but as the 34 Finessing set of 6 suit response is not promising any level goes up it becomes a more likely strength. option. 35 Bidding Doubling is a very important part of Distributional Hands the game of bridge – giving you more 36 Coping with Pre-Empts Dealer South. Game All. options and bringing your side in to ♠ 4 more auctions. ♥ A 5 3 2 N Bidding more tends to work well ♦ A 8 4 3 W E at duplicate pairs and by using the Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 S ♣ K Q J 3 double wisely you should generate www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop much better scores. ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 49 Three Gates in Poland by Shireen Mohandes

n the autumn of 2016 the World event? And why no explanation? What Contemporaneously, two other pairs Bridge Games were staged in Wro- had they done? were being investigated, but had not claw, Poland. Preceding the start of Slowly the news trickled into news yet been judged. Then, suddenly, un- Ithe in Chennai, 2015, feeds on the internet. Unofficially we expectedly and controversially (could the bridge community, organisers and learned that some 15+ years ago, the I use any more adverbs and get past the indeed the world at large, learned of pair were subject to an investigation sub-editors?) a national amnesty for cheating amongst some all bridge offences was expert players. None of declared in their coun- the accused were play- try. And what might ing in Wroclaw, having have been the reason for either been banned or such clemency? Their not been selected. So country had just won maybe the organisers, a major international the World Bridge Fed- event at bridge, and in eration (WBF), were joyous celebration they thinking, ‘I am glad were reprieved. that is almost all over, It is one thing for let’s get on with run- presidents and gover- ning a successful event.’ nors, to commute death Parts of this article sentences to life impris- have had to be adapted onment but the consen- in style and substance sus in the bridge com- to prevent the author, munity was that such publisher and the mag- an amnesty was outra- azine from falling foul geous and improper. of the laws of libel. So what caused the WBF to act now? Per- AmnestyGate Wroclaw is the largest city in western Poland. At various times it has haps a new policy is in been part of the Kingdom of Poland, Bohemia, Hungary, the Austrian place, maybe convicted A few days before the Empire, Prussia and Germany. It returned to Poland in 1945, after WW2. players are ineligible? tournament even start- The pronunciation is quite different from the spelling. Vrots-waff is what But it is unusual to have ed, the WBF issued a you need to say. a policy and yet not an- statement to the effect nounce it. that a seasoned pair Have you fallen off from Europe, part of a team of six, regarding their partnership (in their your chair yet reading all of this? As would not be allowed to compete. But own nation) which resulted in them Tom Townsend, columnist for The mystery surrounded the announce- being found guilty of something, and Daily Telegraph, wrote, ‘You couldn’t ment. Why so close to the start of the a sentence had been passed down. make it up.’

Page 50 BRIDGE January 2017 until the start time. directors were involved. The Spanish Neapolitan Club Online spectators waiting eagerly were informed that they would incur a www.neapolitanclub.com an for the fifth stanza were surprised late arrival penalty which rose steadily Italian site (and IMP www. to see that play did not start in this as time passed and eventually reached IMP-bridge.nl a Dutch site), match. After half an hour without 32 IMPs. Furthermore, if they did not broke the news in this story: explanation, play did start. During start within 40 minutes, they would the evening, rumours emerged about forfeit the match. Eventually, they did September 1st, 2016: Yesterday, a Spanish protest. The score showed start play, after a senior WBF official the Credentials Committee of a large fine against Spain, which was promised that a decision on the subject the subsequently reduced. of their protest would be made before determined that the invitation Because of the late start, and the the end of the match. extended to Enza Rossano and extreme security measures which A meeting of the Executive Antonio Vivaldi be withdrawn; were in place (all the players play the Committee took place during the consequently they will no longer same boards, so any late start posed a be eligible to play in the 2016 security threat), the USA-Spain match in Wroclaw. had to play some substitute boards, Decision of the WBG and their match ended later than the Championship Committee http://neapolitanclub.altervista. others. org/eng/ev-eng/wbf-withdraws- The final score had Spain winning At the start of segment five of the invitation-vivaldi-rossano-italy.html 182-149, and they advanced to the next Open Teams Championship, on stage of the event. Sunday September 12 [sic], 2016, the Spanish team refused to start ConventionCardGate What actually happened the match in a timely manner. (an abridged version) They had raised the issue of After the round robin stages of whether an American pair’s the Open Teams, in the ‘round of The Spanish Team’s captain, Ignacio agreements for third seat opening 16’ knockout phase, USA played Jimenez, and his team were at the was properly disclosed. There was Spain, a strong team, but on paper playing venue at 4pm, some 1.5 hours no allegation of unethical behavior. the underdog. The fifth and final before start time. They were looking sixth stanza were due to be played for a tournament director (TD). The Spanish team wanted a on Sunday, 11 September, 2016. The With some difficulty they found one ruling on this complaint before match score the night before was close: and they stated their complaint to they would begin the match. The 102-123 with USA leading after four him. They alleged that for one of the director found there was insufficient stanzas, with two more to play the American pairs there was a significant evidence presented to require any next day. That same Sunday there was discrepancy between the system stated change by the Americans. The a marathon in Wroclaw, and parts of on their , and what Spanish were directed to start the city were closed. This meant that they were actually playing. the match. They were warned access to the playing area was difficult As an aside: the methods, that the that a late arrival penalty could Spanish team alleged the American be imposed. They refused to pair were playing, would in fact be start play at this time. When the Links forbidden by the conditions of contest. match finally started, a 32 IMPs But their objection was about the lack penalty was imposed, based on The initial partial account of of disclosure, not the illegality of the the actual start time of the match. matters presented by USA captain alleged methods. Oren Kriegel on BridgeWinners, What followed was ugly. This decision was reviewed by the published on 11 September 2016: The Spanish believed their WBG Championship Committee, allegations were being ignored by the which changed the penalty to http://bridgewinners.com/article/ officials. In protest, they refused to sit a 10-IMP procedural penalty, view/late-start-in-usa-spain-match/ down and play, and were threatening since the teams were all present 45 minutes prior to the starting To read the detailed account of to withdraw. time. The procedural penalty was matters from the perspective From the American team’s imposed because the Spanish team of the Spanish team, take a perspective, they were outraged. They refused to obey the tournament look at this article, published believed both that the way the protest director’s order to start play. on 21 September 2016: was made was appalling, and that the allegations were unfounded. They also http://www.worldbridge.org/ http://bridgewinners.com/ thought that the WBF handled the repository/tourn/wroclaw.16/ article/view/official-spanish matter badly. Microsite/bulletins/Bul_12.pdf -team-statement/ As the minutes went by, more and more organisers and tournament

