Qour Bidding

Cadiz, Spain

Minerva Exceptional cruise offer aboardMinerva

Travel in country-house style aboard Minerva with around 320 like-minded passengers and dine in the restaurant of your choice. Be assured of excellent value for money, including all tips on board and ashore as well as an inclusive tailor-made excursion programme. All passengers who have booked and registered through will be eligible to partake in the late afternoon bridge sessions, held on days when the ship is at sea. There is no bridge supplement as, like most of the excursions, it is included in the price. Mr Bridge actively encourages singles to join the party and they will always be found a partner for a game.

SouTh To The MediTerranean eXCLuSiVe 15 dayS deParTing 1 auguST 2012 Mr Bridge Inside from £1,495pp FareS Single Inside from £1,995pp

Green Spain, the ‘golden’ River Douro, the Moorish Alhambra Palace, the gem of Portsmouth the naval port of Cartagena and a quartet of Mediterranean islands lie in wait as England St Peter Port Minerva sails south to the Mediterranean. your guest speakers include: Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe – archaeology of the Mediterranean

La Coruña Professor ian Beckett – military history dr Philip de Souza – ancient history Oporto inclusive shore excursions: Palma Cagliari Santiago de Compostela, Oporto city tour and port tasting, Jerez and sherry tasting, Cadiz Trapani Cartagena walk, full day Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens, Cartagena walk and Roman theatre, Murcia, Nora, Cagliari town walk, Segesta Greek site, Selinunte Acropolis, Valletta town Cadiz walk, Malta island drive. Malaga Valletta Malta Complimentary airport coach transfers from London to Portsmouth at the start of your cruise.

Twin fare shown is per person, sharing a category 12 inside cabin. Single fare shown is based on sole occupany of a category 12 cabin. All fares include all fuel supplements (correct at time of printing but subject to change). Offers apply to new bookings only, are capacity controlled, subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Fares shown include all applicable discounts are subject to change and are not combinable with any other offer. Booking terms and conditions apply. All fares shown are guarantee fares - cabin number will be allocated approximately 3 weeks prior to departure. Travel insurance not included. Swan Hellenic is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Limited ABTA W0392 ATOL 3897. Only bookings made directly with Mr Bridge guarantee participation in the onboard Mr Bridge programme, subject to availability.

To book or request a brochure call 01483 489 961 www.bridgecruises.co.uk

SH_BR108_swan_A4 (ad1).indd 1 04/07/2011 09:51:32 FEATURES ADVERTISEMENTS

4 Mr Bridge 2 Summer 2012 on board mv Minerva Mr Bridge BRIDGE 5 Double Dummy Quiz Publisher and by Richard Wheen 3 Mr Bridge Playing Cards Premium Managing Editor 9 Julian Pottage Mr Bridge Answers Your Questions 5 Voyages to Antiquity Quality Ryden Grange Cruise to Greece Knaphill, Surrey 14 Wendy Wensum 6 Tunisia Cards GU21 2TH 15 Derek Rimington says ( 01483 489961 Don’t Bid Again 7 Mail Order Form After Pre-Empting 8 Voyages of Discovery e-mail: 17 Harold Schogger says 2011 Summer Cruises [email protected] When Holding Up, Use the Rule of Seven 10 Voyages of Discovery website: Winter 2012 Cruises www.mrbridge.co.uk 21 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee 11 Bridge Event Associate Editor Booking Form 22 Bidding Quiz Answers Julian Pottage 12 Cut-out Form by Bernard Magee Technical Consultant 16 Bernard Magee’s 23 Defence Quiz Tony Gordon Interactive Software by Julian Pottage Standard Faces 18 Voyages of Discovery Bridge Consultant 24 Defence Quiz Answers 2012 Summer Cruises with or without Bernard Magee by Julian Pottage bar codes. 20 Bridge Weekends 25 Declarer Play Quiz Proof Readers with Bernard Magee Unboxed. Tony Richards by Dave Huggett 22 Bernard Magee’s Danny Roth 26 Declarer Play Answers Begin Bridge – Hugh Williams by David Huggett Acol Version Richard Wheen 27 Lead Quiz 23 Mr Bridge Rubber/ by Andrew Kambites Office Manager Chicago Events Catrina Shackleton 28 Lead Quiz Answers 25 Mr Bridge Christmas by Andrew Kambites Events & Cruises and New Year 29 David Stevenson ( 01483 489961 27 Mr Bridge Tutorial Answers Your Questions Jessica Galt Bridge Breaks Rachel Everett 32 Klinger’s Flippers 33 Stamps Megan Riccio reviewed by Zoe Wright Sandra Landy 34 Charity Bridge Events 6 red / 6 blue £19.95 Clubs & Charities 33 Readers’ Letters 43 Bernard Magee’s Better Hand Evaluation Maggie Axtell 35 Little Voice Used Stamp [email protected] Contributors 44 Global Travel 30 red / 30 blue Insurance only £60 Address Changes 37 The A to Z of Bridge Elizabeth Bryan D by Julian Pottage 47 Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified ( 01483 485342 46 Seven Days Available from by Sally Brock 48 QPlus 10 The London All correspondence should 47 Double Dummy Answer be addressed to Mr Bridge. 48 Voyages to Antiquity Bridge Centre by Richard Wheen Please make sure that all Cruise to the Red Sea letters, e-mails and faxes ( 020 7486 8222 carry full postal addresses and telephone numbers. The views expressed in this publication are not www.bridgeshop.com necessarily those of the publisher or its Managing Editor.

Page 3 RE-REGISTRATION LUXURY VERSION QPLUS NEWS With great reluctance, The luxury version is QPlus version 10 is the I have deliberately and £14.95. Features include leading Acol-playing irrevocably deleted the a built-in ball point pen bridge software program. names and addresses and a soft kidrell cover. For the interest of those of of over 100,000 bridge Choice of colours: ruby you who have QPlus, here is players from my database red, bottle green and another list of hands which so they are no longer sent new for 2012, navy blue. again I do hope you will BRIDGE. If you or your Five for £40 or pro rata. find interesting. Do send friends no longer receive ALL GONE me details of any you have my unique and quite free BRIDGE SUNDRIES come across. I will include All the old tables have now publication, you now need them in the October issue. been cleared. If you have a fresh registration. As I do not offer bridge been disappointed, I am supplies or sundries, I 0001 / 11 4139 / 03 truly sorry. Going forward, GOFF STAMPS list below for readers’ 4139 / 07 9885 / 04 I shall be using metal tables convenience, those 4128 / 02 6625 / 09 with black vinyl tops which companies that do. 3430 / 07 0007 / 02 should last 25 to 30 years. Let them know you heard 9474 / 11 4576 / 08 it from Mr Bridge. My special offer: 1 table 4953 / 06 3212 / 13 and 4 chairs for only London Bridge Centre £100 plus £20 delivery, ( 020 7486 8222 IMPORTANT categorically expires 31 July English Bridge Union The first editions of these 2011. The table price is ( 01296 317200 wonderful products were increased from 1 August made just before 2000, so to £63.50 to reflect the Conventional postage Simon Lucas they are almost antique as last budget increase in will never get cheaper, so ( 01380 829922 buying valid British stamps far as modern IT goes. VAT and a recent rise in A L Fleming below face value must be delivery charges. The boxed ( 01689 891122 Until now, I have supported set of four exclusively a bargain. It also helps every title with every designed chairs reverts to support this magazine. For Chess and Bridge version of Windows, but £199 including delivery, Clive Goff’s unique service, ( 020 7486 8222 from now I am supporting also on 1 August 2011. telephone him on: only Windows XP, Vista ( 020 8422 4906. SUPPORT THE and 7. Nor can I provide RED SEA BRIDGE [email protected] BRAND replacements for discs that have been stolen, scratched, PLEASE HELP ME cracked, misused or have exploded in your computer. In the last issue, I asked In future the charge for a clubs to post in the average replacement disc is £35. age of players at their

sessions. As these are still BUNDLEWARE coming in, publication of a full list will be delayed A number of you took the until the October issue opportunity to buy another as it has taken some piece of Bernard Magee’s clubs a little time to get tutorial software. Some properly organised. If have even completed their As the affairs of the world you still haven’t helped, collection to date. I have move on, little decisions please do so asap. Club Not only are my wonderful extended the expiry date have to be made. So, yes, results received before playing cards the very so that those that missed we are planning a fortnight 31 August will be included best on the market and the offer, see order form, hosted by Bernard Magee in the October issue. the very best value for page 7, now have until 31 in Sharm el-Sheikh, money but they have by July 2011 to take action. Egypt in January. 2012 DIARIES far the jolliest jokers. If you have made a Likewise, a fortnight Ready in August. Standard The increase in the rate of purchase in the past six in February in Tunisia. covers are black, navy, VAT has been absorbed on months or so, do draw it Yes, I know these are light blue, green, red, ivory, these lovely playing cards. to my attention and claim repeats but repeats of maroon and tan. £6.75 each. 12 unboxed packs £19.95, your bundle discount, if established success. Ten for £35 or pro rata. 60 unboxed packs £60. applicable.

Page 4 0862 Mr Bridge Greece ads_Layout 1 30/06/2011 12:35 Page 1 DOUBLE DUMMY by Richard Wheen CRUISES TO CLASSICAL CIVILISATIONS

♠ Void ♥ Void CLASSICAL GREECE ♦ 4 3 2 ♣ A K 2 & THE MAGIC OF SICILY ♠ Void ♠ Void ♥ N ♥ 9 W E Q J 10 ♦ K Q S ♦ Void ♣ 9 8 7 ♣ Q J 10 ♠ Void ♥ A K 3 2 ♦ A ♣ 3

With six tricks remaining, Explore the ancient sites of Greece, the Minoan heritage of Crete, North is on lead in a no- the palaces of Malta and the fascinating history of Sicily. trump contract. How can BOOK NOW FOR SPECIAL FARES North/South make all six NO SINGLE tricks against any defence? SUPPLEMENT Solution on page 47. This journey to classical Greece, Crete, Malta Civitavecchia and Sicily not only offers you the opportunity ITALY to visit some of the greatest sites of antiquity GREECE but also the possibility to enjoy some much COVER STORY Trapani Palermo Athens needed Spring sunshine. The usually good SICILYSyracuse Nauplia weather points to the importance that Monemvasía climate played in the development of the Valle�a Rethimnon Heraklion MALTA great classical civilisations: the short, mild Mediterranean CRETE winters and long, warm summers created Sea the perfect conditions for these remarkable 12-DAY FLY-CRUISE FROM ATHENS TO ROME societies to thrive. DEPARTS MARCH 21, 2012 Cruise in comfort, relax in style HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Visit to the ancient city of Aegean Odyssey is a premium class ship that Mycenae; Minoan Knossos in Crete; the Greek theatre has been especially refitted for cruising in the and fortifications of Syracuse; the Palaces of Malta; Mediterranean. Carrying just 350 passengers, the superbly well-preserved Greek temples of Segesta; the atmosphere on board is relaxed with the Norman Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel in plenty of passenger space, a choice of Palermo and Monreale Cathedral. restaurants (with open-seating dining) and generously-sized accommodations, plus the MR BRIDGE FARES* comfort and attentive service of boutique- Standard Inside £1,495pp Superior Outside from £1,950pp Such was the success of style cruising. Superior Inside from £1,650pp Deluxe Outside from £2,295pp my promotion of Aegean Standard Outside from £1,895pp Deluxe Balcony from £2,950pp NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT Odyssey in the last issue that Mrs Bridge and I FARES INCLUDE: have decided to promote SIGHTSEEING EXCURSIONS AT ALL PORTS EXPERT ANTIQUITY LECTURE PROGRAMME a similar bridge-themed WINE WITH DINNER & GRATUITIES ON BOARD cruise to launch the ship’s EXCLUSIVE MR BRIDGE COCKTAIL PARTIES 2012 season. This really SCHEDULED AIR & TRANSFERS is comfort cruising, with There is a supplement of £30 for those wishing BOOK EARLY – THIS SPECIAL OFFER IS to participate in the duplicate bridge programme SUBJECT TO LIMITED AVAILABILITY none of the big crowds and or learn to play bridge. Singles are made especially queues that are associated welcome and a playing partner will always be found. CALL ON 01483 489 961 with modern floating hotels and holiday camps. The party is restricted to no more than twelve tables. TO 10093 VOYAGES ANTIQUITY Other features included in the price that appeal are ABTA No.Y2206 www.voyagestoantiquity.com local wines with dinner, port excursions, and * Price is per person, single or double occupancy, and includes MR BRIDGE SPECIAL SAVING. scheduled flights out of The bridge programme is completely optional and Mr Bridge passengers can participate as much, or as little as they wish. This offer is subject to availability, is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. Heathrow.

Page 5 INSURANCE CHARITY SUPPORT Mr Bridge Mr Bridge Naturally, I am thrilled by Do support the bridge AT THE the growing success of my events featured on page AT THE 5* club insurance promotion. 34. All are in support ROYAL KENZ Over 400 clubs are now of worthwhile causes. KIROSEIZ covered by a policy that TUNISIA Also, save your used THREE costs less and covers more postage stamps and send than any other of its kind CORNERS, them to: Colin Bamberger, Two-week on offer in the market 179 High Road, Trimley NA’AMA BAY place. The significant half-board St Mary, IP11 0TN. uptake is evidence of this. EGYPT 2012 duplicate This will help my chosen Club committees should A 5* spacious resort hotel charity, Little Voice, whose holidays contact Moore Stephens complex with a friendly ( on 0207 515 5270. work with the young atmosphere situated 3km homeless in Addis Ababa Buoyed up by this from the resort centre of £769* is worthy of your support. success, I am looking Na’ama Bay and a 15 min- into competitive car ute courtesy bus ride from insurance for us reliable BRIDGE WEEKLY the hotel’s private beach. bridge-playing types. The e-mag is now well into its second year and CHRISTMAS & is paid for by sponsorship NEW YEAR and advertising. That’s how it works. Most of you are leaving your bookings later and I can understand some later. At some stage, don’t like the advertising. many are going to be Likewise, with this printed really disappointed. Our magazine which has inserts restricted programme and adverts, but without for the festive season is which, neither can survive. advertised on page 25. Limited it may be, but COMPLAINTS Duplicate Bridge it will take place, as we When on holiday, at home 6-20 November 2011 are not in the business of Bernard Magee Golf available generating disappointed. or abroad, if you have a 15-29 January 2012 complaint, do make it to Tony & Jan Richards from £1099* BRIDGE & GOLF the hotelier at the time, 19 Feb – 4 March 2012 seeking out assistance All inclusive board Golf available Tony and Jan Richards from one of our team if includes: buffet-style break- Bernard Magee will be at the Royal Kenz necessary. It is part of fast, lunch, dinner, snacks Hotel, Port el Kantoui this their job to help make served at selected times *per person half-board sharing coming November. Until your holiday or weekend between meals, ice cream a twin-bedded room and is served in the afternoon and inclusive of bridge fees. Single Tunisian tourism recovers, break a hassle free pleasure. supplement £6 per night. These afternoon tea. An unlim- prices are based on air travel the golf courses will remain It is usually too late to ited amount of hot, soft and from Gatwick to Monastir. delightfully empty and do anything once you alcoholic drinks (excluding Flights from other UK airports are available at a supplement. All the weather in November return, even if you feel you international brands and prices are firm until the end of is just right. Try it. should be entitled to some cocktails) served 10am to October 2011. Prices for seven- midnight. night stays are available on material compensation. application. BRIDGE & TENNIS *per person full-board sharing a twin-bedded room and is inclusive Pay £70 per fortnight per person BRIDGE WITH MAC of bridge fees. Single supplement extra and have a pool-facing Tennis proved a popular £220 per fortnight. These prices are room, tea & coffee making extra activity for some As a service to readers, I based on air travel from Gatwick. facilities, bath robe and a bowl of Flights from Manchester, Newcastle seasonal fruit. of the bridge party with now stock the very latest and East Midlands are available at a supplement. These holidays have been organised Bernard Magee in Sharm version of a Mac bridge play for Mr Bridge by Tunisia First Limited, el Sheikh last winter. This program, Bridge Baron 21, This holiday is arranged in conjunction ATOL 5933, working in association coming January, Roe for only £63. I also offer with Thomas Cook Holidays with Thomas Cook Tour ATOL1179. Operations Limited, ATOL 1179. Bissett will be organising to take a cheque for £36 tennis matches as and when and any piece of old bridge DETAILS & BOOKINGS DETAILS & BOOKINGS required, all in addition to software in part exchange. ( 01483 489961 the full bridge programme. Offer ends 31August 2011. ( 01483 489961

Page 6 MINERVA BACK COVER ✄ At short notice, I have been able to add the back cover Mr Bridge MAIL ORDER cruise due to a cancellation PLAY SOFTWARE by an American group. QPlus 10 £86.00...... The holiday includes a QPlus 9.1 (second hand) £62.00...... There is a Mr Bridge host two-day stay in a five-star Bridge Baron 21 on this ship on all cruises hotel in Jordan at the start, The latest version – Mac compatible £63.00...... until November 2012. then an overnight stay This does not guarantee in Petra before joining TUTORIAL SOFTWARE a duplicate which is the ship and sailing to Begin Bridge – Acol Version £66.00...... dependent on numbers. Safaga. Then an overnight Acol Bidding £66.00...... However, teams or a rubber excursion to Luxor and More Acol Bidding £96.00...... or two after dinner can another five star hotel make all the difference to before rejoining the ship Declarer Play £76.00...... a holiday. See their advert to sail through the Suez Advanced Declarer Play £81.00...... on page 2. Nearly all port Canal, on to Beirut and Defence £76.00...... excursions are included finally to Limassol (Cyprus) in the prices quoted. from where we all fly home. SOFTWARE BUNDLE OFFERS Any two software pieces £120.00...... TEA TOWELS Any three software pieces £175.00...... Any four software pieces £220.00...... More than 200,000 tea towels later, should you BOOKS now want any of my Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified £5.95...... designs, please contact: Better Hand Evaluation – Bernard Magee £14.00...... Art Screen Prints, 7a Chaloner Street, Bernard Magee’s Bridge Quiz Book £14.00...... Guisborough. TS14 6QD. Bernard Magee’s Quiz and Puzzle Book £14.00...... ( 01287 637527 Bernard Magee’s Tips for Better Bridge £14.00...... www.artscreen.co.uk/ customizeArea/shop.html As you can see the price TABLES AND CHAIRS includes all meals and Mr Bridge They provide great service exclusive design black metal accommodation in the pre- chairs, padded and covered and supporting them cruise Jordan package, the in black vinyl Set of four £199.00...... should eventually help keep Luxor excursion and a full this publication going. Mr Bridge exclusive black metal tables, day visit to the Pyramids. padded and covered in black vinyl £63.50...... It also includes any other FAREWELL BEACH full day excursions from Prices are inclusive of VAT and postage. I enclose a cheque for £...... the ship, all sightseeing as Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... detailed in the advertised itinerary and lots more. Address...... Mrs Bridge and I look forward to meeting you ...... on board for a truly memorable cruise. Postcode...... ( ...... All good wishes. Despite the attractive pricing and the prospect of Mr Bridge good weather for the final weekends at this lovely STOP PRESS venue before it closes, Expiry: ...... CVV...... Issue No...... I am saddened to report the (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) bookings are quite light. recent death of Michelle Anyway, come what may, Brunner after a long illness. Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. Mrs Bridge and I will be at 1953-2011. A full obituary www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop the Gala Dinner on Friday will be included in the 12 August. Be assured I will next issue of BRIDGE. ( 01483 489961 be wearing my charisma. May she rest in peace. ✄

Page 7 Save an extra 5% as a Discovery Club member Summer 2011 cruises

This Summer, Discovery explores Northern Waters, The Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Explore artistic cities of the Mediterranean and discover the beauty of the Norwegian fjords. In Autumn, uncover tales of war and heroic sieges in the Black Sea or travel to the fascinating and sacred Holy Land. All passengers are eligible to attend the exclusive drinks parties. When Discovery is at sea there are morning seminars and afternoon bridge sessions. Those Mr Bridge passengers choosing to pay the £30 per bridge player supplement will be eligible for the evening duplicate after the first dinner sitting. The bridge programme is fully optional and you may participate as much or as little as you wish. Mr Bridge actively encourages singles to join the party and they will always be found a partner for a game.

Fares NO~FLY CRUISES TO THE NORTHERN WATERS Bridge Hosts from YOUR VOYAGE ORWEGIAN XPLORER Jul 30, 2011 ~ 13 days N E SAVE.... Ray & Liz INCLUDES: Harwich ~ Bergen ~ Hellesylt & Geiranger~ Kristiansund~ Leknes ~ Narvik ~ Andalsnes £630PP £949pp Lerwick ~ Harwich Hutchinson • Inspiring destinations

OSLO AND THE TIMELESS FJORDS with Bernard Magee Aug 11, 2011 ~ 10 days cAbinS Bernard • Seminars and exclusive SElling £1,389pp Harwich ~ Oslo ~ Kristiansand ~ Stavanger ~ Olden ~ Flåm ~ Bergen ~ Harwich fASt Magee Mr Bridge drinks parties* • Comprehensive lecture and Guest Speaker programme FLY CRUISES TO THE MEDITERRANEAN AND BLACK SEA • Travel with around 650 Bernard like-minded passengers in EUROPEAN CONNOISSEUR with Bernard Magee Sep 11, 2011 ~ 9 days SAVE.... £599pp Harwich ~ Rouen (overnight) ~ La Rochelle ~ Bilbao ~ La Coruña ~ Leixoes (for Porto) ~ Lisbon £430PP Magee 4-star comfort

CLASSIC MEDITERRANEAN Sep 19, 2011 ~ 12 days • Free parking for no-fly cruises SAVE.... Tony & Jan Lisbon ~ Cadiz ~ Malaga ~ Cartagena ~ Ajaccio ~ Livorno (for Pisa) ~ Civitavecchia (for Rome) £999pp £600PP • Flights from/to the UK for Messina ~ Dubrovnik (overnight) Richards fly-cruises (supplement applies VENETIAN AND ADRIATIC TREASURES Sep 30, 2011 ~ 13 days cAbinS Tony & Jan for Manchester)^ Dubrovnik (overnight) ~ Split ~ Zadar ~ Venice (overnight) ~ Kalamata ~ Piraeus (for Athens) SElling £1,601pp fASt Richards Volos ~ Myrina ~ Istanbul (overnight) • All meals, entertainment and gratuities on board included BLACK SEA CONTRASTS AND CONFLICTS Oct 12, 2011 ~ 13 days cAbinS Ray & Liz Istanbul (overnight) ~ Trabzon ~ Sochi ~ Novorossiysk ~ Yalta ~ Sevastopol ~ Odessa ~ Nesebur SElling £1,691pp with no hidden extras Kusadasi (overnight) fASt Hutchinson • Friendly and relaxed THE HOLY LAND AND RED SEA Oct 31, 2011 ~ 15 days SAVE.... Sandy atmosphere on board Piraeus (for Athens, overnight) ~ Rhodes ~ Limassol ~ Ashdod ~ Haifa ~ Alexandria (overnight) £1,599pp £280PP Bell Port Said ~ Suez Canal Transit ~ Sharm el Sheikh ~ Aqaba ~ Safaga (overnight) • All prices on board in For passengers interested in a higher grade or Sole Occupancy, please contact our friendly team who will gladly assist with current availability and fares. British pounds • Captain’s cocktail parties and gala dinners 01483 489961 for brochures and bookings • All port and pre-paid www.bridgecruises.co.uk airport taxes

Fares shown are per person based on two people sharing lowest twin-bedded cabin category currently available, are subject to availability and include all applicable discounts including savings as shown on selected cabin categories where applicable, for new bookings only. Savings shown are based against full brochure fare and apply to Guarantee Fare, where cabin number may not be allocated at time of booking. Fares shown include current fuel supplements correct at time of printing, but subject to change. All offers are subject to availability, cannot be combined with any other offer or loyalty offer, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. ^On fly cruises, flights from Manchester incur a £20pp supplement (£10pp each way). See brochure for full terms and conditions. Only bookings made directly with Mr Bridge are eligible to be part of the Mr Bridge Group. *Those wishing to play evening bridge, please note that there is a bridge supplement of £30 per bridge player to be confirmed at the time of booking. Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd.

VOD_BR108_Summer2011_A4 (ad2).indd 1 04/07/2011 09:25:37 Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions Are Doubles After No-Trump Bids Different?

Our bidding My partner 15-17 points. Should the bidding 1♥, you give yourself went as follows: opens 1NT; the 4NT bid be Blackwood the chance to find a fit in Q Qnext player or a quantitative bid? any of the other three suits, West North East South doubles. Should I play A Ferguson, Manchester, which may well be better Pass Pass 1NT1 this for penalties? similar from Bob than playing in 1♦. Bidding 2♠ Dbl End 112-14 Dorothy Alexander, Browne, Orpington. 1NT would be a very poor Bourne, Lincs. idea, often leading to missed West made 2♠ doubled Since the partner- 4-4 fits. This is the case in easily. North, who had 11 Yes, it is normal to ship has not agreed any system, especially if points and four hearts, play a double of A a suit and the 4NT you have agreed that your intended her double as A 1NT for penalties. bid is a raise of a no-trump 1♦, 1♥ and 1♠ openings negative. South, who The double usually shows bid, it is quantitative unless promise a 5-card suit. had two hearts and three a hand better than the agreed otherwise. Facing spades, thought it was opener’s (15+ if 1NT 15-17, it suggests about 16. ♣♦♥♠ for penalties and passed. showed 12-14). If the 1NT is Shirley Rose, Camberley, strong, it is usual to double ♣♦♥♠ After making similar from John Hankin. with 17+ or if you have a pre-emptive seven tricks in your hand. When my part- Qopening bid of There are three One reason why a double ner opened 1♦, three of a suit, does con- commonly played is for penalties over 1NT (but Qnormally show- trol of the final contract A meanings to the takeout over one of a suit) is ing five cards, I held: pass to the bidder’s part- double (a) penalties (b) that it is impractical to have ner? That is, should the takeout (c) the values to support for all four suits. If pre-emptor take no fur- raise to 2NT. It is for you you do have support or at ♠ Q 8 7 4 ther part in the bidding and your partner to decide least tolerance for all four ♥ J 9 5 2 unless asked to do so? which one you are playing. suits, it means you have a ♦ 9 Mike Armstrong by email. Traditionally, negative balanced hand, which will ♣ Q 9 6 3 doubles apply only after be good for defending 1NT. Yes, the general a suit opening and a suit principle is that the overcall. Here, if you have ♣♦♥♠ I passed. My partner said A pre-emptor does not not discussed the double, I should respond 1NT. bid again unless asked to it would be normal to The bidding Jean Laird by email. do so. The pre-empt defines play it for penalties. went as follows: the nature of your hand, as If you are playing the Q With 5 points, well as its strength. Partner double as for takeout, you it is marginal can have a wide variety of would need four spades to West North East South A whether you keep hands, which will be difficult leave the double in. If you 1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass the bidding open. On to describe after the pre- are 3-2-4-4, you can rebid 1NT Pass 4NT some hands, you do; on empt and so they will take 2NT. If you have a five- some hands, you don’t. most of the decisions for the card minor, you can bid it. The 1NT rebid showed Here, you should. By partnership.

Page 9 No Single Supplements on selected I & G cabins ** Winter 2011-12 Incredible cruise offers from only £999pp

In Winter 2011-12 Discovery will sail to Australia, the Orient and the Middle East. This exciting programme includes maiden calls in Myanmar (formerly Burma), China and Japan. Experience spice bazaars and sacrosanct sites in India and be enchanted by beautiful Indonesian Islands or venture to historic sites in Egypt and the Black Sea. Vietnam offers captivating scenery and memories of recent history, while modern lands meet ancient traditions in China and Japan. And Australia – this vast country offers a wealth of natural beauty and bustling city life. Book now for best fares and cabins and secure your place early.

All passengers will be eligible for seminars, drinks parties, quiz competitions, daily evening bridge after first dinner sitting and occasional afternoon bridge sessions. The bridge programme is fully optional and you may participate as much or as little as you wish. Mr Bridge actively encourages YOUR singles to join the party and they will always be found a partner for a game. VOYAGE DiScOvERy cLub mEmbERS SAvE A FuRTHER 5% ON ALL cRuiSES Fares From INCLUDES: TRADE ROUTES to BOMBAY November 14, 2011 ~ 15 days^ NEW LOWER • Inspiring destinations Safaga (overnight) ~ Jeddah ~ Massawa ~ Salalah ~ Muscat ~ Mumbai (overnight) FARES £999pp • Seminars and exclusive Mr VOYAGE to RANGOON and THE ORIENT November 27, 2011 ~ 24 days NEW Mumbai (overnight) ~ Marmagoa ~ Cochin ~ Colombo (overnight) ~ Yangon (2 nights) ~ Phuket LOWER Bridge drinks parties* FARES Penang ~ Port Kelang ~ Singapore ~ Bangkok (overnight) £1,999pp • Comprehensive lecture TREASURES of the ORIENT and VIETNAM December 18, 2011 ~ 18 days 5% Bangkok (overnight) ~ Ho Chi Minh (2 nights) ~ Nha Trang ~ Da Nang ~ Ha Long Bay (overnight) ~ Beihai DiScOuNT and Guest Speaker Haikou ~ Hong Kong (overnight) £2,492pp programme MPIRES of the UN January 3, 2012 ~ 21 days E S • Travel with around 650 Hong Kong (overnight) ~ Xiamen ~ Shanghai (overnight) ~ Nagasaki ~ Hiroshima ~ Osaka ~ Nagoya ~ Keelung ~ Manila £2,575pp like-minded passengers in SOUTH EAST ASIA and AUSTRALIA January 21, 2012 ~ 23 days Manila (overnight) ~ Sandakan ~ Bitung ~ Ambon ~ Darwin ~ Port Douglas ~ Brisbane ~ Newcastle ~ Sydney (overnight) £2,679pp 4-star comfort AUSTRALIA and the INDONESIAN ISLANDS February 7, 2012 ~ 26 days • Flights from/to London Sydney ~ Brisbane ~ Hamilton Island ~ Townsville ~ Cairns ~ Cooktown ~ Darwin (overnight) ~ Komodo ~ Bali (overnight) Semarang ~ Singapore £2,889pp • All meals, entertainment ORIENTAL ODYSSEY March 1, 2012 ~ 20 days and gratuities on board Singapore (overnight) ~ Langkawi ~ Phuket ~ Yangon (2 nights) ~ Port Blair ~ Cochin ~ Marmagoa ~ Mumbai (overnight) £2,525pp included with no hidden March 19, 2012 ~ 17 days NEW extras TALES of INDIA and ARABIA LOWER Mumbai (overnight) ~ Porbandar ~ Muscat (overnight) ~ Salalah ~ Jeddah ~ Aqaba ~ Safaga (overnight) FARES £1,399pp • Friendly and relaxed EGYPT and THE HOLY LAND April 4, 2012 ~ 13 days^ 5% atmosphere on board Safaga (overnight) ~ Sharm el Sheikh ~ Sokhna ~ Suez Canal Transit ~ Ashdod ~ Haifa ~ Limassol ~ Fethiye DiScOuNT Kusadasi ~ Istanbul (overnight) £1,623pp • All prices on board in THE BLACK SEA and GALLIPOLI April 16, 2012 ~ 12 days^ British pounds Istanbul ~ Trabzon ~ Sochi (overnight) ~ Yalta ~ Sevastopol ~ Odessa ~ Anzac Cove ~ Canakkale ~ Istanbul (overnight) £1,599pp April 27, 2012 ~ 15 days NEW • Captain’s cocktail parties EUROPEAN ICONS ^ LOWER Istanbul (overnight) ~ Piraeus ~ Messina ~ Civitavecchia ~ Ajaccio ~ Almeria ~ Gibraltar ~ La Coruña ~ Portsmouth FARES £1,532pp and gala dinners Further combinations and grand voyages available ~ please call for details • All port and pre-paid airport taxes

01483 489961 for brochures and bookings www.bridgecruises.co.uk

Fares shown are per person based on two people sharing lowest inside twin-bedded cabin category and include all applicable discounts for new bookings only. All offers are subject to availability, cannot be combined with any other offer or loyalty offer, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. Fares shown include current fuel supplements correct at time of printing, but subject to change. See brochure for full terms and conditions. Only bookings made directly with Mr Bridge are eligible to be part of the Mr Bridge Group. **No single supplement applies to selected I and G cabins on selected cruises, and is subject to availability. ^On these cruises flights from Manchester are available and incur a £20pp supplement (£10pp each way). Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd.

VOD_BR108_Winter11-12_A4 (ad3).indd 1 04/07/2011 09:26:51 Ask Julian continued easier for declarer to take ruffs safely and to cross from to hand to hand. BRIDGE Andrew Kam- ♣♦♥♠ bites suggests BREAKS Qleading the If an opponent lowest trump from opens and I ♦ ♦ three. My partner and Qhave a weak Full-board Two seminars* I tend to lead middle- hand with a very long ♦ All rooms with ♦ Two supervised up-down to show three suit, do I have to bid en-suite facilities play sessions* cards. Are we wrong? all the way to the four ♦ No single supplement ♦ Four duplicate sessions** Roger Pearce, Poole. level to show the hand? Doreen Parrington, Please book ..... places for me at £...... per person, In the trump suit, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. you do not worry Single .... Double .... Twin .... A that partner is going The traditional rule is to try to give you a ruff in that a double jump Name of Hotel/Centre...... the suit, so MUD does not A (1♣-3♥ or 1♠-4♦) apply. Having said that, you is a pre-empt, whereas a Date(s) ...... ask an interesting question. single jump (1♠-3♦) is not. Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... Many players (myself Nowadays, it is quite com- included) regard it as normal mon to play weak jump Address...... to lead the middle card from overcalls, in which case a three trumps. A high-low single jump to the three ...... in the trump suit generally level is weak/pre-emptive. shows three trumps (and Postcode ...... often the ability to ruff some ♣♦♥♠ other suit). If you start by ( ...... leading the lowest one, The opposi- you cannot give a high- tion are in 3NT. Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, low, so partner will never QShould you lead but we will do our best to oblige). know for sure whether you your longest suit even have a third trump until you if the opponents have ...... actually play it. Even if you bid that suit or should cannot ruff anything, it can you lead the unbid suit? Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking. be important for partner Patricia Wicebloom by email...... to know how many trumps declarer has as this can Opening leads are a Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place by determine whether it is right big subject and noth- cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice for the balance will be sent to play an active or a passive A ing is right on every with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, defence or how many points hand. In general, you do 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent declarer is likely to hold. better to lead an unbid suit together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you Another (less common) rather than a bid suit. The require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker. reason for starting with opponents will have length your middle trump is that and often strength in the suits you then have the option they bid, which reduces the of leading the high or the chance that you can set up low one when you want to winners in such suits. Inter- give a suit-preference signal mediate cards assume added on the opening lead. importance in suits the op- Expiry: ...... CVV...... Issue No...... (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) The reason why other ponents have bid. If you have players prefer always to Q-J-10-9-8 in a suit, you Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. lead the low one is that you are likely to lead it whether ( 01483 489961 never quite know when a the opponents have bid it or seemingly insignificant spot not. With Q-J-5-3-2, an e-mail: [email protected] card becomes significant. If opposing bid in the suit website: www.holidaybridge.com you part with a high trump would probably dissuade you *on tutorial weekends. **6 sessions on rubber & Just Bridge events. unnecessarily, you make it from leading it.

Page 11 ✄ Ask Julian continued five-card suit then you start If you have not contacted us in the last two with a redouble – partner years, please enter your details in the box bids 2♣ and you either pass below to re-register: with clubs or bid your suit if What should not. If you are playing that, I rebid with you bid a suit directly to Qthis hand? show your lowest four-card Name (Mr, Mrs, Miss)...... suit. That gives you a better chance of finding a fit. Address ...... ♠ 8 5 4 ♥ K Q 10 9 5 ...... ♦ 8 4 3 ♠ A 6 4 ♠ 7 5 ♣ 9 4 ♥ K Q 8 3 N ♥ J 7 2 W E Postcode ...... ♦ Q 10 9 3 S ♦ J 6 5 2 ♣ K 2 ♣ Q 8 6 3 Telephone ...... Me Partner 1♣ E-mail ...... 1♥ 3♣ West North East South ? 1NT Dbl 2♣1 Pass 2♦ Please send BRIDGE to the following enthusiasts: Gordon Carr, 1clubs plus another suit Swanley, Kent. Knowing that you have a Mr/Mrs/Miss...... Partner’s jump second suit, opener bids rebid is encourag- 2♦ over 2♣. This enables Address ...... A ing but not forcing. you to find your fit. With minimum values ...... for your original response, ♣♦♥♠ Postcode ...... (...... you pass. Please can you E-mail ...... ♣♦♥♠ remind me why Qyou need five My partner opens hearts to respond 2♥ 1NT (12-14 pts) to a 1♠ opening in Acol? Qand the hand Alan Adams, Mr/Mrs/Miss...... on my right doubles. Romford, Essex. If I have very few Address ...... points, should I take The reason is that this ...... the double out with enables you to find only a four-card suit? A both 4-4 and 5-3 fits. Postcode ...... (...... Barbara Taylor by email. You find a 5-3 fit when opener has three hearts and E-mail ...... With a balanced hears partner respond 2♥, hand, it can be showing five hearts. Opener A better to leave the then knows it is safe to raise. double in and hope that How do you find a 4-4

Mr/Mrs/Miss...... one of the opponents runs fit? If opener has 5-4 in the – or that they misdefend. majors, opener bids 1♠ first Address ...... If you run to a four-card time and rebids 2♥, finding suit, you may find your- the fit on the second round. If ...... self in a 4-2 fit and try- opener is 4-4 in the majors, ing to make a trick more, the opening is 1♥, finding Postcode ...... (...... which is not a good idea. the 4-4 fit straight away. E-mail ...... If you play a conventional Acol is not alone in means of showing four- requiring five hearts for card suits, removing the the 2♥ response to 1♠. It is Please complete all or part of this form and return to double becomes much more the same in Precision and Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey, GU21 2TH. attractive. It is quite common Standard American, for to play that, if you have a example. ✄

Page 12 Ask Julian continued bid these hands? double? One pair bid to 7♦ (3♣- Stella Burnett by email. 4NT-5♦-7♦), six bid to 6♦, eight played in game West East In club and tour- and three in a partscore. Is it ever right to ♠ Q ♠ A K 7 6 nament play, it is Why did the pairs find raise partner’s ♥ A K 8 5 3 ♥ Q 6 A common to play the bidding so difficult? Qopening bid ♦ A J 8 7 4 2 ♦ Q 6 3 something called negative Judy Collins, with three cards (includ- ♣ 8 ♣ 7 6 4 2 doubles. A (negative) double Teddington, Middlesex. ing an honour)? There of a suit overcall shows seems to be a complete values and something in the I share your mixture of views. West North East South unbid suits. On this auc- amazement at the Bob Barrow, 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass tion, your partner might wish A results. The part Guisborough, Yorkshire. 2♦ Pass 2♥ End to double on a hand that is scores are surely the result of too weak to bid a new suit a bidding misunderstanding The reason for the We made 5♥. at the three level or is too – South thought a bid (e.g. mixture of views Olive Lowis, Southsea. flat to justify emphasising 3♣-3♦) was forcing while A is that the answer one minor over the other. North did not realise this. depends upon three things: I suggest the bidding Something like this perhaps: Leaving that aside, the should start 1♦-1♠- number of pairs in game (a) system A 2♦-3♦-3♥. Although I is staggering. You must (b) style agree West is not quite good ♠ 8 5 have some very pessimistic (c) rank of suit enough to reverse, I do rec- ♥ 7 4 3 players in your club for so ommend that you open your ♦ A Q 9 3 many of the South players If you are playing 5-card longest suit. Once West bids ♣ K J 6 3 to allow the bidding to majors, giving partner a diamonds twice, East has an stop short of a small slam. simple raise from 1♥ to 2♥ easy raise. Having found out Unless an opponent has four or 1♠ to 2♠ is routine. about the diamond fit and If you had not come across diamonds to the jack or a If your style is to open that East has better than a this double then clearly you five-card spade suit, South 4-card majors whenever you minimum response, West had not agreed to play it, in can count twelve tricks. are not in range for a no- is always going to game. which case double would be In the days before Keycard trump opening (as Bernard On your sequence, I penalties, unlikely though (Five Ace) Blackwood, most Magee, David Huggett have some sympathy with that is when you have of the pairs would have bid and Standard English East’s simple preference three hearts yourself. the grand slam using the recommend), you need to be to 2♥. Four clubs to the sequence you quoted. Given wary about raising with three seven is not a stopper and ♣♦♥♠ the 3♣ opening, it would because partner will often East’s intermediates are be reasonable for South to have only four. You would generally poor. Perhaps At the Rich- gamble that North’s ace is want to wait for hands with West should make one mond Bridge in clubs rather than hearts. three-card support and a more effort, bidding 3♦. QClub the North- Nowadays, for many singleton (or void) outside. This is a non-forcing game South hands were: players, North’s reply to If your style is to avoid try showing extra length 4NT would show one key opening 4-card majors in diamonds. East would card, which could be the when you have a reasonable raise this to 4♦ and West ♠ 7 ♣K, the ♣A or the ♥A. alternative, this puts a would go on to game. ♥ 8 5 4 This makes it far more different complexion on ♦ 6 4 of a gamble to bid 7♦. things. In this case, you ♣♦♥♠ ♣ A Q J 9 5 3 2 Perhaps if South bid 3♦ can raise more freely, say and then 4NT, diamonds N wherever you have three-card With a 13 point W E rather than clubs should support and any ruffing value 5-3-3-2 hand, S count as the agreed suit – (doubleton, singleton etc). QI opened 1♠. ♠ A K Q J 5 however, few pairs would Whatever your system, My LHO overcalled 2♥. ♥ Void have such an agreement. it is rarely right to raise a My partner doubled ♦ A K Q 10 9 8 2 Pre-empts can make life minor with only three. and I left it in. She ♣ 4 difficult for partner. This is said she had made a one of those occasions. ♣♦♥♠ takeout double. Why would this be a Playing 5-card better call than showing E-mail your questions for Julian to: majors, how me a minor? Is [email protected] Qshould we have this a new kind of

