Number: 209 May 2020 BRIDGEJulian Pottage’s Double Dummy Problem

D BAL LOON RE S

♠ 4 3 ♥ 3 2 ♦ K Q 9 5 4 3 ♣ A K Q ♠ J 9 7 6 2 ♠ 10 8 5 ♥ N ♥ K 10 8 7 6 W E Q J ♦ A J 8 S ♦ 10 7 6 ♣ ♣ J 10 9 8 7 ♠ A K Q ♥ A 9 5 4 ♦ 2 ♣ 6 5 4 3 2

Contract 3NT by South Lead: ♥7

This Double Dummy problem can also be found on page 5 of this issue. The answer will be published on page 4 next month. Stephen Cashmore Says Two Opening Hands Should Bid To Game

onventional wisdom is that you Opposite 1♣ (or 1♦ if that is your style) Of course, we have all failed in 3NT need about 25 points in your from partner, you have an easy response on a combined 28 points, or a doomed combined hands to take the nine of 1♥. When he rebids 1NT, showing 15- 4♥ with 30 points. Just because we know Ctricks required for 3NT, 26-27 to make 16 points, you simply jump to 3NT to we should bid a game doesn’t mean four of a (because you need end proceedings. we are going to make it. You just can’t an extra trick), and 28-29 to make five of afford to wait for a 100% contract. a (which entails taking two West North East South extra tricks). 1♥ Pass ? It follows that, if partner opens the ♠ 9 5 2 ♠ 10 8 bidding with a value-showing bid, and Curiously, it is harder if partner kicks ♥ A Q 8 N ♥ K J 10 2 W E ♥ ♥ ♥ ♦ A Q 2 ♦ K J 8 6 you also have an opening hand, simple off with 1 , your best suit. 2 and 3 S arithmetic puts you in the region of 25 are out – they are non-forcing limit bids. ♣ K 10 6 3 ♣ A J 5 points or more. You should therefore 4♥ is also out – this is a pre-emptive bid, ensure the partnership bids to game. showing something like: Of course, this is not true if partner Here we see the combined cards for opens the bidding with something that the first example. West opens ♣1 , East shows less than opening values – easy ♠ J responds 1♥, West rebids 1NT and East examples being a weak-two bid or a ♥ K 10 9 6 5 4 jumps to 3NT. This is all very sensible, three-level pre-empt. You need a strong ♦ Q 7 5 2 but neither player has a spade stopper hand to think about going to game if ♣ 9 2 – the defenders might very well take partner has advertised a weak hand. the first five tricks. What went wrong? However, if partner makes a normal Well, nothing really: East-West are opening of, say, 1♥ or 1NT, and you too To bid your actual hand, you will, if you unlucky that their red-suit honours are have an opening bid, game should be ‘on do not have a gadget like a Jacoby 2NT duplicating each other – but that is hard the cards’. to show a game-forcing raise, have to to diagnose in the auction. This is more Let’s say you pick up this ordinary temp­orise with 2♦. You intend to bid 4♥ typical: looking selection: on the next round. The key thing is to make a bid that ensures that there is a next round, not one that poor partner ♠ Q J 9 7 5 ♠ 10 8 ♠ 10 8 might pass. ♥ A Q 8 5 N ♥ K J 10 2 W E ♥ K J 10 2 ♦ A 2 S ♦ K J 8 6 ♦ K J 8 6 West North East South ♣ 10 6 ♣ A J 5 ♣ A J 5 1♠ Pass ?

You also have a decision to make if Both members of the partnership have First in hand, you would no doubt open partner starts with 1♠. You cannot bid 13 points – enough for an opening bid 1NT. 2♥, as that promises five hearts. You – and game is excellent. You would In fact, partner is first to speak and could bid an immediate 3NT, but that expect to reach 4♥ and make it losing opens 1 (something). Your first thought risks missing a 4-4 heart fit, not to two spades and probably a club. Even should be that, as you have 13 points mention a possible slam if partner has the inferior games of 4♠ and 3NT stand yourself, you must make sure that the the right hand. So, you try 2♦ again –a a good chance of making. In 4♠, you bidding gets to game. bid to keep the auction open so that you might lose the same tricks as in 4♥. Here are some examples (you are can see what partner bids next. In 3NT, you might well get away with East): In all three cases, the key point is losing two spades and two clubs. that you can see immediately that you So, if you and partner have 25 (or West North East South should be bidding to game. You must more) points, you should bid up to a 1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass therefore make either a , such game somewhere. Remember: opening 1NT Pass 3NT All Pass as a change of suit, or bid game. points + opening points = bid game. ■

Page 2 BRIDGE May 2020 Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ BRIDGE 1 May Double Dummy Bridge Problem INDEX TheMr Bridge Monthly Magazine by 3 Clive Goff’s Stamps Ryden Grange, Knaphill, 2 Stephen Cashmore says 4 Elizabeth and Mary Surrey GU21 2TH Two Opening Hands Should Bid To Game Tea Towel ( 01483 489961 5 Red Balloons 4 April Double Dummy Bridge Problem Answer Tea Towel [email protected] by Julian Pottage 11 Q Plus 15 www.mrbridge.co.uk 4 Mr Bridge 11 Rules shop: mrbridge.co.uk/shop Simplified 5 Leanora Adds' Holiday Ideas 23 Books on Bridge Publisher/Managing Editor 5 May Double Dummy Bridge Problem 32 Bidding with Mr Bridge Bernard Magee by Julian Pottage Associate Editor 33 Declarer Play with 6 Harol Schogger says Eight Ever Nine Never Bernard Magee Julian Pottage 35 Live YouTube Seminars [email protected] 7 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee with Bernard Magee 8 Fitting Cards by Andrew Kambites 39 Mr Bridge Luxury Playing Bridge Consultant Cards Bernard Magee 11 Fitting Cards Quiz by Andrew Kambites 41 Clive Goff’s Stamps bernardmagee 12 Transfer and Rebid by David Stevenson 43 Defence with @mrbridge.co.uk Bernard Magee 13 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage Cartoons & Illustrations 45 Advanced Acol Bidding 13 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett with Bernard Magee Marguerite Lihou 47 Advanced Declarer Play www.margueritelihou.co.uk 14 Catching Up by Sally Brock with Bernard Magee 15 Jeremy Dhondy says Use The Rule Of Twenty 49 Begin Bridge with Technical Consultant Bernard Magee Tony Gordon 16 Keep Bridge Alive Event Report by Shireen Mohandes 52 Tutorial Software with Bernard Magee Typesetting 19 Julian Pottage Answers Your Bridge Questions Jessica Galt 24 Robin Hood's Duty by [email protected] 26 Bernard Magee says Overtricks Matter At Pairs REDUCE Proof Reading Team 28 David Stevenson Answers Your Bridge Questions THE COST Mike Orriel OF YOUR Julian Pottage 31 Heather Dhondy says Use The Rule Of Eleven Catrina Shackleton 32 The Diaries Of Wendy Wensum POSTAGE British postage stamps Richard Wheen 34 Andrew Kambites says for sale at 90% of face- Do Not Bid A New Suit At The Two Level With Only Clubs & Charities value, all mint and with Maggie Axtell Eight Points full gum. [email protected] 35 Fitting Cards Quiz Answers by Andrew Kambites Quotations for Events, Holidays & Cruises 37 Declarer Play Quiz Answers by David Huggett commercial quantities ( 01483 489961 are available on 38 Sally's Slam Clinic Jessica Galt request. [email protected] 39 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage Values supplied in Megan Riccio 40 Seven Days by Sally Brock 100s, higher values [email protected] 42 Derek Rimington says With A Good Suit available, as well as 1st and 2nd class. Emily Hawkins 43 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee [email protected] ( 020 8422 4906 44 Dave Hugget says Don't Give A And Discard 8 clive.goff@ Customer Services 45 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee londonrugby.com Catrina Shackleton [email protected] 46 Justin Corfield says Combine Your Chances 47 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee

Printed in the UK by 48 David Gold says Seven-Card Suits Should Be Trumps The Magazine 49 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee Printing Company 50 Mike Wenble says Lead Towards Strength www.magprint.co.uk 51 Freddie North says KISS

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 3 are also a major part of this extended family and help to create the sense of community that is enjoyed by so many. BETH AND M IZA AR EL Y YOUTUBE

♠ 4 3 2 I know that Leanora Adds, ♥ A K in the adjacent column, is ♦ A Q Adjusting to life at home is keeping you up to date with ♣ Q J 5 4 3 2 strange for everyone. It is what Bernard Magee is ♠ 6 ♠ 10 9 8 7 also unnerving not to have doing on YouTube. This ♥ Q 3 2 N ♥ 5 4 regular contact with all my COVID-19 pandemic has ♦ W E ♦ J 10 9 8 7 S K 6 5 4 wonderful staff who are so really opened my eyes to ♣ A 10 9 8 ♣ K 7 6 dear to me. Although I do the opportunities that the ♠ A K Q J 5 not get to see all my internet has to offer. ♥ J 10 9 8 7 6 grandchildren often, the ♦ 3 2 fact that I now cannot see ♣ Void them, makes me long to see them more than ever. As well as getting our Contract 6♠ by South I know that many of you bridge fix, it is important to Lead: ♦J are normally responsible keep active. On YouTube for being the childcare for there are exercise programs your grandchildren and designed for all ages. It is missing out on this daily quite remarkable. Do give it routine must be so difficult. a go. You never know, you 7. ELIZABETH AND MARY © Mr Bridge. ( 01483 489961. Printed in the UK on 100% cotton. Available as a tea towel from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 might find it fun. Making the most of features like Skype and MAXIMS Facetime is really ELIZABETH & MARY important, but as well as You will notice that this family, I strongly encourage issue of BRIDGE is lacking you to pick up the phone in its regular adverts of The Solution to April’s and call at least one friend holidays and UK events. At every day. Catching up with this time, when we are all Double Dummy Bridge Problem friends and thinking of being encouraged to stay good times past is a real home, I felt it best to utilise tonic. It is a dose of good this space by providing medicine and I cannot some additional reading so 1. Put up the ♦A and unblock the ♥A-K. recommend it enough. I have reprinted some of the popular maxim series. Yesterday, I informed all 2. Come to hand with a and my hosts and helpers, as I LEAVE A MESSAGE lead a heart. You discard dummy’s ♦Q am now informing you, that I must have an You may find that if you on West’s ♥Q – this is a key play to operation to remove a new call the office no one cancer. I have been totally answers the telephone. prevent East from overruffing dummy. overwhelmed by the love Do leave a message and and support that has someone will get back to 3. Ruff the club return and ruff a flooded through the you. Alternatively, if you messages I have since been need to be in contact, the diamond in dummy. sent. From this, I have best way is to email drawn great strength and it [email protected] confirms that Mr Bridge is 4. Draw the remaining trumps and win not just a company, but a Do stay safe. family. You as readers and the last three tricks with long hearts. n those who attend my events Mr Bridge

Page 4 BRIDGE May 2020 Leanora Adds' Holiday News & Ideas ( 01483 489961

Bernard Magee did his and information. While for more details or search Life has changed in so first live YouTube Bernard gives these on YouTube for; many ways since the last broadcast on 30 March. seminars live, there is the Bernard Magee Bridge. issue of BRIDGE was It was viewed live by over opportunity to ask printed and posted. 4,000 people. Two days questions or post your later it had over 26,000 comments. You are also We are all looking views. It is proving to be able to view the seminar forward to when we are the best way for Bernard at a later stage if you If you have any problems able to go outside, visit to interact with Mr Bridge miss the live broadcast. please feel free to give friends and attend bridge guests who previously the office a call. You may events. However, in the had anticipated being at This service is completely reach the answer phone interim period Bernard events during this period. free. The easiest way to but leave a message and Magee has been doing It also helps you get your follow Bernard Magee is you will be called back. his bit to try and help us weekly bridge fix. to subscribe to his get through it. You may YouTube channel. The feedback has been well be aware of what he The broadcasts consists Aternatively, see the very positive so why not is up to, but if not, here is of a combination of a Mr Bridge website; get yourself involved, all you need to know. seminar, quizzes, chat www.mrbridge.co.uk stay safe and enjoy. Bernard Magee Live Broadcasts on YouTube Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 11am

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Providing the equipment and technical support is Helen Magee, Bernard's wife, a photographer by ALL profession. A really big D B OON thank you to Helen; RE S without her hard work ♠ 4 3 and support, this would ♥ 3 2 not have been possible. ♦ K Q 9 5 4 3 ♣ A K Q Alfie is Bernard and ♠ J 9 7 6 2 ♠ 10 8 5 Helen's son. His role is ♥ K 10 8 7 6 N ♥ Q J W E keeping them both ♦ A J 8 S ♦ 10 7 6 smiling throughout. He ♣ Void ♣ J 10 9 8 7 for one is enjoying ♠ A K Q having Daddy home at ♥ A 9 5 4 the moment. ♦ 2 ♣ 6 5 4 3 2 Needing no introduction is Bernard Magee. Totally Contract 3NT by South. new to live streaming, he admitted to being slightly West leads the ♥7 nervous before his first broadcast. However, given the large numbers watching, it is quite natural that he would be 8. RED BALLOONS © Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961. Printed in the UK on 100% cotton. Available as a tea towel from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 apprehensive.

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 5 Harold Schogger Says Eight Ever Nine Never

his rule is mainly about what to How do you play the trumps in 4♥? When you have to tackle the key suit do if you are missing the queen ‘Nine Never’ says not to with head on, the bidding often provides and want to know whether to nine cards but the odds are closer. the best clue. If one of the opponents Tfinesse. In general, Q-x offside is slightly more made a two-suited overcall, he will be likely than Q-x-x onside, which is why short in the other suits and the queens the rule says to go for the drop. So do there are likely to be in the other hand. ♠ K J 6 5 you play off the ace-king? Has there been an informative double? I must tell you the bidding before you Informative is exactly what it can be. N answer. Suppose first that you opened W E ♥ S 1 in fourth seat and that, with no opposing bidding, you reached 4♥. In ♠ A 7 4 2 ♠ A 7 4 3 this case, you follow the rule and play ♥ A K 6 for the drop. In fact the bidding was: ♦ K J 7 3 2 ♣ 6 Do you play off the ace-king, hoping West North East South ♠ 5 ♠ Q 10 8 the queen falls in two rounds, or do you Pass Pass Pass 1♥ ♥ 8 5 4 3 N ♥ Q J 10 9 cash the ace in case of a bare queen and 1♠ 2♥ 3♠ 4♥ ♦ Q 8 4 W E ♦ 10 5 S finesse on the second round? All Pass ♣ J 9 5 4 2 ♣ A K Q 10 The key situations are when West ♠ K J 9 6 3 holds Q-x-x or when East has Q-x. ‘Eight The opponents have bid a lot with 14 ♥ 7 2 Ever Nine Never’ helps you decide. With points between them, especially if they ♦ A 9 6 eight cards between the two hands, you are vulnerable. They must have some ♣ 8 7 3 should finesse the jack. When there are distributional values. In this case, you five cards missing and the suit breaks would cash only the heart ace, planning 3-2, obviously the queen will be in the to finesse on the second round. This West North East South three-card holding three times for every works when the full deal is: 1♦ Dbl 1♠ twice that it is in the doubleton. You Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ would need a very good reason to go All Pass against the rule. What could that be? ♠ 9 8 If there are sixteen points missing, ♥ K J 6 5 West leads a club. East wins with the East opened the bidding and West has ♦ J 10 8 3 queen and switches to the heart queen. turned up with an ace, you would put ♣ K 6 2 Having won this, you need to play the East with the queen and try to drop it. ♠ A K 7 6 4 ♠ Q 5 3 2 trump suit. If you follow the maxim, ♥ Q 10 9 N ♥ 2 ‘Nine Never’, you will play the spades ♦ 7 2 W E ♦ 9 6 4 S from the top. Of course, you should ♠ 9 8 ♣ 9 8 5 ♣ Q J 10 7 4 not expect spades to break 2-2 because ♥ K J 6 5 ♠ J 10 of East’s take-out double. With this in ♦ J 10 8 3 ♥ A 8 7 4 3 mind, you cash the ace (in case of a bare ♣ K 6 2 ♦ A K Q 5 queen) and are happy to see West follow. ♣ A 3 You finesse the jack next time as East’s N double said he had tolerance for all the W E S unbid suits. If the finesse or drop decision is in a side The double also implies that East is ♠ J 10 suit, you might try some detective work short in diamonds. So, after drawing ♥ A 8 7 4 3 in the other suits first. You might be able the last trump, you finesse West for the ♦ A K Q 5 to establish that one opponent is long diamond queen. ♣ A 3 in the key suit or that he needs the vital You have used the auction to find both queen to justify his bidding. In such queens, one to reject the maxim and one cases, you can finesse him for it. to follow it. ■

Page 6 BRIDGE May 2020 Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz

This month we are dealing with the disruption caused by . You are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no-trump (12-14 points) and four-card majors. It is your turn to call.

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♠ 2♣ 1♠ 2♣ 1♠ 3♣* 1♠ 2NT* ? ? ? ? * Weak jump overcall * Unusual 2NT: showing 2 five- card minors

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♠ 2♣ 1♠ 2♣ 1♥ 1NT 1♠ 2NT* ? ? ? ? * Unusual 2NT: showing 2 five- card minors

3. Dealer East. Love All. 6. Dealer East. Love All. 9. Dealer East. Love All. 12. Dealer East. E/W Game. ♠ 7 6 ♠ K 9 8 7 6 ♠ K 3 ♠ K 6 ♥ A 4 2 N ♥ 4 2 N ♥ K 9 8 7 N ♥ 8 5 3 N W E W E W E W E ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ A 7 6 5 S A 9 7 6 5 S J 10 9 8 S A K 7 5 4 S ♣ K 9 5 3 ♣ 4 ♣ K 6 5 ♣ A 7 6

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♠ 2♣ 1♠ 2♣ 1♠ 1NT 1♠ 2NT* ? ? ? ? * Unusual 2NT: showing 2 five- card minors

My Answers: My Answers: My Answers: My Answers:

1...... 4...... 7...... 10......

2...... 5...... 8...... 11......

3...... 6...... 9...... 12......

Answers on page 43 Answers on page 45 Answers on page 47 Answers on page 49

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 7 About Bidding Judgement by Andrew Kambites Fitting Cards

ou hold ♦K-J-7-4-2 and a and to a lesser extent kings, are likely in partner’s judgement. However, this singleton ♣2. Your partner to be useful in partner’s short suits. does dramatically demonstrate that has three cards in each suit, Re-evaluating your hand within you do need to constantly re-evaluate Yincluding one queen. Would you the context of what you have already your assets as the bidding proceeds. It rather he has the ♦Q or the ♣Q? shown, what do you think of East's is not just that you have a king when Hand C? Of course your reaction will you might have nothing. If you had be that it is a bad hand. Now look at the ♦K or ♣K, you would have no Layout A Layout B the developing auction shown below. reason to believe it would be useful; ♦ Q 6 5 ♦ 6 5 3 What do you think of the East hand after all partner clearly has shortage ♣ 6 5 3 ♣ Q 6 5 now? in the minors and a minor-suit king opposite a singleton ace or void would N N not help partner. However, on this W E W E S S Hand C bidding sequence you know with 100% ♠ K 8 7 certainty that the ♠K is a valuable ♦ K J 7 4 2 ♦ K J 7 4 2 ♥ 7 card. It is not how many points you ♣ 2 ♣ 2 ♦ 7 3 2 have. It is whether or not these points ♣ 9 8 5 4 3 2 fit well with partner. Look at Hands D and E. The bidding In Layout A there are two certain starts as shown in Auction F. How diamond tricks once the ♦A is West East should South continue with Hands dislodged. If diamonds break 3-2 then 2♣ 2♦ D and E? You need to ask the right four diamond tricks are easy. 2♠ 2NT questions: In Layout B there are no certain 3♥ 3♠ tricks. There will be quite a lot of work 6♠ ? 1) What have you shown so far? to do to set up any length winners in 2)What has your partner, North, diamonds. Do you pass? Your 2♦ response showed shown? Initially you regard points as equals, 0-7 points. Your 2NT bid showed 0-3 3) Am I maximum or minimum for but as the bidding develops it becomes points. What can West possibly have my bidding so far? clear to players who listen that some that justifies his bidding? You rightly 4) How well do my honour cards fit points are more valuable than others. initially regarded the East hand as bad, with partner’s hand shape? In both layouts it is likely that South but on the bidding you have shown has bid diamonds and possibly no more than a Yarborough with two indicated shortage in clubs. South small cards in each major. Yet partner Hand D Hand E cannot know whether North has the still thinks he can make 6♠. You have ♠ Q J 7 4 ♠ 7 4 3 2 ♦Q or ♣Q, but North should be aware 3-card spade support, a wonderful ♠K ♥ J 9 2 ♥ K 10 3 that the ♦Q is likely to fill a hole in and maybe even the singleton heart ♦ Q 7 4 3 ♦ 8 4 3 2 South’s suit but the ♣Q is likely to be will enable a heart ruff in dummy. Do ♣ J 2 ♣ A 7 worthless. you trust partner? If so you should In assessing how good your hand surely raise to 7♠. The point is that in is offensively, minor honours (queens the context of what you have shown Auction F and jacks) in partner’s suit are likely your hand has become huge. North South to be valuable. Minor honours in Of course in real life hands like this 1♥ 1♠ partner’s shortage are likely to be rarely occur and I accept that a raise 2♣ 2♥ useless in suit contracts. Only aces, to 7♠ does require a great deal of faith 2NT ?

