.co TRJ\CT 1B ·'G-E ·

_, ::...... · ~ ..'7.. .. • THE OFFICIAL.... MEDIUM FOR ENGLISH BRIDGE. UNION NEWS

ANY QUESTIONS

West \\as the dealer on this hand and the biddinJ! proceeded:- Wl'st East t+ 2+ 20 2NT No After a spade opening on this 4-4-4-1 dis- . . tribution, should the · rebid be two diamonds or two hearts? I JJ'l's/ Ea~J -9 A J 7 6 • 93 \j> K942 ~ A J 53 0 A J 8 3 0 10 9 5 . &\'J 7 + AQ84 See page I3 for cxpe.rts' opinions

EDITED BY H. ST. JOHN INGRAM

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3 CONTRACT ~RIDGE ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND ' 12th South of Ireland Annual Open Bridge Congress and Intcmatio.nal Tostal Bridge Congress at Killarney, Saturday May 21st to (Whitsun), May 29th. In addition to the usual Open Pairs and Open Teams-of­ Four events, the following are the major championship events: t. Congress Pairs Championship for Dawn Cup and mementos with also special Tostal Trophies for winners. 2. Mixed Pairs Championship for the Egan Bowl with Replicas and also special Tostal Trophies. 3. Congress Teams-of-Four Championship for the Inter­ national Loch Lein Trophy and valuable replicas with a special Tostal Trophy for the Captain of the winning team. Klilamey Golf Club has arranged an Open Golf Week of Competitions and the Congress Committee are presenting two special prizes of Waterford Glass (a) for best visiting player and (b) for best Bridge Visitor Pl ay~r . The Congress closes with ' Dinner, Presentation of Prizes and Congress Ball. in • the Great Southern, Hotel on Whit. Sunday. to the mustc by the famous Limerick Sylvians.

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4 . . CONTRACT .BRIDGE' JOURNAL

OFFICIAL MEDIUM FOR NEWS

VOLUME 9 MARCH, 1955 No.5

Editor-in-Chief · · H. ST. JoHN INGRAM

Editor for Midland and Nortliem Region: HAROLD F.RANniN

Editor for London and the South: ALAN Thuscorr Competition Editor: J. C. H. MAAX

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CONTENTS Page CONTENTS Page , EDITORIAL 6 LoNDON AND nrn Smrrn ... 26-31 THE MASTER PAIRS 7- 10 ENGLAND v. SCOTLAND ...... 32-33 ANY OutsnoNs 11- 16 ExPERT JUDGEMENT ... 34-36 ,.-' DUP. FOR nm MILLION 17-18 OVER TilE BORDER ... 37-38 I SUIT PREFERENCE SIGNALS ... 22-25 COMPETI110N PAGES ' \ ... 42-47

s ' ·.

" Reese and Schapiro, with The 's Dodds and Konstam were part Dinner at tb·c Hamilton Club, of the team which played against given ·to the World Champions Scotland in the last Camrose was a very happy affair. From the , match at Birm~ngham. first minute formality was missing, " On one Terence opened everything being on .free ,and easy one spade, Boris replied two lines. - - , After an excellent meal, Geoffrey , hearts and all passed. The · ' saintly pair ' had about nine Butler; chairman of the B.B.L. with a few well chosen words and points between them and Mister quips, recounted the achievements Boris was five down. A dear old of the team in Switzerland and couple had come into Birmingham America. The toast to the to see the match and at the cod winning team was received with of the band the gentleman turned applause by all present. Reg to his wife with a puzzled look Corwen as captain replied, thank­ on his face and said ' What ing the B.B.L. for the honour system did you say they were given to the team. playing dear' ?" ' Meredith was still in America . . . .- but the other five players had a When writing last month sug­ few words to say, some only after gesting the selection of four pairs pressure. Without exception each of ladies to play a match. against one paid great tribute to the the champions to help find the hospitality and sportsmanship women's team for Holland in shown to the British team whilst July, I had overlooked the fact in the States. . that the B.B.L. had an'nounced Perhaps 's re­ that the winners of the Lady marks were of the greatest interest. Milne Cup would be considered Teren~ attributed our success the probable team for the Women's • not to any particular superiority European Championship. This is of or C.A.B. bidding over on the lines adopted for the open the Americans but rather to our event. Here the winners of - general partnership understanding the are the probabtes. but ~os~ of. all to our undoubted In both events however the B.B.L. SUJ?enonty m play and defence. are entitled to call for a challenge It !s easy to agree on this latter match against a selected team. pomt. One has only to look at In the circumstances, it is the records- some of the hands stra~ge that so many of our • were -published last month- to ~eadtng ladies did not compete apprectat.e ~he gain in points to m. t~e Whitelaw Cup, as the Great Bntam from this side of the Wtnnt~g of this automatically puts game. the wmners in the Lady Milne To. round ofT the evening at the final as representatives of Eng­ Hamtlton, after J. w. Pearson land against Scotland Wales and had suggested that all important Northern Iyeland. P~rhaps some teams-of-four matches should be ~re hoptng to be in anY ~n aggregate scoring, this snappy .challenge " team. They may be httle story-was told. dtsappointed. . . H.l. 6 . THE MASTER PAIRS by ALAN TRUSCOTJ' The contest for the Waddington The bidding : Cup this year was hardly exciting, West North East South but the result was entirely appro­ priate. The title won last year by I~ NB 2

I : CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL dummy to West's +Q, and West . played a smnlJ diamond. When ' South deals. Game-aiL dummy's () K went up, Konstam ' • J 6 52 unblocked with the OQ. This 752 is not essential, but it assists 0 Q63 partner's defence. South, still + 9 64 cut off from his own hand, now + A 10 9 7 + Q 4 3 played a diamond from dummy, KQJ 983 permitting Dodds to cash the OJ, 0 - 10 9 7 4 0 K 2 the ()A and the +A. South ruffed + Ato + K8532 this last card, but had to concede • K8 I the last two tricks to East. North­ Ato64 South had scored points at every 1 0 AJ 8 5 other table; most East-Wests had + QJ7 ' played the hand and suffered a Trezel (South) bid one ·no penalty. trump, which they play as 15-18 Runners-up in the event, with a points, and this was passed out. score which would often be a The +to lead went to the +K, winner, were and and South now tried a small Norman Squire. They produced diamond to the OQ in dummy, a fine sequence to reach a difficult won by East with the 0 K. The grand slam on the . following + 3 brought out the + Q and the hands:- + A.- and East ducked the club +Q + A J 10 7 3 .return. South, in difficulties, now 7 4 got off lead with a spade to 0 A3 0 8 6 dummy's + J, won by East with • AKJ 10632 + Q9 84 the +Q. The position was now this:-:- West North East South • 65 Gllrlkntr Squire 752 2. NB 20 · NB NB 4+ 0 6 3 3. NB + 9 40 Dbt. s• NB 7• All pass + A7 .3 Gardener rightly took his part­ KQJ 983 ner's excellent bid of five spades 0 109 7 0 2 to.mean the +A and length in the + - + K-85 sutt. He therefore bid the grand ~ A 6 4 sl~m expecting to be able to v 10 dtspose of his diamond loser on a 0 A 1 8 long spade in dummy, and the + 7 hand. played exactly as planned. The defenders have already Thtrd place was taken by Pierre made a spade, a diamond and a Jais and Roger Trezel, the famous ' club and can obviously defeat French international pair, who the ~ontract by two tricks with Were specially invited to take part. three more club · tricks and two They pulled up very creditably · more spade tricks. But un­ ~fter an indifferent start which fortunately West had no ·way of tncluded the following board. knowing ·who held the missing 9 CONTRACT ·BRIDGB JOU R N AL spade- if South held it, it would played a club immediately from be fatal for West to discard three dummy, hoping ·that south would red cards. Hating the prospect have the + A doubleton, and of having to make three discards, would fail to play the ace at once. West therefore ~hreY{ th~ K The hand could then be stripped, on the + K as a stgnal of dtstress. · and South thrown in to give a ruff­ Schapiro (East) now read the and-discard. When the + K held situation correctly, and refused to the trick, Priday carried opt this cash his remaining clubs in order plan, and was amazed to find that not to embarrass West. After he had thrown in North. A well­ some thought, he played a dia­ known international sitting North mond. The declarer could now had made a cunning but mis­ have made six tricks by playing guided holding the +A on hearts, but he tried for the doubleton I · diamond break and went 200 This was not the luckiest slam down. This was a very bad of the competition. Consider the match-point score, as most East­ following two hands:- Wests were bidding and making a + Q J 10 • s part-score. Q4 Al09763 When the hand was over, Jnis 0 A9732 0 KQ86 suggested to Schapiro that he + AJ3 + Q7 perhaps did not know that his One optimistic pair reached six clubs were winners. Schapiro was diamonds after South had opened quite unable to decide whether to the bidding with one club. The take this ' comment seriously­ expectation of success of this whether to laugh heartily or contract must be a fraction of I%. challenge the good doctor to a But a spade was led from the duel. king to South's ace. The .K In fourth place were J." Flint was now ruffed out, the trumps and R. A. Priday, two young broke 2-2, the dub finesse was players who have been doing right, and South had the singleton very well .this sea~on. They 1108743 AK62 O AK 0 983 + K 10 8 4 + 7 6 2 Priday, sitting West, reached an optimistic contract of six hearts. There are two almost certain club losers, and the only genuine play for the contract is to strip the hand and hope that one defender has the + A singleton. (Another chance, requiring a right guess is for North to have + Q and 4J doubleton.) · Priday preferred to play for a defensive slip, and Roberts and 'Mrs. W;ldbamll ·;::,r~ 10 THIS MONTHLY FEATURE Is designed to answer any questions of general Interest. Freaks and questions asldng how to bid four bnnds should be avoided. Opinions will be given Independently by the panel, Harold Franklin, Kenneth Konstam, ; , and the Ed1tor, H. St. John Ingram. Send your questions to:- Editor C.D.J., 3 London Lane, Bromley, Kent.

Question A is from R. Phillips, pair for mtssmg this slam, ' if 30 Henleaze Park Drive, Hen­ indeed a slam is on. I regard the leaze, llristol, who writes " The suggested two spade bid over one following hand was dealt to me, heart as one more of my pet sitting South, in a rubber game, "horror crimes "-(a) it is a higher yesterday, and after two passes rankjng suit than hearts and (b) my partner opened one dia­ 'with three small clubs in the hand mond, to which I replied one it gives a totally wrong picture. heart, and passed the rebid of three no trumps. Answer by A/an Truscott:- North South I confess that I have been + A K + x x x looking for an answer to the \? A x x ~ Q J 10 9 x problems set by hands like North's 0 A K J x x 0 x x for a long tim~, ·and have not + x x x + A K x found a satisfactory answer. It is "I would be grateful if the obvious that three no trumps is a Panel could indicate a reason- most unsatisfactory rebid for able bidding sequence to reach North, partly because of the a very fair six hearts contract. weakness of the club suit, and " We play Acol with a weak partly because the wealth of top no trump throughout. I sug- cards offers excellent chances of a gested that a rebid of two spades slam in a red suit. No alternative would give us a better chance of rebid can be viewed with any reaching the slam, but was pleasure, but the two spades bid laughed to scorn." suggested by Mr. Phillips is the ~nswer by Kenneth Konstam:- least evil, with three clubs ancl The first point that occurs is four hearts well beaten. The North's incredible response of main objection to two spades i..s three no trumps with no guard in · that a subsequent preference to clubs. Admittedly the rebid over hearts may give partner an im-; one he~rt presents some difficulty pression of a singleton club. But but a Stmple four heart bid would if the preference is at the level of be my choice. three, as it would be here, and The bidding could go:- could have been a jump preference 10 1~ to four hearts, then partner should 4~ 5+ . not assume a singleton club. The 6~ · powerful hands. with a singleto.n However I would never crime a in the fourth smt should always 1f ' ' 11 : I I possible give a jump preference to where we were-in these modem game on the third round. A days partner might well have reasonable sequence would be:- four hearts to very little and four spades in which case three Nort/z South no trumps may well be a better 10 1~ proposition than four hearts. And 2+ 2NT it does not follow that if panner 3~ 5 ~ raises to four spades that five 6~ South's second bid is really a hearts will be a safe contract. waiting manoeuvre to see if It is easy therefore to · sym­ heart support is forthcoming. If pathize with North's bid of three North bids three no trumps in­ no trumps. I personally do not stead of three hearts South would make the bid because I do not pass. consider the hand as quite worth It would be quite reasonable it. Although the fifth diamond for South to make a slam effort may give the hand extra value over the three no trumps bid that is taken away by the blank actually made. The solidity of the honour combination in spades heart suit is the vital factor. which in my experience makes Without the ~ 10 he should the hand a point worse. And that certainly pass, but as it is he could still leaves us with 19 points just hint at a slam by bidding concentrated in aces and kings. · I four clubs. This would excite consider that a poor 19 for no North into bidding at least five trump purposes and am content hearts and more probably six with a rebid of two no trumps. hearts. IfNorth has an unsuitable The alternative is a bid of three hand for a slam based mainly on a hearts-not my choice, but better powerful diamond suit he would' than four hearts' and leaving tbc sign off in four no trumps. (A door open to either a suit conirad case of a natural four no trumps or no trumps. · bid exactly similar in principle cropped up in a panel question Over the two no trumps rebid last month.) the chances of reaching the slam are quite bright. Soutli should - Answer by Harold Franklin:- give his partner the choice bet· This is one of the hands on ween three no trumps and four which I should like to be playing hearts by a bid of three clubs. some such system as Baron where This is in no sense a slam try­ .. a change of suit ·is completely it is _simply a way of saying th~t forcing.· We seem to have almost four' hearts is likely to be better if game values but no clear ideas partner has three-card trumP as to whether to play in no support. Once the hand is likelY trumps or hearts and we are to be played in a suit North's short of a temporizing bid to holding improves considertbly for h7lp us determine the issue. The his controls take on added value. d!sadvantages of the suggested A bid of three spades-over three' btd of t:-vo sp.ades are both clear clubs followed by five hearts over and wetghty. If partner raises partner's rebid of three no trumps to say three spades we are just are fully justified and . . ·. 12 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL should then be able to bid the Comment by the Editor:- slam. Franklin would like to be North South playing Baron, I should like -to 10 1~ be playing the Ingram One Club. 2NT 3+ Now North opens one club and gets the response of one heart,· 3+ 3NT which shows a five-card suit 5\/ 6~ and two quick tricks. Not diffi­ And a fin al point-in the actual cult to reach six hearts now. As sequence at the table South must to what North should say on the of course pass three no trumps. bidding given it is not easy. I certainly don't like the' scientific' Answer by Jack Marx:- two spade bid and am inclined Whenever as here it can be to bid a mere three hearts. After foreseen that finding a rebid to all if South's hand is sub-minimum certain responses is going to be such as + xxx, ~QJlOx, Oxx, _ very troublesome, it is no bad +Kxxx I am not sure that I plan to look around for some want to be in four let alone six. alternative to the normal opening Over the two on the han9 given, of one of a suit. North's hand is South will bid four and again the not one fo r an Acol Two, since slam is easy. he would not wish to have to play it at the three level opposite a Question B is from C. E. Phillips, useless dummy, but he might 1a Dyar Terrace, Northwich. reasonably stretch . a point and Here is a question that might- open two no trumps. If he does . appeal to the Panel. After a and subsequently supports hearts, one spade opening on a 4-4-4-1 as he must, South will not be · hand, should the rebid over content with less than a small two clubs be two diamonds or slam. I think the suggested two two hearts? Here is a case in spade rebid merits a more sym­ point:- pathetic reception than scornful West '• - \ East laughter, . but I feel the risk of + AJ7 6 • 93 bidding a higher ranking suit on a ~ K 9 4 2 _ ~ AJ 53 doubleton outweighs the possible 0 AJ 8 3 0 10 9 5 advantages in this case. If South + ~Q84 raises spades, North will have to + 7 The bidding:._ revert to hearts, and his support for an unrebid suit is too meagre West East to assure him that he has in fact t+ 2+ ·reached the best game contract. 20 2NT ~outh will also have been misled NB ~nto believing North to be short Who was responsible for missing , In clubs and will not attach much the heart game? va.lue to his king. There is some­ thmg to be said for three clubs Answer by Kenneth Konstam:.-:.:.. as. a rebid for North, since South This is a normal type of hand Will then give due weight to what­ with the eternal problem. Some­ ever he may hold in the suit. times ·you are right to bid two 13 CONTRACT BRID'?B JOURNAL hearts on the West type of hand, surren~er. At the. table I rebid sometimes you are missing the two dmmonds w1t~ the.. West diamond fit. On balance to avoid 1 hand, I would certamly b1d two the greater danger of a missed no trumps as East anq that would game, two hearts is a more be our final con_tr~ct. I would satisfactory rebid. Personally I console myself Wtth . the fact that am never faced with the problem. the h.eart game was by no. means I search for a game certm!l (although unquestionably immediately by opening one dia- supenor to a no trump contract). mond. If partner cannot respond Of cours~ Mr. PhiJiips is too with a major suit, perhaps the old a campaigner not to know that opponents can oblige! At worst bidding principles are based on partner bids two clubs and I rebid frequency. We don't expect to two no trumps on a sub-minimum be right all the _time with any hand. With an intelligent partner particular method, rather do we who only bids at the two level on select our methods to cope with reasonable values, no great harm the hands and situations which we should accrue. believe occur with the greatest ' frequency. I believe that with the Answer 'by Alan Tmscott:- West hand, the ha'nds on which the West is the culprit here. He two diamonds bid will prove more should rebid two hearts simply helpful outnumber those like the because of the danger of missing one before us (the only hand on a major suit fit. Most players which the two hearts bid is likely now play that a bid of the fourth to gain. After all the two din­ suit by responder, two hearts monds bid does not preclude a instead of two no trumps in this four heart contract ·since there case, is forcing and does not are still many hands on which ne7es~arily sho':" a holding in the East can bid two hearts, while the ~mt b_1d. ~ast, tf playing this way, two hearts bid does preclude a low IS qu1te nght to prefer a natural level contract in diamonds. · reb1d . of two no trumps. But in I am not going to argue that my v1ew West went wrong right East can· bid two hearts on the a~ t~e star~: he should open the ~resen~ hand-in theory he can, btd_dmg Wtth. one heart, after smce 1t does not commit the wh!ch there ts no problem. I partnership beyond the two no b~heve · that all 4-4-4-1 hands trumps level even if the fourth Wtth a singleton club should open suit is forcing. In practice how­ o~e heart, as partner will always ever I do not know the player bJ~ a spade suit if he can. As I who does not bid some number of pomte~ out . last April in this no trumps. ma&'lzme, th1s method helps to And fi 1 · · · ly , avotd. a foolish result on the a na pomt-1t JS ·on because ~o many of us treat the ~castons _when partner has a sequence one spade-two hearts oubleton m both your suits and as showing n five-card heart suit you play unhappily in a 4-i fit. that we rule out the possibility Answe~ by Harold. I;ranklin:- of an immediate two hearts I ra1se my hands in token response. Reese and Schapiro, · of for example, who describe their 14 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL Acol as " old-fashioned " do Both these methods are based· respond two hearts with the East on the supposition that one spade hand and have no further problem. is West's best opening bid. Per­ If partner rebids two spades they sonally I think it is one heart. If are quite happy to bid two no East has two four-card black trumps. suits, he will respond one spade and the club suit will not make a Ans ~rer by Jack Marx:­ nuisance of itself. · If he has Three-s uiters are notoriously longer clubs, he will still prefer to troublesome and are especially so respond at the one level in spades ' when, as with the West hand here, unless he has values for fwo . the values are too slim for a spontaneously offered bids. With prolonged exploration in search · these values he will respond two of a fit. Accordingly, it may be clubs and West's rebid can be two· argued that West must economise diamonds. East can now show in bidding space and rebid the his secondary spades without fear lower rank of his two remaining of being given preference for a suits, leaving East free to bid the suit he himself does not greatly other, if he has it, still at the prefer. range of two. Obviously this hand could not be bettered as an Comment by the Editor:- illustration of this method. But Truscott bits the nail right on it must be realized that East is the head here. The teaching of not a free agent in this matter. ., The suit under the singleton He is supposed to bid any four­ qn a 4-4-4-i distribution and if card heart suit, no matter what it the singleton is clubs bid a spade " is, on the off-chance that West has led to many bad contracts can support it. And of course it and on such a hand as the-one will only be very seldom that given by Edmund Phillips. I West can, the frequency of the strongly approve of one heart 4:4-4-1 hand pattern being' no as the opening bid. Whatever h1gher than 3 %. Other rebids by partner responds you will not be West ~ay not please him so much. embarrassed with your next bid, He Will not be at all certain what fo do with a weak preference' to Question C is from S. Barlow, three clubs ana a strong preference 20 Thorncliffe Road, S.W.2, to four clubs will annoy him • exceedingly. who asks for the opinion of the.,_ Panel on the question below. , -= Another school will argue that "Love all. Opponents have West, with his limited resources announced they are playing a should ~o for what appears to b~ weak no trump, and one of them­ the. mam . chance, a game if1 a South deals and bids one no fith.ng maJor. They accordingly trump. What do the Panel bid as rebid two hearts and are not West with + Q7, AJ106, OAQ, greatly ~oncerned if in doing so + AQ1083 and why?" 1 they should fall short of absolute perfection and miss what may be Answer byJ

By dint-whatever dint may be with only about twenty minutes -of a combination of bribery rest between the various moves. and blackmail, I have at last These hardy folk may be seen persuaded the Editor to .blow me standing in small groups and to conclude a series, which, I taking it in turns to recount trust, will popularise duplicate their latest tri~mphs : Eventually, to such an extent that the Gold at about the etghth time of asking Cup matches will be included in the Tournament Director will get Messrs. Littlewoods and Vernon's them to take their seats. popular pool publications. I look I don't propose to offer advice forward to millions of fans waiting on aetual bidding and play as anxiously for the B.B.C. news these minor departments or' the and hearing such results as: game can best be learnt from Crockford Slammers 72-London books and lessons by such masters Ruffers 29 ; Hamilton Yar­ of instruction as G. C. H. Fox, boroughs 24-Dorset Dealers 49. Nico Gardener and others. Inci­ If this dream is to materialize, dentally, it is surprising how many ' you, my readers, and your friends players boast that must flock into the card rooms they have never read a bridge book of the country and demand dupli­ or taken a lesson in their lives. cate and still more duplicate. Admittedly, this is usually quite Those among you, who are obvious by the standard of their about to make your first play: I think that bridge and appearance in a tournament, must politics are the only pursuits in not be unduly surprised at the which so many individuals thrust strange sight which will meet your themselves without making the eyes when entering the selected slightest attempt to learn some­ battlefield a few minutes before thing about their respective the advertised starting time. There subjects. will be two occupants of the four I assume, of course, that you, chairs at each table and everyone having read as far as this, may be se~ted will be facing the longer excluded from this stupid and axts of the room. These are the conceited category, and that you North-Souths, who have queued, have done or will be doing, your probably for a couple of hours, homework diligently. So, at your . so .as to avoid the exhausting first Pairs Duplicate, you will find busmess of playing East-West. yourself seated East opposite your The unlucky holders of these chosen West, with nothing to -· latter positions have a pretty worry you except how best to tough hme, and need to be in tip­ entice the opponents to be ..' . top' physical condition, as they generous. If you have heeded my usually have to walk as much as earlier advice and have spent a 60 yards in under four hours, little time watching the finals 17. CONTRACT BRIDOB JOUilNAL

1·n h no all this, you fail to get a good of the big events, you W. • ave result, at least you will have doae difficulty in recogm~m~ .the " name" players. Thts ts tm- your utmost to lure your illustrious tft d to the opponents into trying to take 1 you portant, for your a u e ~"or1 a ride, which might have been ordinary run Qf playe~s ~ust be ' one of complete supenonty. To most enjoyable for your side. attain this position it is h~lpful to If you must pysche on occasions ·include in your conversatton ca~e- (for the penefit of the uninformed, free references to Plum and Bons, a has been described or Konnie and Rixie, as though as an attempt to persuade the such performers were your opposition that you bold those habitual partners and opponents. cards which they can see in their Obviously, these tactics are apt t~ own hands) do it against the tead to some embarrassment tf masters- seldom will they believe Mr. Schapiro, Mr. Meredith, Mrs. that you, a novice, would have Markus or Mr. Konstam happens the effrontery to try such a thing to be at your table. Hence, against them. the importance of knowing who's These innocent deceptions must whot The ordinary player, how- not be confused with the un­ ever, should be sufficiently im- ethical practices of so many pressed and is likely to be reduced average and below average to the required chuck-inducing players. Such favourite artifices condition. as the Singleton Trance and the Another good line is to stop Finesse F umble are deliberate. play in the middle of the hand, cheating. In spite of constant bristle intelligently, and demand appeals, the Yarborough Huddle in a loud clear voice " May I see rears its ugly head far too fre­ the board, please?" Although quently. Other offenders use analysis shows that any player more subtle but equally un­ who is unable to remember the savoury tactics. For instance. vulnerability or the dealer for one declarer, on my leading an even a few minutes is unlikely to ace, asked " innocently " if I be a card player of any class, the normally led ace from AK. As ~e effect of this performance on the held the king of the suit in hts opposition is often shattering. own hand, his enquiry could When opposed to the Kon- scarcely be considered fair play. stams and Reeses of this world · On another occasion, playing a an entirely different approach i ~ side suit in a high trump contract, necessary. Now, your jaw must a declarer led low from Q9X up be permitted to sag, your eyes to KJIOxx and took a full minute must take on a sombulent ex- to decide to play the king. Not pression, and straws, previously unreasonably, holding Ax, I won ' concealed somewhere about your and returned the suit for mY person, inserted in your ruffled partner to take his non-existant hair. Should either of the queen, and give me a ruff. When opponents address you, which is challenged, the culprit produced extremely improbable, an artistic the lame ' excuse that he ' was stutter in your reply will round wondering how to avoid blocking off the performance. If, after the suit.' 18 CONTRACT BRIDGB J OURNAL Another popular, but putrid, and, should he fail to give you a strategy is the ungentle art of ruff following your singleton lead, "coffee-housing." The origin of you really shouldn't throw your this phrase is somewhat obscure, cards in bis 1 face. Such a but presumably it derives from manoeuvre apart from being im­ the same source as the expression proper, is liable to produce the far "coffee-house manners." This moreseriouscrimeofmisboarding. practice consists of the passing If you have read this series of remarks calculated to produce cl?sely, there is no reason why, either unnecessary alarm and w1th years of constant practice, despondency or, alternatively, a you should not attain international false sense of security in the minds status. ·Meanwhile, while you of the opposition.· Groans, heavy climb to dizzy heights, Britain has sighs and similar expressions of proved that she can produce disapproval of your partner's bids ­ players to match any country in and leads are highly undesirable, the world. 1

l ' \ ,-: LE SQUEEZE. AU BRIDGE · Reviewed by HAROL D FRANKLIN To the player anxious to im­ more than schoolboy French. prove his game there are few His main headings are the things that would give greater , the , satisfaction than a mastery of the the , the delayed mechanics of squeeze-play. Im­ squeeze and breaking up the proved concentration or a closer squeeze. · He opens each subject study of the mechanics of bidding with an analysis so painstakingly would almost certainly yield a thorough and so lucid in style greater profit in terms of points that the reader who is capable of gained and saved, but in the eyes learning from simple explanation of the ability to should certainly end with a clear see ~nd execute a rare grasp of the underlying principles~ carnes the cachet of true expertise. For those whose minds react To meet this demand a number better to example he then abun­ of writers have, in the past, dantly illustrates each phase of endeavoured to present the secrets his subject with an excellent of squeeze play in book form. In selection of hands. my view none have succeeded There is a danger that, to any ~alf so well as M. Romanet does but the most fervent enthusiast, In this monumental work. It theory and example might begin occupies some four hundred and to' pall before four hundred pages t~n . pages and has for us the had been exhausted. But the hm1tation of being written in author injects life into his work ~re~ch-but because of the by his constant referen~s to the Slrnllarity in technical· terms one circumstances surroundmg many can follow the sense with little of the hands. I finished my 19 CONTRACT DRIDGB JOU RN A L

reading of his book with a much declarer was q uick to recognize clearer picture of the bridge that no squeeze was possible if the world of Paris than I had gained heart finesse failed, particularly from my all too rare and fleeting since East would not win the first visits. And I know much more heart and the declarer would be about many of their leading in the dark. The immediate loss players than I had been able to of a spade trick rectified the count learn from a few brief encounters for a subsequent squeeze if the at the table. diamond suit failed to break. I have no hesitation in com­ West won and returned a decep­ mending the book as the best of its tive (.78 and when the jack won the kind that has come my way, and stage was set. Two top diamonds that done I should like to offer for and three clubs reduced the band the delectation of the student a few to this position:- random examples from the book. + 7 5 • 7 52 (.7A Q 2 ~ AQJ2 0 None 0 KQ8 + None + A73 • 96 + KJB • Q96 + KJ 84 (.7 Kl05 ~ 4 ~ K 10 8 53 (.7 9 4 0 None O J 0 92 0 Jl075 + None + None + 109 6 + 542 + A 3 + AI03 (.7 7 ~ 76 0 6 O A654 + J + K Q J 8 The + J forces West to give South, an international player up a spade. A heart to the queen , a member of the tea~ followed by the (.7 A now squeezes V.:hich .won the European cham- East in spades and diamonds. p10nsh1p at Helsinki, is then It certainly needs a ·second p~esented t.o us in a colourful pen gla~~e to perceive the squeeze p1cture wh1ch occupies about two POSJhon on this hand also made pages- but at the end of it we in play:- ' feel that we know the character + K 8 3 and are part of the game- an 1o 9 7 eO:ect never created by the simple O 7 5 4 3 us~ .of the compass points. A + 9 6 4 bnlhant dummy player, it is his + Q 6 5 v.:ont to .take the most cheerful (.7 K Q J 8 3 2 - . 10942 v1ew of h1s hand when he is to be 0 Q (.7 A 4 6 2 0 J 10 9 8 the declarer, which accounts for + 3 the fact that on this occasion nis A J +. J 92 + 7 fina.l contr~ct was six no trumps (.7 6 5 agamst wh1ch West led the 09• O A K Dummy's queen won and a smali + A K Q 10 7 5 spa.de was led at once to the ten wh1ch lost to the queen. Th West opened one heart and e South ended in five clubs. WbeD 20 CONTRACT BRIDOB JOURNAL East appeared with the '\!/A (the NORTHERN NOTES defence opened with three rounds Yorkshire of that suit) it was clear that the The Association, and in par­ spade finesse would not succeed. ticular the hard working Tourna­ But one round of diamonds and ment Secretary, R. H. Chope, all the. trumps save one produced can take particular credit for the this position:- fact that an inter-city programme, involving teams .from thirteen + K83 towns and cities, and second \7 None teams from eleven of. them, has 0 7 5 been completed before the end of +None February. In the Senior Division· • Q 6 5 • 10 9 4 Leeds have again retained the Star '\) None \7 None Cup while in the second division 0 Q2 0 109 Scarborough emerged to senior +None + None status by ' winning all of their + A J 7 matches and a well-earned \7 None promotion. 0 A Star Cup-Division I + 5 Played Points On the last club West is forced Leeds 7 14 to abandon a diamond and the - Sheffield 7 8 dummy discards a spade. East is Bradford 7 8 now on the rack. If he discards a Halifax · · · 7 8 spade the declarer leads the + J Hull 7 8 to pick up the queen and drop the Huddersfield 7 4 other high spots. If East dis- Division n I cards a diamond the ace is played Scarborough 8 16 ~o~~~ablish dummy's long dia- g~~f~u~. ... ~ _ ~ Wakefield- 8 6 Open the book where you will York 8 6 ~nd you will find equally fine Barnsley 8 2 dlu_strations and the principles Harrogate ... 8 2 wh1ch will aid you to recognize Each team meets two teams from them at the table. the other division and Scar­ borough's performance is there- Le Squeeze au Bridge by Ber- fore all the more noteworthy. trand Romanet. Published by Leeds 2 regained the .. second Bernard Grasset 61 Rue des teams championship after a lapse Saints, ·vto Paris. ' of two years.

STOP PRESS

We very much regret having to report the sudden death of Mr. A. J. SMITH, Bridge correspondent of the Daily Telegraph and a contributor to the Contract Bridge Journal. 21 .. SUIT. PREFERE~ CE · by G. C. H. FOX

The suit preference signal is a Therefore, by returning an un­ most .useful weapon of defensive necessarily high spade you are play, but only if correctly applied. requesting the lead of the higher It is usually referred to as the suit i.e. diamonds., Had your McKenney conventiof1, although ace been in clubs you would have its originator was Hy Laventhal. played back the +2. The definition of a suit preference A further illustration is this ·signal is: A lead, play or discard hand from a Duplicate ~rs of an unnecessarily high or low Contest. card, designed to request the Nor.h-South vulnerable. Dealer partner to lead the higher or lower East. of two e]jgible suits in the dummy • KJ 8 3 hand. The following diagram <;? AK63 shows the working of the con­ 0 J 9 6 4 vention in its simplest form:- + 3 • KQ5 • 7 6 4 2 • A 10 9 CV A873 ~ 10 7 2 \? 4 0 7 52 0 3 0 A10872 • 642 • Q 10972 + KJ86 • A 10 9 7 2 • QS ~5 4 \? QJ985 0 AQ8 . 0 KQS I • K97 + A54 S~ppose you are East defending Bidding:- ag~mst a four heart contract East South West North wh1ch has been reached despite 10 1\? 3~ your opening one spade bid. 4\? Yo~r partner leads the . 3, on wh1ch declarer plays dummy's West led the 03 taken by the +5. You assume it to be a OA. Reading this as a singleton s1.ngleton and envisage giving East could see that two ruffs, htm two. ruffs . provided he can together with his two aces, would , put you m agam quickly. From break the contract. To ensure the .cards visible in dummy it is the spade return (higher suit) obviOusly a toss-up from West's he led back the 0 I 0 the highest a~gle whether he- should return a available diamond he could spare. d1amond or a club. By using McKenney the guess is eliminated. Requesting a Switch Y ?U .return the •I o. Of the In certain cases the convention su1ts m dummy: can be usefully employed to Spades- he is ruffing demand a switch to a certain suit. H~rts-are trumps. · But i~ must be fully understood Dt a~ands-the higher ranking that tt only applies when the SUit. player on lead is likely to switch Clubs- lower ranking s~it. anyway and the card you play cannot possibly be interpreted 22 CONTRACT BRIDG! JOURNAL in any other manner. It is in these .suggest a continuation, possibly • situations that McKenney is fre­ to force dummy to trump, you - quently misused. For example, could surely have produced some- , your partner leads the +K against thing less dramatic than the jack. , a spade contract. Dummy holds Less obvious was this deal from Qxx and you play the +2. a Pairs Contest. This is merely an orthodo~ dis­ couraging card suggesting that a Game-all. . Dealer North. continuation of the suit would be • 8 unwise. It cannot be regarded as <\7 AJ632- a demand for a diamond. 0 10973 Consider t~e following. + AQ9 + AJ5 + KQ7432 East-West vulnerable. Dealer . <::? Q 9 7 5 <::? Void West. +K1094 0 ·8 4 2 0 K Q J 6 5 ... ' ,' +K73 +6~ <::? 10 . . • 10 9 6 .. 0 K54 3 ,. . - '. I <::? K 10 8 4 + K953 .~. • 6 3 2 OA ' • 7 +Jto852 ·-.... ': ~A 6 53" <::!7 KJ 9 8 2 0 9 8 7 2 0 AQ6 Bidding:- • 8 7 + A642 Nortlz East South + AQJ85 <::? Q 74 1<\7 t+ 2<\7 0 110 4+ QJ 10 + South led the '"oA on which Bidding:- North played the 0 3, and followed West North East South with a low heart. This was 1<\7 1+ ruffed and the contract made. 4+ South should have shifted to a club. It is not obvious at first West leads the <::!7 A. Sitting sight and it might be claimed that East you can see two more tricks the 0 3 merely. showed lack of with your aces, but to interest in that suit. The point defeat the contract it is vital that is that North must be aware that your partner switches to a dia- · the OA is a singleton for there mond. Otherwise declarer may can hardly be any other reason be able to get his diamond loser for leading it out in preference to away, as indeed he can on the the suit partner bid. Therefore clubs. Your best chance is to South will be compelled to switch fol~ow with the <\71 on his ace. at the second trick. The low This should be interpreted as a diamond must show a desire for re9uest for a diamond. For one the lower suit which contains a t~mg, he is likely to switch in certain . Without the +A VIew of the singleton heart. For North would follow with the 010 another you have spent an alto- since the <::!7 A would be the only gether unnecessarily high heart. hope of getting in quickly for the If you had merely wished to diampnd ruff. 23 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL

Opening Lead Bidding:- Opportunities f?r usi~g . the North East South Wtst • suit preference Signal 10 t.he 10 · D bl. Redbl. tNT are rare, and n~~m, 20 Dbl. it is necessary that the posJllon 2~ Dbl. should be absolutely clear. On the bidding it was likely that + K 102 East was short in diamonds ·and, ~ 94 holding the ~A , it would be 0 72 possible to give East at least one + AKQ972 ruff. The 02 was theref6re led. .65 .73 East trumped a nd returned a ~KQJ10872 ~A63 club. The defence taking seven 0 10985 0 QJ63 tricks in all. The- 02 could be + + 8 6 54 · read as a signal for it was probably • AQJ984 West's fifth best. Otherwise South ~5 must hold four diamonds and 0 AK4 would be unlikely to retreat ·+ J 10 3 from the double of two diamonds. With North-South vulnerable East-West bid defensively up to No Trumps six hearts, pushing their opponents Suit preference signals ' arc into six spades. West could see possible in no trumps, but the the only hope' of setting the slam information conveyed is some­ was that his partner held the ~A times less precise, as there may be and made it and could be induced three eligible suits to lead. How­ to return a club for him to ruff. ever, in most cases' it is possible He therefore led the ~ 21 East to exclude one of them from the could hardly misread the position. cards in sight. - The lead could not conceivably • Q 10 7 6 be the fourth best heart. It ~ 43 2 could only be looked upon as an 0 J 4 unnecessarily low card requesting + A 10 8 6 the return of the lower of dummy's • KJ 2 • 9 84 two remaining suits (clubs). ~ AS ~ J9765 Bidding inferences helped to O Q9753 0 K 102 find a good defence on this hand + 5"3 2 + K9 Love-all. Dealer North. · • AS 3 ' • 7 . . ~ K Q 10 · ~ J 8 7 0 A 8 6 0 AK1073 + QJ74 + Q J 9 5 6 4 West led the 0 5 against • 3 • KJ9 8 5 South 's two no ·trumps. East 6 K 10 4 ~A 5 ~ won with the K and 0 Q 9 8 6 2 0 Void 0 retun~ed the 0 10, South winning the th1rd + A 3 · + K 10 7 6 2 . AQ 102 round with the O A. On this trick West dropped the ~ Q 9 32 OQ. Dect~r 0 J 5 4 next took the club finesse wh1ch 8 4 lost a nd East returned a spade.' + . . West's OQ on the third trick .2A CONTRAOT BRIDGE JOURNAL constituted the play of a needlessly were playing· Culbertson and as high card suggesting ·a spade lead dealer the lady opened one no if and when East got in. It was trump, partner responded two vital to have a spade led so that hearts and the lady rebid four no the +Kcould be set up before trumps. Now comes the fun. the r::; A was knocked out. The Partner said " May I ask if she contract went two down. Here has heard my bid as she is very there could be no real ambiguity deaf." Expert said "Certainly, regarding West's purpose, since ask her.. to repeat the bidding." dummy's clubs were fairly strong This she did admirably. The and declarer led the suit himself. gentleman gave the Blackwood The convention can also be response 'of five diamonds showing applied in such.cases as this:- an ace and after some thought she now bid six hearts. Expert + K65 + A 10 8 4 2 + Q 3 being on lead and holding • J 9 7 + AJxxx, ~xx. 0 109x, + KQJ ventured a double but the con­ You lead the +4 against no tract was cold with these hands:- trumps. Your partner wins and Lady . Gentleman returns the +3 taken by your ace . • Kx • XX Since any spade will now clear

overtrick ·if East had the + K West deals. Game-all. singleton and in certain other + KQ • J 5 circumstances. True safety plays C::,4 (that is, ones which cost ~ trick) \7Q863 0 KQ743 0 A 9 62 should normally only be made in a KJ854 pairs event if the contract is + + 1062 unlikely to be the same at other Suppose you are playing in four tables. diamonds after the following The spade finesse won, and auction:-- . when West showed out the ugly West North East South trump break was revealed. West 10 NB 1\7 NB was then put in with a heart, and 2+ NB 20 NB wisely played a club. This was NB 2+ 30 -3+ run to East's +K and he returned 40 All pass a heart. A ruff by declarer, a A small trump was led, and small diamond ruffed in dummy, West won in his hand and crossed _ and a second heart ruff then left to dummy with the 0 A, on which this position:- South discarded a small spade. A small club from dummy now + Q7 brought the + 9 and West's \78 +J held the trick. What should 0- he do now? In practice, the + A"J declarer drew the last trump and · + Kl09 crossed to dummy with a fourth ~- \7 _ . round of trumps' to play another '·o ­1 w 1 0 9 club. · This admittedly ensures • JO 8 four club tricks if South holds + 9 + AQx, but it is unlikely to secure ten tricks. What actually happened was that the defenders then forced out West's last trump . ' by playing hearts, and won the last two tricks with the + A The •Q was cashed, and and a heart. In view of this d~cl~rer now has to guess East's danger, a better shot for West d!stnbutio_n in order to strip after winning the first club tri_ck him of hts remaining plain-suit is to draw the last trump and play card. Tarlo solved the problem the + K in the hope that North correctly by cashing the 0 Q and has held up the + A. The + A ~hen playing a club to throw East cannot be bare now, as no South :h· The fall of the +9 suggests player would play the + 9 from at East may well have no more 1 + Q9x. The play of the + K c ubs, but there is a stronger does in fact succeed, and at one argument: if West had had a table five diamonds were made ~~~~card diamond suit he might when the defenders failed to cash With thave 0 ~ned, not vulnerable, the + A. Declarer unblocked the ree dmmonds. clubs, discarded dummy's spades ha;~uy , an interesting part-score on the long clubs, and finally ruffed out North's + A. 27 CONTRAC'[ .BRIDGE JOUJlN.AL

The hand raises an interesting teams far behind, and regained bidding point. East would be the cup which they held' the wiser to raise one diamond to two season before last. After the first diamonds rather than respond session the only question to be one heart which gives the answered was Walter Hagen's opponents a chance to bid spades " Who's gonna be $econd ?" Mrs. at the level of one. Over t~o V. Cooper's London team, playing diamonds, West should then btd steadily throughout, · were the three diamonds, a purely uncon­ runners-up. structive bid intended to keep tne Two slams .landed by the opponents out of the auction. winning team raise some in­ It is obvious to West that the teresting points of squeeze-play:- opposition- can do well in the + 6 + A K97 major suits. (They can actually f{}A752 f{}KJ3 make four spades). The rather OQ87 OA63 dull-sounding sequence one dia­ +AKQ87 + 195 mond- two diamonds- three dia­ Miss Shanahan (West) played monds keeps East-West at a safe in a rather optimistic contract of level, shuts out the opponents, six clubs and1got a small trump and gives very little away. The lead. As the contract can hardly duck of the + A is only likely to be made unless the ~Q lies be made if West has bid his clubs. favourably, she took an immediate The leading scores, against an heart finesse, find then led a low average of 918, were: Mrs. Gordon diamond from dummy. South and S. Booker, 1>126 ; Mr. and Mrs. went up with the OK. and the Kingsley, 1082 (an excellent per­ slam was now home. If South formance in a strong field by an had played low, pretty certainly " unknown " pair); Mrs. Lester marking the 0 K with North, the · and A. Wolfe1d, 1062. declarer intended to play low, preserving the OQ as a menace 'The "Daily Telegraph " Cup for a possible squeeze. West The eleven lucky teams who · would play off the red-suit winners qualified for this final played and then all trumps, in the hope their three sessions in great that each defender guarded one comfort on an upper floor of the red suit, and that neither therefore " Daily Telegraph " building. As could keep three cards in spadesh. usual, the proceedings were ex- A good player sitting Nort cellently stage-managed by A . . J. would however wreck this plan bhy Smith, George Gray and their returning a spade on winning t c helpers, and as usual the " Daily diamond. No likely ~quee~c Telegraph " hospitality was ex- position could then exist; (I: cellent. In fact, the players were would be too much to hope th~. so b_usy eating and drinking during one player would guard t.... the t~terval, that none felt tempted spades and the hearts). Also, to dtsobey the stern instruction once the heart finesse has won the not to discuss the hands. South player might realize that the Th~ Middlesex " B " team (M. d fi d ld h · t make tWO Harnson Gray, Mt'ss D. Shanahan e en ers wou ave o JoVI , diamond tricks and play •J. and R. Sharples) left the other quickly holding the OK. Art 28 ,r CONJ:RACT BRIDGB JOURNAL improvement on the line of play has three of the World Champion~ adopted would therefore be to in her team, only just survived win the first club in dummy and against Mrs. Durran in an early play a low diamond at once. This round, and has still another match makes it far harder for South to to play before the quarter-final. duck holding the OK, or for Her team may be handicapped North to return a spade to break up in the final stages at Blackpool the squeeze. by the absence of Meredith, who Here is the other hand:­ may or may not have returned + K 7 62 from America by then. ~ J 2 The most exciting match of the 0 A 7 54 last month was certainly the + AQ IO Crockfords Cup clash between • Q 10 8 53 + A 19 4 J. Tarlo's te~m ( 1. and R. ~ 6 3 9 8 Sharples, Dr. M . Rockfelt and A. 0 J 8 0 Q9 6 2 Truscott) and Mrs. Markus' team, • J 8 7 3 + K92 for whom Mrs. Williams, M. + ­ Harrison Gray, B. Schapiro and ~ AK Q10754 and the captain played nearly all 0 K 10 3 the boards. Tarlo finally won by + 6 54 nine I.M.P. after being in arrears Bob Sharples played this in until the last set of eight boards. six hearts, which is another Mrs. Markus's early lead was optimistic slam contract. A club largely due to a defensive slip in an was Jed, and the + IO lost to the interesting situation. - +K. East now tried to cash the­ • A, which ended the hand Game-all. East deals . abruptly, but there is in fact no North defence. East will be squeezed in + 10 64 spades and diamonds whatever cy>Kl086 he does. His best chance, as it 0 AQ963 .. happens, is a diamond return + A which declarer must win in Dummy dummy. Declarer ruffs three East s~ades in the hope that the. ace • Q9873 wall fall, runs all his trumps and ' \-) A42 then squeezes East by entering 0 KJ dummy with the last club. · • Q73 '. Suppose you sit East, and are Other event; defending three !'o t~in~ doubled In the Gold · Cup there have after the followmg baddmg:- ~en no surprise results as yet. Tw~ , of the seeded teams; J. - West North . East South ar 0 and Mrs Markus have tNT NB . arched the qua~ter-final.stage at (weak) ackp?ol, although Mrs. Markus 2+ - NB 2. NB B~ gwen a tough ' fight by (conventional) G a~d of Nottingham.• Mrs. B. NB .. 30 . NB ' 3NT or on, who like. Mrs. Markus .Dbl. ·· All pass 29. t. ~ I I t: J• •· . , ,

CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL West leads the +10, and at a spade, which ·South, as you trick two declarer plays the OA expect, wins with the +K. Two and then the 06, on which West rounds of diamonds are played, discards a small club. You on which you part happily with a therefore try the spade suit, . heart, and less happily with a leading the seven on which South spade. When dummy's last plays the jack and West the ace. diamond is led, you have to After some thought West returns discard in this position:- the

+2 The Scottish pair reached four ~ J3 hearts without interference on this 0 A 10 8 4 2 sequence: one heart-one spade­ + A J 54 2 two diamonds-two hearts-four + A J 6 4 + K Q 10 9 8 hearts. The English North ~ AQ872 ~ K95 doubled partly on the bidding and 0- 0 97 partly on his handt which con­ • 10 9 7 3 • Q 8 6 tained,the + A, the ~AK and the • 7 53 two minor suit queens. The ~ 10 6 4 contract is obviously unbeatable. 0 KQJ653 In the other room the Scottish +K North doubled one heart and In Room 1 Konstam and Dodds South bid one spade. Four bid quietly to four spades and diamonds from West was then made 12 tricks. But in Room 2 passed out. East, probably onJy the bidding took an exciting too glad to play the hand in turn:- something undoubted, and per­ haps suspecting his partner's West Nnrtlz East South opening bid, refused to give a Fl/nl Prldq j\j}i preference. 1~ NB 1+ NB Lastly, here is a difficult slam ,2+ 2NT 3+ 40 which both sides missed:- 4+ NB NB 50 NB NB Dbl. All pass +AKQ76 • 1064 · The only hand on which North ~ 5 ~ AKQJ43 can want to enter the auction 0 AK 72 -~ 10 8 vu_lner~ble at a late stage is a two­ + K42 • J6 sutter m the unbid suits so the odd-looking two no tru:nps bid In both rooms the bidding clearly shows length in the minors. started one spade-two hearts­ A go o~ plan which many experts three diamonds-four hearts. The adopt ts for a minimum bid in no ~cottish West passed. The Eng­ tru~ps l? b~ for a take-out into an hsh West trie~ with five clubs, unbtd su1t m this way whenever but then passed five hearts. · 1t the; opponents have bid two suits, is a debatable point whether ~ P~td ay could now see that five four hearts bid shows a solid swt. dta":londs would be a good It is true that as most players ~ow sacnfice, and might even make if , play three diamonds is forctn& N~ rth had a 6-5 shape. He ve but it is not forcingto game. As• Wisely· proceeded gently in ord7r three hearts rebid might be passed. not to push East-West into five East would often' have to bid four spades. . hearts with a broken seven-card suit. My feetlng is that East Scot.Jand gained 6I.M.P. on the 1 followmg freak hand:- should bid five hearts to shoW + . . solid suit, and North can t~n 7 6 4 2 ~ Q 10 9 7 4 3 ~ ~8 . choose between six hearts and sll . 0 AKJ532 0 10 no trumps. Does your biddinl · 9 get you to either of these reaso~~" +J +A952 able slam contracts 1 32. .. CONTR:'"CT BRJD~E JOURNAL

Top marks to the Warwickshire ~atch Managers, M. A. Porter C.B.A. for the splendid organiza­ and H. K. Cooke. '.' Board Boy " tion, probably the best England Malcolm - Davies son of M;s has ever put on. The Warwick­ Maimie Davies. · shire chairman Mr., and Mrs. E. F. Briscoe gave a cocktail Party WlDTELAW CUP on the Sunday morning and . Sixteen teams competed for this in the evening the dinner 'the English Championship Ladies to the teams was certainly a competition and the final was won social success. There was a civic by Mrs. M. MacDonnell, Miss D. reception by the Lord Mayor of Coen, Mrs. N. Gardener and Mrs. Birmingham on the Saturday. The B. Gordon, who defeated Mrs. local press gave good publicity. Grisford, Mrs. Carr, Mrs. Preedy ·and Mrs . .t;Jriscoe by 36 l.M.P. ' Teams:- Eng/and-1. T. Reese and B...... Schapiro ; L. Dodds and K. THE FLITCH _. Konstam, J. M. Flint and R. A. This popular event was won by · Priday ; non-playi ng captain, Major and Mrs. Freddie North, Ewart Kempson. Mr. and Mrs. Earl were second, Scotland-Mrs. J. R. Hunter Mr. and Mrs. Leader Williams, and T. Lamb; Louis and Len third. ~henkin ; L. Rose and H. Cohen ; • • * • non-playing captain, W. George Don't' forget the London Con- Purnell. Referee, F. 0 . Bingham. gress April 22nd- 24th.

I • lAIN MACLEOD, .M.P• . . . BRIDGE IS AN EASY GAME " This book is clearly written and simple to undentand, and can be recommended to tyro and expert alike" lMUy T.,.,.,. ·. _. c. "A positive must for all who have longed toJ.!:~_A~ .. · '·1L "A very readable book, and. may become the ·standard ~ s~ . · ' work of the future" TIM . Illustrated Second edition 15/· net FREDER.IV.K l'JIJLLBB. 33 I ' . EXPE~T jU.P,GEMENT by PAUL MASTERS

For the average player t~ere a pair of county standard, arrived is no bigger trap than a mts~t. at their misfortune in the following Each player is so impressed wtth manner:- his own distributional values that South North it is frequently far too late when 1+ I they acknowledge the fact that they 1+ . 20 may well be disadvantages. An 3+ : 3+ , aJl red hand is tremendously 4+ ·40 attractive- until partner an­ 5+ nounces an all black one. This Who was the chief culprit? month's hand is a run of the Probably South because he was mill misfit, taken from the world the first serious culprit. If one championship match in New York. accepts, as is reasonable, the bids And since the problem is designed up to three clubs, then North can principally for the average player, do no better than bid three spades. it was fitting that the average That bid must surely imply an player, or rather the player in the inability to bid three no trumps average, should be the subject of and a desire to play in spades our investigation. rather than clubs even though + Q42 partner had shown a 6-4 in the Jl0865 black suits. ·This was surely the 0 K J 10 7 4 moment for South to realize that . ' + None there could be no game, in spite of his array of aces. Clearly there was no playable suit and with .at + A963 1 3 2 most a singleton club opposttc O A and his own Jack of support for AK8542 partner's suits three no trumps + would be unmanageable- South is the dealer with ·East- and partner had refused the ,/ West vulnerable: I surreptitiously opportunity to suggest a no arranged the full deal in a board trump contract. But South ~­ which I introduced into the pressed the view, and held. 11 weekly duplicate of the Leeds mulishly, that "with 15 potnts Bridge Club, a tournament whose and a six-card suit there m~t standard is at least as high as that be a game since partner had btd of any club outside London. twice." It is to be hoped th~t ~t:West took no part in the even if the current 700 penalty dtd btddmg and the conditions were not persuade him away frorn match-point sco"ring. that view the inevitable future Two pairs only produced a ones may. , . plus score and perhaps the· most _ No fewer than three patrs extravagent- contract was five arrived at three no trumps, usuallY clubs, doubled. The perpetrators, from these beginnings:- 34 .. CONTRACT BRIDGB JOURNAL South North and were still able to stop l

WE.LSH BRIDGE UNION

. SPRING CONGRESS LLANDUDNO APRIL 21st-24th (Pre-Congress Pairs April 18th-20th) . Five E~ents for Teams-of-Four (including Championship Teams and Ladies Teams) . Pairs Championship Open Pairs every Session

Write for Brochure: Major W. B. Tatlow, 22 Trinity Square, Uandudno

36 .. ·. ...

.· . - . OVER THE ._BO-RDER.

by ·c. E. DICKEL • ,.J

Ayrshire v. Western District At our table we _played in four _ This is normally a twelve table spades undoubted for one down match but, having so many ard no score on this bidding:- coupl~s anxious to take part, the Soutlr - West North East Ayrshire Secretary, Miss Galt, I + Obi. 3+ asked me if we could field sixteen 4+ - couples. This caused the Western In fact, with the exception of District no trouble at all and so Mr. Tail's opponents, all Western _ thirty-two strong we set off for the District couples played the hand . Burns Monument Hotel, which is North-South in spades and East­ adjacent to the birthplace of our West in diamonds. One Western National Poet. Mr. Tait, the District pair were allowed to play Ayrshire President, welcomed us and make three spades. Whilst warmly and we had a most it must be said that the Ayrshire delightful day in ideal surround­ players were good bidden, given ings. The cards, however, were a free run, this hand indicates very one-sided and the North­ a weakness in competitive or South couples had a thin time of tactical bidding. it. Harry Kershaw and Jim This next hand -was generally Munn . for the West amassed a played by South in three no plus score of 8,330 points on the trumps, but with varying degrees East-West cards and Messrs. Whit­ of success, one player only making worth and Thomson with a plus four tricks. Internationalist score of 6,550 had the highest David Skinner made nine tricks ~ score for Ayrshire. The Western No-rth-South Game. East deals. District, who had put out a very • Q63 str~ng team, won by 17,850 \? J9853 pomts over 34 boards. 0 AKIO ~nly one Ayrshire couple, Mr. + 73 ~a1t and his partner, reached the + JIO + K9875 dJamond slam on this hand. f;!) A 6 . \? Q 10 4 Game-all. South deals. 0 J32 <> 764 • Q9864 + K J 10 9 S 4 .+ 8 2 \? K9 5 + A42. 0 5 f;!) K·7 2 - • 9 7 6 3 <> Q985 • - +7 + AQ6 <:/ A Q 7 \? 10 8 3 2 East South 0 AK K 10 8 7 6 0 Q J 9 4 3 2 10 • 10 8 4 2 + A 5 + AKJ 10532 \? J 6 4 lNT~~t~~~fE- 0 9 • QJ CONTRACT BRIDOB JOURNAL the king in dummy. Skinner now led the \?9 from dummy and ~v en '\? 8 5 though not covered he ran It to ·O -KJ108 West's ace. The diamond ret~rn · + Q7o4 was won with the ten and t.he kmg • - • 10986 and another hea r~ played thys '\) AKI094 \? QJ63 establishing nine tncks, fo ur dia­ 0 97 0 - monds, three hearts and two black +AAJO + J aces. + KQJ Finally, here is a hand which '\? 1 shocked quite a few. 0- Game-all. West deals. + K985 + 5 Declarer has now the option or \? 8 5 ruffing three losing spades hi~ 0 KJ10863 and establishing the + IO if • Q7 6 4 the trumps are two-one or of cross-ruffing if the trumps are +A + 10 9 8 6 4 2 three-nothing. He can only fail

Make a note of these diJtes /

FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY APRIL 22nd APRIL 23rd APRIL 24th LONDON CONGRESS l (Licensed by English Bridge Union) at THE EMPIRE -ROOMS 161 Tottenbam Court Road, W.C

(Near W&rml Street Stalloa) . \

Entry forms and brochure from: Hon. Sec., F. Prrr REYNoLDs 32 HJOHBURY PLACE, LoNDON,. N.S CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL \ THE LONDON LEAGUE' (Positions according to results_received up to Feb. 28, 1955) • I Division I Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points I. M.P. The London Club " A " ... 4 4 0 0 8 109 Crockford's Club ... 4 2 1 1 5 29 Lyndhurst Club ...... 4 2 1 1 5 9 Mayfair Bridge Studio "A" 4 2 0 2 4 18 ·' Lederer's Club 3 1 l 1 3 - 15 I' Hamilton Club 4 1 0 3 2 - 58 5 0 l 4 - 92 Civil Service " A " ··,· l ..... Dh·islon II Civil Service " D " 3 2 I. 0 5 31 London International Bridge Club 3 2 0 1 4 29 The London Club " B " ... 3 1 2 0 4 27 Insurance Institute "A" 3 1 l 1 3 17 New Acol Bridge Club 4 1 1 2 3 - 6 Midland Bank " A " 4 1 l 2 3 - 10 B.B.C. Bridge Club 4 1 0 3 2 -88 Division . lll Westminster Dank 5 4 0 1 8 68 Midland Bank ·• B " 4 3 0 1 6 87 Insurance Institute "B " 4 3 0 1 6 46 Civil Service " C " 4 1 l 2 3 -59 Ariel Club ... 5 I I 3 3 - 54 Mayfair Bridge St~dio " '8'" 3 l 0 '. 2 2 - 29 National Bank of India ... 3 0 0 3 0 - SO Division IV Midland Bank " C " 5 5 0 0 10 54 P.L.A. Staff Club 5 . 4 0 1 8 46 Imperial College ... 4 3 0 1 6 94 Wembley Town Hall 4 1 "'] 2 3 39 Gaslight Imperial House··· 5 l 1 3 3 - 124 Mayfair Bridge Studio " c" 4 I 0 3 2 - 46 Northern Polytechnic 3 0 1 2 J - 29 G.P.o. Headquarters ~ 4 0 1 3 I - 34

JANUARY COMPETITION RESULTS • IYinner· G. P. LTJTLiR (St. Helens) 71 % A. p: DRIVER J. MILTON (Darley Dale) 71 % Mansfield, Marbury Road, A. F. GRUNDY (Worthing) 70% Anderton, Nr. Northwich 79%- L. G. HELM (Wallasey) 69 % Rllnner-up : C. VICKERMAN (Huddersfield) 67 % l . G. Wooo J. W. GREEN (Portadown) 66% 26 Bro xhol~ Road E. W. KJRK (London) 66% Be LaN~w~stle-upon-Tyne, 6 76% MRS. G. M. FAWCKNER st d1es Score: (Newport, Mon.) 65% 65% M~w·J . L. R•cuARDsoN 1 , G. D. SHARPE (Huddersfield) arren Drive J. E. GoRDON (Bromborough) '· 64% Wallasey 1 0 I 68% H. G. RuooES (Southport) 64% ct E1er t..eac' - 1·me Scores: • P. HEYWOOD (Hoylake) • 63% R.: M-Lwooo (Go~forth) 75% J. D .. L. HARMER (London) 62% J. T NcMAIION (PJetennaritzburg) 74% W. H. PEARSON (Bulawayo) 62% ' AYLOR (Cardiff) ' 61% C' GREEN (Alt . h 74% J. F. DUNSTAN (London) nne am) 73% J. K.. PATES (IIford) 60% 41 This Month's ·tomp.etition The C 0 NT R ACT BRIDGE more than one prize in any one riiOI6, JOURNAL offers a prize of TWO · Answers to J. C. H. MARX, eo. GUINEAS for the best set of solu- petition Editor Contract Btf4r tions to the following problems. Half Journal 63 Bedf~rd Gardens l.oodoil, a guinea will go to the second best w 8 'postmarked not Ia'tcr tblli set. .In the e~ent of two or more.sets of April 14, 1955. Solutions and 11111111 soluttons ~ tng .of eq~a~ ment, the of prize-winners will be -publisbcd ill monthly P~J.ZCS Will be dJVJd~ . . the May issue. There wtll also be a spec1al pnzc of half-a-guinea for the best score scot in Every entry must have cootcstllll's by a lady. naJ}le and address (IN Bl..O(% tmm~ A coupon must accompany each Fadurc to !lbserve these rules mala entry sent in. No competitor can take the entry v01d.

Problem No. 1 (15 points) West's hand is :- +K85, ~J4, 0 KQ10984, + A10. As dealer at game-all bcopcm one diamond and North-South do not enter the bidding. East-West have agreed to use the . What should be West's next call in each of these auctions ? West (a) 10 30 7 (b) 10 30 '1 (c) l 0 30 '1 East 3+ 40 2~ 4 0 2+ 40 . Problem No. 2 (15 points) . West's hand is:-+6, ~Q . OA108543, + KQI084. At Iove-all East deals and bids one heart. North-South do not bid. What should be West's next call in cadi of these auctions ? East (a) 1 ~ 2 + 3 ~ (b) 1~ 2NT 3~ (c) 1~ 2~ 3~ West 20 3+ '1 ~0 3+ '1 · 20 3+ '1 Problem No. 3 (24 points) · These hands were held by West and East in a match between two teams-of-ciabL West was the dealer at game-all. + A 10 2 + K J 7 6 53 ~A KJ 103 ~ 52 0 Void 0 J 9 7 . + K Q 1043 + 6 2 These were the auctions and results at the four tables:- Table 1 Table II Table Ill Table IV West 1~ 4+ 4~ · 1~ 30 4~ 1 ~ 30 6+ 1~ 3+ 3+ North - 40 - - 4 0 -- 40 -- 3()- East l + -- 1+ - - • • 4+ _ 1+ - I - South 20 -- 20 -- 2 0 -- 20 -- 03 led OJ led O K led OK Jed 200 to ~-S. 200 toN-S. . 100 toN-S. 200 to E-W. Each of the fou.r p:urs fell su~stantially below their par score of plus 650 for game at four .spades Wlt.h an. overtnck. Name the call in each auction that was iuost respons1ble for the1r domg so. Add in brackets the best alternative call. • Problem No. 4 (IS points) · West's hand is::-+ QI043, ~ Q102, 0 1053, + AKS. At game:an East as de3)er o~ns one ~fa sutt. North-South do not bid. West responds one spade and fJSl ratses( t)o 6wo shpndes. What should West say next where East has opened:- a ne cart; (b) One djamond; (c) One club? Problem No~ S (9 points)+ ~e hands of West and East arc:- ~ Q 64 • ~~~03 0 A Q 10 8 7 4 g K 3 2 7 West is the d 1 d+ hA 5 + K 6 3 rtlt- South passing th'::~Jn t i schrc Iove-all. Construct a ~ound auction, N~or conventions (or none) ~a~1 'be or t e ;,;·o ha~ds . Any well-known systemAa bidS whose significance is not self ~sdum hto be m use and should be stated. ny -evt ent s ould be annotated. 42 CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL

Probkm No. 6 (10 points) · West's hand is:-+AKJ4, \/Q98, OA, + Kl0653. At game-all as dealer he opens one club. North-South do not bid. East responds two diamonds and West rebids two spades. What should West. say next where East rebids to:- (a) Two no tmmps; (b) Three dtamonds? Problem No. 7 (12 points) The bands of West and East are:- + J7654 + AK9 \? 6 \? A K 10 5 0 AK5 4 0 987 +KJ6 + A84 West, a little too ambitious.Jy, has become declarer at a contract of five spades, after an auction in which North-South took no part. North leads the \/4. How should West plan tho play? ANSWERS TO JANUARY COMPETITION Problem No. 1 (24 points) These hands were held by East and West in an inter-dub match between two large teams played on aggregate scoring:- IYest East + K6, (!) Kl04, OQI087, +KJ85. + At0854, ~ 5. O KJ5, + AQ97 The optimum contract in clubs eluded many of the pairs, of whose auctions the foUowing is a selection. East was the dealer at Love-all and North-South did not enter the bidding:- East (a) t+ 3+ NB (b) t + · 3+ 4+ (c) t + 3+ 50 West 2NT 3NT 2NT 3+ NB 2NT 30 NB East (d) J+ 3+ NB (e) t+ 4+ NB West . 2+ 3NT 2+ 4+ State which call from each auction was most responsible for the failure. Answers: East undoubtedly bas five spades, • ·.1 (a) 3NT- 5 they may not be very good ones; for if (b) 3+- 5 they were he could have jumped to game (c) 50-4 without mentioning the clubs. ' East's (d) lNT- 5 2+-4 ._ hand is probably and 3 unbalance~ W~t (c). 4+ -5 2+ -4 + - t2 can' judge that a shortage m hearts ts 1 4 more likely to be fatal to a no trump a~ is .~air to say that West's hand is contract than in diamonds. The three· It isft: 1 cal as a.two no trump response. diamond bid made by West in case (c) is there 1~f prom1se for a no trump game, accordingly the best move open to h1m, an h mg no pronounced weakness for if East is not afraid of hearts be may ~ ere. But it is less hopeful for a now be happy to revert to no t~mps . lengthsat a ~uit , since the four-card _ As it happens East is very afrrud of honou are tn the minors and the · hearts but he can at a pinch support ·, trick tr strength is . not of the quick diamo'nds. What he ought not to ~ve in a {~· TJ:tere IS very little virtue done is to raise them to five, for which ~hen th ponztng bid like two clubs he has neither the trump support !lo.r ~he Jlerfectl e more direct measure so general strength. Though dtshking hand . .fiu portrays the nature of the West's first response in (d), one can by his ~~he I_Tioment opener indicates sympathize with his second-round suit cont d bid that he would prefer a plunge. He has a no trump type of tcviey.'e

Problem No. 2 (16 points) East as dealer at Love-all opens one heart. North-South do not bid. Well responds two diamonds, East rebids three diamonds, West three hearts, East feu clubs. What should West say next when holding:- (a) + QJ5 ~ K64 OAQ8643 +2 (b) + AS ~JJ06 OAJ765 + Q52? Ansll'ers: lOxx, OKxx, +Axxx. Ho~'C\U Well (a) 50-8 5+--t must not jump to the conclusion tml spades are in fact controlled, bcamc (b) 4 ~-8 4 0-5 East might still have thought it wonb East, who has been asked to choose making the mild suggestion with a rather between hearts and diamonds, or more . In (a) five dia­ possibly no trumps, as a final contract, monds is the obvious and strai~ cannot reasonably be construed as forward bid for West. It denies spa.k searching for another potential trump control but promises a good dianiood suit so late in the auction. Since he suit and confirms an honour in he3JtS. appears to be evading the question of ~t, with any hand similar to t!'c IJ!lC the denomination, West can only con- tllustrated, will clearly now btd ~ elude that clubs have been introduced Five clubs is a somewhat fanciful ~ as a cue-bid, carrying the implication that offers second round control, but • of a possible slam. As such it must of may confuse East into believin~ WI course be considered in the light of East's West is himself short of spades; tt also first prudent raise to only three dia- omits what is probably more impo~ mon~s. ~est should not find it difficult to East, the emphasis on the good ~ to vtsualtze a hand that might cause mond suit. In (b) West has not ..... East to shake off his earlier caution once hand to accept a slam suggdttll!': hearts had been supported. ll might be there will almost certainly be gaps Ill somethinglikethisperhaps- + x. ~AQ- one nr hoth red suits. Problem No. 3 (16 points) West'~ hand is:- + AKJI09, ~A8 7, 053, + KQIO. sh~d Wtht dealer a~ Love-all. North-South do not enter the \lidding. Wbst Eas cs say next m each of the following auctions? W t (a) 1 ~ 3+ 4 ~ 50 (b) I 0 3+ 40 est 2+ 3~ S+ 1 2 + 3+ 1 Answers: ifictD!. (a) 5+ - 3 scarcely be said to be magn 5 ~-8 6 ~_ 6+_ dc2l. (b) 4 ~-8 4NT (conventional)-2 2 Having already encouraged a gre:t~ to 6 0-S 6 West would now be well adv fad as lf, as it .appears in (a), East holds draw in. If East's hearts are In b'd~ t~e . 0 (>-, h~s hand must have distinct good as KJ or QJ, he will himself t • ' !tmttattons tn some other respect. fo s_Iam with two other a~ . Thc11; ~~t 1t ~ust be borne in mind that he' had httle to be said for offenng altc~us earlter a~nounced himself as quite contracts in spades or clubs! ~ content wtth game in spite of West' possibly avoiding dependence ~ arc f'?rce; he was only persuaded to sho~ hearts. ln (b) East's diamO~ club! h1~ ace w~en West continued in face of clearly very much better than hiS ~ th1s ~ammg . It is highly probable that and East should o'n no account s;:r uiL ED:st s weakness lies in his own trump what is probably only a four-ca ~~ swt, for which West's support ""'n But West is powerful enough i!' ~-.....d ..... to entertain a slam in what ts 411"""'- 44 ~ CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL

· rt~nly a six-card suit, even though he step to what may even tum out to be a ~mself holds only a s~all doubleton. grand slam if the diamonds are headed The cue-bid in he<1rts JS a useful first by all three top honours.

Problem No. 4 (20 points) ' ' · • Give an example of a hand t hat West might hold consistent with tHe bidding, 50 far as it has gone, in each of these (rather unusual) auctions:- East (a) t+ 3rv' (b) I+ 20 (c) I+ 20 , West !NT 4+ !NT 2rv' !NT 3rv' Of these auctions (b) is the least two. But now, with heartS as trumps and unusual and answers are awarded a the + A, the hand has become trans­ maximum of six points with seven each formed. In (b) West' is-not compelled to the others. In all three cases it is to speak again, except to return to assumed that West is not a player who spades if he..prefers them to diamonds. uses his no trump responses in a com­ But here . he has neither passed nor pletely artificial and unnatural manner; expressed preference, although known that is to say, he will not be wholly to be quite weak. Clearly he must unprtpared to play his hand at a one consider diamonds a dangerous contract no trump contract in the event of and spa des not much bette-r unless East everyone subsequently passing; he will has five of them. But he is able to offer not have a seven-card suit to an honour a rair heart suit as an alternative; if or two and nothing besides. Ruling East cannot stand it he can return to out that deformed style of bidding, we spades at the same level. West probably must enquire into what sort of sense has doubletons in both East's suits. "West's second bids make. In (a) East In (c) West's extraordinary second bid has forced to game in spite of dis­ can be explained only in the assumption couragement and is likely to hold a that the mention of diamonds has prttly strong two-suher. West should greatly excited him, even though East normally express preference for one suit has not forced. With limited honour or the other; or with no particular liking strength, he is unlikely to become so for either fall back on three no trumps; excited without some ~ sort of fit for he. cannot start showing genuine minor spades as well, probably a singleton top lUtts at the level of four which he was honour. There will be found below two ~t ~repared to do at the level of two. possible examples of each case:- h h1s four club bid, a departure from ~ e n~rmal Pr?ttdure, is evidence of a (a) + x X heeen. tntcrest m a hand which earlier QJ x xx ( . vtcwed with indifference. As spades rv> KJ xx ~led to excite him before it is obviously 0 X X X or X X X as rts that are doing so n~w. Prospects + A x xxx Axxx by ~ sees th~m have improved so much he is e men~ ton. of. hearts that he feels _(b) • X X X X mcrt!"ot ~~lng JUStice to his holding by rv' K J X X X Q 10 9 X X rcbidy rat ~ tng them to game, a forced indeedconsistent . with a very poor hand 0 X X or J X heartS ·h. Very ltkely he would have bid + K IOxx KJ XX at th 1 tmself if he could have done so ope~ ev~:hof one; but his partner had (c) + K Kx a markJ' . spades, for which he had rv> Ax x xx Axxx to compel ~! staste, ~nd he did not wish himself h tm. posstbly to rebid them by 0 Q X X X X or Q 10 X 'X X ~ angtng the suit at the level of + X .X X X

I ~emernber to enclose coupon with each entry sent in. Also remember ere Is a special prize for the best entry sent in by a lady.

45 , CONTRACT BRIDGE J OUR NAL

Problem No. 5 (24 points) . . .. The following auctions begin tn a ~P.t~ted mann.e~ but peter C?Ut ~ !aJIIdr at a low level. Disregarding any posstbihty o~ susptcton of ps~chic bt~ding by IIIJ of the players, state (Yes or No) whet~er Wests ~nal pass can m any ctrcumstaJx:a be justified:- (c) East (a) 1• NB (b) Redbl. NB Dbl NB South Dbl. NB NB NB I+ NB NB West Redbl. NB I+ NB NB NB NB NB North 2~ DbI. 2~ NB 2~ East (d) 1~ 2~ (e) ~ ~ NB 2~ South Dbl. NB Db!. NB NB West Redbl. NB Redbl. Db!. NB North t+ NB t+ NB N B Answers: out double into one for penalties, but (a) N~ (b) No-5 (c) Yes-5 this is no evidence of anything but a­ (d) Yes-5 (e) Yes-5 holding of spade length over the openiq The redouble of a take-out double bidder. West may therefore be in a does not create a forcing-to-game position of having nothing more to say. situation, but it does mean that the East in (d) has disobeyed his panncr:s player who makes it considers his side • request tmplicit in the redouble; bis to have a substantial advantage in opening bid is therefore su~nonml honour strength over his opponents, so defensively and, since he has merdJ that the bidding can safely continue repeated the one suit, he probably 1w for at least another round. If in fact little interest in any other. Th~ hoi~ either partner passes, the other is of a strong one-suited opemng ~ expected to do something about it, could have jumped the bidding at tiJ!s either to bid himself or preferably, if he point, but East has,not done so; West II thinks he can do so profitably, to therefore entitled to give up once he~ double the opponents for a penalty. learned of the limitations of his partners This trapping of the opponents is one hand, for he may well judge that his ov.~ of the primary objects of the redouble; values· will fit too poorly with East.s if it were not, there would be little for game to be worth trying. In (c) it point in wasting time and not getting seems rather tantalizing of East to p35l on with the bidding in the normal way. the opposing spade bid for West to With this end in view, the redouble is double and then not allow the double to invested with a conventional request to stand, but doubtless he did not wisJ! 10 partner not to say anything on the next suggest such nn inflexibly o~s~~':1 round excepl to double the opposing hand as that in (d). Clearly his fWl" bid. When this request is not observed cannot be at all suitable for a .spade the inference is unmistakable that th~ contract and this argues that he JS 110} offender is not interested in a penalty without support for other suits, o~ 0if double of the existing contract or which he hoped West might bl tbC possibly of any low-level contract· the unable to support hearts. But t opening bid was too weak defens'ively simple rebid of this one suit ~t for such a double to be profitable or even imply more than n moderate opc;lllliSbc safe. ~ccordingly in (a), East's pass is best and West cannot be satd t~ po _eytdence of weakness, only of under any obligation to contJo~ lnabthty to . double two hearts. It though of course in many cases he \\ cannot be nght, therefore, for West • • • • who has previously announced that h~ The annual Oxford-Cambridge ~ has the Situation in hand, now tamely for the Norman Watson Rose Bowl biJc t«? pass. In (b) East's pass, following hiS redouble, also means that he cannot be played nt the Royal Automfardl d_ouble two hC

I N. IRELAND NOTES Pro~nclal Mixed Pairs Championship Do you kno\~ Thts was won by Mrs. McCormick: and Mr. T. J. McAfee with 135 M.P. Runners-up were Mrs. Whitten and Mr Rosenberg with 131 M.P. and third modern place was taken by Mr and Mrs . . . J. McKenzie 124 M.P. · · Belfast League Championships The Scnio,r Lea~e was won by Mr. OIL-FI RED E. Gol?blatt s Jewtsh Institute team with 13 pomts, runners-up being Mrs. L. Malcomson's Malone Club team with ·heating? II points. The Junior League winners were The ''HOME-FIRE" with Its thermo­ Mr. W. Amott's Bangor Club team with statically controlled heat and absence of 17 points, closely followed by Mrs. dirt Is an essential luxu ry In the modern Ingram's Shandon Ladies team with 16 residence. points and Miss J. Glass's Shandon Ladies team with IS points. Why not convert your small Indepen­ dent boller to oll firing and banish for Provincial League Championships ever the drudgery of carrying fuel The Senior league was won by Mr. buckeu and clearing ashes? The ''HOME­ Seamus Blaney's Newry team, and the FIRE " offers the cheapest form of clean, Junior League by Mrs. McDowell's labour free heat for hot water and Lurgan team. These teams will meet central heating, the Belfast League winners for the Northern Ireland League championship. Stlld now for (ull dttails lltld name of noorest dealer. Provincial Towns Cup ~ Won by Mr. McAvoy's Team (Bangor) 8 points. Runners-up: Mrs. Cobum:S team (Banbridge) 7 points. International Pnnel Test As a result of this test, over 96 boards, conducted on a Swedish Switch movement, the following pairs were selected to constitute the International Panel: Miss M. Cole and Mr. D. Riley, Mr. M. Rosenberg and Mr. H. Schenker, Mrs. Atkinson and Mr. Gabbey, Mr. D. A. Cohen and Mr. H. S. Dill· mond, Mr. H. Williamson nnd Mr. G. Adair, Professor Mackinnon and Mr. L. Herbert, Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Loy, Mr. E. Agnew and Mr. S. Blaney. The first three pairs were chosen to represent Northern Ireland against Wales at Colwyn Bay on March S-6• . OIL BURNER • • • • '-talltd In ..,_dtnt bo/our .•mall lnde­ APRIL AND MAY CONGRESSES stora1, ~n~r "'llh ISO pl. LIOO compl From under April •te, . 21-24 Welsh B.U. . .. Llandudno 22-24 London C.C.B.A. London NU.WAY m' B HEATING PLANTS LTD May · ( ox 236), Droltwlch ' 13-15 Yorkshire C.B.A. Scarborough 20-23 Devon C.B.A. .. • Torquny 21-29 Contract Bridge II:Mi:U.nowr• Association of Treland ... Killarney 47 , - ,English Bridge Union (Chairman: J. W. PEARSON, EsQ.) '

SEASON .1954-55

Hon. Secretary and Treasurer... H. CoLLINS, EsQ., A.C.A., c/o Messrs. Leaver Cole & Co., 30 Budge Row, Cannon Street, London, E.C.4. (Phone: City 4887) Hon. Tournament Secretary .. . MAJOR GEOFFREY FELL, Craven Lead Works, Skipton, Yorkshire. (Phone: Skipton 32) Hon. Registrars ...... Messrs. LEAVER, CoLE & Co. The Council of the English Bridge U_nion is made up of Delegates from County and Area Associations, whose Secretanes are as follows:- DERBYSHIRE E. White, 119 Alexandra Road, Burton upon Trent. DEVONSHIRE G. Graham Wilson, Esq., 8 Georgian Court, Babbacombe Road, Torquay ESSEX F. M. Fletcher, Esq., 22 Fontayne A\'CIII&, Chigwell GLOUCESTERSHIRE W. N. Morgan-Brown, Esq., S, Douro Road, Cheltenham HERTFORDSHIRE ... C. G. Grenside, Esq., I Cloisters, Grange Court Road, Harpenden, Herts KENT ... Mrs. R. H. Corbett, West Kent Club, Boyne Park. Tunbridge Wells LEICESTERSHIRE ... L. G. Cayless, Esq., Farm Edge, Leicester Road, Thurcaston LINCOLNSHIRE Mrs. S. N. Dean, 2 Westlands Avenue, Grimsbf LONDON F. Pitt Reynolds, Esq., 32 Higbbury~ Piacc, Loodaa. N.5 MIDDLESEX Mrs. J. Johnston, 54 Berkeley Court, Babr Street, London, N~W . I NORFOLK R. Mallinson, Esq., Shibdcn, Lower Heltcsdoa. Norwich ' NORTH EASTERN ... R. G . Stuart, Esq., 42 Gt. Lime Road, ForeSt Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne NORTH WESTERN ... J. P. Figgis, I South Albert Road, Uvc~..'!J! NOTTINGHAMSHIRE J. H. C. Godfrey, Esq., Leighton House, u­ Street, Nottingham OXFORDSHIRE ...... M~ . R. G. Beck, I Blenheim Drive, Oxfo~ SOUTHERN COUNTIES ... Jotnt Srcretar/es: Edward Saul and M~,j· Haslam, Lindsay Manor, LindsaY IWI"' Doumemouth STAFFORDSHIRE ... P. Hartill; Esq., Westholm, Wood Road, coctsaJ1. Wolverhampton "-·•" SURREY R. F. R. Phillips, Esq., 110 Banstcad Road.__ f • Sutton SUSSEX ...... Mrs. Ricardo, 12 Byron Road, Worthin&d, ..:. WARWICKSHIRE ... F. q. Bingham, Esq., 64a Greenhill Roa - mmgham, 13 WORCESTERSHIRE R. D. Allen, Esq., 28 Britannia Square. W~ YORKSHIRE ... Mrs. A. Cartwright, 146 Soothill Lane. JadcJ,. •- CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS 51- per line. Special terms for a series

ORIDGE CLUBS AND HOTELS

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT IIARROWHARROW DIUDOC Ci.uo- 16 NorthWIC· k p ark WUT KEI'IT CLU-12 Boyne Park, Tun­ R ,d Harrow Middx. Tel. Harrow 3908. bridac Wells. Comfortable, well-appointed G~l11andard Drid.:e in en •orable atmosp,here. Bridge Club. Fully licensed. Stakes 3d. and ScJsions twice daily. Par1nen h1ps and Duplicate. 6d. Rcaular Pannenhlp and Duplicate. Private parties spcclaUy catered for. For fUrther details apply to R . H. Corbett, Secretary. Tel. Tun­ bndge Wells 21$13. LONDON SOUTHPORT GuilD SLAM DIIIDOF CLUI-17 Craven The Noted Club n the North-West. the Hill Gardens. W.2. Pho ne: Padd 7234. Pro­ SotrrnPOIIT B.C. welcomes visitors. Every prietor Or. W. Spirer. Stakes 6d. 1/- and 2/-. anemoon, stakes 2d. to 1/-. Partnership Sunday, Panncnhip cvenonjp, T uesday. Thursday and Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Duplicate S11urday. Best 1/- aame In london. Night 1ames twice monthly. ' Secretary, Mn. E. A. Tawse with refreshments. 399 Lord Street. Tel. 4490.

TUITION NICO GARDENER teaches players of all PERFECT YOUR BRIDGE under cham­ 11andanls by new method. Claues, team pionship auidancc. Private or Group Tuition. c:oachinc. correspondence courses. The London Practice classes. Duplicate coac1lln1. Lectures. School of Bridae, J8a K ina's Road, London, Folder free on request from The M ayfair Bridae S.WJ KENsington 2197 Studio (Dept. ,), I 14 Wi,more Street, London, W.t. WELbcck 66,. SERVICES All kinds of Bridae equipment DUPUCATE BRIDGE BOARDS Price U st on a pplication to Stronglf. made, Quick delivery. Mrs. D. M. KtNO Size 7"aq. £'f"- per set of 32 plus 2{10 postage (Autborised A&ent, E.D.U.) and registrao~on . Metal Edges lb/· per set extra. 15 Hale Lane, London. N.W.7 Acwal Malur: F. Lawes, 10 Farquhar Road, Phone : MILL HILL 2007 Edabaston, Birmir1ham,U

EASTBOURNE WHITEHALL BRIDGE CLUB AND RESIDENTIAL HOTEL Go:~d Bridge In comfort Club License Two Sessions dally Overlooking Sea Front ITAKE.S ld., ld. and 6d. TERHS £7.7.1 to tll.ll.l HOWARD SQUARE, E AS T B 0 U R N E Tel. 492 - CHAS. BRADBURY, LTD. l6 SACKVILLE STREET, PICCADILLY. LONDON, W.t Phone: REG 3113·3995 LOANS ARRANGED Witlt or Without Security

Flm ed/t/on so 1d out- Second ediUon now ready HOW TO WIN AT BRIDGE b•• H. St. JOHN INGRAM Published by Eyre & Sa:ottlswoode or all booksellers 3/6 . E·:R~ U. -·. \

AU who desire to further the development of Contract Bridge as a game should be members of, and support TilE ENGLISH BRIDGE UNION . the governing body for Engla~~

I• Membership of the Union may be obtained through membership of the appropriate affiliated County Association or m Counties where no County Association exists, by direct application to LEAVER COLE & CO., 30 Budge Row, London, E.C.4 (Registrars to the E.B.U.)

.•'.

Membership of the E.B.U. entitles you to: "·(a) All Literature (b) Entry to all National Competitions (c) A voice m the management of the game

I I I I · ,,;.,.,;,"·~· ...;.,;,,,""'"E. B. u. - .,.; ~~he3 ,rroproetors hy llu11h Qurh~t 'L~~Lt~~Lrg. ltetrut l'lace, lbcl..r;<)', E.9. aml ru~'dillt d ~ ~·or direct from the l'ubliihcrs R .• 0 •er .Street, London, W.l. On u lc at;!~_ .... an e"ooundland. .