sign in sign up
<<
Home , Acol, Avoidance play, Blackwood convention, Contract bridge, Duck (bridge), Ely Culbertson

Number One Hundred and Fifty June 2015 Bernard Magee’s Quiz BRIDGEYou are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no- (12-14 points) and 4-card majors.

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

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

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

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

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 2♠1 1♠ 1NT 1♣ Dbl Pass 3♥ 3♠ Dbl Pass ? 16-10pts & 6 ? ? ?

Answers on page 9 Answers on page 11 Answers on page 13 Answers on page 15 1910 MR Bridge Voy to SA ad_Layout 1 01/12/2014 17:02 Page 1

Sail with Bernard Magee and friends on a magnificent voyage

S PA I N Tangier Malaga Casablanca Las Palmas Marrakesh Agadir canary MOROCCO islands Dakhla Western Sahara desert Praia Cape Verde Bom Bom Islands Sao Tome Sao Tome & Principe Luanda Angola Atlantic Walvis Bay Ocean Luderitz Namibia South Africa Cape Town CRUISE FROM MALAGA TO CAPE TOWN NOV 19 Fly to MALAGA Spain Embark Aegean Odyssey NOV 20 TANGIER Morocco NOV 21 CASABLANCA/RABAT/ MARRAKESH Morocco Morning sightseeing in Casablanca and Rabat. Afternoon drive to Marrakesh hotel NOV 22 MARRAKESH/AGADIR Morocco Sightseeing. Drive to Agadir to rejoin ship NOV 23 At Sea NOV 24 LAS PALMAS Canary Islands NOV 25 At Sea NOV 26 AD DAKHLA Western Sahara Desert LOW NOV 27/28 At Sea SINGLE NOV 29 PRAIA Cape Verde Islands NOV 30-DEC 5 At Sea JOIN THIS 4-WEEK † SUPPLEMENTS DEC 6 SAO TOME DEC 7 BOM BOM ISLAND Principe ODYSSEY TO DEC 8/9 At Sea – Crossing the Equator DEC 10 LUANDA Angola DEC 11/12 At Sea THE CAPE OF DEC 13 WALVIS BAY Namibia DEC 14 LUDERITZ Namibia DEC 15 At Sea GOOD HOPE DEC 16-18 CAPE TOWN South Africa overnight DEC 19 CAPE TOWN South Africa 31 days departing November 19, 2015 Transfer to Airport for flight home AEG151119BR

If you have a passion for travel as well as your passion for fares* from £3,995pp include: bridge, then join Bernard Magee on this remarkable month- • Scheduled economy class flights with free regional connections from selected UK airports long Mr Bridge cruise. From the souks of Morocco and the • Expert guest speaker programme Western Sahara Desert to the Skeleton Coast of Namibia and • Daily the summer sunshine in Cape Town, this will be an experience • Bridge seminars when at sea like no other. Excursions and sightseeing are included in your • Sightseeing excursions at most ports of call • Open-seating dining fare, as well as the comprehensive bridge programme. • Mr Bridge drinks party • Complimentary wine with dinner on • Gratuities for on-board cabin and restaurant staff • Overseas transfers and baggage handling

MR BRIDGE VALUE FARES* Standard Inside from £3,995pp Outside from £4,895pp Balcony from £7,095pp CALL NOW ON 01483 489961 Past passengers receive a 10% discount on these fares – OR VISIT www.mrbridge.co.uk please ask for details.

Cabins can be held at no obligation for 7 days *Mr Bridge fares are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be withdrawn at any time without notice. †Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability. #Please note that bridge will not be possible during our overnight land tour from Casablanca to Agadir.

10093 TO VOYAGES ANTIQUITY ABTA No.Y2206 Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ 1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee INDEX BRIDGE 5 Mr Bridge 2 Odyssey to the Cape of Good Hope with Ryden Grange, Knaphill, 6 Sink the Titanic by Ned Paul Voyages to Antiquity Surrey GU21 2TH 9 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee 3 Clive Goff’s Stamps ( 01483 489961 10 Should Players be Penalised? by David Stevenson [email protected] 4 The Treasures of the Aegean with Voyages www.mrbridge.co.uk 11 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee to Antiquity shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/ 12 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett 7 QPlus 11 mrbridge-shop 13 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee 7 Mail Order Form Publisher and 14 Defence Quiz by 8 Bridge Event Managing Editor Booking Form Mr Bridge 15 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee 8 Bridge Events with 16 Julian Pottage Answers Your Questions Associate Editor and Bernard Magee Bridge Consultant 19 Sally’s Slam of the Month 9 Just Duplicate Bridge Bernard Magee bernardmagee 20 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett 11 Travel Insurance @mrbridge.co.uk 21 More Tips by Bernard Magee 12 Denham Grove Filming Weekend 2016 Cartoons & Illustrations 22 Championship of 1933 – Revisited Marguerite Lihou by Shireen Mohandes 13 Denham Grove www.margueritelihou.co.uk Festive Season 2015 26 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage 14 S R Designs Technical Consultant 27 Wendy Wensum’s Diaries Tony Gordon Leather Gifts 28 Weak Twos by Heather Dhondy 15 Wyndham Garden Typesetting & Design Festive Season 2015 Ruth Edmondson 30 Principles of Leading Against a Suit Contract [email protected] by Andrew Kambites 18 Charity Events 32 Adventures at Number 10 20 Mr Bridge Proof Readers by David Holden and Roy Rowe Playing Cards Brigid McElroy Mike Orriel 34 Penalty Doubles by Bernard Magee 21 Tips for Better Bridge Catrina Shackleton 31 Better Hand Richard Wheen 36 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions Evaluation 38 The Sheriff’s Ill-Judged Double by Customer Services 35 Bernard Magee’s Catrina Shackleton 40 Defending Against 1NT: Double and so on Tutorial Software [email protected] by Jeremy Dhondy 37 Duplicate Bridge Events & Cruises 42 Mary’s Eighteenth Lesson by Liz Dale Rules Simplified ( 01483 489961 43 Readers’ Letters 45 S R Designs Jessica Galt Bridge Tables [email protected] 44 Catching Up with Megan Riccio 48 Bernard Magee DVDs [email protected] 46 Seven Days with Sally Brock Sophie Pierrepont [email protected] REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE ACOL BIDDING & Charities Coming later this year is a new, Maggie Axtell Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, revised version of this best- [email protected] all mint with full gum. Quotations for selling CD. First published commercial quantities available on request. nearly 16 years ago, it will NEW Address Changes Values supplied in 100s, higher values feature extra hands, extra ( 01483 485342 available as well as 1st and 2nd class comments and, in addition, Elizabeth Bryan (eg 2nd class: 100x37p+100x16p). feature an app for Android. Next year, apps for iPads and [email protected] (/Fax 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected] iPhones are planned.

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 3 1950 Mr Bridge A4 mag ad_Layout 1 25/04/2015 03:04 Page 1

EXCLUSIVE NEW BRIDGE CRUISE OFFER

A 12-DAY VOYAGE TO

Istanbul THE TREASURES OF THE Thessalonica Canakkale Volos Skiathos Turkey Athens Kusadasi Aegean Greece Aegean Fethiye Santorini Sea Rhodes

DEPARTS UK SEPTEMBER 5, 2015

DATE PORT SEP 5 Fly to ISTANBUL Turkey Transfer to Aegean Odyssey SEP 6 Cruising the Dardanelles and past Mount Athos SEP 7 THESSALONICA Greece SEP 8 VOLOS (Meteora) Greece SEP 9 SKIATHOS Greek Islands SEP 10 ATHENS Greece SEP 11 SANTORINI (Akrotiri) Greek Islands SEP 12 RHODES Greek Islands DEPARTS SEPTEMBER 5, 2015 SEP 13 FETHIYE (Patara) Turkey SEP 14 KUSADASI (Ephesus) Turkey Join Mrs Bridge and me as well as my team on SEP 15 CANAKKALE (Troy or Gallipoli) Turkey SEP 16 ISTANBUL Turkey a fascinating voyage around the Aegean Sea. Disembark and transfer to Enjoy included excursions in most ports of call Istanbul Airport for flight home and daily duplicate bridge on board ship. Fares include • Scheduled economy class flights • Expert guest speaker programme • Mr Bridge drinks party • Daily duplicate bridge • Bridge seminars when at sea • Sightseeing excursions in most ports of call Small-ship cruising at its best ~ Classically elegant, our ship, Aegean • Open-seating dining – complimentary wine Odyssey provides gracious public rooms, a choice of two restaurants with open-seating with dinner on board dining and generously-sized cabins. Accommodating up to 350 guests, the ship can • Gratuities for on-board cabin sail to destinations larger ships cannot reach. With a relaxed atmosphere on board, and restaurant staff she offers every comfort at sea and the very best in small-ship, adventure cruising. • Overseas transfers and baggage handling SINGLE CALL NOW ON 01483 489961 SUPPLEMENT † MR BRIDGE VALUE FARES* OR VISIT www.mrbridge.co.uk JUST £100 Standard Inside from £1,895pp Cabins can be held at no obligation for 7 days Standard Outside from £2,295pp Deluxe Balcony from £3,550pp

10093 *Mr Bridge fares are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be withdrawn at any time without notice. †Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability.

ABTA No.Y2206 FROM THE HEART bids 2♥ when it comes to As a business I have a LOOKING her turn to bid. I announce promotional budget and it FORWARD transfer to spades and, in is always underspent. due course, bid spades I find myself looking There are other companies when it comes round forward once again, as well as my own that can to my turn. this time to a pre-cruise be contacted and I will tour of India’s Golden provide you with a list of Partner puts her hand Triangle, the magnificent down as dummy and I names and addresses highlight of which is discover that I have which may be worth the Taj Mahal. concentrated so hard on trying to tap in support remembering red-suit of your good cause. Bernard Magee recently transfers, that I had travelled the same route forgotten we had no 3 – 4 – 5 and tells me, most It’s well over a year since I agreement to include emphatically, that I explained that I sometimes transfers in our simple I have come across a new to must include this on my construct this column by system. I keep a straight me maxim for bidding after schedule of essential sitting down and writing face, don’t comment about partner’s 2NT opening, tourism, disrespectfully with a particular reader in my mistake and luckily called 3-4-5. It goes along referred to by him as my mind. This is because I make the contract with the lines of, bucket-list. would say the same to only six spades between us. 3 points never, everyone. The only 4 points sometimes, GOFFIES STAMPS difference is that yours will I recall both these incidents 5+ points ever. be signed personally and because they were mildly the envelope addressed in embarrassing and, in Not enough space in this my own fair hand. consequence, amusing at issue, but I will get one of the time. Hopefully, my my writers to tell you about NEW TO game will get better. I am it in BRIDGE issue 151. TRANSFERS telling my readers about this as it may serve to NO FLY CRUISES I only play bridge with encourage enthusiastic humans when I go on a improvers, like myself, to Clive Goff’s discounted cruise. I endeavour to play keep on trying. with a different partner stamp service is worthy of support as he supplies every session and I am CHARITY BRIDGE delighted to find how British postage stamps at a patient and understanding If your club or local charity discount off face value. my different partners are. is using bridge as a means These are supplied as two Having told you over a year of fundraising, make a My new partnership with stamps, combined to make ago of my determination to point of sending the details Fred.Olsen has just been up the 53p 2nd class rate, play the great game better, to me well in advance so launched with a brochure 2nd class to you at 44p. 1st I decided to incorporate they may be included in my which I have posted far and class at 62p, still only 50p, red-suit transfers as and charity events list, see page wide. The response has available to you in 100s. ( when required by my 18 in this issue for the been really encouraging. 0208 422 4906 or email various on-board partners. current list. You know what On-board gratuities for [email protected] Last cruise, most but not a busy life you have and restaurant and cabin staff See his advert on page 3. all, wanted this useful tool how much notice you need are included on all bookings included on their yourself. These days made before 31 May 2015. STILL CLEARING . everybody is so busy. If I repeat, before the 31 May I am clearing shop-soiled you want a response give 2015. Just ring my office The first couple of games merchandise, including the people plenty of notice. on ( 01483 489961 and I went well enough but the following books, all at £1.95 This is really important. will pop one in the post third evening I found my if you haven’t already each to cover postage. partner playing in 2♥, my As for prizes, I find it received one. having failed to transfer to absolutely mind bogglingly Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified spades. I resolved to staggering that so few LOVELY AEGEAN concentrate, but a couple of organisers and promoters Bernard Magee’s Tips sessions later, again with a of these charity events Not to be outdone, the Bernard Magee’s Hand different partner, I opened bother to write in and ask owners of Aegean Odyssey Evaluation 1NT, my partner chirps the for donations for spot have prepared a mini All good wishes, usual Acol weak no-trump prizes and contributions brochure. If you haven’t 12-14 announcement and to the raffle. had one just give me a call. Mr Bridge

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 5 Maxims from Ned Paul Sink the Titanic!

ight Hand Opponent (RHO) It’s all too easy to bid 2♣ first and then a take-out double, but you know what deals and opens 1♣. Would you realise one shouldn’t have done it. will happen next. LHO has a trump on this hand? There are only 11 HCP; you wouldn’t stack sitting over you and is going to R have opened this hand (I hope); the pass. Your bluff has been called and club suit is gappy and has limited lead you are going to have to play 2♣ dou- ♠ 10 4 value and there is no useful shape. bled. Everyone does pass; LHO oppo- ♥ K Q 10 9 3 2♣ over 1♠ has no disruption value. nent leads ♠Q, and as dummy appears ♦ 7 6 It’s also game all, you realise after the your worst fears are confirmed. The ♣ 8 7 4 2 event and you wish you hadn’t bid. full deal is: If you bid like this, you are left hop- ing that the opponents will ride to Well, I would check the vulnerability your rescue. I liken bidding such as Dealer East. Game All. first and if I were non-vulnerable (and this to being on the Titanic amidst the ♠ J 10 5 4 especially if I were non-vulnerable ice floes. After you have made this bid, ♥ Q 10 8 7 against vulnerable opponents), I would you have set your course and it’s too ♦ 10 7 6 2 be happy to call 1♥. The values are late for the lookout to tell the captain ♣ 6 slender but the points are concentrated of ice ahead. As you watch Left Hand ♠ Q 2 ♠ K 9 8 7 3 in the suit bid; there is lead value in Opponent (LHO) contemplating their ♥ K 9 N ♥ A J 5 2 W E ♦ K J 9 5 ♦ A 8 the suit, ie, if we become defenders, next action, you are feeling afraid. It is S this is the suit that you would like as if the temperature has dropped. The ♣ Q 10 8 5 3 ♣ K 2 partner to lead. There is a little shape sky is clear and icy blue. The sea is calm ♠ A 6 to the hand – we have length in the but cold and the liner is ploughing on. ♥ 6 4 3 suit our opponent has bid, so partner At the bridge table, you are just hoping ♦ Q 4 3 may be short, thus offering a ruffing that LHO will bid and take you off the ♣ A J 9 7 4 value. To bid like this follows a general hook. The inevitable happens: LHO principal, that one-level can passes. Partner passes. This is awful. be quite frivolous. As long as there is Please, please RHO bid something and West North East South some suit quality you are unlikely to get me out of here. RHO reaches into 1♠ 2♣ be profitably doubled for penalty. their and pulls out – a red Pass Pass Dbl All Pass When you overcall at the two-level, double card. It comes with the meta- however, it is a different kettle of fish. phorical sound of rending metal as the East has done well to re-open with a Now the opponents are much readier Titanic hits the iceberg. Of course, it is double rather than bid 2♥ – look out to double. I would strongly for opportunities to do this. recommend that to overcall at There is nowhere for declarer the two-level you should have to go for tricks and the penalty a hand that would have opened should be at least 1,100. It is the bidding as dealer. If you are scant consolation to South that contemplating an overcall with the opponents can make game. fewer than 12 HCP, you should Bidding like this damages have a six-card suit. Would partnership morale and may you be tempted to overcall an even cost you your partnership. opening 1♠ with this? There is no great compunction to bid on these moderate hands as you or your partner can al- ♠ A 6 ways enter the auction later, ♥ 6 4 3 should it die at a low level. So ♦ Q 4 3 keep a good look out in future ♣ A J 9 7 4 and don’t be the player who wrecks the Titanic! ■

Page 6 BRIDGE June 2015 ✄ QPLUS 11 Mr Bridge MAIL ORDER PLAY SOFTWARE TUTORIAL DVDs – £25 each QPlus 11 £92.00 ...... 1. Ruffing for 16. Avoidance ...... Really user-friendly Extra Tricks bridge-playing QPlus 11 17. Pairs Play Trade-in £50.00 ...... 2. Competitive Auctions ...... & Defence ...... software QPlus 10 3. Making the 18. Thinking (Second Hand) £50.00 ...... Most of High Cards ...... Defence ...... FEATURES INCLUDE 4. Identifying & 19. Defensive Plan ...... TUTORIAL SOFTWARE Bidding Slams ...... 20. Further Into Begin Bridge/Acol £66.00 ...... l Help button – explains 5. Play & the Auction ...... the features for bidding Acol Bidding £66.00 ...... Defence of 1NT ...... 21. Weak Twos ...... and card play advice Advanced 6. Doubling & Defence 22. Trump Control ...... Acol Bidding £96.00 ...... to Doubled Contracts ...... l Displays on HD and large 23. Sacrificing ...... 7. Leads ...... screens Declarer Play £76.00 ...... 24. Improving Advanced 8. Losing Bridge Memory ...... l Comprehensive manual Declarer Play £81.00 ...... Trick Count ...... 25. Defence as Partner Defence £76.00 ...... 9. Making a of the Leader ...... l Feed in your own deals Plan as Declarer ...... Five-Card Majors with 26. Aggressive Bidding Strong No-Trump £89.00 ...... 10. Responding to 1NT ...... l option at Duplicate Pairs ...... 11. Signals & Discards ...... TEA TOWELS 27. Strong Opening Bids ...... l 5,000 preplayed hands 12. Endplays ...... 28. Take-Out Doubles ...... for teams Life’s a Game £5.00 ...... 13. ...... Ode to a Pill £5.00 ...... 29. Suit Establishment l 4,000 preplayed hands 14. Pre-Empting ...... in Suit Contracts ...... The Present £5.00 ...... for matchpoint pairs 15. Splinter 30. /Defending Be Reasonable £5.00 ...... & Cue Bids ...... against a 1NT Opening ...... l Save match function The Pot Boiler £5.00 ...... PICK ‘N’ MIX FROM THE ENTIRE RANGE The Horse £5.00 ...... l Closed room – button Any 6 DVDs in a display box £105.00 ...... to view other table 10 Commandments for Bridge Players £5.00 ...... BOOKS SUBSCRIPTIONS Road Traffic Signs £5.00 ...... New subscribers Duplicate Bridge Rules European Simplified £5.95 ...... 1 year (12 issues) £45.00 ...... Language Directive £5.00 ...... 2 years (24 issues) £75.00 ...... Better Hand Evaluation £92 We Are Survivors £5.00 ...... Bernard Magee £14.00 ...... 3 years (36 issues) £100.00 ...... including post and packing Recipe for a Tips for Better Bridge Founder Subscribers Happy Marriage £5.00 ...... Bernard Magee £14.00 ...... Renewals £20.00 ......

Prices are inclusive of VAT and postage to UK mainland. QPLUS TRADE-IN I enclose a cheque for £...... OFFER Mr/Mrs/Miss ......

Return any QPLUS Address...... CD and booklet with ...... a cheque for £50 and receive wonderful Postcode...... ( ...... QPLUS 11.