Page 13 Ask Julian continued The Diaries of Wendy Wensum

How many points do you allow Episode 4: A Spanish Jaunt Qfor doubleton honours, K-Q, K-J, and Q-J when opening the Part 1: Dramatic Effects bidding? Fred Sleight, t was with some trepi- fit and maximum values. again and I led the remain- Alicante, Spain. dation that Millie and Millie slumped further in ing heart, finessing the I left the safe haven of her chair and bid 3NT. I ten, which held the trick. I use a simple rule Ithe Riverside Bridge Club, converted to 4♥ and Millie Then I laid down the ace of of deducting one and set forth from Nor- fell off her chair. West led trumps, leaving East with A point for bare wich airport on our first the eight of diamonds: the last trump. East ruffed honours, so K-Q doubleton airborne foray into Eu- the ace of diamonds and is 4 points, K-J doubleton is rope. As we touched down returned a club on which 3 and Q-J doubleton is 2. near the Mediterranean North I played low ensuring the coast in sunny Spain, our Millie contract. The traveller re- ♣♦♥♠ spirits rose. Although in ♠ A 9 5 vealed that all other pairs Millie’s case this was not ♥ 6 2 were playing in no trumps I was South difficult considering the ♦ Q J 7 6 3 making 8 or 9 tricks. The and held: quantity of in-flight bran- ♣ A 9 6 flukey ♥4 contract was a Q dy consumed already. As West East welcome, but undeserved, we alighted the aircraft, ♠ K J 7 4 ♠ Q 8 6 3 top. ♠ A J 8 4 Millie commented on the ♥ Q 8 5 N ♥ K 9 4 3 In her delight at what W E ♥ K Q 10 absurdity of erecting a gar- ♦ 8 4 S ♦ 10 9 she now regarded as a ♦ A K 8 4 den shed at the end of the ♣ K 7 4 2 ♣ J 5 3 brilliant strategic bidding ♣ 8 3 runway. As we approached, South sequence, Millie toasted the shed transmogrified Wendy Spanish hospitality and into the terminal build- ♠ 10 2 spilled her tomato juice West opened 1♣ and ing and with formalities ♥ A J 10 7 down her beige dress. Si- my thoughts were that completed, we were soon ♦ A K 5 2 multaneously, a loud bang I would re-open with on our way to our hotel. ♣ Q 10 8 from a slamming door a double. However, A delightful supper was amplified the dramatic im- my RHO, East, bid consumed on the balcony pact. The spreading stain 1♦ on 5 points. overlooking the beautiful West North East South on Millie’s clothing resem- Not knowing what blue sea. Our first conti- Millie Wendy bled a gunshot wound and else to say I bid 1♠. nental bridge holiday had 1NT as she stumbled from the Ann Yeldon by email. begun. Pass 2♦1 Pass 3♥ room, some of the assem- I think some of our op- Pass 3NT Pass 4♥ bled company were seen to Nothing is perfect ponents were suffering End pale. A handsome stranger here: 1♠, pass, 1NT from jet lag because the 1transfer to hearts standing by the exit re- A and double all have duplicate pairs’ event that marked that such drastic flaws. To overcall with only a evening was going rather Although Millie claimed action was unnecessary 4-card suit, you need a very well for us, until on the last she was drinking tomato over such a trivial system good suit – A-J-x-x is not board a wheel came off the juice, I now suspected it misunderstanding. good enough. With 17 system. As South, I picked was fortified with a gener- The following morning points, it seems a little up a flattish 14 count and ous dose of local brandy of was spent drying and cautious to pass. Without opened 1NT. Millie re- sufficient strength for her ironing the paper money a club stopper, you cannot sponded 2♦, our trans- to forget our agreement re- that Millie had forgotten really bid 1NT, so this leaves fer mechanism showing garding major-suit trans- to remove from her pocket a takeout double. While it is at least five hearts. I an- fers. I won the opening di- before putting her dress to true that you would prefer to nounced, ‘Hearts’ and Mil- amond lead in dummy and soak overnight. ‘I knew this have more than seven cards lie slumped in her chair. I led a heart, losing the jack travel iron would come in in the unbid suits, your extra bid 3♥, breaking the trans- to the queen. The diamond handy,’ she said cheerfully. strength should compensate fer to show a good heart return was won in dummy ‘Is this laundered money?’ for this. ■

Page 14 Derek Rimington Says

Don’t Bid Again After Pre-Empting

laying rubber bridge (or indeed The downside, however, is that by not 620 for the adverse game. Double any form of scoring), an opening passing throughout, or by refraining dummy, the king of diamonds lead bid of three or more indicates a from rebidding, West has robbed East of would achieve 300 against 4♠ doubled. Phand with a long suit that is too weak a lucrative penalty double. 4♥ would fail We finish with a deal supplied by a to open at the one level. A three-level by several tricks. friend from a match: opening tends to show a seven-card suit. The responder to a pre-emptive bid With eight cards, a bid at the four level is, of course, not barred from raising. is normal. Vulnerability is also a factor. He has to visualise the hand opposite, Love All. ♠ A 9 6 5 2 You don’t want to lose 500 facing a bust. which might have no defensive tricks. ♥ A K 10 5 4 A player who pre-empts should not Retaining the West hand from the ♦ 4 bid again unless his partner asks him to previous example, but varying North’s ♣ 9 5 do so. Beware of this type of deal: slightly, let me redistribute the South ♠ 10 3 ♠ J 7 4 and East cards as follows: ♥ J 8 6 N ♥ 7 3 W E ♦ K Q J 8 5 3 2 ♦ A 10 7 6 S N/S Vul. ♠ A 10 ♣ 6 ♣ A K 7 3 ♥ A 9 5 2 N/S Vul. ♠ A 10 ♠ K Q 8 ♦ A Q 8 5 ♥ A 9 5 2 ♥ Q 9 2 ♣ K J 2 ♦ K Q 8 5 ♦ 9 ♠ K J 9 7 5 4 2 ♠ Void ♣ A J 2 ♣ Q J 10 8 4 2 ♥ Void N ♥ J 10 8 7 6 ♠ K J 9 7 5 4 2 ♠ Q 6 W E ♦ J 9 3 ♦ K 6 4 2 ♥ Void N ♥ Q 7 S W E ♣ ♣ ♦ ♦ 10 8 3 A Q 7 6 J 9 3 S A 10 6 4 2 West North East South ♠ Q 8 6 3 ♣ 10 8 3 ♣ K 9 6 5 3♦ Dbl 5♦ 6♣ ♥ K Q 4 3 ♠ 8 3 End ♦ 10 7 ♥ K J 10 8 6 4 3 ♣ 9 5 4 ♦ 7 My friend opened with a routine 3♦. ♣ Q 7 4 North, not wanting to choose a suit himself, doubled. East, realising that West North East South North would have the majors, added 3♠ Dbl Pass 4♥ West North East South to the pre-empt by jumping to 5♦. He 4♠ Dbl End 3♠ Dbl Pass 4♥ reckoned that North-South would bid Pass Pass 4♠ 5♥ to 4♥ or 4♠ and so made an advance Position at the table is important and, End sacrifice. South was in an unenviable for that reason, I do not agree with a position and chose unwisely – a slam pre-emptive bid of 3♠ on such barren On the first round, East does not bid was unlikely with his aceless hand. values, except at this vulnerability or in over North’s double. On the second Some West players would, with third position after two passes. The rebid round, at favourable vulnerability, he no defence and their suit raised, bid of 4♠ is stupid and insulting to partner. bids 4♠ correctly as a sacrifice. 6♦ over 6♣. This is wrong. 6♦ could Surely he will know what to do. A pre- Then South takes a view with his work only if North-South would make emptive bid indicates a lack of defensive seven-card suit and bids 5♥, ending exactly 12 tricks in 6♣. Likewise, East values. the auction. Clearly, West has no other didn’t double 6♣. He feared one of 6♥ Surprisingly, after the probable lead choice but to lead a spade. Now South or 6♠ might make if South held a void of the ace of hearts, declarer may escape has no chance of eleven tricks because diamond and North a singleton club for two down. The initial lead is ruffed the spade loser cannot be discarded in (swap the minor-suit nines to see what and then there are three further entries time on a winning diamond. I mean). +100 yielded 11 IMPs when the to dummy for ruffing hearts. With the North would probably have doubled other North-South made 4♠. ♠K-J-9 remaining, West should concede 4♠, if given the chance, but it might have I said it before. I say it again, ‘Don’t merely 300. cost only 100 – far better than conceding bid again after pre-empting.’ ■

Page 15 BERNARD MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS

ACOL MORE DECLARER PLAY ADVANCED BIDDING (ADVANCED) DECLARER PLAY l Suit Establishment ACOL BIDDING l Opening Bids and in No-trumps l Making Overtricks Responses l Basics l Suit Establishment in No-trumps l Slams and Strong l Advanced in Suits l Making Overtricks Openings Basics l Hold-ups in Suit Contracts l Support for Partner l Weak Twos l Ruffing for Extra l Endplays l Pre-empting l Strong Hands Tricks l Avoidance l Overcalls l Defence l Entries l Wrong to Weak Twos in No- £76 Contract £81 l No-trump £66 Openings l Defence trumps l Simple and Responses to 1NT £96 l Delaying Squeezes l Opener’s and l Doubles Drawing Trumps l Counting the Hand Responder’s Rebids l Two-suited Overcalls l Using the Lead l Trump Reductions l Minors and Misfits l Defences to l Trump Control & Coups l Doubles Other Systems l Endplays & l Playing Doubled l Competitive l Misfits and Avoidance Contracts Auctions Distributional Hands l Using the Bidding l Safety Plays

DEFENCE

l Lead vs No-trump Contracts l Attitude Signals l Lead vs Suit Contracts l Discarding l Partner of Leader vs No-trump Contracts l Defensive Plan £76 l Partner of Leader vs Suit Contracts l Stopping Declarer l Count Signals l Counting the Hand

Sharpen your defence in the course of 20 introductory exercises and 120 complete deals

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

System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista or 7, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM Harold Schogger Says

When Holding Up, Use the Rule of Seven

his rule helps if you are in 3NT first to exhaust East’s hearts. b) If a switch would be unwelcome, and they hit your weak suit – you win at once and hope for a kind maybe you have the ace plus low layout of the suit led: Tcards. ♠ J 10 8 5 2 ♥ 8 6 ♦ J 10 3 ♠ K Q J 3 2 ♣ K Q J ♥ J 8 Example 1 ♥ 8 6 ♠ Q 7 6 4 ♠ K 3 ♦ 9 6 N N ♥ K Q J 9 3 ♥ 10 7 2 ♣ K J 4 2 W E ♥ K Q J 9 3 W E ♥ 10 7 2 ♦ 7 2 S ♦ A 8 6 ♠ 10 8 6 5 ♠ 9 7 S N ♣ 9 6 ♣ 8 7 5 4 3 ♥ K Q 10 9 W E ♥ 7 6 3 ♥ A 5 4 ♠ A 9 ♦ J 10 2 S ♦ K Q 8 7 4 ♥ A 5 4 ♣ 5 3 ♣ A 8 6 ♦ K Q 9 5 4 ♠ A 4 West leads the heart king. You want to ♣ A 10 2 ♥ A 5 4 2 cut defensive communications. If you ♦ A 5 3 wait to take your ace until the third ♣ Q 10 9 7 round, this exhausts East of hearts. There are five hearts between your two hands, so taking five from seven says hold up for two rounds. It works! West starts with the king of hearts Example 2 ♥ 10 8 6 against your 3NT. You cannot afford a diamond switch, so you grab your N ♠ ♥ K Q J 9 3 W E ♥ 7 2 J 8 5 2 ace and hope that the hearts break S ♥ 10 8 6 4-3. ♥ A 5 4 ♦ J 10 3 c) At matchpoints, you may need to ♣ K Q J win quickly to safeguard overtricks: ♠ Q 7 6 4 ♠ K 10 3 This time you need to hold up for only ♥ K Q J 9 3 N ♥ 7 2 ♦ 7 2 W E ♦ A 8 6 ♠ K Q 5 3 one round as East has only two hearts. S How do you know whether to hold up ♣ 9 6 ♣ 8 7 5 4 3 ♥ 8 6 for one round or two or not at all? You ♠ A 9 ♦ A 6 4 3 could go back to first principles each ♥ A 5 4 ♣ A K 6 time. The rule of seven speeds up the ♦ K Q 9 5 4 ♠ J 8 6 ♠ 10 9 7 2 ♣ A 10 2 ♥ K Q J 9 N ♥ 10 7 3 2 thought processes. How does it work? W E ♦ K 2 ♦♦ 8 7 Declarer counts how many cards his S side has in the suit led and deducts this ♣ J 10 5 3 ♣ 9 7 4 from seven. The answer is the number With six hearts between your hands, ♠ A 4 of times to hold up. Robert Berthe of taking six from seven tells you to hold ♥ A 5 4 France and Gerald Fox of USA devised up for one round. Again, it works. If you ♦ Q J 10 9 5 the Rule of Seven independently. duck twice, a spade shift beats you. ♣ Q 8 2 Note that the rule assumes two things: It is time now for the exceptions. a) The contract is 3NT. a) With good lower honours, do not b) You expect to lose the lead the hold up at the cost of a second West leads a heart to 3NT. If you hold same number of times as you have stopper. For example, if you have up twice, you make at most 11 tricks. stoppers in the suit led. 10-x facing A-J-x, or J-x-x facing Best is to hold up only once. This gives Let’s see examples 1 and 2 in full deals. A-10-x, you ensure two tricks if you you 12 tricks when the diamond king is On both, you need to knock out the ace take the king or queen with the ace. onside and chances for 9 tricks even if it of diamonds to make 3NT – you want If you hold up, you make only one. is offside. ■

Page 17 onlySUMMER 2012 CRUISES

Discovery club members save an extra 5%

No~fly cruises Fares From BALTIC ICONS May 11, 2012 ~ 16 days Portsmouth ~ IJmuiden (for Amsterdam) ~ Copenhagen ~ Stockholm ~ Helsinki ~ St Petersburg (three days) ~Tallinn Gary £1,549pp Summer 2012 Cruises Warnemünde (for Berlin) ~ Kiel Canal transit ~ Portsmouth Conrad cabins HERITAGE of the BRITISH ISLES May 26, 2012 ~ 11 days Alison selling £1,099pp Experience Voyages of Discovery’s Summer 2012 programme, Portsmouth ~ Isles of Scilly ~ Douglas ~ Belfast ~ Oban ~ Port of Tyne ~ Greenwich ~ Dover ~ Portsmouth fast Nicolson Stan encompassing 15 captivating cruises around Northern Europe, D-DAY, NORMANDY, DUNKIRK and BEYOND June 5, 2012 ~ 9 days £899pp Portsmouth ~ Cherbourg ~ St Peter Port ~ Rouen (overnight) ~ Dunkirk ~ Heligoland ~ IJmuiden (for Amsterdam) ~ Harwich Powell The Baltic, The Mediterranean & The Black Sea. Tony & Jan SPITSBERGEN and the NORTH CAPE June 13, 2012 ~ 16 days £1,749pp Harwich ~ Trondheim ~ Leknes ~ Honningsvåg ~ Magdalenafjord ~ Ny-Ålesund ~ Longyearbyen ~ Barentsburg ~ Tromsø ~ Bergen ~ Harwich Richards Next Summer, Discovery’s exciting cruise itinerary includes a National Trust cruise YOUR VOYAGE BALTIC TREASURES June 28, 2012 ~ 15 days Harwich ~ Kristiansand ~ Copenhagen ~ Tallinn ~ St Petersburg (three days) ~ Gdynia ~ Szczecin (for Berlin) Crombie & Helen £1,649pp around the British Isles, a three day stay in glorious St Petersburg, with the unique INCLUDES: Sassnitz ~ Kiel Canal transit ~ Harwich McNeil opportunity of spending a day in Moscow and, on the anniversary of D-Day, an • Inspiring destinations Alex NORDIC NATURAL WONDERS July 12, 2012 ~ 14 days £1,499pp inspirational journey of remembrance and discovery to the landing beaches of • Seminars and exclusive Harwich ~ Bergen ~ Flåm ~ Akureyri ~ Ísafjördjur ~ Grundarfjördur ~ Reykjavik ~ Tórshavn ~ Harwich Davoud Gary Normandy, little-visited Heligoland in Germany and beautiful Amsterdam. Mr Bridge drinks parties* A NORDIC and WHITE SEA ADVENTURE July 25, 2012 ~ 20 days £2,199pp Harwich ~ Bergen ~ Bodø ~ Murmansk ~ Solovetsky Islands (overnight) ~ Archangel ~ Kirkenes ~ Hammerfest ~ Trondheim ~ Ørsta ~ Florø ~ Harwich Conrad • Comprehensive lecture and Alex All passengers are eligible to attend the exclusive drinks parties. When Guest Speaker programme AROUND BRITAIN and EDINBURGH TATTOO August 13, 2012 ~ 13 days £1,199pp Harwich ~ St Peter Port ~ Fowey ~ Cobh ~ Galway ~ Killybegs ~ Oban ~ Portree ~ Scrabster ~ Kirkwall ~ Rosyth (for Edinburgh) ~ Harwich Davoud Discovery is at sea there are morning seminars and afternoon bridge sessions. Those Mr • Travel with around 650 Alison OSLO and the MAGIC of NORWAY August 25, 2012 ~ 10 days £1,049pp Bridge passengers choosing to pay the £30 per bridge player supplement will be eligible like-minded passengers in Harwich ~ Oslo ~ Kristiansand ~ Stavanger ~ Flåm and Gudvangen ~ Ålesund ~ Bergen ~ Harwich Nicolson 4-star comfort for the evening duplicate after the first dinner sitting. The bridge programme is fully Tony & Jan TIMELESS BALTIC September 3, 2012 ~ 15 days £1,599pp optional and you may participate as much or as little as you wish. Mr Bridge actively • Free parking for no-fly cruises Harwich ~ Copenhagen ~ Saaremaa ~ Tallinn ~ St Petersburg (three days) ~ Gdynia ~ Szczecin (for Berlin)~ Sassnitz ~ Kiel Canal transit ~ Harwich Richards encourages singles to join the party and they will always be found a partner for a game. • Flights from/to the UK for fly-cruises (supplement applies for Manchester)^ Fly cruises ^ Sandy VOYAGE to the MEDITERRANEAN September 17, 2012 ~ 8 days £699pp • All meals, entertainment and Harwich ~ Leixoes (for Porto) ~ Gibraltar ~ Cartagena ~ Barcelona Bell gratuities on board included ^ Tony & Jan A PORTRAIT of the MEDITERRANEAN September 24, 2012 ~ 12 days £1,449pp with no hidden extras Barcelona ~ Sète ~ Rapallo ~ Livorno (for Pisa) ~ Civitavecchia (for Rome) ~ Castellammare di Stabia ~ Messina ~ Brindisi ~ Dubrovnik (overnight) Richards

• Friendly and relaxed atmosphere ^ Crombie & Helen ADRIATIC and AEGEAN ODYSSEY October 5, 2012 ~ 15 days £1,849pp on board Dubrovnik ~ Pula ~ Venice ~ Koper ~ Hvar ~ Kotor ~ Durres ~ Itea ~ Katakolon ~ Piraeus (for Athens) ~ Canakkale ~ Istanbul (overnight) McNeil

• All prices on board in ^ Sandy BLACK SEA EXPLORER October 19, 2012 ~ 12 days £1,649pp British pounds Istanbul ~ Trabzon ~ Sochi ~ Novorossiysk ~ Yalta ~ Sevastopol ~ Odessa ~ Nesebur ~ Istanbul Bell

^ Alex • Captain’s cocktail parties and COLOURS of the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN October 30, 2012 ~ 13 days £1,699pp gala dinners Istanbul ~ Canakkale ~ Dikili ~ Kusadasi ~ Tartous ~ Beirut ~ Alexandria ~ Piraeus (for Athens) Davoud • All port and pre-paid For passengers interested in a higher grade or Sole Occupancy, please contact our friendly team who will gladly assist with current availability and fares. airport taxes Further combinations and grand voyages available ~ please call for details 01483 489961 for brochures and bookings www.bridgecruises.co.uk

Fares shown are per person based on two people sharing lowest twin-bedded cabin category currently available, are subject to availability and include all applicable discounts, for new bookings only. Savings shown apply to guarantee fare, where a cabin number may not be allocated at time of booking. Fares shown include current fuel supplements correct at time of printing, but subject to change. All offers are subject to availability, cannot be combined with any other offer or loyalty offer, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. ^On fly cruises, flights from Manchester incur a £20pp supplement (£10pp each way). See brochure for full terms and conditions. Only bookings made directly with Mr Bridge are eligible to be part of the Mr Bridge Group. *Those wishing to play evening bridge, please note that there is a bridge supplement of £30 per bridge player to be confirmed at the time of booking. Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd.

VOD_BR108_Summer2012_DPS (ad4).indd 1 04/07/2011 09:50:57 onlySUMMER 2012 CRUISES

Discovery club members save an extra 5%

Fares shown are per person based on two people sharing lowest twin-bedded cabin category currently available, are subject to availability and include all applicable discounts, for new bookings only. Savings shown apply to guarantee fare, where a cabin number may not be allocated at time of booking. Fares shown include current fuel supplements correct at time of printing, but subject to change. All offers are subject to availability, cannot be combined with any other offer or loyalty offer, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. ^On fly cruises, flights from Manchester incur a £20pp supplement (£10pp each way). See brochure for full terms and conditions. Only bookings made directly with Mr Bridge are eligible to be part of the Mr Bridge Group. *Those wishing to play evening bridge, please note that there is a bridge supplement of £30 per bridge player to be confirmed at the time of booking. Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd.