Page 8 BRIDGE May 2020 South’s bidding Auction K to judge whether a side-suit queen is 2♥ showed 6-9 HCP, preference for North South likely to be useful. hearts over clubs. This might be false 1♥ 1♠ For example, after a bidding preference with two hearts and three 2♣ 2♥ sequence that starts by South opening clubs because a 5-2 heart fit is likely to 2♠ ? 1♠ and North raising to 3♠ South has play better than a 4-3 club fit. little indication of which honours are North’s bidding South’s bidding likely to fill gaps in North’s hand. North has 5 hearts, 4 clubs and at least 2♥ showed 6-9 HCP, false preference By contrast, when it comes to slam one diamond stopper. North did not this time. South has more clubs than bidding, frequently there has been have enough to make a game forcing hearts but North probably has 5 hearts more bidding, allowing a better jump to 3♣ over 1♠ but has enough and 4 clubs, and the 5-2 fit will likely informed judgement. to make a of 2NT over your play better than the 4-3 fit. You are told in your early days of 2♥ preference. North might have 17-18 North’s bidding learning bridge that it takes 33 points HCP. North has 5 hearts, 4 clubs, 3 spades to make a small slam good, but that Conclusion and at most one diamond. North really relates to bidding a no-trump Hand D. The hands fit badly♠ ( Q-J-3-2 did not have enough to make a game slam with no long suits. It is often opposite at most a doubleton) and with forcing jump to 3♣ over 1♠ but has possible to bid and make a suit slam 7 HCP South is nearer minimum than enough to make a game try of 2♠ over successfully with far fewer points. maximum. South doesn’t want to play your 2♥ preference. He might have 15- There are usually four ingredients: in game, but with 3-card support for 17 HCP. North’s 5-card heart suit South signs Conclusion 1) Good trumps. A 9-card fit plays off in ♥3 . Hand H. South has 7 points, nearer easier than an 8-card fit. A 10- Hand E. Only 7 HCP but the hands minimum than maximum. However card fit is better still. fit excellently. All South’s honours are the hands fit well with the ♦7-4-3 2) Shape. A singleton allows you to in North’s long suits and North/South opposite a singleton meaning there are ruff losers. have a 5-3 heart fit. South is well worth no wasted honour cards in diamonds. 3) Control cards, particularly aces, 4♥. South’s major-suit tens could prove in the side suits. The full layouts may well be as in useful. North/South have a 5-3 spade 4) Kings, queens and jacks that fill Layout F (for Hand D) and Layout G fit so South jumps to 4♠. holes in your partner’s hand. (for Hand E). Hand J. South has 8 points, nearer maximum than minimum for 2♥. Having said that, perhaps even experts The hands fit badly with the ♦K-J-4-3 take too many risks in looking for Layout F Layout G opposite a singleton looking pretty borderline slams. In one European ♠ 6 ♠ 6 useless so South doesn’t want to be in championship in the 1980s the English ♥ A K 8 4 2 ♥ A Q 8 4 2 game. North/South have a 5-3 spade fit men’s captain calculated that his side ♦ A J 6 ♦ A Q 6 so South passes 2♠. would have finished higher if they had ♣ K Q 6 4 ♣ K Q 6 4 The full layouts may well be as in bid not one single slam. When you Layout L (for Hand H) and Layout M bear in mind that some of the slams N N (for Hand J). bid were obvious, laydown and easy W E W E S S to bid you can imagine just how many bad slams they bid. Sometimes even ♠ Q J 7 4 ♠ 7 4 3 2 Layout L Layout M the best players suffer from machismo. ♥ J 9 3 ♥ K 10 3 ♠ A J 6 ♠ A J 6 Before considering how to look for ♦ Q 7 4 3 ♦ 8 4 3 2 ♥ A Q 8 4 2 ♥ A Q 8 4 2 borderline slams based on a perfect fit, ♣ J 2 ♣ A 7 ♦ 6 ♦ 6 I will quote some well-known sayings ♣ K Q 6 4 ♣ K Q 6 4 from some of the top players in the world. N N Now carry out the same evaluation W E W E When deciding whether to bid a thin with South Hands H and J. S S slam the American, Bob Hamman The bidding starts as shown in says: "Don’t play me for the perfect Auction K. ♠ K 10 7 3 2 ♠ 8 7 4 3 2 hand. I haven’t got it." This refers to the ♥ 10 9 ♥ 7 3 number of poor slams bid when the ♦ 7 4 3 ♦ K J 4 3 bidder defends himself by saying: ‘If Hand H Hand J ♣ A 3 2 ♣ A 7 you had cards a, b, c and d, slam would ♠ K 10 7 3 2 ♠ 8 7 4 3 2 have been good’. ♥ 10 9 ♥ 7 3 In practice, unless you know exactly ♦ 7 4 3 ♦ K J 4 3 Slam bidding which honour cards partner has, at ♣ A 3 2 ♣ A 7 When deciding whether or not to least some of them are likely to be bid game it is sometimes not possible wasted if you have a shapely hand. u

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 9 N W E S

t Another issue is whether to make a North South slam try. Layout S 1NT The best slam tries are those that are ♠ Void 2♦ 2♥ below game level and that allow your ♥ A J 10 8 4 3 3♦ 3♥ partnership to subside at game level ♦ A K 10 6 5 3♠ 4♣ if it seems appropriate. An example is ♣ 9 2 4♦ 4♥ if you can make a below game level. N With only three points in North’s W E There is nothing more demoralising S suits, South is not too enthusiastic than freely bidding to five of a major when North makes a slam try of 3♠. and then going down. A piece of advice ♠ 10 9 3 2 He can reasonably cue bid 4♣, which valued by many top players is this: ♥ K Q 9 doesn’t take the bidding above 4♥ but Make a slam try if a perfectly ♦ Q J 2 when North cue bids 4♦ South shows fitting minimum opposite makes ♣ A 10 8 lack of further interest by bidding 4♥. slam laydown. North trusts South’s judgement and So now we need to consider some passes. 4♥ is quite high enough. examples. Look at Hand N. North South If South has Hand R, he should be 1NT seriously alarmed when North cue 2♦ 2♥ bids 3♠. Hand N 3♦ 3♥ South has three small cards in each ♠ Void 3♠ 4♣ of his partner’s suits, just about the ♥ A J 10 8 4 3 4♦ 4NT worst possible holding. South has ♦ A K 10 6 5 5♥ 6♥ the ♠A so North’s 3♠ sounds like a ♣ 9 2 void. ♠A-Q-10-6 is likely to be wasted The moment North shows slam values opposite a void. interest with a cue bid of 3♠, South South should stress the duplication can see that every point in his hand is of values by bidding 3NT over 3♠ as North South working. South may have a minimum shown in Layout U. 1NT12-14 1NT opening bid but South should Indeed, there is a good case to be 2♦ 2♥ resolve that a slam is going to be bid made that South should have ignored 3♦ 3♥ whatever happens. It is a matter of his 3-card support for North’s hearts ? trusting partner. If North cannot and bid 3NT directly over 3♦. North make 6♥ when South has ♥K-Q-9 (the converts 3NT to 4♥ but is not tempted 2♦ was a transfer to hearts. 3♦ is a new trump suit), ♦Q-J-2 (North’s second to go further. suit at the three level, game forcing. suit) and an outside ace, why on earth (Remember, the initial 2♦ bid showed is he making a slam try? hearts, not diamonds). North has South decides to show his ♣A with a Layout U Hand N. Is he worth a slam try? 4♣ cue bid and when North cue bids the ♠ Void Let us look at some of the hands ♦A with 4♦ South, with nothing else to ♥ A J 10 8 4 3 South might hold: cue bid, uses Blackwood to check two ♦ A K 10 6 5 aces are not missing before bidding 6♥. ♣ 9 2 Layout T shows how the auction might Hand P Hand Q Hand R develop if South has Hand Q. N ♠ 10 9 3 2 ♠ K Q 4 3 ♠ A Q 10 6 W E S ♥ K Q 9 ♥ K 6 2 ♥ 7 5 2 ♦ Q J 2 ♦ 8 4 3 ♦ 8 4 3 Layout T ♠ A Q 10 6 ♣ A 10 8 ♣ A J 5 ♣ A Q J ♠ Void ♥ 7 5 2 ♥ A J 10 8 4 3 ♦ 8 4 3 ♦ A K 10 6 5 ♣ A Q J If South holds Hand P, 6♥ is laydown. ♣ 9 2 Indeed a grand slam is not out of the question. Forget the grand slam. With N North South W E just 24 points you will score well if you S 1NT can bid and make 6♥. So Hand P is a 2♦ 2♥ perfectly fitting minimum. Moreover, ♠ K Q 4 3 3♦ 3♥ North can cue bid his spade void ♥ K 6 2 3♠ 3NT below game. ♦ 8 4 3 4♥ Pass The auction might develop as shown ♣ A J 5 n in Layout S.

Page 10 BRIDGE May 2020 Fitting Cards Quiz PLUS Q by Andrew Kambites Still Only 15 (Answers on page 35) £99 including p&p 1 You are South. What is your third bid with Hands 1A, 1B and 1C after the Hand 3A Hand 3B Hand 3C The very best Acol- auction shown below? ♠ K Q 10 9 ♠ K Q 10 9 ♠ K Q 5 4 playing software ♥ 9 4 ♥ 9 3 ♥ Q 7 4 available. ♦ 9 4 3 ♦ 8 3 2 ♦ 9 4 Features include: Hand 1A Hand 1B Hand 1C ♣ J 8 4 3 ♣ K J 10 4 ♣ 9 5 4 3 ♠ K 10 6 5 ♠ Q 8 6 5 ♠ Q 8 7 6 5 • a friendly interface ♥ J 10 7 ♥ K 8 7 ♥ 7 5 • a hint button - always at ♦ 8 6 5 ♦ Q J 7 ♦ Q J 8 3 Hand 3D Hand 3E Hand 3F hand & a help button - ♣ Q J 7 ♣ 8 6 5 ♣ 6 2 ♠ 9 5 4 3 ♠ A 5 4 3 ♠ 7 4 3 2 explains the features for ♥ Q 7 4 ♥ Q 7 4 ♥ K 7 bidding and card play advice ♦ 9 4 ♦ 9 4 ♦ K Q 8 • Easy Windows installation North South ♣ K Q 5 4 ♣ K 7 4 3 ♣ J 10 3 2 1♥ 1♠ • , duplicate and 2♣ 2♥ teams scoring 2♠ ? North South • Feed in your own deals 1♥ 1♠ ♦ ♥ • Create your own system 2 You are South. What is your third bid 2 2 with Hands 2A, 2B and 2C after the 2NT ? • Pre-programmed systems auction shown below? include Acol, and many more 4 You are North. How do you continue • Instant results for teams Hand 2A Hand 2B Hand 2C with Hands 4A, 4B and 4C after the ♠ 10 6 5 3 2 ♠ K J 8 6 ♠ K J 10 9 start to the auction shown below? • 5,000 hands to play at teams ♥ ♥ ♥ of four K 7 8 3 8 3 How optimistic are you about ♦ K Q 4 ♦ 9 4 3 ♦ 8 4 3 reaching a successful slam? • 4,500 hands to play at ♣ 8 4 3 ♣ K J 3 2 ♣ K Q 10 5 matchpointed pairs. Hand 4A Hand 4B Hand 4C For Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10. North South ♠ A 7 4 3 ♠ K Q 10 6 ♠ K Q J 6 1♥ 1♠ ♥ Q J 7 ♥ 7 4 3 ♥ 7 4 NEW - Q Plus 15 2♦ 2♥ ♦ Q J 5 ♦ 7 6 5 ♦ Q J 2 includes Android 3♦ ? ♣ 8 4 3 ♣ K Q J ♣ K Q J 5 compatibility (5-9) 3 You are South. What is your third bid North South TRADE IN with Hands 3A to 3F after the auction 1♥ Send in ANY bridge shown, top right? 1♠ 3♦ ? software, together with a cheque for £50 and receive Q Plus 15 DUPLICATE BRIDGE RULES SIMPLIFIED by David Stevenson only (otherwise known as the Yellow Book) Mr Bridge Limited 95 FULLY REVISED IN 2017 £5 ( 01483 489961 Available from Mr Bridge www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 11 David Stevenson Answers Your Frequently Asked Questions Transfer and Rebid

onsider the bidding sequence This is misinformation. The director director explains to West that in future between partners 1NT–2♦– will decide what would or might have he must alert and explain but what 2♥–3♦. When experienced happened if they had alerted and else does he do? The director decides Cplayers use this sequence it shows said “transfer to hearts or a sign-off that South would quite likely but not hearts and diamonds and is forcing, in diamonds” when asked. He might certainly bid 2♥ over 2♦: if he does, usually to game. But when it happens decide that the next player would have North might raise to 3♥ or compete in a club among less experienced bid 2♥ over the 2♦ bid and he will if East bids his diamonds anyway. It players it usually means responder had make an adjustment based on this to looks as though South will normally a diamond suit and had no idea how a likely result, or a weighted score to make ten tricks so he decides to score to sign off in diamonds. Opener often a number of possible results. All this the as 75% of 3♥+1, NS+170 and cannot think of any other meaning can be avoided by using the correct 25% of 3♦-1, NS+50. since the idea of using a transfer to description. A very similar position occurs when show two suits does not occur to him Please note that the same does not the opposition open 1NT. Players often so he shrugs his shoulders and passes. apply to Stayman. While some players take up conventions where 2♣ or 2♦ The opponents, who can make quite a are now taught that Stayman shows a mean something without considering lot of tricks in hearts, are incensed and four-card major, it was not originally what to do if they pick up a club suit call the director. So what is the position? designed that way and many players or a diamond suit respectively. So they The first question is whether it is do not play that. So, if they announce overcall (for example) 2♣ over 1NT allowed to play this sequence as a “Stayman” and use it as a sign-off and partner alerts and explains it as sign-off in diamonds. The rules in all in clubs then that is fine and is not Landy showing hearts and spades. of Great Britain and Ireland allow any misinformation. This also applies to Partner bids 2♥ and they rebid 3♣ as responses to 1NT so this is perfectly other uses for Stayman that do not a method of showing clubs. Again, the legal. But you must not just let the include a major. opposition are aggrieved because they opponents suffer from this sequence had hearts and have been talked out without telling them. While it is of showing them. While some of the perfectly legal to play a 2♦ response as Dealer West. N/S Game. lower ranking events do not allow this either hearts or a sign-off in diamonds, ♠ A J 3 2 type of 2♣ bid, in all major events it is the 2♦ response must not be called a ♥ K Q 6 legal to play 2♣ as hearts and spades, transfer. A transfer does not just mean ♦ 6 3 2 or just clubs, but the opponents must that partner has to bid the next suit up ♣ 9 5 4 be told. So they should alert 2♣ but it also shows the next suit. So if you ♠ K Q 7 4 ♠ 6 5 and not say “Landy” or “hearts and play this way when your partner bids ♥ 4 2 N ♥ J 10 5 spades” because this is misleading. W E ♦ ♦ K 5 4 ♦ Q J 10 9 8 7 2 in response to your 1NT you must S They say “Either hearts and spades or not announce “hearts” or “transfer” ♣ K Q 3 2 ♣ 8 6 just clubs” and now everything is fine. (in Scotland you would alert but if ♠ 10 9 8 An alternative but similar situation asked you must not then say “transfer ♥ A 9 8 7 3 is where a player holds one major and to hearts”) because it is not a transfer. ♦ A a club suit: now he bids 2♣ over RHO’s You should alert and, if asked, you ♣ A J 10 7 1NT planning to pass if partner shows should say “Either a transfer to hearts the major, but bid 3♣ otherwise. or a sign-off in diamonds”. Once you Again this is legal, but needs a proper have done this, your opponents have Look at the diagram. West deals and explanation of 2♣, maybe “Either been correctly informed. If you have a opens a weak 1NT, North passes and hearts and spades, or one major and system card, you need to write this on East bids 2♦, West says “hearts” and clubs”. your card. Of course, it is rather long South naturally passes. 2♥ by West, Before taking up a conventional so something like “2♦=♥ or ♦ signoff” pass by North, 3♦ by East, followed defence to 1NT each pair should would be adequate. by three passes. 3♦ goes one off and decide what they are going to do if Now suppose the player did South is unhappy. He calls the director they have a minor suit. Of course they announce “hearts” (or alert and say who asks West why he passed 3♦. West could decide to jump to 3♣ or 3♦ but “transfer to hearts” when asked in says “It is obvious partner has only they can play these conventions as Scotland) and the opponents have got diamonds” so it appears that East either/or if they wish, but they must missed a heart contract. What then? and West both understand this. The keep the opposition fully informed. n

Page 12 BRIDGE May 2020

DEFENCE QUIZ DECLARER

by Julian Pottage (Answers on page 39) PLAY

ou are West in the defensive positions below playing matchpoint pairs with both sides vulnerable. While you QUIZ Yusually aim to beat the contract, you may also need to consider the risk of conceding overtricks. by David Huggett (Answers on page 37)

1. ♠ K 7 3. ♠ 7 6 5 ou are South as declarer playing rubber bridge or teams, ♥ K Q 8 6 3 ♥ 10 8 4 3 which means your goal is to make the contract. In each ♦ 9 5 4 ♦ A Q 9 5 4 Ycase what is your play strategy? ♣ 8 6 4 ♣ 6 ♠ 8 2 ♠ A Q 9 8 3 2 ♥ 9 7 2 N ♥ 9 N W E W E ♦ ♦ ♠ ♠ K 10 7 3 S 10 7 S 1. 7 6 3. K 4 2 ♣ J 10 9 2 ♣ J 10 8 5 ♥ Q J 10 ♥ A 7 5 ♦ K Q 10 9 5 ♦ K Q 7 ♣ 8 6 4 ♣ J 5 3 2 West North East South West North East South 1♠ 1♥ N N W E W E Pass 1NT Pass 3♠ 2♠1 3♥ Pass 4♥ S S Pass 4♠ All Pass All Pass 1 Weak ♠ A K 5 2 ♠ A J 7 6 ♥ A 6 3 ♥ K 6 4 You lead the ♣J. Partner wins You lead the ♣J. Partner wins ♦ J 7 2 ♦ A 8 6 2 with the ♣A and switches to with the ♣A and switches to ♣ A K 5 ♣ Q 8 the ♦A, declarer playing the ♠K, declarer playing low each time. What is your low each time. What is your plan? plan? You are declarer in 3NT and You are declarer in 3NT. West leads the ♥5. How do West leads the ♥3. How do you plan the play? you plan the play? 2. ♠ K 7 4. ♠ 8 6 5 ♥ Q 8 3 ♥ 8 4 3 ♦ K 9 ♦ A K Q 9 ♣ A K 8 6 5 4 ♣ Q 9 6 2. ♠ Q J 9 8 4. ♠ A 7 6 5 ♠ J 10 8 3 2 ♠ 7 3 2 ♥ A Q 10 ♥ K Q 8 6 ♥ 9 7 6 2 N ♥ 9 2 N ♦ A 7 6 ♦ A 7 2 ♦ 7 3 W E ♦ 8 7 6 5 4 2 W E ♣ Q 8 2 ♣ A 6 S S ♣ Q 10 ♣ A 2 N N W E W E S S West North East South West North East South 1♠ 4♦ 1♠ ♠ K 10 7 6 5 4 ♠ 9 8 3 2 Pass 5♦ All Pass Pass 2♦ 2♥ 3♠ ♥ J 6 ♥ A 7 5 Pass 4♠ All Pass ♦ K 5 4 ♦ K 9 6 ♣ K 3 ♣ K Q 8

You lead the ♠J. Partner You lead the ♥9. Partner captures the ♠K with the wins with the ♥Q, cashes the You are declarer in 4♠. West You are declarer in 4♠. West ♠ ♥ ♥ A and switches to the K, A and continues with the leads the ♦Q. How do you leads the ♦3. How do you declarer playing low each ♥K, declarer playing the ♥6, plan the play? plan the play? time. What do you do? ♥10 and ♥J. What is your plan?

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 13 Catching Up with Sally Brock

his is rather a quiet period volunteered to be match secretary for lost our ‘mojo’. At least we did manage bridge-wise – it makes a change. our team in both the Acol and YC to bid one slam missed by both pairs We have two consecutive leagues. It is not so easy when people against us: Tweekends with no bridge. drop in and out, and opponents On the first, my Australian friends cancel, etc, etc. Cathy and Manny are in and We won our first match in the YC Dealer North. N/S Game. we have a dinner party with them and Super League. I thought this slam deal ♠ 4 3 some other bridge people they know. was pretty easy to bid: ♥ J 9 8 7 All good fun. ♦ A Q 10 7 6 On the second bridge-free weekend, ♣ K 6 we went out in the evening with Steve Dealer East. Love All. ♠ 8 5 2 ♠ 7 6 and Kitty – to a rather special tapas- ♠ Void ♥ 10 5 3 2 N ♥ 6 4 W E ♥ A J 8 7 4 3 ♦ 8 4 ♦ K 9 5 2 style restaurant. Then, on the Sunday S we went to dinner with Mike and ♦ J 10 2 ♣ A Q 5 4 ♣ 10 9 7 3 2 Sarah Bell. That was fabulous – she is ♣ K Q J 6 ♠ A K Q J 10 9 an excellent cook. We had also spent a ♠ J 10 8 7 4 3 ♠ A K 9 5 2 ♥ A K Q large part of the weekend watching the ♥ 9 N ♥ Q 10 6 5 ♦ J 3 W E ♦ Q 6 4 ♦ 8 ♣ J 8 European Mixed Trials on BBO. With S friends in most of the teams, it was ♣ 8 3 2 ♣ 9 5 4 difficult to know who we favoured – ♠ Q 6 but in the end it was won comfortably ♥ K 2 West North East South by a team containing three members ♦ A K 9 7 5 3 Pass Pass 2♣ of our team from last year. Well done, ♣ A 10 7 Dbl 2♦ Pass 2♠ and I am looking forward to spending Pass 3♦ Pass 3♠ some time with them in Madeira in Pass 4♣ Pass 4♥ June. West North East South Pass 5NT Pass 6♠ I’ve also spent a lot of time setting Pass 1♦ All Pass up league matches. Once upon a time, Pass 1♥ 1♠ 3♦ there was a London league at the Young 4♠ 6♦ All Pass With West presumably showing club Chelsea – it was a good standard and values (why did he double?) my hand there were several divisions. But then Once the opponents bounced us and was always going to drive to slam. there was a falling out which led to partner had shown a decent hand with My 5NT bid was offering a choice of there being two London leagues – diamonds, it seemed straightforward slams (this is such a useful modern one at the YC and one at TGR’s. This to bid the diamond slam. Partner convention – it means you can cue- all worked out happily – we played ruffed the spade lead and ran the♦ J, bid for a while even if you are not sure sometimes and not others but the YC soon claiming his contract. what trumps should be, and at the end league was a constant. The last weekend of this period was try 5NT to get to the best trump fit). Then there was another falling out the Tollemache (inter-county teams of Perhaps Barry should have chosen and now there are three leagues: one eight) final in Coventry. I have to say 6NT with his actual hand – he had no at the YC, one at TGR’s and now a new that Barry and I have been playing tenaces to protect but knew I might one at the Acol. below our best recently and this was have. We all had to decide how many not a good weekend for us. I found it Fortunately, West led the ♣A rather we wanted to play in and where our all rather depressing – maybe we are than a diamond, so we gained 25 IMPs loyalties lay. I, possibly foolishly, getting too old and have permanently on the board. n

Page 14 BRIDGE May 2020 Jeremy Dhondy Says Use the Rule of Twenty

ow do you decide whether or to open is to adopt the ‘Rule of 20’. If you often come home moaning not to open the bidding? High To work it out, you take your high- about poor cards and having had to do card points? Distribution? card points and then add them to the some dull defending, the rule of 20 is HHon­our tricks (if you are old fashioned)? total length of your two longest suits. good news. It will give you more opening In truth, it’s probably a mixture of If the answer is 20 or more, you have bids for your money. It will also spare all these plus a general feel built on an opening bid. If you have fewer than you hard decisions later in the auction. experience and judgement. 20, you do not. Is this an opening bid? Hand 5 Hand 6 Hand 1 Hand 2 ♠ 6 3 ♠ K J ♠ K Q 7 4 3 ♠ K J 9 4 3 ♠ 7 ♥ A J 7 6 5 ♥ 10 6 5 4 3 ♥ A J 7 6 3 ♥ Q 9 4 3 ♥ A Q 6 4 3 ♦ A J 8 6 3 ♦ A Q ♦ 3 2 ♦ A 4 ♦ 9 2 ♣ 3 ♣ J 5 3 2 ♣ 4 ♣ 10 5 ♣ A 10 5 4 2