See adjacent Expiry: ...... CVV ...... Issue No...... Mail Order Form. (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip)

System: 8mb RAM, CD-ROM, Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8 ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop ✄

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 7 ✄ BRIDGE EVENTS BRIDGE with Bernard Magee BREAKS PROGRAMME ♦ Full-board ♦ Two seminars* ♦ All rooms with ♦ Two supervised FRIDAY en-suite facilities play sessions* 1500 Mr Bridge Denham Grove ♦ No single supplement ♦ Four bridge sessions** Welcome Desk open Denham, Bucks, UB9 5DG Tea or coffee on arrival

Please book ..... places for me at £...... per person, July 24-26 Thinking Defence 1745 to 1830 Welcome drinks Single .... Double .... Twin .... reception

1830 to 2000 Name of Hotel/Centre...... Dinner Date(s) ...... 2015 BRIDGE 1 DUPLICATE PAIRS Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... Inn on the Prom St Annes On Sea, FY8 1LU SATURDAY Address...... SEPTEMber 18-20 Finding Slams 0800 to 0930 ...... Breakfast 1000 to 1230 Postcode ...... ( ...... SEMINAR & SUPERVISED PLAY Email ...... of SET HANDS (tea & coffee at 1100) Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, Blunsdon House Hotel 1230 to 1330 but we will do our best to oblige). Swindon SN26 7AS Cold Buffet Lunch 1400 to 1645 ...... OCTOBER 9-11 Better Defence OCTOBER 16-18 Doubles BRIDGE 2 TEAMS of FOUR Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking. 1815 to 2000 ...... Dinner

Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place by 2015 BRIDGE 3 cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice for the balance will be sent DUPLICATE PAIRS with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent Chatsworth Hotel SUNDAY together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you Worthing BN11 3DU require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker. 0800 to 0930 OctOBER 30 – NovEMBER 1 Breakfast Sacrificing 1000 to 1230 SEMINAR & SUPERVISED PLAY of SET HANDS (tea & coffee at 1100)

Expiry: ...... CVV...... Issue No...... 1230 to 1400 (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) Sunday Lunch Elstead Hotel Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. Bournemouth, BH1 3QP 1400 to 1645 BRIDGE 4 ( 01483 489961 November 6-8 DUPLICATE PAIRS e-mail: [email protected] Suit Establishment website: www.holidaybridge.com £245pp. Full Board. No Single Supplement. *on tutorial weekends only. **6 sessions on rubber/Chicago & Just Duplicate events. Please note: Just Duplicate events contain no seminars and do not award prizes. See www.mrbridge.co.uk for new dates ✄

Page 8 BRIDGE June 2015 Answers to Bernard Magee’s JUST Bidding Quizzes 1-3 DUPLICATE BRIDGE 2015 on the Cover Denham Grove Denham, Bucks UB9 5DU suit. 1. Dealer West. Love All. You have control in every suit, so you 26-28 June £199 ♠ A K 7 6 4 3 2 ♠ Q 8 should try for slam by using Blackwood ♥ 6 N ♥ 9 8 7 (ideally a version that includes the king ♦ K 2 W E ♦ A 9 8 6 3 of trumps in the responses). S ♣ 7 6 5 ♣ A 8 2 Playing simple Keycard Blackwood, East would respond 5♥ to 4NT showing two key cards and you would raise to 6♠. West North East South The play should be straightforward: draw ? trumps and play ♦A-K and the third round – your are now likely to 1♠. The modern style of pre-empt is with all be winners so you have plenty of tricks a range of 5-9 HCP: the reason for this is for your slam. Wyndham Garden because 10 HCP and a good seven-card suit constitute a strong enough hand to Grantham open the bidding at the one-level. When 3. Dealer South. Love All. (formerly the Olde Barn) evaluating the hand you should include ♠ A 4 2 ♠ 7 6 3 Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT the value of a strong and long suit: 3 ex- ♥ A 7 N ♥ K 5 3 2 14-16 August £189 tra points for a seven-card suit. 10 + 3 ♦ Q 4 3 W E ♦ A K 5 2 S = 13 which is definitely enough for an ♣ A 9 7 6 5 ♣ 10 4 4-6 September £189 opening one bid. 9-11 October £189 Here the auction might well proceed: 1♠-2♦-4♠-End. Had you opened 3♠ then West North East South 16-18 October £189 your partner would have passed. 2♠1 ? 13-15 November £189 16-10pts, 6 spades 2. Dealer East. E/W Game. Holiday Inn ♠ Q J 3 ♠ A K 10 9 8 5 2 Pass. South opens with a pre-emptive Ashford North TN26 1AR ♥ 7 N ♥ 9 2 style opening at the two-level. It is im- W E ♦ A K 8 7 6 5 4 ♦ 3 2 2-4 October £189 S portant to get used to dealing with weak ♣ A 8 ♣ 4 2 twos: they are becoming much more popular. The most sensible defence Holiday Inn against weak twos is to play double for Newport NP18 2YG West North East South take-out and have a natural 2NT overcall 6-8 November £189 3♠ Pass showing a strong (about ? 16-19 HCP). Your overcalls should gen- erally be based around a six-card or Chatsworth Hotel 4NT. Note the vulnerability: your side is longer suit. Worthing BN11 3DU vulnerable and your opponents are not. Bearing in mind the defence described 20-22 November £199 This means that your partner should be above, you should pass: your hand does on his best behaviour – he should have not fit any of the given categories. You 27-29 November £199 a strong suit – it is not worth the risk of are not strong enough to bid no-trumps; pre-empting on bad suits when you are you do not have good (or long) enough at unfavourable vulnerability. clubs and you certainly do not have the Full Board Suspecting that your partner might shape for a take-out double (your part- No Single Supplement have seven spade tricks (with the help ner would respond in ). of your holding), your diamond suit then The best result your side is likely to get Booking Form on page 8. offers the potential of many more tricks; on the hand would be 2♠ going one or Please note there are no seminars, set hands or prizes at these events. one ruff might be enough to establish the two off. ■

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 9 David Stevenson answers your Frequently Asked Questions Should Players be Penalised?

ccording to the laws of bridge, and cause a lot of trouble: should they illegal ‘Not played’). Another point a director can really be allowed to get away with it often overlooked is that there is often penalise a player for most because we want a friendly game? a pair who is regularly late finishing Athings that he does that do not conform I believe the solution lies in the in fact clubs come to find certain to the laws. The two types of penalty approach: players should readily pairs are late week after week: it is are procedural penalties, which are for expect to be penalised if they do very important to issue penalties for players who get the procedure wrong, something wrong and should accept repeated lateness. It has been said that for example, playing the wrong board, it with good grace. I believe that more the slow pair may leave the club: what and disciplinary penalties, which penalties would help the game. If they people do not realise is the number of are for players who misbehave, for were not so rare, players would be players who abandon clubs because example calling their opponent an considerably less upset by them and they are sick of the slow players. In idiot. A tournament director has the game would run more smoothly. general, the main reason for issuing unlimited powers in this respect but, Of course, some people will tell you penalties, apart from where a board is in practice, few penalties are applied, they did not mean to play the wrong lost, is when a player or pair commits except at the very top of the game. board, or whatever. Of course, they do an infraction repeatedly. Of course, tournament directors do not intend to. But, in practice, people How about disciplinary penalties? warn players who do things wrong try harder to do the right thing if they Here, many directors go wrong. If a and some would argue that such a know they will be penalised for doing player is rude to someone else they warning is really a penalty; this article the wrong thing. must be penalised, no exceptions. concerns penalties awarded that affect Does that mean that all infractions Sometimes someone is rude, and then the player’s score. should be penalised? No, certainly someone retaliates: in fact sometimes There is a standard procedural not. Many things are just accepted. it descends into a shouting match. penalty, namely 10% of a top. This There is a growing habit of making the Directors often make the mistake of means that if a top on a board is 30 last pass of the auction without using merely trying to calm things down: matchpoints, a standard procedural a green card: while technically illegal they must penalise both sides in such penalty would be 3 matchpoints. no-one really minds. Personally, I get a case, it is their responsibility to the For a very bad case a director might upset when the player on lead puts the rest of the room. If ever I give up this give more, but it is usual to give the contract in the Bridgemate or on his wonderful game, it will be because I standard penalty. For disciplinary score-card before leading. While this tire of the bad behaviour, not for any penalties, the standard is 20% of a top, is rude, I just have to tolerate it. other reason. It is the director’s job 6 matchpoints in the above example. Whenever someone does something to make sure that bad behaviour is In teams events, the standards are 3 that prevents another table playing a eradicated, and disciplinary penalties imps and 6 IMPs, and at Swiss 0.5 VP board, such as putting the hands away are his main weapon. and 1 VP. in the wrong slot, then I believe a pen- Many years ago I found a scale of In fact, very few penalties are ever alty should be automatic. It is so unfair penalties on the notice board of a given. Is this the right approach? on the other tables. In general, penal- bridge club. This might work, since, if Many players seem to think that they ties should be applied when another the penalty is automatic, players will be can ignore the rules and should not be player is seriously disadvantaged. An- less likely to argue. As they are given, penalised at all. other example is where a player dis- players will be more likely to make sure People will argue that we want cusses a board so loudly that the next they do the right thing. Players should a friendly game and penalties are table cannot play it. In such a case a accept penalties with good grace, and a unfriendly. Look at the other side: penalty should be automatic. further disciplinary penalty should be people want a pleasant and well-run Slow play is a bane of many issued to players who do not. game, consider how upset they get bridge clubs. Of course, the director The basic idea is that players who if the director tells them they cannot sometimes takes a board away from a upset others by their actions should play board 23, not because of anything table which is late, but he should find be penalised: they are less likely to they have done, but because of another out who is at fault to give the right keep doing wrong and the players table. Some players are very casual, average scores (never the completely disadvantaged will feel better. ■

Page 10 BRIDGE June 2015 TRAVEL INSURANCE Answers to Last month I told you that I have been planning my personal travel arrangements for the coming year and my travel insurance cover. I am sure you are aware that when Bernard Magee’s we reach a certain age, as I have, insurance premiums start to rise, especially with pre-existing medical conditions. I have had Bidding Quizzes 4-6 to seek out a new policy provider as my insurer for many years no longer wants my business. I have embarked upon researching this with my usual energy. As Acumen on the Cover Insurance Services Limited advertise their Genesis brand, there are some points on their Cover Cloud travel insurance product that I am sure will be of particular interest. overcalls 1NT. South has shown a strong Under their trading names, Genesis 4. Dealer East. Game All. balanced hand (15-18) so the meaning and Cover Cloud, they are able to cover any age of traveller and most ♠ 7 6 ♠ A K 5 4 3 of your bids change. Most strong hands pre-existing medical conditions. ♥ N ♥ K 10 3 Q J 2 will double for penalties, which leaves Cruise Cover is standard to all Cover W E ♦ J 5 4 ♦ 10 9 two-level bids as weak and competitive: Cloud policies and Ski cover can be taken S ♣ A Q 7 6 3 ♣ K 5 2 non-forcing. Your hand is suitable for a right up to 69 years of age, which is quite natural competitive 2♣. unusual. They have also negotiated with Any hand that thinks it can make game their underwriters on the medical side of the policy and if you fit into the following West North East South in this auction is probably going to start criteria you may be able to take advantage 1♠ 1NT by doubling 1NT and expecting to get it a of this low cost policy on Annual and Single ? lot off. All other hands are wanting simply Trips up to a maximum age of 79 years. to compete for the part-score, which is Basically the definitions of pre-existing Double. why you should use all the 2-level bids medical conditions is as follows: ‘Any past or current medical condition that has given Your partner opens 1♠ and South for this reason. rise to symptoms or for which any form overcalls 1NT. The answer to this This hand should be a battle between of treatment or prescribed medication, question is relatively straightforward, but diamonds and clubs. medical consultation, investigation or surprisingly elusive. Doubles of no-trump follow-up/check-up has been required bids are used for penalties: you should or received during the 24 months prior to the commencement of cover under use them when your side has the majority this policy and/or prior to any trip.’ of points or when you have a strong hand 6. Dealer East. Game All. Therefore, if you have not experienced sitting over an opponent. Here, you hold ♠ 7 ♠ A K 5 4 3 any of the above within the 24 months prior 10 HCP and your partner has opened, so ♥ 10 8 4 3 N ♥ Q J 2 to the commencement of cover, you will you can be sure of the majority of points ♦ K 6 5 4 W E ♦ 10 9 be accepted. However, great care should S be taken in checking your medical history and should therefore double. ♣ A 7 6 4 ♣ K 5 2 to ensure that you fit the criteria exactly. 2♣ would be natural, but would I am now a Cover Cloud Policy holder, suggest a weaker hand. No-trump bids but this is in no way a recommendation change the nature of an auction, because West North East South as you would have to check the policy one player has accurately described his 1♠ 1NT to ensure it suits your particular requirements in every way. hand. ? Putting travel to one side for a moment, when you click onto the Genesis logo from Pass. my website and select ‘Get Quote’, you Your partner opens 1♠ and South will see that there are now a wide range of 5. Dealer East. Game All. overcalls 1NT. You have no long suit and insurance products available to members ♠ 7 6 ♠ A K 5 4 3 you cannot be sure your side has the including Home Emergency, Mobile Phone/Gadget, Home Appliance plus Pet ♥ K 10 3 N ♥ Q J 2 majority of points, so you should keep Insurance. I am sure you will find some of ♦ 5 4 W E ♦ 10 9 quiet. S interest. If you are interested in any of the ♣ Q J 7 6 4 3 ♣ K 5 2 A double of 1NT would be for penalties, above do email me at bridge@mrbridge. for which you are slightly too weak; 7+12 co.uk giving me your name, address and is only 19. As it happens on this hand, telephone number and I will ask the very helpful people at Genesis Choice Travel West North East South you do have 20 points between you, Insurance Specialists to ring you and 1♠ 1NT but you cannot be sure of getting 1NT answer any questions you might have. ? down. This is as enthusiastic an endorsement as With no support for your partner and I dare make without getting into trouble. 2♣. no long suit, you have no choice but to Mr Bridge Your partner opens 1♠ and South pass and hope you might defeat 1NT. ■

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 11 BERNARD MAGEE DECLARER at Denham Grove near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG. PLAY 8-11 January 2016 QUIZ £399pp Friday – Monday by David Huggett £369pp Friday – Sunday (Answers on page 20) full board ou are South as declarer playing teams or . Limited places for Thursday night available. In each case, what is your play strategy? £65pp single, £40pp double/twin. Y

Topics 1. ♠ A 9 8 7 6 3. ♠ 8 7 ♥ A K 2 ♥ A 7 4 2 COUNTING DEFENCE ♦ K 8 7 ♦ 7 6 5 3 Defence is the hardest aspect of bridge, but if you can learn to ♣ 5 4 ♣ A 7 3 defend in conjunction with your partner, it becomes the most rewarding element at the same time. N N W E W E Extra TRICKS in NO-TRUMPS S S Long suits are an integral part of the bidding and the play – developing extra tricks from them will often be the difference ♠ 2 ♠ A 5 between making or going down in your contract. ♥ Q J 10 9 7 6 4 ♥ K 3 SUPPORTING PARTNER ♦ A Q 5 ♦ A Q J 10 When you hold support for your partner, the two hands can fully ♣ A 6 ♣ K J 6 5 4 evaluate, often allowing the partnership to bid much higher than the high card points might suggest. We will look at a number of conventions that can help you bid to good games and bid to great slams. You are declarer in 7♥ and You are declarer in 3NT West leads the ♠K. How and West leads the ♠Q. FINESSING do you plan the play? How do you plan the play? come in all sorts of different varieties and come up on almost every hand you play. Getting the most out of your honour combinations is a crucial part of declarer play. Should you lead high or low, to the right or to the left? BIDDING DISTRIBUTIONAL HANDS 2. ♠ 5 3 4. ♠ K Q 3 Distributional hands can be great fun to bid and to play, particularly when you find a fit. And how do you find a fit… by ♥ 4 3 ♥ 5 3 2 bidding more! ♦ 7 3 2 ♦ A 6 4 3 ♣ A K Q 10 4 2 ♣ K 9 4 COPING with PRE-EMPTS

How do you defend against pre-empts and weak twos; how do you N N cope with weak overcalls and jump support? When your bidding W E W E space is taken away you have to use a few extra techniques, but S S most of all you have to use your judgement. Improving your understanding will allow you to collect the big penalties and ♠ ♠ better scores. A 10 7 6 A J 10 7 6 ♥ A K 7 ♥ A 6 4 ♦ A 10 6 4 ♦ 7 5 ♣ 5 3 ♣ A Q 6 6 seminar sessions with Bernard1 2 6 sessions of supervised play You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 4♠ after Contact Mr Bridge to book your place and West leads the ♥Q. West has opened 3♦. West or for further details: ( 01483 489961 How do you plan the play? leads the ♦K. How do you plan the play? 1Filmed 2Not with Bernard Magee

Page 12 BRIDGE June 2015 Answers to 2015 FESTIVE Bernard Magee’s SEASON Bidding Quizzes 7-9 Denham Grove on the Cover Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DU

is very different to the situation when 7. Dealer North. E/W Game. your partner has responded. ♠ A 8 7 ♠ K Q 4 3 You had planned to rebid 1NT, but ♥ 7 6 5 4 N ♥ A K 2 that is based on the fact your partner ♦ Q 10 8 6 W E ♦ J 7 has shown 6+ points. Here, your partner S ♣ 4 2 ♣ A 8 7 6 has done nothing so he may well have no points. You need to be careful in this situation West North East South – if you bid 1NT, you might find yourself 1NT Dbl 2♦ being doubled and giving away an un- ? healthy penalty. A 1NT rebid should be Christmas much stronger in this situation; show- 23-27 December Double. ing 17-19 points. With just 15 points you Your partner has made a penalty double should leave your opponent in 1♠, happy £495 of 1NT, so you should be on the look- to have length in his suit. North-South do out to double again, aiming to hunt them not have much of a spade fit, but they do Twixmas down and get a good penalty. To double have plenty of points. Leaving your op- at low levels your side needs the majority ponents in 1♠ is much better than going 27-29 December of points and good trumps. off in a contract of your own. Bernard Magee You place your partner with about £245 16 points for his double so adding your six, you have the comfortable majority 9. Dealer North. Love All. of points and your diamonds are excel- ♠ A 8 7 ♠ K Q 4 2 New Year lent, so you should go ahead and dou- ♥ 9 2 N ♥ J 10 7 6 5 29 Dec – 2 Jan ble again. After one penalty double all ♦ 9 8 7 6 W E ♦ A K 3 S subsequent doubles are for penalties, ♣ A J 10 4 ♣ 5 Bernard Magee so your partner passes and you collect a £445 healthy score. West North East South 1♣ Dbl Pass 8. Dealer West. E/W Game. ? ♠ A 8 5 3 ♠ 10 9 7 ♥ A 9 8 7 N ♥ 10 2 1NT. ♦ K 6 4 W E ♦ Q 5 3 2 Your partner has doubled 1♣ for take- S ♣ A 2 ♣ 7 6 5 3 out: showing an opening hand with club shortage. Your best suit is diamonds, but your West North East South strong holding in clubs should lead you 1♥ 1♠ Pass Pass down another avenue: with 7-9 points Back to Back bookings ? and a good club holding you can re- spond 1NT. Remember that you expect save £50 per booking. Pass. shortage in clubs in your partner’s hand, Booking Form on page 8. This is an interesting situation: you have so your club holding should be robust See www.mrbridge.co.uk/ukbreaks opened the bidding and then the bidding against a singleton. Your jack-ten bolster for details and itineraries. returns to you after North overcalls. This the club suit and make 1NT sensible. ■

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 13 DEFENCE QUIZ by Julian Pottage (Answers on page 26)

ou are West in the defensive positions below playing Yteams or rubber bridge. It is your turn to play. Both sides are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman.

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

♥ A K Q 8 4 3 N ♥ 5 N ♦ K 10 7 W E ♦ A 10 8 7 6 3 W E Real Leather Gifts ♣ 7 2 S ♣ Q 6 3 S The perfect gift for your bridge-playing friends. Beautiful leather zipped cases in burgundy red or deep blue containing two packs of cards and a set of our bridge design ballpoint West North East South West North East South pens. £39.00 1♥ 2♥1 Pass 4♠ 1♥ All Pass Pass 1♠ 2♣ 4♥ A set of four scorepad holders - two burgundy and two blue 1Spades and a minor All Pass made from top quality leather. (Scorepads not included) Offered at this special price of £39.00 You lead the ♥A. East You lead the ♣3: ♣5, ♣K plays the ♥9 and South the and ♣4. Partner returns the ♥2. How do you continue? ♣2, covered by the ♣J and ♣Q. How do you proceed?

