Number: 186 UK £3.95 Europe €5.00 June 2018 Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz

This month we are dealing with . You are West in the auctions below, playing BRIDGE‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no- (12-14 points) and four-card majors.

1. Dealer East. Love All. 4. Dealer East. Love All. 7. Dealer East. Love All. 10. Dealer East. Love All. ♠ A 8 7 ♠ K Q 7 6 5 ♠ K 8 2 ♠ 4 3 2

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1NT Pass 1♥ Pass 1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass ? 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 1♦ 1♥ 2♣ Pass 2♣ 2♠ 3♥ 4♠ ? ? ?

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1NT Pass 1♥ Pass 1♣ Pass 1♥ 1♠ Dbl Pass ? 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 1♦ 1♥ 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass ? ? ?

3. Dealer East. Love All. 6. Dealer East. Love All. 9. Dealer East. Love All. 12. Dealer West. Love All. ♠ Q 7 6 4 ♠ K Q 7 6 5 ♠ 4 3 2 ♠ 3

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 2NT Pass 1♥ Pass 1♣ Pass 1♥ 1♠ Dbl Pass ? 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 1♦ 1♥ Pass Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass ? ? ?

Answers on page 41 Answers on page 43 Answers on page 45 Answers on page 49

Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ 1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee INDEX BRIDGE 5 Mr Bridge 2 2018 Cruises on Ryden Grange, Knaphill, with Cruise & Maritime 7 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee Surrey GU21 2TH 3 Clive Goff’s Stamps 4 Madeira Winter Warmth ( 8 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum 01483 489961 with Fred. Olsen [email protected] 9 Defence Quiz by 5 Bernard Magee DVDs www.mrbridge.co.uk Set 8 10 The Power of Spot Cards: Part 2 by 5 Re-boot Acol Event shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/ 4 Capital Cities of the mrbridge-shop 11 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett Baltic with Fred. Olsen 12 New and Improved: ‘Portrait Cards’ Publisher and 9 Cruise the Danube to Managing Editor by Paul Bostock Vienna & Budapest with The River Cruise Line Mr Bridge 15 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett 10 Defence Bridge Consultant 16 Sally’s Slam Clinic with Bernard Magee Bernard Magee 11 Tunisia 2018-19 bernardmagee 17 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage 13 Bernard Magee DVDs Sets 1-3 @mrbridge.co.uk 18 More Tips from Bernard Magee 14 Mr Bridge UK Events Cartoons & Illustrations 19 Defence at Duplicate Pairs by Andrew Kambites 15 Marguerite Lihou Rules Simplified www.margueritelihou.co.uk 23 Defence at Duplicate Pairs Quiz by Andrew Kambites 16 Festive Events 2018 24 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions 18 Designs for Bridge Technical Consultant Table Covers Tony Gordon 26 Defence at Duplicate Pairs Quiz Answers 22 Christmas Markets by Andrew Kambites with Fred. Olsen Typesetting & Design 23 Bernard Magee DVDs Ruth Edmondson 29 Readers’ Letters Sets 4-6 [email protected] 30 Gisborne’s Disappointing Session by 27 Bernard Magee DVDs Set 7 Proof Readers 32 Detective Kelsey by Shireen Mohandes 28 Cruising European Mike Orriel Rivers and Canals Julian Pottage 34 Julian Pottage Answers Your Questions with Fred. Olsen Catrina Shackleton 38 Bring on the New Players by Jeremy Dhondy 29 Club Insurance Richard Wheen 29 Travel Insurance 40 Teams of Four by Bernard Magee 36 Designs for Bridge Customer Services Tables 41 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee Catrina Shackleton 37 Cruising [email protected] 42 Ruffing in Your Hand by Michael Byrne German Waterways with Fred. Olsen Events & Cruises 43 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee ( 39 Declarer Play 01483 489961 with Bernard Magee 44 Catching Up with Jessica Galt 45 Acol Bidding [email protected] 45 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee with Bernard Magee Megan Riccio 47 Bernard Magee’s [email protected] 46 Seven Days by Sally Brock Tutorial Software 48 How Strong is 1NT by Responder? by Julian Pottage 51 Canaries Christmas Clubs & Charities with Fred. Olsen Maggie Axtell 49 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee 52 Swedish Waterways & [email protected] Cities with Fred. Olsen 50 A Dream, or a Nightmare? by John Barr Address Changes ( 01483 485342 Elizabeth Bryan REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE [email protected] Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, all mint with full gum. Printed in the UK by Quotations for commercial quantities available on request. The Magazine Values supplied in 100s, higher values available Printing Company as well as 1st and 2nd class. www.magprint.co.uk ( 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected]

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 3

Re-boot your FAREWELLS turning people away and as Acol with we are well over half full, BERNARD Bernard Magee here is your warning, book now or you may miss out. Denham Grove, Uxbridge, MAGEE Bucks UB9 5DG SUNSHINE 10-14 January It is easy not to realise how TUTORIAL 2019 much you miss something until you experience it DVDS £454pp Thursday – again. I find this especially Monday true regarding the sun. This SET 8 Four Nights last bank holiday has Full – No Single Our newest recruit has reinforced my mood and 43 TEAMS £25 per DVD Supplement1 flown the nest. I say newest makes me understand why OF FOUR but Sophie was part of the so many choose to cruise to Great fun to play at club “Mr Bridge family” for 6 ½ warmer climes in the dark level and even in the years. I will miss her but winter months. For some home. Bernard discusses the format and then looks wish her all the best in her winter warmth try the at the tactics you might use move to a career in January Canary Islands and in the bidding and play. nutrition. Madeira cruise on Balmoral (see left). There is always a 44 GAME TRIES Also, Ruth Edmondson, my good bridge party and 2019 When your partner raises typesetter extraordinaire, your suit to the two-level, looks set to be the same. has brought forward her you have a variety of options available to you. retirement and leaves me TUNISIA AMENDED after 30 years. She has been 45 DISRUPTING Topics a great sounding board and The dates for Tunisia 2019 DECLARER trusted friend who has have altered, see page 11. A defender needs to try OPENER helped this publication Bernard will be at the Royal and predict what declarer RESPONDER evolve. I wish her a long Kenz from Tuesday 5-12 might want to do. Your job is then to disrupt declarer’s March. He is looking RESPONDING TO and well-earned retirement. plan. forward to returning as he is 1NT However, it is with great another one for enjoying 46 DEFENDING excitement that I am some winter sun. VS HIGH LAWS & ETHICS awaiting the arrival of two CONTRACTS new starters. So next time IMPROVING BLUNSDON IS BACK Making the right plays you call do make them against high level contracts BRIDGE MEMORY welcome. Their The period between can make a huge differ- introduction will come in Christmas and New Year for ence. the July issue. many is a very quiet time Sessions of 47 OVERCALLS and for the last few years Duplicate bridge is so much supervised play HOLIDAY both of my hotel events have more competitive now and sold out of space, so I am it is important you are part follow each Although I have not yet pleased to be able to tell you of this. lecture. been given the green light that I have arranged a Just to go cruising, it is not all 48 PRESSING Duplicate event in Wiltshire doom and gloom. The THE DEFENCE Optional at the Blunsdon House medics are happy to let me There are ways you can Hotel, 27-29 December, make life more awkward for duplicate session travel on my annual family 2 £228 per person full board. the defenders, particularly every evening . holiday to Brittany. by disguising holdings in Single supplements apply. your hand. Bernard explores BE SURE TO BOOK Also, whilst going to print a number of tactics that Contact Mr Bridge to I am finalising some will help you to exploit the defenders. book your place Bernard really puts on a autumn events at Blunsdon, £105 or for further show at Denham Grove for details of which will by Set of 6 details. New Year. I am shocked at now be on my website. how many people join in Do take a look as it is a truly Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 with the late night wonderful venue. ( 01483 489961 speedball after the www.mrbridge.co.uk/ 1Subject to availability. 2Not All good wishes, directed by Bernard Magee. midnight celebrations. I shop always find it very hard Mr Bridge

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 5

Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz

This month we are dealing with hand evaluation. You are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no-trump (12-14 points) and four-card majors.

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1NT Pass 1♥ Pass 1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass ? 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 1♦ 1♥ 2♣ Pass 2♣ 2♠ 3♥ 4♠ ? ? ?

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1NT Pass 1♥ Pass 1♣ Pass 1♥ 1♠ Dbl Pass ? 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 1♦ 1♥ 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass ? ? ?

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 2NT Pass 1♥ Pass 1♣ Pass 1♥ 1♠ Dbl Pass ? 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 1♦ 1♥ Pass Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass ? ? ?

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

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

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

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

Answers on page 41 Answers on page 43 Answers on page 45 Answers on page 49

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 7 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum Episode 74: A Canterbury Tale