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 51 fifth stanza. They decided that the final was between Netherlands and to swap the positions of the eventual allegations were unsubstantiated. Monaco. The strong solid Netherlands top two pairs. The following morning They also decided to reduce the fine team played very well and deservedly with the competition still unfinished, to 10 IMPs. The purported reason was won: Sjoert Brink, Bart Nab, Bauke both pairs went to see the tournament that it was not an automatic late arrival Muller, Bob Drijver, Bas Drijver, director to get the score changed, and penalty, but a fine for disobeying the Simon De Wijs, Anton Maas (captain), they were told that it was not possible. TD’s instructions. Ton Bakkeren (coach). The reason provided was because the The WBF published a statement in conditions of contest only allowed a the tournament bulletin the next day correction period of 30 minutes after (see above). Watergate the posting of the scores at the end The court of public opinion was split. of play on each day. Some players Whilst there was plenty of sensible Watergate was a major political reported that at times it was difficult to and unbiased comment, a good many scandal that took place in check the scores, but that by and large people were not too interested in Washington DC, USA, in the early it was easy to check your own score. facts and simply wanted to advance 1970s. President Richard Nixon’s opinions and judgment based on administration attempted to nationalism on the one hand and anti- cover-up its involvement in a Americanism on the other. burglary at the Democratic National The most extreme view was that Committee HQ at the Watergate as soon as the Spanish refused to sit office complex. The subsequent down and start to play, they should investigation led to the Nixon have lost the match. Or, if the Spanish administration suffering a were allowed to get away with that, the constitutional crisis. The film which original fine should have remained, covers much of the saga, All the and the substitute boards should not President’s Men, is essential viewing. have been played. That would have led Nikica Sver & Marina Pilipovic. Photo: WBF to a USA victory. At the other extreme were those who The Open Pairs story unfolded in a got out their monocles, inspected the MedalGate more unpalatable way. American Roy alleged violations of the American Welland plays for Germany, with pair, and became convinced that The Open pairs and the Women’s pairs Sabine Auken. They were unaware of the Spanish team were right to be medal tables were topped by: any issues relating to their medal until aggrieved, and that the WBF should they read about it on BridgeWinners, have looked into the matter before Open: while at the airport about to board the stanza started. Further, once the 1. Sabine Auken — their plane home on Sunday, 18 WBF had investigated, some people (Germany) September. Like the Israeli women, disagreed with its findings. However, 2. Michael Cornell – Ashley Bach they would have to wait 11 days to that group of people did recognise (New Zealand) learn their fate. that it would have been difficult to It seems that a Polish bulletin board investigate everything thoroughly on Women: discussion revealed that they, Welland the spot. Had the marathon not taken 1. Hila Levi — Adi Asulin (Israel) and Auken, were the beneficiaries of place, one can assume it would have 2. Marina Pilipovic – Nikica Sver a similar type of error, namely that been easier to get to the play area and (Croatia) a score was attributed to the wrong contact the officials some good time in pair. When Welland and Auken advance of start time. Or so they thought. On Saturday 17 played against Grzegorz Darkiewicz- It was also unfortunate that around September 2016, that is. Moniuszko and Bogdan Szulejewski the start time of the match, USA had Over the next few days bridge players (Poland), a score was entered on the little knowledge of the nature of the around the world learned that because wrong side. This error remained complaint. After all, it is not up to of scoring errors, the players who won undetected until the next day. Spain to ‘have it out’ with the USA. It silver medals should have won gold, Another competitor Maciej Klijs was a matter for the tournament or- and vice versa. In each case, the factors (Poland) wrote to Welland about the ganisers and the tournament directors that led to the wrong decision were matter. to notify the Americans of the com- different, as was the discovery story. Separately, a few hours later, and plaint, to gather facts, and to reach a The Women’s pairs story almost not knowing of Klij’s correspondence, resolution. beggars disbelief. A score was entered Grzegorz Darkiewicz-Moniuszko In the championship, Spain went incorrectly in the first session of the posted a long article on BridgeWinners on to play New Zealand in the final in favour of Levi and Asulin which described the background of the quarter-finals and beat them. In the (3♠+2 was attributed to N/S instead incident, but missed out some details. semi-finals, they lost to Monaco. The of E/W). The discrepancy was enough Grzegorz and his partner, Bogdan

Page 52 BRIDGE January 2017 Szulejewski, were in contention. The any way, the bidding started the same There then followed hundreds of round against the Germans would way, and so it was played. The problem opinions on everything to do with be critical to their ability to go home was that when the score was input, it these incidents. Some commentators with a medal. It seems that Grzegorz was attributed to the wrong side. The expressed disbelief that players in and Bogdan were late for a move, director was watching the whole time, contention would choose not to check accidentally went to the wrong table and although he was unaware of the their scores. What should happen to and sat down to play, getting as far misattribution, he was responsible for the medals? The rightful winners are as making a few bids. Meanwhile, getting the scorers to make a change not what’s etched on the metal. Is it Welland and Auken were wondering so that the system reflected that E/W the case that ‘conditions of contest’ where their opponents had got to. and N/S had swapped seats just for are what they are … and it is simply The director learned of the situation that one board. unfortunate circumstances that have and shepherded the Polish pair to It so happened that after the session led to this outcome? Or should the the right table. But because they had was over, neither pair checked their WBF redress the inequity? The options already started bidding, he said to the scores. The break was short, and it was seemed to be (a) keep things as they players, words to the effect of, ‘I am a meal break. It was the last day, stanza are (b) swap the medals, declaring instructing you to switch seats and seven out of ten. No other competitor New Zealand and Croatia winners (c) start the auction again. If it diverges had any way to detect the error. have joint medal winners. from the auction at the other table, When the music stopped, the Welland and Auken were in you cannot play the board. If it is the winners were Germany, and the silver touch with the authorities on a same, then the board is playable.’ The medal went to New Zealand – who daily basis. They also contacted the board itself was not controversial in also knew nothing of all of this. New Zealanders to discuss matters. Welland said to them, ‘This is just a terrible situation for everyone. It The official announcement from the WBF sounds likely that you are the rightful winners of the event. The WBF Executive Council has deliberated in respect of occurrences at the World ‘There is a lot of talk and speculation Bridge Games held in Wroclaw during the Finals of both the Open and Women’s on Bridgewinners. I’m not sure where Pairs Championships. the truth lies, but I have written to two officials asking that the situation be Having read the reports from the Head Tournament Director and the addressed, probably they would have Championship Operations Director, the Council has become apprised of the done that anyhow, but with the WBF, unusual situation whereby the players and supposed winners recognize themselves you never know. that they failed to adequately check the scores obtained within the time scale ‘I intend to follow up to make provided for within the Conditions of Contest. Those players, rather than raise the sure that if a mistake remains in the issues through official channels, chose to air their grievances via social network scoring, that something be done to sites. rectify the situation. I will keep you Human errors, whether by competitors, referees, judges or otherwise are an posted on anything I hear back.’ integral part of any sport competition. In all sporting contests it is important to Finally, 11 days later, news came. have certainty of the result that has been obtained according to the respective Having consulted committee members, rules & regulations that are applied and cannot be modified despite, unfortunately, the WBF decided to dish out gold gongs that they may have influenced the result. Dura lex sed lex – the law is harsh but all round. Their warrior-like statement it is the law. was almost universally considered to be simultaneously unduly defensive However, the Executive Council has considered the peculiarity of the circumstances and somewhat offensive, and put far and facts of these particular cases and has expressed its view that the truth cannot too much blame on the players. and should not be ignored. The story did not end here. Some harsh words were exchanged by some Consequent upon the advice received from the High Level Players Commission, the of the protagonists – at time discourte- Executive Council has exceptionally resolved to award the titles, the gold medals ous, if not downright rude and offen- and the master-points ex aequo to Auken-Welland (Germany) & Bach-Cornell sive. Both the Second World War and (New Zealand) in the Open and to Levi-Asulin (Israel) & Pilipov-Sver (Croatia) in the 1966 World Cup final got a men- the Women, without further alteration of the ranking lists. tion. The victims of all this, the New The Executive Council therefore remits the same to the WBF Secretariat to provide Zealand pair, and the two Women the necessary executions and related communications as appropriate. pairs, were gracious and unpresump- tuous at all times. If there was talk early Lausanne, 29 September 2016 on of awarding ‘sportsmanlike acco- Gianarrigo Rona lades’, then by the end of the affair, that President talk was just a fading sound, in a dark alleyway. Best forgotten. ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 53 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions on Laws and Ethics

