BRIDGE Number Eighty-nine June 2008 QPLUS 8.8
The very best Acol-playing Software available
FEATURES SYSTEM HANS LEBER Friendly Interface (see above) 8mb RAM Hint and Help Buttons – always at hand CD-ROM Easy Windows Installation Pentium or Comprehensive Manual equivalent Rubber, Duplicate and Teams Scoring Windows XP or Vista Instant results playing in teams mode 1,500 pre-played hands for teams LAST CHANCE 2,300 pre-played hands for match-pointed pairs Trade-in your old or unwanted bridge software Feed in your own deals by sending it, together with a cheque for £49, to Systems include: Acol, Standard American, Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill GU21 2TH and several others or create your own. by 30 June 2008. Order with confidence. £79.95 including postage
Make your cheque payable to and send to: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 FEATURES 1 Bubble Caption Directory Form BIDDING QUIZ BRIDGE Competition 47 Declarer Play 3 Bidding Quiz Quiz Answers by Bernard Magee by Bernard Magee by David Huggett ou are West in the 4 50 Conspiracy Theory auctions below, playing by Dick Atkinson Y Cut-out Form 'Standard Acol' with a weak 8 Julian Pottage says 51 The Lesser of Two Evils no-trump (12-14 points) and If in Doubt, get ‘em by Freddie North four-card majors. Out – Draw Trumps (Answers on page 46) ADVERTISEMENTS Ryden Grange 9 Keep Talking to ME! Knaphill, Surrey by Linda Saunders 2 QPlus 8.8 1. Dealer West. E/W Vul. GU21 2TH 12 Bernard Magee says 4 Tunisia 2009 m A8 2 Throw a Loser n Q 9 7 6 5 4 3 5 Gentle Duplicates 01483 489961 on a Loser o 4 Fax 01483 797302 6 Rubber / Chicago 15 A Walk in the Summer p 4 3 Bridge Events e-mail: by Countryman Aegean Cruise West North East South [email protected] 17 Heather Dhondy says ? Third Hand Plays High 7 Christmas 2009 website: 7 Charity Bridge Events www.mrbridge.co.uk 18 Stephen Cashmore says 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul. Make the Most 10 2009 Summer Cruises m K 9 8 7 4 All correspondence should Economical Bid On Board Discovery n 2 be addressed to Mr Bridge. 19 Beryl Hutchinson, 13 Latimer House o 6 4 Please make sure that all Red Cross Vice-Chair Bridge Events p J 8 6 3 2 letters, e-mails and faxes 20 Speling Chequer 14 Staverton Park carry full postal addresses West North East South 21 Dave Huggett says Bridge Weekends and telephone numbers. 1m Pass Support Partner 16 Declarer Play ? Managing Editor 22 Bridge in the 19 Harben House 25th Century Mr Bridge Bridge Weekends 3. Dealer West. Love All. by Michael Scarrott 19 Multi-suited Pens m K 4 3 Associate Editor 27 Defence Quiz n K Q 7 2 by Julian Pottage 20 Marsham Court Julian Pottage Bridge Weekends o Q 3 2 28 Declarer Play Quiz p K 8 4 Technical Consultant by Dave Huggett 20 Stamps West North East South Tony Gordon 29 Justin Corfield says 25 Theobalds Park Knock Out the Entry to Bridge Weekends 1NT Pass 2NT Pass Bridge Consultant the Danger Hand First 26 Milton Hill House ? Bernard Magee 32 Harold Schogger says Bridge Events Lead Up To Weakness 27 Beach Hotel 4. Dealer North. Love All. P roof Readers m AK 6 4 33 Andrew Kambites says Bridge Weekends Danny Roth n AJ 6 3 Make a Safe Lead 28 Barony Castle Hugh Williams Against 6NT Bridge Events o 8 7 6 5 p 5 F reddie North 34 April Bubble Captions 30 Winter Cruises On Board Discovery Software Support 37 Readers’ Letters West North East South 36 The Olde Barn Hotel 1o Dbl Pass 01483 485340 42 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage Bridge Events ? Events & Cruises 43 The Gathering 43 Wychwood Park Bridge Events 5. Dealer North. Game All. 01483 489961 by Roy Jones m K 9 7 4 44 Bridge Club Listing 43 2009 Diaries Leanora Adds n K 6 Baltic Special Jessica Galt 46 Bidding Quiz Answers o 8 3 2 Holly Cobbett by Bernard Magee 48 Holiday Diary p Q 7 6 5 Rachael Everett Bridge Club 52 Harwich to Nice Cruise West North East South Address Changes 1NT Dbl 2m The views expressed in this publication are not ? 01483 485342 necessarily those of the publisher or its Managing Editor.
Page 3 NEW LAWS The cruise from Harwich to Nice has a large contingent of Bridge Players on board. Hosted by Bernard Magee, it AT THE ROYAL KENZ will be a party for improvers, beginners, club players and those to do not even play TUNISIA 2009 bridge but like to be part of a group. Alison Nicolson is on board especially to help the beginners and improvers and there is a large Mr Bridge The time for gripes, moans Team to make sure everyone and groans is over. The feels involved. The special World Bridge Federation has discovery price of £559 per promulgated the new Laws person for a shared inside of Duplicate Bridge. cabin includes the oil In England, these take effect surcharge. from August 2008 and the THE GOOD NEWS fully revised version of Duplicate Bridge Rules The 2009 Summer Cruise Simplified will be published brochure is ready and it just ahead of that date. features all the usual Northern and Mediterranean David Stevenson has already favourites. By popular revised Introduction to demand, a Round the British Duplicate Bridge, which I Isles Cruise has been added include as an eight page to Discovery’s schedule. centre fold pull-out as part Phone 01483 489961 for of this issue. yours, now. It is now up to all of us who Two-week half-board play, to fully acquaint THE BAD NEWS ourselves with the rules and The recent huge increase in duplicate holidays play in accordance with oil prices would seem to be them. going to be part of our lives, 22 Feb – 8 Mar £699* at least for the time being TUNISIA Bernard Magee and his Team and there are the inevitable Popular demand insists that I price increases. 8 March – 22 March £699* add a couple of extra fortnights at the Royal Kenz BETTER NEWS Chris Barrable and Ann Pearson as I am restricting Bernard Bernard Magee is hosting Magee’s party to no more only the one cruise in 2009 – 22 March – 5 April £699* than 100 bridge players. See a repeat of this years Cruise adjacent advertisement. Ring to the Riviera bridge Ray and Liz Hutchinson Tunisia First for one week jamboree. deals. *per person half-board sharing a twin-bedded room and is In addition to Early Booking inclusive of bridge fees. Single supplement £5 per night. BACK COVER Fares, there is a launch offer These prices are based on air travel from Gatwick to £100 off any 2009 cruise Monastir. Flights from other UK airports are available at a STORY booked before 30 June 2008 supplement. All prices are firm until 30 June 2008. Prices and the usual 5% discount for seven-night stays are available on application. for all Discovery Club Pay £70 per fortnight per person extra and have a pool- Members. facing room, tea & coffee making facilities, bath robe and a bowl of seasonal fruit. DISCOVERY CLUB
These holidays have been organised for by Tunisia First Limited, ATOL 5933, If you receive a special offer working in association with Thomas Cook Tour Operations Limited, ATOL 1179. in the post from Discovery, do remember you are still DETAILS & BOOKINGS able to book with Mr Bridge. Just call 01483 489961 to 01483 489961 ensure you are part of the exclusive Mr Bridge Party.
Page 4 DIRECTORY
GENTLE DUPLICATES 2008 STAVERTON PARK THE OLDE BARN GENTLE Staverton, Daventry, Toll Bar Road, Marston, Northants, NN11 6JT Lincolnshire, NG32 2HT DUPLICATES
The compilation of the Bridge Club Directory is now really underway but £129 still so many clubs have not responded. On pages 44 and 45, I list all the clubs JUNE that have as at 5 May. I believe that a complete 6 – 8 Staverton Park THEOBALDS PARK HARBEN HOUSE directory, kept up-to-date Bulls Cross Ride, Cheshunt, Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell, and published annually could 27 – 29 Theobalds Park Hertfordshire, EN7 5HW Buckinghamshire, MK16 9EY be a major tool in revitalising bridge. Action… please. JULY
SUCCESS 18 – 20 Staverton Park Gentle Duplicates are 25 – 27 Theobalds Park continuing to be hugely popular. Rubber bridge devotees are really quite AUGUST enthusiastic. Some have signed up for another 15 – 17 Staverton Park weekend of the same, while Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... others have left the weekend SEPTEMBER fully determined to join their Address...... local club. It’s wonderful. 26 – 28 Theobalds Park ...... HOW IT WORKS ...... Postcode ...... A Gentle Duplicate Event OCTOBER costs £129 per person. The 17 – 19 Staverton Park ...... price includes two nights full board and six sessions of 24 – 26 Harben House Please book me for ...... places, duplicate – numbers are restricted to a maximum of 31 –2/11 Theobalds Park at Hotel ...... 36, nine tables. on dates...... Payment must be made in NOVEMBER full at the time of booking, Single ...... Double ...... Twin ...... by cheque or debit card. 7 – 9 Harben House Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking Please understand these 21 – 23 Staverton Park weekends and midweek ...... events are designed for those 28 – 30 Theobalds Park Please send payment in full of £129 per person per place by cheque, wanting to try duplicate or payable to Mr Bridge. A receipt will be sent with your booking confir- who have previously found mation. 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be These breaks are designed for sent together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you duplicate stressful. You may require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker. bring more experienced those who want to try duplicate, those who are nervous and friends on the strict , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH understanding that the pace those on their own. There will of play is deliberately slow be six bridge sessions, no 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 and set at a speed that will seminars and no prizes. e-mail: [email protected] encourage newcomers to website: www.holidaybridge.com become regular addicts.
Page 5 REALISM SNAIL MAIL In Michael Scarrott’s story in this issue, about bridge in RUBBER / CHICAGO 2008 the twenty-fifth century, I Hosted by Diana Holland have reduced the number of bridge players from 20 trillion to 20 billion to make 22-24 August Theobalds Park £199 the story closer to the truth.
22-25 August (3 nights) Theobalds Park £249 BUBBLE CAPTIONS The response to the caption 26-28 September The Beach Hotel £199 competition was just as Those who use snail mail, enthusiastic as usual. I chose regular post to you and me, one per entrant and put as Full-board – No Single Supplement need postage stamps. Clive many as I could on pages Goff sells unused stamps 34 and 35 for you to read. Please note there are no seminars or set hands on these weekends (full gum) at a discount. Contact him by e-mail: [email protected] (please put your telephone number in any email you send) or ring him on 020 8422 4906. CHRISTMAS The Olde Barn Hotel The Beach Hotel Theobalds Park Christmas this year will be Marston, Lincs, NG32 2HT Worthing, BN11 3QJ Cheshunt, Herts, EN7 5HW celebrated at Denham Grove, Marguerite Lihou, picture which is set in its own above, our very creative ______BOOKING FORM ______extensive grounds (44 acres). cartoonist, has chosen a Please book me for .... places, Single .... Double .... Twin .... short list of six. I have sent All bedrooms are within the each of them a boxed set of main building and half are for the Rubber/Chicago weekend(s) of my beautiful bridge pens. on the ground floor. Congratulations and thanks There is easy access to all the ...... to all those who took part. bridge rooms, swimming pool and other leisure Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... Partners were drawn from a hat. facilities, making this an ideal Address...... Mr David Cherry, Derby. Christmas holiday venue. That looks more like ...... “bunny” than “dummy”. Mrs M E Thompson, Lancs. Christmas & New Year Postcode ...... I was looking for the Denham Grove ...... Queen of Hearts. Uxbridge Mrs Kate Hartley, Cardiff. Buckinghamshire Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed) The EBU (Easter Bunny 24-27 December ...... Union) advised Sandy Bell “join a club”. Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place Mrs P J Clark, York. £395 by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice will be sent with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, Has anyone seen the 27-29 December 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be Hideous Hog? Signals & Discards sent together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Mrs H Oliffe, Essex. Should you require insurance, you should contact your own Chris Barrable insurance broker. He’d make a nice Goulash. & Ann Pearson Mr Ken Payne, Herts. £199 , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH Entrants with captions for 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 the latest cover should use 29 Dec – 1 Jan 2009 Chris Barrable e-mail: [email protected] the form opposite this page. Only one caption per person, & Ann Pearson website: www.holidaybridge.com and not more than seven £355 words. Closes 20 June 2008.
Page 6 £ If you have not contacted us in the last two years, please enter your details in the box below to re-register:
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, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey, GU21 2TH. BR89 £
QPLUS BRIDGE THANK YOU CHARITY I still have some second- The Charity, Christians in hand Q-Plus 7.5 programs Iraq, wishes to thank those BRIDGE EVENTS Mail Order for sale at £29. This play who supported the day out in JUNE 2008 program will give you an Bishops Waltham, hosted by 01483 489961 27 DOWNHAM MARKET DISTRICT idea of how much enjoyment Bernard Magee. The entire NURSES EQUIPMENT FUND SOFTWARE you can derive from software proceeds exceeded £6,800, Northwold Sports & Social Club. while improving your game. which was sent to the charity. 10 am for 10.30. £12 inc lunch. QPlus 8.8 £79.95 Jean Wright 01366 383247 Ray Waller 01842 827120 Bernard Magee CDs TRAVEL AWARDS CHARITY BRIDGE Acol Bidding £59.95 There are lots of lunches, JULY 2008 More Acol £89.95 teas and even dinner parties 11 MACMILLIAN NURSES. Wicken Village Hall. £15.00. Lunch. Bidding which are organised all over Liz Ambrose 01353 663179 the country in support of Declarer Play £69.95 24 SAMARITANS – CHESTER BRANCH. charities both local and Molly McBride 01244 675108 BOOKS national. Please support them. A selection is listed AUGUST 2008 Duplicate Bridge for your convenience. 3 MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT Rules Simplified St Georges Bridge Centre, Fully revised 2008 I am proud to be associated Darlington. 2pm. £12.50. Lunch. RE-REGISTER 01325 360340 The Yellow Book £5.35 with Discovery, named favourite niche cruise line Please use the form opposite SEPTEMBER 2008 Bernard Magee Books page 6 if you have not at the 2007 Travel Awards. 3 GYDA. Corn Exchange, Faringdon. Hand re-registered within the last £15 includes lunch. Evaluation £14.20 2008 CRUISING two or three years. If friends Steve Braithwaite Tips for complain that they no longer 01367 240929 In addition to the voyage to Better Bridge £12.20 receive their free copy of 11 HINCHINGBROOKE HOSPITAL the Riviera, there are two BRIDGE, remind them to Upwood Village Hall. £15. Lunch. other summer cruises to be Peter Somerfield re-register. BRIDGE really is PENS found in this issue. One is 01487 812167 free but if I do not hear from Chris Bruce 01487 812327 Boxed Sets of 4 Pens Aegean Odyssey advertised you, I will stop sending it. 24 CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION on the facing page, the other Great Stukeley Village Hall. £13. up to St Petersburg. Both MEGAN Kay Brownlow 01480 880663 have special prices from 25 FARLEIGH HOSPICE. £15. Lunch. £999 per person sharing. Little Baddow Memorial Hall, Essex. 10.30am for 11am-4pm. SHARING Julie Renvoize 01245 258067 27 ST ANNE’S CHURCH, KEW I try, with some success, to 1.30 for 2pm-5pm. £12.50. Tea. Multi-Suited £19.95 match single travellers to Ian Lewty 0208 876 3681 Single-Suited £19.95 share cabins to make 30 SAM BEARE HOSPICE cruising an affordable option Christ the Prince of Peace Church, Refills, Weybridge. 2-5 pm. £24 per table. sets of 4 £2.95 for those on limited budgets. Susan 01932 400009 Claire 01932 855799 TEA TOWELS JUNK CURE Megan Riccio, on maternity leave, has given birth to OCTOBER 2008 We are Survivors £5.95 Those of you who send in Annabelle, 6lbs 7oz. Mother 24 CHESHIRE HOMES. your friends’ data, so that Hartford Village Hall. £13.00. 4 for £17.00 and baby are doing well. they may receive BRIDGE, Malcom Howarth 01480 212910 SCORE PADS should be assured that their APOLOGIES names and addresses will not 30 IAIN RENNIE HOSPICE AT HOME Caspari – Various be sold or passed on. Over the past few months I Naphill Village Hall. 9.30-4.30. £18. Coffee, lunch & tea. Designs. Each £2.50 have fallen behind with my Those of you who are M McConnell 01494 863084 correspondence service. This bothered by unsolicited mail 2009 DIARIES is now up to speed. I prefer NOVEMBER 2008 should register themselves Standard letters by post. If you do 3 EAST SUSSEX HOSPICES. (Rubber). with the Mailing Preference Red or Blue £5.95 contact me by e-mail or fax Glyndebourne. 5.30-10pm. Service, by writing to: Kathy Gore 01825 890494 it must – it really must – Luxury Ruby 6 SOMERSET HOSPICE or Bottle Green £12.95 FREEPOST have your full postal address Barrington Village Hall, 29LON 20117 and telephone number. Ilminster 2pm. £10 inc good tea. London W1E 0ZT Nichola Grove 01935 822116 All prices include I’m looking forward to postage and packing. 21 AIR AMBULANCE. £13.00. It will take three or even four hearing from you. Village Hall, Hemingford Abbotts. www.mrbridge.co.uk months for the junk mail to Sheila Poval 01480 395394 dry up, but dry up it will.
Page 7 Julian Pottage Says
If in Doubt, Get them Out – Draw Trumps
opular folklore has it that those You have only one entry to dummy – in who forget to draw trumps end up m 9 6 3 clubs – and so must pull the missing Psleeping on the Embankment (or, n A K 6 trumps before you try to run the suit. If in America, under the Brooklyn Bridge). o J 9 8 not, you will have no way back to the Why is it vital to draw trumps? Well, p A J 7 3 clubs if someone ruffs the third round. why do you choose a trump suit in the m 8 7 m K Q 4 2 You win the club in hand and, after first place? You think you can make n 10 4 N n 8 3 2 cashing the A-K of trumps to confirm W E extra tricks by ruffing opposing winners. o A Q 3 2 S o 5 4 the 3-2 split, give up a trump. You lose at At the start of the play, the defenders p K 9 8 5 4 p Q 10 6 2 most two spades and a trump. have trumps as well – so they might ruff m A J 10 5 Is it ever right not to draw trumps? your winners. However, if you have n Q J 9 7 5 Yes, here are common reasons not to: chosen the trump suit wisely, you will o K 10 7 6 1 If you want to ruff in dummy but have more trumps than they do. After a p Void dummy is quite short in trumps. few rounds have gone, your side will 2 If you need some trumps as entries. have the only trumps left. Ruffing then 3 You need short trumps as stoppers. becomes the exclusive privilege of You play in 4n. West leads the eight of yours, the declaring side. spades and East plays the queen. ‘If in doubt, get them out.’ To make this contract you must win at m K 6 3 once and play three rounds of hearts. n Void After that, you can knock out the king of o K Q 9 8 m K Q 7 6 spades and West’s diamond winners. p K Q 9 7 3 2 n 7 6 2 This way the trump suit works for you – m 8 7 2 m 9 4 o 6 5 4 your two long trumps will help to stop n A 10 6 4 N n Q 8 3 2 W E p Q 7 5 the defenders from making any club o J 4 3 2 S o 10 6 5 p p N tricks once they switch to that suit. J 5 A 10 8 6 W E If you delay drawing trumps, you will m A Q J 10 5 S find that West ruffs a spade or East a n K J 9 7 5 m A J 4 3 2 diamond – or both. o A 7 n A K Q 4 p 4 o 8 3 2 p A m Q 7 n 8 3 You are in 6m and get a trump lead. o J 9 8 3 All the above three exceptions apply. You, South, play in 4m. West leads the p K Q J 10 9 If you draw trumps, you will lose a heart jack of clubs to your ace. m A 9 8 3 m K 10 4 2 or two as well as the club ace (trump You have three diamond losers and, n J 6 N n Q 10 4 needed as a stopper). You will also be W E unless hearts split 3-3, a heart loser as o K 6 5 S o 10 7 4 2 short of entries to set up the clubs (trump well. This is no problem as you intend to p 8 5 4 3 p 6 2 needed as an entry) and a trick short ruff the fourth round of hearts in dummy. m J 6 5 (ruff in short trump hand needed). Get What must you do before that? You must n A K 9 7 5 2 out a pack of cards and try it. draw trumps. If you fail to do so, o A Q Correct play is to win in hand and play someone short in hearts will ruff one of p A 7 a club to the king. Win the trump return your top hearts. So long as trumps break in dummy, ruff a club, ruff a heart and 2-2 or 3-1 (a 90% chance), you will be ruff another club. Now you draw the last able to draw the opposing trumps without You are in 4n and West leads the five of trump and enjoy dummy’s winners. drawing all of dummy’s in the process. clubs. The rule about whether to draw trumps Drawing trumps appeals even more if This deal, too, calls for drawing is that you draw them unless you find a dummy cannot ruff anything. trumps with gusto. Do you see why? reason not to. If in doubt, get them out. I
Page 8 Mr Magee, Keep Talking to ME! by Linda Saunders
he subject matter only star in my sky, and I have Declarer Play side of the table had often contained in the various collected quite a number of been my downfall in the past. Tbridge magazines which bridge books. Over the next few months, I regularly land on my doormat began to see that experienced As a beginner, I found it gives a clear picture of the Josephine Culbertson players had the ability to sum enough of a headache to diversity of tactics to be up the dummy and their hand concentrate on my own cards. employed at the bridge table. Being rather over whelmed by in seconds before setting off. It was then pointed out to me Do readers of these the complexity of the game, I Would I ever reach such dizzy that I needed to form a picture magazines actually put all this take comfort from the words heights? That was when I of all 26 cards in the advice into practice? As a of the legendary Josephine noticed that my chum, Mr partnership. I could see the relative newcomer to the Culbertson in the Introduction Magee, had brought out sense of that. The last chapter game, much of it remains a to her Contract Bridge Declarer Play. Well, of of Declarer Play is entitled mystery to me. I am beginning Made Easy, published course, I sent off for it ‘Using the Bidding’. Mr Magee to see what fun can be had as over seventy years ago: immediately and cleverly teaches the clues a defender but most of my started a new given by all players at the energy is taken up with Do not try to notebook to record table, enabling the declarer to improving my skills as a remember my progress. form a pretty accurate picture declarer. everything you of all four hands. I suppose have There are 120 hands in this comes with experience Acol Bidding learned this package and and most people who have on I longed to reach been playing for years would Since last summer, Mr Magee every chapter 9 on know it, but, for me, it helps has been my constant hand. endplay and to have these things spelt out. companion, talking to me avoidance, but every day, regardless of his Do as I work in an More Acol Bidding busy schedule. I have enjoyed not be orderly fashion, every minute of these one- ashamed I would have to be Having spoken to Mr Magee way conversations and am of your mistakes. patient and play one hand in person, I understand that just starting out on my third each morning. Having now he is bringing out a journey through his Acol If you understand the reached the particular chapter, continuation of each of the Bidding. Each time I play a fundamental principles, you I am still slightly fazed by it, programs so far released, so hand, I see more and more should be able to handle but I know that, on repetition, he will be a part of my life for within it. When I first began 90% of situations that arise the teaching will become some years to come. I this program, I knew nothing in bidding and play. clear. Within the basic already have his More Acol about counting top tricks or information attached to the Bidding and am beginning to looking for losers. Far from This former diva also cautions program, is a useful chunk on dip into that. The losing trick being boringly repetitive, I find the reader: top tricks which I found count, two-suited overcalls, new gems and my scores invaluable. On every hand I and weak twos provide improve steadily. With the right Never play from trick to see, I swiftly count the top endless pleasure for me! partner, I should be able to trick; have a definite plan of tricks and work out how many Having sampled the first put all this to good use at the play before you start! more I need to make the program on declarer play, I bridge table. Having said that, contract, looking for look forward to the next one. I just love every part of the Well, I remember my bridge opportunities to snatch the game, so winning or losing is teacher telling us to make a odd overtrick. For those not in the know, my of less importance than plan before starting out, but to passion for Mr Magee knows enjoying a fruitful bidding be honest, at that time I had As I progressed through Mr no bounds. I can’t wait for his conversation and finding the no idea what it meant. My Magee’s Declarer Play, I teaching on defence, so Mr best contract. head was too full of high-card encountered the notion of Magee … I know you are points and the correct safeguarding my entries; busy bee … but please, I However, Mr Magee is not the responses to no-trump bids. getting stuck on the wrong please keep talking to me!
Page 9
Bernard Magee Says Throw a Loser on a Loser
hen you have a sure loser, a You have eleven top tricks and the club neat way to keep trump m 8 7 5 3 finesse appears to be your only chance Wcontrol can be to throw that n Q 5 for a twelfth. Rather than taking it, you loser on another loser. Rather than o A 7 6 4 should consider giving up the lead. The ruffing and using up a valuable trump, p A 4 2 opponents might make the wrong lead, you throw the certain loser and keep m 2 m 10 9 4 or you might be able to endplay them. your trumps for later. n A K J 8 6 3 N n 9 4 To set up an endplay you first empty W E o Q 9 3 2 S o J 10 5 all the suits. You might take the heart p J 7 p Q 10 8 6 3 ace, draw trumps, cash the heart king, m K 4 m A K Q J 6 ruff a heart and take three diamonds n 3 2 n 10 7 2 ending in dummy. Then you play a club, o A 8 6 5 4 3 o K 8 hoping that West wins. Alas, East plays p Q 7 6 p K 9 5 the jack on the first round. If you let him m 9 8 7 6 m 3 2 win the trick, he plays another club; you n A K 10 8 N n Q J 9 7 6 5 Contract: 4m. Lead: nA. have to finesse – and it loses. W E o Q 9 S o K J 10 Instead of ruffing the third heart, go p A 4 3 p 8 5 for a loser-on-loser play. Having taken m A Q J 10 5 West, who has bid hearts, leads the ace, out the trumps and the top diamonds, n 4 king and jack of hearts. East plays high- cash the king of hearts and lead the nine: o 7 2 low with the nine and the four. p K J 10 9 2 If you ruff the third round of hearts in dummy, East will surely overruff. With a m K 8 Contract: 4m. Lead: nA. club still to lose, you will be one down. n 9 A better idea is to throw a club from o Void dummy. After you gain the lead on the p 5 4 2 West leads out two top hearts. If you ruff next trick, you draw trumps and ruff a m Void m Void the second, you will be down to four club in peace. By losing a heart instead n J 8 N n 7 3 W E trumps. Then, with the club ace to knock of a club, you take a safe ruff instead of o 9 S o Void out, you are in danger of losing trump a risky one – a great swap. p K 7 6 p J 10 9 8 control. With a sure diamond loser – Another type of loser-on-loser play m J 10 5 there is no way to avoid it – you should you can use is to endplay a defender. n Void throw a diamond on the second trick. o Void Instead of ruffing the heart, you throw a p A Q 3 loser away: a loser-on-loser play. m K 8 7 4 West has no answer: you can ruff a n K 9 5 third heart in dummy or win any switch o A 7 3 When East follows with a small heart, and draw trumps. With a trump left, you p 5 4 2 throw your low club. West has to win the can safely knock out the club ace. m 9 6 m 3 2 trick and is endplayed. If he leads any Ruffing at trick two puts you at the n Q J 10 8 N n 7 4 3 2 red card, you ruff in dummy and discard W E mercy of the trump break. You stop o 9 8 5 4 S o J 10 6 the queen of clubs; if he leads a club, drawing after three rounds but, when p K 7 6 p J 10 9 8 both your ace and queen make. you lose to the ace of clubs, they carry m A Q J 10 5 on leading hearts. You have to use up n A 6 Conclusion your last trump and, as West still has a o K Q 2 trump but you do not, you go down. p A Q 3 Loser on loser plays can be tricky but the You can use a loser-on-loser play rather idea is simple. With a sure loser, consider than ruffing even in the short trump hand Contract: 6m. Lead: nQ. throwing it on another loser if you think if someone threatens to overruff. you might gain an advantage. I
Page 12 PROGRAMME This is the format for all duplicate weekends and AT LATIMER HOUSE AT LATIMER rarely varies. HOUSE 2008 Latimer Road, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1UG FRIDAY o Full-board o All rooms with 1500 Friday to Sunday en-suite facilities Welcome Desk open o No single supplements o Venue non-smoking Afternoon Tea o Use of indoor o Bidding quiz and 1745 to 1830 swimming pool two seminars Welcome drinks o Please note: there is no lift. The bridge room is reception accessed via stairs. ______1830 to 2000 BOOKING FORM DINNER 19-21 Sep (£199) Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... 2015 BRIDGE Sacrificing SESSION 1 Address...... Alex Davoud DUPLICATE PAIRS SATURDAY ...... 0800 to 0930 ...... Postcode ...... BREAKFAST 1000 to 1230 ...... SEMINAR & SUPERVISED PLAY Please book me for ...... places, of SET HANDS 1 (tea & coffee at 1100) Single ...... Double ...... Twin ...... Manor ...... 1230 to 1330 21-23 Nov (£209) COLD BUFFET at the Latimer House weekend of ...... Suit Establishment LUNCH New Topic Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, 1400 to 1645 but we will do our best to oblige) Bernard Magee BRIDGE SESSION 2 ...... TEAMS of FOUR Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking 1815 to 2000 DINNER ...... 2015 BRIDGE Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place SESSION 3 by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice will be sent with DUPLICATE PAIRS your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. SUNDAY Should you require insurance, you should contact your own 0800 to 0930 insurance broker. No Single BREAKFAST
Supplement 1000 to 1230 Manor house rooms: SEMINAR & £50 supplement per room. SUPERVISED PLAY of SET HANDS 2 (tea & coffee at 1100) Expiry: ...... CVV...... Issue No...... (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) 1230 to 1400 CARVERY LUNCH , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH 1400 to 1645 BRIDGE 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 SESSION 4 e-mail: [email protected] DUPLICATE PAIRS website: www.holidaybridge.com
Page 13 WEEKENDS AT STAVERTON PARK AT STAVERTON PARK Staverton, Daventry, Northants, NN11 6JT Staverton, Daventry, Northants, NN11 6JT o Full-board o All rooms with Friday to Sunday en-suite facilities o No single supplements o Venue non-smoking o Use of swimming o Bidding quiz and pool and fitness suite two seminars
______BOOKING FORM ______
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Address......
...... Postcode ...... 2008 ...... 22-25 August (£249) 10-12 October Please book me for ...... places, Bank Holiday (3 nights) £199 Single ...... Double ...... Twin ...... Develop at Leads and
at the Staverton Park weekend of ...... Duplicate Pairs Defence Chris Barrable Sandy Bell Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, Improvers’ Weekend but we will do our best to oblige) 29-31 August (£199) ...... Losing Trick Count 31 October Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking Alison Nicolson to 2 November ...... £199 Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place 12-14 September Hand by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice will be sent with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, £199 Evaluation 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be Doubles Ned Paul sent together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you require insurance, you should contact your own Crombie McNeil insurance broker. 14-16 November 26-28 September £209* £209* Endplay
Game Tries NEW and Avoidance
Expiry: ...... CVV...... Issue No...... Bernard Magee Bernard Magee (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) All weekends are duplicate bridge. * denotes a large weekend with a relaxed , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH section which plays at a slightly slower pace. Improvers’ Weekends are aimed at the novice player and/or those picking up the game after a long break. 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 e-mail: [email protected] DETAILS & BOOKINGS website: www.holidaybridge.com 01483 489961
Page 14 Seasonal Walks with Countryman A Walk in Summer
his little piece of England, down to snatch its prey. Then I look ‘We seem to have had quite a good where the birds are singing, the further along to the opposite side of the sequence that took us to 6n, but how T sun shining and the air bank, where I can see a mallard and her should I have played it? West leads the seriously intoxicating – it is all too easy offspring. Then I notice a familiar figure ace of clubs and switches to the jack of to fall under its magic spell and dream coming towards us. It is Paul, a large spades.’ on, contentedly... and rather portly chap from the bridge I shall leave you thinking about that ‘I tell you what,’ I said to Cindy, my club, exercising his two Springer for the moment and we will come back beautiful golden retriever as she spaniels. The entourage is unmistakable. to it later. snuggled up beside me, ‘let’s go down Cindy and the spaniels welcome each Paul and his spaniels, and Cindy and to the river and walk along that twisting other in a very friendly way, just as I, continued on our different routes. I path and watch wild life.’ Much tail though someone had arranged the reverted quickly to absorbing the local wagging assured me that she thoroughly meeting especially for them. scene, which has so much to offer a approved, although to be completely ‘I’m so glad I’ve bumped into you,’ country lover. The river wends its way honest, I think that, if I had suggested says Paul after hurried greetings. It is slowly and nonchalantly as though it climbing Mont Blanc she would have obvious he has something on his mind has not a care in the world. A romantic been equally enthusiastic! Walkies is so I wait expectantly. ‘Perhaps you can would surely go into raptures about the thing; where is comparatively low tell me what I did wrong on this deal:’ such a setting that both enchants the eye on the agenda. and must provide endless pleasure and It was a glorious day in early June. excitement for animal and bird life. Somehow it reminded me of Nat King Dealer South. Game All. I notice an otter taking to the water as Cole and his ‘Lazy, hazy, crazy days of we approach, maybe seeking refuge summer’ – but we will skip the pretzels m A 5 from Cindy, and then we disturb two and beer. On our way across the fields n J 9 7 6 rather unusual birds. I think they are to the river, I notice several different o 6 5 4 great crested grebes and make a mental species of butterfly but the one that p 8 7 4 3 note to look them up when I get home. always intrigues me is the Peacock N Then there is the magnificent sight of a butterfly. Those spots (the Peacock’s W E family of mute swans swimming along S eye) located on the upper part of its four in convoy. Mum in front (or is it dad?) wings it uses to deter would-be m K 7 6 closely followed by six cygnets and the predators. Nature has a wonderful way n A K Q 10 8 other parent bringing up the rear. I of protecting such frail and delicate o A K Q 2 believe swans mate for life and share looking creatures. Well, if you were a p Q their parental duties equally with such bird, say, and you saw four large eyes dedicated diligence and sincerity that I staring at you, would you hang around find myself wondering where the to find out what it was? If it were me, I North South human race went wrong! think I would be up, up and away! 2p Back to Paul’s hand – you may recall This particular walk is always full of 2o 2n that South is in 6n. West cashes a top interest as there is so much wild life 3n 4o club and switches to the jack of spades. activity. Just for a moment, I find 4m 4NT Paul assessed his chances like this. ‘I myself captivated by the brilliant 5o 6n have eleven tricks on top, five hearts, colours of a kingfisher as it swoops End three diamonds, two spades and one
Page 15 Summer continued BERNARD MAGEE’S spade ruff in dummy. If the trumps are 2-2, there is no problem; I can ruff my last diamond in dummy if necessary. If DECLARER the trumps are 3-1 or 4-0, I shall need the diamonds to be 3-3.’ This was the full deal: PLAY
m A 5 n J 9 7 6 o 6 5 4 An Interactive CD p 8 7 4 3 m J 10 8 4 m Q 9 3 2 n 5 3 2 N n 4 120 Hands in 10 Chapters o W E o 10 3 S J 9 8 7 p A K J 10 p 9 6 5 2 Special Introductory Extra Chapter on m K 7 6 n A K Q 10 8 the very basic Principles of Card Play o A K Q 2 p Q Suit Establishment in No-trumps
That was a fair analysis – as far as it Suit Establishment in Suits went – but Paul had overlooked the possible advantage of taking three ruffs Hold-ups in his own hand (Dummy Reversal). With careful timing and close attention Ruffing for Extra Tricks to the question of entries (for a Dummy Reversal to succeed you require four Entries in No-trumps entries to dummy; three to ruff clubs and one more to draw the last trump) it Delaying Drawing Trumps is possible to combine all the chances. The ace of spades wins trick two and he ruffs a club high. He overtakes the Using the Lead eight of hearts with dummy’s nine and ruffs a second club high. Now he plays Trump Control the ten of hearts to dummy’s jack, East discarding a club. This development Endplays & Avoidance rules out taking two ruffs in dummy, so he ruffs a third club with his last trump Using the Bidding in hand. The king of spades and a spade ruff place the lead in dummy once more. This enables him to draw the last trump while he discards the two of Each Chapter Includes diamonds from his own hand. The slam 2 play-through hands explaining 95 is home. the subject and 10 play hands £69 ‘A strange hand’ I tell Cindy. ‘One with following explanations. Windows 98, XP or Vista, CD ROM. has to plan quite carefully from the second trick otherwise the Dummy Reversal element is aborted – and in this particular case it is very much needed.’ Available from Cindy looks up at me with those big brown beautiful eyes, which seem to Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH have some sort of message. Perhaps it is, ‘I hope you explained all that to 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 Paul.’ I
Page 16 Heather Dhondy Says Third Hand Plays High
artner leads the two of spades and West North East South dummy plays low. Which card do 2 m Q 8 1NT (12-14) Pyou play as East below? n J 9 8 7 Pass 3NT End o J 9 7 p A K 4 2 Your partner leads the seven of spades 1 m 6 5 m 9 7 5 2 m K 10 6 3 against three no-trumps. Which card do n Q J 8 7 n 10 6 2 N n 5 3 you play as East? W E o J 9 7 o Q 8 6 S o A K 4 3 You see the same spade suit as last p A K 4 2 p Q 6 5 p 10 9 8 time, but there are two important m Q 8 7 2 m K 10 9 3 m A J 4 differences. Can you see what they are? n 10 6 2 N n 5 3 n A K Q 4 Firstly, when you are defending W E o 10 8 6 S o A K 4 3 o 10 5 2 against a no-trump contract, partner may p Q 6 5 p 10 9 8 p J 7 3 well have led from an ace whereas this is m A J 4 unlikely in a trump contract. Secondly, n A K 9 4 the lead is slightly different. The seven o Q 5 2 South plays in 4n on the same auction will tell you that if partner has led fourth p J 7 3 as 1. This time partner leads the seven of highest, declarer will have one higher spades and declarer plays low from card in the suit. If it is anything but the dummy. What card do you play now? ace, there is no cost to playing the king. West North East South Again, you must think what the lead Indeed, when declarer holds the jack 1n may be from. It looks most likely to be doubleton, as here, it is essential to play Pass 3n Pass 4n second highest from 9-7-x-x or be from the king. End J-9-7. In either case, you should play the Just consider the position where ten. If partner has led from low cards, declarer has the ace – is he really going You know that partner will not have you will hold declarer to two tricks by to play low from dummy to trick one? underled an ace in a trump contract, so is doing so. If instead he has led from the No, of course he is going to try putting there any point in putting up the king, jack, playing the ten will prevent up the queen. Therefore it appears just to have it topped by declarer’s ace? declarer from having a second trick in correct to put up the king… but is it? Let us think about partner’s lead. Hold - the suit. Suppose partner has led second ing only small cards in the suit, partner So what happened to third hand high? highest from four small cards? This would have led a middle or high card. Actually, you did play high – but you would give declarer the ace-jack and, if Therefore, we know that the two must be took a finesse with the ten – saving your declarer has only A-J-8 rather than A-J-9, from an honour. If it is the jack, it does king to cover the queen later. it may be important to play the ten, to not matter whether we play the nine or hold declarer to two tricks in the suit. the king, since the nine would lose to the Now on the expected play of the queen giving declarer two tricks in the 3 m Q 5 diamond finesse, you can win and suit. However, if partner has led from the n K Q 3 continue with the king of spades. So queen, it is imperative to put up the king o A Q J 2 how do we know what to do? in order to establish partner’s queen. p Q 8 5 4 If 3NT is to go down on this second What does the rule of “third hand m A 9 8 7 2 m K 10 6 3 highest lead, partner will need to have high” tell you? It tells you that, if partner n 10 6 N n J 9 8 5 4 four diamonds to the ten at least. Do not W E leads a low card, and the next hand also o 10 9 7 6 S o K 8 play for partner to have led from his plays low, the player in third seat should p J 7 p 10 9 second best suit. When partner has led a play their highest card in the suit (but m J 4 card that could be fourth highest, you lowest from equal cards). The objective n A 7 2 should normally play him for it and play is to win the trick or drive out a top card o 5 4 3 high to the first trick. We all want to lead from declarer and, you hope, establish a p A K 6 3 2 our longest and strongest suit if we winner for partner. possibly can, even partner! I
Page 17 Stephen Cashmore Says Make the Most Economical Bid
f you and your partner are bidding 1NT, although not the lowest bid, is the After hearing your 1m response, he will towards a contract, it may make most economical as it describes several rebid 1NT and there the bidding will Isense to make a cheap bid to allow features of your hand at once. rest, with the heart fit lost forever. No, room for you both to describe your With hand B, you could in theory 1n is the most sensible bid. It tells hands. Suppose you hold: open any of 1o, 1n and 1m. The theme partner as much as any other available of keeping the bidding low suggests that bid, and causes no future problems – and you open 1o, leaving maximum space at for all those reasons is easily the most m A Q 8 7 5 the one level. Indeed, 1o tells partner as “economical” response. n K Q J 3 much as 1n or 1m. How though is the Hand D is trickier. You cannot bid 4m o 6 auction going to develop? with only three spades, and 2n would be p Q 10 4 You will be happy if partner responds wrong on a four-card suit. With no 1n or 1m. Now suppose he responds 2p. minor, is the “most economical bid” What is your rebid? Oops. You can 3NT, describing your hand in one fell You open 1m, intending to rebid 2n, but scarcely rebid your four-card diamond swoop? Aha! If you did that, you are your partner responds 3NT. What do you suit. Nor can you reverse into 2n or 2m giving partner the problem you faced at do now? You will just wriggle for a few or bid 2NT as these rebids all show a the start of this article! moments, before passing. Partner will stronger hand than you have. No, you have about a flat 13-count, but he might should have opened 1n in the first place have four hearts (making 4n a better with 2o available as a rebid if required. m A Q 8 7 5 spot), or even three spades (probably So on this deal, 1n is the most n K Q J 3 making 4m better). economical opening, as it enables you to o 6 “The most economical bid” might not develop the auction sensibly. p Q 10 4 equate to the lowest possible bid. It means you make the lowest bid that tells partner something new about your hand Hand C Hand D Partner can only squirm after 3NT. and allows for how the auction is likely m K Q 10 9 m K 6 3 You should have considered bidding to develop. Here are some examples. n Q 8 7 3 n 10 9 5 2 2p. What can go wrong? If partner With hands A and B you are first to o 3 2 o A 10 2 rebids spades, you can go to 4m. If he speak. What do you open? p 9 6 5 p A K 5 rebids in hearts, you can choose between 4m and 4n. If he rebids in a minor, you can jump to 4m. If instead he rebids in Hand A Hand B With Hand C partner has opened 1o, and no-trumps, you can bid 3m to let him m K 10 6 m A J 9 3 with Hand D partner has opened 1m. choose between 3NT and 4m. The space- n A 5 n K J 7 5 What do you respond? saving 2p bid allows much more room o Q J 10 9 5 o A J 9 8 Hand C is a good example of the most for exploration. p K 6 5 p 8 economical bid also being the lowest By the way, for the reasons given available bid. Some players might above, many experts no longer use a bypass the poor heart suit and respond 3NT response to show a flat 13-15. For With hand A, the lowest rational bid is 1m, claiming that Q-x-x-x does not that matter, many players no longer use 1o. There is nothing wrong with this represent a biddable suit. Now suppose a 2NT response to show a flat 11-12 for systemically and, because you can rebid partner has something like this: the same reason. With a balanced hand 2o, the development of the auction and 11 or more points, you save space if poses no threats. Is 1o also the most you bid a suit in the first round rather economical bid in the sense of giving m J 8 than just bashing 2NT or 3NT. information to partner? No, 1NT does n J 10 6 2 Remember, the most economical bid the job better. Partner will have a much o A K Q 8 is not always the lowest bid. It is the clearer idea of your strength and p A 10 3 lowest bid that is sound and does not balanced shape if you open 1NT. tangle the subsequent auction. I
Page 18 BERYL HUTCHINSON One of my Weekend Event Helpers AT HARBEN HOUSE Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell, MK16 9EY
British Red Cross Taking on this Duplicate Weekends 2008 stalwart, Beryl prestigious role at the Hutchinson, from Red Cross means that I 13-15 June Game Tries - Bernard Magee NEW £209 Grantham, has been can help make a appointed vice-chair difference to the lives 11-13 July Stayman & Transfers - Bernard Magee £209 of the charity’s board of vulnerable people of trustees. both in the UK and 8-10 Aug Suit Establishment - Bernard MageeNEW £209 overseas”. Mrs Hutchinson has 3-5 Oct Pre-emptive Bidding - Peter Breakell £199 worked and volunteered Mrs Hutchinson, the for the Red Cross former Grantham o Full-board o All rooms with for more than Hospital assistant Friday to Sunday en-suite facilities 40 years since general manger of o o she joined patient services, No single supplement Venue non-smoking the organ- spent the eight o Jacuzzi, sauna, o Lifts and easy access isation as a years (1991 until steam room and gym to bridge room volun teer 1999) as director of o Tuition with Supervised Play, bidding quiz and two seminars nursing and the Lincoln shire training branch of the ______BOOKING FORM ______officer. Red Cross. Please book me for ..... places, In her new role, she will In 1999, she was work with chairman awarded an MBE for Single ..... Double ..... Twin ..... James Cochrane and her service to the seventeen trustees. Red Cross. at the Harben House weekend(s) of
Mrs Hutchinson said: To learn more about the ...... “I am both humbled and Red Cross and its work thrilled after having been in the UK and overseas Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... elected vice-chair for or to volunteer, visit this wonderful their website: Address...... organisation. www.red-cross.org.uk I ......
Postcode ......
......
Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, Multi-Suited Design Pens but we will do our best to oblige) ...... Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice will be sent with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker.
Boxed Set of Four £19.95 , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 Available from Ryden Grange, e-mail: [email protected] Knaphill GU21 2TH 01483 489961 website: www.holidaybridge.com www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop
Page 19 ASS SETS OF A AT MARSHAM COURT East Cliff, Bournemouth, BH1 3AB S P ELING CHEQUER Mid-Week Duplicates 2008 sauce unnown £199 per person full-board Eye halve a speling chequer. 1-3 October (Wednesday-Friday) Doubles with Chris Barrable It caim with my pea sea. 26-28 October (Sunday-Tuesday) It planelee marques four meye revue Leads & Defence with Chris Barrable Miss steaks eye kan knot sea. 9-11 November (Sunday-Tuesday) Signals & Discards with Sandy Bell Eye stryke a quay and tiep a wurd, o Full-board o All rooms with And weight four it two say o No single en-suite facilities Weather eye am rong oar write, copiedsupplement o Venue non-smoking o Tuition with Supervised Play, bidding quiz and two seminars It shows me strait aweigh. ______BOOKING FORM ______As sune as a mist ache is maid Please book me for ..... places, It nose bee four too long, Single ..... Double ..... Twin ..... Sea View* ..... And eye kan putt thee erroar rite. at the Marsham Court date(s) of Its rair lea ever rong...... Eye hav run this peace threw it, Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... Eyem shore yoar pleased to no Address...... Its letur purrfect awl thu weigh – ...... Mi chequer tolled me sew. Postcode ......
......
Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, but we will do our best to oblige) REDUCE THE COST ...... OF YOUR POSTAGE Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per Postage stamps for sale at 90% place by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice will be sent of face-value, all mint with with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final pay- ment, 28 days before the event, a programme and full details full gum. Quotations for will be sent together with a map. Cancellations are not refund- commercial quantities able. Should you require insurance, you should contact your available on request. own insurance broker. *£30 supplement per room. Values supplied in 100s, higher values available as well as 1st , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH and 2nd class 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 (eg 1st class: 100 x 35p + 100 x 1p) e-mail: [email protected] /Fax 020 8422 4906 website: www.holidaybridge.com e-mail: [email protected]
Page 20 Dave Huggett Says Support Partner
ne key to good bidding is to If you bid 2o, partner could easily pass understand when you have Hand C Hand D and then you would lose the spade fit. Ofound a fit and to tell partner the m A K 8 7 m A K 8 7 On a more advanced level, if you have good news as soon as possible. n K 8 7 n K 8 7 support for partner in the suit in which The more trumps you have the better – o K 6 4 2 o 7 3 he has overcalled but in a relatively eight or more is ideal – they generate p 7 3 p K 6 4 2 weak hand, somewhere in the 6-10 tricks in their own right and stop the bracket say, you should raise. In broad opponents from cashing winners. Look terms, you should raise to the two level at the following two hands and think You Partner You Partner with three-card support, to the three how you would respond to an opening 1n 1n level with four-card support and to the bid of 1n from partner: 1m 2n 1m 2o four level with five-card support. In ??other words, you bid to make the same number of tricks as your side has trumps, Hand A Hand B With hand C, you should bid 4n: by assuming the overcaller has five. m A 7 6 3 m A 7 6 3 repeating his suit, partner must have at Let us see this in action: n K 5 n K 5 3 2 least five hearts, often six. Even facing a o J 9 7 6 o J 9 7 mini mum opener, you know you have p 8 7 5 p 8 7 game values. Now you know that your m 6 side has at least eight hearts, you bid 4n. n A Q 8 7 6 It might be harder to see with hand D, o K Q 7 6 With no immediate fit, you respond 1m but again you bid 4n as partner must p A 5 2 with hand A even though it is quite have at least five hearts. With a flat hand, m K 10 8 7 5 m A Q 9 3 2 weak. Many would do the same with say 2-4-4-3, he would have opened 1NT n 4 N n 10 9 2 o W E o hand B as well and that is wrong. Why is or rebid no-trumps; with 1-4-4-4 and a 9 8 2 S J 3 that? Whatever partner’s hand might be, singleton spade, he would surely have p K J 10 3 p Q 8 4 he will not have more spades than hearts rebid 2p, not 2o. So, with an eight-card m J 4 – else he would have opened 1m. You fit and game values you bid 4n. n K J 5 3 therefore know you cannot have a better Another source of confusion is how to o A 10 5 4 fit in any other suit and so should raise to continue after partner has overcalled. So p 9 7 6 2n with this minimum hand. 2n shows a what would you do if partner had hand of about 6-9 points or a nine-loser overcalled an opening 1n bid with 1m hand for those familiar with that and with third hand passing you hold: West North East South concept. Make your hand slightly 1n 1m 3n stronger (with the club king instead of 4m ? the eight) and you would bid 3n – Hand E showing about 10-11 points or an eight- m A 7 6 By the time the bidding is back to North, loser hand. n 6 5 it is at the four-level. His side can make Because in Acol an opening bid of one o K 10 7 6 5 4n, but not 5n and 4m is only one down. only promises a four-card suit, it is not p Q 5 4 The best North can do is double but that usual to support partner immediately is far from obvious. with less than four cards in the suit I always believe in bidding what you (although there are exceptions). I hope you do not bid 2o; it is wrong think partner wants to hear if possible, Sometimes you know that partner because partner must have at least a five- and what partner wants to hear most of must have at least a five-card suit and card suit for his overcall. Knowing you all is that you can support his suit. There then you can raise with three-card have an eight-card fit or better, it is right are a million cases that we could have support. Look at the following two to bid 2m. Moreover, a change of suit considered and we have looked at just a hands and see what conclusions you after an overcall is not forcing, as it few. These are enough to give food for come to and what you should bid next: would be after an opening bid. thought, I hope. I
Page 21 Bridge in the 25th Century
by Michael Scarrott
he Martians are fielding a are superstars with dedicated followers specially adapted luxurious Inter- particularly strong pair this applauding every trick they make. Back planetary Space Cruiser known as ‘Tyear’, said Milo Gort, in the 21st Century Earth’s National Bridge One. President of the Intergalactic Bridge Sport was something called soxer. Our Each player would have an easy-to- Federation. archives portray this as a game where remember bridge name, which would participants chased a small ball about in soon be familiar to almost the entire Galaxy Cup a most unruly manner.’ Galaxy. A global marketing operation David Hill, the suave, blue-eyed Earth was ready to spring into action with the The event in question was the representative joined in: ‘yes, we called star players having their own prestigious Galaxy Cup taking place on it soccer. Supporters from each team merchandise, endorsements and master- Planet Earth. The champion team from chanted battle songs during the play and class satellite programmes. For the each of the eight member planets would mass hysteria and mayhem usually duration of the event, the competitors compete over four days with the grand followed each game. Many players would have the collective name as the final watched by over 20 billion achieved more fame than World leaders new Masters of the Universe. viewers. The ninth planet, Mercury, had and archives show that one gained the The top pair from Pluto, Minor and received a ‘forever’ ban from the affectionate name ‘golden balls’. Mind Major soon seated themselves in competition several decades ago when you, bridge can sometimes cause readiness for the opening match. their star player Splinter revoked, problems like the time when the pair Located on the very edge of the Solar causing his highly-strung partner to from Jupiter decided to sort out a System, Pluto is the smallest planet vaporise him on the spot! bidding dispute by arm wrestling at the and has a very icy atmosphere. Orca Blanca, the three-foot tall table. With four arms each, it created Consequently, the players wore representative from Uranus spoke up: ‘I quite a spectacle. The Jupiterians can specially designed suits to maintain a just hope the Martians don’t come up play the cards and have a drink all at the below-freezing body temperature. against Earth in the final. There is still same time!’ bad blood over that book written Last Year’s Final centuries ago by that chap Wells. He The Draw portrayed the Martians as long-tentacled Their opponents were the reigning monsters, intent on invasion. You should The draw for the first-round matches champions from Earth known simply as also know about that 20th century soon took place and received a priority Black and Wood. They arrived to composer, Holst. He wrote some music universal news flash. Invited guests tumultuous applause reserved for two about the planets and even he referred to could watch the play on giant screens, 25th Century gladiators able to hold Mars as the Bringer of War.’ while satellites beamed the live action razor sharp concentration over multiple Milo glanced across the table at the back to each planet. A panel of past boards and hours of play. Both players Martian representative. ‘Quite Galactic champions analysed each card were in their prime with the very latest amazing’, he thought. ‘The Martians as they saw it played. bionic implants. Last year’s final had look just like Earth people, except for Matches would be over thirty-six been a monumental victory for the Earth the webbed hands and feet. They have boards in each of the preliminary pair. Up against the favourites, Saturn, beautiful manners and are always polite rounds with semi-finalists competing everything depended on the final board. and courteous to everyone at the card over forty-eight boards for a place in the Sitting in the West seat, Black opened table. The Earth players could well final. A marathon two-day contest over 1NT and played there in ‘everyone’s learn a thing or two from them.’ 96 boards would decide the outright favourite contract’. ‘Just my luck’, he ‘It’s taken nearly four hundred years’, winners. In addition to guaranteed thought. ‘I wonder how many champion- croaked Janus Scort from Neptune. places in bridge’s Hall of Fame, the ship finals have depended on the ‘Bridge is the National Sport for all victors could expect to undertake a tour outcome of a one no-trump contract.’ eight member planets. The best players of the universe in the Federation’s own This was the deal in question:
Page 22 Bridge in the 25th Century continued Delko. The semi-final matches were soon ready to begin and the Earth players faced their Martian opponents. Black around the giant arena as spectators and Wood were simply dressed in casual Cross realised the defending champions had a green trousers and matching shirt with m 6 4 3 real fight on their hands. an emblem of the Earth emblazoned on n J 9 6 4 3 2 Defeat in the first round was the back. By contrast, the Martian pair o 3 something neither player was prepared had dressed formally in matching black p A K 5 to contemplate. Banishment to a remote suits and crisp white shirts. Each had a Black Wood bridge school on one of the outer planets head of steel grey hair and an imperious m 10 8 m K 9 7 2 would be their likely fate. The twentieth manner. They raised their hands to N n A 10 7 W E n Q 5 board gave the Earth pair a glimmer of acknowledge the applause and displayed o A K Q 4 2 S o 10 8 6 5 hope. Playing in a 3NT contract, Pluto’s the unusual webbing between each p 8 7 6 p Q J 4 number one player, Major, attempted to finger. They neither smiled nor Ruff fool Black into the early play of his ace acknowledged their Earth opponents. m A Q J 5 of diamonds. When in fact Black held it The match took the form of swings n K 8 up, Major had no entry to his winners in and roundabouts with each side taking o J 9 7 the suit and the contract finished two turn to gain an advantage. The Earth pair p 10 9 3 2 down. went slightly ahead because of this deal: This seemed to mark the turning point for the Earth team, who went on to win The four of hearts was the lead and the match by a good margin. The other Astro Wood tabled dummy carefully. Black’s first-round matches were soon over and m A Q J 6 3 philosophy was always to make sure of the draw took place for the semi-final n A K 7 the contract first and to be particularly pairings. Earth would play Mars and o 10 8 4 careful if things looked too easy. Venus would play Neptune. Managers p Q 2 Consequently, he paid particular and trainers soon clustered around their Wood Black attention to the diamond suit: five tricks respective teams. m 8 7 4 m 10 5 2 N providing they break no worse than 3-1 n 9 3 W E n Q 8 4 (90% odds). He played the suit through The Semi-Finals o K 2 S o A J 7 5 3 in his mind and was suddenly horrified p J 10 9 8 5 3 p 6 4 to realise that dummy would be obliged The successful players negotiated Acol to win the fourth round. Bionic eye substantial bonus payments, while the m K 9 implants made it possible to look losers could only look forward to a long n J 10 6 5 2 sideways without turning the head. The lonely journey back to their respective o Q 9 6 two crab-like players from Saturn planets. It was even rumoured that the p A K 7 known as Cross and Ruff were sitting unfortunate Pluto contingent were motionless and emotionless. Black planning to ask for political asylum knew any mistake in the play would be rather than risk an encounter with the Astro opened one spade and raised his fatal. fearsome gravity of a black hole on the partner’s two-heart response direct to He called for the five of hearts, way home! game. Wood, sitting in the West seat, covered by the king from the South A team of highly programmed pondered his opening lead. Normally a hand. Black let this win and won the androids sat at tables around the players passive, unassuming player his fingers heart return in dummy. He then crossed lounge in readiness to play pre-dealt hovered over the club jack. He leaned to a high diamond in hand and disposed practice boards designed to test the backwards for a moment in his thickly of the ‘blocking’ diamond on the ace of competitors at every conceivable level of padded chair. The auction was swift and hearts. Seven tricks he won and with it play. assertive. They did not stagger into a the Galaxy Cup. ‘We’re in for a tough match’, said game contract so maybe an attacking, Black to his personal trainer, Ming unorthodox lead would be best. Wood The Opening Match Delko. ‘The Martians coasted through duly placed the king of diamonds on the against Uranus with hardly a slip up. table. Expecting an easy first round victory, They call themselves Astro and Acol and Dummy went down and Acol realised Black and Wood underestimated the have every intention of teleporting into that overtricks were now out of the tenacity and determination of the Pluto the arena for maximum effect!’ Ming question and even the contract was in pair. With nothing to lose, they bid and raised his heavy hooded eyelids and jeopardy. The defenders took two played with reckless abandonment. looked across at Black. ‘Just play your diamond winners, trumped a diamond When, on one deal, Wood mis - own game and don’t let them get the and made the heart queen to defeat the interpreted Black’s lead-directing upper hand’, was all he said in reply. His contract. The tension surrounding the double of six spades, their opponents strange features were the result of mixed players became electric. ‘Nothing I soon had twelve tricks neatly arranged parentage. His Earth mother had married could do on that lead’, said a disgruntled in front of them. An audible gasp echoed Saturn’s foremost bridge master, Janus Acol. Wood decided to join in:
Page 23 Bridge in the 25th Century continued one of the dedicated holiday satellites if they won the competition. Second place would mean a return to the rather drab teaching academy and anonymity. In ‘Just lucky, I suppose. A club lead gives Venus were identically dressed in silver addition, Overcall had the promise of a you an overtrick.’ Not to let his partner suits with gold buttons. Jet-black hair marriage contract to an immensely outdo him, Black interjected, ‘3NT is showed off their white, almost porcelain wealthy Martian. ‘Owns a whole fleet of cold and it looks like four spades might complexion. An all-female team had interplanetary passenger cruisers and just make – quite a solid five-two fit.’ never before won the Galaxy Cup so the he’s only 169 years of age’ exclaimed a The two Martians became visibly estimated viewing numbers were delighted Overcall. Defeat would put agitated at this unwelcome conversation astronomical. Both teams received a this proposal in dire jeopardy. and they called for the next board. standing ovation before a hushed silence Overbid let the jack win the first trick Playing with ever-growing confidence, marked the start of the match. and won the spade continuation in hand. the Earth players completed the match Black looked sideways at Overcall She then drew the remaining trump and with a healthy victory margin and took a and said in a friendly tone, ‘You’ve done continued with the diamond ten to standing ovation from the vast arena. very well to reach the final and second dummy’s king. She crossed to the ‘One step nearer to that tropical place will be no disgrace!’ Overcall gave diamond ace and, when East showed hideaway on Callisto’, said a delighted a coy smile and replied in a deep sultry out, finessed the diamond nine on the Wood. voice, ‘Thank you. Any advice you can way back, thereafter discarding two give us when we take off on our victory club losers on dummy’s diamonds. The Comfortable Win tour in Bridge One will be most king-queen of hearts ensured a tenth appreciated.’ Everyone chuckled at this trick. ‘Nicely played’ said a generous The other semi-final saw a comfortable and play began. Black. ‘I thought we might have got you and decisive win by the all-female team down on that one.’ from Venus headed by their star players The Final The first day’s play ended with the Overcall and Overbid. Their opponents Venus girls marginally ahead. ‘It’s from Neptune never really got going. The Venus girls proved worthy going to be tough tomorrow’, said a Venus outplayed them right from the opponents and play proceeded at a tired looking Wood. ‘Those girls are start and Neptune suffered the indignity steady, cautionary pace. This deal razor sharp and are ready to pounce on of the biggest defeat of the competition. provided an opportunity for Overbid to any error we make.’ ‘We’, said Black, Sympathy came in the form of show her worth: ‘don’t you mean errors that you make?’ understanding for the long arduous This he said in good humour and he journey to the competition from their meant it to relax the players in readiness lonely corner of the solar system. Overcall for the hand-by-hand analysis that was Encounters with meteor swarms and the m 8 5 4 sure to follow. After that, practice with asteroid belt had taken its toll on the n Q 2 the pre-programmed androids would players. o K Q 9 4 2 continue far into the night. Seated high up in the President’s p 9 8 6 In contrast, the Venus girls looked viewing box, Milo Gort grunted with Black Wood fresh and bright as they prepared to satisfaction. ‘The female players from m J 10 m Q 9 6 teleport into the players lounge. N Venus will give the Earth champions n A 9 8 W E n J 10 7 5 4 3 Overcall said, in her deep throaty voice, some serious competition.’ o J 8 6 3 S o 5 ‘I think the realisation that we might win With bonus payments and other p A 10 7 3 p Q J 5 is starting to cloud their judgement. Did inducements promised to the finalists, it Overbid you see the crestfallen look Wood gave was vital to maintain a clear m A K 7 3 2 when he went down in that spade perspective. It was also hinted that the n K 6 contract?’ ‘Yes’, replied Overbid with a winning team captain and his partner o A 10 7 chuckle. ‘It was board 45. I sensed his would become roving Ambassadors p K 4 2 anxiety by the way he rolled his bionic with a schedule that included meetings eyes!’ ‘Perhaps the eye roll was meant with ruling dignitaries from all eight of for you’, said Overcall in a mischievous the member planets. Already rich Playing five-card majors, Overbid tone. beyond imagination, Black and Wood opened one spade in the South seat. Hushed excitement greeted the knew that successfully defending the Overcall raised to two spades and players as they arrived for the final Galaxy Cup would propel them into a Overbid wasted no time in going confrontation. The Venus team looked super elite that money could never buy. straight to game. With no attractive lead spectacular in identical gold suits with Players, managers and dignitaries on offer, Black led the spade jack. Only silver buttons while the Earth players assembled on the playing platform and accustomed to positive thinking, remained nondescript in their rather the first set of pre-dealt boards emerged Overbid realised she had a potential five drab green trousers and matching shirts. from an electronically sealed box. The losers should East gain the lead and Wood had hardly slept all night while boards would ignite instantly if anyone play a club through her king. his finely tuned brain recalled hand after made an unauthorised attempt to view Both girls had the promise of their hand where unforced errors had seen the the hands. The female players from own luxury Bridge Leisure Complex on points and, ultimately, the Trophy
Page 24 Bridge in the 25th Century continued AT AT THEOBALDS PARK Bulls Cross Ride, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, EN7 5HW slipping away. The Venus THEOBALDS team would have forged PARK o Full-board o All rooms with further ahead but for some Friday to Sunday en-suite facilities inspired analytical play from Black. o No single supplement o Most bedrooms non-smoking ‘Nothing I could do o o partner’, said a desperate Use of jacuzzi, sauna Bidding quiz Wood after going down in an and fitness suite and two seminars impossible 6NT. ‘Perhaps o The bridge room, the guest accommodation and not’, replied Black in a the restaurant are all located in a modern annexe sarcastic tone. ‘Maybe we can arrange for you to spend ______BOOKING FORM ______some time at the No-Trump Academy on Uranus. Just Please book me for ..... places, imagine all the practice you would get.’ ‘Is there really Single ..... Double ..... Twin ..... such a place?’ asked Overbid gazing quizzically at Black. for the Theobalds Park weekend(s) of ...... ‘Oh, yes, it’s really part of a Bridge Penal Colony! It was 5-7 September ...... set up sometime in the 23rd £199 century for people with bad Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... table manners. Two warnings Overcalls Alex Davoud and off they went – just like Address...... that.’ Black looked closely at Overbid as he spoke and ...... marvelled at the pure black 3-5 October eyes. They were like the Postcode ...... ...... tinted windows of a sleek £199 space cruiser. They could see Leads and Defence Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, out, but you could not see in. Alison Nicolson but we will do our best to oblige) ...... The Winners 17-19 October Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking The outcome was inevitable with the Venus team winning £199 ...... by a comfortable margin. Sacrificing Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place The girls received a standing Ned Paul by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice will be sent with ovation when those gathered your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, 28 heard the final victory score. days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent A floating podium took the together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should 14-16 November you require insurance, you should contact your own insurance winners up to the President’s broker. box high up in the arena. £199 Milo Gort beamed with Signals and Discards delight as he welcomed the Alan Lamb girls into what would soon become a series of official engagements through out the solar system. Expiry: ...... CVV...... Issue No...... Back in the playing arena (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) the now forgotten losing finalists sat stunned with , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH disbelief. ‘Don’t look so glum’, said Black. At least I 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 haven’t vaporised you and e-mail: [email protected] there’s always next year to website: www.holidaybridge.com look forward to. I
Page 25 PROGRAMME This is the format for all AT MILTON HILL HOUSE duplicate weekends and AT MILTON rarely varies. Steventon, Oxfordshire, OX13 6AF HILL FRIDAY o Full-board o All rooms with HOUSE Friday to Sunday en-suite facilities 1500 Welcome Desk open o No single supplement o Most rooms non-smoking Afternoon Tea o Use of swimming pool, o Bidding quiz & two seminars 1745 to 1830 jacuzzi & mini gym (on duplicate weekends only) Welcome drinks reception ______BOOKING FORM 1830 to 2000 DINNER Please book me for ..... places, 2015 BRIDGE SESSION 1 Single ..... Double ..... DUPLICATE PAIRS at Milton Hill House weekend(s) of SATURDAY 12-14 Sept (£199) Further into the Auction ...... 0800 to 0930 Derek Monk BREAKFAST Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... 1000 to 1230 19-21 Sept (£209) Address...... SEMINAR & Landy & Dealing with 1NT SUPERVISED PLAY Bernard Magee ...... of SET HANDS 1 (tea & coffee at 1100) 26-28 Sept (£199) Postcode ...... 1230 to 1330 Weak Twos COLD BUFFET Chris Barrable ...... LUNCH
Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, 1400 to 1645 10-12 Oct (£209) but we will do our best to oblige) BRIDGE Signals & Discards SESSION 2 Bernard Magee ...... TEAMS of FOUR Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking 1815 to 2000 31 Oct-2 Nov (£199) DINNER Stayman & Transfers ...... Improvers – Sandy Bell Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place 2015 BRIDGE by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice will be sent with SESSION 3 7-9 Nov (£209) your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, DUPLICATE PAIRS Splinters & Cue-bids 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be Bernard Magee sent together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. SUNDAY Should you require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker. 0800 to 0930 28-30 Nov (£209) BREAKFAST Thinking Defence Bernard Magee 1000 to 1230 SEMINAR & SUPERVISED PLAY No Single of SET HANDS 2 Expiry: ...... CVV...... Issue No...... (tea & coffee at 1100) Supplement (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) 1230 to 1400 Manor house rooms are CARVERY LUNCH available at a supplement. , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH The remaining bedrooms are 1400 to 1645 housed in a block about 25 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 BRIDGE yards away from the main e-mail: [email protected] SESSION 4 hotel reached via a covered website: www.holidaybridge.com DUPLICATE PAIRS walkway.
Page 26 INTRODUCTION TO DUPLICATE by Simon Ainger and updated by David Stevenson
f I had not derived great pleasure compared with all the scores achieved made of rigid plastic (sometimes they Ifrom playing duplicate bridge over by the other North-South pairs. The are soft plastic wallets) with slots for many years, I would not have been quality of the hand that you hold is individual hands. It might look like this: persuaded to write this booklet. I say therefore irrelevant to success; it is this because there are things which, on whether you do better than the other the face of it, may cause the social North-South pairs that is critical. You do player some concern; all this talk about not need good cards to win. ‘alerts’ and ‘stops’ and such like. Be This is what happens. At the start, the assured that the techniques of duplicate players at any one table shuffle the are easily and quickly absorbed and cards and deal the initial deals (usually that it is played, in the great majority of two or three) for the first round of the clubs, as among friends and completely competition. Suppose that there is a free of any legalistic hassle. total of nine tables and 27 deals are to Certainly, of its nature, duplicate be played overall, then each table will bridge is competitive and success or deal three deals initially. These same Since each original hand is placed (or, failure is both measured and evident. deals will subsequently move round all subsequently, replaced) in its designated You can still bemoan your bad luck, from the other tables. For this to happen, it is slot, the same hands are played when the time to time, but, overall, it’s a level obvious that, firstly, each player must sets of boards are moved from table to playing table and you can’t hide behind retain his individual hand intact and, table. poor cards and wrong finesses. Maybe it secondly, that the individual hands must You will notice that both the dealer is enjoyed most by those who relish the be stored so they can be moved to and the vulnerability for each hand challenge to improve but, to all, it offers another table. (board) is given. In duplicate, every hand stimulation and the opportunity for new The first objective is achieved in the is a separate entity with both the dealer friendships. Simon Ainger manner of playing to each trick. Instead and the vulnerability determined accord- of playing the cards in the centre of the ing to a set pattern. The dealer might be The Basics table, as you would do at rubber bridge, indicated in writing or with an arrow; each player plays his card directly in the vulnerability in writing or colour- In duplicate, compass points are front of him. When his side wins a trick, coded (red or orange for vulnerable, assigned to distinguish the two pairs he turns his card over upright and, when white or green for non-vulnerable). playing at the same table. Thus North- he loses a trick, sideways. Progressively There also has to be a record of every South play against East-West. In rubber it looks like this: pair’s score (you will be assigned a bridge, these two pairs are in direct number for identification) on each deal opposition. Success or failure depends and this is handled by having a scoreslip partly on skill, but very much on luck in which travels with the board (it goes into the quality of the hands that you are that slot at the bottom) and is known as dealt. a ‘traveller’. They vary in size and In duplicate pairs, North-South and design but a simple example is given on East-West are not in direct competition Your side lost the first trick, won the the next page. against each other but, instead, each next two and lost the fourth. The pattern Finally, there needs to be a pair is competing against every other continues until all the cards are played. ‘movement’ to determine how the pair sitting in the same direction and The second objective is achieved by boards and the pairs will move during who will hold exactly the same cards. having what is called a ‘board’ into the session. This is the responsibility of As North-South, for example, your which the hands are placed after the a ‘director’. Movements and directors score on every hand played, will be play of the hand ends. These are usually will be discussed later.
i Introduction to Duplicate continued Pair 1 has a better score than five other pairs (5 x 2 points) and has the same score as one other pair (1 point), giving them 11 points on this board. You can see that the matchpoints for East-West, The Traveller ability. There is no bonus for ‘honours’. shown in the right-hand column, are The actual score plus the value of over - complementary to the North-South The initial, uncompleted, travelling tricks and any bonus are all added matchpoints. scoreslip may look like this: together to produce a composite figure Note that North-South pairs 3 and 9 (no below and above the line). This is achieved their good result because they then entered either in the North-South had the best scores and not because they plus column or the North-South minus bid and made a game. Had they bid and column. In other respects, duplicate made just 2NT (+120), they would have scoring is exactly the same as in rubber. gained the same matchpoint scores. If a hand is passed out, North enters How a Pairs’ Event the East-West pair number on the is Scored Overall traveller, writes ‘passed out’ alongside it and enters ‘0’ in the North-South column. At the end of the session, there will be a As a matchpointed score, it takes its completed traveller for every board place midway between the North-South played. The scorer now takes over. Each plus and minus scores. board is scored independently. This Sometimes, when things go wrong at means that, if you have a terrible result the table, the director needs to award a on one deal, the worst score recorded in matchpointed score in the absence of a your direction (known as a ‘bottom’ in valid normal score. This will usually be contrast to the best score, known as a related to average, either average itself ‘top’), you will score badly only on that (50%, exactly half a top) or average plus particular board in isolation. Lose 1,700 (at least 60%) or average minus (at most The score is entered after the play of points on one deal in rubber bridge and 40%). The introduction of an average any board ends. Custom, though not it will cost dearly. In duplicate, it means will involve a slight adjustment to the law, gives this responsibility to North only a single bad board out of many other matchpointed scores. but East or West should check the entry. played. After matchpointing all the travellers, The number of the board must be The scorer takes each traveller and the scores for every pair on each board written at the top. The North-South pair matchpoints it. He assigns every North- are recorded and totalled to produce a numbers are usually pre-printed and South two points for each score they separate result for the North-South pairs North fills in the row opposite the pair have bettered and one point for each and the East-West pairs. Sometimes the number that he has been assigned score the same. He gives comple - movement is designed to produce only (beware of mistakenly using the board mentary matchpoint scores to East- one overall winning pair and number). The East-West pair number West. If North-South gain 16 match- consequently that will be the pair with goes in the next column, then the points (here the top score) then East- the highest overall percentage. It may contract (identify a doubled contract by West must get zero matchpoints for the happen that one or more pairs play adding ‘x’ and a redoubled contract by bottom score in that direction. fewer hands than the majority of the adding ‘xx’), the declarer (N, E, S or Let us look at a traveller which has field but, when this happens, their W), the number of tricks made and, been matchpointed: overall score will be factored up to finally, the score as related to North- compensate. South. The columns on the right, In practice, few scorers work by hand headed ‘Matchpoints’, are for the use of any more. Scores are entered into a the person scoring the event overall. computer, and results are nearly always If the overall scoring is done by shown in percentages. 50% is an average computer, the North-South pair number session, 60% is good, 70% is brilliant. column may be blank and the score is Normally, 62%-63% will win a session. entered on the first available line. More and more clubs use Bridgemates for scoring. North enters the score The Scoring into an electronic box designed for the purpose, and East checks it. Then the Since each board is a separate entity, percentage score at the time on that with pre-determined vulnerability, board is shown and earlier scores may duplicate scoring is slightly different be seen. from rubber bridge. A vulnerable game Since the scores are transmitted earns a bonus of 500 points, a non- immediately by radio to the central vulnerable game 300 points and a part- computer, clubs with Bridgemates often score 50 points, irrespective of vulner- have screens showing everyone’s
ii m p Introduction to Duplicate continued it in sequence down from 2 to 1 are laid in a stack on the table with only the 2NT card visible on top of the stack. The same is done with subsequent bids; each stack being laid left to right overlapping score, which is updating constantly. Above is a Convention Card. This card the previous stack so that the sequence Travellers are not needed when using is very simple, but perfectly acceptable can be seen. Be careful to be sure of Bridgemates. for a basic system. It has been filled in your call before handling the cards in where appropriate. It shows that the pair the bidding box. The cards must remain The Personal is playing an Acol-based natural system on the table until the initial lead is Scorecard with Stayman, Blackwood and faced. They are then replaced in the ‘Double’ (X being used as shorthand) bidding box in the appropriate sections. In duplicate pairs, the travellers are used for take-out after an opening pre- The front section of the box contains as the official record for the scores, but emptive bid by the opposition. different coloured cards marked ‘Pass’, there are personal scorecards for your The second part of the card shows ‘Double’ (X) and ‘Redouble (XX)’. own use. It is normal, though not carding methods. These are placed in sequence on the required, for at least one of the partner- This shows that the pair’s basic lead table exactly like the bidding cards. ship to keep a scorecard. In format, it style accords with the table of standard Now, however, you extract only the one looks much the same as the traveller. leads and that signals and discards are card from that section of the box. The main reason for such a card is for high to encourage and low to Additionally, this section holds cards your own interest so do not keep one if discourage (HELD). marked ‘Stop’ and ‘Alert’. The Stop you do not want to. card takes the place of saying “Stop” Score cards are often on the back of a before making a jump bid (see later basic ‘Convention Card’, which is section). It should be placed on the table discussed below. When playing before adding the appropriate bidding duplicate teams, keeping a personal card stack from the back section of the scorecard is usually essential for the box, but replaced in the box after a pause overall scoring. In the Score columns, of about ten seconds. The Alert card you record your own plus or minus replaces the need for the partner of a score (as distinct from only the North- player making an alertable call to tap on South score on the traveller) and, when the table, see next section. When your converting to IMPs, the left-hand Pairs who play more sophisticated partner makes such a call, you extract Matchpoints column is used to record a systems will have a larger and more the alert card, show it to both opponents plus IMP score on each hand and the detailed card. However, in most clubs and replace it in the box. Other odd right-hand column a minus. The scale you will find that the majority of cards, eg marked ‘director’ or ‘No for conversion to IMPs is printed on the players play only simple conventions, smoking’ are not used any more. scorecard (see TEAMS). which are easy to understand and there There is an additional asset to a are restrictions on the complex methods bidding box, thoughtfully provided on The that are allowed. most sets: all the scores are given on the Convention Card reverse of a bidding card. Suppose you The Bidding Box need to calculate 3m doubled and made with an overtrick. Look on the back of The use of bidding boxes, as a substitute the 3m bidding card and you will find for calling out the actual bids during the the correct score. auction, is becoming increasingly The bad news is that your first popular and nearly all clubs now use encounter with a bidding box will add a them. They vary in style and layout and distraction to your game that you would some designs cater for left-handed rather do without. The good news is that players. it is not difficult to become at ease with In their most common form, the four them and you will soon come to boxes on each table are set up at the appreciate their value. start of a session, by extracting cards Some clubs still use spoken bidding from the base and slotting them into the as in rubber bridge. two sections of the upright box. The bidding cards, with every bid from lp to Conventional Bids 7NT visible, are placed in the back section and the other coloured cards in In all forms of bridge, you are entitled the front. When a bid is made, the to know the meaning of an opponent’s appropriate card is removed, together call and you are allowed to ask the with all the cards stacked behind it, and partner of the person making such a call laid on the table. For example, to bid what their agreement of its meaning is. 2NT, that card and all the cards behind The enquiry may only be made:
iii Introduction to Duplicate continued he will immediately tell the opponents the strength: “Weak”, “Intermediate”, “Strong, not forcing” or “Strong, forcing”. These are the only bids announced: if your partner responds 2p a) when it is your turn to call, or Be clearly aware that it is the partner of to 1NT and you play something else b) before you make the opening lead, the person making the call who alerts. artificial that is not Stayman, then you or Never alert your own call (you would be just alert. c) if you are the partner of the defender alerting your partner as well, wouldn’t making the opening lead, after the you?). Always alert a call which you The Stop Bid lead, but before it is faced (opening know should be alerted even if you are leads in duplicate must be made face unable to explain its meaning. If asked, A player who makes any bid which down) or simply explain and suggest that the misses out one or more levels of bidding d) during the play, when it is your turn opponent looks at your convention card (ie a jump bid) must show the Stop card to play. or calls the director. before the bid, and leave it on the table Generally, you alert by showing both for about ten seconds after making the You should not usually ask a question opponents your alert card. If bidding bid. The reason is to allow time for the during the auction unless it affects your boxes are not in use, then you tap the player next to call to reflect after what call. If you have no intention of bidding, table, or say ‘Alert’ if you are unable to may be an unexpected development. best is to wait until it is finished. Such a tap the table. This next player is required to pause for question could be deemed to give your The rules for alerting are a little about ten seconds (and may not call partner unauthorized information. For different in Scotland and Ireland: the until the Stop card is removed) before example, your opponent opens a natural following is true in England and Wales: making a call and this imposed pause is bid of 1p and, before making your call, Conventional calls should be alerted to avoid any inference that the partner you ask the meaning. After being told, up to 3NT. For example, if your partner of the overcaller might make from a you pass. Should your partner now lead bids Fourth-Suit Forcing, you must natural hesitation. If bidding boxes are a club against a no-trump contract, alert. You should also alert any call not in use, a player should say ‘Stop’ doubts will be raised about the lead. In which is natural, but which your before a jump bid. Scotland and Ireland, satisfy yourself opponents would interpret differently. about the strength of the opponents’ Doubles are a bit tricky: if partner What Else is opening 1NT bid before you start to makes a double of a natural suit bid, you Different? play against them. alert for any meaning except take-out: if As declarer, you are also entitled, at partner makes a double of an artificial The Face Down your turn to play, to enquire about your suit bid or no-trumps, you alert for any Opening Lead opponents’ agreement about their meaning except penalties: again, this is This is a sensible rule which should carding methods: what they lead from only up to 3NT. prevent the lead being made from the suit combinations and what agreement There is no denying that what should wrong hand (it is then withdrawn) and they have when signalling or discarding. and should not be alerted can be which allows the partner to ask Playing duplicate, you meet many confusing. Even experienced duplicate questions about the auction without different pairs during the session and players go wrong and you shouldn’t be influencing the lead. Before facing your therefore, possibly, a variety of unduly alarmed if you do. If in doubt, initial lead, you should ask your conventions. Apart from the fact that alert and, if you fail to alert when you partner: “Any questions?” or, as you you can ask for explanations, there are should have, there will only be a lead face-down, your partner should two other aids. The first is the problem if the opponents have been either ask or say “No questions”. ‘Convention Card’, which both damaged. members of a pair are required to Playing Dummy complete. An opponent is entitled to The Announcement In rubber bridge, declarer physically consult it (but you are not allowed to selects a card. In duplicate, declarer use it as a memory aid). The second is In England and Wales only, some of the must call for a card to be played and the ‘Alert’. simpler positions are covered by dummy does the job by picking it up Announcements. This is a method of and placing it on the table in front of The Alert shortcutting the question and answer him. Be careful to specify both the suit process: after certain simple bids are and the rank, and check that your The requirement to alert your opponents made, partner immediately makes a partner plays the card that you called. that a bid made by your partner is either simple description. conventional or carries a meaning that If you open a natural 1NT, partner Quitted Tricks may be known to your side, but not to will immediately give the range, eg. A trick is quitted when all four players the opponents, is not in the laws of “Twelve to fourteen”. If he opens 1NT, turn their cards over. Thereafter declarer rubber bridge, although it gets a then, if you bid 2p (Stayman), he will or either defender may inspect, but not mention as an optional extra which a say “Stayman”: if you bid 2o or 2n expose, his own last card played group can use if they wish. However, in (Transfer) he will say “Hearts” or provided a card has not been led to the duplicate, alerting is required. “Spades”. If you open a natural 2-bid, next trick.
iv Introduction to Duplicate continued locate the person in charge of getting the session organised. You might ask if you can sit East-West so that you do not have the responsibility of doing the scoring or you might ask for a Having None, Partner? Inevitably, you will not do yourself stationary seat if you find moving Dummy may ask declarer in the justice on your first visit. You will be difficult. You may be directed to a table interests of preventing a revoke and nervous and you will be paying more and allocated a compass position or you defenders may ask each other. attention to the mechanics of the game may have a free choice. than to playing. Do not worry that the You will be expected to pay ‘table Checking Tricks lower standard of your game might money’ (a fee for the session) and, since Won and Lost upset those you play against. Your you are a visitor, this will be a little As dummy or defender, you may notice opponents will accept a good result more than the members pay. The money that your partner has a card pointing the happily! You may annoy yourself but may be taken when you arrive or wrong way and, therefore, he may you are unlikely to annoy them. collected at the table. At some stage, wrongly assume that he has won or lost Nevertheless, you want to play your your names will be recorded, perhaps a trick. You may tell him before the next first duplicate in the most suitable when you are assigned a position, or trick starts, but should not do so at a environment. It is advisable, although North, at the starting table, will fill in a later time until the hand has ended. sometimes not essential, to have a name slip or put the names and pair partner in tow. Some clubs will be able to numbers on the back of a traveller. Timers arrange a partner for you and others may Some clubs have a timer which shows have a system whereby a member is on At the Table which round it is, and how many duty to play if a spare player turns up. minutes are left. There also may be an But many clubs will require a On your table, or shortly to arrive, will audible warning when there are three complete partnership and you will, be paper and apparatus. Because there minutes left in the round. While a little anyway, feel more comfortable playing are various possibilities as mentioned strange at first sight, these are an with someone you know. There are elsewhere some (or all) of the following excellent idea, and make life easier for various ways of finding the appropriate will be present. both players and directors to run an club. If you have recently learnt bridge, evening to time. ask your teacher. You may have a friend 1) Your personal scorecard, probably who plays duplicate and who can advise including a simple convention card ‘Duplimates’ you. There is a Directory of Bridge on the back which you should fill in Some clubs have these (or the Clubs which should be available in your while you are waiting. Put your equivalent). The boards are dealt by local library or which you can buy from names on the front but wait for computer and the cards put in the Mr Bridge. Similar details are available further instructions before adding a boards by machine. This saves anyone on websites of the home bridge unions or pair number. Usually, it will be the having to deal, the hands tend to be you could contact them. Of course, you same number as the starting table, fairer, and copies of all the hands will be may have no choice of club for reasons but this is not certain. Do sit available at the end of the evening for of accessibility or the days on which you opposite your partner while you you to see all your brilliancies and your are able to play, but, if there is a choice, chat, since, if one is sitting in the partner’s mistakes! do not be put off approaching a ‘big’ North seat and the other in the East club. Frequently these clubs have special seat, the director may assume that A Board is Passed Out sessions catering specifically for the your table is complete and that your When all four players pass, the hands inexperienced player and offer courses respective partners will shortly fill are returned unplayed to the board. which you might consider. it. Note that there is a requirement to North scores ‘Passed out’. By law, a Never turn up out of the blue. Contact fill in a convention card but keeping board that is passed out must not be the secretary of the club and check your own score is optional. redealt. whether you will be welcome. You will 2) Name slips to be filled in with the get a ‘feel’ about this if you talk on the pair numbers once these are known. Your First Duplicate telephone. Say that it is your first 3) Boards, once the director has duplicate but that you are fully briefed decided on the most suitable You have decided to give duplicate about the mechanics, you have, after all, movement. These are the hands that bridge a try and now you must find a read these pages. Check the location you will be required to deal for the club that will welcome you, and where and time of starting carefully since late initial round. Generally, to speed you will feel at ease. This first step is players can rarely be accommodated. things up and provided at least one critical since a bad experience could put Ask whom you should contact on member of both pairs is present, you off trying again. The first point to arrival. players each take a board and deal it be made is that most bridge clubs will in front of them, putting the dealt positively encourage you. They At the Club hands in the appropriate slots. Then, understand that novice duplicate players when the action starts, all the hands have to start somewhere and that fresh Let us assume that you have arrived in for the first round are dealt and blood needs to flow into most clubs. good time, with your partner, and can ready to play. Usually, these are
v Introduction to Duplicate continued to that table sits out for that round. Some - times, there is no half-table but, instead, a ‘floating’ pair displaces a different North- South pair on each round. The displaced pair sits out for one round and then the only boards that you will appropriate to the number of tables in returns to its original table. actually deal for the whole session. play and the number of boards that time The director should always give clear Rarely, boards will need to be dealt permits. He will also be responsible for instructions. If in doubt, just ask. during the session. Often, the boards arbitrating on any problems, in will be pre-dealt. You should be accordance with the ‘Laws of Duplicate During the Session instructed but, if in doubt, always Contract Bridge’, that may arise during check with the director. the auction or the play. The director Barring dire emergency, you must stay 4) Hand record cards, if present, are should always be called if any for the complete session; we have known as ‘curtain cards’. These are irregularity (lead out of turn, revoke, known occasions when someone wants slips of thin card on which, after a disputed claim or the like) occurs. to give up in mid-session. A session will board has been newly dealt, each Very rarely, a player may elect to normally last three to three and a half individual hand is recorded, suit by ‘reserve his rights’. This sounds hours. Since a definitive number of suit. The relevant compass position ominous but it is in no way an boards must be played in a set time, the is identified on the back (make sure accusation of improper conduct. It is director will require the completion of a you have the right one) and there is simply a courtesy to the opponents to two-board round in roughly 15 minutes a space for the suits on the other alert them, at the time rather than later, and, therefore, your opponents may get side. They are generally filled in by to something that has happened which agitated and the director worried if you each individual player after the play might cause an unfair result and that the play unduly slowly. There are some of the hand has finished. Write each director might be asked to adjudicate. time-saving tips. If you are on lead suit in descending order eg. A K 7 2. The director need not be called when a initially, lead before entering the When returning the hand to the player reserves rights. It is sufficient, contract on your personal scorecard. board, put the curtain card on top of provided the facts are not in dispute, to Similarly, dummy should expose his the stack with the hand details face register the point with the opponents and hand before writing down the contract. down. call the director only if one side thinks it If you are North, enter the score on the The curtain cards are a precaution might have been damaged. Do not get traveller or Bridgemate before updating to ensure that, should an error be upset if an opponent reserves his rights. your scorecard. Never discuss a hand if detected when the boards are played Look upon the director as a completely there is another in the set to play and, if by another table (eg fewer or more impartial judge like a football referee, you have time after completing the set, than 13 cards in one hand), the even if sometimes you don’t agree with remember that other tables will not have director has the data to rectify the his judgement. played the board in question and your problem. Consequently, before you The way to summon the director is to comments might be overheard. look at any hand, you should count call “director, please” and hold up your After a round has been completed, the the cards. When you look at your arm so that he knows who is calling. A director will call “move” and the pairs hand, you should check that it playing director may not be able to required to move will go, as instructed, corresponds to that written on the arrive instantly, and may reserve to a new table. The boards will also have curtain card. Call the director, if judgement if it requires seeing hands to move to a different table, usually the necessary. To avoid being the cause which he has not played. next lower-numbered table. of a problem, count your cards once Both pairs should check that they are again, after the play, before putting The Movement playing the correct boards against the them back in the board. correct opponents and that a board is 5) Travellers, one for each board. Frankly, you do not need to worry too placed in the correct compass direction 6) Bidding boxes, one for each player. much about movements. They are the on the table. During both the auction and 7) A ‘Bridgemate’ for North to enter director’s responsibility and you simply the play, the board should remain in the the score. follow instructions. There may be move - centre of the table. 8) A table number. ment cards on each table, telling you Remember that you are playing to 9) A table card, describing pair numbers your pair number and where to go for enjoy the game, and so is your partner, and boards to play each round, and the next round. If not, your pair number whom you should not criticise adversely; where to move at the end of the will be the same as the table number for no partner plays better under fire. Thank round. both North-South and East-West (unless your partner when, as dummy, he spreads the director says otherwise) and the his hand, even if it is not what you expect. The Director director will announce the move at the Be courteous to your opponents. end of the round (eg East-West pairs up Introduce yourselves and never tell them The role of the director is to ensure that one table, boards down one table – up is how they should have bid or played the session runs smoothly. He (or she) from 1 to 2 etc). unless asked specifically. will be an experienced member and will It can happen that there is an odd Perhaps now is the time to warn you sometimes be playing in the event. The number of total pairs and consequently that clubs tend to have their own director will choose a movement that is there will be a half-table. A pair directed eccentricities: practices which are
vi Introduction to Duplicate continued bridge holidays. Almost certainly, this will be your first experience of duplicate. There are other forms.
TEAMS not strictly correct although they do not to know the rules: just call the Instead of being a pair, competing unduly disturb the game. A board director. against other pairs sitting in the same thrown in on the first round might get, direction, you are a team of four players unlawfully, redealt; players may have However, it does speed the game up a competing against one or several other no convention cards (their system being bit if you are aware that: teams, depending on the event. This is well-known to the regulars); boards how it works. might be moved from the centre of the 3) Any call or lead out of turn or Suppose that there are just two teams table; bidding box cards might be taken insufficient bid may be accepted by playing a head to head match. One pair up before a lead is made, and so on. As the next opponent even without the of the team plays North-South at the a visitor, you will not want to make director. first table and their team-mates play waves but being aware of the correct 4) When a player takes the wrong call East-West at the second table. A set of procedure is no disadvantage. out of the bidding box by accident boards is played at both tables, with the Clubs may also have their own he may immediately change it even hands being retained as in pairs, and eccentrics! Don’t be upset by a pair without the director. then the boards are switched between arriving at your table and ignoring your the two tables and replayed. greeting. Their minds are probably on Note also: There is a direct comparison of the the poor result that they got at the scores (computed on each board) previous table. Very rarely, you might 5) As declarer, you think that you can achieved by both teams. When the set of come across players who seem win all the remaining tricks and you boards has been played at both tables, aggressive or rude. By far the most make a claim accordingly, stating the East-West pairs return to their effective riposte is to respond with your proposed line of play. A North-South team-mates to score. Each excessive politeness, though, if they are defender disputes your claim and board is taken in isolation to arrive at an really rude, you should call the director requires you to play the hand as he aggregate score on every board. and explain to him what was said. directs. Is he allowed to do this? Suppose Team 1 achieves a North- At the end of the session, you may be No. If there is a disputed claim, South plus score of 420 on one board asked to remove the curtain cards and to play must cease and the director and their East-West team-mates score is restore the bidding boxes by replacing called. He will adjudicate on the minus 170. There is a net overall plus to the cards in the base. disputed claim taking into account Team 1 (and consequently a net overall any statement made about the minus to Team 2) of 250 (420 less 170). Do You Need to Know proposed line of play when the Usually, this score then gets converted the Laws of Duplicate? claim was made. The director will to ‘International Matchpoints’, known assume that you could play as IMPs, by reference to a set Basically, no, because the director carelessly but not irrationally. conversion scale which is printed on the should be called when anything goes Claims are a good thing because personal scorecards. In fact, 250 wrong, and, armed with the book of the they speed the game up enormously converts into 6 IMPs so that, on this Laws, will give a ruling. Most duplicate but when one goes wrong, do not particular board, Team 1 gains 6 IMPs players, though having some knowledge argue about it: call the director! and Team 2 loses 6 IMPs. After all the of the Laws through experience, do not boards have been scored, the IMP totals see the need to read and understand How Did You Do? in the plus and minus columns are them. But they often do not know them aggregated to produce a plus or minus as well as they think, so do not believe Some clubs, with their own premises score (in overall IMPs) for both teams. them! Having said that, there are some and a computer, may produce a result An overall plus score wins this match. Laws that it can be valuable to be aware within minutes of the end of the session, Usually head to head matches are of when you play. but, usually, the result will only be played in ‘stanzas’: eg if there are 24 The most important Laws you need to known the next time you go to the club. boards to be played overall, they might know are: Hopefully, you will have enjoyed the be played in stanzas of 6, 8 or 12 experience enough for there to be a next boards, which are scored before the next 1) You are required to be courteous to time. Many clubs post results on the stanza. everyone else, whether opponents, internet these days. Sometimes, after determining the partner, director, coffee-maker or overall IMP score, a further conversion general hanger-on! Other Forms of is made to ‘Victory Points’ (VPs). Again 2) When attention is drawn to Duplicate this is on a set, published scale. something going wrong you (even if When several teams are competing dummy) are required to call the We have concentrated on against one another in a ‘Multiple director. It does not matter which ‘Matchpointed Duplicate Pairs’ since Teams’ event, there are movements to side did something wrong: it does this is by far the most common form of make sure that the same boards are not matter if your opponents claim duplicate played in bridge clubs and on played against the same team.
vii Tactics with Introduction to Duplicate continued Teams Scoring
Tactics at teams scoring are very similar to those at rubber bridge. You should In teams matches, scoring is done by Simultaneous Pairs always try to make your contract if you keeping a record on the personal National and international sponsoring can and you should always try to defeat scorecards. After converting the bodies regularly hold ‘Simultaneous your opponents if you can. You should aggregate difference to IMPs, an IMP Pairs’ duplicates, providing details of certainly never let overtricks interfere plus score is entered on the left-hand the hands to all participating clubs, so with these objectives. column of the two columns headed that the event can be matchpointed over The only difference is that you should ‘Matchpoints’ (on the right of the the whole field. The clubs arrange for be more aggressive when bidding game personal scorecard) and a minus IMP the boards to be made up. contracts, particularly when you are score in the right-hand column. The The scores are sent off to the vulnerable. This is because, when the scores are totalled and subtracted to get organising body to be matchpointed, aggregate score on any one hand is the overall plus or minus IMP score for often by e-mail (though a local result converted to IMPs, there is a bias in both teams. The scores must may also be scored) and there is an favour of a successful game contract. complement each other. overall national or international results list. This is frequently done on the Tactics with match - Individuals internet these days: players can see their pointed Pairs Scoring As the name implies, these are duplicate scores there almost immediately, and events in which you compete as an watch them change as more results It is very important to appreciate the individual rather than a pair or a team. come in. different tactics needed when playing They are good fun, but rare, since the matchpointed pairs. This difference is movements can be complicated and the Masterpoints due to the method of scoring. Let us scoring time-consuming. They are run as look at a traveller for Board 2. a pairs event, except that you change A club which is affiliated to one of the partners every round and therefore, when home unions is entitled to issue it is scored, there is an individual winner. ‘Masterpoints’ for success in any of its duplicates. Swiss Competitions There is a graded award to the top You may see some competitions third of the field (or, in a major event, advertised as ‘Swiss Pairs’ or ‘Swiss the top half) and they are usually given Teams’ and both are popular formats out as actual certificates. When although the latter, being easier to run, members of a home union (the points are more favoured. The principle in both are interchangeable) accumulate a total is that competitors who are doing of 200 such points, they can send them equally well, or equally badly, are to headquarters and they are recorded as matched to play against each other. ‘club masters’, the first rung in the scale Short matches are played against one of achievement in duplicate bridge. pair or one team and, after the result of The collection of additional points each match is known, the pairs or the enables members to achieve teams are re-matched according to their progressively higher rankings. County, running scores. Generally, a minimum National and Congress competitions of six separate matches is involved and award Masterpoints on a higher scale. the format means that a pair or a team Basic Masterpoints are known as ‘local This looks a pretty dull hand: a cold which starts badly has the chance to points’ or ‘black points’ but, to achieve game contract and bid by every North- climb up the ladder in the course of the the higher levels of the system, you South pair in the room. All have made competition. need to acquire ‘green points’ or ‘red two overtricks except for Pair 1. At points’, awarded in major competitions teams or rubber bridge, this would be of Newcomer Duplicates organised at national, county, area or minimal importance. But, at pairs, it has Sponsoring bodies, which include the district level. resulted in a ‘bottom’ for North-South home bridge unions, county, district and Masterpoints are valid for three years and a consequent ‘top’ for East-West. area associations and bridge clubs, are and this means that you can start Was North careless? Did East-West keen to encourage newcomers to collecting them without being a find a brilliant defence? Either way, it duplicate and there are competitions member of a union and register them, if has significantly cost one side and organised to suit them. and when you decide to become one. rewarded the other. I
Why not try your first duplicate at a Mr Bridge Gentle Duplicate event, designed for newcomers to duplicate? For full details 01483 489961.
viii DEFENCE AT THE BEACH HOTEL Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 3QJ QUIZ Duplicate Weekends 2008 £209 per person full-board by Julian Pottage with Bernard Magee (Answers on page 42) 17-19 October Better Defence ou are West in the defensive positions below. It is your turn to play. Y 5-7 December Game Tries
1. m A K 2 3. m Q 6 2 n n Q 9 4 K 9 2 o Full-board o All rooms with o Q 10 9 8 o Q 9 8 7 3 Friday to Sunday en-suite facilities p Q 4 2 p K 9 o No single supplement o Venue non-smoking m 9 7 6 4 m 5 4 n N n N o Tuition with Supervised Play, bidding quiz and two seminars K 5 W E 7 6 5 3 W E o J 7 5 S o K 10 S p p 10 8 7 5 8 7 6 5 2 ______BOOKING FORM ______
West North East South West North East South Please book me for ..... places, 1n 1m 1NT Pass 2o Pass 2n Pass 3NT End Single ..... Double ..... Twin ..... Sea View* ..... Pass 4n End at the Beach Hotel weekend(s) of You lead the m5. This goes m m m m You lead the 7, which to the 2, 10 and K...... the mK wins as partner Declarer plays oA and plays the m10 and South another diamond. You Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... the m5. Dummy now leads win the second round as n o the Q, which runs to partner follows with the J Address...... your nK. What next? and o6. What next? ......
m m 2. A K 2 4. K 6 2 Postcode ...... n Q 9 4 n K 6 2 o Q 10 9 8 o Q 9 8 7 3 ...... p Q 4 2 p Q 5 m 9 7 6 4 m 5 4 Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, n K 5 N n 9 7 5 4 3 N but we will do our best to oblige) W E W E o J 7 5 S o K 10 S p 10 8 7 5 p 8 7 6 2 ...... Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice will be sent West North East South West North East South with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final pay- 1n 1m 1NT ment, 28 days before the event, a programme and full details Pass 2o Pass 2n Pass 3NT End will be sent together with a map. Cancellations are not refund- Pass 4n End able. Should you require insurance, you should contact your You lead the m5. This goes own insurance broker. *£30 supplement per room. You lead the m7, which to the m2, mQ and mA. m o the K wins as partner Declarer plays A and , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH plays the m3 and South another diamond. You the m5. Dummy now leads win the second round as 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 the nQ, which runs to partner follows with the oJ e-mail: [email protected] your nK. What next? and o6. What next? website: www.holidaybridge.com
Page 27 AT BARONY CASTLE DECLARER Eddleston by Peebles, Peebleshire, Scotland, EH45 8QWJ PLAY Duplicate Weekends 2008 QUIZ £209 per person full-board
24-26 October by David Huggett Doubles with Derek Monk (Answers on page 47) 7-9 November Signals & Discards with Chris Barrable ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge. YIn each case, what is your play strategy? o Full-board o All rooms with Friday to Sunday en-suite facilities o No single supplement o Venue non-smoking 1. 3. m Q J 9 5 m A J 9 o o Use of swimming Bidding quiz n 7 5 4 n A 7 5 2 pool and fitness suite and two seminars o K 8 2 o 8 6 4 p Q J 10 p 7 3 2 ______BOOKING FORM N N W E W E Please book me for ..... places, S S
Single ..... Double ..... Twin ..... m A K 10 6 4 3 2 m 5 4 n A K 8 n K Q J 8 3 at the Barony Castle weekend(s) of o A 7 5 o A K 3 p Void p A 9 4 ......
Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... You are declarer in 6m and You are declarer in 4n West leads the diamond and West leads the club Address...... queen. How do you plan queen. How do you plan the play? the play? ......
Postcode ...... 2. 4. ...... m K J 3 m K 6 4 n n Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, 10 7 3 K Q 8 2 o o but we will do our best to oblige) A 9 6 4 J 3 p J 5 4 p A Q 7 3 ...... N N W E W E Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per S S place by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice will be sent with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final pay- m m ment, 28 days before the event, a programme and full details A Q 8 2 A J 9 8 will be sent together with a map. Cancellations are not refund- n A 4 n 9 7 4 able. Should you require insurance, you should contact your o Q 10 8 o A 2 own insurance broker. p A 8 3 2 p K J 9 8
, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 3NT. 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 and West leads the heart West, who opened 1NT e-mail: [email protected] two. How do you plan the (12-14), leads the oK. How website: www.holidaybridge.com play? do you plan the play?
Page 28 Justin Corfield Says Knock Out the Entry to the Danger Hand First
he concept of a ‘danger hand’ West leads the nine of spades against refers to when you can lose the your 3NT contract. You win with the m 5 4 2 Tlead safely to one opponent, but king, while East encourages with the n 10 9 6 4 not the other: eight. From the play to the first trick, o A Q 8 3 2 you conclude that West has tried – p K successfully – to find East’s suit. N m 5 3 You will need to set up extra tricks in W E S n K 6 3 the minor suits. Would you finesse in o A J 7 6 diamonds first, or would you rather m A K p A 5 3 2 knock out the ace of clubs first? Does it n K Q 2 o J 10 9 6 N make any difference? Let us see. W E Suppose you decide that you will have p A 4 3 2 S to lose to the ace of clubs at some point m K Q 2 and therefore that you might as well n A 4 2 knock it out straight away. Most players would run the jack of o K 10 9 8 5 The writing is on the wall when West diamonds at trick two. Would you? p K 4 goes in with the ace of clubs and plays The diamond finesse, appealing as it another spade. You try the jack from may look, would be a mistake. If you dummy, but East wins with the queen take it now and it loses, East will return Suppose you are in 3NT, and West leads and clears the spades. As a last resort, a spade, setting up West’s suit. At this a low spade to East’s jack. you cross to your hand in hearts to try point, you will have eight tricks and still You ensure the contract if you win, the diamond finesse. Unfortunately, it need to knock out the heart ace. If West cross to the ace of diamonds and then loses to East, who cashes two more holds it, you will be in trouble. run the jack. You play the diamonds this spade tricks to defeat your contract. Resisting the allure of that diamond way around because you do not mind Compare this rather sad scenario with finesse, you should reason that West is losing a trick to West, who can do you the more cheerful one where you try the the danger hand, with the ace of hearts no harm. It would be dangerous to lose a diamond finesse at trick two. his only possible entry. So attack that trick to East (who can play a spade If the diamond finesse wins, you take suit first, and play the king of hearts at through your remaining spade honour). a few more diamond finesses then knock trick two. What is the worst that could East is the danger hand, and you have out the ace of clubs, making overtricks. happen? If someone takes the heart ace kept him off lead in the play. If the finesse loses, though, no harm can and knocks out your remaining spade When you have two high cards to come. East cannot profitably attack the stopper, you then take a diamond finesse knock out, life is more complicated and spade suit from his side of the table. into the now safe East hand (you know this is where the maxim proves useful. By taking the diamond finesse into the spades are 6-2 on the bidding). If the East at trick two, you attack the danger defenders allow your heart king to hold, hand’s entry before the defenders have you simply switch to diamonds – the m A J 3 set up their suit. This play guarantees ten difference is that you already have a n A 3 2 tricks against any layout. heart trick in the bag. o A 6 4 2 Note that, assuming you place East One way to think about this is to p Q 10 3 with long spades, you play the same way consider which layouts threaten your if dummy’s spades are weaker, A-x-x. contract. Here, the danger is that the N W E You still want to knock out East’s king diamond finesse is wrong (East has the S of diamonds before the ace of clubs, king), and West holds the heart ace. You m K 2 which may be with West. then consider how to make the contract, n K 5 4 Another day, another 3NT, and even against the dangerous layout. o Q J 10 9 another danger hand for you to keep off Sometimes the obvious play – on the p K J 9 2 lead – West, having opened with a weak long suit – is wrong. Knock out the entry two in spades, leads a low spade. to the danger hand first. I
Page 29
Harold Schogger Says Lead Up To Weakness
ou gain the lead with dummy on shape and minimum values for the raise get home with five trumps, four your right and declarer on your to 3NT suggest that this is a time to play diamonds and the club king. Yleft and you are not sure what to safe. The heart and club suits look In our final example, we see how a play next. You look at dummy for unappealing and could well cost a trick. switch up to weakness gives declarer a guidance and see dummy’s weak suit. If Therefore, he uses the ‘lead up to guess, a guess he may well get wrong. you now play this weak suit, this is weakness’ maxim and switches to the leading up to weakness. You do so for eight of diamonds. some of the following reasons: As predicted, this switch is safe and m 8 3 gives nothing away. Declarer will have n K 8 7 6 1 By playing the weak suit in dummy, to make his own running. He has seven o A K 4 you are playing it safe and unlikely tricks and can probably wangle one p J 10 5 3 to be giving away a trick. more, but he should be going down. m Q 9 6 2 m A 10 7 5 2 You have a good holding in dummy’s In our second example, we see how a n 10 9 N n 5 3 W E weak suit, when you may be able to shift up to weakness quickly yields the o J 10 8 2 S o 9 7 6 put declarer to an early wrong guess tricks needed to beat the contract. p 8 6 4 p A K 9 7 in the suit. m K J 4 3 The switch to this weak suit may n A Q J 4 2 find partner with a tenace over m K 7 6 4 o Q 5 3 declarer and so produce defensive n 7 5 4 p Q 2 tricks. o A K Q 5 4 You sometimes need to lead up to p 5 3 weakness before declarer has the m 10 9 m 8 2 West NorthEast South chance to endplay your partner. n A Q 8 N n J 10 6 1n W E o 10 7 2 S o 9 8 6 4 Pass 3n Pass 4n p Q J 8 6 2 p A 10 9 7 End m A Q 9 m A Q J 5 3 n A J 9 n K 9 3 2 Partner leads the six of clubs and you o 9 7 6 5 o J 3 take stock, after winning the first trick. p Q 8 5 p K 4 The lead might be from a doubleton, so m K 7 5 4 3 m J you try the ace next but partner plays n K 8 N n 10 7 6 4 3 2 upwards. On the bidding, partner has W E o K J 4 S o 8 3 West NorthEast South very little and you surely need two spade p J 7 2 p K 9 4 3 1m tricks straight away. Partner might have m 10 8 6 2 Pass 2o Pass 2n the spade queen and, if this is the case, n Q 5 Pass 4m End you need to put declarer to the guess o A Q 10 2 now. You underlead your ace and hope p A 10 6 After a Delayed Game Raise sequence that declarer misguesses, trying the jack. partner leads the queen of clubs. You Partner wins with the queen and your win this with your ace and consider what side makes the first four tricks. The West NorthEast South to play back. With no future in clubs, maxim of leading up to dummy’s 1NT you look to dummy and see that weakness in spades has helped you Pass 3NT End dummy’s weak suit is hearts. Even defeat the contract. though declarer bid this suit, you make a You will see from these examples that West leads the four of spades and lead up to weakness switch – the jack of leading up to weakness can be a good declarer plays low from dummy. After hearts. You get a pleasant surprise when thing to do whether you are looking to winning the trick with the jack, East has this enables your side to take the first play safe or get busy. This is why lead to find a switch at trick two. four tricks. up to weakness is such an important Looking at dummy overall, its flat Any other defence would see declarer maxim. I
Page 32 Andrew Kambites Says
Make a Safe Lead Against 6NT
t the start of a hand, ask yourself West’s heart lead finds East’s jack for nothing away – lead a diamond on the what you are trying to achieve. declarer. Yes, declarer could have theory that a trebleton lead is safer than AIf you defend actively, you want finessed East for the jack. In practice, he a doubleton, as we saw with layout B. to achieve something positive. You would probably have taken his three top With hand D, it would be silly to lead might lead from K-J-4-3-2 against 3NT hearts in the hope the jack dropped. your king of spades against 3NT. You to set up long cards. Active defence For sure, some magical leads are both should lead a passive diamond and hope tends to involve risk taking; leading active and passive. If you have a suit of that your spade honours are sitting over from a broken suit often costs if partner K-Q-J-10-9, you don’t have to agonise declarer’s ace. Against 6NT, it is equally has no high card in the suit. You must over whether to defend actively or obvious to lead the king of spades. This weigh up the risk against the potential passively, or whether an opponent has sets up the queen as a winner, which you gain. When the opponents bid to 6NT, bid the suit. You just lead the king and can cash when you get in with your ace partner often has a near bust, making it get the best of all worlds. of hearts. highly risky to lead from a broken suit. Most players are well aware that the In each case, you have been asking If you defend passively, you aim to denomination of a contract affects your yourself what you want to achieve (five give nothing away. A typical passive opening lead. You try to set up length tricks against 3NT – just two tricks lead is from a worthless holding. You are winners against most contracts in no- against 6NT) and weighing up whether unlikely to give declarer anything he trumps, often taking considerable risks your lead is likely to achieve it. Hand C could not do for himself. However, to do so. That is a pointless approach if brings us neatly to our maxim: Lead layout A shows that even this is risky. your opponents have a good trump suit. safely (or passively) against 6NT. In They will simply draw your trumps and general, you are highly unlikely to gain trump any length winners you play. the lead often enough to establish and Layout A m K J 5 Fewer people know that the level of cash winners; so just concentrate on the contract also makes a difference, in giving nothing away. Hand D is a bit of N m 9 8 7 4 W E m Q 6 3 particular the difference between 3NT an exception to this. S and 6NT. Look at hands C and D. My final hand is also an exception. m A 10 2 You have hand E. The bidding is as shown below. What do you lead? Hand C Hand D You choose to lead a spade but that m K J 4 3 2 m K Q 3 allows declarer three easy spade tricks. n A 4 2 n A 4 2 Hand E Left to his own devices, he might have o 9 8 7 o 9 8 7 2 m K 4 3 2 had to take the two-way finesse for the p 9 8 p 6 5 4 n 6 4 3 2 queen and guessed wrongly. o A 5 While you cannot avoid all risk in life, p 8 7 2 leading from rubbish is certainly safer With hand C, after a bidding sequence than leading from isolated honours. 1NT-3NT a lead of the three of spades is Moreover, the longer your suit is, the clear-cut. If partner has the queen or ace, West North East South safer the lead. A doubleton lead is less you expect that the contract will go 1o Pass 2n safe than leading from three or four low down by means of four spade tricks and Pass 3o Pass 3NT cards, as you can see on layout B. the ace of hearts for your side. Pass 6NT End By contrast, if the opponents have bid 1NT-6NT, a spade lead is terrible. If Declarer and dummy have long suits, Layout B n Q 10 2 your opponents are at all competent, which declarer will probably run if you your partner cannot hold the ace or give him time. You need to establish a N n 7 4 W E n J 6 5 3 queen. All a spade lead will achieve is to spade trick while you still have the ace S gift an easy trick to declarer’s queen or of diamonds. Lead your two of spades n A K 9 8 even ten. It might well be declarer’s and pray that partner has the queen. You twelfth trick! You should aim to give have nothing to lose! I
Page 33 BRIDGE COVER CARTOON BU
Hallo! I made a Jump Bid! June Chaplin, Eastbourne. Keep them coming! Weissburger? Mrs M V Fielding, Chester. The EBU (Easter Bunny Union) Mrs G Osborn, Potters Bar. I’m Ace. I’ll beat you all! Mrs Clark, Lewes. An advised “Join a Club”. Mrs P J Clark, York. Three Clubs with 6 points? No Easter Bunny at the Easter Pairs! Ronald Carlisle, Spades for show , clubs Bunny! Christine Linton, London. He’d make a nice Goulash. Mr Ken Payne, for dough Moira Mokeland, Glasgow. Alice, where heart thou? Bert Howard, Herts. So back to serious bridge? Mrs C G Foord, Suffolk. Stand by for hairy Derby. Do play hearts, my dears! Mrs K G Stacey, Barnet. Can I be the devil’s bidding my friends. Mrs Alison Wraith, Devon. Actually, I’m the club ace. Mr bedpost? Mr B A Macfarlane, Stratford. I’ll chase the ace for you Anna Miller, Michael Tudor Craig, Hants. Hi “I’m the Ace of the clubs” Mrs Catherine Young, Liverpool. No, I’m not your usual rabbit! Mrs I Wilson, Edinburgh. Who’s hang- Renfrew. Bunn’s turn to bid. Mr J R Tijou, Bristol. Will you make up a four? ing on to the ace? Mrs P Jones, Whyteleafe. Hello Benjamin. Are you going Mr James Grieve, Glasgow. I’ll show you a trick, your Honours. Mr Gordon to jump? Sandra Williams, Derbyshire. I told you to get a “rabbit” Janice West, Berkshire. I do believe you need one more. Beryl Almond, Liverpool. Yo u Thompson, Ayr. Is this the bunny club? Mr G M Warcup, Lytham St Annes. are worth two clubs. Mr P Churchley, Hants. No more jump bids from you, Which way to the tea party? Jennifer Nixon, Newcastle. Hare claimed I bid please. Mr Charles Rossetti, London. Are you the joker in the pack? Mrs Angela six clubs, counting disaster. Stella Graesser, Denbigh. Is he the hare to the Rossetti, London. Me? My forte is the jump bid. Mrs D M Gauld, Wimbledon. throne? Mrs H Biddle, Nantwich. Thought I would try a different suit. Mr S P Heard you were playing for big bucks. Mr P Dixon, Bucks. I’m a bit of a Wilde, Leeds. Ten pence a point ok with you? Mr M A Wright, Sutton. Can I rabbit at this game. Mrs B Dick, Oxford. My two will make you jump. Mrs join the club? Albert Thompson, Co. Durham. Hello, I’m the ace! Mrs G E Joyce Bailey, Staffs. Please may I join your club? Mrs Margaret Williams, Castleton, St Annes on Sea. Don’t give me the three card trick! Mr E A Payne, Bournemouth. Do you need a fourth player? Mrs D Campbell, Northants. Yo u Stockport. How clever to open two clubs. Rosalind Bremner. Wirral. Any tricks can only disappear when you are dummy. Mr James Saunders, West Sussex. from your hat Mr Rabbit? Margaret Levick, Glasgow. Why do some partners Our director is sick. Meet our “substitute”. Mrs D Baker, Bath. Where do rabbit? Mr G Plant, Keston, Kent. Bridge! Bridge! To cross a river? Margaret you sit in the pack? Mrs Elizabeth Ottewell, Derbyshire. The buck stops here. White, Northumberland. Wot no ace. Mr & Mrs Burnford, Newmarket. I’m the I’m the director! Mr D Jones, West Sussex. You are just a few high cards. biggest rabbit in the club. Roy Barber, Dronford. Je n’ai pas de coeur. John Miss Eileen Mullett, Norfolk. You’ve been at the mushrooms again. Mr Geoffrey Percival, Sheffield. ( I have no heart) Used to shoot at Bisley Robin Bennet, West C Warren, Cornwall. And now for my next bid. Mrs Hilary Shaw, Glasgow. Kirby. I told him to ‘hop it’ but… Janet Dineen, Eastbourne. Harvey pulls Caption from rabbit “It happened when I opened seven clubs”. Ralph tricks out of the hat. Ronald Holton. Do not jump bid too early. Mr W Howe, Cheshire. Shall we cut for partners? Mrs Sylvia Chernick, Manchester. Tunkel, London N13. C’mon jump bid you clubs. Mrs P Benson, West Sussex. Meet Hare Ace (Heiress) of clubs. Mr Norman Emerson, Lincoln. Bunny test Be kind! I’m a rabbit at bridge. Lady Hixtabe, Leyburn. I’ve brought my positive, queenie, were in clubs. Mr lucky rabbit’s foot tonight. Mrs I Franklin, Southport. When you jumped you John Tomlinson, Blackpool. I see a Large frightened them off. Mr E V Wingfield, Romford. Has anyone got a bigger Run ahead. Mrs Katie Quayle, Durham. table? Mr D Hartley, Bury. 3 Clubs! Must be a pre empt! Alan Flaxen, Meet tonight’s host. Mrs Mary Rutter, Merseyside. I see no problems with you three. Mrs A Aldcroft, Stockport. King, London. Hello folk, what’s your prob- Queen, Knave, Alice, where art thou? Miss J Hare, Sutton Coldfield. Are you lem? Mrs Annie M Ball, Cornwall. The king ‘thumper’ bound? Mrs J Robinson, Cheshire. How about making up a four? and I will thump you. Mr D G Rudd, Mrs J P Harrison, Norwich. As long as you don’t hog the cards. Wilfred Parry, Leatherhead. Anyone for bridge? Mrs E Oswestry. You must be the prepared club! Mrs V Hosie, Invernesshire. I’m in Tucker, Kent. Are you related to you bridge books too! Alan Wilson, Hadlow. I promise not to renege again Peter. know who? Mr F B Caine, Birmingham. Beth Slevin, Wigan. Some small bunnies are hard to beat. Dr R M Pulver, ‘Ears to a grand slam. Mr A G W London NW8. Mad March hares favour thumping systems. Monica Davies, Holloway, Gloucestershire. I came for dupli- Sutton. Do you need forth person? Mr & Mrs McPherson, Perth. No I haven’t cate not triplicate. Mrs E Downie, swallowed the ace. Denise Bloor, Moberley. Sorry! You are too late for Cheshire. Please tell us how to peter. Mr March. Peter Tyers, Glenfield. Shall we cut for partners? Helena Moss, London, D Chadwick, Wrexham. What club are you N20. I will be your partner any time. Mrs G R Ford, Wendover. He’s one trick in? Mrs H J Gardiner, West Yorkshire. Was we don’t need! Sylvia Andrews, Shipston On Stour. I had a partner like that that a jump shift? Mr Ted O’Shea, once. Pat Schurman, London N6. By tomorrow I’ll produce another twenty Northern Ireland. I can see you are club players. Miss N Bailey, Lincs. Don’t hop, a jump bid will do. Denis Hussard, members. Mrs Shelia Burke, Stockport. Not Cleveland. Or would you rather play golf? George McVicar, London SW1V. Join a Jack, Ass. An ace Rabbit. Mrs C E our club and become an ace. Mr A S Grottick, Hornchurnch. Ah! New Alert Gillbert, Surrey. Sorry! I’ve come to the card, double jump. David Linton, London SE9. We don’t play with rabbits. wrong club. Ken Shemilt, Cheshire. Rabbits Margaret Cornford, Macclesfield. I’ve hidden the eggs. Call four spades. Bridge Club’s short sighted Tournament Kathleen Hayward, Sheffield. All cards on the table please. Mr P Heizler, Seaford. Director. Sam Goldman, Leeds. Rabbit, What? A bridge player without an opinion! Lorna Matheson, Inverness. Do Rabbit, Rabbit call the director. Mrs J we Honour players have to play with a rabbit? Mr D J L Horsfall, Edinburgh. Brown, Watford. I’m the big ace over you What is a club without a rabbit. Mr A W Moore, Glackmanshire. You can play all. Mrs Dawn Wheeler, Herts. At the feet dummy always. Lindsay Sutherland, Aberdeen. Will I do? Patricia Walton, of the master. Mrs Valerie Brittan, Kenilworth. Don’t risk it if your vulnerable. June McGibbon, Merseyside. Queen Lincolnshire. Duplicate or Rubber in the “ But do you play like a rabbit?” Mrs R F Weston, Northumberland. Gentle burrow tonight? Mrs D E Thrift, Somerset. Duplicate is perfect for rabbits. Mrs S Rowan, London W14. O do go on, Rabbits double everything it’s in their I’m all ears! George Hudd, South Croydon. Welcome to our club! We love nature. Mr Frank Conlan, Merseyside. Rabbit bunnies! Mrs S W Turner, Liverpool. King, Queen, Jack, Rabbit. Joan Hutcheon, pulling out Aces again? Mr David Elsmore, Aberdeen. May I join your club? Mr & Mrs R Seddon, Altringham. Three clubs West Midlands. How about a foursome? it is! Mrs C Watters, Skipton. A visually handicapped Rabbit is not forth wor- Mrs A Best, Yorkshire. My name is bunny thy. Raphael Grossman, Sheffied. Queen is favorite. Amanda Cheek, Radlett. Our NOT dummy. Mrs P Sledger, Warwickshire. club will always welcome a rabbit. Mr P M George, Milton Keynes. When you Hearts are Frumps. Mr Derek Shaw, Essex. said a Royal Doulton Model. Laurence Manning, London N11. If your name May I be dummy all the time? Mrs M is Brighteyes, why are you wearing spectacles? Mr M Mogano, Solihull. Jones, Herts. Too much “Rabbit”. Not enough play. Miss Heather Watson, Thought only aces were bigger than us. Hilary Vaughan, Sutton Coldfield. Belfast. I always keep an Ace in my pocket in case of emergencies. Mrs Who’s for rabbit bridge? Mrs V Dent, Dunstable. Can’t forget she was a bun- P G Smith, Cheshire. Love your suit. Mrs E L Hicks, Congleton. That’s not a nygirl once. Col A B Byng, Alness. Pass the buck again! I’ll bid goodnight! peter, Peter. Mr P Simonis, Middlesex. I was looking for Queen of Hearts. Arthur Bosch, Cheadle. Wanted, a partner for a short sighted rabbit. Joan Mrs Kate Hartley Penylan, Cardiff. Please, Mrs Queen, may I play? Mrs E Watson, Charman, Marple, Stockport. May I be your partner. Margot Kingstead, Wembley, Castle Douglas. Don’t partner me with the mad hatter. Mr W Hitchen, Torquay. Middlesex. He’s not late for this date I see! Pat Cattanach, Edinburgh. The I suppose ‘Friendly Club Rabbits Welcome’ was misleading. Mrs Prue Rueful Rabbit outwits mere court cards. Mrs I C Bukowska, St Andrews. Jack Turpin, Whitby. Don’t leap into trumps without more support. Zena Learner, of hearts? Well, I’m Mr Bridge! Angela Payne, Oxford. Bunny Hell! Geoffrey Ware. Who called the director? Mrs M Farren, Gwynedd. Do you prefer an Hunn, Sheffield. So, you’re in charge of EBU strategy?? Mzchael Scorer, ace or a rabbit? Allan Wagman, Pinner. So where’s the queen of hearts? Mrs Durham City. Ignore them, just cover me! Mr P Cordiner, Bellingham. Rabbits Wendy Dollman, W.Mids. Obviously a spade, he digs holes. Mr A Fairall, can often be ‘ace’ players. Derek Chapman, Eastbourne. The beginners course Hinckley. Who ate the big clover leaf? Mr Andrew Suttie, Derbyshire. I’d rather attracted some unusual players. Elaine Adds, Skellingthorpe. I’m the result of not have a goulash. Mrs A Abbott, Rutland. Yes! I am the tournament direc- a “Jump Bid”! Mr E May, Worthing. Can I join the club? Mrs Helen Platt tor. Mrs J Groves, Herts. I pulled one out of the hat! Dr P Mounfield, Leics. It’s Higgins, Maidenhead. Aces are for “Rabbits”. Mrs Betty Bennelt, Cardiff. Bridge an adaptation of Alice in Wonderland! Mrs P Reid, Shrewsbury. Our Jack is too clever for me. Mrs J Rosen, Hove. My ace out ranks you three. Mrs needs tuition in boxing. Mrs Paddy Lupton, Southgate. Are you considering a B Stannard, Staines. Looking for the Queen of hearts I presume. Mr A Gordon, jump bid? Mrs R Wright, Warwicks. Wrong again Jack, you should have Surrey. Supper tonight, dear? Mrs E Hulme, Cheshire. Miss Potter sent me finessed! Mrs M. T Dunn, Wigan. The winning trick leapt out of my hat! Mrs along to play. Mr & Mrs Barnes, Harrogate. I do like a chap in glasses. Miss R. Noble, Tyne and Wear. Welcome to the bunny club. Mr G Cane, Middlesex. Lois Connell, Milneavie. Are you the ace of clubs? Mrs E Somers, Pilning. Mrs I want a triple club sandwich PLEASE. Mrs Mary Davies, London. (Queen to Bunny’s in the “club” again. Mr E H Terry, Shrewsbury. You can never be Rabbit) You overbid on your lettuce. Mrs L M Daniels, Essex. 3 Honours. I absolutely sure! Mr & Mrs Stephenson, Stoke on Trent. All look up to the rab- advise a psychic bid. Mrs Barbara Mitchell, Herts. You’re late again! Mrs Morag bit. Mr Barry Hasell, Sutton Coldfield. Sorry to spoil your claim for honours. Maddocks, Sheffield. Seven clubs made? What a rabbit punch! Mrs S H Mr B Clegg, Cheshire. That looks more like “bunny” than “dummy”. Mrs M Reiersen, Whalley. Will you be my queen of hearts? Mrs M L Frank, Cumbria. E Thompson, Lancs. My club is ace. Mr & Mrs P Weighton, Surrey. Shall I be Let’s stick to the usual gift! Val Thompson, Dalkeith. It was her tarts that your ace? Mr Albert Knott, Dorset. Never seen a rabbit look so confident! Mr did it! Mrs B. M Jones, Bucks. Would you like me over for dinner? Mrs J. M H R Harlow, Herts. Did you really mean seven no thumps? Mrs Anne Ward, Forbes, London. You are my king of hearts! Mr Frank Sims, Essex. I only make Hants. Can a rabbit join the club? Mrs J Lee, Northampton. Well, you do need jump bids. Mr P W Palmer, Devon. My paws can’t manage bidding boxes! four to play! Mrs Margaret Fisher, Solihull. I’ve got an ace up my sleeve. Mrs Mr Ian Stoyle, Devon. I have just lost my heart. Mrs P Holder, London. Mr R J Boddy, Co Durham. Ok but no more jokes about double bunny. Mr B Director you always know best. Mrs M Davidson, Aboyne. Try a deep bur- Farmer, West Sussex. Three Clubs. Why join another? Mr Geoffrey Bignell, East row, sorry furnesse Mr E W Bland, Somerset. Why can’t I join your club? Mrs Sussex. April fool! Mrs A V Dron, Glasgow. Our Club welcomes Rabbits. Mr C B Boggon, Eastlothian. Are you the ace of clubs? Mrs Sarah Butterworth, Reading. Leighton, Chigwell. You opened seven no trump? Mr R A Lloyd, Bournemouth. Does anyone play “Harecol”? Mrs R Stevens, Hants. Three no thumps. Mrs Director, the lady revoked! Mrs M Little, Carlisle. Bernard Magee? No I’m Brer M H White, Risborough. Just a little club gathering. Mr R Lane, Bournemouth. Rabbit. Mr R J Hulks, Hampshire. Is the Rabbit convention rather like Meet Jack. He’s joining our clubs! Mrs Stephanie Shaw, Cambridge. UBBLE CAPTION COMPETITION
3NT today. Mrs Diana Payne, Stratford. Darlings, the hare jump convention Mrs C D Levick, Nairn. “Hare” we go again 3 Clubs! Mr D Bennett, Devon. No is ace! Mrs Jill Hughes, East Sussex. Contract made. Glad she went to Trumps please! Mrs Elaine Burt, Lincolnshire. I ate the tarts. Mr G Franklin, Notts. Specsavers! Mr B Kavarana, Surrey. The buck passes, so I’ll bid clubs. Mr Where’s ace, he’s been trumped! Mrs Rosina Holzinger, Devon. Our “jack” is G. A Dicker, Swansea. May I join the game? Mrs W Brelsford, Tewkesbury. What strong enough without you! Mrs Rita Lenney, Reading. Can I be your part- a stupid Bid! Mr G. C. Wright, Rotherham. It said, “Simultaneous Points” not ner Easter Bunny? Mr G H Manley, Birkenhead. No rabbits at the bridge “Stupendous Hares”. Mr M. H. Wilkes, Worcester. At last I’ve found my table! Mrs R M Armitage, Leicester. Queen “Surely your vulnerable playing in Queen. Mrs D Newman, Worcs. Everyone! Welcome at the bridge club. Mrs the black wood?” Mr C D Bayliffe, Yorkshire. He’s good at jump bids. Mr Pete M J Lawton, Southport. You’ve really turned up trumps (Queen). Mrs Pat Dean, Liverpool. It was a peter, Peter an echo. Mr J. C. Cheers, Herts. With McMahon, Kent. We minors can play ruff too, Big Ears. Mr Graham Hindle, these glasses I see a plan! Mrs F Deane, Herts. Playboy club?! Is that Cambridge. Shall we cut for partners? Mr D Ballard, Hants. No, I’m the hare licensed!? Dr R P Cornish, Cambs. Carrots didn’t work then? Mr Jim Mitchell, to the throne! Ian & Trudy Glen, Kent. What do you reply to three clubs? Swindon. Are you looking for our ace too? Mrs Audrey Wood, Isle of Man. Mrs Rae Ingleby, Cheshire. You should have seen first prize. Sarah Wallis, Herts. Whose trumped you then? Mr Charles E Leveson, Cheshire. Mr. Black would Three Clubs? You must be mad! Miss K. H. McIntosh, Kent. We went one like to play fourth. Mrs A C Milner, Surrey. Still teaching sequence? Mrs D bridge game too far. Mrs Pamela Harding, Nantwich. Keep the spades out of Boyce, Bangor. I play jump overcalls. Mr Alastair M Love, Bath. Please discard my burrow. Mrs V Walton, Tyne & Wear. Three clubs? You must be joking! the robes to join Bunny Club. Mrs Avril Thompson, Surrey. Sorry Alice will Mrs S McIntosh, Northampton. Rabbits don’t play 3 No Trumps. Mrs Jennifer not join the club. Mr J Wilson, Sheffield. NOW listen up. Clubs are trumps. Fisher, Surrey. Was that a jump or a hop? Mrs S Workman, Wadhurst. Where’s Mrs M Taylor, Stockport. Remember to paws for thought. Mrs Helen Campbell, Alice? Mrs B. J Ray, Hants. Joining the club, mine hare? Mr David Axson, Glasgow. Ready for a jump bid, partner? Mr Frank Holden, Devon. Where have Buckinghamshire. Falling for her hare brained partner! Mrs E Hudson, Kent. A you hidden your two clubs? Mrs Ethel Weeks, Sussex. Your card table was big welcome to the club. Mrs M Fletcher, Uxbridge. Let’s say near the hat! Mrs Ivy Salvage, London. There is no magic in bridge. Ursula “Inexperienced”! Mr David Roberts, Grantham. Be Kind I’m a Bunny at Rosenfeld, Manchester. No! We are not a bunny club. Mr C Pearson, Leeds. bridge. Mr & Mrs K Rogers, Hartlepool. In which suit would you jump? Mrs Guess you don’t eat carrots. Mr George Parker, Tickton. The bifocals help Dorothy Dutton, Chester. Only a rabbit would have led the jack. Mr John when playing doubled contracts. Mr G Thompson, Newcastle upon Tyne. Yo u Taryford, Brentwood. March hare? No I’m the ace of clubs! Mrs E A Roberts, think we should let him join? Mrs M Cartwright Taylor, Cheshire. Does six NTs Anglesey. Granny, what big ear’s you’ve got. Mrs Pauline Wickes, Surrey. Laws, get you hopping? Mrs Hazel Tunnicliffe, Cheshire. If only Lewis Carroll played rules, etiquette, whatever no foot Bridge. Mr A Thompson, Alsager. I know you said PARTNER was a rabbit! thumping! Mrs Shirley Marsden, Herts. Miss Jean Crossfield, Lancs. Cards flatter to deceive. Mrs Ruth Evans, Cornwall. Just one friendly face at this club? He’s one of the Bridge club rabbits. Mr Allan Ridgeley, Oxon. I see a jump Mrs Shirley D Woods, Herts. Jump the bid! Mrs Heather Rowe, Cornwall. And for your next trick? Mrs S M Byfield, Queen end up with five. Mrs J M Uxbridge. Here I am to make the four. Mr Eric Corser, North Wales. He’s def- Barker, Lincs. Can you play bridge? initely with a different club. Mr Colin Thomas, Gwent. But Mr Director, I Mr David Sellars, Yorks. I don’t like didn’t say anything. Mrs A C Bosworth, Somerset. Stop Rabbiting, let EBU clubs. Mr L J Pertwee, Oxon. Who’s got hare it’s views. Mrs C Bagshaw, Notts. Spectacles needed to join the bunny the ace? Mrs J M MacTaggart, Torquay. club. Mr E E Wilkinson, Gretna. Do you do weak or strong jumps? Mrs Susan I’m no Dummy I’m a Bunny. Mrs Taylor, Surrey. Hearts are very overrated these days. Mrs E Newcomb, Pauline Welsh, Kent. We don’t play Lancashire. Don’t think my new partner’s a rabbit! Mr & Mrs J H Markham, with jokers. Mrs Margaret Lewis, Cardiff. “And none of your harebrained double jumps”. R G Pringle F R C S, Darlington. 3NT Doubled. Dr P. A Lee, Shropshire. The royal bunny club. Mr Brian Pinner, London. Join our club as Sussex. Please may I join the club? ace with pace. Mr & Mrs Malcolm J Chambers, Warwicks. Jack’s high. Mr J Mrs J Trotter, Cheshire. Look what Goodfellow, Edinburgh. Is Easter bunny a type of signal? Mrs Helen Curtis, those hormones did! Mrs E Gillett, Herts. So! Your Mr Bridge! Canon C T Catton, Suffolk. Good try mum, but no Wallingford. The club rabbit? Hardly thanks! Mr Howard Baker, East Sussex. Hare raising tuition. Mr John Coomber, your ideal Partner? Mr David Shenkin, Berks. Clubbing again? Mr H C Jones, Norfolk. Any chance of joining your London. Easter is a Royal Occasion! club? Mr C Fordyce, West Sussex. We travel club class. Mr B N Zabell, Mrs Sylvia Waxman, Middlesex. Bournemouth. Opening two clubs, you are in clover. Mrs Joyce M Mitton, West Um….what’s up doc? Mr Kenneth Sussex. Not Benjamin Acol, Benjamin bunny. Mrs Pauline Bell, Cheshire. Yo u Taylor, Hertfordshire. It’s a Jack must be a jack rabbit. Mr Peter Aitken, Fife. Three clubs and a great dummy! Rabbit! Mr Mike Turner, Liverpool. Mrs Jill Clarke, Herts. Don’t look surprised if my partner jumps. Mrs Joyce Don’t pass the buck! Mr D Wesson, Heaven, West Sussex. We’ve come to enter for the championship pairs! Mrs West Midlands. Our ‘strong club’ does Helga Greenholtz, Middlesex. Sorry, we just play in pairs. Mr & Mrs Travis, not accept rabbits! Mrs. Blanche Cumbria. You can’t jump bid with six points. Mr J Procter, Cheshire. (King to Stephenson, Essex. In such esteemed Jack) Out with your club. It’s rabbit pie for dinner. Mr S E Kent, Warrington. company I’m a rabbit. Prof L. J Would you like to join our club? Mrs Georgina Sprahger, Glos. Have you been Rogers, Aberystwyth. I am not a rab- at the big game? Mr Peter Gooca, Bath. I think it’s time you were discard- bit at bridge! Mr B Hodges, Herts. ed. Dr Adrian Gosage, West Sussex. Speak to someone higher up? Mrs B Brown, That’s taking a “jump” bid too far! Wirral. Can Alice play bridge tonight? Mr R Webb, Essex. You said you did Mrs Margaret Kelly, Cheshire. Can you allow late substitutions. Mrs Elizabeth Cowie, Huntly. You’re within a hair’s help me in clubs, partner? Mrs Jane breadth of playing bridge? Mrs Mary Wilson, Hertfordshire. Are you the ace Kilvington, St Albans. Psst. my left bunny? Mr David Whishe, Kent. Has anyone seen the hideous hog? Mrs H hand opponent’s a rabbit. Mrs G M Olliffe, Essex. I’m in the club. Dr J E H Elliott, Hants. Three no thumps. Mr G Edmonds, Herts. He’s a great partner T Johnson, Lincolnshire. I would jump to three clubs. Mr R A Harper, Shropshire. but rabbits on! Mrs Joan England, A hare raising three clubs to open. Alan Perry, Bucks. The queen asks the Herts. Paws for bidding. Mr Roy rabbit are you dummy? Mrs S Shenker. Bridge. I will score. I like multi- Seymour, Herts. Are you the three club openers? Mrs Jean Yarwood, Knutsford. plying. Mr D W G Kyte, Cambridge. Are you the ace from the hole? Dr Garry Four carrots is an invalid bid! Mrs Judi Mills, Northampton. Please join our W Penmore, Glos. We welcome new players, even rabbits. Mrs Brenda club! Mrs V C Hall, Epworth. Your majesty, revoking is no laughing matter! Chapman, Derbyshire. I am wise. I don’t jump. Mrs J Flood, Devon. Where’s Mrs Mary Varela, Sussex. I’m just a Rabbit at this game. Mr K A Palmer, the missing ace of clubs? Mrs M Morgan, Kent. I can’t pass your ace. Mr & Warrington. Can I play the dummy, please! Mr R F Bowler, Lancs. STOP, I’m Mrs J Riddleston, Witham. My next bid is a hair raiser. Margery Scott, Newcastle going to jump. Mrs J Nicholson, Sussex. Do you play Benjamin? Mrs J upon Tyne. Where’s Alice? Mrs A Thorpe, Rochdale. A spade won’t help you Mathieson, Surrey. Honours in partner’s suit “jump” to game. Mrs B A Hewitt, to burrow. Mrs B Whiteley, Northampton. This must be the clubhouse. Mr B Tunbridge Wells. Yes, Bridge players are mad as march hares! Mrs P. M King, Goldwater, Northumberland. Told you to trump with the ace. Mrs F A Heywood, Oxford. Here’s a fourth! Mrs P Twydle, Herts. Now tell me what have you Devon. I can’t see my…Ace. Mrs Sheila Flanagan, Kent. Intimidating your done with West? Mrs J Thomas, Cornwall. Chaps! This must be the dummy opponents isn’t Bridge etiquette, Madam. Mrs Diana Parish, Perthshire. bunny! Mrs Thelma Williamson, Middlesex. Didn’t know dressing up was now Congratulations you were top last week. Mrs Doreen Harries, Mid Glamorgan. required! Mrs Janette McLeod, Edinburgh. Three Clubs must be pre-emptive! Newcomers always welcome! Mr C P Head, Reading. Never seen a rabbit in Mrs Sheena Storey, Hampshire. I only swallowed one enlarging tablet, Honest. specs before. Mr G A Birch, Bristol. Are you going to jump in clubs? E Mrs B Timms, Dorset. Who’s going to partner the Rabbit? Mr C O Preece, Johnson, Cromer. Hare’s to the next successful bid! Mrs B Carter. Are you a London. High card forcing. Mr J B Walters, Bristol. Three clubs and an Easter diamond or a heart girl? Mr B A Higgins, Cheshire. Let’s bid one club, two Bunny. Mrs Mary Done, Wilts. Hare bridge mad, we presume? Mrs Juli Muttaz, hearts. Mrs Liz Johnson, Fife. You can’t take me, I’m spayed. Mr D R Shipway, Glos. Make up a four not fur! Mr G C Harrison, Luton. Can bunnies make Berks. Have you eaten all the taste? Mrs Susan Selby, Somerset. Three clubs! more clubs in game? Mrs Barbara Burrows, Suffolk. Oh good all have a fourth. That’s hare raising! Mr Grahame Mabey, Oakamoor. I went to Specsavers. Mr Mrs A Comtreras, Wilts. Can rabbits play? Mrs Anne Goldsworthy, Sussex. Crowns Grahame Mabey, Oakamoor. Good. a four for bridge. Mrs S M Billington, Stoke are useful on bad hair days. Mrs Yvonne Dickinson, Lancs. He revoked, off on Trent. I’m a jack rabbit you honours. P E Brackfield, Surrey. I’m sexier with his head. Mrs Murphy, Lytham. Does he thump the table to alert? Mr than the queen of hearts. Mrs Christine McLean, Haywards Heath. Oh Mr L Walsham, East Sussex. North South or East West? Kathleen Church, Swansea. Bridge, I know it’s you. Mrs J V S Robertson, Hants. Specs you think I’m a Are 3 carrots a Pre-empt? Mr David W Horritt, Preston. Welcome to our jack rabbit. Mrs M E Dodwell, Kent. Please where is the queen of hearts? newest member. Mrs Beth Banks, Cumbria. Rabbit : I always jump Bid. Mr Mrs Helen Aslett, Kent. Partners were drawn from a hat. Mr David Cherry, Derby. M J Hatton, Surrey. One hare doubled and re-doubled. Mrs Laura Sankey, Hares looking at you kid. Mrs Judy Kramer, Hereford. Is your partner having Hampshire. I wanted a “dummy”, not a “bunny”. Mrs Pauline Mayes, Suffolk. a bad hare day? Mrs Patricia Towns, Gloucestershire. Three club game. Mr Brian Looking for an ace? Here I am! Dr Andrew Parker, Reading. I’m one of the Kay, Stockport. Trouble is, some partners are hare today, gone tomorrow. bunny clubs. Mr John McLaughlin, Surrey. I’m in the club as well. Mr R Hart, Mrs B Walker, Bucks. Consistent winners always play with huge imagination. Sussex. Have you just trumped? Miss D G Waddingham, Lincs. Do you minors Mr J D M French, Carshalton. Is this a hare raising convention? Mr Lawrence understand jump bidding? Mrs P. Attwood, Glos.. I wish I could say “pass”. S Liberman, London. King, queen, knave, hare today gone tomorrow. Mr Mrs B Dykes, Suffolk. Rueful Rabbit? Thumper the tiger more likely. Mr D A Lawrence S Liberman, London. Mr Hare enquires about joining the exclusive Fenn, Wiltshire. Do you play fake jump shifts? Mrs Ruby Green, Bristol. clubs. Mr Eric Smith, Berks. They are saying “Five no trump, could you find Thumper’s trumped our Ace! Mrs Elsie Forrest, Glasgow. Are you clubable Mr your three friends?” Mr I J McCullagh, Ipswich. Bigwig is not into transfers. Hare? Please join me! Dr Colin Morgans, Hants. We cannot start without the Mrs Delphine Brown, Chesham. Talk about a hare in the club soup! Mr J V director! Mr David Mahoney, Vale of Glamorgan. He plays leaping jump bids. Loran, Manchester. A hat trick did you say? Mrs C E T Mitchell, Dyfed. PROGRAMME This is the format for all AT THE OLDE BARN duplicate weekends and rarely varies. AT THE Toll Bar Road, Marston, Lincolnshire, NG32 2HT FRIDAY OLDE o Full-board o All rooms with BARN Friday to Sunday en-suite facilities 1500 Welcome Desk open o No single supplement o Venue non-smoking Afternoon Tea o Use of swimming o Bidding quiz & two seminars 1745 to 1830 pool and fitness suite (on duplicate weekends only) Welcome drinks reception ______BOOKING FORM 1830 to 2000 DINNER Please book me for ..... places, 2015 BRIDGE SESSION 1 Single ..... Double ..... Twin ..... DUPLICATE PAIRS for the Olde Barn weekend(s) of ...... SATURDAY ...... 0800 to 0930 BREAKFAST
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Page 36 READERS’ LETTERS
FROM A TURKEY ONE DOWN APRIL FOOL? Mr Pope says, I will always Barry Capal’s letter (April HOW MANY TO GO? On page 5 you state ‘2010 regard playing bridge as a issue) suggests that he At my urging, in a Special diaries production now in contracting activity. misunderstood my letter (Feb General Meeting, Whitley hand’ Is this hand a pre- David Betts, Hitchin, Herts. issue) when I stated – ‘at Bridge Club voted to oppose emptive bid? Or are the 2009 least somebody is standing the EBU P2P proposals and diaries already produced. CRIB WANTED up for the turkeys – sorry, to disaffiliate if P2P is Mr R Hill, Fleet, Hampshire. Can you provide suggestions rank and file and allowing implemented in its current 2009 diaries will be for an aide-memoire to help them to be heard’. form – or something similar. available from August. me with further bidding, For the affiliated clubs, the I believe that the EBU has re-bids and the like. I think Pay to Play (P2P) scheme has thought the whole thing CONTRACT BRIDGE beginners like me would find a Christmas and turkeys feel through. They are not I had to smile when I read this particularly useful. to it. It is not lack of bridge concerned about small club the end of Mr C H Pope’s Mrs J Chaplin, Eastbourne. ability that defines ‘turkey opposition, nor are they letter on page 46 in April’s I will provide a cut-out half status’, it is having no voice. interested in threats of BRIDGE. Despite what page in the next issue. The 60,000 plus affiliated disaffiliation. They believe players have no voice while that disaffiliated clubs will Barry, as general manager of come crawling back in the EBU, does have a voice, subsequent years. This has NO BID as do all EBU members happened in Poland and although most don’t use it. Holland already. There were four prefects in the n9, which emphasises a Regrettably, the EBU However, in the subsequent the class of ’58 at Gipperstoft: following ace, and there it Kay, Jennifer, Naomi and was – the mA. Jennifer hierarchy don’t seem to want years, disaffiliated clubs me. Kay read the cards. She announced, ‘Rummy today’. to hear from any of their could form their own fun- claimed her Gran was a Naomi didn’t understand, members who (like me) dare loving, sprightly, (and more gipsy. At lunchtimes, she, but starting with three nines, to criticise the P2P idea. democratic), governing body. Jennifer and I would dash up she won easily. In my opinion Ned Paul’s We could organise our own to the broom cupboard Next day, Mrs Rolaston article (Feb issue) was both league matches at minimal labelled ‘Prefects’ Room’ and confiscated our cards, informative and unbiased. expense! I believe that it is in deal. Spades meant power, threatening us with Presumably he arrived at his the small, social clubs that hearts, love, diamonds, demotion. Naomi’s Mum 40p per player P2P fee by the membership is vibrant money and clubs, work. In had rung. Naomi, adding 10p for masterpoints and growing. We could just Kay’s Gran’s system, Death Gipperstoft’s Oxbridge hope, to the EBU’s original 30p per line up and watch Big-Club- was the ace of spades. The was going to boarding Queen was ‘a powerful school. So, travel and deep player estimate. Expensive-EBU wither and woman’. If they showed disappointment. Death? It seems fairer that people die. Nobody wants this, but together, we loved Well, there was Mrs Rolaston like me, who are interested in they started it! envisaging something nasty – cardiac arrest, we heard. masterpoints and England’s Neil Riley, Northwich, Cheshire. ahead for our icy tutor, Yesterday at bridge, I results in championships, Mrs Rolaston. picked up Naomi’s sequence. should pay more than those BUBBLE STORY Naomi always went to the It distracted me and in who have no interest in either. This story (right) evolved from library. Good marks were her response to 2NT, I made an I, for one, would not object your February caption thing. The only time she ill-considered ‘no bid’, to an increase in my yearly competition. There are far too joined us was on the day missing a slam. My partner subscription – surely this many words for an entry, but Jennifer had come top in was deeply disappointed. Physics. Kay dealt and As I write, dawn is would be fairer than I thought you might enjoy it. Naomi turned up the p9 breaking. I must leave early charging the disinterested Of course, none of the (travel), o9 then the m10 for the half-century reunion affiliated players. characters are real. (deep disappointment), then at Gipperstoft. Bob Rowlands, London W14. Caroline Moseley, Ilkley.
Page 37 READERS’ LETTERS continued SHORTIES BRIDGE FOR IDIOTS – YOU REPLY I feel I must respond to the I always enjoy reading your What a coincidence, your Where are your bridge letter written by Mr Harkavy letters pages in BRIDGE but surname being Bridge. supplies? Mrs R McIlwraith, in Bridge 88, which enraged do not always agree with Paul Newton, Whitley Bay. Ingateston, Essex. me to the point of detonation. some of them. Take, for See my website bridge My wife is partly disabled. shop. www.mrbridge.co.uk Yes, Mr Harkavy, there is instance, Anthony Harkavy’s Could you please advise in no probably about it… you letter which appeared in the your hotel advertisements Please reinstate your full are churlish. Personally I April edition. as to their suitability for mail order service. would not have also used the Firstly, I consider Bernard wheelchairs. Mrs Joy Riley, Norwich. word ‘curmudgeonly’ as it Magee’s page on ruffing in Mr Silverman, Stanmore. No. It is unable to cover has virtually the same the short hand to be an its marketing costs. I wonder if you could tell me interpretation. On second excellent article. I am a more about the bridge Has the updated yellow thoughts, however, in using a competitive bridge player software it is possible to buy book come out yet? similie, you have actually and have been playing for through Mr Bridge. I already Mrs I Westwood, endorsed your own opinion more years than I can own Declarer Play. Are there Wootton Bridge, I.O.W. of yourself. Perhaps remember. In no way do I others for improvers? Mrs J August this year. Reeves, Bedale, Yorks. ‘arrogant’ might be an feel that my intelligence has Amazing that such a simple See adverts in this issue. adjective you should consider been insulted. card game can give rise to in any future self analysis. Secondly, judging by some The quiz answer – page 6; so many rules, conventions As an intermediate bridge of the letters published in no mention has been made and protocols. player, I can well remember BRIDGE, there are many of Benji-Acol. We would bid Mr E Langridge, Warrington. 2o showing either 23+ my days as a beginner when readers who have had little Could we please have more points or a three-loser hand there was much to learn, experience. Articles such as fun movements for clubs. – relay 2n – then 2m etc. absorb and make sense of. that written by Bernard are Mrs P Evans, Matlock. Mr & Mrs Hellier, Pembury. Ruffing in the short hand and easy to read and understand Ideas from readers please. The quiz was set for Acol. other tricks of the trade did and will bring more Bridge Etiquette – When you We are always looking for not rise to the surface of enjoyment to the game. go to a table and say ‘hello’, extra places at which to play consciousness automatically Keep up the good work the other pair should stop social bridge and so look and, far from having my Bernard and lets have more their discussions about a forward to the publication of intelligence insulted, I was articles along similar lines. previous hand. Ivy Sharpe, the proposed Club Directory. gratified to receive apt Brian Berlanny, Portsmouth. London E.C.4. Mrs L Lewis, Milton-under- instruction, as I still am. Quite so. Wychwood, Oxon. The article you found so I think that the email received Have you sent in your own I once possessed a copy of objectionable was clear and by you from Mr Anthony club’s entry? some jingly verse, about the informative and, having Harkavy, published in well-known connection of My bridge has remained regard to my previous BRIDGE 88, is very the Earl of Yarborough with purely social and will comments, would prove a unreasonable. Surely the our game. Does any reader continue like that – so I know of it? Mr J A Barrett, boon to any budding bridge magazine is for all levels of accept that you will delete Ipswich, Suffolk. player. No wonder some do ability and knowledge, me from your list. not last the course if they are including those who are Name and adress supplied. I found BRIDGE 88 particularly unfortunate enough to find beginners. Even Mr Harkavy I am happy to continue to informative and interesting themselves in company such must once have been post BRIDGE to you. dealing with rules. Are there any that apply to counting. as yours, Mr Harkavy. unaware of the reason for I require help to understand Mrs Kathleen Woolford, Intolerance of this nature ruffing in the short hand. and score, including the Bromley, Kent. drives people away from a Pam Southworth, Winchester. system to establish wonderful game from which percentage scores for my Thank you for sponsoring they may very well have I think Bernard Magee was friendly duplicate club the Bishops Waltham event benefited for a wide variety unfairly criticised for his members. Ian Shaw, with Bernard Magee. It was of reasons and, given some article, ‘Ruff in the short Malvern Wells, Worcs. a lovely day out. Mrs Judy time, together with amiable hand’. Of course, the article The centrefold should help. Adam, Tonbridge. Raising £6,800. instruction, proved an asset was of no interest to As much as I enjoy the to the game. experienced players but as a Bridge magazine – I do not I think more emphasis could The extravagance involved bridge teacher myself I need two copies. Mrs Sarah be put on differences was to waste space in printing thought his article was a Maunder, Tiverton, Devon. between pairs and teams. your most offensive letter. model of clarity. Thanks for letting me know. Norman Osborn, Bromley. Mr J Marshall, Clacton on Sea. Bob Rowlands, London W14.
Page 38 READERS’ LETTERS continued SHORTIES continued REPRINT weeks, three bridge players Janet Miller, ‘Grand Slam’, often visited and we moaned I holiday in winter and don’t A review of bridge computer might be interested in my for hours. It wasn’t playing like cruises. What can you systems would be very letter printed in BRIDGE 48 bridge because the visitors do for winter sun? useful. Both of CD’s and hand-held systems. Established Record. Maybe let me win, they said. Mrs Patricia Haynes, Wirral. How about Tunisia? Mr Gordon Dugmore, your current readers would How do you describe Donisthorpe, Derbys. I applaud your approach to like to know about this, too! yourself, Mr Bridge? Your suggestion is a good bridge in the 21st century. It “In response to the letter With these definitions, the idea. QPlus 8.8 and needs a new lead and a ‘Is This a Record?’ in BRIDGE EBU could come up front and Bernard Magee’s unique successor to an outdated 46, I hasten to tell you that in say that they will be there for tutorials are excellent. EBU. Wish I could join your August 1971, whilst playing a all bridge players and the world but I’m 90. Mr K D Please do not overload with friendly game of rubber moaners can organise Perry, Street, Somerset. information of the EBU. How bridge, I was dealt 36 high- themselves. With a bit of luck, about some SBU information. Do you know of any single card points (small slam in they might find soft-hearted Mrs N Mcfarlane, Clacks. no-trumps, bid and made) bridge players to help them player wanting to play social bridge near Kingsand, As a resident in Scotland; and in the following hand I out. The only money issue is Plymouth – we need one I think the ongoing EBU saga picked up 37 HCP – all the that enough is raised to do more player. Mrs Margaret is fascinating. Better than the job. The existing structure aces, kings, queens and the Connolly, 01752 829104. any soap! Mr W Dew, jack of hearts (grand slam ensures this and should be Gifford, East Lothian. bid and made in no-trumps). robust enough to grow to I was interested to read in Let’s hope someone sees My husband wrote to make the EBU serve all who BRIDGE 88 that Precision is to be discussed in BRIDGE in sense soon about the EBU The Daily Telegraph Bridge pay for its operation. 2009. I have always played P2P scheme. Mr Ian The element of forced Correspondent at that time, Precision and was beginning Willmott, Dronfield, Derbys. Mr G. C. H. Fox, who choice is that individuals be to wonder if it was an I can’t tell you how much I recounted my experience in dragged to the brink of this outdated method. Mrs June am enjoying Bernard his bridge column on several awful truth and asked to Keir, Alford, Aberdeenshire. Magee’s Declarer Play – occasions, also including the jump one way or the other. When printing questionnaires absolutely superb. Great calculations on the odds Peter J Tyers, Leicester. could they be printed without value for money. Mrs Irene against such a phenomenon, Definitely a moaner. the loss of the article on Button, Poole, Dorset. that had been produced by the back? Have you ever thought of some of his readers.” MEMBERS WANTED Mrs H M England, Solihull. running a singles weekend, Mary Barnard, Southsea. I am the secretary of a small They are usually printed where people who are with adverts on the reverse. bridge club which meets in single can meet other MAKE YOUR LABEL the Stoke Bishop (Bristol) Navigation of your excellent bridge-playing single My view is that the EBU went village hall every Tuesday magazine would be easier if people. Mrs S A Green, wrong in allowing us to evening. We are an all pages were numbered. Wolverhampton. choose our own names for extremely sociable club (we Mrs M Mathews, Godstone. Publishing Bridge Etiquette is do not need a director), Cut-outable pages are the groupings in which we a very good idea. Perhaps always unnumbered. place ourselves. playing rubber and Chicago, one should add that one Basically there are two and would welcome new I was pleased to find an should not touch other groups. (a) The bridge members. Any prospective outlet for my used stamps. people’s cards. Mr Donald players who want bridge as member can contact me on I’ve sent them to Mr C. Dewar, Cricklade, Wilts. 0117 9685640 Bamberger who put a a sport played round the How will you know I am request in BRIDGE 88. world, anxious to have a C J Treharne, Stoke Bishop. keeping in touch now I can’t Mrs M A Stoneman, national body to govern and order from Mr Bridge? Buckhurst Hill, Essex. organise it in this country and BRITS FOR BRIDGE Mrs Maurine Kilpatrick, willing to share in the Like many retired folk, my By the way, it’s Baron Kilmacolm, Inverclyde. payment for it to do so and wife and I spend a few Münchausen, not By completing the form (b) the moaners. weeks in Spain each winter. Müncchausen. Mr James facing page 6. Seddon, Kenilworth. I shall resolutely remain a There are many bridge clubs Do you have weekends for bridge player though I do out there run by Brits for Brits, Would it be possible for you players without partners? admit to having a moan now but they are often small and to organise a combined Mr Stan Holt, Biggin Hill. and then ... lunch hour at hard to find. I wonder if there holiday of bridge and golf? All and every one of our work and occasionally with is any way of bringing them Mrs Marion Stafford, Wirral. weekends cater for those the grandchildren. In fact, into your orbit. Try Staverton Park. who come on their own. when I was in hospital for six Mr R Ekins, Nottingham.
Page 39 READERS’ LETTERS continued SHORTIES continued QUESTIONNAIRES Bridge Club – wow – that My first thought on reading would be impressive) and I would welcome an article Would it be possible to have your comments on Bridge their age ranges are similar on cue-bidding. Mrs Diane holiday bridge for singles? Etiquette (BRIDGE April 2008) to those at my club. Horne, Bromsgrove, Worcs. Mrs Maureen Dunkley, Chesterfield. was that perhaps there Our committee decided, At last I understand the rule Some bridge singles-only should also be a code of whether we wanted it or not, of 20! Thank you. weekends will feature in to introduce IT in the hope of Mrs Jennifer Finegold, NW3. practice or etiquette for the the 2009 programme. people who organise bridge bringing in younger players. Currently running QPlus 7.8. It You are quite right to limit the holidays. This should include To date, we have becomes a superb teaching number of words in the responding to the adverse or Bridgemates, computer- method by inputting deals caption, but ten words would bad comments made in the generated certificates, with a taken from newspapers, be better than seven. Also, few free entrance tickets Bridge Plus and this questionnaires. you should make it only one magazine. Mr M J Twohill, If the writer would provide attached, which are caption per person. Melton Mowbray. their name and address, I presented monthly to the Mr George Pilcher, Kent. will do my best to put three pairs who scored best. My husband and I vie with Seven words only and one whatever was wrong, right. These certificates have one another over the entry next time. generated such table talk as quizzes. They keep our Any tips on how to wean brains active. Mrs M James, AROUND THE WORLD ‘Stupid’ and ‘Waste of rubber bridge players over to Cobham, Surrey. Money’. They will hardly be duplicate? Mrs Jean Durbin, framed and hung on the I notice you do not seem to Edinburgh. parlour wall. Soon we’ll have have Bridge weekends Try one of my Gentle computer-generated deals. based in the North East of Duplicate weekend events. England. Miss J Coward, So far, we haven’t had a rush I do feel bridge needs less North Shields. of youngsters climbing over rules, not more! Miss Tricia our zimmer frames to join. No more stories, please, just Baldwin, Wembley, Middx. Mr Tattersall and other bridge. Mrs M Gould, Where do you publish the committees should realise Buxton, Derbyshire. winners to your bubble that the IT element that he Disappointed that you no competitions? Mrs Ann This is a belated ‘Thank You’ hopes will bring in the longer promote the shop Richardson, Ipswich. for your latest edition of your younger generation, is in fact nor appear to accept Pages 34 & 35 this issue. magazine which has given the medium which has advertisements. Perhaps I thoroughly enjoy your us hours of pleasure. diverted them from bridge, these advertisements could magazine, but could rubber Mrs D Robertson, whist and scrabble. They be activated on-line in your bridge be mentioned more? own website shop. Mr Alan New South Wales, Australia. should watch, as I have, up Mrs E Blackburn, Pinner. to twenty sixth-formers with Harris, Benfleet, Essex. COMPUTER several computers, playing They are. I thought far too much space was taken with readers’ GENERATION for hours in what they call a The Daily Bridge Calendar. letters which I found very I write to respond to Mr D D Pro Tournament with a game I concur with recent letters uninteresting. Miss Hilary and comments. The Andrew Tattersalls letter ‘Generation ‘Pro Evolution’. Then they Sanderson, Leeds. Gap’ April 2008, because I would see what they are up Robson Calendar I got from find his remarks somewhat against. The kids even have you this year is not Enjoy the magazine, some uninteresting but nowhere good articles but too many disparaging to older players a dress code ‘smart casual’. near as enjoyable as the readers letters – 8 pages! of which he claims to be one I do think that all clubs who previous North American Mrs Jane Salt, London SW. and then goes on to refer to have a good proportion of product. Mr P Cowen, Louth. Occasionaly one of a regular them as ‘they’. older players should Sadly no longer published. I have been a member of appreciate the loyalty they four does not turn up. What Please include articles aimed my club for 20 years. There give to their clubs, as is the best option for three- at real beginners. Mrs J M handed bridge please? are members who go further demonstrated by their Wadsworth, Cheadle. Dr E V McHattie, Prestbury. back. We have a committee regular attendance. I do try but real beginners For our AGM, I downloaded who work hard for the club. Mrs L Webster, Cheshire. don’t remain real beginners “Etiquette” from your website The age range of members for very long, do they? is from 40 years and we VERSATILE BARON library. The people for whom Any possibility of listing local it was intended just read it, rarely have anyone under 40 Baron Münchausen also authority evening classes. and carried on as before. playing. I, too, have played at appears in Chess Magazine. Miss Kelly, Bishop Auckland. Name & Address supplied. a couple of neighbouring He is very versatile! clubs (not the Manchester Mr M Reddie, Eastbourne.
Page 40 READERS’ LETTERS continued SHORTIES continued SAME ENVELOPE NATIONAL TEAM I have been receiving this I presume that EBU (1) More from Dick Atkinson Are the the rules on alerting magazine for years and for Congresses (2) Masterpoints and the Baron please. Mr finalised? Dr D J Carter, the first time, the April issue (3) its magazine, all pay their Graham Anderson, Cosby. Droitwick, Worcs. came in a plastic wrapper way. When people say ‘the Reprints now started. The revised laws are in force from August. just as use of plastic bags is EBU will collapse unless the Could we have some more being strongly discouraged. new scheme is brought in’ conventions and what they Please explain why you are The magazine is great – this do they mean that it will no mean. Mrs J I Taylor, West collecting club details. change isn’t. longer be able to finance the Wickham, Kent. Mr Frans Vas Nunes, Brentwood, Essex. Mrs M Platt, Leeds. English National Team? Your magazine makes me To compile a directory to No change since 1994. Mr D Crofts, Edgbaston. feel part of a nationwide enable visitors to find bridge community. Denise bridge, likewise for those Grant, Ombersley. RUBBER BRIDGE LIVING IN HOPE moving home. IN WORTHING By EBU adopting pay to play I am one of the idiots who Were the bubble caption I belong to a local Rubber / they will reach a much wider appreciated Bernard entries last time so poor that Chicago club in Worthing and membership and will need to Magee’s article on ruffing in you could not publish them? it does seem as if rubber devote more resources to the the short hand. Mrs M S Mr Roland Gough, Essex. Dryburgh, Calne. bridge players are rather grass roots membership Just not enough room. looked down on. I live within such as their teaching I have not been on one of Thank you for an excellent yards of the Beach Hotel and program and ‘No Fear’ your bridge holidays but free, extremely informative, it would be nice to have a competitions. It is a step by have you considered venues down-loadable library! social / rubber bridge the EBU to be welcomed. further north? Mrs Wendy Jordan, Sutton. weekend there. Mr Robert Plumley, Guernsey. Mrs J Rogers, Wilmslow. www.mrbridge.co.uk/library Mrs Pam Rawlings, Worthing. But will they? Try Wychwood Park. As I play mainly social, There are two this year. Any chance of re-registering Chicago bridge, please could GLOSSARY WANTED via e-mail? Mrs Gillian you write more about this. QUIZZES As a new bridge convert I Quince. Hayes. Mrs S Lawrence, Herts. I should love books of have learned some of the Yes, but I prefer snail-mail. I do my best to cater for quizzes (perhaps a collection basics, but I would like to see What about a simple guide all readers. of past ones by Bernard a glossary of bridge terms for beginner directors? BRIDGE is almost as good as Magee) to be made (bridgespeak) and a simple Dr Alan White, Surbiton. a game of bridge. Mrs B C available ... also, four-night explanation of such ploys as Duplicate Bridge Direction Monk, Cambridge. breaks at the Beach Hotel, transfers, cue-bids, negative Simplified is in the course Steady on. Worthing or at Marsham doubles, etc. of preparation. Please could you do one Court, Bournemouth. Mr R Lyman, Huntingdon. I enjoy the bridge articles article per issue on different Mrs H Pryor, West Sussex. and letters. Even the adverts systems eg. Sputnik doubles, BRIDGE, NOT FOOD are pleasing. Mr K J Rowe, 5-card Stayman, cue-bids. PEEL BRIDGE CLUB I am teaching bridge to four Wokingham, Berks. Mrs Frainy Ardeshire, We cannot trace the member farmer’s wives and one I am 82 years old and my Barnet, Herts. of our club who is responsible widow and it has taken two remaining pleasures are Are there any clubs in for writing Bridge Etiquette, them out of their dreary bridge (three times a week) Ashtead, Surrey for published in BRIDGE 87 and feeding-men environment. and my computer. The beginners / intermediates? 88. However, the secretary I so enjoy your magazine operating system I use is RISE Mrs S A Simms, Bangor. totally agrees with the and I believe that each would as per the BBC in the 80’s. Ring 0289 47356383. sentiments in the article. appreciate their own copy. Stanley Buchan, Glasgow. Dr Slatcher, Isle of Man. Mrs C Green, Doncaster. I Splash out, buy a cheap I would like to read about PC and a copy of QPlus. the magazine’s contributors. You won’t regret it. Your Mrs G V Bird, Totnes. computer is out of date. I’ll see what I can do. Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH When will Bernard’s software Please do not divulge my be available on defence? details to any third party. Mr or e-mail [email protected]. Mr J W Bussell, Dorset. F J Howard, Bromsgrove. E-mail correspondents are asked to include their He will start work on it All the names and name, full postal address and telephone number, after Advanced Declarer addresses on my database and to send no attachments. Play is completed. are fully protected. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
Page 41 ANSWERS TO THE DEFENCE QUIZ ON PAGE 27 by JULIAN POTTAGE
South plays in 4n after the same auction as to continue spades. Can you see it? The play 1. m A K 2 on deal 1. You lead the seven of spades, to the first trick makes it entirely possible that n Q 9 4 which the king wins as partner plays the three partner started with A-J-10-x-x of spades – it o Q 10 9 8 and South the five. Dummy now leads the is normal to play the lower of touching p Q 4 2 queen of hearts, which runs to your king. honours (the ten and jack) in third seat. This m 9 7 6 4 m Q 10 3 What do you do next? gives reason in itself to continue spades. On N n K 5 n 8 7 the layout shown, you defeat the contract by W E As well as the bidding, your hand and the o J 7 5 S o A K 6 3 two tricks. Partner will run the spades and dummy are the same as on the previous deal. p 10 8 7 5 p K 9 6 3 then cash the ace of hearts. The play is very nearly the same. Have you m J 8 5 spotted the small but vital difference? n A J 10 6 3 2 o 4 2 On the first trick partner played the three of 4. m K 6 2 p A J spades – clearly a low card with the two on n K 6 2 display in dummy. It conveys the message ‘I o Q 9 8 7 3 can’t help you much in spades. Please try West North East South p Q 5 some other suit next time.’ 1n m 5 4 m Q 10 8 7 3 Pass 2o Pass 2n This does not seem the moment for a passive n 9 7 5 4 3 N n J 8 W E Pass 4n End trump exit. Which minor should you choose? o K 10 S o J 6 The greater length and strength of dummy’s p 8 7 6 2 p A K J 4 You lead the seven of spades, which the king diamonds make it far more attractive to lead m A J 9 wins as partner plays the ten and South the clubs than diamonds. Declarer is much more n A Q 10 five. Dummy now leads the queen of hearts, likely to want to discard clubs on diamonds o A 5 4 2 which runs to your king. What do you do next? than vice versa. You duly switch to a club – the p 10 9 3 five is as good as anything – after which your If you look just at your own cards, it is hard to side makes a heart, a club and two diamonds tell what to do. Thankfully, bridge is a game of South plays in 3NT after the same auction as to set the contract. partnership. Do you remember what card on deal 3. You lead the five of spades. This your partner played on the first trick? It was goes to the two, queen and ace. Declarer the ten of spades. Since this was not an plays ace and another diamond. You win the 3. m Q 6 2 attempt to win the trick or to force out a high second round as partner follows with the jack n K 9 2 card from declarer, it must be a signal. It is and six. What do you lead next? o Q 9 8 7 3 usual to play that a high card says ‘I like the p K 9 For the reasons explained on the previous suit, please continue.’ This is an attitude signal. m 5 4 m A J 10 8 3 deal, you should first examine the merits of Although you can see the top spade in n 7 6 5 3 N n A J 8 4 continuing spades. How you do envisage the W E dummy, you should obey the signal and play o K 10 S o J 6 spade layout? Well, the queen and ace have a second round of spades. You expect p 8 7 6 5 2 p J 4 gone; you can see the king in dummy. Who partner to have the queen of spades and, as m K 9 7 has the jack? Declarer must have the jack – if South made a minimum rebid, some other n Q 10 holding the queen and jack, partner would high cards as well. Here you will beat the o A 5 4 2 play the jack on the first trick, not the queen. contract with a spade, a heart and two p A Q 10 3 This means that your opponent has three diamonds. spade tricks, including two further stoppers.
West North East South This makes it most unlikely that playing 1m 1NT another spade will beat the contract. Even if 2. m A K 2 Pass 3NT End partner has both unseen aces, declarer can n Q 9 4 surely set up two tricks by knocking out just o Q 10 9 8 You lead the five of spades. This goes to the one of them. Those two tricks plus three p Q 4 2 two, ten and king. Declarer plays ace and spades and four diamonds will come to nine. m 9 7 6 4 m 10 8 3 another diamond. You win the second round n K 5 N n 8 7 Since the clubs in dummy are much weaker W E as partner follows with the jack and six. What o J 7 5 S o A K 6 3 than the hearts, you should switch to a club – do you lead next? p 10 8 7 5 p K J 6 3 the seven or eight is fine. As the cards lie, this m Q J 5 A good general rule is to plug away at one defeats the contract without further ado. Your n A J 10 6 3 2 suit unless there is good reason not to. If you side makes four clubs and a diamond. The o 4 2 flit from one suit to another, you will rarely set club switch might also work if your partner p A 9 up long cards and you risk giving a trick each had A-J-10-x or K-J-10-x of clubs and the ace time you switch. Here you have good reason of hearts as an entry. I
Page 42 THE GATHERING by Roy Jones AT WYCHWOOD PARK Weston, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 5GP On a dark rainy night, travel alongside the river Duplicate Weekends 2008 shortly after the with giant trees swaying completion of their alongside what is now a evening meal, shadowy bumpy track. 5-7 September Overcalls £199 figures, both men and They arrive at a stone- women, sometimes John Wootton covered area; switch off together, are seen their engines and lights. clutching warm thermos 24-26 October Declarer Play £209 Then pause for a moment, flasks and pulling their listening to the noises Bernard Magee coats closely around around them. themselves. They hurry to their cars, bidding farewell The muffled figures hurry o Full-board o All rooms with to their families, who, in across the stones, carefully Friday to Sunday en-suite facilities their turn, are wondering watching out for pools of o No single supplement o Venue non-smoking why their loved ones are water whilst muttering to o Jacuzzi, sauna, o Lifts and easy access leaving the comfort of their fellows about the steam room and gym to bridge room their homes. weather and possible luck with the red and black o Tuition with Supervised Play, bidding quiz and two seminars The figures climb quickly characters they are about into their vehicles in to see. ______various areas of the old BOOKING FORM mill town, casting quick They pass along a dark glances at their wrist passageway into a brightly Please book me for ..... places, watches, a little anxious lit room a great deal should the weather make warmer than it is outside. Single ..... Double ..... Twin ..... them late for their There are numerous tables, at the Wychwood Park weekend(s) of assembly. with groups gathering at each one, casting glances As the occupants gaze ...... at their neighbours. intently through the windscreen wipers, they At the appointed time, an Mr/Mrs/Miss ...... notice other vehicles authoritive figure stands approaching the same before them. They all grow Address...... junction. They reduce silent and wait for the speed to turn onto a small command to look at their ...... bridge with a raging own red and black torrent of foaming water characters and then, Postcode ...... beneath. The many cars almost immediately, slow down further as they start bidding. I ...... Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, but we will do our best to oblige)
...... 2009 Bridge Players’ Diaries Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice will be sent o Acol Summary by Ron Klinger. o Diaries £5.95 each including with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final pay- postage and packing. ment, 28 days before the event, a programme and full details o Updated Laws and Ethics will be sent together with a map. Cancellations are not refund- o by Mike Swanson. Special concession to bridge able. Should you require insurance, you should contact your clubs. 10 or more copies o Scoring Tables for £3.50 each including postage own insurance broker. Duplicate and Rubber Bridge. and packing, subject to availability. o Choice of red or navy covers. , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH o Luxury version in bottle green or o All covers printed in ruby red. £12.95 each including 01483 489961 Fax 01483 797302 gold-coloured ink. postage and packing. e-mail: [email protected] website: www.holidaybridge.com Available from 01483 489961. www.mrbridge.co.uk
Page 43 BRIDGE CLUBS FOR T Is your club in this list? If not, please c
2220 Club Besses O’The’Barn Castle Cary Emsworth Hazelmere 250 Club Beverley Cavendish Esher Bowling Club Heathercroft A & J’s Bridge Bickerley Chelmsford Everton Hedge End Abacus Biggar Chelsea Bridge Circle Evesham Hemel Hempstead Abbotskerswell Blackheath Cheltenham Ewhurst & Ellens Henley in Arden Aberaeron Blackmoor Chesham Green Heswall Abergavenny Bletchingley Chiltern Edge Exmouth Hexham Aboyne Community Blewbury Chipping Norton Exning Road Highcliffe Acacia Bordon Chiswick Fairford Community Ace of Clubs Boston Church Minshull Fakenham Highfield Aces Hi Bourne End Churchdown Falmouth Highgate Acolites Bradford City of Derry Farnham Alford Bradford Abbas Claygate Fawley All Saints Bramhall Village Clifton FCA Almscliffe Brentham Clitheroe Five Valleys Alnwick Briarley Colchester Castle Fleet Down Alpha Bridge at I-Bean Colwyn Bay Flint Alsager Bridge at Our Lady Cooke R.F.C. Fortfield Alternative Queen of Peace Corinium Fownhope Ampthill Bridge of Allan Cowplain Framlimgham Andover Bridge U3A Reading Coxley Friday IMPs Andrew Robson Bridport Cranfield Frinton Antonine Bridport and Cranleigh Frome & District Arden District Duplicate Crawley Fulbourn Armagh Brierfield Crieff Gables Arnside Brighouse Cromer Glenfield Arrow Brightwell Cross in Hand Glossop Ashby British Airways Crouch Godalming Ashford & District Broadstairs Crouch End Godolphin Ashford (Kent) Broadway Cumberland Golding Ashley Bromborough Dacorum Goring & Streatley Ashston & District Brookdale Danetre Gosport Associates (EMBA) Broom Valley Davenham Grange over Sands Atherstone Broughton and Dell Grantham Aylesbury Vale District Derby Grantown Aylsham and Brunswick Devizes Great Ayton North Walsham Buchanan Dingwall Great Hollands Bach Buckland Ditton Great Kingshill Bakewell Bude Douglas Great Missenden Balmoral Burnham and Doune Greyfriars Barnack Berrow Rubber Downham Market Grimsby Bridge Barnsley Burntwood Dunchurch Academy Basingstoke Burton Bradstock Duns Grimsby Bridge Club Bath Bridge Club Bury Athenaeum Dusedale Guildford Hitchin Bath Bridge School Busbridge Duplicate Ealing Gwent Hogarth Bathford Buxted Park Easingwold Hampton Honiton Bawburgh Byfleet L.T.C East Cleveland Hampton School of Horley Bear Caen East Midlands Bridge Hungerford Beaumaris Caernarfon East Sussex Handforth Hall Hunstanton Becclos Cairngorm Easy Bridge Hertford Harford Hythe Bedford Camberley Eccleshall Hartlepool Ilford Bedwas Duplicate Camborne Eden Hartley Wintmey Ilminster Belmont Cambridge Eden Park Harwood Ipswich Hospitals Ben Rhydding Canvey Island Edgware Hatton Jubilee Benfleet Conservative Ely Hawkhurst Kendal Berwick Castle EMBA Hayling Island Keswick
Page 44 THE NEW DIRECTORY complete and send in the cut-out form
Kettering Lutterworth Orpington Southend & Leigh Tudor Kilwinning Bridge Group Orton Southwold Turriff Knaves Lytham Oundle Spalding Tynemouth Knowle Maidenhead Park St. Anne’s U3A Bexley Lampeter Maidenhead Duplicate Patcham St. Herbert’s U3A Bridge Lane End Maidstone Peebles St. John’s Upper Deal Leatherhead Malpas Peel, Isle of Man St. Lawrence URA Letchworh Manchester Pembury St. Leonards Vale of Glamorgan Leverstock Marcham Pencoed St. Mark’s Village Bridge Leyton Green Marlborough Penshurst St. Piran’s Wadebridge Lillington Marlborough Pershore Stirling Wallasey Afternoon Peterborough Stone Walton & Hersham Marmion Petersfield Stowmarket Warkworth Medway Phoenix Rotherham Stratford St. Mary Warminster Meopham Phoenix Shrewsbury Stratford-Upon-Avon Warwick Meridian Pinner Suburb Waters Upton Merseyside PM Sunday Colchester Waterside Mid Essex Port Talbot Sunday Ipswich Weald Of Kent Misbourne Portchester Sutton Coldfield Welshpool Molescroft Poynton Sutton Coldfield U3A Welwyn Monday B C Prestbury Swaffham Garden City Billericay Priory Swanmore Wendover Bromley Monday B C Dinder Putney Swansea Wendover Aylesbury Monmouth Putteridge Tamworth West Hill Morden Ruffians Raysfield Tattenhall West Norfolk and Moseley Redruth Penventon Tatton Kings Lynn Moulton Retford Taunton West Shore Mountnessing Rhayder Tavistock West Wight Mumbles Richmond Tavistock West Worthing Nailsea Ridgeway Monday Evening Westbourne Newcastle-under- Risborough & District Telford Westhead Lyme Risbygate Tettenhall Westmeads Newent Riverside Tewkwsbury Wharfedale Newmarket Rothbury Thane Wherstead Newport Roydon The 30 Club White Hill Newquay Ruff Club Camden The Birches Whitemap Newton-le-Willows Rugby The Diamond Whitley Bay Newtown Saddleworth The Friday B.C. Wigan Nonsuch Grandslam The Friendly Wimbledon Norfolk & Norwich Saham Toney The Gables Windermere Normandy Salisbury The Grove Winscombe and North Cambridge Scarborough and The Merlin District North Cotswolds District Contract The Monday B.C Wisbech Lincoln (Eastgate) Northallerton Severn The Mondi Witney Lingwood Northwold Shaftesbury The Pilgrims Worcester Liskeard Nottingham Shanklin Conservative The Ryde Worcestershire Liss Nuffield Sheffield The Thursday B.C. County Night Livebird Nursling and Shrewsbury The Windsor Worth Livesey Rownhams Silverton Titchfield Worthy Down Livingston Oakmere Sitting Bourne Tiverton Wrexham Garden Llanelli Oakwood Pavilion Todmorden Village Looe Oasis Sole Bay Torquay Writtle Low Fell Ogilvie Somerford Keynes Torrance WUE Lower Sunbury Okehampton South Bucks Towcester Yateley & Hawley Lutterworth Old Woking South Bucks Traffords Yealm Bridge Club Olney South Croydon Trowbridge (County) York
Page 45 ANSWERS TO THE BIDDING QUIZ ON PAGE 3 by BERNARD MAGEE
With a weak hand, big support, distribution Both forms of evaluation should lead you to 1. Dealer West. E/W Vul. and a ‘green light’, you should go for it. the same conclusion – together with your m A 8 2 m 7 3 partner’s opening values you have enough for n Q 9 7 6 5 4 3 N n 8 game. Which game is it to be? W E o 4 S o K 9 8 3 2 3. Dealer West. Love All. When you have enough strength for game, p 4 3 p A 9 7 6 5 m K 4 3 m A 9 2 but cannot be sure which game, then make a n K Q 7 2 N n J 4 W E bid of the opponents’ suit, 2o, to force the o Q 3 2 o K 8 7 5 West North East South S bidding on. Here you would need to bid the p K 8 4 p A 7 3 2 ? opponents’ suit twice: (1o)-Double-2o*-3p- 3o*-3n-4n. East would first show his clubs. Pass West North East South Then, when you repeat the opponents’ suit 1NT Pass 2NT Pass with 3o, he would realise that you were more Did you notice the vulnerability? Unfavourable ? interested in the majors and show his better – often described as a ‘red light’ for pre- major – 3n. Once you find out about partner’s empting. You should have a very good suit to Pass hearts, you know the game you want to play open 3n at this vulnerability – your suit is far – 4n. from that. On this hand, your opponents Your opening 1NT showed 12-14 points and might well be able to make 4m, but 3n now your partner has raised to 2NT. This is a doubled will be worth much more for them – limit bid, inviting game – he is suggesting that 5. Dealer North. Game All. even with a normal break, you may go three you bid game if maximum. With 13 points, you m K 9 7 4 m 10 5 off for -800! are neither minimum nor maximum, so you n K 6 N n A 8 5 2 have a decision to make! However, to say yes W E You should only make a vulnerable pre-empt o 8 3 2 S o A K Q 4 to an invitation with fewer than maximum with a robust suit. p Q 7 6 5 p K 10 4 points you must have a good reason: a decent five-card suit or a selection of tens and nines. Your hand has neither of these West North East South 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul. attributes, no aces either and the worst 1NT Dbl 2m m K 9 8 7 4 m A Q 6 5 3 possible shape – 4-3-3-3 – completely flat. It ? n 2 N n 7 6 W E is worth closer to 12 than 13 (let alone 14). o 6 4 o A 8 3 2 S Double p J 8 6 3 2 p Q 9 Even with your partner’s 12 points, your combined hands will struggle to make eight Firstly, what did your partner’s double mean? tricks; you do have 25 points but no strong He is strong and he expects 1NT to go down – West North East South suits and few intermediates. he will usually have 15 or more points. Put that 1m Pass together with your eight points and you can ? see that this is your hand. Whenever one of your partnership has made a penalty double, 4m 4. Dealer North. Love All. you should be on the look out for another This time the vulnerability is very different! m A K 6 4 m J 7 3 penalty double – i.e. do not let your Favourable is a ‘green light’ for pre-empting. n A J 6 3 N n K Q 9 4 opponents off the hook. What do you need to W E Here the vulnerability is right, you are weak o 8 7 6 5 S o 2 double them again? with five-card support for partner and hold a p 5 p A K 8 6 4 Length in their suit and the majority of points singleton. You should make a direct jump to is what you need. Well you certainly have the 4m. West North East South majority of points, and your spades are long If you go down, it will be by fewer than three 1o Dbl Pass enough. You should continue the job your tricks – so even doubled it would be worth ? partner started and double again. 1NT less than an opponents’ game. doubled might have been three off and 2m o doubled may be three off as well = 800 With the hand given, partner will make nine 2 points. tricks and that will just cost 100 points if Your partner’s double is for take-out and there someone doubles. Meanwhile your is no doubt that you have a very nice hand in Try not to let your opponents escape once you opponents should be able to make 11 tricks support. You will surely have a good fit in one have doubled them – however, if you are short in hearts for +650. How are they supposed of your majors and thus you should include in the suit they run to, you do need to be more to bid 5n with any confidence after 1m-Pass- your singleton in its evaluation: 7 losers or, circumspect and bidding on yourself is often 4m? counting points, 12 HCP + 3 = 15 total points. the wisest choice. I
Page 46 £ BRIDGE CLUB DIRECTORY 2008 Information Form
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ANSWERS TO THE DECLARER PLAY QUIZ ON PAGE 28 by DAVID HUGGETT
You are in 3NT and West leads the heart two. A much better bet, after you lead a low 1. m Q J 9 5 How do you plan the play? spade, is to play the nine, hoping to draw a n 7 5 4 big card from East. Then, after the defenders Although the lead has found your weakest o K 8 2 cash their two club winners, you will regain suit, there is some good news to compensate. p Q J 10 the lead and can now lead your remaining It looks like hearts are going to break 4-4, m 8 m 7 spade to the jack. If West started with the ten assuming the two is a fourth highest lead. n J 3 2 N n Q 10 9 6 and at least one of the missing king or queen, W E With only seven tricks on immediate view, the o Q J 10 6 4 S o 9 3 this line will give you a second spade trick. diamond suit is surely the best bet for making p A 9 7 5 p K 8 6 4 3 2 (Yes, a smart West might play the king the first the two extra tricks required. All the same, m A K 10 6 4 3 2 time you lead the suit, trying to convince you you have to be careful on how you go about n A K 8 that he holds the queen as well!) achieving this. Suppose you cross to dummy o A 7 5 with a spade and lead a low diamond. If East p Void plays low, you have to guess whether to play 4. m K 6 4 the jack or the king and a wrong guess could n K Q 8 2 be fatal. Much better is to play for West to You are in 6m and West leads the diamond o J 3 hold at least one of the missing diamond queen. How do you plan the play? p A Q 7 3 honours: lead the queen from hand and run it m Q 7 3 m 10 5 2 A quick count of your top tricks comes to if West plays low. As you can see from the n A J 6 5 N n 10 3 eleven, which means that you need just one diagram, East wins and returns a heart. The W E o K Q 10 5 S o 9 8 7 6 4 more to fulfil your contract. With three cards in defenders take three hearts before exiting p 6 5 p 10 4 2 each red suit in both the closed hand and with a black card. Never mind, win in hand m A J 9 8 dummy, there is no chance of gaining that and finesse in diamonds against the jack. This n 9 7 4 extra trick by way of a ruff in dummy, so the line of play has about a 75% probability of o A 2 twelfth trick must come from clubs. Surely if success. p K J 9 8 West held both the top two clubs, he would have led one at trick one. This leads you to the conclusion that the top honours are in 3. m A J 9 You are declarer in 3NT. West, who has opposite hands or both with East. In either n A 7 5 2 opened 1NT (12-14), leads the diamond king. case, the contract is a certainty! o 8 6 4 How do you plan the play? p 7 3 2 Win the opening lead in hand, draw trumps, m K 10 7 6 m Q 8 3 2 ending in dummy, and lead the queen of With only seven top tricks, things look a bit n 9 4 N n 10 6 clubs. If East plays low, discard a low red card. desperate because you surely cannot afford o J 10 2 W E o Q 9 7 5 Suppose West wins and leads another S to lose the lead. Suppose you cash four clubs, p Q J 10 5 p K 8 6 diamond. Now you win in dummy and lead on which West discards two hearts and East m 5 4 the jack of clubs. If East covers, you ruff, enter discards one heart. What do you now know? n K Q J 8 3 dummy with a trump and discard a losing red o A K 3 Well it seems unlikely that West has a card on the now established ten of clubs. If p A 9 4 doubleton queen of spades because he has East declines to cover, you cross your fingers shown up with only two clubs. At the same and discard anyway. The name for this clever time, you know that West has the queen of manoeuvre is a double ruffing finesse. You are in 4n and West leads the club queen. spades because there are only twelve points How do you plan the play? missing and West opened the bidding! Luckily, there is nothing to stop East from 2. m K J 3 Three no-trumps would have been laydown holding the ten of spades so, after cashing n 10 7 3 but you can do nothing about that now. With the clubs (ending in hand), lead the jack of o A 9 6 4 only nine top tricks and no hope of another spades. No doubt, West will cover, but you p J 5 4 trick coming from the minors, you somehow win in dummy and finesse against the ten on m 7 6 4 m 10 9 5 have to make an extra spade. Can you the way back. On a good day, East will have n Q 9 8 2 N n K J 6 5 achieve this? Well you need a bit of luck W E the ten and then you will have nine tricks. This o J 5 2 S o K 7 3 certainly but, even so, it is important to gives a 50% chance of success – much better p K 9 6 p Q 10 7 understand the correct way to play the suit. than taking a finesse against the queen of m A Q 8 2 Suppose you win the club, draw trumps and spades, which you know can never work. n A 4 lead a low spade. If West follows with a low o Q 10 8 card, it might be tempting to play the jack All these examples are to do with finessing in p A 8 3 2 from dummy, but that would only win if West various ways, one of the most common ways had started with both the king and the queen. to make extra tricks. I
Page 47 Bridge H Cruises and Looking for a holiday, short break or a cruise? Why not choose one from our exte
JUNE 2008 JULY cont AUGUST cont SEPTEMBER cont
6 – 8 The Beach Hotel 14 – 25 Fjords, Faroes, 22 – 24 Theobalds Park 19 – 21 Latimer House Fire & Ice II or 25 Rubber / Chicago 19 – 21 Milton Hill House 18 – 20 Staverton Park 24 – 4/9 Baltic Explorer Gentle Duplicate 20 –2/10 Adriatic and 29 – 31 Staverton Park Aegean Treasures 25 – 27 Theobalds Park Gentle Duplicate 26 – 28 Milton Hill House
25 – 7/8 Arctic 26 – 28 Staverton Park Circle 26 – 28 The Beach Hotel & Eclipse Rubber / Chicago The Olde Barn, Marston 26 – 28 Theobalds Park Gentle Duplicate 6 – 8 Staverton Park Gentle Duplicate OCTOBER 2008 Marsham Court, Bournemouth 11 – 21 Midnight Sun 1 – 3 Marsham Court 13 – 15 Harben House SEPTEMBER 2008 21 – 4/7 Baltic Treasures 4 – 11 Riviera Cruise 27 – 29 Theobalds Park MV Discovery 5 – 7 Wychwood Park Gentle Duplicate 5 – 7 Theobalds Park JULY 2008 AUGUST 2008 11 – 20 Italian Odyssey 4 – 14 Fjords & 7 – 14 Fjords & Scottish Islands Fairytales
11 – 13 H a r b e n H o u s e 7– 24 Grand Staverton Park, Daventry Scandinavia
8 – 10 Harben House 2– 13 Black Sea 14 – 24 Baltic Discovery I Capitals 3– 5 Harben House
15 – 17 Staverton Park 3 – 5 Theobalds Park Gentle Duplicate Wychwood Park, Crewe 10 – 12 Milton Hill House 22 – 25 Staverton Park 12 – 14 Milton Hill House Latimer House, Chesham Bank Holiday 10 – 12 Staverton Park (3 nights) 12 – 14 Staverton Park Improvers Holidays, d Weekends ensive list. Cruises are in blue, overseas holidays in green and UK breaks in black.
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13 – 24 Black Sea 24 –4/11 Aegean 16 –7/12 Voyage to Discovery II Odyssey South America
26 – 28 Marsham Court 21 – 23 Latimer House
31 –2/11 Milton Hill House Improvers
31 –2/11 Staverton Park
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Port El Kantaoui, Tunisia 5 – 7 The Beach Hotel
Antarctica 16 – 2/1 Antarctica, 17 – 19 Staverton Park Chile and Gentle Duplicate Patagonia 21 – 23 Staverton Park 17 – 19 The Beach Hotel Gentle Duplicate 26 –16/1 Falklands, South Georgia 17 – 19 Theobalds Park 28 – 30 Milton Hill House and Antarctica 28 – 30 Theobalds Park Barony Castle, Nr Peebles Gentle Duplicate Christmas & New Year 28 – 30 The Olde Barn Denham Grove, Uxbridge NOVEMBER 2008 Buckinghamshire DECEMBER 2008 4 – 16 North 24-27 December African 3 – 21 Antarctica & the Sandy Bell Treasures Falkland Islands £395 7 – 9 Barony Castle 27-29 December Milton Hill House, Oxon 7– 9 Harben House Signals & Discards Gentle Duplicate Chris Barrable & Ann Pearson 24 – 26 The Olde Barn 7 – 9 Milton Hill House £199 24 – 26 Barony Castle 7– 9 The Olde Barn 29 Dec – 1 Jan 2009 Improvers 24 – 26 Harben House Chris Barrable Gentle Duplicate 14 – 16 Staverton Park & Ann Pearson £355 The Beach Hotel, Worthing 24 – 26 Wychwood Park 14 – 16 Theobalds Park Conspiracy Theory (or the Déja Vu Coup) by Dick Atkinson
t the grand old age of 101 my camouflage! “Not bad for two Yarboroughs,” my Auncle, Baron Leopold von Triumphantly, he bid: 6m. uncle quipped. “Better luck next time!” Münchausen, was still a formidable opponent, if more often over the modem than the table. At least, I had m 5 3 m Void always assumed it was Wireplay that n J 10 5 n Q J kept him glued to his computer ... o J 8 7 o K Q J His old rival, Vladimir Puttoff was his p A K 7 4 2 p A K Q J 10 7 4 2 victim on these boards from a m 9 8 6 m Void m 8 5 m 9 6 3 n N n n n Simultaneous Pair’s event. Puttoff is Q 9 4 3 W E 8 7 6 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Void S also a Chess Grandmaster, and his o 2 o K Q 10 6 5 4 3 o Void N o 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 W E photographic memory and lightning p Q 10 9 6 3 p J 8 5 p 9 6 3 S p 8 5 analysis make him the ideal Moriarty to m A K Q J 10 7 4 2 m A K Q J 10 7 4 2 the Baron’s Holmes – or vice-versa... n A K 2 n A K 10 Puttoff is that sort of paranoid genius o A 9 o A 10 who senses a conspiracy in even the p Void p Void most innocent of situations. Of course, sometimes he is right! One well known dimension of his After two passes, including a very The enraged Grandmaster angrily neurotic suspicion is the belief that nervous one from Puttoff’s partner, a snatched up his next hand only to see “Computer Dealt Hands” are actually Professor of Abstract Mathematics, the this hand. rigged somehow. He is an avid hunter of Nawab doubled. Despite Puttoff’s singleton kings, for example... redouble, his partner ran to 7p. The Uncle Leo was playing with the idiot must have imagined the 6m call m A K Q J 10 7 4 2 Nawab of Daolali, who opened 3o as implied all round strength! The Russian n A K 10 East. Puttoff (South) held: carefully retreated to 7m rather than o A 10 7NT. A lucky club or heart lead would p Void be essential for either contract to make, m A K Q J 10 7 4 2 but such a lead would now be n A K 10 unthinkable against 7NT for a wily old “Not funny, Münchausen. These are the o A 10 fox like my uncle. same cards!” p Void The Professor agreed, and they West North East South returned their hands to the board. 3o 6m “Are you positive?” asked my Uncle Aha ! he thought. I recognise this hand. Pass Pass Dbl Redbl innocently. They were positive. The famous deal that he recalled is Pass 7p Pass 7m “Director!” barked the Baron, and the shown at the top of the next column. End harassed official made his way across a Against 6m West led his singleton sea of troubles and outrageous fortunes, diamond, the successful declarer won Unfortunately for Puttoff, the actual rule book in hand. By some strange oA, took mA-K, then exited with m2. layout was as shown in the next column. quirk of computing, the North-South West, who is void of diamonds at this My uncle read the initial double as cards were indeed exactly the same. stage, must concede a dummy entry. Lightner and led his n9, a suit “Luckily, it’s the first round,” the Hmm. That switched n10 makes it preference signal. After the flurry of Director noted “We can use Board 27 – slightly less obvious – and the cunning cross ruffs the grand slam had lost five they sent 32. Somehow they must have setter has included the o10 for tricks. printed a deal twice ...”
Page 50 Conspiracy Theory continued It Happened That Way by Freddie North
“One moment,” interrupted my Uncle. “I can assure you that the East-West cards are The Lesser of Two Evils not the same. I insist therefore that the deal stands.” The Director checked: it was not the same deal. “In that case,” announced ow do you choose everyone holding the West At the tables where West led Puttoff witheringly, “I open the best opening cards entered the auction a diamond, declarer ditched 7NT!” Hlead in difficult, or when this hand occurred in his losing clubs in dummy “Surely,” said my uncle, perhaps nearly impossible, a county multiple teams and made twelve tricks, “since both players have circumstances? Of course, final. The downside for losing only to the king of verbally exposed their cards, you have listened carefully those players was that they hearts. Where the jack of each must pass at his next to the bidding and picked up received rather less data on hearts was the lead, declarer turn?” as many clues as possible which to base their opening had an awkward problem. The Law was checked. regarding the probable salvo. To finesse could be fatal if, They returned their hands to layout and location of the Well, back to the problem as seemed almost certain, the board yet again. high cards. Even so, all of the lead. Perhaps you East could win with the “One more moment.” options may still look would argue that a club lead king and switch to a high crooned Uncle Leo: and unpalatable. Indeed, you was out of the question and club. Even having won in opened 7NT himself. He had may even find yourself that a spade lead could dummy with the ace, how analysed the position endplayed at trick one. It easily be fatal. That leaves a was declarer to get to hand? perfectly, and claimed 13 happens! heart or a diamond. With One declarer, who had no tricks before the opening Faced with this sort of South bidding no trumps opposition bidding against lead! With 26 penalty cards dilemma I usually eliminate over East’s diamonds there him, relied on East to make to call, 13 tricks were solid – the thoroughly undesirable is some indication that it a mistake when he called indeed, either East or West – this frequently caters for would only help declarer to for a low club from dummy. can take all 13! two suits – and then select play partner’s suit. East, who was not quite up “Not bad for a pair of the lesser of the two Finally there is the jack of with the game, played the balanced Yarboroughs!” remaining evils. At least this hearts. Normally one wants six and declarer the nine. Not bad either, I suspect, policy often averts complete to avoid leading a singleton Declarer’s contract was now for a disgraceful old hacker! disaster – where you hand trump because of the danger safe, but how East must This was the second deal: the contract to declarer on a of damaging partner’s have kicked himself for platter – and may even turn holding. However, that meekly following the out to be a favourable argument does not appear principle that second player m Void attack. What lead would particularly valid here. So, plays low! n Q J you make on the following shall we agree to lead the At another table, warned o K Q J hand after this somewhat jack of hearts? Good, for we by West’s revealing double, p A K Q J 10 7 4 2 revealing auction? are now in with a chance – South found a neat solution m 8 5 m 9 6 3 this was the full deal. after the lead of the heart n 9 7 5 3 N n 8 6 4 2 Dealer South. N/S Vul. jack. Winning with the ace in W E o 8 6 4 2 S o 9 7 5 3 dummy, declarer called for p 9 6 3 p 8 5 West North East South North the ace and then the queen of m A K Q J 10 7 4 2 1n m A Q 9 8 3 spades. This left West well n A K 10 Dbl Redbl 2o 2NT n A Q 9 6 2 and truly fixed, but I doubt if o A 10 Pass 4n End o Void South would have been so p Void p 5 4 2 pleased with himself had West East West held four spades! In m K 10 2 m K 10 2 m J 7 5 this setting, a spade The reader may care to work n J N n J n K 3 continuation, ruffed by East, W E out the two lines of play – 13 o 9 7 6 5 4 S o 9 7 6 5 4 o J 10 8 3 2 would still lead to one off tricks by East, and 13 tricks p A Q J 7 p A Q J 7 p 10 8 6 when East returns a club. I by West – a simple triple South I dummy problem! m 6 4 Freddie North is one West has a skimpy double n 10 8 7 5 4 of Britain’s most but no doubt the favourable o A K Q profilic and popular Previously published in conditions prompted his p K 9 3 BRIDGE 34. Reprinted to bridge writers. satisfy popular demand. action. In real life, not
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