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STATIONERS DIVlSION THOMAS DE LA FlUE & CO. LTD .. 92 MIDDLESEX STREET, LONDON, E. I • • • • EVERY SATURDAY IN • THE • • • • • • • • • Baily tltltgraph JPotterton briclge problem No.2
H IS IS ONE o f a series o f concentra tion to their game un T Potterton problems in play, distractcd by chills a nd d rau):thts and set by Terence Reese, which will undbturbrd by trips for fuel ? appear each month. T he answer ANS WER. Pick a Po ttcrton boil er for will be given next month. central lw:uing. And enj oy every hand in blissfu l warmth a nd com WES'l" E:AST fort. A Po w.:rton is cfl'ortlessly auto + KQ S G3 + A 104 matic. For informati on write to Miss • G4 • A J 5 M. Mc.:r('d ith a t 20-30 Buckh old + K J 84 + A Q R oad, London S.W.t8. O r phone + A5 + K9 6 32 her at VA dyke 7202. In a pairs event West plays in Six Spades, with no opposation bidding. ANSWER TO P ROBLEM NO. 1 orth leads • 10 . Dummy plays \\'<'St should O\'ertakc th<' spade the Ace a nd South the 7· Decla rer and kad + 7· If :'l:onh plays low plays Ace of Spades, to which a ll \\'t-st ~m"' up with the King and follow, a nd King of Spades, on plays on diamonds. If !\:orth plays which South plays t!he .Jack and + t\ and clears the spacks. \Vest North follows. H ow should West li ne<>st·s the club, <'xpcrting 10 continue? makt· four clubs, two spadN, two FURTHER PROBLEM. H•OW can keen ht'arls, and a diamond. bridge players devote all their Po;tterton Boilers at t he heart of effic ient central heating-oil or gas
A l ll•:lmEll OF T ilE @ DE LA RUl:! GROUP
uPotlcrlon" is a ngistatd lradt mark
2 The British Bridge World
SUCCESSOR TO THE CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL: MEDIUM FOR ENGLISH BRIDGE UNlON NEWS
Edited by ALBERT DORMER
VOLUME 13 May 1962 NUMBER 5
Editorial Board
BERNARD WESTALL (CHAIRMAN)
GEOFFREY L . BUTLER KENNETH KONSTAM
TERENCE R EESE ALBERT DORMER
ADVERTISING All enquiries should be addressed to the ADVERTISING MANAGER, THOMAS DE LA RUE & CO. LTD., 92 Middlesex Street, E.l
All other correspondence, including Subscriptions, to the Publishers: Moore Batley Ltd., 35 Dover Street, London, W.l Hyde Park 3601-2
Annual Subscription 35/-
The British Bridge World is published on the 15th of each month
Publi. 3 May, 1962 Contents Page Editorial 5-6 Justice, by A. Hutchinson 7- 9 What's Cooking, by Gordon H. Hammond 9-12 London and the South, by Alan Hiron 15-21 Repeat of April problems .. 22 Elizabeth Pulls a Fast One, by Frederic Lewis 23-24 Systemic Defence (2), by Claude Rodrigue 24-26 Day by Day at CanneH, by Terence Reese 27-30 Variations on a Theme by Easley, by Michael Allen 31 - 32 A Crockford 's Criss-Cross, by B. Goldenfield 33-34 Result of April Competition 34 E.B.U. Results 35 One Hundred Up: Ma.y problems .. 35-36 One Hundred Up: Answers to April Competition .. 37-45 Directory of E.B.U. Clubs .. 46 Master Points Register 47 Diary of Events 48 4 Signing Off by TERENCE REESE NEW DEAL ment that may have passed to Observant readers who several and fro, it has been a happy team months ago noted that Albert working without any friction. Dormer had joined the editorial board may have wondered PARTNERSHIP whether any change was impend Progress in circulation has been ing. Now it has happened. From steady, yet this has its frustrating this month on I yield up my aspects. Before the war, member benevolent administration and the ship of the national body and new editor takes over. Good receipt of the magazine were . luck to him! covered by a single subscription. I have been at the job for six That has always seemed to me and a half years, which is long the right principle. The present enough. Editors, like headmasters annual subscription to the E.B.U. and chief constables, are a breed - 5/-, of which half goes to the who should move on from time county association- is ridicu to time. Otherwise one falls too lously low. The tournament much into a routine, there is a world would soon feel the draught lack of freshness, and occasional if there were no publication to faults become standard fa ults. record their activities, and a closer tie-up would benefit both TEAMWORK sides. Editors can achieve little by themselves, and for their co-opera PEAK PERFORMANCE tion in various ways I warmly That in any event the B.B.W. thank the editorial board, the will prosper under the new man proprietors, pubUshers, printers, agement is certain. The bulletins contributors, agents, subscribers, at Stockholm and Torquay were and even the reader from Hong proof of Dormer's technical and Kong who sent an air letter to editorial competence. What is point out that four months ago more, he is running into form. South played the Queen of dia "I did the first nine holes at monds twice. Notwithstanding Richmond in two over fives," he the occasional acrimoniotiS com- told me recently. 5 Signing On by ALBERT DORMER TOP OF THE D>ILL Now he fee ls he has eamed a Sidling shyly into the spotlight respite from the editorial routine. 1 realise why in show business they arc not keen to be billed O N WITH THE MOTLEY next to stars like Danny Kaye T he regular features of the and M arlene Dietrich. magazine will continue and there No one else in the world has may be one or two new ones Reese's prestige as a player, writer soon: One happy result of the and broadcaster, and he was the change is that we can expect more right man to guide: the new frequent contri butions from the magazine to a place in the sun. kindly pen of the former editor. C:ANNES RESULTS World Pairs Champiotnship: 1st Jais and Trezel (France). 2nd Reese and Schapiro (Britain). 3rd Bacherich amd Ghestem (France). 4th Goldstein and J. Tarlo (Britain). Ladies Pairs Championship: 1st M rs. Gordon and Mrs. Markus (Britain). 2nd Mme. Pariente and M me. Serf (France). Mixed Team Championship: 1st Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Markus, Gardener and Schapiro (Britain). CHARITY CHALLENGE CUP Masrer Club Poinrs J. 73.55 % J. L. Spielman and A. T. M. Jones Bristol 400 2. 73.08 % G. G. Endicott and P. E. Morley Liverpool 300 3. 72.69% Miss N. Jaclk and A. Jeffrey I.C.l. 200 4. 72.16% Mr. and Mr:s. H. G. Nicholson Wear:sidc, Sunderland JOO 6 Justice by A. HUTCHINSON "There's no justice in this NORTH world," said my wife, gloomily. • 8 6 53 "What do you think? I handed in <:7 10 2 a ten shilling note at the grocer's 0 A 4 this morning and was given + K Q 975 change for a pound." WEST EAST "I see no injustice in that," I + K Q J 7 2 · + A94 replied, "hand over five bob!" \7 9 8 5 4 NORTH NORTH + 8 + 8 Published by JFaber & Faber, 24 Russell Square, W.C.l. NORTH Some people get all the cards! + Ax Finally, here arc two useful \? Q X X tips. When in doubt, bring in a 0 AQx slice of bridge jargon or some • A Q 10 9 x subtle innuendo. I remember WEST EAST reading two accounts of declarer's • J 10 9 X X X • )(X play of the same hand. One \? Jxxx \? > SIEE YOUR TRAVEL AGENT or P & o - ORTENT LINES 26 Cock6pur St., SW I · 130 Leadenhall St., EC3 .P&O·ORIENT LINES -····---·_.,..-- 13 ~ 1 Switch otuf 0 (j) - stuffy aiir and unpleas,Int smells with th·e, elegant new WCBO!ll?QdJMOc!l ~~ttj FOR BETTER AIR CONDITIONS VENT-AXIA LIMITED · 60 ROCHESTER ROW · LONDON • S.W.1. TELEPHONE: VICtoria 2244 Branches ~I Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcasl/e-upon-Tync, Bristol 14 London and the South by ALAN HlRON Crockfords Cup Final East dealer Game all The eight team Crockfords NORTH Cup Final is always a good event + 8 from the kibitzers' standpoint and With four boards only left to The auction was short and play, both Lee and Harrison identical in both rooms-East Gray had 10 V.P. in the bag and opened One Heart, South came in a deficit in their last match. Lee with One Spade and West made achieved a draw but Harrison a dubious double. In both rooms Gray's team could make no the 7 of hearts was led and East inroads on their opponents' mar took the trick with his 10 and gin and so slipped back into switched to the Queen of clubs second place. which was won by South's Ace. Now both declarers tried a small There were several hands which spade from hand towards dum were instructive from the de my's 8 and the two defences fenders' point ·of view. The diverged. Rimington, in the West following deal was one of the seat, calculated that he could winners' few disasters:- spare +10, as by playing a forcing 15 game his 3 of spades would soon At the tables where West assume trick-taking status any opened Four Hearts there was a how and his side was bound to fascinating divergence of opinion come to a 500 penalty (in fact it as to whether North, South or blossome\1 into 800 after a mis neither should join in the auction. judgment on declarer's part). His After two passes one player bid counterpart, however, decided Five Diamonds with the South that + 10 was too good a card to hand, and after a rather conserva release and this decision was doubly tive pass by North the opposing disastrous. Not only were the East player made a brave bid of defenders held to three trump Five Hearts. Now North came tricks, but they lost a tempo in to life and found a belated raise the forci11g game: dedarer came to Six D iamonds. West in turn to hand with a club, and if East contested with Six Hearts and trumped then he was only ruffing this cost 500. a loser. South was home and dry When their corresponding pairs for seven tricks. were opposed, North came in The next problem was really with 4NT over the opening Four only a choice of opening lead, but Hearts and subsequently had diffi 1 give the whole hand as the culty in curbing his partner's bidding was not without interest. enthusiasm. However they came West dealer to rest in a contract of Six Dia East-West vu lnerable monds played by South and NORTH West made the unimaginative + A 76 lead of the Ace of hearts. 1 think CV3 that there was a good case for 0 K 10 7 6 5 the spectacular underlead of the • KQ8 3 heart honours, namely the 2 of W EST E AST hearts, requesting a club return, + Q9842 + J 3 for the confidence of the North CV A K 10 9 6 5 2 CV Q 8 4 South bidding rendered two quick 0 3 0 84 defensive tricks unlikely- in other words the lead might cost one · - . 1097642 l.M.P. but was unlikely to cost SOUTH more, whereas it might gain K 105 + 7I.M.P. W EST EAST T here were some interesting • Q J 6 ·- possibilities on this simple looking <:?- <:? - deal: OJ West dealer 0- · North-South vulnerable • K 10 . Q974 NORTH SOUTH • 7 6 3 + 42 <:? QJ2 \?K 108 01084 0- • A K 10 5 W EST EAST Swimer could afford to lose one + 4 + QI09852 more trick.·- He led dummy's \? 1095 \?873 diamond and let East hold the OA QJ9732 05 trick, while he discarded a spade. . Q4 • J 9 7 Then he threw his last spade on SOUTH the enforced club return and + AKJ ruffed in dummy. \? AK64 That was a difficult hand, 0 K6 • 8 6 3 2 brilliantly played. Many of the hands were much simpler and Many and various were the were concerned with basic bidding contracts that were essayed. As situations. West J tried an opening bid of 19 Four Diamonds and this was an extra trick. By leading clubs passed out, which s1eemed sur towards dummy he could have prising in view of dummy's pau let West win a trick with the city of goodies. Howe:ver, North Queen, establishing a long club South found a good defence; they while keeping East out of the cashed two clubs, three hea~ts and lead. But declarer did not make one spade before pushing through the most of his chances. His first the thirteenth heart. I tried 09 move was to take four rounds of for size·and that meant five off. hearts, the last of which was a Most Wests preferred to open mistake for West could and should Three Diamonds, but in spite of have thrown • o on it. West failed to do so, and when declarer this Rimington and Clark found < continued with a club towards their way to a contr~tct of Four Hearts, thus: West-3(>, East-3\?, dummy West missed a further West-4\?. They es,caped, un opportunity for clever play-· Q doubted, with seven undertricks again. He would have been but the defenders would have had allowed to hold the trick and to get this contract eighteen off could safely exit with another (undoubled) to equal the pro club, but declarer would now spective penalty in Five Diamonds have been confined to ten tricks doubled. At other tables Three in all. Diamonds was followed by two West played low on the club passes and South's natural action lead and declarer won on the was an optional double which table. Now he had his big chance. North had no reason t'o disturb. By taking the spade finesse and · At one table South bid 3NT playing another small club from and was allowed to ;play. West hand he could have left West on did well in selecting; a passive play with nothing but diamonds heart lead, as a diamond would to lead and would thus have have given declarer an immediate scored eleven tricks. West's extra trick, but from then on the failures to dump the unwelcome performance of West and South • o were condoned when de two of the game's big names clarer cashed another top club was inelegant. before taking the spade finesse and East was able to be the first Counting the spade finesse nine to open the diamond suit. tricks were there, and the presence of •o in the West hand gave I don't seem to have chronicled declarer an opportunity to develop· any of my own recent setbacks so, 20 in case any of my readers take As the cards lay I should have this as a sign that I have improved, made the contract by the follow here is a personal chuck from this ing ending, with East on lead and event:- neither defender able to guard East dealer the hearts : North-South vulnerable W EST EAST NORTH .9 .1 1085 '7 A K 10 '78 '7 9 6 3 ·0-- OQ 0 K J 6 + - • Q 10 3 However, obsessed with my WEST EAST ·scheme- for inducing an error from • Q7 3 • K9 42 South, I carelessly drew the last '?A KI02 '7 Q 8 trump before leading the first o 0 Q 10 4 3 spade from dummy. This meant + K98752 + A 14 that 1 could only re-enter dummy SOUTH with '?Q, which I did and played • A6 the second spade. But South now '?1754 played a second heart, cutting OA 9875 2 communications for the squeeze. + 6 1 was faced with the choice of My partner in the East seat fi nessing '710 or hoping that opened I NT and a vulnerable South had started with a seven South saw fit to weigh in with card diamond suit and that a Two Diamonds. Well, a void and simple squeeze would operate on a six-card suit always excite me, North in the major suits. Of so 1 soon found myself in a con course, I chose wrongly. tract of Six Clubs and faced with the lead of 0 K. I rutfed in hand Torquay Congress and played + K and then a small Championship P airs: G. C. club to dummy's Jack. So far, Griffiths and J. Spurway. so good. To have a genuine Championship Teams: G. Fell, chance I had to play South for D. S. Smerdon, E. Jamieson and Ace and another spade, but I P. Tottenham. thought I could give myself a Ladies Teams: Mrs. Edwards, slight edge by playing the spades Mrs. Krauth, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. twice from dummy: a nervous Dixon-Green. South might go up with his Ace Men's Pairs : F. C. Keyte and on the second round. W. <1. Stewart. 21 Below we reproduce the April problems + AQ8 Problem No. 3 (JO points) Problem No. 7 (20 points) Rubber bddge, love all , the bidding LM.P. scoring, game all, the bidding has gone:- has gone:- SouTH WEST NOllTil SoUTH WEST NORTH EAST J The antics of the Dockers a1e as The lead was ruffed in dummy nothing compared with what and the 2 of hearts led to the Ace. Elizabeth can do when circum Now came a trump finesse; sur stances are prop1tlous. You prisingly a winning one, as Eliza haven't met Elizabeth yet, but beth who was sitting East and she has made her mark in a small struggling with a handkerchief and sometimes quite expert circle. and a very bad cold had inadvert She is undoubtedly on the way ently played the 9 of spades on up and, whatever her deficiencies the Queen. Fortunately for her in the bidding and play of the side, her ancient partner was also cards, her gamesmanship leaves suffering, but from an arthritic little to be desired. hip, and was thus physically North dealer unable to perform his usual North-South vulnerable manoeuvre of leaning forward to NORTH gather the trick. Elizabeth didn't + AQJJO bat an eyelid, and play proceeded Bridgerama in New York. Pltoto by Claude Rodrigue 26 Day by Day at Cannes by TERENCE R EESE Friday, April 27th place and thunder is in the air. l n the event for mixed teams, A French team leads. which lasts over four sessions, Saturday, April 28th Britain has three entries, and on At the end of the afternoon arrival I find that the best fancied, session the Markus formation is Mrs. Markus and Gardener, Mrs. 16 points in the lead. Mrs. Gordon and Schapiro, is in the Fleming holds her position and lead after the first quarter. Mrs. Mrs. Forbes has crept up to Fleming, North, Mrs. Moss, Pugh, fourteenth. are about half way, and J. Tarlo, Teams play one another Mrs. Forbes, Goldstein, Mrs. matches of six boards, with two Durran, languish near the tail of points a board and six for the the twenty teams. aggregate, making 18 for the set. In the evening there is a typical A Philippine team which had piece of " Rixi" luck. Her oppo been doing quite well scored 3, 3 nents, Marshall Miles and Mrs. and 3 on the first three rounds. Goldstein, of America, reach a One of their lady players then good grand slam in hearts with darted into the gaming room, abundant trumps and no losers. threw 5 francs on 3, and up it The only suit to develop is spades, came! declarer having Q x and dummy Jn the e~ening Britain records AK9xx. A spade is led and the a clear victory by 29 points. A Jack is won by declarer's Queen. Dutch team is second, Belgium Declarer can Jay down his cards, third, France fourth. The three but thinking he is in 7NT he American teams finished close returns a spade and finesses the together, between sixth and ninth. 9, losing to Gardener's 10. Mrs. Mrs. Fleming was eighth, Mrs. Goldstein, the dummy, took this Forbes twelfth. cruel reverse in excellent spirit Playing for the Dutch team and Miles, the culprit, displayed was a Bearded Monster who impassivity equal to that of B. J. looked like my old friend Herman Becker. Mrs. Gordon and Schap Filarski. Seeing him in the press iro, who missed the grand slam, room later, 1 said " Hullo, you were forgiven. look rather like my old friend, At the end of the session the Herman Pilarski," and it was British team has slipped to third Herman Filarski, and he said 27 "Hullo." He says (for those who before long. Those of us who, reckon on such things) that his like Schapiro and myself, lying wife likes it. twentieth, have made a modest Sunday, April 29th start are telling one another that Play in the pairs be:gins in the so far it is only as though two evening. To make up a convenient boards out of thirty have been number, countries which entered played, for there are ten sessions a full complement of six pairs altogether and the last five will have been invited to make addi count for twice as much. tions, so Preston and Swimer, Britain are also doing well in the North and Pugh, have: joined the ladies, though not in the most British contingent. expected fashion. Mrs. Forbes In the afternoon the tourna- and Mrs. Durran are first of 26 ment directors, accustomed to pairs, Mrs. Fleming and Mrs. holding a captive audi,ence before Moss second. Mrs. Markus and the beginning of a session, have Mrs. Gordon sixteenth at this invited competitors to attend for point. what will doubtless be a pro- The computer lived up to all tracted discourse in several langu- the claims made for it and there ages. Rather as though the is a splendid results board going commandant of a concentration the full length of the Casino bar. r-amp were to hold an At Home. 1 wish it could be seen by those We start reasonably on time who resented my criticism of the in the evening and first indications pitiful pieces of plastic that re are that the arrangements are corded progress at Torquay. going to be excellent. Scores have Monday, April 30th to be entered according to a Gardener and Rose have gone special formula, and am electronic into the lead, a Polish pair is computer is going to do• the match- second, Feldesman and Miles of pointing for the field of 78 pairs America third. There is a group in a few minutes. of British pairs from ninth to Britain makes a good start, sixteenth, consisting of Flint with five English pairs in the first Gray, Preston-Swimer, Spurway- 25, also Holmes and Kelly of Needham (Wales), Tarlo-Gold Ireland. France, on the other stein, Reese-Schapiro. hand, has only one pai:r in the first In the ladies event a D utch 25, but they are Ghestem and pair is leading, Mrs. Durran and Bacherich, the leaders. Doubtless Forbes are second, Markus and we shall hear from the others Gordon have risen to fourth, 28 Fleming and Moss are eighth. second place, Jais and Trezel So far it has been a fine tourna fourth, Theron and. Desrousseaux ment, with few incidents and tenth. America has Jordan and proceeding at a fair speed. Every Robinson third, Feldesman and one is fascinated by the Machine, Miles seventh. Gardener and which in addition to match-point Rose lead the qualifying field by ing tabulates the scores for every 100 points, but after the necessary pair and also the results obtained adjustments have been made, that on every board and what they were will become equivalent to about worth. Ligb~s flash on and off two tops. and five typewriters rattle At half-way in the ladies event furiously away. When an im Durran and Forbes are still plausible result is offered, the second, Markus and Gordon are Machine invariably spots it and poised in fourth place, Fleming types some message such as and Moss fifth. A French pair, "Board 48, incorrect score, Pariente-Serf, leads and Sanders check". Because of the speed Stein of America are third. with which it finds mistakes it A little sun today, but tem has been christened "Rixi". pestuous wind. The weather is not even trying. Wednesday, May 2nd Tuesday, May 1st It's tough at the top . . After a If there were a Prix des Nations free afternoon Schapiro and 1 to be offered at this stage, Britain scored over 54 per cent- and would win it. At the end of the dropped two places, from fourth five qualifying sessions we have to sixth. All the leading pairs six pairs in the first twelve. Rose scored well, closing up a little on and Gardener have a long lead, Gardener and Rose, who are still and between fourth and twelfth a top ahead of Ghestem and are Reese-Schapiro, Goldstein Bacherich. In the first seven Tarlo, Needham-Spurway, Pres there are three French, · three ton-Swimer, Gray-Flint. McHale British, and one American pair Pigot, of Ireland, and Goldberg a situation similar to the team Leckie, of Scotland, are also Olympiad at Turin. There is a among the thirty-six qualifiers. drop to the eighth place and the Holmes and Kelly, North and winner will surely come from this Pugh, have just missed it. leading group. No other country can match In the ladies Durran and Forbes Britain for numbers, but France have dropped back a little and has Bacherich and Ghestem in Markus and Gordon have risen · 29 to third. Pariente and Serf, of played a very sound game all the France, still lead. way through. Thursday, May 3rd In the evening, playing in Schapiro and I began against bridgerama, we started well, then one of the less highly placed had the worst of it against American pairs, who in the first Goldstein and Tarlo, and ended set of four boards bid one grand with three moderate sets. We and one small slam, both doubled were under average for the first and both off in Aces, not to time in ten sessions and knew mention the little things. Meeting we couldn't have won. Jais and none of the strongest: pairs, we Trezel were the only leading pair recorded 63 per cent and, with to have a big score and they won none of the leaders doing particu by a clear margin. It was Turin larly well, climbed to first place. over again, with the French lasting Bachcrich and Ghest<:m lie sec the best. Remarkable, really, that ond, Gardener-Rose t hird, then three pairs who might have been Jordan - Robinson, Goldstein among the original favourites, Tarlo. should have finished first, second l n the evening my partner and and third (Bacherich and Ghes 1 fared indifferently a.nd only a tem) in a mixed field of 78. Joel good last set, against Malabat Tarlo's and Carol Goldstein's Delmouly, took us above average. performance in finishing fourth Now we lea~_ by 9 (a top is 17) was outstanding. Gardener and from Ghestem-Bacherich; Gold Rose were seventh, Flint and stein and Tarlo are 14 behind Gray ninth, Preston and Swimer that, and within a point or two eleventh. Needham and Spurway arc Jais and Trezel, Gardener and were sixteenth-another very good Rose, Jordan and Robinson. performance-and Goldberg and Markus and Gordon are now Leckie twenty-fourth. second, four points behind the Mrs. Markus and Mrs. Gordon leaders. Durran and Forbes are timed their final run to perfection, fourth, and there are three Ameri winning by 36 points from Pari can pairs in the first·siix. ente-Serf. Hayden and Portugal, Friday, May 4Ith of America, were third, Fleming ln the afternoon we slightly and Moss were eighth, Durran increased our lead and went into and Forbes ninth, Fletcher and the final session 12 pc•ints ahead Spickett twenty-first. of Jordan and Robintson, who, Now on to Juan, hoping for though somewhat slow, have better weather. 30 Variation on a Theme by Easley by MICHAEL ALLEN The Bowers variation of Black NORTH wood, which Terence Reese has .AK5 termed a distinct improvement, \:) A 7 2 frequently enables a player to <> 9 6 5 identify l1is partner's Ace when + LO 7 4 3 it is shown in response to a 4NT SOUTH enquiry. A disadvantage of the . Q Bowers variation is that three \:) K Q 10 9 8 6 53 Aces are shown by a response of 0 A 3 2 5NT, and on these occasions + A 5NT cannot be bid to ask for With no opposition bidding we Kings. My partner and I have bid as follows:- been experimenting recently with a combination of the Bowers SOUTH N ORTH variation and an idea borrowed Dlugaj rzyk Allen from Roman Blackwood to avoid 2\:) 3\:) this difficulty. 4\:) 4. 4NT Our responses to 4NT are as 5. 5NT 6\:) follows:- 7\J 5+ - three Aces or no Aces; Three Hearts does not neces 50 - four Aces or one Ace of sarily indicate possession of an an unbid suit; Ace by our methods; Five Spades 5\J-one Ace of a bid suit ; shows two A-;es, and Six Hearts 5• - two Aces. a bid King, which South identifies Kings may be shown in response as the spade King. The grand to a bid of 5NT in the same way; slam is certain unless partner's indeed the convention is especially spade honours are doubleton but valuable in dealing with Kings. 7NT is of course the better bid. The following is hand 16 from The hand was contributed by Dr. this year's Charity Challenge Cup. Hans Leist. 31 The convention is most valu able when holding a void, an The new, true classic of brldfe occasion when normal Blackwood (Guy Ramsey in the Daily Teletroph) may be unhelpful. THE EXPERT GAME W EST E .A.s.T by Terence Reese • QJ X cy> AJxx x 'V lKQxx Edward Arnold Ltd . lls. 6d. <) KJx x ·<) -AQxx + x + AKQxx W EST EAST West knows that his partner I'V 3+ has 'VA, for clubs do not count 30 4NT as a bid suit. East can have little 5'7 5NT else or he would have made a 6'V 7'V positive response, so Seven is likely to make only if East has If partner lacks either of the four trumps and can discard all two key cards it is easy to stop at his losing hearts on West's dia the small slam. monds. If East responded Five Diamonds, showing + A, West For the purpose of this con would sign off in Five Spades; for vention cue bids are considered East could not after his Two to be "bid" suits but conventional Diamond bid have the King of cyphers, such as the Acol Two hearts as well. Club opening and its Two Dia mond negative, and Stayman The disadvantage of this con bids, are not "bid" suirts. Thus:- vention compared with normal Blackwood seems to be that the W EST EAST Five Spades and Five Heart + AKQ xx • .J X X responses take the bidding higher '7 X X 'V Axxxx than in the latter convention. My <) AKQ xxx <)X X partner and I have not been + - + x X X troubled by this disadvantage, and E AST it certainly seems a very small 20 price to pay for a more accurate 3\:f knowledge of partner's key cards. 44.. There is, of course, no real 5\:f ambiguity in the responses of Five Clubs and Five Diamonds. 32 A Crockford,s Criss Cross by B. GOLDENFIELD A recent Crockford's Cup Nobody can accuse me of match provided a chance for my hogging the bidding for I sup partner to show some agility as ported two of my partner's suits declarer. I had just been defeated and one of the opponents'. My by four tricks in a INT contract partner's egghead comment was so I asked partner to be declarer "qui s' excuse s'accuse". He ap until I regained my confidence. parently wanted me to play in He agreed and proceeded to play 3NT, which I dare say is makable the next six boards including the fr_om my side if correctly played; following:- not that it would have been. East d_ealer West led his singleton heart and Game all NORTH East's 8 forced declarer's Ace. The Ace of diamonds was followed + AQ7 with a small diamond and dummy v> J 7 3 played low. East, in with the 0 Q 54 King of diamonds, gave his part + K 10 8 3 ner a heart ruff at no real cost to W EST EAST declarer. + J 9 54 + K3 v>2 v>Q I0985 The Queen of clubs from West 0 J 9 3 0 K6 sent my partner into a trance + QJ742 + A 9 6 5 from which he eventually emerged SOUTH to duck in the dummy and ruff in + 10 8 6 2 his own hand. The spade suit v>AK64 had to be tackled so declarer led 0 A 10872 the 10 and ducked this to East's + -:- King when West did not cover. The bidding was enthusiastic:- East returned the Queen of hearts, SouTH WEsT NoRTH EAST taken by declarer's King. De lv> clarer now needed all the remain No No ing tricks with the position as No No shown overleaf. No No A small spade was played to No No dummy's Queen, and then the 33 NORTH spade so the Ace of spades was . AQ cashed and the last two tricks <:?- were taken with the last trump and OQ the thirteenth spade. + K 10 8 West is effectively caught in a WEST EAST criss-cross squeeze from which he • J 94 .3 has no escape if declarer reads <:? - <:? 10 9 the position correctly, but if, at <> - <> - trick ten, West discards a club + J 7 4 + A 9 5 with no sign of strain then de SOUTH clarer has to decide between a • 8 6 2 spade break and ruffing out the \?6 Jack of clubs. <> 10 8 My partner was emphatic in his + - statement that he would have King of clubs was covered by the ruffed out the Jack of clubs and I Ace and ruffed by declarer, thus believe ·him. This finessing, ruff transferri ng the club menace to ing, transfer criss-cross sq ueeze West. Now the 6 of hearts was would appeal to him, but how led and ruffed; West, meanwhile, many more contracts will we have had to discard from . J9 and to play too high before the effect +J7. He chose to discard a wears off? RESULT OF APRIL COMPETITION Many solvers failed to solve the lead problem, which showed a case in which the defender must try to cash tricks before they run away. There were a number of votes for a Stayman Three: Clubs on Problem No. 7. This bid is normally reserved by experts for a hand including a four-card major suit, not a five-carder. T he most likely result of Three Club.s is to play in Three No Trumps having given the defence valuable information. Congratulations to Flight Lieut. Isaacson on achieving a perfect score, a very rare event. Winner : Max. 100 FLT. LT. ISAACSON, Otlkers' Mess, R.A.F. Bahrain, B.F.P.O. 63 100 Second, equal: J. W. G!ELKENS, Landereringstr. 43, Sittard, Holland, and G. D. SHARPE, II Nethc:royd H ill Rd., Hudderstlcld, Yorks. 90 O ther leading scores: MJRS. T. SIMONS, 89; J. HIBBERT and J. K. KROES, 88; N. F. CHOULARTON, 87; R . B. JA.CKSON, 86; J. T. CHAPMAN, 84; J. E. GORDON, T. c. VAN Es, and L. G. Wooo, 83; K. T . R EITSEMA and l. G. SMITH, 81; M1ss W. JewsoN, 80. 34 E.B.U. Results GOLD CUP J.M. P. J. Sargeant (Kent) bear E. C. Milnes (Yorks.) 6 P. F. Spurway (Warwks. and Wales) E. Senk (London) 40 E. L. Figgis (N.W.C.B.A.) Mrs. B. Luxton (Surrey) 29 Mrs. R. Markus (London) E. H. Pudsey (Yorks.) 52 M. A. Porter (Warwl;s.) N. Gardener (London) 12 HUBERT PHILLIPS DOWL Points P. F. L. Tottenham (Stairs.) bear Mrs. D. Grunert (N.W.C.B.A.) 130 Mrs. A. L. Fleming (London) J. Bloomberg (Yorks.) 2230 Miss D. Shanahan (London) Mrs. N. E. Della Porta (London) 670 One Hundred Up Conducted by ALAN TRUSCOTT May Competition A panel of experts will answer the questions and the marking of the competitou will be determined by, though not necessarily in strict proportion to, the votes of the panel. The following prizes are offered for the best sets of answers:- FIRST PRIZE Two Guineas. SECOND AND THIRD PRIZES One Guinea. Please read these rules carefully. No competitor may send in more than one entry. Only annual subscribers to the B.B.W. are eligible for prizes. Answers should be sent to One Hundred Up, British Bridge World, 35 Dover Street, London, W.l, to arrive not later than first post on June 1. Some latitude will be given to overseas competitors. 35 Problem 'o. 1 (10 points) Problem 'o. 5 (10 points) I. M.P. scoring, East-West vulnerable, Match-point pairs, East-West vulner the bidding has gone:- able, the bidding has gone:- SOUTH WEST NOilTH EAST SoUTH WEST NoR1 H EAsT No 1+ 20 I+ No No INT 3+ No 3+ No No 3NT 4+ No ? No Obi. Redlbl. No South holds:- ? + 2 '\/AJ63 OAJ + A87543. South holds:- What should South bid? + KQ8632 '\/Q7 0 8 + KQ54. What should South bid? Problem No. 6 (20 points) J.M.P. scoring, game all, the bidding Problem No. 2 (10 points) has gonc:-- J.M .P. scoring, game all, the bidding SouTH WEsT NOR Til EAST has gone: I'\/ No I+ No SoUTH WEST NORTH EAST ? I '\I No No South holds:- ? + K4 '\/AK7643 O A62 + A7. South holds:- (a) What should South bid? + K '\/KQ1095 OA9732 + AQ. (b) What should South bid if North What should South bid ? had responded Two Diamonds instead of One Spade? Problem No. 3 (10 points) Match - point pairs, North - South Problem No. 7 (10 points) vulnerable, the bidding ha.s gone:- Rubber bridge, love all, the bidding SouTH WEST NOHTH EAST has gone:- 1NT EAST (12-14) SouTH WEST NORTH 10 3+ 30 No 2+ 2'\/ No ? ? South holds:- South holds:- + AKJ3 '\/A742 0865 + 83. + AJ953 '\/87 OAQ6:1 + 102. What should South bid? What should South bid ~· Problem No. 4 (20 points) Problem No. 8 (10 points) l. M. P. scoring, North-South vulner Rubber bridge, love all, the bidding able, the bidding has gone:- has gone:- SouTH WEST Nonn• EAST SouTH WEsT NoRn• EAST 2+ 3+ 3+ No 10 No 2+ ? No 30 No 3'\/ South holds:- No 4'\/ No 4NT + A9 '\/AKi98763 OQ + AS. No 50 No 6'\1 (a) Do you agree with S.outh's bid of No No No Two Clubs? If not, what alternative do South holds:- you prefer? + J3 '\/832 06542 + A875. (b) What shoul d South bid now? Wha t should South lead'! 36 One Hundred Up Conducted by ALAN TRUSCOTT April sol ution~: If you did not enter for the April competition, try your hand at the problems on page 22 before reading how the experts voted. T he panel for the April competition double could conceivably secure the consisted of the following eleven top score; or they might make their experts: M. Buckley, E. Crowhurst, contract with Six Clubs on our way." G. C. H. Fox, Mrs. R. Markus, J. This was the general feeling of the Nunes, J. T. Reese, D. Rimington and panel. J. Sharples, all of London and the M.Rs. MARKUS: "Three Clubs. It is H ome Counties; P. Swinnerton-Dyer very tempting to double Two Dia of Cambridge; C. E. Phillips of Cheshire monds for a score of 500, but if partner and H . Filarski of Amsterdam. cannot stand the double it will be very difficult to express the real pattern of Problem No. 1 (10 points) my hand. Jn a match-pointed pairs 1 Match-point pairs, East-West vulner would prefer a Three Club bid to get the able, the bidding has gone:- general rcsulr on the hand, and not the SouTH WEsT NORTH EAsT odd chance of picking up a top or a J+ 20 bottom. (This may depend 011 the state ? ofyour score and the type of competition. South holds:- A. T.) Partner could have opened on + 2 ~AJ63 + A87543. OAJ + KQJ IOxx ~Qx Ox + KQxx, in What should South bid? which case Two Diamonds doubled will not be a great success, and Six Clubs is Answer: Three Clubs, 10; Double, 7. a very good contract." The panel's vote: 7 for Three Clubs; The hand quoted looks to me very 4 for Double (Phillips, Rimington, like one on which "partner cannot stand Sharples and Swinnerton-Dyer). the double". Michael Buckley has won so many Sensitive to a lurking danger was: prizes in 100 UP that he has been RE ESE: "Three Clubs. Partners invited to join the panel. The editor occasionally disappoint by passing this welcomed this idea under the impression theoretically forcing sequence, but there that this would save the British Bridge are equal disadvantages in the other World some money. This seems a possible calls. If you bid Three Dia doubtful proposition, but at any rate monds, for example, you wi ll never be the other solvers may have a better able to give a picture of your values." chance, and the panel is certainly One panelist wanted to weigh up the strengthened by addition of one of the calibre of the opposition and was some best of Britain's young players. what frustrated in consequence. BucKLEY: "T hree Clubs. At least I CROWHURST: "Three Clubs. But only should start with the majority. A because T do not know the identity of 37 East: against several Easts 1 know, the Phillips also considered that Three answer would be to stand on the table Spades from partner over Three Clubs and double, panicularly as there are would cause South a headache. This good chances of promoting a second point was ignored by the majority trump trick for myself after the opening group, but they will have to face up to spade lead. As East prefers to remain it in the May competition. anonymous, however, I must assume that he knew the score when he climbed Problem No. 2 (20 points) I.M.P. scoring, game all, the bidding into the auction, and the trumps are going to break too kind ly for him to has gone:- make fewer tricks than h•: planned." SOUTH WEST NORTH EAsT Scornful of the alternallive: No No 10 J+ NuNES: "Three Clubs. Six Clubs or 2 + No 3+ No Six Hearts could well be on. I have ? South holds:- heard it suggested that in view of the vulnerability and the matc:h-point factor + A64 '\?AKJ 0 1098 + 10973. one should double. This might hit the (a) Do you agree with South's bid of Two Spades? If not, what alternative target, but it is an out an.d out gamble. do you prefer? One might as well play Chemmy." (b) What should South bid now? The gamblers knew th<:y were gamb Answer: Agree with Two Spades, JO; ling, but had their reasons: prefer 2NT, 3. SWINNERTON-DYER: "D ouble. lf this The panel's vote: 10 for agree with lands us 500 it ought to be a top, and Two Spades; 1 for prefer 2NT (Fox). there must be an excelhmt chance of There was not much doubt about this, this. I have four certain tricks, my and most panelists regarded it as Aces will promote partner's holdings, routine. and he may have some useful trumps. PHJtLTPS: " Agree with Two Spades. Of course it is a gamble; but there is This is a standard call after a minor-suit one further point to malke. At tables opening, to show a maximum pass and where East does not ovc1rca ll, South is a willingness to play in no trumps if likely to fi nish in 3NT and get a favour partner can stop the enemy suit. Here, able heart lead-so that Problem No. 5 (10 points) Problem No. 6 (10 points) Rubber bridge, East-West vulnerable, Match-point pairs, love a ll, the bid- the bidding has gone:- d ing has gonc:- SouTH WEST NoRTH EAST SouTH WEST NORTH EAST I + Dbl. No No 10 Redbl. No 2+ No No I~ DbI. 20 ? ? South holds:- South holds:- + - ~AK653 O AJ8 •fo l09862. + K5 ~J742 O AK63 + J98. What should South bid? What should South bid? Answer: No Bid, 10. Answer: Three Clubs, 10; No Bid, 8; The panel's 110te: II for No Bid. Two Spades, 6; 2NT, 4; 3NT, 2. A unanimous panel usually means The panel's rote: 5 for Three Clubs; that the question was too simple. l n 3 for No Bid (Buckley, Filarski and this situation the Two Spade rebid by Reese); I for Two Spades (Rimington); North indicates a good spade suit and I for 2NT (Mrs. Markus); and I for a minimum or sub-minimum opening, 3NT (Swinnerton-Dyer). so prospects of game are very poor. SwfNNERTON - D YER: " Three No Several panelists pointed out they would Trumps. Not very happy about refusing 42 ... the double; but my trump holding does BucKLEY: "No Bid. You have to get not look very suitable for that action." them two down doubled for a worth With some players 1 might simply whi!e score, and anyway your hand dismiss this as incredible optimism, but contains no great surprise for declarer. in this case 1 feel confident that he has As I play the bid, a double directs in some way misread the question. attention to spades, whereas J NT Perhaps he overlooked North's original emphasises clubs (a distinction that can pass. be very valuable on a 6-4 hand) hence The majority group a ll fe lt confident Three Clubs risks playing in a disast• that North held five clubs: rous 4-3 fi t. " . SHARPLES : "Three Clubs. Thls should J NT would also be for a take-out, and be a fair contract, as partner is likely to as it bypasses One Spade as a contract, hold a 5-card suit: with five spades and it is reasonable to consider that it four clubs he might have bid One Spade emphasises clubs. instead of doubling. To allow the Another point to consider is that a opponents to play in Two Diamonds pass does not bar North from further may result in a poor score, and it is action: certainly too close to double .it." REESE: "No Bid. With a partner PHILLIPS: "Three Clubs. We reach who has passed and whose main strength this by elimination. Two D iamonds is in the black suits you cannot expect will probably make, as partner is to make a contract higher than Two unlikely to have more than two defen D iamonds unless partner is sufficiently sive tricks; 2NT by us can go badly unbalanced to contest again. Still Jess astray unless one of the black suits is can you double Two Diamonds." solid; Two Spades is equally rash The minority vote for Two Spades because partner may only have four of and 2NT have little appeal. them (with six spades and four clubs Problem No. 7 (20 points) partner would have bid his suit, but the l.M.P. scoring, game all, the bidding converse is not true). Three Clubs, on has gone:- the other hand, is unlikely to go more SouTH WEST NORTH EAST than one down, and may tempt the 2NT No opponents to go one trick too high." ? The panelists who passed were by no South holds:- means ·unmindful of the possibility of + A8653 <:;/74 0 10652 + 83. Three Clubs: (a) What should South bid? FtLARSKI: "No Bid. This is a situation (b) What should South bid at match in which South tends to bid Three point pairs scoring? Clubs-and if he does he will hear Four Clubs later from North, losing 300. Jf Answer to (a): Three Spades, 10; 3NT East-West make Two Diamonds, my or No Bid, 7; Three Diamonds, 5. 'loss' will be minus 90, not a bad score. The panel's vote: 7 for Three Spades; Moreover, North is marked with short 2 for 3NT (Fox and Reese); 2 for No hearts, so West may well try Two Bid (Sharples and Nunes). Hearts. South can then try Three Clubs CROWHURST: " Three Spades. I only with less r isk." hope that partner will be able to raise A slightly specialised interpretation: me to Four Spades, for this sort of hand 43 will almost certainly play better in a Tlte panel's vote: 5 for Three Spades; suit contract. 1 shall become extremely 3 for No Bid (Fox, Rimington and depressed if partner rebids 3NT, but Sharples); 2 for 3NT (Nunes and what else can I do? We must bid our Reese); and l for Three Diamonds games at this form of scoring." (Swinnerton-Dyer). l was surprised to get. a divergence The match-point angle was treated about the significance of Three Spades: in two different ways. Some panelists MRs. MARKus: "Thn;c Spades. I pointed out that it was less necessary to would like to play this hand in Three bid borderline games; and others that Spades and no more, although there is one ought to bid "with the room" to obviously a chance of game. I do not avoid a bottom. This left nearly all consider this a forcing bid unless partner the Three Spade bidders exactly where has a wonderful fit in my suit or a very they were before, although Rimington long suit of his own for 3NT. Three was now prepared to stick at 2NT. Clubs (Stayman) followed by Three Among the others, Fox and Nunes Spades would be stronger in points or exchanged votes. The former regarded distribution." the game as problematical, while the The modern way of pll!tying in Three latter felt he should pass but wanted Spades would be via the Flint Conven to be "with the room". The most tion, for which sec below. interesting change was: Several panelists regarded this situa SWINNERTON - DYER: "Three Dia tion as so close as to be guesswork: monds. Flint convention, intending to die in Three Spades. The chance of REESE: "Three No Trump. Whether game justifies having a go in a team 7, 8, 9 or 10 tricks will be made in no event only." trumps or spades is impossible to Most readers probably know this gauge with any accuracy, so one must one. Three Diamonds orders the opener play for the best score." to bid Three Hearts, in order that the Fox supported this, pointing out that hand can be played in responder's long a trcblcton spade King with North suit if he sees no prospect of game. should produce four tricks. in the suit. It is worth noting that Three Dia l f seven or eight tricks. arc a possi monds does not completely exclude a bility, then one must .consider this game contract. If the opener has an alternative: excellent spade fit and a wealth of top SHARPLES: '·No Bid. Game prospects cards, he may be prepared to go to are problematical. Conv<:ntional mac Four Spades over Three Spades. hinery exists to stop in Three Spades, Apparently it is impossible to arrive but there is no guarantet ~ that this is at Four Hearts in this way if there is a going to be a superior contract. There substantial heart fit. But some Ameri are two possible advantag.es to playing can theorists have pointed out that if in no trumps. The first is tlhat the strong the opener has a substantial heart fit hand is not on the table, and the second with top cards, he should bid Three that there is a better chance of a favour Spades over Three Diamonds. This able lead." can only mean that he did not wish to Answer to (b): Three Spades, JO; No stop in Three Hearts, and therefore has Bid, 9; 3NT or Three Diamonds, 7. a heart fit. 44 Problem No. 8 (10 points) !.M.P. scoring, game all, the bidding La Revue Beige has gonc:- SotrrH W EST NORTH du No No No No Bridge South holds:- + 754 E.B.U. Master Points Register Master Points Secretary: F. 0. Bingham. 48 Lordship Park, London, N.l6 PROMOTIONS To Life Master: A. F. Truscott. To National Master: Mrs. R. F. Corwen; G. Mathieson; M.A. Porter; J. Tarlo. To " One Star" Master: Mrs. E. Davis (Hells.); Mrs. N. A. Haycocks (Kent). To Master: Miss A. E. Armitage (Yorkshire); Mrs. H. L. Bamkin (Notts.); Mrs. P. A. C. Bridgewater (Devon); Miss E. M. Crowther (Yorkshire); Mrs. J. H. Devoto (Northern J ret and); Mrs. Golding (North-Eastern); J. W. Hawkins (Sussex); Mrs. S. C. Henry (Northern Ireland); Miss A. H. Hibbert (Sussex); Mrs. M. F. Lancaster (Devon); .P. Messent (Kent); Mrs. H. Townsend (Warwickshire); P. I. Vincent (Herls.); Miss L. Wilkinson (Giouceslcrshire); M. C. Young (Devon). 47 Diary of Events 1962 May 19-20 NATIONAL PAIRS FiNAL Grand, Leicester 26-27 PACHABO CuP Grand, Leicester 27 LONDON FLITCH FINAL K.P.H. June 2-3 INTERNATIONAL PAIRS TOURNAMENT Vichy 2-3 FIRST OPEN TRIAL, PART 2 ... Nat. Lib. Club, London 8-11 GOLD CUP, FINAL ROUNDS ... Polish Hearth 15-17 KENT CoNGRESS Grand, Folkestone 23-24 RIXI MARKUS CUP-WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL South 30-July 1 SECOND OPEN TRIAL, PART 1 Nat. Lib. Club, London July 7- 8 SECOND OPEN TRIAL, PART 2 Nat. Lib. Club, London 16-21 INVITATION TOURNAMENT ... Golf Hotel, Deauville Sept. 5-17 EuROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP (provisional date) Lebanon 27-30 W.B.U. AUTUMN CONGRESS Porthcawl If you are not cdready an annual subscriber, please make sure that you receive future issues by completing the form below. Order form To the Publishers, The British Bridge World, Moore Batley Ltd., 35 Dover Street, London, W.l. Please enrol me: as a subscriber to The British Bridge World. as from...... :...... (state month). I enclose annuatl subscription £1.15.0. NAME (in blo•ck capitals) ...... ADDRESS (in block capitals)...... 48 For the Bridge Player ... BRIDGE SET (8351) fitted with two packs of single colour backed playing cards, score cards, pencils, Win/Lose cards and pocket edition "Laws of Contract Bridge." 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