Number: 190 UK £3.95 Europe €5.00 October 2018 Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz This month we are dealing with auctions where your partner passes in response to your opening bid. You are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no-trump (12-14 points) and four-card BRIDGEmajors. It is your turn to call.

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

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

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

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

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♣ 1♠ Pass Pass 1♣ 2♠* Pass 4♠ 1♣ 1NT Pass Pass 1♣ 1♦ Pass Pass ? ? ? Dbl Pass 1♥ Pass * weak jump overcall ?

Answers on page 41 Answers on page 45 Answers on page 47 Answers on page 49

Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ INDEX 1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee BRIDGE 2 Canary Islands and 5 Mr Bridge Winter Warmth Ryden Grange, Knaphill, with Fred. Olsen Surrey GU21 2TH 6 Reviews by Shireen Mohandes 3 Clive Goff’s Stamps 4 Mr Bridge UK Events 2018 ( 01483 489961 7 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee 8 Islands of the [email protected] Mediterranean 9 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage with Fred. Olsen www.mrbridge.co.uk 10 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum 9 Mr Bridge UK Events at shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/ The Olde Barn Hotel mrbridge-shop 11 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett 10 Bridge With Angela 11 Mr Bridge UK Events at Publisher and 12 Take-Out Doubles Part 1 The Chatsworth Hotel Managing Editor by Andrew Kambites 14 Bernard Magee DVDs Sets 1-3 Mr Bridge 15 Take-Out Doubles Part 1 Quiz 15 Bernard Magee DVDs Associate Editor by Andrew Kambites Sets 4-6 Julian Pottage 17 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions 16 Festive Events 2018 [email protected] 18 Mr Bridge UK Events 2019 20 Robin Hood’s Bad Breaks by David Bird 24 Acol Bidding with Bridge Consultant Bernard Magee 22 Julian Pottage Answers your Questions Bernard Magee 26 Declarer Play with bernardmagee 24 Catching Up with Sally Brock Bernard Magee @mrbridge.co.uk 28 Bridge Tables 25 Take-Out Doubles Part 1 Quiz Answers 31 Re-boot your Acol with Cartoons & Illustrations by Andrew Kambites Bernard Magee Marguerite Lihou 32 BRIDGE Subscriptions 26 Letter From Overseas by John Barr www.margueritelihou.co.uk 33 Little Voice 27 Readers’ Letters 33 Defence with Technical Consultant Bernard Magee Tony Gordon 29 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage 34 Capital Cities of the Baltic with Fred. Olsen Typesetting 30 Ganjifa - Playing Cards From India 35 Bernard Magee’s Jessica Galt by Paul Bostock Tutorial Software [email protected] 38 Mr Bridge UK Events at 32 Pressing the Defence by Bernard Magee Denham Grove Proof Reading Team 35 Sally’s Slam Clinic 38 Bernard Magee DVDs Mike Orriel Set 7 36 Two Games in Toronto by Paul Barden 40 The Best of the Fjords Julian Pottage in Seven Nights Catrina Shackleton 37 Point of View by Philip Watson with Fred. Olsen Richard Wheen 41 Bernard Magee DVDs 39 Declarer Play Quiz Answers by David Huggett Set 8 Customer Services 41 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee 41 Duplicate Bridge Rules Catrina Shackleton Simplified [email protected] 42 Seven Days by Sally Brock 43 QPlus 12 44 Books on Bridge Events & Cruises 45 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee 44 Croatia 2019 ( 01483 489961 47 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee 45 Designs for Bridge Jessica Galt Table Covers [email protected] 48 What is Checkback and how do you use it? 45 Bridge Club Insurance Megan Riccio by Julian Pottage 46 Cruising European Rivers & Canals [email protected] 49 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee with Fred Olsen 47 Tunisia 2018-19 Clubs & Charities 50 Nothing To Do With Bridge by Janet Ward 47 Mobility Scooter Maggie Axtell 51 More Tips by Bernard Magee Insurance [email protected] 49 2019 Diaries REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE 51 Charity Events 51 Travel Insurance Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, all mint with Printed in the UK by full gum. Quotations for commercial quantities available on 51 Home & Contents Insurance The Magazine request. 52 Cruising German Printing Company Values supplied in 100s, higher values available, as well as 1st and 2nd class. Waterways www.magprint.co.uk ( 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected] with Fred. Olsen

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 3 Mr Bridge UK Events 2018

Limited availability at some events PROGRAMME DAY 1 Tutorial Events with Bernard Magee 1500 Mr Bridge Welcome Desk open Chatsworth Hotel Two Bridges Hotel Tea or coffee on arrival 1745 to 1830 Elstead Hotel 26-28 October £258 26-28 November From £349* Welcome drinks Bournemouth BH1 3QP Supporting Minors Play and Defence of 1NT 1830 to 2000 Dinner 2015 BRIDGE 1 Just Duplicate Tutorial Events DUPLICATE PAIRS Blunsdon House Blunsdon House DAY 2 0800 to 0930 9-11 November £228 19-21 October £238 Breakfast Better Leads & Switches Denham Grove 27-29 December £228 1000 to 1230 Hosted by Sandy Bell Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DG SEMINAR & PLAY Chatsworth Hotel 30 Nov - 2 Dec £238 of SET HANDS Doubles at Just Duplicate Events 12-14 October £218 Hosted by Will Parsons (DUPLICATE BRIDGE ) 23-25 November £218 Denham Grove 1230 to 1330 Cold Buffet Lunch Denham Grove 5-7 October £228 1400 to 1645 19-21 October £218 Declarer Play BRIDGE 2 Hosted by Sandy Bell DUPLICATE PAIRS Elstead Hotel TEAMS of FOUR on Ramada Resort, Grantham (Bernard Magee Events) Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT 5-7 October £218 Elstead Hotel 2-4 November £218 16-18 November £228 1815 to 2000 Bidding Distributional Dinner Hands 2015 BRIDGE 3 Olde Barn Hotel Hosted by Lesley Lewis (formerly Ramada Resort DUPLICATE PAIRS Grantham) Olde Barn Hotel 26-28 October £208 DAY 3 9-11 November £218 0800 to 0930 16-18 November £208 Better Finessing Breakfast Hosted by Michael Haytack Chatsworth Hotel Please note that there are 1000 to 1230 Worthing BN11 3DU no seminars, set hands or SEMINAR & PLAY prizes at these events. of SET HANDS or at Just Duplicate Events (DUPLICATE BRIDGE )

1230 to 1400 For Festive Events Sunday Lunch see page 16 (weekend events only) 1400 to 1645 2019 dates now available BRIDGE 4 Blunsdon House DUPLICATE PAIRS Swindon SN26 7AS see page 18

Full Board – No Single Supplement* ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk *Subject to availability. Single supplement applies to all rooms at Two Bridges & Blunsdon House UPGRADE adverts to liven up the in all four suits. I did not WARNING pages. Please send in your even count the points, just DUPLICATE snaps together with your opened 2NT and hoped my For the first time I have BRIDGE RULES name and details. partner said pass. She had 3 included a page (a review in SIMPLIFIED 2017 points and she did. My fact) nothing whatsoever to 2018 INTO 2019 other 5 cards were rags. do with bridge. However, David Stevenson having read the book They led. I won the first On the facing page are the myself, I wanted to tell you Mr Bridge trick, put the other 7 remnants of this year’s all about it. Be assured it winners on the table and weekend events. As these will make a wonderful claimed. Unbelievable they Send in the cover of your are filling up fast and space Christmas present. You will all said ‘What are the odds out of date edition of DBRS is limited I recommend you find the review buried at on this happening?’ together with four 2nd class book as soon as possible to the back of this issue on BUT what should I have stamps. The 2017 edition avoid disappointment. page 50. You might even done/called/played? will be posted to you by All the 2019 weekend event want to buy a copy for Suggestions please. return. Enclose two more dates are listed both on yourself. I have included John Handley, Bedford. 2nd class stamps for an pages 18 and at the back of the publishers details and extra copy for your partner. the bound-in insert retail price, but if you do between pages 50 and 51. GOFFIES STAMPS want a copy you should PICK 'N' MIX SALE shop around and second- GREAT DAY OUT hand is an acceptable Do look at the bound-in option these days. insert at the front of this Barnes Café Bridge Drive issue. Use the cut-out form in support of Age UK SKELETON COAST to place your order. Richmond-upon-Thames. To be held on Tuesday 16 This cruise on board 2019 DIARIES October 2018 £30 entry, With Christmas now Aegean Odyssey had been includes bridge & lunch. approaching why not get earmarked as a must by Ruby red or navy blue. Soft Contact Emma Forbes ahead and order your Mrs Bridge when the 2019 kidrell cover with a useful ( 0208 7487821 stamps from Clive Goff’s winter programme was first ball point pen in the spine. [email protected] wonderful discounted planned way back in early £14.95 each inc p&p. Victor Lesk stamp service. See his 2016. It was to have been ( 07804 953460 advertisement on page 3. our 80th birthday cruise. FLAT STANLEY [email protected] ( 020 8422 4906 See insert enclosed. I am for more information. or email: still hopeful of making it Mrs Anne Oppenheim, [email protected] but it is a long voyage. while on the beach in ANY IDEAS? All good wishes Lindos, sent in this pleasing FIDENTIA snap. Readers will Last night, at home, playing Mr Bridge understand that we have all rubber bridge with friends, Club secretaries and / or sorts of little spaces my partner and I needed treasurers are reminded PS. Todays scan confirmed throughout the magazine just 20 for game and I that their annual renewals my recent biopsy. All clear. which we currently use for picked up the ace and king are due 1 November. I still live in hope.

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 5 Reviews by Shireen Mohandes Tricks Of The Trade by Larry Cohen

ISBN: 978-1-891994-05-0. Published 2018 www.bridgeworld.com Larry Cohen’s website: www.larryco.com £20.00

hen Mr Bridge asked me also avoid bad habits, that don’t make language do you use when scoring up to review Tricks of the for a lasting and trusting partnership. with teammates? There are some novel Trade, Strategic Thinking and instructive words on how to run a Sleeping with Wfor Advanced Bridge, I had high long solid suit, something perhaps few expectations, based on the author and a Clear Conscience of us have thought about. the publisher, namely Larry Cohen, How often have you been party to a The methods used in the book are and The Bridge World (see Bridge 158). hesitation (or fast play) that has given American, but systems are not the focus I was not disappointed at all. The information to players that they aren’t of the book. The advice in the book is book is a very good read. In a very entitled to? Cohen says, ‘Sleeping with applicable to players everywhere. honest and direct way, Larry shares a clear conscience is more satisfying his wisdom – wisdom that would than trying to win at all costs’. Excerpt form Chapter 13 normally take years to attain. But don’t let that short list mislead It’s Dangerous to Bid; This is a book about how to be a better you – the book covers a great breadth It’s Dangerous to Pass. bridge player. Rather than discussing of wisdom. Do you like to play a lot of Sometimes a gun is held to your head new conventions and standard conventions? Do you psyche a lot? Do and you have no way to avoid danger. cardplay techniques, Cohen focusses you redouble (or is that bidding card in For example, after RHO deals and on how to form a good partnership, the pristine condition that it was when opens 3♥, you must overcall 3NT how to think effectively, and how to it was removed from the cellophane with Hand 1, even if red versus green. recognise common situations so as to wrapper?) What tone and body Sure, you can go for a number – a big be prepared. number, but you can’t play scared His well-explained arguments, bridge and pass (or try to hedge with based on his considerable experience, an ill-judged take-out double). make for easy reading. Don’t confuse that situation with one like Hand 2. Journalist Miles Kingston (1941-2008) is credited with saying, ‘Knowledge is knowing Hand 1 Hand 2 that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom ♠ K Q 3 ♠ A 5 2 is not putting it in a fruit salad.’ ♥ K J 4 ♥ A 8 6 New Yorker Larry Cohen (b.1959) Source: Wikipedia ♦ A 7 6 4 ♦ K J 5 3 retired from a career in I.T and ♣ A J 8 ♣ K 7 4 options trading in the early 1980s to become a full time bridge The topics he covers are not often professional. In 2009 he switched seen in bridge literature – for example, RHO deals and opens 1♠. I consider from playing professionally to these chapters: it suicidal to overcall 1NT, especially pursue a career in bridge teaching vulnerable, on this collection. There How to Prepare a Duck and writing, and is now based in Florida. His success as a player is no urgency to stick your neck out. Advice on anticipating when you need in the USA and in international Here, I can live with a compromise to duck smoothly. tournaments, and his best- double. The all-or-nothing macho 1NT is not only dangerous on this Dummy Means Dummy selling book, To Bid or Not to Bid, mean that he has achieved deal but also damaging on other deals, Dummy has a formal, and informal fame and praise from a wide where partner will not be able to judge role. The tips given will help you to audience around the world. accurately if your no-trump overcalls make the most of being dummy, and can be this shabby. ■

Page 6 BRIDGE October 2018 Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz This month we are dealing with auctions where your partner passes in response to your opening bid. You are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no-trump (12-14 points) and four-card majors. It is your turn to call.

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

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

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

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

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♣ 1♠ Pass Pass 1♣ 2♠* Pass 4♠ 1♣ 1NT Pass Pass 1♣ 1♦ Pass Pass ? ? ? Dbl Pass 1♥ Pass * weak jump overcall ?

My Answers: My Answers: My Answers: My Answers: 1...... 4...... 7...... 10...... 2...... 5...... 8...... 11...... 3...... 6...... 9...... 12......

Answers on page 41 Answers on page 45 Answers on page 47 Answers on page 49

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 7

DEFENCE QUIZ by Julian Pottage (Answers on page 29)

ou are East in the defensive positions below playing Swiss YTeams (IMP scoring) with only North-South vulnerable.

1. ♠ A 9 6 5 3 3. ♠ J 8 2 ♥ K 10 7 3 2 ♥ Q J 3 ♦ K ♦ J 10 9 8 2018 2019 ♣ Q 9 ♣ Q 3 2 ♠ 7 4 ♠ K Q 9 4 26-28 October £208 18-20 January £208 N ♥ A J 6 5 N ♥ 7 5 W E W E Just Duplicate ♦ ♦ Just Duplicate S Q 6 3 2 S 7 6 3 9-11 November £218 8-10 February £218 ♣ J 8 7 ♣ 10 9 5 4 Better Finessing Finding Slams Hosted by Michael Haytack Hosted by Gary Conrad 16-18 November £208 West North East South West North East South 8-10 March £208 1 2 1 Just Duplicate 1NT 2♣ Pass 3♠ 1♣ Just Duplicate Pass 4♠ All Pass Pass 1♦ Pass 2NT2 For Festive events, 17-19 May £238 112-14 Pass 3NT All Pass see page 16 Drawing Trumps 2Landy, both majors 1Could be short Hosted by John Ronan 218-19 This charming rustic hotel 14-16 June £218 Partner leads the ♦A. What is set in the beautiful Just Duplicate do you do? Partner leads the ♥8, won by countryside of Grantham in the ♥Q. The ♦J runs to the the heart of England. 12-14 July £264 Supporting Minors ♦K, after which partner leads Comfortably furnished and Hosted by Bernard Magee 2. ♠ 9 the ♣A. What do you do? tastefully decorated rooms, ♥ Q 10 8 6 3 2-4 August £229 with a traditional bar, ♦ Q J 4 Masterpointed Duplicate contemporary lounge, ♣ A K 10 2 4. ♠ J atmospheric restaurant, 20-22 September £238 ♠ A 5 ♥ K Q 4 and health club altogether Further into the Auction N ♥ K 9 7 ♦ K 9 6 Hosted by Ray Hutchinson W E make for an idyllic retreat. ♦ K 10 8 7 6 5 ♣ A K 10 8 4 3 S 11-13 October £218 ♣ J 7 ♠ K 9 7 6 Just Duplicate N ♥ 2 W E ♦ A 8 5 2 S West North East South ♣ Q 6 5 2 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 3NT Pass 4♠ West North East South All Pass 2♣1 Pass 2♦2 Pass 3♣3 Pass 3NT Prices shown are per person, full board including tea & coffee Partner leads the ♦A and All Pass during breaks and a welcome drinks party. There is no single continues the suit. You win, 1Natural, 11-16 supplement and single players will always be found a partner. all following, and play a third 2Enquiry The Mr Bridge team will offer support during the set hands round. Declarer ruffs with 3Maximum, 6 clubs, no major sessions, on the seminar events, and make up the numbers the ♠10 (♣4 from partner) in the duplicates, so there should never be a half table. and leads low to the ♠2 and Partner leads the ♥7: ♥Q, All rooms are ensuite, have tea & coffee making facilities and ♠9. After you duck, declarer ♥2 and ♥8. The ♦6 goes free Wi-Fi. The venue has a lift. comes to hand with the ♥A to declarer's ♦Q and then (♥5 from partner) and leads comes the ♦3 to the ♦10 and For details and bookings call the ♠K to your ♠A. What do ♦K. What is your plan? Mr Bridge Holidays  01483 489961 you do next?

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 9 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum Episode 78: The Curious Case of a Careless Card

s I arrived at the bar at the Dealer West. E/W Game. After much grimacing Millie let the Riverside the secretary was ♠ 10 5 3 ten run, winning the trick. Millie introducing Millie to a ♥ Q 10 decided that she might be pushing Apotential new member with, ‘This ♦ 7 her luck to finesse George for the ten is Abba, or should I be more formal ♣ A J 7 6 5 4 3 of diamonds as well. When she played and say Mrs .. .’ At this point Abba ♠ A K Q 8 4 2 ♠ J 9 7 6 diamonds from the top and the jack interrupted him. ‘I’m not married, ♥ 6 N ♥ J 8 7 4 fell, the contract came home with the ♦ J 5 W E ♦ A 4 2 I’ve never met the right man.’ ‘None S ace of diamonds the only trick for of us have,’ Millie announced adding ♣ K 10 9 8 ♣ Q 2 East-West. What I thought was a key sympathetically, ‘but believe me it ♠ Void card, the ace of clubs, had not made makes no difference.’ ‘I have had ♥ A K 9 5 3 2 a significant contribution to the final four marriages,’ admitted Abba. ♦ K Q 10 9 8 6 3 result. Millie now had yet another ‘Goodness’, acknowledged Millie, ♣ Void change of heart and announced that ‘That’s brave.’ ‘Not really,’ Abba perhaps computer-dealt boards were retorted, ‘One is to bridge; the other quite a good innovation after all. In three all failed. Mind you, it’s great to As West and dealer, Abba opened 1♠. our usual hostelry later, it turned out own three houses.’ I overcalled 3♣, after which George that Jo and Kate had been allowed to I knew Millie was very tense that bid 3♠. Millie of course was looking at play in four spades. In their auction evening. Not only were all boards now a massive hand with only two losers, the first five calls were exactly the computer-generated, but this was the so she doubled in an attempt to show same as at our table, but the bidding day that instant scoring was being a red two-suiter. Abba bid the spade then ceased. introduced with handsets on every game. Clearly Millie could not hold table. Millie had already announced many spades. As I held the club ace West North East South that she wouldn’t ever play North and what appeared to be the useful Kate Jo again as she felt that inputting the queen of hearts, I bravely bid 5♥ as a 1♠ 3♣ 3♠ Dbl result of each deal would be too great sacrifice. George passed and Millie 4♠ End a responsibility. I explained that confidently bid a slam. although it was traditional for North North led the club ace on which to perform this manoeuvre, it was not West North East South South discarded the ten of diamonds. compulsory and I could operate the Abba Wendy George Millie North, hoping South could ruff, electronic box from the South seat. 1♠ 3♣ 3♠ Dbl continued with another club. No This cheered her up considerably. 4♠ 5♥ Pass 6♥ such luck. Kate removed trumps and Abba, playing at the club for the End the contract made, their opponents first time, followed us to a table with taking one further trick in each red George, who had agreed to be her Abba led her top spade and I faced suit. We then had a bit of a giggle partner for the session. I remarked my hand as dummy on the table. over George’s mishap with the that Abba was an unusual first name. Millie played low. George was pass card and wondered about the ‘My mother chose it,’ explained Abba, constantly smiling inanely at Abba impression that incident might have ‘She is dyslexic and wanted to be able and inexplicably placed his pass had on Abba. Millie noted that George to spell it. My siblings are Ada, Pip, card on the first trick. He was totally seemed besotted by her. ‘Perhaps she Eve and Otto.’ The first board was this unaware of his transgression and is looking for a new house,’ suggested extraordinary hand: when questioned looked bemused. Kate unkindly. ‘If he’s not careful he Eventually he realised his error and could lose his,’ warned Jo. Time would apologised for his lapse. The six of tell. As usual Millie tried to have the Bridge with Angela. spades finally appeared and the pass last word with ‘Isn’t Abba mentioned Consolidate Your Basic Skills with card was returned to his bidding box. in the Bible?’ ‘I’m not sure,’ responded this Easy to Read Guide to Standard Millie ruffed in hand, and played a Jo, ‘but I know it’s a title given to Bidding, Play, Defence & Conventions small heart to the queen. She now bishops in the Coptic Church.’ This £7.95 ( 01483 489961 continued with the ten of hearts and information produced an abrupt end George hesitated before playing low. to the conversation. ■

