TI1e British Bridge Vvorld Editorial Board BERNARD WESTALL (CHAIRl<.·fAN) GEOFFREY BUTLER KENNETH KONSTAM TERENCE REESE ALBERT DORMER (EDITOR)
VOL. 14, 1':0. 10 CONTENTS OCTOBER, 1963 Page Editorial 5-7
Reminiscences of a Bridge Player, by Harry Ingram 8-13
Annals of Ruff's Club, by Terence Reese 14-15
Texas and Gerber, by Colonel Roy Telfer 16-18
The Little Major under Fire, by Harold Franklin 19-30
The Bridge Battle of the Century, by Terence Reese 31-34
Psychiatrists! They Slay Me, by Jimmy Tait 36-38
You Say: Readers' Letters 39-M
One Hundred Up, conducted by Alan Hiron 46-53
Bridge Academy, conducted by G. C. H. Fox ...... 55-61
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1' ../o/ iilu·J I>)• All . /r ~" • ,( II '•"''"'J:. I.tJ.• JJ /),,..,., S t,.-.-r, J.. ,,.,,,.,,, 11'. / ,,,,/ rrint,·,/ 1> •· c;, /'. J', . ,.. ~ .·• J r.!. 9 $01- c, .. ,. ~ Gr rr/1 R ..... J. l .... n,/, , I:'. II, Oil "''"·•'1 •1 lht' rrurrin •., •• Th t>m.J.J /) ,•/.oJ R~ · · ,( C. •. I :.i The ·new artificial system spon ments? Yes-if it wins back for sored by the Reese-Fiint-Schapiro Britain the place in the sun which h/oc, the Little Major, was granted was lost with the emergence of an 'A' licence at a recent meeting the Italian and French systems. of the full Council of the English The way to do this is clear. Bridge Union. This decision over ruled an adverse report by the THE ACID TEST Rules and Ethics Committee of First, the Little Major must the E.B.U. assert itself emphatically in home The system can now be played tournaments this season. Not by in any E.B.U. knockout team merely winning the Gold Cup event but I believe that in county (in which Reese's team-Flint, events the local association can Schapiro, Konstam, Priday and withhold consent. The London Rodrigue-would in any case Association, however, has already start favourites on grounds of admitted the system in the ability) but by winning it in great prestige-carrying Richard Lederer style, and by scooping other Memorial Trophy, to be held in major events as well. Next, the mid-December, and in the Mel system must butcher the opposi ville-Smith Trophy. No doubt tion in whatever trials may be the Little Major will also be arranged for next year's Olym allowed in such special events piad. Finally, we hope for a bold as the Sunday Times Pairs. · bid in the Olympiad itself. Exponents of the system must If this is accomplished all will supply details to opponents well be forgiven. Failure will probably in advance. These details will mean the death of artificial sys also be published in next month's tems in Britain but it could still /Jriti.\h /Jric(r.:c· World and at the prove a needed shot in _tl~e arm same time Alan Biron will con for duplicate bridge. Otltctaldom tribute un article suggesting a itself docs little enough to pro possible partnership Ulllkr mote the game, as can be seen standing for combating the Little from the virtually static E.B.U. M~tjor. membership figures and by the Is it a wise mow, letting the Jack of publicity and new ideas. So Little Major loose in home tourna- any excitement is welcome. 5 WHY ARE WE \\'AITING? less deft were disappointed and the Congrc:;s '••'as soon sold out, Mention of the Olympiad brings as it has beef! !:or years. to mind the question, "Why can't the trial scheme be announced It seems · c1. traordinary that early?" Players want to know. the authorities do not cater for It can add spice to the game. bigger numbers. Obviously it is convenient to restrict the Con Young players who feel there gress to one hotel-but is it is a chance of glory-as by win-: justified when many are thereby ning a place in the trials-will denied the pleasure of competing? try just that bit harder, to catch Tony Priday writes in the Sunday the selection committee's eye. Telegraph: It may sound preposterous to some old-timers, that unknown "Why does the English Bridge players should aspire so highly, Union restrict the numbers? but sometimes they make the Partly through fear that a larger grade. For example, it was his entry might detract from the deserved success in the 1961/62 social enjoyment of the congress, trials that brought Ken Barbour but mainly through lack of suit into the limelight-where he is able accommodation. The first expected to stay, despite the fact is surely a parochial view but the that he has gone to the U.S.A. second is more realistic. Could Another reason for an early it not be remedied by varying the announcement is that the struc . programme and using two hotels, ture of the trials scheme can or by erecting a large marquee? influence pamngs and team for "Tbe recent American Summer mations during the duplicate Nationals, held at Los Angeles, season. attracted an entry of nearly 5,000 FULL HOUSE bridge players and involved 12,500 tables of play. An electronic Last weekend 450 of England's brain dealt the hands and, later, keenest players contested the four match-pointed the main pairs day Eastbourne Congress-the event and all the results were season's highlight for many. 1 announced to competitors on say "keenest" with assurance closed-circuit television. Seventy for in order to get in they mus~ eight young score caddies were have returned their entry forms used to carry the boards and the as soon as the postman pushed congrcss' cndcd with the ekction them through the letter-box. The of a caddy queen! 6 "Heaven forbid that we shoul(l ~ d o ptcd at Juan lcs Pins, where !.lavishly emulate the American;; on e longish session is played but it docs no harm to Jearn l:J ;:. t··.rccn mid-afternoon and about from their experience." ( J) p.m., is far superior. Priday's weekly column, by lloth events at Pula were won the way, docs more to promote Ly the Belgian player-writer duplicate bridge than most of Joseph Vanden Borre and .M: the other columns together. What Verdone, who teamed with Gulyas a pity that other scribes do not and Hacnscl of Austria. David pound their typewriters to that Rose and David Lock were top purpose, rather than the denigra English pair. tion of enemies and the elevation of friends. British visitors Jill Gatti and Tony Lederer were victims of a BRIDGE IN YUGOSLAVIA new convention when opposed This year saw the first sizeable by a Continental pair. Lederer entry of British players to the opened a weak 1NT in fourth tournaments held at Porcc and position and there were two Pula, Yugoslavia. So far as I passes. Right-hand opponent could ascertain, the visitors' im tranced, then came a perceptible pressions were mainly favourable: nod from lefthand. "Double" the cost was low, the accommo from righthand was followed dation and setting good. A keen by "Two Spades" on his left, !>tandard of bridge and a cosmo passed out and just made for a politan flavour were found in the big score. The new convention 3-day team and 2-day pairs events. which, as the cliche-mongers say, Soured perhaps by lack of consumes no bidding space, was ~ucccss, I must record that the quickly christened the Noddy state airline and the tourist organi Convention. sation arc uncertain and difficult There is just time to enter the to deal with. That was not the St. Dunstan's Congress . at Craig fault of the bridge league, but I lands Hotel, Ilklcy, Yorkshire. feel that at Pula the organisers Write to Donald Pearson, Dinar over-estimated their visitors' ben, Clifton Road, Jlklcy, and a~pctite for the game. They were have the pleasure of competing With diflkulty persuaded to cur in this important master-point tail a programme which would congress whill! at the sam\! time hav.e meant playing from 2.0 p.m. helping the blimkd \'Ctcran s of untal the small hours. The ,,~gimL' two world wars. 7 REMINISC ~. CES OF A BRIDGE LAYER
Harry Ingram, author of the recent series "The Brave Old Days," delves again into lzis memories.
In reading these recollections of on the other hand, is a marvellous a so-called bridge player you may game, requiring great skill and come across stories which arc concentration. I very much wish not new to you. I ask readers to I could have thoroughly succeeded forgive these "chestnuts"-they at it. arc inevitable, and remember that Solo was my great love for there arc many to whom they many years and I still think it a will be new. I also apologise in good game. Perhaps · the spells advance if, at this distance of of solo-playing that. I remember time, my memory lets me down mosf clearly were during the in some details, but nothing will 1914-18 war. I was never in the be written which is not essentially Army, although I had previously fact. been in the Territorials. When Since I was about fifteen, card what was known as the Derby games have always fascinated me; scheme came in, with the slogan first Whist, then Solo, followed "Kitchencr wants You," I had by Auction bridge and on to gone to the recruiting office to Contract. Poker I also indulged join up, only to find a long queue in for a time but, because I am a waiting to be attested. With my poor gambler, it never got a hold usual impetuosity I said to myself, on me like other games. I was "Oh, I can't wait all this time" once badly cheated at poker at a and walked out again. Later, my West End club-1 swore never to firm applied for my exemption play again and I never have. from active service. Lucky Faro, "chcmmy" and other Ingram. rubbish games like coon-can, To get hack to Solo, however. rummy and canasta have never When any of my friends got leave appealed to me. Six-pack beziquc, we made up a "school" of five 8 and played, sometimes for 4~ his first suggestion that we should hours on end, having a couple of take up the game: "No thank you. hours sleep now and again. On It has taken us long enough to one particular occasion, I think learn Auction properly. We ~don't it was about three or four in the want anything new~" But Con morning, we heard a lot of tract was getting the publicity shouting and dogs barking in the and catching everyone's imagina ~.trcct. We rushed out from the tion .. In no time at all, Au~tion house and were just in time to sec was a thing of the past. Believe the first Zeppelin brought down in it or not, today I do not know how flames at Cufficy, Herts. I never to play Auction. (Chorus of got paid for the solo I had just partners everywhere, "Nor Con made, because we all immediately tract"). set off on the ten-mile walk to Round about I 928-29 I was Cufficy to sec the wrecked airship. lucky enough to win a £5 prize I kept a piece of aluminium from in a bridge competition. Now it for years. my head really did swell and in no At the time when Contract time the four of us were anxious bridge began to make an im to challenge all and sundry to a pression over here, I had for match. We soon discovered a years been one of a regular four number of bridge clubs interested at Auction. Duplicate Contract in duplicate and in two years we quickly fascinated me and it still played anything up to 150 matches. docs. It is undoubtedly the most Daphne Klcuser, Doreen Hope wonderful card game ever in well, the late Bob Frith, and the vented. Played as it should be Blands from Nottingham were played, as a game and not always keen; also Molly Cole, "through the pocket," it will Sydney Joseph and others from always be of absorbing interest. Leicester, Derby and Birmingham, not forgetting Simon Rivlin of The late Stanley Hughes, whose Cardiff. Everyone revelled in regular partner I became, was a those early duplicate matches. m~.:mbcr of our Auction school. I had met him many years before Before thcsc dcvelopments, at whist drivrs and at a card club however, mighty things were in llighhury. It was he who happening on thc American hriJgc persuaded us to take up Contract sccnc. With the names of Cul and he gave us our education. I bertson, Jlal Sims, Sydney Lent, well rrmrmha our rrception of Jacoby, ~tilton Work and oth~·rs, bridge really smashed its way . to manners, Leslie Dodds, one of the headlines. Big matches w1th our opponents in those far-off tremendous ballyhoo were played, days, was undoubtedly the finest challenges flew thick and fast and exemplar: always wi1Iing to take a deadly struggle developed to the blame, never letting a partner decide whose bidding methods think it was his fault if a catas should reign supreme. The climax trophe occurred. I wonder if he was the dramatic Culbertson remembers a rubber game when Lenz match, about which Terence he played with a rather mediocre Reese has been writing recently. lady partner; I think it was at the As we all now know, Culbertson old Lederers Club. I had dropped came out on top and there is little in to see Dick Lederer and sat doubt that bridge as we know it watching. It was in the days when today is founded on his methods. the scoring for penalties could Let there be no mistake: every reach astronomical heights. Leslie lover of bridge should pay homage was South and this was the to the memory of the late Ely bidding: Culbertson. WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Returning to our own team of 10. No 20 30 four headed by Stan Hughes, two Dble No No 40 of our earliest matches played were Dble No No Rdble against Dick Lederer, G. H. No No!! No Collingwood, R. E. Kemp and They were playing for 4/- a Leslie Dodds. These matches, I hundred and it cost about £16. feel sure, had an influence on the North actually held five spades development of organised bridge to the Jack, which was just what in this country though none of Leslie wanted, and Four or Five us was in any way know~ in the Spades was unbreakable, but she bridge world and in fact we were had no idea of what it all meant complete strangers to one another and took refuge in passing all as well. They were played at the the time. Leslie's comment when old First Avenue hotel in Hoi born it was all over was typical: "Sorry and showed us the great possi partner, I should not have made bilities and enjoyment to be it so difllcult for you. My fault obtained from duplicate. I would entirely." not have missed those games for worlds. In the Thirties one of my greatest regrets was that in th!! In the ficld of good table 1933 Gold Cup final, when h~· 10 wa~ a member of my team, \VC England. Sad to say, none of Jo~l the match on the la~t few them is still with us. boards, and the next year, when The British Bridge League in he was in Lederer's team lie has had so many succcss~s doubt whether this is true to the since those days that it makes no same extent today; the pro difference to him now but at the fessional has taken far too strong time it did seem "a bit ·~rd." a grip on administration. There As soon as I write of Leslie the arc some executives who still memories come flooding back. work hard for love of the game Playing in a Gold Cup match I but they arc too often overruled. remember going over to him at About this time Hughes and I half-time and asking "How have had systcmised our bidding, using you done?" "Shocking," said One Club as our only strong bid Leslie, "We've had an appalling -about 20 points. One Diamond session." "\Vhat's your score was the response without two then?" I asked. "Minus 1840." quick tricks (two Aces, two KQs "That's all right," I said "We or .an Ace and a KQ). After a arc 3360 up." "Good Lord," negative response, opener had to said Leslie, "Do you know what revert to Culbertson with a jump has happened? We've both played bid if the bidding was to be kept the same cards." And we had. open for game: e.g. North, One Earlyin 1931 Iwrotctothclate Club - South, One Diamond - A. E. Manning Foster, one of the North, Two . Hearts. Opening big names in bridge at that time, Two-bids were made on strong suggesting it might be advisable distributional hands and could to form some kind of association be passed on balanced or ncar for bridge with the object of balanced hands with little high having national competitions for card strength. The system ga\'e teams of four. Pairs contests us little or no trouble and we at this time were unknown. The always gave our opponents full outcome was the formation of the details at least seven days in British Bridge League and the advance of a match. Gold Cup Competition. The 1 quote these details h;:causc original committee consisted of in those days there were some Manning Fo~tcr, Dr. Melville players who imagined llu~hc~ and Smith, A. T. Jlalscr and Frank mysdf had a s~·crct undcr~tand- 11 ing. Since One Club was our proach-forcing system was like a strong opening bid we were unable red flag from Moscow _ and a to open One Club on a normal large one at that. Buller hated all club holding and we had to find American bridge expressions; in an alternative. I NT, or One deed he hated American slang in Diamond on a three-card suit, general. I recall that he was often filled the bill. writing bridge articles in the London Star at the. time, while In the early 1930s probably Lederer's column appeared in the the best-known player in Britain Weekly Despatch. For weeks was Colonel Walter Buller. With they had been having a go at what was known as the Buller one another over some biddinl! Circus he played many matches controversy, when I happened in the provinces and Scotland. to 'phone Buller about somethino His team included Ewart or other. At the end of Kempson, Graham Mathieson and th~ conversation I casually said, Mrs. Gordon Evers. Buller played "Lederer had a good come-back what he called British Bridge - at you last Sunday." Buller no system and no conventions. just laughed but next morning I "Bid what you have got," was his received a note from him: "Dear motto and if you wanted a game where accuracy counted little Ingram. What is a come-back?" it was great fun. Once when I was Although British Bridge or playing with him I thought 1 "natural bidding" never proved would try "natural bidding" and a success, let me make it quite opened Two Spades on some such clear that Buller and his team hand as +AKJxx \?KQ9 OJx were first-class card players with +.AJx. When Buller replied Three real flair. Diamonds, 3NT seemed obvious How often do you feel very enough to me-until I saw the small at the bridge table after dum~1y and found it was im doing something outstandingly possible to avoid being three silly? If you arc truthful you down. Buller's hand was +xx will say, "Pretty often." I know \?xx OQJOxxxx +xxx. When I do on many occasions, but t~te d.ust had settled he put me perhaps never so much as at the ~~ght Ill my place with the remark, old Bridge Circle club in Victoria My Three Diamond b'Jd · was about 1930. JUSt what you should have passed." Both sides were vulncrabk an~! To Buller, CulbertsoJt's ap- the player on my right OP'-'n\.·~1 1:! One Diamond. Holding ·ro xx Then I had a great idea, a real \/QIOxxx Ox +QJxxx I m<1de the brainwave! I bid Fire Hearts to wicked bid of One Heart. No get out of the redouble. This Bid from the next player, Four was duly doubled and I proceeded Hearts from partner and now to go one do\vn. Partner's hand from the opener came the ex was +x \?AJxxx Oxxx +AKxx. pected Double. "This is going to Sometimes I sec him in the he expensive," I thought, but \Vest End. He just shakes his imagine my feelings when partner head and mutters, "Trust your ~aid "Redouble." With the old partner." rate of penalties it looked as ("Reminiscences of a Bridge though the Bank of England Player" will be continued next would have to be called in. month).
County Masters Pairs Championship Held simultaneously at five centres on September 29. Leading scores: Percentage ht R. Niman and R. K. Knapp 63.31 2nd Gladstone and Milford 61.70 3rd Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Grinsell 59.50 4th Mr. and Mrs. Cahalan 59.08 5th Robinson and Wilkinson 58.75 6th L. Navello and Walardarcyk 57.95 7th R. Semp and Mrs. 0. Cryer · 57.90 8th R. P. Anderson and H. M. Stephenson 57.88 9th V. Tarnofsky and V. Rowbotham 57.62 lOth A. Hodges and W. Lowe 56.81 llth Mr. and Mrs. Dash 56.-tS 12th W. Buckingham and D. Fry 56.10 13th Mrs. Coles and Mrs. Graham 56.10 13th Mrs. Hirsch and Rowlands } 56.10 15th Mrs. C. Gard and B. S. Gordon 56.06 I (,th Mr. and Mrs. DuiTcy 55.-tl 11tlt E. Carter and R. Tarrant 55.~2 11-:th Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong 55.00 19th J. Ifill and J. B. I food 5-t9S 20th Mrs. K. Garlidd and E. S~n 5-U\S "An Ill-timed Deception." An episode in Tercnc,~ ~cesc's famous series.
Humphrey Hoosego sighed A!issS/oe audibly when he saw that he had .KJ732 to make up a table with three 'VA 8 7 of the club's less distinguished 0 K4 lady players, Miss Sloe, Mrs. K 8 3 Bulldozer, and Lady Harkaway. Mrs. Bulldozer Hoosego The last named, equally unhappy, +5 +AQ9864 looked to see if there were 'V 9 52 'VK another player in the room who 087532 0 10 9 6 might take her place while she + J 7 6 4 + 9 52 disappeared on some pretext, +IO but none of the other tables 'V Q J 10 6 4 3 showed any sign of breaking up 0 AQJ and no one was sitting out. +AQ 10 Hoosego sighed again when he Lady Harkaway cut Amelia Bulldozer. Even Sloe Heart and Miss Sloe, just under would have been better, he re strength for a forcing jump, flected, and Mabel Harkaway responded One Spade. Hoosego not much worse. passed and Lady Harkaway chose "We'll play the strong no 2NT as her rebid. Though trump, Two Clubs, and Black slightly unorthodox, , with re-bi? wood," he said to Mrs. Bulldozer. dable hearts and a singleton m ''If I open a no-trump, don't her partner's suit, this was by no take me out on weakness." means a bad call. Mrs. Bulldozer correctly under Miss Sloe bid Three Hearts ~tood from this that she was clearly forcing in such a sequence expected to let her partner play -to sec if her partner could the hands. rebid the suit. A slam was then The rubber proceeded without reached by the following route: incident until, at game all, Lady · SouTH WEsT NoRTH EAST llarkaway dealt the cards shown l
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15 TEXAS A ERBER
Colonel Roy Telfer shoa·s how both these famous conrentions can be used without confusion.
In the book The Acol System to have an Ace-searching bid Today there appears the following like Gerber as well. I have a example of the South African suggestion for getting the best version of the Texas convention: of both worlds. First we should be clear about +QJ5 \/QJ10632 OA94 +5 the sort of hands for which the Gerber convention is suited. In response to an opening bid British writers say little on this of I NT or 2NT you bid Four point. The only example I have Clubs, requesting partner to bid come across is in Norman Squire's Four Hearts. ·The authors point Theory of Bidding. With: out that this entails giving up the Gerber Four Club convention: +x \/x OKQxxxxx +Kxxx "But," they add, "we reckon the exchange a good one." a response of Four Clubs is The Gerber convention is a recommended after partner's device for ascertaining partner's opening bid of I NT or 2NT. number of Aces. In response American writers favour a similar to an opening bid of I NT or 2NT pattern with greater strength. you bid Four Clubs and partne; Stayman's Expert Bidding at Con· replies in steps: Four Diamonds tract Bridge gives: to show no Ace, and so on. It leaves the direct bid of 4NT +AKJxxxx \/KQxx Ox +x available as a quantitative raise of no trump. Even if, as Reese Here, when partner opens I NT. and Dormer suggest, South Afri you intend to play in Six or Scn:n can Texas is more useful, it Spades according to whether h~ would seem to be advantageous has two or three Aces. Gon:n's 16 Point Count Bidding in Contract North dealer Game all Brid~e shows: NORTH • J 54 +x <:?xx OAKQxxxxx .'Ax \?AK A K 52 and recommends a response of 0 +Q43 2 Four Clubs to I NT with a view \Vr:ST to a contract of 7NT if opener EAST • 8 7 2 is found to have two Aces and • Q 109 \?10972 two Kings-or possibly two Aces \?865 0 Q J 10 6 and one King. 0 9 8 7 8 There is one further point on +to + J 9 7 6 SOUTII which a partnership must agree, +A K63 if they arc to use Gerber, namely, cy>QJ43 how to ask for Kings on the next 0 4 3 round. I propose that Five Clubs +A K5 be used as a request for Kings; a corollary is that Four Diamonds North opens I NT and South in response to Four Clubs shows responds Two Clubs. If North either no Ace or four Aces. were to disclose a four-four fit, Now we can come to my South would bid a conventional suggestion that we can retain Four Clubs for Aces. In fact South African Texas and still North rebids Two Diamonds, have Gerber. I propose that South bids 4NT quantitatively we simply leave South African and North, with a maximum, Texas untouched; and to usc raises to 6NT. As it happens, Gerber we interpolate a con a direct quantitative raise would ventional bid of Two Clubs over have led to the same contract in I NT before bidding Four Clubs. this case. For convenience I will refer to (see next page) this as the Repeated Club SOUTH NORTH Response. 2+ I do not suppose I need give 2NT examples of the usc of Texas, 20 3+ 3+ hut I shall give instead examples 4+ 4NT where the responder starts ofT No with Two Clubs, intending to 6. follow with either Gcrhcr or a South finds that his partner natural 4NT. has 23-24 points, with four spaJ~s 17 North dealer - East-West vulnerable
NoRTH The t\col +A Q 10 2 \;}AQ1 System today OAKQ by TERENCE mX.SE and +Q63 ALBERT DOP.f-ic:l EAST WEST 'At long last there is a genuine • 9 7 5 • 8 6 classic on the .Acol System ... \;} 10 9 \;}8543 A really outst Herold Franklin cone/rules his stw~r of the J;ew wt.jicial system, succes.ifully launche-d br T~r~ ;- :ce Reese, Boris Schapiro and Jeremr Fifnt u: the recent European Championships .. Britain's representatives for the East dealer North-South vulnerable Open Championship left these NORTH shores suspect on account of +11654 their advancing years. Ironically, J 8 after the first few days' play the \? 0 K Q 10 9 2 French team were being written off on account of their compara +2 WEST EAST tive youth. Round 7 found us in +AK982 opposition to our main chall +IO \? 6 3 2 \? Q 10 7 5 engers, Italy, who, with three 53 7 4 members of their Blue Team 0 0 +9 54 KJ 10863 supplemented by three members + SOUTII of the young school, seemed to • Q3 have found the middle road: \/AK94 In the first half of the match 0 A J 8 6 the Little Major was steered by +AQ7 its leading practitioners, Reese and Flint. The British team were a strong balanced hand. North building up a useful lead until must respond as to One Spade, disaster overtook the system on and now came the difficulty. hoards 18 and 19. This was An Acol raise of One to Three Board 18: (see next column) can have its main strength either SOUTJI NORTII in high card or in distributional 10 3+ values: if the values arc dis 4+ 4+ tributional no harm will be done No since the final contract is always A One Diamond opening shows going to br: in thr: suit. In the dtha a One Spade opening or case of thr: Little ~tajor, howc\er, I'J it seems that the limit raise in extra values. The players felt spades may we11 work badly that had North bid Four when the One Diamond opener Diamonds the hand might have happens to have a strong balanced been played in Five Diamonds hand and not a spade suit. but + Kxxxx and 0 KQxxx is all The minimum point count for the that would have been needed for "strong balanced hand" is seven Six Diamonds and I remain un teen points, and a seventeen convinced as to South's ability point hand with a doubleton to distinguish between that and spade might well be out of its the actual hand. depth if the raise to Three Spades Four. Spades was unfortunate were essentia11y distributional. to go two down: the Italians However, .the trouble on this played in 3NT after declining an occasion was of a different making. opportunity to defend against After North's Three Spade bid Two Spades, doubled; And this South continued with Four Clubs, was the next board: a system bid which denotes that South dealer the "strong balanced hand" is in East-West vulnerable fact equal to a 2NT opening NORTH (if South wishes to make a slam +KJ109862 try in spades he must bid Four \79 Diamonds or Four Hearts). It OA was perhaps ill-judged of South +10864 to take the bidding beyond range WEST. EAST of 3NT when his partner's maxi • 7 4 +3 mum high-card holding was \7 A K J 4 \7Q876532 eleven or twelve points and when 0 10 4 3 0 6 2 his minimum could be appreciably + KJ 3 2 +A97 lower. South's alternative was SOUTH to bid 3NT over Three Spades +AQS which would have shown a stron~ \710 balanced hand with a minimum OKQJ9875 seventeen points. +QS And when South bid Four The British pair bid: ~tubs, North erred in bidding SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST l·~ur Spades rather than Four 20 No 2+ 3<::/ Diamonds. Four Diamonds would 3+ 4\7 S+ No ha vc shown a seco11d SUit,· not No No 20 In the Little Major Two Dia match Reese and Schapiro re monds shows a good suit and vived Old-Fashioned Acol while reversing values, usually 15-19 Konstam, \vho had partnered points. South was fractionally Schapiro in the first half of the short of the required high-card match, did duty with Harrison strength but there was no other Gray. The ensuing change in our way under the system adequately fortunes was due not so much to express his playing · values. to systems as to the fact that we (In Acol the hand might be had four top-class players with a described by a One Diamond wealth of experience playing at opening followed by a jump rebid their best, and that was enough to of Three Diamonds). give Britain a 6-0 win, which The alternative to Two Dia even at this early stage was monds was to open One Spade, obviously likely to decide the which would show an opening Championship. bid in one of the minor suits. In Round 8 a line-up which If partner responded 1NT, a included no Little .Major pair "relay" bid, opener could con made heavy weather of the first 20 tinue either with Two Diamonds boards against an Austrian te;:tm (the equivalent of a simple rebid of limited experience. In the of Two Diamonds under more second half Reese and Schapiro familiar methods) or with Three found a succession of hands on Diamonds, which would show a which the system showed to good diamond suit and no outside advantage. interest. WEST EAST In the actual sequence South +AKQ982 +JI05 showed a strong hand with good ~Q9732 y>JI06 diamonds arid a spade fit, and OK OQ2 there was also an inference that +7 +KQI062 he had few wasted values in Non-vulnerable against vulner hearts. It seemed to North that, able opponents, Schapiro opened provided partner had two Aces, One Heart with the East hand, the slam would be a good propo a bid which shows 6-11 points sition. In fact, Five Spades was plus one minor suit of at kast one too many. The Italians five cards. Reese responded Two gained heavily when they stayed Spades, a natural but non-forcing in Four Spades. bid, and Schapiro passed. The For the second half of the Italy defence could take two hearts, 21 a heart ruff and two minor Aces, formation. The rebid of 2NT and that was all. by West denied a six-card suit The Austrians, pursuing a and denied a singleton in either major. East's Three Diamonds canape type system, opened One Heart with the West hand and was natural · and Three Spades were eventually two down in showed that . the spades were Four Spades. Acol, even at guarded for no-trump . purposes, its most conservative, could while Four C:u~s and Five Clubs scarcely improve upon the follow were natural bids~ ing sequence: At the other table West opened WEST EAST a weak no-trurrip (and how many No of us have not done the same I+ 2+ at some time or other). After an 2\/ 2+ exploratory bid of Two Clubs 3+ No East bid 3 NT and the defence Reverting to the Little Major, took the first five tricks. had West judged that he wanted In Round 9, against Holland, to be in game after East's opening Reese and Schapiro were again bid he could have begun with a in harmony with the Little Major. "relay" response of One Spade Their slam bidding was good and, and a subsequent spade bid though their excellent judgement would then have been forcing. may have been largely responsible, Another triumph for the Little there were hands on which the · Major: system left them singularly well WEST EAST placed.· +A J 4 • Q 10 5 WEST EAST \/ 7 6 \/4 + K 7 6 2 +A1083 0 Q 9 8 7 0AK1064 \/4 <\/.A 6 +A K 4 2 +QJ108 0AJ765 0 Q9 WEST EAST + Q J 10 +AK652 t+ 20 WEST EAST 2NT 30 No 2+ 3+ 4+ 20 2+ 5+ No 30 3<\/ The opening bid of One Spade 4NT 5NT showed a minor-suit opening. 6+ No Two Diamonds was a system Two Clubs shows a hand with response requesting pn:cisc in- a club suit and reversing values. 22 The Two Diamond response was points at the interval, but only a "relay .. bid, while Two Spades good fortune (and the right lead) indicated four spades and at least saved them from losing 30 points five clubs. Three Diamonds was on one board. natural, Three Hearts a cue-bid, East dealer 4NT Roman Blackwood. By East-West vulnerable their special methods, after a Two NORTH opening the Blackwood respomc +95432 of 5NT shows three Aces. •4 +Write for a supply of leaflets with claim forms giving full details of this wonderful scheme to 'YARBOROUGH', HOME SALES DEPARTMENT THE PRESTIGE GROUP LIMITED • 14-18 HOLBORN, LONDON, E.C.1. Prestige Greatest name in housewares 2() Jt was not until Round 14 Heart bid, was justified in coiner that the British dropped their on. After a spade lead- th~ second point. They were II contract was defeated by three points in arrears at the half-way tricks, which proved less costlv stage against Sweden. Reese and than it might have been bccaus~ Flint slightly muddled this one: the British South, after a li!!ht South dealer opening bid, was permitted -to North-South vulnerable play in Two Diamonds at the NoR Til other table. • 1087642 In the second half, with Reese <::/KI095 and Schapiro aboard the little 0 Q 1 Major, Britain recovered 31 +JO points but-and this was part Wr.sT EAST of the story of the Championships • Q 15 3 +A 9 -it was because of the excellent '/ Q 1 <::! 8 (j 3 judgement of the players rather 04 OKJ087 than by virtue of their methods. +K19854 +A Q72 Both teams judged wrongly on SOUTH this one: +K +AQ98 <::/KQJ0983 0182 + <::/A 7 4 2 you open One Heart, partner OA96532 responds Two Diamonds, you + 6 3 bid Two Spades and partner WEST EAST Four Hearts. (With the little Flint Reese' Major the auction was: I+-20 I \:I I+ - 2+ - 4<::/, which means .the 2+ 3+ same.) Both players passed, and 3+ 5+ with so few high cards they must No escape criticism. But how very "right" the values seem to be! One Heart is a semi-psychic Partner in fact held: · opening showing 6-11 points and a minor suit. One Spade asks +154 <::/A75 OAQ1063 +5-t West to name which suit. At and inevitably both Kings were this strtge it seems that East well placed and thirteen tricks ought to have rejected game could be made. prospects: when he in fact bid The British team made sure Three Clubs West, with a maxi of the Championship in Round mum hand in terms of his One 15 when they Jdcatcd Bcl!!iurn '17 comprehensively. Schapiro and after a Neapolitan Club opening Reese functioned well throughout and a response showing two half and soon found one slam hand controls (one Ace or two Kings). on which the system seemed to Acol players would have no real limit them. problem after a Two Diamond opening, raised to Three Dia South dealer Game all monds. NoR Til Earlier examples have indicated +A Q74 the difficulties posed by the fact \:} J 10 4 that there is no · bid which of 0 8 6 itself shows a very powerful • 9 8 54 hand. I understand that this pos WJ:.ST EAST sible defect is likely to be remedied. • J 10 5 The psychic opening of One Heart \?A 53 \)KQ72 (6-11 points with a long minor) 0 7 54 0 A K Q 10 9 3 2 is to be jettisoned and One Heart • Q J 3 2 +A 7 will be the opening bid to de SOU Til scribe a very powerful hand. +K98632 Hitherto One Heart has also \:}986 done duty as . an opening I NT OJ (weak) when vulnerable against K 106 + non-vulnerable. Presumably that With Reese and Schapiro in small measure of protection will the East-West scats, this was the also have to be abandoned and auction: the 14-16 no trump will serve at SOUTII WEST NORTII EAST all positions. No No No I+ How do you think you and your ,. No 2+ 40 partner would bid. this next one?: No 50 No No WEST EAST No +9 +A87543 East had shown a three-loser ':}KQ7 \:}J82 hand with a biddable heart suit 0AQ64 OKJIO and longer diamonds, but there +QJ765 +4 was little that West could do With West the dealer at game about it. Four Hearts would all the bidding might go: have been natural, not a cue bid. WEST EAST The Belgians, without intcr 10 1+ fcrcncl.', reached Six Oiamonds 2+ '! An alternative sequence might be: South dealer North-South vulnerable WLST EAST ,. ,. N'ORTH JNT ., + 10 9 4 3 2 or perhaps: "Q 6 3 WLST EAST 0 K 7 5 ,. ,. + 9 6 ., WEST 2+ EAST 6 5 Schapiro opened the West hand +J + Q 8 7 One Spade (minor-suit opening) "11094 "2OA9862 0 104 and Reese thought there were no +A KJ 8 Q 10 4 2 prospects in going further. The + SOUTH Rel!!ians after an uninhibited +AK auction,' arrived at 3NT, where "AK875 they found little joy. 0 Q J 3 There was no relaxation of the + 7 53 British effort even though the main issue had been decided treat the South hand as a bal and Germany were overwhelmed anced 17-count and opened One in Round 16. The Little Major Diamond. West bid Two was entrusted to the care of Reese Diamonds and North (who had to and Flint, who still found treat the opening bid as a One occasional problems which were Spade bid) raised to Two Spades. not well answered. South corrected by bidding 2NT (see next column) and North passed. One down in When Germany held the North 2NT was Jess creditable than the South cards against J. Tarlo and Germans' effort of one down in Gray the auction was as follows: Four Hearts. It seems an error Soum WEST NORTH EAST of judgement to treat the South I\? Dble No 2+ hand ;ther than as a heart hand, Dblc 3+ 3" No and wider experience of the 4\? No No No system is likely to cra~icate this Four llearts had a chance of type of error. Ccrtamly such ~orts, giwn reasonable breaks errors were too fn:quent for and the absence of a trump lead, comfort at Oadcn-llaJcn. . hut South ought to have passed Our last opponents, Swatzcr Three llcarts and registen:d a land, though rcinfMccd hy the plus score. Flint decided to late arrival of Jean Besse "ere 2') unable to halt our progress and players inasmuch as they made an the British team ended with a alarming number of system record which is likely to stand errors. for many years to come. They Of course, in any system ex defeated all seventeen opponents post facto rcr.soning can usually and dropped only 2 points out produce a sequence that would of a possible 102, one each to have met ar.y particular case. Norway and Sweden. Clearly Only time and proper opportunity such a performance could not will show whether the Little have been possible without a Major means a real advance in solid contribution from all the bidding accuracy. It is fair to members of the team and it in say that the system has shown no way detracts from the per sufficient promise to merit the formance of the others to say that opportunity for further develop the outstanding combinations ment. But it will not be sufficient were Reese-Schapiro and Kon merely to allow it to be played stam-Gray. While it is true in international bridge. If our that the various Little Major players are to use the system combinations always had the edge effectively in the Olympiad and on their opponents, it is, none in the World Champions~ip they the less, my opinion that they must have opportunity for con were· at no time more effective stant practice under match con than Reese, Schapiro a~d Old ditions. I hope it will be possible fashioned Acol. The reason to provide such opportunities appeared to be in the players within the framework of our more than in the system-in the competiti~n programme. METRO PO LIT AN CUP for teams of 12 rcpreseming the Home Coullfies lA' teams tinal, winners Middlesex: Harrison-Gray, Rose, J. and R. S!l:lrples, ~reston, Swimer, Langiert, Smerdon, Collings, Amsbury, 1 :ut, Cansmo. 'B' teams final, winners Kent: Brand, Mrs. Allnutt 1\tr. and Mrs. Hunter, Mrs. Goodall, Russell,' Morriss, Buckland, Caro, Walkd~n. Crofts, Parsons. 30 r- : ·~ t~ r~ h k~r::. IDGE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY Terence ~:esc co~7cludes his account of the most pub!tcJsed bndge match in history the Culhertson-Lenz encounter of 1931. The Run Home SOUTH WEST · NORTH EAST Liggett Culbert- Lcnz .Mrs. Cui- When Oswald Jacoby withdrew SOil bert son from the match and was replaced No No by Commander Winfield Liggett, I+ 2+ No 4+ No Jr., the Culbcrtsons led by No No Dble 16,840. 103 rubbers had been 5+ No No No played, so there were 47 to go. A spade was Jed and South The Commander had a stroke made a grand slam. Two hearts of good fortune soon after he had went a\vay on +AQ and there taken his scat. was time to establish the fifth West dealer diamond. Love all Mrs. Culbertson's double NORTil would rank as a "palooka double" in these days, but at the timt: \? 9 4 criticism was directed to South•s 0QJX32 ·- failure to redouble. Judging thi$ +965432 objectivcly, I would say that it W1.sr EAST was right not to rt:doublc. De • J 54 K 10 9 ~ 2 + clarer knows he will bt: in comfort \?JX732 \?A K 10 against a spade kad, and if ht: 0 K 10 7 4 A 9 6 5 0 rt:douhks the tkfclllkrs may look +J • 10 clst:wherc. Whether the Com SOU Til mander thought it out in tho"e +AQ763 terms is another question. \? Q 6 5 O Durin~ tht: sixteenth st:~ .-.. ion +AKQS7 the Culhatson kad reached its J I highest point, 20,535. It escaped South and won by the 10. Cul Ely's notice that he could have bertson now switched to hearts been defeated on the following and established two tricks in this hand: suit before the defence could arrive at a trick in clubs. Ea!>t dealer Love all Culbertson's own account of NoR Til the deal was headed "A Fine +Q98742 Rebid to Game" and consisted \19 4 mostly of approbation of his 0 9 7 bidding. Concerning the play, + Q 8 3 he observes that Liggett should WEST EAST not have allowed the diamond + K 10 5 +A J 3 to slip through at the fourth \1 10 8 2 \/KJ63 trick but should have won and 0 10 6 2 0 K J 8 5 set about developing a trick in +A 10 9 7 + K6 clubs before the . hearts were SOUTII attacked. He notes, however, that the contract could still have +6 \/AQ75 been made by a throw-in. 0 A Q4 3 The interesting point about the + J 54 2 deal is that when South won the first diamond he should have led SOUTII WEST NORTH EAST the Jack of clubs, not a small Liggett Culbert- Len= Mrs. Cui- one. SOil bert son 1\/ " ••• Loved I not Honours More" No INT No 2NT No 3NT No No Culbertson played the eigh Dbh: No No No teenth session with M ichacl Gottlieb and the nineteenth with North's lead of a spade is Howard Schenken. During this evidence that lead-directing period the lead fell from 16,835 doubles were not yet in vogue. to 8, 770. Lcnz and Liggett w..:n: D..:clar..:r won thc first trick with having big cards now, and thdr +tO and led a diamond, thc Jack addiction to honours attract..:d losing to th~.: Queen. South much ribald comment. On hand r..:turn..:d a low club, fetching the 742, while Mrs. Culbertson was 10, Qu..:..:n and King. A diamond still playing, Lenz and Ligg~tt from dummy was pass..:d by hdd these cards: NoRTH We~t dealer Love all +AK NORTH c::} A J 7 10 9 52 0 A J 9 + c::} 9 8 2 +AKQS3 OKJ862 SOUTH +6 • Q 10 9 s c::} Q 10 6 2 WEST EAST 0 K 5 + Q7 + s 6 + J 6 2 c::} J 6 54 c::} K Q 103 After two passes Lcnz opened 0 9 54 OQJ073 3NT and Liggett passed. The + K 53 2 +QJ 9 King of hearts was right, so SOUTH there were thirteen tricks in +AKJ43 no trumps or clubs. c::} A 7 On the Official system Lenz OA should have opened with the +AJ0874 game-forcing bid of Three Clubs. Jacoby and Gruenther, in their Commander Liggett had an · commentaries, both stress this opening Three bid on the system. and have only mild criticism of As Jacoby remarks, he might South's failure to respond to reasonably have gone straight to 3NT! Six after the voluntary raise. Pursuit of honours caused Culbertson was able to point another slam to be n)isscd during out that in his system the bidding the next session. would have begun, Two Spades (see next column) Four Spades. SOUTII WEST NORTH EAST Prophetic Endin:.: Liggett Culbert- Len= Gott- sun licb 1\trs. Culbertson n:turneJ fl,r No No No the final session, Juring whidt the score showed littk ch:wg~..·. ri~ing 2+ No 3+ No 3NT No 4+ No from '1.,770 to s.9~0. The Cul No No hertsons hl·ld good cards hut hid pawkily. They made t\\eh_c A diamond was h:d and South tricks on the final deal. hut tht:) made ~l grand slam, as he was slam was hardly hiddahk. :lhk to rutr tlm:e clubs with Impunity. (-'"'''' IIC.\"1 r,:gl') SOUTH \VEST i\ORTH EAST Ea'>t dealer East-West vulnerable Liggett Culbert- Len= ,\frs. Cul NoR Til SOil bertson .AQJ94 No cy>7653 No 10 tNT OK No 2+ No 3NT + J 7 6 No 40 No 50 No No No EAST WI:ST In his radio speech~ an hour • K 10 53 • 7 2 after the match, Mr. Lenz cy>KI098 c:; referred to this hand. He got A 10 7 OQJ9642 0 the details of the bidding a little +AKQ98 +53 mixed up, but the thought was SOUTII there. "They bid Six Diamonds, and • 8 6 cy>AQJ42 they made Five Diamonds," he 0 8 53 said. "Long live the Approach + 104 2 Forcing System!" One Hundred Up Conducted by A LA N H I R 0 N October Competition A panel of experts will answer the questions and the markit~g of t~l~ competition will be determined by, though not necessarily Ill stnc proportion to, the votes of the panel. H~ST PRIZE SECOND AND THIRD PRIZES Two Guineas. One Guinea. J>lcase read thcsL' rules carefully. No competitor may send _in nwrl! than one entry. Only annual subscribers arc eligible for pnzcs. AmilH~rs should be sent to One Hundred Up, Uritish Rrid~e World, 35 Donr Street, London, W.l, to arrh·c not tater than first post 00 No\'ember I. Some latitude "ill be ginn to onrseas competitors. 34 Problem ~o. 1 ( 10 points) Problem :'\o. 5 (10 points) Rubber bridge, North-South vuii~cr Match-point pairs, love all, the able, the bidding has gone:- bidding has gone:- Soullt WL'iT NoRTH EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST Je,:t t+ No I+ No Dble 2~ 3+ No 2+ No 3~ No 40 No 4+ No South holds:- +AKQJ ~874 OKQ +K832 South holds:- What should South bid? +- ~9643 OAK2 +AK6532 What should South bid? Problem ~o. 2 (10 points) Match-point pairs, love all, the Problem No.6 (10 points) bidding has gonc:- I.m.p. scoring, East-West vulnerable, SouTu Wt:sT NoRTH EAST the bidding has gone:- t+ No 20 No SOUTH WEsT NoRTH EAsT 2<:1 No 3+ No INT Dble South holds:- (North's INT shows 12-14 points). +AJ863 ~KJ742 OK82 + South holds:- What should South bid? +Kt04 ~JI09876 0- +AI098 What should South bid? Problem ~o. 3 (20 points) I.m.p. scoring, East-West vulnerable, Problem No.7 (10 points) the bidding has gone:- Match-point pairs, East-West vulner SolJTII Wt.sT NoRTH EAsT able, the bidding has gone:- I~ SouTH WEsT NoRnt EAsT No I+ South holds:- +KQJOX64 ~- OA82 +AJ93 South holds:- (a) What !.hould South bid? +J ~AK9S7 OAJ742 +A5 (h) What should South bid if West What should South hid? had opened One Heart ;md this had hccn follo\\cd by two passes? ProiMm 1'\o. 8 (:!0 points) Match-point pairs, L1st-\\'~·~t \uln~·r Problt·nt 1'\o. 4 (10 points) ablc, the bidding has gonc:- I.m .p. scoring, game all, the bidding Soutll \\'1 sr NoH. Til E.4.H has gone:- I~ I+ Soullt WtsT NoH.lll EAST 20 2+ Dhlc No No SllUlh hohh:- Dhlc +W>42 ~K OAJ73 . +:~J6:! • (a) (),l )'llU ;~grcc \\ llh S,luth S hi,! South hollis:- llf T\Hl Di.unonJs '! If "''t, ''hat +~:! '\/7 OKQl)S543 +AK:! altcrnati\c J,l )')U pr.:fa '! \\'h;lt ~houlll South bid? (b) \\'h;it ~hlHJIJ SllUlh k.IJ '! J5 PSYCH I Ar? ~ IS TS ! THEY S AY ME Jimmy Tait seeks to impro.l'e 011 the mathe matical odds. Insult his ancestry by all means: Something of this sort happened pour scorn on his taste in clothes to me a couple of months ago and · make an occasional pass at when I was playing too much his wife, but don't ever watch a bridge. Towards the end of each hridge player go down in a lay session there were spots before down contract and then tell him my eyes and none on the cards. that he didn't take the best Having just gone down in a lay mathematical line of play. For down 'slam through making a in these enlightened days every safety play, I saw my doctor who one thinks he knows so much spoke to me very sternly: ''Get ahout percentage plays and dis away from these bridge-playing tributional frequencies that it is a maniacs and consult a good !-.tudied insult to accuse a man of psychiatrist," he said, "You won't playing against the odds. And regret it." Which is hmv I came yet what do we really know? to be entombed in a rural health Most players don't play with the clinic with no card games except odds-they just think th~.:y do. a weekly gin rummy session with If a hand is at all complicated an involuntary patient. the combined chances of making The night before I was due to the contract arc so involved that leave, the chief psychiatrist sent it would take an actuary to know for me; a huge man with a boom· where to begin. The odds change ing voice and a personality to every time a card is played, the match. "We have :irranged a pundits tell us, and if you try game of bridge for you thi.~ to . work out by how much, you'll evening as a parting gestur~. dnve your~~:~r mad in the attempt he announced, "and folloWII 1 ~ and end up by not knowing your treatment hac I hope that whether it's Christmas or Pan your approach to the game "ill l'ake Tu~..·sday. now be Jh)'chological rather than 36 mathematical." I soon found myself closeted in the great man's study \-Vith two senior members TERENCE REESE !I of his stafT, the chief himself ,I,; and the usual paraphernalia for a bridge party. I cut one of the Develop Your f[ minions and we started a rubber. Nothing startling happened for the first half hour except that Bidding Judgment /j there were times when I mildy wondered who was stafT and who 75 tricky decisions in ., was patient. We managed to bidding, each presented ,, get vulnerable and then this deal in the "over the shoulder" came along: style made famous by 1 WL'iT EAST Play Bridge with Reese. +A K J 4 + Q 10 9 6 \?A K 7 ~ Q4 3 . The Oak Tree Press, London. 21 /- OQ 0 J 10 8 6 2 + Q J 10 6 3 +4 I had seen some of North's As West I became the declarer defences and knew that his know in 3 NT and received the lead of ledge of hold-ups was limited the 6 of hearts. Most players to what he read in the morning would win in hand and lay down papers. the Queen of diamonds hoping to drop the 9 in three rounds. Alright then-how about a Although the play is mathe psychological stroke against matically unpromising (63% of South? He was head of thc the time the nine refuses to drop), clinic and an intelligent man. If r~yehologically it is not bad at I won the opening lead in dummy fin.t ~ight. Opponents, seeing a and led thc singleton club /r,· lon gish diamond suit in dummy u·ould surely go up 11 ith a high and an apparent scarcity of ('art! in orda to rt'tllrll his partna's rntries, will refuse to win the wit. Thcn I could makc the tril·k. giving the declarer the nccdcd tricks in clubs in~a~·ad l'f opportunity to switch to clubs diamonds. Ddightcd with thi.; for hi s ninth trick. But this lint: plan of c:unpai~n. I won "ith of play didn't appeal to me in the Qu~· cn of hcarts and led my psycholo!!ically-awar~: stat~: . dummy's club. Like a tb'h .17 the Ace appeared and another The rest of the story is too card hit the table face down. painfully obvious. North won "I'm playing that card," he with the King and returned the boomed, "I just want a moment suit, forcing me to play dummy's to consider the subsequent de 10. South played low. North had fence." "Don't break your head," the King of clubs and South was I murmured irreverently, expos sitting over dummy with the Ace ing my cards. "I shall win your and the 9 of diamonds. One heart return and play on clubs down! "You exposed your hand for my ninth trick." "And we, a little prematurely," a voice I fancy, shall play on diamonds boomed in my car. "I don't for our fifth," he retorted, think you have yet fully re facing his lead. It was the 3 covered!" He was quite right. of diamonds. I still haven't. RESULT OF SEPTEMBER COMPETITION Many solvers failed to score on Problem No. 2, choosing to r·aise partner's hearts directly; possibly they overlooked the point that a bid of Four Diamonds mu~t agree Hearts inferentially, for South could not conceivably wish to introduce a genuine Diamond suit into the auction. WinfK'r: Max. 100 R. M. St·tH.IiAN, 47 Copse Lane, Headington, Oxford 95 St-cond: N. F. CttoULARTOS, 55 Bradfield Road, Stretford, Manchester 86 Third J. W. Gtrua:Ns, Landweringstr. 43, Siltard, Holland 88 Othc:·r le-.tding !ICon-s: J. K. PAns, fl. R. STEVEN, 85; C. W. HArrON, J. K. KROES (!tolland), 84; T. C. HORTON, N. ALMGREN (Sweden), 83; C. LEIGIITON, 80; C. C. llr:ARI>, 78; P. C. RrcttARI>s (Belgium), 77; J. T. CIIAI'MAN, DR. J. F. SuYVI R (lloll;md), 76; HUITI'NIIOF (llolland), 75; MRs. A. F. Tnv, 72; L. G. Wool>, I. A. llowu, 71; A. A. WRt A further good score in the August COill(lCtition was: F. "· KIMMI NAI>r: (Holland), 1\0. Yot! Say ... Readers arc imitcd to send letters on all subjects to the Editor, B.B.\V., 35 DoYer Street, London, W.l. It is not often that r aP.l rnovcd strength of a fit in his partner's to set pen to paper; but the suit. North's call of Four Spades answers to Problem 7 of last was therefore hardly a bolt from month's 100 Up were really the blue, but South is singularly too much. Twelve members of ill-prepared to deal with it. No the distinguished panel solemnly doubt he should bid on-indeed endorse South's raise to Four some panelists lurched directly Clubs, but I cannot sec how that into the small slam. Would it, can be right. This was the however, be altogether surprising problem: if North held, say, +Qxx \?Kx Match-point pairs, North-South OAKQxx +AJIO, or .QJx vulnerable, the bidding has gone: ) ~ : ~ . : ~: 4 C.l. h AI Dtr J.W. 0t AI let CeosiMf YOU CHOOSE THE PROGRAMME AND THIS BOX DOES THE REST Now Potterton have put the brain into central heating This year Pottcrton boilers have a comfort Keeps fuel bills down. The Programmer lS l(i\:in~, fud-conserving refinement no other a built-in "economy measure". \\nm you '-:olin- no other system- can match. The programme your central heating you burn I ott c rt~n l'ro:{rammer {that's it in the pic only the fuel you need. There's no waste. S.l ture) Js the automatic brain that docs you keep money in your pocket. nnything for you. The Programmer is a standard feature- A "llJI'ItM ( I f 111£ l •l. 14 lt\J. li k C•lP (}) ONE HUND UP Conducted by A LAN H I R 0 N September solutions: If you did not enter for the September competition, try your hand at the problems in the September issue before reading how the exp:rts voted. The panel for the September com Arranging the panel in order of petition consisted of the following fifteen ascending optimism: experts: Mrs. R. Markus, K. Barbour, REESE: "Three Spades. About what M. Buckley, E. Crowhurst, G .. C. H. the hand is worth. Three Diamonds Fox, F. North, J. Nunes, T. Reese, would not be forcing." D. Rimington, C. Rodrigue and R. BARBOUR: "Three Spades. Quite Sharples, all of London and the Home sufficient, even opposite a vulnerable Counties; C. E. Phillips of Cheshire; overcall. This hand has the 'four top P. Swinnerton-Dyer of Cambridge; losers' look about it." J. le Dcntu of Paris, and J. Besse of NoRTH: "Four Spades. There are Rome. hardly enough points for everyone Problem No. 1 (10 points) to have his bid, but part of the explana l.m.p. scoring, North-South vulner tion is no doubt that North's overcall able, the bidding has gone:- is based on shape. In any case, South SouTH WL'iT NORTH EAST has sufficient values for game and it 1\? ,. 2\? seems extremely improbable that 3NT will prove superior to Four Spades." South holds:- CROWHURST: "Four Spades. Partner's +OJ3 \?QJ7 0AKI084 +OS vulnerable overcall in a suit which does What should South bid? not rob opponents of any bidding space Ansh't•r: Four Spades, 10; Three will, I hope, be well up to standard." Heart'>, 7; Three Spades, 5; 3NT, 3. This is a sound point which Crowhurst Tlrl' panl'l's rotl': 10 for Four Spades; is rather fond of stressing. Over One 2 for Three Hearts (Sharples and Club by an opponent, One Spade b.Y Phillips); 2 for Three Spades (Barbour partner effectively interferes with their and Reese); I for 3NT (Rimington). bidding and so can sometimes be South has a surprising number of risked on sketchy holdings; when the points, considering the bidding that enemy opening bid is One Heart, has ttonc on already, but a lot of them however, the One Spade overcall has arc in Queens and Jacks and may no obstructive purpose and should not pull a great dl•al of weight in a therefore be based on sound values. hi h-lc\cl trump contract. Yet most SwtNN[RTO~·DYt ' R: "Four Spadf:s. of the panel feel that they c:tnnot risk Even opposite myself I could hardly hcin out of g:unc. do less. or course then! may t~ fl'ur top lo<,ers, but I have no way of finding Even after two rounds of bidding out. Had East passed, I would have South still has little idea of the correct tried Two Hearts and followed by level for the final contract. Should rai~ing Two Spades to Three.'' partner hold strong hearts, then the sky f'.S-D.'s post script is in:;tructivc. is the limit. On the other hand, if his It is a good way of bidding a non hearts arc ragged any move beyond the forcing Three-and-a-half Spades. Four level may be fraught with danger P~IILUJ•s: "Three Hearts. Partner is because of the misfit; after all, a void unlikely to be able to bid the 3NT that in partner's first suit can hardly be we ;~ppcar to be angling for. His most counted an asset. probable rebid is Three Spades: now, Again, partner's Three Heart bid "hen we ourselves say 3NT he will might even be based on a three-card realize that we arc not entirely satisfied suit with a powerful spade suit in with this contract and will feel freer reserve: he may have decided not to to revert to spades than if we had force initially for fear of a misfit. jumped in No Trumps. However, he must be prepared to cope But partner may interpret your Three with a raise to Four Hearts and so the Heart bid as a search for an alternative commonly recommended move of Four playing-spot in the minors, and your Diamonds should not embarrass him; subsequent 3NT bid as showing an acute it is below the game level and, as the dislike of spades. panelists point out, it must agree SIIARJ•u.s: "Three Hearts. The hand H~arts by inference, for with a diamond has the values for a direct game bid suit and no support for either of North's but if partner has a two-suited hand suits, South would bid 3NT. there may be more to it than that. It But the panel's motives for choosing certainly costs absolutely nothing to Four Diamonds are varied: some try Three Hearts at this stage.'' regard it as completely descriptive of the I agree that it costs nothing "at this hand and intend that partner should now stage" but if partner is two-suited make the final bid, while others regard and decides to press on beyond game it as merely the precursor of slam tries it mly well cost something later. to come. Problem No. 2 (10 points) NoRTII: "Four Diamonds. If Fi\e Match-point pairs, love all, the .Hearts meant "Bid Six if your trumps hidding has gone:- arc good," then that, perhaps, is the bid we should make. However, the:c SouTtt W~. ST NOR Til EAsT I+ No ,. No arc two objections: North's heart.s will have to be not merely ·~ooJ "ut 2+ No 3~ No especially good; in addition .FJ\·c· I kar~s South holds:- might be interpreted as ln\ " l.lln~ s'.' +- ~%43 OAK2 +AK6532 llc:trts if partner controls dumonJ~. What ~hould South bid? "A simple hid of Four llc;.~rt~ hJr-~ly A111~tw; Four Diamonds, 10; Five dO<:s justice to the h:tnd, \\htk 1-~,c Diamonds, 5. Diamonds would t'C right only '''th 111<' pand's rot1•: 12 for Four Dia· better hc;1rts-s;1y "-"' in hc.1m a~J munds; 3 for Five Diamonds (Rodrigue, Axx in diamonds. So we arc kft ''•th Nunc:~ "nd t•hillips). Four Diamonds." 47 BARBOUR: "Four Diamonds. Of \vith a consequent poor match-point course it is possible that if partner has score. no genuine heart suit the only makeable Nul"ES: "Three No Trumps. Si~ contracts arc already behind us, in Diamonds could be on, but partner spite of the wealth of top cards. If would h:1vc to hold a high spade or a partner continues with Four Spades I singleton to give us any chance. Bad shall subside, but he should of course slams not being a good investment at rebid his hearts if he has a suit." pairs, I settle for the no-trump game." LE DENTU: "Four Diamonds. In any RoDRIGUE: "Three No Trumps. The case I don't think that I can stop out of King of spades is very likely to prove a a slam now. That is why I reject Five wasted value if we play in diamonds Hearts." and this must make a slam a poor bet." Both Mrs. Markus and Sharples BucKLEY: "Three No Trumps. It remarked that, should partner show club is easy to construct hands on which we support, Six Clubs would be a better shall make Six Diamonds, and hands contract than Six Hearts since a heart on which Five Diamonds makes while loser may go away on North's spades. 3NT goes off. And equally easy to give hands on which 3NT is the only Problem No. 3 (20 points) East-West vulnerable, the bidding game. 3NT will not give us a bottom." has gone:- LE DENTU: "Six Diamonds. And at SouTH WEST NORTH EAST i.m.p. scoring. And at rubber bridge:' 10 I+ 30 No Ah! La vie Parisienne! ? Answer to (b): 3NT, 10; Three Hearts, South holds:- 8; Four Clubs, 3; Six Diamonds, 3. +K97 <:?AJ2 0AQ874 +A3 The panel's rote: 7 for 3NT; 5 for What should South bid:- Three Hearts (Mrs. Markus, Nunes, (a) At match-point pairs scoring? Sharples, Rimington and Crowhurst); (b) At i.m.p. scoring? I for Four Clubs (Phillips); 2 for Six Diamonds (Le Dentu and Besse). Answer to (a): 3NT, 10; Three Hearts, At i.m.p. scoring you ate not likely 4; Six Diamonds, 3. to lose more than one i.m.p. by playing The panel's mte: 12 for 3NT; I for in the suit; and you may get a game swing. Three Hearts (Mrs. Markus); 2 for Six Furthermore, even slender slam pos Diamonds (Lc Dentu and Besse). sibilities are relevant in view of the At pairs scoring only the bravest glittering bonuses attached. players will go beyond range of the However, seven · of the panel stick desirable haven of 3NT, with its possible resolutely to their choice of 3NT, scores of 430 and 460, in order to firmly convinced that no slam exploration investigate a dubious slam. Whether is necessary and that 3NT offers the 3NT is a sound contract as compared safest game. Barbour even remarks to Five Diamonds is a matter of sec<'nd- gloomily that the likely outcome of a ary importance. probe is an ignominious Five Diamonds Even a cheap explomtory bid such minus two, but I certainly don't agree as Three Hearts, proposed by Mrs. with . the implication th:1t South is Markus, m:1y leave partner with no likely to make as many tricks in no alternative but to revert to diamonds, trumps ns in diamonds. 4f! RI~II:"GTos: "Three Hc~:rts. Now I The P_anc/'s mre: II for 1:-.1; 2 for ha\e room to manoeuvre: if partner has Two Diamonds (Cro\\hurst and Fo,); e~actly the right cards I shall reach Six I for Two Spades (Barbour); 1 for 2 ~1 Diamonds; if not, I shall play in Five:' (Mrs. ~farkus). CROWIIURST: "Three Hearts. !':ow This is the first part-score situ.Jtion that "e no longer have to worry about to appear in 100 Up for some time. The ~1iling past a possible game in No hand was culled from an ancient Trumps, we can make a serious attempt Culbertson magazine, "here the en to investigate slam possibilities. This is dorsed course of action was the T"o probably going to depend upon partner Spade bid found by Barbour, one of the having a respectable side-suit on which most modern of bidders. Has the to discard a loser or two and, since pendulum started its back-s"ing, I he must be given every possible chance wonder? · of showing the side-suit, it must be The mercenary-minded majority arc correct to make our first try in the quite prepared to make an under bid lowest-ranking suit. We plan to continue in hopes of clinching the rubber, with a cue-bid in clubs and this should intending, if the opponents do a bit of enable partner to revalue his hand for flag-flying, to administer a sharp double. slam purposes." BUCKlEY: "One No Trump. Top Phillips also sets out to show both people will know that Six Diamonds side Aces but starts with Four Clubs is a make, and that an august con so that after a possible Four Diamond . temporary has recommended 2:-.1 as reply he will be able to show the second the way to reach it. But I can't rate that Ace at the Four-leyel. A possible as commercial. Anyway, if partner disadvantage of this otherwise laudable introduces a red suit you can raise him." principle is hinted at by Mrs. Markus NoRTH: "One No Trump. Almost and Sharples who, while supporting a worth the Nap selection for the month, Tilree Heart bid by South, indicate but doubtless someone will discover that if partner replies with Three Spades a way of complicating the issue." they will continue with 3NT. I would REESE: "One No Trump. Only certainly be happier to play in Three P.S-D. could think of somethin~ No Trumps after this sequence than by different. But then, he dcx-sn't pby plunging into it directly over partner's rubber bridge." Three Diamond bid. SWJSSERTOS·DYER: "One Trump." Problem No. 4 (10 points) Ha! But his side kick h:1d an i.lc:t: Rubber bridge, North-South vulner BARUOUR: "Two Spades. This mit:ht able and 60, the bidding has gone:- seem distorted, but oppon~nts com~t.: Soulll WI.ST NoRTH EAST on very little in this situatk)n anJ I I+ No can't face Two Cluhs hy \\\."St (if I respond I NT) follo\\~J by Thrl'\! South holds:- Clubs by East. The tl'P c;m.ls !>hl'UIJ +KIO <:/AJ094 OA873 +1082 give Two Spad~s a rcason.thk ch.tn~"'\!." Wh;tt !>hould South hid? I think that I Cl)u!J stl'\!1 m) sdf tl) f.t.:-.: . . A111wa: I NT, 10; Two Diamonds, 5; a Three Club contr.1ct l'ty Ll\t-Wot I " 0 Spades, 5; 2NT, 4. only it \\ouiJ t'C Thrl'\! Clul'ts dllul:-!cJ. 4') CROWIIURST: "Two Di The decision whether or not to grand slam, worth about 2210. crificc against a slam can be seems on the face of it to be sound very difficult. For one thing tactics for it represents a saving your judgement needs to be most of 500 points. But it is not so accurate. It is ruinous to incur simple: grand slams arc rarely a large penalty when the slam bid all round the room and if would not have been made. you sacrifice at a cost of 1700 The following is a reasonable your result will be worse than yard tick at match-point pairs:- the usual score ( 1460), repre To .mre a small slam the sented by Six Spades bid and penalty should not exceed the made with an overtrick. value of a game. As I mentioned last month, To save a grand slam the non-vulnerable pairs have a very penalty should not exceed the great advantage when it com::s value of a small slam. to sacrifice bidding. They can In theory to go down 1100 to take considerable liberties. An ve a vulnerable Six Spades outstanding example was the ( 1430) is an excellent result. following hand from a big pairs But it is unlikely that every pair tournament organised by the wi ll reach the slam, so your best British Bridge League some years hope of a good score lies in ago. South, the dealer, opened trying to defeat the contract. Two Clubs and West hcld:- It i ~ even more unwise to risk +974 (/62 OJ9732 +HH. an enormouo; penalty to save a West chose to make a fri\'olou~ I m "" hid1 has not yet been blutr bid of Two Spades. Nonh r ched. held +KIOS65 and about se\'en in, to ~acrifice to the tunc or ci!!ht points. I k clect~·d to of 17 When your partner makes an minimum strength. Example: informatory double, even though SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST you may have a very weak hand, 1\? Dblc No ? you arc obliged to make a bid East holds: of some kind. There arc five +QJ86 \?43 0 KQ94 +187. different sorts of response which You should bid Two Spades, you might make. which is invitational, not forcing. 1. A bid of your best suit at The hand represents about a the loll'est possible !el'el. This minimum for a jump bid. Make is the weakest bid you can make: the .Queen of spades the Ace, and you may make this bid on no it would be about a maximum. points at all, and at most you 3. A jump to game in your 011'11 will generally have a few scattered suit shows a good suit and an points. Example: opening or near opening bid, or SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST a hand with very good distri J+ Dblc No ? bution on which you expect to East holds: make game opposite a normal +864 \/J73 OQ962 +832. informatory double. The correct response is Two Example (a) Diamonds, showing your best SOUTII WEST NORTH EAST suit. It is the weakest bid that I+ Dblc No '! you can make. East holds: 2. A jump in your best suit. +76 \?AQJ864 OKJ7 +42. This is not forcing but it suggests You should bid Four Hearts. a usdul hand and invites partner You have the values for an ~o hid on to game: if his original opening bid and the hand canrH1t tnformatory double was above be a misfit. Example (h) somewhat stronger: it mit!ht bl! SoL"Ttt WrsT NoRlH EAST based on as niany as 10 points. 1\i Dblc No ? Do not make the mistake of Eat holds: bidding I NT on a very bad hand KJJOX6 ~7 OAJ 10~~~- 54. as the cheapest way out. This You should bid Fou::- · .Spades. may encourage partner with a The hand is not very ::rong in good hand to take strong action, high-card points but ycu know Example (a) that partner will almost c -~nainly SOUTH WEST i':ORTII EAST plug the gaps in your two suits. I+ Dblc No ? 4. A bid of tlze oppO!it'llts' suit. East holds: This bid is frequently used when +974 ~52 OJIOS3 +QJ9·t the partner of the doubler has Respond One Diamond, not game-going values but is not INT. Although you have a sound sure of the best spot. The bid guard in the enemy suit you Jack is, of course, forcing and allows the strength for the constructive the partnership to explore a response of 1NT. variety of contracts without fear Example (b) of the bidding dying. Example: SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST SoUTII WEST NORTH EAST 10 Dble No ? 10 Dble No ? East holds: East holds: +K542 ~14 OKJ92 +JS7 . • K863 ~AJ94 086 +AJ7. Here 1NT is the perfect You should bid Two Diamonds, response, showing your mod~st and if partner bids spades or strength. Two Spades would hearts you should raise to game. be unsound on such an indifferent Note that your cue bid docs not suit, and at the same time you how any special holding in the would not be entirely happy in enemy suit: it is made because bidding only One Spade. it is the only forcing bid avail When third-hand bids able to you. S. No-trump responses to lm There arc occasions when you informatory doubt£' arc very similar do not have to n:spond to to no-trump responses to an partner's informatory double. If o ning hid, with the proviso your right-hand oppone~t m~k~s th t you must of course have a a positive bid of any kmd, It IS und guard in the enemy suit. not t'.Ut'lltial for you to n:sponJ I NT response tends to he since partner will ha\c another 57 opportunity to bid. It follows to the possibility of being defeated that in these situations you should in whatever fli BIDDING QUIZ You arc East and hold the following: + K 10 7 4 y> Q 8 6 () Q J 4 + 8 3 2 What do you say in each of the following auctions? SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST I. I+ Dble No ? SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 2. I+ Dblc 2+ ? SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 3. I() Dblc INT ? What should East say in each of the following auctions? SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 4. ly> Dblc No ? East holds: +J7 \?KQ84 ()AJ6 +Q642 SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 5. I\? Dblc 3y> ? East holds: +KJ984 \?76 ()AJ62 +82 58 Sot:TJ : \VEST NORTH E.-\ST 6. I\:} Dblc I+ ? East holds: +KJ62 \/f.7 0A942 +J62 SOliD! WtST NORTH EAST 7. 10 Dblc Rc-Dblc ? East holds: +4 \:}K! T? '!.G4 06432 +J4 Soun .i \VEST NoRTH EAST S. 10 Dble 30 3+ No ? East holds: +KQ92 \j)A874 064 +KJ6 ANSWERS TO BIDDING QUIZ I. One No Trump, 10 points. Four Spades, 8 points. This An ideal hand for this bid-a presents a close choice. sound spade guard and a balanced 6. Double, 10 points; T1ro 8 points. Diamonds, 2 points. It is im 2. Two Spades, I0 points. A portant to tell partner that you competitive bid which might also ha\e reasonable strength and be made on a slightly worse good spades. hand. On this occasion you arc 7. Three Hearts, 10 points; One not interested in game unless Heart, 8 points. It is likely that partner has a very strong double. you are outgunned on this hand 3. Double, I 0 points. Your and a pre-emptive bid may make side should have the balance of the bidding difficult for your points and it seems likely that opponents. West has made a light opening bid. 8. No Bid, 10 points; Four A penalty double is the best way Spades, 3 points. Do not make to show partner that you have the mistake of raising in this sort ~me strength. of situation merely because you 4. Three No Trumps, 10 points. have good support for the suit Certainly you want to be in partner has bid. You must me, and there is no need to be remember that you have already afraid of spade weakness. promised support with your ~ rtner will probably be strong original informatory double, and In that !IUit. your general strength is no more 5. Thrt•e Spadt•s, 10 points; than minimum. 59 ~; ~ ~1 (? PLAYI j \:j '(·;-,- ·.. ISE Continuing his adri•X! . on defence, Dan Burgess turns this mon!h If: rhc problem of the opcnin~ lead. · · One of the realities of defensive away, while an attacking lead play is that much depends upon is an attempt to go for tricks. the opening lead, which fre For example, the opponents have quently has to be chosen in the bid One Spade- Three Spades dark . No matter how long you Four Spades and your hand play or how expert you become, consists of: +xx \?KJxx () IOxx you will sometimes pick a lead +Q I Oxx. From the bidding you that helps declarer. But don't should suppose that the declarer's get despondent and give up. hopes are based on a good fit If you keep your head and be in trumps, with ·short suits in sure not to give yet more away, dummy and in declarer's hand. success may still come. The contract may well depend There is no sure way of finding on declarer's ability to make a good lead but there are certain tricks by ruffing. How can you principles which will help you be as awkward as possible? to the winning shot more often The answer is, by leading than not. From the bidding trumps; and by leading them again and from what you sec in your at the next opportunity; and hand, you should try to con hoping that if partner gets in he struct the hands likely to be held will lead them too. I find that by declarer and dummy. Having many of my pupils are horrified done so, it is not difficult to when I suggest a trump lead on imagine the sort of game declarer hands of this kind, but ex will want to play. perience shows that such an The first consideration is attack is one of the most effective whether to make a .. passive" in the game. It may succeed or an "attacking" lead. A in preventing only om• run·. but passive lead aims at giving nothing that one may be vital. A trump lead is, of course, threatens his control of the entire a •·passive" lead: you [lrl! playing hand. If you could "force·· him on declarer's strength, not your (by persistently leading a side own. You fear that to lead one suit which he must ruff) he mi!!ht of your other suits may . present be left with only the same number d ·darer with a trick: . •:1 hile if of trumps as you, and this is a ,·0 u sit back and wait, ·declarer very unpleasant situation for a ~ay have to tackle the ::ide suits declarer to be in. You need an himself, to his disadvant::g6. "attacking" or '"forcino" lead One does not, of cour.>c, lead and the most promisin~ is th~ trumps when to do so might fourth-best diamond. If this suit give away a trick in th~ trump turns out to be declarer's weak suit. And you should remember ness he will eventually have to that if you have a ~ingleton trump, · and you may succeed trump, your partner may have a in so shortening his spade holding holding such as Qxx or Jxxx, . that he will be unable to draw which could well take a trick. your trumps and enjoy his own Now take a rather different tricks in the side suits. case. Suppose the opponents The common mistake on hands bid One Spade- Two Clubs of that sort is to lead the singleton Two Spades - No Bid and you club "through strength," in the hold +AQxx G. C. H. FOX Continued double. West decided to stick gained a top! and never made a trick at all, But this type of coup is r;.m:, lo,ing 15CX). But, as all the other for it depends on the opponents • 'orth-South pairs had bid and having an ob\'ious grand ~bm made Seven Spades or 7NT. that is sure to he hid at C\ ay !\Coring 1510 or 1520, East-West tahk. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS 5/- per line. Special terms for a series BRIDGE CLUBS Af';D HOTELS BOUR~E~10UTH, CA~FORD Cl~ lFFS G~d stan~ard Rrids c: in enjoy.ablc: atmosphere RtVJUA HonL. Tel.: Canford ChiTs 7734S. Scsstons tw1ce d:uly. Partnership and Duplica·e· Faces Chine and sea, licenced. JS rooms, .Cordon rb.~J()~s of fO:.L" -:\·cry Saturday evenine. • . Blcu table, cxcellent cellar• .. A e~d cut 1n e~me i\ available to re~ident Vl\ctors. 1n our bndgc: GRAI'D SLAM r; -,n'..VF. CLUB-21 Cra\·en Hi'! room, throuehout the year. W.2. Tel.: PAD "):!42. Stakes 1/· and 2·6' Sf- and 10/-. P.a: .. ~:;;hip e\·enings Monda)·s a'nd Thursdays. Ytstt.~ ~ ·.. elcome. Duplicate Pail'l H1t~:~o'! D11.tOGE Ctua-16 Northwick P3rk (~ounty £2S) Tl;' ~ ::!ay weekly. 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Folder free from London, S.W.). Tel.: KENsineton 7201. the Mayfair Bridge Studio (Depr. S),' 110 Mount Street, London, W.l, or 'phone GRO 2844. Diary of Events 1963 Oct. 18-20 WEST OF ENGLAND CONGRESS ·Weston DERBYSHIRE CoNGRESS Matlock 25-27 ST. DUNSTAN's CONGRESS Ilk ley 30 W.B.F. PAR CONTEST Worldwide Nov. 1-3 N.W.C.B.A. CONGRESS Black pool 6 W.B.F. PAR CONTEST Worldwide 16-17 SCOTLAND 1'. ENGLAND Edinburgh 24 CROCKFORD's CuP 1sT. ROUND Regional Dec. 8 YOUNG PLAYERS PAIRS Regional 1964 Jan. 3-5 MII>LANl> CouNrn:s CoNGRI:ss Droitwich 17-19 Wlltn:LAW Cur• East bourne Fe h. 21-24 Sr•RtNG FOURSOM ES East bourne March 19 CIIARITY CIIALLF.NGE ·cur· Worldwide 21-22 T11r: Fru.u TROI'IIY London 62