February 2013 English Bridge Issue No. 245

The EBU members’ magazine

You are playing in the Premier League. Your exalted opponents reach 7 t after an uncontested auction that suggests a big diamond fit. What do you lead? (see page 23)

English Bridge Of Clubs © All rights reserved ENGLISH BRIDGE is published every two months by the and Sims Broadfields, Bicester Road, Aylesbury HP19 8AZ Sally Bugden, Chairman ( 01296 317200 Fax: 01296 317220 [email protected] Web site: www.ebu.co.uk WHAT DOES your bridge mean to course, there are our electronic ______you? I hope it is place where you meet publications, Club Management Focus and Editor: Elena Jeronimidis friends and acquaintances, and play a the Club Managers Handbook, which are 23 Erleigh Road, Reading RG1 5LR sociable game of bridge; where people are available to affiliated club management ( 0118 926 2602 happy and respectful, and you have the committees and contain a wealth of tips [email protected] security that the EBU is there to help when and advice on how to get the best for your Editorial necessary – whether that is through club membership. Sally Bugden (Chairman), Jeremy Dhondy and Elena Jeronimidis assist ing you to get more members The EBU is your organisation and there ______through teaching and promotion, or are several simultaneous pairs events that innovation with new competitions, or if help you in terms of raising funds for Advertising Manager Chris Danby at Danby Advertising there is a behaviour or playing issue to further development of the game of Fir Trees, Hall Road, Hainford, help sort it out through mediation and – any surplus we make is Norwich NR10 3LX Y regulation. ploughed back in to the game, for example ( / Fax 01603 898678 Andrew Urbanski, our Club Liaison we have trained over 200 club teachers for [email protected] ______officer, can provide you with information no charge since April 2010 and over 300 and assistance on many activities includ - clubs have benefitted from our ‘buy one, Printing: Wyndeham Group ing the National Grading Scheme, Master get one free’ club tournament director Point awards, club teaching and club training – so it is really worth your while tournament directing. He can guide you to support the EBU and British Sim Pairs, INSIDE GUIDE to our model club constitution to give you the Bridge England Sim Pairs and the the best chance not only of ensuring that Club Stratified Sim Pairs. These also Pairs Tactics 5-6 n your members are protected in matters of provide the players in your club with the Caption Competition 6 n corporate governance, but also in regis ter - opportunity to: Bridge Fiction 7 n ing as a charity or applying for a lottery • Compete against other clubs across Heather’s Hints 9 n grant. I’d like to congratulate the two England; Director, Please! 11 n newest recruits to charity status: York • Win enhanced master points and Traps for the Unwary 13 n Bridge Club and Halifax Bridge Club. I Blue Points from 1 January 2013; know that Andrew is liaising with several Read a commentary on the hands – Great Bridge Disasters NEW 15 n • other clubs about charitable status and showing the best line of play, what can Teams Tactics 16-17 n we’ll keep you posted about their success. go right and what can go wrong (!); Top Table 17 n Our National Club Committee, under • Receive a commemorative pen if they Christmas Quiz Answers 18-19 n the chairmanship of Board director Val win a club heat; Basic Cardplay 20-21 n Gibson, is made up of individuals elected • Have their photograph in English Club Bidding Quiz Test Hands 21 n by your county and regional club repre - Bridge if they are an overall national 2012 Premier League 22-23 n sentatives to convey club interests and winner of each day’s sim pairs session , views at national level. This group of which will also include a mention of Prize Leads Quiz Qs & As 24-25 n people are really committed to helping your club. Stage 2 Conventions 26-27 n their fellow clubs and members. I highly So please do support the simultaneous EBU News and Diary 28-30 n recommend that you visit the EBU web pairs events that support you. Bidding Quiz Test Hands 31 n page www.ebu.co.uk/club/CCrep.htm If you want any help or information, we Letters to the Editor 33 n where you can find out the name and are here to assist. Andrew Urbanski is your Bidding Quiz Answers 34-35 n contact details of your county and first port of call on [email protected] or Ask Jeremy 37 n regional representatives who can also 01296 317206. Final 39 n assist in your club’s development. And, of Until next time, enjoy your bridge. r Bidding Judgment 40-41 n Bridge with a Twist 43 n ARTICLES IN ENGLISH BRIDGE ARE COLOUR CODED Around and About 44-45 n Instruction EBU News Features Laws & Ethics Reports County News 46-51 n Local Master Promotions 52-53 n Club Bidding Quiz Answers 54 n n n n n n www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 3

Pairs Tactics by Be Bold When Protecting

AFTER TWO passes, you are in the West North East South to 3 ´ over the opponents’ 3 ™. Ever. He protective, or seat. If you pass, 1™ must remember that you couldn’t act over the bidding is over. Because of this, you Pass 2™ Pass Pass 1™, so do not have a good hand. should generally be bolder and normal ? Hand B: double. You were short of high criteria for bids are loosened – hence why cards to do this over 1 ™, but the fact that you are in what is sometimes referred to as the opponents have found a fit means that ‘the Cheat Seat’. Hand A Hand B your side almost certainly has a fit (if the Bold protecting can backfire, however. ´ 9 7 4 3 2 ´ Q 9 5 3 opponents have an eight-card fit, you will This is not so much because the oppo - ™ 9 5 2 ™ 8 5 always have an eight-card – or better – fit nents suddenly wake up and bid game t A J 8 5 t K 7 4 2 too, unless you have three seven-card fits). (although that may happen if they ® K ® A 9 6 And the fact that they have stopped at a unearth a fit that had remained hidden low level means that your side likely holds until your protection). Generally, if the Hand C close to half the points in the pack. opponents thought they could make ´ A 10 Hand C: 3 ®. More dangerous than game, you would not find yourself in the ™ 9 5 4 3 Hands A and B because you’re at the protective position (below game level). t 9 8 three level – and you would probably The main danger of protecting is that your ® K J 9 8 4 have reluctantly to pass if you were vul - side has insufficient values and no good fit nerable. However, letting the opponents and instead of bidding one more (which is play undisturbed in 2 ™ simply isn’t win- what you normally hope they’ll do), the Answers ning pairs tactics. Your four small hearts opponents stop off and double you. are interesting: partner rates to have a Yes, you should worry a bit about this Hand A: you should protect with 2 ´. Yes, single ton. Therefore partner has twelve danger of being doubled after a light you might be doubled in the proverbial outside cards and you’d be very unlucky protection. But we are back to that familiar voice of thunder and ‘go for a number’. Pay to find him with fewer than three clubs. pairs principle: do not worry about the odd off to those rare occasions. Most of the If, after you bid 3 ®, it goes (Double) – disaster if most of the time your action time, you’ll push the opponents to 3 ™. Pass – (Pass) – back to you, you’ve works out. It’s frequency of gain, not Maybe they will make it – in which case probably earned your side a zero. But amount of gain, which is all-important at your protection has achieved nothing (but those occasions will be far fewer than pairs: how often , not by how much . cost nothing); maybe, though, they’ll go those where you push the oppo nents to Now, an exercise for you. You are West down. And now your protection has gained 3™, then beat it by a trick. on the following auction with neither side handsomely. Note that your well-trained Now look at our featured deal on the vulnerable: partner will not punish you by bid ding on next page: ‹

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www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 5 Continued from Page 5 CAPTION COMPETITION bare ace. Love All. Dealer South. Refraining from cashing the king of ´ J 2 clubs (which would let declarer home), ™ K 7 2 West accurately switched to a . t K J 5 3 2 Declarer beat East’s queen with the ace ® 10 5 2 and led a second diamond. East beat ´ A 10 ´ K 9 8 6 4 dummy’s jack with the ace and led the N ™ 9 5 4 3 W E ™ Q seven of clubs, West beating declarer’s t 9 8 S t A 10 7 6 queen with the king and then leading the ® K J 9 8 4 ® 7 6 3 jack, declarer ruffing. ´ Q 7 5 3 We have reached this five-card ending, ™ A J 10 8 6 with declarer needing the rest of the tricks: t Q 4 ® A Q What do you mean, ‘Find a lead’? ´ — THE winner of our December com pe ti - ™ K 7 tion, with the cap tion above, is Don West North East South t K 5 3 Smedley of Aston-on-Trent, Derby, who 1™ ® — will re ceive an elegant bridge mug Pass 2™ Pass Pass ´ — ´ 9 8 6 from our sponsors, Bridge and Golf N Gifts Direct (see page 11). Other excel - 3® Pass Pass 3™ ™ 9 5 4 W E ™ — All Pass t — S t 10 6 lent cap tions were: . . . and that is why you must never tell your wife what she ® 8 4 ® — should have led! (Tom Crawley, Cambs); West would have been able to scramble ´ Q 7 See, Fido – we should have drawn our eight tricks in 3 ® (that’s only minus 100 ™ J 10 8 trumps! (Jill Entwistle); I played bridge all even if you’re doubled), so South really t — the time when I was at university (Jane had to bid on to 3 ™ to try to score his ® — Jones, Manchester); The Homeless Team +140. It was a nip and tuck affair. said I had to be vulnerable before they West kicked off with the nine of can help (Dave Robinson, Yorks); If only diamonds – the ace of spades would be far Declarer can get tantalisingly close but I hadn’t called my wife out of that too active (and would enable declarer to cannot quite do it. Best is to lead the double! (Frank Tomlin, Essex); Now, an ace counts as 4 points, a king as 3 . . . make nine tricks) – as would a club from queen of spades, but West ruffs low. (John Shaw, Notts); and OK, so I , the king around to declarer’s ace-queen. Dummy overruffs with the seven and a what next? (Richard Perryman, Essex). The nine of diamonds ran to South’s diamond is ruffed with the ten. The seven The cartoon for our new competition queen (East correctly ducking – play his of spades is now ruffed with the king, but is below. Please send your bridgy ace on nothing and again there would be West holds nine-small of trumps over captions (multiple entries accep ted) to no way for the defence to win the requisite declarer’s jack-eight and must score a the Editor, English Bridge, 23 Erleigh five tricks). further trick. Road, Reading RG1 5LR or by e-mail to At trick two declarer led a spade (best), Down one and an 80% board. All those [email protected] not later than 20th the trick going ´3, ´10, ´J, ´K. East quiet good boards will more than com - February 2012. Don’t forget to include your full postal address! switched to the six of clubs (the seven – pensate for the odd minus 500 or minus then low – might be taken as top of a 800 when North holds the equivalent of: doubleton). Knowing the king was offside, ´ 8 5 2 ™ J 6 2 t 7 6 ® A Q 10 6 5 declarer rose with the ace and led a second and stands on his chair and doubles 3 ® in (low) spade, West winning with his now a voice of thunder. r Congratulations ...... to Andrew Robson upon his award of an OBE for services to Bridge and Charity in The Queen’s New Year Honours list. Sponsored by Bridge & Golf Gifts Direct

6 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk Bridge Fiction by

Sister Carol’s Analysis

THE HEADMASTER and his wife had West North East South tricks in the suit. The game was one down. invited the Matron and the young Irish Sister Head- The Grace ‘Nothing I could do, Alfred,’ sighed nurse, Sister Carol, to School House for an Carol master Matron Doulton Grace Doulton. ‘You only had 10 points evening’s . Since the awful 1® 1NT for me. Perhaps a raise to 2NT is enough disappointment she had suffered when Pass 3NT All Pass on that hand.’ her husband decided to partner the The Matron nodded her agreement. ‘It's Reverend Benson in the weekly school Not seeing much future in a club lead after best not to get too high,’ she said. duplicate, Grace Doulton had found little Grace Doulton’s confident 1NT bid, Sister ‘Actually, you could have made it,’ said opportunity to play the game. Carol tried her luck with the six of spades. Sister Carol. ‘The Matron’s opening bid Grace Doulton smiled at the two guests. ‘Good luck, my dear,’ said the Head - marked her with the two missing aces, so ‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like a sherry master, laying down his 10-count. you just needed to twice in before we start the next rubber?’ she asked. Grace Doulton sipped her sherry spades.’ ‘How very kind of you,’ replied Sister thoughtfully as she inspected the dummy. Grace Doulton had rarely heard such Carol, before the Matron could intervene. Moving swiftly into action, she won East’s nonsense. What on earth did this impu - ‘That’s a splendid fire you made for us, but king of spades with the ace and played a dent Irish girl know about the game? ‘I it’s made me quite thirsty.’ diamond to the king. The Matron took her had the ace-jack-ten of spades,’ she The Matron peered over her glasses. ace immediately and returned the four of informed her, speaking slowly as if to a ‘Alcohol doesn’t quench your thirst,’ she spades, declarer playing the jack. child. ‘Do you see? If I allow the Matron’s reprimanded. ‘A glass of water would Not needing to give the matter much king of spades to win, I make only one make more sense.’ thought, Sister Carol allowed the jack to spade trick.’ ‘No, no,’ said Sister Carol. ‘A sherry is win, following with the three. There was ‘Yes, but you the next spade too just what I need.’ little hope of beating the contract if East and there’s nothing I can do. It’s a waste of ‘Will you join us, Matron?’ asked Grace had started with ´K-4 instead of ´K-4-2. time clearing the spades, so I’ll probably Doulton. ‘It’s not as if we’re playing in In the latter case it would be essential to switch to a heart. You win with the king some important world championship.’ keep the spade queen as an to her and knock out the two aces.’ ‘What would the boys think if they knew hand. Grace Doulton looked purposefully that I was drinking alcohol?’ exclaimed the Grace Doulton took her three diamond across the table, expecting her husband to Matron. ‘Oh, go on then. I’ll have a small tricks, but then noted that there were only come to her support. one.’ seven top tricks on view. One extra trick in The Headmaster was busy refilling his All four players had a glass of sweet hearts wouldn’t help very much, so she pipe. ‘I’m afraid she’s right, my dear,’ he British sherry by their side as the game had to play on clubs. When the Matron said. ‘The Reverend Benson made a restarted. Grace Doulton ended as declarer won with the ace of clubs and returned similar hold-up play in last week’s on this deal: her last spade, Sister Carol claimed three duplicate.’ r

Love All. Dealer East. ‘BRIDGE LICENSED BY THE EBU’ ´ 7 5 When you see this in an advertisement in the magazine it means: ™ A J 6 The organisers of the holiday have applied for, and received, a licence. t K 10 6 5 • They may choose to give master points in accordance with EBU scales. ® Q 10 6 4 • These master points will be accepted and added to player records. ´ Q 9 8 6 3 ´ K 4 2 • The bridge will be played in line with EBU regulations and bye laws, thus ™ 10 8 5 3 N ™ Q 9 7 • W E affording all players the protection of playing within the jurisdiction of the EBU. t 8 2 S t A 9 4 ® 8 5 ® A 9 7 3 All County events advertised have an EBU licence. ´ A J 10 NOTE: Any events licensed by another National Bridge Organisation will ™ K 4 2 not be able to have master points credited to members’ records save for t Q J 7 3 Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with whom the EBU have a ® K J 2 reciprocal agreement.

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 7

8 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk Heather’s Hints by Heather Dhondy

Avoidance Pays

have to abandon a natural 2NT, and use intending to play the king unless West E/W Game. Dealer East. it instead as a means to bail out with a plays the queen. If West plays the queen to ´ 10 3 bad hand. Partner is expected to bid either trick, you should duck, thereby ™ 9 7 3 three clubs, which is passed or converted establishing the suit without conceding t K 8 to your own suit and is to play. Here, the lead to East. ® A K 10 8 4 3 partner’s direct 3 ® is a constructive bid, This was the full deal: over which you have sufficient extra N values to have a go at 3NT . W E S West leads the five of hearts to the three ´ 10 3 and ten, and you duck. You win the heart ™ 9 7 3 ´ A K J 5 continuation, West following with the t K 8 ™ A 8 two. What is your plan? ® A K 10 8 4 3 t A 7 5 3 2 You can assume that East will have a six- ´ Q 8 7 6 4 2 ´ 9 ® 9 7 card suit for his vulnerable , ™ 5 2 N ™ K Q J 10 6 4 W E and this means that West has no more t J 10 4 S t Q 9 6 hearts. Therefore if you lose the lead to ® Q 6 ® J 5 2 West North East South West, the defence will be unable to cash ´ A K J 5 2™ Dble the suit. You have seven top tricks, and a ™ A 8 Pass 3® Pass 3NT safe spade will take you up to eight t A 7 5 3 2 All Pass whether it wins or loses, therefore you ® 9 7 cannot come to your contract without PLAYING TEAMS East opens a weak two tackling clubs. What are your options in hearts. What call do you make with the the suit? South cards? You could play a club to the ten, hoping Heather’s Hints Although your shape is not perfect, a for West to hold both honours, but you take-out double is the least of evils, since can improve on that. You can set up the • If you need to keep a certain your diamond suit is too weak to clubs safely whenever West holds the opponent off lead, consider an . Over your take-out double, queen (unless singleton) by making an to establish your partner bids 3 ®. It is useful to play some avoidance play. Lead a club towards long suit. In order for it to work, system here, to enable partner to dis- dummy. If West does not play the queen, you need to lead towards the tinguish between a weak hand, and one win the ace and return to hand with a honours. On the deal above, if with some values. In order to do this you spade. Now play your other club, you had cashed a top club from dummy, West would have been able to unblock the queen under - ADVERTISEMENTS neath, and your avoidance play would not have worked. Although staff of English Bridge and the staff of Danby Advertising (Advertising Agent for English Bridge) take all reasonable precautions to protect the interests • Consider playing 2NT to show a of readers by ensuring as far as practicable that advertisements in the pages of weak hand when partner makes a English Bridge are bona fide, the magazine and its publisher, the EBU, cannot take-out double of a weak two accept any undertaking in respect of claims made by advertisers, whether these bid. Over a take-out double at the advertisements are printed as part of the magazine, or are in the form of inserts. one level, you have room to jump Legal remedies are available if redress is sought, and readers who have complaints to show extra values, but over a weak two you do not always have should address them to the advertiser or should consult a local Trading Standards that luxury as this could take you Office, or a Citizens’ Advice Bureau, or their own solicitors. Readers should note beyond 3NT, which is undesirable that prices advertised may not be accurate due to currency exchange rate fluctu - while you are still investigating ations, or tax changes. the right denomination . r

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 9 Mike Swanson Presents Excel Bridge IAMOND RIDGE For the very best in Luxury Bridge Breaks D B Our prices are inclusive of bridge costs.

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10 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk Director Please! by Mike Swanson

John Needs Some Brownie Points

‘I DIDN’T like those funnily coloured and John, who still had his six of East. suits in that last board; green clubs and diamonds in with his hearts, overuffed. ‘Only if North-South have won at least orange diamonds just don’t seem natural,’ Julie fulfilled her duties by saying one trick after the trick,’ explained said John. ‘Having none partner?’ West then did the the Director. ‘They must be designed to stop you mis- same to East knowing that one of them ‘And that’s not all, John psyched 1 ™ on a sorting your hand, but then you never do had revoked; however, he was hopeful that three-card suit so we should surely get an that sort of thing do you?’ replied Julie it was John as his reputation preceded adjusted score. I would certainly have ‘Of course not,’ replied John confidently. him. doubled the correct 1 ´ opening and then John now led a spade (he certainly we would have sailed into 4 ™ which my didn’t want to play trumps!) and West partner would certainly have made,’ com - E/W Game. Dealer South. took two spade tricks; two rounds of plained West. ´ 10 6 4 2 trumps followed at which stage John ‘I didn’t psyche, I mis-sorted my hand ™ 9 couldn’t help but notice that his last heart and as a result I misbid. A psyche would t J 9 2 was actually a diamond. He knew that he have been a deliberate act on my part.’ ® 9 7 5 3 2 didn’t actually have to admit to his revoke ‘John is quite right,’ said the Director. ´ A J ´ K 7 5 (so long as he didn’t actually try to hide ‘And you would only be entitled to an ™ A 5 3 N ™ K J 10 7 6 2 the fact that he had revoked, as in conced - adjusted score if Julie had taken a possible W E t Q 8 5 4 3 S t K 10 ing the rest of the tricks and returning his misbid into account, which is clearly not ® J 10 4 ® Q 6 cards to the board without showing them) the case here, so the score stands.’ ´ Q 9 8 3 but he thought it best to do so, which The traveller revealed that half of those ™ Q 8 4 resulted in much shaking of the head from East-Wests in 4 ™ had gone down after t A 7 6 Julie and the arrival of the Tournament playing for the drop in trumps, with just ® A K 8 Director. a few in the part score. ‘That’s not bad ‘I have revoked and won the revoke trick partner, a misbid and a revoke on the in my hand by ruffing; however, I didn’t same hand, and it is still not a bottom; East North West South win any more tricks after that,’ explained you are really are quite remarkable,’ said Julie John John. Julie in a pleasant but slightly sarcastic 1™ ‘Well that’s nice and straightforward tone. All Pass then: any tricks that you won before the John was grateful that he had a bunch of revoke are still yours but the revoke trick is red roses in the car as this year he had Being back to ordinary red and black cards transferred to East-West.’ remembered the significance of 14th John managed to put his six of diamonds ‘I thought it was a two trick penalty if February – just as well, as he was certainly in with his hearts and, as he thought he the offender won the revoke trick,’ said in need of some brownie points. r was 4-4 in the majors with 15 points, he made the normal opening bid of 1 ™. West wanted to bid but he had the wrong shape for a double and his diamond suit was BRIDGE AND GOLF much too poor for an overcall. Poor East could have overcalled 1NT in fourth seat; GIFTS DIRECT LIMITED after all he certainly did have a heart stop Large selection of bridge and golf gifts and the right number of points (11-14) but, not unreasonably, he chose to defend and bridge accessories instead. available online at www.bridgeandgolfgifts.co.uk West started by leading the jack of clubs and John took the two top clubs and ( 020 8954 8006 / 07853 066 582 exited with a third club to West who led a diamond to the king and ace, and John Fax: 020 420 7006 played another diamond back. Now West E-mail: [email protected] played a third diamond which East ruffed

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 11 

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12 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk Traps for the Unwary by Michael Byrne

Pre-empting at Higher Levels

IN THE last issue we looked at opening with Of course you might have a traditional The auction was subse quently more three-level pre-empts and how your hand eight-card suit and lack of defence: controlled after a 1NT opening in third seat by should contain minimal defence, plenty of This is a four- the partner and while it ultimately didn’t playing strength and a good suit, depending ´ K Q J 10 8 4 3 2 level opener at any make much difference to the hand, the point on vulnerability. All these factors remain ™ 8 posi tion and vul - was well made. exactly the same when deciding whether or t 7 6 5 ne rability, as the So far we have considered only traditional not to open at the four level. ® 4 extra shape gives it strength pre-empts, but of course in third In principle, a four-level opening shows plenty of bite. seat you can be a bit stronger and just bid an eight-card suit and a similar hand to a Getting there what you think you can make. three-level opening, but that is a very quick ly may also make it hard for the This hand is a bit simplified way of looking at it. opposition – they won’t be in a position to ´ A K J 9 7 6 4 3 strong for a first- or An opening four-bid in a know how best to defend. ™ K Q J second-seat four- basically shows a pre-emptive hand with Change the hand to: t 7 opening, as partner enough shape to be confident that 3NT is And now you ® 6 is unlikely to bid the wrong contract. The suit will normally ´ K Q 7 6 5 4 3 2 would open 4 ´ on with strong no- not contain A-K-Q as that makes it too ™ 4 3 non-vulnerable, or trump values, but strong. A recent example hand that cropped t 5 at Game All, but at in third seat 4 ´ is the most practical shot. You up in a competition was: ® 6 5 adverse vulne ra bi - won’t miss a slam and by forcing the My team-mate lity you might opponents to make a decision at a high level ´ 5 held this hand and chicken out and you will occasionally reap riches, being ™ 6 opened 4 t as open 3 ´ since the 8-2-1-2 shape and lack of doubled in a making game or doubling them t J 10 9 7 6 5 3 dealer at green, trump intermediates would slow you down. for penalties when they overcall. ® A J 10 6 (the vul ne ra bility So far we have only seen hands that have Let’s review some of the Dos and Don’ts of that we saw last points in their long suits; what about those high level pre-empting: time was the best awkward hands with values outside? for pre-empting, i.e. non-vulnerable vs This was another real life example from a vulnerable). It kept the opponents out of a recent match: Do: slam which had been reached at my table Dealer at Game • Vary your pre-empts in third seat – after they opened this hand 3 t. ´ Q 9 7 6 5 4 3 2 All what is your remember that keeping partner in The extra playing shape (7-4-1-1) and the ™ K choice? the dark is best done when he is fact that both singletons were in the majors t A 2 At one table the known to have a poor hand. convinced him to go all out for aggression, ® 8 7 opponents opened • Bear in mind the vulnerability, as it is the winning approach. This was an unusual 3´ which was not a one of your greatest weapons and hand for a four-level pre-empt as the suit very good idea: key factors when deciding at what was relatively poor, but lack of defence and not withstanding that your suit is poor, you level to bid. extra playing strength combined with the have values outside and partner will find it • Look at the residual shape of a hand. vulnerability meant it was attractive. hard to judge that two small spades and a A or two singletons gives the In a you often open marginal weak no-trump type of hand will prove to be hand extra bite; 7-2-2-2 or 8-2-2-1 are opening hands at the four level on the strong enough for game. For example, a as unproductive as they can be. grounds that the sooner your side gets there hand such as: Don’t: the better: ´ 10 8 ™ Q 7 5 4 t J 5 4 ® A K J 2 • Be afraid of passing if you have good There would not will produce ten tricks on most leads and values outside your suit and a lack of ´ Void be anything wrong distributions. playing strength; you will normally ™ A K Q J 9 7 5 with op en ing this Partner raised to 4 ´ and now the oppo - get a second go. t J 8 6 5 hand 1 ™, but the sition bid 4NT to show a two-suited hand. • Open four of a minor with a ® J 5 sooner you get to Opener then broke discipline and bid 5 ´, potentially solid suit, as you might 4™ the better, as effectively bidding the same hand twice, miss 3NT. the aim may be to feeling guilty about the extra spade. • Bid again if you have pre-empted; stop the opponents finding their 4 ´ contract The other player who held this hand was once you have elected to pre-empt – or to push them into it! England’s number-one ranked player who you have told your story and all An opening bid of 1 ™ may enable them to elected to pass! This may seem extreme, but future decisions are best left to judge whether or not to bid 4 ´ over your 4 ™ look at the various downsides of pre-empting. partner. ‘Pre-emptor never bids contract, whereas a 4 ™ opening makes them You have an ace and a king outside and a again’ is a sound maxim. r take a unilateral decision. ropey suit, with unattractive 8-2-1-2 shape.

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 13 Treat yourself to the excitement of watching England LIVE on Vu-graph! Support our bridge Internationals – go and watch the JUNIOR CAMROSE & Peggy Bayer Trophy on 16-17 February 2013, from 10am Park Inn Radisson, 4 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester M4 4EW ALL WELCOME – FREE ENTRY

Sunday 24 March 2013 PORTLAND PAIRS

Green- A two-session Mixed Pairs event pointed that will be match-pointed over the entire field via the internet Venues Bournemouth Christchurch Bridge Club Bristol Bristol Bridge Club Bury St. Edmunds Risbygate Bridge Club Chester Deva Bridge Club Colwyn Bay* Colwyn Bay Cricket Club Darlington St. George’s Bridge Centre Exeter ISCA Centre Lancashire Brierfield Bridge Club London Young Chelsea Bridge Club Oxfordshire Steventon Village Hall Richmond Richmond Bridge Club Sheffield Sheffield Bridge Club Solihull West Midlands Bridge Club Tunbridge Wells Tunbridge Wells Bridge Club Welwyn Garden City Welwyn Garden City Bridge Club *Those wishing to play at the Welsh venue should contact Mrs Sheila Shea ( 01492 540942 or [email protected] Entries / enquiries to EBU Comps Department ( 01296 317203 or 01296 317219 e-mail [email protected]

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14 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk Great Bridge Disasters by David Burn It Happened on a Friday Evening A new series on real-life bridge disasters and the lessons we might (or might not) learn from them

THE CHARACTERISTIC of a disaster, as bid hearts, so there weren’t many unbid West North East South opposed to a mere mishap, calamity or even suits left. But in these days double has 1t catastrophe, is that a disaster takes a long ceased to be a logical action. It is a mystic Pass 1´ Dble 2t while to build up before striking with invocation, calling on the powers of Light to 2™ Dble Pass 3NT devastating force. Often, though, it isn’t guide partner in the almost impossible task Pass 4® Pass 6t clear exactly what form the disaster is going of working out what you have and what to Pass Pass Dble All Pass to take or even to whom it is going to do next. I thought better of passing it, happen. Consider the fate of East on the especially in view of my own heart length You see what I mean about disasters – featured deal, which comes from a game at and the fact that East did not have the air of North-South had taken a full five rounds the Young Chelsea played about seven years a man who was about to put down a shaky of bidding to arrive in one of the more ago. He held these cards at un favourable dummy. So I bid 3NT – of course, I didn’t ridiculous contracts seen even at the vulnera bi lity: have much of a club stop, but no one had Young Chelsea on a Friday evening. That bid clubs. they were on different wavelengths during East Sitting South with That was soon to be remedied, because the bidding is not uncommon in casual ´ A K 10 4 the hand below and my partner now did bid them: partnerships such as this, but it occurs to ™ A K J 9 5 playing with a part - me that the gulf between the game I grew t 4 ner who had regret- West North East South up playing and the game I play nowadays ® K 9 8 tably ab sorbe d vast 1t is considerable, particularly when it comes quanti ties of modern Pass 1´ Dble 2t to competitive auctions. North’s bidding 2™ Dble Pass 3NT by modern standards is not wholly bid ding theory, I South Pass 4® Pass ? exceptionable. One spade is a routine opened the bid - ´ 8 6 response to 1 t, and a take-out double of ding with 1 t, ™ Q 8 6 I had not the vaguest notion what this 2™ shows roughly this shape: short hearts, and the auction t A K Q 9 8 6 5 3 meant, but it did not seem to me that my long clubs, diamond tolerance, not continued: ® Void partner could have very many hearts. One enough to make a of 3 ®. Of does not usually remove 3NT out of fright – course, 4 ® was not especially sound, but bids above that level are generally cue-bids my own bidding wasn’t exactly a model West North East South in support of partner, or some other kind of either. 1t try for slam. Since I seemed to have a few Pass 1´ Dble ? more playing tricks than I might have done HHHHHH for the sequence to date, I bid 6 t, which I thought I would bid only 2 t to see what was doubled on my right. The full deal was: You may recall that I asked you to developed. Moreover, I wasn’t sure consider East’s fate rather than South’s. whether North would think 3 t was strong Since he had doubled a slam with ace- or pre-emptive, since I had no idea how E/W Game. ´ Q J 9 5 king, ace-king, king, facing a partner trendy people play such sequences Dealer South. ™ 10 who had volunteered a bid, you may nowadays. West bid 2 ™ and my partner t J 10 wonder why he would need any doubled it, so the auction was now: ® Q J 10 7 6 5 sympathy, especially in view of the fact ´ 7 3 2 ´ A K 10 4 that his partner led yet another ace. But West North East South ™ 7 4 3 2 N ™ A K J 9 5 if you consider the full diagram, the W E 1t t 7 2 S t 4 implications of the lead of the ace of Pass 1´ Dble 2t ® A 4 3 2 ® K 9 8 clubs may dawn on you. I ruffed, crossed 2™ Dble Pass ? ´ 8 6 to the ten of diamonds, passed the queen ™ Q 8 6 of clubs, ruffed the king of clubs, crossed This can’t logically be for take-out – take- t A K Q 9 8 6 5 3 to the jack of diamonds and claimed one out into what, after all? We had bid dia - ® Void of the less likely plus 1090s in the history monds and spades and the opponents had of bridge. r

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 15 Teams Tactics by Derek Patterson

All Guns Blazing!

IMAGINE THAT you are South with the to create swings, in the hope that these successful finesse might still achieve the following hand: turn out to be favourable. It is inad visable, desired swing because, at the other table, however, to take long-shots as these they would probably play for the drop, or ´ A J 10 8 2 You are the dealer invariably turn a difficult situation into maybe start with the king first. Accord ingly, ™ A Q J 5 2 and open 1 ´, partner one that is insurmountable. the jack of spades was run and when East t K 7 raising to 3 ´. How The recommended approach is to make showed out, the slam had been brought ® 3 should you proceed? a bid or play that is just slightly against the home – with some panache! To make slam a cer - odds. In this way, hopefully, the opponents Here is the full deal: tainty, partner seems to will not make the same decision and there require the ´K-Q and two aces, or ´K-Q, will still be a reasonable chance (close to ™K and one ace, neither being possible 50%) of success, thereby creating a Game All. Dealer South. after the limit raise. It is conceivable that positive swing for the trailing side. Contract: 6 ´. Lead: ™8. partner has something akin to: How would these circumstances affect ´ K 9 5 4 ´ K 7 5 3 ™ 7 6 3 t A 5 2 ® A 9 2 the decision on our featured deal? When ™ K 7 when 6 ´ would be a reasonable the hand actually occurred, opener recog - t A 8 6 3 proposition but opposite some respond- nised a perfect opportunity to substan - ® J 10 8 ing hands such as: tially reduce the opponents’ lead and via ´ Q 7 6 ´ 3 ´ K 7 5 3 ™ K 7 t 10 9 5 ® K Q 10 4 the auction detailed below, bid up to 6 ´. ™ 8 3 N ™ 10 9 6 4 W E it would be desirable to play in 4 ´ and no To do this missing two aces would have t J 9 5 4 S t Q 10 2 higher. On that basis, under normal cir - been reckless but to bid slam missing the ® K 6 5 2 ® A Q 9 7 4 cum stances, either opener should bid 4 ´, queen of trumps and one ace represented ´ A J 10 8 2 or choose a slam-try, such as 4 ™, thereby a fair shot. On the lead of the ™8, the ™ A Q J 5 2 consulting partner. dummy went down and in order to make t K 7 Playing teams, however, there will the slam, declarer had to negotiate the ® 3 be circumstances under which a more following trump suit: aggressive approach could be condoned. The point is that teams bridge is played in ´ K 9 5 4 North South matches, one team against another. In N 1´ W E certain forms, such as a knock-out S 3´ 4NT competition, the sole objective is to win ´ A J 10 8 2 5™1 6´ any given match – the margin of victory Pass being irrelevant. If, when nearing the end He started with the ace of spades and of an encounter, one team is a long way continued with the jack of spades, with 1 Showing two key cards, in this case behind, that team should be prepared to both opponents following (West twice). the ´K and the tA and also denying take more risks than normal, in order to Normally, with four cards missing, the the ´Q. make up the lost ground. drop would be preferred although the For example, if, after twenty-four boards odds between this and taking the finesse South’s bidding and play had been in a 32-board match, a team found itself are very close. Hence, South identified a designed to create a positive swing for his 40 IMPs behind, then the players of that further chance to create a swing, reasoning side without taking any ridiculous risks. team should realise that they are unlikely that although the bidding had been opti - The bidding rated to prove successful to recoup the deficit by utilising normal mistic, the contract was reasonable and quite often (say 40 % of the time) and the tactics. They must go down fighting and the opponents in the other room might situation demanded some lively action. the most sensible strategy would be to try have reached the same spot. In that case, a The rationale was that a 40% chance to greatly reduce the gap was worth taking when, otherwise, the odds of overcoming 2011-2012 NICKO: Congratulations to Cambridge A (Chris Jagger, such a large deficit were very poor indeed. Jon Cooke, Jonathan Mestel and Julian Wightwick) who have won the 2011/12 Desperate times call for desperate National Inter-Club Knockout. They beat Cheltenham B by 43 IMPs in the final . measures. The chosen line of play was adopted on

16 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk similar grounds and in practice, South’s well-reasoned tactics did indeed create a 13-IMP swing for the trailing side (incidentally, beginning a run of similar results that secured a most unlikely Top Table Simon Cope victory). Other ways of creating such swings include: SIMON COPE is a 29-year-old full- time bridge professional from London. • Pre-empting on hands that normally Having represented England several would not quite qualify for such a treatment; times at Junior level, he has since com - • Bidding slightly more aggressively bined playing with several roles as NPC than normal to reach game (or slam, and coach of various teams, and at as we have seen); different times has captained U20s, • Being less cautious, although still realistic, when doubling for penalties. U25s, Women’s and Open teams. His successes as a player include coming In all cases, a player should be prepared to second at the prestigious Icelandair take a slightly bigger risk than normal, in order to rescue a near-hopeless cause. Teams and winning several major Wild risks, however, should be avoided. domestic events. Perhaps team-mates will be able to When did you start playing bridge? What are your favourite bridge books? produce the goods and it would be I started playing bridge at about the age of Card Play Technique by . unforgivable to undo their good work by 13, when I stumbled across my school David Bird's imaginative books are also a sheer recklessness. bridge club by mistake. I started becom - really fun read, and bridge should be fun! It should be noted that the side that is ing engrossed in it and the more I played, ahead would be well-advised to attempt to the more it fed my addiction! What are your hobbies? neutralise these tactics by being more I love travelling first and foremost, with aggressive themselves, especially in terms How often / where do you play? a particular affection for southern of bidding thin games and thin slams. On I play pretty much daily, at a variety of Africa. I also love playing tennis and another tack, please be aware that in a bridge clubs over North London and golf, and (surprisingly, I know!) enjoy multiple or Swiss teams event and, also, additionally I play frequently with going to the gym. As regards watch ing when the match is part of a league, the friends on the website www.bridgebase. sport, cricket, tennis, football and rugby margin of defeat is very likely to be com late at night. are high on the list. Dining out with relevant and so this ‘going down fighting’ Do you always play with the same friends is also enjoyable. approach is inappropriate for such events. partners / team-mates? What do you What do you like and what would you expect of them? change in bridge? I frequently play with the same people, The game is unique: it is almost impossi - CONCLUSION both as partners and team-mates, but I ble to encounter an identical situation think it is good to experiment with new twice, so the need to think on your feet Towards the end of a knock-out people now and again – I think it broad - and use your powers of logic is fascinat - match, if the opponents hav e ens your horizons, which is especially ing. One thing I would like to see is some established a nearly unassailable lead, important for someone who is young. All BAM (Board-A-Match) events in Eng - a player should be prepared to take I expect is for them to behave reasonably, land – seems like a fun format to me! marginally more risky actions than i.e. to give their best on every deal, and to normal in order to create swings, accept that we all make mistakes some - What’s the bridge success (so far) without which the match is bound to times, and it is not intentional. There is closest to your heart? be lost anyway. If your team must go nothing worse than partner screaming at The two best moments for me have been down, then go down all guns blazing! you over the table in front of the oppo - as respectively coach and captain of the nents; I don't like it, so why should any - Open team: winning the silver medal in P.S. In the previous articles, I one else? Beijing in 2008 as coach and qualifying identified certain strategies, appro - for next year’s as non- priate to all teams play. In this one, I What do you do for a living? playing captain of the Open team in have ended the series by considering a I teach and play bridge for a living –I Dublin last year. In terms of playing, my specific situation and how it might feel that I am lucky to be able to do most satisfying results were winning the affect a player’s approach. Despite its something I love for a living. It also gives Swiss Pairs in Brighton in 2008 and get - lack of generality, the topic merits me an enormous sense of pleasure see - ting a silver medal in the 2009 Icelandair discussion because of the frequent use ing someone I have taught going on to Teams. The best thing, though, is that I of the knock-out format in teams achieve some of their goals in the have gained an enormous number of play. r game. friends all over the world.

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 17 2012 Xmas Quiz by Andrew Robson Answers and Results

Thank you to all the many, many members who entered. Congratulations to our winner, Chris Shambrook of Loddon Vale BC, Reading, who achieved 100/100 and receives a luxury Pelissier card table. A draw was made among the second-highest scorers, and a bridge book each goes to second and third, David Wilson of Cottingham and Bill Townsend of Leeds.

Section A (Questions 1-4) your part-score plus. Hearts rates to play 4. ´ Q 9 4 ™ J 7 3 t Q 5 ® K J 10 8 2 You are South in each problem. Which of a trick better than no-trumps, facing a the three selected bids would you find at typical 2-4-4-3 shape, so it is imperative West North East South the key moment and why? You are play ing that you bid the suit. As regards bidding Pass duplicate pairs and neither side is vul- 3™, typically you’d jump opposite a 1´ 2™ 3´ ? nerable. double with 9+ points; but ascribing too What call do you make? You will be given a mark out of 10 for much value to the queen of spades is (A) 4 ™; (B) Pass; (C) 4 ®. your choice (10 for the correct answer – dubious, as is pushing for a close game. in Andrew’s judgement). As regards bidding 1NT, the one plus is Do we really want to get involved? Bearing that, unlike 2 ™, it shows values (about in mind our defensive spades – and 1. ´ A Q 9 7 5 ™ A K J 7 5 t K 4 3 ® Void 7-10 points); but nonetheless it has to be diamonds – and the fact that we’d have to marked down as +90 does not score well bid at the four-level, the answer has to be West North East South alongside +110 (or +140) . no (it would be so different with ´x-x-x 1´ Marks: ( A) 10; (B) 7; (C) 4. and ™Q-J-x). So pass scores 10. If we are Pass 3´ Pass ? to bid, however, how much better to ______introduce our clubs – at least that way What call do you make? partner will lead a club vs 4´. (As a passed (A) 4 ®; (B) 6 ´; (C) 4 ™. 3. ´ Void ™ 7 5 4 2 t A Q 8 3 ® Q 10 9 7 4 hand, partner should realise we are likely to have some heart support for 4 ®, but At pairs, you should not be overly West North East South even if he doesn’t, we can always run to 4 ™ scientific. The fewer bids you make in 1™ Pass if 4 ® is doubled in the metaphorical voice reaching the contract, the better: the less 3™ Pass Pass ? of thunder). information you give away. With your Marks: ( B) 10; (C) 7; (A) 3. four-loser hand, 6 ´ must have a decent What call do you make? chance: so that is quite simply what you (A) Pass; (B) 4 ®; (C) 3NT. ______should bid. If you do decide to mark time, it is far better to bid naturally in this Interesting. The opponents rate to have Section B (Questions 5-8) position rather than make some nebulous eight or, more likely, nine hearts between Which of the following three South control-showing bid. Misguidedly bid 4 ® them and that leaves partner with at most hands would bid according to the and is partner supposed to like K-Q-10-x one heart. Partner hasn’t bid 3 ´ (remember sequence given? What should the other or not? he must have something or the opponents two do differently? Assume you are play- Marks: (B) 10; (C) 8; (A) 3. would have bid higher), so he doesn’t have ing duplicate pairs and neither side is too many spades, therefore he has many vulnerable. ______minor-suit cards and your hands should You will get 6 marks for the correct fit like a glove. It is clear to act and best is answer – in Andrew’s judgement, and 2 2. ´ Q 9 7 3 ™ K J 10 7 t K 7 ® 9 7 6 3NT, which can only be for the minors marks each for giving the correct alter - (not natural) given your failure to act over native bidding for the other hands. West North East South 1™. Partner can then choose the minor. 1´ Dble Pass ? 4® is better than pass, as it is so clear to do 5. West North East South something positive: once again, remember 1™ Dble What call do you make? that partner must have something or the 2™ Pass Pass 2´ (A) 2 ™; (B) 3 ™; (C) 1NT. opponents would have bid higher. Marks: ( C) 10; (B) 7; (A) 3. (A) ´ A J 10 6 4 ™ 4 t K J 9 7 ® A J 7 At pairs, you should not push for close (B) ´ A Q J 8 3 ™ 7 t A K 6 ® K J 8 7 games; but you should try to maximise ______(C) ´ A K Q 4 ™ 7 6 t A K 6 ® Q 10 5 3

18 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk Answer : Doubling for take-out, then chances of defeating 4 ™ – your king of they are missing about 15 points, given bidding 2 ´ shows a hand too strong to bid hearts rates to score a trick on defence yet their invitational auction. The more points 1´ first time – i.e. around 18+ points. will be worth nothing in 5 ® (doubled). you have, the fewer your partner has. It is Hand (B) is correct and gets 6 marks. Hand (C) should probably bid on over 4 ™, where your points are and the shape of Hand (A) is not good enough for the but in that case you should clearly try 4 ´: if your hand that is key – especially your double-then-bid route and should bid 1 ´ partner has four spades you surely belong holding in dummy’s spades, for your over 1 ™, planning to double (for take-out) there – and might even make. double asks for the lead of that suit. Hand if the bidding continues 2 ™ – Pass – Pass. (C) re pre sents a very good double, for a Hand (C) should double 1 ™ then double ______spade lead from partner is sure to be best again after 2 ™ comes back: to bid 2 ´ and as long as partner holds a doubleton shows five cards. 8. West North East South spade, you are almost certain to defeat the 1´ game. Hand (A) is the double that might ______Pass 1NT Pass 2t work well: a spade lead from partner with Pass 2´ Pass 2NT you winning and switching to the jack of 6. West North East South hearts looks very strong defence. It may 1NT (A) ´ A K 9 7 ™ 10 8 t A K J 7 ® J 7 3 backfire of course, especially if declarer Pass 2®1 Dble 2 2´ (B) ´ A Q 9 8 3 ™ 4 t A Q 9 7 ® K Q 8 holds a high spade, but passing and seeing Pass 2NT Pass 3NT (C) ´ A K 9 4 2 ™ A 9 t A J 9 8 ® J 8 partner lead a likely diamond does not feel 1 Stayman good. Hand (B) is a poor double. Your 2 Showing clubs Answer: Bidding 1 ´ then 2 t guarantees partner is marked with nothing and there (at least) a 5-4 shape. Following with 2NT is no reason to expect to make more than (A) ´ A J 10 4 ™ 4 3 t Q J 9 7 ® K Q 7 is a game invite, implying a reasonably no- your three top tricks. So the answer is . . . (B) ´ A 6 4 3 ™ K Q 8 t A J 8 2 ® 8 7 trumpy hand within those confines. Hand Hand (C) is the good double; Hand (A) (C) ´ A K 8 4 ™ 7 6 t A J 6 3 ® J 8 3 (C) is the correct answer – a textbook is the fair double; Hand (B) is the poor hand for the sequence. Hand (B) should double. Answer: Clearly clubs are a concern. follow with 3 ® over 2 ´, ‘pat ter ning out’, Bidding on to 3NT without clubs stopped implying his precise 5-1-4-3 shape. Hand ______is fraught with danger. Hand (A) is correct (A) should not bid 2 t at all (without the and gets 6 marks: with the ace of clubs on fifth spade). You might raise 1NT to 2NT 10. West North East South your right, your ®K-Q-x is virtually as (for one mark) but at pairs I’d pass 1NT 1NT Pass good as ®A-K-x – that’s 15 points: you (two marks), as usual not pushing for 2®1 Pass 2™ Pass must certainly accept the game invite. close games. 3™ Pass 4™ Dble Hand (C) should pass 2NT, with its 1 Stayman worrying clubs and barren looking 13 (no ______tens or nines). With Hand (B), the best bid (A) ´ J 10 9 6 ™ Void t 8 7 5 4 3 2 ® 4 3 2 over 2NT is 3 ™ – the 4-3 heart fit should Section C (Questions 9-10) (B) ´ 8 7 ™ A 8 5 2 t 8 6 ® Q J 10 4 3 play well: you’ll be ruffing clubs in the On the final two questions (still play ing (C) ´ Q 7 ™ Q 10 8 6 t Q 5 ® K J 10 3 2 short hand (and partner must have four pairs) you are again South. The oppo - hearts given his Stayman bid). nents have bid unopposed and you are Answers : Like the last problem, your considering doubling the final con tract. number of high-card points is irrelevant: ______On both questions, one of the three what you lack, partner has, totalling about hands given represents a relatively clear 15. Most important is your trump holding 7. West North East South double; one hand is the sort of double and the most promising heart holding for 1t 2® that might work well (but might not); the a double is Hand (A) : your partner very 2™ 3® 4™ 5® third is a poorly judged double. Identify likely has five hearts. So double – and note all three for 10 marks. the double is better coming from your side (A) ´ J 10 4 ™ Void t K Q 10 8 ® K J 10 7 5 3 Five marks for getting the clear double as declarer will probably begin drawing (B) ´ 8 3 2 ™ K t A 6 3 ® A K 8 7 4 2 but putting the others the wrong way trumps the wrong way, believing you to (C) ´ A Q 10 2 ™ 6 t 9 6 ® K Q 10 5 3 2 round (again, all in the judgement of have the strength. Hand (B) represents a Andrew). fair double: lead the queen of clubs and Answer: bidding at pairs does not you may well bring off a nice forcing generally pay. For a save to score most of 9. West North East South defence (your ace of trumps can be held the match-points, it needs to be cheaper 1´ Pass up to the appropriate moment to bring than the opposing game, the opposing 1NT Pass 2NT Pass this about). Hand (C ) is not a good double game must be making, and most of the 3NT Pass Pass Dble – indeed your double may tip declarer off field (other pairs holding your opponents’ as to how to play trumps and so enable cards at other tables) must be bidding the (A) ´ K J 6 ™ J 10 9 8 3 t 6 ® A 7 4 3 him to make a contract in which he would game. Having said that, Hand (A) should (B) ´ A 8 4 3 2 ™ Q 9 7 t J 6 4 ® A K have failed had you kept quiet. Plus what bid 5 ®: little defence to 4 ™ and every (C) ´ A K J 9 4 ™ 3 t 8 5 ® 10 9 4 3 2 would be your ? So . . . chance that 5 ® doubled will be cheap (that Hand (A) is the good double; Hand (B) heart void is a huge incentive for the bid). Answers: The one factor that is irrelevant is the fair double; Hand (C) is the poor Hand (B) should pass 4 ™: you have good is your point-count. The opponents know double. r

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 19 Basic Cardplay by Paul Bowyer

Making Use of the Trump Suit

THIS SERIES of articles has looked at the diamond loser and a (slow) club loser. (I got fed up with every hand being played play of the cards in a trump contract . Winners? There are four spades, one heart, in 4 ´, so now the trump suit is hearts). When dummy goes down you must stop three diamonds and two clubs. So West cashes two top clubs and switches to and think (only lunatics and geniuses play altogether there are three losers and ten a diamond. Count – plan – execute. quickly to trick one) and what you should winners. In these cases it is (almost Winners? Two spades, six hearts and a be doing during this period of cogitation always) right to draw trumps. Why am I diamond – making nine. Losers? No is counting. Counting losers, counting wasting your time on such a trivial hand? spades, no hearts, two diamonds and two winners and, of course, counting trumps. Because many players (make that: far too clubs – making four. So then, we have nine So far we have looked at hands where we many players) win the heart ace at trick winners and four losers. Where is the draw trumps immediately and hands one and ruff a heart at trick two, with an tenth trick going to come from? where we need to ruff losers in the dummy air of achievement. Ruffing in the ‘long Now, you may draw trumps if you wish (so we delay the drawing of trumps). In hand’ is rarely right: all you do is weaken but really you shouldn’t do that unless you the last article there was a series of hands your trump suit, and here you will now be can ‘see’ your contract, and here you can’t. where we postponed drawing trumps in danger if spades break 4-1. Note that a Incidentally, I was struck recently by a until we had discarded our losers. This heart ruff gains you nothing: South has remark made by a top American player who article is concerned with another category four spade tricks in any case and ruffing a reckoned that, in trump contracts, he drew of hands – those where we use the trump heart gains precisely no extra tricks. trumps as his first play about 40% of the suit to ruff out a suit. time. On 60% of hands there was Now, we need to be clear here. Crystal HHHHHH something else to do first. Interesting . . . clear. In general terms it is (very) poor play Anyway, back to the plot in 4 ™. Obviously, to ruff in the long trump hand. In the deal On the next deal, however, ruffing in the you can play off the ´A-K and ruff a spade. below you can see a very common error: long hand is the right play – and it is But why should you do that? It certainly important to see the essential difference doesn’t give you any more than the six heart between Deal 1 and Deal 2. tricks that you had to start with. The answer Deal 1 is that you are trying to get that seven of South plays in 4 ´. spades set up as the tenth trick. If the spades West leads the ™2. Deal 2 are 3-3 then you have two spade tricks ´ Q 10 4 South plays in 4 ™. available in the dummy as the ´7-6 are both ™ A 7 6 West leads the ®A-K winners. So you can draw trumps t Q 10 3 and plays the t5. (assuming they aren’t 4-0) ending in ® 9 6 3 2 ´ A K 7 6 2 dummy and cash the last two spades. That’s ™ Q J 9 an overtrick. If the spades are 4-2 you have N t 8 4 3 W E to cross to dummy with a trump, ruff S ® Q 3 another spade (high) and then cross back to dummy, draw the last trump if there is one ´ K J 9 7 5 N and finally cash the last spade. Phew! W E ™ J S Note that if you draw trumps pre ma - t K J 9 8 turely, then you won’t have sufficient ® A K 7 ´ 9 4 entries in the dummy to do all your work ™ A K 10 8 6 2 – that is: the ruffing out and managing the t A 7 2 entries to dummy and the drawing of Let’s go back to basics. Count losers – ® J 10 trumps. To forestall the letter-writers, I there is a certain spade loser, a certain realise that a 5-1 spade break means that the king of spades will be ruffed and declarer will go two down instead of one down. Shame. The play is well worth that THE BRIDGE ENGLAND SIM PAIRS Blue- in support of our national teams takes place on 5 and 6 February 2013 pointed risk, don’t you think? at clubs around the country – details at www.ebu.co.uk The spade ruffs in declarer’s hand gained no extra tricks by themselves – they

20 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk were, however, an essential part of ruffing HHHHHH out dummy’s side-suit. If you understand that one, try this one. CLUB PLAYER’S Deal 4 HHHHHH South plays in 4 ™. BIDDING QUIZ West leads the ´10 ´ J 6 ON each of the following problems, ™ Deal 3 10 7 2 you are West. What should you bid South plays in 4 ´. t A 9 7 5 4 3 with each hand on the given auction? West leads the tK. ® 8 3 gives his answers on ´ 10 4 2 page 54. ™ K Q 8 7 4 N W E t A 8 2 S ® 10 4 ´ K 5 2 Hand 1 WNES N ™ A K Q J 5 ´ 6 Pass Pass W E S t 8 2 ™ K 8 3 1t Pass 1´ Pass ® A 9 4 t K Q 9 6 5 2® Pass 3® Pass ´ A K Q J 5 ® A 10 7 6 ? ™ A 3 t 7 6 3 Four Hearts, eh? How did you reach such ® J 9 7 a contract? I know: your partner bid like a lunatic; I’ve heard it all before. Here West Hand 2 WNES kicks off with the ten of spades, East win- ´ 8 6 5 1® Dble Pass Count – plan – execute (this formula ning with the ace of spades and meanly ™ Q 5 4 3 ? never varies). Let’s start by counting returning a trump. Where are your ten t A 9 7 5 winners and losers. Firstly winners: five tricks coming from? Count – plan – ® K 8 spades, three hearts, one diamond and no execute. You have the king of spades, five clubs. That makes nine winners. Now hearts, the ace of diamonds and the ace of losers: no spades, no hearts, two diamonds clubs as top tricks. You might get a spade and two clubs. That makes four losers. ruff on the table for a ninth but you can’t Hand 3 WNES Any attempt to ruff a club on the table is expect to get too far by ruffing things in ´ J 7 2 1NT Pass doomed to defeat – declarer will suffer the dummy – when you lose the lead you can ™ A K 2 ? loss of two clubs and two diamonds before expect another trump to come whistling t A Q 10 2 he gets going. How about playing for a 3-3 back at you at just under the speed of ® A K 6 heart break, then? Cash three hearts, light. So, eight winners. Losers? A spade, throwing a diamond and then give up two no hearts, a diamond and a club. Odd – clubs and ruff a club in the dummy? No, eight tricks, only three losers. That doesn’t that’s a really bad idea and sloppy thinking. add up. (Actually, you have two club losers Hand 4 WNES If hearts are 3-3, then declarer may as well – and an extra spade loser – if you were to ´ 9 5 3 1NT Pass draw trumps and run five heart tricks, draw trumps). ™ A Q 8 ? actually making an overtrick. Best play is to Anyway – let’s make 4 ™, by playing for t K Q 10 7 6 5 assume that spades are 3-2 and hearts 4-2 trumps and diamonds both to break 3-2. ® 8 (at least that fits in with the odds – these are If they do, we cannot be defeated. Can you the most likely breaks). see the winning line? If not, then stop and The most accurate line of play is as work it out. WNES follows: win with the ace of diamonds, Did you get it? The answer is that you Hand 5 1® Pass 1´ Pass cash two top trumps in hand (if spades are need to ruff out the diamonds and to ´ Q ? 4-1 declarer needs a 3-3 heart break). reach them with the ten of hearts. To get ™ A J 8 Assuming East-West both follow to two the timing right, you must duck a round t 10 8 5 3 trumps, you can now ruff out the hearts: of diamonds. So . . . win the trump ® A K 8 6 3 ace of hearts, king of hearts, ruff a heart return in hand and duck a diamond. Win with a high trump. Cross to the ten of the return (a trump?), cash the ace of spades (which has the double effect of diamonds, ruff a diamond high in hand drawing the last trump and gaining an – setting up the diamonds – and then Hand 6 WNES entry to dummy) and cash the last two cross to the ten of hearts. By now the ´ Q 10 8 3 1t hearts. Declarer now has five trump tricks, trumps will have been drawn and all the ™ K 10 7 ? four heart tricks and the ace of diamonds. diamonds will be good. You will make t K Q 7 4 Finally, a deal to show that if you bid the one spade, five hearts, four diamonds ® K 7 spots off the cards you have to be able to and a club. That’s eleven tricks. Maybe play them with care, attention and you won’t need to criticise your partner’s elegance . . . bidding after all . . . r

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 21 Report by Tom Townsend Premier League 2012 – Division 1 WHAT MAKES an exciting league tricks. Any pair which did that every time expert commentators on BBO predicted ten competition – in any sport? Ideally the and no more would enjoy great results but tricks and a flat board: ‘A club, a spade and teams should be well enough matched occasionally it’s not enough: probably a trump to lose . . . next!’ While that any team in a division can beat any these respected gentlemen visited the other on its day. The contest should be kitchen to put on the kettle, the wily Swede long enough to return a worthy winner, Game All. Dealer East. was attacking declarer’s options with a but relatively short term form must play a ´ J 9 8 5 switch to the three of diamonds. Now cover part, as must luck. Controversy, talking ™ J 8 7 5 up the East-West hands if you like and plan points and transfer speculation add spice t A Q J 2 the play with South. Unwilling to risk the and intrigue. It’s best if every team has ® 3 diamond finesse losing and East returning something to play for, right until the end ´ Q 6 2 ´ K 10 7 3 the suit for West to ruff, declarer rose with of the season. The EBU Premier League ™ 2 N ™ Q 9 4 the ace and played trumps from the top. W E scores well on all these counts, and entered t K 3 S t 10 4 Not a stupid line but one down. its fifth term clearly established as not only ® A K J 8 7 5 4 ® 10 9 6 2 Elsewhere East-West often saved in 5 ®. the expert English bridge event but also as ´ A 4 Doubling it for a safe 500 was the best the most absorbing sporting contest in ™ A K 10 6 3 policy but some optimistic Souths like English bridge. t 9 8 7 6 5 David Kendrick of the Fegarty team pressed The favourites had to be Allfrey (Alex - ® Q on to 5 ™, passed out. Again West leads a top ander Allfrey, Andrew Robson, Tony club and can expect a spade trick. The three Forrester, , Peter Crouch, of diamonds will do no good here, declarer Derek Patterson) who had (forget what I West North East South is bound to need the diamond finesse. So said above for a moment) dominated the Pass 1™ the defenders’ only possible third trick is in 2011 competition, winning every match. 3®1 4®2 Pass 4™ trumps. Suppose West switches to a routine In 2012 they lost their first three matches All Pass two of spades, to the jack, king and ace. and drew the fourth. The clear leaders 1 Intermediate jump overcall Declarer cashes the heart ace and after two weekends and four matches were 2 Good raise to 4 ™, something of an the diamond. Taking the play so far at face the 2011 Division Two winners, Ewart overbid value, declarer can place West with six or (David Ewart, Gunnar Hallberg, Cameron seven clubs, at least three spades, and at least Small, Phil King, Jason Hackett and Justin Hallberg led a top club against 4 ™ and two diamonds. Not much room for further Hackett). observed the nine from partner (suit- length in hearts. Playing East instead for David Ewart and his partner Gunnar preference, suggesting spade values). With length, Kendrick finessed against the queen Hallberg combine well on defence and his king of diamonds in the slot, prospects to make his contract. Against 5 ™ West’s more often than not take their allotted of a legitimate defence looked poor. The game should be to suggest shortage in a side-suit hence length in trumps. The simplest way to do this is to play the king of diamonds on the first round. Another good idea is to switch to the queen of spades rather than the two. In match five Ewart played what had every appearance of a title-deciding match against Mossop (David Mossop, Andrew McIntosh, , Tom Townsend, David Price, Colin Simp son), who was a dozen VPs behind in second place. On the hand below I led the normal t10 against 4 ™ é m e

h and when declarer, Justin Hackett (for c o C Ewart), finessed trumps and pitched a spade n o m i on the long diamond for eleven tricks, I was S

: o t not alone in expecting a flat board. When o h P team-mates called out ‘Minus 100, 13 IMPs Division 2 winners (from the left) Martin Jones, Neil Rosen, Michael Byrne, Duncan Happer away,’ my thoughts were unprintable, but I

22 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk was right to keep them to myself. Surely our watch opponents bid uncontested to 7 t, the queen to exploit the extra practical men hadn’t bid slam? on an auction suggesting a big dia mond chance that a defender may fail to cover fit. If declarer has the ace of dia monds the with king-doubleton. contract must fail on any lead, but what if Graham Osborne’s play on our final Game All. Dealer East. it is in dummy? Perhaps if you lead a low deal owed nothing to good fortune: ´ K 5 4 diamond the suit will be distributed as ™ J 10 9 3 below: t A Q 5 Love All. Dealer North. ® K J 6 A 10 9 x x x ´ Q 10 9 8 7 ´ Q 9 2 ´ A J 10 7 Dummy ™ A 7 ™ 8 6 2 N ™ K 7 Declarer t A 9 2 W E t 10 9 3 S t J 8 6 Q J x x ® A 10 6 ® 10 8 7 4 ® Q 9 3 2 ´ 6 2 ´ K J 4 3 ´ 8 6 3 Might declarer go up with the ace, trying ™ Q N ™ 8 5 4 2 W E ™ A Q 5 4 to drop your partner’s singleton king? t K Q J 7 6 5 4 3 S t Void t K 7 4 2 Quite possibly. So a low trump it is, then – ® 8 7 ® K Q 9 5 3 ® A 5 a cunning plan if ever there was! Sadly, the ´ A 5 full deal looked like this: ™ K J 10 9 6 3 t 10 8 West North East South ® J 4 2 Small King E/W Game. Dealer South. Pass 1™ ´ A K 2 Pass 2NT 1 Pass 3NT ™ K Q 9 4 West North East South Pass 4™ All Pass t A 10 9 6 2 Hinden Osborne 1 Game forcing with heart fit ® 2 1´ Pass 1NT ´ Q 10 3 ´ J 9 8 5 4 4t Pass Pass 4™ ™ J 7 3 N ™ 10 8 5 All Pass What really happened was this. Cameron W E Small for Ewart elected somewhat un - t K 7 3 S t J fashionably to attack against this blind ® 8 7 5 3 ® Q J 6 4 The tK was led to the ace, ruffed, and a auction with the two of spades, ducked to ´ 7 6 trump correctly returned. Osborne drew the ten. At trick two Philip King switched ™ A 6 2 three rounds of trumps discarding a dia- to the seven of hearts (!) echoing Hall - t Q 8 5 4 mond, and played ace and another spade to berg’s three of diamonds a fortnight ® A K 10 9 the ten and jack. East returned the king of before. Should declarer rely on the heart clubs hoping West had the jack but finesse, or rise with the ace and rely on the Osborne played that card himself, ducked club finesse to discard a spade? When the Declarer had no option but to run the lead in dummy and claimed, announcing the club finesse lost, he was one down. round to his queen and make his grand ruffing spade finesse. How did declarer Despite this setback Mossop prevailed slam. Left to his own devices he might know to play West for his actual shape, 19-11 in VPs to close the gap to 4 with have started with the ace, playing for rather than 3-1-8-1 including the king of Hinden and fast-finishing Allfrey 14 VPs singleton king on his left; in theory it’s just spades? Answer: with a singleton club West back in joint third. The penul timate match as good a chance as leading the queen would surely have led it at trick one. between Mossop and Hinden featured more playing for singleton jack on his right. In Maximum wins for Hinden and Allfrey deceptive defence. practice (some consolation for the open - and a small defeat for Ewart left all three Holding tK-7-3 and not much else, you ing leader), I suspect he would have led teams with a chance of winning going into the final round. Hinden beat Ewart 23-7 VP but could Allfrey better that with a third maximum of the weekend against Simon Cope’s all but relegated team? No, they couldn’t. Cope showed great pride in res tric - ting Allfrey to a small win and second place. So Frances Hinden, Graham Osborne, Jeffrey Allerton and Chris Jagger win the Premier League and will represent England in the 2013 Euro pean Champions Cup and their choice of Camrose weekend. To Allfrey the conso lation prize of the remaining é m e

h Camrose weekend. Rosen (Neil Rosen, c o C Martin Jones, Michael Byrne and Duncan n o m i Happer) took Division Two and will return S

: o t

o to the top flight in 2013 alongside runners- h P up Penfold (Sandra Penfold, Nevena and Division 1 winners (from the left) Jeffrey Allerton, Graham Osborne, Frances Hinden, Chris Jagger , and Alex Hydes). r

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 23 Prize Leads Quiz by Alan Mould

Answers to December Problems

dummy does not have it, you know declarer Hand 1 Hand 2 has and can switch. Similar plays occur when ´ Q 7 6 3 ´ 6 5 you lead say the king (from K-Q) from a ™ Q 10 9 4 ™ A 7 2 holding such as A-K-J-10. If partner has the t K J 5 t K Q 10 9 4 queen he plays it. Hence tQ gets the top ® 9 7 ® 7 5 3 marks. (d) a club: 1 mark . I can see no reason to West North East South West North East South lead dummy’s suit on this auction and with 1™ Pass 1´ 1´ this holding. Pass 2® Pass 3NT Pass 2® Pass 2NT HHHHH All Pass Pass 3NT All Pass

Pick your lead out of: (a) ´3; (b) ™10; Pick your lead out of: (a) ™2; (b) tK; (c) t5; (d) ®9. (c) tQ; (d) a club . Hand 3 ´ K Q 4 2 (a) ´3: 5 marks . Leading round into declarer’s (a) ™2: 4 marks. I suppose this could be ™ A Q 8 6 3 bid suit from such a poor holding is unlikely correct but I really do not see why you are t K to be successful. leading hearts when you have such an ® J 7 2 (b) ™10: 5 marks. Similarly, leading from this attractive diamond holding and the ™A as suit into dummy’s at least five-card suit is an entry. West North East South liable to help do declarer’s work. (b) tK: 8 marks. Surely we are all going to ™ 1 2 t (c) t5: 3 marks. Generally it is right for lead a diamond with this holding, are we 1 2NT Dble 3 3 obvious reasons to lead an unbid suit but here not? The problem comes as to what we do Pass Pass Dble All Pass 1 2 3 declarer has leapt to 3NT without fear and we when the opening trick goes, as it probably Minors; Values; Penalties have a particular unattractive holding to lead will, tK, low, low, low. The answer depends Pick your lead out of: (a) ´K; (b) ™A; from – both short in the suit and with on who has the tJ which is why top marks (c) tK; (d) ®2. honours that are probably poised over go to: declarer. (c) tQ: 10 marks. It is normal practice these (a) ´K: 6 marks. This may set up a trick but (d) ®9: 10 marks. This would be my choice. days that in no-trumps if partner leads an if that trick is there it is highly unlikely to Without an attractive holding in the fourth honour promising the one below (so K from run away. It could also be setting up tricks suit it is often right to lead dummy’s second K-Q, Q from Q-J etc,) and as partner you are for declarer. There is a greatly superior lead suit in these sorts of auctions. Declarer has looking at that honour, you are expected to on the hand. shown no interest and partner often has play it regardless of your holding. This solves (b) ™A: 2 marks. This will only work if it is length and strength in the suit. At worst such the dilemma above: from K-Q-10-9 you lead necessary to give partner a ruff in hearts and leads tend to be passive and that may be no the queen and if partner has the jack he plays that seems only necessary if partner has a bad thing on this hand. it. So if partner doesn’t play the jack and singleton and dummy ™K-x(-x). This is an unlikely combination and at other times it is liable to cost a trick (when declarer has the CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS: ™K). (c) tK: 10 marks. We have seen this theme before. We have doubled the opponents with Master: Alex Wiseman, Open: John Shaw, the majority of the values and they have apparently found some degree of fit. We Whitefield, Codnor Park, have to stop ruffs if we can and it is usually right to lead trumps – and particularly so Manchester Notts with singleton honours. Partner should be delighted to see this card; if he isn’t, look closely at his double! (d) ®2: 1 mark. I can see no case for this lead Sponsored by – setting up dummy’s suit and helping declarer ruffing it good. 1 mark for curiosity value. r

24 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk New Prize Leads Quiz Jackie clinton Jackie clinton received a Dim mie OPENING leads are often subjective and Fleming award for vir tual ly any opening lead can be successful THIS MONTH’S services to bridge some of the time. However, bridge is in only a short time many ways a game of percentages and QUIZ before she died in there fore certain leads will gain more often november 2012. Jackie grew up in essex and was than others. In each issue you will be given Hand 1 three hands and the bidding on each, and ´ 8 7 a pupil at nightingale secondary you are asked to choose your opening leads ™ A Q 5 3 school. She then trained in london from those proposed by our Quizmaster . t A 9 7 from 1964 to 1970, initially studying Answers will be in the next issue. In each ® K J 3 2 nursing and then midwifery, and sub - problem you are on lead as West. sequently worked both in london and in Sussex delivering many a baby as a West North East South community midwife and then latterly ™1 t 1NT Pass 2 3 working as a district nurse. She was Pass 4t 4´ 5t passionate about her job and even Dble All Pass makers of playing cards since 1824 when she gave up work after starting 1 Transfer to spades www.piatnik.co.uk a family, she never stopped caring for ( 020 8661 8866 Pick your lead out of: (a) ´8; (b) t7; others, fitting voluntary activities (c) tA; (d) ®2. such as meals on wheels into a busy family life. HHHHH Jackie and her husband, Bill, had settled in Sussex in 1971 and it was Hand 2 there that she took up bridge in the ´ 8 6 2 early 1980s. a hobby that had start - ™ K 7 3 ed as a foursome with friends rapid - t A Q 5 ® 10 9 5 4 ly became a passion: Jackie found her second home at West Sussex This elegant twin-pack of Piatnik playing Bridge club and over many years cards (‘Monet – Lilies’) is the prize on offer West North East South made some great friends. it wasn’t 1®1 Pass 1™ long before she became involved in this month. Pass 1´2 Pass 1NT For information on the new Piatnik the organisation of the club, occupy - All Pass cards visit www.gibsonsgames.co.uk ing several posts over the years 1 Five-card majors, better minor including chairman. the first 2 Any hand with four spades, so could be female Sussex county chair man There are TWO categories in our 4-3-3-3 for example and Vice-President of the county, competi tion: up to and including Master, Jackie truly loved her bridge, her and those with higher ranking. Please Pick your lead out of: (a) a spade; (b) t5; (c) tA; (d) a club. club and her county, and was much indicate on the top left-hand corner of loved in return: she was very moved the envelope, or in the e-mail subject HHHHH by a West Sussex Bridge club line, the category for which you are ‘Jackie clinton Day’. entering. The first correct entry in each Hand 3 over the last three years, Jackie category out of a hat will win the ´ 7 4 was constantly in and out of hospi - prize. The Editor’s decision is final. ™ K 5 2 tal, bearing with amazing fortitude t A 9 7 3 2 many serious operations in an ® 10 9 3 attempt to save her life. She kept her Entries to the Editor, sense of humour and determination 23 Erleigh Road, Reading RG1 5LR, West North East South through it all, and continued to play or e-mail [email protected] 1´ bridge as much and as often as she by 20th February 2013. Pass 3´ Pass 4® could. Pass 4™ Pass 5® Jackie clinton will be very much Please make sure you include your full Pass 5™ Pass 5´ missed by her husband and family, postal address AND rank All Pass and all the very many friends she made throughout her life. even if entering by e-mail and/or Pick your lead out of: (a) a spade; (b) ™2; you have entered before! (c) t3; (d) tA. r

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 25 Stage 2 Conventions by Neil Rosen

THE LEBENSOHL convention came in as Partner Oppo 1 You Oppo 2 a means to deal effectively with inter - 1NT 2™ 2NT Pass Hand C vention after a 1NT opening bid. 3® Pass Pass 1 ´ A Q 7 5 2 It has also now been extended to cover 1 At least five clubs, approx. 6-10 points, ™ A 9 various other situations. In my next article non-forcing t A 7 2 I will deal with using it as an invaluable ® 8 6 2 aid to defending against Weak Two Or: opening bids and the Multi 2 t. Partner Oppo 1 You Oppo 2 Partner Oppo 1 You Oppo 2 Dealing with Intervention after 1NT 1NT 2™ 2NT Pass 1NT 2™ ? 3® Pass 3t1 Lebensohl allows room to make both 1 At least five diamonds, approx. 6-10 Bid 3 ´, natural, game-forcing, showing at forcing and non-forcing bids after points, non-forcing least five spades. intervention over our 1NT opening bid. So if we open 1NT and they overcall: Sometimes you actually have three options rather than two, depending on the Hand D Partner Oppo 1 You Oppo 2 order of the suits. Thus: ´ A J 10 7 5 2 1NT 2™ ? ™ 9 3 Partner Oppo 1 You Oppo 2 t A J 2 Then a new suit at the two level is 1NT 2®/t/™ ? ® 8 6 obviously to play in anyone’s system. But what about a new suit at the three level? Now you have a choice of: Classically this is just to compete (non- 2´ = to play (at least five spades, Partner Oppo 1 You Oppo 2 forcing). This is all weakish) 1NT 2t ? well and good but 3´ = at least five spades, game-forcing what happens if Hand A 2NT, then 3 ´ = at least five spades, Bid 2NT, then 3 ´, invitational. you wish to make a ´ 7 2 game-invitational forcing bid instead? ™ A K 6 5 3 Say you hold Hand t K 9 4 Here are a few example hands to Hand E A and the auction ® K 8 2 demonstrate: ´ 5 2 starts: ™ A 9 3 t A 2 Partner Oppo 1 You Oppo 2 Hand B ® A Q J 7 6 3 1NT 2´ ? ´ A Q 7 5 2 ™ 8 5 To bid 3 ™ (non-forcing) would clearly be t 8 4 2 Partner Oppo 1 You Oppo 2 silly as game would be missed. But what ® J 6 2 1NT 2´ ? should you bid? Guessing to bid 4 ™ could be absurd but so could bidding 3NT! Bid 3 ®, forcing to game. Using Lebensohl The obvious solution, available playing Partner Oppo 1 You Oppo 2 you do not need to guess whether to bid Lebensohl, is to use a new suit at the three 1NT 2™ ? 3NT or 5 ® on your first round of level as forcing to game. If instead you bidding – you can explore both contracts have a weaker hand which wishes to Bid 2 ´, to play. at some leisure! compete, you start by bidding an artificial 2NT instead. This is alertable and initially SILVER PLATE: Congratulations to Mike Tedd, Tony Disley, , asks partner to bid 3 ®. When he does this, Roger Penton, Tony Ratcliff and John Salisbury who have won the 2011-2012 if clubs is your suit you pass, otherwise British Silver Plate. In the final, they beat Nick Stevens, Paul Bowyer, Duncan you correct to your own suit which is now Happer, David Jones, Jim Mason, Garry Watson by 30 IMPs. non-forcing. E.g.

26 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk Doubling the Opponent’s take-out, or bid 2NT then 3 ™ to act as Intervening Bid Stayman (i.e. showing four spades but no EBU RANKED heart stopper) Opinions differ as to the best treatment MASTERS PAIRS here. When Lebensohl first started, there Problem Hand Types 2013 was a split panel between using the double All for penalties or to show the values for 2NT Clearly, as I mentioned earlier, holding a A group of Pairs Green- (11-12 approx). The ability to bid a balanced 11-12 point hand where you Championships pointed natural 2NT is the one major loss that would wish to bid a natural 2NT is the for players playing Lebensohl will bring you (in my main problem hand type. Your options are with spe cific Master Point ranks humble opinion, the swings far outweigh basically to double for take-out or to the roundabouts though, provided you are sometimes pass and defend against the prepared to put a bit of effort in by opponents’ contract. Free entry : If you reading articles on the subject!) were promoted in 2012 to This is my article, however, and I When Does Lebensohl Apply? one of the four landmark strongly recommend playing double for take-out after natural . The primary use of this mighty fine ranks (Grand Master, Life If the overcall is conventional, though, convention is to establish whether the Master, Regional Master, (Astro, Multi , etc.) then I recom - partnership has game-going values or not. Master), your entry to the mend using the double just to show If this is impossible, then Lebensohl does 2013 event is FREE. general values (approx. 11+ points). not apply. The main applications are when your Above Master Showing or Denying Stoppers side either opens or overcalls 1NT and the 2nd – 3rd March 2013 opponents then intervene. Thus in the If your partner opens 1NT, the opponents auction: Premier Grand Masters Pairs overcall in a suit and you have a bash at Grand Masters Pairs Premier Life Masters Pairs 3NT, nothing is more humiliating than Oppo 1 Partner Oppo 2 You Life Masters Pairs finding that they then proceed to run off 1´ 1NT 2´ ? National Masters Pairs their suit leading to swift defeat and egg Regional Masters Pairs on face. The need for a stopper is vital. Lebensohl would now apply here too! With Lebensohl, following an overcall a Exactly the same philosophy is used, i.e. The Daventry Court Hotel, direct 3NT bid guarantees a stopper, a new suit at the three level is forcing to Sedgemoor Way, Daventry, NN11 0SG whereas bidding the artificial 2NT first game, double is take-out, 2NT the start of ( 01327 307000 ® (forcing partner to bid 3 , remember), a weaker auction etc. All events in this category start then bidding 3NT denies a stopper. Some at 2pm on Saturday and end people refer to this as FASS (Fast Arrival Dealing with Jump Intervention between 3.30pm and 5.30pm on Shows Stopper). (Usually at the Three Level) Sunday, depending on numbers. Bidding the Opponent’s Suit If those horrible opponents make a jump Master Pairs overcall (usually at the three level in 3rd March 2013 This acts as Stayman. A direct cue-bid practice, I find), then while Lebensohl as shows a stopper in the opponent’s suit, such does not apply, it is important to The Masters Pairs section is open whereas a cue-bid after the artificial 2NT have some agreements. to all below the rank of Regional denies a stopper. E.g., holding Hand F: I recommend quite simply: Master on 1st Jan 2013; it has been changed from a two-day • A new suit is natural and forcing; event in a central location to a Hand F • A double is for take-out and not for two-session one-day event on ´ A Q 7 4 penalties. 3rd March (11.30 start, finish by ™ 8 2 6.45pm) in these venues: t K 9 5 3 I hope this has given you some ideas on • Bradford Bridge Club ® A 6 3 sharpening up your methods. Next time I • Richmond Bridge Club will develop these ideas a little further • Tunbridge Wells Bridge Club with reference to how to defend more com - • Welwyn Garden City Bridge If partner opens 1NT and the opponents petently against the dreaded Multi and Club overcall 2 ™, you could either double for Weak Two bids. r • West Midlands Bridge Club

2013 : England lead the field after the first Entries / Enquiries: half of the Camrose Trophy, held in January in Belfast. They didn't lose a match EBU Competitions Department and are 5 VPs ahead of Northern Ireland. Congratulations to Frances Hinden, ( 01296 317 203 / 219 Graham Osborne, Jeffrey Allerton, Chris Jagger, David Price and Colin Simpson or e-mail [email protected] with NPC David Burn. Full report in the next issue .

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 27 YOUNG BRIDGE CHALLENGE CLUB DIRECTOR & COUNTY Saturday 9 March 2013 DIRECTOR TRAINING COURSES 2013 A one-day bridge event for school-age players of all experience levels played at ESSENTIALS £37 (£38 as from August 2013) Loughborough Grammar School West Midlands Wednesday 13 March Wetherby Saturday 23 March Headcorn, Maidstone Saturday 13 April The main event is The Schools Cup – open to teams of four Worthing Saturday 27 April players all from the same school. Brighton Monday 12 August Aylesbury EBU Wednesday 16 October The secondary event is The Swiss Teams – open to teams BOOK RULINGS £42 (£43 as from August 2013) of four players from bridge clubs, schools or mixed teams Harrow Saturday 23 February from more than one school. Salisbury Thursday 28 February Manchester Saturday 2 March Pairs – open to any players of school age who Coventry Saturday 9 March are just learning the game. West Midlands Wednesday 10 April Wetherby Saturday 20 April There is also a short pairs duplicate for accompanying adults. Headcorn Saturday 11 May Registration: 12.30pm; Start of play 1pm; Meal break 4pm; End Worthing Saturday 1 June of play 6.30pm. Brighton Tuesday 13 August Aylesbury EBU Wednesday 20 November Entry to the day is FREE , with refreshments provided courtesy JUDGMENT RULINGS £ 42 (£43 as from August 2013) of Loughborough Grammar School. Darlington Saturday 23 February Manchester Saturday 16 March Harrow Saturday 23 March Further details: EBU Education Department Salisbury Thursday 28 March ( 01296 317217 Coventry Saturday 20 April Wetherby Saturday 11 May Headcorn Saturday 8 June West Midlands Wednesday 12 June Worthing Saturday 29 June TEACHER TRAINING COURSES 2012 Brighton Wednesday 14 August Aylesbury EBU Wednesday 11 December Partner Teacher Training Courses – ASSESSMENT £4 7 (£49 as from August 2013) courses for prospective teachers Darlington Saturday 27 April Harrow Saturday 27 April Aylesbury EBU HQ February 15 –17, 2013 Salisbury Thursday 9 May Midlands venue – end of June – to be confirmed Manchester Saturday 11 May Coventry Saturday 8 June Aylesbury EBU HQ October 11 –13, 2013 Wetherby Saturday 22 June Courses – £200 for the Full Course – West Midlands Wednesday 10 July include how to teach bridge, what to teach, Headcorn Saturday 13 July short teaching practice, how to recruit, how to retain and how to Worthing Saturday 20 July Brighton Thursday 15 August turn your students into a partner club. Aylesbury EBU Wednesday 15 January 2014

For info ( 01296 317217 or email [email protected] ONE-DAY COUNTY PREPARATION COURSE 18 May 2013 This one-day course held at EBU Aylesbury office is intended Club Teacher Training Courses for people who are thinking of tackling the County Course. It uses NEW courses for affiliated clubs material from previous County Course on harder book and judge - ment rulings and the EBU White Book TD guide. Course fee £45. Under the Universal Membership scheme affiliated clubs are invited to nominate one club member in any two-year period to be trained COUNTY TD AND COUNTY REFRESHER COURSE 21-22 September 2013 FREE OF CHARGE as a Club Teacher. Second and subsequent Hilton Hotel, Coventry. £170 for one night full board + all course bookings from the same club can be made at £102 each. fees. This is for county nominees or anyone who has passed the The course content will include how to teach bridge, what to club TD course with distinction. The Refresher Course is for any - teach and a short teaching practice. Entries may only be booked by one who has previously been on the County Course. the registered secretary of the affiliated club. Courses are restricted to 12 people per course and may well fill before the magazine goes For further information, or to register for a course to press. ( 01296 317203 or email [email protected] Leeds Bridge Club – Saturday and Sunday 20-21 July Other dates are to be added. CONCESSIONS FOR AFFILIATED CLUBS For details ( 01296 317217 or email [email protected] Under the Universal Membership scheme affiliated clubs are invited to send a second club member to a TD course FREE OF CHARGE where the club sends a full paying member to any of the club TD courses. The offer is on a ‘like for like’ basis – so when a club books a place (from one to four courses) it receives the Any club with permanent premises which would be prepared to equivalent free for another member of the same club. To take advantage of the host one of the new courses is asked to contact John Pain at the scheme both the paying member and the free member must be booked at the same time and the booking must be made by the registered secretary of the EBU: ( 01296 317218 or email [email protected]. There are addi - club. (Note: this scheme does not include the County Director or County tional concessions available for clubs hosting the courses. Refresher courses held annually, nor the County Preparation day course.)

28 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk EBU News

The Experiment by Ian Payn

WE ARE trying an experiment challenge of this pilot scheme. everybody is amenable. How online is perfectly feasible. – an experiment which, if And of all com petitions, the this will mature over the next suc cess ful, will result in a Faulkner Salver perhaps suffers couple of years I’m not going In the Limelight revolution in the way in which most from those two bug bears : to attempt to predict, but the matches in knockout compe - very few teams from some areas Conditions of Contest for this We do want to know how it titions may be played. For the leading to either being drawn first toe-in-the-water will be goes, and when the first match first time, we’re allowing against the same team time per fectly clear on what the is played we’ll want to run an matches to be played online, after time, or having to travel ground rules are at this stage, article about it, either here, in and the competition in which long distances – or both! and nobody will be disenfran - English Bridge, or in Tourna- we’re doing it is (wait for it) the chised, or have any reason to be ment Focus , so not only will Seniors Knockout Teams for It Will Be an Option uncomfortable if they don’t two teams blaze a trail, they’ll the Gerard Faulkner Salver. want to take advan tage of this also get their names up in I know what you’re thinking, This will come into effect in facility. meta phorical lights. but consider this: there is no the 2013-2014 season and the group that has embraced the Tournament Committee hopes Unfounded Concerns Feedback, Please! idea of the inter net as strongly that it will be of benefit as an as the older gene ra tion – of additional service. Please don’t One of the concerns about on - As always, the Tournament bridge players, at least. In the take the wrong message away line bridge, mainly for those Committee is interested in current Seniors Teams com - from this: it’s an option. It’s not who don’t play, is the possi - what people think, both of petition there are two hundred compulsory, it’s anything but. bility of cheating, but I’m this arrangement and how they and twenty-five players regis - We imagine that the scenario prepared to wager that our can see it working in the tered, and we have email will involve per haps an away members are a pretty honest future, and we’re open to addresses for two hundred captain deciding that he’d lot. In any event, measures will suggestions. The best conduit and eight of them. Of the fifty- rather play online than travel be in place to monitor and stop to the TC is the usual one – if two teams entered, only five are for a particular match, and any attempt at sharp prac tice. you drop Peter Jordan a line returning result slips by post. asking his oppo sing captain if Evidence from the Amer ican ([email protected] ), he’ll make This is a sector of the playing he’s willing. That’s all. Then it League shows sure that any com ments get population ready to take up the can just be set up on BBO if that enforcing ethical standards through to us. B&B (Bliss and Bridge) aboard Balmoral THE 2012 EBU cruise, organised by Paul Hackett in conjunction with Fred. Olsen, was seventeen days heading for the Cape Verde islands, off the coast of Africa, on board the Balmoral. When the ship was at sea Paul took a morning seminar, discussing points from the previous afternoon session. There was a full session every afternoon the ship was not in port and every night there was a short sixteen-board pairs session to enable everyone not only to have a relaxing dinner but also the opportunity to watch the shows. On the first afternoon Fred. Olsen hosted a cocktail party where the bridge team was introduced: Paul Hackett, in overall charge; John Pyner, the TD; and hosts Maggie Pyner, Olivia Hackett, Annette Lucas and Mike Cornes. This ensured that everyone always had a partner and there was no sit-out. First port of call was Madeira: Madeira wine was the main buying opportunity and many took advantage to stock up. Then came the Cape Verde islands, well off the beaten tourist trail – beautiful beaches and lush greenery were in abundance; three more and the Victor Ludorum was Carol Duke, closely followed by Tony days and three islands, and then back to Tenerife. The bridge, which Heatly; the final session was followed by a closing cocktail party. was incredibly friendly, attracted on average 7-8 tables per session Watch this space for details of the next EBU cruise!

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 29 CALENDAR OF EVENTS EBU News n FEBRUARY 2013 5-6 Bridge England Sims, Clubs 6-12 Overseas Congress LICENSING & EBU’S YOUTH & Fuerteventura NEW ABS 9-10 Tollemache Final EDUCATION Hinckley Island Hotel IN RESPONSE to popular 15-17 Junior Camrose/Peggy Bayer HANDBOOK TRUST demand, and awareness that Manchester booking hotels is both more 22-24 Harrogate Spring Congress expensive and more com - Majestic Hotel THE NEW Blue Points scheme THE EBU’s Youth and Educa - came into effect at the start of tion Trust is a registered charity plex than in the past, we’re n MARCH 2013 2013, and in October 2013 the that helps develop young pleased to announce a new 1-3 Cornwall Congress Green Point awards for County bridge players in England Accommodation Booking Falmouth Hotel One Day Green Point Events Service (ABS), operated by (NOTE change of venue) through its support of Mini- 1-3 Camrose Trophy and County Congresses will fall bridge in schools and by pro - Bridge Overseas, a company Republic of Ireland into line with the awards for viding opportunities for our with a proven track record 2-3 Ranked Masters Pairs National Events. junior internationals to build in dealing with hotels, both Daventry Hotel 3 Masters Pairs The EBU Licensing and their skills on the world stage. arranging bookings and in Bradford, Richmond, Masterpoints Handbook has This valuable work needs dealing with any issues that Solihull, Tunbridge Wells, been updated to reflect these your support to help our proj - might arise. Welwyn Garden City changes, and is available to read 8-10 Cumbria Congress ects reach as many young peo - Make a note of the number: Windermere online. There is also a summa - ple as possible. If you would 0800 0346 246 9 Manchester GP Swiss Pairs ry page that shows the main like to make a donation you can The aim is to provide a com - St Peter’s Assembly Rooms, changes between the online find out the easiest way to do so Hale prehensive telephone service version of 2012 and the new by visiting http://goo.gl/cUkxQ 9 Young Bridge Challenge that is quick and easy to use Loughborough Grammar 2013 version. To view, go to: To find out more about our which will have some of the School Blue Points charity and the important work • best negotiated rates that 9 Channel Islands GP event http://goo.gl/CKekg we do please visit http://goo.gl/ St Martin’s Community can be had. The cost of 2013 Licensing and CscMA Centre, St Martin’s GY4 6RR • accommodation is one of 9-10 London GP Weekend Masterpoints Handbook 9-10 East Anglian GP Weekend http://goo.gl/Kpgy0 the most commonly recur - 9-10 Leicester GP Weekend Summary of changes for 2012 CLUB TD ring issues amongst the 9-10 Wilts/Avon GP Weekend • membership, so this is a 10 Bedford GP Swiss Teams 2013 TRAINING Vauxhall Club, Luton http://goo.gl/OxEKJ positive step forward in try - 10 Merseyside & Cheshire ing to address the problem. During 2012 the EBU has run GP Swiss Teams Initially the ABS will fifteen sets of courses, and Deva BC, Chester SENIOR TRIALS cover: 11-15 Club Stratified Sim Pairs nearly two hundred people Oxford Belfry Midweek Clubs have successfully gained the • 17 National Pairs Regional Finals CONGRATULATIONS TO Congress Club TD certificate, with at Bradford, Bristol, Leatherhead, David Mossop, Paul Hackett, Riviera Congress Peterborough, Solihull least forty gaining the Dis - • Gunnar Hallberg, John Holland, (Torquay) 17 White House Junior Internationals tinction pass. Well done to Colin Simpson and David Scarborough Congress Amsterdam everyone who has been success - • 24 Isle of Man GP Duplicate Pairs Price, winners of the trials to Brighton Summer ful. For the 2013 programme, • Douglas select the England team for the Meeting (other than 24 Portland Pairs please visit http://goo.gl/FdIVS Seniors Camrose that will take The Metropole) Various Clubs place in Wales in May. online. 29-31 Northern Easter Festival • Telford Midweek Park Inn Hotel, York Congress 29-1 Apr Easter Festival of Bridge making these popular events Royal National Hotel, London JaIME OrtIz-PatIñO easier to attend, and at a n APRIL 2013 1930-2013 friendlier price. Where there 5-7 Norfolk Congress are multiple options of Taverham We are sad to announce the death of Jaime ‘Jimmy’ accommodation, there will 8-12 British Sims Ortiz-Patiño, President emeritus of the WBF. Clubs be a range of hotels and 12-14 Lady Milne as President of the from 1976 rates on offer. Scotland to 1986, Ortiz-Patiño was responsible for some of the Please Note: the EBU does 12-14 Devon Congress most important developments in world bridge in recent Torquay not receive any payment 13-14 National Pairs Finals years. as well as introducing the use of screens and bid - from Bridge Overseas for Hinckley Island Hotel ding boxes, and establishing the World Youth Team the accommodation provid - 20-21 Portland Bowl Finals Championships, he brought China into the WBF. In golf, ed via this method at the 20-21 Staffs & Shrops Congress Patiño was the founder of Valderrama, home to many top above congresses . 26- 5 May The Lambourne Jersey european and world tournaments, and in 1997 engineered Full details at: Festival of Bridge the first ryder Cup to be held in continental europe. Westhill Country Hotel http://goo.gl/SV5z4

30 English Bridge January 2013 www.ebu.co.uk – CUT OUT – CUT OUT – CUT OUT – –

– Beat Today’s Experts Beat Today’s Experts C

T These hands are all from modern events These hands are all from modern events U and David Bird points to some useful and David Bird points to some useful U lessons to be learned from them. See lessons to be learned from them. See T

O O

how your efforts compare with the how your efforts compare with the experts’ bidding. experts’ bidding. T U U T

C February 2013 February 2013 –

– WEST HANDS EAST HANDS

C

T (IMP scoring on every deal) (IMP scoring on every deal) U U

1. Game All ´ A K 7 2 1. Game All ´ 9 6 T O

Dealer South ™ K Q J 6 4 3 Dealer South ™ A 10 7 5 O

T t A Q t K J 5 3 2 U

U (Madala) ® 7 (Bocchi) ® A 3

*South opens 4 ®, natural *South opens 4 ®, natural T C

– – 2. E/W Game ´ A 9 3 2. E/W Game ´ K J 8 6 5 4 2

Dealer South ™ 8 2 Dealer South ™ 10 4 C T

t A J 9 5 4 t K U U (Duboin) ® 6 4 3 (Sementa) ® A J 9 T

O *North bids 1 ™, *North bids 1 ™,

South bids 2NT (heart raise) South bids 2NT (heart raise) O T U

U 3. E/W Game ´ Q 7 3. E/W Game ´ A 9 T

C Dealer South ™ K Dealer South ™ Q 10 7 4

t A K 4 2 t Q J 10 6 5 – –

(Buras) ® A K Q J 4 2 (Narkiewicz) ® 9 5 C

T *South opens 2 ™ (weak) *South opens 2 ™ (weak) U U

4. Love All ´ A K 8 4. Love All ´ 7 5 3 2 T O

™ ™ Dealer South A 9 6 Dealer South Q 8 t Void t Q J 8 7 3 O T

(Gosney) ® A K J 10 6 4 2 (Edgtton) ® 5 3 U U

*South opens 1 t *South opens 1 t T C

– 5. E/W Game ´ K 5 5. E/W Game ´ 4 2

– Dealer North ™ Q 7 6 5 3 Dealer North ™ A K J 10 2 C

t Q 7 5 t A 10 8 T U (Moss) ® 6 5 3 (Radin) ® A 9 2 U *South bids 1 ´, North bids 4 ´ *South bids 1 ´, North bids 4 ´ T

O O

6. N/S Game ´ 4 3 6. N/S Game ´ Void T Dealer West ™ A K 7 6 5 2 Dealer West ™ 8 U U t Q t A K J 10 9 8 7 6 T

C (Jones) ® 9 8 5 3 (Rees) ® K Q J 6

– – Did you beat the experts? – Pages 34-35 Did you beat the experts? – Pages 34-35 $ – CUT OUT – CUT OUT – CUT OUT – F E ( E - m B O a 0 M D f R i f 1 P l e : e r U 2 a r

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s . u 0 S k LETTERS TO THE Yorks’ 90+ Fiona’s Terms & EDITOR Doing Well! Bold Bid Meanings

I READ with interest the story THIS deal was discussed in the A FELLOW -member of one of of 98-year-old Mamie Seal of October issue on page 14 and my clubs told me he remem - Send your letters to the editor, Hull winning the David Wing the December issue on page 33. bers a fairly recent article Elena Jeronimidis, 23 Erleigh Road, Reading RG1 5LR, or e-mail Trophy (‘Around & About’, Fiona Brown held: about comp leting travellers [email protected] issue no. 244). It was noted at a ´A K 9 8 7 5 2 ™Q J 10 t9 8 ®4 saying that the traveller for a (please include your postal address) The editor reserves the right to YCBA Council meeting that and jumped to 7 ´ after the board which has not been condense letters. Publication does not other county nonagenarians sequence 2NT (from partner played, for what ever reason, mean the EBU agrees with the views expressed or that the are also doing well: 97-year-old Susan Stockdale) –4™ (transfer should record ‘unplayed’, rather comments are factually correct. Ena Brown of Beauchief BC to spades) –4´ – 4NT –5t than (say) ‘average’ or ‘passed (Sheffield) had won a teams (three key cards). out’. trophy recently, 94-year-old The deal was the last of the Is that so? Ups & Audrey Scriven of Ilkley had third 16-board segment of the Andrew Gilmour, by email won the Ladies’ Pairs, and quarter-final at the European Downs Jean Forrester (Tony’s Championships v Sweden. Eng - It was not an English Bridge article, mother), now 90, had won the land went into this segment so I asked Gordon Rainsford, EBU County Sim Pairs. with a deficit of 17 IMPs and I Chief TD, who explains: It’s im - PLAYING with my usual part - All three ladies were regular imagine that NPC Jeremy portant to distin guish ‘Passed Out’, ner Mari Squire on consec utive attendees on my bridge holi - Dhondy and coach David Burn which is an actual bridge score and Mondays, our results were: days in the past, and it has been would not be frowning if the could be a very good or very bad 19th November – bottom made clearer to me that bridge players looked out for some result, from a board which has for out of 23 with 39.42%; playing, and in the EBU in deals suitable for the playing of some reason not been played. 26th November – top out of particular, is a most wonderful ‘roughhouse’ tactics. Some facts: It used to be common for 25 with 68.88%. asset to have for an enhanced • According to Ron Klinger’s players who had a scheduled sit- Can anyone show a bigger social life. version of the Losing Trick out to write ‘Not Played’ on margin between consecutive It also makes you realise that Count ( New Instant Guide to travellers, especially when they games in open pairs? if you have a bad bridge Bridge, Master Bridge Series, were listed in played order rather Certainly a funny game. session, and we all do, forget page 10), Fiona is entitled to than North-South pair order. The Ian Hamilton, Braunton it – your time will come! jump to 7 ´ after checking purpose of this was to help the Graham Jepson, for major controls. scorer put the results against the Vice-Chairman YCBA • Cecilia Rimstedt may well correct pair numbers. With Unusual have a grotty four card heart modern computer scoring this suit and be considering it as really isn’t necessary, since the Issues Good the safest opening lead. scoring pro gram will already have However, if Fiona uses the taken the missing pair into RECENTLY, our team has Causes 5™ queen , the account, and won’t be expecting a come across two vital bridge failure of Rim stedt’s partner score where there is none. issues that to my knowledge AFTER a break, I resumed to double for a heart lead ‘Average’ is quite different again, no instruction book, and playing bridge in 1992. Since might well put her off and since that’s a score that a director neither the Orange Book nor then I have played in many encourage a black suit lead. would award to pairs who have the White Book has covered. At charity events, either at social Asking for side kings might been unable to play a board, when a recent Gold Cup match, my clubs or sims events. simply help the Swedes in both sides are partly responsible partner failed to alert the fact These have all been for good their defence. for their inability to play it – for that the quiches that I had put causes, mainly children, cancer, • It is unlikely that Susan’s example if there were fourteen in the oven to warm for half- or the air ambulance. Not 2NT opening bid contains a cards in North’s hand, twelve in time refreshments had not once has an event had a worth less spade doubleton, East’s, and both players had looked been taken out. They were still mental health charity as its but even so, there is a 40% at their hands without counting. there the next morning. recipient. I think this is an chance that the queen will So the terms are quite distinct, Two days later, at a team - unfor tunate omission and I drop (2-2 split). but in practice it should only be mate’s house, we did not use would like all organisers of All in all, there are a lot of the director who would be writing the ‘Stop’ card, and we found charitable bridge events to psychological reasons to justify ‘Average’, and there’s un likely to be that one of us didn’t know the consider mental health. Fiona’s bidding. any purpose in anyone writing convention about going home Michael Cox, Lancaster Michael Akeroyd, by email ‘Not Played’ – unless a table has in your own shoes. This led to been allowed to play a late board a falling out within the team, and the players concerned want to THE DECEMBER DEBATE as one pair ended up fifteen keep a space available in the right Thank you for your votes and comments. miles away from the owner. place on the traveller for scoring This Debate ended in a draw. Anon, Wiltshire later on. r

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 33 Bidding Quiz by David Bird

Beat Today’s Experts Answers to Problems on Page 31

1. Game All. Dealer South. you not bet your house on Agustin Madala This was the auction at the other table: and Norberto Bocchi reaching 7 ™? Madala was too strong to overcall with 4 ™ West North East South ´ A K 7 2 ´ 9 6 and began with a take-out double. Bocchi had Giubilo Duboin Cima Sementa ™ K Q J 6 4 3 N ™ A 10 7 5 4® W E a good hand but did not like to stray beyond t A Q t K J 5 3 2 Dble Pass 4™ Pass S the game-level. He bid just 4 ™, choosing the ® 7 ® A 3 4NT Pass 5® Pass major suit. 6™ Pass 7™ West North East South Madala was worth a slam try now. What Madala Versace Bocchi Lauria should he bid? He decided to test the water The same start, as you see, but Valerio Giubilo 4® with a cue-bid of 5 ®. When partner cooperat - then bid 4NT. This was a slam-try but not Dble Pass 4™ Pass ed with a cue-bid in diamonds (showing the Blackwood. East’s 5 ® showed specifically the ®A 5® Pass 5t Pass tA or tK), he jumped to 6 ™. Do you think 6™ and West then jumped to 6 ™. With the trump Bocchi should raise to the grand now? ace and good diamonds it was obvious to bid 7 ™. He did hold two unannounced aces and THE DEAL comes from a semi-final of the many players would have done. Perhaps he n Awards: 7NT/7 ™ (10), 6NT/6 ™ (6), games Patton de Monaco. There are thirteen top was worried that partner held a void club and (2). tricks, not counting any spade ruffs. Would the ®A might then be worthless.

2. E/W Game. Dealer South. This deal is from the final of the same event. Mario D’Avossa (West) bid 3 t at his second South’s 2NT shows a sound four-card raise of turn. This agreed spades and showed a dia - partner’s hearts. This is a common treatment mond side suit. Surely Riccardo Intonti (East) ´ A 9 3 ´ K J 8 6 5 4 2 nowadays, although the editor of Bridge should have pictured the ´A and tA opposite, ™ 8 2 N ™ 10 4 t A J 9 5 4 W E t K Magazine awarded me only 1 point out of 10 or possibly the ´Q, tA and ®K? No, he rebid S ® 6 4 3 ® A J 9 when I suggested the bid on their bidding only 3 ´, passed out, and 10 IMPs were lost. panel article recently. Giorgio Duboin’s 3 ™ West North East South showed a sound raise in spades and Antonio n Awards: 4´ (10), 3 ´ (5). Duboin Lanzarotti Sementa Manno Sementa raised to the excellent spade game. Pass There was no loser in the trump suit, so ten Pass 1™ 1´ 2NT tricks were easily made ™ ´ 3 Pass 4 After the same start at the other table,

3. E/W Game. Dealer South. We will now take a deal from the Polish four of a minor opposite 3NT, a return to 4NT Premier League. South opens with a weak 2 ™ is a sign-off (not Blackwood). Buras was not stopping short of a slam on his giant hand and ´ Q 7 ´ A 9 and launches his fine hand ™ K N ™ Q 10 7 4 with a take-out double. a small slam was safely reached. W E Suppose East had responded 3 t instead, t A K 4 2 S t Q J 10 6 5 Most pairs nowadays play Lebensohl res - ® A K Q J 4 2 ® 9 5 ponses to such a double. Hands in the 0-7 showing around 8-10 points. After 3 ™ – 3NT – point range normally respond 2NT. Unless the 4t, East would cue-bid his spade control and West North East South doubler has an abnormally strong hand, he a minor-suit slam would again be reached. Buras Klapper Narkiewicz Posluszny rebids 3 ®. This allows partner to pass if clubs 2™ is his suit or to sign off in some other suit. n Awards: 6NT (10), 6 t/6 ® (9), games (5). Dble Pass 3NT Pass Since 2NT would have been Lebensohl, 4® Pass 4NT Pass 6® Grzegorz Narkiewicz bid 3NT. Buras’s 4 ® sug - gested a club slam. When partner advances to

34 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk 4. Love All. Dealer South. Next we visit the 2012 Australian Play-offs. game was easily made (South held a singleton Paul Gosney is too strong for a 2 ® overcall ®Q.) and begins with a take-out double. What At the other table West preferred to show his ´ ´ A K 8 7 5 3 2 strength with a rebid of 2 t. East then bid 2NT, ™ A 9 6 N ™ Q 8 should he bid next when his partner responds W E 1´? raised to 3NT. t Void S t Q J 8 7 3 ® A K J 10 6 4 2 ® 5 3 A rebid of 2 ® would show a strong hand (a Five Clubs is not such a good game. Even if change of suit following a take-out double) clubs break 2-2, it might be beaten by a trump West North East South but it would not do justice to the West cards. lead. Gosney Burgess Edgtton Del’Monte He chose to jump to 3 ®. This showed a very 1t powerful hand indeed, although there are dif - n Awards: 3NT (10), 5 ® (7), part-scores (5). Dble Pass 1´ Pass fering opinions as to whether it is forcing. 3® Pass 3NT Nabil Edgtton was happy to bid 3NT and the

5. E/W Game. Dealer North. The next deal comes from the 2012 USA because you hold extra high cards, since these Women’s Trials final, with Sprung facing Moss. will perform equally well when defending against 4 ´. Nor is East’s doubleton spade an ´ K 5 ´ 4 2 I have chosen the deal because it illustrates a ™ Q 7 6 5 3 N ™ A K J 10 2 very important principle of competitive bid - incentive towards bidding on. W E ™ t Q 7 5 S t A 10 8 ding judgement. The contract of 5 , thankfully undoubled, ® 6 5 3 ® A 9 2 Judy Radin opens 1 ™. When the next player went two down even though the ´A and the overcalls 1 ´, Sylvia Moss raises pre-emptively tK were both onside. Meanwhile 4 ´ was one West North East South to 4 ™ and North bids 4 ´. How should East down at the other table. Moss Bernstein Radin Wheeler react to this situation? Suppose West had held the ®K, along with Pass 1™ 1´ If East decides to bid 5 ™, this should be the tK instead of the tQ. Five Hearts would 4™ 4´ 5™ because of unexpected extra distribution. For still go down and there would then be a size - example, she might hold a seven-card suit, or able penalty available against 4 ´. perhaps 5-5 or 6-4 shape in her two longest suits. You should not go to the five-level n Awards: 4´ Doubled (10), 4 ´ (8), 5 ™ (4).

6. N/S Game. Dealer West. key cards for hearts. When his partner contin - Tips to remember ued with 6 t he had to decide whether this was some sort of grand-slam try in hearts or ´ ´ When partner leaps to a small 4 3 Void showing a desire to play in diamonds. With • ™ A K 7 6 5 2 N ™ 8 slam and you have an undisclosed t Q W E t A K J 10 9 8 7 6 only one diamond in his hand, Jones took the S top card or two, do not shrug ® ® right view of the situation. 9 8 5 3 K Q J 6 your shoulders and pass. Think Mike Pownall (South) led his singleton ®4, carefully whether your extra val - Peter Goodman winning with the ®A. ues justify a raise to the grand. West East Declarer false-carded the ®K, although the Jones Rees ®Q might have been a better choice (since 2™ 5t When partner advances to 4 ® or 5NT 6t South would lead high from Q-J-6-4). • Anyway, Peter Goodman attempted to cash 4t over 3NT, suggesting a slam, the ´A at trick two and the slam was made. your 4NT is then a sign-off.

We end with a humorous deal from the 2012 n Awards: 6t (10), 6 ® (8), 5 t/5 ®/4 ™ (6), • A take-out double followed by a Welsh Trials. Gary Jones opened with a weak part-scores (2). jump in a new suit shows a very 2™ and Tim Rees responded 5 t. Would you fine hand indeed. have bid again on that West hand? ´ ™ t ® The answer is: yes, if you thought that 5 t • If you play Exclusion Blackwood was Exclusion Blackwood! It would then agree A combination of good bidding, bad bidding (an excellent convention) make hearts and ask for key-cards outside the dia - and good luck nets our experts 49/60. Let’s see sure you and your partner know mond suit. if we can extract some useful bidding tips. when it applies. r Jones bid 5NT, the third step, to show two

to all those people who help with English Bridge behind the scenes: cartoonist Celia Weber, proof-readers Jeremy Dhondy, Bob and Pat Dowdeswell, Tony A B IG THANK YOU Gordon, John Neville and Tone Parkinson, and jack-of-all-trades Matt Betts.

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 35 36 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk Ask Jeremy by Jeremy Dhondy

Clarifications Email your questions to Jeremy Dhondy at [email protected] (NOTE NEW ADDRESS), or write to the editor, Elena Jeronimidis, at 23 Erleigh Road, Reading RG1 5LR. Jeremy, English Bridge and the EBU are not responsible if the information in the letters is incorrect or incomplete.

surprised if any score adjustment resulted. reaction – are nonetheless entitled to feel KEN SOUTHWELL writes: We were sitting You might speak to your partner about that, when psyching becomes sufficiently against two seasoned congress players: his 2NT rebid –1™ seems rather more frequent that it is no longer a great normal! sur prise to partner, some protection N/S Game. Dealer North. ought to be afforded. It is entirely up to ´ A 6 5 2 the club whether they record psyches. If ™ 10 8 5 3 BARRY NORTH says: I liked the box on they do then there is a form available for t Q 9 4 3 psyching in the October English Bridge . use on the EBU website. ® 10 We experience few psyches but they ´ K 10 ´ 8 4 3 almost always engender your ‘Reason ™ A J 9 2 N ™ K Q 7 4 NN LEE W E Two’ reaction (an irrational and erro- A S asks: Our opponents had an t 10 S t K J 8 6 neous belief that it is cheating), to auction which started 1 ™ – Pass – ® A K Q 7 3 2 ® 8 6 which I rule that the psyche, if it 1NT – Double. The doubler’s partner ´ Q J 9 7 actually was one, was not fielded; alerted. At the end of the auction ™ 6 psyches are part of the game, like it or when asked, doubler’s partner said the t A 7 5 2 not; and no, we are not going to double was for take-out and that she ® J 9 5 4 record it. alerted it since all doubles of oppo - Later in the piece you write about nents’ 1NT are for penalties unless West North East South the recording form. Should every club alerted. Is this the case? Pass Pass Pass have one? It seems to me to be a sledge- 1®(1) Pass 1t Pass hammer to crack a nut and is unlikely 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass to pro vide a reliable audit trail. Your opponent is to be congratulated on (1) Maybe short having a clear grasp of the alerting regula - tions! When the alerting regulations were North asked about the bidding and If you are called to the table by someone modified in 2006, the L&E decided to have then led face down. South asked who believes that there has been a psyche as few exceptions as possible and the state - whether the 1 t response, which was then as director you should judge whether ment ‘Double of natural no-trump bids is not alerted, was natural. it was and whether partner of the psycher expected to be for penalty. If not, alert.’ is West played the hand and went one has behaved in an unexpected way. simple and hopefully clear. down. The outcome didn’t bother me Suppose, for example partner opened 1 ´ or the way West played it, but why the in 3rd position at favourable vulnerability, question from South regarding 1 t after two passes, and your right hand BRIAN PILBIN asks: You recently wrote : when the hand was going down in opponent doubled. You hold: ‘Directors should remember that once dummy for all to see? ´ K J 6 5 4 ™ 6 5 t K 10 9 4 3 ® 5 a board has been started, it must be I called the director at the end of play You have a weak hand with good shape completed.’ Does this include bidding but North managed to persuade the and support. It would be entirely normal to or just playing the board? director that he could work out the raise to 4 ´. If you don’t do this and partner future lead when he had won a trick. has opened 1 ´ with a 2-count and two small spades, opponents are going to It includes the whole hand from the point suspect that this is not the first time this has where the auction period starts. This is South asked a question when he had no real happened and that you are allowing for it. defined in Law 17A. The board then must reason to do so. It was pretty unlikely, The point of recording it is that you may be finished. Law 8B1 calls for any started however, that with A-x-x-x he was trying to determine a pattern if someone does it board to be completed. If a pair are told not influence the defence. I think the director regularly; frequent psychers know that their to start a board by the director and then do should advise North-South on the form habits are monitored and those psyched so, it should be completed and the director and timing of questions but I would be against – while they may have an irrational may award a disciplinary penalty . r

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 37 38 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk 2012 Gold Cup Allfrey Wins in Gold Cup Thriller by Simon Cope

THE FINALS weekend of the 2012 Gold in his hand. On this trick Forrester dis - same lead, won in hand, Robson also led a Cup took place in early December, at the carded a low heart. Next came the king of spade to the queen, taken by Janet de Botton West Midlands Bridge Club in Solihull. diamonds, and Gold won this with the ace, (who knew very little about South’s shape), The two remaining quarter-finals took and found a second good play, continuing sitting East. She led a heart, and Robson place on the Friday, and on Saturday de with a low diamond. Declarer won that with won in dummy to lead the ten of spades, Botton won their semi-final against Ford the queen, and played a heart to the covered and taken by the king. He next comfortably, while Allfrey won theirs dummy. Another spade was led, which saw played one of his top diamonds, won by de against Cope after a magnificent comeback, Gold rise with the ace and Forrester pitch a Botton who led yet another heart (trying to winning 34 IMPs on the last set to win by 4! small diamond. A heart from Gold weaken declarer’s trump hold ing). Robson That set up a worthy final for the Sunday, forced declarer to ruff, and when declarer ruffed in dummy, dis carding a club from and the action was followed closely by next played the nine of spades to draw the hand, and tried the club jack. When de around one thousand kibitzers on Bridge last trump, the jack of hearts was discarded Botton played low, Robson put the king up, Base Online. The action was fast and by Forrester. Declarer now paused to cashed the king of dia monds, and played a furious, with plenty of exciting boards for take stock of what he knew. club to the ace. A diamond ruff was fol- both the players and the viewers. This board lowed by exiting with a club, and the def- from the second stanza featured a real team ence was powerless to stop declarer scoring effort from Allfrey, with a superb defence in the nine and seven of spades for the last two one room and careful declarer play in the tricks. The combination of a great defence other to secure them a game swing: from Gold and Forrester, and careful play from Robson after an unrevealing auction secured Allfrey 10 IMPs. Love All. Dealer South. ´ Q 10 3 ™ A 9 t 10 9 7 6 David Gold ® A J 9 6 ´ 6 ´ A J 8 2 Forrester had had to find three discards ™ Q J 7 6 5 4 N ™ 10 3 2 on the spades, and had pitched a low heart, W E t 8 4 3 2 S t A J 5 a low diamond and the cunning jack of ® 7 3 ® Q 8 2 hearts. If West had discarded three hearts, it ´ K 9 7 5 4 would have been obvious that he had ™ K 8 started with six hearts, so Hoftaniska t K Q thought Forrester’s most likely shape was ® K 10 5 4 1-5-4-3. If so, that would make him three- With one set of eight boards left to play, to-two on to hold the queen of clubs (as he Allfrey led by 13 IMPs, so everything was would hold three clubs compared with to play for. They were not a flat set of West North East South Gold’s two). As a result, Hoftaniska played boards, either, with two potential slam Forrester Malinowski Gold Hoftaniska the king of clubs from his hand, and a club swings among other things. Despite Nick 1´ to the jack, and when Gold won this with Sandqvist and David Burn bidding and Pass 2® Pass 3® the queen he had the jack of diamonds making a thin 7 ´, Allfrey gained 3 IMPs Pass 4´ End available to cash for down one – a nice on the last set. As they were fined 3 IMPs defence indeed. It is interesting to note that for slow play during the set, that meant Tony Forrester led the queen of hearts despite seemingly having not very much Allfrey won the Gold Cup by 13 IMPs. against 4 ´, and declarer won in hand with interest in the hand, Forrester’s carefully Commiserations to the de Botton team, the king of hearts to play a spade. He made chosen discards helped to per suade declarer who put up a valiant fight. Above all, how - his first good decision by playing the queen to take the ‘wrong’ view in clubs. ever, congratulations to Alexander Allfrey, of spades. Now David Gold found the first Meanwhile, Andrew Robson was declarer Peter Crouch, David Gold, Derek essential play in defence: he ducked the next door on a less informative auction, Patterson, Andrew Robson and especially queen of spades. Thor Erik Hoftaniska where Alexander Allfrey had not bid clubs, Tony Forrester, who with this win equalled continued with the spade ten, and Gold but simply showed an invitational hand the late, great ’s record of covered with the jack, putting declarer back with three-card spade support. After the eleven Gold Cup wins. r

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 39 Bidding Judgment by Andrew Kambites

Re-evaluate Your Hand during the Auction

THIS ARTICLE tests your ability to keep West’s bidding: this case. West has more diamonds than track of an auction as it develops. In all the 2™ showed 6-9 HCP, false preference in hearts but at this stage it seems likely auctions below West shows 6-9 high-card this case. West has more clubs than that East probably has five hearts and points, either on his first or second bid. We hearts but East probably has five hearts four diamonds, and the 5-2 fit will consider West’s third bid after East and four clubs, and the 5-2 fit will usually play better than the 4-3 fit. continues with a . The questions usually play better than the 4-3 fit. East’s bidding: to ask are: East’s bidding: East did not have enough to make a East seems to have five hearts, four clubs, game forcing jump to 3 t over 1 ´ but 1. Is West maximum or minimum for three spades and at most one diamond. has enough to make a game try of 3 t his previous action? East did not have enough to make a over your 2 ™ preference. He might have 2. How well do West’s honour cards fit game-forcing jump rebid to 3 ® over 1 ´ 16-18 HCP and now has shown at least with East’s announced shape? but has enough to make a game try of five diamonds as well as five hearts. 2´ over your 2 ™ preference. He might Conclusion: The right approach is to ask what you have 16-18 HCP. Hand C: You have 8 points and the hands (West) have already shown and what Conclusion: fit beautifully with your three honour partner (East) has shown before coming Hand A: You have 7 points, nearer cards in partner’s two suits. Partner is to a conclusion. There are two interesting minimum than maximum. However, now known to have five diamonds, so features about these hands: the hands fit well with your t8-6-5 jump to 5 t. opposite a singleton, meaning there are Hand D: You have 8 points. The hands fit 1. Although you have seemingly already no wasted points. Your major-suit tens badly because you have no honour card agreed one suit with partner, the final could prove useful. You have a 5-3 in partner’s two suits so you don’t want denomination is often different. spade fit, so jump to 4 ´. to be in game. Pass 3 t. 2. With unbalanced hands of 16-18 Hand B: You have 8 points, nearer max - points, opener doesn’t need to make imum than minimum for 2 ™. The HHHHHH a jump rebid. If he contents himself hands fit badly, with your tQ-J-7 with a simple rebid the bidding will opposite a singleton looking pretty rarely die and he can show his extra useless so you don’t want to be in game. Hand E Hand F strength on the third round of bid- You have a 5-3 spade fit so pass 2 ´. ´ Q 7 ´ 10 7 ding. Remember: a jump shift by ™ A 8 6 5 ™ K Q 6 5 opener (eg. 1 ™ –1´ –3t) is game HHHHHH t Q 7 4 3 t Q 7 4 forcing and so opener must be ® 9 4 2 ® Q 10 9 8 prepared to play in game opposite 6 points. Hand C Hand D ´ 10 7 4 3 ´ K 7 4 3 Bidding sequence for the West Hands E ™ K 5 ™ 9 5 and F: Hand A Hand B t K Q 2 t 8 5 2 ´ K 10 6 5 2 ´ Q 9 6 5 2 ® 9 6 5 2 ® K Q 3 2 West East ™ J 10 ™ K 8 1t t 8 6 5 t Q J 7 1™ 1´ ® Q J 7 ® 8 6 5 Auction for the West Hands C and D: 2t 3t ? West East Bidding sequence for the West Hands A 1™ West’s bidding: and B: 1´ 2t 2t showed 6-9 HCP and preference for West East 2™ 3t diamonds. That doesn’t necessarily 1™ ? mean genuine diamond support. 1´ 2® East’s bidding: 2™ 2´ West’s bidding: East did not have enough to make a ? 2™ showed 6-9 HCP, false preference in game- forcing jump to 2 ´ over 1 ™ but

40 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk has enough to make a game try of 3 t over your 2 t preference. He will usually have a sixth diamond because THE EBU & BRIDGE with only five diamonds and four spades he would have tried to show another feature if possible. He might OVERSEAS have 16-18 HCP. Conclusion: Hand E: The hands fit beautifully, your LAKE GARDA queens reinforcing partner’s suits and your ™A is a good card opposite likely shortage. Jump to 5 t CONGRESS Hand F: The hands don’t fit well, however you are maximum and you may well 9 – 15 October 2013 make a lot of diamond tricks. With kings and queens in partner’s short Grand Hotel Gardone, Lake Garda, Italy suits, 3NT looks right.

HHHHHH

Hand G Hand H ´ Q J 3 2 ´ 9 4 3 2 ™ J 7 5 ™ Q J 5 t Q 7 t A 2 ® J 7 3 2 ® 9 6 4 2

Bidding sequence for the West Hands G and H:

West East t Pre-congress Pairs Blue- 1™ pointed 1´ 2t t Open Pairs events 2™ 2NT t Pivot Team s ? t Men’s, Ladies’ and Green- Mixed Pairs pointed West’s bidding: Swiss 2™ showed 6-9 HCP, preference. t Swiss Pairs and Swiss Teams events East’s bidding: East has five hearts, four diamonds and at least one club stopper. He will have at most two spades – quite likely a Bridge Fees: £124 singleton. East did not have enough to EBU Comps Department make a game-forcing jump to 3 t over ( 01296 317 203 / 219 ´ 1 but has enough to make a game try E-mail: [email protected] of 2NT over your 2 ™ preference. He might have 17-18 HCP. Attendance at the congress is exclusive Conclusion: to delegates booking their accommodation Hand G: The hands fit badly ( ´Q-J-3-2 with Bridge Overseas opposite at most a doubleton) and with 7 HCP you are nearer minimum than maximum. You don’t want to play in For travel and accommodation please contact game, but you do have three-card support for East’s five-card heart suit. Sign off in 3 ™. BRIDGE OVERSEAS Hand H: Only 7 HCP but the hands fit excellently. All your honours are in part - ( 0800 034 6246 ner’s long suits and you have a 5-3 heart fit. If necessary, partner should be able to A range of optional excursions will be available to book arrange at least one diamond ruff in your at the venue to complement the bridge programme hand. You are well worth 4 ™. r

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 41 22 – 24 February 2013 Easter Festival HARROGATE of Bridge Green- 29 March – 1 April 2013 pointed SPRING CONGRESS events Royal National Hotel, London A full bridge programme including Stratified Teams and Flighted Swiss Pairs Entries / enquiries to EBU Comps Department ( 01296 317 203 / 219 or 8 [email protected] Majestic Hotel, Ripon Road, and Harrogate HG1 2HU ( 01423 700300

Mixed and Open Pairs on Friday Green- Northern Blue- Swiss Pairs on Friday and Saturday pointed pointed Swiss events Swiss Teams on Sunday events Green- Easter Festival pointed 29 – 31 March 2013 events Entries / enquiries to EBU Comps Department Park Inn Hotel, York ( 01296 317203 or 01296 317219 The event is run by the Yorkshire CBA 8 [email protected] on behalf of the EBU and includes Mixed, or book online at www.ebu.co.uk Open and Swiss Pairs, and Swiss Teams Closing date for entries: Entries / enquiries to Stuart Davies 13th February 2013 ( 01274 598 408 8 [email protected]

26 April – 5 May 28 – 30 May 2013 LAMBOURNE JERSEY FIRST 2013 MIDWEEK CONGRESS FESTIVAL OF BRIDGE FULLY The Oxford Belfry Hotel GREEN- Green- POINTED Blue- Westhill Country Hotel, Milton Common, Thame pointed pointed ( 01844 279381 St Helier JE2 3HB events events

Originally scheduled for Cheltenham in June, this is a fully Green-pointed Tuesday to Thursday congress, featuring a three-session A joint venture between the EBU and Channel Islands CBA, Championship Pairs event and a one-day the congress provides an attractive holiday in springtime Swiss Teams. Both events will be stratified. with a full bridge programme over ten days. Entry fees and prizes are especially reduced.

Entries / enquiries: Mrs Susan Griffiths Entries / enquiries: EBU Competitions Department ( 01543 733 733 or ( 01296 317 203 / 219 8 [email protected] 8 [email protected] or book online at www.ebu.co.uk

42 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk Bridge with a Twist by Simon Cochemé The Name Game Vienna and Bath have their Coups; Naples and Nottingham have their Systems; Bermuda and Venice have their trophies. Which other places are on the bridge map?

THERE ARE surprisingly few bridge Before we leave the Netherlands, let me such a gross misdefence is known as a conventions and plays named after places tell you about the name of the bidding Wapping . (well, maybe it’s not so surprising that system developed by Dutch world cham - Little did I know how soon the Fleet people like to name their inventions after pions Simon de Wijs and Bauke Muller. Street Coup would crop up in my life. Two themselves), so my epic tome on global As a pair they are known as WijsMuller, days after reading about it, I defended (I bridge technique, Around the World in 80 and their system is called Tarzan. (You use the word loosely) a deal where the Plays , has had to be shelved. Rome leads may be aware that five-time Olympic swim - spade suit was distributed like this: the way in terms of quantity (Key-card ming gold-medallist Johnny Weissmuller Blackwood, asking bids, signals, discards, played Tarzan in twelve films between ´ J leads, and so on) with Naples coming a 1932 and 1948.) N poor second. Here are some of the others. And talking of Tarzan leads us nicely on ´ 9 8 7 3 W E ´ Q 10 5 2 The bidding goes 2NT – Pass – Pass to to the Stripe-tailed Ape Double. If you S you in the fourth seat. You decide to think your opponents are on their way to ´ A K 6 4 double because such an auction usually bidding a making slam, then doubling ends in a minus score for declarer. This is them at the five level can make sense. The South was in 3NT. Spades had not been called an Amsterdam Double, I am told, value of a doubled major suit contract, bid and West led the eight of spades to the because there are two bridge clubs in that plus an overtrick (750 or 1050), is less jack, queen and ace. West got in and city where players favour the method. If than the value of the slam (980 or 1430), played the seven of spades. Dummy you are known to be a fan of the Am ster- so you will gain on the board. Most of the discarded something and East, expecting dam Double, responder may pass the 2NT time your opponents will be happy to play his partner to hold a five card spade suit, opening with an 8-count and wait for you there and will pass, but should they re - thought it would be a good idea to to double and give him a top. But if you double and increase their potential score unblock the ten. Declarer won with the know that he knows that you are a fan, to 1200 or 1600, you run to your escape king. A little later East was on lead and he then you could switch strategies and pass suit like a stripe-tailed ape. returned the five of spades, covered by and watch him put down an embarras - Back to places. I recently came across South’s six and West’s nine. West played singly rich dummy. the Fleet Street Coup in the September back the three of spades, East contributed Not content with promoting their own 1957 issue of The British Bridge World . The the two and a bemused (but happy) bridge players as sophisticated risk-takers, coup dates from before the war, and my declarer won the trick with his four. the citizens of Amsterdam have decided to guess is that it was played after lunch. Leading a high card when you don’t belittle their neighbours. A Rotterdam Norman Hart, then bridge correspondent have a good holding in a suit, and leading Over call is a hand that would be worth an for the Daily Telegraph , was one of the a low one when you do, is a very common opening bid, but is not suitable for an defenders in a 3NT contract where the method, usually refined and defined as overcall at the two level, primarily because club suit was distributed as follows: second and fourth. In Massachusetts they the five card suit in which the overcall vary it a bit and lead the highest card to would be made is of insufficient quality. It ® 9 5 show a poor suit and the lowest to show a doesn’t get punished nearly as often as it N good one. Does it have any technical ® K Q 8 3 W E ® A J 7 6 should, and flourishes around the world. S merit? Or are they just going for an easily There is a plethora of conventions remembered acronym: BOSTON, Bottom ® played in England where an opening 2 ™ or 10 4 2 Of Something, Top Of Nothing? 2´ shows the major (exactly five cards) West led the king of clubs. His partner Let us finish in Switzerland. Treating and a second suit (usually a minor, often overtook and returned the jack. West in your opponents with dignity and not sub- five cards): Tartan Twos (created by Hugh turn overtook this with the queen and jecting them to abuse is known in England Kelsey), Woo Twos (Alan Woo) or Lucas played back the eight which a surprised as Best Behaviour at Bridge and in Twos (David Lucas). Elsewhere the conven - South won with the ten, his ninth trick. America as Zero Tolerance. I like to think tion is known as Muiderberg, named after Unbelievable? No, it must be true: there of both of them as part of bridge’s Geneva a Dutch village. was a journalist present. In modern times Convention. r

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 43 Around & About

75 TH ANNIVERSARY A FIRST FOR MAYFIELD BC ON 5 TH November 2012 Godalming Bridge Club celebrated its IT WAS with some trepidation that Mayfield Bridge Club decided 75th Anniversary. It was started by a small group of players in to run an open to all Swiss Pairs competition to be played on one what was the Railway Hotel at the bottom of Charterhouse Road of its regular club nights. We didn’t know if it would be attractive and when its numbers grew it moved to what is currently the Inn to members and non-members alike – we didn’t even know if it on the Lake Hotel. was feasible, as we’d only heard about Swiss Pairs events being run during the day or at weekends or over two days. A sub-committee was set-up to mastermind the event. Plans were drawn up not only for organising the event but also for the night itself. Critical decisions made by the sub-committee were: choice of director for the night, when to start promoting the event, when to take a go/no-go decision, how much to charge, value of prizes, number of boards per stanza and number of stanzas. We asked EBU director Martin Lee to run the event and what an excellent choice that turned out to be. Not only did Martin supply pre-dealt boards but also Bridgemates, a computer system and hand records for distribution at the end. The experience, knowl - edge, professionalism and calm smooth running that he brought to the event reflected well on him and also on the club.

For over fifty years now the club has met on Monday afternoons in the Milford Village Hall, an ideal venue for a bridge club with plenty of tables and chairs, ample parking, kitchen facilities and well situated just off the A3. In the early days rubber bridge was played and members cut in to determine their partner. However, in the late 1970s the club switched to duplicate and in 1980 Wing Commander Tony Spooner donated a shield to the club with the intention of fostering competition and sociability: it is awarded to the member who has amassed the greatest number of Master Points in the year as long as they have not earned these points by Mayfield Swiss Pairs playing with the same partner more than twelve times. The club Considerable effort was put into promoting the event to non- currently has eighty-seven members and regularly hosts fifteen or members. Without doubt the most successful way of recruiting sixteen tables. It is a happy, friendly club with a good mix of attendees was by word of mouth. Those committee members players. who were members of other clubs took to ‘press-ganging’ (in the For more info, visit www.bridgewebs.com/godalming nicest possible way!) as many pairs as we could into coming to the (Wendy Schlaeppi) event. The net result was that out of seventeen tables for the night, six of them were filled by non-members. Our target had been fourteen tables, so we were very pleased with the turn-out – WELL DONE THE YOUNGSTERS especially as nine tables is our average for a Tuesday night. THE JUNIOR Channel Trophy, held in London at the end of We gave out a questionnaire with four yes/no questions and we 2012, was dominated by the Netherlands, who came first had replies from everyone who was not part of the organising com - out of four (Netherlands, England, France and Belgium) in mittee. Nearly everyone said they would attend a similar event next the Juniors and Girls, and second in the Youngsters series. year and they would also attend a Swiss Teams event if we ran one. England came third in the Juniors, second in the Girls, For those of you interested in learning more we have put on our and achieved top spot in the Youngsters category. Well website ( www.mayfieldbridge.co.uk ) copies of our planning doc - done Freddie Illingworth, Chris Huber, Toby Nonnenmacher, uments, our promotional literature, a summary of the results Michael Alishaw, Chris Derrick, Will Roper and non-playing from the questionnaire and a letter to our members encouraging captain Michael Byrne. them to show BBB on the night. There is also a photo gallery of the evening. (Alan Bailey)

44 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk Around & About

NIGHT OF THE STARS WARWICKSHIRE – A BRIGHT – THE AUCTION FUTURE FOR BRIDGE

THIS YEAR the ‘Night of the Stars’, the phenomenally successful WEST MIDLANDS Bridge Club recently played host to charity event where players partner bridge celebrities for whom Warwickshire’s second Mentored Novice Pivot Teams event. they bid at auction, is taking place at Richmond Bridge Club in Twenty-four teams from seven clubs, or teaching groups, February, just after this issue has hit the doormats. However, the competed. Each team comprised one experienced player, or auction was held last November and so we can report that once teacher, who, as mentor, remained North throughout the again it was a resounding success. afternoon, guiding and supporting the other team members who had been learning/playing for no more than four years. The teams were split into three sections and only simple systems were allowed. Teams from the same club were spread across the sections, as one of the aims was to meet and play against players from other clubs. The winners were Judith Currie, Freda Perks, Helen Thompson and Carolyn Fisher (Mentor), from West Midlands Bridge Club (see photo below) . Two years ago we would not have thought such an event was possible. At that time we had two competitions for this category of player in our calendar, and they were in danger of folding. The County Executive set up a Player Development Group (PDG) to address these concerns. We now have a development programme for students with seven well-supported competitions, ranging from one for those who have only been learning for six-nine months, to others for those who started learning up to five years previously. This has largely been achieved thanks to the support and efforts of teachers and clubs throughout the county. Those taking part are n

o reassured to see a friendly and helpful team running the events, s n e s

a including possibly their own teacher. H

r e t e P

: o t o h P Paul Mendelson at the Night with the Stars Auction Auctioneer extraordinaire Paul Mendelson had no trouble in livening up proceedings. This year the stars who volunteered to participate included Alexander Allfrey, Andrew McIntosh, Andrew Robson, Artur Malinowski, Ben Green, Bob Rowlands, Brian Senior, Colin Simpson, Dafydd Jones, David Burn, David Gold, Derek Patterson, Ed Scerri, Espen Erichsen, Fredrik Björnlund, Gad Chadha, Gary Jones, Graham Osborne, Gunnar Hallberg, Janet de Botton, Joe Fawcett, Liz McGowan, , Martin Garvey, , Michael Byrne, Nevena Senior, Nick Sandqvist, , Norman Selway, Patrick From the left: Helen Thompson, Myra Scott (PDG Chair), Judith Jourdain, Peter Lee, Phillip King, Rob Cliffe, Roland Wald, Roy Currie, Carolyn Fisher (Mentor), Freda Perks Welland, , , Simon Cope, Stelio Di Bello, Susan Stockdale, Tom Townsend and Victor Silverstone. This event has enabled many players emerging from lessons to Other celebs freely gave their help by contributing to this year’s gain valuable experience of playing, and enjoying, teams bridge. booklet on the hands, which will thus boast as its authors Barry We hope it will encourage them to take part in a new league Rigal, David Bird, Eric Kokish, Fiona Brown, Hugh McGann, division which we are planning for next year. There is now a need Jason Hackett, Phillip Alder, Ron Klinger, and Sjoert Brink. to introduce new competitions for this group to help bridge the The charities that will benefit from the proceeds raised by the gap between these and other county competitions. Night of the Stars are the Princess Alice Hospice, Alzheimer's After a number of years with no bridge in our local schools we Research UK, Footsteps for Africa and Leukaemia & Lymphoma are also happy to see Minibridge and bridge clubs starting up in a Research. Over £39,000 has been raised so far thanks to the number of schools. The future looks positively bright! auction above, a silent auction, a raffle, donations and sale of Further information from Myra Scott, Player Development & home produce. Youth Officer, [email protected] (Darren Evetts)

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 45 COUNTY NEWS

Pairs events. They were 2nd (out of Diary dates: Feb 10, Mixed Pairs & Brenda Walker – Brenda Lihou. Both Avon 1286 pairs) with 71.8% in the EBU Flitch for Mixed Pairs Cup and BBL Cup, islands have also held their Mixed Pairs www.avoncba.org.uk Autumn Pairs, 2nd (out of 1029 pairs) SBBC. Mar 3, Club Teams Final for the events and these were won by Susie with 69.5% in the 75th Anniversary Committee Cup, Windsor. Apr 7, Ladies’ Farnon – Robert Plumley (Guernsey) DAVID Jones has Pairs and 2nd (out of 2063 pairs) with Pairs and Men’s Pairs for Chairman’s Cup and Howard Basden-Smith – Marion been promoted to 73.1% in the Children in Need Pairs. and Reg Capewell Trophy, Windsor. Wed Miles (Jersey). In Jersey the B Le V Premier Grand Mas - Let’s hope they soon go one better! Apr 17, Senior Pairs for the Director’s Durell Trophy was won by Chris Hill – ter – congra tu la tions! Diary dates : Feb 10, County Pairs Cup, SBBC. Jane Knight. Congratulations Semi-final, Final and Plate, 2pm, Don’t forget to enter for our GP Diary dates: Mar 9, CI Green Point too to Tim Brierley, Wilstead. Feb 28, BBA County Teams- Weekend on 22-23 June. Swiss Pairs, St Martin’s Community Alan Jones, David Jones and Jack Terry of-Eight, 7.30pm, Wilstead. Sun Mar 10, Centre, Guernsey. Apr 26 – May 5, EBU for winning the Swiss Teams at the Bedfordshire One-day Swiss Teams & Jersey Lambourne Congress, St Helier . Malvern Bridge Congress , and to Graham (more details on the BBA website). Mar Cambs and Hunts Hartley, Alan Jones, David Jones and 14, Mixed Pairs, 7.30pm, Wilstead. Mar Andrew Urbanski for winning the Avon www.cambsbridge.org.uk 21, Seniors’ Pairs, 2pm, Wilstead. Cornwall County Champion ship Teams. CONGRATULATIONS to Cambridge A www.bridgewebs.com/cornwall More congratulations: the County Berks and Bucks on winning the 2011-2012 NICKO. The THE County Swiss Teams Ladies’ Pairs was won by Marguerite team was Jonathan Mestel, Julian Lihou – Delia Stephens and the County www.berks-and-bucks-cba.co.uk was won by Val Clifford, Wightwick, Jon Cooke, Chris Jagger and Ann Ampleford, Malcolm Men’s Pairs was won by Alan Jones – OUR Tollemache team Catherine Jagger. Chris Jagger was in the Stow, Marijonas Rocius; Jack Terry. enjoyed a highly successful winning team in the Premier League, tied 2nd were Lynda and David Chidell, The County Knockout Teams event qualification weekend, win - while Paul Fegarty’s team (Jonathan Chris and Sandra Bickerdike, and the has reached the semi-finals: Smith v ning group D after an Mestel, David Kendrick, Catherine early leaders, Brian and Elaine Relton, Glass and Birt v Oliver. The League has outstanding performance. Curtis, Jon Cooke) finished in 5th place. Mark Reeve and Dave Mattos. progressed to the half-way stage; leaders Let’s hope they will keep it Paul and Catherine also finished 8th in Dave and Dommy Boxall, Val Clifford at present are Glass (League I), Stephens up when playing the final in February. the Pairs A Final at the Autumn Con - and Jenny Vaughan won the Mixed Pivot (II), Selway (III) and Evans (No Fear The team members: Sally Brock, Barry gress. Rod and Sue Oakford were 7th in Teams from Brian and Elaine Relton, League). Myers, Mike Perkins, Ian Reissmann, Ed the Pairs at the Felixstowe Congress. Barrie Benfield and June Fitness. This It is with sadness that we report the Scerri, Gary Jones, John Howard, Tim The county has qualified again for was Val Clifford’s third consecutive death of Margaret Harris, who served Rees, Richard Bowdery and Andrew the final of the Tollemache. The team county win (she won the Mixed Pairs, on the County Bridge Association and Murphy, with NPC Dick Davey. was Jon Cooke, David Kendrick, Paul with Dave Boxall, in October) . organised the county’s Western League I am pleased to say attendance at the Fegarty, Catherine Curtis, Julian Wight - There was a very tight competition in matches for many years. She will be first events of this season has improved wick, Giles Woodruff, Jonathan Mestel the popular Bodmin Swiss Teams, with greatly missed. We offer our sincere from last year. Please, keep coming to our and Paul Barden. the lead changing several times. The condolences to her family. county events! The winners of BBCBA The county, in association with winners were Dave Mattos – Mark Reeve Diary dates: Feb 24, Avon Cham - competitions the last two months are Norfolk and Suffolk, is holding a new from Geoff Warren – Bill Thomson. pion ship Pairs, Bristol BC. The Avon & Sharon Bayne – Paul Gibbons, (Jarret friendly Green-Pointed Congress (Swiss Jan Keast – Jenny Cant were con - Wiltshire EBU Green-pointed Weekend Cup, Butler Scoring), Carole and Herb Pairs on Saturday and Swiss Teams on vincing winners of the Ladies’ Pairs is on Mar 9-10 at the University of Bath. Mueller with Phil Thornton and Mike Sunday) in Ipswich on March 9-10. from Margaret Warner – Janet Heath. Perkins, (Carole Mueller [!] Trophy, Mixed Diary dates: Feb 16, Garden Cities The Men’s Pairs produced another Swiss Teams), and Nicky and John Bedfordshire Qualifier. Feb 24, County Individual decisive win, for Stephen Crouch – Pendered (Tony Boothroyd Plate, Final. Mar 9-10, new Green-Pointed Chris Bickerdike from last year’s www.bedsbridge.co.uk Friendly Pairs – see picture below). Congress (Swiss Pairs and Teams). Mar winners, Alan Biggs – Ian Edwards. Our WINNERS of the Inter- In the Children in Need Sim Pairs Brian 16, County Pairs Final. Mar 23, Novice new County Director, Jenny Vaughan, club Teams-of-four were Geary – David Patterson came 1st, and Pairs. Apr 28, County Swiss Pairs. officiated. Alan Cooke, Maris Olive and Graham Watts were 6th out of Ron Fisher, who had been Vice- Sheppard, Brian and 1995 pairs (Wednesday), Evelyn Crossley Chairman at Penventon and played Maureen Stairs. – Robin Gardiner were 3rd out of 2423 Channel Islands regularly at Truro, has died. He had The new Seniors’ pairs, (Monday), just to mention but a been a soldier by profession, rising to Teams event was held at Wilstead in few other BBCBA achievements. www.cwgsy.net/community/cicba/ the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He December and with eight teams com - Chris Mooney – Kevin Elstow not only THE Inter-insular took place recently in fought in India and Burma and, after peting, the winners were Peter Malpass, played very well during the EBU Seniors Jersey. Jersey recorded an emphatic leaving the Army, became a professional Derek Marsh, Stephen and Penny Bligh. Congress in the Pairs to finish in 8th place, double over their Sarnian neighbours, advisor to Sheikh Faisal of Sharjah. He Peter Malpass – Andrew Mason have but also rounded it off by winning the winning both the A Team and B Team lived in Abu Dhabi, and was Commo - done very well in recent national Sim Swiss Teams with non-BBCBA members. matches heavily. Top scorers for the A dore of the Sailing Club. He was 89. Team, winning the Coleman Trophy, Diary dates: Feb 3, Swiss Pairs, were Stephen and Sharon Halston, Victoria Hotel, Newquay. Feb 10, Harold Walden and Nigel Elliott; the B National Pairs Heat, Betjeman Centre Team top scorers were Mary Friswell, Wadebridge. Feb 17, Club Teams of Aline Staples, Eric Todd and Rob Ingram. Eight, Ladock. Mar 1-3, Cornwall Con - Three other events were completed gress, Falmouth Hotel. Mar 10, John over the weekend; the CI Ladies’ Pairs Perks Pairs Heat, Ladock. Mar 13, John was won by Sue Rankin – Marion Miles, Perks Heat, Penzance. Mar 24, John the Men’s Pairs by Martin Jones – Hugh Perks Final, Ladock. Bacon, and the Sigma Trophy by Mary Friswell – Aline Staples. The winners of the two County Open Cumbria Pairs qualifying heats were Andy Hall – Robin Endean and Ralph Laski – Clarice www.ccdba.co.uk Alder. Alistair Kent – Daniel McIntosh CONGRATULATIONS to all our won the County Upper Restricted Pairs, winners! and Douglas Child – Michael Roberts Cumbria Simple Systems Pairs (Strati - A

B the Lower. Alistair and Dan also won the fied Event): (A) Geoff and Kath Bell, (B) C

s

k Guernsey qualifying heat of the National Jean Ridley – Sylvia Rogerson, who were c u B

Pairs, while the Jersey heat was won by the overall winners, (C) Michael Brewer – &

s Chris Hill – Jane Knight. Annie Simon. k r e

B District News: The Guernsey Men’s County Multiple Teams: 1. David

Berks and Bucks CBA’s Friendly Pairs’ winners, : o

t Pairs was also won by Messrs Kent – Latimer, John Robinson, Peter Mollart

o Nicky and John Pendered. h

P McIntosh, and the Ladies’ Pairs by and William Thompson; 2. Tim and

46 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk COUNTY NEWS

Babs Matthews, David Strawbridge and Cavan – David Wooldridge. Swiss Teams: Helen Kinloch, Tony Page, Dave Willis, John Farmer. Bob and Jacqueline Baker, Alan and Essex John Folkes. Bloxham Teams: 1. Miles Pro-Am Teams: 1. (miles ahead of the Jette Bailey. www.essexbridge.co.uk Cowling, Steve Preston, Jeremy Baker, rest of the field) John Maclachlan, The Devon Tollemache team (Jim EBU Seniors Congress: Andy Hughes; 2. Lilias Lamont, Richard Robin Rose, Ina Gray and Kathleen Grant (captain), Stefan Lindfors, Joe Well done Margaret Harris, Mike Fithyan, Chris Kinloch; Hedley; 2. Wendy Owen, Keith Long staff, and Gillian Fawcett, Warner Solomon Curtis – David Sherman 3. Pauline Serby, John Moore, Tim Carol and Alan James. and Alex Maddocks, Ann Slee, Richard who were 4th overall and Dunsby, Helen Ackroyd. Yuletide Swiss We are very saddened by the death of Lingham, Mike Orriel, Peter Bowles) highest-placed veterans. Teams: 1. Andy Hughes, Dave Huggett, Marjorie Bamford. She was a member finished 5th in their group of nine in the Middlesex Congress: Steve Preston, Robin Khan; 2. Jeremy of Barrow Club and Cumbria Contract qualifier, just 8 VPs behind the runners- con gra tulations to Peter Scotting, Pat Baker, Jill Shortman, Fred Hotchen Bridge Association for many years. up. Johnson, Tony Verran and partner who Nick Kraik; 3. Helen Ackroyd, Tim Marjorie served on the County Com - Congratulations to Geoff and Nettie won the Swiss Teams; also well done to Dunsby, Ann Sharples, Robert Mott. mittee and represented Cumbria in White, Ian Walsh and Graham Hoare Jacek Lapszys – Sandy Riach who were Diary dates: Feb 4-8, IBM Dupli - years gone by. She was a great supporter for winning the Heart Foundation Swiss 7th in the Swiss Pairs. cated Pairs (clubs). Feb 17, Valen tine of our Congress and her name fre - Teams, held at Smithaleigh in Novem - EBU Marmaris Congress: once again Mini-Swiss Teams. Feb 24, Pottage quently appears on the trophies, ber. Congratulations to Mike and Clare Essex shines: winners Swiss Teams: Semi- Finals. March 17, Harrop Swiss particularly the Ladies’ Pairs, in part - Hamon for winning the One-day Swiss Mary Homer, Albert Kitchin, Simon Teams. Apr 14-19, Bayer No-Fear Pairs nership with Dorothy Heron and more Pairs, held at Torquay Bridge Club in Moorman, Peter Oake; Swiss Pairs: (in some clubs including the IOW). All recently Mary Cooney. We extend our December. Simon Moorman – Peter Oake; Mixed events are held in Romsey and start at deepest sympathy to Marjorie’s family. Diary dates: Mar 15-17, North Pairs: Mary Homer – Albert Kitchin; 2pm unless otherwise noted. Entries to Diary dates: Sun Feb 17, Champion - Devon Weekend, Barnstaple Hotel, Barn - Open Pairs: Simon Moorman – Peter Lillian Craigen ( 02380 254276 or ship Pairs, Eden Club, Carlisle. Sun Mar staple (contact Brenda Martin ( 01271 Oake. [email protected] 17, Inter-club Teams of Eight, Barrow 862013). Apr 12-14, Devon County Stratford Autumn Congress: Sandy Club. Mar 8-10, Cumbria Congress, Congress (Green Point), Palace Hotel and Martin Smith made the Teams A Herefordshire Windermere Hydro; as a trial, we are Torquay (contact Terence Treeby Final with non-Essex team-mates. starting the Saturday sessions earlier at ( 01803 844342. Recent Essex events: Fletcher Trophy: www.herefordshirebridge.co.uk 11am and 3pm. won by Loughton BC; congratulations AFTER the second round of the Inter- Dorset to Michael Watson (Capt.) Nigel club Teams, Marcle – Cider are leading, Derbyshire Bardsley, Wendy Coldham, Patrick followed by Hereford A and Fownhope. www.bridgewebs.com/dorset O’Gara, Sue French, Rod Hudson, But there are still three rounds to go. www.bridgewebs/derbyshire WE are sad to an - Marion Cook, John Birch. Cup for Clubs The Ace of Spades (restricted to nounce the death of Trophy: won by Collier Row BC; players below Advanced Master) was THE only DCBA cham - Martyn Hill-Jones who congratulations to Ann Savory, John won by Pat Barclay – Ralph Rea closely pionship before Christ - was one of Dorset’s Rowden, Kit Charlton, Robert Elliott. followed by Janet and Sam Hardy. mas was the Invitation most eminent players over a long period . Tony Kelvin Trophy: 1. Winnie Godber, In the No Fear Teams (only one Pairs which was won by Mike Pownall shares his thoughts: John Stimson, Chris Taylor, Sue Taylor; member of the team may be Advanced David Marshall – Paul ‘Martyn had struggled with poor health 2. Peter Oake, Robert Elliott, Mike Master or above), the winners were Sue Madden. In 2nd place for the entire length of the thirty years I Graham, Ian Moss; 3. Paul Mollison, Val Munday, Naomi Lacey, David Wall and were Malcolm Caporn – Mary Marshall. knew him. Despite this, he was very Mollison, Brian Davies, Bernie Hunt. Eileen Wall; the runners-up were Geoff The EMBA party was the usual successful in national events through - Mixed Pairs: 1. Laurie and Stephanie Harrington, Andy Lowe, Christine success with splendid food followed by out the 1980s and 1990s. He won both Burtt, 2. Pat Watson – Sandy Riach and Barnes and Tony Cockbain. bridge. The Open Section winners were the Pairs and Teams at the Brighton 3. Pat Johnson – Peter Scotting. Flitch The Healey Cup is a Worcestershire Annie Young – Viv Ross with Dave Summer Congress and also the National winners were Chris and Sue Taylor. inter-club event to which Herefordshire Briggs – Jim Tomlinson in 2nd place. Pairs with Jim Pepin before going on to The League Cup was won by teams are also invited. We have a good The winners of the Beginners Section make the top section in the final phase Loughton Cookies (Marion Cook, John record in this event (last year HBA clubs were David Rees – Dave Wesson, 2nd of the European Pairs the following Birch, Sue French, Rod Hudson). came first and second), and this year were Jan Millar-Craig – Brenda Green, year. He played in the Crockfords Final Diary dates: Feb 3, Swiss Pairs. Feb Wyeside came second (Bob Underhill, 3rd were Linda Pritchard and partner, twice and the final weekend of the Gold 9-10, Woodham Ferrers; Feb 17, Helliar John Griffiths, Stephen Booth and Chris and in 4th place congratulations to Cup. Many bridge players in Dorset Trophy. Mar 8, Gwen Herga Trophies. Thomas). youngsters Harry and Bethany Madden were taught or helped by Martyn in Mar 17, Play with an Expert. Mar 20, Congratulations to Tony Forrester who have been playing for only four some way. He will be sadly missed.’ Essex Spring Seniors. Mar 28, Spring who this year equalled Boris Schapiro’s months. Chope Salver: 1. Claire Hillyard – Pairs League. record of eleven wins in the Gold Cup. Diary dates: Mar 6, Spare date for David Gill, 2. Lesley Lewis – Miles Full results of all county compe ti tions completing 2013 teams-of-eight matches. Cowling, 3. David Berwitz – Helen are on our website. Mar 9-10, Leicestershire Green Point Ackroyd. Hants and IoW Diary dates: Feb 9, Club Teams of event, Spondon – entries to Robert Tollemache : Dorset finished 5th= in www.bridgewebs.com/hiwcba/ Eight, 10.30am, Tarrington Community Northage [email protected] or their qualifying group. Hall. Feb 16, Charity Swiss Teams, ( 01509 553 302. Mar 20, Final Round Other notable results: Paddy Bowen – CONGRATULATIONS to 10.30am, Tarrington Community Hall. of Teams of Eight. Mar 27, Final Round Brian Browse finished 5th in the Swiss Bob McRobert who was Mar 2, Championship Pairs, 10.30am, of Eric White and Winter Plate. Teams and 10th in the Swiss Pairs at the part of the winning team Tarrington Community Hall. Mar 8, EBU’s Marmaris Overseas Congress . at the EBU Seniors Con - Inter-club Teams Round 4, 7pm, Ledbury Devon David Gill – Eugene Sheehan were 2nd gress and also to John Community Centre. Mar 22, Mixed Pairs, in the Championship Pairs at the Jones – Adrian Fontes who came 3rd in 7pm, Bartestree Village Hall. www.devonbridge.co.uk Torquay Congress. Mark Hooper – Nikki the Pairs B Final. County results: Simple Systems Pairs: THE Torquay Bridge Club Decent finished 2nd and Daphne Hertfordshire Congress in November Philipps – Helen Ackroyd 7th, in the 1. Christine Coombe – David Pine, was once again a very Chidwick Cup (Charity Sims). 2. Marian Grasse – Carol Parkes, 3. John www.hertsbridge.co.uk successful event. Thanks Diary dates: Feb 3, Frost Rose Bowl Berry – Reg Merrell. Wessex Swiss CONGRATULATIONS to to organisers Chris and (Blue-pointed Teams) at Allendale Teams: 1. Jeremy Baker, Dave Huggett, the Hertfordshire team of Joan Ley, Joy Murray Brown and Bridge Club, Wimborne. Feb 17, John Sherringham and Steve Preston; David Dickson, Malcolm directors Marilyn and David Jones. Weymouth College Trophy – Teams, 2. James Clark, Owen Leigh, Christine Harris, Vernon Gaskell, Congratulations to the following win - Weymouth Bridge Club. Mar 24, Ray, Mike Fithyan; 3. Clare and Martin Roger Gibbons Alan Kay, ners: Mixed and Open Pairs: Richard Portland Pairs – Green-pointed Sim Bevan, Sula Turpin, Andy Fry. Jubilee David Walker, Derek Oram, Celia Oram and Christine Ray. Consolation Pairs: Pairs, Christchurch Bridge Club. Mar Cup Teams of Eight: 1. Mike Kinsey, and Roger Edmonds who have qualified Terence Treeby – Joy Pellow. Cham pion - 27, Garden Cities Qualifier – Teams of Dave Hinkin, Owen Leigh, Mike Fithyan, for the final of the Tollemache Cup. ship Pairs: Alan and Jette Bailey. Mar - Eight, Dorchester Bridge Club. Steve Preston, Heather Maidment, Lilias Congratulations also to the team of jorie Bean Cup : Barbara Biggin – Anne Further information available at Lamont, Peter Dunne; 2. Rosemary and Jean Anderson, June Ball, Jeff Green and Skinner. Copy.Shop2Printers Prize: Sara www.bridgewebs.com/dorset/ David Spencer, Clare and Ian Fearon, Helen Robinson for winning the

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 47 Hertfordshire Rose Bowl; Peter Clark, by Simons (Flora Simons, Stephen TW, 11am. May 19, Green Pointed Swiss land League vs Nottinghamshire. Apr 7, Simon Mostyn, Bobbie and Martin Tooley, John Stewart and Liz Kelly). Teams, 1pm, Maidstone Leisure Centre, Barkby Charity Swiss Teams, Rothley. Rodney were 2nd, and Maria Budd, The first of the MBU events in 2013 Mote Park, Maidstone ME15 7RN. Apr 9, Leicester Mercury (Learners) Pairs . Malcolm Harris, Fiona and Paul will be the Rawcliffe Bowl, a mixed-pairs Apr 10, Gimson Trophy Semi-finals, Littlewood came 3rd. event being reintroduced in 2013 after a Lancashire Rothley Centre. Apr 24, Yates No Fear The Eccles Cup was won by Leyton number of years in abeyance. Pairs, County Club. Apr 24, Stanley Green Bridge Club (Robin Beazley, Gill www.lancsbridge.co.uk Trophy Heat 7, Glenfield. Apr 28, Gim - Burn, David Fensome, June Gauntlett, Kent LANCASHIRE qualified son Trophy Final, Rothley Centre. May John Hopkins, Lew Hughes, Judith and for the final of the 1st, Olga Cup – Ladies’ Pairs, Rothley Tom Walters). The County Mixed Pairs www.kcba.org.uk Tollemache Cup by finish - Centre. May 1st, Buckby Cup – Men’s was won by Susan Mount – Francis Pairs, Rothley Centre. TOLLEMACHE Cup: con - ing 2nd in its group Eddleston, with Maria Budd – Malcolm behind Berks and Bucks. Harris 2nd and Celia and Derek Oram gratulations to the team of Jeremy Willans (cap - The team was Jeff Smith (Captain), Lincolnshire 3rd. Congratulations to all. Andrew Petrie, Catherine Draper, Dave Diary dates: Fri Mar 15, Marjorie tain), Ian Draper, Nor - www.lincsbridge.org.uk man Selway, Kay Preddy, Debbage, Andrew Woodcock, Ollie Lukin Charity Pairs Final, 7.30pm, WITH the exception of Steve Auch terlonie, Mal - Burgess, Derek Williams, Croz Croswell. Bridge Centre. Sun Mar 17, Cadets & the Lincoln Imp, there has colm Lewis, Pat Collins, Derek Patter - Jackie Pye will replace Andrew Petrie in Intermediates Championship, 1pm, been an improvement in son, who have qualified for the final. the final as he is unavailable for selection. Bridge Centre. Tue Apr 16, Senior Pairs attendance at county Kent Congress Green-pointed Swiss At the December Council, Austin Championship, 11am, Bridge Centre. events. Teams results: 1. Mike Hampton, John Barnes, John Brearley and Barry Brels - Swiss Teams: 1. Glynn Elwick, Vic Amor, Michael Prior, Keith Ashcroft; ford were chosen to act as selectors for Llewellyn, Mike Llewellyn and Megan Isle of Man 2. Gerald Soper, Terry Goldsmith, Brian 2013. Williams; 2. Alan Andrews, Harry Coates, Ransley, Brian McGuire. Swiss Pairs: LCBA Congress Pairs: 1. Dave Steven - www.manxbridgeunion.org Maurice Lynn, Elaine Proctor; 3. Roy 1. Ben Hackenbroch – Mandie son – Liz Commins (photo below). THE final island cham - Hughes, Dennis Mellor, Keith Stewart, Campbell, 2. Peter Taylor – Keith LCBA Congress Teams: 1. Jeff Smith, pionship of 2012, the Isobel Ridgewell. Lincoln Imp: 1. Alan Ashcroft. Con gr atulations to all. Jackie Pye, Bernard and Rhona Golden - Teams event, was held in and Drene Brown, Maurice Ladlow, Mo Congratulations to Doug Andrews – field. Lytham Rose bowl: 1. Catherine Douglas in late Nov em - Parsons; Lincoln Imp Plate (Restricted): Malcolm Lewis for winning the A Pairs Draper – Andrew Woodcock. ber. It was a one-day Adrian Underwood, Emer Ward, Guy Final at the EBU Seniors Congress last Diary dates: Feb 3, LCBA Cham - competition made up of two sessions Grainger, Jo Pike. Champion Pairs League : November, leading from start to finish. pion ship Pairs, Blackburn Bridge Club. and was, in the end, something of a run- 1. Glynn Elwick – David Caldow, 2. Paul Congratulations also to Michael Prior Feb 17, LCBA Teams of Eight Cham - away win for O’Sullivan (Marie Evans – Brenda Goodacre, 3. Nick on his promotion to Grand Master. pionship, Bury Athenaeum; Mar 3, O’Sullivan, Joan Watson, Chris Carter – Hunter – Alan Millington. Ghost Pairs: The County Inter-Club Teams of Eight Hector Barker Pivot Teams, Southport a member of last year’s winning team – N/S 1. Alan Andrews – Harry Coates, 2. competition for the Corbett Cup, in - Bridge Club. Mar 8-10, Cumbria Con - and Shirley Lynch). Glynn Elwick – David Caldow, 3. Adrian corporating the Corbett Plate and the gress, Windermere Hydro. Mar 9, At the end of the afternoon session Underwood – Guy Grainger; E/W Mitchell Salver, is played in February. MCBA Swiss Pairs, Hale. Mar 10, O’Sullivan, with +28 IMPs, had esta - M&CBA Swiss Teams, Deva. Mar 16, 1. Michael Grant – Debbie Burton, The winning club in the Corbett Cup is blished a clear lead of 16 IMPs over Newcomer Pairs, Blackburn Bridge 2. Brian Smith – Ron Wall, 3. Mike and invited to represent Kent in the Garden Townsend (Pam Townsend, Marjorie Club. Mar 24, Portland Pairs, Brierfield Vic Llewellyn. Cities Trophy. The Corbett Cup and Murdock, John Large and Paul De Bridge Club. At the AGM of Lincoln (Eastgate) Corbett Plate are played over two days. Weerd) with the rest of the teams Bridge Club (founded in 1946) mem bers The Mitchell Salver is played on the trailing in their wake. After the break, voted to change the club name to The second day. Qualifying rounds are team Smith (Gloria Smith, Annette Leicestershire City of Lincoln Bridge Club, as it was well played at various clubs (see diary dates, Ellis, Angie and Fred Kissack) staged over forty years since the Club had left its below). www.leicsbridge.org.uk something of a comeback. Having Eastgate premises, and now has no con - Diary dates: Sun Feb 3, Corbett Cup, trailed in last at the end of the first THE Leicestershire Pairs nection with that area of the City. session, they got their act together and 11am TW. Sun Feb 17, Corbett Cup Leagu e has completed Diary dates: Feb 10, Bainton Final. won session two. But while their second- Final, 11am, TW. Larsky Cup heats will two rounds (of five). Mar 3, Garden Cities Heat (pre-entry session score of +26 IMPs was enough be played at the following clubs: TW The current leaders are required). Mar 17, Davey Cup-Pivot to lift them to second place overall (the Feb 5, 7.30pm; Medway Towns Feb 12, Jenny Grant – Bharat Teams (pre-entry required). same position the team achieved last 7.30; Beckenham Feb 18, 7.30pm; Thakrar (Div. 1), John Glover – Robert year), it was not enough to unseat Ashford Feb 19 7.30; Canterbury Feb Northage (Div. 2), Anne and Steve O’Sullivan. With a score of +21 in the 22, 7.30pm; Broadstairs Feb 27, 7.30. Wright (Div. 3) and Al Scott – Pam London second session, O’Sullivan cruised to a Sun Apr 14, George Griffiths Senior Smith (Div. 4). www.metrobridge.co.uk comfortable win. Third place was taken Pairs, TW. Apr 21, Larsky Cup Final, After three rounds, Gerry Bucciero – Roger Cook lead the Stanley Trophy MANY congratulations to (Butler Pairs). David Gold and Andrew Recent Midlands League county Robson, members of the results are: November 11 vs Lincoln shire winning 2012 Gold Cup (away), 1st team won 20-0, 2nd team lost team. They also came 2nd 9-11, 3rd team won 18-2. December 9: in the Premier League, while David Ewart, bye. The current league positions are: 1st Gunnar Hallberg and Phil King came in team (Dawes League), 3rd place; 2nd 3rd place. At the Autumn Congress, Alex team (Porter Cup), 7th place; 3rd team Hydes, Alan and Olivia Woo won the (Markham Trophy), 5th place. Eastbourne Bowl, Jorrit Schafer won the Leicestershire performed well in the Burlington Cup, with Rosie White, Brian Tollemache Qualifier in November, Ransley and Brian McGuire 2nd, and finishing in 4th place, and missing out Ryan Stephenson, Liz Clery Andrew on a place in the final by just 4VPs. Clery and Ken Barnett 3rd. The Sussex Diary dates : Feb 13, Stanley Trophy Cup was won by Kath Stynes, Millie A B

C Heat 5, Glenfield. Feb 17, Midland Jones and Rob Cliffe, and Stefanie

e r i League vs Worcestershire. Feb 21, Leic - Rohan – Paul Lamford won the Satellite h s e

h estershire Pairs Round 4, Rothley. Feb Pairs, with Ryan Stephenson – Liz Clery C

& 27, Joseph’s Bowl & Butterworth Trophy 2nd. In the Kent Congress Swiss Teams

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i Quarter-finals, Blaby. Mar 9, Leices ter - Brian Ransley – Brian McGuire were s y e

s shire Green Point Swiss Pairs. Mar 10, 2nd, and Robert and Penny Sheehan 3rd. r e

M Leicestershire Green Point Swiss Teams. County results: Junior Teams of Four:

Merseyside & Cheshire’s David Stevenson and Liz Commins, winners of the : o

t March 20, Stanley Trophy Heat 6. Mar 1. Freddie Illingworth, Kyle Lam,

o Lancashire CBA Green-pointed Pairs event. h

P 21 Pairs League Round 5. Mar 24, Mid - Michael Alishaw, Toby Nonnenmacher;

48 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk COUNTY NEWS

2. Chris Derrick, Will Roper, Arthur Sarah has been selected for the Under 2nd in the Swiss Teams. Diary dates: Feb 10, Ladies’ Pairs, Tayler. Champions Cup : 1. Surrey (Peter 25 Junior Camrose in February and Rob Diary dates: Feb. 10, Merseyside & 2pm, Pinner Bridge Club. Feb 17, Lee, Jeffrey Allerton, Frances Hinden, has been selected to play in the White Deeside Cup, MBC. Feb 17, Jean Keen Middlesex Clubs Championship (Teams Mike Scoltock); 2. London (Graham House Junior Tournament in Amster - Trophy (Women’s Teams), MBC. Mar 7, of Eight). Throughout February and Sadie, Simon Cearns, Martin and dam in March. Charity Challenge, MBC. Mar 10, Eric March there are numerous qualifying Margaret Nygren). Seniors Camrose: John Holland and Howarth Cup (GP teams), Deva BC. heats for the National Pairs, the Mid - Diary dates: Feb 10, Palmer Bayer Paul Hackett will represent England in Mar 24, Portland Pairs Heat, Deva BC. dlesex Mixed Pairs and the Middlesex Trophy – No Fear Pairs, YCBC, 1pm; the Senior’s Camrose in May after win - Apr 14, Charity Teams, MBC. Apr 21, Championship Pairs. The County web - contact Chris Duckworth chris.duck ning the trials weekend. Preece Rosebowl (Ladies’ Pairs) , site has an extensive competitions [email protected] or ( 020 7385 3534. Diary dates: Feb 16-17, Junior Blundellsands. May 6, May Day Pairs, calendar. Feb 17, Ian Gardiner Trophy – London Camrose Trophy, from 10am, Park Inn MBC. May 16, Andrew Rosebowl, LBC. Championship Teams of Four, YCBC, Radisson, 4 Cheetham Hill Road, May 19, Open GP Pairs, MBC. 11.30am; contact Sati McKenzie sati. Manchester M4 4EW. Sun Feb 17, Norfolk [email protected] or ( 020 Cantor Cup (Newcomers), 1pm, Man - www.bridgewebs.com/norfolk/ 7627 0977. Mar 9-10, Green-pointed chester Bridge Club. Sat Mar 9, Green Middlesex PEOPLE who think bridge Swiss Weekend, St Paul’s School, Barnes; Pointed Pairs, 11am, St Peters Assembly www.middlesexbridge.co.uk Swiss Pairs on Saturday at 1pm, Swiss Rooms (Altrincham Bridge Club). players are anoraks were Teams on Sunday at 11.30am; contact CONGRATULATIONS to entirely justified during Alex Allfrey who has won the Barclays Bank Trophy Mike Hill at michaelrd.hill@btinternet. Merseyside/Cheshire com or ( 01732 863283. the BGB Gold Cup . Janet held at the British Legion www.mcba.org.uk de Botton, David Burn, Club in Norwich on 9th THE winners of the Nick Sandqvist and Thor- December. It was absolutely freezing – Manchester County Pairs event Erik Hoftaniska were all and the heating failed so all thirty-nine (Waterworth Cup) runners-up. Alex also pairs had to play huddled in coats and www.lighton.btinternet.co.uk/ were Beth and Barry came 2nd in the Premier scarves. Eileen Townsend said it had been BEN Franks Trophy: Wennell; 2nd were League this year (see pages 22-23). bitterly cold but praised Neil Tracey, who con gratulations to Mike Sheila Shea – Margaret Barnes, with Jill The Middlesex Tollemache team fin - was in charge of the movement: ‘He had Bell – Sarah O’Connor Knight – Joan Marray 3rd. These ish ed 3rd in their qualifying group and to re-set it four times because so many (photo below) who won leading three pairs will be our repre sen - narrowly failed to qualify for the final. people had to drop out with colds or flu, the Corwen Qualifier in December just tatives in the Corwen Trophy. Heather Dhondy, Nevena Senior and and players needed to qualify so they ahead of John Hassett – Jeff Morris. The The winners of the North Wales Nicola Smith were all part of the Great couldn’t find substitute partners.’ Neil other Corwen qualifiers were Rod Teams were Chris Pope, Peter Kaufmann, Britain Ladies team that won a bronze stressed that shortcomings like heating Franks – David Pennington, and Gary Simon Edwards and Paddy Murphy. medal at the World Mind Games invi - will be resolved: ‘I believe the venue is Hyett – Rodney Lighton. The Chester Bowl charity pairs event tational event in Beijing (see page 54). ideal for bridge and the N&NBC is Gold Cup: John Hassett’s team (Jeff was won by George Eakin – Angus In the Autumn Congress, Neil Rosen prepared to help the British Legion get Morris, Michael Byrne, Michael New - Clark; Paul Roberts – Julian Merrill came 2nd in the 2 Stars Pairs Final. the premises up to standard.’ man, John Holland and Bill Hirst) lost were the runners-up. The Consolation Simon Cope won the Eastbourne Bowl Barclays Bank Trophy winners were in the quarter-final to the eventual Final was won by Mark Weeks – Peter teams event. Mike and Barbara Harnden with Mike winners, Allfrey. (Gold Cup Final report Sumption. In the county, Richard Hillman – Walsh – Matt Millson as runners up. on page 39) Well done to David Stevenson – Liz Keith Bennett won the Middlesex In other recent events, the Allwood Llangollen Swiss Teams: Michael Byrne Commins who won the LCBA Green- Congress Swiss Pairs (photo below) ; Alan Wharton Trophy (Club Teams of Eight) was a member of the team which won pointed Pairs event last October (photo Mayo – Rob Cliffe finished joint 2nd was won by Norfolk & Norwich BC and the WBU’s Llangollen Swiss Teams. on previous page) . The following week - with Tim Nash – Mark Westley. The the Houston Trophy Swiss Teams winners Santa Claus Pairs : Manchester BC’s end, David and Liz, along with Paddy Swiss Teams was won on a split tie by were Mike Millson, Mike Walsh, Roger popular Christmas event was won by Murphy and Matt Foster, won the LCBA Lorna Swadling, Alastair Gidman, Amey and Michael Whiting. Jason Hackett – Rob Myers; runners-up Foundation Cup. Sandra Nicholson, Krys Kazmierczak; Hard-pressed Norfolk clubs will have were Bernard and Rhona Goldenfield. Well done to the foursome of Liz 2nd were Pat Johnson, Peter Scotting, more Tournament Directors in 2013 as a Junior Bridge: In the Channel Trophy Commins, Barry Jones, Paddy Murphy Brian Gladman and Tony Verran. Well three session training course over three between England, France, Netherlands and Bob Pitts, who were runners-up in done to Jeff and Tracy Hartstone, months was well attended. James Tullett and Belgium, Sarah O’Connor, Sinead the Llangollen Swiss Teams. Murray Leader and Gary Diamond who is one of those with fingers crossed Bird, Laura Bonney and Kirstyn Fuller Well done also to John Hampson – won the Middlesex Ranked Masters waiting to hear if he has passed the exam: all played for the England Under 25 Julian Merrill. Having won the main Teams . Congratulations to Joanna and ‘It was enjoyable and good to learn about Girls Team, Rob Myers played for the Pairs event at the EBU Seniors Congress Michael Lord who won the Ranked the ins and outs of directing,’ he said. ‘It Under 25 Open Team, and Michael last year, this time they were a creditable Masters Pairs. The Senior Pairs were won was an excellent course and I would Byrne captained the Under 20 Team. 5th and also part of the team that were by Charlotte Vine – Rita Hochenberg. recommend it.’ A B A C B

r C

e x t s e s e e h l c d n d a i M M

Mike Bell (left) and Sarah O’Connor, winners of the Ben Franks Trophy, Middlesex Swiss Pairs winners, Keith Bennett and Richard Hillman : : o o t t o with Manchester CBA Chairman Kevin Comrie. o with County President Charlotte Vine. h h P P

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 49 Diary dates: the Norfolk Congress has Winter League 4: 1. Marcus Witt, Trevor found on the county website. The venue is the Grays Hotel and moved to the Wensum Valley Hotel, near Thrower, Bill Chadwick, Mike Gore Diary dates: Sun Feb 10, County Pairs Conference Centre, Foregate, Telford. Norwich, April 5-7 2013. You can find Browne; 2. Jim Deacon, Ian Clarke, Semi-finals. Sun Feb 17, Midlands Swiss Pairs on Sat Apr 20 and teams on the booking form on the NCBA website Tony Hough, Tim Durdin. Counties League v Staffordshire – away. Sun Apr 21. Please contact Judy on at www.bridgewebs. com/norfolk/ Diary dates: Sat Feb 2, Saturday Sun Mar 17, Midlands Counties v ( 0174 3235374 or email mitchellmj@ Winter League, Stamford. Wed Feb 20, Lincolnshire – away. Wed Mar 20, OBA btinternet.com Management Committee meeting. Sun North East Wednesday Winter League, Northamp- ton. Sat Mar 16, Winter League Play-off, Mar 24, EBU Portland Pairs, Steventon. Suffolk www.neba.co.uk Stamford. Sun Apr 7, Alastair Brodie Memorial Trophy. www.suffolkbridge.co.uk THE NEBA Annual Con - Somerset VICTOR Floriean, Chris gress was held in early www.somersetbridge.org.uk November at a new Nottinghamshire Kennedy, Birte Ditchburn and Peter Carlisle won the venue, the Marriot SOMERSET finished 3rd in Championship Teams Plate. Hotel in Gateshead. On www.bridgewebs.com/nottinghamshire their Tollemache qualifying Team Bresler (qualifier winners) joins the Friday night the IN the County Match against War- group – the county’s best teams Moore, Hanley, and Newman in winners were: Women’s Pairs: Ros wickshire all three teams lost 4-16, 2-18 performance for years. the Championship Semi-finals. French – Diana Drysdale; Mixed Pairs: and 3-17. In the match against Wor - Congratulations to Captain Elizabeth Tora – Jane Moore retained John and Rossalyn Halliwell. Men’s cestershire all lost 7-13, 4-16 and 5-15. Eric Cummings and his team of Colin Flood, Colin Simcox, the Suffolk Simultaneous Pairs from Pairs: Horacio Oliveira – Simon Hedley. The Derbyshire/EBU Green Point Swiss Frank Colman, Alan and Jette Bailey, John and Maureen Heath, with Sam and On Saturday, the green-pointed Swiss Teams was won by Geoff Topol, Andrew Roger Sweet and Mike Whittaker. Bim Wilson coming 3rd. Pairs was won by Bohdan Hnyda – John Scott, David Hodge and Mark Goddard. The Anniversary Teams was won by The County Swiss Teams was won by Suffolk, represented by David Price Eglington and on Sunday, the green- the Leicestershire team of John Milne, Donne Hoong, Michael Toft, Pip Duncan (Capt.), Peter Sutcliffe, Jonathan Green, pointed Swiss Teams was won by Phil Brian Marlow, Michael Mahoney and and Sharlean Weir. The top three teams Jane and Andrew Moore, Chris Godfrey, Clive Owen, Chris Owen and Trevor Barret , with Gordon Fullerton, were separated by 2 VPs. The County Chambers, Peter Gemmell and Rick John Atthey. Bev Godfrey is standing Frank Ball, Ellen Overton and Keith Teams of Eight was won by the team from Hanley, qualified for the Tollemache down as Congress Secretary and our Rodgers 2nd. the Yeovil Club of Colin Powell, David Cup Final, the premier event in county thanks go to her for all the work she has Graham Brindley has been appointed Steele, David Latchem, Bob Warrender, bridge, for the third time in the last four done in organising this and many to be the NCBA Representative, repre - John Dur rant, Brian Bot tomly, Peter years. previous Congresses. senting Nottinghamshire clubs on the Gurman and Stewart Upton. The Ladies’ Suffolk had mixed fortunes against The final of the NEBA Gazette Cup EBU County Clubs Committee. and Men’s Pair s were won by Anne Cambs & Hunts in the ECL . The A Team was held in October and the winners Diary dates: The Wednesday pro - McBride – Anne Skinner, Ralph Smith – won 20-0 but the B Team lost 8-12 as were Clive and Christopher Owen. The gramme is under review, so see the Steve Tomlinson respectively. did the C Team. Gazette Shield was won by Neil and Inga website for details. The NCBA Journal The Western League results against Colchester retained the Abbeygate Aiston. The Annual Teams Congress held Cup, the county’s Pairs Championship, Wiltshire, Hereford and Dorset were: Shield, the county Club Teams-of-Eight by Cramlington Bridge Club was won will be on Sun Apr 7. (For enquiries and Wiltshire: A team won 19 – 1, B team and will represent Suffolk at the Garden by Norman and Rosemary Gray, John entries contact Graham Brindley ( 0115 won 18 – 2, C team won 19 – 1. Cities regional final in the new year. Kingcome and Jim Hodgson. 9232186). The AGM is scheduled for Hereford: A team won 12- 8, B team We are excited about the East Anglian May 12. won 20 – 0, C team drew 10 – 10. Bridge Weekend, a Green Point Swiss Northamptonshire Dorset: A team won 12-8, B team lost Pairs & Swiss Teams Weekend to be held 6 - 14, C team lost 0-20. jointly with the Norfolk and Cambs & www.northantsbridge.info/ Oxfordshire Diary dates: Sun Feb 3, Two-tier Hunts Associations on Ipswich Water - SADLY Peter Coleman www.oxfordshirebridge.co.uk Teams of Four (Club Championship), front on March 9-10 2013. lost his fight against CONGRATULATIONS to Oakes. Sun Feb 24, Three-tier Pairs Two beginners, Paddy Lockwood – cancer recently. He Lorna Swadling, Alastair (Club Championship), Draycott. Mon Antony Hurden won the biggest Novice joined Kettering Bridge Club while still Gidman, Sandra Nicholson Mar 4, Pairs league (1), Webbington Pair s field for at least a decade. Runners- up were Simon Riley – Diane Whiteley. in his teens and soon made his mark in and Krys Kazmierczak who Hotel. Tue Mar 12, Pairs League (2), Bill Bethel – David Eaton won the club, county and national competi tions. achieved joint first place in Woolavington. Sat Mar 16, County Improvers section. He will be remembered for his calm, the Middlesex Swiss Teams. Mixed Pairs, Street. Fri Mar 29, Pairs Diary dates: Sun Feb 10, Jyl Marsh laid back approach to life in general and The Malvern Swiss Teams Congress saw League (3), Webbington Hotel. Individual, 2pm, Colchester. Fri Feb 22, particularly bridge. He was that rare three of the top ten places taken by Suffolk Pairs Semi-Final, 7pm, Kesgrave . combination of an excellent player, but Oxfordshire teams. Dinah and Andrew Staffs and Shrops Sat Mar 9, East Anglia Bridge Weekend more importantly a real gentleman at Lintott, John Slater and Helen Lawton- GP Swiss Pairs, 1pm, UCS Ipswich. Sun the bridge table. Smith were the highest placed of these, www.staffsandshrops.org.uk Mar 10, East Anglia Bridge Weekend GP The Lakeland was won by Stamford. finishing 7th. At the EBU Seniors’ PAUL Hackett was in the Swiss Teams, 11am, UCS Ipswich. Sun The Broke Cup semi-finalists are Congress Peter Russell – Ron Quainton, winning team in the Mar 24, Club Teams of Four, 2pm, Graham Hedley, Ross Stacey, Robert along with Olivia and Alan Woo, also Senior Camrose Trials Pakenham. Miller and Michael Keogh. The Betts achieved a top 10 finish. and will be representing Bowl semi-finalists are Robin Griffiths, Congratulations to Gillian Lonsdale – England in the Senior Bill Chadwick, Brian Churchill with the Nigel Wilkes on winning the OBA Swiss Camrose in Wales in May. Surrey winner of the match between Kevin Pairs Championship. At the county’s first The county team had a magnificent Fogarty and Richard Gibson. Welcome Day in October, Robert Procter, 20-0 win against Lincolnshire in the www.surreycountybridge.org.uk In the Eastern Counties League match Peter Finbow, Norman Gascoyne and Dawes. The victorious team was Edward CONGRATULATIONS to against Hertfordshire, the A team lost Adrian Lambe won the OBA Friendly Levy, John Parsons, Paul Cutler, Roy the Hinden team (Frances 4-16, the B team won 14-6 and the C Swiss Teams . Rita Todd – Moira Pavelin Edwards, David Beavon, Roger Keane, Hinden, Graham Osborne, team lost 5-15. won the well-attended Oxford Café Robin Adey and Geoff Davies. The Jeffrey Allerton and Chris Results: Wed Winter League 3: 1. Kevin Bridge event which was played simul ta - second team also won 20-0; congratu - Jagger) who have won the Fogarty, Margaret Bryant, Richard neously in six different locations. lations to Mike Cornes, Annett e Lucas, 2012 Premier League (see pages 22-23). Gibson, Eifion Jones; 2. Hugh Williams, Winners of the County monthly Dan Crofts, Sandra Fenton, Dave Ken Ford, Charles Chisnall, Ian Jonathan Watkins, Brent Hill, Andy Seniors’ Pairs were: December: Norman Clarke, Celia Day, Lawrence Haynes and Swanson and Bill Hodgkiss did very well Robinson. Wed Winter League 4: 1. Jim Gascoyne – Alan Prior; November: Dale Keith Shuttleworth. to reach the semi-finals of the Gold Cup. Deacon, Dan Baines, Mike Trask, Tony Thomas – Keith Goswell. Diary dates: The heats for the Bearn Despite last-minute team changes Hough; 2. Kevin Fogarty, Margaret The Children in Need Sim Pairs was which are open to all of our county due to illness and a clash of dates, the Bryant, Richard Gibson, Eifion Jones. well supported by Oxfordshire clubs, members are: Newcastle on Mon Feb 25 Surrey team qualified for the Tolle mache Sat Winter League 3: 1. Graham and raising over £2500. and Stafford on Thur Feb 28. The Bearn final in 1st place. Berry Hedley, Ben and Joan Gibson; Wallingford Bridge Club is holding a final is on Sunday 7th April. John Samuels – Maureen Dennison 2. Marcus Witt, Mike Gore Browne, new Swiss Pairs event on Sunday Judy Mitchell is accepting entries for won the Senior Pairs, Arun Suri – Bob Trevor Thrower and Mike Auger. Sat February 3. Further information can be our Green-pointed Shropshire Congress. McRobert won the inaugural Midweek

50 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk COUNTY NEWS

Cross Imp Pairs, and Trevor and Barbara Final, Patcham. Mar 3, Mixed Pairs won by Ann and Robin Baker ahead of position in the Dawes and Markham Hobson won the Friendly Pairs. Both Final, West Sussex Club. Mar 16, Sussex Chris Hogan – Joyce Etheridge, and competitions, Worcestershire can be these last two events were sadly very Pairs Final, West Sussex. Apr 5-7, Spring Tom Allen – Graham Williams. The justly proud to be the current leaders in poorly attended despite a midweek event Congress, Uckfield. Apr 21, Sussex Teams Teams of Eight was won by Chris Jones, the second team competition, the Porter having been requested by members. of Eight, Eastbourne. Apr 28, Open Swiss narrowly beating David Thackaberry Cup, and we are grateful to the players for I’ve been asked to make a correction Teams Millennium Trophy, Eastbourne. and Graham Moxey. the commitment that they have shown in to the last issue. Although she achieved In the Championship Pairs qualifier, making the effort to play and support the 72% with Derek Payne in the Dorin Warwickshire Bob McMurray and Hugh Gross were county teams on a regular basis. Salver, Jill Cook actually won the event the winners. This event is always close: Diary dates: Feb 18, Championship with a score of 72.1% with Colin Bailey www.warwickshirebridge.co.uk Georgie Dalton – Sonia Blandy, and Pairs Qualifier; Feb 24, Club Champion- – some achievement to score over 70% BRIDGE Focus, the county’s then Ron King – Huw Oliver were only ship Pairs; Mar 10, Championship Pairs with two different partners! quarterly publication is narrowly behind. The Garden Cities Final; Apr 7, Garden Cities Qualifier. The charity for the next Surrey now up and running. Its Qualifier was won by the Trowbridge Simultaneous Pairs from February 18-22 aim is to keep members up Club, from Swindon and Bath. Yorkshire will be the Sutton & Croydon Multiple to date with news, results, The Leagues have reached the half-way Sclerosis Therapy Centre, and all clubs and forthcoming events. point, with Williamson of the Premier www.ycba.co.uk/ are encouraged to enter. Questions on all aspects of Division remaining the only unbeaten AT the EBU’s Autumn Diary dates: Feb 10, Friendly Swiss the game are welcome, be they bidding, team. Chasing Williamson in the Premier Congress, Stuart Davies – Pairs. Feb 17, County Pairs & Plate both declarer play, ethics etc. Any amusing/ Division is Blandy. Division Two sees the Phil Godfrey were 2nd in at Bourne BC, Farnham – a new venue catastrophic hands are also welcome. Thackaberry and Dwyer teams edging the Swiss Pairs. At the EBU’s for County events. The Friendly Swiss For further information contact Publicity ahead. In Division Three the Hodgson Seniors Con gress, Frank Pairs replaces the 30K and Newcomers @warwickshire.co.uk team have worked up a clear lead . Littlewood – David Musson were 2nd in Pairs, and as the name implies is an The hugely successful Mentored Pivot Wiltshire also looks forward to its the Pairs A Final, while Heather Teams was played recently. Twenty-four combining with Avon CBA for the introduction to tournament bridge for Hobson, Roy Garthwaite and Janet and teams competed and congratulations go Green Point Weekend at Bath University players who may not have tried this type Ted Latham were 3rd in the Swiss to the winners: Helen Thompson, on March 9-10. of event before, together with those who Teams. Juddie Currie, Freda Perks, Carolyn prefer a gentler afternoon of bridge. Sarah Teshome, Richard Winter, Fisher. Section winners were Lizzie Please support these new events and Worcestershire Richard Pike, Dave Robinson, Rob Myers, Ward, Craig Skinner, Cathy Hall, Tony venues. All events begin at 1pm. James Thrower, Tony McNiff and Phil Poole, and Carrolleannea Philip, Nigel Enter via the Surrey website or con - www.worcestershirebridge.co.uk Godfrey represented the county in the tact Frances Trebble ( 01252 679883, Seifas, Martyn Brawn, Prue Knight. (See THE highlight of the qualifying round for the Tollemache [email protected] feature on page 45.) County’s events in the Cup. They finished 4th in a strong Thirty-two Senior Pairs enjoyed a latter part of the year is group, outside the qualifying places. Sussex very pleasant afternoon at the WMBC. always the Malvern Rob Myers and James Thrower Winners were Adrian Knight – Leslie Congress and this year represented England in the Junior www.sccba.co.uk Reece. was no exception, being, as always, fully Channel Trophy matches against France, AS a county we lost a very The winners of the Chick o’ the County booked some weeks before the event, Belgium and the Netherlands. courageous lady in Jackie were Jim Pedersen – Rod Jones not Jim which took place in October. Results: Congratulations to the following on Clinton, who died peacefully Pederson – Rob Jones as reported in Green-pointed Swiss Pairs: 1. Nick their successes in recent county events with her family in Novem - December. Forward – Steve Allerston (Worcs), 2. Sue and club congresses: Nelson Rose Bowl: ber; she had recently been The 27th Coventry Congress takes Evans – Dennis Loynes (Worcs). Green- Janet Latham, Heather Hobson, Carole awarded the Dimmie Flem - place on 15-17 March 2013. Friday pointed Swiss Teams: 1. Tim Brierley, Jack Kelly and Judith Biles. Ryedale Cup: ing award (see page 25). evening is Open Pairs for the Binley Terry, Alan and David S Jones (Avon); 1. Rebecca Brian – Alan Jarvis, First an amendment to the report π Bowl. On Saturday there is a separate 2. John Sansom, Richard Jephcott, Nick 2. Maureen Tebb – Tony Swiers, 3. Neil printed in the last magazine: Joy Mayall one-session afternoon event for less Forward, Steve Allerston (Worcs). Zussman – Antony Edwards. Mixed was third in the bridge but her superb experienced players.The Peeping Tom Elsewhere, the Inter-Club Teams Pivot Teams: 1. Tom Cohen, Giles Foster, golf score took her to first overall in our Pairs is restricted to players of NGS event, the Healey Cup, was won by Sarah Teshome and Richard Winter; new Golf/ Bridge tournament – our band 4 or below. The Godiva Swiss Pairs Worcester Bridge Club: 1. Worcester BC 2. Sue Logan, Tony McNiff, Bill Townsend chairman shows the way! Championship also on Saturday is a (David Thomas, Jimmy Ledger, Ross and David Broadhead. Congratulations to Andrea Galpin – two-session event playing 6 x 8 boards Garratt, Mel Downing); 2. Wyeside BC Over the weekend of April 27-28, the Lydia Stanford who won the Sussex in total. Sunday is Swiss Teams for the (Bob Underhill, John Griffiths, Steve YCBA and Bradford Bridge Club will be Ladies’ Pairs; 2. Liz Hoskins – Jill Jaguar Trophy, playing 7 x 7 boards in Booth, Chris Thomas). hosting the Corn Cairdis (Friendship Armstrong, 3. Sandy Bunt – Brenda total. For more details contact secretary The Mixed Teams produced a con - Trophy) international between England Garrini. @coventrybridgeclub.co.uk or the club vincing result, with the winners being and the Republic of Ireland. Spectators Our first Mid-week Event was very website www.bridgewebs.com/cnwbc . over 30 IMPs clear of the field: 1. Richard welcome. successful and thoroughly enjoyed by Rugby Bridge Club has re-affiliated Jephcott, Steve Allerston, Nick and Diary dates: Feb 3, Doncaster Swiss everyone who played: 1. Marie and to the EBU. Stephanie Forward; 2. Joyce Skelton, Paul Pairs. Feb 7, Margery Cartwright Sim David Gritt, =2. Nigel Urban – Andrew Diary dates: Sun Feb 17, Cham - Hammond, John Sansom, Stewart Fish - Pairs. Feb 10, Yorkshire Cup Final, Morris and Fran Thorton – Tilly pionship Pairs Final, West Mids, 1pm. burne. In contrast, the Mixed Pairs Leeds. Feb 17, Yorkshire League (Round Hennings. Non-expert winners were Sun Feb 24, Introductory Pairs (entry produced a much closer result, with the 6). Mar 6, Peter Little wood Midweek Elizabeth Hornsey – Avril Strong. The via clubs), West Mids, 1.30pm. Fri-Sun top four pairs scoring over 60%: Pairs (Tickton). Mar 17, Improvers Ascenders prize went to Alan Gardiner Mar 15-17, Coventry Congress. Thur 1. Richard Jephcott – Dodo Georgevic; Pairs, Leeds. Mar 29-31, EBU Northern – Robert Weir. Apr 4, Ladies’/Men’s Pairs, Mos, 7.15pm. 2. Dick and Jane Rutter. Easter Festival (hosted by the YCBA at East Grinstead Basic Bridge Pairs: In the Midland Inter-County League, Park Inn Hotel, York). Apr 7, Yorkshire 1. Nigel and Kate Flynn, 2. Jane Alderman Wiltshire while achieving a creditable mid-table League (Round 7) . r – Mike Greenfield. Bognor Basic Bridge Pairs: 1. Ann Walker – Keith Hotchkiss, www.wcba.co.uk 2. Joy Mayall – Gerry Standford. THE county has had a th Many congratulations to Chris busy autumn. The num - February 20 is the closing date Derrick who has been selected to play ber of players attend ing for England in the Under-20s team in county events has again increased, for the submission of county the Junior Channel Trophy. This is the which gives the committee a wry smile first time for many years that Sussex has that we are in danger of out growing our reports for the next issue of been represented at this level in the excellent newish venue at Devizes Bowls Juniors and we are very proud of Chris Club. English Bridge. and what he has achieved so far. Two events have been held for lower- Diary dates: Feb10, Elizabeth North ranked players, matching the two for Please e-mail: [email protected] Trophy, Patcham. Feb 24, Individual senior players. The Autumn Pairs was

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 51 LOCAL MASTER PROMOTIONS November – December 2012

We regret that space constraints prevent us from printing other promotions. Sorry if your name is not in the magazine; new promotions are published every month on, and can be downloaded from, the EBU website at www.ebu.co.uk Landmark promotions are published in the April, August and December issues o f English Bridge .

Avon Margaret Pickering Mr Ray Perham B Melbourne Webb Kara Radcliffe Nottinghamshire Sarah Avery Mr KA Powell Mr D Reeves Richard Mountford Ms NR Shashou Mr Mike Barrett Sally Banks Morag Reeve Mr John Skuse Robin Owens Kelvin Wong Sheila Clark Margaret Crowson Veronica Woodburn Mrs Ann Steel Mr Eric Roberts Manchester Mr Doug Gillanders Mrs Gloria Godfrey Cumbria Mrs Jacky Wilkes Mr Tom Rushton Mrs Norma Barratt Mrs Helen Jones Bedfordshire Janice Cooper Gloucestershire Mrs C Saunders Dr N Beenstock Mr Keith Wood Mike Bluett Audrey Delbridge Ms Jane Allison Mr R Saunders Mrs Christine Bulmer Oxfordshire Alan Price Margaret English Mr Bert Barkus Peter Shepherd Mr Tim Kennedy Helen Bateman Mr David Tompsett Mrs Angela Hewitt Mr G Beverley Mrs Anne Stobo Merseyside/ Mr Peter Cottrell Berks. & Bucks. Gordon Joynt Mr Ken Evans MC Waddington Cheshire Gorden Critchley Mr Tom Wallace Lise Allen Christine Kimberley Mrs Valerie Hopkins Mrs Pat Bain Mrs S Evangelisti Lilaine Walsh Ronnie Mulcahy Janet Anderman Ms Janice Little Mr Richard Horne Mrs G Fryd Mr Fred Neillie Shirley Aranzulla Mr G MacNeill Mr David Lewis Lancashire Mrs L Given Mary Ravenscroft Mrs S Brewer Mr Bob Mclure Mrs Margaret Lilley Mr William Boar Mary Gore Middlesex Kathy Brisbourne Mrs Joy Mitchell Mrs Elaine Parker Mr Joel Burns Mary Hearsey Stephen Lipman Mr L Camden Mrs Mary Pearson Mrs Margaret Powrie Mrs Ruth Cooper Mrs L Henstock Mr K Mehta Mrs Suzanne Came Mr Joe Weall Pauline Sanderson Elysia Craddock Mrs A Manfield Mahendra Morjaria Mrs M Diamond Derbyshire Peter Sanderson Mrs CE Cragg Mrs Claire Moulson Marie Elisa Gording Mrs M Allen Penny Stanbury Mary Jane Doyle Margaret Rawlings Mrs M Peggie Anna Elliott Mrs M Cresswell Hants & I.o.W. Joan Dutton Praful Shavadia Martin Peirce Sue Gammage Marie Draper Pat Mounsey Mrs Isobella Hulme Norfolk Sue Russell Mrs Elaine Goodwin Dr B Levick Mr Tom Mounsey Mrs DE Ingleby Mrs Freddie Abbs Mr M Samuel Mrs Beryl Huson Mr Alan Moore Mrs Lesley Saunders Mrs Moira Keany Jane Brown Somerset Mr Arthur Johnson Jan Moore Peter Sheppard Angela Lawton Mr Patrick Fuller Mr C Bryant Mrs Marridge Lane Devon Mr Peter Sheppard Mr Robert Peel Mrs Elizabeth Groves Ms Rae Fitzgerald Mr J Lee Mrs Joan Berry Rosalind Sheppard Mary Smith Barbara Macallan Mr Eric Jones Terry McDonnell Mrs Wendy Brown Mr Geoffrey Smith Mrs Jill Weinbren Mrs Anna Ovenden Mr W Keeling Ann Partilides Mr John Denton Pamela Thompson Mrs Andrea Whitaker Mrs Anne Read Michael Leach Martin Perry Mrs Jean Halton Mr D Trew Leicestershire Mrs M Slack Mrs M Leys Pauline Priest Mr John Heaton Mrs C Wood Mr Ashley Barnett North East Mr A McWhirter Mrs A Tester Marjorie Higgins Herefordshire Mrs Jane Forbes Mrs Sheila Allen Mrs Sally Saunders Mrs Kate Turner Mr David Kaye Mrs Elaine Gower Mrs Glenda Wells Pauline Armstrong Liz Tracy Mr John Watson Mrs Gwen Martin Mrs Amanda Millais Lincolnshire Michael G Bell Mr R Williams Cambs & Hunts Mr John Skinner Hertfordshire Mrs Jo Burndred Pauline Chapelhow Staffs & Shrops Mrs Lynne Thornley Adam Bowden Neil Baldwin Marilyn Eley Thelma Fuller Mr Maurice Barton Mrs Judy Tyler Mr Ian Griffiths David Becker Mrs Sara Gourley Ms Fiona Gibbins Ms Imogen Davies Mrs Eunice Wade Mrs Nell Halpin Mrs Judith Lyons Mr Nigel Haslam Dorothy Kitchen Mrs Ruth Garratt Elizabeth Welsh Mr Daniel Opalka Mr B McDougal Mrs Pat Haslam Mrs Dylis Nord Gay Hadley Ms Terry Otterman Direct Mrs A Richardson Pam Isaac Northants Mr Tim Hamblin Mr GC Watson Mrs A Green Mr John Richardson Mrs CM Walker William Blackmore Mrs Gloria Harris Channel Islands Dorset Jennifer Rowlands Mrs Judith Wall Mrs Marilyn Evans Mr Ernie Houghton Christina Ashcroft Mr Percy Parkes Sylvia White Kevin Ward Mrs Marie Harris Mr Dave Howse Mary D’Alessandro Mr David Penny Kent Margaret Wright- Mrs S Hill Mr Barrie Jones Di Hill Mr John Strover Mr Robert Assirati Green Mrs Frances Lenz Lady D Lacy Ronnie Hill Mrs Bella White Mrs Janice Begbie London Mr Ian Moss Mrs Ann Rafferty Cornwall Essex Mr Dick Bell Teresa Bircher Mrs Margaret Nixon Mr Ed Richardson Mrs Jenny Bower Sylvia Benstead Vicki Boardman Mrs Helen Blakeney Mrs Hilary Price Mrs Val Richardson Mr Mike Bradshaw Angela Clements Malcolm Greenslade Jane Cazalet Mrs Anita Smith Mrs Mavis Smith Mrs Betty Giddy Mr Graham Coleman Grahame Hamilton Oliver Gillie Mrs Gill Spencer Alexandra Sparks Ms Norna Hughes Mr J Creed David Holmes Mr Arj Halstead Mrs Christeen Taylor Mr David Sparks Ms Jenny Pearce Mr Ron Hill Mrs Jennifer Ludkin Mr Don Penney Mrs Anne Wood Mr Colin Stewart

52 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk LOCAL MASTER PROMOTIONS November – December 2012

Marion Wade Sandra Gibson Sussex Warwickshire Mr David Welton Mrs Barbara Dawson Mr John Whilton Mrs Tessa Gittens Mr Roger Amon Laurence Abrahams Mr Ronald Woodhall Mrs Linda Finlay Suffolk Eva Glover Mrs Sylvia Benford Mrs Lucy Bayliss Westmorland Mrs DH Fisher Ms Margaret Bryant Pauline Harris Violet Bent Mrs Ursha Choksey Mrs S Graham Mr R Goodall Mrs Margaret Bussell Ms Pam Hewitt Wendy Joyce Bowles Mrs Teresa Donovan Brenda Halliday Mrs Angela Horner Penny Easting Brenda Houghton Andrew Corbett Mrs Ann Forrester Wiltshire Mr J Ingham Mrs Carol Keighley Jayne Jackson Caroline Jenkins Carol Dowden Andrew Freeman Mr Roger Button Mr R Marriott Mrs J Kemp Mr Tony Kemp-Jones Miss Phillis Dyer Mrs G Grendon Mr John Caiger Mrs Anne Pickard Mrs J Howie Jean Kerr Libby Knowles Mrs Katherine Flynn June Goodchap Dianne Sammons Mrs Zena Hutchinson Pauline Langron Mieke Kyle Mr Nigel Flynn Ms A Holloway Surrey Christine Liggins Mr Kevin Logan Di Lines Mrs Liz Haagman Linda Lane Mrs Liz Ackland Michelle Mannion Mary Mallinson Mrs Patricia Magnus Christine Hampton Christine Pompei Richard Armstrong Judith Matthews Mr Rod McInnes Mr Martin Osborn Nicholas Hampton Mrs Eileen Roberts Mr Derek Cash Margaret Pearson Margaret Ellen Mr Guy Pescod Mrs Susan Haslam Mr Don Soffe Mrs Jackie Childs Philip Pink McKenzie Rob Pike Mr John Higgins Mr Vernon Worrall Mr Daniel Cohen Mr Terry Poole Mrs Christine Moore J Powell Mrs Sue Higgins Worcestershire Ms Renate Cox Mr David Roberts Mr JD Morris Mrs Sally Redhead Ms Edith Jeffery Ms Patricia Burford Ron Cronin Mrs Jackie Shirley Mrs Lynn Nutton Diane Richardson Mr Frank Davies Swann Cutler Mr John Kirkbride Belinda Simmons Mr R Oxley Peter Dominey Mr P Sarell Fiona Muecher May Summerfield Mr R Garbett Ms Liz Ripard Michael Dudgeon Ariane Sollberger Mr WF Norvell Ms Dilys Taylor Mrs Clare Maiden Muriel Robson Mr John Evans Mr Alan Speed Mrs Pamela Powell Doug Upson Mr Martin Pritchard Peter Robson Marijka Fakhouri Mrs Kathy Speed Malcolm Titchener Margaret Upson Linda Symonds Mrs L Smith Karen Fearon Mrs Venetia Stent Mrs Marie Titchener Mrs Valerie Walker Yorkshire Mrs Jane Teale Mrs R Ferguson Mr Martin Vaux Mr Brian Ware Mrs Jean Walmsley Mr Noel Atley Mrs Anne Thomson Ms Elizabeth Gibbon Mary Watford Mrs Betty Watts Mrs Rita Ward Mr G Davies Mr Victor White r SUSSEX REACHES OUT TO THE PUBLIC

AS ONE of their initiatives in 2012, Sussex CBA have launched an ‘Outreach Project’: ‘We are committed to helping our bridge clubs in Sussex,’ writes County Chairman Joy Mayall, ‘and encouraging more people to take up bridge. To this end we have launched a project which involves us creating a display at all key libraries in Sussex informing the public of their local bridge clubs and local bridge teachers. We have purchased a set of display boards and each week hope to display local ‘bridge’ information to the public at a different library across the county. We have found the library service to be very helpful and receptive to this idea – so far feedback has been positive.’

The picture shows local players browsing information dis played at the Outreach Project in the Crawley library, which was n o s

manned by Crawley Bridge Club members at lunchtime each e m a J

d day. Displays have also been set up in Haywards Heath, East r a h c i R

Grinstead and Crawley, with more planned for Horsham, : o t o h Henfield and other venues in Sussex. P

www.ebu.co.uk February 2013 English Bridge 53 19 – 21 April 2013 Club Bidding Quiz REALLY EASY SPRING by Julian Pottage BREAK Answers to Problems on Page 21 DERBY The Hallmark Midland Hotel Midland Road, Derby DE1 2SQ WN ES WN ES ( 01332 345894 Hand 1 Pass Pass Hand 4 1NT Pass ´ 6 1t Pass 1´ Pass ´ 9 5 3 ? ™ K 8 3 2® Pass 3® Pass ™ A Q 8 t K Q 9 6 5 ? t K Q 10 7 6 5 3NT. You have two ® A 10 7 6 ® 8 decisions here – do you Pass. You have a min- bid game or invite, and imum opening bid and do you look for a suit your partner’s bid is not forcing. While contract? Counting your good six-card suit you do have a heart stopper, it does not as worth a couple of points, you should bid follow that you can make as many tricks in game. As you would need eleven tricks to no-trumps as in clubs. You might well make game in diamonds, you do not want need to ruff something. The fact that your to consider that. A 4-3 fit in a major is partner passed as dealer further confirms unlikely to be right either. The hotel package is £143 per person that your side lacks game values. with no single supplement. Make reservations directly WN ES WN ES Hand 5 1® Pass 1´ Pass with the hotel. Hand 2 1® Dble Pass ´ Q ? Bridge fees: £40 per person ´ 8 6 5 ? ™ A J 8 ™ Q 5 4 3 t 10 8 5 3 2®. A of 2 t Four sessions of bridge plus two t A 9 7 5 2™. You might have to ® A K 8 6 3 would show extra values, days half-board at this historic hotel ® K 8 bid 1 ™ with no points at at least 16 points: you opposite Derby railway station. all. The jump shows have only 14 and a poor The event starts with dinner on about 8-10 points and is second suit. A 1NT rebid would be an Friday evening at 6.30pm followed not forcing. You should bid hearts rather overbid too, showing at least 15. On this by the first session of bridge. A than diamonds because game is more sequence, you quite often have to rebid bridge lesson on Saturday morning likely in hearts. In addition, on a marginal your first suit with only five cards in it. followed by play sessions in the hand, partner is more likely to hold afternoon and evening. Finally on support for a major than a minor. Sunday a Swiss Pairs event with a WN ES break for a light lunch. The event Hand 6 1t finishes around 3.30pm . WN ES ´ Q 10 8 3 ? Hand 3 1NT Pass ™ K 10 7 ENTRIES LIMITED TO 60 PEOPLE ´ J 7 2 ? t K Q 7 4 Pass. A 1NT overcall (RESIDENTS ONLY) ™ A K 2 ® K 7 would show 15-17 t A Q 10 2 6NT. With 21 HCP points. With only 13, Suitable for students in their ® A K 6 facing 12-14, this is a you cannot afford to do first or second year of learning. simple matter of arith - that. A double would be wrong too – your metic. Your side has a best suit is the one opened and you have Entries & enquiries to combined total of 33-35 HCP. This makes real support for only one other suit. Nor is EBU Competitions a small slam almost certain but a grand this the moment for overcalling on a 4- Department slam unlikely. . card suit. r ( 01296 317 203 / 219 or e-mail [email protected] Congratulations to Heather Dhondy, Nevena Senior, Sally Brock, Nicola Smith, Fiona Brown and Susan Stockdate who won the bronze medal in the bridge www.reallyeasybridge.com Women’s Teams invitational event at the Sportaccord World Mind Games in Beijing in December. Nevena Senior also gained bronze in the Individual event.

54 English Bridge February 2013 www.ebu.co.uk

BER NARD MAGEE at Denham Grove near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG.

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 14 May 15 May 16 May From 9.30 am From 9.30 am From 9.30 am Check in Check in Check in Tea, Coffee & Biscuits Tea, Coffee & Biscuits Tea, Coffee & Biscuits 10.30 am – 12 noon 10.30 am – 12 noon 10.30 am – 12 noon Thinking Defence Splinters & Cue Bids (without a fit) 12 noon – 2.30 pm 12 noon – 2.30 pm Supervised Play1 Supervised Play1 12 noon – 2.30 pm 3-Course Buffet Lunch 3-Course Buffet Lunch Supervised Play1 3-Course Buffet Lunch 3 pm – 4.30 pm 3 pm – 4.30 pm Pre-emptive Play & Defence 3 pm – 4.30 pm Bidding at Duplicate Pairs Avoidance Play 4.30 pm – 7 pm 4.30 pm – 7 pm 4.30 pm – 7 pm Supervised Play1 Supervised Play1 Supervised Play1 Tea, Coffee & Biscuits Tea, Coffee & Biscuits Tea, Coffee & Biscuits Day guests may stay until 7pm. Day guests may stay until 7pm. Day guests may stay until 7pm.

£100 per day2. £270 for all three days3. A limited number of bedrooms are available: Dinner, bed and breakfast: £90 per person, per night.

Contact Mr Bridge to book your place or for further details: 01483 489961 These seminars are to be filmed. When ready, a full boxed set of DVDs will be sent.

1 2 3 Not with Bernard Magee. IncludesPage 4 buffet lunch. Day guests only.