Page 10 BRIDGE October 2018

DECLARER PLAY QUIZ by David Huggett (Answers on page 39)

ou are South as declarer playing rubber bridge or teams. YIn each case what is your play strategy? 2018 2019 12-14 October £218 1-3 February £228 Just Duplicate Hand Evaluation 1. ♠ K 10 8 6 3. ♠ K J 10 Hosted by Will Parsons 26-28 October £258 ♥ 7 5 3 ♥ K Q 6 Supporting Minors 29-31 March £258 ♦ K 8 ♦ A 7 6 5 Hosted by Bernard Magee Drawing Trumps ♣ 7 6 4 2 ♣ K 7 6 Hosted by Bernard Magee 23-25 November £218 N N Just Duplicate 26-28 April £218 W E W E Just Duplicate S S A family run, grade II listed 10-12 May £238 ♠ A J 9 5 4 ♠ Q 9 8 6 4 building, with beautiful Doubling ♥ A 8 4 ♥ A 5 4 Georgian frontage. The Hosted by Sandy Bell Chatsworth Hotel retains ♦ 7 5 4 ♦ J 2 7-9 June £218 ♣ A K ♣ A 9 3 much of its 19th century Just Duplicate charm and is renowned for 5-7 July £218 its friendly, efficient service. Just Duplicate You are declarer in 4♠ after You are declarer in 4♠ after The hotel is backed by a ♦ 16-18 August £238 three passes and West leads West opened 3 . West leads Silver Tourism Award for the ♥K. East plays the ♥2. the ♦K. How do you plan the Leads and Fundamental Quality. Adjacent to the Defence How do you plan the play? play? seafront, it is the perfect Hosted by Martin Holcombe location for a stroll. 27-29 September £218 Just Duplicate 2. ♠ 6 2 4. ♠ A K 9 ♥ 8 7 5 ♥ K 8 ♦ A J 2 ♦ A J 9 5 3 ♣ K Q 9 6 5 ♣ Q 3 2

N N W E W E S S Prices shown are per person, full board including tea & coffee during breaks and a welcome drinks party. There is no single ♠ K J 5 ♠ 7 5 supplement and single players will always be found a partner. ♥ A 9 6 3 2 ♥ A Q J 10 9 7 The Mr Bridge team will offer support during the set hands ♦ K Q 8 ♦ 8 sessions, on the seminar events, and make up the numbers ♣ A 8 ♣ A K 10 7 in the duplicates, so there should never be a half table. All rooms are ensuite, have tea & coffee making facilities and You are declarer in 3NT and ♥ free Wi-Fi. The venue has a lift and is located in lovely Steyne You are declarer in 7 after West leads the ♠8. East plays West opened 2♠ showing 5-5 Gardens, close to the sea front. Garden view or sea view the ♠10. How do you plan in spades and a minor and a rooms may be available (sea view at a supplement). the play? weak hand, 5-9 points. West leads the ♠Q. Trumps break For details and bookings call 2-3. How do you plan the Mr Bridge Holidays  01483 489961 play?

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 11 About the Contested Auction by Andrew Kambites Take-Out Doubles Part 1

ouble of a one-level suit bid Hand E is very different. Your five- Take-out doubles is for take-out and, unlike an card suit is a major and can be bid at without support for overcall, shows at least the the one level. There is an important all the other suits Dvalues of an opening bid. The perfect piece of theory here. Compare shape for a take-out double of 1♥ is Auctions F and G which look at a very The point about a take-out double is shown by Hand A or B, where you likely development of the auction. that you are asking partner to choose. have four-card support for whichever Suppose you do this and then overrule suit partner chooses. These hands Auction F partner? also demonstrate the minimum point West North East South count expected if you have perfect 1♥ 1♠ 2♥ Pass f you ask your partner to choose shape. Pass Dbl Pass 2♠ the denomination with a take- The less suitable the shape, the Iout double and then overrule more points you need. The lack of a Auction G him you are showing a very strong fourth spade in Hand C is regrettable West North East South hand. but with 13 points a double of 1♥ is 1♥ Dbl 2♥ Pass justified. With a 4-3-3-3 hand with 16 points you may have to double if you Whether you start with a 1♠ overcall Hand H Hand J Hand K have no stopper in their suit. or a take-out double, if the auction ♠ K Q 10 9 6 ♠ A 4 3 ♠ A Q J 7 6 3 returns to you with your opponents ♥ A 9 2 ♥ A Q 9 ♥ 7 in 2♥ you do not want to sell out. ♦ A Q ♦ A K J 9 ♦ K Q 2 Hand A Hand B Hand C They have a fit in hearts so you almost ♣ A 9 7 ♣ Q 10 9 ♣ A K J ♠ Q 10 7 6 ♠ Q 10 7 6 ♠ Q 10 7 certainly have a fit somewhere, and ♥ 5 ♥ Void ♥ 3 2 you want to find it. Partner must ♦ A Q 4 3 ♦ A Q 4 3 ♦ A Q J 6 have some points, otherwise why Auction L ♣ K 9 7 6 ♣ K 9 7 6 5 ♣ K J 8 2 are opponents passing out 2♥? You West North East South can make a take-out double on the 1♣ Dbl Pass 1♦ second round with Auction F without Pass 1♠/1NT/2♠ Hands D and E form an interesting promising extra values. However, you contrast. Should you double 1♥ or bid cannot proceed with 2♠ (Auction G) With Hand H, you double and then your five-card suit? without showing a very strong hand, bid spades at the lowest level, showing as I will explain in the next section. at least five good spades and more than If you start with a double you end up the 16 points that is the maximum of Hand D Hand E not bidding your spades and you are a 1♠ overcall. ♠ K J 8 ♠ Q 9 7 6 5 very likely to miss a 5-3 spade fit. This With Hand J, you double and then ♥ 3 ♥ 3 explains why, when given a choice, bid no-trumps at the lowest level, ♦ A Q J 6 ♦ A Q J 6 experts prefer to overcall a major at showing more than the 18 points that ♣ Q 9 7 6 5 ♣ K J 8 the one level rather than make a take- is the maximum of a 1NT overcall. out double. Note also a method of 1NT after the double shows 19-21 thinking that distinguishes experts points. You should double with Hand D, and from the rest. The club player considers With Hand K, you double and then ask partner to choose the suit. You what he should bid now. The expert bid spades with a jump, showing at might miss a 5-3 club fit, but if you weighs up alternatives by considering least six good spades and more than bid 2♣ with this ropey suit you may how the auction might develop and the 16 points that is the maximum of a well miss a far better fit in diamonds how his choice now affects his future strong 2♠ overcall. or spades. options. I would comment that for some

Page 12 BRIDGE October 2018 pairs there are sequences where double major. I would bid 2♦, a cue bid of your intermediates in diamonds, not just followed by a change of suit shows the opponents’ suit. Traditionally this was top cards. other two suits when the change is at played as game forcing but nowadays the same level. It is called ‘Equal Level most experts just stipulate that you Making a Free Bid Conversion’. It is beyond the scope of promise another bid. The auction Your partner’s double of 1♦ virtually this article and I would comment that might develop with Auction T: forces you to bid unless your diamonds if you look it up and decide you like are very strong indeed. However, it you must decide how you deal with Auction T this isn’t a ritual. The reasons you stronger single suited hands. West North East South have to bid on Hands M and N is 1♦ Dbl Pass 2♦ that whatever the problems you Responding to a Pass 2♥1 Pass 3♥2 might face as a result of entering the take-out double Pass 4♥3 auction on this rubbish, it is likely to be considerably cheaper than allowing If partner asks you to pick a suit you 1North has four hearts. He might also have 1♦ doubled with multiple overtricks. cannot opt out because you are weak. four spades. He is not necessarily minimum. Look at Auction X. East has bid 2♦ Suppose partner doubles 1♦ and the He will keep the bidding low because you so 1♦ doubled with overtricks is no next hand passes. cannot pass 2♥. longer a threat. If South has nothing 23♥ is a courtesy raise, showing about 9-11 to say, he is permitted to pass. 2♠ here points. North can pass this. is called a Free Bid and shows roughly Hand M Hand N Hand P 3North is not minimum. 5-8 points. ♠ 8 7 6 2 ♠ 8 7 6 ♠ K J 7 6 ♥ 7 5 4 ♥ 7 5 4 ♥ 8 6 3 Auction X ♦ 8 5 4 ♦ 8 5 4 2 ♦ A 7 6 Hand U Hand V Hand W West North East South ♣ 10 7 5 ♣ 10 7 5 ♣ 10 7 5 ♠ 6 3 ♠ 10 5 ♠ 10 8 1♦ Dbl 2♦ 2♠ ♥ A 5 4 ♥ 7 3 2 ♥ 7 3 2 ♦ K 10 9 6 ♦ A K 4 3 2 ♦ K Q J 10 8 6 South could have Hand Y, and With Hand M you must bid 1♠. No ♣ J 6 4 3 ♣ 7 5 4 ♣ 7 5 although it may offend the purists, in points is not an excuse for passing. If my opinion he could also have Hand you think otherwise just look up the Z. score for 1♦ doubled, making with Partner’s double of 1♦ asks you to pick four overtricks. a suit but maybe you have good values Hand N is a nightmare. You just have in diamonds. Hand Y Hand Z to bid 1♥ and hope. Some eminent With Hand U bid 1NT, showing 6-9 ♠ K 10 6 5 ♠ K 10 8 5 4 older authorities used to argue that points. You certainly need at least one ♥ 7 5 ♥ 7 5 2♣ was better because 1♥ would excite diamond stopper and two is preferable ♦ 9 8 7 ♦ 9 8 7 partner too much. I can see no sensible because your stopper is likely to get ♣ Q 10 6 3 ♣ 6 5 3 reason to push the bidding to the two knocked out quickly and it is highly level unnecessarily with this rubbish. likely that the 1♦ opening bidder will Hand P is a maximum for a 1♠ regain the lead. 2NT would show 10- To justify my desire to bid 2♠ with response. 12 points and 3NT 13-15 points. If you Hand Z, I would refer you back to my swap round the black suits you would first article in this series, on overcalls. have a close choice between 1♠ and I started by explaining an essential Hand Q Hand R Hand S 1NT. I would choose 1NT. The spades principle of the competitive auction, ♠ K J 7 6 ♠ A Q 8 7 6 ♠ K J 7 6 are poor and 1NT accurately shows my namely that you should try to bid to ♥ 8 6 3 ♥ 8 7 ♥ Q 10 7 4 diamond stoppers and point count. the level of the fit. You certainly have ♦ A 7 5 ♦ 7 5 ♦ 9 8 3 With Hand V 1NT is also best. Your an eight-card spade fit here and quite ♣ Q 7 6 ♣ Q 10 7 5 ♣ K 6 diamonds may look good to you but likely a nine-card fit, and if you have a they are not good enough to pass 1♦. nine-card fit, your opponents are also In 1♦ doubled your ♦A-K will certainly likely to have a nine-card fit. It is quite Hand Q is worth 2♠: roughly 9-11 take tricks but your opponents will use possible that your opponents can make points. Hand R is also worth 2♠. It has their better intermediate diamonds 3♦, and you can make 3♠. I would only eight points but good shape. (If to draw your other diamonds. Your suggest that the principle of bidding to South has more than eight points, he correct response is 1NT. the level of the fit should take priority needs to jump to 2♠, jump to 3♠ with Your diamonds need to be truly over adhering to any particular point 9-11 points and 4♠ with 12+ points.) outstanding to pass 1♦ doubled, as in count. And I wouldn’t let adverse With Hand S, you have a promising Hand W. If you pass 1♦ doubled you vulnerability deter me. Look at the nine points and bearing in mind are asking partner to lead a trump if he layout on the next page. If you pass, partner could be 4-3 in the major suits has one so that you can start drawing the auction might well continue as in you would really like him to choose a trumps. For that you need excellent Auction X2. u

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 13 Do you really expect partner to Auction B compete further if you pass? He has West North East South shown his hand with his take-out 1♥ BERNARD double. Yet you easily make 3♠, while Dbl Pass 1♠ Pass 3♦ makes (with an overtrick) for 2♠ Pass 4♠ your opponents. I suppose you could MAGEE protect with 3♠ over 3♦, but it is much In Layout A West reasons that if he had more dangerous now. opened 1♦ and East had responded TUTORIAL 1♠ West’s rebid would have been 3♠, hence in Auction B he raises to 2♠. ♠ Q J 3 2 East recognises West’s game try. He is DVDs ♥ A 8 6 3 maximum for 1♠ so he bids game. ♦ 3 ♣ A Q 9 2 Auction C SET 1 ♠ A ♠ 9 7 6 West North East South 1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks ♥ Q J 4 2 N ♥ K 10 9 1♥ ♦ A Q J 6 2 W E ♦ K 10 5 4 Dbl Pass 1♠ Pass 2 Competitive Auctions S ♣ K J 4 ♣ 10 8 7 3♠ Pass 4♠ 3 Making the Most ♠ K 10 8 5 4 of High Cards ♥ 7 5 £25 ♦ 9 8 7 Layout D 4 Identifying per DVD ♣ 6 5 3 ♠ K J 9 6 ♠ Q 10 4 3 & Bidding Slams ♥ 7 N ♥ 9 8 4 W E 5 Play & Defence ♦ A K J 3 S ♦ Q 7 Auction X2 ♣ A Q 6 2 ♣ 8 5 4 3 of 1NT Contracts West North East South 6 Doubling & Defence 1♦ Dbl 2♦ Pass against Doubled 2♥ Pass 3♦ All Pass In Layout D West would have raised a Contracts 1♠ response to 4♠ (or made a splinter When should the doubler bid of 4♥) so he is worth 3♠ in Auction SET 2 raise his partner’s C. This might seem cautious but how 7 Leads choice of suit? easy is it going to be to make ten tricks if there are no entries to East to take 8 Losing Trick Count You have asked partner to choose a finesses? East should appreciate his suit with a double. Partner has done partner’s strong bidding. Two queens 9 Making a Plan so. You are happy with his choice. Is might not seem much but they are as Declarer ♠ that sufficient or might you still want entries as well as tricks so 4 is clearcut. 10 Responding to 1NT to make a game try? The balance changes if opponents In Auction B, West must be aware compete further. 11 Signals & Discards that East’s 1♠ is forced, he could have 12 Endplay no points. Auction E There is a nice rule of thumb here. West North East South 1♥ SET 3 hen deciding whether to Dbl Pass 1♠ 2♥ 13 Hand Evaluation bid on, West decides the 2♠ 14 Pre-Emptive Bidding Wlevel to which he would have supported East if West had 15 Splinter opened the bidding in another suit Layout F & Cue Bids and East had freely responded in ♠ K 9 6 2 ♠ Q 10 4 3 £105 16 Avoidance set of 6 an uncontested auction. He should ♥ 7 N ♥ 9 8 4 W E Play bid one fewer. ♦ A 10 9 3 S ♦ Q 7 ♣ A Q 6 2 ♣ J 5 4 3 17 Play & Defence at Pairs 18 Thinking Defence Layout A ♠ K J 9 6 N ♠ Q 10 4 3 In Layout F West would have preferred W E ♥ 7 S ♥ A 8 4 to pass 1♠, but now that South has Mr Bridge Mail Order ♦ A J 8 3 ♦ Q 7 competed with 2♥, bidding to the level ( 01483 489961 ♣ A K 6 2 ♣ 8 5 4 3 of the fit becomes appropriate as in www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop Auction E. ■

Page 14 BRIDGE October 2018 BERNARD Take-Out Doubles Part 1 Quiz by Andrew Kambites MAGEE (Answers on page 25) TUTORIAL 1. At love all what should South call with these hands if East opens 1♥? Hand D Hand E Hand F DVDs If you choose to double what will be ♠ K 7 6 2 ♠ K Q 7 6 2 ♠ K 7 your next bid if partner responds 1♠ ♥ K Q 5 ♥ A 8 5 ♥ K Q 6 5 to your double? ♦ 9 4 3 ♦ 10 4 3 ♦ 8 5 4 3 SET 4 ♣ 6 3 2 ♣ 6 3 ♣ Q 10 9 19 Defensive Plan Hand A Hand B Hand C 20 Further into the Auction ♠ K J 7 ♠ K J 7 4 ♠ K Q 10 6 ♥ Q 4 ♥ 4 ♥ 4 3. With N/S vulnerable how should 21 Weak Twos ♦ A Q 6 5 ♦ A Q 6 5 ♦ A K J 8 North continue with these hands? 22 Trump Control ♣ 8 4 3 2 ♣ Q 4 3 2 ♣ A K 7 6 23 Sacrificing £25 West North East South per DVD 1♥ Dbl Pass 1♠ 24 Improving Pass ? Bridge Memory Hand D Hand E Hand F ♠ K Q J 7 6 ♠ K 5 4 3 ♠ A Q J 7 6 SET 5 ♥ 8 ♥ 8 ♥ 8 3 2 Hand A Hand B Hand C ♦ A 9 8 ♦ A 9 8 ♦ K J 8 ♠ K J 7 ♠ K J 7 2 ♠ K J 7 2 25 Defence as Partner ♣ K 5 4 3 ♣ K Q 8 7 6 ♣ A 6 ♥ 6 2 ♥ 6 ♥ 6 2 of the Leader ♦ A Q 8 7 ♦ A J 8 7 ♦ A K Q 7 26 Aggressive Bidding ♣ K J 7 6 ♣ A K 6 5 ♣ A K 6 at Duplicate Pairs Hand G Hand H Hand J 27 Strong Opening Bids ♠ A Q J 7 6 ♠ K J 7 ♠ K J 7 28 Take-Out Doubles ♥ A 3 2 ♥ A 9 4 ♥ A K 4 4. With E/W vulnerable how should ♦ K J 8 ♦ A K J 4 ♦ A K J 4 South continue with these hands 29 Suit Establishment ♣ A 6 ♣ Q 6 5 ♣ Q 6 5 after Auctions (i) and (ii)? in Suit Contracts 30 Landy / Defending Auction (i) Against a 1NT Opening 2. At love all how should South West North East South respond to North’s take-out double 1♦ Dbl Pass 1♥ SET 6 with these hands after Auctions (i) Pass 2♥ Pass ? and (ii)? 31 Counting Defence Auction (ii) 32 Extra Tricks Auction (i) West North East South West North East South 1♦ Dbl Pass 1♥ in No-Trumps 1♦ Dbl Pass ? Pass 1NT Pass ? 33 Supporting Partner £105 Auction (ii) West North East South Hand A Hand B Hand C 34 Finessing set of 6 1♦ Dbl 1♥ ? ♠ K 8 ♠ 9 4 3 ♠ 9 4 3 35 Bidding ♥ K J 6 4 3 ♥ 8 6 4 3 ♥ A 7 5 4 Distributional Hands ♦ 6 4 3 ♦ K J 5 3 ♦ A 10 9 3 Hand A Hand B Hand C ♣ 9 3 2 ♣ 9 3 ♣ 9 3 36 Coping with Pre-Empts ♠ 9 7 ♠ 9 7 ♠ 9 6 5 ♥ 5 3 2 ♥ 5 3 2 ♥ Q 3 Mr Bridge Mail Order ♦ K 10 9 5 2 ♦ K 10 9 4 2 ♦ K Q J 10 9 [email protected] ( 01483 489961 ♣ 10 7 6 ♣ A 8 6 ♣ A 8 6 www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 15 Mr Bridge Festive Season 2018-19 Full board. No single supplement.*

Christmas 2018 Denham Grove Blunsdon House Near Uxbridge UB9 5DG Swindon SN26 7AS 23 December 1500 Mr Bridge Welcome Desk open Tea or coffee with mince pies 1745 Welcome Reception followed by Dinner and then BRIDGE Christmas Eve 1000 SEMINAR followed by set hands 1230 Lunch followed by BRIDGE 23-27 December £495 27-29 December from £228* Hand Evaluation and Transfers Just Duplicate 1745 Mulled Wine Reception hosted by Sandy Bell hosted by Val Heath 1830 Dinner then BRIDGE Christmas Day 27-29 December £258 Defence as Partner of the Leader 1000 SEMINAR followed by set hands hosted by Bernard Magee 1230 Christmas Lunch New Year 2018-19 1500 Queen's speech displayed 29 December - 2 January £499 1530 BRIDGE Limited availability 29 December 1830 Buffet Dinner followed by BRIDGE Drawing Trumps 1500 Mr Bridge Welcome Desk open Boxing Day hosted by Bernard Magee Tea or coffee with mince pies 1745 Welcome Reception followed by 1000 SEMINAR followed by set hands Dinner and then BRIDGE 1230 Lunch followed by BRIDGE The Olde Barn 30 December 1830 Dinner followed by BRIDGE Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT 1000 SEMINAR followed by set hands 27 December 1230 Lunch followed by BRIDGE 1000 SEMINAR followed by set hands 1830 Dinner followed by BRIDGE 1230 Lunch New Year's Eve Denham Grove - all depart 1400 Afternoon BRIDGE at Olde Barn only 1000 SEMINAR followed by set hands 1230 Lunch followed by BRIDGE 23-27 December £425 Twixmas 2018 1745 Gala Reception Just Duplicate 1830 Gala Dinner followed by BRIDGE 27 December hosted by Sheila Rogers 2345 See in the New Year drinks 1500 Mr Bridge Welcome Desk open 0030 Optional Speedball pairs at Denham Tea or coffee with mince pies 27-29 December £215 Grove only 1745 Welcome Reception followed by Losing Trick Count Dinner and then BRIDGE hosted by Elaine Duff New Year's Day 1100 BIDDING QUIZ 28 December 29 December - 1 January £345 1230 Lunch followed by BRIDGE 1000 SEMINAR followed by set hands Suit Establishment Olde Barn - all depart 1230 Lunch followed by BRIDGE hosted by Ray Hutchinson 1830 Dinner followed by BRIDGE at 1745 Mulled Wine Reception Denham Grove only 1830 Dinner followed by BRIDGE The example programmes shown are to give an idea of what is included in the full itinerary. 2 January 2019 29 December Please note there are slight differences between Denham Grove only programmes at each venue. 1000 SEMINAR followed by set hands * Subject to availability. Single supplement 0800 Brunch Style Breakfast 1230 Lunch followed by BRIDGE applies to all rooms at Blunsdon House. Details & Bookings ( 01483 489961

Page 16 BRIDGE October 2018 David Stevenson Answers your Bridge Questions How Do We Keep Track Of What The Contract Is?

We recently had a North discarded ♦2 and If there had been no the exact range you must heated discussion East discarded ♠5. revoke then declarer would ask: you cannot assume 6-9. Qat our club about South correctly assumed have made ten tricks. But serious diversions clarification of the contract. that West had all the missing Thus no further tricks from 6-9 should be alerted. I thought any player could hearts ( ♥A-10-x-x-x). She need to be transferred Playing 2/1 some people ask during the play to be decided to remove the ♥10 to restore equity. play 6-11 or 6-12 but not reminded of the contract. first, hence she played ♥8 Sometimes, as here, forcing: they require an alert. Others thought you were (on trick 5), West played ♥5, the revoke trick (or tricks) Similarly, if people not allowed any reminder North discarded a diamond merely restore equity, are playing 0-9 that whatsoever. I read your and East then played ♥10. sometimes they provide should be alerted. answer to a similar query A director was called and an additional penalty. in BRIDGE 186 (June 2018), they continued playing. ♣♦♥♠ stating that the club could On trick 6, East played ♣♦♥♠ decide to allow a card another spade, South ruffed In my experience from the bidding box to be with ♥9 and West discarded. Whilst you must it happens all too raised as a reminder. Is it On trick 7, South played announce the Qoften that one can still legitimate to ask if you ♥Q and West took with Qvalues of your hear a loud post mortem have no physical reminder? ♥A. Then N/S made all the 1NT and 2NT openings, being conducted at the Is there a law covering this? rest of the tricks. N/S made as far as I can see, there table from which the boards Elaine Slinn, only 9 tricks. (They lost four are no guidelines on will next be passed. This Ness Bridge Club. tricks; ♠A, ♠K, ♥10 and ♥A.) what you should do may take the form of “Four What is the correct ruling? with a 1NT response to a spades just made – good As a matter of law, 1-level opening. Playing job the king of trumps was declarer or either Acol (or SAYC for that on the right side!” This can A defender may ask Dealer North. N/S Game. matter I believe), a 1NT greatly inhibit later bidding. what the contract is at any ♠ 9 8 4 response is showing 6-9 Should one bid normally, time, including whether it ♥ Void HCP. More exotic systems knowing that a marginal is doubled or redoubled, ♦ A 8 4 3 2 such as 2-over-1 have a game can be made, or though not by whom it was ♣ A K J 4 3 different HCP range. should one bend over doubled or redoubled. This ♠ 7 6 3 ♠ A K Q 10 5 At our club, a system backwards to avoid making ♥ N ♥ is different from asking what A 7 5 3 W E 10 has been widely adopted use of unlawful information? the auction was which a ♦ J 9 7 S ♦ Q 10 6 where a 1NT response has What should a TD player may not do once he ♣ 10 9 2 ♣ Q 8 6 5 a range of 0-9 HCP. Should do if a player brings a has played to the first trick. ♠ J 2 a 1NT response which complaint that he/she has ♥ K Q J 9 8 6 4 2 has a different range than clearly overheard what ♣♦♥♠ ♦ K 5 6-9 HCP be alerted? the contract is on a hand ♣ 7 Alan Mansell by email. that he/she has yet to play Can you please help and feels inhibited? What me in the ruling on Dilip Mithani by email. It would have to penalties might apply? Qthe following hand. be very different John Bunch, N/S were in 4♥ by South. There was a revoke, A from 6-9 which is Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire. West led the ♠3 and East but the revoke card nowhere near standard. took the first two tricks A did not win the trick. 5-9 is common, some When you overhear in spades (ace and king). Since the offending side took include bad 10 counts something you are Then East played ♠Q which at least one further trick, and some play 5-8. Arequired by law to South ruffed with ♥2. then one trick is transferred All these are fairly standard report it to the director and South played ♥K (on to declarer at the end of the and minor diversions are not it is their decision whether it trick 4), West played ♥3, hand making ten tricks. alertable. If you need to know Continued on page 19 u

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 17

Mr Bridge UK Events 2019

Just Duplicate Tutorial Events Tutorial Events Blunsdon House Blunsdon House with Bernard Magee 25-27 January from £228* 5-7 April from £238* Blunsdon House Defence to Weak Twos 15-17 March from £228* Hosted by John Ronan 8-10 February from £258* 6-8 September from £228* Ruffing for Extra Tricks Elstead Hotel Chatsworth Hotel Bournemouth BH1 3QP 1-3 November from £228* 28-30 June from £264* 1-3 February £228 4-4-4-1 Hands 22-24 November from £228* Hand Evaluation Chatsworth Hotel Hosted by Will Parsons 8-10 November from £264* 10-12 May £238 Game Tries 26-28 April £218 Doubling Chatsworth Hotel 7-9 June £218 Hosted by Sandy Bell 5-7 July £218 16-18 August £238 29-31 March £258 Drawing Trumps 27-29 September £218 Leads and Fundamental Defence Denham Grove 1-3 November £218 Hosted by Martin Holcombe Denham Grove Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DG 15-17 November £218 Denham Grove 10-14 January £454 Re-Boot Your Acol Denham Grove 1-3 March £228 28-30 June £229 Endplay and Avoidance Elstead Hotel Hosted by Sandy Bell Masterpointed Duplicate 15-17 November £264 19-21 July £218 9-11 August £238 Responding to 1NT Key Card Blackwood and Slams 13-15 September £218 Hosted by Elaine Duff 25-27 October £218 Elstead Hotel Inn on the Prom Olde Barn Hotel, Grantham Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT Elstead Hotel 8-10 March £228 1-3 February £258 Counting Defence 22-24 February £218 Overcalls Hosted by Hilary Levett 31 May - 2 June £218 Olde Barn Hotel 26-28 April £238 (formerly Ramada Resort 4-6 October £218 Suit Establishment Grantham) Hosted by Will Parsons 8-10 November £218 12-14 July £264 21-23 June £238 Supporting Minors Olde Barn Hotel Hand Evaluation (formerly Ramada Resort Hosted by Will Parsons 1-3 November £264 Grantham) Defence as Partner of the Chatsworth Hotel Olde Barn Hotel Leader Worthing BN11 3DU 18-20 January £208 8-10 March £208 8-10 February £218 Two Bridges Hotel 14-16 June £218 Finding Slams 3-5 April from £349* Hosted by Gary Conrad Better Finessing 2-4 August £229 Masterpointed Duplicate 17-19 May £238 Trouville Hotel Drawing Trumps 11-13 October £218 Hosted by John Ronan 15-19 February from £399** Competitive Bidding 15-17 November £218 20-22 September £238 Further into the Auction Please note there are no seminars, set **Price includes ferry fare for two Blunsdon House Hotel hands or prizes at these events. Hosted by Ray Hutchinson adults in one car Swindon SN26 7AS

Full Board – No Single Supplement* ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk *Subject to availability. Single supplement applies to all rooms at Two Bridges & Blunsdon House makes the board unplayable. The board cannot by overtaking his ♥K with misleads the opposition, Normally they will let you be played at the my ♥A and returning the which it clearly did not. play it but afterwards may A sixth table so both ♥4 immediately, or was To be honest I cannot even give you averages, usually sides get average plus. You it better to duck, even understand the opponent’s strong plusses, if they feel you might strongly consider a though it blocked the suit? suggestion. One wonders suffered from the informa- small penalty (25% of a Eventually, I played low. whether if you had played tion. top is standard) to both It was, of course, obvious the ace and it was successful From the point of view of sides at the previous table to everyone that I held at they might have suggested the director, a stern warning since both sides made a least two hearts including that was unethical? Their is normal first time. mistake that made a board the ♥A, and probably only argument makes no If any player re-offends, unplayable at the next table. two hearts. We eventually sense that I can see. even at club level, a standard defeated the contract, There is another point. It is procedural penalty of 25% ♣♦♥♠ by one trick (we should strongly recommended that of a top should be given. have taken six, not five). you take time to think about At a local club As the scores were being the hand at the first trick, so ♣♦♥♠ duplicate, West entered, our opposition if declarer plays quickly from Qopened 1♥ and suggested politely that, dummy, it is normal and I play a strong NT North overcalled 3♣. because of my very long acceptable to think about in two bridge clubs When asked, South said it hesitation, I should have felt the hand in general, whether Qbut a weak NT was opening values. obliged to play the ♥A, and you have a problem in the in another. This can mean West declared a contract that it was unethical to have suit led or not. If I had been I am playing against the of 4♦. played the ♥4. I said that I declarer I would not have same couple with the same Before he led, North said would be perfectly happy assumed you had the ace partner but with a different 3♣ could also be weak. if they wished to call the from your hesitation, but NT opening and rebid, but North held: director, but they did not do of course I would not have on different occasions. so. We parted amicably. played quickly from dummy. An interesting question I should, however, like to came up last night, ‘should ♠ 8 3 know your opinion. I needed ♣♦♥♠ I alert or announce my 1NT ♥ Q 9 6 5 to take a long time to try to rebid?’ It being 12-14 ♦ 7 assess the situation; having My question this most of the time or 15-17 ♣ K Q J 8 5 4 done so, I did not feel that I time regards the at other times. was under any obligation to Q “unassuming cue We just didn’t know. play the ♥A, since both my bid” which we alert, but Alun Williams, Was North correct in partner and declarer could what about the reply to Llanfairpwll. explaining this to the table? make the same inference an overcall that is bidding Huw Jones by email. from my hesitation, and to the level of the fit? There is no alerting there wasn’t much point in Such as: or announcing No, defenders taking time to assess the A for 1NT rebids. should only correct situation if my two options West North East South If the opponents wish to Apartners’ mistakes were thereby reduced to one. 1♣ 1♥ 2♣ 3♥1/4♥2 know they should ask. in explanation at the end Tim Sharrock, 1Showing weak with of the hand. On the other Blunham, Bedford. 4 card support* ♣♦♥♠ hand it is correct for declarer 2Showing weak with or dummy to explain it at It is certainly not 5 card support* We use curtain the end of the auction. unethical for you to cards in case the A take the decision Are these alertable? Q wrong cards are ♣♦♥♠ that you feel is right. The Alun Williams, placed in the wallets. only relevant laws on Llanfairpwll. Last week South had all The opposition hesitations are whether of West’s cards and West were in 3NT and my your partner uses the No. Raises in com- all of South’s cards, both Q partner’s opening unauthorised information petition are generally had seen all of each oth- lead was the ♥K. Dummy from your hesitation, A accepted as some- ers cards. Five tables had had a doubleton, ♥10-6. which is a matter for him what pre-emptive without the played with the correct cards I held ♥A-4. I considered to deal with, or whether it need to alert them. n before the 6th table found the possible distributions the error - cards replaced – did partner hold four incorrectly in the wallet. or five or six hearts? Did E-mail your questions to: How is this scored please? he hold ♥K-Q-J... or just [email protected] Joan Bronkhorst by email. ♥K-Q...? Should I unblock

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 19 Robin Hood's Bridge Adventures by David Bird Robin Hood’s Bad Breaks

obin Hood’s team were Robin Hood won the first trick with Little John led the ♥9 and down went competing in a teams-of-four the ♠K and led the ♥4 from his hand. the dummy. ‘You want the queen?’ championship in the Baron Wise Wynfryth went in with the ♥J enquired Baxter Docket. His florid Rof Beef alehouse. In the fourth of six and returned the ♠Q to declarer’s ace. complexion bore witness to a passion 8-board matches they faced Wise A heart to the ten was allowed to win, for mulberry gin. Not that he would Wynfryth. With her reputation in but Hood returned to his hand with a touch a drop before an important mind, few would dare to call her a top diamond and cleared a ninth trick bridge event like this. witch. She charged a good amount for from his ♥K-Q. The game was his. ‘Probably,’ his wife replied. ‘Wait a issuing evil spells, however, and had ‘Even a blind man would see that minute, though.’ many satisfied customers. heart play,’ declared Wise Wynfryth, What would happen if she played This was the last deal of the match: thrusting her cards to the rough-hewn dummy’s queen and the fat priest held wooden board. ‘If they rely on a 3-3 off his king? There was only one trump diamond break at the other table, it’s entry to dummy, so she would then Dealer South. Love All. the last time they’ll play with us!’ score two heart tricks instead of three. ♠ 9 6 4 With two matches still to play, Robin Thanks heavens she had stopped to ♥ 10 2 Hood’s team were leading the field by think about it! ♦ 9 7 4 3 a healthy 24 IMPs. ‘No, play a low one, Baxter,’ said ♣ A K 3 2 Their next opponents were unknown Meryl Docket. ♠ Q 10 8 2 ♠ J 7 to him. Since they were currently She won in hand with her ♥A and N ♥ J 9 8 ♥ A 7 5 3 W E in 4th position, they were doubtless drew trumps with the ace and queen. ♦ Q 10 5 2 S ♦ J 6 sound performers. It was then a simple matter to lead a ♣ 10 5 ♣ J 9 7 6 4 At Little John’s table the white- second round of hearts to dummy’s ♠ A K 5 3 haired Meryl Docket had just picked Q-J-10. Friar Tuck won with the king ♥ K Q 6 4 up a rather good hand. and switched to a club, Little John ♦ A K 8 scoring two tricks in the suit. ♣ Q 8 ‘I make the rest,’ said the white- Dealer East. N/S Game. haired declarer, beaming happily at ♠ K 5 4 2 her husband. ‘I cross to the ♠K and West North East South ♥ Q J 10 2 throw two diamonds on the hearts.’ Wise Nazir Basil Robin ♦ J 5 2 Friar Tuck nodded resignedly. Few Wynfryth Leape Hood ♣ 10 2 declarers in the event would have 2NT ♠ 9 ♠ 8 3 seen the winning play in hearts. Not Pass 3NT All Pass ♥ 9 8 7 N ♥ K 6 5 3 that it was remotely difficult if you W E ♦ K 10 8 7 ♦ Q 4 3 S gave the matter any thought. Perhaps Wynfryth led the ♠2 to her partner’s ♣ A Q 8 7 5 ♣ J 9 4 3 they could have beaten the contract jack and Robin Hood paused to ♠ A Q J 10 7 6 if John had led a diamond? A low consider his prospects. ♥ A 4 diamond would be no good but maybe He had seven top tricks and a ♦ A 9 6 the king or the 10 would give declarer certain eighth trick to come from the ♣ K 6 a problem. It wasn’t the moment to hearts. What was the best chance of a broach the subject. Little John was ninth trick? quick to fly off the handle if he sensed Since he had only one practical entry West North East South any criticism of his play. A heart lead to dummy in the club suit, it would Little Baxter Friar Meryl had been obvious anyway. not be possible to lead twice towards John Docket Tuck Docket On the other table, Robin Hood faced his ♥K-Q. A better idea was surely to Pass 1♠ two well-known undertakers from lead towards dummy’s ♥10, hoping Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ Nottingham. They maintained their that Wynfryth held the jack. All Pass lugubrious appearance even when off

Page 20 BRIDGE October 2018 duty and playing bridge. Hood had diamond. These cards remained in a diamond, I will throw the ♣5 from just arrived in a slam contract: play: my hand and ruff in the dummy. The remaining tricks are mine.’ ‘Absolutely typical of our luck, Dealer South. Game All. ♠ 8 5 Durwin,’ declared Allard Lode. ‘Even ♠ A 8 5 3 ♥ — when the opponents suffer bad breaks, ♥ Q 5 3 ♦ — the contract is still there.’ ♦ A 6 ♣ 10 7 4 2 ‘It’s how the Good Lord wills it,’ his ♣ 10 7 4 2 ♠ — ♠ Q partner replied. ♠ J ♠ Q 10 2 ♥ — N ♥ J In their final match the outlaws W E ♥ 9 6 4 2 N ♥ J 10 8 7 ♦ 10 9 ♦ K Q 7 4 found they would play the team in S ♦ J 10 9 5 W E ♦ K Q 8 7 4 3 ♣ J 9 8 6 ♣ — second place. ‘Wylie, they’re called,’ S ♣ J 9 8 6 ♣ Void ♠ 9 7 said Little John. ‘Never ‘eard of ‘em.’ ♠ K 9 7 6 4 ♥ — Robin Hood approached the ♥ A K ♦ — opponents’ table and gasped at the ♦ 2 ♣ A K Q 5 sight before him. Sitting in the West ♣ A K Q 5 3 seat, wearing the worn clothes of a commoner, was none other than Sir Robin Hood played the ♣A, his eyes Guy of Gisborne. West North East South lighting up when East discarded a ‘You recognise him?’ Hood asked Durwin Nazir Allard Robin diamond. Splendid! His careful play his team-mates. ‘Gisborne has the Eymor Lode Hood earlier in the deal would now bear affrontery to enter our stronghold, 1♠ fruit. He exited with a trump to unarmed and with a female partner.’ Pass 3♠ Pass 4NT East’s queen. Unwilling to lead any Little John’s eyed blazed. ‘He’ll Pass 5♥ Pass 6♠ of his remaining cards, Allard Lode regret it when I’ve finished with him,’ All Pass sat motionless in his chair for a few he exclaimed. seconds. ‘Later, later,’ said Robin Hood. ‘Our ‘That’s the fifth slam bid against us ‘It makes no difference,’ Robin first duty is clear. We must ensure today,’ Durwin Eymor announced Hood informed him, displaying his that he doesn’t win the event at our dolefully. ‘We never seem to get any hand. ‘Whether you play a heart or expense.’ (Concluded next month) n cards.’ ‘It sometimes seems that the Good Lord must frown upon our profession,’ added his partner. ‘I can’t think why.’ Robin Hood saw little logic in this assertion. How would the Good Lord know that the undertakers intended to sit in the East/West direction? ‘At least you can enjoy defending,’ he retorted. ‘My poor partner will have nothing to do for the rest of this hand.’ Showing no sign of agreeing with this view, Durwin Eymor reached for the ♦J. ‘Ace, please,’ said Hood. He continued with a trump to the king, the jack falling on his left. If trumps broke 3-1, the slam would still be easy unless clubs broke 4-0. What could he do to guard against that circumstance? Robin Hood’s next step would not have occurred to many of the contestants in the event. He cashed the ♥A-K. When he played a second round of trumps to dummy’s ace, the 3-1 trump break came to light. ‘Queen of hearts, please,’ he said. Robin Hood discarded a club from his hand and ruffed dummy’s last

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 21 Julian Pottage Answers your Bridge Questions Should You Always Lead An Ace Against A Gambling 3NT?

South opens 3NT if partner holds the ace of responder does not want you might compete later if the and all pass. clubs. The club lead is quite to be taking up a lot of bidding has not got too high Q West holds: likely to do so if partner has bidding room with the before it gets back to you. the ace of spades, while response unless there is a partner will need a good specific message to convey. ♣♦♥♠ ♠ Q 10 four-card heart holding for You have not said what

♥ A 9 7 4 2 N the ace of hearts lead to your old system is. Responder My partner, W E ♦ 7 3 S beat it. At matchpoint pairs, does not often have one and sitting West, who ♣ K Q J 3 an added reason for the a half quick tricks, so you Q was declarer in club lead is that it is less do not want to be allocating a 6NT contract, received likely to concede overtricks. too many responses to a small heart lead. What do you recommend hands with such strength. leading? ♣♦♥♠ If your method is to have one bid to show no controls, ♠ A Q 5 4 ♠ K 9 2

1. 3NT explained as Several people another to show one, ♥ A Q 2 N ♥ K 9 3 W E gambling 3NT (solid mi- at my club, another bid to show two, ♦ J 7 S ♦ A Q 9 8 nor with little outside)? Qincluding my etc that is reasonable too. ♣ A Q 6 4 ♣ K 7 3 2. 3NT is not conventional? partner, prefer a different I can see some advantages Huw Jones, reply to the strong 2♣ in your partner’s system. Swansea. opening. This is as follows: Hands with 0-5 points rarely Obviously if either black produce a slam. Hands with suit breaks, the contact In both cases, you 2♦ 0-5 points 6-7 points may do if a fit is can not be beaten. might expect South 2♥ 6-7 present or opener has extras. Otherwise three tricks are Ato hold a running 2♠ 8-9 Hands with 8-9 points will needed from the diamond diamond suit; in case 1, 2NT 10+ points often produce a slam. suit and this suit must dummy has the missing be explored before fully strength; in case 2, de- I prefer the old system ♣♦♥♠ testing the black ones. clarer will have some of it. of showing an ace and My partner and I can Holding a king-queen- a king or a king queen Under our system not agree on how to play jack combination I would together and a king. of 5-card majors, the diamonds and would look no further whatever the I will be interested to hear Qmy partner opens welcome your expert advice. explanation. While this could your opinion and which 1♦, which means she has no There is a large scotch be wrong if the opponents answer you would 5-card major, has 12-18 HCP depending upon your are wide open in hearts, you recommend. and at least 4 diamonds. decision. can be sure of setting up at Elizabeth Hocken by email. I had 5 diamonds, headed Len Macauley by email. least two tricks in the suit. In by the 10, and 2 HCP. contrast, cashing the ace of Since strong 2♣ What should I do? This is a really hearts (the traditional lead ‘to openings occur Roddy Vernon by email. interesting problem. take a look’ against a gam- Ainfrequently, the A If you run the bling 3NT) could easily set up most important thing is that With 2 HCP it is usual jack of diamonds and a trick or two for the oppo- the system of responses is to pass partner’s plan to finesse the queen sition and might block the one that both you and your A non-forcing opening if it holds, you are certain hearts anyway if partner has partner can remember. bid. With such a weak hand, of three diamond tricks a good three-card holding. Generally opener has system and shape do not if North has the king. In short, either lead will some important features really affect the decision. If you play small to the jack probably defeat the contract to describe and therefore Having passed first time, and plan to finesse the nine

Page 22 BRIDGE October 2018 whether it holds or loses, you more clubs and the ♦10; balanced, South should Once partner bids the are sure of three diamond (iv) South has four just take control and ask clubs a second time, showing tricks if North has the ten. or more clubs and four for aces with 4NT. When 5-5 in the minors, the chance The former is better in or more spades; North shows an ace, South of a 5-3 heart fit is slim. terms of leaving squeeze (v) North has four or then bids 6♠. Another factor I would play 3♥ (over 3♣) as chances intact, because if you more clubs and the ♦10 is that the big heart fit for a general force rather than take a finesse without having (vi) Either defender holds East-West increases the as promising a fifth heart. lost a trick first you will not J-10 doubleton of spades. chance of finding North I must admit the auction have to choose between a If North shows out on the with spade tolerance. would probably be the finesse and a squeeze. second round of clubs, you Whether South’s 5♠ same if East had a similar In what is probably the might decide to cash the third asked for good spades hand with ♦A-K-Q-x-x, worst case scenario that the round of clubs rather than the or for a heart control is when you would be happy jack holds but the queen third round of spades. You a matter of partnership to be in a slam. Matchpoint loses, you will later be able would know that option (v) is agreement. Either way, pairs scoring often leads to to discard the two of hearts an impossibility and so might South does not have the missed slams in the minors. on the ace of diamonds to instead give yourself the right hand for the bid. test whether the ten drops. chance of squeezing North ♣♦♥♠ If it does not, you can cash in spades and diamonds. ♣♦♥♠ West’s second heart honour Some of our and all but one of the black ♣♦♥♠ We played in the members have suit tops ending in dummy. Notts CBA Swiss Q been going back The end position is Our non-vulnerable QPairs 21st July and to lessons even though then like this with dummy opponents made on board 25 we missed a they have been playing for ready to lead the third Qlife difficult for us game, never mind a slam. some time (a great idea). round of hearts: in a Swiss teams match: The topic at the moment is opening a weak ♠ A K 8 4 2 ♠ 7 6 two and one of the ♠ 5 ♠ — ♠ K Q 9 7 6 4 2 ♥ K Q J 8 5 ♥ 10 responses is “Ogust”. N ♥ — N ♥ K ♥ 2 ♦ 9 5 4 W E ♦ A Q J 10 2 Looking back to an W E S ♦ — S ♦ 9 ♦ A K 3 ♣ Void ♣ A J 10 7 2 article you wrote on ♣ A 6 ♣ 7 ♣ A Q “responding to a weak two” I was wondering The bidding went (North if the same response If diamonds are 4-3, you West North East South and South Pass throughout) works after a ‘weak jump will not know who holds the Pass 1♦* 1♥ 1♠ 1♦-1♥-2♣-2♠*-3♣-3♥-Pass. overcall” eg 1♦, 2♠, Pass? ten of diamonds but you 4♥ Pass Pass ? Should I (as West) Would 2NT be will know (assuming there *Playing a strong no-trump, have bid 3♠, as 2♠ is strong asking partner is a spade out) who holds 5-card majors and better just 4th suit forcing? to bid “Ogust”? the missing spade. When minor As the ♦K onside is key Alun Williams, you cash the king of hearts, to the slam it is probably Llanfairpwll, Anglesey. South will be squeezed if he At the table, South tried 5♠. not a good one, so is 3NT started with club length and Thinking that this asked or 4♥ the best contract? Yes it helps with either the missing spade or for a heart control, North Roger Harris, memory to play the ten of diamonds. Unless passed holding: Stratford-upon-Avon. A similar continuations South discards the missing in similar sounding situations. spade, you throw the spade With two 5-card ma- While you would not have on the king of hearts. North ♠ A J 10 jors it is normal to bid to play 2NT as an enquiry will then be squeezed if ♥ J 3 Aspades before hearts. in this situation, there is a he started with club length ♦ Q J 9 7 If you bid the hearts first and logic in doing so even though and the ten of diamonds. ♣ K 10 7 3 then the spades, partner will the player in fourth seat is As well as when one of think your hearts are longer. less likely to hold a strong the black suits breaks 3-3, My auction would therefore hand once an opponent has which you have already What should we have be 1♦-1♠-2♣-2♥*-3♣-3NT. opened the bidding. n mentioned, this line done differently? guarantees success if: Name and address supplied. (i) North has the ♦K; E-mail your questions for Julian to: (ii) the ♦10 falls in no With such a strong more than three rounds; hand and knowing [email protected] (iii) South has four or A that North is often

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 23 BERNARD Catching Up MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE with Sally Brock TUTORIAL CD ACOL BIDDING ast year you may remember that 60th anniversary duplicate, have lunch I had a visit from my American and go through the hands afterwards. friend Karen – we played in the This was a very enjoyable day – I hope LWomen’s Teams at the Young Chelsea. for them as much as us. There were In the gap between returning from several slam hands, one of which was: Vienna last month and flying off again, I will be preparing for, enjoying MAC or and recovering from her visit this year. Dealer North. Game All. Windows I drove to Luton Airport to pick ♠ A 9 3 her up – she had arrived from the US ♥ K 10 via Reykjavik where she was visiting ♦ A Q 9 5 a friend. On the Friday evening we ♣ 10 9 8 5 went out with Margaret and Debbie ♠ J 10 7 ♠ 8

to a tapas place near Edgware Road ♥ 9 7 5 4 3 N ♥ 8 6 2 ♦ K 8 6 4 W E ♦ J 7 3 tube. Margaret was off on holiday the S following day so it was then or never. ♣ 6 ♣ K Q J 4 3 2 On the Saturday Karen stayed with ♠ K Q 6 5 4 2 Gilly in Ealing (they played in the ♥ A Q J Throughout 200 deals split into Swiss Pairs at the London Congress at ♦ 10 2 ten chapters, Bernard evaluates the Young Chelsea) because Barry and ♣ A 7 your bids, praising the correct I had tickets for the World Athletics ones and discussing the wrong Teams event at the Olympic Stadium. ones. Barry is seriously into athletics and I We had a straightforward Acol like to go with him sometimes – it is auction: l Opening Bids interesting because he points out so and Responses much that is going on that I would West North East South l Slams and miss. I did think that the tickets were 1NT Pass 3♠ Strong Openings particularly expensive – £125, which Pass 4♦ Pass 4♥ l Support for Partner I believe is considerably more than a Pass 5♠ Pass 6♠ football match or a West End theatre All Pass l Pre-empting – and few of the real stars were there. l Overcalls Still, I did thoroughly enjoy myself. My slam try was slightly pushy. £66 On the Sunday I played with Karen Superficially it looks as if slam is on a l No-trump while Barry played with Gilly in the finesse with few extra chances, but … Openings Swiss Teams at the Young Chelsea. West led the six of clubs. If you and Responses Barry and Gilly played very well and look carefully at those spot cards, you l Opener’s and Karen and I let them down somewhat. will notice that the six is the highest Responder’s Rebids The following week continued rather small card out. So West cannot have frenetically. an honour with it. It was easy to draw l Minors and Misfits On the Monday we went out to trumps and give up a club. Even if l Doubles dinner with some of Karen’s friends I West had not shown out, I would have l Competitive Auctions had not met before. known that it was safe to take a ruffing On the Tuesday we went to the finesse against East’s remaining Holland Park open-air opera to see honour. This time the diamond finesse Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Ariadne auf Naxos. That is a really fun was right too, but it did not have to be. Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH thing to do as you can hire a table and On the Thursday I had a dinner party ( 01483 489961 take a picnic. in honour of my guest. On the Friday www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop On Wednesday we went to Ipswich we went up to Manchester to stay with where I had been hired to play in their friends Rodney and Lorraine... n

Page 24 BRIDGE October 2018 Answers to Take-Out Doubles Part 1 Quiz on page 15

1. At love all what should South call Auction (i) with these hands if East opens West North East South Hand A Hand B Hand C 1♥? If you choose to double what 1♦ Dbl Pass ? ♠ K J 7 ♠ K J 7 2 ♠ K J 7 2 will be your next bid if partner Auction (ii) ♥ 6 2 ♥ 6 ♥ 6 2 responds 1♠ to your double? West North East South ♦ A Q 8 7 ♦ A J 8 7 ♦ A K Q 7 1♦ Dbl 1♥ ? ♣ K J 7 6 ♣ A K 6 5 ♣ A K 6

Hand A Hand B Hand C ♠ K J 7 ♠ K J 7 4 ♠ K Q 10 6 Hand A Hand B Hand C Hand A Pass. ♥ Q 4 ♥ 4 ♥ 4 ♠ 9 7 ♠ 9 7 ♠ 9 6 5 Hand B 2♠. You would have raised to ♦ A Q 6 5 ♦ A Q 6 5 ♦ A K J 8 ♥ 5 3 2 ♥ 5 3 2 ♥ Q 3 3♠ if South had responded 1♠ ♣ 8 4 3 2 ♣ Q 4 3 2 ♣ A K 7 6 ♦ K 10 9 5 2 ♦ K 10 9 4 2 ♦ K Q J 10 9 in an uncontested auction. ♣ 10 7 6 ♣ A 8 6 ♣ A 8 6 Hand C 3♠. Partner will raise to 4♠ unless completely useless. If Hand D Hand E Hand F he has nothing he will have ♠ K Q J 7 6 ♠ K 5 4 3 ♠ A Q J 7 6 Hand D Hand E Hand F no entries to hand to take ♥ 8 ♥ 8 ♥ 8 3 2 ♠ K 7 6 2 ♠ K Q 7 6 2 ♠ K 7 finesses, so 3♠ is enough. ♦ A 9 8 ♦ A 9 8 ♦ K J 8 ♥ K Q 5 ♥ A 8 5 ♥ K Q 6 5 ♣ K 5 4 3 ♣ K Q 8 7 6 ♣ A 6 ♦ 9 4 3 ♦ 10 4 3 ♦ 8 5 4 3 ♣ 6 3 2 ♣ 6 3 ♣ Q 10 9 4. With E/W vulnerable how should South continue with these hands Hand G Hand H Hand J after Auctions (i) and (ii)? ♠ A Q J 7 6 ♠ K J 7 ♠ K J 7 In Auction (i) South must bid unless ♥ A 3 2 ♥ A 9 4 ♥ A K 4 he has truly excellent diamonds. Auction (i) ♦ K J 8 ♦ A K J 4 ♦ A K J 4 In Auction (ii) South can pass West North East South ♣ A 6 ♣ Q 6 5 ♣ Q 6 5 so any bid is a free bid. 1♦ Dbl Pass 1♥ Hand A (i) 1♥. Horrible, but not Pass 2♥ Pass ? strong enough for 1NT. Auction (ii) Hand A Pass. 12 points but the ♥Q is (ii) Pass. West North East South not really worth two points. Hand B (i) 1NT. 6-9 points. 1♦ Dbl Pass 1♥ Hand B Dbl. Pass 1♠. (ii) 1NT. Rely on partner to Pass 1NT Pass ? Hand C Dbl. There is no upper limit stop the hearts. on a double. Raise 1♠ to 4♠. Hand C (i) Pass. Partner will lead a Hand D 1♠. Show your five-card trump. Hand A Hand B Hand C major. If opponents bid to (ii) 2NT. ♠ K 8 ♠ 9 4 3 ♠ 9 4 3 2♥ you can make a take- Hand D (i) 1♠. ♥ K J 6 4 3 ♥ 8 6 4 3 ♥ A 7 5 4 out double. If you double (ii) 1♠. ♦ 6 4 3 ♦ K J 5 3 ♦ A 10 9 3 and then bid spades you are Hand E (i) 2♠. ♣ 9 3 2 ♣ 9 3 ♣ 9 3 showing a very strong hand. (ii) 2♠. Hand E Dbl. You can afford to lose Hand F (i) 2♥. a 5-3 club fit. Pass 1♠. (ii) Dbl. Although you do not In Auction (i) North would have raised to Hand F 1♠. A maximum 1♠ overcall. expect your double to end 3♥ if South had responded 1♥ in an Hand G Dbl. Intending to bid the auction, this is a uncontested auction. In Auction (ii) spades next. If partner penalty double of a suit. North has 19-21 points, too strong for bids 1♠ raise to 3♠. As a penalty double of a 1NT over 1♦. Hand H 1NT. 15-18 points and at suit contract below 3NT, it Hand A (i) 4♥. least one heart stopper. should be alerted. (ii) 3♥. Showing five. Forcing. Hand J Dbl. You are too strong 2♦ would not promise five for 1NT. Continue hearts. 3NT is a with 1NT over 1♠. 3. With N/S vulnerable how should reasonable alternative. North continue with these hands? Hand B (i) Pass. (ii) Pass. 2. At love all how should South respond West North East South Hand C (i) 3NT. North will correct to to North’s take-out double with these 1♥ Dbl Pass 1♠ 4♥ provided he has four. hands after Auctions (i) and (ii)? Pass ? (ii) 3NT. ■

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 25 Letter from Overseas by John Barr BERNARD MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE My Favourite TUTORIAL CD DECLARER Opponent PLAY

hen we want to do well at while I sat East. Although North’s the bridge table we usually game bid is a bit of a stretch, the play MAC or choose to play with our looks straightforward, with declarer Windows Wfavourite partner. But the next best losing just the spade ace and two clubs. thing is to play against your favourite My partner led out three top clubs opponent. By favourite opponent and I was about to discard a diamond I don’t just mean someone who is but thankfully stopped to consider hopeless and will scatter match what would happen next. points in your direction. My favourite It was clear that South must have opponent is irritating and annoying. most of the remaining unseen points, He tells opponents and partners alike and that West probably had one what they should have done, after he’s winner outside his club suit, but was Bernard develops your seen all 52 cards. unlikely to have two more winners. So declarer play technique in He’s my favourite opponent because I tried the effect of ruffing partner’s the course of ten I can’t bear to get bad scores against third club winner with the jack of introductory exercises and him – and then hear him tell me what hearts. 120 complete deals. I should have done. So he inspires me Declarer overruffed with the queen, to play above myself. The following cashed the king of hearts and led a l Suit Establishment hand is a good example. small heart towards dummy’s A-9, in No-trumps West having followed to the trumps l Suit Establishment with the two and the five. in Suits ♠ K Q 7 6 3 It was then the turn of my favourite ♥ A 9 6 opponent to stop and think. l Hold-ups ♦ 5 2 On the one hand, the principle of l Ruffing for ♣ J 10 7 restricted choice suggested finessing Extra Tricks ♠ A 2 ♠ 10 8 4 the nine because if I held the jack £76 l Entries in ♥ 10 5 2 N ♥ J 7 and ten of hearts I might have ruffed W E ♦ ♦ No-trumps 9 4 S Q J 10 8 7 6 with the ten rather than the jack. On ♣ A K Q 8 6 4 ♣ 3 2 the other hand, if trumps split evenly l Delaying ♠ J 9 5 there would be no problem whatsoever Drawing Trumps ♥ K Q 8 4 3 in avoiding a diamond loser. l Using the Lead ♦ A K 3 He finally decided to play for me to l Trump Control ♣ 9 5 have started with J-10-7 in trumps – going up with the ace, which set up my l Endplays & Avoidance partner’s ten of hearts as the fourth l Using the Bidding West North East South trick for the defenders. 1♥ I should have considered ruffing the 2♣ 4♥ All pass queen of clubs no matter who I was Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, playing against, but playing against Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH Our opponents, who were playing five- my irritating, favourite opponent ( 01483 489961 card majors, quickly bid to 4♥, with inspired me to find the play that gave www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop my favourite opponent as declarer declarer the chance to go wrong. n