VOD_BR108_Summer2012_DPS (ad4).indd 1 04/07/2011 09:50:57 PROGRAMME This is the format for all Bernard Magee hosted events. 2011/12 BRIDGE WEEKENDS with Bernard Magee FRIDAY 1500 Mr Bridge September 2011 Welcome Desk open

Afternoon Tea NEW 30 - 2/10 The Olde Barn SEMINAR 1745 to 1830 Welcome drinks £235 Finding Slams reception 1830 to 2000 DINNER 2015 BRIDGE 1 DUPLICATE PAIRS Denham Grove Near Uxbridge UB9 5DU SATURDAY 0800 to 0930 November 2011 BREAKFAST The Olde Barn Hotel 4 - 6 Inn on the Prom Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT 1000 to 1230 £235 Hand Evaluation SEMINAR & SUPERVISED PLAY of SET HANDS October 2011 11 - 13 Blunsdon House (tea & coffee at 1100) £245 Suit Establishment 1230 to 1330 7 - 9 Blunsdon House COLD BUFFET £245 Stayman & Transfers 18 - 20 Chatsworth Hotel NEW SEMINAR LUNCH Improver Section £245 Finding Slams 1400 to 1645 BRIDGE 2 14 - 16 Chatsworth Hotel 25 - 27 Denham Grove TEAMS of FOUR NEW NEW £245 Squeezes SEMINAR or FURTHER £245 Playing Suit SEMINAR SUPERVISED PLAY Combinations of SET HANDS JANUARY 2012 1815 to 2000 21 - 23 Denham Grove DINNER £245 Game Tries 6 - 8 Chatsworth Hotel 2015 BRIDGE 3 DUPLICATE PAIRS £245 Leads and Defence SUNDAY 0800 to 0930 MARCH 2012 BREAKFAST NEW 1000 to 1230 23 - 25 Chatsworth HotelSEMINAR SEMINAR & £245 Squeezes SUPERVISED PLAY of SET HANDS (tea & coffee at 1100) Blunsdon House Hotel 30 - 1/4 Blunsdon House NEW Swindon SN26 7AS SEMINAR 1230 to 1400 £245 Finding Slams CARVERY LUNCH 1400 to 1645 BRIDGE 4 FURTHER SUPERVISED PLAY Full Board - No Single Supplement - See booking form on page 11 of SET HANDS or DUPLICATE PAIRS

Page 20 Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz 2011/12 BRIDGE WEEKENDS with Bernard Magee You are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no-trump (12-14 October 2012 points) and four-card majors. 5 - 7 Denham Grove (Answers overleaf) £245 Splinters & Cue-bids

12 - 14 Blunsdon House 1. Dealer West. Game All. ♠ £245 Landy Defence to 1NT 7 6 ♥ A K Q J 9 7 3 2 N ♦ 8 2 W E S Inn on the Prom 19 - 21 Chatsworth Hotel ♣ 2 St Annes-on-Sea FY8 1LU £245 Signals and Discards

West North East South APRIL 2012 ?

20 - 22 The Olde Barn Hotel NEW 2. Dealer East. Game All. £245 Squeezes SEMINAR ♠ Void ♥ K 8 7 6 5 N 27 - 29 Inn on the Prom W E ♦ J 3 2 S £245 Losing Trick Count ♣ K 9 8 3 2

The Olde Barn Hotel June 2012 Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT West North East South ♠ 1 Pass 8 - 10 Blunsdon House ? NEW November 2012 £245 Playing Suit SEMINAR

NEW Combinations SEMINAR 2 - 4 Blunsdon House 3. Dealer East. Love All. 15 - 17 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Squeezes ♠ 10 6 3 2 ♥ 3 2 N W E £245 Doubles ♦ 7 6 5 9 - 11 Inn on the Prom S ♣ £245 Declarer Play 9 8 7 4

NEW SEMINAR 16 - 18 Chatsworth Hotel West North East South £245 Finding Slams 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ Pass NEW 23 - 25 Denham GroveSEMINAR ? £245 Playing Suit Combinations 4. Dealer North. Love All. ♠ K Q 7 6 5 Chatsworth Hotel 30 - 2/12 Chatsworth Hotel Worthing BN11 3DU ♥ 4 3 N £245 Endplay & Avoidance ♦ 3 W E S ♣ J 8 6 4 2

West North East South Full Board - No Single Supplement - See booking form on page 11 1♦ 1♠ Pass ?

Page 21 Answers to Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz on page 21

West North East South pass. You have four spades, so spades 1. Dealer West. Game All. 1♠ Pass are the right denomination. However, you ♠ 7 6 ♠ J 10 9 3 ? want to slow your partner down. Start by ♥ A K Q J 9 7 3 2 N ♥ 8 4 making the double negative: 2NT at your ♦ 8 2 W E ♦ A 7 6 3 1NT. In modern Acol, the general guide- second turn; then rebid 4♠ over your S ♣ 2 ♣ 9 8 7 lines are that a 2-level response shows partner’s next bid. Having started with more strength than a 1NT response (6-9). the 2♦ negative, 2NT shows 0-2 points Therefore, the requirement for a 2-level and this means your partner will settle for West North East South bid is ten points: this can include points a game contract. Therefore, the full auc- ? for length but not for shortage (especially tion is: 2♣-2♦-2♠-2NT-3NT-4♠. when it is in partner’s suit). Your suits are 4♥. Although you have eight-playing of such poor quality that I would add only tricks in hearts, this does not mean you one point on for the two of them, which 4. Dealer North. Love All. should open with a strong bid. By tradi- leaves you a long way short of the re- ♠ K Q 7 6 5 ♠ A J 10 8 4 tion, Acol Twos show ‘Hands of strength quirement, so you should settle for 1NT. ♥ 4 3 N ♥ 7 6 5 & quality that can take eight playing 1NT wins the contract and should make. ♦ 3 W E ♦ 10 6 2 S tricks in the selected trump suit’. As a Had you responded 2♥, you would have ♣ J 8 6 4 2 ♣ A 5 partnership, you should set a minimum to decide what to do over 2♠. The 1NT re- for the point strength for your strong two sponse acts as a rubbish bin for all hands bids; I suggest that 16 HCP should be the that cannot show a suit at the 1-level and West North East South minimum. If you open this hand at any lack the strength to bid any higher. 1♦ 1♠ Pass level lower than 4♥, you are likely to al- ? low the opponents in to the auction. This would be a disaster, for your opponents 3. Dealer East. Love All. 4♠. When partner has overcalled, if you can make 5♣ on this deal, or a slam if ♠ 10 6 3 2 ♠ A K Q J 5 have good distribution and good sup- one of them has a heart void. Over a 4♥ ♥ 3 2 N ♥ A 10 9 port, you should be prepared to raise to opening, it is difficult for them to bid ac- ♦ 7 6 5 W E ♦ A Q J the level of your fit. This means bidding S curately. ♣ 9 8 7 4 ♣ K Q to make the number of tricks equal to the When you have a hand that will make number of cards in your fit. Your part- many tricks playing in your suit but very ner’s overcall shows 5+ spades and you few playing in any other, it is a pre-emp- West North East South have five spades too: at least a 10-card tive type of hand – you should consider 2♣ Pass fit so bid to make ten tricks: 4♠. opening it at the three- or four-level. 2♦ Pass 2♠ Pass If you follow this rule most of the time, ? you will tend to get very good results. Here, while there is no chance of mak- 2. Dealer East. Game All. 2NT. You have shown fewer than seven ing 4♠, with two distributional hands you ♠ Void ♠ A K 7 4 3 points with the 2♦ negative response; can make a surprising number of tricks: ♥ K 8 7 6 5 N ♥ 4 what does your partner’s bidding mean? nine. You will lose two hearts, one club ♦ J 3 2 W E ♦ 9 6 5 4 East has said, ‘No matter how weak and one diamond only. How many tricks S ♣ K 9 8 3 2 ♣ A Q 4 you are, I want to play in game; I also might you make against 4♥? You would have five or more spades.’ You must not make just one spade and one club. ■

BEGIN BRIDGE – ACOL VERSION An Interactive Tutorial with Bernard Magee Learn to play bridge from the very beginning with Britain’s best-known teacher £66

System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista or 7, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM See Mail Order form on page 7.

Page 22 Mr Bridge DEFENCE RUBBER / CHICAGO QUIZ by Julian Pottage (Answers overleaf)

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

1. ♠ 10 8 5 3. ♠ A K 8 ♥ K Q 6 4 ♥ K Q 10 9 ♦ Q 10 8 5 ♦ Q J 8 4 The Olde Barn Hotel, Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT ♣ A 5 ♣ A 9 ♠ K 7 4 ♠ 10 7 N N ♥ ♥ The Olde Barn Hotel 10 9 5 W E A 7 4 W E ♦ K 7 S ♦ A 9 7 S ♣ 10 8 6 4 2 ♣ J 10 7 4 2 12-14 August 2011 hosted by Diana Holland

West North East South West North East South 1♦ 1♥ Pass 1NT Ardington Hotel Pass 1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass 3NT End Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT End You lead the ♣4: ♣9, 30 Sept-2 Oct 2011 ♣Q, ♣3. Partner returns hosted by Diana Holland You lead the ♥10, on the ♣8, which runs to the which go the king, eight ace. Declarer plays a low 20-22 April 2012 and two. The ♦Q runs to diamond to the two and your king. What do you do king. What do you do? hosted by Shelia Rogers next?

4. ♠ J 10 5 Please note there are no seminars 2. ♠ A K 5 ♥ K 4 or set hands at these events ♥ Q ♦ A K Q 9 4 ♦ Q 8 7 5 3 ♣ 8 7 2 ♣ 8 6 4 2 ♠ A 7 4 2 £199 Full-board ♠ 6 4 ♥ 9 5 3 2 N W E ♥ A J 10 6 N ♦ 7 S No Single Supplement ♦ 9 6 W E ♣ A K 10 9 S ♣ K 10 9 7 5

West North East South West North East South 1♠ 1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass 4♠ End Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ End You lead the ♣A, ♣K and a third club. Declarer drops You lead the ♠4. Declarer the ♣Q on the second wins in dummy and leads round and ruffs the third. A the ♥Q to your ace. How low trump goes to the jack, Ardington Hotel, Worthing BN11 3DZ do you continue? which wins. Back comes another low one to the king, on which East throws Please see booking form on page 11. a diamond. What now?

Page 23 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 23

West North East South the queen and ace of clubs gone, your 1. ♠ 10 8 5 1♠ jack-ten are equals against the king. ♥ K Q 6 4 Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ When you take your first ace, you can set ♦ Q 10 8 5 Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ up the suit. When you take your second ♣ A 5 End ace, you can run it. What is more, there is ♠ K 7 4 ♠ Q 9 3 2 no time to lose. If you duck the diamond, ♥ 10 9 5 N ♥ A J 8 7 3 You lead the ♠4. Declarer wins in dummy declarer may switch to hearts and make W E ♦ ♦ ♥ K 7 S 6 4 and leads the Q to your ace. How do game with three spades, three hearts, ♣ 10 8 6 4 2 ♣ J 7 you continue? one diamond and two clubs. You should ♠ A J 6 As on the previous deal, you chose take the diamond, drive out the king of ♥ 2 your lead carefully in the light of the bid- clubs, take the first heart and cash the ♦ A J 9 3 2 ding. With your good four-card heart rest of your clubs. ♣ K Q 9 3 suit, you foresaw the possibility of heart ruffs in dummy. You have now seen the singleton heart in dummy and seen de- 4. ♠ J 10 5 West North East South clarer lead it. All this means you were on ♥ K 4 1♦ the right lines. You should keep up the ♦ A K Q 9 4 Pass 1♥ Pass 2♣ good work by playing a second trump. ♣ 8 7 2 Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT Unable to take two heart ruffs in dum- ♠ A 7 4 2 ♠ 8 End my, declarer may try to set up the dia- ♥ 9 5 3 2 N ♥ J 10 7 W E ♦ ♦ mond suit but will find that East has the 7 S J 10 8 5 2 You lead the ♥10, on which go the king, suit well covered. ♣ A K 10 9 ♣ J 6 5 4 eight and two. The ♦Q runs to your king. A better plan for declarer might have ♠ K Q 9 6 3 What do you do next? been to win the first trick in hand and set ♥ A Q 8 6 You led a heart because declarer, who about the diamonds. As the cards lie, the ♦ 6 3 bid both minors and then showed a contract would still have failed. ♣ Q 3 spade stopper, was likely to be weak in hearts. Nothing has happened to change that view. On the first trick, your partner 3. ♠ A K 8 West North East South played the eight of hearts. This was a ♥ K Q 10 9 1♠ good play on two counts. Firstly, withhold- ♦ Q J 8 4 Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ ing the ace has kept communication be- ♣ A 9 Pass 4♠ End tween the defensive hands. Secondly, the ♠ 10 7 ♠ J 9 5 4 2 play of the eight, a high spot card, was an ♥ A 7 4 N ♥ 8 6 3 You lead the ♣A, ♣K and a third club. W E ♦ ♦ ♣ encouraging signal. You should continue A 9 7 S 10 6 2 Declarer drops the Q on the second with the nine of hearts. This way, your side ♣ J 10 7 4 2 ♣ Q 8 round and ruffs the third. A low trump scores four hearts and a diamond. ♠ Q 6 3 goes to the jack, which wins. Back comes ♥ J 5 2 another low one to the king, on which ♦ K 5 3 East throws a diamond. What do you do? 2. ♠ A K 5 ♣ K 6 5 3 With four trumps, you decided cor- ♥ Q rectly to play a forcing game. Declarer, ♦ Q 8 7 5 3 who started with five spades, has had to ♣ 8 6 4 2 West North East South ruff once and so has the same number ♠ 6 4 ♠ 8 7 2 1♥ Pass 1NT left as you. How do you make declarer ♥ A J 10 6 N ♥ 8 5 3 2 Pass 3NT End ruff again? If you win the trump and play W E ♦ ♦ 9 6 S K J 10 2 another club, dummy will ruff rather than ♣ K 10 9 7 5 ♣ Q J You lead the ♣4: ♣9, ♣Q, ♣3. Partner declarer. This is not what you want. You ♠ Q J 10 9 3 returns the ♣8, which runs to the ace. need to hold up your ace of trumps until ♥ K 9 7 4 Declarer plays a low diamond to the two the third round. Only then do you play ♦ A 4 and king. What do you do? a fourth round of clubs. You will end up ♣ A 3 Once more, you have found a lead with a second trump winner for the set- about which you should be happy. With ting trick. ■

Page 24 DECLARER Mr Bridge PLAY Christmas & QUIZ by David Huggett New Year 2011

(Answers overleaf)

ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge. YIn each case, what is your play strategy?

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

N N W E W E S S Denham Grove ♠ K J 2 ♠ K Q 3 Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DU ♥ K 7 5 3 ♥ 3 2 ♦ A K 9 ♦ A J 6 3 2 ♣ K 10 3 ♣ A K 4 24-27 December £355 Just Bridge & Any Questions You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 6NT and West leads the ♠5. and West leads the ♠10. Jo Walch East plays the ♠Q. How do How do you plan the play? you plan the play? 27-29 December £199 Suit Establishment 2. ♠ A 10 7 5 3 4. ♠ A 8 5 3 2 ♥ A 9 6 5 ♥ A J 8 3 Alex Davoud ♦ 7 3 2 ♦ A 6 ♣ 6 ♣ K 3

N N 29 Dec – 1 Jan £355 W E W E S S Develop at Duplicate Pairs

♠ K ♠ K Q J 7 6 Crombie McNeil ♥ Q J 10 8 3 ♥ K 5 4 2 ♦ A 6 5 ♦ 8 ♣ K Q J 3 ♣ A 9 2 ( 01483 489961 e-mail: [email protected] You are declarer in 4♥ and You are declarer in 6♠ and West leads the ♦Q. How West leads the ♣Q. How website: www.holidaybridge.com do you plan the play? do you plan the play? Please call if you would like a sample copy of the programme

Page 25 Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 25

You are declarer in 4♥ and West leads Either the nine will win or the suit will 1. ♠ 9 4 the ♦Q. How do you plan the play? have broken 3-2. Of course, if West ♥ A 6 4 The defence have started out on the discards on the second diamond, you ♦ 8 6 5 right foot; at first glance, it might seem play the king from dummy and then lead ♣ A Q 8 6 4 that you will succeed only if the heart low towards the jack. ♠ A 10 8 5 3 ♠ Q 7 6 finesse is right. However, you can discard Note that, as a matter of general ♥ Q 10 8 2 N ♥ J 9 one of your losing diamonds on the ace technique, you should win the first spade W E ♦ ♦ J 7 4 S Q 10 3 2 of spades as long as you can be sure of in hand, though on this occasion it would ♣ 2 ♣ J 9 7 5 getting to dummy before losing the lead. not be serious if you blocked the suit by ♠ K J 2 So take the ace of diamonds and cash winning it in dummy. ♥ K 7 5 3 the spade king. Next, enter dummy with ♦ A K 9 the ace of hearts – eschewing the finesse ♣ K 10 3 – and discard a low diamond on the ace 4. ♠ A 8 5 3 2 of spades. Only then continue trumps; ♥ A J 8 3 you will find that the tricks you lose are ♦ A 6 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads just one heart, one diamond and the ace ♣ K 3 the ♠5. East plays the ♠Q. How do you of clubs. ♠ 9 4 ♠ 10 plan the play? ♥ 6 N ♥ Q 10 9 7 You know from the lead that West ♦ Q 10 7 3 2 W E ♦ K J 9 5 4 S started with either a four or a five-card 3. ♠ A J 5 2 ♣ Q J 10 8 5 ♣ 7 6 4 spade suit, presumably headed by the ♥ A K 7 ♠ K Q J 7 6 ace. It would do you no good to duck ♦ K 9 5 ♥ K 5 4 2 the queen because West would refuse to ♣ 8 6 5 ♦ 8 win the next spade lead and so still have ♠ 10 9 8 4 ♠ 7 6 ♣ A 9 2 communication with East. A count of the ♥ Q 8 5 N ♥ J 10 9 6 4 W E ♦ ♦ top tricks indicates that you need only Q 10 7 4 S 8 four club tricks to guarantee the contract ♣ J 7 ♣ Q 10 9 3 2 You are declarer in 6♠ and West leads and it might look safe just to play that suit ♠ K Q 3 the ♣Q. How do you plan the play? from the top. Look what happens if you ♥ 3 2 If you can make at least three heart do. East will win the fourth round, lead a ♦ A J 6 3 2 tricks, the contract will be secure because spade through your fragile holding and ♣ A K 4 you can ruff a club in dummy. A far better West will collect four spade tricks. So just plan than just hoping that something take the king of spades, cross to dummy nice happens in the heart suit is to aim with the ace of clubs and then lead a club You are declarer in 6NT and West leads for an elimination play. to the ten. Even if it loses, you have guar- the ♠10. How do you plan the play? Win the lead in dummy and draw anteed your contract. The slam is an excellent proposition; a trumps. If you play correctly, the contract quick count of the available tricks shows is a certainty because you can eliminate that the contract will make as long as you both the minor suits before tackling 2. ♠ A 10 7 5 3 can be sure of coming to at least four the hearts. Cash the ace of clubs, ruff ♥ A 9 6 5 diamond tricks. It might seem as though a club, cash the ace of diamonds and ♦ 7 3 2 you can just play a diamond to the king ruff a diamond. Then play the king and ♣ 6 and finesse on the way back. If you do another heart; you intend to finesse ♠ J 9 4 2 ♠ Q 8 6 that, you will be in difficulties if West against the queen unless West shows ♥ 7 4 N ♥ K 2 started with an original holding of four to out, in which case you just play low from W E ♦ ♦ Q J 10 8 S K 9 4 the queen-ten. dummy, forcing East to win. What can ♣ A 10 4 ♣ 9 8 7 5 2 As it happens, you can guarantee he do then? Since you have no minor- ♠ K making four diamond tricks even if they suit cards left in either hand, but trumps ♥ Q J 10 8 3 break 4-1 by playing off the ace first and in both hands, a minor suit will give a ♦ A 6 5 then leading low, intending to play the ruff and discard; a heart will be into the ♣ K Q J 3 nine from dummy if West plays a low tenace – you make twelve tricks either card. way. ■

Page 26 Andrew Kambites’ Tutorial Bridge Breaks Lead Quiz You are West in the auctions below. It is your DECEMBER 2011 lead. (Answers overleaf.) 2-4 The Ardington £215 Game Tries Ned Paul 1 ♠ A 10 9 8 N ♥ 7 4 3 W E S January 2012 ♦ K Q 4 2 ♣ 8 5 13-15 The Ardington £245 Declarer Play Sandy Bell Ardington Hotel Staverton Park West North East South Nr Daventry NN11 6JT Worthing BN11 3DZ 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ OCTOBER 2011 MARCH 2012 Pass 2NT Pass 3♥ Pass 4♥ End 14-16 The Ardington 9-11 The Ardington

£215 Losing Trick Count £245 Hand Evaluation Sandy Bell Crombie McNeil 2 ♠ 6 4 3 2 14-16 The Olde Barn 9-11 Blunsdon House Hotel N ♥ 7 4 3 W E £199 Sacrificing £245 Signals and Discards ♦ K Q 4 2 S Gary Conrad Alison Nicolson The Olde Barn Hotel ♣ 8 2 28-30 Staverton Park Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT 23-25 The Ardington £199 Better Defence £245 Sacrificing 20-22 The Ardington Alex Davoud Ned Paul West North East South £245 Further 1♠ into the Auction 30-1/4 The Ardington NOVEMBER 2011 ♣ ♥ Alex Davoud £245 Stayman & Transfers Pass 2 Pass 2 18-20 The Olde Barn Ned Paul Pass 2NT Pass 3♥ £199 Endplay & Avoidance Pass 4♥ End Crombie McNeil APRIL 2012 18-20 Staverton Park 27-29 Blunsdon House Hotel £199 Stayman & Transfers £245 Game Tries 3 ♠ 4 3 N Improvers Alison Nicolson ♥ K Q 7 5 4 W E S Stan Powell ♦ Q 4 NOVEMBER 2012 ♣ K Q 4 2 25-27 The Ardington £215 Take-out Doubles 9-11 Blunsdon House Hotel Improvers £245 Suit Establishment Crombie McNeil Blunsdon House Hotel Ned Paul West North East South Swindon SN26 7AS 1♥ Pass 3♦ 4♠ Pass Pass 6♥ Pass ♠ FEBRUARY 2012 Pass 6 Dbl End 10-12 The Ardington £245 Take-out Doubles 4 ♠ A 6 Improvers ♥ J 10 8 7 N Alex Davoud W E ♦ K 10 5 S 24-26 The Ardington ♣ A Q 5 3 £245 Suit The Olde Barn Hotel Establishment Blunsdon House Hotel Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT Gary Conrad Swindon SN26 7AS West North East South 1NT 2♣1 Pass 2♠ See booking form on page 11. End 12♣ Landy showing majors

Page 27 Answers to Andrew Kambites’ Lead Quiz on page 27

West North East South Not much outside the trump suit, so you 1. ♠ 7 1♠ should concentrate on cutting down his ♥ 8 6 5 Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ ability to make his trumps separately. ♦ A 9 5 3 Pass 2NT Pass 3♥ Lead the three of trumps. ♣ A Q 9 3 2 Pass 4♥ End If you lead a trump and persevere with ♠ A 10 9 8 ♠ 6 3 2 another trump when you regain the lead, ♥ 7 4 3 N ♥ A 2 This time, your wretched spade holding declarer can ruff only one heart in dum- W E ♦ ♦ K Q 4 2 S J 10 8 will hold no terrors for declarer, so there my and is four down. ♣ 8 5 ♣ K J 10 7 6 is no point in trying to stop spade ruffs Hint: Consider leading a trump if your ♠ K Q J 5 4 in dummy. opponents are clearly sacrificing against ♥ K Q J 10 9 Declarer has shown at least ten cards your high-level contract. ♦ 7 6 in the major suits. Dummy has bid clubs. ♣ 4 There is a serious danger that declarer will throw his losing diamonds on dum- 4. ♠ K Q J 4 3 my’s top clubs, so you should aim to take ♥ K Q 6 5 2 West North East South what you can in diamonds before it is too ♦ Q 4 1♠ late. ♣ 2 Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ Lead the ♦K. The defenders will take ♠ A 6 ♠ 8 5 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3♥ the first three diamond tricks and the ♠A. ♥ J 10 8 7 N ♥ A 9 4 W E Pass 4♥ End ♦ K 10 5 ♦ A 9 6 On a trump lead, declarer can discard S two diamonds in his hand on dummy’s ♣ A Q 5 3 ♣ 10 9 8 4 South has shown five hearts (he bid hearts ♣A and ♣K, making eleven tricks. ♠ 10 9 7 twice) and so at least five spades. North ♥ 3 may be very short in spades and your ♦ J 8 7 3 2 spade holding suggests trying to prevent 3. ♠ A 8 7 ♣ K J 7 6 spade ruffs in dummy. The best lead is ♥ 3 the ♥3. East wins with the ♥A and returns ♦ 9 8 6 5 3 2 a trump. Declarer plays a top spade but ♣ J 10 9 West North East South West takes the ace and perseveres with a ♠ 4 3 ♠ 2 1NT 2♣1 Pass 2♠ third trump. Declarer cannot avoid losing ♥ K Q 7 5 4 N ♥ A J 10 9 End W E ♥ ♦ ♦ 1 ♣ two spade tricks, the A and a minor suit Q 4 S A K J 10 7 2 Landy, showing the majors. trick. If you lead the ♦K unwisely, it is too ♣ K Q 4 2 ♣ A 8 3 late to prevent one spade ruff in dummy. ♠ K Q J 10 9 6 5 North has shown both majors. South Hint: With a strong holding in de- ♥ 8 6 2 has picked spades. Declarer may have a clarer’s side suit, a trump lead may stop ♦ Void sound holding in the major chosen, and declarer from ruffing losers in dummy. ♣ 7 6 5 shortage in the other one. West should lead a trump, trying to prevent declarer from ruffing hearts. 2. ♠ K 5 West North East South West starts with the ♠A and follows up ♥ Q 10 9 1♥ Pass 3♦ 4♠ with the ♠6. Declarer wins trick two in ♦ 10 8 3 Pass Pass 6♥ Pass hand and leads the ♥3 but partner takes ♣ A K 9 5 4 Pass 6♠ Dbl End the ♥A and switches to his last trump. ♠ 6 4 3 2 ♠ A 8 Unable to trump any of his heart losers, ♥ 7 4 3 N ♥ 5 2 No doubt you instantly had a king on declarer is very short of tricks and is likely W E ♦ ♦ K Q 4 2 S A 9 7 the table, but this is wrong. Your side has to go down two tricks. ♣ 8 2 ♣ Q J 10 7 6 3 the vast majority of high cards. Your op- Failure to lead a trump allows declarer ♠ Q J 10 9 7 ponents are sacrificing: the question is at least one heart ruff in his hand. ♥ A K J 8 6 not whether you will beat them: it is by Hint: Consider leading a trump if one ♦ J 6 5 how much. You must aim for the juici- of your opponents has shown a two- ♣ Void est penalty possible. Ask yourself where suiter and the other opponent has picked declarer’s tricks are likely to come from. one of these suits. ■

Page 28 David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics

Must the Meaning of Any Bid be Explained to the Opponents if Asked?

South ends in of trumps. Dummy apolo- dummy went down he have picked up two cards 4♠ having bid gised for getting her bid had ♦Q-x-x. East said, after playing them. Q3♥ earlier. With wrong. In fact, declarer ‘I’ve been set up’ and The director could West’s opening lead held the trump queen. let it run to my part- not establish which two face down on the ta- How does one explain ner’s J-x. The jack won cards the defender had ble, East asks about the a bid when you know and a diamond return withdrawn from played 3♥ bid. North replies from your own hand meant I won the next tricks, so he allowed that he does not have that partner cannot four tricks: one off. They play to continue leav- to give an answer as have what the bid shows called the director, who ing the offender with there was nothing about without either mislead- gave a ruling against two cards in her hand. the bid on his conven- ing the opponents or us. I do not know why. At the end of the play, tion card. Is this right? revealing information Jean Lawrence by email. the contract was three Roger Grimsdick, Salisbury. about your hand? down; he adjusted this to J T Bunch, West Yorkshire. As the explanation one down, i.e. penalising The player was talk- was correct, I have the offending side two ing absolute rubbish. Your opponent’s an- A no idea why the tricks. As it turned out, A All agreements be- swer to the question ruling went against you. If the only other pair in 4♣ tween players, explicit or im- A was correct, ethical the director did not explain also went one down. plicit, must be fully and freely and legal. He has a duty to his ruling to you, he did Anthony Bluett, Swindon. available to their opponents. describe his partnership’s not do his job properly. He had a duty to answer the agreements, nothing more Your opponent’s com- The laws do not question as a matter of law. or less. He should continue ment is the sort of bad really allow for a to do so even if he knows the behaviour the English Bridge A director to fail to ♣♦♥♠ explanation cannot be what Union is trying to stamp find out what happened. He partner has in his hand. out. The director should should find the two tricks that Our opponents have given him a warning are short, get one card put in were investi- ♣♦♥♠ at least about behaviour. each (which does not change Qgating a slam Sorry, I think you were ownership) and apply two in spades. After a call As South, with 13 unfortunate both in your one-trick revoke penalties. of 4NT, one of them points and director and opponents. The actual ruling was a responded 5♠. When Q♦A-K-x-x-x, practical effort that probably asked, the 4NT bidder I opened 1NT. West ♣♦♥♠ came to the correct answer. said, ‘We are playing doubled. Partner bid 2♦ Roman key card so my (Jacoby transfer). East While playing in partner has said that she doubled. With no support 4♣ with 10 tricks David Stevenson answers all queries based on the facts has two of the five key for hearts, I passed. West played, declarer Q supplied by the letter writer. cards together with the also passed. Partner noticed that one of the Neither Mr Bridge nor ♥ queen of spades.’ The bid 2 and East jumped defenders had five cards David Stevenson has any way final contract was 6♠ but straight to 3NT. I led left in her hand. He of knowing whether those when dummy went down the fourth highest of called the director, who facts are correct or complete. it did not hold the queen my diamond suit. When concluded that she must

Page 29 Ask David continued the lead out of turn. If declar- example of this is a Light- Since the bidding er calls for a card from dum- ner Double: suppose a pair is so simple, I can my it becomes a played card, reach 6♠ after dummy has A answer this one so once he has called for it, bid clubs, their opponent easily: the hesitation does If we use the the defenders may accept it if doubles and this asks for a not suggest pre-empt- Banzai 5-4-3- they wish. Furthermore, once club lead: that is alertable. ing, so 4♦ is legal and Q2-1 method of he has led from the wrong the result stands. valuation, whereby a hand, dummy may not point ♣♦♥♠ hand with four tens, four it out and should keep quiet. ♣♦♥♠ jacks and two queens We bid 3♥ and would suffice for an ♣♦♥♠ made it doubled. I was declarer opening bid, should we QOur opponents in 3NT – a announce it as 8 to 14? Playing rubber claimed that we should Qslightly tricky Geoffrey Fairhall, Lym- bridge, an not get the 500 bonus contract – and my RHO, inge, Folkestone, similar Qopponent asked for a vulnerable game. who was on lead, sud- from Peter Belanny. to look at the last trick If they are right, how do denly paused for about and insisted that it is we have the expression 3 or 4 minutes at about You can play any permissible to look ‘doubling into game’? trick 4. I made 3NT but I form of hand evalua- even after they have Teresa Barnard by email. could easily have for- A tion you like so long been collected and gotten what cards had as it is easily explainable. placed face down on the our opponents are gone in the previous However, that does not mean table. Is this correct? wrong. Trick points tricks due to the huge you should be unhelpful: Anne Sandercock by email. Ycount towards game. If pause. Was the pause saying 8 to 14 suggests you you are in 3♥ doubled and fair or reasonable? open most hands (if not all) Yes, it is correct. Basic make it, this is 3 times 30 John Collins by email. within that range. I think you rubber rules are that times 2 trick points, i.e. 180. want to find out what it usu- A you play cards by Game is 100, so this is game. It is reasonable ally comes to in Milton Work throwing them into the middle The answer is the same to stop to think points, and indicate that. For of the table; the winner of the whether you were playing A when you have a example, saying, ‘Roughly trick (or his partner) collects duplicate or rubber bridge. problem. Even a long think 11 to 14: note we use a dif- the four cards and places is reasonable so long as a ferent form of evaluation’ them face down in front of ♣♦♥♠ player does not do it too and explain in full if asked. them. Until the start of the often and delay the round Note that if a hand next trick, any player has the Would you allow unnecessarily. If you do not contains only 8 HCP, then right to ask to see them. 5♦ doubled to remember the cards, I am it is illegal to open it as Qstand or change afraid that is unfortunate part of your 1NT opening: ♣♦♥♠ the final contract to 4♠? but nothing more. it requires a minimum of 9 Most experienced players points (or 10 at Level 2). Please can you play some tricks faster than tell me if you ♠ 8 6 4 do less experienced players ♣♦♥♠ Qshould ever alert ♥ Void but stop to think when they a double above 3NT? ♦ K 10 9 8 7 4 2 need to work out something. If declarer leads Margaret Stagg by email. ♣ 9 8 7 That is permissible. There is out of the wrong ♠ A 10 9 7 2 ♠ K Q 5 3 only an advantage to pausing hand, can he Although you don’t ♥ K 10 5 2 ♥ A 9 7 6 4 3 if their partners use the Q N correct this if the next alert doubles of ♦ J W E ♦ 6 information that they have hand has not played? A higher contracts, ♣ 6 5 2 S ♣ A 10 a problem. Players convey Can the defenders insist doubles of 3NT are alertable ♠ J unauthorised information to that the lead from the in the normal way. Some- ♥ Q J 8 their partners all the time at wrong hand stays? one recently got confused ♦ A Q 5 3 bridge, through hesitations, Phil Hickman by email. and thought a double ‘of ♣ K Q J 4 3 bidding quickly after a stop 3NT’ was ‘above 3NT’. card, or even grimaces or The other side may The only doubles above body language. In fact, there accept any lead out this that are alertable are West North East South is a slight disadvantage: A of turn. Therefore, if where someone bids a suit 1♥ Pass* ethical partners will do their declarer leads from his own and their opponent doubles, 1♠ 4♦ 4♠ 5♦ best to take no advantage, hand or dummy while the and this double tells partner Dbl End sometimes going a little too lead is in the other hand, to lead some other suit. *After 30 seconds hesitation far the other way to make either defender may accept The most common David Oglesby by email. sure they are ethical.

Page 30 Ask David continued ever does) and passes them not know it. In this case, We were play- to his right. That player cuts you had a correct explana- ing a Hesitation the pack towards the dealer, tion of their methods. QMitchell. One after which the dealer com- Players make mistakes all table played a board Declarer led a pletes the cut and deals. the time, fortunately, oth- the wrong way round. small diamond, erwise the game would be The pair who played N/S Qmy partner ♣♦♥♠ a lot harder. Unfortunately, bid and made 3NT for a followed and dummy there is no rule that when an top. Their opponents felt played another small After RHO opponent makes a mistake aggrieved, thinking they diamond from the suit opened 1♦, I you will always gain. When might have made 3NT headed by queen and Qovercalled 4♠. I a player makes a wrong bid, had they held the N/S king. When I played the had ♠A-K-Q-x-x-x-x-x and like a wrong lead or play, cards as per the move- jack, declarer realised a bust. RHO asked my that is unfortunate – but that ment card. The director that dummy had pre- partner whether this was is all that it is. On balance, said they had to score it empted his call and said a strong bid or a pre- if opponents make a hun- as played, with the pair I should put my jack back empt. She said she took dred mistakes, about sixty who played N/S entered into my hand and then it as strong. Should I will not matter, and you will as N/S in the Bridge- he played one of the have corrected this, and, gain from about thirty-five mate. Is this right? high diamonds on the if so, at what stage? of them. The remaining Jean Lewis, Altrincham. table. Declarer said that Mrs I M Penning, Bratton five may be annoying – I as dummy plays no part Clovelly, Okehampton. am afraid that is life. From your descrip- in the game, he (de- tion, I think the direc- clarer) had the right to If your side buys ♣♦♥♠ A tor got it right. No do this. This meant that the contract, you matter how the movement the other players knew A should correct an We have a bell card said that they should I had the jack. What incorrect explanation when after which no have played it, they must are the implications? you become declarer or Qtable can start a score it as played. If bidding Valerie Taylor, dummy; if you become a board. Do we score any and making 3NT gives N/S a Beckenham, Kent. defender, you correct it missed boards as not top, this is the correct score. at the end of the play. played or as average? If dummy puts in Mrs I M Penning, Bratton ♣♦♥♠ the played position ♣♦♥♠ Clovelly, Okehampton. A a card declarer did I understand that not name, declarer may My partner, East, Certainly, you should an opening Weak correct it and a defender opened 1♣. South not score it as ‘not QTwo bid requires may take back any card Qwho held 5-5 in A played’. This term an announcement while played thereafter. the red suits, overcalled is for boards that a table a Weak Jump Overcall However, this does not 3♣, duly alerted. I had 8 is not due to play under requires neither an an- mean everyone knows the points with six spades to the movement. You have nouncement nor an alert. whereabouts of the jack. the ace. I asked North, a duty to give averages What is the posi- Your jack is unauthorised who explained that it (plus, minus or plain aver- tion for a Weak Jump information to declarer, ie. was Ghestem, show- age) to any board that a Shift Response (e.g. 1♦ information he must not use, ing five spades and five table is due to play but does (Pass) 2♥)? If it requires though it is authorised to diamonds (a correct not do so for any reason. an alert, why is this so partner, so he may use it. explanation). I wanted Normally, the director when the Weak Jump to bid my spades but, should find out who is at Overcall does not? ♣♦♥♠ thinking that South had fault, giving them average David Pollard by email. five spades, I passed. minus and their opponents When the deal- We ended in 5♣ go- average plus. If neither pair A weak jump re- er’s RHO has cut ing down with 4♠ an claims that their opponents sponse requires an Qthe cards, can the easy make. Was the were at fault, it is reasonable A alert. With no alert, dealer cut them again? director right to rule to give average to both pairs. an opponent would expect a Patricia Hutton, Shipston that the result stood? It is very easy to score strong-game forcing hand. on Stour, Warwickshire. Stewart Everitt by email. averages by computer. The I do not see the connection software, for example Jeff with a jump overcall, which is No: dealer gets the You have a right to Smith’s excellent free pro- a different position with dif- cards from his left, know the system gram, will work averages out ferent expectations. Nobody A gives them a final A the opponents are perfectly using a complicated expects a jump overcall to be shuffle if he wants (nobody playing, even if they do formula called Neuberg. both strong and forcing.

Page 31 Ask David continued After my partner overcalled 1♦ Klinger’s Flippers Qwith 1♠ holding only four spades, he You were discuss- admonished me for not Acol Bridge Flipper, Duplicate Bridge Flipper, ing an auction alerting. Should I alert Opening Leads Flipper (with Mike Lawrence), Qin which South a natural bid like this? Memory Aids and Useful Rules opened 1♠, West over- Peter Rollin, called 3♣ and North Tamworth, Staffs. all by Ron Klinger, reviewed by Sandra Landy. doubled, intending it Available from the London Bridge Centre ( 0207 486 8222 for takeout. Surely, once No, you do not need partner has bid, any to alert possible four- double should be for A card overcalls. They espite being Australian, Ron Klinger is one penalties. I would not should be on your system of the best writers on the Acol system in the ask my partner to name card (formerly convention world. His books cover Acol agreements on his best suit when he card). I am afraid people Dbidding, play and defence and even I can learn from had already announced are very fond of inventing them. He also produces a range of flippers, which my it. This was what I rules then telling opponents students love. learnt sixty years ago. they should follow them. Go to any bridge event for new players and you Valentine Ramsey, will see people clutching their Acol Bridge Flipper as Sherborne, Dorset. ♣♦♥♠ though it were their Bible. It is an excellent summary of the Acol system. I must give a word of warning – when It is true that the East opens 1NT you are playing in a duplicate, you may not consult the meaning of many and North, after flipper in the middle of the auction, wait until the hand A calls has changed Qtwo passes, is over. At least you will get it right next time. over time, none more so bids 2♥. South alerts The Acol Bridge Flipper is not the only flipper you that doubles of overcalls, and explains that this might find useful. which used to be for penal- shows hearts and The Opening Leads Flipper is full of hints on choosing ties with few exceptions, but diamonds. When 2♥ the opening lead in 14 different situations. nowadays are for takeout becomes the final con- In the Leading against Slams Flipper, Klinger gives with few exceptions. tract, North explains the useful hint, ‘Do not lead a singleton if you hold an Please note that my articles that his partner has ace,’ obvious really as partner will not have a second are not trying to teach you made a mistake: their ace and you could destroy your partner’s holding in how to play bridge, but what agreement is that 2♥ the suit if you lead it. He could have added, ‘Never the rules are. Because people shows hearts and clubs. underlead an ace against a slam,’ as one student in my found it too difficult to follow When East plays on class insisted on leading the 2 from A-K-4-2, saying, ‘I the previous alerting rules for clubs expecting West to thought you lead your fourth highest.’ doubles, a new simpler ver- be short, North ruffs the The Duplicate Bridge Flipper covers common sion was introduced, namely second round. This sets conventions and a defence to them. For example, that when a player bids a suit up dummy’s clubs, giving against an opponent’s weak two, a 2NT overcall shows below the four level, a double declarer extra tricks. 16-18, 3NT shows 21-22, but with 19-20 double first by his opponent is assumed Mike Brumby, and bid no trumps next if a major suit fit isn’t found – to be for takeout if not alert- Dore, Sheffield. of course a stopper in the suit is needed as well! ed. What could be simpler? Memory-aids and Useful Rules is full of helpful hints, Now, in some cases, you I would ask North such as, ‘when should you make a takeout double of an alert doubles even when you why he bid 2♥ and opening bid with a weaker hand?’ He suggests: three think the meaning is obvi- A to see a system or more cards in every unbid suit with opponent’s suit ous, but the most important card. It is a very rare, though being the shortest. Work out your thing was to produce a legal, way to play 2♥. shortage points – a doubleton is 2 rule that players can fol- If N/S can convince me points, a singleton 4 points and a ♠ Q J 7 3 low easily. If you want to that they play it as hearts and void is 6 points. If shortage points ♥ Void play a double of an overcall clubs and North has either plus high card points is 15 or more, ♦ A 7 6 4 for penalties, as you learnt psyched or misbid, there is you can make a takeout double. ♣ Q 10 9 5 2 originally, feel free to do no reason to adjust. I must This hand starts with only 9 HCP. so – but you must alert it. say it all seems very fishy. ■ Add six for shortage points giving 15. Klinger’s Rule of 15 says make a takeout double. For many years, I have been looking for a justification for E-mail your questions on bridge laws to: my overbidding – at last, I have found it! [email protected]

Page 32 When the opposition have not overcall. You should opened the bidding and always double. Is this really READERS’ you are next in hand – I the latest thing in bidding? would teach that you should Is this modern bridge – or overcall when you have is it a misunderstanding a good 5-card suit (wide that has crept in? This old point range depending on dinosaur would like to know. LETTERS suit quality, level at which Mrs D Gill-Carey, overcall is made ....I won’t St Agnes, Cornwall. go into details) and that this overcall neither promised EYE OPENER strictly private treats the insured within the nor denied an opening bid. As a rubber bridge player, I received my copy of BRIDGE reciprocal agreements by You might have 12 or more I have often wondered why already, for which I thank accepting the EHIC card to points and be trying seriously I cannot take to duplicate. you. Today, I received a pay for most of the costs. to buy the contract (sacrific- After reading David separate brochure from HPB. In the event that an ing if necessary), or you may Stevenson in your April However, I don’t know who insured is not happy with a just be trying to disrupt the issue, with his reference to else would have given them decision, they have the right enemy bidding space, or the differences between my name but you (I could, to complain to the insurer. As even just suggesting a lead. Permitted Agreement of course, be wrong), but far as we are aware, no such In fact, a one spade bid over 11N7 and Permitted kindly ensure that my details complaint has been made. one club is worth its weight in Agreements 11P and 11P3C, are not given to any other Philip Bacon, gold and can be made, non- I believe I can see why. organisation in future. Managing Director, vulnerable, on as little as 8 Michael Zaidner by email. June Posey by email. Global Travel Insurance. points. But, I repeat, an over- We do not give out This letter has reminded me call does not deny an open- GREAT FUNDRAISING members’ details to any to obtain new EHIC cards ing bid, it is an important The Exeter Golf & Country organisations or individuals. for Mrs Bridge and myself. tool in any form of bridge. Club Bridge Section’s Annual On the other hand, you Charity Swiss Teams in aid GLOBAL REPLY WHAT DO YOU THINK? may have 12 or more points of Hospiscare was again In BRIDGE 107, I saw the I am an elderly lady whose and no biddable suit with a great success. Since the letter from Mr E Johnson association with bridge is which to overcall. With 16 inception of this event, under the heading ‘buyer antediluvian – well at least or more points and stop- £52,824 has been raised beware’. I would like to reply. from before the Second pers in the enemy suit, you for the local hospice. The claim from Mr Johnson World War. As a small child, may overcall 1NT. But if Mr Oliver Amor, was indeed declined. It was I would peep through the you have a shortage in the Chairman Bridge Section, declined due to the fact that banisters and watch my enemy suit and modest Charity Committee. he, the insured, had failed to mother’s bridge friends support in the other three, comply with the conditions of arriving in evening dress you should make a takeout GREAT IDEA the insurance. These require for a bridge party. I was double. You are forcing your It might help resolve some that any person admitted to playing bridge myself at 12 partner to bid and to choose of the problems people a hospital as an inpatient years old and yes, of course, the suit. You are promising, face with their lapsing must contact our medical we played Culbertson (open at the very least, an open- registrations if you were emergency service. The on 2½ tricks). We have all ing hand and preferably able to put information insured failed to do this. moved on a bit since those more points than this. about their current status There are many reasons days. In fact, I taught basic But, and this is the essence on the address panel. for having this condition, Acol for beginners and of this letter, I have been Paul Oates, the principal one being to obtained my bridge told that if you have 12 or Shirley, Surrey. protect the insured. We need teaching qualifications more points you should Coming soon. to be able to make sure that from EBUTA way back in the insured is well enough to 1987. Once a teacher, travel after their admission always a teacher. REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE and, in many cases, we assist I am not only puzzled but Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, in arranging repatriation. We quite concerned. I play at all mint with full gum. Quotations for also need to control costs, a little club where there are commercial quantities available on request. making sure that there is often several beginners and Values supplied in 100s, higher values available as well no unnecessary treatment I have encountered a truly as 1st and 2nd class (eg 1st class: 100x37p+100x5p) and, in particular, that within amazing difference of opin- the EU countries, Spain in ion on the subject of over- (/Fax 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected] this case, the local facility calls and take out doubles.

Page 33 READERS’ LETTERS On quite another matter, continued the layout with quiz answers CHARITY BRIDGE EVENTS on the page following the questions is so much better AUGUST 2011 OCTOBER 2011 SIGNALLING than having to search all 5 LITTLE GRANSDEN 7 ST ANDREW’S CHURCH Further to your response to over the magazine for them. CHURCH TOWER APPEAL. The Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton. the letter in the June issue Elizabeth Lonkhurst Village Hall, Little Gransden. 10.00 for 10.30am. £14.00. of BRIDGE regarding a by email. 10.00 for 10.30am. Mavis Campion Tickets: £13.50. ( 01480 860477 discard signalling system, my Margaret Hipwell partner and I play a version APPRECIATION 15 RNLI. Cheltenham Bridge Club. ( 01767 677259 10.30am-4pm. of HELD (High Encouraging, The location of quiz answers Barbara Horne Lunch & glass of wine. £15pp. Low Discouraging) that on the page following the (01767 677895 Margaret Beverley we call HELOSSC (High questions is a great help. 24 RNLI. ( 01242 510193 Encourages, Low Other Humphrey Miller Duplicate bridge competition 21 CHESHIRE HOMES. for the Dick Powell Trophy. Suit Same Colour). This by email. Village Hall, Hartford, 1.45pm. Tickets £5. has the advantage over I’m so glad you’ve noticed. Hunts, Cambs. South Wootton Village Hall, 10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50. HELD that the low card Kings Lynn. Malcolm Howarth not only discourages, HELP PLEASE Cream Tea, raffle. ( 01480 212910 Ivan Gerstel but suggests a specific suit. Please provide some articles ( 01553 768236 21 VICTORIA SCHOOL’S There are usually two ways on tactics for playing teams SPARKLE APPEAL of suggesting a lead – a and the difference between SEPTEMBER 2011 Lytchett Matravers’ Village Hall, high card is more noticeable teams and duplicate pairs. Dorset. 2pm. 7 GYDA (Gulu Youth Development £24 per table, includes prizes, when one can afford it, Mr Chasmer by telephone. Association, Northern Uganda) raffle and afternoon tea. but, when one can’t, a low No need for help. At our Corn Exchange, Faringdon. £15. Stella Brake ( 01202 624224 card is equally suggestive level, don’t worry about it. Steve Braithwaite [email protected] although less noticeable. Just make your contract. ( 01367 240929 28 OUR KINDERGARTEN IN BOSNIA To give an example: if 16 ST MARY’S CHURCH HERZEGOVINA I want to suggest a heart EXPLANATION Eaton Socon, St Neots. Our Lady Queen of All Creation lead I would discard either I have just received an EBU 10.00 for 10.30am. £13.00. RC Church, Rant Meadow, Malcolm Howarth Hemel Hempstead. a high heart (7 plus) or a booklet intended as a gesture ( 01480 212910 9am tea/coffee. low diamond (6 minus). of goodwill in recompense 9.45am bridge starts. 22 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE One can also use the for the long delay. Hot lunch. £15pp. ROTARY CLUB. system to show either lack of Your covering note left Pat Henry ( 01442 391087 Outlane Golf Club help to partner or to guide me a little confused and I 12 for 12.30pm. him away from opening up would welcome clarification. £44 per table including lunch. NOVEMBER 2011 Brian Noble a new suit. If I am discarding Mr S Hanslip, Normanton, 11 HEMINGFORD VILLAGE HALL & ( 01484 427536 on spades, say, I discard West Yorkshire. ADDENBROOKES HOSPITAL 23 RIDING FOR THE DISABLED CANCER UNIT. a low club which asks for The proposed contents Village Hall, Hemingford Abbots. Village Hall, Hemingford Abbots. a spade, showing that I of Bridge Club Direction 10.00 for 10.30. 10.00 for 10.30am. £14.00. can’t help with a new suit. Simplified is to be published Cost: £14.00. Ann Tooher ( 01480 352789 I think it a particularly in a forthcoming issue of Sue O’Donovan ( 01487 822701 24 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE simple system for the BRIDGE. The EBU booklet is ROTARY CLUB. ordinary club player, being the best currently available. 27 St Teresa’s HOSPICE Outlane Golf Club. based on HELD with which Richmond Support Group 12 for 12.30pm. ‘Bridge the Gap’. £44 per table including lunch. they are already familiar. WAY FORWARD 2pm. Hudswell Village Hall. Brian Noble ( 01484 427536 Ken Brookes, Ledbury. At its forthcoming AGM, my Play will be directed by Mike club is to consider whether Baker. Tickets £10. ( 01748 850208 DECEMBER 2011 ONLY A LITTLE LIE to buy a computerised On Alan Solomon’s quiz dealing system. The general 28 PRINCESS ALICE HOSPICE 6 St Teresa’s HOSPICE, Putney Leisure Centre. DARLINGTON. hand, BRIDGE 107 p6, I opinion is no, but I feel this is 10 for 11am. Christmas party at St George’s am surprised that none of because the members have £68 per table includes Bridge Centre, Darlington. your experts have suggested had no experience with them. lunch and prizes. 1.15pm. Only £5 to include the unusual 2NT saying, ‘I I would like to have your Pam Turner festive tea and luxury prizes. ( 0208 995 2270 ( 01325 469785 have two five-card minors, opinion. Would you advise please bid your better one.’ using them or not? I have It is true that there are only played with them elsewhere E-mail your charity events: [email protected] four clubs but they are such and find they make for an good ones that such a minor improved night’s bridge. fib is surely acceptable. E Clark by email.

Page 34 READERS’ LETTERS play in it seem to enjoy both for everyone but only the continued THE FOLLOWING ARE the exclusion of players masterpoint collectors get AMONG THOSE WHO who play differently from anything they value. If you SENT IN USED STAMPS U3A members, Hampstead, London. them and the masterpoints. are that keen on master- Mrs S Robertson, NSW, Australia. P2P Another affiliated game points then there should be Mrs B Marks, London N2. Mrs A Bell, Middlesex. Mrs K Adamson, Oxton. At the last AGM, our club locally on the same night is a ‘beacon’ club, as the EBU Mrs M Maxwell, Newton Stewart. Mr & Mrs R Wallis, Hampshire. Mr & Mrs withdrew from the EBU known as an ‘expert’ game call it, in your area where V Cochrane, Eastleigh, Hants. Miss A because of the introduction but that discourages ordinary they can go and play with Fitzpatrick, County Down. Mrs J Staples, Pulborough. Mrs Cook, Lightwater. Mrs of P2P. This withdrawal was players, whether ambitious like minded players, and L Kirkpatrick, Fife. Mrs J Papworth, to be reconsidered at this or not. Again on Mondays, in the other clubs should just Cambridge. Mr M Rennolds, Kent. Mrs M Sells, Enfield. Mr & Mrs Milton, year’s AGM (June). As Chair, a venue between these two concentrate on being nice Kent. Mr & Mrs R Harriman, Solihull. Mrs J Shackell, Middx. Mrs B Quinton, I would like to give the club games, I run an unaffiliated places to play bridge where Sutton Coldfield. Mrs M Robinson, the best advice possible, game in a nice venue with bridge is played ‘properly’ Heswall. Mrs Ellis, Cheam. Mrs A Reid, Banchory. Mr A Connel, Great hence the following ques- a bar and try and maintain but people value each other’s Dunmow. Mrs B Blacklin, Hayling tion. Do you know of any a good social atmosphere company just as much as Island. Mrs Allgood, Bath. Mr & Mrs M Barron, Halifax. Mrs P Holman, Oundle. source of information as to while allowing any normal caring about the results. Mrs M McKinnon, Glasgow. Mrs Wylie, Sutton Coldfield. the success, or otherwise, of bidding system. I find that Of course, it would be Mrs Adamson, Prenton. Mrs Thompson, P2P during this year? Any if you introduce yourself at great if we had a national Durham. The Association of Wrens, London. Mrs P Wood, Nelson, Lancs. comment or advice from the table and are pleasant in federation which was inclu- Mr B Leonard, Hazel Grove. Mr P Smith, you on this subject would describing any conventions sive but, under the present Isles of Scilly. Mrs J McCartney, Falkirk. Please keep saving your used stamps be greatly appreciated. you play, other players will bridge regime, that is not on for Little Voice and send them to: Mr John Pettet by email. be interested intellectually offer. And it is the club that Colin Bamberger, 179 High Road, in how your bidding works faces unremitting monthly Trimley St Mary, IP11 0TN Ned Paul replies: rather than hostile to it bills for P2P, not the individu- As you may know, I wrote which is the normal reaction al, and for the size of bill the a few articles reviewing the at many clubs. In this way, club management should ask WHAT’S BEST introduction of P2P unfa- people stay more open to what value the club is getting. David Stevenson says that vourably and did not and good bidding ideas and In London, none of the ‘there is no requirement for have not affiliated any of good practice spreads bigger proprietorial clubs – any player to point out an my playing groups via P2P. faster. Weak twos, transfers, Andrew Robson, Acol, my established revoke by him- As a result, two clubs that splinter bids, unassuming clubs, Putney BC, Ruff Club, self or partner. Neither the I operate left the EBU and cue bids are all regarded etc – are affiliated and a lot laws nor the general ethics the possibility of affiliat- as pretty normal and even of nice-cup-of-tea-and-a-bis- of the game require it,’ see ing other groups was lost. strong club systems are cuit little clubs are not either. page 18 in BRIDGE 107. It is just over a year now tolerated. I think I have the I don’t think anyone plans to I cannot see that this and attendance at my nicest players and 15 tables change any time soon. Those can be described as being clubs has not been affected each Monday tells me I am that are in have got used to ‘Best Behaviour at Bridge’. greatly. There is admittedly a doing something right. the bills. Those that are out? In golf, it is normal and wide selection of games local So, with regard to your Well, people still come. expected and indeed part to me (SW London), some club, what would affiliating of the game that you call a affiliated and some not, so and paying P2P bring to your LIFE-SAVER penalty on yourself. Other people do have a choice. But club? There are a number Last year, due to family sports have the same code. what comes across is that of benefits none of which issues, illness etc., I lost all The calling of a penalty on people choose the game are compelling or unique, my confidence and gave partner or self should be because of the standard of except that masterpoints will up playing bridge. I really made without question. bridge offered or the social be awarded. These have no missed it. When I was Mr E Noble, Bognor ambience of the game, not value except to accumulate starting to feel a little better Regis, West Sussex. on whether it is affiliated to gain various ranks of long I began taking advanced or not. Take Mondays for service award in the EBU, lessons and hope to soon OVER THE POND example. The biggest game but, like any other collec- return to competitive bridge. Please continue to include in my area is one where only tion habit, certain people Mrs W M McKeever, me in your mailing. a fairly heavily restricted do get keen on them. These Knutsford, Cheshire. I feel that BRIDGE is so bidding system is allowed, players then tend to vote as a much better than the ACBL discouraging better or more block at club AGMs be- GREAT READ Bridge Bulletin that we ambitious players (quite a cause, like any other group, Are there any plans to have here in the U.S. which lot of what Bernard Magee they like the idea of other publish the A-Z of bridge as includes 18 pages of who recommends is not allowed). people’s money subsidis- a separate reference book? won what, where and when. This is affiliated and awards ing their own spending. Andrew Ellis, Mr J Rebello, masterpoints. Those who The club has to pay Christchurch, Dorset. Deerield Beach, Florida.

Page 35 READERS’ LETTERS long absence to discover the WORTHY PLUG We have enjoyed some continued delights of bidding boxes, Anyone for Afternoon wonderful home baked alerts and announcements. Bridge in Norfolk? cakes, cookies and biscuits. Assuming that, like me, he We are a duplicate I have asked the ladies to SIGNALS plays duplicate bridge at a bridge club which meets provide me with copies of Regarding the Defence local club, I think his attitude at Bawburgh Village Hall their recipes. Would your Quiz by Julian Pottage to these recent innovations (just off the southern by- readers be interested? in BRIDGE 107, we use is somewhat dismissive pass) every Wednesday Bernice Bailey, McKenney Discards, which (‘they do no harm’ is surely and Thursday afternoon Dorking, Surrey. would have solved every damning with faint praise). at 1.30pm. All hands are question with ease. Why Bidding boxes have a number pre-dealt and scoring is BIDDING BOX not publish an article on of obvious advantages. done using Bridgemates. HISTORY McKenney Discards? They help minimise We are a friendly club In response to Mr Allan Chris Plant, unauthorised information welcoming all abilities. Mitchell Wallace, see Skircoat Green, Halifax. (eg the double with the Bridge events in our calendar Readers’ Letters, BRIDGE Look forward to it in October. voice of thunder, obviously include Sim Pairs, Teams 107, I wish to point out for penalties). They prevent and Pairs’ Championships. that bidding boxes were ALSO COMING SOON bidding errors due to Four ‘All Day Bridge Events’ originally designed for Just thought I would send mishearing (‘Hearts’ vs. are held in the course of deaf people, like myself. you an email to say how ‘Pass’). They remove the need the year, which are happy A few years ago, my good Bernard’s Bidding for time-consuming requests social events with lunch lip-reading class was Quiz was in BRIDGE 107. to repeat the bidding and provided by outside caterers. terminated due to lack Normally, I get most of the they allow the person Come and give us a try, of funding and I was in auctions right, but this time considering the opening lead preferably with a partner, desperate need of another I got only one right. Please to review the bidding easily. but we do have a ‘find brain-storming occupation. can we have more problems I have yet to meet a player a partner’ scheme. Fortunately, I plucked up like these? The answers were who thinks that bidding See our website at the courage to attend a so obvious afterwards. boxes are not a good idea. www.bawburghbc.com local beginner’s bridge Mrs J Davies, As for the alert and Felicity Leigh by email. class. I am now hooked on Romsey, Hampshire. announcement procedure, duplicate bridge and once I think it’s obvious why LETTER IN TWO PARTS again use bidding boxes. NOT ME there has to be an alert Just to tell you that my wife Mrs C Turley, You have a big mark-up procedure for certain bids. and I are enjoying version Gerrards Cross, Bucks. on duplicate flippers. The announcement (eg, ‘12- 10 of QPlus. We find the Mr L Simpson, Solihull. 14’ for 1NT, ‘Spades’ for a bidding more accurate and NEED A COACH? Unless your purchase is 2♥ transfer bid) is simply a the layout very clear indeed. As an enthusiastic bridge clearly branded QPlus or recognition that some bids John Newbold by email. player of many years, I am Mr Bridge, it is not, repeat are used so widely, and PS. I also want to say that sadly no longer able to play not, from Mr Bridge. requests for information I am really pleased that due to failing eyesight. I so likely, that the EBU have you have the answers to would however like to share HOSTESS REPLIES decided that it is simpler the various quizzes over my lifetime’s experience of In reply to Mr Brooks of and quicker for partner the page. It means that I the game to encourage other Doncaster, see Readers’ to make an immediate can cut out just one page players. I have coached a Letters BRIDGE 107, I have announcement rather than if I want to and keep that fellow player for several been running Mr Bridge issue an alert and wait for quiz for future reference. years and am keen to offer Chicago weekends for many the inevitable question. The free tuition to others in the years and would be happy justification is, it saves time. LET THEM EAT CAKE district. ( 01243 262092. to supply some ideas if he Information about alerting I attend an afternoon bridge Mr R Gardiner, Aldwick, would like to email me; and announcing is available club, where we take turns to Bognor Regis, [email protected] via the EBU website and provide the tea each week. West Sussex. ■ Better still, book for one of other sources, but I agree the rubber/Chicago events that a brief article covering and get ideas first hand. announcing and bidding box Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH Diana Holland by email. usage could well be useful. or e-mail [email protected] In my experience, some E-mail correspondents are asked to include PRODIGAL’S RETURN club players do seem to be their name, full postal address, telephone Like Mr Wallace, letters unaware of all the details. number and to send no attachments. BRIDGE 107, I returned Dave Simmons, Letters may be edited for length and clarity. recently to the game after a Buntingford, Herts.

Page 36 A to Z of Bridge compiled by Julian Pottage

with the long spades, would be the as the dealer does not deal the cards danger hand and you would instead physically. finesse clubs into East. D DEALMASTER DATUM Software for organizing, analyzing The average of the scores obtained and creating deals that is popular with on a board (i.e. add up all the scores bridge teachers and journalists. DANGER HAND and divide by the total number of During the play of a contract, it can scores). In most sizes of field, the DEALING MACHINE be dangerous to lose the lead to one calculation ignores one or more of the An electronic device for dealing cards. opponent but safe to lose it to the top and bottom scores to give a more It usually requires cards to have special other. The hand that declarer needs representative score. The purpose of markings (similar to bar codes). to keep off lead is the ‘danger hand’. calculating the datum is so that you Dealing machines are very useful for Sometimes you can organize life can compare an individual pair’s score large tournaments (where there are a accordingly: with the datum and convert it to IMPs. large number of boards to deal), for As an example, suppose the scores simultaneous pairs’ events (where each on a board are +1100, +620, +620, club will play the same deals) and for ♠ Q 2 +620, +140 and -100. Ignoring the top clubs that wish to provide players with ♥ A Q 7 score (+1100) and the bottom score hand records at the end of a session. ♦ 10 7 (-100), the total score is 2000. Dividing ♣ A Q 10 9 3 2 this by 4 gives 500, which is the datum. DECEPTIVE PLAY ♠ A J 10 9 3 ♠ 7 6 5 The play of a card, or a line of play, ♥ J 4 2 N ♥ 10 9 6 5 DEAD with the express intention of deceiving W E ♦ ♦ K 6 4 S 9 8 5 A hand is ‘dead’ if there is no entry to opponents about the true lie of the ♣ 8 4 ♣ K 7 5 it. cards. ♠ K 8 4 ♥ K 8 3 DEAL ♦ A Q J 3 2 1 To distribute the 52 cards, one card ♠ A J 9 4 ♣ J 6 to each player in turn starting with N the player on the left of the dealer. ♠ 8 7 6 W E ♠ K Q 10 2 The set of four hands dealt. S West leads the ♠J against 3NT. The ♠ 5 3 2 contract is at risk if the defenders Dealing precedes the bidding and make four spade tricks and one of the play. At duplicate, most dealing occurs minor-suit kings. You have a choice at the start of a session and (unless a If South, the declarer leads a spade of finesses to take. At this stage, it is relay table means some boards are not from hand and finesses dummy’s unclear which defender will be the in play) players do not deal in later nine, East might win deceptively with danger hand, the hand to whom you rounds. In some types of competition, the king (or queen). Declarer may do not want to lose the lead. the players do not deal at all: the then waste an entry returning to hand Dummy covers with the ♠Q, director presents the boards with the to take a further finesse. If East won which holds the trick. Since the cards already dealt. the first round of spades with the ten, ♠K is vulnerable to a lead through declarer would know at once that the it, East becomes the danger hand. DEALER suit would not run for one loser. Accordingly, you take the diamond The person who deals (at rubber finesse into the West hand. bridge or Chicago) and makes the DECK If East held the ♠A, the ♠Q would first call. At rubber bridge, the dealer A pack of playing cards. not hold (swap the ♠A and ♠7). You rotates after each deal. At duplicate, would duck the second spade and win the board stipulates the dealer and DECLARATION the third round with the ♠K. West, the term ‘dealer’ means ‘first bidder’ The final contract.

Page 37 A to Z of Bridge continued defeat the contract. In a grand slam, In fourth seat, a simple method is the defenders need only a single trick to treat the auction 2♦(Multi) – pass – to defeat the contract. 2♥ the same as 2♥(weak) – pass – pass and 2♦(Multi) – pass – 2♠ the same as DECLARER DEFECTIVE TRICK 2♠(weak) – pass – pass. The member of the partnership who A trick that contains fewer than or first bid the denomination of the final more than four legally played cards. DEFENCE TO contract. Assuming the players pay attention OPENING THREE-BID to the game, defective tricks are Term given to a partnership agreement West North East South extremely rare. about entering the bidding after an 1♦ Pass opponent’s pre-emptive three-level 1♠ Pass 2♠ End DEFENCE, THE opening. At one time, it was common 1 The two defenders – these are to play 3NT as for takeout and the West North East South East-West if North-South buy the next development was a variety of 1NT Pass 2♣ contract and vice versa. conventional takeout bids. It has 3♣ End 2 Term also refers to the line of now become almost universal to play play or defensive strategy that the double for takeout whether you are In the first auction, West, who bids defending side adopts. over or under the bid. spades before East, becomes declarer. In the second auction, West again DEFENCE TO 1NT DEFENDERS becomes declarer. South is an op- Term given to a partnership agreement During the play, the non-declaring ponent and so his 2♣ bid has no sig- about entering the bidding after an side. nificance in determining the eventual opponent’s 1NT opening bid. There During the auction, the defenders declarer. are a number of conventions in use are the non-opening side, though it is because nothing is entirely effective rarer to find the term used this way. DEEP FINESSE in overcoming the pre-emptive effect 1 A finesse when three or more cards of a 1NT opening. More and more DEFENSIVE BIDDING higher than the card finessed are players are using a simple defence Bidding by the non-opening side, missing. called Landy, whereby a 2♣ overcall sometimes with an obstructive intent. shows both majors and all other suit overcalls are natural. DEFENSIVE TRICK A J 9 During the bidding, a holding that DEFENCE TO N you expect to win a trick even if the W E ARTIFICIAL STRONG CLUB opponents buy the contract; during S Term given to a partnership agreement the play, a card combination that wins 4 3 2 about entering the bidding after a trick for the defending side. an opponent’s strong artificial ♣1 Aces and kings are quite likely to opening bid. Since game for the non- win tricks whatever the contract. By Needing two tricks in this suit and opening side is unlikely, it is usual to contrast, a holding like J-10-x-x is with plenty of entries, South plays bid on weak distributional hands with unlikely to win a defensive trick unless a low card from hand planning to the aim of disrupting the opposing it is in the opposing trump suit. play the nine if West follows low. If bidding. the nine loses to the king or queen, DELAYED GAME RAISE South can later take a simple finesse DEFENCE TO MULTI When partner opens one of a major of the jack. Term given to partnership agreement suit and the responder has the values 2 A computer program that analyses, about entering the bidding after for game, it is valuable to distinguish on a double-dummy basis, lines an opponent’s Multicoloured Two between hands with distributional of play on a deal; it shows which Diamond opener. In second seat, values and hands with both trump result in success and which in you expect to get two chances to bid, support and all round strength defeat. Printouts of computer deals which increases your options. You (usually 13 to 15 points). often show makeable contracts as can bid directly 2♥, 2♠, 3♣ or 3♦ as In the first case, a direct raise to computed by Deep Finesse. natural, 2NT to show a strong no- game, which has the additional value trump. of having a pre-emptive effect, is in DEFEAT THE CONTRACT Double is usually two-way, showing order. In the second case, bidding a To win, in defence, enough tricks so either a balanced hand too weak to bid second suit and then bidding game that declarer cannot make his contract 2NT or any strong hand. In sixth seat in partner’s opening suit at the next even if he wins all the remaining tricks. (i.e. when you are in second seat but opportunity may better describe the If the contract is 3NT, the defenders pass first time), double of ♥2 /2♠ is for hand – a delayed game raise. For need to score at least five tricks to takeout. example:

Page 38 A to Z of Bridge continued DIRECTION A 5 North, South, East or West.

N Q 6 4 W E K 8 7 3 DIRECTIONAL S ASKING BID (DAB) ♠ K J 6 3 J 10 9 2 After an overcall, a cue bid of the ♥ 8 2 opponent’s suit by either member of ♦ A 5 3 the opening side asks partner to bid ♣ A Q 7 5 When requiring an entry into partner’s no-trumps if he holds a partial stopper hand, East makes the Deschapelles’ (or better) in the opposing suit. To coup by leading the king. If dummy’s make such a bid it would be usual With this hand, after partner opens ace wins, the queen becomes an entry; to hold a partial stopper oneself. For 1♠, you respond 2♣ knowing you can if declarer allows the king to hold, East example: bid 4♠ next time. leads another card to the now bare ace, The use of splinters and 2NT as a establishing the queen as an entry. game-forcing raise of partner’s major ♠ J 6 3 has made the delayed game raise less DEUCE ♥ A Q 3 common than it once was. A colloquial name sometimes used in ♦ K 5 reference to the two. Derivative from ♣ A Q 8 5 3 DELAYED SUPPORT deux (French) and duo (Latin). An invitational raise in partner’s first bid suit on the second round of DEVIL’S COUP West North East South bidding, usually showing three-card A rare coup whereby a seemingly 1♣ 1♠ 2♦ Pass support, as in this sequence: certain trump loser vanishes. For 2♠ example: West North East South DIRECTOR 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass This person organises the movement of 2♣ Pass 3♥ ♠ 9 pairs and boards as well as dealing with ♥ K 10 any irregularities that arise. Most clubs DENIAL BID ♦ Void have a playing director as it is hard to A bid that indicates lack of support ♣ Void find volunteers to give up an evening for partner’s suit (e.g. 1♠-Pass-1NT), ♠ 8 ♠ Void to serve as director. In a tournament, ♦ ♥ Q 7 N ♥ J 8 4 or general weakness such as the 2 W E there would be a non-playing director. response to an Acol 2♣ opening. ♦ Void S ♦ Void ♣ Void ♣ Void DISCARD DENOMINATION ♠ Void A card played to a trick that is neither A general term meaning clubs, ♥ A 9 of the suit led nor of the trump suit. diamonds, hearts, spades, or no- ♦ Q trumps. During the auction, the ♣ Void denominations follow that rank, with ♠ Void clubs as the lowest and no-trumps as ♥ J 7 5 3 the highest. Hearts are trumps, and South, ♦ 10 7 5 4 3 declarer, leads the ♠9 from dummy. ♣ Q 7 4 2 DEPO East ruffs and South will overruff. Convention handling intervention If East ruffs with the ♥J, South ruffs after a Blackwood 4NT bid. with the ♥A and finesses the ♥10. If On a spade lead, if spades are trumps The name is a mnemonic for ‘Double East trumps with a lower card, South or there are no-trumps, any card you Even Pass Odd’. A double after ruffs with the ♥9 and takes the top play will be a discard. On any other intervention shows zero, two or four two trumps for the final two tricks. lead, you will be following suit rather aces, a pass shows one or three. than making a discard. The term Due to the ambiguity, most pairs do DIRECT KING CONVENTION ‘discard’ is also a verb, meaning to not use this method, preferring DOPE If, during the auction, a member of make a discard. or DOPI. the partnership reveals how many aces he has, a subsequent Blackwood DISCOURAGING CARD DESCHAPELLES’ COUP 4NT enquiry will ask him about A card signalling the fact that a Defensive play involving the sacrifice kings. As the associated conventions defender does not wish to have the suit of a high card in order to gain entry to that disclose aces early in the auction led or continued. In standard methods, partner’s hand. have gone out of popular use, this you discourage by playing low (the For example: convention is now quite rare. lowest card you hold in the suit).

Page 39 A to Z of Bridge continued On the preceding deal, South’s DISTRIBUTIONAL VALUE distribution is 3-4-3-3, North’s is 2-3- A holding of worth, due to shortage or 3-5 and East’s is 2-3-4-4. The spade length in suits. distribution is 6322, the heart and diamond distributions are 4333 and DIXON CONVENTION ♠ Void the club distribution is 5431. First recognized defence to the Multi, ♥ 7 5 2 based on the principle that a double ♦ Q 10 7 5 4 DISTRIBUTIONAL of 2♦ shows a fairly balanced hand ♣ K J 9 4 2 POINT COUNT of about 13-16 points, immediate Points based on distribution that you overcalls of 2♥ and 2♠ show the add to the High Card Points’ value of equivalent of a takeout double of the If partner leads a heart or you discard a hand to estimate its playing strength other major and all other bids are a heart on a spade, you would be more accurately. A number of methods natural. likely to want to discourage hearts by are in use, some based on shortages, playing the two. others on length. For example: DODD DISCARDS The standard Goren Count (or A system of discards in which the face DISCOVERY PLAY 3-2-1 count) adds three points for a value (odd/even) of the discard may A declarer who tests the distribution void, two for a singleton and one for signal attitude or suit preference. Even of the outstanding cards in the unseen a doubleton. When the partnership cards Encourage the suit discarded hands before committing himself to has a good fit, Goren recommends while Odd cards are Off-putting one line of play is making a ‘discovery adding five points for a void, three for (discouraging) and ask for the other play’. For example: a singleton and one for a doubleton. suit of the same colour. The Karpin Count adds points not For instance, when discarding on a for shortages, but for extra length in spade lead, the ♥2 asks for a heart, the ♠ 6 4 the bid suit, one extra point for each ♥3 asks for a diamond and the ♣5 is ♥ A J 5 card over four in the longest suit; neutral (as it asks theoretically for a ♦ A Q 9 so a five-card suit gains one point, a spade). ♣ K 10 7 3 2 six-card suit gains two extra points, ♠ J 10 7 5 3 2 ♠ 9 8 etc. Opener uses the Karpin count in DOPE/ROPE ♥ 9 8 6 N ♥ 10 3 2 evaluating his hand. In responding, Conventions used after intervention W E ♦ 5 4 3 S ♦ J 10 7 2 with primary trump support, the following a Blackwood 4NT, allowing ♣ 6 ♣ Q 9 8 5 5-3-1 count is more accurate while the responder to show an odd or even ♠ A K Q 3-2-1 count is more accurate with only number of aces. ♥ K Q 7 4 secondary support. After an intervening bid,D ouble ♦ K 8 6 While the shortage and length shows an Odd number of aces, Pass ♣ A J 4 points’ methods produce similar an Even number. After an intervening results, it is a good idea to make the double, Redouble shows an Odd following adjustments: number of aces and Pass an Even West leads the ♠J against South’s 7NT. With a singleton king, queen or jack, number. Due to the ambiguity, most You have twelve top tricks and the deduct one point. With five trumps in pairs do not use this method. thirteenth will come from a success- the responding hand, add one point. ful finesse against the ♣Q. By playing DOPI/ROPI off the winners in spades, hearts and Conventions used after intervention diamonds, you find that West started ♠ K 9 6 5 4 following a Blackwood 4NT. Follow- with a 6-3-3-1 distribution. You can ♥ 8 ing an intervening bid, Double shows cash the ♣K and finesse against East ♦ 8 5 3 zero (O) aces, Pass one (I) and other on the second round of clubs confi- ♣ A 8 5 2 responses on a step principle, the first dently. bid (e.g. 5♥ after a ♦5 overcall) showing two aces etc. After an intervening DISTRIBUTION With this hand, it would be usual to double, Redouble shows zero (O) aces, Distribution assesses the number of count three points for the singleton Pass one (I) ace etc. cards in a suit as dispersed around the heart if partner bids one of the black If you are playing Keycard Black- table or in an individual player’s hand. suits because then you have primary wood or Roman Keycard Blackwood, For example: 5-4-3-1 ‘distribution’. trump support. it is usual to play that you double (or This is also the hand’s ‘pattern’ or If partner bids diamonds, the redouble) to show the first step re- ‘shape’. singleton is worth only two points. sponse or pass to make the second A hand or deal with a lot of If partner bids hearts or no-trumps, step response. The cheapest actual bid distribution will have more than the the singleton is not worth any shows the third step response and so average number of singletons or voids. distributional points. on.

Page 40 A to Z of Bridge continued DOUBLE FINESSE for a club lead. A finesse against two outstanding On the first auction, East would be honours. For example: likely to lead a spade or a diamond without the double. On the second auction, East would be likely to lead a West 1 A Q 10 spade without the double. ♠ K 9 5 3 N ♥ A Q J 8 3 K J 8 W E 9 7 6 2 DOUBLE RAISE S ♦ 7 5 A raise of partner’s suit by two levels ♣ A 2 5 4 3 (e.g. 1♥-Pass-3♥). In Acol, this is a limit raise, usually showing four- card support and eight losers or 10-12 Declarer must first finesse dummy’s points. West 2 ten and later the queen to take all Opener can also make a double raise ♠ Q 9 5 3 three tricks. If East held one honour, (e.g. 1♣-Pass-1♥-Pass-3♥). This would ♥ A Q J 8 3 the double finesse would gain only one show four-card support and better ♦ 7 5 trick. than a minimum opening (six losers ♣ A 2 or 15-17 points). DOUBLE JUMP OVERCALL An overcall skipping two levels DOUBLE SQUEEZE West North East South of bidding (e.g. 1♥-3♠). Facing an This is a squeeze against both 1♥ 2♦ 2♠ 3♦ unpassed partner, a double jump opponents. In one suit, you have 4♠ Pass 4NT 5♦ overcall is pre-emptive, trying to a threat against one opponent. In ? obstruct the opponents. It shows a another suit, you have a threat against similar hand to a pre-emptive opening his partner. In a third suit, you have On the first hand, playing Keycard bid. a threat that the opponents share the Blackwood, you want to show three burden of protecting. key cards. That is a fourth step DOUBLE JUMP RAISE For example: response. Thus, as double and pass A raise missing out two levels of deal with the first and second steps, bidding. It is usually pre-emptive in you bid 5♠. On the second hand, you nature, e.g. 1♥-4♥. ♠ A J have two key cards and so bid 5♥. ♥ K With Roman Keycard Blackwood DOUBLE OF ♦ Void you have (zero or) three key cards on THREE NO TRUMP BIDS ♣ Void the first hand (first step response) and When the opponents bid to 3NT, a ♠ K 5 ♠ Q 6 ♥ A N ♥ Void so double. With the second hand, you double by the defender who will not be W E have two key cards and the trump on lead usually acts as lead-directing ♦ Void S ♦ A queen, which is a fourth step response, double, asking for a particular lead, ♣ Void ♣ Void and so bid 5♠. often dummy’s first bid suit. ♠ 7 If both defenders have bid a different ♥ Void DOUBLE suit, the double asks partner to lead ♦ K A call that (if it ends the auction) his own suit rather than that of the ♣ A increases the value of tricks bid and doubler. made, the penalty for undertricks, the If nobody has bid a suit, a double bonuses for overtricks and will lead shows a long solid suit and asks As South, declarer, you lead the ♣A. to an additional bonus of 50 points if partner to lead his shortest suit. To keep the ♥A West throws a spade. the doubled contract is successful. The After dummy throws the ♥K, East is call is in use for several conventional West North East South in a similar position to his partner. To purposes. At low levels, most doubles 1♥ Pass 2♣ keep the ♦A, East too throws a spade, are for takeout. Pass 2NT Pass 3NT leaving the ♠A-J to win the last two Dbl tricks. DOUBLE DUMMY Key requirements for a double A play in a particular situation that West North East South squeeze are that at least one of the players could not possibly better 1♣ 1♥ the single guarded menaces lies over even if they could see all four hands. 1♠ 2♦ Pass 3♦ the stopper (they both do in the To examine a deal, double dummy, Pass 3NT Pass Pass example) and that, prior to playing is to look at all four hands simultane- Dbl the squeeze card, declarer has lost any ously. A double dummy problem is one losers that the defenders are due to in which all four hands are on display. On both auctions, West’s double asks take.

Page 41 A to Z of Bridge continued someone from ruffing one of your If you are trying to set up the diamond diamond winners. suit when North has no side entry, you need to duck the first two rounds of the suit, conserving the ♦A as an entry DOUBLED INTO GAME ♠ Q 10 2 to the long cards. A player is said to have been doubled ♥ 9 into game if an opponent has doubled ♦ A 10 8 5 4 DUKE OF his contract and the score for the tricks ♣ 9 6 5 3 CUMBERLAND’S HAND made, if the contract is successful, will Dealt to the son of George IV at whist. N exceed 100, while this score would have W E Clubs were trumps and the Duke held: S been less than 100 had the contract not been doubled. For example, to double ♠ A K J 7 4 a contract of 2♠ would be to double ♥ A 4 2 ♠ A K Q into game but to double a contract of ♦ K 6 ♥ A K Q J 2♦ would not. ♣ 10 7 4 ♦ A K ♣ K J 9 7 DOUBLER The person who doubles. On this layout, you should not draw trumps. Instead, you start by ruffing a His opponents bet that he would DOUBLETON heart, returning to the ♦K and ruffing not make a single trick in his hand. A holding of only two cards in a suit. a second heart. You cannot afford to According to the story, he accepted draw trumps because you need two of the bet and lost all thirteen tricks. The DOWN dummy’s trumps for ruffing. complete deal was: Failing to make the contracted number of tricks. DRIVE OUT To force out an opponent’s high card ♠ Void DRAWING TRUMPS by leading a sufficiently high card in ♥ Void The act of playing successive rounds of the same suit and continuing the suit ♦ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 trumps in order to remove the oppo- until the high card has gone. ♣ A Q 10 8 nents’ trumps. The objective is to stop ♠ A K Q ♠ J 10 9 8 7 6 the opponents from ruffing your win- DROP ♥ A K Q J N ♥ 10 9 8 7 6 ♦ A K W E ♦ Q J ners. Popular folklore says that players To play a high card and cause an S who fail to draw trumps end up walk- opponent to follow with a lower ♣ K J 9 7 ♣ Void ing barefoot along the Embankment. missing high card, as in the expression: ♠ 5 4 3 2 The truth is that there are almost as ‘to drop the singleton king offside’. ♥ 5 4 3 2 many hands on which you need to ♦ Void do something else before drawing DRURY CONVENTION ♣ 6 5 4 3 2 trumps, such as taking ruffs in dum- A conventional 2♣ response to a third- my or setting up a long suit. or fourth-hand opening asking if the You are South, playing in spades, opener has a sound or sub-minimum Following whist principles of the time, and receive a heart lead to your ace. opener. This convention is not in the Duke led the ♣7. North won with general use in the UK. the ♣8 and after two diamond ruffs and two further club leads through ♠ Q 10 2 DUCK the Duke, North could draw the last ♥ 9 4 To decline to take a trick that one trump and cash the seven remaining ♦ A Q J 3 could have won. Ducking is often a diamonds. ♣ 9 5 3 2 good idea to avoid playing a high card on a low one, to leave the opponents DUMB BIDDER (SILENT BIDDER) N W E with a guess or to disrupt the opposing Device to permit silent bidding. It is a S communications. Ducking can also board placed in the centre of the table, ♠ A K J 7 4 maintain your side’s communications: subdivided into labelled regions, 1♣, ♥ A 2 1♦, 1 ♥, 1♠, 1 NT, 2♣ etc. (up to 7NT), ♦ K 9 6 Dbl, Redbl, Alert, Stop and Pass. ♣ 10 7 4 ♦ A 9 5 3 2 A player makes his call by touching

N the appropriate region of the board ♦ K J 10 W E ♦ Q 8 with a pen or pencil, or moving a S On the layout above, you should small counter placed on the dumb draw trumps and run the diamonds. ♦ 7 6 4 bidder. Bidding boxes have rendered Drawing trumps is essential to stop dumb bidders almost obsolete.

Page 42 A to Z of Bridge continued the luck of the deal since facing a singleton) or when players’ scores compare both players have a strong Better Hand with the other results on holding in a particular suit each board. with the result that, whilst Evaluation DUMMY The first application of the combined honour point 1 This is the partner of the the duplicate principle was strength is high, the trick- Bernard Magee declarer, who takes no in Duplicate Whist by John taking potential is limited. Introduction part in the play, except at T. Mitchell, inventor of Better Hand Evaluation is duplicate, in playing the the first pairs’ movement. aimed at helping readers to cards as instructed. Duplicate Auction Bridge ♠ A Q add greater accuracy to their 2 This is also the hand of began in 1914 under the ♥ K Q 6 bidding. It deals with auctions declarer’s partner, as laid auspices of the American ♦ 7 6 4 2 in which you and your partner, against silent opponents, can ♣ out on the table so that Whist League. K J 5 4 describe your hands fully to the other three players Most bridge clubs and each other and, by evaluating can see it. almost all tournaments play N them accurately, find the best W E final contract. The emphasis of duplicate bridge. S all good, accurate bidding is on DUMMY REVERSAL hand evaluation. A method of play by which DUPLICATION ♠ K J 3 There are two general types of OF DISTRIBUTION ♥ A J the hand with longer auction: a) a fit is found and b) trumps (declarer) ruffs A duplication of distribution ♦ Q 8 5 3 no fit is found. ♣ 7 6 3 2 losers. Dummy’s trumps occurs when both players When you do not have a fit, then draw the remaining have exactly the same you are aiming to describe the trumps. length in one or more suits. strength of your hand as soon For example: ‘Mirror Distribution’ is a Whilst the combined point as possible, most often using no-trump bids. This book be- similar term, suggesting count for North-South gins by discussing balanced the duplication is in several is 26, they can take only hand bidding in Acol, as it ♠ J 10 9 suits. six certain tricks and are is very important that both ♥ A K 5 unlikely to make game. members of a partnership have an accurate knowledge of ♦ A 7 5 4 how to show hands of different ♣ Q 7 2 ♠ K Q 10 7 5 DUPLIMATE strengths. ♠ 6 4 3 ♠ 8 2 ♥ Q A Swedish designed card- When a fit is found, there is ♥ ♥ ♦ Q J 10 N 8 7 4 3 J 8 5 dealing machine that can much re-evaluation of the W E ♦ K J 10 9 S ♦ Q 6 3 2 ♣ A Q 10 2 deal any pack of cards but hand to be done; point count, ♣ 6 5 3 ♣ 10 9 8 works best with those that though still important, needs to be evaluated together with ♠ A K Q 7 5 N have barcodes. It also prints distribution. The best way of ♥ W E 9 6 2 S hand records. reaching an accurate assess ♦ 8 ment is to use the Losing Trick ♣ A K J 4 ♠ A J 9 8 3 DUSTBIN BID Count; this is an important ♥ 9 Colloquial name for a 1NT method of hand evaluation and takes up a number of chapters. ♦ 10 4 2 response to 1♥ or 1♠. If you You are South in a contract ♣ K J 9 4 lack the values for a two- Finally, we move on to different ♠ forms of evaluation including of 7 and have twelve top over-one response, you may game tries and splinter bids. tricks. You can get home have to respond 1NT on a You can never know enough however, when the suits Due to the duplication of variety of hands, including methods of hand evaluation; break evenly, by means of a distribution in the red suits, those that are far from the more you learn, the better you get at judging your hand. dummy reversal. the likely North-South balanced. By ruffing dummy’s three contract of 4♠ is doomed Although the Losing Trick Count is used more easily in losing diamonds with top to failure. If one player held tandem with your partner, a trumps, you end up with three hearts and a singleton ♠ Void large proportion of the ideas three trump tricks, four diamond, however, there ♥ J 9 5 4 3 2 in this book can be used by an club tricks, three tricks from would be only two losers ♦ 9 7 individual. For example, evaluating your hand to be worth ♣ A J 8 7 4 the red-suit winners and and eleven tricks. an extra point is going to help three tricks by trumping anyone you partner – as long diamonds in hand. DUPLICATION as you get it right. OF VALUES If partner opens 1♠, you DUPLICATE BRIDGE A duplication of values should respond 1NT. ■ £14 including postage A form of bridge in which occurs either when one See Mail Order Form different players play the player is short in the other’s To be continued on page 7 same deal. This eliminates strong suit (e.g. K-Q-x

Page 43 GLOBAL TRAVEL INSURANCE A1 Yeoman Gate, Yeoman Way, Worthing, BN13 3QZ GLOBAL TRAVEL GLOBAL TRAVEL INSURANCE ( INSURANCE Services Limited 01903 267432 Fax 01903 268946 Email [email protected] Services Limited

SINGLE TRIP INSURANCE PRODUCT SUITABILITY

This insurance is suitable for persons whose Demands and Needs are those of a traveller whose Individual round trip starts and finishes in the UK and is of no more than 122 days duration, and whose age is 90 years or less and is a permanent resident of the United Kingdom and Channel Islands. As this description contains the Key Features of the cover provided it constitutes provision of a statement of demands and needs. This insurance is only available to persons who are permanently resident and domiciled in the UK.

SINGLE TRIP SUMMARY OF COVER

The following represent the Significant and Key Features of the policy including Exclusions and Limitations that apply per person. A full copy of the policy document is available on request.

CANCELLATION OR CURTAILMENT up to £1,500 PERSONAL LUGGAGE, MONEY & VALUABLES up to £2,000 If you have to cancel or cut short your trip due to illness, injury, redundancy, jury service, the police Covers accidental loss, theft or damage to your personal luggage subject to a limit of £200 for any requiring you to remain at or return to your home due to serious damage to your home, you are one article, pair or set and an overall limit of £200 for valuables such as cameras, Jewellery, furs, covered against loss of travel and accommodation costs. etc. Luggage and valuables limited to £1500. Delayed luggage, up to £75. Policy Excess £75. Policy Excess £50. Money, travel tickets and travellers cheques are covered up to £500 against accidental loss or theft For persons aged 61 to 70 years the excess is increased to £100. (cash limit £250). Policy Excess £75. For persons aged 71 to 90 years the excess is increased to £150. No cover is provided for loss or theft of unattended property, valuables or money or for loss or theft See section headed Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions for increased not reported to the Police within 24 hours of discovery. excesses applicable to claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions. PASSPORT EXPENSES up to £200 PERSONAL ACCIDENT up to £15,000 If you lose your passport or it is stolen whilst abroad, you are covered for additional travel and A cash sum for accidental injury resulting in death, loss of sight, loss of limb or permanent total accommodation costs incurred in obtaining a replacement. No Policy Excess. disablement. No Policy Excess. DELAYED DEPARTURE up to £1,500 MEDICAL AND OTHER EXPENSES up to £10,000,000 If your outward or return trip is delayed for more than 12 hours at the final departure point to/from Including FIRSTASSIST 24 HOUR WORLDWIDE MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICE UK due to adverse weather conditions, mechanical breakdown or industrial action, you are entitled (a) The cost of hospital and other emergency medical expenses incurred abroad, including to either (a) £20 for the first 12 hours and £10 for each further 12 hours delay up to a maximum additional accommodation and repatriation expenses. of £60, or (b) the cost of the trip (up to £1,500) if you elect to cancel after 12 hours delay on the Limit £250 for emergency dental treatment and £5,000 burial/cremation/transfer of remains. outward trip from the UK. Policy Excess £75 (b) only. Limit £2,500 for transfer of remains to your home if you die in the UK. Policy Excess £75 unless travelling within North or Central America or the Caribbean or on MISSED DEPARTURE up to £500 a Cruise when increased to £150. Additional travel and accommodation expenses incurred to enable you to reach your overseas For persons aged 61 to 70 years the excess is increased to £150 unless travelling within destination if you arrive too late at your final UK outward departure point due to failure of the North or Central America or the Caribbean when increased to £500. vehicle in which you are travelling to deliver you to the departure point caused by adverse weather, For persons aged 71 to 90 years the excess is increased to £300 unless travelling within strike, industrial action, mechanical breakdown or accident to the vehicle. No Policy Excess. North or Central America or the Caribbean or on a Cruise when increased to £1,000. PERSONAL LIABILITY up to £2,000,000 See section headed Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions for increased Covers your legal liability for injury or damage to other people or their property, including legal excesses applicable to claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions. expenses (subject to the laws of England and Wales). Policy Excess £250. (b) HOSPITAL BENEFIT up to £300 An additional benefit of £15 per day for each day you spend in hospital abroad as an in-patient. LEGAL EXPENSES up to £25,000 No Policy Excess. To enable you to pursue your rights against a third party following injury. No Policy Excess.

MAIN EXCLUSIONS AND CONDITIONS Medical Screening The following represents only the main exclusions. The policy document sets out all of the Unless you are traveling to North or Central America or the Caribbean or on a Cruise, conditions and exclusions. A copy of the full policy wording is available on request in writing prior there is no need to advise us of your pre existing medical conditions. Please note that to application. we consider a Cruise to be any international sailing or sea voyage travelling international waters but not River Trips. MAIN HEALTH EXCLUSIONS: If You have a history of any medical condition and are traveling to North or Central Insurers will not pay for claims arising America or the Caribbean or on a Cruise, you must first contact the Medical Screening 1. Where You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends) are undergoing tests for the Line to establish whether we can provide cover for your trip. If you are accepted, the presence of a medical condition receiving or on a waiting list for or have knowledge of the need following levels of excess will apply. You will receive written confirmation that you are for treatment at a hospital or nursing home. covered for the trip. The number to call is: 2. From any terminal illness suffered by You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends). 0844 8921698 3. From any medical condition for which You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends) If you are not accepted for cover having been screened, we may be able have within 12 months prior to the date of issue of this insurance been diagnosed with a medical to offer you cover under our Single Trip “PLUS” product. condition or have been admitted or undergone a procedure/ intervention in a hospital. Please ask us for further details or go to our website. 4. If You are travelling against the advice of a Medical Practitioner. OTHER GENERAL EXCLUSIONS Claims arising from Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions 1. Winter sports, any hazardous pursuits, any work of a non sedentary nature. Provision for the acceptance of pre existing medical conditions has been made by the 2. Self inflicted injury or illness, suicide, alcoholism or drug abuse, sexual disease. application of increased excesses in the event of claims arising. 3. War, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities or warlike operations, civil war, rebellion, For claims arising from any medical condition, other than those that are specifically excluded, Terrorism, revolution, insurrection, civil commotion, military or usurped power but this the excess is further increased as follows: exclusion shall not apply to losses under Section 3 - Medical Expenses unless such Under the Cancellation or Curtailment section – double the normal excess. losses are caused by nuclear, chemical or biological attack, or the disturbances were already Under the Medical & Other Expenses section – taking place at the beginning of any Trip. For persons aged 60 years or less the excess is increased to £500 unless travelling within 4. Failure or fear of failure or inability of any equipment or any computer program. North or Central America or the Caribbean or on a Cruise when increased to £1,000. 5. Consequential loss of any kind. For persons aged 61 to 70 years the excess is increased to £1,000 unless travelling within 6. Bankruptcy/liquidation of any tour operator, travel agent, airline, transportation company or North or Central America or the Caribbean or on a Cruise when increased to £2,000. accommodation supplier. For persons aged 71 to 90 years the excess is increased to £1,500 unless travelling within 7. Travelling to countries or regions where the FCO or WHO has advised against travel. North or Central America or the Caribbean or on a Cruise when increased to £3,000. 8. Your failure to contact the Medical Screening Line where required.

POLICY EXCESSES: The amount of each claim for which insurers will not pay and for which you are responsible. The excess as noted in the policy summary applies to each and every claim per insured person under each section where an excess applies. ✄

Single Trip travel insurance is arranged by Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Single Trip Travel Insurance Financial Services Authority and our status can be checked on the FSA Suitable for individual round trips up to 122 days duration Register by visiting www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FSA that start and finish in the UK arranged by on 0845 606 1234. This insurance is underwritten by ETI International Travel Protection Global Travel Insurance (ETI) the UK branch of Europäische Reiseversicherung A.G. Munich, an A1 Yeoman Gate, Yeoman Way, Worthing, BN13 3QZ ERGO group Company, incorporated and regulated under the laws of ( 01903 267432 Fax 01903 268946 Germany, Companies House Registration FC 25660 and Branch Reg- istration BR 007939. ETI is licensed by the Bundesanstalt für Finanz- SINGLE TRIP APPLICATION FORM dienstleistungsaufsicht (BAFIN – www.bafin.de) and approved by the Financial Services Authority to undertake insurance business in the UK. Please FULLY complete the following in BLOCK CAPITALS. Once complete, return the application panel direct to Global Travel Insurance with a cheque If you have a complaint about the sale of this insurance you must first or with card details entered. Insurance is not effective until a Policy has been write to the Managing Director of Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd. issued. Please allow at least 5 days before you need to travel. Subsequently, complaints may be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. If we are unable to meet our liabilities you may be entitled to Details of the Applicant compensation under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Title (Mr/Mrs/Miss) Initials If you would like more information or are unsure of any details contained herein, you should ask Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd for further Surname advice. Telephone No. Single Trip PREMIUM RATING SCHEDULE House Number/Name GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS 1. United Kingdom Street Name England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, including all islands comprising the British Isles (except the Channel Islands and the Town Name Republic of Ireland). (Any British Isles or UK Cruises are rated as Area 2). 2. Europe Postcode Area 1 and Continental Europe west of the Ural mountain range, all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea (except, Egypt, Israel, Date of leaving Home Jordan, Lebanon, Libya & Syria), the Channel Islands and the Republic of Ireland, Iceland, Madeira, The Canaries and The Azores. (Persons Date of arrival Home residing in the Channel Islands need to pay Area 2 rates for UK trips). 3. Worldwide excluding North America Screening Ref Areas 1 & 2 and All countries outside of the above (except the continent of North America, countries comprising Central America and the Introducer Mr Bridge Caribbean Islands). 4. Worldwide including North America Geographical Area - See Premium Panel Areas 1,2 & 3 and The United States of America, Mexico and other (1,2,3 or 4) countries comprising Central America, Canada, Cuba and the Caribbean Islands. Names of all persons to be insured Age Premium

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Valid for policies issued up to 31/3/2012 2 £ and for travel completed by 31/12/2012. Areas 1 & 2 - Applicable per person up to age 90 years on the date 3 £ of return to the UK. Areas 3 & 4 - Applicable per person up to age 80 years on the date 4 £ of return to the UK. 5 £ Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 1 - 3 days £15.60 £23.80 £49.90 £71.90 6 £ 4 & 5 days £18.70 £30.00 £62.70 £90.40 6 -10 days £21.80 £40.40 £85.10 £121.80 Credit/Debit Card Details TOTAL PREMIUM £ 11-17 days £24.90 £44.20 £94.60 £136.30 18-24 days £28.00 £50.80 £106.50 £153.40 Card No 25-31 days £31.10 £57.80 £121.20 £174.50 Start Date End Date Issue No Each + 7 days £5.60 £11.40 call for a quotation or part thereof (maximum period of 122 days) Security Code All premiums include the Government Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) DECLARATION PREMIUM ADJUSTMENTS On behalf of all persons listed in this application, I agree that this application shall All age adjustments apply to the age on the date of return to the UK be the basis of the Contract of Insurance. I agree that Insurers may exchange The following adjustments apply ONLY to trips in excess of 31 days information with other Insurers or their agents. I have read and understood for all persons aged 65 years and over the terms and conditions of the insurance, with which all persons above are in Geographical Area Premium Increase agreement and for whom I am authorized to sign. The form MUST be signed by one Area 2 Europe Plus 50% (1.5 times) of the persons to be insured on behalf of all persons to be insured. Infants up to 2 years inclusive are FREE subject to being included with an Signed...... Date...... adult paying a full premium. The form MUST be signed by one of the persons to be insured on behalf of all persons to be insured. Children 3 to 16 years inclusive are HALF PRICE subject to being included Mr Bridge is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Global Travel Insurance with an adult paying a full premium. Unaccompanied children pay the adult rate. Group Discounts – Contact us for discounts available starting at 10 persons. Services Ltd, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

✄ 239STI11 Seven Days by Sally Brock

Two months ago, I began my article with the sentence, ‘February was rather quiet.’ That is going to be the only quiet time I shall see all year. March and early April were not too bad; the fun really started on April 15th when I flew to Belfast for the Lady Milne (women’s home international). You may recall that Susannah Gross and I finished second in the trials for that event back in January. My first problem was that I had not written the Lady Milne dates in my diary and it clashed with a booked holiday to Egypt with my daughter, Briony. Luckily, the holiday had been for ten days, so it was not too disastrous to shorten it to a week. Belfast went OK. We started badly but recovered and ended up sharing the trophy with Scotland (if it was like the Ashes, we should have retained it). I arrive home mid-afternoon, spend a few frantic hours washing, packing, answering emails etc and we set off for Gatwick where we are to spend the night prior to an early flight the following day. We had a fabulous time – three nights by the Red Sea and then four in Luxor – and certainly benefited from the shortage of other tourists due to the political troubles. We arrived home very late Tuesday night and had a couple of days of normality before the Royal Wedding. Barry and I decided we would rather be as far away from it all as possible (especially as Briony was sure to be glued to the TV all weekend), so we went to France. We took a late morning crossing via Eurotunnel, lunch in Sangatte and posh dinner plus overnight stay just outside Boulogne. We then had lunch picnicking on Le Touquet beach, afternoon tea by the lake in Ardres, cheese and wine shopping in Calais before dinner there and the journey home – lovely.

Nicola this evening. I mean to read the Your partner leads the ten of spades, Monday system on the train but do not quite which runs round to declarer’s jack. Dentist first thing – two fillings, plus get round to it. I will just have to wing At trick two, he plays the three of a scale and polish: £150 – a good start it. The first half is OK (when I forget diamonds, partner plays the eight and to the week. the system I get away with it) but IMPs he plays the jack from dummy. What Home to work: I finish off Israel drift away in the second, so we lose is going on and what do you do? before moving on to Lapland. In the 15-5 eventually. At the table, East won the diamond afternoon, I have an online bridge Last season we were in the second and shifted to the jack of hearts. session with Richard and Gerry. Later, division and won every match (well, While this finds partner with A-Q-x, both children have exams soon and that might not quite be true; we won three heart tricks and the queen of I have promised an hour a day in so many early on that it did not matter diamonds are all you take because helping Briony with revision: testing whether we lost some at the end). This declarer started with K-3 of diamonds her French vocabulary today. year, in the first division, we have yet and has three black-suit winners. to win a match at all. The winning defence is to duck Here is a defensive problem for you: the diamond, effectively killing the Tuesday suit. When you think about it, even I just about have time to get to the gym if partner started with K-8, the worst and home again in time to take Briony Dealer West. Love All. that can happen if you duck is that you to the orthodontist. She is getting al- ♠ 6 give declarer a quick second diamond most desperate to have her braces tak- ♥ 9 3 trick. Here, if you duck the diamond, en off but they are still not quite ready. ♦ A J 10 9 6 5 4 declarer has no chance. Later Su, my bookkeeper, comes to ♣ J 4 2 try to sort out my complicated affairs ♠ 8 7 4 2 N ♥ J 10 6 4 at the end of the financial year. I am W E Thursday meeting Briony in town after school – S ♦ Q 7 2 This afternoon, we have a Crockford’s she wants a second piercing in her ears ♣ K 9 match. It is the last round before the and I have to give consent. final and a 48-board affair (which is why we are starting so early). The first West North East South half is a nightmare and we are 37 IMPs Wednesday Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT down (against Nick Irens, David Bakh- I have a London League match with All Pass shi, Tom Townsend, Espen Erichsen

Page 46 and Norman Selway). The fice over a making vulner- second half is better and we able 6♥ (lucky though that Answer to Richard Wheen’s nearly win, losing by just 5 they did not press on to the IMPs. This includes a flat making grand). Déjà vu all Double Dummy Quiz grand slam, bid missing the over again. When I was at on page 5 ace of trumps. At the other university, there was a spe- table, they had some sort cial reward for bidding and six if the hearts or dia- of excuse because heavy making 7♦. (I think you got ♠ Void monds broke evenly, which pre-emption meant they bought a pint of whatever ♥ Void should be a good chance. I could not use Blackwood; you wanted from the union ♦ 4 3 2 came to hand with the dia- we, however, managed this bar – Purple Poison, a mix- ♣ A K 2 mond ace (East discarding feat despite managing to bid ture of blackcurrant, rum, ♠ Void ♠ Void a club – there went one of 4NT. (If you have agreed vodka, crème de menthe ♥ 9 N ♥ Q J 10 my chances) and played out W E spades and bid 4NT and an and lemonade was a favour- ♦ K Q S ♦ Void two rounds of hearts, on the opponent bids five clubs, ite!) The very first time I ♣ 9 8 7 ♣ Q J 10 second of which West threw a how many aces does a five played in a national compe- ♠ Void club – there went my second diamond response show?) tition – a Swiss teams heat ♥ A K 3 2 chance. Still, West’s discard Afterwards, we have din- – 7♦ was makeable on three ♦ A set me thinking. East alone ner and drown our sorrows; of the first six boards. We ♣ 3 was guarding the hearts we have enjoyed the season. bid all three, winning the now and West the diamonds. Our teammates Richard match by the maximum. o there we were, in the Perhaps neither of them Palmer and Ed Scerri have However, this run did not Slast match of the autumn could also guard clubs. So played well and been excel- last and our final total for South-East Surrey Senior I threw dummy’s last dia- lent teammates. the day was less than after Novice teams-of-four compe- mond on my second heart the first match. tition. Beforehand, our team trick, crossed to dummy with captain had given us all a a club and cashed the other Friday pep talk (very pompous, but club honour; lo and behold don’t tell him I said so). He the lowly club two won the I stay at Barry’s and work on Weekend stressed that, to win the com- last trick. My opponents then my laptop all day. I am so A peaceful weekend is in petition, we needed not only confirmed that I had in fact glad I have managed to get prospect. We leave London to bid to the best of our (as he executed a squeeze – not a my home computer and lap- and head homewards late said, somewhat limited) abil- plain vanilla squeeze, a dou- top (and phone for that mat- Saturday morning, doing ity, but also to play out of our ble squeeze – and they could ter) synchronized so that nothing much for the rest of skins. In particular, we should do nothing about it. They I can work on my laptop the day. Briony and I go to look for opportunities to clearly assumed that I regu- anywhere. Given how much Waitrose to get some food. make contracts on which our larly brought off two double I seem to be away, this is es- In the evening, we watch opposite numbers might give squeezes before breakfast sential. In the last few weeks, TV (especially Match of the up. He also highlighted the and I did not disabuse them. we (that is the English wom- Day) and generally relax. need to count our tricks and, Actually, I was quite proud en’s team) have received On Sunday, we lie in and when we had one too few, to of myself, as I had indeed (and accepted) two trips to have brunch. Briony and think squeeze – something achieved a squeeze by think- Beijing later in the year to Barry watch the Grand thus far beyond my capability. ing it through – for the first play in tournaments with Prix, then we go kite fly- I was sitting South and this time ever. Of course, pride very generous prize money. ing. A month or so ago, we hand came up early on. I comes before a fall. I totally I have holidays booked in had a fabulous day out at was declarer in a no-trump misdefended the following Malta and Crete; I have also Streatham Kite Day, where contract and, with six tricks hand and our team lost the arranged to spend the whole – in perfect weather – there remaining, I counted my win- match by 1 victory point, but week in Brighton for the were all manner of exotic ners. Try as I might, I could at least I have now achieved summer congress. kite demonstrations. be sure of only five – though a squeeze intentionally. ■ In the evening, I play at We had great fun, flying the Young Chelsea with quite a modest contraption Margaret (Nygren – ex that we bought there (hav- DUPLICATE BRIDGE James/Courtney). After a ing managed to leave the only couple of rounds, we are mi- kite we already possessed at RULES SIMPLIFIED 95 nus 36 IMPs, due mainly to home). Today, we get both £5 (otherwise known as the Yellow Book) bad luck, so we are pleased kites flying well – until one to end up plus 21 or so, lands in someone’s garden. by John Rumbelow and revised by David Stevenson having correctly bid three Then it’s home for a roast Includes 2007 Law Revisions. 7♦ contracts! Two made chicken dinner and the end Available from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 and one was a 500 sacri- of another week. ■

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