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

West North East South West North East South 1♥ 2♥1 Pass 4♠ 1♥ All Pass Pass 1♠ Pass 3♥ 1 ♥ Exclusive to S R Designs. Spades and a minor Pass 4 All Pass Despatched by first class post or DPD Courier service for You lead the ♥A. East You lead the ♦K. After tak- just £4.99 per order. plays the ♥9 and South the ing the ♦A and crossing to ♥ ♠ 3. How do you continue? the A, declarer leads a PHONE 01483 750611 low heart to the ♥Q and or order online at ♥K. How do you continue? www.bridge-tables.co.uk

Page 14 BRIDGE June 2015 Answers to Bernard Magee’s 2015 FESTIVE Bidding Quizzes 10-12 SEASON on the Cover Wyndham Garden no interest in playing in a different trump 10. Dealer East. Love All. suit, all new suit bids are trial bids for a Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT ♠ K Q 10 4 3 ♠ J 5 2 no-trump contract – they show a stop in ♥ 7 6 N ♥ A K 4 2 the suit bid and ask partner to view his ♦ 5 4 W E ♦ 9 6 assets and either bid no-trumps or, in S ♣ Q J 10 7 ♣ A K 6 2 turn, show a stopper in a suit, or finally return to the original suit (clubs). Your partner has shown a diamond West North East South stop and is asking you to show any stop- 1♥ Pass per you hold. Your heart holding will 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass make a certain trick and constitutes a ? stopper, so you should show it by bidding 2♥. This allows your partner to bid 3NT 3♣. with confidence. Your partner has rebid 1NT, showing a strong balanced hand: 15-17 points. You Christmas have 8 HCP, a strong five-card spade 12. Dealer West. N/S Game. suit, along with two tens and all the high ♠ 3 ♠ Q 10 9 7 23-27 December cards working together. The hand is ♥ A K 8 7 6 5 4 N ♥ 3 £495 worth a good nine points and you should ♦ 5 2 W E ♦ A K 9 4 go for game. ♣ 9 8 7 S ♣ K Q 4 3 Twixmas You can describe your hand fully by making a jump bid of 3♣. This suggests 27-29 December your shape and allows your partner to West North East South £215 pick the best game. It also highlights the 3♥ 3♠ Dbl Pass weakness in diamonds and means that ? 3NT can be avoided. New Year Here, you would finish in 4♠. Pass. 29 Dec – 1 Jan What does your partner’s double mean? When your side makes a pre-emptive bid £345 11. Dealer East. Love All. of any sort, doubles are for penalties. This ♠ 9 8 2 ♠ A Q 3 is because one player in the partnership ♥ Q J 10 N ♥ 7 6 has given an accurate description of his ♦ 8 3 W E ♦ A K 4 hand: you have shown seven hearts and S ♣ A 9 6 4 3 ♣ K Q 8 7 2 5-9 HCP. This leaves East in the perfect position to judge the best final contract. Here, holding good trumps and plenty West North East South of outside strength he makes a penalty 1♣ Pass double, hoping to get more points from 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 3♠ doubled than you might get from a ? game contract. You might take 3♠ three off for 800 2♥. points (nearly twice as much as a ropey Back to Back bookings save Once your partnership has agreed a 4♥ contract). minor, if you have extra strength both Penalty doubles are often difficult to £50 per booking. players should be considering no-trumps. identify and they require good partner- Booking Form on page 11. Supporting a minor denies length in the ship trust because one player will be See www.mrbridge.co.uk/ukbreaks majors (you would have responded 1♥ short in the trump suit, whilst the other for details and itineraries. or 1♠ had you had four or more). With has the length. ■

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 15 Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions

Should I Respond After a Double if Weak?

On the deal be- believe in bidding whenever Some balanced hands with Now that you have the low, people were possible for this reason. 12-14 points will be suitable majors, is a double more Qsurprised that I Had you passed, I would for a take-out double; on descriptive than 1NT? (South) bid with so few have expected the bid- others, you just have to pass. Geoff Simpson, points – I have always ding to go as follows: In the particular case where Torphins, Aberdeenshire. believed that the weaker the opponents have opened you are the more impor- West North East South 1♥, it is most attractive to You are quite right. tant it is to remove a dou- 1♣ Dbl Pass double if you have four Having a major – ble. West would have bid 1♦ Dbl 2♦ 2♠ spades with a doubleton A indeed both majors 1♦ if I had passed, or he heart and least attractive if in your new example – af- could have passed leav- So you would have you have four hearts or a fects the situation. Finding a ing North in 1♣ doubled. had a second chance doubleton spade. On 12-14 fit in a major increases the to show the spades. point hands, most players chance of buying the contract On the actual auction, I would double with 4-2-4- and increases the chance ♠ K J 10 find North’s simple 2♠ raise 3 or 4-2-3-4 shape (you of making game. Whatever ♥ K J 9 with 17 points a little sur- have shortage in hearts and my diamond holding, if I ♦ 8 3 prising. David Stevenson is four-card support in spades). had 4-4 in the majors and ♣ A K Q 10 8 the person to say whether With 3-2-4-4 or 4-3-3-3 the chance to double a 1♦ ♠ 8 7 ♠ A 3 2 it is legal for partner to al- a double is less clear, but overcall, I would take it. ♥ 8 5 N ♥ A 6 4 2 low for your style of bid- with the upper range it is W E ♦ J 9 6 2 S ♦ A K Q 4 ding on very weak hands. maybe worthwhile. With ♣♦♥♠ ♣ J 9 7 6 5 ♣ 3 2 3-3-4-3 or 3-3-3-4 shape ♠ Q 9 6 5 4 ♣♦♥♠ a double would be unusual Playing rubber ♥ Q 10 7 3 as you are flat without four for small stakes, ♦ 10 7 5 Playing pairs, spades. Holding only a Qmy RHO opened ♣ 4 my right hand doubleton spade, a double 1NT (12-14). I held 22 Qopponent is certainly not desirable. points and, not having opened 1♥. I held a the faintest idea what to West North East South balanced hand with 12 ♣♦♥♠ do, doubled. My partner 1♣ Dbl 1♠ points and overcalled left the double in – he Pass 2♠ All Pass 1NT. Others suggested Please can I ask had only one point. 1NT I should have doubled. you a variation doubled went off, but it Pauline Bailey by email. What do you think? Qon a problem was no great disaster Name and address supplied. I sent you previously? for the declarer, due If you are playing a Partner opens 1♣, the to the vulnerability. natural 1♣ opening, When an opponent next hand overcalls In the unlikely event A it is not terribly likely opens the bidding, 1♦ and you hold: that this happens again, that your LHO will leave in A the chance of game please would you tell 1♣ doubled, which means your way decreases, while the me what I should do? the need to rescue is not a chance that the opponents ♠ K 9 3 2 John Hankin by email. priority. Then again, bid- can successfully double you ♥ Q 9 8 6 ding makes life harder for in 1NT increases. Almost ♦ Q J 7 3 A penalty double of a the opponents than pass- everyone requires at least ♣ 7 weak no-trump open- ing does. Some players 15 points for a 1NT overcall. A ing indicates at

Page 16 BRIDGE June 2015 Ask Julian continued Most people I play with 1. South could dou- eight tricks with hearts as choose the second option. ble and then if North trumps facing a bust. The With the second option, a 2♠ A bids 2♦ or 2♥, rebid big difference is that Hand 2 response is available for a 2NT. Nothing is perfect. will be far more useful with least 15 points. There is no hand wishing to invite game 2. West’s strong sound- another suit as trumps than upper limit. Your double was (and you can use it on slam ing rebid suggests that Hand 1. With Hand 1 the fine. With 22 points facing invitational hands too). partner has very little opponents might make a 1, it sounds likely that game Playing 2NT as a transfer while East’s preference to slam in some other suit. With your way would be a struggle. to diamonds tends to be 3♠ suggests the deal is a Hand 2, you would be dou- Even if game was on, you do more popular in response misfit. I would just give up. bling any opposing game. not need to worry when you to a strong no-trump. The are playing rubber bridge. chance of a slam increases ♣♦♥♠ ♣♦♥♠ Collecting 500 instead of a facing a strong no-trump, vulnerable game is no disas- which increases the fre- Please could I play a system ter at rubber bridge (or at IMP quency of hands on which you give me an where a 1♣ open- scoring). Even at matchpoints, it is useful to start by show- Qexample of a Qing shows 12-19 a penalty less than the value ing a diamond suit. hand you would open points without a 5-card of game will be worth some- If you play 2♠ as a trans- 4♣ (a strong pre-empt major, so I may have thing. At most vulnerabilities, fer to clubs and 2NT as a in hearts) and an- only two clubs. It is ask- if you do have game on, you transfer to diamonds, you are other hand you would ing partner whether they will be able to collect a pen- right that you do not have open a strong 2♥? have a 4-card major, if alty worth more than game. a direct way to invite 3NT. Alan Cooke by email. not they reply 1♦. Could You would use 2♣ as non- you please enlarge on ♣♦♥♠ promissory Stayman. Admit- If you are play- this system, which I find tedly, if you bid 2♣ without a ing 4♣ as a strong moderately successful? In your book on 4-card major, you are giving A pre-empt in hearts, Michael Beaumont by email. constructive bid- away information about a possible hand is: Qding, you give an opener’s hand for no benefit. 1. Opening 1♣ on example after partner In practice, players using any balanced hand opened 1NT (12-14). You 4-suit transfers and non- Hand 1 A with 12-19 points is said that your response promissory Stayman rarely ♠ 4 unusual. Most people play a of 2NT was a transfer to use Stayman unless they have ♥ A K Q J 10 6 4 3 12-14 or 15-17 1NT opening, diamonds and the exam- a 4-card major. They tend ♦ 6 3 which would cater for some ple ended in a small slam to take a view, either pass- ♣ J 4 of the hands in that range. in diamonds. In other ing 1NT or raising to 3NT. You are in a small minority if books, you have used the you are playing a 1NT open- 2NT response in its tradi- ♣♦♥♠ Having either a solid suit or a ing as 9-11 points or as con- tional way, namely 11-12 semi-solid suit with an outside ventional. A mini no-trump points and no interest in How should ace is quite a common way is a risky venture for sure: a suit contract. How use- South bid of defining the bid. If the suit some call it kamikaze, which ful is the transfer given Qthis hand? quality is weaker, but you are gives you the general idea. that the latter hand type worried about missing a slam 2. You have said you would must be more common? if you open 4♥, you open 1♥. not open 1♣ with a 5-card John Martin, ♠ A K J 9 4 A possible hand for major, but not commented Glendale, Inverness-shire. ♥ K J a strong 2♥ is: explicitly on hands with five ♦ K J diamonds. With a 5-card There are three ♣ A Q 3 2 diamond suit in a balanced common uses of Hand 2 hand, I think it is better to A a 2NT response ♠ A K 4 open 1♦ than 1♣. Partner will to a 1NT opening. West North East South ♥ A Q J 10 6 3 often get off to the wrong 1. Invitational no- 1♠ Pass 1NT ? ♦ A J 4 lead or fail to compete trump raise. ♣ 3 correctly if you open 1♣ on 2. Asks partner to bid South doubled and then hands with five diamonds. 3♣, usually with a weak faced this problem: 3. Opening 1♣ with possi- hand and a long minor. You have too few high cards bly a doubleton is quite com- 3. Transfer to diamonds. West North East South for an artificial 2♣ but mon in expert circles, usually Most rubber bridge players 1♠ Pass 1NT Dbl plenty of playing strength. in conjunction with a strong and quite a few duplicate club 3♥ Pass 3♠ ? You will notice that both no-trump. While a short club players use the first option. Name and address supplied. hands are likely to make opening makes it

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 17 Ask Julian continued 1. In general, if a asking for a stopper, could be CHARITY player declines the the winning action too. Non- A chance to make a vulnerable, I would bid a sim- take-out double of a suit on ple 3♦ and not punish partner EVENTS harder to find a club fit when one round of the bidding and for competing. Vulnerable, SEPTEMBER opener has real clubs, overall then doubles the same suit on I would place partner with I prefer it to the ‘better the next round, it is a penalty sound values and jump to 4♦. 3 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE minor’ style that Americans double. This sequence, how- ROTARY CLUB ♣♦♥♠ Outlane Golf Club. favour. Facing a short club, ever, is an exception. When 12 for 12.30pm. £50 per table partner tends to assume that the opponents have a free including lunch, afternoon opener has a balanced hand run, find a fit and subside at a In these sequenc- tea & biscuits. Raffle prizes. too weak for 1NT opening. low level, it is important to be es, is 4NT quan- Limited to 22 tables. In your methods (if I have able to get into the bidding. titative or a slam Rtn Sam Smith Q ( 01924 492540 understood them correctly), You should have a fit your try in the ? samuelsmith396 responder will have a more way and be able to make @btinternet.com difficult time because opener something or at least push 1. Opener Responder 11 St Mary’s Church has such a wide range. the opponents up a level. 1NT 2♣ Eaton Socon 4. If you respond 1♦ on North’s delayed double 2♥/2♠ 4NT Church Hall Eaton Socon all hands without a four- shows a hand that was too 10 for 10.30am. £14. card major, this does free weak for doubling on the 2. Opener Responder Malcolm Howarth ( 01480 212910 a 1NT response for some previous round. North can 1NT 2♥ (transfer) conventional purpose. Some infer that South has fair 2♠ 4NT OCTOBER top pairs do play a 1NT values because East-West, response as conventional, despite their fit, have not Is this a decision for the 2 St Andrew’s Church Funds but again it is non-standard. even tried for game. This is partnership or is there Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton, 10 for 10.30am. £14. Sorry I cannot help further. why North can double 2♥ accepted practice? Mavis Campion You really need to get hold of despite being too weak to Tony Richards, Woking. ( 01480 860477 a book or the system notes of double 1♥. South should ♦ 3 SPRING - a Poole based a pair playing the methods. take-out the double to 3 . The accepted charity supporting parents 2. A double of a suit on practice tends to through loss of their baby in ♣♦♥♠ the first round of bidding A depend upon the pregnancy or just after birth. after partner has passed (or standard of the players. Bridge drive at Horton Village Hall, Wimborne, Dorset. Was South not had the chance to bid) At the higher level, these Coffee at 10.30am, lunch with right to leave is for take out. Again South bids would be quantitative; wine and tea at 3.15pm. Qin the dou- should bid – but what? on a hand wishing to check £60 per table. ble with this hand? I recommend playing on key cards, responder Stella Brake ( 01202 624224 in this situation. would take another route. [email protected] Playing Lebensohl, a 2NT On the Stayman sequences, ♠ Q 5 2 reply to the double says responder might bid 4♣ NOVEMBER ♥ A 6 ‘please bid 3♣ – I probably or 4♦ and then 4NT on a ♦ A 8 6 3 2 have a weak hand and wish hand wishing to ask. On 3-5 British Red Cross ♣ Birkholme Manor, Corby, 8 7 5 to play in my suit’. With a the transfer sequences, Grantham NG33 4LF. weak hand, you would pass responder would not use 3 & 4 Nov 10 for 10.30am 3♣ or, if you wish to play in a 2♦/2♥ transfer on a to 3.15pm. 3-course lunch, West North East South 3♦, correct to 3♦. On your hand that wished to ask. glass of wine, raffle. £17.50pp ♥ ♥ 5 Nov. 1pm for 1.30pm to 1 Pass 2 Pass actual hand, you could bid At club level, I have 4.30pm. Tea, raffle. £10pp. Pass Dbl All Pass 3♦ confident that partner very rarely seen these Penny Hedley Lewis would place you with some 4NT bids passed. ( 01476 550255 North had intended values (because you would go The thing to do is to discuss penny.hedleylewis @farmline.com the double for take- via 2NT with a weak hand). the sequences with your out. Would it make any Not playing Lebensohl, partner. Having an agree- 14 RNLI difference if the auction you face a ticklish problem. It ment, even if it is a slightly Cheltenham Bridge Club started like this? could be right to bid a simple inefficient one, is invariably 1-5pm. £10. Tea/coffee & cakes. 3♦. A jump to 4♦ better better than not having an Margaret Beverley West North East South expresses your values. 3♥, agreement. ■ ( 01242 510193 1♥ Pass 2♥ Dbl Pass E-mail your questions for Julian to: [email protected] [email protected] Name and address supplied.

Page 18 BRIDGE June 2015 Sally’s Slam of the Month A Well Bid Slam and How to Play a Poor Slam

’d like to present you with two slam I wouldn’t like to calculate the penalty hands this month. The first, sent in Dealer South. Love All. three spades might have gone for). So, by Dave Simmons of Royston, was ♠ J 8 2 declarer first plays a spade to dummy’s Iwell bid but there was little to the play. ♥ K Q 6 eight, losing to East’s honour. On the It was: ♦ J 8 6 2 next round the jack is led, pinning ♣ K 8 2 West’s ten. With the six already gone ♠ 10 6 ♠ K Q 7 4 he then has a finesse position with the Dealer West. East-West Game. ♥ N ♥ J 4 3 2 W E 9-5 poised over East’s 7-4. ♠ A 8 2 ♠ 10 ♦ 10 9 7 5 4 3 S ♦ A K Q So, to put the whole play together. ♥ 8 2 N ♥ A K Q 10 7 6 5 ♣ J 7 6 4 3 ♣ Q 9 Ruff the diamond lead with the seven W E ♦ K Q 9 8 4 2 S ♦ A 7 ♠ A 9 5 3 of hearts and play a spade to the eight ♣ 4 3 ♣ A 9 2 ♥ A 10 9 8 7 5 and queen. Ruff the diamond return ♦ Void with the eight of hearts. Now play ♣ A 10 5 the nine of hearts (there are other West North East South winning options at this stage) to 2♦ Pass 4NT* Pass dummy’s queen, followed by the jack 5♠* Pass 7♦ All Pass West North East South of spades, covered by the king and ace 1♥ (dropping West’s ten). Two top clubs This worked well for his system of Pass 2NT 3♠ 4♥ ending in the dummy are followed three weak twos (rather than the Pass 5♥ Pass 6♥ by a finesse of East’s seven of spades ubiquitous Benji). West opened 2♦ and Pass Pass Dbl All Pass and a club discarded on the nine of East went straight to 4NT. West bid 5♠ spades. Now a club is ruffed high in to show two ‘aces’ and the queen of Lead: ♦10. the dummy. All declarer has left is trumps and that was enough for East A-10-5 of trumps while East has J-4- to go straight to 7♦. In truth, at pairs he Quite what possessed North to think 3 of trumps and dummy the six of might have gambled on hearts coming he had any reason to bid over his trumps and two diamonds. Declarer in and tried 7NT, but 7♦ was enough partner’s 4♥ bid I will never know, but plays the six of hearts, underplaying for a complete top as all the other pairs the play’s the thing. it with the carefully preserved five, languished in game. Well bid! There are two key points to the play: and then plays a diamond picking up If West passes as dealer, it is all The first is the handling of the East’s remaining trumps. too tempting for East to open a trump suit. With the 4-0 break the suit That would be an for the best straightforward 4♥, not expecting can be picked up, but declarer needs played hand of the year. Suffice it to partner to have such a good source of to ruff something (a club after he has say that, unsurprisingly, the real life tricks. discarded one on a spade) high in the South went two down. ■ dummy, and might need to preserve ♣♦♥♠ high cards there. To this end, it is important that South keeps the five of I am sure that all of you The same cannot be said about our hearts in his hand so he can underplay out there have slam second offering which was sent in by the six at a later stage. auctions that you are Roger Barnacle. He says it came up The second point is how to play proud of. So send them to during an evening’s social bridge after the spade suit and that is via an [email protected] a glass or two of wine. I’d have said ‘intrafinesse’ (though declarer might a bottle or two. Or something even be forgiven for thinking that spades and I’ll publish the stronger. I’ll give you the full deal and were breaking worse than 4-2 after best few and choose you can have fun working out how it East’s three-level entry into the a winner each month. can be made on any defence. auction and West’s failure to lead one –

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 19 Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 12

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads return to dummy with the ♥K to repeat 1. ♠ A 9 8 7 6 the ♥Q. How do you plan the play? the finesse, should it work. If you had ♥ A K 2 You only need five club tricks to make played the top clubs in a different order, ♦ K 8 7 the contract and, therefore, you must then you would only be able to take the ♣ 5 4 cater for a bad break in the suit. If you diamond finesse once. ♠ K Q J 10 ♠ 5 4 3 immediately play a low club and finesse ♥ 8 3 N ♥ 5 the ten, you will make your contract nearly W E ♦ ♦ J 6 4 S 10 9 3 2 all the time, but that isn’t the correct way ♣ Q 10 8 7 ♣ K J 9 3 2 to play the hand. Once West follows to 4. ♠ K Q 3 ♠ 2 the club lead the contract is assured – ♥ 5 3 2 ♥ Q J 10 9 7 6 4 but only if you . Now, even if clubs ♦ A 6 4 3 ♦ A Q 5 break 5-0 you will still be able to make ♣ K 9 4 ♣ A 6 five tricks in the suit simply by taking the ♠ 2 ♠ 9 8 5 4 marked finesse against the jack. ♥ 9 8 7 N ♥ K Q J 10 ♦ K Q J 10 9 8 2 W E ♦ Void S You are declarer in 7♥ and West leads ♣ J 2 ♣ 10 8 7 5 3 the ♠K. How do you plan the play? ♠ A J 10 7 6 Grand slams are usually easy to 3. ♠ 8 7 ♥ A 6 4 play because there is little room for ♥ A 7 4 2 ♦ 7 5 manoeuvre and that is the case here. ♦ 7 6 5 3 ♣ A Q 6 With twelve tricks on top, the thirteenth ♣ A 7 3 can only come from spades. That will only ♠ Q J 10 6 4 ♠ K 9 3 2 happen if the spades break 4-3 as then ♥ J 8 5 N ♥ Q 10 9 6 You are declarer in 4♠ after West has W E ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ you can set up a long spade in dummy. K 4 2 S 9 8 opened 3 . West leads the K. How do So, win the lead, ruff a spade high and ♣ Q 2 ♣ 10 9 8 you plan the play? enter dummy with a trump. Ruff another ♠ A 5 If you play the ace from dummy at spade high and repeat the process, by ♥ K 3 trick one, you haven’t been listening to which time you will have set up a winning ♦ A Q J 10 the bidding, for East is surely void and spade in dummy, which you can reach ♣ K J 6 5 4 will ruff. You actually have ten tricks via with the ♦K. You discard the ♣6 from five spades, one heart, one diamond hand and thirteen tricks are yours. and three clubs – but only if you make You are declarer in 3NT and West leads them all. So play low from dummy at trick the ♠Q. How do you plan the play? one and do the same again if another The defenders have hit your weak spot diamond is led. You can ruff a third 2. ♠ 5 3 and you have to take nine tricks before diamond lead in hand, whereupon you ♥ 4 3 losing the lead. A successful finesse draw trumps and claim, conceding one ♦ 7 3 2 and break in either minor will give you heart trick to go with the two diamonds ♣ A K Q 10 4 2 enough tricks, but which finesse should already lost. Only a 5-0 trump break will ♠ 4 ♠ K Q J 9 8 2 you tackle? As always in these situations, defeat you, but the 7-0 diamond break ♥ Q J 10 9 N ♥ 8 6 5 2 you should try and combine your chances shouldn’t. ■ W E ♦ Q 8 5 S ♦ K J 9 and, here, there is certainly a chance of ♣ J 9 8 7 6 ♣ Void the club queen being doubleton. So, Mr Bridge Premium Quality Cards ♠ A 10 7 6 win the lead and play the king of clubs Standard Faces with or ♥ A K 7 followed by a low club to the ace. If without bar codes. Unboxed. ♦ A 10 6 4 the queen has appeared you have nine 6 red/6 blue £19.95. 30 red/30 blue £60. ♣ 5 3 tricks, but if not, then you are in dummy Available from The London Bridge Centre. ( to take the diamond finesse and can later 020 7288 1305 www.bridgeshop.com