Is it a Bid Out of Turn?

I was dealer, Was the TD correct (Yes, I know – I should 1. Ignore it completely as but my partner in insisting she have called the director), likely to be meaningless, Qreached for the make the bid? I pointed out to my RHO as I would have done and bidding cards in the box, Name and address supplied. that he was giving his I feel most people would. then realised what she partner unauthorised 2. Reserve your rights was about to do and The TD seems to information. He asked, to establish the facts, and stopped. No-one at the have little idea of ‘Why?’ and I explained then call the director if table knew what bid she A the laws and clearly that he was virtually the opponents disagree had intended other than did not read from the Law telling his partner to with what happened, or that it was not a pass. book. Until a call is removed make an alertable bid disagree that it passes We called the TD whose from the box it has not (obviously part of their unauthorised information. first comment was that been made and no-one can system). He then put 3. Call the director as she had indicated 12+ force her to make the call. his alert card away, I immediately and tell points she should make There is no penalty for this. passed and his partner him what happened. her bid before he gave Partner’s actions provide thought a long while I am afraid that what the options. We play unauthorised information, and made an unalerted you actually did, especially weak twos, pre-empts which you must make sure bid. I took this as a very telling him that it suggested and open on 11 HCP at you do not benefit from honourable gesture by something illegal, which it times, so she was not in any way, though your LHO. Was he obliged does not in my view, was showing 12+. Anyway, opponents may use it at their to do this or could he inappropriate and may he insisted, so she bid own risk. If it is felt you might have continued with have intimidated his partner 1♠. Now the TD asked have used the information their agreed system? somewhat into an injudicious her LHO if he accepted (even subconsciously), Name and address supplied. bid which may have given or rejected that bid. He the TD might adjust the you an unfair advantage. did not accept it and score after the board. I think your reaction the ruling was that my is ill-advised. Taking ♣♦♥♠ partner must remain ♣♦♥♠ A an alert card out may silent throughout the be slightly inappropriate, but I have a new rest of the auction. At my club I do not believe it suggests bridge partner Bidding now reverted recently, my LHO anything more than that Qwho assures me to me. I now had more Qopened 1♣ and there are quite likely to be that, in a recent copy information as we RHO alerted. My partner artificial calls in the future. of BRIDGE, he read play five-card majors. passed and RHO bid 1♠, I have done so after a an article that stated Holding ♠K-x-x and 14 alerted by LHO. Then, sequence where most of dummy’s cards must points, I bid directly just before I made my my partner’s next bids are be placed in suit order to 4♠, making. Our bid, RHO took out the likely to be artificial: no-one (trumps on the left), so opponents were not alert card and laid it face felt it suggested anything. if spades are trumps, a too aggrieved as most down on the table at the When it happened you player may not ask cards others were in 3NT+1. side of his . had three choices. to be placed black/red/

Page 54 BRIDGE January 2017 black/red. He says this East claimed to have hand, except in legal means minus and average plus is an amendment to the been damaged by such as the calls she makes, instead was made illegal Laws of Bridge probably South’s hesitation. The then you must make every about 35 years ago. Law 41D. Is this correct? director was called and effort not to take advantage. Mrs Joan Bronkhorst, advised the players To give information otherwise ♣♦♥♠ Sutton, Surrey. to recall him at the is called unauthorised and by end of the hand. far the most common form of The bidding I have no idea where East went two down unauthorised information is went: your partner got in 4♦. The director the hesitation to show doubt. Q A this idea from, but was recalled, East Your wife has opened 3♣ it is definitely wrong. You commented that she and most players never bid West North East South have to lay them down in didn’t really think she again whatever happens 1NT Pass 2♣1 suits, with trumps, if any, to had been damaged after a pre-empt unless their Pass 2♠ Pass 4♥ dummy’s right, but there is and was only calling partner makes a forcing All Pass nothing to tell you how to the director back as bid. Thus it would be very 1Stayman order the other suits. Some that had been agreed. strange to bid over 3♦ and people do it black-red-black- The director decided her hesitation makes it seem I, West, was about red. Personally, I try to put that the penalty of as though she was too strong to lead, when South shorter suits in the middle, the transfer of a trick to open 3♣. In fact, her hand exclaimed, ‘I pulled so that the board does not from N/S to E/W was is such a hand: most players out the wrong card. I get in the way, and many applicable, so the would open 3NT or 1♣ rather meant to bid 4♠.’ The players have put a long suit result was 4♦ down than 3♣. You comment that director was called down on dummy’s right in one instead of 4♦ your wife was surprised by and allowed South to no-trumps, then blamed down two. The director the 3♦: I cannot imagine change his bid to 4♠. partner for forgetting he was commented, as he left, why. It is very normal for Is this ruling correct? in no-trumps. It is just as that N/S could have opponents to bid over a pre- Alan Mansell, much their fault for putting made 4♣ or even 4♥ empt, and surely the most Milford-on-Sea BC. a likely trump suit there and and it was a good common call they make is I advise you not to do so. by East. three of your shortest suit? No. If you pull out It all seems strange Now North has a decision the wrong card by ♣♦♥♠ to my wife, imposing a and decides to bid 4♣, A mistake, you can penalty – which as far which is a successful action, change it only if you change My wife was as I can make out is and is precisely what your it or attempt to without South on the only applicable to a wife’s hesitation suggests, pause for thought from the Qhand below: (and even then an extra-strong 3♣ bid. A moment you realise it, as only if further tricks are normal ruling would be to long as partner has not made by the revoking disallow the 4♣ bid because subsequently called. In this Dealer South. Love All. side); in a situation of the hesitation and rule the auction, partner has passed ♠ A Q 9 where it is the bidding result as 3♦-1, N/S +50. It so it is too late to change it. ♥ A 9 6 5 4 2 which is in question and seems that the director gave ♦ K 10 4 where the original the normal ruling but either ♣♦♥♠ ♣ 8 complainant said she he explained it badly or ♠ K 8 7 5 ♠ J 10 4 wasn’t damaged which your wife did: there was no A point for

♥ Q 8 3 N ♥ K 7 is indeed the case. My penalty (I agree that the only clarification ♦ J 6 2 W E ♦ A Q 9 8 7 5 understanding was that penalty tricks are for ) please. Recently S Q ♣ J 5 3 ♣ 9 2 if a bidding infraction merely an adjustment in an a colleague said that it ♠ 6 3 2 occurred, the adjustment unauthorised information was now illegal to open ♥ J 10 would be 40%-60%, position. Admittedly it is 2♣ without having 23+ ♦ 3 but this would not be unusual to adjust when the points. I have tended to ♣ A K Q 10 7 6 4 applied if the offending opponents do not think they use it to force partner to side had done worse were damaged, but if the game when having fewer than this, as was the director was sure they were points. Obviously, when West North East South case here. (and I agree with him) then playing Benjamin it has 3♣ John Collins by email. he can adjust anyway. a different meaning Pass Pass 3♦ Pass1 As for a 40%-60% and presumably is Pass 4♣ 4♦ All Pass The law says adjustment, that is simply acceptable when shown 1My wife was surprised by the (paraphrased) that illegal. Adjustments are done on a convention card. 3♦ bid and thought for a few A if your partner gives to results, or a combination My question, therefore, seconds before passing. you information about a of results: giving average is simply this, ‘When

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 55 playing standard Acol, an opening hand with should know the responses to director was called to is it acceptable and six diamonds. Holding a short club, partly because the table, what would legal to open 2♣ force diamonds over my RHO different people play them have been the ruling? to game with fewer I passed. My LHO then differently. Some people play Club Player, North Wales. than 23 points?’ continued with 1NT. 1♦ as diamonds, others as Walter Acott, All passed. My partner hearts, others as negative When an opponent Midhurst, West Sussex. led and when dummy and others as relay. plays out of turn went down, I saw there If they play 1♦ as a A before his partner, This seems a strange was only one diamond relay bid, it requires an the card so played becomes idea your colleague in dummy. I called the alert: they did not alert, a major penalty card, which A has come up with director and explained probably because your in effect merely means the and is certainly not true. How that I would have bid LHO did not know the card still has to be played you play a 2♣ opener is up diamonds if I had known system they were playing, to that trick. Declarer can to you, so long as it shows that my opponent’s bid and the failure to alert was require the other player at least 16 HCP (or one or was not natural. The misinformation. You asked to play the highest card two other possibilities often director looked at my anyway and were given of the suit led (or the repeated in this column) hand and asked to be the wrong answer which lowest card or a card of and so long as you keep recalled after the hand was also misinformation. another specified suit). opponents informed. had been played. There is no doubt that So the ace has to be The traditional Acol rule After the play, the you should have received played, and you can require was either 23 HCP and a director returned an adjusted score, though his partner to play the king. balanced hand or game and asked if it was without seeing the hands Thus you win the last trick. in hand with at least five announced that the I cannot tell you what that quick tricks, so this was 1♣ opening was not a score should have been. ♣♦♥♠ a normal 2♣ opening: natural club opening. When I confirmed this ♣♦♥♠ East opened 2♠ was announced, he and West bid 3♣ ♠ A K J 10 x x x informed me that I I was playing Qwith 15 points. ♥ A K should have known that a contract of North enquired the ♦ Void the 1♦ response was just Q3NT and had strength of the 2♠ and ♣ K Q J 10 a relay bid. I explained amassed nine tricks West replied strong. East that I did not know this when we came to trick then said it was weak. as my partner and I 12. I was on lead with The director initially Only 21 HCP, but well worth do not play five-card Q-J and 10-5 on the decided to abandon game and holding five quick majors. The director table in a suit which had the hand awarding tricks (A-K=2, K-Q=1). If you replied that is tough not yet been broached. 50%:50%, but after want to play it a bit weaker you are not getting any There had been several discussion gave N/S than this, for example, extra. Was the director small discards in this 60% and E/W 40%. I allowing 21+ balanced, that correct with his decision? suit. On the remote doubt that the decision is perfectly legal if you keep Had I known the 1♦ chance of a misdefence, has much merit and the opponents informed. bid was just a relay, I I led the queen from your opinion would would not have asked hand – hesitation from be much valued. ♣♦♥♠ opener about it, but LHO – and the ace was Phil Hickman by email. bid diamonds, possibly tabled from RHO (before At our club at the three level. LHO had played). My I am appalled at the recently, my Philip Webb by email. immediate reaction was, director trying to give QLHO opened ‘Not Fair,’ and clearly A 50/50 which is not the bidding with 1♣. You have a director LHO, holding K-x was merely illegal, but extremely My RHO announced it who does not seem embarrassed. I glanced unfair. 60/40 is bad enough, was a false club and A to understand one over at our director, who and is also illegal. could be as few as two, of the most basic laws of was still playing. Each There are rules about apparently they were bridge which is that private defender had two cards unauthorised information playing five-card majors. systems are not allowed in the suit – so it was and they apply to this case. My partner passed, my and opponents must be amicably resolved and The bidding continues, West RHO bid 1♦. I asked kept informed as to your I just gave up the last is warned not to benefit from her partner, opener, if system through the use of two tricks. If this had his partner’s unauthorised this was natural and alerts, announcements, threatened the contract, information, and if he does she replied that 1♦ was system cards, questions and or it was a high-level anything that appears to a natural bid. I had answers. It is not true that you competition and the use it, the final score will be