Page 26 BRIDGE October 2018 of his customers are have followed your progress inquiring about of late. through your illness. READERS’ As it stands they can offer My husband was bio-degradable plastic but diagnosed with advanced it has several downsides: prostate cancer in December 1) It is both more and has been undergoing costly and needs to be many treatments and LETTERS invoiced in advance. procedures since then and 2) As it is bio-degradable, awaits the results, which will RESEARCH straightforward any more.... it does not have a long shelf be given in a few weeks time. Could I ask readers of the Everything appears to lean life. It therefore cannot be He has been extremely magazine if they have a to quality players playing ordered too far in advance. heartened and encouraged recording of the first episode at bridge clubs, nothing 3) When it goes into by your health reports and of the TV series called for the new learner or even landfill, it does not degrade writings, and feels that there Master Bridge, broadcast on players that have played the if covered as the plastic is hope for him to be able to Channel 4, back in 1983. game over many years, still needs oxygen to assist the procure insurance and enjoy If anyone has a copy, meeting up with friends and breaking down process. going on holiday once more. please would they be kind having a jolly afternoon of We have enjoyed a enough to get in touch with bridge – as we know it.... COMPETITION cruise, as well as several me via the Mr Bridge office. I lent my new copy to I have just read your letter in weekends and seminars with

( 01483 489961. Thank you. friends at our little club ear- the August issue of BRIDGE. Mr Bridge in the past, so Shireen Mohandes, lier this week, only to be met So pleased all is now well now are looking forward to c/o Mr Bridge. with blank looks. Nobody with you, but I am not sure many more in the future. was interested, they couldn’t your panama hat can cope Thank you again for RETURN TO BRIDGE understand it. Even Bernard’s with competition from your uplifting articles. A while back, living in quiz isn’t straightforward. your new glass frames. They have filled us with Scotland my bridge playing So, can I ask that a certain Jo Walch by email. optimism and make us friends and myself all took amount of copy is given to happy to look forward. your magazine and looked players that want a game BIG THANK YOU Name & address supplied. forward to the next copy to that is simple, KISS for Last week I received 4 DVDs pop through the letterbox. I example, and that doesn’t as prizes for our charity YOU CANNOT think we learnt a lot from it. involve all these new-fangled bridge raffle being held in BE SERIOUS ...I even wrote to Sally conventions but just aim Barnes on 16 October. I was disappointed but not Brock on a couple of for an afternoon of old Age UK Richmond-upon- surprised by Bill Thompson’s occasions and still refer fashioned bridge, rubber Thames will be thrilled email on page 39 of to her answers. or Chicago and helpful by your contribution. issue 188 of BRIDGE. The magazine went online comments that we all Name & address supplied. He declares that: with only random copies understand? Organisers of fundraising 1) Computer dealt hands sent out by post because Or is the common player events should ask for prizes. are too difficult for average of the cost of postage etc below you now? We don’t like to say no. players. and a small charge was Diana Parish, 2) Players giving the deck made if one still wanted Singleton, West Sussex. IMPROVISATION a thorough shuffle should a regular paper copy. Thank you very much for the be penalised. I moved house and came BY TELEPHONE magic parcel of 4 refills. In Several questions and back south. The magazine Mr Berlanny of Portsmouth, fact they are about 10mm observations flashed through got lost on the way and I a long-standing subscriber too short for the prize pen my mind whilst reading his hadn’t read a copy for a telephoned asking whether but with the aid of 10mm article: few years. we would consider using cut off a matchstick, the 1) How can he tell the Now sitting comfortably a biodegradable plastic pen now works well. difference between manual and finding new bridge packaging when mailing Bob Davies by email. and computer dealt hands? playing friends, I decided BRIDGE. He has been I once did an experiment at it was time to take a working with The Mail on GOOD FOR HIM one of the clubs I play at. subscription, which I have Sunday for the last few I am so pleased that you Over the course of 4 weeks now done. months and they have (as have got the all clear from I said we would have two But I can’t basically make of last Sunday) started the hospital concerning your manually dealt sets and two head or tail of it. using biodegradable plastic cancer and are now enjoying computer dealt sets. I asked All these laws and rules, wallets for their magazine. travelling once more. members if they could tell the every hand having a Our printer tells us that We have been reading difference and which weeks different convention, nothing this is a question some your articles in BRIDGE and were computer dealt. u

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 27 READERS’ LETTERS Continued...

Over 80% declared they could. this has been replaced by the words Little did they know that they were all interesting, challenging and varied. computer dealt. In other words, they I say to Bill Thompson that, apart could not tell the difference. from the sociability side of things, 2) Why does he say that average this is the very essence of why we players struggle with computer dealt play the game, ie an interesting, hands? Bridge is built on bidding challenging and varied evening. systems and conventions designed to Long live computer dealt hands. These English made tables describe your hand, whatever it is. Any Reg Hull, offer superb quality and have average player can bid accordingly. Oxted, Surrey. the genuine Pelissier hinges. 3) Stronger pairs will generally Choose from the great value Club, the Premier or the do better in an evening, NOT A QUERY JUST ODD elegant Royal. irrespective of the cards. This is not so much a query but rather 4) To take Bill’s suggestion to its an example of a bridge curiosity. Special Prices for Bridge logical conclusion, why shuffle at all? How often do you get a hand which Club orders of 5 or more. I ran another experiment where can be bid and played at game level in for a few weeks I would not shuffle a all 4 suits? small number of “non-flat” boards. These were the 7 contracts I kept a record of the contracts at a recent club session: and generally they were different contracts each week. Unsurprisingly 1 x 4♠* by West going 4 off no one remembered the hands. 2 x 4♥ by East making 5) The bias against computer 1 x 5♥ by East, going 1 off dealt hands is about change and 1 x 5♦* by South going 4 off Club Table with traditional green the suspicion that the computer has 1 x 5♦* by South going 5 off felt playing surface £159.00 “fixed” the hands in some way. 1 x 5♣ by North going 5 off a. What does “fixed” mean? b. ALL players must play the This was the hand: hands, so if they are “fixed” it is still a level playing field. c. If we had all been brought up Dealer West. Love All. using computer dealt hands they ♠ Q 6 3 would be the accepted norm. ♥ 10 5 6) The beauty of computer dealt ♦ 2 boards is that we get properly ♣ K J 8 6 5 4 3 ♠ ♠ random hands that are in line A J 8 7 2 5 Premier Table, bevelled edges with the statistical probabilities. ♥ Void N ♥ K Q J 9 8 4 3 2 and baize playing surface £199.00 7) I run a small club where most ♦ K 9 7 3 W E ♦ Q 5 S members are a long way past ♣ A Q 10 7 ♣ 9 2 pensionable age and a few are 90 years ♠ K 10 9 4 young. I introduced electronic scoring ♥ A 7 6 and computer dealt hands a few years ♦ A J 10 8 6 4 ago and they love it. Instant results, no ♣ Void shuffling to perform, varied hands and no complaints. This also allows easy scoring of teams and handicap events At our table (I was North) it went: as well as the use of Web Mitchell’s. 1♠-4♣-4♥-5♦-Dbl Royal Table, elegant surround and When I first started playing bridge, I Nonetheless, how might it have gone baize playing surface £249.00 would often hear players comment that in the hands of four experts – or at any Order online or by phone the boards were strange that evening, rate in those of four competent www.designsforbridge.co.uk usually meaning there were fewer flat players? hands than usual. As computer dealt Richard Ackland, 01483 270 100 hands have become more common, Kenley, Surrey. n SR Designs for Bridge Unit A1, Send Business Park, Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF or e-mail [email protected]

Page 28 BRIDGE October 2018 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 9

Partner leads the ♦A and continues the for an attitude signal this time. Although 1. ♠ A 9 6 5 3 suit. You win, all following, and play a you have four clubs, you have strong ♥ K 10 7 3 2 third round. Declarer ruffs with the ♠10 spades and would like a spade switch. ♦ K (♣4 from partner) and leads low to the You will hope that your partner holds the ♣ Q 9 ♠2 and ♠9. After you duck, declarer ♠10, in which case you can dislodge the ♠ K 2 ♠ 7 4 comes to hand with the ♥A (♥5 from ♠A and establish at least two winners ♥ Q 9 N ♥ A J 6 5 partner) and leads the ♠K to your ♠A. in the suit. So play the ♣4 on this trick. ♦ A 9 8 5 4 W E ♦ Q 6 3 2 What do you do next? Since partner would lead the ♠A next if S ♣ K 10 4 2 ♣ J 8 7 You have the master ♥K, which will be holding it, you will finesse the ♠9 if you ♠ Q J 10 8 the setting trick if you lead it and declarer have to, although a helpful partner will ♥ 8 4 does not ruff. If you remember what lead the ♠10 to spare you the decision. ♦ J 10 7 happened on the first round of the suit, ♣ A 6 5 3 you will know that partner played the ♥5. On an opposing lead, a defender gives 4. ♠ J a signal, it is count, high with an even ♥ K Q 4 West North East South number and low with an odd number. ♦ K 9 6 1NT1 2♣2 Pass 3♠ With the ♥4 and the ♥2 missing, the ♥5 ♣ A K 10 8 4 3 Pass 4♠ All Pass is high in this context. This means partner ♠ A 10 8 5 ♠ K 9 7 6 112-14 started with an even number, which must ♥ 9 7 6 5 3 N ♥ 2 2Landy, both majors be four given South’s repeated failure to ♦ 10 7 W E ♦ A 8 5 2 S support the known five-card suit. Instead ♣ J 9 ♣ Q 6 5 2 Partner leads the ♦A. What do you do? you should persevere with diamonds. ♠ Q 4 3 2 In a suit contract, if dummy has a Declarer will have to ruff high to prevent ♥ A J 10 8 singleton in the suit led, you do not give an overruff. Partner will then discard and ♦ Q J 4 3 an attitude signal because your side can later make a trick with the ♠8. ♣ 7 cash no further tricks in the suit. Best is to express preference between the other two suits, playing high for the 3. ♠ J 8 2 West North East South higher suit and low for the lower suit. ♥ Q J 3 2♣1 Pass 2♦2 Since you do not fancy a club switch, play ♦ J 10 9 8 Pass 3♣3 Pass 3NT the ♦6. ♣ Q 3 2 All Pass ♠ 10 6 3 ♠ K Q 9 4 1Natural, 11-16 ♥ 9 8 6 2 N ♥ 7 5 2Enquiry 2. ♠ 9 ♦ K 5 2 W E ♦ 7 6 3 3Maximum, 6 clubs, no major S ♥ Q 10 8 6 3 ♣ A K 6 ♣ 10 9 5 4 ♦ Q J 4 ♠ A 7 5 Partner leads the ♥7: ♥Q, ♥2 and ♥8. ♣ A K 10 2 ♥ A K 10 4 The ♦6 goes to Declarer’s ♦Q and then ♠ 8 6 3 2 ♠ A 5 ♦ A Q 4 comes the ♦3 to the ♦10 and ♦K. What is ♥ J 5 4 2 N ♥ K 9 7 ♣ J 8 7 your plan? ♦ A 3 W E ♦ K 10 8 7 6 5 If the ♥7 was fourth highest, partner S ♣ 6 5 4 ♣ J 7 will hold the ♥A (the lead would be the ♠ K Q J 10 7 4 West North East South jack from J-10-9-7) and the situation will ♥ A 1♣1 be hopeless with good spades behind ♦ 9 2 Pass 1♦ Pass 2NT2 you. With the ♥A, it looks as if declarer ♣ Q 9 8 3 Pass 3NT All Pass can cash four hearts, three diamonds 1Could be short and two clubs; this means you need to 218-19 make four spade tricks. Knowing what West North East South you need to do, you thus take the ♦A and 1♠ Partner leads the ♥8, won by the ♥Q. switch to the ♠K. You then continue with Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ The ♦J runs to the ♦K, after which partner the ♠9 ready to hold the lead in case you Pass 3NT Pass 4♠ leads the ♣A. What do you do? need to take a further finesse against the All Pass By switching to ♣A, partner is looking ♠Q. n

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 29 A History of Playing Cards: Part Twenty-Two by Paul Bostock Ganjifa – Playing Cards from India

laying cards were made in India at least as long ago as Ghulam a household assistant in one of many possible roles the beginning of the sixteenth century. It is not certain Chang a small harp, relating to entertainment whether they pre-date European and Middle-Eastern Surkh meaning red or gold and also associated with the Pcards, but there is enough similarity to say that they are re- sun lated. ‘Ganjifa’ is the name of a game commonly played with Barat a document, related to the chancellery of the court the cards, as well as the cards themselves. Qimash general household items, often shown as a bolster The Indian cards are arranged in suits of twelve, like cushion Spanish sets. They have two court figures – a Shah or Mir The Ghulam suit numerals show increasingly large groups (King) and a Wazir (Minister) – and ten numerals. The most of people and are often very interesting designs. Many of the common arrangement, ‘Mughal Ganjifa’, has eight suits, and numeral cards have people or animals added, simply to make 96 cards in all, almost certainly the result of combining two them interesting. The Chang suit often depicts the harem, simpler sets of 48. where music was played, and as a result the cards often have female characters. In some regions, the harp was unknown and the artist made something up – a cap or a horn, say – a practice that has puzzled many students of these cards.

Single Mughal Ganjifa court card. Mir of Surkh (gold coins). All the cards shown date from c.1850-1875.

The suits relate to various aspects of the Court of a wealthy Single Mughal Ganjifa – ten of Ghulam, ruler: the suit showing court assistants. Taj a crown representing the court and its regalia Safed white or silver, and meaning a coin, also associated Ganjifa are traditionally circular and made by hand- with the moon Shamsher – a curved sword and painting onto thick card and then varnished for protection sometimes shown with military figures and smoothness. Some are more lavishly produced on

Page 30 BRIDGE October 2018 materials like ivory and brass. As these cards are so beautifully painted (see the examples), it Re-boot your is unfortunate that we cannot identify their creators as there was no tradition for the maker Acol with to add a personal signature or symbol. Bernard Magee European and American cards can be given approximate dates through tax stamps Denham Grove, Uxbridge, and because of a steady evolution of the techniques used for printing, but the traditional Bucks UB9 5DG painting of Ganjifa has remained largely unchanged. 10-14 January It is therefore highly useful 2019 to have reference examples where dates are already £454pp Thursday – known. The Victoria & Monday Albert Museum in London Four Nights has over 35 Ganjifa sets, Full Board – No Single many from the Victorian era Supplement1 and some even earlier. These mostly have known dates and they have been catalogued by Ganjifa expert, Rudolf von Leyden. The most popular variant is called ‘Dashavatara Ganjifa’ with 120 cards. These em- body a Hindu culture as the ten suits are chosen to sym- bolise the ten incarnations of Vishnu – the ‘avatara’ part of the naming. Topics In later Indian packs, we OPENER Mughal Ganjifa: The 8 of Surkh (gold coins). see up to 20 suits. Why have Indian cards evolved into RESPONDER such large sets? In Gan- RESPONDING TO jifa sets, every card is hand- 1NT painted and each set requires OVERCALLS a huge labour commitment. LAWS & ETHICS The makers must have been much happier to sell cards in IMPROVING larger sets, and equally, their BRIDGE MEMORY prosperous owners must have been proud to own such imposing sets of cards. Sessions of Bridge players may want to supervised play pause to consider what their follow each game would be like with lecture. eight suits instead of four. Those wishing to try could buy a ‘Fat Pack’ (there is a Optional website) with four additional duplicate session suits so 104 cards in all. The every evening2. play would be difficult with so many cards to keep track of – but the bidding with Contact Mr Bridge to Dashavatara Ganjifa Court Card: A Wazir, eight suits would offer all book your place possibly from suit of cows. sorts of new possibilities. ■ or for further details.

The author is a Court Assistant in the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards – see ( 01483 489961 www.makersofplayingcards.co.uk. Many more sets of cards are illustrated on the author’s 1Subject to availability. 2Not website www.plainbacks.com directed by Bernard Magee.

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 31 Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Forty-Eight Pressing the Defence

his DVD is on declarer play ♠ A 8 2 Here is a relatively straightforward and touches on one of the more ♥ 4 2 1NT contract: declarer has six top difficult aspects of it: squeeze ♦ A J 5 3 2 tricks and if the clubs break 3-2 he has Tplay. The early part of the DVD tries ♣ 8 5 2 a seventh trick. However, there is no to simplify the topic and explain that ♠ Q 10 4 ♠ J 9 6 3 rush to play on clubs. often you can gain tricks by putting ♥ 9 7 5 N ♥ 8 6 Declarer wins the ♠K and plays a W E ♦ ♦ pressure on the defenders to discard. K 10 8 S Q 9 7 6 4 diamond to the jack and East’s queen. This does not require any particular ♣ J 9 6 3 ♣ Q 10 He returns a spade which you win and planning, just playing a few extra ♠ K 7 5 play another diamond to West’s ace. rounds of trumps when there is no ♥ A K Q J 10 3 He now takes three spade winners and other chance available: ♦ Void his partner needs to keep the right ♣ A K 7 4 cards while watching dummy throw two clubs: ♠ A 8 2 ♥ 4 2 On the fourth and fifth rounds of ♦ A J 5 3 2 hearts, West would have some very ♠ A 6 4 ♣ 8 5 2 difficult decisions to make and I think ♥ A 4 2 N 90% of defenders will discard at least ♦ J 10 2 W E S one club. This would allow declarer to ♣ 8 6 5 2 ♠ K 7 5 make the last round of clubs and with ♠ J 10 9 8 7 ♠ Q 2 ♥ A K Q J 10 3 it, his contract. ♥ J 10 8 5 3 N ♥ K Q 9 ♦ Void ♦ A 5 W E ♦ K Q 9 6 This is not a genuine squeeze, S ♣ A K 7 4 because if West knows his partner ♣ 10 ♣ J 9 7 3 has good enough diamonds and good ♠ K 5 3 6♥ by South with the lead of the ♥5. enough spades, then West can discard ♥ 7 6 both spades and diamonds, but that is ♦ 8 7 4 3 You have eleven tricks off the top and not easy. ♣ A K Q 4 there is the hope that clubs break 3-3 Of course, you should never give which would allow you to make an up on a genuine chance, as is shown extra trick with the thirteenth club. on the DVD, like when you might be East has to throw all three hearts from There is little other hope. You could able to establish a long suit. However, the holding of K-Q-9. explore a little, by playing some of the if you can see little hope, then playing Not many will manage this. But if suits, but perhaps best is to play off five off some long trumps can often make declarer plays his clubs early, then rounds of trumps and put the defence the difference. East will be aware of how important to the test. By ‘pressing’ the defence, Hand in hand with this tactic, is the his fourth club is and will try hard you are making them discard – most idea of disguising your strength in a to hold on to it. By disguising your of the time they can gather evidence side suit. club strength you make it almost to keep the right cards, but here West impossible for East to keep the right may well struggle: cards. ♠ A 6 4 The main meat of the seminar of ♥ A 4 2 course is squeeze play: this is when Subscriptions to BRIDGE ♦ J 10 2 declarer forces a defender to make a ♣ 8 6 5 2 discard which gives declarer an extra An ideal gift N trick. W E 1 year £49 S In the previous examples, if the ♠ 2 years £79 K 5 3 defender could see all the cards he ♥ 7 6 would have been able to keep the right 3 years £109 ♦ 8 7 4 3 cards, but in a genuine squeeze position ♣ A K Q 4 the defender has no alternative. Take ( 01483 489961 a look at this four-card ending with 1NT by South; Lead = ♠J South on lead in no-trumps.

Page 32 BRIDGE October 2018 of a bottle you need to make sure all ♠ A J the air has gone first – get rid of any BERNARD ♥ 4 spare cards. Here with 11 winners and ♦ 4 two losers, there is a spare loser, so MAGEE’S ♣ — you would prefer to lose a trick before INTERACTIVE ♠ 9 ♠ K Q progressing. To lose your trick you ♥ 9 8 N ♥ K Q simply allow West to win the first trick W E TUTORIAL CD ♦ 6 S ♦ — with his ♣K. After that the hand plays ♣ — ♣ — itself. ♠ 3 DEFENCE ♥ A J ♦ A ♠ A K Q 3 ♣ — ♥ 9 5 ♦ 9 8 3 2 ♣ 8 5 2 South has three obvious winners: his ♠ 8 7 ♠ J 10 9 6 4 MAC or Windows three aces, but it looks as if he will ♥ 4 3 2 N ♥ J 10 8 7 have to lose one of his jacks. However, ♦ 10 7 6 W E ♦ 5 4 S when South leads the ♦A and West ♣ K Q J 10 6 ♣ 9 3 and dummy follow suit, what on earth ♠ 5 2 does East do? ♥ A K Q 6 If East discards a spade, then ♦ A K Q J declarer can make the ♠A and ♠J, but ♣ A 7 4 it is no better if he discards a heart because then declarer can make his ♥A and ♥J. East is genuinely squeezed You win the second trick with the and whatever he does declarer is able ♣A and then play four rounds of to make the last four tricks. diamonds. That leaves seven cards – Bernard develops your Here is a full deal to look at: you have four hearts in hand and four defence in the course of ten spades in dummy, but poor East has introductory exercises and to try to hold four of both in the same 120 complete deals. ♠ A K Q 3 hand – two fours do not make seven, ♥ 9 5 so he has to let one card go and allow l Lead vs ♦ 9 8 3 2 you to score four cards in that suit. No-trump Contracts ♣ 8 5 2 Had you not ducked the first trick l Lead vs N then East could still hold on to four of Suit Contracts W E S each suit because there would be eight l Partner of Leader ♠ 5 2 cards remaining. vs No-trump ♥ A K Q 6 Some squeeze play is very difficult, Contracts ♦ A K Q J but this DVD attempts to show that ♣ A 7 4 parts of the technique are available for l Partner of Leader everybody. Admittedly a majority of vs Suit Contracts squeezes are for experts only, but the l Count You are declarer in 6NT with the ♣K practice of playing off a long suit at the Signals right time can earn you many extra lead. l Attitude £76 You have eleven tricks, but have tricks. n Signals little natural chance of another trick since you hold only six cards in each l Discarding major, which means one defender l Defensive Plan must have at least four cards. There To support Little Voice, send l Stopping Declarer is though, one genuine chance – if the same player holds length in both your used stamps to: l Counting the Hand majors, then he might struggle to hold on to both – you may well be able to Malcolm Finebaum squeeze him. Flat 8 Mountford House Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH The tactic required on this hand is 8 Crescent Road called rectifying the count: a flashy ( 01483 489961 name for something very simple. Enfield EN2 7BL www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop Basically to squeeze anything out

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 33

Sally Brock Looks at Your Slam Bidding BERNARD MAGEE’S TUTORIAL CDs

Sally’s Slam Clinic ADVANCED DECLARER PLAY Where did we go wrong? Slam of the month l Overtricks in No-trumps Jim Miller of Loughborough asked Mike Reid sent in this slam hand that l Overtricks in Suit Contracts how the following hand, which came occurred at the Merseyside Bridge l Endplays l Avoidance up in a beginners/intermediate class, Club: £81 should be bid: l Wrong Contract l Simple Squeezes ♠ A 8 ♠ K Q 10 6 3 2 l Counting the Hand ♠ A K Q J 4 ♠ 8 7 ♥ 8 7 4 N ♥ 9 l Trump Reductions & Coups ♥ A 5 3 N ♥ K 7 6 4 ♦ K 10 5 2 W E ♦ A J 9 7 4 l Playing Doubled Contracts S ♦ A 6 W E ♦ 4 ♣ A K 10 8 ♣ J l Safety Plays S ♣ A 7 3 ♣ K J 8 6 4 2

This was their auction: ADVANCED I think the hand is difficult, but this ACOL BIDDING would be my recommended sequence: West North East South l Basics 1♠ 2♣ l Advanced Basics West East 2♦ Pass 4NT Pass l Weak Twos £96 2♣ 2♦ 5♥ Pass 6♦ Pass l Strong Hands 2NT 3♣ 7♦ All Pass l Defence to Weak Twos 3♠ 4♣ l Defence to 1NT 4♦ 4♥ I have dubbed this ‘slam of the month’ l Doubles 4♠ 6♣ not for the excellence of the bidding, l Two-suited Overcalls 6♠ Pass but as an example of what can be l Defences to Other Systems achieved with bare-faced cheek and a l Misfits and The choice of opening bid is not clear. complete misunderstanding. Distributional Hands My experience is that when in doubt With no other special agreement, it works better to describe your hand West has no real choice on the first as balanced. Partner knows how to round but to start with 2♦, as most FIVE-CARD MAJORS bid over a 1NT or 2NT opening (or would play that a double would & Strong No-Trump 2♣ followed by 2NT rebid). It is not so promise four hearts. l Opening Bids & Responses easy if you rebid 2♠ because partner East’s decision to use Roman Key l No-Trump Openings does not have the guarantee of some Card Blackwood with just 11 HCP l Support for Partner sort of fit. was asking for trouble. However, the l Slams & Strong Openings The East hand is not quite worth a real problems started when West l Rebids positive in my view (though were the miscounted his ‘aces’, and bid 5♥, l Minors & Misfits long suit a major I would go for it). showing just two. l Pre-empting Over the 2NT rebid East uses Stayman, Although there were two missing £89 l Doubles West shows four (or five) spades, East (and the queen of trumps), East had l Overcalls bids a natural 4♣, and some cue-bids nowhere to go (it is unclear that 5♠ l Competitive Auctions follow. East has enough to jump to the would be ‘to play’ here) and bid the small slam now and West converts to small slam anyway. However, now ♠ 6 because of the solid five-card suit West ‘found’ an ace so went on to the ALSO and the matchpoint scoring. grand slam. l Defence (see p33) I would add, however, that this is Luckily for them North led a club l Declarer Play (see p26) quite an expert bidding sequence and and trumps broke 2-2 so there were no l Acol Bidding (see p24) in a class the auction might well start problems in the play. ■ 2♣-3♣-3♠-3NT-4♣. ( 01483 489961 Send your slam hands to [email protected] www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 35 Letter from Overseas

This article Two Games in Toronto is part of an occasional series written by by Paul Barden guest authors

he American Contract Bridge Kevin Dwyer, sitting West, led the ♣A the first finesse, that risk goes away League is the umbrella against 4♠, Russell Ekeblad playing – you don’t care about an unlikely organisation for North the two, showing an even number in trump promotion on a fourth round TAmerica, and they are the organisers principle. How should declarer play? of diamonds, because that would be of the Grand National Teams; the 4♠ depends on the spade suit – you West making a second spade trick you finals are held in the summer each expect to lose two diamond tricks, so were going to lose anyway. year. Known as the ACBL, they were you can afford only one spade loser. A So, in much less time than it took to founded in 1937. Their membership commentator on BBO observed that read this, Lew crossed to the ♦A and is 167,000, and their website states 4♥ seems to be a better contract. But ran the ♠9. Contract made. that they have an annual budget of how should you play 4♠? You have two Meanwhile, in the other room: US$16,000,000. entries to dummy: the ♦A and ♥J, so As with many national and you can take the percentage line in West North East South international events, it is possible to spades of finessing twice against East. David Kevin Debbie Richard follow the auction and play using the This is inferior to ace and another only Grainger Bathurst Rosenberg Coren online vugraph auditorium service when West has ♠K-Q doubleton, and 3♣ Pass 3NT Dbl provided by BBO (see www.bridgebase. superior when he has a void or the Pass 4♥ All pass com). Some of the matches show live singleton 2 or 3. video feed and voice commentary, so Here there are additional clues: West The West player, David Grainger it can be quite exciting to watch the is a passed hand probably with a six- opened 3♣ despite having only six of match. The records are kept in an card club suit to two top honours, so them vulnerable. Debbie Rosenberg archive and are easily accessible. he’s unlikely to have two spade honours tried 3NT, which in the expert game This deal, from the 2017 final, held as well. And if he had a red singleton, is natural in principle but often not in Toronto, saw the team captained by he might well lead it, hoping to get a entirely serious. South doubled for Lew Stansby, playing against Richard ruff then put his partner in again with take-out of clubs – this is a reasonable Coren’s squad. a club underlead for a second ruff, so treatment: when South has values the he will often have a singleton spade. 3NT bid is usually based on some sort Is there any risk in this line apart of club length. Kevin Bathurst ran Board 20 from getting the spades wrong? Yes, if to 4♥, and must have been pleased Dealer West. Game All. you start by crossing to the ♥J, West to find that East didn’t have a double ♠ 9 7 5 with say a 1-4-2-6 shape may be able to and South did have good hearts. ♥ J 8 7 5 win and give his partner a heart ruff. Nevertheless, a commentator on ♦ A 9 2 But if you make the slightly strange BBO, seeing that club ruffs in dummy ♣ J 10 7 looking play of crossing to the ♦A for would be awkward, observed that 4♠ ♠ 2 ♠ K Q 3 ♥ 10 4 2 N ♥ 9 6 Precision Club W E ♦ Q 7 3 ♦ K 10 6 5 A system developed by C. C. Wei in 1963 with assistance from Alan Truscott. S It attracted international attention during the 1969 Bermuda Bowl when four ♣ A K 9 5 4 3 ♣ Q 8 6 2 members of the Taiwan team made their way to the final, but lost to Italy. Again in ♠ A J 10 8 6 4 1970, they reached the final, this time losing to North America. ♥ A K Q 3 The basics of the system are: ♦ J 8 4 1♣ = forcing and artificial, 16+ HCP ♣ Void 1♦, 1♥, 1♠ = Natural and limited to 15 HCP. Major suit openings promise at least a 5-card suit. 2♣ = Natural, normally showing a six-card suit, or 5 or more clubs and a 4-card West North East South major. Limited to 15 HCP. Kevin JoAnna Russell Lew British player Alan Truscott (1925-2005) emigrated to the USA. He was the bridge Dwyer Stansby Ekeblad Stansby columnist for the New York Times from 1981 to 2005. Pass Pass Pass 1♣* Charles C. Wei (known as C. C. Wei) (1914-1987) was born in Shanghai. He was an 2♣ Pass 3♣ 3♠ engineer by profession. He left his home country during WW2 and lived in the USA. Pass 4♠ All pass He was a shipping magnate. *Precision - see box on right Sources: Wikipedia; The Official Encyclopaedia of Bridge. Published by the ACBL. www.acbl.org.

Page 36 BRIDGE October 2018 would have been easier to handle. Point of View by Philip Watson 4♥ on a club lead is a much more complicated contract than 4♠, and a worse one. Where are all the You can never make with trumps 4-1 because you will be forced to ruff a club with a trump honour, setting up missing bridge players? a trump loser. Even if spades are 2-2, you will never be able to cash them, because the opponents will ruff the third round to cut you off. Then you have been playing duplicate bridge senior members of the club, who will lose three minor-suit cards as well for over 50 years and have enjoyed helped on a voluntary basis; and as the trump and a spade. playing in a number of bridge then Assuming trumps break 3-2, one Iclubs in the UK. There has been a • After some 90 minutes or so, line is to ruff high in dummy at trick decline in membership over the past some of the hands (copies of one, draw trumps, then take the double 10 years and some clubs are now so which were available) would be finesse in spades. The defence can cash down in numbers they are struggling displayed on the PowerPoint two club tricks when they win a spade, to survive. screen and discussed. but that’s all. The problem with this is The South Croydon Bridge Club The take-up of this scheme in the first that if East plays an honour on the first (SCBC) devised a project in order couple of months from July 2016 was spade, you can make against ♠K-Q-x to stabilise and then increase the extremely slow. However, word about only by ducking, otherwise you get cut membership of the SCBC. The it spread and currently there are 7-8 off from the spade suit. And if you do committee decided some 5 or 6 years tables regularly at these monthly duck, you will go off when a first-class ago to forgo their Wednesday evening training sessions. East such as Debbie Rosenberg puts duplicate teams of four session and The committee at SCBC (a small in a doubleton honour, or when East employ an experienced EBU teacher. club with about 80 members) has been has a singleton honour. In view of this, Thus, for the next 3-4 years there were very supportive in carrying out this Kevin Bathurst played the simple line bridge classes on Wednesday evenings relatively ‘long-term’ project. Along of ruffing low in dummy and leading and also during a couple of other with the re-introduction of the ‘host’ out the ♠A then ♠J. days, with lessons for those new to the system, it had the following benefits: Unfortunately for him, Grainger game of bridge and those with limited • The numbers attending on a discarded a club on the second spade. experience. Although over that period Wednesday lunchtime session Debbie Rosenberg won, and reasoning some 40-50 people were being taught have increased; that her partner would have discarded to play bridge, only 4-6 participants • Thursday and Friday evening a diamond from all low ones, switched actually joined the SCBC itself. duplicate sessions have shown to the ♦10, which would be necessary Around this time, there was also increased numbers; in the admittedly unlikely event that a decision not to continue the ‘host’ • Similarly the Saturday North had five hearts but East had system at the SCBC. This was due to afternoon session; the ♦Q and ♦9. The ♦10 was covered a lack of support from its members, as • Recently a gentle duplicate all round, West pitched a diamond on the system was completely voluntary session has been started on the next spade, and East cashed the ♦K and it fell to some 3 or 4 members to Wednesday evening. and gave him a diamond ruff to beat do it at the club’s regular four sessions Thus, if you examine the average the contract. of bridge per week. number of tables in play at the SCBC That was 12 IMPs to the Stansby Thus, some two years ago, at my some 2-3 years ago during a month team (David Grainger, Debbie suggestion, it was agreed that the and compare it with the current Rosenberg, Chip Martel, JoAnna SCBC would hold a once a month level of activity, not surprisingly, you Stansby, Kit Woolsey, Lew Stansby), Sunday afternoon ‘training’ session of will find that there are at least an who went on to win the event. n about 3 hours duration for new players extra 10-12 tables per month in play. to duplicate bridge. The layout of the This means that there are an extra How to watch bridge tournaments afternoon was quite simple: 40 attendances per month. on Bridge Base Online • A short lesson, with notes, on a Food for thought then, in that as Visit the home page particular topic (the first one was far as I am aware there seem to be no www.bridgbase.com. Register yourself on the correct use of Stayman) transitional arrangements in place as a user (there is no fee). Once you have completed registration login to of some 30 minutes using a for bridge clubs for the new people, the system, on the first screen you will PowerPoint presentation. who have recently been taught to play see a link that says: “Vugraph (Live bridge, to actually play at a club and Broadcasts)”. When there are tables • The lesson was followed by to watch, you will see the tables. If a supervised play session on not retire to ‘kitchen bridge’ at home. there aren’t any tables to watch, then hands based specifically on the Where do bridge clubs go from here click the “Vugraph Schedule” link. topic and carried out by 3 or 4 and with whose help? n

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 37 BERNARD MAGEE TUTORIAL DVDS

2018 2019 Set 7 5-7 October £228 10-14 January £454 37 MORE SIGNALLING Declarer Play Re-Boot Your Acol I will be looking at different times when you signal and Hosted by Sandy Bell Hosted by Bernard Magee the messages you might want to give. Using signals in new 19-21 October £218 1-3 March £228 ways can greatly improve your enjoyment of defence as well as pushing up your scores. Just Duplicate Endplay and Avoidance Hosted by Sandy Bell 38 4-4-4-1 HANDS For Festive events, see page 16. 28-30 June £229 Everybody’s least favourite type of opening hand. I will Masterpointed Duplicate be going through the methods for choosing the right suit Nestled in the heart of to open as well as coping with responses. As responder Buckinghamshire, Denham 19-21 July £218 you need to be aware of the options and work out your Just Duplicate partner’s type of hand. Strong 4-4-4-1 hands can be just as Grove has a peaceful difficult and will be dealt with too. countryside setting and 42 9-11 August £238 acres of pristine parkland Responding to 1NT 39 DRAWING TRUMPS Hosted by Elaine Duff which provides an air of This seminar sounds straightforward, but we will not be traditional tranquillity. 13-15 September £218 simply drawing trumps, we will be considering the reasons for delaying. Keeping control of trumps is an important Just Duplicate Denham Grove has free part of declarer play. Knowing when to risk leaving trumps Wi-Fi throughout plus many 25-27 October £218 out and when not. onbsite leisure facilities, Just Duplicate 40 FIVE-CARD MAJORS including indoor swimming 22-24 November £238 Popular around the world, this method is becoming more pool, gym, spa bath and Dealing with 1NT popular here. It is not a method I would advocate for club sauna, and tennis courts. Hosted by Sandy Bell players, however it is important to understand the method as you will need to defend against it.

41 FUNDAMENTALS OF DEFENCE Defence is by far the hardest aspect of bridge: this seminar seeks to show the building blocks that can start you off on a wonderful journey. If you can get the basics right then the more complicated aspects of defence can follow.

Prices shown are per person, full board including tea & coffee 42 SUPPORTING MINORS during breaks and a welcome drinks party. There is no single Minors are not as important as majors, but we have to bid supplement and single players will always be found a partner. them and it is important to know your system. Bidding The Mr Bridge Team will offer support during the set hand more 3NT contracts will get you better scores, but being sessions, on the seminar events, and make up the numbers able to spot a minor suit slam will put you a cut above. in the duplicates, so there should never be a half table. All rooms are ensuite, have tea & coffee making facilities and have free internet. The venue does not have a lift, but many £25 per DVD or £105 for the set of six rooms are on the ground floor. For details and bookings call Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop Mr Bridge Holidays  01483 489961

Page 38 BRIDGE October 2018 Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 11

You (South) are declarer in 3NT and ace but let West win, who may well play 1. ♠ K 10 8 6 West leads the ♠8. East plays the ♠10. another high diamond. Let that win too ♥ 7 5 3 How do you plan the play? but ruff the third round in hand and ♦ K 8 Assuming West has led his best suit, knock out East’s ace of trumps. Later ♣ 7 6 4 2 the Rule of Eleven would indicate that you can draw East’s remaining trumps ♠ 2 ♠ Q 7 3 East has no other spade higher than and dispose of your club loser on the N ♥ ♥ K Q J 6 W E 10 9 2 the ten so you cannot entertain any preserved ace of diamonds. ♦ A 9 6 2 S ♦ Q J 10 3 thoughts of a hold up. Additionally you ♣ 9 8 5 3 ♣ Q J 10 must do everything you can to prevent ♠ A J 9 5 4 East from gaining the lead when a spade 4. ♠ A K 9 ♥ A 8 4 through your remaining holding would ♥ K 8 ♦ 7 5 4 be disastrous. As you need only four ♦ A J 9 5 3 ♣ A K club tricks to make your contract, play ♣ Q 3 2 a diamond to the jack and play a small ♠ Q J 10 8 3 ♠ 6 4 2 club to the eight. ♥ 5 3 N ♥ 6 4 2 W E You (South) are declarer in 4♠ after three Now you are safe from a spade attack ♦ K S ♦ Q 10 7 6 4 2 passes and West leads the ♥K. East plays and unless clubs started out breaking ♣ J 9 8 6 5 ♣ 4 the ♥2. How do you plan the play? 5-1 (or East has the ten and jack and ♠ 7 5 With two hearts and at least one splits his honours) you will be home with ♥ A Q J 10 9 7 diamond to lose the contract is a one spade, one heart, three diamonds ♦ 8 precarious one and you will need a bit and four clubs. ♣ A K 10 7 of luck to make this contract. It looks as though West started with the king, queen and jack of hearts from the carding so 3. ♠ K J 10 You (South) are declarer in 7♥ after West far (East would encourage if holding ♥ K Q 6 opened 2♠ showing 5-5 in spades and the jack) and unless West has the ace ♦ A 7 6 5 a minor and a weak hand, 5-9 points. of diamonds there is no hope at all of ♣ K 7 6 West leads the ♠Q. Trumps break 2-3. a successful outcome. That would give ♠ 2 ♠ A 7 5 3 How do you plan the play? him ten points and if you remember he ♥ 8 7 N ♥ J 10 9 3 2 You have twelve tricks on top and an W E passed as dealer, then it is odds against ♦ K Q 10 9 8 4 3 S ♦ Void early appearance of the jack of clubs him holding the queen of trumps because ♣ Q 8 2 ♣ J 10 5 4 would give you the thirteenth, but in fact most people are conditioned to open on ♠ Q 9 8 6 4 the contract is more or less guaranteed a twelve count. ♥ A 5 4 once West shows up with two trumps. So win the heart and lead a diamond, ♦ J 2 This means he has a singleton in one of and if the king wins play for East to hold ♣ A 9 3 the minors, so find out which by playing the queen of trumps. the ace of diamonds and ruffing one after drawing trumps. If he follows then You (South) are declarer in 4♠ after West you will soon have a marked finesse 2. ♠ 6 2 opened 3♦. West leads the ♦K. How do against the jack of clubs. ♥ 8 7 5 you plan the play? If he shows out, you will know that he ♦ A J 2 This could be a frustrating hand in that holds length in the black suits. Since you ♣ K Q 9 6 5 you can count ten tricks easily via four have all but one trick on top, threats in ♠ A Q 9 8 3 ♠ 10 7 4 spades, three hearts, one diamond and both black suits and plentiful entries, ♥ K 4 N ♥ Q J 10 two clubs and yet if you didn’t stop to by running your trumps you expect to W E ♦ 10 7 6 5 S ♦ 9 4 3 think the whole enterprise would end in squeeze West in the black suits - forced ♣ 10 2 ♣ J 7 4 3 tears. It is by no means certain but highly to discard a total of four times, he will be ♠ K J 5 possible that East is void in diamonds. unable to keep parity with the club length ♥ A 9 6 3 2 This means that if you play the ace from you have in hand and keep the same ♦ K Q 8 dummy at trick one it will be ruffed and number of spades that dummy has. ♣ A 8 you will lose one of your ten tricks. All you need is for him to hold the ten The answer of course is not to play the of spades. n

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 39

BERNARD Answers to Bernard Magee’s MAGEE Bidding Quizzes 1-3 TUTORIAL on the Cover and page 7 DVDS

your partner would respond 2♥ – your Set 8 1. Dealer West. Love All. best fit is found and the 2-level is high 43 TEAMS OF FOUR ♠ A Q 2 ♠ J 4 3 enough. This form of the game is the most ♥ 7 6 N ♥ 9 8 5 4 common at international level and is ♦ A 4 3 2 W E ♦ 10 7 6 S great fun to play at club level and even in ♣ A K Q 5 ♣ 7 6 4 3. Dealer West. Love All. the home. I will discuss the basic format ♠ J 2 ♠ 9 8 3 and then look at the tactics you might use in the bidding and play. ♥ K 5 N ♥ Q 8 4 2 West North East South ♦ A 8 7 3 W E ♦ 10 9 6 2 S 44 GAME TRIES 1♣ 1♠ Pass Pass ♣ A K Q J 8 ♣ 7 4 When your partner raises your suit to the ? two-level, you have a variety of options available to you, in order to find out whether game is a sensible option. I will 1NT. Your partner has not bid, which West North East South talk about major suit game tries to find means he could have zero points – this 1♣ 1♠ Pass Pass better games and minor suit game tries, means that your rebids have to change ? when you consider the option of a no- trump contract. their meanings. If you rebid 1NT with just 15 points you may go a long way off and 2♦. Another strong hand and another 45 DISRUPTING the same will happen if you jump to 2NT passing partner. With just two suits to DECLARER on a stronger hand. Instead you should choose from you do best to show your A defender needs to try and predict what rebid 1NT with 17-19 points – a strong second suit and let your partner choose declarer might want to do. Your job is balanced hand that should be able to between them. By bidding 2♦, above then to disrupt declarer’s plan. Stop him ruffing, stop him establishing suits and manage even if partner is very weak. two of your first suit, you are showing a generally try to put him off, by using only You need a stopper in spades as well, of strong hand and are happy for your part- your cards, of course. course. ner to put you back to 3♣. Your 1NT rebid finishes the auction – 2♦ is probably not forcing although 46 DEFENDING SLAMS you may well go one off, but it is rather a partnership could decide that it was. Making the right plays against slams can make a huge difference. Knowing when to better than 2NT going two off. However, without agreement I would attack and when to lie low: should you lead pass with the East hand – if our side can an ace or not? We will not just consider make game then surely partner should slam contracts, but also other high level 2. Dealer West. Love All. have opened with a stronger bid. n contracts in competitive auctions. ♠ 9 2 ♠ 8 7 6 5 47 OVERCALLING ♥ A K 2 N ♥ J 8 7 6 5 W E Duplicate bridge is so much more ♦ K 8 7 ♦ 10 6 DUPLICATE S competitive now and it is important you ♣ A K Q 6 5 ♣ 4 2 are part of this. Knowing the reasons for BRIDGE overcalling and understanding them will allow you to compete more and at the right time. West North East South RULES 1♣ 1♠ Pass Pass 48 PRESSING THE ? SIMPLIFIED DEFENCE (otherwise known as the Yellow Book) As declarer there are ways you can make Double. Once again, your partner has life more awkward for the defenders, by David Stevenson particularly by disguising holdings in your passed, so could be very weak. With 19 hand for a little longer. I will be exploring HCP you certainly want to make a call FULLY REVISED only a number of tactics that will help you of some sort. From your point of view 95 to exploit the defenders, including the IN 2017 clubs look like the best denomination, £5 dreaded squeeze. but it is better to include your partner in Available from Mr Bridge £25 per DVD or £105 for the set of six the conversation and ask him to choose the partnership’s best fit, bearing in mind ( 01483 489961 Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 you have already shown club length. www.mrbridge.co.uk www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop You reopen with a take-out double and

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 41 Seven Days by Sally Brock

hours and £57 return seems quite SATURDAY The bidding, with neither side reasonable for a flexible ticket. It vulnerable, goes: certainly beats driving, in my view. I We are woken first thing by the get home in time for a late lunch, and enticing smell of a full English West North East South after pottering around for a while, go breakfast being cooked for our benefit. 1♥ to Gilly’s in Ealing for a dinner party. Today we are playing in the Michelle Pass 3♥ Pass 3♠ This dinner party had to be changed Brunner Memorial teams at the Pass 4♣ Pass 6♥ from Tuesday to today because it was Manchester Bridge Club. Michelle was All Pass discovered at the eleventh hour that a good friend of ours and we try to Karen was flying home on Tuesday! play in this event whenever we can. It I toy with the idea of leading the Consequently, many of the people who is a mixed pivot teams. Eight of us are ♣A, but that often makes declarer had been originally invited couldn’t assembled and sort ourselves out into suspicious and I don’t want him make it. At one time it seemed as if two teams. I play with Axel, Rodney picking up my ♥Q. It doesn’t sound numbers would be rather depleted, and Michael, while Karen and Barry as if the club is going anywhere. The but in the end other people came and play with Raymond and Eve. We don’t trouble is that I don’t have a ‘safe’ lead there were eight of us – perfect for much care about the result as long as so I opt for the unbid suit – a diamond. Gilly’s dining space (she has the most we finish above them! It is a good day This is the full deal: fabulous flat). out and we finish second – a rather poor second, nearly a match behind TUESDAY John Holland, Jackie Pye, Geoff Smith ♠ K J 6 4 and Alan Mould. We win rather a lot ♥ A 6 4 3 I have to get up reasonably early for of bottles of wine in the raffle and then ♦ 10 8 7 5 an online teaching session with Chris. go back to Rodney’s for a drink and to ♣ K The rest of the day is spent tinkering go through the cards before going out ♠ Q 7 2 ♠ 10 8 5 with emails I haven’t had time to deal to their local Indian. ♥ Q 8 5 N ♥ 10 with. This evening is the launch of W E ♦ Q 6 2 S ♦ 9 4 the British Guild of Travel Writers SUNDAY ♣ A 9 8 7 ♣ Q J 10 6 4 3 2 Yearbook. If you remember I was ♠ A 9 3 working on the production of this in Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs ♥ K J 9 7 2 the winter. They always manage to today. Then it’s off to Altrincham for ♦ A K J 3 get a fantastic venue for their launch. the Manchester One-day Swiss Teams. ♣ 5 This time it is Proud Embankment, a Barry and I are playing with Rodney restaurant/night club on the Victoria and John. We start fantastically – plus Embankment. It does old-style 100 IMPs in the first two matches. We Declarer simply draws a couple of cabaret and the posters look amazing. still do pretty well for the next two rounds of trumps and takes a spade Tonight it is just full of travel writers, matches but lose all of our last three finesse. When the suit breaks 3-3, he PR representatives and me, drinking to finish a disappointing fifth. A local has a discard for his club loser and he plenty of wine and gobbling down the team head the field, with Karen and is home. canapés they bring around. It is good her team snapping at their heels. Karen and Axel disappear to visit to catch up with old friends. This is a contender for the worst friends near Darlington while we stay opening lead ever, against the eventual in Manchester for one more night. WEDNESDAY winners. You hold: This evening Lorraine cooks and we are treated to some delicious sea bass. I potter around during the day, and at five o’clock or so make my way to ♠ Q 7 2 MONDAY TGR’s. We have a Hubert Phillips ♥ Q 8 5 match there tonight. I decide to go ♦ Q 6 2 We catch a train just after 11. The early as I have an online session at six, ♣ A 9 8 7 London to Manchester service is and it seems to make more sense to do really excellent. It takes about two it there rather than at home and then

Page 42 BRIDGE October 2018 have to rush. South wins but is endplayed. In That all passes off peacefully, as does the event he chooses to exit with a ♠ K Q J 10 9 8 7 the Hubert Phillips match – a good diamond but Phil runs that and plays ♥ Void match, with quite a lot of difficult the ♣Q to the king and ace, followed ♦ K Q 10 8 7 3 hands. by the ♦A and the ♣10. North can win ♣ Void Your right-hand opponent opens the ♣J and two hearts but that is all. ♠ A 3 ♠ 6 5 4 2 3♥ first in hand, vulnerable against Of course, the real winner would be ♥ 7 N ♥ A 3 2 W E ♦ A J 6 ♦ 9 5 4 2 not, you pass, LHO passes and partner to pass the double as normal defence S doubles. What do you bid holding: beats 3♥ two for +500, while perfect ♣ A Q J 8 6 5 4 ♣ K 10 defence (two spades and a spade ruff, ♠ Void ♦A, ♣A and another club, followed by ♥ K Q J 10 9 8 6 5 4 ♠ J 9 a third club when in with the ♥A to get ♦ Void ♥ J 9 5 3 a trump promotion) gets 800. ♣ 9 7 3 2 ♦ Q 10 9 6 3 ♣ Q 2 THURSDAY This is our bidding: I leave Barry’s early and get home Against us, East goes for the simple 4♦, in time for a new online client. She West North East South raised to 5♦ by partner. In the other prefers Funbridge to BBO and we 1♠ Pass 4♥ room, our East tries 3NT, thinking spend an hour or so not quite working 5♣ 5♦ Pass 5♥ that at least that might earn him a out how to use it. We must seek advice. Dbl All Pass game bonus. The full deal is: In the evening we have been invited by Robert Sheehan to dinner at the Voids in all four suits in the North- Portland Club. We turn up half an South hands! ♠ 8 6 5 hour or so before dinner and have Luckily, West misdefends at the end ♥ K Q 10 7 6 4 2 some champagne and a couple of and I manage to make a club to go ♦ 8 Chicagos of bridge. with my eight heart tricks but that is ♣ J 6 The dinner is excellent, and still a 300 penalty. ♠ A Q 7 ♠ J 9 afterwards we adjourn for more ♥ A N ♥ J 9 5 3 bridge. W E FRIDAY ♦ A 7 4 2 S ♦ Q 10 9 6 3 This does not go well for me and I lose ♣ A 10 9 7 4 ♣ Q 2 two large Chicagos – my total losses I have a dental appointment at ten ♠ K 10 4 3 2 are about £450 (at £10 a hundred). o’clock. I need to have implants but ♥ 8 Luckily Barry wins nearly as much until recently my diabetes has not ♦ K J 5 as I lose so there’s no real harm done. been sufficiently under control for ♣ K 8 5 3 At the Portland they play a form of them to be prepared to do it. goulash. At the Portland, this means However, it has improved a lot that if a one-level contract is passed and now it is full steam ahead. I am Stuck in dummy after the singleton out, it is awarded without declarer booked in for the procedure (maybe heart lead, the declarer in 5♦ decides having to play it and for the next deal just the upper jaw, but if it goes well to start with ace and another diamond, the cards are not shuffled. Dealing an on the day it could be the whole lot). I and after that there is no hope. In three unshuffled pack three or five cards at a am not too worried (though the list of no-trumps, South starts with a heart time leads to lots of freaks. what could go wrong that I have to sign and Phil (West) plays a low diamond This is perhaps the most dramatic that I am aware of is a bit scary) but from the dummy, sticking in the nine. deal I have ever seen: the thought of no solid food for eight weeks afterwards is a bit miserable. I’ll probably lose a lot of weight (not a bad thing!). While I am at the dentist, Briony £99 (who is going off on a road trip around including PLUS 12 p&p Scandinavia today) manages first to Q get a parking ticket outside my flat and then, while driving off in a hurry, clips Really user-friendly bridge-playing software. the kerb and has a tyre blow out. She and Barry sort this out, then she and I go to Tesco shopping for what I need TRADE IN – Send in ANY bridge software, for a dinner party I am holding on together with a cheque for £50 and receive QPlus 12. Saturday. Then, after lunch, she leaves … for a month. u

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 43 Continued from page 43 Fingers crossed it all goes well for her. In the evening we play in the Mr Bridge Holidays IMP game at the Young Chelsea – something we usually do if there is Croatia 2019 nothing else on. Today everything goes well from the outset and we win at Hotel Eden, Rovinj with a comfortable margin. This is my favourite deal: 4-18 May 2019 from £1499 per person sharing Dealer West. Game All. ♠ A 3 2 or one week from £1139 per person sharing ♥ K J 9 5 4-11 May or 11-18 May ♦ 8 7 2 ♣ K J 4 Hosted by Will & Sylvia Parsons ♠ 9 8 7 5 ♠ 10 N ♥ Q 10 3 ♥ A 8 7 6 4 2 Rovinj is situated on the western coast of Istria in Croatia, boasting a ♦ K 10 5 W E ♦ A Q J 9 6 4 S rich natural and cultural heritage with beautiful landmarks such as the ♣ 9 7 3 ♣ Void old town and the Golden Cape Park Forest. Rovinj has many loyal visitors ♠ K Q J 6 4 and has developed into a popular tourist destination. The climate is ♥ Void ♦ 3 warm and semi-dry. With 134 sunny days in a year, Rovinj is the third ♣ A Q 10 8 6 5 2 sunniest spot in the Adriatic. Hotel Eden is wedged right between a peninsula covered by a one hun- dred year old park forest and a quiet cove. The old city centre is just a As you can imagine, there are lots of 20 minute walk away. different final contracts on this board. Our bidding is:

West North East South Pass 1NT 2NT Dbl 3♦ Pass 4♥ 6♣ All Pass

East’s 2NT is alerted as showing the minors, so I can’t bid clubs naturally on the first round as partner will Bridge: surely think I am showing the other Land based holidays allow time for plenty of bridge, but there two suits in some form or other. is also time to both visit the local area and just sit back and relax. On the next round, I bid what I think Over the fortnight the bridge programme includes four seminar and I might be able to make – and duly do set hands sessions, which gives you the opportunity to enhance make an overtrick on a heart lead. This your bridge skills, as well as duplicate bridge every evening. You is worth only a small, 1.5 IMP, swing, can play as much or as little as you wish and the excursions* are as some people are doubled and make fitted around the bridge programme to maximise your enjoyment. an overtrick – though others go down ♠ Singles: There is a sole occupancy supplement of £12 per room per in 6 after a Lightner double and a night. If you are a single bridge player please do not worry about being club lead, and one East-West finds the ♦ on your own. We will be able to find you a partner so you can always good sacrifice in 6 . have a game. We stay for a drink and as we wander home we bump into Mike and For an information pack and booking form Sarah Bell who had gone for a quick ( on 01483 489961 curry. The night is still young so we Mr Bridge invite them back to Barry’s flat for a or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk nightcap. A good evening. ■ Half board only, including flights from Gatwick. Selected regional flights may be available at a supplement. Terms and conditions apply. These holidays have been organised for Mr Bridge by Books on bridge. Great Little Escapes LLP, ATOL 5933. Gordon Bickley ( 07530553594 *Excursions are not included in the price of the holiday. or email [email protected]

Page 44 BRIDGE October 2018 luxury Answers to Bernard Magee’s bridge mat Just £24.99 plus £4.99 p & p Bidding Quizzes 4-6 on the Cover and page 7 luxury

bridge mat West North East South your hand you predict that it Just £24.99 4. Dealer West. Love All. 1♣ 3♠ Pass Pass is weak. plus £4.99 p & p ♠ A K Q 7 6 5 ♠ 4 ? You are likely to take 4♠ off, ♥ A K Q ♥ J 10 8 7 3 2 but at the prevailing vulnera- N ♦ A 3 2 W E ♦ 5 4 Double. You open at the bility, you would need to take S ♣ 2 ♣ 9 8 7 6 one-level with a strong hand it four off to beat the score for and annoyingly North makes your game. a pre-emptive overcall of 3♠: Doubling a game-level bid West North East South he is showing long spades is generally regarded as a 2♣ 2♦ Pass Pass and not a particularly strong penalty type of double, so if ? hand. Your partner passes as you want partner to bid you does South and it is your turn will need to try something 2♠. You opened with 2♣, to call again. else. Thick woven surface makes the strongest bid possible, There is little choice with With three spades in your an idealThick playing woven surface and because you were confident this hand – you must double – hand, it is not unreasonable protectssurface your makes table. of game irrespective of this is not for penalties, but for to expect that your partner Very popular with Bridge your partner’s hand. North take-out. It asks your partner has shortage (the opponents Clubs.an 78cmsideal wideplaying so it fits a standardsurface 80cms and card table overcalled, so your partner to choose his best suit, whilst are likely to have at least nine protects your table. passed to suggest weakness taking in to account that your spades if not ten). – he would have bid a 2♦ best suit is clubs. How can you get your part- PaddedThickVery woven popular table surface with makesbag. ♥ an ideal£39.00Bridge playing +Clubs. £4.99 surface p&p and negative bid had North Here he would bid 4 and ner to bid? 78cmprotects wide your table.so it passed. the best contract is reached. You use a bid of 4NT. Surely Very popular with Bridge fits a standard You should bid on as It is best to play doubles on this is Blackwood you might Clubs. 78cms wide so it fits normal – there is no need the early rounds when only suggest? However, when you a standard80cm card80cms table.card table to jump because your 2♣ suits are bid as take-out – opened at the 1-level and Padded table bag. opening already told your asking partner to reply with your partner has shown no partner that he has to bid on his best suit. (The exception strength, you can never have £39.00 + £4.99 p&p towards game. By bidding being when your own side has a hand that would want to 2♠ you leave room for your made a pre-emptive bid). ask for aces. Instead the 4NT Large enough to take a standard partner to bid a suit and here bid is used as a take-out bid 80cms bridge table. Made from tough nylon with carrying straps he would show his hearts and showing two places to play and Velcro fixing. Ideal for allow you to find the best 6. Dealer West. E/W Game. (clubs and diamonds on this storing or carrying your table. denomination: hearts – you ♠ 4 3 2 ♠ 7 occasion). Here your partner N might even stretch to a slam. ♥ A W E ♥ J 9 5 4 2 will respond 5♦ and you pass. Order online or by phone S www.designsforbridge.co.uk Had you jumped to 3♠ or ♦ A K 9 8 ♦ 7 6 5 3 2 600 from 5♦ is worth more Large enough to take a standard bid 4♠, then your partner ♣ A K Q 6 5 ♣ 4 2 than getting 4♠ doubled 0148380cms bridge table.270 Made 100 from would have settled for spades down two or three. n toughLarge nylon enough with carrying to take straps a as trumps, since your jump standardandSR VelcroDesigns 80cmsfixing. for Bridge Idealbridge for Unitstoringtable. A1, or MadeSend carrying Business from your tough table. Park, would basically set spades as West North East South CLUB INSURANCE Send,nylon Woking, with carrying Surrey GU23 straps 7EF trumps. 4♠ might go down, 1♣ 2♠* Pass 4♠ Every club should Orderand Velcro online fixing. or by phoneIdeal with no entry to the East hand, ? be covered and my www.designsforbridge.co.uk for storing or carrying whilst 6♥ is a pretty good *weak jump overcall inclusive package, to your table. suit clubs of up to 300 01483 270 100 contract. members for less than 4NT. On the previous hand £75 per year, is the OrderSR Designs online orfor by Bridge phone www.designsforbridge.co.uk your opponents pre-empted right package at the Unit A1, Send Business Park, right price. Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF 5. Dealer West. Love All. up to 3♠, well here they have 01483 270 100 ♠ 4 2 ♠ 6 5 gone another level higher. Contact FIDENTIA for ♥ A 7 6 N ♥ K 9 8 3 2 North’s 2♠ bid was weak: a quote: SR Designs for Bridge W E ♦ A K 2 S ♦ 7 6 4 3 6-10 and a six-card suit. ( Unit A1, Send Business Park, 020 31500080 Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF ♣ A K J 4 3 ♣ 9 8 South’s raise might be weak [email protected] or strong, although looking at

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 45

Mr Bridge Answers to Bernard Magee’s Hotel Royal Kenz Bidding Quizzes 7-9 Tunisia 2018-19 on the Cover and page 7

Seven Day All-inclusive double. Knowing that your Duplicate Bridge Holidays 7. Dealer West. Love All. opponents are likely to have a ♠ 7 6 ♠ 10 4 3 2 major suit fit, you do best to ♥ A J 4 N ♥ 9 8 7 get your second suit into the W E ♦ A K 8 7 6 S ♦ 5 auction early, before they bid ♣ A K 3 ♣ Q J 7 6 5 higher. This will allow your partner to choose your side’s best fit and hopefully compete West North East South to the right level. 1♦ Pass Pass Dbl You rebid 2♣, showing at ? least five-four in the minors. Your partner is then able to Redouble. Your partner has compete to 3♦ over 2♥, which passed and thereby shown is crucial. 3♦ might well go fewer than six points. This down, but 2♥ is likely to make 6-13 November 2018 from £699 time it is your turn to bid so it will be a good score. 13-20 November 2018 from £699 over South’s take-out double. Both of the above weeks from £999 Rather than bid no-trumps with Gwen Beattie with a suit unstopped, you 9. Dealer West. Love All. Golf is available - green fees charged extra have a better call to show ♠ 7 6 ♠ Q 9 8 5 5-12 Mar 2019 with Bernard Magee from £699 your strength: redouble – this ♥ A 6 5 N ♥ K 3 2 ♦ W E ♦ would suggest 18+ points and A K 2 S 6 4 3 make your partner reappraise ♣ A Q J 9 7 ♣ 10 6 5 his hand. If you were to rebid in no- trumps, you should call 1NT West North East South only since your partner has 1♣ 1NT Pass Pass passed, otherwise you might ? get too high. Double. With a very strong hand you should suggest to 8. Dealer West. Love All. your partner that you might ♠ 7 6 ♠ J 8 5 4 2 be able to take 1NT down. N *Prices shown are per person on an all-inclusive basis sharing ♥ A 4 W E ♥ 9 6 Doubles of no-trump bids are S a twin or double-bedded room and are inclusive of bridge fees. ♦ A K 8 7 6 ♦ 10 4 3 almost all for penalties. Standard rooms all come with a private bath, toilet, balcony and ♣ A K 3 2 ♣ 7 6 5 If your partner is very weak tea and coffee making facilities. Sole occupancy supplement is £5 per night. The supplement for a pool view room is £3 per person, (0-1 points) he might take per night. To upgrade to a superior room with bath robe, bottle of you out, but in this kind of wine and bowl of fruit on arrival is £3 per person per night. West North East South auction he will expect you to For details of what is included in the all-inclusive package, please 1♦ Pass Pass Dbl hold about 18-19 points, so call for an information pack and booking form. ? as long as he has a useful These prices are based on scheduled flights from Heathrow to card or two he will leave the Tunis. Flights from Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow can be 2♣. Once again you have double in. arranged at a supplement. 18 high card points and the 1NT is likely to go a couple *All prices are firm until 30th September 2018. chance to bid over South’s off. n Terms and conditions apply. Packaged with and bookings by Tunisia First ATOL 5933. Mobility Scooter Insurance For details or an information pack call ( 0333 003 3186 www.genesischoice.co.uk Mr Bridge Holidays  01483 489961

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 47 Julian Pottage Answers Your Frequently Asked Questions What is Checkback and how do you use it?

heckback is a convention initi- at the level of 2NT or higher with a 2NT or 3NT depending upon your ated by responder after opener maximum. The exact length shown point count. The ♣2 enquiry discloses rebids 1NT. The bid initiating by the rebid will depend upon the information about the 1NT bidder’s CCheckback is 2♣ and asks opener for suits already shown. A bid in a new hand, so you only ask if knowledge of further information about strength suit will show four cards in it. A bid opener’s shape will help you find the and shape. in responder’s suit shows three-card right contract. The idea of using a responder’s support (opener would have raised Playing a 12-14 1NT opening and rebid of 2♣ over 1NT as an enquiry already with four-card support). A bid hence a 15-17 1NT rebid, here is a became popular in the late 1970s and in opener’s suit normally shows a fifth possible responding hand for the early 1980s when Eric Crowhurst card in it. above sequence. popularised a precursor to the convention. The aim then was to allow Opener Responder opener to rebid 1NT not just on hands 1♦ 1♠ Hand 1 with 15-16 points (the traditional Acol 1NT 2♣ ♠ A 10 8 7 2 range for a 1NT rebid back then) but ? ♥ 8 6 also on ‘off-shape’ hands in the 12-14 ♦ J 8 5 range. For example hands in the 12- 2♦ = Minimum without three spades ♣ K 9 2 14 range with a singleton spade would or four hearts be unsuitable for a 1NT opening 2♥ = Minimum with four hearts but could then rebid 1NT if partner 2♠ = Minimum with three spades and Here are some possible opening hands responded 1♠. This saved opener from without four hearts you might hold to accompany it: having to rebid a weak five-card suit 2NT = Maximum without three hearts, on hands where the side four-card suit four spades, five good diamonds or was in a higher-ranking suit. With four good clubs Hand 2 Hand 3 a 12-16 range for a 1NT rebid, it was 3♣ = Maximum with four good clubs ♠ K 4 ♠ K 6 3 essential that responder had some way and no major ♥ A Q 3 2 ♥ Q 9 4 of finding out. 3♦ = Maximum with five good ♦ Q 9 6 4 2 ♦ A Q 6 2 Today hardly anyone still plays a diamonds and no major ♣ A 3 ♣ A 8 4 12-16 range for a 1NT rebid, although 3♥ = Maximum with four hearts some people do play 13-16 or 13-17 in 3♠ = Maximum with three spades and conjunction with a mini (10-12) 1NT without four hearts opening. Nowadays most people using Some people treat hands with three- Hand 4 Hand 5 Checkback do so simply for higher card support for responder’s major ♠ K 3 ♠ K J 3 accuracy facing a 15-17 or 12-14 1NT differently, giving that priority over ♥ K 10 5 ♥ A 3 rebid. The 15-17 1NT rebid range showing length in the other major. ♦ A Q 10 9 3 ♦ K Q 4 3 2 applies for those using a 12-14 1NT For simplicity I have taken the same ♣ A 8 5 ♣ A 5 3 opening and vice versa. To use the 2♣ approach as with Stayman ie a heart enquiry responder needs to have at bid does not deny spades but a spade least sufficient values to invite game, bid denies hearts. With Hand 2, you bid 2♥. You are at least 8 or 11 points respectively. As with Stayman, responder does minimum with four hearts. The general principle is that opener not have to use the enquiry. On a tries to rebid naturally over 2♣, at the hand without interest in the majors With Hand 3, you bid 2♠. You are level of 2♠ or lower with a minimum, (or a slam), you just raise 1NT to minimum with three spades.

Page 48 BRIDGE October 2018 With Hand 4, the good intermediates and five-card suit mean the hand is Answers to Bernard Magee’s definitely maximum, so you bid ♦3 to show the good diamonds and lack of Bidding Quizzes 10-12 a major. on the Cover and page 7 With Hand 5, you bid 3♠. You are maximum with three spades and without four hearts. does not have to bid. This means you can 10. Dealer West. Love All. rely on your partner for something: in If you play a strong no-trump opening ♠ A J 3 ♠ 7 6 2 particular he is likely to have five or more and hence a weak no-trump rebid, ♥ A K 3 N ♥ 9 8 6 2 hearts. He will not have much strength, ♦ J 8 3 W E ♦ 7 6 but with your powerful hand, full of high swap the king of spades to responder S and the two of spades to opener on the ♣ A Q 8 7 ♣ J 10 4 2 cards and shortage in the opponents’ above example hands. first suit, it is worth a shot at game. Bid 4♥ yourself because if you invite your How does the auction continue? West North East South partner he is likely to pass 3♥. Often responder is able to place the 1♣ 1♠ Pass Pass final contract. If opener has shown 1NT Pass 2♣ Pass a maximum, any bid below game is ? 12. Dealer West. Love All. forcing – remember, responder has ♠ A J 2 ♠ 7 6 3 promised at least game invitational Pass. You opened 1♣ and rebid 1NT ♥ A 3 N ♥ K 9 7 6 W E after your partner has passed – this ♦ 5 4 ♦ J 10 3 2 values. If opener has shown a S minimum, any rebid at the two level action shows about 17-19 points – the ♣ A K Q J 5 4 ♣ 6 2 is non-forcing and any bid at the reason for this is that your partner might three level is forcing. If opener has have zero points, so your rebid should be denied three-card support, a repeat of stronger than the usual 15-17 HCP for a West North East South responder’s suit shows six. 1NT rebid. 1♣ 1♦ Pass Pass Your partner’s 2♣ is natural – it is not a Dbl Pass 1♥ Pass Facing Hand 2, responder rebids 2♠. convention – he is simply taking you out ? Opener, with tolerance for spades, will to a safer contract. Furthermore if he has then pass. club support then he will be very weak, 2♦. You opened 1♣ and then chose otherwise he might have scraped up a to make a reopening double to start Facing Hand 3, responder passes 2♠. support bid on the first round. showing your strength. Unsurprisingly Pass 2♣ and be glad to be in the best your partner has replied in hearts. With Facing Hand 4, responder converts 3♦ contract. eight likely tricks in your own hand, if your to 3NT. partner can supply a diamond stopper you might make 3NT. To ask him that, Facing Hand 5, responder raises 3♠ to 11. Dealer West. Love All. you should bid the opponents’ suit: 2♦. 4♠ to play in game in the known 5-3 ♠ 7 ♠ 9 6 5 2 Your bidding is showing great strength fit. ♥ A 10 4 2 N ♥ K 9 8 7 6 and your partner should trust you for it: ♦ A K 4 W E ♦ 8 5 here, he responds 2NT and you can raise S Just as you do not use Stayman on ♣ A K J 10 5 ♣ 3 2 to 3NT. all hands looking for a fit, responder There are nine top tricks with your can explore the best contract with a partner’s ♥K added in and his four natural bid. West North East South diamonds will be enough to stop the run Over 1NT, a reverse or a jump is 1♣ 1♠ Pass Pass of the suit. natural and forcing. Hands that do not Dbl 2♦ 2♥ Pass Might West have bid 2♦ on the previous wish to look for game can pass 1NT or ? round? bid two of a lower ranking suit or two He was not sure of its meaning – he of opener’s suit or two of responder’s 4♥. You open the bidding and then make thought it might be a take-out style suit. a reopening double to ask your partner bid, therefore decided to double first. The only option given up when to show his best suit. Had North passed, Many of these auctions depend on the playing Checkback is the option to your partner would have been forced to partnership’s agreements and very few make a natural non-forcing bid in respond, but when North rebids 2♦, East of us will have discussed this issue. n clubs. Most people think that this is a reasonable price to pay for the Mr Bridge 2019 diaries added help in identifying the best Only £14.95. Navy blue or Ruby red. ( 01483 489961 denomination and level. n

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 49 Warning: Nothing To Do With Bridge The Hidden Life of Trees What They Feel, How They Communicate. Discoveries from a Secret World. by Peter Wohlleben

ISBN: 9978-0008218430. Published 2017 William Collins. £9.99. A review by Janet Ward

y copy of this book is boldly challenges our assumptions about the and the threatened horse chestnut. emblazoned international life of trees. My mind’s eye has been formed both best seller. Not having heard by the landscape of Britain, and the Mof it beforehand I was intrigued. What Evolutionary Factors influence Capability Brown had on it. was it about a book about trees that Here The Hidden Life of Trees is less makes it so popular? The clue lies He gives a graphic account of the about individual deciduous trees and in the sub-title. We do not usually evolution of various trees in a forest, the more about forests, especially ancient think of trees other than as very large interplay with soil, light, temperature forests, deciduous and coniferous, insentient plants, so the idea of trees and water, and the impact of various operating as an organic whole. Where having feelings and communicating is predators and disease on the growing Britain was once extensively forested innovative. tree. In the natural environment, in only remnants of these remain: The Peter Wohlleben is not a rustic the end, it is the survival of the fittest, Forest of Arden, The Forest of Dean, forester in the Grimm fairytale until that tree too succumbs to be the New Forest, Sherwood and Epping. tradition. Rather he is a scholar, a replaced by one of its ‘offspring’. But The very same processes are happening scientist, whose intimate knowledge the time scale is very different from throughout the world. of his forest, together with recent our human span. In this environment His is a realistic approach to valuing research, is drawn upon to find new a mature beech tree will be more than and conserving the delicate ecosystem meanings in what he sees. He is at the 200 years old. of the ancient forests. But he warns of forefront of tree knowledge, loves his the long-term dangers of exploitation, forests, and wants us to share in the Only Remnants Remain the loss of the considerable environ- delight and wonder of his discoveries. mental benefits the forest brings, and A book on trees might be expected to the need to preserve some of the un- Communications focus on their magnificence; the great contaminated natural forests. oak, the ancient yew, the lamented elm Occasionally I found the writing He challenges accepted beliefs about style excessively anthropomorphic, the nature of trees. Thus trees do move, describing trees in human terms as albeit not in the dramatic manner social beings: clearly he wants us to of the Ents in the Lord of the Rings. love them as much as he does. There They appear to communicate with were so many new ideas, challenging one another, sending ‘warnings’ of as they often were, that the book was predators. They support one another good to dip into rather than read in through their intermingled root one stretch. systems, and through mycelium, fungi The lack of an index made it difficult that send threads throughout the to keep track of all Peter Wohlleben’s forest soil, providing water, nitrogen interconnected ideas, ideas that are and phosphorus in exchange for sugar as interconnected as the trees of his and other carbohydrates. We discover forests. Nonetheless, the popularity of that the oldest tree, 9,500 years old, Peter Wohlleben (b.1964) is this book is clearly warranted: no one is not some enormous redwood a German forester who has who reads this book will ever look at or other majestic specimen, but a tended the forest in the Eiffel trees, or think about forests and the stunted spruce from Sweden, its root mountains for many years. natural environment, in quite the system telling its story. Each chapter same way again. n

Page 50 BRIDGE October 2018 More Tips from Bernard Magee CHARITY EVENTS OCTOBER 2018 Pause over the trick with the 5 ST NEOTS MUSEUM St Neots Outdoor Bowling Club, PE19 1AP. £15. first discards – remembering Jean Searle ( 01480 212298 this trick could be important NOVEMBER 2018 6, 7, 8 BIRKHOLM MANOR Corby Glen, Grantham, emembering the last You duck the lead and clubs would be useful, but Lincs NG33 4LF. £18.50. few cards of a hand win the next high club with now your ♣4 is the only club In aid of The Red Cross. Rcan be tremendously the ♣A. At this point, you remaining. You cash the ♣4 Penny Hedley Lewis difficult, but there are a few take four diamond tricks, and lead a heart. All West ( 01476 550255 little tactics that can help. throwing a heart from can do is win his ♥A and pennyhedleylewis@ One of these is to pause dummy: West throws ♠4 play another one back. farmline.com when the first discards are and East throws ♣7. made in a hand and try Now this is the point to To advertise your charity events, please email to make a record of the pause and make an effort ♠ 9 8 5 3 [email protected] trick. Generally, players to record those cards – they ♥ K Q 4 2 can recall the play of the tend to be hard to remember ♦ 10 9 5 suits when players follow when the crucial part of the ♣ J 9 (counting up to thirteen), endgame is taking place. Say ♠ Q 7 4 ♠ K J 10

but very often the discards them in your mind, take a ♥ A 10 5 3 N ♥ J 9 6 ♦ W E ♦ go missing from their mind. mental picture of them – do 8 4 2 S 7 6 3 How best to take in the first whatever works for you. ♣ K Q 10 ♣ 8 7 6 5 discards depends on your Now you play a heart to ♠ A 6 2 memory – you can stare at the queen, which wins the ♥ 8 7 For those with Pre-existing health conditions the cards, say them in your trick and next you duck a ♦ A K Q J (No Age Limit) mind, take some action. spade. East wins the ♠10 ♣ A 4 3 2 l One of my common tactics and plays a club to his Travel Insurance is to leave my card face up, partner’s ♣10. West then with online Medical and when the opponents exits with the ♠Q which West chose not to start with Screening l Cover for medical all turn their cards over you win leaving this: dummy’s bid suit, so led conditions, up to a quickly, I ask to see them the ♣K – a good choice. high level of severity, again, as is my right. They However, when declarer even a terminal are then required to turn ♠ 9 played out his diamonds, prognosis their cards back up. This ♥ K 4 East was not sure what to l interaction generally allows ♦ — throw – his clubs did not look No age limits l Instant online cover me to recall the cards better. ♣ — as valuable as his hearts or spades, so he let the ♣7 go. We fully understand that N W E This was a costly mistake, you may wish to speak to S us direct about cover and ♠ 9 8 5 3 but only if the declarer takes your medical conditions ♥ K Q 4 2 ♠ 6 advantage and remembers and assure you of the ♦ 10 9 5 ♥ 8 the first discards. best attention by senior ♣ J 9 ♦ — As always it is not easy to staff on a direct phone line that does not require ♣ 4 show memory retention, but N you to hold or press W E little tactics like this will help buttons for departments. S you in the long run. There is ♠ A 6 2 South is on lead, what do nothing worse in bridge than ( 0344 249 1701 ♥ 8 7 you do? getting to the endgame and [email protected] ♦ A K Q J Remember that first trick then forgetting which cards www.genesischoice.co.uk ♣ A 4 3 2 on which there were discards: are winners. n ♠4, (♥2 from dummy), ♣7. Genesis Choice Ltd are an Sagic Home & It is the club discard that appointed representative of NDI Contents Insurance Insurance and Reinsurance After the dubious auction was crucial – East placed his ( 0333 003 3196 Brokers Ltd who are authorised of 1♦-1♥-2NT-3NT, you partner with longer clubs and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No.446914 get the ♣K lead. and did not think his tiny

BRIDGE October 2018 Page 51