Suppose you hold Hand 5 at game all. If you go by high card points, perhaps Hand 1: Total high-card points = 10. Imagine that you do not know the not but the shape looks good, as does the Total length of two longest suits = 9. rule of 20, count your points and pass. fact that you have both majors. Most of Overall total = 19. The opponents bid ♠1 -2♠ and it is your us would live with the lack of points and Not an opening bid. turn again. What do you do now? If you open. We all know that points are not Hand 2: Total high-card points = 10. pass, you may miss game. If you bid a the only guide. There is a famous James Total length of two longest suits = 10. suit, you may miss a fit in the other one. Bond deal, see below. North-South can Overall total = 20. If you bid and don’t have a fit, you may make a grand slam in clubs even though An opening bid. Open 1♥. go for a penalty. You can avoid this if West has the most high card points you you open 1♥. It’s safer to bid at the one are ever likely to see in a player’s hand: The rule can be useful with awkward level than the three level. distributions. Hands with a 4-4-4-1 shape Adopting the rule of 20 may make are tricky to bid but also to evaluate. Use easier and help you ♠ Void the Rule of 20 to decide whether you are decide whether to open the bidding, but ♥ Void worth an opening bid. you can’t put judgement away entirely. ♦ Q 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 K-J-10-9-x in a suit is worth more than ♣ A Q 10 8 4 K-J-x-x-x even though both suits have ♠ A K Q J ♠ 6 5 4 3 2 Hand 3 Hand 4 five cards and four points. Judgement ♥ A K Q J ♥ 10 9 8 7 2 ♠ K J 5 2 ♠ A J 5 4 can also point the other way. ♦ A K ♦ J 10 9 ♥ A 7 6 5 ♥ A 7 6 5 Consider Hand 6, for instance. Total ♣ K J 9 ♣ Void ♦ 8 ♦ 8 high card points=11. Total length of two ♠ 10 9 8 7 ♣ K 9 4 3 ♣ K 9 4 3 longest suits=9. Overall total=20. So it’s ♥ 6 5 4 3 an opening bid? I don’t think so. The ♦ Void points in my short suits are bad news. ♣ 7 6 5 3 2 Hand 3: Total high-card points = 11. The fact that if I open ♥1 then I might Total length of two longest suits = 8. have to rebid 2♥ also frightens me a bit. Overall total = 19. My judgement is not to open on this This goes to prove that points are not Not an opening bid. occasion. everything. Shape can be as important. Hand 4: Total high-card points = 12. Lastly, always remember that if you One way of removing the hard work Total length of two longest suits = 8. take up the ‘Rule’ then it is a guide to of calculating whether the shape and Overall total = 20. help you. It is not a rule of the game that strength of your hand give you enough An opening bid. Open 1♣. you must slavishly obey. ■

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 15 by Shireen Mohandes Keep Bridge Alive Fundraiser at the Stationers’ Hall 20 February 2020

n a cold winter’s evening submit to academic journals for peer earlier this year, Professor review: The first I’m writing with Zoe Samantha Punch, with her Russell: ‘Temperament is Everything: Ocolleagues from the University of Partnerships and Emotions in the Stirling, arranged a Pro-Am evening Mind-Sport of Bridge’, and the at the historic headquarters of the second I’m writing with Miriam Stationers’ Company. Hosted by TV Snellgrove: (who was at the Pro-Am personality (of “Only Connect” fame) event): ‘Playing your Life: Impression and world-class poker player Victoria Management and Strategic Interaction Coren Mitchell, the event featured 70 in the Game of Bridge’. international bridge stars. Each expert These sociological papers show how agreed to be auctioned to play in emotions are perceived and performed partnership with a generous amateur. in ways that are fundamentally shaped The funds raised will support by social context and relationships. academic research to promote the They demonstrate that there is so social benefits of bridge, and support much more to playing bridge than Second place an inter-generational approach to cards, for example, coping with David Kendrick and Jamie Fegarty learning and playing bridge in schools, difficult emotions, building resilience universities, libraries, workplaces and and learning how to read people event with a score of 61%, behind Ed community centres. See the panel strategically.” Jones and Richard Bowley who won on the right and BRIDGE issue 203, 71-year old David Kendrick (member with a clear lead – a score of 63.7%. November 2019. of the English Silver Medal team at the In a field of 76 pairs, that is pretty Sam tells us, “In the last 6 months 2019 Senior World Championships) impressive. the BAMSA* team have focused on partnered Jamie Fegarty, 14 years old – David told me about deal 15: completing two academic papers a truly intergenerational partnership. which are both nearly ready to David and Jamie were second in the Board 15 Dealer South. N/S Game. ♠ K Q 4 ♥ K 8 6 5 ♦ A K ♣ J 10 9 6 ♠ 9 8 7 6 3 ♠ A 5 2 ♥ 10 2 N ♥ 9 W E ♦ J 10 9 8 3 2 ♦ Q 5 4 S ♣ Void ♣ K Q 8 7 5 3 ♠ J 10 ♥ A Q J 7 4 3 ♦ 7 6 ♣ A 4 2 The Stationers’ Hall

Page 16 BRIDGE May 2020 A booklet of the hands was provided, with commentary by six American experts. Here is Joel Wooldridge’s commentary: “Although North has a nice hand in support of hearts, if partner signs off in 4♥, it should be respected. At some tables, West will make a Michaels 2♥ overcall taking advantage of the vulnerability and six-five distribution. After a Michaels start, East may in 4♠, which will be either down three or four doubled with a lot riding on the outcome. If N/S compete to 5♥, a spade lead followed by the ♣K shift will defeat the contract one trick.” First place Suggested auction: Richard Bowley & Ed Jones, WBF President Giannarigo Rona (centre)

West North East South 1♥ Pass 2NT1 3♣ 3♥ Samantha Punch, coordinator of the BAMSA Project, Pass 3♠ Pass 4♣2 explains the project and the event: Pass 4♦2 Pass 4♥ All Pass The KBA Pro-Am had two aims – one was to fund-raise for the work we’re 1 Jacoby Game Force, 4+ trump support doing and the other was to raise the profile of bridge. Keep Bridge Alive is 2 Cue bids our fund-raising name, but moving forward in terms of promoting the game beyond the bridge community, we will be using our new name: *Bridge: A MindSport for All (BAMSA). This new name will cover research, policy When David and Jamie played this and practice initiatives from the project whilst also promoting mind-sports board against Anthony Williams and the fun and enjoyment that bridge can and does bring to many. The and David Gold (currently England’s key goals of the BAMSA project are to work in collaboration with bridge highest-ranked player by NGS rating), organisations to transform the image of bridge, to increase participation the auction went like this: across all ages, and to enhance the sustainability of the mind-sport. Why is it important that we do research on bridge? Chess is widely regarded West North East South as beneficial, particularly by schools, because academics have been writing Jamie David David Anthony about it for decades. However, bridge in comparison has very little published Fegarty Gold Kendrick Williams evidence on how it can enrich lives. We all know what bridge means to us 1♥ and why we continue to play it, but now we need to spread those messages 2♥1 4♥ 4♠ Pass further afield. So, what are some of these benefits that our research is Pass Dbl All Pass exploring? 1 Michaels: spades and a minor. Firstly, nowadays there is too much time – individually many of us, and particularly children and young people, are glued to our electronic devices. There is evidence that children are struggling to learn basic life “Complete fearlessness”, remarked skills such as empathy and cooperation – because you can’t learn empathy declarer admiringly. u through a screen. Bridge, as a partnership game, is ideal for enabling young people to develop these kinds of transferable skills alongside analytical thinking and strategic planning. Secondly, according to a recent survey, a fifth of the UK population suffers from social isolation and loneliness, and that is affecting people of all ages, not just older people. Once again, bridge offers a great solution: you’re never bored or lonely if you play bridge, and importantly bridge also enables us to create a sense of connection across the generations and helps to bring families together. BAMSA aims for mind-sports, like bridge, to become recognised for a wide range of benefits that address contemporary societal issues: overuse of digital devices, limited intergenerational contact, social isolation and loneliness. Bridge is not just a game, because it gives us a sense of belonging to a wider community – that is both local to where we play (in our home, club or socially) but also global. So, bridge really can make a difference to people’s lives, and that’s why my favourite slogan is the one Sam Punch and that David Burn suggested: If you keep bridge alive, it’ll do the same for you. Victoria Coren Mitchell

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 17 t South led a top heart and the just two off, and a score of -300 against defence continued with another a making vulnerable game. round, forcing declarer to ruff in hand But as David said, a 4-1 break might (East), where the short trump suit mean that the opponents would draw sits. David Kendrick now played on trumps and take the rest of the tricks, diamonds to set up dummy’s side suit. for 6 off, for -1400. North won and played the ♣J, covered Not wanting to take the high-risk with the queen and ♣A, and ruffed in approach, he played just one round of dummy. Another diamond was played trumps, the ace (saw the ♠J on his left), from dummy; North won and played and then played on diamonds. This a club, won in hand with the ♣K, as a meant that the opponents made their diamond was discarded from dummy. high trumps separately, and David Barbara Hackett and James Mates Here are the remaining cards: went 3 down, for -500. Six other pairs took a save in spades. American demi-God of the bridge Although this was a good result on world, Mike Lawrence, said in the ♠ K Q 4 the deal, a number of North-South commentary: ♥ K 6 pairs had overreached to 6♥, a no- ♦ — hope contract. So, it turned out to West North East South ♣ 9 6 be an average score. Keen double- Pass Pass ♠ 9 8 7 6 ♠ A 5 dummy analysts will notice that in the 1♥ Pass 2♠ Pass ♥ — N ♥ — unlikely event of North declaring a 4♥ All Pass W E ♦ ♦ 10 9 8 S 5 heart contract, the maximum number ♣ — ♣ 8 7 5 3 of tricks available to them is nine. “I have about ten ways to raise hearts ♠ J 10 (literally). I’ll choose 2♠, a fit-showing ♥ J 7 4 3 jump. It’s forcing to 3♥. West has ♦ — Board 2 enough that he will bid 4♥. ♣ 4 Dealer East. N/S Game. With a club lead, I will discard ♠ J 10 3 2 a diamond from dummy and start ♥ A 2 trumps. With a spade lead, it’s This was a key moment in the play. ♦ K 9 8 7 necessary to consider getting rid of If the trumps started out as 4-1, and ♣ 9 5 3 two diamonds before leading a trump. David played ace and another spade, ♠ 9 ♠ A K Q 8 4 Of course, if North leads an inspired then, as he told me “I would be out ♥ K Q J 8 7 N ♥ 10 6 5 3 diamond, 4♥ goes down. W E with the washing”. But if they were ♦ Q J 4 2 S ♦ 10 6 5 The ♠2 bid may cause North to lean 3-2 (as they were), then after ace and ♣ A Q 10 ♣ J towards the diamond lead.” another spade, although the defence ♠ 7 6 5 I asked Espen Erichsen, if he and could force dummy again, since the ♥ 9 4 John Skerritt found the defence diamonds are set up, they can be ♦ A 3 mentioned by Mike. He replied, “well, played allowing the player with the ♣ K 8 7 6 4 2 something else happened”. master trump to take his trump, but “At our table East opened with 1♠. leaving dummy high. That would be West bid 2♥, and 4♥ from East ended the auction. Espen told me ‘I had the For event details and results, visit: keepbridgealive.bridgecloud.com ♦7 between my thumb and forefinger, ready to lead it face down, but John Top 10 finishers: led the ♦A out of turn, face up.’ John 1. Ed Jones & Richard Bowley 63.69% explained that he was tired, as it was 2. Jamie Fegarty & David Kendrick 61.07% the last board of the evening for them. Espen said, ‘Well, it is way past your 3. Phil King & Guy Malcolm 60.45% bedtime!’ ” 4. Ida Grönkvist & Archie Bouverie 59.38% Tove Goddard was meant to be declarer but, after the lead out of turn, 5. Andrew Black & James Mates 59.14% she exercised her right to accept the 6. Stephen Peterkin & David Douglas 58.93% lead, and have her partner, Shahzaad 7. John Carroll & Andrew Murphy 58.78% Natt, play the contract. So, the diamond lead and continuation led to 8. Steve Root & Jonathan Harris 57.92% defeat anyway. 9. Kathrine Bertheau & Richard Hazell 57.32% At 15 tables game went down. At 10. Gunnar Hallberg & Warner Solomon 57.32% 20 tables it made, and one played in a part-score. n

Page 18 BRIDGE May 2020 Julian Pottage Answers Your Bridge Questions

Are Weak Jump Shifts Now Normal?

As a regular player invitational/constructive. 4. Should partner choose 1NT rebid shows 15-17, the on BBO I have been This means you can play 2♦ as his response as he same as if there had been no Q surprised to discover a jump rebid (eg 1♦-1♠- doesn’t have a heart stopper? intervention and the response that a single jump new suit 2♦-3♠) as forcing. 5. 3NT goes 1 down had been 1♥. This does response to my opening 1 of I would not expect so many even if you find the queen mean you sometimes have a suit is no longer a jump people on BBO to be playing of diamonds (would you to rebid a moderate 5-card shift (16+ 5 cards), but a weak jump shifts at the three play for the drop or play suit when an opponent has weak 2 or 3 opener. Eg 1♥-2♠ level. Many people play the non-overcaller for overcalled in your second shows 6 cards 6-10 points. jump shifts in response to a longer diamonds?) suit. My regular partner and Is this now the norm please 1♥ or 1♠ opening as some Chris Bickerdike by email. I have just agreed to reduce and, if so, how can it be sort of raise of opener’s suit, the point count in the specific sensible to pre-empt partner? such as ‘Bergen raises’. You ask some case of a 1NT rebid and a Also how can responder interesting questions. negative double – but then catch up if not allowed the ♣♦♥♠ A 1. As most of the you would need to increase traditional jump shift values are in the short the minimum strength for the response? East-West are suits, there is a good case double. This particular West Brian Barrett, playing Acol and for opening 1NT on the hand does have 14 HCP and Northampton. Q a weak no-trump, West hand. That said, if a 5-card suit, albeit not a with a score of game all: you open 1♦, partner is particularly good 5-card suit. If you are playing more likely to respond If it shows the usual 15-17, a in the main club on 1♥ (and the opponents 1NT rebid is only a fractional A BBO, a lot of the ♠ K 9 8 4 ♠ Q more likely to overcall in overbid with the hand. players will be Americans ♥ A K N ♥ 7 6 5 2 hearts), in which case you 4. East’s hearts are so W E or using American bidding ♦ K 10 7 3 2 S ♦ A J 5 4 should be able to show poor that there is a case methods. Weak jump shifts ♣ J 8 ♣ Q 5 4 3 your second suit (spades) for ignoring them and at the two level are common at a convenient level. It is simply raising diamonds. for players using a strong a close decision and I do I play a jump raise to 3♦ no-trump and 5-card majors. West North East South not mind either choice. in competition as showing Pre-empting makes more 1♦ 1♠ Dbl Pass 2. In standard Acol, the a raise to two and a half sense when openings of 1♣ 1NT Pass 3NT All Pass double simply shows a hand diamonds, which describes and 1♦ are often weak no- that would have responded the East hand quite nicely. trump hands. By jumping to 1. Would you prefer a 1♥, so at least four hearts 5. I agree you are not 2♥ or 2♠ you are reaching a 1NT opening to 1♦? and at least 6 HCP (but not going to finesse the overcaller 6-2 fit while making it hard 2. Do you agree with both five hearts and a good for the ♦Q. Apart from the for the opponents to enter the partner’s double promising 9 points or better – then you fact that there is more room auction. Weak jump shifts do 4+ hearts and values? would respond 2♥). As is the for the ♦Q in the hand with not mesh so well with Acol. How many points minimum case for competitive bids in shorter spades, South would If you are playing weak should the double show? general, you would be more need very little excuse to raise jump shifts, you can catch Are you willing to shade inclined to take some action to 2♠ if holding three spades up by jumping later. Since the strength because you if short in the opposing and a singleton diamond. It an immediate jump shift have a diamond fit? suit, so indirectly hands is a close decision but yes I shows a weak hand, a 3. Does a 1NT rebid with a fit for opener would think I do cash the ♦A then simple rebid of your suit show less than the be more inclined to bid. run the ♦J if only small cards (eg 1♦-1♠-2♦-2♠) is normal 15-17 rebid? 3. In standard Acol the have appeared. u

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 19 t You have not asked what the way to retreat to a minor West may have a weak There were many I think of East’s raise to 3NT. so that a 2NT response is hand and fail to raise the opinions at our club. East has 9 HCP but the hand natural. If you have a weak bidding above the 1 level.) 10 points are is poor in context – no tens hand with a long minor, it recommended for a or nines and an unguarded is quite possible that the two level bid. honour, admittedly an opponents have a spade ♠ Q J 7 5 ♠ Void We sometimes shade honour you are expecting fit and will be glad to have ♥ J 10 9 7 2 ♥ A K Q 8 5 4 that if we have three card ♦ N ♦ to score at trick one. Facing the opportunity to enter the A Q J W E 6 support for partner. 15-17, the East hand is only auction by doubling 2♠. ♣ 3 S ♣ K Q J 8 7 2 Charles Leveson by email. worth inviting game, an 3. Using Stayman as the invitation West would decline. way to get to 3♣ is part of I can see only two the traditional Acol system. David Shore, options. Either ♣♦♥♠ When 2♦ was a weak takeout Epsom, Surrey. A you respond 1NT rather than a transfer, you planning to bid diamonds What are the pros did not need another way to Yes, you should bid on the next round, if there and cons of the get to sign off in diamonds. to a slam. Here is is one, or you stretch to Q various methods Nowadays, if you are using A my sequence: respond 2♦ initially. of escaping to a long minor 2♣ followed by 3♣ as the Because the long suit is in a weak hand when way to sign off in clubs it West North East South good, I would go with 2♦ if partner opens 1NT? would be logical to play that 1♦ 2NT1 Pass the ♠Q was not a singleton. 1. Four-suit transfers 2♣ followed by 3♦ (over 2♥ 4♥2 Pass 4♠3 Pass A singleton queen, however, (2♠>3♣ and 2NT>3♦) or 2♠) as the way to show a 5♦4 Pass 6♥ All Pass is not pulling full weight 2. 2♠ for sign off in either weak hand with diamonds. 1 Unusual 2NT showing the so I would respond 1NT. minor (pass or correct) 4. I am used to using 2♠ lower two unbid suits – the 3. 2♣ and rebid the minor as a range enquiry but play hand could be a lot weaker than ♣♦♥♠ (non-promissory Stayman) it slightly differently to what this – East plans to bid again 4. 2♠ asks opener for you suggest. If 2♠ is a range whatever West does. If you are West and range (2NT min, 3♣ max), enquiry, you do not need 2 West has opening values and second to play, then either passes, bids 2NT as a natural raise. The good heart support, so bids Q would you always/ 3NT or corrects to a minor. way for me to show a weak game. never/sometimes cover an Personally, I prefer no.4 hand with a long minor (or 3 This is a cue bid, showing the honour with an honour? but no.3 has the advantage a strong hand with both ace or void in spades. Heather Thomson by email. of being less forgettable. minors if you bid higher 4 This is also a cue bid, showing David Barker, than 3♦ next time) is to the ♦A and denying the ♣A or You ask an intriguing Aylesbury. respond 2NT. Partner then ♣K – the reason it shows the question. The simple bids 3♣, which you pass or ♦A but denies both top clubs is A answer is ‘sometimes’. 1. While your correct. With your method, that a high honour in partner’s The idea of covering an question mentions if responder has a weak suit will be useful but only an honour is to promote a lesser A escaping from 1NT, hand with a long minor, the ace is likely to be useful facing a card in your hand or your one reason why you might defenders obtain information shortage. partner’s hand. The length of want to play in the minor is about whether opener is your holding, your own spot if you have slam interest. minimum or maximum ♣♦♥♠ cards and what you can see Having the values for a even though responder has in dummy are all factors. slam facing a weak no- no interest in knowing. Playing matchpoint trump is comparatively rare. pairs, South picked Four-suit transfers tend ♣♦♥♠ Q up this hand ♠ A J 10 to be more popular as a opposite partner’s ♠ K 4 3 2 ♠ 8 6 constructive action facing I should welcome 1♥ opening. ♠ Q 9 7 5 a strong no-trump than as your advice on the What does South respond? a weakness takeout facing Q best way to bid a weak no-trump. If you the attached hands. After If you cover the queen with do play four-suit transfers, North opened 1♦ my partner ♠ Q the king, you do not promote you need to play non- and I managed to bid the ♥ 10 3 anything but lose your king. promissory Stayman (or some 4♥ game, which yielded an ♦ A Q 10 7 6 3 2 sort of relay continuation, easy 12 tricks. Given that ♣ 8 7 4 which few people play) we play jump overcalls as ♠ A J 10 5 to cover balanced hands weak, could/should we ♠ K 4 ♠ 9 8 6 3 2 worth inviting 3NT. have found a way to bid West North East South ♠ Q 7 2. Some people play 2♠ as the slam? (East fears that 1♥ Pass ?

Page 20 BRIDGE May 2020 This time you should cover. passes I chose to pass. In the play, I made 12 tricks. an overbid. An overbid If you fail to do so, your My reasons: How should we have is a bid higher than the king will tamely go on a Andrew Robson, among got to a contract of 6NT? hand is worth. An overcall small card and declarer others, recommends to pass How should the bidding is a bid made after an will make four spade 12 HCP 4-4-4-1 hands. have gone if I, as responder, opponent has opened. tricks instead of three. The rule of 15 suggests had held five heart cards Without a singleton, On the first layout your passing in fourth seat (with the same 18 HCP)? four points and three- holding was longer than after 3 passes. I have searched through card support would not be dummy’s and on the I downgraded the all of the Better Bridge enough for a raise. The second your holding was hand because the videos that I have, as 6-9 guideline for a simple shorter. You should be singleton was a jack. well as all my copies of raise seems reasonable more inclined to cover when I wasn’t the only player BRIDGE and I have been to me – and you can cue you are short in the suit. to pass but others got into unable to find an answer. bid the opposing suit with a heart contract for a top. Your help and advice will hands stronger than that. Was this a case of doing be very much appreciated ♠ A 10 9 2 what is right most of the by two very frustrated “old ♣♦♥♠ ♠ Q 3 ♠ K time in matchpoints and duffers” who don’t know ♠ J 8 7 6 5 4 accept the odd bad result whose responsibility it West led the ♦5. or do you think I should was to bid on or shut up. My first thought have made a bid? Tony Mann by email. Q was a free finesse. If you cover the jack with the Ken Goddard by email. How often would a defender queen, you crash partner’s A response of 3NT lead away from a king? king. Covering would also The rule of 15 for should show 13- be wrong if partner had two fourth seat openings A 15 points. Adding or three low cards because A is fairly standard. 16 to your expected 13- Dealer South. N/S Game. then you would be sparing Adding 12 HCP and one 15, your wife was quite ♠ A 7 6 3 2 declarer a guess in the suit. spade, you are two short correct in passing 3NT. ♥ J 7 You should be less inclined of meeting the rule of 15. Holding 18 points, you ♦ A 4 to cover when you think If you downgrade because need to find a different ♣ Q 10 6 5 partner is short in the suit. the singleton is an honour, response. With four (or five ♠ Q 10 9 8 ♠ K J 5 you are even further away. hearts) you can respond 1♥. ♥ A 8 4 N ♥ 9 3 2 W E Sometimes the percentage A change of suit response ♦ J 9 6 5 S ♦ K 8 3 2 ♠ A Q 9 4 2 action does not work and you in this situation is forcing ♣ 9 8 ♣ 7 4 2 ♠ K 8 3 ♠ 10 6 5 need to accept that doing for one round, so there is ♠ 4 ♠ J 7 what is the right thing in the no danger of being left in ♥ K Q 10 6 5 long term does not always 1♥. If your wife also held a ♦ Q 10 7 work on a particular board. , she would ♣ A K J 3 This is a common type of have rebid 1NT, showing layout. You need to cover ♣♦♥♠ 15-17 points. Adding her the jack with the king to minimum of 15 to your West North East South promote partner’s ten into I wonder if you 18 you could count 33 1♥ a possible third-round could spare the and so raise to 6NT. Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣ winner. Here your length in Q time to help my Pass 3♣ Pass 3NT the suit is the same as your wife and me improve our ♣♦♥♠ All Pass partner’s. The longer partner ability to bid to a slam? is in the suit, the greater We play only social If you have three- Then ‘stop’ came to mind, I the chance that partner has bridge – no duplicate. card support for was likely to make 1 spade, something promotable in My wife, as dealer, opened Q your partner’s 4 hearts, 2 diamonds, 4 the suit, so the more inclined 1♣, showing 12-19 points overbid, how many points clubs, with a diamond you should be to cover. and at least four club cards. do you need to support lead, and continuation. Holding a balanced him and bid at the two What if East had a meaner ♣♦♥♠ hand (including four heart level? I was always told plan and switched to spades? cards) and 18 points, 6-9 but some say you can I refused the free finesse, Playing matchpoints I responded 3NT. do it with just four points. immediately played on recently I had a Although my wife was Martin Epstein by email. hearts and made 10 tricks. Q 12 HCP 4-4-4-1 holding 16 points for her Was I lucky or did I hand with the singleton opening bid, she thought I think you mean take the right line? spade being a jack. that my jump bid was a to refer to an Alex Mathers, In fourth hand after 3 “shut out” and passed. A overcall rather than Northallerton. u

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 21 t Although a ten-card fit could have exited safely to rather than a direct jump to You have an is suitable, was the point dummy’s queen of diamonds. game serve him better? interesting decision. count too low at 21? 2. Pushy is not the right Is the common agreement A I think the right word to describe a weak for FSF to be FG, or forcing play depends upon the 2♠ opening on the North to at least 2NT, so when scoring method and the Dealer North. Love All. hand because it is not an one of the players advances quality of the opposition. ♠ 10 7 6 5 3 overbid. The playing strength past 2NT, then they can If West has led from a five- ♥ J is more or less there for never stop short of game, or six-card suit headed by ♦ K 5 an opening one bid. It is and have plenty of time to the king-jack and East holds ♣ A Q 8 7 3 unusual, however, to make a describe their hands via the ace of hearts, the only ♠ K ♠ 8 2 pre-emptive opening other control showing cue-bids.

way to make the contract is ♥ 9 8 5 4 3 N ♥ A K 7 6 than in your best suit. A Lucas Geoff Simpson, ♦ W E ♦ ♠ to play low from dummy. 8 7 6 2 S A J 9 4 3 two 2 (a weak hand with Torphins, Aberdeenshire. If East has the ♦K and ♣ K 6 4 ♣ J 5 five spades and a minor on the defender with four or ♠ A Q J 9 4 the side) would describe the Much of the world more spades has the ♥A, ♥ Q 10 2 North hand better than a plays the fourth ducking the first diamond ♦ Q 10 weak two does. You have A suit as forcing to means defeat if East finds ♣ 10 9 2 said that South bid 4♠ to game. Acol does allow the the spade switch at trick the limit of the 10-card fit auction to stop in 2NT. two, because holding up but of course, South might By bidding 2♥ and then the ♠A will not help. West North East South have been expecting North 3♦ South can show a hand At IMP scoring or rubber 2♠ Dbl 4♠ to hold six spades, in which that was too good for an bridge, you should go All Pass case only four-card support invitational jump preference up with dummy’s ♦A. would be needed for that. of 3♦ over 2♣. It should It is a tougher decision I was North and opened a be forcing regardless of at matchpoints because weak 2♠, non-vulnerable. ♣♦♥♠ what North bid over 2♥ you will have an easy 11 East doubled. because with a weaker tricks if you play low from South completed the On the following hand South would have dummy and West has the auction with 4♠, the limit deal the opponents bid 3♦ directly over 2♣. ♦K. Since your side has bid of the fit. Q missed a slam and Even if South has some the other suits, West is quite East led the ace and I wondered what was the doubt about whether 3♦ was likely to lead a diamond, king of hearts. Declarer best approach to success. forcing, surely there could with or without the king. ruffed the second round. be no doubt about whether On a normal club duplicate A spade was led and a jump to 4♦ would be. I would say to play low from finessed, losing to the king. ♠ 2 That would have allowed dummy, planning to drop A heart was taken in ♥ 2 an exchange of cue bids. the ten if East plays the king, dummy. ♦ K J 5 4 2 By jumping all the way to the idea being to encourage The last trump was drawn. ♣ A K 9 5 4 3 5♦ South denies interest in a a diamond continuation. A The queen of clubs was slam and so is not justified good defender will not fall finessed, followed by the N in feeling miffed about for this ruse because if you ace, felling the jack. W E North’s failure to raise. S really had Q-10 doubleton The ace of diamonds West would have J-9-7-6- was driven out. ♠ A K J 8 7 ♣♦♥♠ 5 and would have led the Ten tricks were made. ♥ 9 8 6 six rather than the five. Name and address supplied. ♦ A Q 10 Using the mantra Finding a spade switch ♣ Q 6 ‘6-5 Come Alive’ should not be too difficult 1. On the line of Q and given he in that case because you play you describe, has only 5 losers, South have bid hearts and clubs as A the defenders should North South opened 1♦ on this hand: well as showing a diamond have taken a trick in each 1♦ 1♠ stopper, which leaves room suit, thereby holding declarer 2♣ 2♥ for very few spades. to nine tricks. It would be 3♣ 5♦ ♠ 6 poor defence but if East End ♥ Q 9 6 4 2 ♣♦♥♠ played a fourth round of ♦ K Q J 8 7 5 hearts after taking the ace South was miffed when ♣ 5 On the deal below, of diamonds then declarer North didn’t convert to was North’s could ruff in hand, discarding 6♦; has he a case? Q opening weak 2♠ a club from dummy, thereby Having used fourth-suit We ended up in 4♠ and non-vulnerable too pushy? avoiding a club loser – East forcing, wouldn’t a 3♦ rebid didn’t score well when

Page 22 BRIDGE May 2020 this was partner’s hand: The textbooks say to pass. If you do open 3♦, North Books on Bridge has to realise that your ♠ A K J 10 7 5 hand is probably going to ♥ K 8 3 be of little use as dummy ♦ 2 in a spade contract and Who Has The Queen? ♣ K J 3 find the discipline to pass. Frank Stewart Incidentally with the queen £20 of hearts not balanced by Full of deals in which finding We play a weak 2♦ so the an ace elsewhere I would alternative opening bid count the hand as five and a missing queen, or one of would have been 2♦. a half or six losers, not five. her relatives, is the key to Can you tell me which making a contract. opening bid you would ♣♦♥♠ prefer and how you think the bidding should have My partner gone under both options? opened 1NT. This Big Deal Mike Fairclough, Q was my hand: Wirral. Augie Boehm £20 In deciding whether ♠ 8 Augie Boehm shares tales the hand is worth a ♥ A K 9 8 4 and insights from his unique A 1-level opening, you ♦ A K J 7 4 need to look at high-card ♣ 8 3 perspective as an expert points rather than losers. bridge player and a world- You have just 8 HCP and no class musician. aces, which is not enough Should I respond 2♣? even with good shape. Doreen Parrington, With the 6-5 shape and Lytham St Annes. the good suit, the hand is too good for a non-vulnerable Stayman asks for Playing Suit weak 2♦, as I think you have 4-card majors and Combinations worked out. Your realistic A it is not the usual Gitelman and Rubens options are 3♦ and pass. route to take when you Pre-empting with a have a 4-card major. £15 5-card major on the side If you play transfers Designed to serve two main is somewhat unusual and (recommended), you purposes; It enables readers would be unthinkable facing respond 2♦ to show the to improve their card-play an unpassed partner if the hearts and rebid 3♦, thereby technique. Secondly, it shows major was spades. If your showing a good hand with how even small changes can side has a heart fit, however, diamonds as well as hearts. have quite large impacts. the opponents might well If you do not play transfers, outbid you in spades. you start with a jump to In third seat I would 3♥, which is natural and definitely open 3♦. forcing. If partner rebids Tricks of the Trade In second seat, when 3NT over 3♥, you continue Larry Cohen you are just as likely to be with 4♦ – with the two good pre-empting partner as the suits, 6♦ might be on and £20 opponents I would pass. In the spades could be a Strategic thinking for first seat it is a close decision. weakness in 3NT. n advanced bridge.

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BRIDGE May 2020 Page 23 Robin Hood's Bridge Adventures by David Bird Robin Hood's Duty

ome friendly rubbers against Maid Marian won with the ace and won with the diamond jack. When two friends of Maid Marian’s drew trumps in three rounds, East she returned the jack of clubs, Marian had been agreeable enough, but throwing two diamonds. Unless the played low from her hand, West SRobin Hood felt the need of some clubs broke 4-0, she would be able to discarded a heart and the trick was fresh air in his lungs. discard her diamond loser on the fifth won with dummy’s ace. He pushed open the front door of round of the suit. That would give her Marian’s eyes were sparkling. ‘I’m James Fencely’s dwelling and was an overtrick. If clubs were 4-0, though, going to make it now!’ she said. immediately rebutted by a fierce rain- she would probably lose a club and a When a low club was led from bearing wind from outside. diamond. What could be done in that dummy, Cicely played the ♣10. Maid Marian laughed. ‘Even you case? Marian won with the queen, crossed can’t hunt in that weather,’ she said. Marian saw a chance of overcoming to dummy’s ♠9 and led a third round ‘I wouldn’t even walk home in such a hostile club break. She cashed the ace of clubs, finessing the ♣8. Her hand conditions. Let’s play some more and king of hearts and led the ♦3 from was then high and the slam was made. bridge and wait for the wind to drop.’ her hand. If the defender who won this ‘Well played, my love,’ Hood Somewhat reluctantly, Robin trick happened to hold a void club, exclaimed. ‘James defended well, too. resumed his seat at the card table. This they would have to give a ruff-and- Without the diamond lead, you could was the next deal that they played: discard with their return. simply have given up a club. You James Fencely spent a while staring would throw your diamond loser on at the ♦3. If he won with the diamond the thirteenth club.’ Dealer North. Love All. queen, he might have no safe card to ‘That’s right,’ said Marian, ‘and ♠ A K 9 5 play next. It was obvious that Cicely James did well to let you win the second ♥ A 5 held the queen of hearts, or declarer round of diamonds, Cicely. That could ♦ 10 4 would have used it to discard dummy’s easily have been the winning defence.’ ♣ A 6 5 3 2 last diamond. Cicely smiled lovingly across the ♠ 10 6 4 ♠ J Perhaps Cicely's ♦7 had table. ‘In two weeks, I’ll be married to ♥ J 9 8 4 3 2 N ♥ Q 10 6 shown the jack of diamonds? Fencely a bridge champion,’ she declared. W E ♦ K Q 8 6 S ♦ J 9 7 5 2 eventually played low, and his partner Fencely laughed. ‘No one’s ever ♣ Void ♣ J 10 9 7 ♠ Q 8 7 3 2 ♥ K 7 ♦ A 3 ♣ K Q 8 4

West North East South James Robin Cicely Maid Fencely Hood Broker Marian 1♣ Pass 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4NT Pass 5♠ Pass 6♠ All Pass

James Fencely led the king of diamonds, noting the ♦7 from Cicely Broker, his betrothed.

Page 24 BRIDGE May 2020 called me that before,’ he replied. of mock reprimand. ‘Marian may be Marian had a chance to win the about to make a wonderful play. You rubber on this deal: wouldn’t like to miss it.’ ‘She may need a wonderful play,’ Hood retorted. ‘I didn’t give her much Dealer West. N/S Game. of a dummy.’ ♠ 9 8 2 Cicely Broker won the first trick ♥ Q 9 5 with the ace, seeing the jack fall from ♦ A 10 9 7 3 declarer. Further tricks in diamonds ♣ K 4 or trumps were unlikely. She could ♠ J 10 3 ♠ 7 5 probably make two heart tricks, but ♥ A K 10 8 7 2 N ♥ J 3 where could a fourth defensive trick W E ♦ 8 2 S ♦ K 5 4 be found? ♣ 10 5 ♣ Q J 8 7 6 3 Inspiration struck. ♠ A K Q 6 4 Perhaps James held the king of clubs ♥ 6 4 and a trick could be established in ♦ Q J 6 that suit. They would have to be quick ♣ A 9 2 about it, mind you. Otherwise Marian would set up a discard or two on dummy’s heart suit. West North East South noticed nothing. Let it stay that way. At trick two, Cicely switched to the James Robin Cicely Maid The next rubber had reached Game jack of clubs. Fencely winced as he Fencely Hood Broker Marian All when Maid Marian arrived in saw this card. Why not play another 2♥ Pass Pass 2♠ another game contract. diamond? Leading into strength didn’t Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ make much sense. All Pass Marian won with dummy’s queen of Dealer East. Game All. clubs and drew trumps with the king James Fencely opened with a Feeble ♠ K 10 9 4 and ace. She then finessed the jack of Two and Marian was soon installed in ♥ K J 10 6 hearts, losing to East’s queen. a spade game. ♦ 5 4 Cicely continued with the ♣5, to When the ace and king of hearts ♣ A Q 9 her partner’s king and dummy’s were played, Cicely played the jack ♠ 6 2 ♠ 3 ace. When Marian led the ♥6 from and the three to show her doubleton. ♥ 8 3 2 N ♥ A Q 7 4 dummy, Cicely rose with the ♥A and W E ♦ K 8 7 6 2 ♦ A Q 10 9 3 Fencely persisted with a third round of S scored a fourth trick for the defenders hearts and Cicely ruffed with the ♠5, ♣ K 8 4 ♣ J 10 5 with her ♣10. pleased to stop dummy’s queen from ♠ A Q J 8 7 5 ‘What a defence you played there, making a trick. ♥ 9 5 Cicely!’ exclaimed Robin Hood. Maid Marian overruffed with the ♦ J ‘Leading into dummy’s strong suit was ♠6 and drew trumps in three rounds. ♣ 7 6 3 2 the only way to beat the contract.’ A subsequent diamond finesse lost to James Fencely nodded his East’s king, but the contract and the agreement. ‘I was hoping you would first rubber were hers. West North East South do that, my love,’ he said. ‘Well done,’ said Robin Hood. ‘The James Robin Cicely Maid Marian looked towards a nearby run of the cards is certainly favouring Fencely Hood Broker Marian window. ‘Do you see what has us.’ He smiled at the other three players 1♦ 1♠ happened?’ she said. ‘The sun has in turn. ‘You might say that the wind 2♦ 4♠ All Pass come out to celebrate Cicely’s special is blowing in our direction.’ defence!’ Maid Marian was still thinking Robin Hood realised that his raise to ‘That’s very appropriate,’ declared about the deal they had just played. game was somewhat optimistic, but he Robin Hood, rising to his feet. ‘Did I Surely Cicely had a trump higher was keen to finish the rubber. There leave my bow in your hallway?’ than the five? If she had ruffed with should then be time to bag a couple of ‘Yes, but Marian went one down,’ her higher trump, forcing a trump rabbits for supper back at the camp. replied James Fencely. ‘The rubber is honour from declarer, she would The ♦6 was led and Robin Hood not completed.’ have promoted a trump trick for her laid out his dummy. He then looked ‘Nor is my acquisition of tonight’s partner. around the room, wondering where supper,’ insisted Robin Hood, Robin Hood caught Marian’s eye, he had left his favourite bow and the buttoning up his tunic. ‘James will shaking his head slightly to suggest sheaf of arrows. walk you home, my love. Friar Tuck that she should say no more about the ‘You should pay attention to the will not want to see me return empty- previous deal. The two love birds had game, Robin,’ said Cicely, in a tone handed!’ n

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 25 Bernard Magee Says Overtricks Matter At Pairs

t can be difficult to persuade players overtrick would be of minimal value. maximum possible score overall is 22 x of the importance of overtricks when How much does this overtrick matter at 20 (the ‘top’) = 440. playing Duplicate Pairs (normal duplicate pairs? The scorer totals your matchpoints Iclub bridge). It is often just as important Here is the traveller for the board and expresses them as a percentage of to make an overtrick as it is to make a played by 11 tables. Everybody finished the maximum. On the single board contract itself. in 3NT. Nine declarers made ten tricks, above, pair 11 got 100%, whilst pair 4 Have a go at this first example one made just nine tricks and one made got 50% and Pair 1 got 0%. and then I will analyse the traveller 11 tricks. There is so much to note from the afterwards. traveller. First of all, the fact that Pair 1 The contract and lead are routine: Match bid and made game was worth nothing. Pairs Tricks Score points They made +600, yet scored 0%. 1 9 600 0 Your aim is not only to score points ♠ A 2 but also to outscore everybody else. In ♥ A Q J 2 10 630 10 fact, consider Pair 1’s opponents: their ♦ 7 6 5 2 score was -600, but that was the best 3 10 630 10 ♣ K Q 7 3 any East-West pair managed so they got ♠ 7 6 5 ♠ J 10 9 8 4 10 630 10 100% for losing 600 points. ♥ K 9 3 N ♥ 10 8 5 2 This is not easy to grasp for many W E ♦ Q 10 8 ♦ K J 9 5 10 630 10 S players. As you learn to take on board ♣ J 10 9 8 ♣ 6 5 6 10 630 10 the nuances of the scoring, you will ♠ K Q 4 3 understand that your aim is simply to ♥ 7 6 4 7 10 630 10 beat everybody else. Pair 11’s brilliant ♦ A 4 3 declarer play in squeezing out one extra ♣ A 4 2 8 10 630 10 trick showed only an extra 30 points on 9 10 630 10 the scorecard but scored a ‘top’ on the Contract 3NT. Lead ♣J. traveller. On many deals, you need to 10 10 630 10 try to put as much energy into making overtricks as you do into making the 11 11 660 20 Many declarers would be satisfied with contract itself. ten tricks when the heart finesse works Have a go at this easy 4♠ contract: – three spades, three clubs, three hearts Not many travellers look as neat as this, and the ace of diamonds. but I hope this exhibits the difference To beat the other pairs, you want an overtricks make. The scorer, usually ♠ A 10 6 eleventh trick, which you can make by using a computer, gives each pair that has ♥ 4 setting up dummy’s long diamond if played the board a matchpoint score. The ♦ A 7 6 5 the suit breaks 3-3. You win the first calculation for this is to give each pair ♣ A 9 8 4 3 club with the king and a diamond two points for every pair they beat and ♠ 4 3 ♠ 5 2 in both hands. You win the next club one point for any pair they equal. Pair ♥ K Q J 10 9 N ♥ 8 7 6 5 with the ace, finesse in hearts and duck 11 beat the other 10 pairs to get (10x2) ♦ J 10 4 2 W E ♦ K Q 3 S another diamond. After this, you win 20 points, the maximum possible score, ♣ 7 6 ♣ Q J 10 5 the third club in dummy, cross to the often called ‘a top’. Pairs 2-10 beat one ♠ K Q J 9 8 7 diamond ace and take another successful pair and drew with eight others (1x2 + ♥ A 3 2 heart finesse. Finally, you cash the ace of 8x1 = 10). Finally, Pair 1 did not manage ♦ 9 8 hearts and long diamond; the ace, king to beat anybody and so got 0. ♣ K 2 and queen of spades take care of the rest Players often ask how one arrives at a of the tricks. percentage score: if you played 11 tables Contract 4♠. Lead ♥K. At rubber bridge or IMP scoring, the of two-board rounds, (22 boards), your

Page 26 BRIDGE May 2020 You have ten top tricks so making the have got you a reasonable score 14/20 If East held ♣A-J-x, he might duck the contract is not difficult and in fact (70%) on the board, but making only club, after which you would do best to making two overtricks is relatively one overtrick scores very poorly 5/20 play diamonds. In practice, East wins straightforward by ruffing two hearts (25%) and, once again, even though Pair the club and continues with a spade, in dummy: 4♠ +2 should get you a fair 1 managed to make 4♠ and +620 points which you win and play a club to the score, but it will not get you the top they get 0 from the scorer. queen: hoping for a 3-3 break or for one score. You cannot beat anyone who bids The first two examples showed how, by of the jack or ten to fall. When East’s jack 6♠, but can you make 4♠ +3? making more overtricks, you outscore does fall, you can develop the club suit When declaring a contract at duplicate those in the same contract as you. Extra by leading the nine. West wins the club pairs, you need to explore every chance tricks to outscore players in different this time and plays a third spade. You for extra tricks. This should always contracts can also be vital: win this and take your tricks making include any long suit you have. eight in total: three clubs, three spades The club suit may well supply you a and the ace-king of hearts. thirteenth trick on this deal – it will be Dealer East. Game All. relatively easy to develop the suit with a ♠ 6 Match Pairs Contract Tricks Score 3-3 break. ♥ K 7 5 4 points However, if clubs are 4-2, you need ♦ 10 9 3 1 1NT by S 7 +90 0 to check you have the entries. If you ♣ Q 9 8 4 3 need two ruffs to establish the suit, you ♠ 9 7 3 ♠ K 10 8 5 4 2 2 3♥ by N 9 +140 18 require three entries in all to be able ♥ J 10 N ♥ Q 9 6 W E 3 2♠ by E 7 +100 7 ♦ ♦ to make the winner at the end. You K 6 5 2 S A 7 have one in the suit and the ace ♣ 10 6 5 2 ♣ A J 4 2♠ by E 7 +100 7 of diamonds, so you need to use one of ♠ A Q J your ruffing entries. This means you ♥ A 8 3 2 5 2♠ by E 7 +100 7 have to develop clubs at the same time ♦ Q J 8 4 6 2♠ by E 7 +100 7 as ruffing hearts. ♣ K 7 All of your trumps are high so you 7 2♠ by E 7 +100 7 can ruff quite safely. You win the heart, ruff a heart, play the king of clubs, a club West North East South 8 2♠ by E 7 +100 7 1♠ 1NT to the ace and ruff a club. Then you ruff 9 2♠* by E 7 +200 20 another heart, cash the ace of spades, All Pass ruff another club and draw trumps. 10 1NT by S 8 +120 15 Finally, you cross to dummy’s ace of You finish in 1NT and, when dummy 11 1NT by S 8 +120 15 diamonds and cash your winning club, comes down, you are surprised to see discarding your diamond loser. With a that your opponents have a nine-card bit of luck, 4♠+3 earns you a top. spade fit. Some will certainly play in ♠2 Look at the difference between 1NT and perhaps some will play in hearts just made and 1NT+1. You were quite Match your way. It is not always easy to judge right to risk your contract in the quest Pairs Tricks Score points what will happen in other contracts, but for an overtrick. The difference between 1 10 620 0 2♠ is likely to go one down for +100 to making 1NT exactly and going one off your side. This means you aim to make is very little: a bottom is a bottom. The 2 11 650 5 at least eight tricks. You will see the overtrick changed 0% in to 75%. It is no relevance of this as you make your plan. surprise to see that the usual contract 3 11 650 5 You win the spade lead and, guessing was 2♠, though one enterprising North- 4 11 650 5 that the defenders are going to keep South doubled this to get an outright leading spades, you count three spade top. 5 11 650 5 tricks and two hearts. Two extra tricks Conclusion 6 12 680 14 in diamonds will make your contract secure, but that is not your aim: you 7 12 680 14 are aiming for at least eight tricks. This Knowing how the scoring works in means you need to pursue three extra duplicate is not necessary to enjoy your 8 12 680 14 tricks and the best chance for that is bridge. Having said that, if you want to 9 12 680 14 playing on clubs – you are putting understand how valuable overtricks are, your 1NT contract at risk if things go you need to try to understand a little 10 12 680 14 wrong, but it is surely worth it as the about the scoring. traveller will show. You win the spade If you find it too complicated or simply 11 13 710 20 lead cheaply and, with so few entries do not like arithmetic, you need to take to dummy, you need to play the king of my word for it: overtricks are extremely This time, making twelve tricks would clubs right away. important at Duplicate Pairs. ■

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 27 David Stevenson Answers Your Bridge Questions What Can Declarer Say To Dummy?

Several times such behaviour is just too a comparable call and may withdraw 5♥, making West recently I have difficult. You should just be bid without penalty. declarer in 4♠, he should Q politely suggested ignore it. Exceptionally, if Actually, there is another only make 6 tricks thus at the table that declarers someone clearly misleads law that allows 2♥ since changing the N/S score are saying too much you the director could adjust an insufficient bid may be from -50 to +200. What immediately after dummy but I do not believe that replaced by the minimum law covers this situation? has been revealed. “That’s absolutely wonderful” legal bid showing the Chris Catchpole, Instead of a neutral “Thank or the like should be taken same denomination so that Normandy Bridge Club. you partner”, comments seriously. It needs a much would also be acceptable. like “That’s absolutely more clearly misleading Adjustments are wonderful, partner” are comment. If declarer frowns ♣♦♥♠ made when there being made. This may seem at dummy and says “Should A is an offence that harmless, but it can have you not have tried for slam, I’d like to know if damages the opponents. an adverse effect on the partner?” when the hand is the offending side If 4♠ is going off there defence, as one can think nowhere near the slam zone, Q can ever gain after is no damage and the “It sounds like this contract you might get an adjustment. a ruling on an irregularity. result of 5♥-1 stands. is making easily, I’d better cash out quickly before tricks ♣♦♥♠ ♣♦♥♠ disappear somewhere”. Dealer East. Love All. We all know that declarer Partner opens 1♣ ♠ 10 I wonder if you should not make obvious and next hand ♥ K 10 9 8 7 6 3 2 could comment comments criticising Qbids 2♦ weak. I ♦ A 5 Q on the following. dummy’s bidding, but these intended to double, but ♣ A K My RHO opened 1♣ and enthusiastic thanks are, in bid 1♥ by mistake. ♠ K J 9 6 5 3 ♠ A 4 I overcalled 1♠. LHO bid

my opinion, just as bad. Can I change it for 2♥ ♥ A N ♥ Q 4 3♣ which was passed ♦ W E ♦ Am I being over- even though I had only 7/8 7 6 3 S Q J 10 9 8 round to me. Knowing that sensitive here and making points and 5♥? Or what ♣ J 8 5 ♣ 9 4 3 2 my opponents sometimes inferences at my own else can I bid that’s legal? ♠ Q 8 7 2 experiment with inverted peril, or am I right that we It wasn’t me but ♥ J 5 minors (and although my should try to eliminate interesting to know. ♦ K 4 2 overcall would negate any sort of dialogue other Catherine Draper by email. ♣ Q 10 7 6 this anyway) I asked the than the aforementioned meaning of the 3♣ bid. unemotional thank you? A comparable RHO said that it was Is there a particular call is, generally West North East South 'just a normal bid and that paragraph within Laws A speaking, one where Pass Pass they were not playing 73 or 74 that covers the original withdrawn call 2♠ 4♥ 4♠ Pass* negative doubles.’ When I such occurrences? does not give partner extra Pass 5♥ All Pass pressed further he said 10 Chris Bickerdike by email. information. So if 1♥ shows to 12 points (and implied 4+ hearts and 5+ points, After East bids 4♠, South club support). I then bid Technically if it and 2♥ over 2♦ shows 5+ hesitates * (agreed by 3♠, LHO bid 4♣ and after is upsetting the hearts and 7+ points, then all) and passes. two passes, I doubled for A opponents it is the 2♥ bid is more specific North bids 5♥ which was the final contract. When illegal but there are so and the 1♥ bid does not tell passed out and went 1 LHO laid down her hand many general unnecessary partner anything more than down. If the director (via a she was showing 14 points comments that controlling the 2♥ bid does. Thus 2♥ is panel) decides North must which peeved me – no

Page 28 BRIDGE May 2020 stronger than that – as I that there was misinformation Julian Pottage replies interesting, inclusive and had doubled on the basis then he might adjust to queries about stretches our minds? of RHO advising 10-12 because of the unauthorised A what you should bid The letters and their mind points. Naturally my RHO information, considering so I have passed this on to set reflect an attitude that made the contract which I that responder’s 4♣ bid was him. Personally nothing but is enough to put anyone admit tempted me to write not legal, or because of the 1♠ would occur to me. off this wonderful game. to you. My questions are: misinformation feeling that It is perfectly legal to open Patricia Bruzon, 1. Should LHO have you might not have doubled 1♠ or 4♠. 4♠ openings are Membury, Axminster. continued bidding after if you had known. In the fairly random these days with she knew we had been latter case he might decide some people opening them I believe you have misinformed and if so, to adjust their score only on pure , as I do, got the wrong should she take account since it is pretty incredible and some people opening A impression of the of the misinformation? to think of any hand where them on stronger hands way bridge is played in clubs 2. Can we ask for the you have a penalty double because of the irrational fear in this country. While in double to be voided? of 4♣ with partner silent of opening at the 1-level some countries players do 3. Should the director throughout. However what with seven-card suits. nitpick, as you put it, over have been called and if so he would actually do is 2♣ would not occur to me the rules, that is very rare at what point and what speculation on my part having neither the top card here. In the unlikely event might he have said? without seeing the hands. strength nor the playing you do find a club where Colin Jones by email. To return to your last strength (it does not have people act this way all the question, if ever you think eight playing tricks). But it time, just try a different club. If there appears to the opponents have done is legal to open 2♣. That The letters here are be misinformation something wrong you requires either 16+ points or exceptional. For example, A it is always best to should always call the 12+ with 5+ controls and it when I play at a bridge club, call the director once the director, unless you intend has that – just. A-A-K is five the director is called on apparent misinformation is to let it lie and accept controls. If you are going average at my table about known so you should call it without comment. to open 2♣ on such hands once every six months. the director on the sight then you must describe it There is a lot of tolerance of dummy. While in some ♣♦♥♠ carefully, not just calling of people who do not circumstances directors have it ‘strong’ or ‘Benjamin’. follow many of the rules. powers to do something West passed the But some people are immediately this is not one of below hand. With ♣♦♥♠ interested and the letters them. He would merely have Q seven spades I was here about the rules reflect told you to finish the hand tempted to open 4♠, I have been enquiring minds and people and call him back if you felt showing a weak to reading the letters who themselves want to know damaged, so calling him at intermediate hand and Q sent in by bridge the rules so they can follow the end of the hand would seven playing tricks. players and I am amazed. them. That does not mean have had the same effect. I have been playing there is much nitpicking. When an explanation and bridge for 38 years and a hand do not agree it does Dealer West. Game All. enjoy the game thoroughly. ♣♦♥♠ not automatically mean you ♠ A K J 7 6 4 2 I play regularly with a have been misinformed ♥ A 9 diverse group of friends, One player at our and the director would have ♦ 10 some are brilliant others club has, to my asked questions to find out ♣ 10 8 3 struggle a little, but we Q mind, the annoying what had happened. To play include everyone, so some habit of pulling out the 3♣ as showing game values evenings are less competitive card he intends to play as on this sequence is incredibly Maybe I could open 1♠ and than others. Such is life. I soon as the dummy hits rare and if I had to guess I take more action later, if have tried to get people the table. I always take the would think that responder partner has a fit. I did briefly interested in the game, but normal time to assess how I did not know how to show consider a strong artificial know that many people intend to play the contract. a strong hand with clubs two, having good controls. are terrified of learning However, my partner is and improvised. In that case What are the merits bridge precisely because of less experienced and feels there is no misinformation of these bids? the nitpicking over rules. more pressure to play from and the result stands. In I finally bid 4♠ making, I accept that we can all dummy quickly due to the that case the unauthorised partner passed having 14 improve our game and aim defender's card on show. information does not points and 3 spades. for higher standards, but I personally feel this matter since responder Are all these bids legal? surely to encourage more is why it is done, I also knew what the bid meant. Alex Mathers, participants, we need to think it is unnecessary and If the director did decide Northallerton. show that bridge is fun, disrespectful to declarer. u

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 29 t Your thoughts would only ask for information said he opened with 6 hearts the advanced section. be appreciated. during the auction if they and 6 or 7 points. Is this a The EBED beginner bridge Brian McLaughlan by email. have a realistic chance of fair bid or a psyche bid? system (2017) has dropped bidding themselves. After Martin Brown, strong 2s in favour of weak I am sure it is the auction has finished Ramsey, Isle of Man. 2s, but the EBU Modern annoying and it is a different matter. Acol system file (2014) A possibly disrespectful In the situation at issue I should think it shows both as options. but I do not believe it is done our bidding went: was a psyche but If I tell an opponent that to apply pressure. It just A since psyches are we play Modern Acol it means he is a player who 2♦ 2♥ legal it does not really can sound rather pompous does not think very much 2♠ 4♠ make much difference. If a (Modern Scientific even more and is somewhat impolite. player deliberately makes so) and if the opponent raises But unfortunately there The 2♦ was announced as a call that is not in accord an eyebrow and asks what are a lot of such players, strong. The 2♥ relay was not with his agreed system that the difference is between not necessarily doing this alerted. The auction seemed is a psyche, unless it is a that and her ‘old fashioned’ but with a lot of annoying obvious. Opener’s hand very minor deviation from Acol (strong 2s, strong jump habits and it is important was hidden and was the system. So long as his overcalls, Splinters, Jacoby to just tolerate them. void in diamonds, which partner is not allowing for it 2NT, RKCB), what should I If ever your partner feels may have affected the then there is no problem. say other than show her my she is being rushed you defence strategy. ? Is there must convince her to slow Any thoughts? ♣♦♥♠ any reference source? Or down. Whether the pressure Club Player, North Wales. is what I am observing just is intended or not the In your ‘Duplicate the gradual development solution is always to resist. Only natural two Bridge Rules of Acol with different bids get announced, Q Simplified’ you experts adopting new ideas ♣♦♥♠ A so an Acol 2♣, an use the term ‘Modern at different times, so that artificial 2♦ response, a Scientific Acol’. I can’t find in three or four years my A part-time Benjamin 2♣, an artificial any reference that explains system may not be quite as director would 2♦ response, a Benjamin 2♦ what this is. The nearest ‘Modern’ as I think it is now? Q appreciate some and an artificial 2♥ response I can find is the EBU’s Mike Johnson by email. advice on a thorny issue. should all be alerted. Standard Modern Acol Playing a fairly standard Questions during the system file (2014). Is that I used the term Benji where 2♥ and 2♠ auction are discouraged what you are referring to? to distinguish the are weak – and should be by players who have no The EBU file shows no A approach from announced as ‘weak’ with no intention of bidding or trump rebids as 15-16, traditional Acol. But on a additional comment, unless doubling but are legal. The 17-18 and 19. My partner system card I would just write asked when the explanation answers are unauthorised and I play that no trump Acol. Whatever you write is to say 6-10 HCP, six information to the partner rebids show 15-17 and there will always be some card suit, non-forcing. of the player answering. 18-19, which Bernard people who assume you are Straightforward? So explanations do not Magee, Andrew Robson and playing the system the way However, if 2♣ is 23 help partner unless Julian Pottage have been they do and the example you HCP+, it is announced he uses unauthorised promoting for years. Bernard give is a good one: if you as ‘strong’ and nothing information and then the Magee’s 2006 book ‘Better want to know what ranges further - unless asked? result may be adjusted. Hand Evaluation’ uses these an opponent uses for NT Now the tricky bit: if 2♦ is ranges and Andrew Robson rebids you have to ask, you 8 playing tricks somewhere ♣♦♥♠ refers to these ranges as cannot assume a range and maybe 21-22 NT, ‘Modern’ in his book ‘Tips from the word Acol with or does one simply announce Tonight at our club, for Intermediates’. But the without the words traditional, as ’strong’, or is an alert West opened 1♥, NoFear website still gives modern or scientific applied. also needed as it may Q North bid 1NT (17 the 15-16 and 17-18 ranges. As you say it is a developing not be a diamond suit? points), East passed and I can’t find anything on system and it is important Most players in our club South bid 2NT (8 points). the alternative, even in that players realise this. n seem happy to let things sort West passed and North themselves out, but one has converted to 3NT. When the Email your questions for David to: chided me for not alerting. ♥Q was led by East, South My view is that long-winded put his hand on the table [email protected] explanations during the with ♥A-10. North held auction only help partner. ♥K-J-x. After the hand was Please include your postal address Likewise, opponents should played, going two off, West

Page 30 BRIDGE May 2020 Heather Dhondy Says Use The Rule Of Eleven

artner leads the seven of spades This is crucial to the defence since You will see from those examples that and dummy plays low. Which partner has no entry except in spades. the leader’s partner and declarer can card do you play as East? Note that, if partner’s lead was second equally use the rule. Back now to East: P highest from small cards, the rule of eleven does not work. Here it does not 1 ♠ K 5 2 matter. Whatever partner’s lead, it is 3 ♠ 8 7 2 ♥ Q 8 safe to play the three since, in either ♥ K J ♦ J 9 7 4 case, he will hold the eight. ♦ A J 9 3 2 ♣ A K 4 2 ♣ A 8 7 ♠ Q J 8 7 ♠ A 10 9 3 ♠ A 6 5 ♠ Q J 10 9 4 ♥ 10 6 2 N ♥ J 7 5 3 2 ♠ 8 7 2 ♥ 8 6 2 N ♥ Q 10 5 3 W E ♦ 10 8 6 ♦ A 2 ♥ K Q ♦ 8 6 4 W E ♦ K 7 S S ♣ Q 6 5 ♣ 10 9 8 ♦ A 9 4 2 ♣ 9 6 5 4 ♣ J 10 ♠ 6 4 ♣ A Q 8 7 ♠ K 3 ♥ A K 9 4 ♠ 6 5 4 ♠ K Q J 10 ♥ A 9 7 4 ♦ K Q 5 3 ♥ 8 6 4 N ♥ J 10 5 3 ♦ Q 10 5 W E ♣ ♦ Q 6 5 ♦ K 10 8 ♣ J 7 3 S K Q 3 2 ♣ J 9 6 5 ♣ 10 4 ♠ A 9 3 West North East South ♥ A 9 7 2 West North East South 1NT(12-14) ♦ J 7 3 1NT(12-14) Pass 3NT All Pass ♣ K 3 2 Pass 3NT All Pass

The rule of eleven will help you to Partner leads the six of clubs, which goes calculate the exact layout of the suit. West North East South to the ten and king. Declarer then runs Note: the rule only applies when you 1NT(12-14) the queen of diamonds to your king. are playing fourth-highest leads. How Pass 3NT All Pass You are faced with a similar problem to does it work? Subtract the spot value of the one declarer had last time. This time partner’s lead from eleven and this will Put yourself in South’s seat as declarer. the lead is the six of clubs instead of the tell you how many higher cards in the West leads the five of clubs; dummy five. suit lie in the remaining three hands. plays the seven, East the ten and you If you work through the rule of eleven, Since you can see your own hand and the king. Let’s use the rule of eleven to six from eleven leaves five. We have seen dummy’s, you can work out how many discover the layout of this suit. three of the five on the first trick, and higher cards declarer holds. Five from eleven leaves six higher you can see three more – the ace, eight, Let’s work through the example cards remaining between dummy, East jack. Whoops. Has something gone above. The spot value of partner’s lead and your own hand. We have seen three wrong? The rule doesn’t work. What can is seven. Subtract this from eleven, as of them contributed to the first trick we deduce from this? per the rule, and you are left with four. – and the remaining three are all in The only answer can be that the lead Count the number of cards higher than dummy. Therefore East has no further was not fourth highest. What it could be the seven that exist between dummy high cards in the suit. It is safe, indeed is second highest from a suit headed by and your hand – the king in dummy, necessary, to take a double finesse the nine-six. and your A-10-9 come to four. What against the jack-nine to bring this suit in This tells you to give up on clubs. Even this means is that declarer holds no card for four tricks. if partner has an entry, you can never set higher than the seven. You can play low On this occasion, you can be sure that up the suit in time. You must switch to and let partner win the trick. the lead is fourth highest. Why is this? the queen of spades. By leaving your partner on lead, he Looking at the three and two in your What a difference one small spot card can continue playing the suit through own hand, you know that it cannot be makes – be glad that the rule of eleven dummy to give you four spade tricks. second highest from four small. helped resolve the suit both times. ■

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 31 BERNARD The Diaries of Wendy Wensum MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE Episode 97: TUTORIAL CD ACOL BIDDING Do Different

fter attending college in varying bridge systems, like dialects, London, I stayed in the big city could lead to uncertain end points. As for several years to work and usual I was in partnership with Millie Apay off my debts. In the same period, in a matchpoint duplicate pairs event; MAC or Windows I also did less important things such George and Sarah were our opponents. as marrying Spouse. When we first moved to Norfolk, we had some difficulty understanding the local Dealer South. Love All. dialect. Initially place names were ♠ K J 8 7 2 a problem. A local coastal village is ♥ J 8 pronounced ‘Haze-bro’, whereas on ♦ Q 6 5 the map it appears as Happisburgh. ♣ Q 4 3 To be fair its distinctive red and white ♠ 9 5 3 ♠ 10 4 lighthouse guards the dangerous ♥ 7 6 5 N ♥ A K 10 2 W E ♦ A K 8 4 ♦ J 9 7 3 Throughout 200 deals split Haisborough sandbanks in the North S into ten chapters, Bernard Sea. The delightful market town of ♣ 7 6 2 ♣ 10 8 5 evaluates your bids, praising Wymondham is pronounced locally ♠ A Q 6 the correct ones and as ‘Win-dum’. The friendly seaside ♥ Q 9 4 3 discussing the wrong ones. resort of Hunstanton on the Wash is ♦ 10 2 known as ‘Hun-ston’. This habit of ♣ A K J 9 l Opening Bids dropping syllables applies to everyday and Responses £66 words too, so ‘butter’ loses its middle l Slams and double consonant to become ‘b-ar’. With no interference from East or Strong Openings Playing at the Riverside, the West the auction proceeded along l Support for Partner following deal demonstrated that fairly straightforward lines. Millie, l Pre-empting l Overcalls l No-trump Openings and Responses l Opener’s and Responder’s Rebids l Minors and Misfits l Doubles l Competitive Auctions

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Page 32 BRIDGE May 2020 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum BERNARD MAGEE’S Episode 97: INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL CD Do Different DECLARER PLAY

South, with 15 HCP, was out of range Kate had defended the board as East- for our weak no-trump opener and West, but the auction had taken a so opened 1♣. From the North seat I different route. South opened a strong responded 1♠, to which Millie replied no-trump (15-17 HCP). Jo and Kate 1NT indicating 15-16 HCP. With a ten passed throughout. North bid 2♥ as count I jumped to the no-trump game a transfer to spades. After South’s ♠2 MAC rather than rebid my spades. bid, North encouraged with two no- or Windows trumps. With good three-card support West North East South for spades and a doubleton diamond, George Wendy Sarah Millie South bid the spade game. 1♣

Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT West North East South Pass 3NT All Pass Jo Kate 1NT(15-17) George led his ♦K asking in their Pass 2♥1 Pass 2♠ ♠ methods for Sarah to show whether Pass 2NT Pass 4 Bernard develops your All Pass she held an odd or even number in declarer play technique in 1 Transfer to spades. the suit. Whether this clarified her the course of ten holding was open to debate. She introductory exercises and grudgingly obliged with the seven. Jo led the ace and then king of 120 complete deals. George continued with the ace and diamonds, before switching to a heart then the four. Winning with the on noting Kate’s discouraging play l Suit Establishment queen, Millie then ran five spade and of the three and then the nine. The in No-trumps four club tricks making the contract contract failed by one trick. ‘It’s not with an overtrick. Perhaps the defence the dialect that causes problems at the l Suit Establishment was a bit slapdash. Our opponents Riverside; it’s the way partnerships bid in Suits could have taken four tricks off the and defend,’ mused Millie with some l Hold-ups £76 top. feeling, ‘you have to remember that we l Ruffing for We finished the round quite early don’t always do the obvious. We dew Extra Tricks and there was silence for a moment diff-rent in Noor-ridge.’ n before George suddenly said, ‘What l Entries in game can you play in a phone box?’ No-trumps Neither Sarah or I deigned to give l Delaying Drawing Trumps him an answer, but a puzzled Millie l Using the Lead responded, ‘It’s not possible, it would l Trump Control be too much of a squash.’ Sarah, George and I then had a fit of juvenile giggles l Endplays & Avoidance as Sarah explained that ‘squash’ was l Using the Bidding the right answer. ‘You should read Operating system requirements: proper books, not just your Christmas Windows or Mac OS 10.08 -10.14 cracker riddles annual,’ chastised Mille glaring crossly at George. The Mr Bridge Limited TD called the next round and warned our table to stop enjoying ourselves. ( 01483 489961 Retreating to the local tavern after www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop bridge, we discovered that Jo and

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 33 Andrew Kambites Says Do Not Bid A New Suit At The Two Level With Only Eight Points

our partner opens the bidding convincing because it is very rare for the This hand meets the Rule of Fourteen, with 1♥. How many points do bidding to die at the one level anyway. A but it would be blinkered to respond you need to respond? better explanation is that, with a weak to 1♥ with 2♦. You are forcing partner YThere has always been a consensus hand you should strive hard to keep the to find a rebid and he is quite likely to that with six points you shouldn’t pass. bidding low. have to rebid 2♥. You could only pass The logic is obvious. Opener can Nowadays, tactical factors have this, but your side would be in a very to nineteen points and you need twenty- pushed standards up, to the extent that, silly contract if he has had to rebid 2♥ five points for game, which means that in many countries (though not the UK) with five poor hearts. It is far more passing with six points risks missing it is quite common to play a two-over- sensible to respond to 1♥ with 1NT – game. People also recognise that, if you one response as game forcing. keeping the bidding low with a poor have shape and a good fit then you might When the hand and a misfit and giving opener make game on far fewer points. started the Bridge for All teaching the opportunity to pass. Certainly, he scheme, it decided that, for anyone should pass rather than sign off in ♥2 learning the game in England, it might if he has five hearts. Remember, unlike Hand A Hand B be sensible if they learnt the same system other no-trump bids that occur early ♠ K J 9 8 5 4 ♠ 6 3 so they would feel at ease walking into in the auction, your 1NT response does ♥ 7 ♥ 10 9 2 a new club and playing with a stranger. not promise a balanced hand. I call it a ♦ 10 8 7 5 ♦ 9 8 I would thus like to refer to Standard ‘dustbin bid’ because you throw into the ♣ 3 2 ♣ A K J 10 3 2 English, the version of the Acol bidding dustbin all the rubbish that doesn’t fit system associated with Bridge for All. anywhere else. This gives the criteria as follows:You can It is worth considering just how Most experienced players would bid at the two level with ten (high card) unbalanced a 1NT response might be. respond 1♠ to 1♥ with hand A. Not only points or even nine if you have a very long If partner opens 1♠, what should you might 4♠ be possible, it might make suit. In practice, nobody would object to respond with hands C or D? even with 1♥ due to go off. Responding responding 2♣ to 1♥ if you held hand B. 1♠ could gain in some other way, such as Your club suit has trick-taking potential improving the part-score. For example, far in excess of its eight high-card Hand C Hand D the auction might proceed: 1♥-1♠-1NT- points. Moreover, your three-card heart ♠ Void ♠ 7 4 2♠-End. support makes your next action easy. If ♥ 9 6 ♥ 6 There has never been quite the same partner rebids 2♥, you can happily pass; ♦ Q J 7 6 5 4 ♦ A J 7 6 5 consensus about what you need to if partner rebids 2♦, you can happily give ♣ K 8 4 3 2 ♣ Q 10 6 4 3 change suit at the two level, e.g. 1♥-2♣. preference to 2♥. This is partly because factors other than I can conveniently express these the desire to avoid missing game come criteria in the Rule of Fourteen: add Look at it this way. If partner opens 1♠, into the equation. You need to respond together your high-card points and the there are only two bids available to you if with six points, yes, but what to respond number of cards in your longest suit and you have six, seven or a poor, misfitting is open to discussion, and there are if the total comes to at least fourteen you eight points: 2♠ or 1NT. You can rule several possible criteria. can change suit at the two level. out 2♠, so it has to be 1NT. One possible yardstick is the It is not necessarily sensible to apply Of course, you could turn your nose traditional Acol requirement of nine the Rule of Fourteen indiscriminately. up at these hands and pass, but it is points (counting one length point for a Partner opens 1♥ and you hold: quite possible that 3NT or five-of-a- five-card suit). The idea behind this is minor is easy for you, while 1♠ is going that you need an extra trick for a two off. Bidding is so much easier if you are level contract, so it might be a good idea ♠ Q 8 4 prepared not to be too squeamish about to have an extra king (marginally under ♥ 2 responding 1NT on hands like these. one thirteenth of the high card points in ♦ J 7 6 5 3 2 Treat it as a dustbin bid, and you will the pack). ♣ A J 7 end up in far more playable low-level I have never found this logic totally contracts. ■

Page 34 BRIDGE May 2020 Answers to Fitting Cards Quiz on page 11

1 You are South. What is your third bid However, there is a 5-3 South has more diamonds than hearts with Hands 1A, 1B and 1C after the heart fit so sign off in 3♥. but at this stage it seems likely that North auction shown below? Hand 1C. You chose to respond to probably has 5 hearts and 4 diamonds, 1♥ with minimum values. and the 5-2 fit will usually play better You were forced to give than the 4-3 fit. Hand 1A Hand 1B Hand 1C false preference to 2♥ after North did not have enough to make a ♠ K 10 6 5 ♠ Q 8 6 5 ♠ Q 8 7 6 5 partner’s 2♣ rebid. Now game forcing jump to 3♦ over 1♠ but has ♥ J 10 7 ♥ K 8 7 ♥ 7 5 things have turned a bit enough to make a game try of 3♦ over ♦ 8 6 5 ♦ Q J 7 ♦ Q J 8 3 better. North has 3-card your 2♥ preference. North might have ♣ Q J 7 ♣ 8 6 5 ♣ 6 2 spade support so spades 16-18 HCP. is your obvious choice of Now North has shown 5 diamonds as denomination. However you well as 5 hearts. North South have no helpful honours Hand 2A. South has 8 points and 1♥ 1♠ in North’s suits and your the hands fit beautifully 2♣ 2♥ minor diamond honours are with three honour cards in 2♠ ? likely to be wasted opposite North’s two suits. North partner’s singleton diamond. is now known to have 5 South’s 2♥ showed 6-9 HCP and Even with the 5-3 spade fit diamonds: so it is sensible preference for hearts over clubs. this hand might play badly, to jump to 5♦, a 5-3 fit. North has shown 5 hearts, 4 clubs, particularly if your opponents Hand 2B. South has 8 points. The 3 spades and, at most, one diamond. listen to the bidding and lead hands fit badly because North did not have enough to make a a trump. What are you going South has no honour card in game forcing jump to 3♣ over 1♠ but has to do with your diamond North’s two suits. North has enough to make a game try of 2♠ over losers if you cannot trump at most three black cards so your 2♥ preference. He might have 16- them in dummy? Pass 2♠. South’s black honours are 18 HCP. unlikely to be useful. South 2 You are South. What is your third bid doesn’t want to be in game Hand 1A. South has 7 points, nearer with Hands 2A, 2B and 2C after the so he should pass 3♦. minimum than maximum. auction shown below? Hand 2C. As with Hand 2B, South’s However, the hands fit well honours fit badly with with ♦8-6-5 opposite a North’s red suits, but he is singleton meaning there Hand 2A Hand 2B Hand 2C maximum for 2♥ and has are no wasted diamond ♠ 10 6 5 3 2 ♠ K J 8 6 ♠ K J 10 9 good black intermediates honours. South’s major-suit ♥ K 7 ♥ 8 3 ♥ 8 3 so it is reasonable to try tens could prove useful. ♦ K Q 4 ♦ 9 4 3 ♦ 8 4 3 3NT. Minor honour cards There is a 5-3 heart fit so ♣ 8 4 3 ♣ K J 3 2 ♣ K Q 10 5 (particularly queens and South should jump to 4♥. jacks) opposite shortage Hand 1B. South has 8 points, nearer suggest keeping the bidding maximum than minimum North South low, avoiding borderline for 2♥. The hands fit badly 1♥ 1♠ games but if you have points with the ♦Q-J-7 opposite 2♦ 2♥ to spare then 3NT is often a singleton looking pretty 3♦ ? best, making by brute force. useless so it is probably wrong to be in game. 2♥ showed 6-9 HCP, false preference. Continued on page 36 ... u

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BRIDGE May 2020 Page 35 Answers to Fitting Cards Quiz on page 11 Continued...

t ... Continued from page 35 honours but maximum. showing 19 points, or occasionally a Hand 3C 3♥. The ♠K-Q opposite very good 18. If South has just 17 points 3 You are South. What is your third bid North’s likely singleton is not he should make a simple rebid of 2♦, with Hands 3A to 3F after the auction good news so South should intending to bid again unless North shown? sign off in the 5-3 heart fit passes this. Hand 3D 4♥. This hand is better than To see how the hands might fit for Hand 3C because South’s slam purposes you should consider what Hand 3A Hand 3B Hand 3C clubs should fit well with South might have. ♠ K Q 10 9 ♠ K Q 10 9 ♠ K Q 5 4 North’s likely ♣A-x-x. ♥ 9 4 ♥ 9 3 ♥ Q 7 4 Hand 3E 4♥. Perfect cards ♦ 9 4 3 ♦ 8 3 2 ♦ 9 4 Hand 3F 4♥. Difficult. Your four small ♠ 8 2 ♣ J 8 4 3 ♣ K J 10 4 ♣ 9 5 4 3 spades are unlikely to provide ♥ A K 10 8 2 a spade stopper if opponents ♦ A K 9 8 3 lead the suit against 3NT ♣ A Hand 3D Hand 3E Hand 3F because North’s most likely ♠ 9 5 4 3 ♠ A 5 4 3 ♠ 7 4 3 2 spade holding is a singleton. ♥ Q 7 4 ♥ Q 7 4 ♥ K 7 You have an excellent hand Hand 4A 3♥. Still game forcing. ♦ 9 4 ♦ 9 4 ♦ K Q 8 for playing in a red suit and Excellent slam prospects even ♣ K Q 5 4 ♣ K 7 4 3 ♣ J 10 3 2 perhaps 4♥ will be best. though your side is likely to have only 29 points. Your 4 You are North. How do you continue red-suit honours fill partner’s North South with Hands 4A, 4B and 4C after the gaps and your ♠A is a good 1♥ 1♠ start to the auction shown? How holding opposite shortage. 2♦ 2♥ optimistic are you about reaching a Hand 4B 3NT, despite the known 5-3 2NT ? successful slam? heart fit. Your points are all in the black suits and are likely to 2♥ showed 6-9 HCP, preference (or false be wasted in a heart contract. preference in the case of 3A, 3B and Hand 4A Hand 4B Hand 4C Three small cards in each of 3F). North probably has 5 hearts and 4 ♠ A 7 4 3 ♠ K Q 10 6 ♠ K Q J 6 partner’s suits is not helpful. diamonds. ♥ Q J 7 ♥ 7 4 3 ♥ 7 4 3♥ is OK but you have no real North did not have enough to make a ♦ Q J 5 ♦ 7 6 5 ♦ Q J 2 slam ambitions because most game-forcing jump to 3♦ over 1♠ but has ♣ 8 4 3 ♣ K Q J ♣ K Q J 5 of your black suit points will enough to make a game try of 2NT over be wasted opposite shortage. South’s 2♥ preference. He might have Hand 4C 6NT. You have a lot of wasted 16-18 HCP. He will have a club stopper North South points in a heart contract but and is likely to be very short in spades. 1♥ you are not considering trying 1♠ 3♦ to make a thin heart slam. You Hand 3A Pass. South is minimum ? have so many points that you and the hands fit badly. expect 6NT to make easily. n Hand 3B 3NT. Misfitting black 3♦ is unconditionally game forcing,

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Page 36 BRIDGE May 2020 Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 13

You are declarer in 4♠. West leads the the diamonds are 3-3, you can improve 1. ♠ 7 6 ♦Q. How do you plan the play? your chances of making three spades ♥ Q J 10 It can be an inbuilt habit to draw by cashing the ace and the king before ♦ K Q 10 9 5 trumps as soon as possible, especially leading towards the jack. ♣ 8 6 4 if you have a lot of them, but it would By playing the spades in the manner ♠ J 8 ♠ Q 10 9 4 3 be a mistake here. Consider what might described you can cater for a doubleton ♥ K 9 7 5 2 N ♥ 8 4 happen if you do. The defenders will queen in the West hand. W E ♦ 8 3 S ♦ A 6 4 win and most likely continue diamonds ♣ Q 10 7 3 ♣ J 9 2 but then you are in grave danger of ♠ A K 5 2 losing a spade, a heart (if the finesse 4. ♠ A 7 6 5 ♥ A 6 3 fails), a diamond and a club. But if you ♥ K Q 8 6 ♦ J 7 2 take the heart finesse at trick two, even ♦ A 7 2 ♣ A K 5 if it fails you would be unlucky if you ♣ A 6 couldn’t safely discard a diamond on ♠ 10 ♠ K Q J 4 the third round of the suit. In effect you ♥ J 9 4 3 N ♥ 10 2 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads have gained a by leaving trumps ♦ Q 10 5 3 W E ♦ J 8 4 S the ♥5. How do you plan the play? alone for the moment, often a winning ♣ J 7 4 2 ♣ 10 9 5 3 The contract looks easy and indeed it line. Looked at another way, you would ♠ 9 8 3 2 is – as long as you make a plan. be expecting to make two diamonds, two ♥ A 7 5 With four diamond tricks looking hearts, five spades and a club. ♦ K 9 6 a sure thing you have easily enough ♣ K Q 8 tricks and of course that is when you should consider how things might go 3. ♠ K 4 2 wrong. Suppose East plays a low card ♥ A 7 5 You are declarer in 4♠. West leads the at trick one, as is likely, then you have ♦ K Q 7 ♦3. How do you plan the play? to overtake with the ace from hand ♣ J 5 3 2 3NT has nine tricks on top but you have because if you don’t then you might ♠ Q 3 ♠ 10 9 8 5 arrived at the second-best contract. Still have no access to the diamond winners ♥ Q 10 8 3 2 N ♥ J 9 there seem to be many tricks available, W E in dummy if someone holds up the ace ♦ 10 5 4 ♦ J 9 3 with the trump suit the only one to worry S until the third round. By contrast, if you ♣ K 9 7 ♣ A 10 6 4 about, but if you think it is right to bang win the first trick in hand, you are bound ♠ A J 7 6 out the ace and another as soon as to get to dummy with a heart sooner or ♥ K 6 4 possible then that would be a mistake. later. (As an aside West would play the ♦ A 8 6 2 On a bad day, the trumps will break diamonds in order indicating an ♣ Q 8 4-1 and the hand with the four-card even number, thus helping his partner to holding might meanly draw all yours. hold up the ace twice.) Then if hearts do not break evenly you You are declarer in 3NT. West leads the will find yourself a trick short. The answer ♥3. How do you plan the play? is to take the ♦K and duck a round of 2. ♠ Q J 9 8 You have tons of points but the trumps first, win the return, cash the ace ♥ A Q 10 contract is far from certain and you and then leave trumps alone. This way ♦ A 7 6 may need a bit of luck in diamonds and even if the suit breaks badly you will find ♣ Q 8 2 spades. If you have four diamond tricks you have ten easy tricks as you will be ♠ 2 ♠ A 3 then you need only three spade tricks able to ruff a heart in hand if necessary. ♥ 8 7 5 3 N ♥ K 9 4 2 but, if the diamond suit does not break, This line would only fail if the defenders W E ♦ Q J 9 8 ♦ 10 3 2 you probably need to make four spades, managed to find a cross-ruff, although S ♣ J 10 7 5 ♣ A 9 6 4 hoping for Q-x-x onside. So you must test the chances of that happening would be ♠ K 10 7 6 5 4 the diamonds first to see how to play the very low indeed. Alternatively you could ♥ J 6 spades. simply cash the ♠A first and then leave ♦ K 5 4 If you find there are only three trumps alone. That would be a 100% line ♣ K 3 diamond tricks, then you must hope for against a 4-1 break but does risk losing the best news possible in spades but, if an IMP should trumps break 3-2. n

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 37 A Sally Brock Looks At Your Slam Bidding Sally’s Slam Clinic

Slam of the month premature (how did he know his expert convention, ‘do you have third- partner had a singleton heart?) but his round control of this suit?’. Hence he Today’s slam of the month was sent in optimism was rewarded. could have bid: by Alex Mathers: A rather more controlled auction would have been: West North East South 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass Dealer South. Love All. North South 3♠ Pass 4♠ Pass ♠ A Q 6 4 1♦ 4NT Pass 5♣ Pass ♥ J 1♠ 2♥ 6♣ Pass 6♠ All Pass ♦ K 8 5 3♦ 4♣ Partner held: ♣ 10 9 8 7 6 4♥ 4NT 5♥ 6♦ N ♠ 4 2 W E ♥ S Giving North the chance to cue-bid J 8 7 3 his heart control allows South to ask ♦ K Q 5 3 ♠ K 3 for aces when the answer will be more ♣ 7 6 2 ♥ A 10 5 2 meaningful. ♦ A Q J 9 4 2 ♣ 3 Where did we Bits and pieces, but not in the right place. Clubs were 3-3 so declarer made go wrong? 12 tricks. This was their sequence: The system is not completely David Lawrence sent in this freak deal watertight as partner could have either West North East South from a local duplicate: of the hands below when his response 1♦ to 6♣ would not lead to the right Pass 1♠ Pass 2♥ contract: Pass 3♦ Pass 4NT ♠ A K Q J 7 6 3 Pass 5♥ Pass 6♦ ♥ A All Pass ♦ A ♠ 9 2 ♣ A K J 4 ♥ J 8 7 3 Although the South hand has only 14 ♦ 10 8 7 6 4 HCP, I think it is just about worth a ♣ 7 6 reverse because of the 6-4 distribution With no idea how to handle the and outside singleton. hand, David opened 2♣ and, when These days most tournament players his partner responded 2♦, rebid 6♠. have the agreement that after a reverse Well, I guess that’s one way to bid ♠ 10 3 bid giving preference to partner’s the hand but not one likely to get any ♥ J 8 7 3 first suit, or raising his second suit, cooperation from partner. But, there is ♦ K Q 5 3 show positive values (with a weaker a way … ♣ 7 6 2 hand you start with an artificial If you can agree spades for certain, 2NT – showing any weak hand). So, then use Roman Key Card Blackwood, North’s 3♦ was encouraging. South’s and then bid a new suit at the six level, However, it gives you a better chance immediate jump to 4NT is a little this means, by a more or less universal of guessing the right contract. n

Page 38 BRIDGE May 2020 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 13

West North East South continuation? The snag is that partner 1. ♠ K 7 1♠ 4♦ may have no more spades. Declarer ♥ K Q 8 6 3 Pass 5♦ All Pass might wind up with an overtrick if that ♦ 9 5 4 happens. You can afford to overtake ♣ 8 6 4 You lead the ♠J. Partner captures the the ♠K with the ♠A and should indeed ♠ 8 2 ♠ J 6 5 ♠K with the ♠A and switches to the ♥K, do so. This costs nothing if partner has ♥ 9 7 2 N ♥ J 10 5 4 declarer playing low each time. What do a doubleton because the ♠J and ♠10 will W E ♦ K 10 7 3 S ♦ A J 2 you do? fall under the ♠Q. ♣ J 10 9 2 ♣ A 7 3 Partner clearly has the ♥A and may As the cards lie, it is vital that you ♠ A Q 10 9 4 3 well have the ♠Q too. Given the strong overtake the first spade so that you can ♥ A clubs in dummy and the known very long cash a second spade and then give ♦ Q 8 6 diamond suit on your right, it could be partner a ruff. ♣ K Q 5 vital to cash out correctly. With the ♥Q visible in dummy, partner cannot be expecting you to have any strength in 4. ♠ 8 6 5 West North East South the suit. An attitude signal is thus of no ♥ 8 4 3 1♠ use – indeed it would be normal to show ♦ A K Q 9 Pass 1NT Pass 3♠ count on the king switch even without the ♣ Q 9 6 Pass 4♠ All Pass queen on view. You thus play the ♥7 to ♠ 7 3 2 ♠ 10 denote an even number of hearts. ♥ 9 2 N ♥ A K Q 7 5 You lead the ♣J. Partner wins with the ♣A Knowing that declarer must have ♦ 8 7 6 5 4 2 W E ♦ 10 3 S and switches to the ♦A, declarer playing another heart, partner then has an easy ♣ A 2 ♣ 10 8 7 5 3 low each time. What is your plan? decision to lead the ♥A (and not the ♠Q) ♠ A K Q J 9 4 You want to encourage partner to at trick three. ♥ J 10 6 continue diamonds so that your side can ♦ J cash whatever tricks are due in the suit. ♣ K J 4 In doing so, you do not want to signal 3. ♠ 7 6 5 with too high a card. ♥ 10 8 4 3 If you play the ♦3, partner might revert ♦ A Q 9 5 4 West North East South to clubs, playing you to have led from ♣ 6 1♠ ♣K-J-10-x-(x), so you must not do that. ♠ A Q 9 8 3 2 ♠ K Pass 2♦ 2♥ 3♠ If partner has the ♦J and declarer the ♥ 9 N ♥ J 7 5 Pass 4♠ All Pass W E ♦Q, your ♦10 could be vital, so you do ♦ 10 7 S ♦ J 8 3 2 not play that either. You play the ♦7. If ♣ J 10 8 5 ♣ A Q 9 3 2 You lead the ♥9. Partner wins with the declarer then covers the ♦J with the ♦Q, ♠ J 10 4 ♥Q, cashes the ♥A and continues with you win and lead the ♦10. ♥ A K Q 6 2 the ♥K, declarer playing the ♥6, ♥10 and ♦ K 6 ♥J. What is your plan? ♣ K 7 4 Your side is making the first three tricks 2. ♠ K 7 and you can see the ♣A for a fourth. ♥ Q 8 3 What can go wrong? Well, if partner ♦ K 9 West North East South plays a fourth round of hearts, declarer ♣ A K 8 6 5 4 1♥ can ruff high, cash a couple of top ♠ J 10 8 3 2 ♠ A Q 9 6 5 2♠1 3♥ Pass 4♥ trumps, unblock the ♦J, cross to the ♠8 ♥ 9 7 6 2 N ♥ A K J 5 All Pass and discard three clubs on the ♦A-K-Q. ♦ 7 3 W E ♦ 2 1 Weak You cannot blame partner for continuing S ♣ Q 10 ♣ 9 3 2 hearts because there would be a trump ♠ 4 You lead the ♣J. Partner wins with the ♣A promotion if you had ♠J-x-x or ♠Q-x. ♥ 10 4 and switches to the ♠K, declarer playing Since your lowly ♣2 makes it hard to ask ♦ A Q J 10 8 6 5 4 low each time. What is your plan? for a club switch, you should take control. ♣ J 7 Since you like the switch, should You ruff the third round of hearts and you play the ♠9 to encourage a spade then cash the ♣A. n

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 39 Seven Days by Sally Brock

MONDAY treatment seems to work well, but it Punch. After lots of conversations is expensive so we go away ‘to think with myself about what I am going Mondays always seem to be busy. I about it’. Then we have coffee before to wear – and the woman’s angle is generally have two or three online moving over the road to have lunch at always about shoes/coat etc. Am I sessions, plus there are all the emails Carluccio’s. If I had to choose someone going to wear a dress and either totter that have accumulated over the to share a desert island with, I think to the tube on my heels, or get a cab, or weekend. The junior online world it would be Carol – we could chatter go in trainers and take shoes to change championships are starting soon and about this and that for ever. We walk into? In the end, I go as dressed up as I need to arrange a time and date to Liberty’s so she can restock her I can manage in trousers and chunky for our girls team to play their first perfume bottle and then get a taxi to ankle boots that aren’t too hard to round against Serbia. It seems to need a clothes shop in Covent Garden that walk in. Stationers’ Hall is quite hard an awful lot of emails, between me I like. Most shops at the moment still to find and I’m glad we are on time as and both ‘my girls’ and the Serbian have winter clothes but I am going to there are lots of other bridge players coach. I have my usual lunchtime South Africa next week. This shop has who seem to know where it is. We session with my Irish women and plenty of summer stuff and a good start with a glass of fizz and go around then a couple of hours practising sale, so I spend more than I should. meeting and greeting other players with Diana as a prelude to playing in Then it’s home for another online before enjoying the buffet supper. the Acol invitational pairs on Friday. session with Diana and an early night. I am playing with Frances, who This all goes well, and then I walk to has paid a substantial sum for the Barry’s for a bite or two to eat before pleasure of playing with me. We have our Crockfords match at the Young WEDNESDAY discussed our system a little bit but Chelsea in the evening. I need to get up early because the keep everything simple. I would say The match is dreadful. This is the ‘fixer’ who works for my landlord is that generally we are a bit unlucky and third time in less than a week that coming to have a look at a few minor don’t do very well. we have played against Shahzaad and problems with the flat. Then I do my This deal is interesting in that it is Stefano, and I hope it will be a long ironing at the same time as catching actually a good thing if you can’t make time before we play them again! They up with the latest edition of Holby your contract: are both charming but deadly and City. I meet Margaret for lunch – on they have wiped the floor with us each a boat restaurant on the canal. Then time. home for my six-weekly visit from my Dealer West. Love All. podiatrist. Later the children and I go ♠ K 4 2 to the cinema to see Jo-Jo Rabbit. I ♥ K Q 10 9 TUESDAY think it is pretty good, though perhaps ♦ 7 6 5 4 I wake up at Barry’s and need to a bit long in places. We walk home ♣ A 10 get up and out early for a doctor’s and Toby cooks dinner – some fancy ♠ Q J 7 5 3 ♠ A 8 6 appointment. vegetarian filo pie – delicious. ♥ 5 3 N ♥ J 8 6 2 W E ♦ J 10 9 ♦ K Q 8 3 2 Then I go to St Christopher’s Place S to meet my friend Carol who is down THURSDAY ♣ J 8 7 ♣ Q from Nottingham, house-sitting her ♠ 10 9 sister’s flat for a few days. When I Not much on in the daytime but in ♥ A 7 4 find her she is involved in a sale spiel the evening is the event we’ve all been ♦ A from someone who can make all her waiting for: the Keep Bridge Alive ♣ K 9 6 5 4 3 2 wrinkles disappear. Actually, the charity evening organised by Sam

Page 40 BRIDGE May 2020 West North East South A very pleasing result for what is The first three bids are normal Pass 1♦ Pass 2♣ more or less a first outing. (though Barry is very strong for his Pass 2NT Pass 3♣ 2♣ rebid and might have chosen 2♥ I Pass 3♥ Pass 5♣ suppose). We play that 2♦ then is an All Pass SATURDAY/ artificial game-forcing relay that could be anything. The next few bids are I understand partner’s 3♥ bid to imply SUNDAY natural below 3NT and cue-bids with spade weakness, and so jump to the This weekend is the Lederer Invitation clubs agreed above 3NT. Barry’s 4NT minor-suit game. teams, one of my very favourite bridge is not ace-asking but rather showing a West leads the ♠Q so I lose the first events on the calendar. It is held better hand than he would have if he two spade tricks. Assuming the rest of at the RAC and is always a strong just bid 5♣ (he is always going to bid a the field are in 3NT played by North, if field of ten teams in an all-play-all slam). I mean my 5NT to be a forward- clubs come in they will be making at format. This year we are playing in going cooperative move: happy to be least 11 tricks, far out scoring my 400 the Chairman’s team: Barry and me, in a grand slam if his clubs are solid for 5♣ making. Ben Green and Ankush Khandelwal, (I think that if I had the ♣Q I would On the other hand, if clubs don’t Mike Bell and Ben Norton. We start have shown club support earlier than I break and they get a diamond lead badly against the eventual winners, did – over 2♥). At the form of scoring, they could easily be going as many as Allfrey, and eventual runners-up, Barry is not prepared to bid a grand three down. So, fingers crossed. When Zia, but thereafter it improves and we slam but is happy to bid the slam in I have a club loser I go just one down finish a respectable fourth. Generally no-trumps. And there we are. for a decent score. speaking we are carried by Ben and The ♦J is led which he wins in hand After the bridge, there is more wine, Ankush who are the best pair on the and tries a top club. When West’s ♣J a tombola (we win a two-night stay in Butler scoring method. falls he crosses to a spade and takes a the Peebles Hydro), prize-giving, etc. The scoring in this event is interesting. club finesse, so makes only 12 tricks. And after that we go to Sam’s suite There are 10 boards, which you first This is the to avoid for another glass or two of wine and IMP as usual and convert to victory a club loser, but even if it wasn’t he some more socialising before getting points, but there are also 2 points would have to make it, because if he an Uber home – an excellent evening. available per board on a win/lose basis, cashes the ace and king and the queen so overtricks certainly matter. This is doesn’t drop he has no entry for all his one of my favourite deals, against the club and heart winners. This is worth FRIDAY Swedish women world champions: only 2 IMPs, but also the 2 points for I set off at 12.30 or so to meet Diana the board. A surprising number of for lunch prior to playing in the Acol pairs bid this to a grand slam, failing. Invitational Pairs. Dealer South. E/W Game. On Saturday we go for a Thai dinner As I get older I find it harder and ♠ A K Q 7 3 in Piccadilly. Our team-mates are not harder to remember exactly what ♥ Void people we usually play with and it is system I am playing with what ♦ A K 8 5 3 fun to socialise with a slightly different partner. I read through the system ♣ 9 5 4 crowd (though you might remember several times but it doesn’t seem to go ♠ J ♠ 10 6 5 4 2 that we went to Ben Green’s wedding in very well. I am playing some things ♥ 9 6 5 4 3 N ♥ K J 10 2 in the middle of the Negev Desert). W E I am unused to … mind you, I play ♦ J 10 9 4 2 S ♦ 7 6 After the bridge on Sunday and Lucas two openers (where an opening ♣ Q J ♣ 8 6 a short prize-giving ceremony, I go of two of a major shows five in that suit ♠ 9 8 home and spend the evening with and four or five of a minor) with a lot ♥ A Q 8 7 Briony in front of The Split. of people these days and still manage ♦ Q Tomorrow we go on holiday to to open 2♠ with a real weak two. I get ♣ A K 10 7 3 2 South Africa for three weeks. Watch away with it because Diana has an this space. n awkward hand with A-Q doubleton of REDUCE THE COST spades but an outside suit completely This is our auction: OF YOUR POSTAGE unguarded, so she opts for what she British postage stamps for sale at 90% West North East South thinks is a 5-2 fit anyway. Phew! of face-value, all mint and with full ♣ In any event, the day goes very well. 1 gum. Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣ We have to be in the top half to qualify Quotations for commercial quantities and we just about manage that – it is Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ are available on request. close as we are on exactly 50% with Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT Values supplied in 100s, higher values Zia to play in the last two rounds. In Pass 4♣ Pass 4♥ available, as well as 1st and 2nd class. ♠ the final, it goes very well – we are Pass 4 Pass 4NT ( 020 8422 4906 lying second or third most of the way Pass 5NT Pass 6NT 8 [email protected] through and finish second. All Pass

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 41 Derek Rimington Says Overcall With A Good Suit

he primary objectives for suit In the sandwich seat – when both the overcalls are: Hand 3 Hand 4 opponents are bidding but your partner ♠ K J 9 8 6 ♠ Q J 9 8 6 has passed – the need for a good suit is T1 to direct the ; ♥ 6 4 ♥ 4 extra strong. For one thing, there is a 2 to suggest a sacrifice; ♦ A 7 6 2 ♦ 7 3 reduced chance that your side will buy 3 to crowd the opponents’ bidding, ♣ 9 3 ♣ A Q 9 8 6 the contract. This adds to the need to ideally to push them too high; bid a suit you want led. For another, 4 to reach a contract your way. knowing about each other’s hands, they The range for a suit overcall at the one Hand 3 is a minimum overcall of 1♠ are in a good position to penalise you. level is extensive and you should count not vulnerable if RHO has opened 1♣ points for high cards and distribution. because it stops LHO from responding Any six-card suit is suitable; with five 1♥. Exchange the eight of spades for the Dealer South. Love All. cards, suit quality is more important queen and it becomes a sound overcall ♠ K 9 4 than strength elsewhere in the hand. at any vulnerability. ♥ A 8 5 2 Hand 4, with the two decent five-card ♦ 8 6 suits, justifies an overcall of ♠1 over 1♦. ♣ Q J 4 3 Hand 1 Hand 2 If you run into a penalty double, you ♠ J 5 ♠ Q 8 7 6 2 ♠ K J 9 8 4 ♠ K 7 5 4 2 might escape into your second suit. ♥ J 10 7 3 N ♥ Q 9 6 W E ♥ ♥ ♦ ♦ 6 2 J 6 Two-level overcalls normally require K 10 7 2 S A Q 3 ♦ 5 3 ♦ Q J 6 a good six-card suit such as Q-J-9-8-6-4 ♣ 7 6 5 ♣ 9 8 ♣ A J 5 3 ♣ K J 6 or better and the values for an opening ♠ A 10 3 bid. A very strong five-card suit also ♥ K 4 qualifies if it obstructs the opponents. ♦ J 9 5 4 At love all, your right-hand opponent ♣ A K 10 2 opens 1♣. Hand 1 is worth an overcall of 1♠ but hand 2, with more points, is Hand 5 Hand 6 not. The reason is that (1) has the jack ♠ K 5 ♠ 7 5 2 West North East South of spades to support the king and good ♥ 6 2 ♥ 6 2 1♣ secondary cards in the nine and eight ♦ K 4 2 ♦ A 7 2 Pass 1♥ 1♠ 1NT of spades. Also, 5332 hands are not as ♣ A J 7 6 5 4 ♣ A K J 10 6 Pass 3NT All Pass power­ful as 5422, especially if an oppon­ ent has bid the four-card suit. With This was how the bidding went at one hand 1, your length and the 1♣ opening If RHO opens 1♠, pass with either of table in a Crockford’s match. Goaded by make it likely partner is short in clubs, these hands if you are vulnerable. If not the overcall, West led the jack of spades. increasing the chance of a spade fit. vulnerable, you can overcall 2♣. Declarer won in dummy with the king Vulnerability is an important factor You would need a hand like hand 7 to and later finessed the ten of spades. – neither hand would be worth 1♠ if overcall at unfavourable vulnerability: Eight tricks had become nine. vulnerable. Suit length is also most The overcall was particularly poor, important. Substitute the jack of hearts as East has a good holding in the other in hand 2 for the jack of spades and Hand 7 unbid suit, diamonds. you can justify a 1♠ overcall, even if ♠ K 5 At the other table, the bidding was the vulnerable, because of the six-card suit. ♥ 6 2 same except East passed over 1♥. After Conscious competence is a valuable ♦ 7 4 2 West led the two of diamonds, declarer attribute when overcalling. The more ♣ A K Q 8 6 2 made only eight tricks. favourable the vulnerability and the Now for my hobbyhorse – bidding is more opposing bidding space you more important than play. Even a near can consume, the greater the case for Here you have a very good suit and six beginner would make 3NT on a spade making an overcall. likely tricks in your hand. lead but not on any other. ■

Page 42 BRIDGE May 2020 BERNARD Answers to Bernard Magee’s MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE Bidding Quizzes 1-3 TUTORIAL CD on page 7 DEFENCE

Dbl. A double in this sequence is not MAC 1. Dealer East. Love All. quite like a usual take-out double – it is or Windows ♠ 7 6 ♠ A K 9 8 2 generally used to show the unbid major. ♥ J 8 4 2 N ♥ K 5 3 What this means is that you do not need W E ♦ 7 6 5 ♦ A 8 3 S length in the two unbid suits. The double ♣ A Q J 8 ♣ 7 6 shows a hand that might have responded 1H to a normal opening. On the previous hand you had very West North East South strong clubs, but here, your clubs are 1♠ 2♣ certainly not good enough to want to ? defend 2♣, so you should show your four hearts with a double.

Bernard develops your Pass. You have a choice of two aims defence in the course of ten with this hand – showing your four hearts introductory exercises and and trying to find a fit or hoping to collect 3. Dealer East. Love All. 120 complete deals. a healthy penalty from 2♣. Intriguingly, ♠ 7 6 ♠ A K 9 8 2 you double for the former option, since ♥ A 4 2 N ♥ K Q 5 3 W E l Lead vs ♦ ♦ that should be for take-out and you pass A 7 6 5 S K 2 No-trump Contracts for the latter option, hoping that your ♣ K 9 5 3 ♣ 10 6 l Lead vs partner might make a take-out double of Suit Contracts his own. Your club holding holds the key to West North East South l Partner of Leader the right answer: it is so strong that you 1♠ 2♣ vs No-trump Contracts might make four trump tricks in a club ? l Partner of Leader contract (sitting over South), which makes vs Suit Contracts pursuing the penalty the right choice. l Count Signals If you pass, the auction goes around 2NT. You have no good suit to show, to your partner and he should reopen which perhaps suggests a double, but l Attitude Signals with a double, which you pass. On a generally a double in a sequence like this l Discarding £76 partscore deal, you are likely to pick up promises four cards in the unbid major. l Defensive Plan 300 or 500 points. As a partnership you might agree to be l Stopping Declarer flexible about the major, but I do not recommend it. Sticking to the rules, you l Counting the Hand cannot double so you try 2NT instead – 2. Dealer East. Love All. a natural bid, showing 10-12 points and ♠ 7 6 ♠ A K 9 8 2 a club stopper. Since your clubs are not ♥ J 8 4 2 N ♥ K Q 5 3 good enough to pursue a penalty surely Operating system requirements: W E Windows or Mac OS 10.08 -10.14 ♦ A 6 5 S ♦ 9 8 3 a natural 2NT is the best choice. n ♣ K 8 3 2 ♣ 6 Mr Bridge Limited ( 01483 489961 West North East South www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop 1♠ 2♣ ?

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 43 Dave Huggett Says Don’t Give A Ruff And Discard

joy as declarer is ruffing losers Let’s change the deal ever so slightly: in one hand or the other – but ♠ K 8 7 2 you just can’t on some deals … ♥ 6 5 A ♦ K 9 6 ♠ K 8 7 2 ♣ 7 6 4 3 ♥ 6 5 ♠ K 9 7 2 ♠ 5 3 ♠ 6 4 ♦ K 9 6 4 ♥ Q 5 ♥ K Q J 2 N ♥ 9 8 7 4 3 ♣ A 6 4 W E ♦ ♠ ♠ K 8 6 ♦ Q 7 3 S ♦ J 8 4 5 3 6 4 ♣ K 6 4 3 ♣ J 9 8 2 ♣ Q 10 5 ♥ K Q J 2 N ♥ 9 8 7 4 3 ♠ 5 ♠ 10 8 3 ♠ A Q J 10 9 ♦ Q 10 3 W E ♦ 8 7 S ♥ A K J 4 2 N ♥ 10 9 6 3 ♥ A 10 ♣ J 9 8 2 ♣ Q 10 5 3 W E ♦ 10 7 3 ♦ Q J 5 2 ♦ A 10 5 2 ♠ A Q J 10 9 S ♣ J 9 8 2 ♣ Q 10 ♣ A K ♥ A 10 ♠ A Q J 6 4 ♦ A J 5 2 ♥ 8 7 ♣ K 7 ♦ A 9 4 South arrives in 6♠ and you lead the king ♣ A 7 5 of hearts. Declarer wins, cashes two top clubs from hand, goes over to dummy The contract and lead are the same. If with the king of spades and ruffs a club. again declarer wins the opening lead, West North East South He then draws the last trumps and exits ruffs a club after drawing trumps and 1♠ with the ten of hearts to your jack. These exits with a heart, there is a serious Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ cards remain: difference. These cards now remain: All Pass

With twenty-six points, you arrive ♠ 8 7 ♠ 8 7 in 4♠ but are sorry to see no way to ♥ — ♥ — obtain useful ruffs anywhere. Success ♦ K 9 6 ♦ K 9 6 4 appears to hinge on a 3-3 club break, in ♣ 7 ♣ — which case you make five spades, two ♠ — ♠ — ♠ — ♠ — diamonds and three clubs. A glance ♥ Q 2 N ♥ 9 8 7 ♥ Q 2 N ♥ 9 8 7 W E ♦ Q 7 3 W E ♦ J 8 4 ♦ Q 10 3 ♦ 8 7 at the diagram shows that this wish S S would not come true – but just imagine ♣ J ♣ — ♣ J ♣ Q that West mistakenly starts with three ♠ Q J ♠ Q J rounds of hearts. (Maybe West thought ♥ — ♥ — that East’s three of hearts on the first ♦ A 10 5 2 ♦ A J 5 2 round showed an odd number, while ♣ — ♣ — East just meant it as discouraging. These things happen.) This would be a serious error because declarer could ruff the Can you see that, if you led another You as West are on lead. Here, while a third heart in dummy while discarding heart declarer would be able to throw a diamond lead would let declarer pick a losing club (or diamond) from hand. diamond from dummy whilst ruffing in up the suit, a ruff and discard does him Allowing declarer a ruff and discard is a hand? Then he would have no diamond no good – with at least three diamonds cardinal defensive sin. You should avoid losers. It would be just as fatal for you left in each hand, he will still have a this at all costs – or nearly all costs, as to lead a diamond as then declarer could diamond loser. So, it would be equally we shall see later. pick up that suit without loss. safe to lead a heart or a club. This is On the next deal, move to the West The only safe thing is for you to lead rather an exceptional case, however. The seat and see how your refusal to give a your last club. Declarer can ruff in hand basic principle of never giving a ruff and ruff and discard will break the contract: but will have a diamond to lose. discard is a sound one. ■

Page 44 BRIDGE May 2020 BERNARD Answers to Bernard Magee’s MAGEE’S Bidding Quizzes 4-6 INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL CD on page 7 ADVANCED ACOL BIDDING

4♣. You have a very nice hand with 4. Dealer East. Love All. support for spades: game should be ♠ J 7 6 ♠ K Q 9 8 2 the least of your ambitions. With six ♥ 4 2 N ♥ A 5 3 losers you should certainly be hopeful ♦ A 9 8 7 6 5 W E ♦ K 2 of something beyond game and need S ♣ 5 3 ♣ J 7 6 to make this plain to your partner. One way to show strength is by bidding the opponents’ suit – 3♣ is indeed an option West North East South – showing general strength with spade 1♠ 2♣ support. However, best is to show your

? singleton by jumping to the four-level: 4♣. Once again, a bid of the opponents’ 2♠. You are certainly not strong enough suit, but your jump should be a splinter to bid 2♦. Your choices are simple: stretch bid: showing shortage in clubs, spade Throughout 200 deals, to 2♠ or pass? support and game going values. Bernard not only evaluates With a little distribution, you have Your partner, knowing of your singleton your bids, praising the the strength for a supporting bid, but club, should be able to bid the slam – correct ones and discussing you are a spade short of the normal bidding 4NT to ask for key-cards and the wrong ones, he also four. In competition it pays to stretch then settling for 6♠. plays the hands with you. your support bids. Stretching without support does not work, but so often by l The Basics supporting straightaway on weak hands 6. Dealer East. Love All. l Advanced Use of £96 you help your partner to compete for the ♠ K 9 8 7 6 ♠ A Q 10 5 2 deal. Furthermore, with your suit being ♥ 4 2 N ♥ A 3 the Basics W E spades, you make life more difficult for ♦ A 9 7 6 5 ♦ K 4 2 l Weak Two Openings S your opponents. If you pass perhaps ♣ 4 ♣ 10 6 5 l Strong Two Openings North would have introduced 2♥ and l Defense to Weak Twos your opponents might bid on with their double fit. Instead, over 2♠ North is likely West North East South l Defense Against 1NT to settle for the club fit and now East can 1♠ 2♣ l Doubles bid on to 3♠ to leave South with the ? l Two Suited Overcalls problem. Whether 3♠ makes or not, it ♠ l Defending against Other will score well on the traveller. 4 . Another great hand in support Systems for spades, but this hand is more distributional than all-round strong. You l Misfits and Big 5. Dealer East. Love All. have the 7 losers that would suggest a Distributions ♠ K 9 7 6 ♠ A Q J 4 2 game contract, but with just 7 HCP, you N Operating system requirements: ♥ A 4 3 2 ♥ K 5 should jump straight to game. You have W E Windows only ♦ K Q 6 5 ♦ A 4 2 no aspirations for slam, but do want to S ♣ 5 ♣ 10 6 3 keep the opponents out of the auction. Mr Bridge Limited Both sides have a double fit. By jumping to 4♠ you might put them off bidding ( 01483 489961 West North East South at the five-level. 5♣ would be a good www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop 1♠ 2♣ sacrifice against your 4♠ game and 5♥ ? might be a good sacrifice too. n

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 45 Justin Corfield Says Combine Your Chances

hen two or more lines of play much better than one. you can fall back on the hearts – so you are possible, it is not always In situations where you are able to intend to play clubs before hearts. necessary to choose between combine your chances in more than one However, there is yet another chance Wthem. On a good day, you are able to try suit, you often need to do things in the to make the contract. Playing off the two one suit and, if you find it unfavourably right order. On this deal, if you were to top diamonds and ruffing a diamond disposed, try another one instead. tackle spades before clubs, for example, will set up the nine of diamonds any Here is an example of what I mean: you would end up in the wrong hand to time one defender began with ♦Q-J-10 take a heart finesse if neither black suit exactly. Granted, this is very unlikely, cooperated. but it costs you nothing to try. If you are ♠ 6 4 If you come to take the heart finesse, able to add just two or three percent to ♥ A J 10 5 which card should you lead from the the odds of succeeding each time you ♦ 7 3 South hand to take it? The nine of hearts declare a hand, over a year that adds up ♣ A K J 10 3 is correct – you can continue with the – to a lot of matchpoints, , queen if it holds. (Give West ♥K-8-7-6 to money or whatever it is you play for. N see why you play this way). It would be W E a shame to get this far only to fall at the Combining All S last hurdle. Your Chances ♠ A K J 10 9 Sometimes it is harder to spot where The line of play that caters for all of your ♥ Q 9 4 your extra chances are. Take this hand: chances is to draw trumps and then ♦ A 5 play three rounds of diamonds, ruffing ♣ 9 8 2 the third. If you are so lucky that the ♠ K 2 ♦Q-J-10 have dropped, you can try the ♥ 6 4 3 clubs for an overtrick (and should buy a West North East South ♦ A 9 4 2 lottery ticket). If the nine of diamonds is 1♠ ♣ Q 5 3 2 not established, try the ♣A-K-Q to see if Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ the clubs divide 3-3. If they do, you have Pass 3♥ Pass 3NT N 12 tricks. In practice West shows out on All Pass W E S the third round. When neither of the minor suits cooperates, your last resort West leads a low diamond against your ♠ A Q J 8 4 3 is to try leading a heart up to the king, 3NT contract, unkindly removing your ♥ K 2 hoping the ace of hearts is onside. only stopper there. Since the defenders ♦ K 3 threaten to run the diamonds as soon ♣ A K 7 Make Your Own Luck as they get in, you will need to make I once saw a hand where declarer, an nine tricks without losing the lead. You expert, had a diamond suit consisting have six tricks on top and potential for You reach 6♠ after an uncontested of the singleton two opposite the ace, three more in each of the other suits – so auction. West leads a club. There are 11 jack and three. He crossed to the ace of which suit should you try? top winners. How many chances for a diamonds and ruffed the three, bringing The answer is to try them all. twelfth trick do you see? down the ♦K-Q doubleton from one of Cash the ♣A-K first. If the club queen If the ace of hearts is with East, you the defenders. (He was my teammate at drops, you are home. If she doesn’t will be able to lead up to your king of the time, thankfully). This play made his appear, cash the ♠A-K. If the queen of hearts to set up a twelfth trick. You have 4♠ contract and won us the match. Yes, spades drops, again you have your nine an extra chance, also, that the clubs this is very, very lucky, but how many of tricks. If neither queen appears, your divide 3-3. If they do, you will be able us would even visualize this possibility? last chance is to try the heart finesse. to discard your possible second heart Look carefully for where your chances This line of play is much more likely loser on dummy’s long club, making the are, and then try to find a line of play to succeed than any that puts all of your contract irrespective of where the ace that combines them all. The effort could eggs into one basket. Three chances are of hearts is. If they do not break kindly, be well worthwhile. ■

Page 46 BRIDGE May 2020 BERNARD Answers to Bernard Magee’s MAGEE’S Bidding Quizzes 7-9 INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL CD on page 7 ADVANCED DECLARER PLAY 7. Dealer East. Love All. overcall: a 1NT overcall shows a strong ♠ 4 2 ♠ A J 7 6 5 hand, so lots of aspects of your bidding ♥ Q J 8 7 6 5 N ♥ K 2 will be different. W E ♦ A 4 3 ♦ K 8 5 2 The primary difference is that all S ♣ 8 2 ♣ A 6 strong hands can double for penalties, which means that other bids will be on weaker hands. MAC West North East South You are taught that you need strength or Windows 1♠ 3♣* to respond in a new suit at the 2-level and ? so should not bid at the 2-level on weak * Weak jump overcall hands, but there are always exceptions in bridge. Dbl. Weak jump overcalls are designed to With a strong hand and long diamonds make your life difficult. It is very tempting you would start by doubling 1NT for to bid 3♥ with this hand, but your partner penalties so 2♦ shows a long suit and has to respond and you are likely to get that’s about it – it asks partner to pass – too high. When you have a weak hand it is competing for the partscore. with a long suit, then start with a double You might have considered bidding Bernard develops your and plan to bid the suit subsequently. 2♥ rather than 2♦, but the value of your advanced declarer play This will not always work out, but it is the long diamonds will only be realised with technique in the course of best way to try to compete for the hand. diamonds as trumps because of your ten exercises and 120 new The double in this auction is, in part, lack of entries. complete deals. called a negative double for an important reason: doubling and then bidding your l Overtricks in Notrump suit is weaker (more negative) than 9. Dealer East. Love All. Contracts bidding your suit directly. ♠ K 3 ♠ A Q 8 4 2 In this auction, your partner would ♥ K 9 8 7 N ♥ A 5 l Overtricks in Suit W E rebid 3♦ over the double and now you ♦ J 10 9 8 ♦ 7 5 Contracts S can bid 3♥. Showing a 6-9 point hand ♣ K 6 5 ♣ Q 8 4 2 l with long hearts: this gives your partner l Avoidance £81 the chance to pass. If you bid a direct 3♥ you would finish West North East South l Wrong Contract in 4♥ going off. 1♠ 1NT l Squeezes ? l Counting the Hand 8. Dealer East. Love All. Dbl. Your partner has opened the l Trump Trouble ♠ A 7 3 ♠ K 9 4 bidding and you have ten points – how l Doubled Contracts ♥ 8 5 3 N ♥ A K 4 2 can your opponents make 1NT? W E ♦ J 10 9 8 7 6 ♦ 5 4 They should not have the strength for l Safety Plays S ♣ 6 ♣ K Q 9 2 it, so you should express that opinion by Operating system requirements: Windows or Mac OS 10.08 -10.14 doubling. Note that doubles of no trump bids are Mr Bridge Limited West North East South generally for penalties. Your partner will 1♥ 1NT pass your double. ( 01483 489961 ? South will have most of the missing www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop points, but poor North may well have a 2♦. Now this is a very different type of Yarborough. n

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 47 David Gold Says Seven-Card Suits Should Be Trumps

firmly believe in ‘seven-card suits In the other room, North knew about should be trumps.’ You will almost the power of the seven-card suit and ♠ Q 3 never lose control when you have simply responded 4♥ to 1♦. As you can ♥ Q 10 9 6 5 3 2 Iseven or more trumps in one hand. In see, playing in hearts, ten tricks are ♦ 7 6 5 addition, the ability to ruff gives you trivial – and eleven tricks are possible if ♣ 2 built-in entries to the long suit. the defenders do not attack spades. In a teams match, you, North, pick up: Next time, you are South and pick up: LHO opens 1♣, partner overcalls 2♠ (strong) and RHO puts the pressure on ♠ J 5 4 3 ♠ K 3 2 with 4♣. While you don’t have much, ♥ K Q J 10 7 6 4 ♥ Q J 10 9 8 7 5 you know the power of the seven-card ♦ 3 ♦ 6 suit and venture a very aggressive 4♥. ♣ 2 ♣ K 2 This is the full deal:

Your partner opens 1♦ and you decide Partner opens 1♠, promising a five-card ♠ A K 10 7 6 5 not to respond 4♥ in case you miss a suit in your methods. Just as you are ♥ 7 4 spade fit. You are very pleased with wondering how many spades this hand ♦ K Q 10 yourself when partner rebids 1♠ over is worth, you remember my maxim: ♣ A 3 your simple response of 1♥. Unsure of ’seven-card suits should be trumps’. ♠ J 9 8 4 ♠ 2 the value of your hand, you try a gentle So you respond 4♥ – a bid that means ♥ K J N ♥ A 8 W E 2♠. Partner now raises himself to 4♠. exactly what it says at the rubber bridge ♦ A 9 2 S ♦ J 8 4 3 This is the full deal: table. ♣ K Q J 4 ♣ 10 9 8 7 6 5 This is the full deal: ♠ Q 3 ♥ Q 10 9 6 5 3 2 ♠ J 5 4 3 ♦ 7 6 5 ♥ K Q J 10 7 6 4 ♠ A 8 7 6 5 ♣ 2 ♦ 3 ♥ Void ♣ 2 ♦ A K 9 7 3 ♠ Q 9 8 ♠ 7 6 ♣ Q 6 4 On the normal lead of the club king, ♥ 5 N ♥ A 9 8 3 ♠ Q J 4 ♠ 10 9 you will easily make 4♥, just losing W E ♦ ♦ ♥ N ♥ Q 9 8 4 S J 7 5 A 4 3 2 K 6 two hearts and one diamond. 4♠, by ♣ K J 9 8 4 ♣ A 10 7 5 ♦ 5 4 W E ♦ Q J 10 8 2 S contrast, is hopeless on any lead. ♠ A K 10 2 ♣ A J 9 7 ♣ 10 8 5 3 The maxim applies on other auctions, ♥ 2 ♠ K 3 2 including after partner opens at the ♦ A K 10 6 2 ♥ Q J 10 9 8 7 5 three level and when you are the opener. ♣ Q 6 3 ♦ 6 ♣ K 2 You Partner 1♥ 1♠ West leads the eight of clubs and East 2♥ 3NT wins with the ace. Despite partner’s void, 4♥ makes easily ? East returns a club, forcing dummy for the loss of one club and two hearts to ruff. Declarer tries the king of hearts – the third spade goes away on a top If you have seven hearts, you do not from dummy but East wins with the ace diamond. need to know anything more about your and cleverly plays another club, forcing 4♠, despite the favourable trump hand: bid 4♥. So next time you have a dummy to ruff again. Try as hard as you break, is very awkward and should not long suit and do not know what to bid, like but, on this defence, ten tricks in 4♠ make unless the defenders slip badly. remember: ‘seven-card suits should be are impossible. Now that you are getting the idea: trumps.’ ■

Page 48 BRIDGE May 2020 BERNARD Answers to Bernard Magee’s MAGEE’S Bidding Quizzes 10-12 INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL CD on page 7 BEGIN BRIDGE

10. Dealer East. Love All. 4♦. Another strong supporting hand with ♠ 8 7 ♠ A K 4 3 2 a singleton and once again the answer is ♥ A 9 4 2 N ♥ 8 6 a splinter bid. W E ♦ A 8 7 6 ♦ 5 4 3 S South has shown both minors, so ♣ J 5 3 ♣ A K 2 a jump to the 4-level in one of them is surely not natural. 4♦ shows a strong hand, with spade support and a shortage West North East South in diamonds. 1♠ 2NT* East has just 11 HCP but he should be ? able to envisage a slam – the diamonds * Unusual 2NT: showing 2 five-card minors fit beautifully and West’s strength is most likely to be in hearts because East hs Dbl. The opponents have come into the most of the spades and South has shown Learn to play bridge with auction making things awkward for you: the minors. 6♠ is an excellent contract. Bernard Magee, Britain’s South has shown a two-suited hand in best bridge teacher in 20 the minors. Although they have made interactive chapters: things difficult, you do get one free call 12. Dealer East. E/W Game. – you can use a double to show a hand ♠ K 6 ♠ A J 10 9 2 l Basics of Bridge N that is strong enough to compete but ♥ 8 5 3 ♥ A K 6 2 l Basics of Card Play Technique W E has nothing definitive to say. What it will ♦ A K 7 5 4 S ♦ 6 2 l Practice of Card Play Technique allow your partner to do is identify which ♣ A 7 6 ♣ 9 8 l Planning the Card Play partnership owns the hand. l Basics of Bidding So on this hand the auction might l Bidding Balanced Hands continue 3♣ from North and then East, West North East South l Bidding Suits with 14 points, might make a double of 1♠ 2NT* l Responding to a Suit his own. With both majors he could rebid ? l Supporting Partner £66 3♥ to show his second suit, so the double * Unusual 2NT: showing 2 five-card minors l Responding to 1NT suggests that 3♣ might be a reasonable l The Stayman Convention contract to defend against. 3NT. Dealing with the opponents’ l 2NT Opening and Response Taking it two off will be a good score overcalls is not always going to be an Strong Two Opening and Response l doubled: 300. If they finish in 3♣ exact science, but that is the reason you Overcalls l undoubled, the 100 you get might not be should be in the habit of making pre- Doubles l so useful. emptive bids and two-suited overcalls. Pre-empting l However, all you can do is make the best l Basics of Defence 1 effort you can. l Basics of Defence 2 11. Dealer East. Love All. With 14 HCP and a balanced hand l Defence against Notrump Contracts ♠ K 8 7 6 ♠ A Q J 4 3 2 including stoppers in both of South’s l Defence against Suit Contracts ♥ A K Q 2 N ♥ 9 6 suits, surely 3NT is your best descriptive W E ♦ ♦ Operating system requirements: 7 S A 5 4 3 bid. You do not have a stopper in hearts, Windows only ♣ J 7 6 3 ♣ 2 but your partner has to have his strength somewhere. You also expect your ♠K will Mr Bridge Limited be valuable in the play. n West North East South ( 01483 489961 1♠ 2NT* www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop ? * Unusual 2NT: showing 2 five-card minors

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 49 Mike Wenble Says Lead Towards Strength

f you need one trick from Layout A the K-Q – half as likely. Declarer played low from dummy and below, what is your best line? The theme should be clear: to make ruffed in hand! He drew two rounds of the most tricks in a suit, you usually trumps and then led a club towards the I lead from small cards towards honours, queen. West ducked, so the queen won. Layout A Layout B rather than playing off top cards. With Declarer then threw the two clubs he Q J 6 A J 10 this in mind, here are a couple of layouts had left in his hand on the diamonds, for you as a test. The answers are at the losing just a spade trick. Had West gone N N W E W E foot of the article. in with the ace of clubs, the slam would S S still make. The K-Q of clubs would be 5 3 2 5 3 2 high and declarer throws two spades on Layout D Layout E the A-K of diamonds. K J 7 5 A Q 6 4 The point here is that declarer can Correct with Layout A is to lead low place West with the ace of clubs from N N from South, and if West follows low, play W E W E the bidding. Hence, the king of clubs the queen (or jack). If this loses to the S S is not real ‘strength’ – its main value is ace or king, you later lead towards the Q 4 2 J 7 5 3 in promoting dummy’s queen. To lead remaining honour. You succeed if the ace towards the club king (or indeed, to and king are split or West has both. lead towards the spade queen for a futile If you start (wrongly) with the lead of 1 How do you play D for three tricks? finesse) will lead to defeat. the queen, the defenders can thwart you 2 How do you play E for four tricks? Now the answers to my questions: any time the missing honours are split. Layout B is similar, except your target Sometimes your high cards are split is two tricks. Correct is small to the ten, between the two hands, and it may not Layout D Layout E and if that loses, small to the jack. This appear to matter how you play the suit. K J 7 5 A Q 6 4 also succeeds about 75% of the time, With K-5-4 facing Q-6-2, you expect N N failing only when East holds the king to make only one trick unless someone W E W E S S and queen. If you start by cashing the happens to hold a doubleton ace. Still, ace, you are very likely to fail. appearances can be deceptive. Let us see Q 4 2 J 7 5 3 Playing towards strength might mean this in the context of a full deal. you play a high-spot card from the other hand. Consider the following: 1 Lead low towards the king-jack and, ♠ 7 4 if West plays low, put up an honour ♥ A K 9 3 (say the king). If this holds, playing Layout C ♦ A K 9 5 back towards the queen will give you A J 9 ♣ Q 6 2 three tricks only if the suit breaks ♠ K J 10 3 2 ♠ 9 8 5 3-3, and not otherwise. If the king N N W E ♥ Void ♥ 8 7 wins, correct is to return to the South W E S ♦ ♦ Q J 10 6 2 S 8 7 4 3 hand and play small towards the jack. 5 3 2 ♣ A 9 7 ♣ J 10 8 3 This wins if the suit splits 3-3 or West ♠ A Q 6 holds the doubleton ace. ♥ Q J 10 6 5 4 2 2 You can only win four tricks if West This is the first suit Victor Mollo and ♦ Void has king doubleton, so this is what Nico Gardener discuss in their classic ♣ K 5 4 you play for. Once again, correct is to Card Play Technique. Correct is small play a small card towards the stronger from hand, inserting the nine if West hand – in this case, the ace-queen. plays low. You succeed if West holds the West opened 1♠, North doubled, and Note that, if you start by leading the K-10 or Q-10. If you play small to the South finished up in 6♥. West led the ♦Q. jack, West will cover and you must jack, you succeed only when West holds How do you think the play went? lose a trick. ■

Page 50 BRIDGE May 2020 Freddie North Says KISS

ome years ago, while aboard P & The bidding was over quickly even O’s famous cruise liner Canberra, I Dealer East. Love All. though it might appear bizarre. South was due to partner a passenger with ♠ Q J 6 2 opened 4♦ and all passed! North had Swhom I had never played before. On ♥ K J 8 3 forgotten that the partnership were asking what conventions she would like ♦ Q 7 6 playing ‘Namyats’, whereby 4♣ and 4♦ to play, I received the surprise response, ♣ 5 2 show ‘good’ pre-empts in hearts and ‘KISS’. Not having come across this term ♠ K 10 8 ♠ 9 5 spades respectively (4♥ and 4♠ openings before – in a bridge sense – I felt a bit ♥ Q 10 6 5 N ♥ 4 2 are weaker). The concept is sound – pity W E ♦ ♦ apprehensive. Anyway, waiting for no K J 5 2 S A 9 3 about the result! longer than needed for dramatic effect, ♣ 7 3 ♣ K Q 10 9 8 6 It never ceases to amaze me how my partner explained ‘Keep it simple, ♠ A 7 4 3 players get themselves mixed up with stupid’. Now all was clear and, in fact, I ♥ A 9 7 their signals. What usually happens was in total agreement, even if the flam- ♦ 10 8 4 is that one member of the partnership boyant label seemed a shade out of place. ♣ A J 4 foists their ideas (or a newly learnt toy) I am sure you must have noticed how on a reluctant partner. What is wrong unfamiliar partnerships often trip up with a simple form of high encourages, when one member or the other fails to West North East South low discourages and suit preference react correctly to a conventional bid Pass 1NT when – and only when – applicable? or signal. Perhaps one of them didn’t Pass Pass 2♣ Pass really want to play the convention in 2♥ Dbl All Pass the first place but agreed to do so out of ♠ Q J 10 8 politeness – or they simply took the line As you can imagine, 2♥ doubled was ♥ A Q of least resistance, hoping it wouldn’t a disaster for East-West. A relentless ♦ J crop up. defence saw the contract go four down. ♣ A K J 9 7 5 Over fifty years ago, before the advent So, what went wrong? East-West were ♠ 9 7 5 2 ♠ 6 4 3 of transfers as we know them today, playing that 2♣ normally showed both ♥ 4 N ♥ J 7 2 ♦ A K Q 10 8 4 W E ♦ 9 6 5 3 Texas transfers started to become majors. There was a proviso in place; a S popular. The idea was that over a 1NT passed hand could use double for the ♣ 10 4 ♣ 8 6 2 opening, responder could bid 4♦ or majors, leaving 2♣ free as a natural ♠ A K 4♥ to ask opener to convert to the suit overcall. West simply forgot! ♥ K 10 9 8 6 5 3 above. It was easy enough to remember You can guess what went wrong on ♦ 7 2 to bid 4♥ over 4♦ but equally easy to the next deal, again a case of no KISS… ♣ Q 3 forget to convert 4♥ to 4♠. After some lapses and , the number one British Dealer South. Love All. A simple sequence put South in 6♥. pair, agreed a fining system in the hope ♠ Q 5 3 West led the ace of diamonds. East, that this would jog the memory. Maybe ♥ A K 9 8 desperate for a continuation to defeat it did – but, of course, it requires many ♦ 6 3 the contract (dummy’s forced high advantageous hands to compensate for ♣ 7 6 3 2 ruff would promote the jack of hearts), one calamity, fine or no fine. ♠ 10 ♠ 7 2 played the nine. Alas, West took this as KISS applies just the same today. It ♥ J 10 6 N ♥ Q 5 4 2 a suit-preference signal and shifted to a W E is better to play something imperfect ♦ Q 9 8 7 2 S ♦ K J 10 5 spade. KISS, where are you? that you can remember than something ♣ A K 9 4 ♣ Q J 10 Finally, I must tell you of the time a theoretically superior that you – sorry, ♠ A K J 9 8 6 4 famous international pair bid to a grand your partner – is prone to forget. ♥ 7 3 slam missing the ace of trumps. Boris I recall a very recent deal that ♦ A 4 Schapiro, ever the jester, announced, illustrates only too clearly how KISS ♣ 8 5 ‘The ace of trumps was on the wrong would have saved the day. side. It could happen to anyone!’ ■

BRIDGE May 2020 Page 51 BERNARD MAGEE’S TUTORIAL CD-ROMs

ACOL BIDDING ADVANCED DEFENCE l Opening Bids and ACOL BIDDING l Lead vs No-trump Responses l Basics Contracts l Slams and Strong l Advanced Basics l Lead vs Suit Contracts Openings l Weak Twos l Partner of Leader vs l £96 Support for Partner l Strong Hands No-trump Contracts l Pre-empting l Defence to Weak Twos l Partner of Leader vs l £66 Suit Contracts Overcalls l Defence to 1NT l l Count Signals No-trump Openings l Doubles £76 and Responses l Attitude Signals l Two-suited Overcalls l Opener’s and l Discarding Responder’s Rebids l Defences to Other Systems l Defensive Plan l Minors and Misfits l Misfits and l Stopping Declarer l Doubles Distributional Hands l Counting the Hand l Competitive Auctions

Operating system requirements: Operating system requirements: Operating system requirements: Windows or Mac OS 10.08 -10.14 Windows only Windows or Mac OS 10.08 -10.14

DECLARER PLAY ADVANCED FIVE-CARD MAJORS l Suit Establishment in DECLARER PLAY & Strong No-Trump No-trumps l Overtricks in l Opening Bids & l Suit Establishment No-trumps £81 Responses in Suits l Overtricks in l No-Trump Openings l Hold-ups Suit Contracts l Support for Partner l Ruffing for Extra Tricks l Endplays l Slams & Strong l Entries in No-trumps l Avoidance Openings l Delaying Drawing l Wrong Contract l Rebids £89 Trumps l Simple Squeezes l Minors & Misfits l Using the Lead l Counting the Hand l Pre-empting l Trump Control l Trump Trouble l Doubles l Endplays £76 l Doubled Contracts l Overcalls & Avoidance l Safety Plays l Competitive Auctions l Using the Bidding Operating system requirements: Operating system requirements: Operating system requirements: Windows or Mac OS 10.08 -10.14 Windows or Mac OS 10.08 -10.14 Windows only ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop