English Bridge Union

+ K 98 6 IV AID 0 Q 104 + Q 8 53

+ AQJ743 IV 1 s 4 0 5 + A 74

E-\Y Game ; Dealer \ Vest.

Bidding: w. 7'\. E. S. 3 IV :\o :\u 3 . ._+ No 4 • All pass .. - · '

West leads Ace and another Diamond; South ruffs East's Kqave and draws trumps in two rounds. South leads a low Heart and \\'est play5 the Queen. H ow should Declarer continue ' Sec page 2'J.

THIS MONTH'S PROBLEM . I

DUN LAOGHAIRE 0PEN BRIDGE CON~~ESS 1st to 9th October, 1949 ACHILLE Write T. J. KELLY, 6 Crofton Mnnsio?s, Dun Lnoghaire, Co. Dublin, for details. SERRE {J~ rfJda,ztitp CHAS. BRADBURY om{ LIMITED .9i'c1iw 26 SACKVILLE ST., PICCADILLY LONDON, WI. f!l!to~tecc Phone Reg. 31 23-3995 LOANS ARRANGED With or without S e c urity ~ and spor..s new lea:;e The copyright of this magazine is life vested in Priestley Studios Ltd. It is published under the authority <•f the English Bridge Union. The Editorial Board is composed of, ... and the Editor is appointed by, the English Bridge Union.

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e You cau always rely 011 a good game of Bridge at The Ralph Evaus's Hotel CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE · ENGLISH BRIDGE UNION

VoLUME 3 · AUGUST, 1949 NullmER 10 TEAM-MAKING • CONTENTS • Page * * * EDITORIAL .. 2 August is the month of , the BLUE RIBAND AGAIN doldrums in the bridge wotld: but (111. Harrison-Gray) 5 it is also the . month when new partnerships are being discussed THE LADIES and new blood being ·transfused (Mrs. A. L. Fleming) 14 into old teams.

AliiERICAN REFLECTIOKS Partnerships dissolve, · dislimn, (Dr. H. Leist) 22 vanish ; new grpups co-alesce ; old systems are over-hauled and new BIRMINGHAM B.L. 26 ones adopted. THE BLACKWOOD FoUR The keys to success-if we may CLURS • proffer pontifical advice ! - are (D. Lindsay Johnston} 27 these: AuGusT CoMPETITION 29 Play a system that suits YOU:

ANSWERS TO }ULY for. a team playing a bad system· 30 will trounce unmercifully a team COMPETITION playing a good system badly. • * * Practice together-and discuss toge~er every point of bidding All Bridge Correspondence to the and/or play-as much as you Editor: can. GUY RAMSEY, If you are newcomers to the IJ, Cannon Place, tournament world, watch as London, N.W.J. much good bridge as you possibly can. All Correspondence 011 · And, above all, choose your team Subscriptiom or Advutising to Publishus: not only, not primarily, for technical skill but for PRIESTLEY STUDIOS LTD., congeniality. Commercial Road, Gloucester. ' Bridge is-should be-must be -a game.

I EDITORIAL s .briefly announced last When _ playing . against the 'month, Britain's septette Italians, whose .rate of play is A has again borne away, , for . noticeably slow, Mr. . Konstam was the second year in succession, the partnering his Captain in the Blue Riband of Bridge from all " closed " room-matches are · Europe. No word of congratulatio? played with one pair in the " ?Pen " can enhance the bare fact ; · but tt · room, · where spectators are is too great a pleasure for us to welcomed ; . the other in the forego the formality ; and we " closed " room, to which only eJ.-tend our heartiest felicitations the players themselves, the scorers to M. Harrison-Gray, the Captain, and the Referee are admitted ; a Mr. Leslie Dodds, the Vice regUlation which · commands Captain, and to Messrs. Terence unjversal support. Reese · Boris Shapiro, Kenneth . It is also laid down that any Koristam, Edward Rayne and player in the closed room shall not successful last-minute co-option leave it, save upon necessity ; and, Adam Meredith. Our thanks go to in that case, shall leave it for the them not merely from bridge minimum time . and, in absence, players but from patriots who take shall indulge in no conversation. a pride in national achievement. There was a long delay inevitable · The programme was a gruelling during this match : boards from one .; and the sweltering heat in the open room were still in play ; which it was carried through did Mr. Konstam left the closed room nothing to make it easier. Bridge for a· moment and, passing the players are nocturnal by habit, and bar, called for a drink.. A small the need to play a severe match at knot of acquaintances greeted him the normal breakfast hour must and pas'sed a friendly remark or so. have taxed heavily all concerned. Among those present was Mr. Cards in the morning strike an Shapiro, who was not =playing in anomalous note ; and we venture the current match. · to ·suggest that next year, when Mr. Konstam returned to the Britain welcomes the bridge-playing closed room to continue 'play j elite to its scarred, but still august, Mr: Shapiro returned to tlie open.· capital, something longer than a room to watch his 'team-mates.. . week (if necessary) be allocated The meeting of the two British· and, if necessary, something more player3 was, however, no'ticed ; than a week's currency be released and a by-stande.r saw fit to' report to visiting players so that, at most the encounter to the officials who two sessions a day may be the rule: were thus,· · hO\vever reluctantly, The Paris event.was not without compelled to ta~e action. · They . its sensation,; and, since garbled summoned Mr. Harrison-Gray and, accounts of it have been current in while freely . conceding that such conversation 1 and have even " conversation " as had taken place . appeared in the National Press we was (a fact admitted by the - think i~ well to state offici~lly, informer) in · no 'vay concerned a~thenttcally and categorically pre 'vith the match, the hands, the cisely what occured :- · cards or the results so far obtained, 2 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL . yet felt themselves bound to The most casual reading~r the enforce the strict l.~tter of the law. most careful study-of its Leader conveys several unfortunate and They therefore suspended both . Mr. Konstam and Mr. Shapiro for (~n our view) misleading impres sions. three matches each : the ' " sentences " not to run con 1. "'~ile congratulating our Inter .currently. n~tlon~l team on its victory, the VIew 1s expressed that " our It was made absolutely clear bidding superiority in Britain that _the offence was a purely would make any of our leading techmcal one ; reflection upon teams favourite against any anyone was emphatically and European country (our italics). explicity denied. \Ve should, ourselves, hesitate We take particular pleasure in to make any such claim-even for recording the admirable conduct of the ~wice~crowned champions ; the British. Captain, _who might and m VIew of the ease with have magmfied the mcident by which our team routed the protest, or even withdrawal and strongest opposition that could in bringing to notice the fine be fielded against them at home, · sportsmanship . of the Swedish we cannot share our contem team-to whose success the British porary's confidence in an/leading team was the strongest barrier. team-or, to be candid, in any The Swedes protested to the other British team. Brifsh captain against the ruling and declared that they wished to Furthermore, we cannot thirlk play only against the strongest that so arrogant a claim will team we could field. make for good relations with·the Continental countries, which Our match against Sweden hold their own views on these was played-and won : proof (if it matters, and hold them under ever were needed) that all our standably enough, s~on'gly. field~d players are capable of meeting the strongest opposition 2. The Bri~ge Magazine, in stressing successfully ; proof, too, that the ~he stram of the event, gives the present British team is capable of Impression-possibly accident surmounting incidental difficulties al!y- that frayed · 11erves and temperament made their un ~ well-and as triumphantly-as 1ts opponents. · welcome appearance. We feel bound to contradict * * * this false impression ; for the team-spirit and the confidence , It is no part of The Co11'tract of ·our players, together ·with 'Bridge Journal's policy to break a their freedom from- ' tempera lance with its contemporary, The ment ' was the subject - of Bridge 111agazilie ; but so many reportorial· comment in the of our readers have drawn our Swedish Bridge News and the attention to the Editorial in its other Continental papers. July issue' that we feel bound to comment upon one or two of its 3. It is suggested-not for the observations., first time- that at once to play 3 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL and to captain is too great a . defined by The Bridge Maga:::ine strain to impose on · any - a definition with which we- individual. heartily concur- " a personality · · that can put . at ease players This can only mean that It IS highly strung by the conditidns advocated that Harrison-Grayd of play "- we can for ourselves, (who had twice led, and p1 aye . , envisage no more suitably- us to victory) should stand down either in 0ne capacity or the qualified a pair of pe~s.onalities other. It is to .us unthinkable than our .present playing Captain that the old Rock of Gibraltar- , and Vice-~ap~ain~ the " anchor-man" 1round whom Our game it seeffi.s-and we the whole team revolves- should abandon his · seat at the card chronicle it gladly-holds some- · table . . . or be asked .to do so. thing of the glorious uncertainty of It is equally unthinkable (to us) our National sport, insofar as that he, who has not yet failed both in the Open and . in the in captaincy should be deposed Ladies events, surprise victories 'from his leadership. and defeats were recorded. Such variation i from " form," such It appears to us ill-timed and vagaries can but increase . the- . ungracious in the extreme to fascination of bridge. . imply a stricture on the Captain Our Ladies team dropped a place in the very h~ur of his triumph. on last year's showing : to (joint} Gray himself and his team third- no mean achievement in.so mates alike frankly state that strong a field. Our congratulations there is no strain involved in to Mrs. Fleming, Lady Rhodes, captaining such a team, who are Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Litante, Mrs. notably free from the jealousy, Lester and Mrs. Williams.; · and back-biting and lack of con to their Captain, Mr. lY!athieson_ fidence both in partnership and * * * . leadership which harass other It is a source of immense captains · of other teams. satisfaction to The Contract Bridge . The policy of appointing a Journal, and to its Editor, to be non-playing captain, advocated able to present in this issue an by The Bridge Magazine is not account of the Paris · International one which commands unfailing by membeni of the two British success- it did not, alas I this teams, whose commentaries possess year. This is not to be mis at once the qualities of authenticity, construed into a reflection upon expertise arid absolute impartiality. Mr. Graham Mathieson, who carried out a difficult task very HARROGATE AUTUMN ably. We are speaking to the question : not to the man ; and BRIDGE CONGRESS we feel that a non-playing Through unforseen circumstances captain is a functionary more the Harrogate Bridge Congress efficient in theory than in which was arranged for 30th Sept. - 3rd Oct. has had to be postponed. practice. The new dates will be announced Finally, for the nec~sary equip In this Journal· as soon as possible. ment of a Captain of England, as john Morrison, Chairman. 4 B LU"E RIB.AND AGAIN by M. Harrison-Gray (Captain of Gt. Britain) HE story of Paris, 1949, is a Great Britain were represented tale of desperate matches by the following players : M. T played in an unmatched Harrison-Gray (captain), L. W. spirit of sporting rivalry ; of Dodds (vice-captain), J. T. Reese, interminable sessions of play under B. S. Shapiro, K. W. Konstam, the guidance of charming and · E. Rayne and A. Meredith. The -courteous officials ; of sweltering first six, \vith S. J. Simon, had heat and almost total lack of sleep ; played-and won- at Copenhagen <>f the clash of great players of all in 1948 ; Meredith gained the nations and of another British coveted seventh place by virtue of .victory in international bridge. his outstanding play against the American champions one month Cont.rary to expectations, only earlier. 11 countries . entered teams in the Open Championship: Great First round (Monday night) ·v. .Britian (holders), Sweden (1948 Denmark . TUnners up), Nonvay, Denmark, We were lucky to find the Danes, Iceland, France, Belgium, Holland, \vinners of the Scandina~ Ireland, Finland and Italy. Austria championship and a tough nut to wanted to send Schneider and von crack at any time, in an unsettled Kaltenegger, · members of their frame of mind. J. Mortensen and famous teams before the A1zsclzluss, 0. K. Kaalund-Jorgensen played but were unable to find a full \vith distinction, and the whole and representative complement ; team under the captaincy of A. Switzerland had " the best pair in Elgaard was later to rise to great Europe", but suitable team-mates heights ; but in this first match were lacking ; a last-minute hitch things went very much our way. prevented the Egyptian men from There was a huge swing on the making the journey, although a second hand of the match : -colourful and much-bejewelled + K93 · quartette carried the Egyptian flag \? A 7 in the Ladies' event. · 0 AQ63 Next year, when the champion + AQJ5 ships are held in Britain, it is + A8 6 2 + J 10 \? Q 10 5 \? K 9 6 3 2 probable that 15 or more cauntries 10 9 8 7 5 5 will enter for the " Open." This 0 J 0 + 2 . + K9864 means that the teams will be seeded • Q75+ into two sections, with 64-board Acol our match point score read 35-14.' Two-bid and some nice cue- They carried on the good work sc) · bidding enabled Reese and Shapiro well that the ratio · was virtually' to bid a vulnerable 6 ~, while the held-an encouraging start to the Danes stopped in 5 · ~ after a week. negative response to an .Asking bid. Brt 't am · 64-Denmar k 28 • ·.· .. Then came an interestmg point in defence: Second round (Tuesday afternoon) • Q98652 v. France. · ll ~ QB The French were tipped by many 1 0 AS judges as possible winners on their. + 963 own ground before ail enthusiastic I I + 4 • K. J 10 7 gallery of spectators. Our line-up ~ AK643 ~ J95 2 was Reese and Shapiro, Konstim: !. 0 10 3 0 QJ7 and myself, while' the French had . I + AK874 + QJ their strongest formation : Blaizot ' + A3 and Fabry, Koytchou and Hatvany. =. ~ 107 Again we made an e.xcellent start, . 0 K. 9 8 6 4"2 our first big swing being on 'the.· + 105 2 following hand : · ·-' Dealer, West. East-West Game. • 105 . Both Wests played the hand in

J ' CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL In Room 1, where Konstam and Aggresive bidding paid on the I sat Ndrth,and South respectively, next hand: we went out on a limb with a + Q s~tisfactory result. Bidding : trump and leading contract for a~ eve~ larger swing. 0 Q ; when South covered with Th~ same tactics paid handsomely 0 K he was permitted to hold the a little later : trick, West discarding a Club ; + A K ·a J 9 8 6 Fabry now had to make a fatal

CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL a ·jump overcall of 2 + .which In Room 1 the Finns reached' effectively silenced the opposition, 6 O after South _had qpet\ed 1 0 and he just made 8 tricks. . In the and were three down. In Room 2 other room West (Shapiro) opened South (Meredith) opened ·a non- . with an Acol 1 NT with the result vulnerable l NT and Shapiro bid that Reese eventually made 4 . <::? a ~rect ~ NT, knowing_ by simple· doubled. anthmetlc that the combmed points Half-time found us leading by in the two hands offered a sure 26-10. The French made changes play for game b.ut no more than in their team, but we continued as that. The cards sat badly and before. Qur opponents play'ed Meredith just made nine tric,ks. ' much better and we dropped a few Our biggest swing was on board points through sundry mis 16: . . . adventures until, on the last board + A65 I '' Asking bids were again seen in \?AS 2 operation ; this time a positive 0 A643 response induced a French pair to KQS contract for 6 <::? missing the + Ace-King of trumps, a mishap + KQJ10732 + 98 smoothly avoided by Reese and \? 10 '\? K Q 9 8 + Shapiro. - The final tally was : 0 Q J 10 9 8 . ('j ;7 ~ - . Britain 45-France 28. + - . + 10 7 3 2 . : Third round (Tuesday night) v. + 4 Fi11lm1d. . <::? ]763 : . Meredith made his first appear 0 K 2 ance, playing with Shapiro, with + AJ9864 Dodds and Rayne in the other Dealer, _West. East-·west Game. _room. The Finns, wit,h that great personal~ty, Roman Skoroupo, back In Room 1 West (Packalen) to captam the side, and with L. opened ~ + ; North (Shapiro) Runeberg, another fine player, d~ubled an~ South (Meredith) very were a far better team than last \VISely dec1ded not to let this year ; it is no mean feat for a business double stand. He there 1 country that has so few players to fore bid. 3 NT, inviting North to choose from to pick up 6 Victory nam7 h1s best suit ; . Shapiro, Points during the week. hoJdmg _+ A but no respectable The ma~ch, however, was a s~;nt of his own, in turn took a good ru~away VIctory, as we gained VIew and passed: 10 tricks wer~ pomts on 22 boards and lost on made for a score of 430. In Room ' four only. An Acol limit bid 2 West (Rayne) went the whole showed to advantage on the hog and opened 4 + · North following deal : doubled and led + K~ · When ' West ruffed the first round North NORTH SOUTH • Q95 was unable to visualise declarer's + A4 eccentric. shape ; he therefore \? AKJ8 <::? 7 6 3 0 A 10 9 7 thought lt expedient to duck\vhen 0 KQ64 ~ 10 was led, and Eddie was home + Q2 + A976 Wlth another 790 points • . I . . - 8 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL Finland deservedly gained points duplicate bridge, had yet won the on the following slam hand in the Italian championship two years second half, when Konstam was running. Augusto Ricci and playmg with Rayne and Reese with Guglielmo Siniscalco, the latter Meredith : only 25 years old, are probably as \VEST EAST good as any pair on the. Continent ; + A K Q 10 9 7 + 8 6 53 but their play as a team was pain- ~ Q 5 . ~ K 9 fully slow (witness their match 0 - 0 K 6 5 3 against Holland, which finished at + A Q 7 54 + K J 10 3.1~ a.m. I) and this undoubtedly In Room 1 the Finns, playing sapped their vitality towards the end a super-Walshe reversing system, of the week when, for reasons of bid 1 + -1 0 ; 4 + -6 + · In our own,. we hoped that they might Room 2 West (Rayne) opened ,vith take a victory point or two off our 2 + , playing CAB, and Konstam great rivals, Sweden. bid an immediate Blackwpod 4 NT. Our line-up for this key match Over Rayne's res"ponse of 5 signal and + J and South· (R~ese) .was continued with Diamonds, East automatically held to ~e tncks. must again play low when c:l 7 is The Room 2 proceedmgs were led from the table, losing a trick in more lively : . Hearts but gaining two in Clubs. No bid 1 c:1 1 + 3 c:l Historical honesty also compels 3 NT(!) 4 + (1) Dble 5 c:l me to record the following atrocity. 5 + · Dble . One of our players held these cards : Our West player led 0 K on + 8 2 c:1 A 10 8 52 0 6 4 3 + J 8 4 which East played the Seven. Left-hand opponent, at Game This caused West considerable All, had opened 1 c:l, partner had perplexity. It was clear that doubled, the next opponent had another Diamond would only lose passed ; and our man, like others a tempo ; while the lead of + J before him, took the line of least would be fatal if East's hand, as resistance and made a pen~ty pass. his bidding seemed to imply, were This experiment cost 660 points, something like : for declarer made two vulnerable +9c:IAK9853 0A74+K63 overtricks while Britain lost 100 in On the other hand it was just the other room. Admittedly an conceivable that East held Ace unpleasant situation-but a bid of King of Clubs as well as c:l A, in 1 NT would have enabled the which case West could obtain a partner to find a safe resting place very desirable ruff in Clubs. So · in 2 +· at Trick 2 he led c:l 2, and a ·veil It \Vas noticed that many of the can be drawn over the subsequent Continental players favour a con events. East won with c:l A and ventional, or semi-artificial, 1 NT belatedly played + K ; but South · response to an opening bid ; an (Siniscalco) won · ·with + A, instance occurred in this match : discarded dummy's remaining WEST EAST Clubs on h1s top Hearts, and + KQ653 + J74 finessed against + K for his c:IA2 c:IQ3· doubled contract. 0 KJ 7 + 0 10 8 2 It would seem that East could +73 + KQJ54 have done one of two things at Dealer, West. East-\Vest Game. Trick 1 : (a) taken over West's O K in order to lead + K ; (b) The Italian East-West bidding played his lowest Diamond. was 1 + - 1 NT ; 2 0-3 +, Although not a strict McKenney East being held to 8 tricks. or. the opening lead, this latter Konstam (East) and myself bid as play would at least show tolerance follows : I + - 2 + ; 2 0-2 +• for a Club switch. The contract and made our contract. could still have been beaten by Fortunately there were some superhuman defence ; if West . excellent boards to cover up our instead of leading 2 at th~ c:l misdeeds. It was towards the end second trick, had selected ~ J, East might read the situation and of this eventful match that the incident of the suspensions took to CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL place (referred to in another part There was a different tale to tell of the Journal), which was to make in the closed room, for here Leslie our task so much more difficult Dodds and Eddie Rayne were and might well have affected the having a go with a vengeance. final issue. Filled 'vith a quite unnatural early Britain 67-Italy 42. morning zest, they proceeded to bid every game in sight-and most Sixth round (Thursday moming) of them came off with the aid of -v. Holland. some superb card play. Board 1 Frankly, we did not look fonvard was a case in point : · to this match I To start play at + AJ 9 a.m. after a protracted bout K64 overnight was bad enough ; Reese 0 Q3 and myself do not fancy ourselves ' + KQ9862 for morning play, and Konstam • Q103 was suspended for three matches. + K42 \:) AJ 1097 5 \:) 832 So the line up ·was Dodds and 0 842 0 AK95 Ray~e, Shapiro and Meredith. Our opponents, greatly feared by + 7 + 543 all, were due to run into form. • 98765 Ernst Goudsmit was still in the \:)Q States, but his redoubtable brother, 0 J 10 7 6 with van Bemmel Suyck, Filarski + . AJlO and Cats, constituted a tough Dealer, North. Love All. proposition at the best bf times. The bridge in some respects was In Room 1, where Rayne sat the most hair-raising of the week. North and Dodds South, the It was quiet enough during the bidding went as follows : · first half in the Open Room, the NoRTH EAST SouTH WEST only real misadventure of Shapiro 1 + No bid 1 + 2 \:) and Meredith occurring on these No bid No bid 3 + No bid <:ards : 3 NT WEST EAST + AS + J9642 It is difficult to see how Rayne \!) 10 7 6 5 3 \:) K made his nine tricks-perhaps there OKQJ 0653 was a slip-up in defence-but at 853 AK94 any rate he scored 400. And, as + + happened so often during the Dealer, East. Lo\'e All. week, Britain gained points in the East opened 1 +• South bid other room. Bidding : 2 \:) and West doubled. ·The double looks impeccable, but Cats 1 + No bid 1 + 2 played the hand . with skill and 2 NT 3 made his contract. East took the West (Shapiro) just made nine blame for ~ot removing the double, trjcks for a score of 140. but the decision is a close one ; he would probably have been well Dodds and Rayne scored another advised not to open ~n such a success when they held the tenuous holding. following cards : II CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL Filarski and Cats bid ' Dealer, West. Game All. ~orth) 2 ~T (after three passes)-3 +- l ~oRTH SouTH 4 +. The CAB bidding of Rayne + AK 76 + 105 2 and· Dodds was 2 CV-2 ~T ; 3 I 8 6 ~T--4 cy>. At first sight 4 cy>, with 4 2 KQJ985 j· ~ i_ ~ the lead coming up to the strong + AJ9 + 8764 hand, appears the better contract ; This pair are never ~fraid of but Goudsmit (East) led his. .· · contracting for game w1th only singleton Spade and the Dutchmen· seven trumps in the two hands. In defended with such skill that Eddie. this case ~orth (Rayne) opened had no chance. In the first room, . 1 ~T and in spite of strong Heart Shapiro (West) found a Club lead bidding by the opposition he and the best defence was not found. reached 4 +· The contract looks , The hand is aw~·ward for CAB, an improbable one, but once again as far as results go ; on Acpl, fine card play got Eddie home. The ~orth's opening bid would be 2'+, opening lead was + 8, which was followed by 2 NT over South's . permitted to hold the trick ; East negative 2 0 ; South now bids now led a singleton Diamond, won 3 + and ~orth raises to 4 +·· by ~orth with O A, and a Diamond was returned as a safety play in And the swings went first one way, case East held four trumps. East then the other, and we 'led at half ruffed and switched to a Club, but time by 27-22. Reese came in Rayne could now ruff a Heart in for Meredith, and we looked like dummy, draw the outstanding winning until Goudsmit and van trumps and run the Diamonds for Bemmel Suyck bid a fine 7 ~T on ten tricks. In the other room the a hand that our pair played in Dutch t:eached 5 0 which was set 6 ~T ; so at the end there was tWo tricks for a swing of 820. nothing in it and we dropped our This success was promptly first victory point. But for the followed by a foolish double of a glorious shooting of Dodds and game contract that was redoubled Rayne it might well have been worse. and cost Britain 580 points, and Britain incurred a serious loss Britain 40- Holland 39. on the following deal : ~ And now it was possible to + AKQ take stock of the position. We no cy> AQ872 Ionge_r h~d a 100 per cent. score; 0 KQ7 but dunng that morning session + K2 of play Sweden had suffered a more • 8743 • 5 s~rious reverse, losing the full cy> K 3 cy> 1054 VIctory points to Belgium. lt 0 A 10 6 52 . 0 J 9 8 4 appears that Kock and \Verner had + Q 10 + AJ986 pla~ned a morning in bed, leaving • }10962 their other four to hold the fort ; cy> }96 a frantic S.O.S. reached their 0 3 hotel at half-time, · but the position + 7 54 3 was too hopeless to rectify and the Dealer, East. Game All. B e lgi ~ ~s romped home by the surpnsmg margin of 61-3L CONTRACT "BRIDGE JOURNAL France and Holland, well fancied Dealer, East. North-South at the start, had virtually faded Game. out of the picture. • Q972 \? 53 2 These were the victory point 0 8 7 53 scores: + 109 Great Britain 11 ; • 1064 + J Sweden 10 ;' \? AQ \? 10 9 6 Denmark 9; 0 Q 109 2 0 AKJ64' Italy 9 ; J 862 + KQ75 :Belgium 6; + Iceland 6 ; + AK853 France 6; \? KJ874 Holland 5 ; 0- Norway 5 ; + A43 Finland 3 ; Ireland 0. The bidding in our room, with Meredith North, went like this: Italy, Iceland, France and Finland had all played one match EAST SoUTH WEST Nanni more than the others. 1 0 2 + 3 0 No bid 3 \/( !) Dble No bid 4 +screen. Point. Two matclies to play and At the end of three matches, three countries level-Denmark, France, the favourites, had already France and Great Britain-each lost two, and were now regarded as having dropped 4 Victory Points. out of the running. Denmark had At this stage anxious reference drawn one match and lost to Great was made to the regulations cover Britain, thus dropping three points. ing the splitting of a tie. We all Only Great Britain at this stage knew that a tie between two were unbeaten, and on the form countries 'would be decided on the shown in these early matches had result of the match between them. established themselves as firm But what in the event of a triple favourites. tie between three countries each What a different situation had of whom had beaten one of the developed by the end of the next others ? Our officials informed us three matches ! Great Britain lost that, in this event, the champion to France and Italy but won easily ship would be decided by the gross - against Egypt ; neither France nor number of match points gained by Denmark lost any further points. each team. Intense mathematical Italy, too, had dropped only four activity developed and .it was points at the two-thirds-way stage. obvious that if all three countries Three matches to go and four won their two remaining matches, countries neck and neck ! The the issue would lie between hazards of betting on fillies on the France and Great Britain, as racecourse are mild compared with Denmark were about 50 match predicting women's results in a points behind. bridge championship I Alas for our hopes, we <;ould Denmark had beaten France, pic~ up only one more Victory Great Britain had beatt;n Denmark, Point and thus finished equal so it would not be unreasonable to third with Italy. France duly won expect Great Britain to beat France. their matches and Denmark But-did we ? Out-bid, out-played their first. With one board to and out-defended-with perhaps a play in the last match, Denmark dash of bad luck thrown in for were one match point down to good measure-we were trounced Sweden and the Danish result in to the tune of 51 match points ; a the other room on this board was a wonderful performance by France. bad one. The Egyptians had beaten France When the players counted their so we naturally approached our cards, it was found that there were 14 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL . · fourteen in one hand and twelve in ledge that one or two chucks will the other so a fresh deal was not entail relegation to the ring ordered. side, and that it gives both team- The championship depended on and partnership-confidence. this re-dealt hand and Denmark And now for some hands, starting had. to gain more than 5 points on with grand slams. This was the it to win, since four match points only department in which we constituted a draw. exhibit~d complete accuracy. The tension was terrific. Fortune favoured the holders, for the new . I have selected three examples- hand did not turn out to be a part -one bid by each of our three pairs. score one or- worse still-a throw The first is taken from the Swedish in. They took full advantage of it, match, which we won by 28 match bidding and making 3 N.T: in points. As can be seen, we were <1ne room, whilst in the other room unlucky ·not to get a swing on it, as the Swedish pair bid 3 N. T. but the 7 + contract reached by failed to make it. The resulting Lady Rhodes and Mrs. Litante gain of six match points enabled is infinitely superior· to that of Denmark to collect the full two 7 \::} bid by Mrs~ W esterling and Victory Points, thus tieing with Mrs. Elmgren. France at 12 Victory Points each. Dealer East: East-West Game. As France had lost their match • 53 with Denmark, the latter won their \::} J 10 2 second championship by the small 0 K87 2 est possible margin in a photo 10 9 6 3 finish. + It should not be thought that the + A J 10 2 + K Q 9 8 7· narrowness of their win makes them \::} 7 \::} AKQ984 less the worthy champions. On the 0 J5 0- contrary, only a great team coJI}d + K87542 + AJ produce the fine fighting spirit • 64 which they did in a crisis. They \::}653 were' the only country who dis 0 A Q 10 9 6 4 3 played that elusive quality of consistency over seven days of + O gruelling championship' play, with Bidding-Room 1. sessions billed to start at 2.30 in EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH the afternoon and seldom finishing 2\::} 3 0 3 . No bid before 2.30 in the morning. 40 Dble No bid No bid 'Ve were proud to have been 4NT No bid 50 · No bid the only team to have beaten them 7+ this year, after their unbeaten record at Copenhagen last year. Bidding- Room 2. It is a remarkable fact that they had SoUTH WEST NoRTH only four players in the team on -2 0 3 + 30 both occasions. They believe that No bid 5 + No bid the fatigue which this may engender No bid 6 + No bid is more than. offset" by the know- . CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL The -Swedish pair were playing followed by the conventional 4- NT Culbertson with Blackwood and . after West's 4- \? cue-bid, it was Asking bids ; · the British · pair, inconceivable that East's two Aces Acol with Blackwood. The Asking and a King could be other than bids so crowded the bidding in + A K and + ·A. Even finding Room 2 that although East knew only these three cards in East's there were the values for a grand hand would render the grand slam slam, she did not know that West's a tempting proposition, but the Spades were as good as Ace- added values shown by her four Knave-Ten to four and so plunged bids rendered it a certainty, and in the wrong suit. Mrs. Williams made no mistake The Lester-Williams , slam is with the final bid. tak~n from the Belgian match, In Room 2 the Belgian pair were which we lost by 27 match points. using Blackwood and, thanks ·to I watched them bid it smoothly and South's persistent interference bid effortlessly _and it earned us a swing ding, West was not able to show of 7 match points. her Ace of Diamonds and Heart Dealer, West. East-West' Game. Void, and so bicl the small slam that was obviously there on values . • J 3 y>AQ9654- Dealer, South. East-West Game. 0 9 3 + 9 4-3 • QJ 7 2 + Q 10 6 2 + A K 9 5 4- \? RQ \?- y>K7 0 A43 0 A 8 5 0 K 10 6 2 + AK63 + K Q JlO 8 2 + A 6 • 9 8 3 • 10 5 • 8 7 \? 10 9 8 3 \? J752 \? J 10 8 3 2 0 Q 95 0 J 8 7 0 QJ74- + .J 54- + 10 8 7 2 7 5 + + AK64 Biddi11g-Room 1. \? A64- 0 K 10 6 2 NoRTH EAST SouTH Q9 1 \? 2 . No bid + No bid 4- O No bid Dble 4- NT No bid Biddi11g-Room 1. No bid 6 + No bid SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1 • . No bid 3 + No bid Biddi11g- Room 2. 30 No bid 4NT No bid 5\? No bid WEST NO,RTH EAST SOUTH 6 + 1+ 1 \? 2 . 4- .\? Biddiug-Room 2. 4- + No bid 4- NT 5\? 6. SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1 0 No bid 3 + No bid In Room 1 the British pair were 3 . No bid 4- NT No bid playing the Culbertson 4-/ 5 NT 5\? No bid 5' NT No bid and, on East's force in Spades 6\? No bid ,. I6 _CONTRACT BRIDGE_ JOURNAL My third grand slam is taken men champions, I seized a lull in from the match against Ireland, listening to their triumphs, to ask which was an exact tie. As we two of them what they would bid were .not vulnerable, it brought on my hand. They both said us in 6 match points. Three Hearts and one added, "That Both pairs were playing Black- can't come to any harm against wood and it is a little difficult to , vulnerable opponents"· understand the Irish North's "Only 900", I replied wryly. omission to bid 5 NT as, if she "Well, in that case, opponents gets a 6 y> response, she can must have a slam" . count thirteen tricks so long as her partner does not have a doubleton I showed them the full hands and Heart. Even then, there is a fair pointed out how difficult it was for chance of South's holding one of opponents to reach even game on the minor suit Queens. the bidding in the other room. I soon found myself listening to Now for some' boards on which further triumphs (genus male). we lost points ; and · as this happened most frequently in the This was our complete deal :- French match, the examples are Dealer, East. North - South taken from here. The French Game. ladies, all extremely fine card + AKQJ players, have, however, a chink in y> A 8 their armour in the extreme excit .o 10983 ability of their temperament. It is 10 8 3 essential, therefore, to get a good + start, when they may easily defeat + 8 6 + 9 7 2 themselves. We had heard lurid y> - y> Q 10 9 6 4 3 2 tales of a bid on a singleton Spade 0 Q J 6 4 0 A 7 vulnerable, which had cost 1100, + Q976542 + K demoralised the partnership and lost them the previous match. I + 10 54 3 was quite pleased 'at Board 2 to y>KJ75 pick up the following hand, not 0 K5 2 vulnerable against vulnerable op + AJ ponents. Bidding- Room 1. + 972 y> QI096432 OA7 + K EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH I cheerfully bid 3 y>. Two 3y> No bid No bid Dbl. passes followed and North went into a three-minute trance looking Biddi11g-Room 2. at EAST SOUTH \VEST NORTH + AKQJ y> A8 0 10983 + 1083 No bid No bid 3 + . No bid She told me aftenvards that she very nearly passed but hated being Three Clubs went one off, so done out of -a possible vulnerable we lost 850 points, or 7 match game, so doubled (optional), and . points. her partner left it in. I was not so Encouraged by this.success Mme. cheerful as I chalked up minus Martin and Mme. Behr now played 900. Dining later with some of the inspired Bridge. The following 17 CONTRACT_ BRIDGE JOURNAL ' two hands on each of which they Bidding-Room 1. gained 7 match points will illustrate NoRTH EAST SoUTH ·wEST the mood they were in. No bid · No bid 1 + No bid No bid Dealer, South. Game All. 1 \? No bid 1 . 2 \? No bid 2 NT · No bid • Q 10 8 3 3NT \?A742 Two over-Plus 660 0 10 8 • QJ 10 Bidding-Room 2. • 9 7 6 2 .4 NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST \?9 <;?K863 No bid No bid 1 + 1 0 0 QJ9432 0 7 5 1\? No bid 1 . No bid • 53 + AK9872 2\? No bid 3 \? No bid 4\? • AKJ 5 sacrifice at 5 + against what she EAST SoUTH WEST NORTH thought to be a certain 4 \j), and No bid 1 NT 2 + 20 that she might as well bid 4 + first, No bid 2NT 3 + No bid because if this was not doubled, No bid 30 it would obviously mean it . was Two down- Minus 100 a better contract ! · In Room 1, after: the lead of Possibly the biggest ~ystery of + A and + 10, East ruffs and all this unusual bidding was West's returns a small. Heart, taken by failu re to bid 5 + in Room South's \? A. The Ace and 19 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL -a low ·spade are now led but West The following hand from this is able to get rid of her small match was great fun for East in Diamond. on East's third Heart, Room 1 and a source of ein- 1hus making her + J by ruffing a barrassment for South with all her Diamond. As 3 0 was not doubled pictures. -in Ro'oin 2, we gained 400 points, The British contract in Room 1 5 match points. is not unreasonable since, although What a delightful team the East-West only have 24 points, the Nonvegians are. A striking tribute six-card Diamond suit should make to th~ir fair loveliness was paid by up for this. South led the + 3 and I -the British men's captain in his took North's Queen with the King. speech at the closing banquet and My 0 Q was covered with the OK · I should like to add that they are which I allowed to hold the trick as charming to play against as they and the 0 J w~ led, which I also are easy to look at. At least one ducked. South now showed signs Correspondent from London found of distress and 'eventually led the -their matches needed his constant + 3, taken by my + 9. At this .attendance. · point I led the cy> K and, Their Bridge, however, did not ~vhatever South plays the. contract ·reach the same standard of per- 15 assured. Of course, the lead of fection and we beat them by 33 the + K at Trick 3 or 4 would have ·match points. beaten the contract, but luck wa.S with us. The swing of 310 points Dealer, East. Love All. equals 4 match points. + 8 7 6 The Irish team-Mrs. Mac- ey> 8 7 4 · Conkey, Mrs. McMenamin Mrs 0 9 5 3 O'Sullivan, Mrs. McCarthy: ~ + Q 8 4 2 McNulty and Mrs. Spiro-made a .• A 104 + ·Q 9 2 su~cessful debut this year and, with \? 6 53 \? K f 9 2 a l~ttle more luck, could easily have 0 A87642 0 Q 10 fimshed several places higher. Next + A K 10 5 to Denmark, they were the steadiest ·+ 6 + K J 5 3 team, the matches they lost being \? A Q 1 by s.mall margins.. I confi

EV·ERY FRIDAY

together with a WEEKLY· PROBLEM

Dealer, 'Vest. East-,Vest Game. culty at the Bridge Championships. The official language is English Bidding-Room 1. and, technically, no word in any WFST NORTH EAST SouTH other tongue is permitted. No bid No bid 1 + 1'V 20 2 'V 3 0 3'V I well re111ember in 1939 at The so Hague after I had . collected a Plus 600 1400 penalty, the torrent of foreign wor.ds which issued from Dummy. · Bidding_..:_Room 2. She was immediately reprimanded by the scorer and told she must WFST NoRTH EAsT · SouTH speak .in English or not at all-an No bid No bid 1 + 1'V effective silencer ! 20 No bid No bid 2'V No bid 3

The Contr~ct Bridge Jou;nal has invited Dr. Hans Leist to analyse for the benefit of readers the u.s.- c_rockford's i. 96-board match won by the quartette, Hamson-Gray Konstam-Reese-Shapiro by 2,950 points. This is generally regarded as having produced _tlze finest Bridge ever seen in London ; and .a cool survey of the key hands can only be of advantage. T is a far cry from the The late S. J. Simon must ·be Culbertson-Lederer match of rotating in his grave at this stigma ; I 1934 to the · Gray-Stayinan -for the successful · Crockford's match of 1949. To begin with, the quartette were playing Acol which standard of bidding, especially in Simon, one of its inventors, defined Britain, has improved out of all primarily as an Attitude of Mind recognition ; and to continue, · and, more elaborately in his posthu British players have learned to mous masterpiece, "Design for stand the strain-having practised ! Bidding", as the evolution of a -of Marathon events. · loose, flexible style of bidding ..;,-,., e can accept the quartette of which, though not so accurate ;IS American players not· only as some systems, 'vill in the long run representative· of the top class of achieve better results, both by the American bridge, but also as aid of its own bidding machinery ·representative of American bidding and by the mistakes it induces methods. Alphonse Moyse, Editor opponents to make. -ofthe American Bridge World, stated . My own view, after an intensive recently that systems have become analysis of the . 96 hands played in the U.S. rather like women under against Gray and Konstam, Reese the New Look, so that distinguish and Shapiro, is that, not only in ing features (as apart from mere practice but also in the'ory, the .style of play) have been erased. British players demonstrated 3 There is, says Mr. Moyse, barely skill at least the equal and, on -enough difference between the occasion, the superior of that bidding of one Master and the displayed by the Americans : next to weight down a healthy notably in flexibility, adaptability, gnat I an~ . dex~erit~ in handling com Mr. George Rapec, commenting pebbve sltuanons. -on the Anglo-American encounters Before embarking upon 'a dis in The New Yo.rk Times, considered cussion of actual hands, I must that the American Life Masters' comment upon the U.S. habit of methods of bidding arc superior to psyching- a practi~e they employ those 1n vogue in Britain ; our far more frequently than British systems, he believed, were "too performers. These psyches are rigid" and would be advantaged neither shots in the dark nor do were they modified to achieve the th.ey require previous understanding "'flexibility of style typical of With partner (which would, of American expert play." course, be unforgivable). But 22 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL all four players are prepared for Both Wests opened a Diamond, the unorthodox bid at all times ; but Shapiro, at East, bid a direct and this preparedness resulted in Three Diamonds ; Reese bid Three few misunderstandings and a fairly Spades and East, Three No-Trumps consistent success in their employ- Op a Heart lead, four tricks were ment. made in the suit plus the Ace of '.1 Now, away with . pre-amble ; Clubs. Over the opening, Leven ring up the curtain on the hands :- tritt psyched a Heart ; over Two Board 11. Love All. Dealer, Diamonds, he bid Two No-Trumps North:- on the balanced tO-pointer ; and + A 9 7 + J 10 2 over Three Hearts, bid the ·No- entry ; if the Heart is held up, • 10 8 7 6 West switches, with two tricks in • J 9+ the bag, to make two Spades plus a c:? 10 c:? AK8 Club in partner's hand). On the 0 AQ7 0 53 2 Spade lead , Gray stepped up with + AK}862 + Q7 3 the Ace ; doubtful that both King Three passes in both rooms and Queen of Clubs were right for found West bidding a Club and him, he played Diamonds for East replying wi~ a Spade. Craw- CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL fo'rd found a Spade raise, \vhile tricks ~vere duly, correctly and Reese re-bid Three Clubs. · The dully made. In the other room, the former was passed out, to m:ilce 9 first two bids were identical, but tricks ; the latter, taken to Three Reese found Two No-Trumps on · No-Trumps for -6 Clubs, 2 Hearts the opening hand. This is a very and a Diamond to register a cofd fine bid: itcombines aggression and game: Crawford told me that he "flexibility" with · a "scientist's ·~ uses Stayman's point-count in No caution: the hand counts 16 points ';rrumps but. in suit c,ontracts he plus·two Tens, plus tenace posi~~ns bids ~'on inspection.~' Th.e' "in in both :majors, plus a promtsmg . spection". was accurate enough, for 5-card suit. The Two No-Trump there is no game in a suit on the bid cut the Gordian knot and .cards ; but the virtue of a long and revealed first-rate judgment . in almost solid suit (solidified com disregarding the superficial disad pletely 'as it happens, by partner's vantage of the Diamond singleton~ Queen) at No-Trumps apparently All things considered,' I am: did not rouse the consideration of driven irrefutably to the conclusion players with a mere 24-25 points' that Rapee's criticism-that the ':letween them on the Work count. British style is rigid-is unfounded. The very last Board, No. 96, And I must say, further, that' this with East . dealing at Game All, l criticism 'can be levelled at no i showed a clear gain to Crockford's. system current in Britain save I In a tight match, ·such as this was,' Vienna : even Baron--encountered ! no-one can afford to miss a vulner by the U.S. VISitors both at able game on a ·hand so strong 1hat Lederer's, where they won, and the t only, one would imagine, an atom-. Lyndhurst, where they lost, gives' bomb could prevent a game contract plenty of scope to the player. To. being reached. accuse British players of "rigidity" . • AQJ + iC764 is to accuse them of woodenness :' IV> KJ83 IV> 6 4 a charge levellable against a player, 0 10 0 KQ92 not against a system-at least those + K Q 10 54 ·+ J 3 2 in use in the current series .of · ; The American One-over-One matches. proceded : two Passes and a Cll:lb ; It is, therefore, ,my pleasurable a Diamond response ; a Heart privilege to defend both British re-bid ; and a second response of system and British players against a Spade. This was raised to Two a criticism which cannot be sus Spades by the opener and eight tained.

BIRMINGHAM BRIDGE LEAGUE ·T HE Birmingham Business the City of Birmingham, captained Houses Association, begun by Mr. A. R. Morgan. · modestly two years ago by With twelve team!! competing; Mr. F. · 0. Bingham, has just the winners were successful in all completed a successful season, with their matches, scoring 71 Match the 8-a-side League Championship Points out of a possible 77. The ' going to the Water Department of Civil Service were second with 26 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL 51 Match Points. Business Houses Trophy at the In order that the smaller Houses recent London Tournament. should not suffer from the neces- The Pairs Championship went s ~ty of fielding a team of eight, the to Messrs. T. and P. Bannister, of League next season will be divided the Civil Service Club. into two equally-ranking sections, Many of those ~vho have the and the leaders will play off for future of competitive bridge at the Championship. Those who ·so heart see that it will be from the wish may enter a team 'o"f four in bu.siness houses of the country that each, and this concession is likely the new recruits will be drawn. to bring several smaller companies In the City of Glasgow alone into the Association. there are no fewer than 96 teams, The Chairman of the 'English divided into 6 Leagues. England Bridge Union, who was elected so far has. nothing comparable, and President at the Annual Dinner, is the E.B.U. will do well to help the arranging a match between the formation of such Leagues up and winners and thl! London Civil , down the country, as subsidiaries. Service team which carried off the to the existing county Associations.

THE BLACKWOOD FOUR CLUBS: by D. Lindsay Johnston HE "Four Club" convention Continuation·:- for slam approach was iri Requ~t bid. of 5 + 'for showing of T use by my partner and partner's Kings* myself for about a year before its Response:- arrival as a Blackwood product. We As for Aces. stumbled into it. Recognising its merits, we adopted it almost ex \Vhen a contract in a major suit' is contemplated and Grand Slam· clusively, favouring the original seems probable, a request for Blackwood only when the use of Queens can similarly be made. It the Four Club bid_ might b~ is then· still possible to remain in a misunderstood- say, following a contract of Six on receipt of pre-empt or an initial force in response s~owutg deficiencies. Clubs. The Four Club convention has The Blackwood 4 + convention : the same 'Blackwood limitation in Commencement :- that, with the bid of 4 + , no Request bid of 4 + for showing information is imparted. It is' of partner's Aces. possible for a request for Aces to Response, be made by player holding freak distributional strengtht. The showing no Aces, is 4 0 , 1 Ace, 'is 4 <::7 *Rarely encountered, but offering 110 , 2 Aces, is 4 + itmiperable difficulty. · , 3 Aces, is 4 N.T. tCompare the opening. Ace 4 NT. 4 Aces, is 5 + * ' EDITOR.: . . ~

.CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL -present elabo~ations of the con- found to be singularly weak. A vention leave out instances of freak much better plan is the assumption nature, which after all are not by enquirer's partner that enqUirer -covered by any convention. holds the Ace of his (enquirer's) suit and to show .then the missing · Most usual request for showing Ace. It will be seen that the of Ace strength is by player holding request bid again becomes 4 N.T., twa Aces, and according to the · with no possible risk of mis Heart response, finds one missing. understanding. Interest in slam may then be Second elaboration of convention : -centred on which Ace is held by -partner. Re.quest bid of 4 N.T. for showing of the Ace not held by First elaboration of convention : partner. · Request bid of 4 N.T. for showing I.-Enquirer has 1 Ace and has which Ace is held by partner. . bid Clubs. 2.-Enquirer has 1 Ace and ' has Response . follO\vs cue-bid lines : • bid Diamonds. the bid showing Ace of Clubs ' is 3.-Enquirer. has 1 Ace and has 5+ ; that for the Ace of Diamonds bid Hearts. is 5 O, a~d so on. 4.-Enquirer has 1 Ace and has Example: bid Spades. North South Response, partner holding ·+ AKQxx • J XX 1.-0 A and cy> A, is 5 + ·cy> K cy> AQx 2.-:-+ A and cy> A, is 5 + 0 AQJx 0 X X . 3.--+" A and 0 A, is 5 + ·+ Jxx + KQxxx 4.-+ A and O A, is 5 cy> .Bidding and so on . 1 • 2 + · Example: 20 2+ North South 4+ 4cy> • . J + Kxxxx 4 N.T. 5cy> cy>KQJx 'V' A X 0 AKQJx 0 X X ·6. KQx A bid of 4 + will not be mistaken + + Axxx · -for support in a ,minor suit, in Biddi11g view of an agreed major. 2 0 2+ 3cy> A circumstance less common, but 3 N.T. not infrequent :ind certaj.nly of 4+ 4 + 4 N.T. . equal moment, is the request for 5 + Ace strength by player holding only 6 0 -one Ace · and finding, by the Th~e elaborations are no e.x response of Spades, again one Ace ception to the general rule of all missing. conventions in that they have ·defects, but in practice they have · An attractive solution was tried worked most successfully and on in the exploitation of majors and that account are offered for in ·minors, but in practice this ·was spection. 28 •

· .1. • (l)lllpetitiiJn This llf.tJHfnS _ by Ed mund Phillips

The CONTRACT BRIDGE PnODLElll No. 5 (16 points) JOURNAL offers n prize of TWO GUINEAS for the best set of solutions You, South, hold: to . the following problems. In the + 9 7 3 <:;:1 A J 6 2 0 A 10 7 5 4 + 3 event of two or more sets of solutions The bidding proceeds being of equnl merit, the monthly WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH prize will be divided. 1 + 1 + No bid ? Answers to EDMUND PHILLIPS; What do you bid ? Esq., Competition Editor, Co11tract (i) at love all, Bridge Journal, 172 Chester Road, (ii) at game to North-South ? Northwich, Cheshire, not later than Sept. 7th, 1949. Solutions and PRODLEI\l No. 6 (16 points) names of prize winners in the July Competition will appear next month. · Game All. You, South, hold : . + J ~ A K 10 8 5 4 3 2 0 K 8 6 + 2 PnonLEM No. 1 (12 points) North, the dealer, bids One Spade, and Love All. You, South, hold : East passes . . What do you bid ? + 10 7 54 2 <:;:16 K Q J 8 + AQ5 (i) with no part-score, 0 (ii) at·60'to North-South? North, the dealer, and East pass. What do you bid ?. · PRODLEI\l No. 7 (16 points) PnonLEM No. 2 (12 points) WEST EAST + Q 10 8 5 3 + A K 9 Love All. You, South, hold : <::::1- . <::::1 Q1042 + A J 8 7 <:;:1 Q 5 0 10 9 7 2 + A 104 0 J9764 0 A2 The bidding proceeds : + 863 + AK95 NonTH SouTH Contract, Four Spades by West. 1 <::::1 1 • North lends the five of Diamonds, 3 + ? dummy wins and South plays the What do you bid ? King. Plan the play. PnoDLEM No. 3 (12 points) COVER SOLUTION. Love All. You, South, hold : South should win with the Ace and + A Q 7 6 3 <:;:1 Q 2 0 AS 5 + 1074 lead the Diamond Queen, allowing The bidding proceeds : East to win with King (I) discarding NoRTH SouTH small Club. 1 <::::1 1 • A c~unt of the hand, based on the 2 0 ? bidding inferences, places \Vest with What do you bid ? 7 cards in Hearts originally. East is now, therefore, Heartless. \Vest, on PRODLEM No. 4 (16 points) his opening pre-empt, has already . Love All. shown up with two Honour-tricks : The bidding proceeds : O A and <:;:1 K Q. He would not have SOUTH NORTH pre-empted had he held the King of 1 + 1 • Clubs in addition. 4 . 5 + East in with Diamonds, must there ? fore now lend either n Club nwny from the King into the split tennce ; or n Diamond for n ruff-discard. The piny ns it actually. took plni:c is fully discussed on page 7. -.

Answers · to July Competition :PRoBLEM No: 1 (28 points) · ANswER Game All. What do you, South, 2. Four Clubs-12 points. ' ~our ;bid? Hearts-8 points. Double-3 pom!s. (a) 'as· dealer ; This is a difficult and controvemal (b) as third hand aftet two passes, hand. Prospects for game, or even on:- slam are good ; yet the opening three (i) + A 10 6 4 !\7 K 9 7 4 0 K 6 bid 'increases the likelihood of bad + AS 3 . distribution and a devastating dou~le. We consider Four Clubs better than (ii) ' + J 5 3 !\7 Q 2 0 K Q J 5 Four Hearts because the suit is stronger + K.J 8 2 . and more solid ; at the .same time, in A.-.;swER the event of a Double or a Diamond Take-out by partner, the Heart suit 1. (i) (a) One Club-::-7 points. One can be shown without increasing the Spade--4 points. Our experience is 'level of bidding. An optional Double '-that an opening Spade bid, with major seems to us the least attractive of the suits as weak as this, is to be avoided if three possibilities : it normally shows possible : too frequently it results in n hand with at least neutral support for a contract of One No-Trump, when every unbid suit, so that partner may Two Hearts would have been better, well leap to a fantastic Five Diamond -or of Two or Three Spades -ivith· an contract ; alternatively, if partner -jnadequate trump holding. passes, there is no certainty that Three (b) .One Heart-7 poipts. One Spades will be defeated. . Heart gives the best chance of reaching .a 1good final contract. The .difference between the situation and tlie above is, PaoBLEM No. 3 (12 points) -of course, North's original pass. One Game All. You, South, hold : Heart enables North to show the other ·major suit at the· one level: while if + K Q J 10 9 7 !\7 J 8 3 0 A 10 + 10 2 North bids two of a minor you do not The bidding proceeds : have to keep things going with your .se!=ond threadbare suit, but can simply SouTH NoRTH pass. 1 • 2!\7 2 + J + (ii) (a) One Club-7 po:ints. This ? ·hand is a goodish 13 points and should be opened. At the same time it is an What do you bid ? absolute minimum and the safer bid in Clubs is to be preferred ; if you open. ANSWER One Diamond and pa,rtner replies Two ·Clubs you really are not strong enough 3. Four Spades-12 points~ This to take the bidding, as you must, to hand may appear a complete minimum, 'Three Clubs. but is not in fact. Your Spade suit is so solid that it can hardlv lose more (b) One Diamond-7 . 'points, than one·trick even if partner is void ; Now if partner bids Two Clubs you your Jack of Hearts has been enhanced will, of course, pass.. One· Diamond is in value by pnrtnt!r's first bid ; and preferred simply because it is the better you have first-round control; and only suit, and the suit which you would like one loser, in the unbid suit. Four partner to lend if West obtains the final Spades will in fact be a good . contract contract. if partner has : . PROBLEM No. 2 (12 points) + - !y>KQxxx Oxxxx + AKxx Game All. You, South, hord : with which he would certainly pass a mere Three Spades. + AK !\7A8653 OJ . + AK987 East, the dealer, opens Three Spades. \Vhat do you bid? (You are playing PRODLE.\1 No. 4 (12 points) optional doubles, but no other special convt!ntions against opposing three East-\Vest Game. :You, South, hold: bids.) + KJ96J !\7A10873 OQ2 + K I CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL The bidding proceeds : You, West, are playing Seven Diamonds SoUTH WFST NoRTH · EAST North Je.ads the' 3 of Diamonds, and 1 + Dble. 2 .0 No bid South plays the 2. What two main 2 ~ No bid 2 + 3 + lines of play has West, and which, if What do you bid ? either, has the distinct advantage ?

.ANSWER .ANSWER 4. No bid-12 points. The tempta tion to compete with a Three Spade . 6. The obvious line. of play is to bid must be resisted. For how many ruff one low Spade and discard the Spades has North ? If he had three other on the Ace of Clubs. This will and . a weak hand, he would have fail if North had, originally, four trumps · preferred an immediate raise to bidding but if South had four it may be possible . Two Diamonds ; if three and a fair to catch them by a coup. The first hand, he would either have redoubled trick is won in dummy, the Ace of or, having bid Three Diamonds, given Clubs cashed and a Club ruffed to a raise to Three Spades on the ne..xt start the trump-reducing .play ; then round. So North _probably has two Ace of Spades, Spade ruff, Club ruff, Spades and, at most, two Hearts. King of Diamonds. If trumps split Three Spades will hardly be made, but and there have · been no· m·er-ruffs, all there is an excellent chance that North is well. If South still has 10 x in trumps, has sufficient strength in Clubs to they can be caught by leading out the defeat the opponents. plain suit wiriners ending in dummy at trick 11 : provided Spades break or PRODLEM No. 5 (12 points) the King of Clubs tomes down tripleton Love All. You, South, hold : (10 points). ·+AJ9765 ~AQS OQ4 + Q10 The alternative is to try for a squeeze. The bidding proceeds : The first trick is won in dumm\· and a NoRTH .SoUTH Club ruffed ; then · Ace of Diamonds, . a"nother Club . ruff and trumps are 1 + 1 . drawn. If the King of Clubs comes 2 + ? down, the contract is easy ; if not, the What do you bid ? remaining trumps are pjayed, then ANSWER King, Ace of Hearts. The squeeze 5. Three Hearts-12 points. Three works if the opponent with big Spades Spades-6 points. Three No-Trumps had the King of Clubs or Q J 10 9 or ----1- points. Perhaps you should have any five Hearts (10 points). forced on the first round-it was a close -question. You surely wish to reach The first line of play has slightly the game ; but Three No-Trumps is a better chance, but there is little in it, _gamble on the Diamonds, while Three both·being about. 7 to 3 on. Certainly Spades, besides being non-forcing, does no player could be expected to calculate not suggest a holding of _10 points the decimal points· of difference in a -outside the bid suit. Three Hearts practical game of bridge (4 points). leaves the way open for final contracts :in Spades, Clubs or No -Trumps .. But suppose North raises to Four Hearts ? This ·is just what happened • ·when the hand was played- but North :held: We can bind your own copies + x ~Kxxx Oxxx + AKJ9x of Vofs. I and II in blue .and the best final contract was duly Rexine with gold lettering at reached. a cost of 21 /- per volume. ~ PRODLEM No. 6 (24 points) Please send· orders, with WFST EAST Journals, t~ PRIESTLEY + AKQ74 + 6 SniDIOS LTD., Commercial ~ K6 ~A832 Road, Gloucester. O KJ9874 OAQ + - + A Q 10 6 53 ':JI CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL ENGLISH BRIDGE: UNION LIST OF SECRETARIES

DRITISI! BRIDGE LEAGUE-Major George HmDLRSBX CO!iTRAal DRIDGB .ASSOOUTIOlf Grny, 23 ClydeS!ll\lo Gnrdlms, Richmond, Mrs. H. Freemno, The Nook, Lyndhun' Surrey. · Terrace, London, N.W.3. ENGLIBI! DRIDGB · UNION-Secreiarv: Mrs. NOTTINGIIA.H Coi.'ITILi.CT DoiDGE .AS!OOUTIOlf Stern, 7 .Abbey Rond, London, N.W. 8. -Mrs. Doll, 28 .Addhon Street, NotUnllham. Tournament Secrew.rv: Major G. Fell, NORTJI EAIITHRII CONTIU.OT BRIDGB .AS!OCU· Ornven Lend Works, Skipton Yorkshire• . . TION-G. I. Rhodes, 6 Woodbine Avenue, !Ugiltrar: H. Collins, Esq., SO hudgo Itow, Gosforth, NewcnsUe:an·Tyne, 3. London, E .O. 4. Nonm WESTERN CoNTRACT DniDGB .ASSOOIA• ESSEX CONTRACT llRIDGB .ASSOCIATION TION-F. Farrington, Esq:~ Moor Edge, F. M. Flotehor, Esq., 22 Fontnyoo .Avenue, Cbapcltown Road, Turton, J:'jr. Bolton. Chlgwell, Easex. · · OXFORDSlllRB CONTIU.CT BRIDGE .AsSOCIATION DBRDYBIURII CONTRACT BRIDGE .ASSOCIATION -capt. F. W. Taylor, 49!1 Dnobnry Road, . W. Durnatone, Esq., c/o Town Clerk's Office, Oxford• Mntket Place, Derby. · SOMIIRSBT CO!ITB.ACT BRIDGE .ASSOCUTION- DEVON OONTilACT .DRIDGE .ABSOCU:riON 0. H. Dolley, Esq., Kellsnll Lodge, · G. Grnham 'VIlson, Esq., Flat 2, 'Kincorn., Stnplegrove, Tnnntoo, Somerset. Higher Wnrberry llond, Torquay. SOUTIIEIUI COUNTIBS CONTRACT BIUDOP. .ASSOCIATION-Mrs. W. J". Dnvy, "Colford,'• GLOUC&STERSIIIRE 00NTJU.CT DRIDGB ABSOCIA· West Overclllf Drive, Dournemouth. Tel. TION-S. E. Frnnklln, Esq., Delmont A venue, Westbournc 6H06. Hucclecote, Gloa. ' 8'f41'FORD8IllRB CONTRACT DRIDOB .ABSOCIA· b'UORDSIURB CONTJLi.CT BRIDGB ABSOCIA· TIOII-W. R. Onto, Esq., 204 Tbornhlll Rd., TION-W. H. Welghtmno, Four Wlnda, StreeUy, Sutton Coldfteld. St. Andrews Avenue, Harpenden, Herta. SURRBY CONTRACT BRIDGE ASSO~ON KllNT CONTRACT DRIDGB ABSOOIATION-Mrs. R. F. R . Phllllps, 110 Bnnstead Rd. Sooth, Harvey, Manor House, Tuobrldqo Wells. Sutton, Surrey. LEIOESTBRSIIDUII CONTRACT DRIDGB .ABSOCIA· WaWJOKSillRB CoNTRACT BRIDGE .Assocu TIGN-P de R . Pearse, Esq., 162, Upper TION-Mrs. M. Knott, 9 Cnlthorpe R.Gnd, . Now Walk, Leicester. • Edgbaaton, Dlrmloghnm, 15. · . LlNOOLNSiliRll CONTRACT BRIDOB .ASSOOIATION WOROBSTBRSIIIRB CONTRACT DRIDGB .AS!OOU· -Mrs. Turner and Mn. Brompton, 61 TION-R.. D. .Allen, Eaq., 28 Britannia Blgnhllls A venue, Cleethorpes. Square, Worcester. {,ONDON CONTRACT llRIDGB .ASSOCIATION YoRK!inmB CONTJUCT DRIDGB .ABSOCU.TIO!f P. R. G. Charters, Esq., 16 Carlton House R . H: Ohopc, Esq., 26 Riverdale Rood, · Terrnce, S.W.1. Sheffield, 10.

CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL Regional Editors- Eire ..· NOEL BYRNE . North Western A. 0. DouGLASS Scotland H. KERsHAW Yorkshire Mns. L. L BEDFORD ·wales H. J, GoULD London "AI.mx" North Eastern EWART 'KEMPSON Competition Editor-EDMUND PHILLIPS .. The CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL is the officinLorgan of the English Bridge Union. Publishers-PRIESTLEY STUDIOS, LTD.,t Phone COMMERCIAL ROAD, GLOUCESTER. Gloucester 223.1li/3 All Bridge Correspondence to- EDITOR, CoNTRACT BruDCB J~URNAL, 13, CANNoN PLACE, LoNDoN, N.W.J

' J2 BRIDGE INDEX CLASSIFIED LIST OF HOTELS AND CLUBS

HAHROW LOIWON IIARIIOW JIJUDOK CJ,UD-101.. ~orthwlck Park !load, HARROW, ~Udd.'t. ·1ef. llnrrow l'AilK LANE BRIDOB CLUD, 28 Curzon :mus. Good standard Brld~:c In enjoyable Street, W .1. Tel. Oron·enor 1400. Stakes utntosrhcre. Se!lllons twice dally. Pnrtnerahlps Od. 1/·, 2/0 and 10/-. Partnerships at Od. n1111 Dnrllcnte. and 1/· on Mond<1y 11nd Wednesdll)' nfter noons nnd Tuesday and Friday evenln!!S LONDO N Dnpllcatc 1st Wcdncsd11y In every month. T. V. M. Cotter, Secretary. CnocKFORn's- 10 Carlton House Terrace, London, S.W.J. Tel. No. Whitehall 1131. ~ ! - l'nrtnrrahlr, Ttw•

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