Page 56 BRIDGE January 2017 adjusted. The most likely realised that he had led the result will probably be a slam queen. In the first case, he is going off, maybe doubled, allowed to change it to the CHARITY EVENTS since West has 15 points small card and in the second JANUARY 2017 24 MS THERAPY CENTRE and, without East’s illegal case, the ace is played. Village Hall, comment, would presumably Given the circumstances, 27 ST NEOTS CHORAL SOCIETY Hemingford Abbots. drive to slam opposite I think the second case is St Neots Outdoor 10am for 10.30am start. £15. Bowling Club. Jenny Lea ( 01480 455810. a strong 2♠ opening. slightly more likely, but it 10am for 10.30am start. A strong word with is a matter of judgement £15. 30 RNLI East about inappropriate for the director. Jane Lambert Village Hall, Roxton, Beds. 10am for 10.30am start. £15. comments would also ( 01480 861581 [email protected] Catherine Wootton seem to be a good idea. ♣♦♥♠ ( 01234 772127 ( 01234 870234 ♣♦♥♠ Recently, an FEBRUARY 2017 opponent 17 FUNDRAISING APRIL 2017 South is playing Qopened with Bridge drive at SportsAble, in 3NT and a strong Benji two bid Braywick Sports Ground, 21 ST NEOTS MUSEUM the heart which did not meet the Maidenhead, SL6 1BN. Eacon Soton Church. Q 1.15pm for 1.30pm start. 10am for 10.30am start. £15. suit is as shown: requirements as specified Finish: 5.00pm. Jean Searle ( 01480 212298 by the EBU, even though £30 per table to include eight tricks could be excellent tea. Fun raffle. ♥ A K 9 x made. As I had a bid john.jenkins999 MAY 2017 @btinternet.com over a one-level opener, 12 CHILDREN’S CHARITIES N ♥ J 10 x W E ♥ x x I pointed this out and 21 ST NEOTS ROTARY CLUB Doddington Village Hall, March. S eventually the director St Neots Outdoor 10am for 10.30am start. £16. Val Topliss ( 01354 653696 ♥ Q x x x was called. He ‘noted’ Bowling Club. 10am for 10.30am start. my comments, but said £15. 25 STAMFORD BURGHLEY it could be regarded Val Corrigan ROTARY CLUB Bridge Tea in Tinwell Village South leads the queen, as a psyche and took ( 01480 213682 Hall, PE9 3UD. LHO plays low, South no action. Surely an 1.15 for 1.30pm. £8.00. calls for the ace and East illegal bid cannot be Alan Kinch ( 01780 444276 plays low before South described as such – or MARCH 2017 [email protected] corrects dummy’s ace to am I mistaken? If this low (the correction was was an incorrect bid, JUNE 2017 made quickly but not what action, if any can 16 GT STUKELEY before East had played). the director take? CONSERVATIVE CLUB What should the Brian Graham by email. Village Hall, Gt Stukeley. director rule? Also, 10am for 10.30am start. £15. what should he rule if A psyche is a Kay Brownlow ( 01480 880663 South had corrected deliberate attempt to Sheila Stephenson to low before East had A mislead opponents ( 01480 457338 played to the trick? by making a bid that David Cree, Strathaven. completely misdescribes the JULY 2017 hand. Opening a strong Whether East had artificial two bid with a hand 2 ANIMALS ASIA 14 GT BARFORD CHURCH Bridge Masterclass played or not that does not qualify as Village Hall, Gt Barford, Beds. with Andrew Robson. 10am for 10.30am start. £15. does not matter. strong (usually a good pre- A St John’s Church Centre, Graham Evans The director has to decide empt, with 2♣ bid through Hartley Wintney, ( 01832 293693 whether the declarer meant ignorance) is playing an Hampshire Gill Wilkes ( 01234 870428 RG27 8ED. to call for the small card, illegal agreement. Unless you [email protected] 10am – 3.30/4pm but said ace by accident, got at least a 60% score on (Doors open at 9.45am). or whether he made a silly the hand, the result should be £46 each or £184 per table OCTOBER 2017 mistake, not realising he had scrapped, and you should get including lunch. Kay ( 01252 793811 6 ST NEOTS MUSEUM led the queen, said ace, then average plus, your opponents [email protected] St Neots Outdoor Bowling Club. tried to change it when he average minus. ■ Gary ( 07800 555863 10am for 10.30am start. £15. [email protected] Jean Searle ( 01480 212298

E-mail your questions (including your postal address) E-mail your charity events: [email protected] on bridge laws to: [email protected]

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 57 Seven Days by Sally Brock

limit. With nine points already on my the last stages of Parkinson’s and not Monday licence, I was flashed doing 35 mph in expected to live for more than three or a 30 limit way back in January. I had a four months). I have to give evidence The day starts with a visit to my problem with the car I drove then (and about a number of aspects of my life, chiropodist. And then I rush home had been driving since 2003) because and then they withdraw to consider for an online teaching session with the top of the steering wheel was in a the situation. Rather to my surprise, I Allie. As soon as I finish with her, I direct line between my eyes and the escape with my licence – though there am working to finish off an Awards speedometer so it was always difficult is a hefty fine. Phew! Afterwards Simon Dinner booklet that needs to be with for me to see the speed. On getting and I go out to lunch to celebrate and the printer by 2pm. We make it with those points I changed my car, and the then he drives me home. half an hour to spare. It is an evening current Citroen has a huge LED speed for an Indian takeaway, and then I display. And that has made my speed have a teaching session online with a keeping much easier. Except back in Thursday new client, Teresa. March on Mothering Sunday I was going to my parents’ house to cook a It’s London today. First, lunch with a family lunch (as expected this was the girlfriend, then coffee with a couple last one my mother was able to get up of guys I’m thinking of investing Tuesday for) for twenty or so people. The A41 some money with – that goes on for a was closed because of an accident and couple of hours. Back to Barry’s for a Today I have set aside for writing. I I kept getting diverted so was running while and then out to play in a London need to go through the hands from an hour late. I decided to put my foot League match. I’m not quite sure the Premier League and the , down – after all, no-one gets caught on why I’m playing in this but I have a as well as writing up a lot of hands the motorway. I was clocked doing 92 tendency to say ‘yes’ when anyone asks that I have already identified from the mph. It has taken this long for these me to do something. Still, I am playing World Bridge Games in Poland earlier offences to come to court and it was with Frank and it is a very enjoyable in the year. agreed that they would be dealt with evening and we win comfortably. I am pleased with myself. I really on the same day – today. After a glass of wine or two in the knuckle down to it and get a lot done. Simon very kindly agreed to pick me Young Chelsea bar it’s back to the flat. In the afternoon I have my usual up and take me to Oxford Magistrates’ session with Richard and Gerry. We Court (Barry is working in Leeds, and are going out to Toronto to play with Briony had to go to a speed awareness them in the next July and course). I am not very optimistic. We Friday we’re trying to sort out the details of turn up just after 11, and meet Nick, a the trip. I think we’re going to start barrister Barry had found to represent I’m meeting my old school friends with a few days in Gerry’s ‘cottage’ by me. I am surprised that we don’t have for lunch at Bill’s in Covent Garden. the lake – I don’t know about ‘cottage’ to hang around longer, but are heard It really is amazing how it’s non-stop but it seems to have a lot of bedrooms. about 12. First of all, Nick tries to chat for the whole of a three-hour suggest that they ban me for a short lunch. Then I go to Marylebone to get time, but still keep all the points on my a train to Solihull for the final Premier licence. However, apparently this is not League weekend. Barry gets off early Wednesday on for my sort of offence. So Nick says from court and we arrive in Solihull at that it would be undue hardship for me more or less the same time. We walk Today has been looming on the to lose my licence. There are several together to the Premier Inn, and after horizon for quite a while with a big criteria taken into consideration, a snooze and a cup of tea, go out to red circle around it. I don’t seem to the most weighty of which is my Zizzi’s for a light dinner, and an early be very good at keeping to the speed mother’s health condition (she is in night.

Page 58 BRIDGE January 2017 Saturday/Sunday two artificial club bids, there are surely good chances that either (a) West has DUPLICATE the ♣K, or (b) even if he hasn’t, he After breakfast we walk to the West will lead something else. I picked up BRIDGE Midlands Bridge Club to meet up with the trumps so if the minor-suit kings Heather and Binkie. Unfortunately, are swapped I would have made all the RULES this weekend seems to go even tricks. Even on the club lead found, I worse than the others – actually just need the diamond finesse. But it is SIMPLIFIED that probably isn’t true, but there is not to be and that is 11 IMPs out. (otherwise known as the Yellow Book) insufficient improvement to get us off the bottom. So next year we will be by John Rumbelow relegated to Division Two. Dealer South. E/W Game. only and revised by 95 ♠ A 9 7 The whole of the event has been David Stevenson £5 unspeakably dreadful. Most of the ♥ K Q 8 time Barry and I were terrible, but on ♦ 8 6 the odd occasion when we weren’t, ♣ A 10 6 3 2 Available from Mr Bridge teammates were. And, as often seems ♠ 6 3 ♠ 10 5 4 ( 01483 489961 to be the case when you are playing ♥ 7 2 N ♥ J 9 5 4 www.mrbridge.co.uk W E ♦ K 9 5 4 ♦ J 7 2 badly, everything else goes badly too. S The number of contracts that our team ♣ K J 9 7 5 ♣ Q 8 4 let through on the opening lead – the ♠ K Q J 8 2 REDUCE THE COST decent slams we bid that went down ♥ A 10 6 3 – the times when the serendipity of ♦ A Q 10 3 OF YOUR POSTAGE system led to us playing the hand the ♣ Void wrong way up – and our opponents played very well against us most of the time too. The sooner I can forget it all, West North East South the better. 1♠ Here are a couple of examples: Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♦ Pass 4♥ Pass 6♠ Dealer North. E/W Game. All Pass ♠ K 9 6 5 3 Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, all mint with full gum. Quotations for ♥ K 9 7 5 What would you lead as West? In the commercial quantities available on request. ♦ 6 5 other room, they lead a trump which Values supplied in 100s, higher values ♣ Q 9 seems innocuous enough. Declarer available as well as 1st and 2nd class. ♠ J 8 2 ♠ Q wins in dummy, takes a diamond (/Fax 020 8422 4906 N ♥ 4 ♥ J 10 8 6 3 finesse, wins the trump return, cashes e-mail: [email protected] W E ♦ K 10 9 8 3 ♦ 4 2 ♦ S the A and ruffs a diamond. When the ♣ 10 8 4 2 ♣ K J 7 6 5 ♦J comes down he draws trump and ♠ A 10 7 4 discards his fourth heart on the ♣A. ♥ A Q 2 In our room, they lead a club. Barry Mr Bridge ♦ A Q J 7 ruffs, crosses to a trump and takes Premium Quality Cards ♣ A 3 a diamond finesse. Now they play another club. This gives him a serious problem. If he ruffs and spades are 4-1 West North East South he is down immediately, so he decides Pass Pass 2NT to win the ♣A, but now he has to Pass 3♣ Pass 3♦ decide what to discard. In the event Pass 4♣ Pass 6♠ he discards a diamond, then draws All Pass trumps and has to play hearts. When things aren’t going his way, it is no Partner’s 3♣ is Puppet Stayman, and surprise that he guesses wrong. ♦ Standard Faces, the 3 response promises at least After the event Barry gets a lift back with or without bar codes. Unboxed. ♣ one four-card major. 4 shows both to Leeds, while Heather gives me a 6 red/6 blue £19.95 majors and at least mild slam interest. lift back to London and we go out for 30 red/30 blue only £65 I could bid 4♠, but think I have a really a Greek dinner. Then I go back to Available from The London Bridge Centre. good hand and so just blast the slam. Barry’s flat as I need to be in London ( 020 7288 1305 www.bridgeshop.com Given that East has failed to double tomorrow. ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 59 luxury Teachers’ Corner – Teaching Tips from Ian Dalziel bridge mat Just £24.99 plus £4.99 p & p The Incoming Finesse

very bridge teacher gives a lesson How did you get on? If you are a or two on finessing. However, bridge teacher, how many would your the finessing usually taught is students get right? Ewhen declarer has the lead (outgoing These are not exotic plays, but basic ); have you ever thought to give combinations that come up all the a lesson on finessing by declarer when time. My explanations are brief but I defenders lead (incoming finesses)? give a fuller explanation in class. The The techniques are a bit different quiz is just to convince teachers that and most learners don’t do the right this is an important topic for your thing naturally. This important topic syllabus and to convince students is rarely covered in bridge books or that they might need to study it. The magazines. number of tricks lost by average players Cover up the answers and try the mishandling these combinations is quiz below. West leads a small card enormous. Even worse, they don’t Thick woven surface makes in no-trumps, what do you play from know they have misplayed them; they an ideal playing surface and dummy (North)? think they were just unlucky. It seems protects your table. Very popular with Bridge Clubs. 78cms wide so it fits a standard 80cms card table

Padded table bag. £39.00 + £4.99 p&p

Answers to finessing quiz when defenders lead Large enough to take a standard 1 x Ensures 3 tricks wherever the Q lies. I call this the come to me finesse. 80cms bridge table. Made from 2 J Hoping West has the Q. I call this the second hand finesse. tough nylon with carrying straps and Velcro fixing. Ideal for 3 x Ensures 2 tricks wherever the K lies. storing or carrying your table. 4 x Ensures 3 tricks if West has the K. 5 Q It’s now or never for the Q. Order online or by phone 6 x Ensures 1 trick no matter what lies where. www.designsforbridge.co.uk 7 K It’s now or never. 01483 270 100 8 J It’s now or never.

9 x Ensures 1 trick no matter what lies where. SR Designs for Bridge Unit A1, Send Business Park, 10 x Ensures 2 tricks no matter what lies where. Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF 11 Q If West has the ace your K-x is now a partial stop. 12 x Ensures 2 tricks no matter what lies where.

Page 60 BRIDGE January 2017 Teachers’ Corner – Teaching Tips from Ian Dalziel The Incoming Finesse These English made tables offer superb quality and have to be assumed that if students are can be from declarer’s right as well the genuine Pelissier hinges. taught the basic concept of finessing, as declarer’s left. It also applies to suit Choose from the great value then they will surely work out these contracts though that adds another Club, the Premier or the ‘incoming finesses’ for themselves. dimension. However, once you have a elegant Royal. Believe me, very few do; it’s a different good grasp of trick one finessing at no- Special Prices for Bridge skill that needs to be taught separately. trumps, you will be able to apply the Club orders of 5 or more. If defenders lead a suit which contains skill to the other areas of the game. a finesse, they often give away a trick or save declarer a guess – but declarer needs to know how to take advantage of this. Thesecond hand finesse is an honour played by second hand (nos. 2, 5, 7, 8, 11 above). The come to me finesse is when the second hand plays low and lets the lead run to an honour in the fourth hand (Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, Club Table with traditional green 10, 12). There are many combinations felt playing surface £159.00 of this type of finesse, but most are variations of those shown above. If students grasp the thinking behind the ‘top twelve’, they should be able to work out the others when they come up. When I teach this in class, I use prepared hands where declarer has to make 3NT. Each wallet has a different finesse at trick one but also reinforces Premier Table, bevelled edges the skills of suit establishment – and baize playing surface £199.00 unblocking, overtaking, preserving I had been teaching bridge for entries, finessing and ducking. As well years before I ever thought to do a as getting trick one right, they meet lesson on the above topic. I assumed lots of ‘old friends’ which they need that my students would work it out to recognise. There is no bidding so for themselves from my lessons on they work in threes with declarer and ‘normal’ finessing – I was wrong. It dummy’s hands face up on the table, was only when I started doing post as I explained in BRIDGE 166. Each mortems on random hands in which wallet has a booklet with the contract dummy recorded the winning tricks and lead on the outside and the answer (see BRIDGE 154) that I realised how Royal Table, elegant surround and inside (as shown). many tricks (and contracts) were being baize playing surface £249.00 These wallets also emphasise the lost by incorrect play at trick one. Order online or by phone importance of planning before playing I have designed 20 hands in www.designsforbridge.co.uk a card from dummy at trick one – a booklet form which teach trick one wrong choice at trick one and the finessing at no-trumps and revise 01483 270 100 contract is unmakeable. An ‘incoming suit establishment. If you would like a SR Designs for Bridge finesse’ can happen the first time any free PDF and/or Publisher copy with Unit A1, Send Business Park, suit is led by defenders; it doesn’t associated lesson notes, then email Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF need to be at trick one and the lead [email protected] ■

BRIDGE January 2017 Page 61 BERNARD MAGEE’S More Tips from Bernard Magee INTERACTIVE A pre-empt gives TUTORIAL CDS you valuable ADVANCED FIVE-CARD DECLARER PLAY MAJORS & information Strong No-Trump l Making Overtricks in No-trumps l Opening Bids for the play l Making Overtricks & Responses in Suit Contracts l No-Trump Pre-empts make your life a and another spade. North l Endplays Openings misery during the auction, wins his queen, but has to l Avoidance l Support £89 for Partner but they will often give you lead a third spade back: l Wrong a trick back in the play if you ruff in dummy and l Slams Contract £81 you can use the information discard a diamond from & Strong Openings£66 l Simple gained to your advantage. hand. Now, you play a third Squeezes l Rebids club, letting South win, but l Counting l Minors eventually you can ruff the the Hand & Misfits ♠ A 7 ♠ J 2 third diamond and take your l Trump Reductions l Pre-empting ♥ Q J 8 3 N ♥ A K 9 4 club winner for ten tricks. ♦ W E ♦ & Coups l Doubles A 6 5 S J 4 3 ♣ 9 8 5 3 ♣ A K 6 4 l Playing Doubled l Overcalls ♠ K Q 10 8 5 4 3 Contracts l Competitive ♥ 7 6 5 l Safety Plays Auctions West North East South ♦ 9 3♠ Dbl Pass ♣ 10 7 4♥ All Pass ♠ A 7 ♠ J 2 ♥ ♥ ADVANCED Q J 8 3 N A K 9 4 North leads the ♦9. You have ♦ A 6 5 W E ♦ J 4 3 ACOL BIDDING S ALSO eight top tricks, but appear to ♣ 9 8 5 3 ♣ A K 6 4 l Basics have four losers: one spade, ♠ 9 6 l Advanced two diamonds and a club. ♥ 10 2 Basics l Acol Without the auction, you ♦ K Q 10 8 7 2 ♣ l Weak Twos Bidding might be stumped, but the Q J 2 lead and North’s pre-empt l Strong Hands (see p39) might give you a chance. l Defence When North fails to lead This kind of play looks exotic, to Weak Twos l Declarer his suit, quite often he will but it is made possible by l Defence to 1NT Play be leading a singleton. North’s bid. Knowing seven l Doubles Your hope is to strip North of North’s cards gives you l Two-suited (see p43) of his cards outside spades a good chance to place Overcalls £96 and then put him on lead. his other cards and plan You draw three rounds accordingly. You stripped l Defences to l Defence Other Systems of trumps, North following North of his non-spade (see p45) to each round. Then cards and then let him l Misfits and ♣ Distributional you play the A-K both have the lead, forced to Hands defenders following. It play back the only looks as if North did have suit he has left. a singleton diamond: he This opportunity to make ( 01483 489961 has shown up with three extra tricks can make up for hearts, two clubs and one some of the troubles you end www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop diamond which leaves seven up in during the auction after System: MAC OSX (Intel chip), Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10, CD ROM spaces for his spades. a pre-empt, but not all of You now lead the ♠A them. ■

Page 62 BRIDGE January 2017 2189 Mr Bridge FULL page 171109BR_Layout 1 05/12/2016 15:29 Page 1

2017 AUTUMN BRIDGE CRUISE

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

DEPARTS UK NOVEMBER 9, 2017

NOV 9 Fly to MALAGA Spain Transfer to Aegean Odyssey NOV 10 At Sea NOV 11 River cruising along the Guadalquivir River SEVILLE Spain overnight NOV 12 SEVILLE Spain NOV 13 CADIZ Spain (Jerez) NOV 14 CASABLANCA/FEZ Morocco Morning drive to Fez for afternoon sightseeing hotel* NOV 15 FEZ/RABAT/CASABLANCA Morocco Morning drive to Rabat. Rejoin ship in Casablanca overnight NOV 16 CASABLANCA/MARRAKESH Morocco Drive to Marrakesh for afternoon sightseeing hotel* SEVILLE 12-day fly-cruise from £1,795 per person NOV 17 MARRAKESH/AGADIR Morocco Rejoin ship in Agadir. With Mr Bridge and friends Afternoon sightseeing to Taroudant NOV 18 LANZAROTE Canary Islands This fascinating journey takes you from Moorish Spain to the NOV 19 LA PALMA Canary Islands NOV 20 TENERIFE Canary Islands treasures of the Canary Islands and the very best of Morocco with Disembark and transfer to a land tour to the great cities and sites, including hotels stays in Fez Tenerife Airport for flight home and Marrakesh. Cruise through the Strait of Gibraltar and inland AEG171109BR to moor in the centre of Seville. Sailing out into the Atlantic Ocean, MR BRIDGE VALUE FARES you’ll visit the sun-blessed Canary Islands and visit Lanzarote’s Standard Inside from £1,795pp famous Fire Mountains and the verdant landscapes of La Palma. Standard Outside from £2,195pp Premium Outside from £2,295pp Odyssey Club Members enjoy an additional 5% discount on prices shown above. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FARES INCLUDE: JUST 10%† • Scheduled economy class flights CALL NOW ON 01483 489961 • One night hotel stay in both Fez and Marrakesh • Expert guest speaker programme OR VISIT www.mrbridge.co.uk • Mr Bridge drinks party Cabins can be held at no obligation for 7 days • Duplicate bridge every evening • Morning seminars and afternoon bridge when at sea • Sightseeing excursions in all ports of call • All meals on board in choice of two restaurants • Complimentary wine with dinner on board • Gratuities for on-board cabin and restaurant staff • Overseas transfers and baggage handling

Mr Bridge fares are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be 10093 withdrawn at any time without notice. Please see website for full terms and conditions. †Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability. ABTA No.Y2206 *No bridge during hotel stays. 2187 Mr Bridge FULL page 170417BRA_Layout 1 01/12/2016 18:12 Page 1

BRAND-NEW CRUISE SPRING 2017

NO SINGLE A VOYAGE SUPPLEMENT THROUGH THE Mediterranean Greece spain Palermo Athens Portimao Cadiz SeaTrapani Portugal Catania Santorini Malaga sicily Valletta Souda Heraklion MIDDLE SEA Funchal malta crete APRIL 17, 2017 Madeira

DEPARTS UK APRIL 17, 2017

APR 17 Fly to ATHENS Greece Embark Aegean Odyssey in nearby Piraeus APR 18 SANTORINI Greek Islands (Akrotiri) APR 19 HERAKLION Crete (Knossos) APR 20 SOUDA Crete (Chania) APR 21 At Sea APR 22 VALLETTA Malta APR 23 CATANIA Sicily (Syracuse) APR 24 PALERMO Sicily (Monreale) APR 25 TRAPANI Sicily (Segesta) APR 26 At Sea APR 27 At Sea APR 28 MALAGA Spain APR 29 CADIZ Spain (Jerez) 17-day cruise from £2,195 per person APR 30 PORTIMAO Portugal MAY 1 At Sea

CASMARA DE LOBOS, MADEIRA Featuring special guest speaker – John Julius Norwich MAY 2 FUNCHAL Madeira overnight MAY 3 FUNCHAL Madeira Mr Bridge is pleased to present this brand new bridge cruise that Disembark and transfer charts a course across the Mediterranean –known throughout to Funchal Airport for flight home history as ‘The Middle Sea’. Travel with famous author and AEG170417BRA historian, John Julius, 2nd Viscount Norwich, whose epic history SPECIAL FARES of the Middle Sea is the inspiration for this magnificent voyage. Standard Inside from £2,195pp Visit the classical sites of ancient Greece and explore the historic splendour of Malta and Sicily. Take a panoramic drive to some of the outstanding sites Standard Outside from £2,895pp of Malaga and Moorish Spain, before sampling sherry in Jerez. Savour the Premium Outside from £3,125pp breathtaking vistas of the Sagres peninsula and the Algarve in Portugal, then NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT arrive in Funchal, for a sightseeing tour of Winston Churchill’s favourite Odyssey Club Members enjoy an additional retreat, Camara de Lobos. 5% discount on prices shown above. All excursions are included in the fare, and with with a full bridge programme hosted by the Mr Bridge team – this promises to be the trip FARES INCLUDE: of a lifetime. • Scheduled economy class flights • Expert destination speaker programme • Mr Bridge drinks party • Morning seminars and afternoon bridge when at sea • Duplicate bridge every evening (singles will always be found a bridge partner) Cabins can be held for 7 days without obligation • Sightseeing excursions at all ports of call • Specialist excursion guides plus personal Call on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk QuietVox devices • All meals on board in choice of two restaurants • Complimentary wine with dinner on board • Gratuities for on-board cabin and restaurant staff • Overseas transfers and baggage handling

Terms and conditions: All fares are per person and subject to availability. We reserve 10093 the right to use low cost airline carriers whereby one item of hold luggage is included. Regional connections are available and an additional charge applies. Full payment is ABTA No.Y2206 required to secure the booking.