Page 20 BRIDGE June 2015 More Tips from Bernard Magee Bernard Magee’s Tips Your Blackwood should for Better Bridge include the King of Trumps 65 invaluable tips in 160 pages

There are many versions of West East Bidding Tips 33 A low lead usually promises the , 1♠ 3♠ 1 Always consider bidding length and an honour spades if you can 34 When declaring 1NT, 4NT 5♠ some straightforward 2 Bid more aggressively try to be patient and some slightly more 6♠ when non-vulnerable 35 Duck an early round when complicated. However, to 3 Always double when the you are short of entries opponents steal your deal 36 Lead up to your bid accurate slams, you do West bids Blackwood, with 4 A take-out double shows two-honour holding need to include the king of spades agreed and with just shortage in the suit doubled 37 Do not always assume trumps in your responses. one key card missing, he 5 ‘Borrow’ a king a suit will break well to keep the auction open 38 Drop a high card The reason for this is simple: bids the slam. With normal 6 After a penalty double, to put off the defence when you are aiming for Blackwood, he might have don’t let the opponents escape 39 Play your highest card to tempt a trump slam, the king of been missing the ♠A-K. 7 Halve the value of a singleton a defender to cover honour when opening 40 Draw trumps first unless you trumps is just as valuable The key to good Black- 8 Only add length-points for a have a good reason not to as the other aces. You wood bidding is to make suit that might be useful 41 Do not waste your trumps would not want to play your decisions before using 9 Isolated honours are bad 42 Consider leaving a lone defen- except in partner’s suit sive trump winner out in a slam missing an ace the convention. Generally, 10 Use the jump shift sparingly and the king of trumps. you should only bid 4NT 11 Consider passing and letting Defence Tips 43 Keep four-card suits intact My recommendation is if you want to be in slam partner decide 12 You need two top honours whenever possible to play the simplest version when missing one key card. for a second-seat pre-empt 44 Give count on declarer’s leads possible: Blackwood 13 Put the brakes on if you have a 45 Keep the right cards rather than including the king of trumps misfit 14 Strong and long minors work 46 Take your time – keycard Blackwood – it ♠ A K Q J 8 7 ♠ 3 2 well in no-trumps when dummy is put down has the same responses as ♥ Q J 5 3 ♥ K 9 7 6 2 15 One stop in the opponents’ suit 47 High cards are for killing N other high cards Blackwood, it just includes ♦ 2 W E ♦ A 9 7 can be enough for no-trumps S 16 Keep your two-level 48 Do not waste the king of trumps as well: ♣ K 2 ♣ A 7 3 responses up to strength intermediate cards 4NT: How many key cards 17 Use your normal methods in 49 Pick two key suits to response to a 1NT overcall concentrate on during the play ( and the king of 18 Don’t overcall just because 50 If in doubt, cover an honour trumps) do you have? West East you have opening points with an honour Responses: 1♠ 2♥ 19 Overcalls can be quite weak, 51 If a lead is from two honours, it so be prudent when responding is best not to cover 4NT 5♠ 20 Weak overcalls must be based 52 Keep your honour to kill 5♣ = 0 or 4 6♥ on strong suits dummy’s honour 5♦ = 1 (or 5) 21 6NT requires 33 points 53 Try to show partner your not 4 aces and 4 kings solid honour sequences ♥ 5 = 2 This time, West is so excited 22 Raise immediately, if weak 54 Lead the normal card when 5♠ = 3 over his partner’s 2♥ with four-card support leading partner’s suit response, he wants to try for 23 In a competitive auction, 55 Never underlead an ace at trick show support immediately one in a suit contract The responses are exactly the slam: he can only see four 24 Bid to the level of your fit 56 Be wary of leading from same as normal Blackwood. losers – the four missing key quickly with weak hands four cards to only one honour 57 Lead a higher card from The ‘or 5’, of course, is cards (including the ♥K). 25 With strength and support, use the opponents’ bid suit a suit without an honour different, but I have never Hearts have not been bid 58 Lead through ‘beatable’ seen that response come up. by both players, but a leap strength and up to weakness Declarer Play Tips 59 Cash your winners before try- The only added to 4NT agrees the last suit 26 When your contract depends ing for a complication is ‘Which is bid, so partner’s response on a finesse, think ‘’ 60 Be patient when defending 27 Consider what a defender the trump suit?’ You should should include the king of 1NT might be thinking about 61 Trump leads can be safe have this simple rule: either hearts. Once again, missing 28 Always take your time throughout the play it is the agreed suit (both just one key card, West at trick one 29 Establish extra tricks before General Tips players have bid it) or it is goes for the small slam. cashing your winners 62 Do not put important cards the last suit bid naturally. Without knowing about the 30 Use your opponents’ at either end of your hand king of trumps, you will often bidding to your advantage 63 Avoid being declarer when 31 Avoid the ‘baddie’ you are dummy have to guess whether slam gaining the lead 64 Before you lead, ask for a ♠ Q J 9 8 7 6 ♠ K 4 3 2 is on or not. Use a version of 32 Use the Rule of Seven when review of the auction ♥ K 3 N ♥ A 7 6 2 Blackwood that includes the holding up in no-trumps 65 Enjoy the Game! W E ♦ A S ♦ 9 7 4 king of trumps – I hope you £14 including postage and packing from Mr Bridge, ♣ K Q J 2 ♣ A 3 can see how straightforward Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. ( 01483 489961 keycard Blackwood is. ■

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 21 A Blast From the Past 12 by Shireen Mohandes

Contract Bridge Championship of 1933 – Revisited

he excitement and worldwide of 1933. First match for The Charles media attention of the chal- M. Schwab Trophy. The subtitle is First Schwab Trophy: lenge matches of the 1930s can Complete Official Hands, reviewed and the home team Thardly be overstated. explained by Ely Culbertson. ‘Pops’ Beasley (Lieutenant (1891-1955) was one of the greatest But there is something very special Colonel Henry Mountifort Beasley self-promoters in history (Moham- about this copy. Every deal in it has DSO (1875 – 1949), was a med Ali perhaps pales into insignifi- been re-reviewed by Guy Domville leading bridge personality and cance in comparison) and the world correspondent at the Daily Mail. He, lapped it up. As an author/publisher, it along with teammates EE Mayer, HH was hugely in his interests to convince Renshaw and Percy Tabbush, won everyone that his bridge system was the inaugural in 1932. superior to others. Outstanding mar- keting, being a better player to start Guy Domville (1896-1981) with and choosing good teammates was handsome and debonair, meant that Ely and his wife, Josephine according to , and (1898-1956), dominated and crushed a popular society and sporting opponents. They became commercial- figure. Along with his teammates ly successful, travelling the world and Graham Mathieson, E Summer and earning millions of dollars. Amidst T Simmons he won the inaugural the many happy times there were sad Pachabo Trophy (an event that is times too – see Ely’s autobiography open to the holders of the teams-of- four championship of each county). ‘The Strange Lives of One Man’ (1940). Mr Bridge owns a very special According to Reese, in Bridge at copy of the book of the match, which the Top, ’George Morris was a he purchased from a reader of this famous gambler at every card magazine about a decade ago. It is game and also an athlete; he entitled Contract Bridge Championship made a channel-swimming attempt and played marathon golf for big stakes. Tabbush followed a course that is not common Schwab Trophy controversy amongst bridge players: he joined The England Team: Lt. Col. ‘Pops’ Beasley and Sir [Gerald] Guy Domville, a religious sect and turned his Percy Tabbush and George Morris, back on the ‘Devil’s playthings’. Graham Mathieson and Lady Doris Mary Rhodes. Lady Rhodes (birth name Doris The America Team: Ely and ; Mary Adams, married Sir John and Michael Gottlieb. Phillips Rhodes, 2nd Bt) featured on the front cover of the June An article in The Times (8 June 1933) describes protests from various 1947 Contract Bridge Journal. officials because this event was promoted as an international match. The article tells us that she is The objection was that it was not a representative event, as neither ‘…a deceptively dangerous team had been selected by the bridge authority of the country. opponent; a misleadingly modest partner…’. Her adopted For the second Schwab Trophy the home team wised up. An article in October daughter Anne later married 1933 explains that trials were held for the second Schwab Trophy match. It was Claude Rodrigue, one of the next considered that a stronger British team took on the Americans at The Dorchester, generation of top English players. in October 1933, the Americans finally winning on 19 October 1933.

Page 22 BRIDGE June 2015 and marked up in his handwriting. He has used coloured ink to praise or discredit a player. The handwritten notes on the inside front cover are illuminating: I am taking each hand separately and adding any comment (if any) of the English bidding & play. Where, in my opinion, a definite mistake is made, I name the player in Red – where a player has shown particular brilliance he is named in Blue. – Guy Domville To The great English player Guy Domville. With all admiration. – Jo Culbertson I certainly do not subscribe to these sentiments! – Michael T Gottlieb Poor misguided Joe! She was too grateful for all of Guy’s gifts and psychics … – Ely Culbertson This is all a load of bunk. – Theodore A Lightner.

The ACBL website has some History of the Culbertson challenge matches wonderful material about Culbertson was triumphant in all of these matches Culbertson at: http://www.acbl. org/about-acbl/hall-of-fame/ l Culbertson-Lenz: ‘The Battle of The Century’, a rubber bridge match, members/culbertson-ely/ took place in New York City between December 1931 and January 1932. Culbertson offered odds of 5-1, the money going to charity whoever won. In 1933, when a newspaper l Anglo-American matches started in 1930 in London, with a challenge reporter asked: ‘Mr Culbertson, by Lt. Col. . Culbertson’s team beat Buller’s team. how did you get ahead of those other bridge authorities?’ l Still in London, Culbertson’s team played a match against ‘Pops’ Beasley at He answered: ‘I got up in the Crockfords. morning and went to work.’ l The Schwab Cup matches were played in 1933 (and 1934), with the trophy (1912-1997) donated by American steel magnate Charles M. Schwab* (1862-1939). These worked for Ely Culbertson, and also took place in London. The July 1933 event was staged at Selfridges, and on the ACBL site there is a lovely was watched by some 27,000 people who, with the help of periscopes and interview with Sheinwold describing mirrors, managed to glimpse some of the 6-day event. Culbertson brought his relationship with and memories with him an ‘an electrical device’ which allowed 1,000 spectators to view of Culbertson. the event in an auditorium, seeing all four hands and being informed of the https://www.youtube.com/ bidding and play. Within 36 hours of the completion of the match, a book watch?v=UFb7PWvVvb0 was published by Culbertson, detailing, and with his commentary on, all the bidding and play. The book of 400 pages gives details of 300 hands.

l The Times reported that 90% of the spectators were women. Another article explained that the late arrival of Culbertson was due to the fact Injuries that the door attendant did not recognise him, and refused to admit him without a ticket. Despite his protests the official was adamant, Mathieson’s part in the match was but Culbertson finally made a dash past him into the lift. curtailed when he fell through a glass roof, to be rescued swinging l In 1935 Culbertson was challenged by P Hal and Dorothy Sims to a match. from a girder above a 40-foot This did take place, but with much less publicity than any of the others. drop! (source: Wikipedia). Lady Mary Alice Montagu (1901-1962), *Schwab was a self-made multi-millionaire who spent most of his fortune before official scorer, daughter of the the Great Depression. The crash hit him badly and in his final years he lived 9th Duke of Manchester, fell off modestly. It is against the backdrop of these events that he was involved in the her chair and broke her arm. above-mentioned trophy.

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 23 Let’s take a look at two deals and to himself: our side is unlikely to have will lose two major suit aces and two see how Culbertson’s and Domville’s game on, we may have an eight-card fit, club ruffs. And for the game to make opinions differ, and what we make of but if I double and partner bids 3♦, we several cards have to be well placed. them in 2015. might be in trouble. I fancy my chances All in all, Culbertson was wrong to of defeating 2♠, and may well defeat it assert that 4♥ is cold and Domville Hand 141: Dealer South, by a couple of vulnerable tricks. was wrong to berate (red ink) Tabbush. North/South Vulnerable And, looking back at it all, is 4♥ cold? One thing seems not to have changed Well, not on a club lead. Although that since the 1930s – even top bridge You’ll notice that the bidding is helps declarer to locate the ♣Q, he players can be results merchants. tabulated in a vertical manner, so the opening bid in Room 1, in 4th seat by East, is 1♥. Culbertson quite rightly points out that when dealer, South, opened 1♠ in Room 2, this prevented East- West from reaching the ‘lay-down’ contract of 4♥. It seems that at the time Domville’s hand, sitting South for Great Britain, did not meet the opening bid requirements. However, Gottlieb, holding the same cards for the USA, did open 1♠ and saw no need to go beyond the 2♠ response from North. So what does Domville make of all this? He says, ‘In Room 2 here is a wonderful opportunity for East to make a 2NT overcall. He fails to do so.’ Tabbush. What would a likely bidding sequence be today, with North/South playing Acol with a weak no-trump?

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

As an aside, on poor hands such as the North hand, some players will bid Stayman opposite a 1NT opening and pass whatever partner replies. And playing strong no-trump, 4-card majors. Acol style.

West North East South 1♠ Pass 2♠ All Pass

Note how effective the swift route to 2♠ is (just as North, Josephine, did – raising to 2♠ with just 4 HCP and a singleton was indeed very effective). Despite Domville’s views, it is too dangerous for East to bid with his 16 HCP, in the so called ‘sandwich position’, vulnerable. East would think

Page 24 BRIDGE June 2015 Hand 142: Dealer West, N’s 2♠ in preference to 2♦. Beasley Culbertson’s Contract Bridge Complete. East/West Vulnerable Domville. The Gold Book of Bidding and Play, the Maybe Domville misread the auc- non-vulnerable pre-empt requirement Culbertson concedes that in Room 1 tion, because North actually bid 3♠. is ‘about 7 tricks’. Domville and Beasley found a good Looking back it seems strange to the When Josephine chose to bid 3♦ later, save for two down, doubled in 4♠. modern player that North did not pre- she certainly got the message across Note that the score is 250 for EW. empt. Our modern style of pre-emptive about her diamonds, but at the same Domville agrees, saying: Good team bid was not part of the armoury at time gave up her chance of supporting bidding by N & S in Room 1 – Note the USA table, because according to her partner’s overcall. Gottlieb, her partner, could not risk bidding again at the three-level with his 9 HCP hand, with poor spade spots. So the verdict is that Domville was broadly correct with his hand-written commentary, and one can approve of him inking his own and his partner’s names in blue. So how might the auction be in 2015?

West North East South Pass 3♦ 3♥ Pass 4♥ All Pass

Note that in 4♥ by East on a diamond lead the contract still makes 10 tricks, because after the diamond continua- tion, ruffed by South, the defence can only make one club trick. Dummy’s losing spade is discarded on the win- ning diamond honour in East’s hand. If South is declarer in 4♠, then he will normally be defeated by two tricks. Looking at it from declarer’s point of view, he has 5 spades, 1 diamond, 1 top club and 1 club ruff in dummy, to bring the tally to 8 tricks.

If you are interested in reading more about the history of bridge, the following books should give you much pleasure:

The Walk of the Oysters. An Unholy History of Contract Bridge. Rex Mackey. ISBN 0 86379 123 9. First published 1964.

The Golden Age of Contract Bridge. David Daniels. ISBN 0 8128 2576 4. First published 1942.

Bumblepuppy Days. Julian Laderman. ISBN 978 1 77140 003 9. Published 2014. Also available as an ebook.

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 25 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 14

West North East South ♣A. 1. ♠ 10 9 8 5 3 1♥ 2♥1 Pass 4♠ Two possibilities present themselves. ♥ 10 5 All Pass A spade switch might set up the ♠K for ♦ A 1Spades and a minor your side to cash after you score the ♣ A K 10 9 5 ♦A. If partner has no diamonds, a ruff ♠ 7 2 ♠ J 6 You lead the ♥A. East plays the ♥9 and is available. The clue is the lowly ♣2. ♥ A K Q 8 4 3 N ♥ 9 6 South the ♥3. How do you continue? Whether you read this low card as suit- W E ♦ ♦ ♥ K 10 7 S J 9 6 5 3 2 Again partner’s encouraging 9 preference or just as unusual, you should ♣ 7 2 ♣ Q 8 4 suggests a doubleton. As before, you go for the diamond ruff. Lead the ♦A. ♠ A K Q 4 lead the ♥K next and see the ♥6, a card ♥ J 7 2 confirming that partner did indeed start ♦ Q 8 4 with a doubleton. ♣ J 6 3 As previously, dummy’s weak trumps 4. ♠ A K J 6 make it likely that partner can profitably ♥ 8 6 overruff. So do you simply play a third ♦ J 9 6 5 3 West North East South round of hearts? ♣ J 5 1♥ 2♥1 Pass 4♠ If you play a third round of hearts, a ♠ 10 5 ♠ 8 7 3 2 N All Pass ♥ K 10 7 ♥ 3 smart declarer will have noticed partner’s W E 1 Spades and a minor high-low and discard dummy’s diamond: ♦ K Q S ♦ 8 7 4 2 a diamond loser is inevitable anyway. ♣ Q 8 7 6 4 3 ♣ A K 9 2 You lead the ♥A. East plays the ♥9 and Then no overruff is available. Before ♠ Q 9 4 South the ♥2. How do you continue? playing the third heart, you should cash ♥ A Q J 9 5 4 2 Partner’s high ♥9 suggests a the ♦A. ♦ A 10 doubleton, or it could be a singleton – ♣ 10 not a three-card suit, for sure. You should continue with the ♥K. When you see the ♥6 next time, you are certain that partner 3. ♠ A 10 5 3 West North East South started with a doubleton. ♥ 10 8 1♥ Even though dummy is out of hearts, ♦ K Q 9 5 4 Pass 1♠ Pass 3♥ you play a third round because partner ♣ 10 5 Pass 4♥ All Pass can easily hold the ♠J, ♠Q or ♠K – cards ♠ 9 8 2 ♠ Q 7 6 4 that you do not expect to win if you leave ♥ 5 N ♥ 9 4 2 You lead the ♦K. After taking the ♦A and declarer to draw trumps. If partner holds ♦ A 10 8 7 6 3 W E ♦ Void crossing to the ♠A, declarer leads a low S the ♠A or ♣Q-x-x as well, the overruff will ♣ Q 6 3 ♣ A K 9 8 7 2 heart to the ♥Q and ♥K. How do you beat the contract. If not, at least you will ♠ K J continue? stop a possible overtrick. ♥ A K Q J 7 6 3 Paving the way for a later diamond ruff ♦ J 2 or overruff, it looks right to play the ♦Q ♣ J 4 next. Given the strong spades and weak 2. ♠ 9 8 7 5 3 clubs in dummy, you can guess to switch ♥ 10 5 West North East South to clubs after that. Your partner might ♦ 10 1♥ play a low diamond (suit preference) ♣ A K Q 10 5 Pass 1♠ 2♣ 4♥ under the ♦Q to help you. ♠ 10 2 ♠ J 6 All Pass When you switch to a club, which club ♥ A K Q 8 4 2 N ♥ 9 6 do you lead? You know that a diamond W E ♦ A Q 2 ♦ J 8 6 5 4 3 You lead the ♣3: ♣5, ♣K and ♣4. back will beat the contract whereas a S ♣ 7 2 ♣ J 9 6 Partner returns the ♣2, covered by the ♣J club might not. You do best to try the ♣8. ♠ A K Q 4 and ♣Q. How do you proceed? At matchpoints, partner may try for ♥ J 7 3 What do you make of the play in the two down (attempting to cash a second ♦ K 9 7 club suit? Declarer has hardly ducked the club). ♣ 8 4 3 ♣A twice. Partner – no doubt keen to get At least you have done your best to get you on lead – must have underled the an immediate diamond return. ■

Page 26 BRIDGE June 2015 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum Episode 38: Much Ado about Nothing

s I walked into the bridge room everyone had remembered the change George, West, led the four of clubs, I at the Riverside, Millie and the of programme and found teammates. ducked and Sarah won with the nine. club secretary were enjoying When George the Jogger and She took her winning ace of clubs and I Aa discreet but heated debate. I heard Sarah arrived at our table, Millie ruffed the jack continuation. I crossed Millie indignantly assert, ‘It’s not impertinently asked, ‘You always have to dummy via the ace of spades and in the fixture book.’ ‘I know, but it’s that tube of cream with you. Where led the queen of trumps from dummy, been on the notice board for months,’ do you apply it?’ ‘Usually in private,’ the king appeared and the remaining responded the exasperated Hon. Sec. George assured us to our relief. After trumps in our opponents’ hands were ‘Maybe, but I don’t look at the no- a short pause he added unnecessarily removed. tice board,’ was Millie’s insubstantial that his feet were prone to suffer The contract was home with three defence. ‘But it’s also on the website,’ from a rash caused by his running spade and five trump tricks. was the riposte. ‘I don’t check the web- activities. Fortunately this overload of A more concise sequence occurred site,’ was the instant reply. ‘I emailed information ended the conversation. when our teammates played the board. everyone,’ explained the secretary. ‘I The ensuing deal diverted our Kate opened the bidding with one no- don’t read emails, I only send them,’ attention from jogging to bridge and trump which ended the auction. was the provocative response. ‘The TD proved a battle of part scores. announced it at bridge last week,’ was West North East South the counter punch. ‘I didn’t hear that,’ Jo Kate said Millie. ‘I know. I saw you talking Dealer East. Love All. 1NT All Pass and not listening. That’s why I told ♠ A J 10 9 you personally,’ was his final knock- ♥ Q 7 5 4 With only two cards in the majors out blow. ‘Oh yes, so you did, I forgot, ♦ 5 2 but admittedly a good stop in each, so sorry,’ apologised Millie. The Club ♣ Q 8 3 one no-trump would not have been secretary disappeared into the bar ♠ 6 5 2 ♠ K 7 my choice as opener. However, the N ♥ 9 8 3 ♥ K 6 shrugging his shoulders and rotating W E manoeuvre worked. his eyeballs in an alarming manner. ♦ A 10 9 6 S ♦ Q 8 7 3 On a spade lead from South to the There may have been steam emanat- ♣ K 5 4 ♣ A J 10 9 7 ace and a spade return, Kate made ing from his ears. ♠ Q 8 4 3 one spade, five clubs after a successful ‘What was that all about?’ I asked. ♥ A J 10 2 finesse and the ace of diamonds. ‘Apparently there is a programme ♦ K J 4 We won that board but still lost the change; it’s teams this week and we’re ♣ 6 2 match to George’s team. With more not fixed up,’ said Millie despondently. wins than losses overall, we finished ‘Yes, we are, we’re playing with Jo and well up the field and were fairly Kate as usual.’ ‘Well, I’m sure no one At love all, Sarah, East, opened one satisfied with our performance. We told me,’ replied Millie huffily. Millie club. With two four card majors and a discussed the board again in the pub clearly needed a pick-me-up and I borderline opener, I doubled for take- later, where Millie kindly pointed out accompanied her to the bar. There out and George bid one diamond. that with more careful play I could we spotted the club secretary with a Millie now doubled to suggest I choose have made nine tricks by placing bottle of wine open beside him. He a major and Sarah bid two diamonds. West with the ♦A for his bid. On cross was chatting to other members of Two hearts by me ended the bidding. examination she conceded that my the committee who seemed amused mistake had not affected our victory- or possibly bemused by his narrative. West North East South point total. With this admission she A drink or two later, Millie and I George Millie Sarah Wendy agreed to buy the next round of drinks wandered back to the bridge room to 1♣ Dbl and also promised that in future she join Jo and Kate just as the director 1♦ Dbl 2♦ 2♥ would check her inbox for emails from announced that he was pleased that All Pass the Hon. Sec on a regular basis. ■

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 27 Heather’s Private Bridge Lessons Weak Twos

hat call do you make on the 3 of any other suit = 9-10 points and You are in 4♠ by West and the lead is Wfollowing hand? a high-card feature in that suit the ♣J. How do you plan the play? (normally bid your strongest suit There is no way that North has out of the other three). underled the ace of clubs so do not be ♠ K Q J 8 6 3 For example: tempted to play the king. If you do, ♥ 6 5 4 N it will force out the ace but you will ♦ 8 3 W E have established nothing in the suit. S ♣ 5 3 ♠ K J 10 8 6 3 Instead, you should attempt to ruff ♥ K 8 5 N out the ace, in other words you should ♦ 9 2 W E organise your entries so that you can S West North East South ♣ 7 2 trump two clubs in your hand to see if ? the ace falls. If it doesn’t fall you will need to A is an opening bid of West North East South guess the position of the ♥Q, but you 2♥ or 2♠ and shows 6-10 points and a 2♠ Pass 2NT Pass would prefer to be spared that guess, 6-card suit. Some players also play an ? if possible. opening bid of 2♦ as a weak two bid. However, first things first, you will Ideally it shows a good suit with You must rebid 3♠ to show the lower begin by drawing trumps. If the defence few values outside the suit. The hand range. However, holding: switch to diamonds you can ruff a club above is ideal for a weak 2♠. and continue drawing trumps. If you get no luck in the club suit, you can ♠ Q J 10 9 8 7 ruff the fourth round anyway and cash ♠ 9 8 7 5 3 2 ♥ K 10 3 N your diamonds. By the time you need W E ♥ A 5 4 N ♦ K 6 2 to locate the position of the ♥Q, there S ♦ A 3 W E ♣ 7 is a fair chance that you will have a full S ♣ 5 3 count of the opponents’ distribution and you will play the hand known to West North East South have longer hearts for the queen. West North East South 2♠ Pass 2NT Pass ? ? ♠ A J 8 7 4 2 This is a horrible hand for a weak two, You can now show a feature as you are ♥ 8 5 N it is better to pass. in the upper range. You have a choice ♦ K 9 3 W E S between red suits, so I would show the ♣ J 6 Responding to weak twos marginally better one. Rebid 3♥. Over this partner jumps to 4♠ and this ends To be interested in game you will need the auction. West North East South around 15 points or more, since part- 2♠ Pass 2NT Pass ner has shown a weak hand. With an ? invitational hand (about 15-18 points) ♠ Q J 10 9 8 7 ♠ 6 3 2 and a fit, bid 2NT. This asks partner for ♥ K 10 3 N ♥ A J 7 Being in the upper range you can call W E ♦ K 6 2 ♦ A Q J ♦ more information. There are a variety S 3 , showing your diamond feature. of methods of responding – I suggest: ♣ 7 ♣ K 6 5 2 Over this partner jumps to 4♠. These 3 of the trump suit = 6-8 points. are the two hands:

Page 28 BRIDGE June 2015 Weak Twos continued West North East South West North East South 2♠ Pass 2♠ Pass ? ?

Respond 3♥. If partner rebids 3♠ Make a of 4♣. Over this (denying heart support) you can try partner cue-bids 4♦ and you can now ♠ A J 8 7 4 2 ♠ K Q 9 3NT. try Roman keycard Blackwood. Partner ♥ 8 5 N ♥ A J 4 A jump in a new suit is a splinter, owns up to one ace by calling 5♦. What ♦ K 9 3 W E ♦ A 7 2 agreeing partner’s weak two suit and now? You are missing one key card, S ♣ J 6 ♣ K 8 4 2 showing a shortage, even if it is a game so a grand slam is out of the question. bid. Hence, holding this hand: The only try you can make without committing yourself to a small slam The lead is the ♦J. Ideally, you would is 5♥, which asks for the queen of prefer to be in 3NT since this has nine ♠ 6 trumps. There is little point in doing top tricks, however, it is quite normal ♥ A K Q 8 7 6 2 N this, since you are known to have a to play in your known nine-card major ♦ K Q J 5 W E ten-card trump fit and you would be S suit fit. ♣ 7 happy to gamble on the queen falling With a certain loser in each red suit, in two rounds (or taking a finesse if the contract looks to depend on the North discards on the first round). ♣A being with North. Are there any West North East South Therefore, you might as well bid 6♠. other chances? There is a possibility 2♠ Pass that North holds the ♥K-Q, but this is ? unlikely since he would probably have ♠ A K J 7 ♠ Q 10 8 4 3 2 led one. However, there is another pos- You must begin with a forcing 3♥ bid, ♥ A K 10 9 N ♥ J 5 sibility: the chance that South holds the since a jump to 4♥ would be a splinter. ♦ Q J 10 9 W E ♦ A 4 S ♣Q. Having drawn trumps, lead to- Your partner raises you to 4♥ and ♣ Q ♣ 9 7 3 wards the ♣J. If South holds the queen, this ends the auction. you will be able to develop a club trick to dispose of one of your red suit los- You are in 6♠ by East and the lead is ers, since the defence can only establish ♠ 6 ♠ K Q 10 8 5 3 the ♣A, followed by the ♣K. How do ♥ A K Q 8 7 6 2 N ♥ J 5 a trick in one of them before your club W E you plan the play? trick is set up. If it loses to the queen ♦ K Q J 5 S ♦ 7 6 2 You have eleven tricks: six trumps, in the North hand, the opponents will ♣ 7 ♣ K 6 two club ruffs in dummy, the ace again be able to establish a trick in just and king of hearts and the ace one red suit and you will still have time of diamonds. There are various to lead towards the king of clubs. You are in 4♥ by West and the lead possibilities that could give you your If you have support for partner, you is the ♣Q which holds the trick and twelfth: a successful diamond finesse, can make a pre-emptive raise. With is followed by the ♣J which you ruff. a successful heart finesse or ruffing three-card support but no game inter- How do you plan the play? heart finesse, a red suit squeeze, or est, raise to three. With four-card sup- Think about the whole hand before ruffing the ♥Q down in three rounds. port raise to four. This is designed to you start. If you have already drawn How can you possibly tell which one make life difficult for the opponents. trumps, you will be relying on a 3-3 to go for? If you raise to four, they will not know diamond break to make the contract. In situations such as these you want whether you have a good hand that just Instead, you need to consider your to keep your options open, if at all wanted to be in game, or a bad hand entries to dummy. You only have possible. If you take one of the finesses with four-card support. one, and that is the ♥J. If you begin and it fails, you will be down in your Bidding a new suit is forcing and by playing a spade towards dummy, contract. However, if you play to ruff shows at least invitational values. It you will establish a spade trick on down the ♥Q and it fails to appear, suggests a hand without support for which to dispose of the potential loser you have not yet gone down in the partner and is looking for the best in diamonds. However, you must do contract. It is true that you can no game. It shows at least five in the suit this straight away, whilst you have the longer play for the heart finesse, the bid. entry to cash your spade winner. ruffing heart finesse, or the squeeze. However, provided you have still left an entry to dummy via the club ♠ J ♠ A K J 7 ruff, you are in a position to take the ♥ K Q 10 9 7 4 N ♥ A K 10 9 N diamond finesse. In this way you can ♦ A K 7 W E ♦ Q J 10 9 W E combine two chances to make the S S ♣ A Q 9 ♣ Q contract, which is better than going all out for one chance. ■

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 29 Improve Your Defence with Andrew Kambites Principles of Leading Against a Suit Contract

Passive Defence against no-trumps. After a bidding 3-2. The conclusion was that against sequence of 1♠-3♠-4♠, a lead of ♥6 no-trumps, the lead of a king If you set up length tricks against no- from a suit of ♥8-6-3 is unlikely promises the queen and either the trumps, your opponents will have to to do much good, or much harm. jack or the ten. The reason was that watch helplessly if you can cash them It might sound negative, but that with K-Q-4-3-2, you needed partner out. Length tricks are far less likely to is usually a satisfactory outcome to hold an honour to fulfil your be useful if you are defending against against a suit contract. objectives of setting up length tricks a suit contract, because provided your 4) The best leads after♠ 1 -3♠-4♠ are and in that case, you didn’t want to opponents have picked a sensible healthily solid sequences, like block the suit. Your objectives in trump suit they will use their trump ♥K-Q-J-10. They build tricks with leading from this suit against a suit suit to interrupt the flow of your no risk. However, beware of short contract are very different. Length length winners. Broadly speaking the sequences, particularly in a suit tricks usually won’t be a factor. You follow principles are sound: where you don’t have great length. are trying to ensure one trick in the 1) You are far less inclined to lead away Suppose you lead a heart from ♥K- suit. Somebody at the table has a from a broken honour sequence (or Q-7. So often the layout is: doubleton, so you must make sure interior sequence such as ♠K-J-10- you don’t lose trick 1 to declarer’s 3-2) than would be the case if you jack. If you are really lucky, partner were leading against no-trumps. ♥ J 5 4 might have the doubleton and may In particular, it is virtually never be able to ruff the third round. N correct to underlead a side suit ace ♥ K Q 7 W E ♥ 10 8 3 2 There are a number of S at trick 1. combinations where, if you decide I wouldn’t want to put it quite ♥ A 9 6 to lead the suit, the lead against no- as strongly with respect to trumps is a different card. underleading other honours, but With ♠A-K-4-3-2 lead the ♠3 it is still the case that leading from Declarer wins your ♥K lead with against no-trumps but the ♠A a holding like ♥K-7-4-3 after a his ♥A and subsequently gets an against a suit contract. bidding sequence of 1♠-3♠-4♠ is easy second heart trick by leading With ♠K-Q-4-3-2 lead the ♠3 more likely to give away a cheap towards dummy’s ♥J. Generally against no trumps but the ♠K trick than to do anything clever. speaking, the more solid the against a suit contract. 2) Cashing unsupported aces is sequence is, the safer your lead. With ♠Q-J-4-3-2 lead the ♠3 usually unsound. The purpose of Equally, leading from a longer suit against no trumps but the ♠Q your ace is to capture an opponent’s tends to give less away, for example against a suit contract. honour, not to squash minnows. leading the ♦K from ♦K-Q-4-3- With ♠J-10-4-3-2 lead the ♠3 Of course, there are exceptions, 2 is less likely to cost a trick than against no trumps but the ♠J for example it may (or may not) be leading the ♥K from ♥K-Q-7. against a suit contract. right to cash a side suit ace if you You might remember that in an 5) There is one situation where length are on lead against a suit slam. I will earlier article I discussed leading tricks can come into play. Looking look at exceptions in a later article. against no-trumps. I advocated at all four hands can you see how 3) You are more likely to aim to defend leading the king from K-Q-J-3-2 or the defenders can beat 4♠ in the passively than would be usual K-Q-10-3-2, but the 3 from K-Q-4- layout below?

Page 30 BRIDGE June 2015 Leading Against a Suit Contract continued Looking for a Ruff

Everybody loves the feeling of lead- Better Hand ing a singleton against a slam, find- ing partner with the ace and ruffing Evaluation ♠ J 8 7 at trick 2. I must warn you that if you ♥ 10 9 4 lead a singleton and you don’t get a Bernard Magee ♦ K Q J 10 ruff there is often a price to pay. You ♣ A 7 3 might help declarer by exposing part- Introduction ♠ A 5 4 3 ♠ 6 ner’s queen, or consider this layout: Better Hand Evaluation is aimed ♥ K J 7 6 2 N ♥ A 8 3 at helping readers to add greater ♦ 9 2 W E ♦ 6 5 4 3 S accuracy to their bidding. It deals ♣ ♣ ♥ J 6 10 9 8 5 4 K 7 3 2 with auctions in which you and your ♠ K Q 10 9 2 N partner, against silent opponents, ♥ Q 5 ♥ 8 W E ♥ J 10 6 5 can describe your hands fully S ♦ A 8 7 to each other and, by evaluating ♣ K Q 2 ♥ A Q 9 4 them accurately, find the best final contract. The emphasis of all good, accurate bidding is on hand South North Left to his own devices, declarer would evaluation. 1♠ 2♦ need X-ray vision to finesse twice There are two general types of auction: 2NT 3♠ against East’s ♥J-10. However, if West a) a fit is found and b) no fit is found. 4♠ is on lead against a spade contract and When you do not have a fit, you are ♥ leads the 8, it falls into declarer’s lap. aiming to describe the strength of your Suppose West leads the ♥6. East Dummy plays low and East must split hand as soon as possible, most often wins the ♥A and continues hearts. his honours to prevent declarer’s ♥9 using no-trump bids. This book begins Declarer must ruff the third heart winning. Later, having drawn trumps, by discussing balanced hand bidding and starts on trumps. West al- declarer enters dummy with the ♥K in Acol, as it is very important that lows declarer to win the first two and West shows out, leaving declarer both members of a partnership have rounds and declarer is now with- with a marked finesse against East’s an accurate knowledge of how to show out resource. If he continues with other heart honour. So if you lead a hands of different strengths. a third trump, West takes the ♠A singleton, you must have some expec- When a fit is found, there is much and plays a winning heart. Declarer tation that partner will have entries to re-evaluation of the hand to be done; has to ruff with his last trump, but give you a ruff. For example, leading point count, though still important, he has now lost trump control. The a singleton against a slam when you needs to be evaluated together with best declarer can do is to abandon have an ace is pointless. You have a distribution. The best way of reaching trumps and start cashing trick; if partner has an entry, the slam an accurate assess­ment is to use winners, but, of course, that allows will be beaten whatever you lead. the Losing Trick Count; this is an important method of hand evaluation West to beat the contract with a ruff. and takes up a number of chapters. How ironic that if West starts the South North defence looking for a ruff by leading 1♠ 3♠ Finally, we move on to different forms a minor suit, he never gets his ruff, 4♠ of evaluation including game tries and but if he starts attacking declarer’s splinter bids. You can never know trump length declarer has no option enough methods of hand evaluation; the more you learn, the better you get but to allow him a ruff. All the clues Hand A Hand B at judging your hand. are there for West to get the defence ♠ 7 4 2 ♠ 7 4 2 right: the bidding makes it obvious ♥ 8 ♥ 8 Although the Losing Trick Count is that declarer is in a 5-3 trump fit. ♦ 9 7 4 3 ♦ A Q 10 7 6 used more easily in tandem with your The fact that West has four trumps ♣ 9 7 5 4 2 ♣ A Q 10 4 partner, a large proportion of the means that if he can make declarer ideas in this book can be used by an individual. For example, evaluating ruff twice, he will have more trumps your hand to be worth an extra point left than either declarer or dummy. After the bidding sequence shown, the is going to help anyone you partner – ♥ If you are on lead with four trumps, 8 is an excellent lead with Hand A. as long as you get it right. it is worth considering leading your Indeed, you might even get two ruffs. ♥ longest suit, particularly if you have The 8 is a very poor lead with Hand £14 including UK postage trump control (eg the ace). By at- B. You may easily have three tricks in tacking declarer’s trump control, ef- your hand. Partner is most unlikely to See Mail Order Form fectively, you are trying to turn a suit have a quick entry. Your best prospect on page 7. contract into a no-trump contract. is a passive trump lead. ■

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 31 Bridge Adventures by David Holden and Roy Rowe

Adventures at Number 10

argaret just finished making supported me over the Falklands,’ she least in this house.’ he replied with a pot of tea as Dennis re- added. grace. turned from the latest busi- ‘You could have done worse, ‘Of course, Vi.. um, Tony and you Mness meeting – he was on the board Margaret. Foot should have stuck with must call me Margaret, not Prime of several companies. ‘How was the his Liberal background – and Benn’s Minister here,’ she added, through meeting? Dry as usual?’ she asked. father made the same mistake, of slightly gritted teeth. ‘Actually they had a rather sickly course. Both are very good orators I Michael Foot arrived on Benn’s Sauternes with the dessert. But they have to say – even if they talk red rot heels, and Mrs Thatcher asked an did have a very good Claret,’ replied half the time. I guess Willie Whitelaw aide to deal with his, ‘um, top-coat’ as Dennis. is all right, though I would not trust she described his unfashionable and ‘Not quite what I meant, Dennis. his judgement sometimes.’ infamous duffle coat. They gathered Well you better keep a clear head; you ‘Willie is always loyal to me, you over a few drinks and awaited the know we are having one of those cross know, Dennis, even when he thinks I arrival of William Whitelaw – who party evenings tonight. I hate to do it, am wrong. Anyway, go and study your had been called to deal with a minor but I have invited two senior members rule book and make it just the one revolt of Tory backbenchers in of the Labour party over to play some glass of Gordon’s – they will be here in the House. Benn commented that bridge this evening, and I need you to half an hour.’ Whitelaw was a good man to have at be there.’ she demanded. the Prime Minister’s side. Margaret ‘But Margaret, you know I hate repeated her aphorism, ‘Every Prime playing that game, I am a golf and Minister needs a Willie.’ With cricket man; and two damn socialists remarkable presence of mind, Michael as well, you do not want me to sit down Foot added, ‘I think Ted Heath first and play with them?’ he begged. said that when you defeated him in the ‘No Dennis, I have asked Willie Tory leadership election in 1975!’ Whitelaw to play with me, but I need Only a few minutes late, Whitelaw you to be there as an independent joined the party and they sat down to adjudicator – just in case we have a play; he partnered Margaret, with Tony dispute. You know what those lefties Benn on her right. Willie commented, can be like, so stay sober,’ was the ‘Well, we might expect Michael to be command. left of the Prime Minister.’ (He never ‘Oh, if I must, Boss. I have a copy of called her Margaret in company.) ‘But the EBU regulations on bridge; I will Tony Benn to the right! Who would swot up on it over a glass of Gordon’s. have thought it?’ Who have you asked over to play – not Tony Benn arrived at Number 10, To make for an interesting evening, too extreme are they?’ promptly on time and was pleasantly they had agreed that the pair with the ‘Well I had to ask Privy Councillors, greeted by Mrs Thatcher. ‘Very good overall minus score should pay £100 one does have standards to maintain. of you to agree to come Viscount to a charity as nominated by the win- Viscount Stansgate, I know he prefers Stansgate, sorry, Mr. Benn. I know ning pair. The evening passed pleas- to be called Tony Benn, but if you have you prefer that title, but I have a strong antly enough; politics were not on a pedigree you really ought to respect sense of history.’ the agenda, of course. Margaret was a it; and Michael Foot – you know he ‘Thank you for asking me, Prime forceful bidder – taking control when- was one of the few socialists who Minister, but please call me Tony – at ever possible. Willie was somewhat

Page 32 BRIDGE June 2015 Adventures continued have excited his partner too much, so from his study, with the EBU book in he settled for 2♠. Margaret, always one hand and a large glass of Gordon’s wanting to have her own way, butted in the other. After a few moments of more conservative and their styles in. Michael thought for a long time page turning, he ruled, with a slight balanced each other out. Likewise, before launching into Blackwood. His stumble here and there, that, ‘if the Michael tended to be a little impulsive reasoning was, ‘Tony must have at least trick on which the occurred and inaccurate, whereas Tony was the five spades, probably six, to a couple of was won by the offending player, at the epitome of precise and logical bidding end of the play the trick on which the and play. revoke occurred is transferred to the The Tories were slightly ahead when non-offending side, together with one they came to what would be the final of any subsequent tricks won by the hand of the evening. offending side. So two tricks should be transferred.’ Margaret was not pleased, neither Dealer West. Game All. with Willie, nor the rule, but had to ♠ 6 5 4 3 2 accept the situation as Tony, missing ♥ A 7 6 5 4 3 ace and king of trumps, recorded a ♦ 2 score of 2,470 for 7♠ doubled and ♣ J vulnerable and a victory for the left on ♠ Void ♠ A K the night. ♥ K Q J 10 9 8 N ♥ Void Michael Foot who, although of ♦ K Q J W E ♦ 10 9 8 7 6 Plymouth origins, represented a S 5 4 3 2 coal mining region in South Wales, ♣ 5 4 3 2 ♣ 10 7 requested that the agreed wager of ♠ Q J 10 9 8 7 honours, so at most we have one spade £100 be paid to the South Wales Area ♥ Void loser. The Iron Lady must have seven Miners Benevolent Fund. Margaret ♦ A hearts for her bid, Tony (and Willie) could hardly object and ordered Willie ♣ A K Q 9 8 6 must be void, so Tony can ruff all my to make the arrangements (she could losing hearts – overruffing Willie. So not bear the publicity of a cheque in if partner has the aces, we ought to be her name going to the miners) and the The bidding was somewhat lively – safe for a grand slam.’ evening ended on a sour note. considering the shapely hands this Then things went slightly awry. was not surprising. Tony’s reply of 5♠ was Roman keycard showing two aces and the queen West North East South of trumps. But Michael took it as Thatcher Foot Whitelaw Benn straight Blackwood, showing three 2♠ aces – which was enough (for him) 3♥ 4NT Pass 5♠ to bid the grand slam. Willie safely Pass 7♠ Dbl All Pass doubled – he had two sure tricks after all. Tony had a difficult choice, he could Margaret led the ♥K, covered by the not open at the one level with such a ace. With glee, Willie trumped with powerful playing hand, and 2♣ would the ♠A, cashed the ♠K and exited with a club, uttering, ‘At least two down doubled vulnerable, not bad Prime Minister.’ Benn won, cashed the ♦A, on which both Michael and Willie played a red two. Of course, Willie’s two was the ♥2 – he had missorted his Later Margaret, still angry, said hand and had clearly revoked when he to Dennis, ‘Those damn EBU ruffed the . Tony took the bureaucrats in Brussels have no right rest of the tricks with ease. to make such nonsense laws to govern Tony knew the rules and suggested how we play our games. Remind me in that there ought to be a penalty for the the morning to raise the issue at the revoke. The PM, who did not know next cabinet meeting.’ Dennis quietly the rules, said, ‘It hardly matters, concurred; thinking now was not the Willie would make his two top trumps time to correct the Boss by pointing anyway.’ Tony insisted they consult the out the ‘E’ in EBU stood for ‘English’, rule book and Dennis was summoned not ‘European’. ■

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 33 Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Six Penalty Doubles

enalty doubles are one of my West North East South trumps break badly for them, there is favourite topics: so few players 1♠ often a chance to collect a very healthy are ever taught about doubling, 2♥ Pass Pass Dbl penalty: it is important to punish Pit is as if the call does not exist. Other All Pass them because their overcalls so often than doubling 1NT for penalties, make life difficult for you. The more there is very little knowledge. Very The requirements for low-level penalty you double your opponents, the less few players double other partscores doubles are: the majority of points they will want to bid. because they are worried of ‘doubling between your partnership and good In the second part of the DVD, them into game’. Of course, I explain trumps. Points are not enough to I move on to the tricky aspect of in the DVD that when you double defeat a low-level suit contract, it is defending these contracts and making for penalties, you are not aiming for important to have trumps to back sure you get the score you want. So your opponents to make the contract. them up. much will focus around the trump I reckon that most players should South opens 1♠ and West overcalls suit, making sure you make the most double between five and ten times the 2♥, which is passed back round of your holdings. amount they do now. to South. As the last player to bid, Of course, I explain that most South tries hard to keep the auction doubles of suit contracts at low levels open, particularly when short in the ♠ 8 3 are for take-out and the most common opponents’ suit. Surely, either East- ♥ J 8 2 type of penalty double actually comes West have a fit or your partner is ♦ A Q J 8 2 from your partner making a take-out sitting with a trump stack. If they have ♣ K J 7 double, which you choose to pass. a fit, then you should compete: a take- ♠ 2 ♠ A K J 10 5 4 Passing a take-out double is a out double allows your side to find its ♥ 10 5 4 3 N ♥ 9 7 6 W E ♦ K 5 4 3 ♦ 10 9 positive bid: you only disobey your best fit, rather than simply relying on S partner for a very good reason. bidding 2♠. ♣ Q 10 6 5 ♣ A 2 As you see on this hand, it usually North chooses to pass your take- ♠ Q 9 7 6 means that you are sure of a nice out double, expecting to collect more ♥ A K Q penalty: points from 2♥ doubled than from ♦ 7 6 trying to make 3♦. ♣ 9 8 4 3 The play is relatively straightforward: Dealer South. Love All. the defence are likely to make five ♠ 9 6 tricks outside trumps and two trump West North East South ♥ Q J 10 5 tricks. On a spade lead, South takes 1NT 2♠ Dbl ♦ A 8 7 6 2 his four black suit winners and then All Pass ♣ 7 6 probably plays a trump. Declarer does ♠ J 5 ♠ K 10 8 7 best to take his two top trumps and When I teach penalty doubles, I like ♥ A K 9 8 7 2 N ♥ 6 3 W E then endplay North by leading another to give simple rules: one of which is ♦ K Q 9 S ♦ 10 3 trump. However, this still leaves West that once your side has bid no-trumps ♣ 3 2 ♣ Q J 10 8 5 two off and losing 300 points. at any point, all doubles are for penal- ♠ A Q 4 3 2 Doubling is crucial because 300 ties. The reason for this is because one ♥ 4 beats any partscore you can make, but player has neatly defined his hand so ♦ J 5 4 100 is a poor return: your side might the other should be in control of the ♣ A K 9 4 well make 3♦, scoring 110. auction. After the first two bids of the When your opponents overcall and auction, South knows his side has the

Page 34 BRIDGE June 2015 Penalty Doubles continued BERNARD MAGEE’S majority of the points and INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS also knows his side has at least six spades (North ACOL ADVANCED DECLARER opened 1NT), which means BIDDING ACOL BIDDING PLAY the opponents do not have a fit: the perfect situation for a l Opening Bids and l Basics l Suit Establishment penalty double. Responses l Advanced in No-trumps You lead the ♥A on which l Slams and Strong Basics l Suit Establishment ♥ your partner plays the 2. Openings in Suits Having displayed your l Weak Twos strength, you switch to your l Support for Partner l Strong Hands l Hold-ups shortest suit in an attempt l Pre-empting l Defence l Ruffing for Extra Tricks to aim for two trump tricks. l Overcalls to Weak Twos ♦ Your partner wins the J l Entries in l No-trump l Defence to 1NT and returns a heart. You Openings £66 No-trumps cash your third heart and l Doubles £76 and Responses l Delaying play another diamond to l Two-suited Drawing Trumps partner’s queen. Five tricks l Opener’s and Overcalls Responder’s Rebids £96 l Using the Lead already and then your part- l Defences to ♦ ner leads the A. l Minors and Misfits Other Systems l Trump Control It does declarer no good to l Doubles l Endplays & discard because another di- l Misfits and Distributional Avoidance amond would follow, so he l Competitive Hands ruffs with the ♠J. This is the Auctions l Using the Bidding crucial point of the defence and one that many find intuitively hard. Towards ADVANCED DEFENCE FIVE-CARD the end of the seminar, the DECLARER PLAY MAJORS & focus was on whether to l Lead vs Strong No-Trump l Making Overtricks overruff or not: it is not ob- No-trump Contracts in No-trumps l Opening Bids vious that it should make a l Lead vs & Responses difference. However, play l Making Overtricks Suit Contracts in Suit Contracts l No-Trump it through: if you overruff, l Partner of Leader Openings then declarer will be able to l Endplays vs No-trump draw your last three trumps l Support l Avoidance Contracts £89 with his ♠A-K-10. However, for Partner l Partner of Leader if you discard, then when l Wrong Contract vs Suit Contracts l Slams declarer draws trumps, af- & Strong Openings ter his ♠A-K your ♠Q-9 will l Simple l Count £81 Signals l Rebids sit over his ♠10-5-4 and be Squeezes £76 l Minors worth two tricks. l Counting l Attitude So you discard on the the Hand Signals & Misfits third diamond and de- l Pre-empting l Trump Reductions l Discarding clarer ends up losing a club & Coups l Defensive Plan l Doubles and two trumps resulting in three down. +500 on a l Playing Doubled l Stopping Declarer l Overcalls Contracts partscore deal: the defence l Counting l Competitive was not easy, but as you l Safety Plays the Hand Auctions double more you will get the chance to practise your defence more and start get- Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge, ting some wonderful scores. Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH The main point of this ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop DVD was double more, System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM much more. ■

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 35 David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics Are Very Weak Twos in Benji Allowed?

Playing in a Club enquiry legal? has said that, in his view, bid, which was the direct league match, 4. Is North’s final 3NT doubled should be cause of E/W’s bad result. Qthe opponents pass legal? the final contract. North stated they were playing 5. If N/S did have has no reason to disagree ♣♦♥♠ Benji Acol, but had an agreement that with South’s decision. no convention card. they open a weak two 5. Certainly. Benji, or Could you kindly vulnerable on three Benjaminised Acol to give settle a friendly points, can they describe it the full name, refers to a Qdispute please? Dealer North. Game All. the system as Benji, method of showing an Acol In duplicate bridge, is ♠ 10 7 4 without qualification? 2♣ opening by opening 2♦, it a rule that one should ♥ Q 9 8 5 4 3 Name and address supplied. and by showing an Acol two shuffle the cards after ♦ J 7 5 of a suit opening by opening a game before placing ♣ 7 1. Certainly it is 2♣, thus allowing people who them in the box? Or is ♠ J ♠ 9 8 6 5 legal. You may open play it to open weak twos it a courtesy? Or is it ♥ A 7 N ♥ K J 10 2♥ by agreement while still having a method so that the next pairs W E A ♦ Q 9 3 2 S ♦ 10 8 4 on any hand with at least of showing Acol twos as well. do not receive them in ♣ A Q 10 4 3 2 ♣ 9 8 6 four hearts and any point The weak twos in Benji are any specific order? ♠ A K Q 3 2 count whatsoever. no different from any other Ray Cook by email. ♥ 6 2 2. A weak two is a weak two and can be played ♦ A K 6 description of a general in any way the pair agree. It is a requirement ♣ K J 5 agreement by which an I fear that what has laid down in a law. opening bid of the suit bid happened here is that E/W A It only appeared in shows at least five cards in have made an assumption the last law book: before West North East South the suit and less than an that N/S would bid the way that it was a courtesy. 2♥1 Pass 2NT2 opening bid. Most players they do, or the way they were The lawmakers did not 3♥3 Pass 3NT Dbl play more stringent rules, taught, which is a common want anything to give the All Pass such as giving it a range, fallacy in club bridge. While next table any impression of 1Announced as weak. demanding six cards in the there are rules about what what had happened earlier. 2Alerted (Ogust from later com- suit bid, not allowing a side calls are allowed in club For example, if there were ment). four-card major, not allowing bridge, they are not very three passes to you and 3Alerted (explained as ‘general a void, not allowing another restrictive and players who your hand was sorted, you to be clarified’ when five-card suit and so on. do not follow generally could be fairly sure it was North asked). However, it is up to each pair accepted formulae often find passed out at the last table. whether or not they have their opponents surprised Another example is that 3NT doubled went such agreements and it (or, I regret, even angry) if you never received a two off for 500 N/S. is up to opponents to ask when they do something sorted hand normally, and 1. Is North’s for further clarification that their opponents would then one is sorted, it often opening bid legal? if they require it. not. Certainly, the weak two turned out to be a border- 2. What rules 3. Certainly. You may ask opened here is one that line slam (if it was not govern opening a the meaning of any call at many people would not a pass-out) where the Benji Weak Two? any time it is your turn to call. bid, but of course, the same players had looked at 3. Is North’s 4. Certainly. Partner could be said of West’s 3♥ the hand at the end.

Page 36 BRIDGE June 2015 Ask David continued (and if declarer’s RHO ing untoward has occurred, questions should be fol- changes his card then declar- there is no need to bother lowed. If your partner makes er may also change his card). the director. Alternatively, a then you The cards played by the if he wants a ruling he can should not alert or explain, In 1NT, declarer defenders and changed summon the director and has just do nothing. When a found himself are unauthorised informa- not lost any rights by wait- natural suit bid (below 3NT) Qwith ♥Q-x-x in tion to declarer, so if he ing to the end of the hand. is doubled, it is always for dummy and ♥A-K-J-x in has gained from seeing In theory, it is a totally un- take-out, if it is not alerted. hand. He called for the them the director can adjust necessary procedure: if a hes- Explaining without being top heart from dummy, the score at the end. itation or other unauthorised asked causes a fair amount but dummy, as well as the However, if declarer information is agreed, then of trouble and you should defenders, misheard him changes his card then the the director can be called at never do so. Note that your and a low heart was led original card is authorised the end of the hand whether partner should not have said from dummy. Declarer information for the defenders. a player has said he reserves anything either after your failed to notice anything Note that the card misplayed his rights or not. Nevertheless, explanation. Corrections to amiss and followed low, by dummy can be changed it is quite useful for getting wrong explanations should so the defence won the so long as both sides have all four players to remember only be made at the end of trick quite cheaply. It not played to the next trick. the situation and to keep the the auction by declarer or was only when declarer facts clear in their minds. dummy and only at the end requested the lead of a ♣♦♥♠ If a hesitation or other of the hand by the defenders. low heart from dummy unauthorised information to the next trick that this Is the term ‘re- is disputed, the director ♣♦♥♠ ‘misplay’ was revealed. serve our rights’ should be called immedi- The cards to the first Qto question the ately to sort out the facts. Please can you heart trick were re- director’s decision in help with the stored and declarer duplicate bridge? I can- ♣♦♥♠ Qbidding on our was allowed to lead the not find reference to it. table which went: queen from dummy. Name and Address Supplied. At my local club, All passed off peace- I opened 1♦ and West North East South fully and with the ap- It is referred to in Qmy LHO bid 1♠. 1♣ Pass proval of the director. the laws (16B2). My partner doubled. I 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass In a different layout A The idea is that, if said that it was a nega- 3♦1 Pass 3♣ Pass of the cards, could a player gives unauthorised tive double showing Pass 1Alerted (FSF) declarer gain unau- information to his partner, for points and hearts. My thorised information? example by a long hesitation, partner said that he had At this stage, it was Herbert Potts, and the hesitation or other spades and the opposi- noticed that East’s 3♣ Bramhall, Stockport. unauthorised information is tion politely told me that was an insufficient bid. agreed by the pair, there is I didn’t need to explain Should the hand be Declarer’s side is at no need to call the director unless they ask. I knew played in East’s high- fault if dummy has in the middle of the auc- the rule but at local level est bid, 3♦, or does West A played the wrong tion. A player can ‘reserve these things happen. have to change 3♣ to 4♣? card. Once the card is cor- his rights’ to call the director I felt I had been put Penny Eliot by email. rected, the defenders may later. Then, if at the end of in my box. Did I com- correct the card they played the hand, he feels noth- mit a very big error? Any insufficient bid Sheila Hickey by email. may be accepted by A the next player and is You did not com- accepted if that player calls. DUPLICATE BRIDGE mit a very bad error, So, once South passed over A but if the opponents 3♣, the 3♣ bid became legal told you politely that you and the bidding progressed RULES SIMPLIFIED had erred, that seems fine. from there. North, for exam- (otherwise known as the Yellow Book) The game runs better when ple, could now bid 3♦, or any people follow the rules and higher bid. If North, East and by John Rumbelow and only the simplest rules about South pass then 3♣ becomes alerting and answering the final contract. ■ revised by David Stevenson £595

E-mail your questions on bridge laws to: Available from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 [email protected]

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 37 Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird The Sheriff’s Ill-Judged Double

he Nottingham Castle weekly dummy’s hearts. He played the ♥A The white-haired Aelfraed Grime led duplicate was in progress. More and ruffed the ♥2 with a high trump. the ♣Q against 4♠ and the Sheriff laid often than not, the Sheriff and On this trick he was delighted to see out a meagre dummy. ‘Don’t mess it TSir Guy of Gisburne took first place West show out. A trump to the king up,’ he said. in this event. They were accomplished allowed him to ruff another low heart ‘My Lord!’ Gisburne exclaimed. ‘Not cardplayers, it was true, but most of with a high trump. He then drew the in front of these commoners.’ the field held back a bit when facing remaining trumps and crossed to Gisburne won the first trick with them. The choice between a couple of the ♣A to throw three losers on the dummy’s ♣A and played a trump to bad results and a night in a damp, rat- ♥K-Q-9. the ace. His spirits sank when West infested dungeon was not a taxing one. ‘Hearts were 5-1, my Lord!’ Gisburne discarded a club. Surely even the Two cooks from the castle kitchen exclaimed triumphantly. Sheriff couldn’t claim that he should eyed each other nervously as they took The Sheriff made no reply, scribbling have diagnosed the trump position their seats at the Sheriff’s table. the result on the scoresheet. and finessed against the queen? ‘Taking two heart ruffs was the only The opening lead in clubs had been way to make it,’ persisted Gisburne. annoying. It had removed the entry Dealer South. E/W Game. ‘If establishing a suit in dummy to a diamond trick on which he could ♠ K 6 is ever worthy of note, I will let you have thrown his heart loser. By the ♥ A K Q 9 7 2 know,’ retorted the Sheriff. ‘The key Saints! What could be done about it? ♦ A 6 to the deal was my Norwich 5NT bid, Gisburne tried his luck with the ♣ A 7 5 asking for two of the three top trump ♦K, but West won with the ace and ♠ 8 7 3 ♠ 4 honours.’ persevered with clubs. With dummy ♥ 3 N ♥ J 10 8 6 4 A few rounds later, Gisburne was in resembling a dead pigeon, Gisburne W E ♦ K Q J 9 4 ♦ 10 8 5 S a heart game: could not avoid the loss of a trick in ♣ Q J 8 3 ♣ K 10 6 4 every suit. He was one down. ♠ A Q J 10 9 5 2 ‘Finesse the jack of trumps, you ♥ 5 Dealer South. Game All. imbecile!’ cried the Sheriff. ♦ 7 3 2 ♠ 9 5 3 Heads turned from the adjacent ♣ 9 2 ♥ 10 5 2 tables in the Castle Main Hall. It ♦ Q 6 5 2 seemed that the unfortunate Gisburne ♣ A 5 4 was in the firing line again. West North East South ♠ Void ♠ Q 10 8 ‘If the finesse loses to the queen, my Wilfrid The Udolf Guy of ♥ Q 9 7 3 N ♥ J 8 6 trump nine will be an entry for your W E Perkins Sheriff Gumme Gisburne ♦ A 10 9 8 ♦ J 7 4 3 S diamond trick,’ continued the Sheriff. 3♠ ♣ Q J 10 9 3 ♣ K 8 6 ‘You really are quite thick-headed at Pass 5NT Pass 7♠ ♠ A K J 7 6 4 2 times.’ All Pass ♥ A K 4 ‘You would have me make such ♦ K a play at matchpoints?’ Gisburne What on earth did 5NT mean, ♣ 7 2 queried. ‘If trumps were 2-1, I was cold wondered Wilfrid Perkins. Still, best for an overtrick.’ not to speak out of turn against the ‘You think one down will give us a present opponents. There would be West North East South good matchpoint score?’ retorted the plenty of men happy to take his place Aelfraed The Corliss Guy of Sheriff. in the kitchen. Grime Sheriff Grime Gisburne Aelfraed Grime surveyed the scene Gisburne won the ♦K lead with the 1♠ with a worried look. It was well-known ace and saw that the slam could be Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ that the Sheriff did not take kindly to made by scoring just four tricks from All Pass those who scored a good board against

Page 38 BRIDGE June 2015 Robin Hood continued The Sheriff, who had every chance on the diamonds. After the queen, ace of scoring two diamonds and two and king of clubs, Coatts led another trumps, was quick to double the spade diamond from dummy. The Sheriff game. If Gisburne made some foolish discarded a heart and declarer ruffed him. ‘I’m sure Sir Guy didn’t mean to opening lead that allowed declarer with a low trump. The king and ace of play it so badly, my Lord,’ he declared. to discard diamond losers from his hearts left him in dummy with these ‘If the ace of trumps was played hand, he would feel the sharp end of cards still to be played: mistakenly, instead of the jack, then his tongue. perhaps it is not too late to correct Gisburne led the ♦7 and Hayley laid the play and score the game as being out his cards. ‘Three trumps for you ♠ 9 5 made.’ and some top cards,’ he observed. ‘I ♥ 8 The Sheriff, who had already entered assume you weren’t expecting ...’ ♦ J a 620 onto the scoresheet, reached for ‘Be silent!’ commanded Gisburne. ♣ — the next board. ‘Do you think his Lordship and I are ♠ — ♠ Q J 10 ‘No, no, the man must learn his interested in your foolish witterings?’ ♥ J N ♥ Q W E ♦ ♦ lesson,’ he said. Hayley raised a bushy eyebrow. Q 10 S — The last round of the event saw Goodness me, they were a rude bunch ♣ 9 ♣ — the Sheriff facing two well-dressed here in Nottingham. The games were ♠ K 7 6 strangers. much more convivial back in York, ♥ 7 ‘Do we know you?’ demanded wherever you chose to play. ♦ — Gisburne. The Sheriff won with the ♦K and ♣ — ‘We hale from York,’ replied Reuben continued smartly with the ♦A. He Coatts, the older of the two. ‘Bought a was not in the least amused when this few horses at today’s fair here. Nothing card was ruffed by the declarer. ‘You ‘Jack of diamonds, please,’ said Reuben special on offer but the prices were had six of them?’ he exclaimed, glaring Coatts. low.’ across the table. The Sheriff had no counter. He ruffed ‘You don’t see fit to greet my Lord ‘It’s what I was dealt, my Lord,’ with the ♠10 but declarer then discard- Sheriff?’ persisted Gisburne. Gisburne protested. ed his heart loser. ‘You make one more ‘We’d no idea who you were,’ said When a trump was played to the trump,’ he said. ‘The game is mine.’ Arthur Hayley. ‘Greetings, anyway.’ ace, West showed out. Many declarers ‘Six diamonds the man held!’ the Gisburne’s mouth fell open. Such would assume that there were still two Sheriff exclaimed. ‘How can anyone insolence was unheard of. He glanced trumps and a heart to lose. Reuben win with such a partner?’ at the Sheriff to see if some punitive Coatts, a strong cardplayer, had other ‘Very difficult, I agree,’ replied action was in order, but the Sheriff ideas. He intended to ruff diamonds Arthur Hayley, returning the was busy sorting his cards. Perhaps he in his hand, but it was essential to scoresheet to the board. ‘Still your should let the matter rest. cash his three club winners first, to double cost nothing, my Lord. No-one This was the deal before them: prevent the Sheriff discarding a club else managed to make it.’ ■

Dealer North. N/S Game. ♠ A 9 5 ♥ A 8 5 ♦ J 9 6 3 ♣ A K 7 ♠ Void ♠ Q J 10 8 ♥ J 10 3 N ♥ Q 9 6 2 W E ♦ Q 10 8 7 5 4 ♦ A K S ♣ 9 8 4 3 ♣ J 10 2 ♠ K 7 6 4 3 2 ♥ K 7 4 ♦ 2 ♣ Q 6 5

West North East South Guy of Arthur The Reuben Gisburne Hayley Sheriff Coatts 1NT Pass 4♠ Pass Pass Dbl All Pass

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 39 Conventions Part 6 with Jeremy Dhondy

Defending Against 1NT: Double and so on

ost articles on defend- and you will need to know when to You might beat 1NT doubled but the ing against a 1NT opening double, when to bid and whether it odds are that you won’t and you have concentrate on what vari- is different if they use some sort of a six-card suit so should remove the Mous two level bids mean. Do you play wriggle to get out of 1NT. In an earlier 1NT doubled to 2♥. This shows a weak Landy, Asptro or natural? When your article in this series (BRIDGE 146), hand and at least a five card suit. opponents open 1NT (12-14 HCP), I talked about escaping from 1NT If the auction starts: they take up space and make your life doubled. The success of doing this harder. Of course, it makes sense to depends on the opponents finding West North East South play some sort of defence to 1NT so a fit, but also, sometimes, on the 1NT you can get into the auction, but you opponents having no clear idea what Dbl Pass 2♥ Pass should also recognise that there are to do. ? downsides to a weak no-trump. One You should know what you will of those is that a penalty is risked, but or won’t double a weak no-trump Partner will normally leave this unless to maximise your chances you have to opening on. I recommend a minimum he has a very good suit of his own and/ know not only when to double 1NT, of 15 HCPs. I might pass some 15 or quite a lot more than his minimum but to know what continuations mean. counts with no clear lead or if we are double. If partner removes it, what sort of vulnerable, but the risk of this is that If, on the other hand, you have: hand has he got? If he doubles the op- partner may also pass and we miss ponent’s removal of 1NT to a suit, is it game. If you are in the fourth seat for penalties or take-out? after: ♠ 7 5 By the end of this article you should N ♥ K Q 8 6 4 know how you and your favourite West North East South W E ♦ K 8 4 S partner will maximise your chances 1NT Pass Pass ♣ 6 5 4 of taking a penalty against a weak no- ? trump and also how to cope when they use their pet escape mechanism to seek You might shade it slightly (perhaps Your side will have the balance of the not only to get to a better contract, but 14 points), but remember you won’t points and you are not clear whether also to confuse! be on lead and partner will, of course, game will make, so you should leave find the worst lead. Personally, I play a 1NT doubled to show partner you When to double a 1NT opening double in fourth seat as also being 15+. have some values. If the opponents remove it and you then bid hearts, Suppose your right hand opponent Partner doubles 1NT partner will know you have some opens 1NT and you hold: and RHO passes values (or you would have removed it out of weakness earlier). Suppose your partner has doubled Perhaps you have a small nightmare, ♠ K Q J 10 8 6 1NT. What do you do if the next hand holding something like: ♥ A 7 2 N passes? When should you remove the ♦ K Q 5 W E double? Suppose you hold: S ♣ 8 ♠ 7 6 5 2 N ♥ J 4 2 ♠ 7 5 W E ♦ 9 7 5 S ♥ ♣ It is easy to double. Importantly you N J 9 6 5 4 3 10 4 2 have a good lead. If they stand it, then W E ♦ Q 4 3 a penalty is very likely but, of course, S ♣ 7 4 some of the time they will remove it Now you are a bit stuck. It is possible

Page 40 BRIDGE June 2015 Defending Against 1NT continued This time it is an easy ♥2 bid. Not You need to be prepared. If you were many values but a decent suit. going to pass, you should pass anyway. An awkward hand is: If you were going to make a weak take- out, you should do it anyway. Change that your opponents have game on, your methods as little as possible. but removing 1NT doubled could be ♠ K J 7 4 The auction: catastrophic. You may not find a fit N ♥ K 7 5 3 and you will be a level higher. You may W E ♦ 9 3 West North East South S take the view that losing 280 or 380, if ♣ 8 5 2 1NT they make it with an overtrick or two, Dbl Pass 2♥ is your cheapest option or possibly you may gamble and hope your opponents You have enough to compete, you have is the same as the more convoluted don’t know what they are doing and no reason to double for penalties and one: let you off the hook. You will probably you don’t want to guess which suit take the vulnerability into account to bid. One way round this problem West North East South when coming to your decision: if you is to play a pass as forcing. It doesn’t 1NT are vulnerable and they are not, I necessarily show a great hand but Dbl Pass1 Pass Rdbl would stand it and pray that partner it does require partner to bid again. Pass 2♣ 2♥ has a good suit and may somehow Typically it is only forcing (for one 1Forcing partner to redouble come to seven tricks with little help round) if they remove 1NT doubled to from me. 2♣ or 2♦. You can play it higher than except perhaps that you haven’t shown this, but it becomes a bit risky because a good six-card suit because you might Partner doubles 1NT one day you will hold: have bid it on the second round. and RHO runs to a suit Sometimes an opponent may redouble as the start of a rescue Let’s suppose that the opponents run ♠ J 7 5 4 mechanism, so if the sequence is: from 1NT doubled. First, they may N ♥ 9 8 3 simply bid a suit naturally and you W E ♦ 6 4 2 West North East South S now need to decide what to do. ♣ J 5 3 1NT Dbl Rdbl ? West North East South 1NT You can pass 2♦ and partner will now the redouble is likely to be asking Dbl 2♦ ? need to either double for penalties in partner to bid 2♣ so responder can which case you will remove it to 2♠ then show his hand. If you double 2♦, are you sure whether and hope; or partner will bid a suit, Again, you should just do what it is for take-out or for penalties? It’s in which case he will have at least five you were going to do anyway. The a key decision. Let’s assume it is for cards and you will pass and hope. You advantage of this is that, when there penalties as this is the most common might even pass the double if it comes are lots of redoubles or passes forcing a treatment. round and hope it goes down. If it redouble flying around, you will know You hold: doesn’t, at least you haven’t doubled what you are doing and not become them into game. flustered by it all. When they eventually remove 1NT ♠ 5 4 3 Partner doubles 1NT and doubled, you can continue exactly as N ♥ K 7 5 RHO uses rescue methods you would have done before. Part of W E ♦ Q J 9 8 the merit of playing the rescue systems S ♣ Q 7 5 If your opponents have read a is that they confuse players. Not you previous article in this series, and though! even if they haven’t, they may play a Sometimes your opponent will It is an easy double. You have good rescue mechanism after the auction remove 1NT doubled even if he has no trumps and not necessarily enough has started 1NT-Dbl. If they do, then clever methods nor any good place to for game. the best thing is to ignore it as far as play. It is common knowledge that if If you hold: possible. For example, if the auction an opponent has something like: goes:

♠ 5 4 3 West North East South ♠ Q 10 5 4

N ♥ Q J 10 7 4 1NT ♥ J 9 6 4 W E ♦ 8 6 Dbl Pass1 ? ♦ 4 2 S ♣ Q 7 5 1Forcing partner to redouble so a five-card ♣ 8 5 3 suit can then be shown by the responder.

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 41 Defending Against 1NT continued Beginners’ Bridge Corner he may try 2♣ and if – and Mary’s Eighteenth Lesson when – it is doubled, then redouble to get partner to choose another suit. You Responding to Strong 2♣ Opening should treat the 2♣ bid as natural until you know oth- erwise. If they do redouble by Liz Dale to try another suit then all doubles from your side are for penalties and you should n opening bid of also agree that, if you have 2♣ is an artificial Hand 1 Hand 3 doubled 2♣, then the auc- ‘A bid showing 23+ 8+ points: 0-7 points: tion can’t end until either points and cannot be Positive response. Negative response. you are playing a contract or passed out until at least ♠ A J 9 ♠ Q 7 6 4 3 they are doubled in one. ■ a game bid is reached,’ ♥ 9 8 6 5 4 N ♥ 9 6 N W E W E Alasdair said. ‘It rarely ♦ Q J 3 S ♦ 8 5 4 S means clubs. The responses ♣ J 10 ♣ Q 7 5 Summary to 2♣ aren’t the easiest (9pts) Bid 2♥ (4pts) Bid 2♦ l If partner doubles 1NT of bids, but being a good and the next hand partner, you have to learn passes, then only remove it if you are them so that you do not Opener can now revalue The first bid is still 2♦ nega- weak and also have disrupt what could be his hand and with a tive, but the second is a nat- some distribution. partner’s best hand in a natural bid investigate ural 2♠, showing 4-7 points l If they remove 1NT long time. If the opposition the best contract. with 5+ spades. Opener doubled naturally, interfere it’s an annoyance. ‘The partnership can revalue his hand before then double is for If you play havoc by know there is a strong investigating further. penalties and bids are natural and passing and leaving opener possibility of a slam. ‘Yes it is a lot to take in,’ weak. A pass of 2♣ in 2♣, or giving the wrong Alasdair said, distributing or 2♦ is forcing on information, you won’t keep the set hands ready for partner to make a your partners very long. Hand 2 play. ‘The responses aren’t call, but it doesn’t show a particularly ‘Opener is asking is there 0-7 points: easy because they don’t strong hand. a possibility of a slam? His Negative response. come up every session. ♠ 7 6 4 3 l If they play a rescue partner’s first obligatory Learn them and you will be mechanism over 1NT response bid gives opener ♥ 9 6 5 N in demand as a partner. W E doubled, then try a specific point count. ♦ Q 4 S Opener is excited. He may not to let it change Either a 2♦ bid showing 0-7 ♣ 9 7 5 4 have picked up the most your system. points, or any other natural (2pts) Bid 2♦ exciting hand he’s had all l If opponents remove bid showing 8+ points. year so he knows you won’t 1NT doubled and Responder puts opener have many points. Opener you double for penalties, then the firmly back where he wants 2♦ is a negative response is asking you not to stop auction cannot end to be, in the driving seat. – keeping the bidding bidding until the partnership until either you ‘A second negative open until a game has at least reached game play a contract or is 2NT – responder is contract is reached. and to be as specific as they are playing in one doubled. showing specifically ‘This allows opener a you can with point count, 0-3 points. A natural rebid. Let’s say opener so that the partnership can l One weakness of the weak no-trump second bid by responder now rebids 2♥. reach the best contract.’ is that it (or the in their longest suit ‘In Hand 2, responder’s Joan nudged Mary, ‘We rescue attempt) shows 4-7 points. second bid is 2NT. This is a can practise some bidding sometimes goes for ‘In each of these example second negative showing tomorrow afternoon.’ Yes, sizeable penalties, so maximise your hands, the bidding starts: 0-3 points. Opener thought Mary, that will give chance of taking that now knows a lot more me time to go over the penalty. That will help West North East South about partner’s hand basics when David is in make up for the times Pass Pass 2♣ Pass and can revalue his own bed. Liam and Anne are when you are kept out of the auction. ? hand for his next bid. out again tonight. ■

Page 42 BRIDGE June 2015 in advance and having to by Anne tells it all. Good live through news of all luck to Bernard for his READERS’ the problems in the Mid- next twenty-five cruises. dle East, the cruise couldn’t John and Anne Briscoe, have been calmer. Not a Windsor, Berks. pirate in sight! A superb ship and even better food, first BERNARD’S LETTERS class service and wonder- 75TH CRUISE ful company, it is difficult to We left behind the A GOOD EXAMPLE hotbed for Bridge, having six imagine how the cruise could rain and clouds Richard Wheen, the bridge clubs including one have been bettered. Even And set off for the sun. chairman of Buckland Bridge for beginners and another the bridge, with well over 100 We knew without the Club since its inception in for improvers – and plenty players, was superbly organ- slightest doubt 2012, has also a reputation of classes too. The oldest ised, as were the numerous This holiday would be fun. as a bridge teacher. His club – The Morpeth Golf Club seminars during sea days. classes, which have been Bridge Club – is celebrating My only disappointment was The journey had its running now for three years, its 70th birthday this year, that we didn’t play better. ups and downs attract students to Buckland with a party and bridge. The highlight was, of We dreaded a disaster from all over Surrey. Indeed, it predates Acol and course, Petra which needs But Sheila cheered The club itself is the modern EBU-ruled world to be seen to be believed. us on our way thriving as a result of his and is staunchly independent. This was our first bridge To make the time go faster. students graduating to The founders invented a cruise and we are now full club membership. quite different bridge event, saving up for the next. The ship is fine, good As a light-hearted addition taking place weekly from Sep- A final round of applause food and wine to one of his highly-prized tember to April, an aggregate for all Bernard’s little helpers, The lectures somewhat teaching handouts, Richard teams match. We currently without whom it would learned. included some bridge-related have 12 teams of four, of all not have been so slick. They’re not a patch limericks he had composed. abilities from beginners up- John and Carolyn Child or even match This sparked the idea wards. At Christmas, on the by email. The ones we’ve had of holding a competition basis of performance, each from Bernard. among the class, the aim team is also given a handicap TOO GOOD TO being to write a bridge- and two parallel BE TRUE The days are related limerick which paid are then run, so begin- I just wish that I had the disappearing fast tribute to their teacher. A ners too can win trophies. words to let you understand And soon we’ll leave the sea. framed version of the entry The scoring is by add- how impressed I am by your We’ll take home voted the winner by the class ing the total for and total wonderful gesture in send- happy memories was presented to Richard against scores and a sys- ing me those two DVDs. At All thanks to B. Magee. and goes as follows: tem then translates the my age, one watches events Bridge is a difficult results into a score of up in the world with growing Bernard’s difficult to rhyme Regardless of how it is taught to 6 points. eg a team can trepidation and then some- Not like Jack or Victor? But with Wheen at the helm win 6-0, 5½-½, 5-1 etc. thing like this happens and Perhaps he could – It can’t overwhelm Indeed, I contacted the you realize that there are still just for a time And we play without EBU thinking that they might good people in the world. Call himself Director. getting too fraught. be interested, but as the club I wasn’t going to admit to John Zetter, is unaffiliated they declined. my club that I had lost the But what’s a name – Brockham, Surrey. Their loss, in my view, two DVDs in question but it’s all the same and no way to encourage now I have no option but to I speak for all I’ve met HAPPENING membership or affiliation. tell people of your kindness. A really splendid holiday UP NORTH Best wishes and thanks Name & address supplied. And one we won’t forget. As regular readers along with for all your endeavours for numerous friends, I thought bridge and bridge payers. IN PRAISE OF So, thank you, Bernard you might be interested in Otto Meth-Cohn by email. BERNARD and your team an item for inclusion in your Anne and I really enjoyed For lots of fun and laughter, monthly magazine, BRIDGE. WORTH THE WAIT our second cruise on the We’ve learned that Morpeth, a small town of Well, what a cruise. Won- Aegean Odyssey which we PATIENCE is the clue, about 30,000 inhabitants dering what would become were privileged to be invited The skill that we should in Northumberland, is a of us after booking a year to join. The enclosed poem master. ■

Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH or e-mail: [email protected]

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 43 Catching Up by Sally Brock

t’s been rather a quiet month by my Bridge-wise, we are still doing well We won by 1,400 or so points. It was normal standards. in the knock-outs. We had our Hubert hard fought, but we generally had the On a personal level, the house is Phillips semi-final match against the upper hand. Itidy and fairly uncluttered but viewers Dhondy team. This was a rather spec- Our Crockfords match was a fairly are few and far between. Briony seems tacular deal: early round. Although we were a few happy with her corporate fund-raising down after the first set, the result was work and is beginning to apply for never in real doubt and in the end we jobs for when her internship finishes Dealer South. Game All. won by 84. This deal could have gone at the end of May. She has got herself a ♠ Void in the other direction: bit of freelance work too, research she ♥ A K Q 7 6 3 can do from home. ♦ A 9 As a family, we’ve been having a ♣ A K Q J 5 Dealer North. East/West Game. rather sad time as my father’s remain- ♠ J 10 7 5 4 ing sibling, who at 91 had only her ♥ Void daily walk down to eight miles recent- You (North) pick up this hand and ♦ A 9 5 2 ly, became ill and quite quickly died. I view it with great enthusiasm. But that ♣ 10 8 7 2 guess it’s probably the best way to go is not destined to last for long. Partner ♠ A K 8 3 ♠ Q 9 2 ♥ A Q J 8 6 2 N ♥ 10 9 3 from her point of view, but it’s come as deals and opens four spades. What do W E a bit of a shock for the rest of us. you bid now? There are various possi- ♦ 7 6 S ♦ K Q J 8 4 3 My old friend from Yorkshire, Giles bilities, but the only successful one is ♣ 5 ♣ 3 Foster, also died in this period. We’ve to pass. This is the full deal: ♠ 6 lost touch a bit recently but when I was ♥ K 7 5 4 married to , in the eight- ♦ 10 ies, we often went on canal holidays Dealer South. Game All. ♣ A K Q J 9 6 4 with Giles and his wife. I went to York- ♠ Void shire for the funeral and also managed ♥ A K Q 7 6 3 to catch up with some old friends. ♦ A 9 West North East South Toby came home on a flying visit ♣ A K Q J 5 2♦ Pass 3♣ which was a treat for us. He seems to ♠ K 9 8 3 ♠ A 7 3♥ 4♣ 4♥ 5♣ ♥ 9 8 N ♥ J 10 5 4 2 Dbl All Pass be working very hard. We have all our W E fingers and toes crossed that he might ♦ Q 7 3 2 S ♦ 6 get a really good degree. What hap- ♣ 10 4 2 ♣ 9 8 7 6 3 We play a . First pens next has been the subject of a lot ♠ Q J 10 6 5 4 2 in hand at favourable vulnerability it is of conversations, though. Maybe he’ll ♥ Void usually only a five-card suit and can be stay on and do a Masters. ♦ K J 10 8 5 4 a truly dreadful hand. My three clubs For several years now, I have worked ♣ Void was forcing with either clubs or hearts mainly on a desktop Mac, with a large and the rest of the bidding was self- laptop that I carry around with me explanatory. West led a top spade and when I go away. However, it is jolly At both tables, eventually (and it took switched to a diamond, so I made 12 heavy, and I have been finding that I a long, long time) the bid found was tricks on a complete cross-ruff. am more and more choosing to work five spades, asking about trump qual- In the other room, the stakes were at the dining room table on my laptop, ity. Against us, South raised to six higher as their team was pushed into rather than in my office on the desk- spades (in my view, a serious error of a slam, again doubled. This time West top. So I decided to get rid of the desk- judgement as surely North would have led a diamond which declarer won top and buy a tiny (11inch) MacBook bid slam himself if he had a top hon- with the ace and played a spade. West Air to take around with me. I am lov- our) and went two down. Our South won and switched to a trump and de- ing it. It is so light I can just put it in was wiser, but took his eye off the ball clarer needs to be more careful. He my bag and have it with me whenever in the play and also went two down. needs to win in dummy and ruff a I want. Any votes for pass? spade. With spades breaking 4-3 he

Page 44 BRIDGE June 2015 Catching Up continued Dealer South. Game All. ♠ 9 3 2 ♥ A J 8 5 can set up the fifth card in ♦ A J 7 4 the suit for a heart discard ♣ J 3 to land his slam. Luckily ♠ 10 6 ♠ J 8 7 5 4 N for us, he mistimed the play ♥ K 6 2 W E ♥ 9 4 3 and so we gained 13 IMPs ♦ K 3 S ♦ Q 6 2 instead of losing 13. ♣ K Q 10 7 6 4 ♣ 9 2 Otherwise, I spent one ♠ A K Q Saturday helping Alan Shil- ♥ Q 10 7 litoe with a junior training ♦ 10 9 8 5 weekend. I had made up a ♣ A 8 5 set of problem boards where some problems were for de- clarer and some for the de- West North East South fence. It is quite difficult to 1♦ do this well and easy enough 2♣ Dbl Pass 2NT to make errors, particularly Pass 3NT All Pass because you want to give everyone the same oppor- West led the king of clubs, tunities to shine. I was a bit East playing the nine. I nervous that I had not got ducked but won the club the standard right. How- continuation (E/W were ever, in the end they seemed playing standard count to go down well, though the signals). I then played the juniors made a lot of points queen of hearts, covered by that I had overlooked. the king and ace. I came The following day, we de- back to the ten of hearts and fended our title in the Port- played a diamond to the land Pairs (National Mixed seven. I won the spade re- Pairs Championship). The turn, took another diamond trouble with defending your finesse and made eleven title is that the only way is tricks. down. Maybe the whole day We played the board fairly hinged on what we did on late on and at the time, in the first board. Our oppo- Richmond, we had scored nents bid a good 6♦ after a 100%. It seemed a bit unlike- barrage by us in spades. De- ly but I guess some people clarer revoked. We did call ducked two clubs and held the director, but in the end themselves to ten tricks. It decided to let it go, so she would have been better de- made an overtrick when we fence for West to have gone could have insisted it went in with the king of diamonds one down. We decided we on the first round of the suit. did not want to win like What do I do now? If West that, against a nervous op- has the queen of diamonds ponent. It turned out to be I must run for home, set- our worst board of the day. tling for nine tricks; only if We had a reasonable 58% East has it can I make eleven first session with nearly all by knocking it out now, but our boards above average, that seems too dangerous. I but no real gifts. The second would probably have made session did not go well and just nine tricks. we ended up a mediocre Things are beginning 79th. Our best board of the to heat up: tomorrow we second session was the fol- catch a 9.45 flight to Shang- lowing: hai ... ■

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 45 Seven Days by Sally Brock

Monday/Tuesday Wednesday the ace of spades dropping the king. The play is more interesting on an We have chosen to save ourselves After breakfast (the Chinese have very initial heart lead. Most declarers won £200 each by flying to Shanghai via interesting breakfasts, but I am not so and played a club. But now West can Paris rather than direct. So first it’s a adventurous in the morning and stick (and several did) rise with the ace, short hop, before we settle down to the to cereal and toast), we run into the cash two hearts and exit with the king main course. I seem to have done well taxi problem again. However, the ho- of spades, thus ensuring a trick for the choosing our seats, as we have the ones tel is prepared to help out and take us king of diamonds at the end. In order at the very front with lots of leg room. in their minibus for a mere 200RMB to succeed after a heart lead, declarer The flight seems endless, of course, every day (it’s about 30 in a taxi, but has to play trumps before playing a though is actually ‘only’ about eleven peace of mind counts for a lot). Our club. Now West has no safe exit after and a half hours. I spend most of the first match is against a Chinese team. taking his heart winners. time working on my new little laptop. There are a few swings in each direc- The venue, the Dongjiao State Guest As well as being so small and light, it tion and we end up the winners by 14 House, is quite an amazing place. It also has a long battery life. I work on VPs. Little do we know that this is to has a beautiful garden with lots of preparing the Hands of the Month be the high spot of the day. We play streams, lakes and bridges into which for our ProBridge website (www.pro- pretty badly and team-mates certainly are set a number of buildings: ho- bridge.co.uk). It is a good feature, and do not do enough to carry us. tel, conference centre, fitness centre completely free, so do go and have a This is an interesting deal: (where the bridge is played), villas etc. look at it. We went for a walk when we were sit- We land in Shanghai at about eight ting out and watched the water: lots of in the morning, collect our bags and Dealer West. Love All. fish and even some turtles. are met by the tournament organis- ♠ 5 2 After the bridge we get a taxi back ers and taken in a car to our hotel. We ♥ 8 5 4 3 to our hotel and go out for dinner at a have opted to stay in a Holiday Inn Ex- ♦ 10 5 4 nearby posh restaurant. When in Bei- press at about a third of the price of the ♣ K 7 6 5 jing, there were lots of Western faces tournament hotel. ♠ K ♠ 10 9 6 and generally people seem to speak at ♥ K J 6 2 N ♥ Q 7 We check in, have a cup of coffee W E least a little English. Here, all the faces with Heather, wait for Binkie who has ♦ 9 7 6 3 S ♦ K J 8 2 are Chinese and often no English is arrived via a couple of Middle East ♣ A Q 3 2 ♣ J 10 9 8 spoken. The food is good, much more stopovers without his luggage. Then ♠ A Q J 8 7 4 3 expensive than our cheapie lunch, but it’s time for lunch at a truly authentic ♥ A 10 9 still we eat well with plenty of beer for Chinese canteen-type eatery. Commu- ♦ A Q less than £20 a head. nication is difficult, but luckily a help- ♣ 4 ful customer speaks English. We have a huge bowl of soup each, full of noodles Thursday and a large piece of indeterminate meat At our table, Barry (West) opens an Today is another day and we must which is delicious, also dumplings and off-shape weak no-trump and after two hope for better things. At least the spring rolls – all for just over £10. Of passes South bids four spades. I think weather has improved. I thought it course, we have hugely over-ordered there is quite a strong case for leading would be warm and sunny, but so far and leave at least half of it. After that it’s aggressively on this type of sequence it has been cold and wet. The only re- a couple of hours’ sleep before setting as dummy figures to be quite weak, so motely warm garment I brought is a off to the playing venue for the open- leading passively may pick up partner’s hoodie I travelled in which so far has ing ceremony. We run into a problem honours, while if you lead aggressively been rather overused. we have had before in China: getting and find him at home at least you will We sit out the first set and they have a taxi in the rush hour. The hotel says achieve something. Anyway, Barry an excellent set without us. So we let it is too difficult for them to order one chooses to lead a diamond which de- them get on with it in the next, which for us, so we stand on the street and do clarer wins with the queen and leads a results in a virtual draw. After lunch manage to hail one, but arrive a little club. Barry wins the ace and continues we play and for a change play well. late. We meet up with old friends and diamonds. Declarer exits with a low After two good wins we are back in have a good dinner before getting a heart, then wins the heart return and contention for a qualifying place. The taxi back to our hotel, and finally meet continues the suit. With nothing but top eight qualify and go into a knock- up with our other team-mates, Mike trumps left declarer has to ruff the re- out where they have two lives, while Bell and Michael Byrne. turn and has no option but to lay down the next eight also qualify but only

Page 46 BRIDGE June 2015 Seven Days continued sit out the second half and it does not though we are third in our section, we go well, and we eventually lose by 30 are actually negative. Still, we hope we IMPs. are a team of destiny and will move on That means we join the Consolation to do great things in future sessions. have one life. We are comfortable for Swiss. This is no mean event. Our first After the session we get a taxi back the second eight and have great hopes match is against a very strong young near our hotel and then go on the for the first, but it was not to be. An American team and we fail again. Then look-out for somewhere to eat. We are 800 penalty in some other match sees we play a strong Indonesian outfit who a bit later than usual and many places us nudged out into ninth place. How- are also too strong for us. are closed. In the end, we find a Chi- ever, we are a whole lot happier than In the evening, we take a taxi to a nese barbecue place and order them to we were yesterday. nearby huge new shopping/restaurant bring us meat which they cook in front complex to look for dinner. This is of us. It is all pretty good, but perhaps very new and quite a few of the lots are not quite enough. Later, we adjourn to Friday vacant. The first few places we try are our room and make a dent in our wine The Michaels have not slept well so busy there is no room for us and we and chocolate stocks. (though generally we have all coped don’t fancy queuing. So we cross the well with jetlag) so sit out the first set road and try again. We go up in a lift of our knock-out match against India. to investigate the second floor and -fi Sunday It is going OK until this board: nally find somewhere where they have Heather and Binkie have not qualified empty tables. It turns out to be a vege- for the pairs semi-final so they have tarian restaurant. They are completely a lie-in, while the rest of us go to the Dealer East. Love All. charming and find an English speaker venue in our usual minibus. In the ♠ Q 7 5 3 to talk to us. We ask them to bring us Pairs semi-final, we need to be in the ♥ A 3 a selection of their best dishes, which top three in our ten-pair group. We ♦ Q 10 they do. All is delicious and we have do OK, but finish fourth, but the Mi- ♣ A 9 7 4 3 plenty to eat for the princely sum of chaels manage to make the final. There ♠ J 2 ♠ K 9 8 4 approximately £7 a head. We also are is a short break and then we are in the ♥ K 9 8 N ♥ 7 W E virtually on top of a metro stop. So we Consolation while the Michaels are in ♦ K 9 7 6 2 S ♦ J 5 4 3 decide to brave the public transport, the main ten-pair final. We have a rea- ♣ K 5 2 ♣ Q 10 8 6 first stopping off at a supermarket to sonable game but when the scores are ♠ A 10 6 buy wine and chocolate. published we are fifth. I decide to check ♥ Q J 10 6 5 4 2 The tickets were 40p each and the the scores and on one hand we beat ♦ A 8 system easy to understand, so we get 2NT by two tricks, but it was scored ♣ J back to our hotel without problem. in the minus column. When it is res- cored we have moved up to third, and so qualify for a US$750 prize. Mean- West North East South Saturday while the Michaels are in the lead, by Pass 1♥ The rest of the Swiss teams passes by quite a lot. We are so hoping they will Pass 1♠ Pass 4♥ in a bit of a haze. We win a match nar- keep it up, and keep it up they do. They Pass 5♣ Pass 5♦ rowly, then lose one narrowly, but the win by a huge margin. US$20,000! Af- Pass 5♥ All Pass last is one where we are terrible in both ter lots of photos and congratulations rooms and lose by the maximum. we all move to the bar where it is their I think I am a bit good to rebid just The pairs is the final event of the round. We then move on to the prize- two hearts over one spade and think tournament. Each team is guaran- giving banquet where we are royally my four heart rebid is just a bit of a teed that two of their pairs can play. feasted with food and drink. All a bit punt with a partial spade fit. Barry We drew straws for this and Barry and worse for wear, we then get taxis back thinks I have more and there we are I lost. So if we only get two pairs, we to our hotel. We finish the last bottle of at the five level. West leads a club, I don’t play. However, whether or not red wine in my room and then the two rise with the ace and ruff a club, then you get a third pair depends on where Michaels go out on the town – to meet the queen of hearts holds, a heart to your team finished in the qualify- up with other friends in a pub where the ace and I ruff another club. Exit- ing round and as we finished ninth they are showing the Manchester City ing with a heart endplays West. Had that should put us in a good position. vs Manchester United football match. he played a diamond now I would have At last the lists are up and we are on So the bridge comes to an end and been OK, but he exited with the jack them. Hurrah! it has been an excellent tournament. of spades, covered by the queen, king Our session seems to go pretty well I do hope we can come again in two and ace. I try ten and another spade, and we are quite hopeful of being in years’ time. Barry and I are staying on but East has a spade to exit with so the the top five (out of ten). Actually our till Thursday and are looking forward diamond loser is inexorable. scores turn out to be worse than we to actually seeing Shanghai in the next At half-time we are 1 IMP down. We thought, and it is nip and tuck. Al- three days. ■

BRIDGE June 2015 Page 47 BERNARD MAGEE TUTORIAL DVDs

1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks 11 Signals & Discards 21 Weak Twos This seminar deals with declarer’s use of This seminar deals with Count, Attitude It is important to bid more in the modern ruffing to make extra tricks and then looks and Suit-preference signals: aiming to get game and weak twos are an important at how the defenders might counteract you working as a partnership in defence. choice for the competitive player. (104 mins.) this. (74 mins.) (92 mins.) 22 Trump Control 2 Competitive Auctions 12 Endplay Handling the play of the hand when This seminar focuses on competitive Bernard takes you through the basics of trumps break badly is an important attrib- auctions from the perspective of the endplays before showing some hands ute: playing calmly and using a variety of overcalling side and then from the opening where you can take extra tricks, then looks tactics to pave the way to success. (76 mins.) side in the second part. (86 mins.) at how to avoid being endplayed. (80 mins.) 23 Sacrificing 3 Making the Most of High Cards 13 Hand Evaluation An exciting aspect of the auction is outbid- This seminar helps declarer to use his high Going beyond just the point-count is ding your opponents and going down, but cards more carefully and then looks at important. Reaching & making 3NT on 24 gaining by doing so. Learn to bid more how defenders should care for their high HCP; and avoiding 3NT on 26 HCP when aggressively. (105 mins.) cards. (83 mins.) there are only 7 or 8 tricks. (110 mins.) 24 Improving Bridge Memory 4 Identifying & Bidding Slams 14 Pre-Emptive Bidding Remembering every card is a dream for The first half of this seminar identifies The art of pre-empting is so important most of us. However, learn ways in which to when a slam might be on. The second in the modern game. Understanding the remember the important things. (90 mins.) half covers some slam-bidding techniques. right hands to bid up on and realising the (96 mins.) importance of position and vulnerability. 25 Defence as Partner (96 mins.) of the Leader 5 Play & Defence of 1NT Contracts Defence is the hardest aspect of the game, This seminar looks at the most common 15 Splinter & Cue Bids it is where most players can make great and yet most feared of contracts: 1NT. Splinter bids are a vital tool to add to your progress. (104 mins.) The first half looks at declaring 1NT and slam bidding armoury & try your hand at the second part at defending. (88 mins.) Italian style cue bidding. (116 mins.) 26 Aggressive Bidding at Duplicate Pairs 6 Doubling & Defence against 16 Years ago, you needed 13 HCP to open Doubled Contracts As declarer, an important tactic is to be the bidding and rarely competed for a The first half of this seminar explores in control of the defenders: avoiding a partscore. Now the norm is to open lighter penalty doubles and the second half particular defender getting the lead. As and compete for every hand. (114 mins.) discusses the defence against doubled a defender, you can try to make sure the contracts. (88 mins.) right player gets the lead. (88 mins.) 27 Strong Opening Bids Managing your strong bids carefully can 7 Leads 17 Play & Defence at Pairs give you great joy, particularly when you Bernard takes you through the basic leads Duplicate Pairs is the game most of us have a neat bidding sequence to a lovely and the importance of your lead choice. play and getting used to the tactics will slam. (122 mins.) If you start to think about your partner’s make a lot of difference to your perfor- hand, you will get better results. (95 mins.) mance. (90 mins.) 28 Take-Out Doubles Bernard deals with basic take-out doubles 8 Losing Trick Count 18 Thinking Defence and their responses, then progresses to talk A way of hand evaluation for when you By far the hardest aspect of bridge, but if about competing for every partscore. (99 mins.) find a fit. Bernard deals with the basics of you can improve your defence your results the LTC then looks at advanced methods to will quickly improve. Learn how to think 29 Suit Establishment hone your bidding. (92 mins.) through the defence. (87 mins.) in Suit Contracts 5-card suits (and longer) are powerful things: 9 Making a Plan as Declarer 19 Defensive Plan Bernard tries to get across his passion for Bernard explains how to make a plan Looking at your own hand, then at dummy them by showing you how to develop your then expands on how to make the most and envisaging how partner’s hand will extra tricks through establishment. (81 mins.) of your long suits, both in no-trumps and allow you to make a plan for the defence. suit contracts. (87 mins.) (112 mins.) 30 Landy / Defending Against a 1NT Opening 10 Responding to 1NT 20 Further Into the Auction Competing against a 1NT opening allows This seminar deals with Transfers and The first two bids of an auction are usually you to challenge for the partscore and Stayman in detail. The 1NT opening comes easy, but beyond that the complications disrupts your opponents’ conventions. up frequently, so having a good, accurate increase. Learn how to ‘talk’ to your part- Bernard talks about competing over 1NT in system of responses is paramount. (93 mins.) ner during the bidding. (95 mins.) general and then about Landy. (85 mins.)

£25 EACH. PICK AND MIX. A BOX OF ANY 6. £105

Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 On-line shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop