Winter 2018 Volume 60 Issue 4 Peter Wright, Editor

IN THIS ISSUE THE DECLARER NJBL web site www.njbl.net Woodbridge March Sectional flyer ...... 2 Editor Peter Wright Article: “The Gods of Bridge” ...... 3 [email protected] Annual Awards Brunch flyer ...... 4 Contributors Barbara Clark Youth Bridge ...... 5 Arnold Kohn Jay Korobow Masterpoint Races Bob Miller Player of the Year Race ...... 6 Rosalie Slutsky Mini-McKenney ...... 6 Ace of Clubs ...... 7 Reporting / proofing Brett Kunin Kohn’s Korner ...... 7 Technical Advisor Jay Korobow Article: “Aesop’s Foibles” ...... 8 Web Master Susan Slusky Club Doings ...... 9 [email protected] Remembrances ...... 10 The Declarer is published online four times per year by the New Jersey Bridge League (Unit 140 Article: “The Bridge Connection” ...... 11 District 3 of the ACBL). From the Editor’s Desk ...... 11

Big games ...... 12

Article: “Lightner, Anyone” ...... 13

Milestones ...... 14

NOTICE

The following Unit 140 members

have been nominated to serve on

the NJBL for 2018: in case you missed it . . . HIMANSHU JOSHI A partnership of over 50 years! PRAMOD KHANNA ENDEL UIGA and BILL RAPOPORT JESSE REISMAN In the November 2017 issue The names of these nominees will of the ACBL Bridge Bulletin (p 34) Endel and Bill are featured in situ be submitted for vote at the annual at the Shadowfax Bridge Club Unit 140 brunch on February 25, in Chester NJ 2018, at the Pines Manor in Edison, NJ.

:

Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 2

Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 3

THE GODS OF BRIDGE by Bob Miller

[Unit 140 has more than one Bob Miller. The author of this The gods can also be very cruel. My new partner likes solid article resides in East Brunswick – Ed.] openings and we both like strict in first and second positions. he gods of bridge can be both beneficent and cruel. Here T are two recent examples from a game in which I was South West North East playing with a new partner. Pass 1♥ 2♦ 2♥ 3♥ Pass Pass! Pass With no one vulnerable, South, my LHO and a very fine player, opened 1♣. My partner doubled and North passed. I With my aceless 10-count, I passed with the South hand, and held a 4-HCP hand, but a very interesting one. I passed and West, vulnerable against not, opened 1♥. My partner hoped for the best. Opener also decided to pass, and my overcalled 2♦. When East raised with 2♥, my hand had become a monster. My only suitable bid was 3♥. This was partner dutifully led his singleton . followed by three passes!! My partner judged that, if the Dummy came down with two Clubs, so I knew declarer had opponents had a vulnerable game, we would get a top. Alas only three trumps. My ♣10 forced his ♣K. He tried a that was not the case here. Our score of -250 was worth .03 of the ♥10, losing to my singleton ♥J. MPs out of a top of 12, while 4♦ would have made four or five for a near top. My ♣J of clubs forced his ♣A, partner discarding a high Diamond. Declarer next finessed the ♥Q. I ruffed and drew North Dealer: South ♠ 865 South’s last trump with my ♣Q. I then led a Diamond to Vul: E-W ♥ Q1052 partner's ♦J. He returned a Heart for me to , and I led my ♦ AQ1075 other Diamond. Partner took both his ♦AQ, as I discarded a ♣ 5 losing Spade. He returned another Heart for me to ruff. I led a West East Spade. Partner took his ♠AQ, and my last two cards were ♠ A104 ♠ Q732 trump winners. Declarer was down 5 doubled, for 1100 points ♥ AK763 ♥ J984 on a non-vulnerable 1♣ doubled contract. ♦ 3 ♦ J South West North East ♣ A764 ♣ QJ102 1♣ Dbl All Pass South ♠ KJ9 North ♥ – Dealer: South ♠ 1087 ♦ K98642 Vul: none ♥ AQ105 ♣ K983 ♦ 7542 ♣ 53 Bridge can be sometimes wonderful, sometimes maddening, West East and always interesting, which is why we all play. ♠ AQ95 ♠ 632 ♥ K763 ♥ J ♦ AQJ10 ♦ 63 ♣ 4 ♣ QJ108762 South ♠ KJ4 ♥ 9842 ♦ K98 ♣ AK9

Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 4

Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 5 YOUTH BRIDGE by Barbara Clark

On Saturday, December 9, the New Jersey Bridge League held its Holiday Bridge sectional tournament at the Hungarian-American Citizens Club in Woodbridge, NJ. In all, a total of ten tables of students participated, as well as three additional students attending as early learners, preparing their competition-level skills. All were very excited to be there, and, despite snowy weather, attendance was high. Tamyra Rumble and Chidumebi Iherobiem

Overall winners were Jeremiah Charles and Jahiem Watson from Park Avenue School in Orange, NJ.; they also won 1st place for E-W with a 71% game. Chidigo Iherobiem and Bernard Francis from Oakwood Avenue School in Orange, NJ won 2nd place overall and 2nd place E-W with a 65% game. Tamyra Rumble from Park Avenue School in Orange, NJ and Chidumebi Iherobiem from Oakwood Avenue School in Orange, NJ won 3rd place overall and 3rd place E-W with a 62% game. Chidigo Iherobiem and Bernard Francis Kevin Dai and Keith Yao Winners for N-S were Eric Chai and Kyle Lui, who took first place with a 63% game, Kevin Dai and Keith Yao, who placed 2nd N-S with a 62.11% game, and Prince Antwi and Munachiso Iherobiem from Oakwood Avenue School in Orange, NJ, who took 3rd place with a 62% game. The students are preparing for their annual trip to the Nationals. In addition to participating in tournaments, students attend weekly bridge lessons before and after school, on weekends, and online. Jeremiah Charles and Jahiem Watson Eric Chai and Kyle Lui

Without the support of volunteers, administrators, coordinators, teachers, and other supporters, none of this would be possible.

Congratulations to all of these students on their successful performances!

Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 6

MASTERPOINT RACES Final Standings for 2017

Mini-McKenney medallions are awarded to the players in each Unit, one per ranking level, who earn the most total master points during the previous year. All points of any color and source are counted. Ace of Clubs certificates are awarded to the players in each Unit, one per ranking level, who earn the most master points in club games during the calendar year. Only black points are counted; points earned in STaCs and other special games paying "pigmented" points don't count. The awards are not mutually exclusive; it's possible to win either or both in the same year. The level you compete in is the one within which you started the year.

MINI-MCKENNEY ACE OF CLUBS Masterpoint

range Douglas Reeves Union 30.09 Douglas Reeves Union 30.09 0 – 5 Gloria Gribin Wayside 29.72 Gloria Gribin Wayside 25.81 Lawrence Harte Livingston 27.52 Lawrence Harte Livingston 23.88 Sheila Holderness Montville 40.95 Sheila Holderness Montville 38.74 5 – 20 Robert Frantzen Princeton 33.65 Robert Frantzen Princeton 27.60 Chantal Frantzen Princeton 33.34 Chantal Frantzen Princeton 27.29 John Gimblette Lakewood 89.12 William Schoener Maplewood 52.29 20 – 50 William Schoener Maplewood 85.78 John Gimblette Lakewood 51.90 Janet Schoener Maplewood 83.19 Sherry Kovacs Livingston 50.31 Ginny Mason Princeton 119.22 Justine Robertson Rumson 69.06 50 – 100 Bobby Willig Princeton 104.52 Ginny Mason Princeton 60.58 Justine Robertson Rumson 74.80 Martin Eisenberg Holmdel 54.76 Joseph Wright Westfield 128.08 Ira Tarnow West Orange 53.58 100 – 200 Zenon Komar Summit 117.77 Joesph Wright Westfield 53.39 Ira Tarnow West Orange 112.20 Edward Fisher Manalapan 50.30 Charles Dvorkin Manalapan 103.16 Charles Dvorkin Manalapan 54.68 200 – 300 Clayton Reynolds Weehawken 79.45 Deb Wyman Naples FL 53.33 Ming Li Summit 75.95 Joseph Messina Waretown 51.30 Piotr Olszewski Hackettstown 316.45 Piotr Olszekski Hackettstown 205.04 300 – 500 Chung-Zong Wan Somerset 232.38 Chung-Zong Wan Somerset 109.70 Teresa Chek Bedminster 214.16 Trina Frankel Short Hills 102.49 Michael Lo Bedminster 223.07 Foster Osborne Summit 118.54 500 – 1000 Foster Osborne Summit 216.53 Michael Hewlitt Bridgewater 92.60 Michael Hewlitt Bridgewater 183.84 Jacqueline Hewlitt Bridgewater 85.37 Wendy Lee East Hanover 411.51 Wendy Lee East Hanover 181.96 1000 – 1500 Chorng-Hour Yang Parsippany 245.92 Chorng-Hour Yang Parsippany 149.73 Ruth Yeselson Highland Park 203.57 Larry Youell South Orange 119.67 Leonard Myers Franklin Township 343.99 Summer Freedman Short Hills 155.22 1500 – 2500 Nat Zucker Monroe Township 216.29 Steve Swiss Mendham 135.68 Neil Jaffe Belle Mead 214.82 Leonard Myers Franklin Township 132.08 Joan Brody Livingston 562.76 Steve Cooper Belle Mead 160.46 2500 – 3500 Stephen Cooper Belle Mead 477.70 Robin Sharmah Oakhurst 139.50 Himanshu Joshi Chester 181.92 Elyse Menashe Deal 122.36 Sam Borenstein West Orange 450.11 Joyce Menezes Jersey City 226.37 3500 – 5000 Joyce Menezes Ridgewood 403.91 E Freeman Bunn Vero Beach FL 203.87 Donna Dulet Ocean 358.43 Donna Dulet Ocean 199.38 Dori Byrnes Morris Plains 1,049.50 Judy Rothstein Livingston 310.50 5000 – 7500 Dennis Thompson Lake Hiawatha 594.84 Maria Chaikin Savannah GA 279.93 Alex Perlin Metuchen 409.25 Dennis Thompson Lake Hiawatha 218.14 William Ehlers West Orange 866.55 Jesse Reisman Livingston 163.94 7500 – 10,000 Jiang Gu Mountain Lakes 609.26 Cynthia Schneider East Brunswick 157.66 Abe Pineles Palm Desert CA 471.18 Cheryl Angel Livingston 156.03 Wlliam Esberg Long Branch 297.43 William Esberg Long Branch 202.91 10,000+ Lester Sokolower Verona 195.33 Lester Sokolower Verona 173.70 Barbara Tepper Verona 117.31 Barbara Tepper Verona 101.96

Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 7

PLAYER OF THE YEAR RACE Final Standings by Range for 2017

Player of the Year standings are determined by MPs earned during a calendar year in events sponsored by the New Jersey Bridge League, Unit 140. These events comprise annual tournaments at the Awards Brunch, Autumnfest charity games, and Double Knockouts, plus four Sectionals held throughout the year.

EN OMEN M W John Gimblette Lakewood 15.25 Janet Schoener Maplewood 6.47 0 – 50 Jared Schuller Hillsborough 9.03 Julie Grossman Hopewell 6.40 William Schoener Maplewood 8.82 Cheryl Gorman Little Silver 4.80 Dinkar Pujara Edison 15.25 Ginny Mason Princeton 8.63 50 – 100 Jack Schrum Bridgewater 5.85 Debbie Faigen Lawrenceville 8.15 Arthur Sabsevitz Monroe Twp 4.16 Joanne Moynihan Monroe Twp 6.44 Pramod Khanna East Windsor 15.53 Jane Yarian Princeton 8.85 100 – 200 Howard Chen Westfield 7.11 Helene Buckwald Princeton 6.16 Romesh Arora New Providence 6.09 Felicia Freed Califon 3.95 Joseph Wright Westfield 18.11 Kathy Galanty Livingston 4.97 200 – 300 Sam Singhvi Whitehorse Stn 10.74 Wendy Sands Monmouth Beach 3.23 Edward Andrews, Jr. Skillman 6.40 Amber Lin Edison 3.12 Chandu Mehta Morris Plains 46.68 Teresa Chek Bedminster 23.05 300 – 1000 Komal Kamat Plainsboro 35.98 Stephanie Austin West Caldwell 10.33 Ashok Agarwala Edison 28.10 Trina Frankel Short Hills 7.66 Leonard Myers Franklin Twp 72.00 Ruth Yeselson Highland Park 18.05 1000 – 2500 Neil Jaffe Belle Mead 59.29 Wendy Lee East Hanover 15.72 Gregory Gorshkov Somerville 42.29 Rita Whitney Kendall Park 13.83 Jiang Gu Mountain Lakes 102.88 Dori Byrnes Morris Plains 92.14 2500+ Richard Ross Highland Park 82.84 Joyce Menezes Jersey City 39.96 Will Ehlers Livingston 78.18 Donna Dulet Ocean 30.64

3 highest Jiang Gu Mountain Lakes 102.88 POTY totals Dori Byrnes Morris Plains 92.14 for 2017 Richard Ross Highland Park 82.84

KOHN’S KORNER by Arnold Kohn

Inverted Raises

ne must remember that partner’s opening bid of Some partnerships play that a jump shift response in the O 1♣ or 1♦ may be made on three cards, so a support other minor (i.e, 1♦-3♣ or 1♣-2♦) shows five-card response should always show a minimum of five cards support and exactly 10-12 HCP. This is called the Criss- without a four-card . I recommend inverting Cross Convention, which allows the single raise of the the responses: a preemptive jump to three of the minor minor to be game-forcing. Opener, holding a minimum with fewer than 10 HCP and a single raise with 10+ HCP. after a Criss-Cross raise, simply retreats to three of the The single raise is forcing to 2NT or three of the agreed- agreed-upon minor suit. With extra values, opener can upon minor suit. Opener, with more than a minimum explore by bidding suits in which he has stoppers in holding, can make exploratory bids to reach a game contract. anticipation of reaching a game bid of 3NT.

Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 8

AESOP’S FOIBLES by Jay Korobow

he Robot games I have been writing up for and afraid that signing off in 6♦ – an excellent contract, T entertainment value also have an interesting by the way – might find my robot partner leaping to 7♠, I strategic angle. As the foibles of a robot bid or play are quickly bid 6NT, which tends to shut the robots up – as revealed, the human participant can and should well as most human partners! incorporate that into his decision-making in any ongoing North robot tourneys. Quite often this will gain some advantage; Dealer: North ♠ J well, at least until the robot programmers fix the apparent Vul: none ♥ A10964 glitch and the reliance on the foible becomes a foible itself. ♦ AQ1082 ♣ K2 For example, if dummy has J10xxx of trumps and you hold Axx, the preferred technical play of the Jack first West East ♠ 743 ♠ Q1082 might not be best against the robots. That Jack play of ♥ Q532 ♥ 87 course works well legitimately when RHO has ♦ 765 ♦ K3 specifically Qx or Kx. (If you instead feel LHO has one ♣ J83 ♣ Q10764 of those holdings, low towards J10xxx first is best.) South One late evening I held that combination in an inelegant ♠ AK965 contract that, among other flaws, lacked entries to ♥ KJ dummy. So I was forced to play the Ace first then low ♦ J94 towards dummy, pretty much holding my losses to one ♣ A95 trump trick only when either RHO has a stiff honor, or The bidding: either opponent has KQ doubleton. That night, the play West North East South of the Ace did not produce any such honor, so I resigned 1♥ Pass 1♠ myself to down one and played a 2nd trump towards Pass 2♦ Pass 3♣ dummy. Robot LHO produced the King, but much more Pass 3♦ Pass 3♠ surprisingly, Robot RHO produced the Queen on the Pass 3NT Pass 4NT same trick, allowing my inelegant contract to make, as Pass 5♥ Pass 6NT LHO had Kxx. Although Robot LHO was seeking a ruff All Pass on the hand (having started with of a As is their tendency versus many NT contracts when they doubleton) it is rarely right to rise in such a position. have high cards in three of the four suits, Robot East I similarly tested the assumption of a programming flaw started with the helpful ♥8 opening lead. Robot West was some nights later when the position surfaced again, and programmed well not to cover the ♥J when I played it, so I this time from Qxx Robot-LHO rose, compressing two would apparently need either the ♦K onside, or Hearts defensive trump tricks into one again. It’s funny to think 3-3 for 6NT to obtain a pretty decent MP score. While this Robot-LHO effectively played me to have AKx and to favorable lead meant I was therefore maybe 70% odds-on to be trying to sneak a trick past it, rather than making the make, things weren’t looking good when the finesse of more legit play of a 2nd high trump, which is clearly the ♦Q lost, and East next produced the ♠Q. This was superior (against most opponents). actually a pretty nifty play, as it had deduced that the Although I reported it, I discovered another, still prevalent closed hand (North) could have either of the black Jacks, foible of sorts: that once your robot partner interprets 4NT but that, due to the bid of 3NT, the black Jack most likely to as key-card Ace-asking for some trump suit, you can’t be singleton (and so smothered) would be in Spades. I seem to stop in six of another suit. It is programmed to had of course cashed the ♥K before riding the ♦J, interpret such a contract placement attempt as a grand removing Robot East of its Hearts at this point and also slam try in the suit that keycards were asked about by discouraging it from a Diamond continuation in case the 4NT. That led to the rather inelegant contract of 6NT closed hand’s Diamonds might be A10xxx or similar illustrated below when my 4NT “quantitative” slam try holding without the ♦Q. [continued on next page] was (mis-)taken(-ly) as key-card Ace-asking for Spades by Robot North, my partner. Having been burned before, Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 9

AESOP’S FOIBLES [concluded] by Jay Korobow

t was the play of the ♠Q play that gave me the most When North played the ♥A, East parted with the ♠8 and I hope, insofar as it likely indicated that East’s Spades South with the ♠6, West following with the ♥2. Now were headed by Q10. My ♠9 now became a threat card, North’s ♦8 winner forced Robot East to discard a club, so that the beginnings of a book “double squeeze” were and South had no need to keep the ♠9 any longer. Robot becoming revealed. After five Diamonds (losing one to West had to keep the ♥Q, so it also discarded a Club on the ♦K early), three Hearts (no 3-3 break surfacing), and the ♦8. Three rounds of Clubs now produced all winners the ♠AK had been played to the first ten tricks, West for a 6NT make and an actual 100% MP score on this would need to hold on to the ♥Q and East to the ♠10. board. Therefore, neither could hold onto three Clubs as its last Maybe after all it was just a fake fable that robots have three cards, so South’s 3rd Club would become winning foibles? trick #12 at the very end. This would be the position after trick #8: North ♠ – ♥ A9 ♦ 8 ♣ K2 West East ♠ – ♠ 108 ♥ Q2 ♥ – ♦ – ♦ – ♣ J83 ♣ Q107 South ♠ 96 ♥ ♦ – ♣ A95

CLUB DOINGS SHRINE CENTER BRIDGE CLUB If you want to learn how to play Bridge, not just play at Bridge, call us for private lessons from the best instructors in the area.

Monday evenings 6:00 p.m. Stratified Pair game - $8.00

Friday mornings 9:30 a.m. Supervised play

Fridays at noon 12:00 p.m. Free lecture

New improved Swiss Teams

Come and try our new format of Swiss. Players are “handicapped” and given extra IMPs to compete on a more level playing field. Charity week every moth – no extra fee, extra points

Check our calendar for dates and all special events

Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 10

REMEMBRANCES The Board of Directors of the New Jersey Bridge League offer their condolences to the families and friends of the following members of the ACBL Unit 140. They will be missed at our bridge tables. We would like to remember all who support and participate in this great game. Please notify [email protected] of any deaths within our membership; indicate, when known, dates of passing and club(s) attended.

Frank Galati Sue Green d. December 16, 2017 d. October 25, 2017 frequent player at frequent player at Toms River clubs Mountain Lakes and other clubs

Gloria Hannoch Sallie Klein Hindes d. December 2017 d. December 22, 2017 frequent player at frequent player at Bridgewater and Princeton, Grand Slam, Essex clubs and Monroe clubs

Fritz Marston Donald Weiss d. October 27, 2017 d. December 13, 2017 frequent player at frequent player at Princeton, Ewing, Highland Park and BCCNJ clubs and Westfield clubs

Sylvia Zucker

d. December 2, 2017

Frequent player at

White Meadow Bridge Club

Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 11

THE BRIDGE CONNECTION by Rosalie Slutsky For Intermediate Players

well-known chocolate company (it’s all right; I eat The return of a relatively high spot card asks for a return A the dark chocolate) has individual portions with in the higher ranking of the two remaining suits. A return wrappers that give little quotations, and some of them of your lowest card asks for a return in the lower ranking seem just right for bridge players! of the two remaining suits. The return of a middle card is designed to drive partner crazy. It actually means you have Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, more no preference. intelligently. In other words, you just went down on a makeable contract. Forget it. You will do better next hand! Sometimes the opening lead is a small spot card, and it is important to know exactly how small. If the Do not look back and ask why, look forward and opening leader later plays another small card in that suit, ask why not. In other words, competitors are bidding you really want to know whether it is a higher or lower while you and partner try to get to a contract. Take a card than the original lead. You really do! chance! You will make the right decision. If one (or both) of your opponents is a passed hand, Try something new today (or tomorrow). How about assume that player has fewer than 12 high card points adding a new convention to your humdrum bidding? Add a (HCP). If that player turns up with 10 HCP early on, play little spice to your game. the partner for any missing Queen, King, or Ace. A little And finally: bit of thinking goes a long way to successful play and more enjoyment when you have made the right decision. Shut out the world for just a few moments. When you are really concentrating on your cards, there is no When you have all the tricks but one and you are room for outside thoughts. I found this was one of the playing in a trump contract, play off every single one of greatest ways to forget your troubles (and get happy!). your trump cards before you play your other suit. Keep the suit you have the loser in until the bitter end. Make You’ve heard me talk about Eddie Kantar, famed teacher them suffer! and prolific author. He has written about the 52 Facts of Bridge Life. Here are a few: And that, my friends, hopefully will add a little spice to your life and a ton of fun!!! When giving partner a ruff, the card you lead is suit preference, telling partner which suit to return HAPPY BRIDGING, EVERYONE ! after the ruff.

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

!! BRIDGE IS NOT A SPORT !! so ruled the European Court of Justice according to a New York Times online article in October 2017 “No, No, No, No, No,” said the Court to the which hoped for a determination that Bridge is a “card-based mind sport” and therefore Value-Added-Tax-exempt under British law Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs thereby won its case the English Bridge Union must now charge tax on tournament entry fees !! We May Be Next !!

Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 12

BIG GAMES (must have at least 5 tables to qualify) October – November – December 2017

OPEN LIMITED and INVITATIONAL 75.96% Lewis Tompkins / Robin Stern Jersey 86.31% Jay Fisher / Denise Fisher Essex 74.94% William Esberg / Richard Ross Jersey 80.36% Joy Scully / Liz Schaeffer Essex 73.43% Sharon Hait / Lester Sokolower Essex 79.76% Jay Fisher / Denise Fisher Essex 73.15% Cleopatra Guastello / Beverly Selien Jersey 77.38% Janine Beer / Norman Friedman Essex 73.11% Peter Stein / Arnold Dorin BCCNJ 77.13% Sissie Redden / Justine Robertson Rumson Novice 72.92% Beau Norton / Dolores Ballard Toms River 76.19% Karen Silver / Joan Cohn Essex 72.35% Gloria Gribin / Tony Gribin Jersey 76.00% Alan Login / Dinkar Pujara Four Seasons 72.28% Kim Feddersen / Vijay Bhise Essex 75.96% Edward Smith / Barbara Smith Bay Head 72.27% Rochelle Imhoff / Merle Poller Scotch Plains 75.83% Janice Beckman / Pam Stone Essex 72.00% Meredith DePaulo / Rob Pasque Toms River 75.00% James Francoeur / Fred Shubert Essex 71.79% Elaine Wingfield / Donald Prior Atlantic 75.00% Cooki Gulkin / Lynn Goldberg Essex 71.67% Leslie Cadigan / Lorraine Brunelle Atlantic 74.90% Wendy Bregman / Mitch Firger Essex 71.53% Bill Wehrle / Doug Reeves Murray Hill 74.30% Marty Kale / Mayda Kale Essex 71.49% Muffie Gur / Reha Gur Jersey 74.21% Cindy Goldstein / Leanne Rettig Essex 71.48% Jim McCarroll / Ed Hill Shadowfax 73.99% Harry Katz / Sandy Kaplus Essex 71.43% Karen Chera / Sonia Bibi Jersey 73.96% Barbara Romann / Adrienne Thayer Essex 71.43% Rochelle Djmal / Edward Sable Jersey 73.66% Susan Intile - Elaine Wolfer Essex 71.40% Judy Rothstein / Piotr Olszewski Essex 73.66% Eliana Lomnitz / Sue Gottlieb Essex 71.15% Bill Rappaport / Endel Uiga Shadowfax 73.09% Christina Mason - Mary Browne Essex 70.91% Donald Prior / Richard Levendusky Atlantic 72.32% Lisa Celona / Lisa Toffey Essex 70.83% Sid Klotz / Alan Login LVW Manchester 72.11% Marion Syracuse / Janice Zunde Essex 70.83% Judy Rothstein / Jacek Leznicki Essex 72.02% Trudy Dixon / Norman Friedman Essex 70.83% Les Cadigan / Robert Kelly Jersey 71.82% Lynn Harrington / Michael Pisani Bay Head 70.73% Barbara Codispoti / Mario Codispoti Shadowfax 71.73% Doris Germansky / Carol Markowitz Montclair Golf 70.57% Jeffrey Maza / Bruce Weitzel Scotch Plains 71.64% Laine Maurer / Jody Gledraitis Essex 70.50% Jamers DiNapoli / Maureen Leach Atlantic 71.43% Bill Schoener / Janet Schoener Essex 70.42% Dolores Ballard / Beau Norton Toms River 71.39% Ira Tarnow / Amy Durschlag Essex 70.35% Samuel Baskinger / Judy Rothstein Essex 71.14% Mary Newman / Elizabeth Gluck Essex 70.19% Abe Pineles / Donna Dulet Jersey 70.98% Mary Ann Moore / Virginia Disch Essex 70.15% Joe Lebretore / Jeffrey Fernandez Jersey 70.95% Tabby Cochran - Norma Adams Shadowfax 70.00% Lee Schwartz / Betty Cox Essex 70.83% Denise Fisher / Jay Fisher Essex 70.83% Sandy Kaplusn / Robert Levitt Essex 70.68% Ed Lyons / Jean Lyons Essex 70.54% Wendy Lubin / Irene Madden Essex 70.33% Davida Schachter / Harold Schachter Four Seasons 70.24% Felice Zalk / Daphne Hanrahan Essex 70.24% Robert Levitt / Marvin Wertheimer Essex 70.09% Lynn Goldberg / Cooki Gulkin Essex

Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 13

LIGHTNER, ANYONE? by Peter Wright

North reasoned South, a double of 6♠ would surely call for some Dealer: West ♠ K8 other lead. OK, what other suit? A never [Nyah, nyah, you said “never” – Ed.] calls for a trump lead. Vul: North-South ♥ Q1052 So, North might consider leading East’s 2nd suit, Clubs. ♦ 102 But in that case, South might have doubled 5♣. What about ♣ K10982 Hearts, East’s only unbid suit? Bingo! South knew North West East to be a demon bidding theorist, so it would be a cinch for ♠ A9643 ♠ QJ105 him to draw the correct, inevitable, and ineffable conclusion. ♥ A86 ♥ KJ9743

♦ A765 ♦ 8 But partners – in contrast to our brilliant selves – have a ♣ 5 ♣ AQ habit of “not getting it.” North chose to lead a pedestrian South Diamond, delivering a blow of staggering impact upon ♠ 72 South’s mental stability. West won his ♦A and placidly led ♥ – to the ♣A in order to take the trump finesse, won by North. ♦ KQJ943

♣ J7643 Now, thought South, aquiver and aglow, North can redeem West North East South his earlier, insufferable gaffe by leading a Heart for lil’ ol’ 1♠ Pass 4♦ Dbl me to ruff. When North persisted in his egregious misplay 4♠ Pass 5♣ Pass by trying to cash his ♣K, South looked wildly about for a 5♥ Pass 6♠ Dbl guillotine . . . but there’s never one handy when All pass somebody’s head needs chopped off lickety-split. est had a mandatory, if not robust, 1♠ opening. East splintered. South might have bid 4NT for the Blissfully unaware of his narrow escape from death, West W nd minors, but, given the vulnerability, he opted for a lead- trumped the 2 Club lead, drew the remaining trumps, and directing double. West, holding only “aces and spaces,” had a cakewalk when the play of the ♥A disclosed the was willing to settle for a mere game. East tanked and Heart position. And so, dearly beloved, 6♠ doubled was finally cue-bid the ♣A. West decided to cooperate by cue- allowed to sneak under the door. Four other E-W pairs in bidding the ♥A, and that was all East needed to bid slam. the 21-table game bid 6♠, none of them was doubled, and no N-S pair found the winning defense of leading a Heart, Question to West: Why skip your ♦A to cue-bid the ♥A? either before or after winning the trump King. Answer from West: errrrr . . . uhhhh ...... and the world keeps on turning, willy-nilly. True, whenever North fails to lead a Heart at trick #1, West can always make the slam by shunning the finesse South now pondered what bidding action to take. Having for the trump King. (On a really good day, he might even already made a lead-directing double, a pass at this stage drop a singleton King in the North hand!) Maybe West would naturally bring forth a Diamond lead from North. A should take that line, if he decides that South’s 2nd double double of 6♠ would be of the Lightner variety, asking North to asks for a Heart lead. Why give North another chance to make an unusual lead, typically dummy’s first-bid suit. find that lead after winning the trump King?

[Warning: incoming editorial comment.] I had, long-ago, a On the other hand, South might have doubled holding three heated conversation with a partner of rigid mindset who or four Spades to the King along with one or both minor took the position that a double of a slam always calls for suit Kings, in which case West can hope to take at least 12 the lead of dummy’s first bid suit, whether that bid was and perhaps all 13 tricks (five Spades, six Hearts, and two natural, artificial, stupid, or otherwise. I maintained then, minor suit Aces) by finessing against South’s assumed as now, that bridge would be a lot easier – but also a lot trump King. And this was a MP game, so an overtrick less fascinating – if always and never could be relied on to might be vital! get us out of the morass of having to think about bidding and card play. [OK, it’s safe to come out now.] Moral: If you are declaring 6♠ and Meckstroth (South) has doubled your slam, you must rigorously shun the trump But South had already doubled East’s first (artificial) bid, finesse, certain that a Heart ruff looms. But wait! If so a simple pass of 6♠ would naturally result in a Diamond Meckstroth is in the South seat, why didn’t Rodwell find a lead from North, wouldn’t it? Well, duhhhhhh. Therefore, Heart lead at trick #1???

Winter 2018 THE DECLARER Page 14

MILESTONES

Changes in Rank: September – October - December

Gold Life Master Regional Master (cont'd) Club Master (cont'd) Gregory Gorshkov Somerville William Schoener Maplewood Douglas Reeves Union Erwin Petri Union Mary Lou Weisser Short Hills Margaret Riker Rumson Bob Vogel Montclair Bobby Willig Princeton Joy Scally Essex Fells Nat Zucker Monroe Township Sectional Master Marci Schoenbach Westfield Ben Strauss Princeton Ruby Life Master Janice Beckmen Summit David Cox Randolph Linda Blumberg East Windsor April Sussman West Orange Sharon Gross Point Pleasant Beach Gopal Chari Parsippany Athina Tzobanakis Scotch Plains Ruth Yeselson Highland Park Charles Clark Hillsborough Carole Utter Barnegat Ke Zhao Edison Bette Gasarch Monmouth Bch Marvin Wertheimer Livingston Iris Zehnacker Kendall Park Silver Life Master Lynn Goldberg Morristown Barbara Zipper Livingston Ashok Agarwala Edison Tony Gribin Ocean Lynn Chapin Manasquan Annellen Guth Tinton Falls Junior Master Joseph Jiuliano Branchburg Sheila Albert Princeton Marilynn Greenberg West Orange Endel Pool Whiting Robert Kelly Jr Shrewsbury Ebru Ates Lawrenceville Roberta Salovitch Verona Betty Lade Morristown Wendy Benton Madison Janet Steig South Orange Jo Ann Nehr Skillman Susan Britt Summit Suzanne O'Malley Flanders Charlie Doktor Iselin Bronze Life Master Carol Press Morristown Hugh Donahue Mendham Marjorie Becker Verona Lawrence Rosenberg Marlboro Margaret Grapel Bradley Beach Dominick D'Ascoli Lake Hiawatha Ann Russo Ship Bottom Marilyn Hatzenbuhler Verona Gregory Ferdinand Randolph Pamela Stone Summit Sallie Hollander Skillman Carole Gottlieb West Orange Susan Strober East Windsor Chidumebi Iherobiem Orange Akshay Shah Somerset Vera Taylor Manasquan Ron Ilan West Caldwell Om Singh Whitehouse Station Meg Jacobs West Orange Benita Tropin West Windsor Club Master Sandra Johnson North Brunswick James Van Etten Lavallette Tracy Boyle Atlantic Highlands Helen Brunet Mendham Liz Koh Jersey City Life Master Terry Bullen-Smith Lawrenceville Ellen Korn West Caldwell Marjorie Berkley Montville James Buzby Hampton Patricia Lazor Bedminster Ellen Weinstock Livingston Donald Devine Little Silver Julie Levey Verona Advanced NABC Master Denise Fisher Florham Park Kathleen Long Livingston Akshay Shah Somerset Carol Franklin Morristown Holly Lyttle Oceanport Joseph Wright Westfield Vladimir Friedman Scotch Plains Lingyi Ma Princeton NABC Master Carol Goldberg Livingston Sean Manns Murray Hill Edward Fisher Manalapan Nick Manocha Warren Lori Jacobs Short Hills Ginny Mason Princeton Judy Kantor South Orange Mary Ann Moore Summit Griffith Smith New Providence Mary Kingsbery Short Hills John Rathgeb Montclair Jane Yarian Princeton Sheila Klein Freehold Helane Staller Princeton Regional Master Ellen Kudlacik Neptune Marion Syracuse South Orange Wenzhen Cheng Annandale Robert Levitt Livingston Alan Talpalar Short Hills Abdul Gaffoor Flanders Lauren Liu Princeton Herbert Unger Monroe Township Cheryl Gorman Little Silver Kyle Lui Morganville Helen Wasko Howell Julie Grossman Hopewell Alan Mufson Boonton Russ White Princeton Mary Jo Herr Summit Marcia Nadell Tinton Falls Anne Williams Ringoes Robin Lenorth Eatontown Graham Oakes Montclair Felice Zalk Short Hills Barbara Murray Chatham Janet O'Sullivan Mountainside Charlene Zanetich Rumson Carolyn Rosenberg Marlboro Bernadine Redden Little Silver Janet Schoener Maplewood