pouse and I had joined our which gave little information to the North where Brian unwisely doubled friends, Sally and Dave, and their opposition. Clearly he hoped the long for penalties. rambling group in Kent, a county clubs would be useful. Swith a strange knack of hiding its traf- West North East South fic signs in hedges and behind trees as Justin Brian Millie Harry a challenge for touring motorists. We Dealer South. Game All. 1NT spent a delightful day walking and ♠ 6 5 2♣1 3♣ 3♥ Pass exploring the lovely Sissinghurst es- ♥ A 5 Pass Dbl All Pass tate and the surrounding countryside. ♦ Q 3 1Major two-suiter The view from the top of the tower was ♣ Q J 9 7 5 4 2 particularly spectacular. In the gar- ♠ K Q 10 7 3 ♠ J 2 Harry led the ace of clubs and must dens dogs were welcome and allowed ♥ K 10 7 3 N ♥ Q J 9 8 6 have been disappointed to see the W E ♦ ♦ to swim in the lake but only from an J 10 9 5 S A 4 2 , when dummy was tabled. Millie Authorised Dog Access Point, which ♣ Void ♣ 8 6 3 ruffed and played the king of spades, we called an ADAP. An observation ♠ A 9 8 4 won by Harry’s ace. He returned the platform by the water edge acted as ♥ 4 2 club king ruffed by Millie on the table. an unofficial UDDP or Unauthor- ♦ K 8 7 6 The ♥10 was led from dummy and ised Dog Diving Point. Later back at ♣ A K 10 Brian hopped up with the ace. He tried the hotel we rejoined Millie and Jus- a diamond return. Millie won with the tin who had been to Canterbury, a ace, cashed the ♠J then removed the city they had never visited before. In opponents’ remaining trumps. The all innocence I asked if the cathedral West North East South winning spades disposed of the two impressed them. ‘We didn’t get there, Sally Spouse Dave Wendy losing diamonds and the losing club. no time after shopping and lunch,’ ex- 1NT The doubled contract came home plained Millie succinctly. Pass 3NT All Pass with overtricks for a big IMP score and After dinner, the main business was the main factor in an overall win of the evening was a bridge match Sally led the king of spades. I won with for the Riverside. Even so Millie was over sixteen boards between the the ace and claimed the contract with disappointed with the match result ramblers and the Riverside, the seven club tricks and the ace of hearts. and thought we should have done latter represented by Millie, Justin, ‘Phew, should I have bid that?’ asked better. Spouse attempted to lighten Spouse and me. Our opponents were Spouse, ‘The contract seemed a bit her mood with, ‘Don’t let’s ask for the Sally, Dave, Brian and Harry. At the dodgy.’ I reassured him that it made on moon, we have the stars.’ He really halfway mark Riverside had a narrow any lead, adding unnecessarily, ‘Why does watch too many classic movies lead. Towards the end of the session the observation? You don’t normally on television. I still hadn’t declared a hand. Being doubt your judgement.’ ‘I don’t know We joined the rest of the ramblers dummy can be really boring. I once really. I suppose my mouth wasn’t enjoying a karaoke evening in the accompanied Spouse on a fishing doing anything else at the time,’ was bar. The men had refilled their glasses trip. Never again, waiting for the float his quick but inadequate justification and entered the spirit of the occasion. to bobble in the water was as nerve- probably induced by his more than Spouse, Justin, Brian, Dave and Brian wracking as watching partner play all adequate consumption of real ale. gave a loud and tuneless travesty the hands. However eventually Spouse At the other table the auction took of ‘We did it our way’. I doubt if allowed me to declare this board, a different route. Harry as South Frank Sinatra would have approved. which, by chance, proved decisive. opened one no-trump. Justin bid two Meanwhile Sally and I enjoyed cups of I opened one no-trump (12-14). clubs nominally showing five-five camomile tea. Millie, brandy in hand, Sally thought for quite a while before in the majors. Brian bid three clubs. clearly disapproved as she headed for passing. Spouse had quite a difficult With good heart support, Millie bid the ABAP or Authorised Bar Access bid but settled on three no-trumps, three hearts. This was passed round to Point for a top up. ■

Page 8 BRIDGE June 2018 Mr Bridge Holidays DEFENCE QUIZ Cruise the Danube to Vienna and Budapest aboard ms Serenity by Julian Pottage by coach: 14-23 October 2018 (Answers on page 17) by air: 15-22 October 2018

ou are East in the defensive positions below playing Ymatchpoint pairs with neither side vulnerable. Both sides are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman.

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

West North East South West North East South 1♦ 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♣ Dbl 3♦ Pass 2♠1 Pass 2NT Pass 5♦ All Pass Pass 3NT All Pass Your cruise includes: 1 ♠ Fourth-suit forcing Partner leads the J. What by coach is your plan? • Coach travel to Dover Partner leads the ♥J; your from selected pick up ♥K wins, collecting the ♥Q. What is your plan? points • Return ferry crossings to Dover • 7 nights cruise on a full 2. ♠ A K 10 4. ♠ A 6 2 Bernard Magee will host board basis ♥ A J 6 5 ♥ A J 6 and oversee a bridge • 2 nights half board hotel ♦ J ♦ J 10 9 7 2 programme of seminars, accommodation ♣ K J 9 6 5 ♣ 5 2 set hands and duplicate • An overnight b&b stay ♠ ♠ J 8 5 4 7 sessions organised to at Dover with breakfast is ♥ K 9 ♥ 9 8 5 3 N N fit around the cruise available at a supplement W E ♦ A 6 3 W E ♦ K 8 3 S S itinerary. There will also ♣ 8 4 3 2 ♣ A Q 7 6 3 by air be welcome and farewell • Return flights from drinks parties. London Heathrow or fly West North East South West North East South Cabins from £1149 pp direct from Manchester 1♣ Pass 1♦ 1♠ Sole occupancy supplement or Birmingham at a Pass 1♥ Pass 1NT Pass 2♦ Pass 3NT1 from 25%. Very limited supplement (subject to Pass 3NT All Pass All Pass availability. Call for prices. availability) 115-17, not five spades • Coach transfers between Partner leads the ♠6, won airport and ship by the ♠K. After a club to Partner leads the ♣J. What • 7 nights’ on a full board the ♣Q and ♣A, partner is your plan? basis plays the ♠7. Declarer wins in dummy with the ♠A, comes to hand with the ♣10 and leads the ♥4 to To book or for more information the ♥J. What is your plan after taking the ♥K? ( Mr Bridge on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 9 BERNARD Fireside Chats with Mike Lawrence MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL CD The Power of DEFENCE Spot Cards MAC or Windows Part Two

pot cards play more of make an overtrick. knows that East has the ♥K. a role than most play- Do you see a way to get No doubt about this. If ers give them credit for. two heart tricks out of this South gives up the lure of SThe hand today offers a little hand? the heart spots, he can make test revolving around spot If South is aware of his ♥9 eleven tricks by using the in- cards. One of the considera- and ♥8, he can cover with formation that East has the Bernard develops tions in this hand is South’s the queen and win East’s king of hearts. your defence in the nine and eight of hearts. king with the ace. Now, af- Keep the queen in dummy course of ten ter drawing trumps, he can and win the ♥A at trick one. introductory give up a heart trick to the Draw the trumps. East has exercises and 120 Dealer East. Game All. ten and will subsequently two and West, one. Now complete deals. ♠ A 7 6 5 3 discard a diamond from play the club suit. On the ♥ Q 3 dummy. This line might end third club, discard a heart. l Lead vs ♦ K 8 No-trump up losing just one heart and The point of this is that after ♣ Contracts K Q 7 3 one diamond. South went South ruffs the last club in for it and played the queen his hand he can give East his l Lead vs N W E from dummy. East covered ♥K. East is endplayed and Suit Contracts S and South followed his plan. has to give a and discard l Partner of Leader ♠ K Q 10 9 4 There was a snag, though. or lead to dummy’s ♦K. vs No-trump ♥ A 9 8 West had the ♥10, not that The South player who Contracts ♦ 5 3 2 big a surprise, and when he played to set up a second ♣ A 4 l Partner of Leader won the next heart trick, the heart trick was victimised vs Suit Contracts diamond switch got the de- by knowing too much. fence two diamond winners. Note, for the record, that l Count West North East South Here is the complete hand. if West has the ♥K, South Signals 1♥ 1♠ can make an extra trick by l Attitude £76 Pass 3♥ Pass 4♠ playing the queen at trick Signals All Pass ♠ A 7 6 5 3 one. If there had been no ♥ Q 3 l Discarding bidding, playing the queen East opened 1♥ and South ♦ K 8 could be correct. Here, there l Defensive Plan bid 1♠. North’s 3♥ bid ♣ K Q 7 3 is conclusive evidence. East l Stopping Declarer showed at least a shapely ♠ 2 ♠ J 8 opened the bidding. You can

limit raise and promised ♥ J 10 2 N ♥ K 7 6 5 4 see 27 points in your hand l Counting ♦ 10 9 7 6 W E ♦ A Q J 4 the Hand four trumps. South has a S and dummy. This leaves but he has ♣ 9 8 6 5 2 ♣ J 10 only 13 points for the op- good values and is comfort- ♠ K Q 10 9 4 ponents. East’s opening bid Mr Bridge, Ryden able going to game. North ♥ A 9 8 must include the ♥K. Grange, Knaphill, discounted his queen of ♦ 5 3 2 As an aside, if the opening Surrey GU21 2TH hearts so was not interested ♣ A 4 lead had been a small heart, ( 01483 489961 in going higher. you should play the hand in www.mrbridge.co.uk/ West leads the ♥J. South is the recommended fashion. mrbridge-shop safe for ten tricks but there South had a good idea but Knowing where the high are various lines that may there was a better one. South cards are helps. ■

Page 10 BRIDGE June 2018 DECLARER Mr Bridge PLAY Hotel Royal Kenz Tunisia 2018-19 QUIZ by David Huggett Seven Day All-inclusive (Answers on page 15) Duplicate Bridge Holidays

ou are South as declarer playing teams or . YIn each case, what is your play strategy?

1. ♠ A Q 7 6 2 3. ♠ 7 6 4 ♥ A 10 9 7 ♥ K Q ♦ Q 3 ♦ 10 8 7 3 ♣ 7 6 ♣ Q J 10 6

N N W E W E S S 6-13 November 2018 from £699 13-20 November 2018 from £699 ♠ 5 ♠ A Q 10 Both of the above weeks from £999 ♥ K Q J 8 4 2 ♥ A 4 Golf is available - green fees charged extra ♦ K 7 2 ♦ Q J 9 6 4 5-12 Mar 2019 with Bernard Magee from £699 ♣ A Q 5 ♣ A K 3

You are declarer in 6♥ and You are declarer in 3NT West leads the ♥3 with and West leads the ♥3. East following. How do How do you plan the play? you plan the play?

2. ♠ A 10 8 4 4. ♠ A K 6 ♥ 6 3 ♥ Q J 5 *Prices shown are per person on an all inclusive basis sharing ♦ A 2 ♦ A 8 6 4 a twin or double-bedded room and are inclusive of bridge fees. ♣ K J 8 6 3 ♣ 9 7 5 Standard rooms all come with a private bath, toilet, balcony and tea and coffee making facilities. Sole occupancy supplement is £5 per night. The supplement for a pool view room is £3 per person, N N W E W E per night. To upgrade to a superior room with bath robe, bottle of S S wine and bowl of fruit on arrival is £3 per person per night. For details of what is included in the all-inclusive package, please ♠ 7 3 2 ♠ Q 7 3 2 call for an information pack and booking form. ♥ K Q 5 ♥ A K 10 9 7 These prices are based on scheduled flights from Heathrow to ♦ K Q 6 4 ♦ 7 3 Tunis. Flights from Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow can be ♣ A 5 2 ♣ Q 6 arranged at a supplement. *All prices are firm until 30th September 2018.

You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 4♥ and Terms and conditions apply. Packaged with and and West leads the ♥4. West leads the ♦J. How do bookings by Tunisia First ATOL 5933. East plays the ♥10. How you plan the play? do you plan the play? For details or an information pack call  01483 489961

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 11 A History of Playing Cards: Part Eighteen by Paul Bostock New and Improved: ‘Portrait Cards’

y the 1700s, portraits on standard court cards had evolved to become highly stylised and no longer particularly realistic. Over the years, various card-makers have seen this as an opportunity to market improvements on the design and to differentiate their cards from the others. A common Bidea has been to make the figures look more like real people, often with specific and well-known people in mind. There is no conventional name for this kind of card, but I have recently proposed ‘portrait cards’, which briefly conveys the idea. The earliest English example we know is by Rowley, who registered an Ace of Spades at the Tax Office in 1765. These cards were engraved (while all the other makers were print- ing with wooden blocks) and the quality of their appearance is a great improvement over the best standard cards of the time. Rowley also changed the suit signs and colours, using: pikes in black, red cups, orange diamonds and green clover- leaves. For their age, these are not as rare now as one might expect. It is fair to guess that they were quite popular, which is unusual given their novelty, but they would also survive more than the standard sets if they were kept as an attractive item to own, rather than worn out in use. Queen of Diamonds and King of Cups. Cards by Rowley, c 1765.

The next example comes from 1820, when Thomas Creswick produced a set of ‘Imperial’ playing cards. Creswick was a paper maker as well as a card maker, and the cards were advertised as being superior in card quality as well as having a new appearance. The advertisement is shown below, commanding us to ‘look but on this card!!! … and on this!!!’. The court figures are said to portray real monarchs and the designs do look impressive, as claimed. The advertisement shows a direct comparison between the new Queen of Clubs and the traditional version. In 1828, S & J Fuller made an ‘Imperial Royal’ set of cards in similar vein and more lavishly made, but change was to follow more rapidly after De La Rue set up in 1932. De La Rue was the first printer to use lithography, and this new technology permitted very much more detailed and accurate designs. De La Rue made a more elaborate design to show off Creswick’s Imperial Playing Cards 1820-23. this capability, but sensibly made a set with a conventional Detail from advertisement. appearance as well.

The author is a Court Assistant in the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards – see www.makersofplayingcards. co.uk. Many more sets of cards are illustrated on the author’s website www.plainbacks.com

Page 12 BRIDGE June 2018 The creation of these vari- ous alternative sets in the space of ten years coincides BERNARD with reductions in tax and a growing popularity of in- MAGEE formal card games. The new popularity of games among TUTORIAL family and friends almost certainly accounts for the DVDS uptake of these new designs. From the 1850s, with more industrial production and SET 1 with big increases in an- 1 Ruffing for nual volumes sold, the card Extra Tricks makers could start making De La Rue’s first two designs: a more elaborate 2 Competitive design (left) and one more traditional (right). different kinds of cards to appeal to different buyers. Auctions One impressive set is the “International” playing card pack made by De La Rue in 1874 and 3 Making £25 per DVD marking the Wedding of Queen Victoria’s second son Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and Grand the Most Duchess Marie Alexandrovna, daughter of Alexander II. The court cards depict members of of High Cards the (often related) European Royal Families. The illustrations are from a 2003 reproduction 4 Identifying by John Berry. & Bidding Slams With non-standard cards 5 Play & Defence more accepted, packs have of 1NT Contracts been made featuring Kings and Queens from Tudor 6 Doubling & times, the Court of Louis Defence against XV, Shakespearean charac- Doubled Contracts ters, politicians of different countries, famous actors SET 2 and so on. The portrait style 7 Leads is now familiar everywhere 8 Losing Trick Count card games are played. We saw German examples by 9 Making a Plan Dondorf in the previous ar- as Declarer ticle in this series, and below 10 Responding to 1NT we show some by Grimaud 11 Signals & Discards from France. International Playing Cards by De La Rue, 1874. Queen Victoria and the Crown Prince of Prussia. This style is appreciated by 12 many players and of course by collectors. ■ SET 3 13 Hand Evaluation 14 Pre-Emptive Bidding £105 15 Splinter set of 6 & Cue Bids 16 17 Play & Defence at Pairs

18 Thinking Defence

Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop Jeu ‘Louis XV’ by B P Grimaud c. 1970s. Cards by J M Simon of Lorraine based on a C19 Grimaud design.

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 13 Mr Bridge UK Events

Tutorial Events with Bernard Magee PROGRAMME Ramada Resort Gourmet Food at DAY 1 Grantham Two Bridges Hotel From 1500 £349 Mr Bridge 27-29 July £252 Mon 26 to Wed 28 Nov Welcome Desk open Leads and Defence Play and Defence of 1NT Tea or coffee on arrival 1745 to 1830 Elstead Hotel Trouville Hotel, Welcome drinks Bournemouth BH1 3QP Chatsworth Hotel From Sandown, IOW £399* 3-5 August £258 1830 to 2000 Fri 15 to Tue 19 Feb Competitive Bidding Dinner Competitive Bidding 2015 BRIDGE 1 26-28 October £258 *Price includes ferry fare for two adults in one car. DUPLICATE PAIRS Supporting Minors DAY 2 0800 to 0930 Just Duplicate Tutorial Events Breakfast Denham Grove 1000 to 1230 Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DG Denham Grove Denham Grove SEMINAR & PLAY of SET HANDS or 10-12 August £223 20-22 July £228 DUPLICATE BRIDGE Masterpointed Duplicate Losing Trick Count (Just Duplicate Events) Hosted by Gary Conrad Hosted by John Ronan 1230 to 1330 14-16 September £218 5-7 October £228 Cold Buffet Lunch Declarer Play 19-21 October £218 1400 to 1645 Hosted by Sandy Bell BRIDGE 2 TEAMS of FOUR Ramada Resort (Bernard Magee Events) Ramada Resort, Grantham Ramada Resort DUPLICATE PAIRS Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT Grantham Grantham (otherwise) 17-19 August £208 21-23 September £218 1815 to 2000 Dinner 26-28 October £208 Doubles Hosted by John Ronan 2015 BRIDGE 3 16-18 November £208 DUPLICATE PAIRS 9-11 November £218 Better Finessing DAY 3 Chatsworth Hotel Hosted by Michael Haytack 0800 to 0930 17-19 August £218 Breakfast Chatsworth Hotel Chatsworth Hotel Worthing BN11 3DU 12-14 October £218 1000 to 1230 28-30 September £228 SEMINAR & PLAY 23-25 November £218 Splinters and Cue Bids of SET HANDS or Hosted by Will Parsons DUPLICATE PAIRS Elstead Hotel (Just Duplicate Events) Elstead Hotel 1230 to 1400 5-7 October £218 Sunday Lunch (weekend events only) 2-4 Novem ber £218 16-18 November £228 Bidding 1400 to 1645 Please note there are no seminars, Distributional Hands BRIDGE 4 Two Bridges Hotel set hands or prizes at these events. Hosted by Lesley Lewis DUPLICATE PAIRS Dartmoor PL20 6SW

Full Board – No Single Supplement* ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk *Subject to availability. Single supplement applies at Two Bridges. Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 11

The rule of eleven tells you that East jack to be onside. Win the 1. ♠ A Q 7 6 2 started with at least three hearts so a in dummy, cross your fingers and lead a ♥ A 10 9 7 hold-up play cannot possibly work here. spade to the ten. It’s true this line of play ♦ Q 3 Also a count of the tricks immediately is odds against to succeed but it’s better ♣ 7 6 available comes to five without clubs, than no chance at all. ♠ 10 9 4 3 ♠ K J 8 meaning that you need only four tricks in ♥ 3 N ♥ 6 5 that suit to achieve nine tricks. In normal ♦ A J 10 5 W E ♦ 9 8 6 4 circumstances you would play the ace S ♣ K J 8 2 ♣ 10 9 4 3 and then the jack but here you 4. ♠ A K 6 ♠ 5 have to do everything possible not to ♥ Q J 5 ♥ K Q J 8 4 2 let East on lead as he would surely fire ♦ A 8 6 4 ♦ K 7 2 a heart through your vulnerable holding. ♣ 9 7 5 ♣ A Q 5 So play towards the king first (ducking if ♠ 10 8 5 4 ♠ J 9 West plays the queen) and then the ace. ♥ 8 3 2 N ♥ 6 4 W E ♣ ♦ J 10 2 ♦ K Q 9 5 If West has the Q-x-x you have forsaken S You are declarer in 6♥ and West leads an overtrick but you will be safe against ♣ A J 2 ♣ K 10 8 4 3 the ♥3 with East following. How do you East holding doubleton queen. ♠ Q 7 3 2 plan the play? ♥ A K 10 9 7 A successful club finesse will see you ♦ 7 3 home but, as always, you should be on ♣ Q 6 the outlook to improve your chances 3. ♠ 7 6 4 and here the spade suit looks as though ♥ K Q it might provide just that extra chance. ♦ 10 8 7 3 You are declarer in 4♥ and West leads Play the spade ace at trick two and ruff a ♣ Q J 10 6 the ♦J. How do you plan the play? spade. Enter dummy by drawing the last ♠ 8 5 ♠ K J 9 3 2 If spades break 3-3 there is no trump and ruff another spade and on a ♥ J 9 8 3 2 N ♥ 10 7 6 5 problem at all but the odds favour a good day the king will appear. If that is ♦ K 2 W E ♦ A 5 4-2 break so you have to address that S the case then you will have two spade ♣ 8 7 4 2 ♣ 9 5 problem. Sometimes the defender with winners in dummy on which to pitch your ♠ A Q 10 two spades will hold only two trumps so two losing clubs and a diamond ruff in ♥ A 4 win the opening lead and play just two dummy will give you your twelfth trick. ♦ Q J 9 6 4 top trumps. Now play the ace and king ♣ A K 3 of spades and another to the queen. If everyone follows then draw the last trump and play the thirteenth spade. If 2. ♠ A 10 8 4 You are declarer in 3NT and West leads either defender shows out on the third ♥ 6 3 the ♥3. How do you plan the play? round of spades but cannot ruff then you ♦ A 2 You know from the opening lead that can ruff the last spade in dummy. ■ ♣ K J 8 6 3 West started with either four or five ♠ 9 5 ♠ K Q J 6 hearts and the duplication you hold in ♥ A J 9 4 2 N ♥ 10 8 7 that suit is tiresome to say the least. It W E DUPLICATE BRIDGE ♦ J 9 3 S ♦ 10 8 7 5 looks tempting to play on diamonds with ♣ 10 9 7 ♣ Q 4 the prospect of making three tricks in the RULES SIMPLIFIED (otherwise known as the Yellow Book) ♠ 7 3 2 suit once the ace and king are dislodged, ♥ K Q 5 but can that really be right? Once you by David Stevenson only ♦ K Q 6 4 lose the first diamond the defence will Fully Revised 2017 95 ♣ A 5 2 persist with hearts and then you will lose £5 three hearts and two diamonds. If you count your top tricks you have six outside Available from Mr Bridge You are declarer in 3NT and West leads of spades, so you need three tricks in that ( 01483 489961 the ♥4. East plays the ♥10. How do you suit to achieve your goal of nine tricks. www.mrbridge.co.uk plan the play? Which means you need both king and

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 15 2018 FESTIVE Sally Brock Looks at Your Slam Bidding SEASON Denham Grove Near Uxbridge UB9 5DG Sally’s Slam Clinic

Where did we go wrong? Sean Haffey and his wife settled for ♥4 on this deal from a club team’s night: Richard Rees asks where he went Christmas wrong on this slam deal that occurred at Loughborough Bridge Club: ♠ A K Q 4 ♠ 10 9 8 23-27 Dec £495 ♥ A Q J 8 6 N ♥ K 3 2 Hand Evaluation and Transfers ♦ Void W E ♦ 6 2 hosted by Sandy Bell S ♠ K 4 ♠ A Q J 2 ♣ K Q 7 2 ♣ A 9 8 4 3 Twixmas ♥ K Q J 8 7 4 N ♥ 10 W E ♦ K 5 2 ♦ A Q J 4 27-29 Dec £258 S Defence as Partner of the Leader ♣ 6 4 ♣ K Q 9 2 West North East South hosted by Bernard Magee 2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass 3♥ Pass 4♥ All Pass New Year West North East South 29 Dec-2 Jan £499 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass In common with many club players, Drawing Trumps 2♥ Pass 3♣ Pass East-West were playing Benjaminised hosted by Bernard Magee 3♥ Pass 4NT Pass Acol, with 2♦ being their strongest 5♦ Pass 6NT All Pass opening bid. I know this method is Ramada Resort popular at club level, but not many His reason (excuse) for bidding a slam expert pairs play this system. I guess Grantham when it was known that there were that a lot of the time it doesn’t matter Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT two ‘aces’ missing was that he hoped that much, but it works terribly when partner had the ♥A and by some the strong hand has a heart suit. It miracle he might be able to scramble doesn’t work much better to swap the twelve tricks. 2♣ and 2♦ openings either – there are West has shown a good heart suit on just problems with different hands. this auction. Some experts consider It would have been easier on this that, playing a weak no-trump, it is layout after ♣2 -2♦-2♥. Christmas correct to open 1NT with a 5-3-3-2 Still, East did not do nearly enough 23-27 Dec £425 distribution. If that is the case, when to express the value of his hand. ♥ Just Duplicate West rebids 2 he has shown a six- When partner bids a suit at the hosted by Sheila Rogers card suit. Over 3♣ he had plenty of three level, the best agreement to have room. Without a good heart suit he is that a new suit at the four level is a Twixmas could have bid 3♦ as a fourth-suit bid, cue-bid (ie if you can’t find a club fit 27-29 Dec £215 inviting partner to show delayed (ie a below 3NT then accept that it is lost Losing Trick Count doubleton) heart support. He chose to forever). So East should cue-bid 4♣. show a good suit and I would not have While this could be a singleton or void New Year been worried that the singleton ten it is more likely to be the ace. Now 29 Dec-1 Jan £345 was insufficient support. West’s hand is huge and he should Suit Establishment Although the East hand is not really bid 5♦ to show the void. (Some would suitable for launching into Blackwood, play this as Exclusion Blackwood, it is hard to see what else East can and the 5NT response, showing two Back to Back bookings do to move forward in any sort of ‘aces’ outside diamonds, would end all save £50 (per additional event) meaningful way. So, to bid 4NT, West’s problems.) East has only shown intending to stop in 5♥ if there are two his club ace so far, and he has the ♥K ( 01483 489961 aces missing, is a reasonable idea. as yet unshown, so he should jump to Call for details and itineraries 6♥, and now West can tell that East Send your slam hands to www.mrbridge.co.uk/ukbreaks has just what he needs for the grand [email protected] slam. ■

Page 16 BRIDGE June 2018 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 9

West North East South seem slim, can you stop the overtrick? 1. ♠ 8 5 4 3 1♣ Pass 1♦ The main threat is dummy’s long club ♥ A 7 5 4 Pass 1♥ Pass 1NT suit. Fortunately, you have four clubs, ♦ Q J Pass 3NT All Pass which means dummy will need a lot of ♣ A K 2 entries (four) for setting up and running ♠ Q 10 6 ♠ K 7 2 Partner leads the ♠6, won by the ♠K. the suit. ♥ J 10 9 3 2 N ♥ K 8 6 After a club to the ♣Q and ♣A, partner If you take the ♠K and return the ♦ 7 2 W E ♦ A 8 4 3 plays the ♠7. Declarer wins in dummy ♠A, this will remove a ruffing . S ♣ J 4 3 ♣ 10 9 6 with the ♠A, comes to hand with the ♣10 Unfortunately, unless partner started ♠ A J 9 and leads the ♥4 to the ♥J. What is your with six spades, this will set up the ♠Q; ♥ Q plan after taking the ♥K? then dummy discards a heart on the ♦ K 10 9 6 5 You could play a third spade so you ♠Q and later ruffs a heart. The safe ♣ Q 8 7 5 have a long spade to cash when you get way to remove an entry is by switching in with the ♦A. One trick in each suit, to a trump. That removes an entry however, will not beat the contract. You prematurely and declarer will finish an West North East South might try a low diamond hoping partner entry short. 1♦ has the ♦Q and declarer misguesses. Pass 1♥ Pass 2♣ Again this does not give you five tricks. Pass 2♠1 Pass 2NT When in doubt go for the plus. Since Pass 3NT All Pass declarer may well have the ♥Q and so 4. ♠ A 6 2 1Fourth-suit forcing have nine tricks ready to run, you should ♥ A J 6 aim to cash three diamond tricks and ♦ J 10 9 7 2 Partner leads the ♥J; your ♥K wins, switch to the ♦A. You need to find partner ♣ 5 2 collecting the ♥Q. What is your plan? with the king and ten, which seems a ♠ Q 10 8 5 3 ♠ 7 Your partner has found a good lead. reasonable chance. ♥ 10 4 2 N ♥ 9 8 5 3 W E You want to continue the suit, leading ♦ Q 5 S ♦ K 8 3 the ♥8 to avoid a blockage. If, as is quite ♣ J 10 8 ♣ A Q 7 6 3 possible, declarer holds up a second ♠ K J 9 4 time, what do you do then? 3. ♠ 4 ♥ K Q 7 Since you have the ♦A entry and only ♥ Q 8 ♦ A 6 4 one heart left, playing a third round will ♦ A J 3 ♣ K 9 4 do little good. Instead you should switch ♣ A J 9 6 5 3 2 to a spade, hoping to set up a couple of ♠ J 10 9 6 2 ♠ A K 8 7 tricks to go with the two hearts and a dia- ♥ 10 7 6 5 3 N ♥ K J 4 2 West North East South W E mond. ♦ 8 7 ♦ 6 1♠ S ♣ 10 ♣ K Q 8 4 Pass 2♦ Pass 3NT1 ♠ Q 5 3 All Pass 115-17, not five spades ♥ A 9 2. ♠ A K 10 ♦ K Q 10 9 5 4 2 Partner leads the ♣J. What is your plan? ♥ A J 6 5 ♣ 7 Although the usual rule is ‘third hand ♦ J high’, the bidding tells you that a singleton ♣ K J 9 6 5 king is not on your left. Can you see the ♠ 7 6 3 ♠ J 8 5 4 West North East South downside to playing the ace? If partner ♥ 10 8 3 2 N ♥ K 9 1♦ (whose main suit is no doubt spades) has W E ♦ ♦ ♣ ♦ K 10 5 2 S A 6 3 Pass 2 Dbl 3 led from three clubs, declarer can ♣ A 7 ♣ 8 4 3 2 Pass 5♦ All Pass the ♣K until the third round. Then, unless ♠ Q 9 2 partner has the ♦A, you will probably not ♥ Q 7 4 Partner leads the ♠J. What is your plan? get in. You should instead encourage ♦ Q 9 8 7 4 Apart from the ♠J, partner surely has with the ♣7 and, if the ♣J holds, ♣ Q 10 no high cards; a void in clubs is also the second club as well. Partner can then unlikely. While prospects of a plus score continue clubs when in with the ♦Q. ■

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 17 luxury More Tips from Bernard Magee bridge mat Weak trumps are not an excuse Just £24.99 plus £4.99 p & p for delaying drawing trumps s declarer, most know the basic will make three more trump tricks. rule, that you should draw trumps Awithout a good reason not to. There are many reasons to delay, but ♠ K 10 9 3 having bad trumps is not one of them. ♥ 10 6 5 4 Sometimes, with poor trumps you ♦ J 10 8 7 might choose to cross-ruff, but then ♣ 2 you are not drawing trumps for a valid ♠ Q 8 7 2 ♠ J 6 5 4 N reason. Or you might feel your trumps ♥ 8 7 2 ♥ A K Q 9 W E are too short, again a reasonable choice, ♦ A K S ♦ 6 3 but look at this trump suit: ♣ A K Q 3 ♣ J 8 6 ♠ A ♥ J 3 ♠ Q 8 7 2 ♠ J 6 5 4 ♦ Q 9 5 4 2 ♥ 8 7 2 N ♥ A K Q 9 ♣ 10 9 7 5 4 W E ♦ A K ♦ 6 3 S ♣ A K Q 3 ♣ J 8 6 You may feel you could win trick one in hand and then decide to cross to dummy West North East South in hearts and lead a trump from dummy, Thick woven surface makes 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass but then the layout might have been: an ideal playing surface and 4♠ All Pass protects your table. Very popular with Bridge North leads the ♣2. ♠ K 10 9 Clubs. 78cms wide so it fits You have all the side suit tricks taken ♥ 10 6 5 4 3 a standard 80cms card table care of, so all you need to do is avoid four ♦ J 10 8 7 trump losers. If the trumps break 3-2, ♣ 2 Padded table bag. you can do this by simply playing trumps ♠ Q 8 7 2 ♠ J 6 5 4 out – you expect to lose three tricks in the ♥ 8 7 2 N ♥ A K Q 9 £39.00 + £4.99 p&p W E ♦ ♦ suit, but are trying to avoid losing four, A K S 6 3 by giving up ruffs. How about if trumps ♣ A K Q 3 ♣ J 8 6 break 4-1? Again, you might be OK if ♠ A 3 you can guess who has four. The key to ♥ J the hand is to focus on drawing trumps ♦ Q 9 5 4 2 and not be put off by their weakness. ♣ 10 9 7 5 4 North’s lead looks suspiciously like a singleton, which makes him the likely holder of the long trumps. Your aim Now your delaying of trumps would cost should be to lead a trump from dummy: dearly. After a club to your ace and a Large enough to take a standard this means that for South to give his heart to dummy in order to lead trumps, 80cms bridge table. Made from ♠ tough nylon with carrying straps partner a club ruff he would have to play South would take his A, give his partner and Velcro fixing. Ideal for a high trump, but you would then play a club ruff and then receive a heart ruff storing or carrying your table. low from hand and still have the queen in return. Two ruffs and the ♠A-K would and jack to make sure you just lose three defeat your contract. Order online or by phone trump tricks in total. This requires you to Both layouts would be a little unlucky, www.designsforbridge.co.uk jump up with ♣J at trick 1 and lead a but you can deal with either by attending small trump. to your trumps straight away. The warning 01483 270 100 South wins his ♠A and can give North signs were there: when your opponents a club ruff, but you can use your queen lead your strongest side suit, very often SR Designs for Bridge to knock out the ♠K and the jack draws they will have led from shortage. Unit A1, Send Business Park, North’s last trump. If you win trick one There are many reasons for delaying Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF in hand and lead a trump up to dummy, the drawing of trumps, but having weak then your jack loses to the ace and North trumps is not a good one. ■

Page 18 BRIDGE June 2018 About Duplicate Pairs by Andrew Kambites Defence at Duplicate Pairs

ome of the themes I develop in decides to try a heart (the ♥2), only to leads the ♠Q. West takes the ♠A and this article closely follow ideas I find the above layout. The heart suit has to decide what to do next. introduced in my series on defen- is frozen. Whichever side opens it up Ssive play about two years ago. I make concedes a trick. Declarer plays low no apology for this. If I had to give ad- from dummy, captures East’s ♥Q with Layout B vice to club players on just one aspect his ♥A and is able to finesse against ♠ K J 6 2 of the game, I think I would help them West’s remaining ♥J-8, making three ♥ K 9 4 improve their skills in the difficult area heart tricks when he only had the right ♦ 10 6 3 of defence. Most of the points I discuss to two. West’s club lead turned out to ♣ K Q 7 in this article are of huge importance neither gain or cost a trick but the ♠ A 5 3 in any form of scoring, but are even heart switch has given away a cheap ♥ J 8 2 N ♦ Q 7 5 2 W E more significant in matchpoint scor- trick. S ing (duplicate pairs). Why does this tend to matter far ♣ J 10 9 more at duplicate pairs than, for Frozen suits example, teams-of-four? At teams- of-four often the contract cannot West North East South For most club players defence consists be beaten, so all this concedes is a 1♠ of switching from suit to suit, hoping relatively unimportant overtrick. At Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ to strike gold. To see the consequence pairs if every other North/South pair All Pass of this look at the heart suit below in is in 4♠ overtricks will be critical. If Layout A: West’s heart switch has turned -620 There is no long suit in evidence that into -650 he is likely to have turned might suggest that the defenders need a satisfactory matchpoint score into a to take their side suit winners before Layout A near bottom. they disappear. West has two choices. ♥ K 9 4 A club continuation, or returning a

N f it is likely that declarer will trump, is unlikely to do much good or ♥ J 8 2 W E ♥ Q 7 6 3 have to play a suit himself, don’t much harm, ie it is a passive defence. S Ihelp him by opening up the suit Alternatively, a red suit switch might ♥ A 10 5 for him. enable the defenders to take quick trick(s) but could easily cost a trick. Passive defence It isn’t even close. This hand will The contract is 4♠. West started the be all about how many overtricks defence with a low club, but that didn’t In my series on defensive skills I declarer makes. A switch to either red seem to achieve much. On the other argued that most club players were suit gifts him an eleventh trick. If the hand the club lead doesn’t seem to have too active in defence. There is a sort defenders hold declarer to ten tricks cost much. West gets the lead at trick of misplaced Victorian work ethic, ‘I they will get, and deserve, an excellent 2 with the ♠A and has to decide what must do something positive for my score. to lead to trick 3. In West’s mind the side.’ More than ever in duplicate The club lead has gained nothing, following misguided thought process pairs it can be right just to avoid doing but the positive side is that it has not is going on. My club lead didn’t do anything costly. Let me put the heart cost a trick. The bidding seems normal anything very positive for the defence, suit seen in Layout A into the context and there is every reason to believe I don’t want to return a trump because of a complete hand. other North/South pairs are also declarer is playing that suit, so it is a In Layout B, West leads the ♣J in 4♠. West has the choice between choice between the red suits. West against 4♠. Declarer takes the ♣A and trying to generate tricks for his side,

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 19 or going passive. He doesn’t really The rest of the room have many clues as to which honour ♠ Q 10 9 8 4 cards (if any) his partner has but ♥ Q 10 5 ust as when you are playing a there doesn’t seem to be any reason ♦ A J 8 3 hand as declarer, your target to believe that declarer’s losers will ♣ A Jis to beat or at least equal the disappear. Declarer may well have: scores around the room rather than necessarily defeat the contract. Unless your side takes the ♥A now, ♠ Q 10 9 8 4 declarer will make 12 tricks. Sometimes it is obvious to you that ♥ A 10 5 events at your table are far from ♦ A J f it is likely that, given time, normal. In Layout F your ♠K lead ♣ A 6 4 declarer will be able to dispose is taken by dummy’s ♠A. At trick 2 Iof his losers in a suit, either by dummy’s ♣J is run to your ♣K. You discarding the losers in his hand on can cash the ♠Q but what then? Often reasons are given for a heart a long suit in dummy, or discarding switch that simply don’t bear scrutiny. his losers in dummy on a long suit When this hand occurred West in his hand, you may need to play Layout F switched to a heart and justified it that suit yourself while you have ♠ A J by saying, ‘I was afraid that declarer the chance. ♥ K 9 7 6 had ♣A-x and might get rid of a heart ♦ Q 9 7 loser unless I took our heart winners The opening lead ♣ J 10 9 7 quickly.’ So why did declarer start on ♠ K Q 10 8 trumps rather than take trick 1 with It is difficult for me to give authoritative ♥ A 4 3 2 N his ♣A and cash the ♣K-Q, discarding advice on opening leads because it is ♦ 8 3 W E S a heart? This sort of reasoning an area which divides expert opinion. ♣ K 4 3 suggests an intelligent but overactive However be aware that it pays to resolve mind. Successful pairs players do not borderline opening lead decisions in torture themselves with such intricate favour of the passive option. West North East South arguments. They recognise that in this Suppose you are on lead with Hand 1♣ situation they cannot work out exactly D or E after South’s 1NT opening bid Pass 1♥ Pass 1NT1 who has what and just go passive. is passed out. Pass 3♣ End However now consider Layout 115-17 points C. Again you led a club, taken by declarer’s ♣A and regained the lead at Hand D Hand E It is clear that North/South have had trick 2 with the ♠A. ♠ 9 8 5 ♠ 9 8 5 a bidding misunderstanding. North ♥ K J 5 4 ♥ K J 6 5 4 clearly thought 3♣ was forcing, South ♦ A 7 2 ♦ A 7 2 didn’t. Even then, why on earth did Layout C ♣ J 4 3 ♣ J 4 North bid 3♣, forcing or not, when his ♠ K J 6 2 obvious bid is 3NT? ♥ K 9 4 They are playing a hand with at least ♦ Void With Hand D a heart lead might be 26 combined points in a part-score. ♣ K Q 8 7 3 2 the best shot at beating the contract, Usually that signals a good result ♠ A 5 3 but it is always likely to concede a for you but this time the signs are ♥ J 8 2 N cheap trick. A spade lead is unlikely ominous. You have a natural ♠K lead ♦ Q 7 5 2 W E to do anything for declarer that he against 3NT and when you gain the S ♣ J 10 9 cannot do for himself and if you are lead with the ♣K you have four more lucky you might hit partner’s suit. tricks to cash: three spades and the I would look no further than the ♠8 ♥A. West North East South or ♠9 (depending on your methods) 26 points or not, 3NT is going off, 1♠ playing duplicate pairs. so letting South make 3♣ (with or Pass 4♠ All Pass However you should not take this to without overtricks) is not going to give extremes. With Hand E a heart lead you many matchpoints. Is there any It is pretty obvious that left to his own from a five-card suit stands out at any chance of beating 3♣? Partner has at devices declarer will discard his heart form of scoring. most two points and you must hope losers on dummy’s long clubs. Pairs or they are the ♥Q. If it is doubleton you not, you must seek to take anything e wary of leading broken might just let him take the ♥Q, return you are due in hearts urgently so, risky four-card suits against no- his last heart to your ♥A and collect a or not, you must switch to a heart at Btrump contracts at duplicate heart ruff. trick 2. Declarer has: pairs. That would give declarer:

Page 20 BRIDGE June 2018 ♠ 7 5 3 ♠ 7 3 ♠ 10 9 8 6 ♥ J 10 8 ♥ Q 10 5 ♥ 7 3 ♦ A K J ♦ A J 10 8 7 ♦ K J 5 ♣ A Q 8 6 ♣ A K Q ♣ K Q J 10 ♠ A 2 ♠ Q J 7 N N ♥ K J 9 2 ♥ K 8 6 5 W E W E It is not much of a chance, but better S ♦ K 6 3 2 ♦ A 6 4 3 S than none. Note that even if it was not ♣ 9 7 3 ♣ 9 7 clear to you that 3NT was making, the fact that your opponents are likely to be the only pair not in game means that it West North East South West North East South won’t matter how many overtricks you 1♦ Pass 1NT 1♥ 2♠1 concede. If 3NT makes you will do Pass 2NT All Pass 3♥ 4♠ Pass Pass well whatever you do. If 3NT fails the Dbl All Pass only way you have of influencing your If partner has the ♥A you can take 1Weak jump score is by defeating their partscore. four heart tricks. If declarer has the Overtricks will be irrelevant. ♥A there seems little chance of beating Presumably declarer has six spades 2NT because there are no entries to headed by the ♠A-K. Your partner Counting partner’s spades and declarer can clearly has hearts headed by ♥A-Q-J. make four diamond tricks (using Partner must have the ♣A for his In any form of bridge if you want to the ♠K and ♥A to take two diamond opening bid. He has no losers in the be a good defender you need to count ) to go with the ♥A, ♠K and major suits and just one club loser. He points, shape and tricks. This is a ♣A-K-Q. cannot have more than two diamond topic I dealt with in my recent series However you should not switch losers so he was clearly going to fulfil of defence and it is too big a topic to to the ♥2 at this stage, which might his game contract, scoring 620 or 650. explore exhaustively here, however I give declarer an easy overtrick if he If declarer can get out for two down will briefly revisit it. Effectively there runs it to dummy’s ♥10. You decide to (-500) he will feel delighted. You must are two types of conclusion you can return your ♠2. Declarer takes the ♠K aim for three off, giving you +800. You reach by counting. and immediately runs the ♦Q to your have five obvious tricks, a trump, two 1. I don’t know if partner has the ♥A hand. Now you know declarer cannot hearts, ♦A and ♣A. Your only chance but I know that the only chance of have the ♥A. Take your ♦K and switch of a sixth trick is to find partner with beating the contract is to assume to the ♥2. Four heart tricks, the ♦K the ♦Q and for declarer to misguess. he has it. That tends to be conclu- and ♠A plus whatever spade tricks Declarer won’t need to play diamonds sive if you are playing teams or rub- partner has established defeat 2NT himself because he will hope to discard ber bridge. Your objective is to beat with lots to spare. Declarer has: all of his diamond losers on dummy’s the contract and if you give away clubs so you must attack diamonds. overtricks so be it. Playing pairs the Overtake the ♥Q with the ♥K and decision can be more murky. How ♠ K 5 4 switch to the ♦3, hoping declarer has: likely is partner to have the ♥A? Is ♥ 8 6 4 declarer in the same contract as oth- ♦ Q 9 4 ers are likely to be? How vital will ♣ J 5 4 2 ♠ A K 5 4 3 2 overtricks prove if I concede them? ♥ 4 2 2. I know for certain partner has the ♦ 8 2 ♥A. Whatever form of bridge you If you don’t take your tricks, declarer ♣ 6 4 2 are playing you can safely proceed will make four diamonds, four clubs on that knowledge. and the ♠K. The following hand (see next column) Occasionally you will find declarer illustrates both types of logic at Defending against with just a singleton diamond, ena- different stages of a defence. bling him to rise with dummy’s ♦K and West leads the ♠Q taken by your a contract escape a diamond loser. Your play will ♠A. At this stage you might wonder have turned +500 into +200 but this if partner has the ♥A but you cannot On the hand in the next column won’t necessarily dramatically affect be sure. You know declarer has the ♠K it is game all and you lead the ♥5 your matchpoint score. Because they and he must surely have either the ♦Q to East’s ♥A. East returns the ♥Q, are sacrificing against +620 or +650 or the ♥A for his 1NT response. He declarer following suit. How should there will be a large difference between won’t have the ♦Q and the ♥A because you defend? This hand features the +500 and +800 but considerably less that would give him nine points, same theme in defence as you saw in difference between +200 and +500. enough to raise 2NT to 3NT. declarer play in my last article. Now try the quiz on page 23. ■

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 21

Defence at BERNARD MAGEE Duplicate Pairs Quiz TUTORIAL by Andrew Kambites DVDS

(Answers on page 26) SET 4 19 Defensive Plan 1. South opens 2NT 3. At game all your ♥J lead 5. At game all, West leads 20 Further Into which is passed out. is taken by declarer’s ♥K. the ♥Q to dummy’s the Auction What do you lead from Declarer leads the ♦K. ♥K and your ♥A. How 21 Weak Twos Hands A, B and C? How should you continue do you continue: 22 Trump after taking your ♦A? (i) Playing teams-of-four? £25 Control (ii) Playing duplicate per DVD Hand A Hand B pairs? 23 Sacrificing ♠ A Q 5 2 ♠ Q J 10 9 ♠ 8 5 24 Improving ♥ 7 4 3 ♥ A 7 ♥ A Q 3 Bridge Memory ♦ J 10 9 ♦ K J 6 3 2 ♦ Q J 10 8 7 4 ♠ Q 8 ♣ 8 6 2 ♣ 8 6 ♣ 5 4 ♥ K 7 SET 5 ♠ 6 4 3 ♦ 10 7 6 25 Defence as Partner ♥ J 10 9 8 7 N ♣ A K J 8 7 6 W E of the Leader ♦ A S ♠ 6 4 3 26 Aggressive Bidding Hand C ♣ A Q 3 2 N ♥ A 5 3 2 at Duplicate Pairs ♠ A Q 6 5 2 W E ♦ 8 5 4 ♥ 9 8 7 S ♣ 5 4 2 27 Strong Openings ♦ 6 4 3 West North East South 28 Take-Out Doubles ♣ 7 2 2NT 29 Suit Establishment Pass 3NT All Pass West North East South in Suit Contracts 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 3♠ 30 / Defending Against a 1NT 2. What do you lead from 4. With N/S vulnerable, Pass 4♠ All Pass Opening Hands A, B and C after you lead the ♦8. the bidding shown? Declarer plays low from dummy, partner takes the 6. At game all, your ♣K lead SET 6 ♦Q, cashes the ♦A and is won by declarer’s ♣A. 31 Counting Defence Hand A Hand B gives you a ruff. He continues with the ♠K. 32 Extra Tricks ♠ 9 5 4 ♠ Q 6 What next? What are your thoughts? in No-Trumps ♥ K Q 2 ♥ 9 6 5 ♦ Q J 7 ♦ J 6 4 3 33 Supporting Partner ♣ A 6 5 4 ♣ A 6 5 4 ♠ 9 4 ♠ Q J 8 5 £105 ♥ Q J 9 8 ♥ K J 34 Finessing set of 6 ♦ K J 10 9 ♦ A K Q J 10 8 35 Bidding ♣ K 6 5 ♣ 8 Distributional Hand C ♠ A Q 7 6 5 ♠ A 7 6 Hands ♠ A 8 6 ♥ 6 5 ♥ A 4 3 2 N N 36 Coping with ♥ ♦ W E ♦ W E A 3 2 8 5 6 3 Pre-Empts ♦ A 9 8 ♣ 9 4 3 2 S ♣ K Q 10 9 S ♣ Q 5 3 2 Mr Bridge West North East South West North East South ( West North East South Pass Pass 1♥ 1♦ Pass 1♠ 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop 1♠ 1♠ 3♥ 4♠ 5♥ Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT Pass 3♠ All Pass All Pass All Pass ■

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 23 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions on Laws and Ethics

North-South and East-West Hands Switched

We were N/S and 2. It is North’s turn to the chance to accept. I write in connection our opponents bid, but before she can Assuming that South does to your reply to Qreached 4♥ and call, East bids 3♦. South not accept and North bids QRoy Betteridge’s made ten tricks. We then does not accept the bid 1♠, the question is what does question (BRIDGE 181). It is discovered that 4♥ (or 2♥ or and immediately calls an overcall of 3♦ mean? If it stated that one board was 5♥ making ten tricks) had the director. It seems that is played as pre-emptive that not arrow-switched, but been bid in the opposite North had intended to bid is a comparable call to an neither pair was penalised. direction (ie by N/S, not E/W) 1♠. This situation seems to opening pre-empt of 3♦, but Under law 7 B1 both pairs in all the previous rounds. require a comparable bid if it is played as intermediate contravened the law so why Clearly, the E/W and N/S by East. Is this true, what is that is not. However an was there not a procedural hands had been switched the comparable bid to 3♦? overcall of 4♦ if played as a penalty imposed on both at the previous table. The David Bowers by email. pre-empt is probably similar pairs for their infraction? director was called and the enough to be considered If not, all other pairs cards positioned correctly 1. Law 39 deals with comparable. No other playing this board correctly for succeeding tables. calls after the final calls are comparable. have been unfairly treated. What is the correct ruling A pass. The 1NT bid is Mr Morgan, concerning the scoring for cancelled and North plays ♣♦♥♠ Attleborough, Norfolk. that board for the two pairs in 1♥. Since he is declarer at our table and the two there is no penalty though Is it legitimate It is not normal pairs at the previous table? there would have been lead to prompt your to penalise pairs Tim Sharrock by email. penalties if he had been Qpartner, prior to A in a club except defending. Of course, the seeing your hand, as to the in two circumstances. The board is defence have a perfect right vulnerability on the board First, if a player makes a unplayable at your to make deductions from about to be played? habit of doing something A table and neither pair the cancelled 1NT bid. Ron, Alton BC. wrong after warnings, then is at fault so they each receive 2. I presume you mean it is normal to start giving average plus. The pairs at the North is the dealer? The The auction period him a procedural penalty previous table should both director explains that South starts for a pair when and continue to do so until be penalised and 10% of a may accept the 3♦ bid A either player takes he stops. Second, if the top is the normal penalty. in which case there is no his hand from the board, so actions at one table mean It sounds as though the penalty. If he does not the if the prompt is given before that a board cannot be board was removed from 3♦ bid is cancelled and the any cards are taken from played at another table, the table at the previous bidding reverts to North. If the board by this side it is then it is normal to give table which is illegal and North passes, the 3♦ bid is permissible. Once either of procedural penalties. There both pairs should be repeated without penalty. them have taken the cards is no suggestion that either warned not to do this. If North makes any bid (ie out it is no longer permissible. of these applied in this case. does not pass) East can I should find this very You suggest the other ♣♦♥♠ make a comparable call annoying and would stop my players are disadvantaged. to 3♦ without penalty, or partner very quickly if she Failure to arrow-switch a I have two make any other call and did it. Of course if one player board (or arrow-switching questions: 1. North silence partner for one round had difficulty seeing the when it should not be Qopens 1♥. There are and there may be lead vulnerability then it would be done) causes no particular then three passes, at which penalties. After the director acceptable and normal. On problems to anyone but the point North bids 1NT. How has explained all that, and the other hand it is difficult scorer. No other players were should the director rule? not before, he offers South to see why anyone objects. disadvantaged in any way.

Page 24 BRIDGE June 2018 Yesterday, we 4. Can the director left which seems to be natural depends somewhat on what encountered an assume from the travellers I do not think she would bid. people in your club expect. Qissue on this hand: that makeable contracts A more normal ruling, If in doubt then alert. are always possible? in my view, would be: 5. Should the strength of 25% of 3♦=, N/S +110 ♣♦♥♠ ♠ Q J 6 the players be considered +10% of 5♣-1, N/S +50 ♥ 8 in deciding if they are able +65% of 4♣ =, N/S -130 We had an incident ♦ K J 8 7 5 4 3 to make a contract? Of course 3♦ should go at a club duplicate ♣ 5 2 6. What action should the off, but since it did not when Qrecently, where ♠ K 9 5 ♠ 4 3 director have taken when it was played, I do not include declarer made 3♠, which ♥ Q 7 2 N ♥ A 10 5 4 W E he was initially called and any weighting for it going off. was the contract so far ♦ 9 6 S ♦ A 10 2 what is correct ruling? as she was concerned. ♣ A 9 8 7 3 ♣ K Q J 4 Vandana Wadhar by email. ♣♦♥♠ However, her opponents ♠ A 10 8 7 2 insisted that she had bid ♥ K J 9 6 3 1. The director should Please could you 4♠ and so was one down. ♦ Q allow the final pass tell me which The director was called, but ♣ 10 6 A to be withdrawn, Qof the following the players could not agree. but cannot go back any are alertable? What should the ruling be? further. I do not think West 1NT-2♦-3♥ (showing On a subsidiary point, West North East South will change his pass so the a maximum with four is there any objection to a Pass contract will be played in 3♦. hearts or three very good player noting down each Pass 2♦1 Pass 2♥2 2. If he believes he has hearts and a doubleton). contract at the end of the Pass 3♦ Pass Pass3 made a mistake it is correct 1NT-2♦-3♣ (showing a bidding? Some members also Pass for him to amend the ruling. maximum, three or more like to leave the appropriate 1Announced as strong 3. He must let everyone hearts, a good four card bidding card visible, proud 2Intended as a relay have their say, certainly, but club suit and a doubleton). of the . 3South realised 2♦ was weak eventually it is his decision 1NT-2♦-3♣ (showing a Keith Rylands, Kent School after consulting other maximum with three or more of Bridge, Maidstone. The director was called players as to how he rules. hearts and club shortage). before the lead was made 4. The director should I suspect the first two are One of the director’s and he suggested we play not be looking at the scores not alertable but the third is. many jobs is to on and he would look at at other tables because Mike Johnson by email. A decide the facts. the board at the end of the he has no idea how they In a case like this the session – East did mention were reached or played. I agree with you. director must get as much that she would have bid 5. When making an Basically where information as he can, had she known that 2♦ was adjustment all relevant facts A bids are concerned for example what was the weak. 3♦ made nine tricks. should be taken into account. you alert bids that are bidding, what did the players After discussion at the end 6. Letting the board be natural but very surprising, have, and so forth, and then of the round, E/W thought played is the correct thing to or that are artificial. When decide. It is like an alleged they would make nine tricks do. However when adjusting you show a shortage that hesitation: the director has in 4♣. At the end of the at the end he should consider is artificial so the third one to decide, he cannot give session, the director had a all possibilities and, unless it is alertable. The first one averages or an adjusted quick look at the hands and is obvious what would have is clearly not alertable. score instead of deciding. gave an adjusted score of happened, should give a However the second one is It is normal for players to 4♣-1 by East. Today the variety of adjusted scores and somewhat arguable and if write the contract on their director changed his ruling a weighting, as it is called, you are in a club where very score-cards. Probably over to 4♣ making by West. for each. For example, here few people even consider 85% of club players do so 1. Should the director it is not at all obvious that super-accepts, you might and it is perfectly legal. have requested the bidding E/W would reach 4♣ though argue that 3♣ meaning Leaving a bidding card to revert and correct it is such an easy hand I clubs and hearts would showing the contract is a bidding to take place? think that 10 tricks are fairly be very surprising, but it matter for the club who may 2. Having adjusted obvious. Suppose East were would not hurt to alert it. allow it, forbid it or mandate the score initially, can he to double 2♦ as she might, To summarise, the first it. I recommend allowing now take it upon himself West will bid clubs and they is not alertable, the third is it because it is hard to see to change the score? will probably finish in 4♣ or alertable, and the second anything wrong with it. ■ 3. Should he have possibly 5♣. But it is not an consulted all four obvious double with only two E-mail your questions on bridge laws to: players as to the likely spades and East might pass. [email protected] bids and outcome? If so, after the 2♥ bid on her

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 25 Answers to Defence at Duplicate Pairs Quiz on page 23

1. South opens 2NT which is passed West North East South West North East South out. What do you lead from Hands 1♠ 2NT A, B and C? Pass 3♠ All Pass Pass 3NT All Pass

Hand A Lead a trump, the ♠4. This is You have 11 points Hand A Hand B Hand C likely to be passive and may and dummy has 9. ♠ A K Q J ♠ A Q 5 2 ♠ Q J 10 9 ♠ A Q 6 5 2 prevent declarer cross-ruffing. South’s 2NT open- ♥ K 5 2 ♥ 7 4 3 ♥ A 7 ♥ 9 8 7 Note that honour sequences ing bid promises ♦ K 5 3 ♦ J 10 9 ♦ K J 6 3 2 ♦ 6 4 3 with just two touching honours 20-22 points. Your ♣ K J 9 ♣ 8 6 2 ♣ 8 6 ♣ 7 2 and no intermediates are not partner has noth- passive. For example, leading ing. You can write the ♥K would be costly if South down declarer’s hand: Hand A Lead the ♦J. A spade lead is had ♥A-6-5 and dummy had He also has 12 tricks: four spades, likely to be round to the ♠K. ♥J-8-3. three hearts and five diamonds. It is Partner has some points, oth- Hand B Lead a heart, the ♥6 if your no use waiting for declarer to lead erwise why are the opponents leading methods are MUD to his ♣K. He doesn’t need any club not raising to game? If spade from three small. Leading tricks. Take your ♣A and give up. tricks are required to de- from the ♦J is not passive, for Holding declarer to 11 tricks by feat the contract, partner will example if dummy has ♦Q-2 cashing out when it is obvious that hopefully gain the lead and and declarer has ♦A-10-8 you must either take your trick or lose lead spades through declarer. declarer asks for dummy’s ♦2 it should ensure a decent matchpoint Hand B Lead the ♠Q, a nice and East must play the ♦K to score for you. compromise between being prevent declarer making the passive (not leading away ♦10. The defensive diamond from broken honours) and trick has gone up in smoke. 4. With N/S vulnerable, you lead the setting up tricks. Hand C Lead the ♠6. This is highly ♦8. Declarer plays low from dummy, A diamond lead is too likely unlikely to damage a trump partner takes the ♦Q, cashes the ♦A to concede an unnecessary trick in partner’s hand and and gives you a ruff. What next? trick. may enable you at a later stage Hand C Lead the ♠5. A five card suit to continue with ♠A and ♠8, is a much more attractive drawing a total of three rounds ♠ 9 4 lead against no-trumps than of trumps. Leading away from ♥ Q J 9 8 a four-card suit. This may the trump ace is much safer ♦ K J 10 9 give away a cheap trick but than leading away from a side ♣ K 6 5 hopefully partner will gain the suit ace. ♠ A Q 7 6 5 lead and a spade return could ♥ 6 5 N let you cash four spade tricks. ♦ 8 5 W E S Leading passively at pairs is a 3. At game all your ♥J lead is taken by ♣ 9 4 3 2 good principle but don’t take it declarer’s ♥K. Declarer plays the ♦K. to extremes. How should you continue after taking your ♦A? West North East South Pass Pass 1♥ 2. What do you lead from Hands A, B 1♠ 3♥ 4♠ 5♥ and C after the bidding shown? ♠ 8 5 All Pass ♥ A Q 3 ♦ Q J 10 8 7 4 The important thing here is that in Hand A Hand B Hand C ♣ 5 4 two ways you have already done ♠ 9 5 4 ♠ Q 6 ♠ A 8 6 ♠ 6 4 3 very well. First you have overcalled

♥ K Q 2 ♥ 9 6 5 ♥ A 3 2 ♥ J 10 9 8 7 N on just six points, enabling partner ♦ Q J 7 ♦ J 6 4 3 ♦ A 9 8 ♦ A W E to sacrifice in 4♠ and pushing your ♣ A 6 5 4 ♣ A 6 5 4 ♣ Q 5 3 2 ♣ A Q 3 2 S opponents one level higher than they would want to be. Second you have

Page 26 BRIDGE June 2018 found the diamond lead, leading has: to a ruff. You are already ahead of ♠ A K J 10 9 5 On a diamond other East/West pairs and it is time ♥ 9 8 6 switch he will BERNARD to consolidate by cashing your ♠A. If ♦ A 3 make 12 tricks. you look at declarer’s hand you will ♣ Q 9 Declarer seems see why. to be in a normal MAGEE Unless you cash contract and has your ♠A declarer ♠ K 2 received a normal lead. Overtricks TUTORIAL will discard his ♥ A K 10 7 4 2 will be crucial here. You should return spades on dum- ♦ 7 4 3 a heart at trick 2 to ensure that you my’s ♦K and ♣K. ♣ A Q hold declarer to 11 tricks. DVDS Many N/S pairs will be in 4♥ and £25 per DVD will go one off, so your +200 will 6. At game all, your ♣K lead is won by SET 7 compare very well with a string of declarer’s ♣A. He continues with the 37 MORE SIGNALLING +100 scores. ♠K. What are your thoughts? Bernard looks at different times when you and the messages you might want to give. 5. At game all, West leads the ♥Q to ♠ Q J 8 5 dummy’s ♥K and your ♥A. How do ♥ K J 38 4-4-4-1 HANDS you continue: ♦ A K Q J 10 8 Everybody’s least favourite type (i) Playing teams-of-four? ♣ 8 of opening hand. Bernard goes (ii) Playing duplicate pairs? ♠ A 7 6 through the methods for choosing ♥ A 4 3 2 N the right suit to open as well as W E coping with responses. ♦ 6 3 S ♠ Q 8 ♣ K Q 10 9 39 DRAWING TRUMPS ♥ K 7 This seminar sounds straightfor- ♦ 10 7 6 ward, but we will not be simply ♣ A K J 8 7 6 West North East South drawing trumps, we will be con- ♠ 6 4 3 1♦ Pass 1♠ sidering the reasons for delaying. Keeping control of trumps is an N ♥ A 5 3 2 Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT important part of declarer play. W E ♦ 8 5 4 All Pass S ♣ 5 4 2 40 FIVE-CARD MAJORS Of course you would be too polite Popular around the world, this to say anything but you would not method is becoming more popular be unreasonable to wonder if North here. West North East South is quite sane. South might have a 41 FUNDAMENTALS 1♠ balanced hand and want to suggest Pass 2♣ Pass 3♠ 3NT as an alternative to 4♠ but surely OF DEFENCE Pass 4♠ All Pass he did not expect North to pass on Defence is by far the hardest aspect of bridge: this seminar seeks this shapely hand. Declarer should to show the building blocks that (i) Playing teams you must look for an have a heart guard for his 3NT bid can start you off on a wonderful opportunity to beat the contract. You so he might have: journey. If you can get the basics are unlikely to have a trump trick Declarers in 4♠ right then the more complicated and the clubs look menacingly solid. will easily take 11 ♠ K 10 9 2 aspects of defence can follow. Therefore you need two diamond tricks, losing just the ♥ Q 10 9 42 SUPPORTING £105 tricks to add to ♠A and ♥A. This will ♦ 9 7 MINORS set of 6 your two heart give them +650. If ♣ A J 6 5 Minors are not as important as tricks. Switch to a ♠ A K J 10 9 5 you hold declarer majors, but we have to bid them ♥ diamond on the 9 8 6 to +630 you are likely to score very and it is important to know slim hope that ♦ K J well, so take the ♠K with your ♠A and your system. Bidding more 3NT declarer has the ♣ Q 9 cash your ♥A and ♣Q. contracts will get you better scores, hand shown. Perhaps this example seems a little but being able to spot a bizarre but all clubs have players slam will put you a cut above. (ii) At pairs you would like to cash two with slightly eccentric views. In this heart tricks and then lead a diamond case your opponents seem to have Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 through declarer, but if your side no-trump-itis. Playing duplicate pairs takes the second heart trick partner you have to learn to take advantage www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop will be on lead. Suppose declarer of them. ■

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 27

nearly ninety years and my guess is that it will flourish CLUB READERS’ for a long time yet. INSURANCE Ned Paul, Twickenham. Every club should ACOL BIDDING be covered and my LETTERS I wonder if you could ask inclusive package, Bernard Magee about his to suit clubs of up to BOOKS WANTED no-trump. With this type of Acol Bidding Program? 300 members for less Many of your readers will be scoring you are aiming to I find it excellent. The than £75 per year, is familiar with the fact that I get a better score than others bidding advice is universal the right package at sell bridge books – in fact the holding your cards. How but the explanations on how the right price. Spring 2018 catalogue is now much more is irrelevant – a the hands should be played available. However, recently win by 10 points is just as is not always provided. I Contact FIDENTIA I have found it difficult to valuable as a win by 1,000 assume, though I may well be for a quote acquire quality, new stock. points. The weak no-trump wrong, that it isn’t given for ( 020 3150 0080 I would be particularly helps you achieve this aim, all hands and if so is there interested to hear from winning many more boards at any way of knowing which? [email protected] anyone who has bridge books matchpoint pairs than it loses. John Abbott, Cambridge. to dispose of. I am keen How do these wins arise? The program is Acol to acquire books in good, The weak no-trump is both Bidding not Acol Bidding clean condition, with dust accurate and pre-emptive. and Play of the Hand. wrappers where published in By opening a weak no-trump that format. They should ring you have told your partner VIVA BIRD me on (07530 553594. about your weak balanced I enjoy the David Bird stories Gordon Bickley, Stockport. hand in one bid and have and I suspect that many For those with Pre-existing Books. not been blocked out from other readers do too. David health conditions [email protected] completing your hand has been really prolific (No Age Limit) description by the opponents over the years in different l Travel Insurance with ACOL SURVIVAL horning in. Quite the magazines with his Abott online Medical Screening If like me you are a keen converse, your 1NT may have stories, Cholmeley School l Cover for medical player of Acol, you may have prevented the opponents and not least, the Robin Hood conditions, up to a high noticed that other systems are having an easy entrée into adventures in BRIDGE. level of severity, even a creeping into general bridge the auction. The 12-14 1NT The stories are light and terminal prognosis awareness. There are reasons also really simplifies the easy reading, populated with l No age limits for this. First, the internet is rest of the system. There is characters with recognisable l Instant online cover dominated by the need to no need for the convoluted bridge-club traits and play American-style five-card ‘prepared’ bids inherent in personalities. What I really We fully understand that you may wish to speak to majors; and, secondly, many five-card majors. In fact, like though is the challenge us direct about cover and of the most experienced Acol with a weak no-trump is of the interesting deals and your medical conditions players play very little normal the only major system in the the ‘over-my-shoulder’ and assure you of the best club duplicate, preferring world completely based on approach David takes, so attention by senior staff team matches. Even when bidding your longest suit first. that you get to think along on a direct phone line that playing pairs, expert games Even when 1NT is ‘wrong’ with the declarer, be it Robin, does not require you to hold or press buttons for tend to be scored by IMPs and the opponents double or the Sheriff, about the departments. rather than matchpoints. you, it is often hard for problems the hands present. Playing IMPs, or any other them to maximise their The deals usually involve ( 01268 524344 kind of aggregate scoring, score. There are many good planning for the bad breaks, We look forward to there is a case to be made ‘wriggle’ systems and being overcoming 5-0 trump speaking with you soon for playing a strong no-trump caught for a ‘telephone splits or finding interesting – and if playing a strong number’ is now quite rare. endplays. You absorb them Email: sales@ genesischoice.co.uk no-trump, it makes sense Bad systems and as you read but this is great to play five-card majors. conventions tend to get training and practice for Website: www. genesischoice.co.uk Playing normal matchpoint Darwin-ed out of existence… when you meet such hands in Genesis Choice Ltd are an club pairs, however, I think only the fittest survive. real life at the table. Thanks, appointed representative of NDI you give up so much by The weak no-trump is David, for all your efforts. Insurance and Reinsurance ■ Brokers Ltd who are authorised moving away from the weak still going strong after Ned Paul, Twickenham. and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No.446914 Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. E-mail [email protected]

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 29 Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird Gisborne’s Disappointing Session

he Sheriff had arranged a social West North East South permitted a winning spade finesse and game in his chambers and, so Guy of Giselda The Countess the game was made. far, his partnership with the Gisborne Sheriff Beauchamp ‘It was just as I thought, Mama!’ Tenchantingly attractive 19-year-old 2NT exclaimed a delighted Giselda. ‘Sir Giselda Beauchamp had gone well. Pass 3NT All Pass Guy found the only lead to give it to Somewhat less smooth had been the you.’ partnership of Sir Guy of Gisborne Gisborne led the ♣K and down went The Sheriff stirred in his seat. ‘Lead with Giselda’s mother, the Countess the dummy. the club ten, not the king!’ he cried, ‘Is Beauchamp of Longwilton. ‘Just two queens for me?’ queried that too difficult for you? How can she ‘Forgive me but I can endure no the Countess. ‘Your father would have make it then?’ more,’ declared the Countess. ‘Mistake passed 2NT on such a poor hand.’ Gisborne knew better than to after mistake, he makes! If the game is ‘I was hoping that Sir Guy would make any riposte, however absurd to continue, we will have to change assist us with his opening lead,’ the Sheriff’s comments might be. The partners.’ Giselda replied. ‘And you play the game proceeded and the Countess was Gisborne perked up at this news. cards so well, Mama.’ soon in a slam contract. Perhaps this would be his chance to On the first trick the Sheriff had to impress Giselda, one of the most allur- overtake with the ♣A. It was clear ing young ladies it had been his pleas- from the bidding that declarer must Dealer North. Game All. ure to encounter. Sitting opposite her, hold all eight of the missing honour ♠ 6 5 he would be able to exchange friendly cards outside clubs. He therefore ♥ A 5 3 glances and commend her play. He returned a passive ♦10. ♦ A K 8 6 4 gathered his concentration. Yes, this The Countess won with the ace. ♣ 8 5 3 was an opportunity not to be missed. Such a threadbare dummy, Giselda ♠ 8 3 ♠ 9 7 4 2 ‘I will partner Giselda,’ continued had given her. With only one entry ♥ J 9 6 N ♥ Q 10 4 2 W E ♦ ♦ J 10 3 2 ♦ Q 9 the Countess. ‘We will see if two ladies card, the Q, how could she possibly S can outplay two men.’ take both the major-suit finesses? It ♣ Q J 10 6 ♣ 9 7 4 The game continued, with neither seemed that she would go down, even ♠ A K Q J 10 the Sheriff nor Gisborne displaying if the ♠K and ♥K were onside. ♥ K 8 7 any pleasure at the new arrangement. A few moments later, the Countess ♦ 7 5 This was an early deal: had spotted the best chance. She ♣ A K 2 played the king and jack of diamonds, drawing the defenders’ cards in the Dealer South. Love All. suit, and then led a small club towards West North East South ♠ 10 6 3 dummy. Guy of Giselda The Countess ♥ Q 7 5 Gisborne went in with the ♣9, the Gisborne Sheriff Beauchamp ♦ Q 5 4 2 Sheriff discarding a low spade, and 1♦ Pass 2♠ ♣ 8 4 3 pondered his return. If he continued Pass 3♦ Pass 4NT ♠ 9 4 2 ♠ K J 8 7 5 clubs, surrendering a trick to declarer’s Pass 5♥ Pass 6♠ ♥ 8 6 2 N ♥ K 9 4 3 ♣J, a successful heart finesse would All Pass ♦ 7 3 W E ♦ 10 9 8 S land the contract. There would be no ♣ K Q 10 9 5 ♣ A need to seek a second spade trick. Gisborne was pleased to have an ♠ A Q When Gisborne eventually placed obvious ♣Q opening lead at his ♥ A J 10 the ♥8 on the table, the Countess disposal. Surely even the Sheriff could ♦ A K J 6 reached for dummy’s ♥Q. The Sheriff not find fault with such a choice. ♣ J 7 6 2 covered with the king and she won Countess Beauchamp won with the with the ace. A diamond to the queen ♣A and drew trumps in four rounds,

Page 30 BRIDGE June 2018 throwing a heart and a club from The Sheriff glared across the table. West North East South dummy. Her next move was to lead a ‘Lead the unbid major and the slam Guy of Giselda The Countess diamond, ducking in the dummy. has no chance,’ he said. ‘A heart is the Gisborne Sheriff Beauchamp The Sheriff won with the ♦9 and killing lead. Even the girl noticed it.’ 1♣ Pass 1♠ returned a heart, hoping to drive ‘The girl, you call my daughter?’ 2♥ 2♠ Pass 4NT out dummy’s ♥A. The Countess rose protested the Countess. ‘She does have Pass 5♥ Pass 6♠ with the ♥K and crossed to the ♦A, a name, my Lord. Good manners cost All Pass continuing with the ♦K. The suit failed nothing, even for you men.’ to split 3-3, but she was able to ruff a The incoming daylight was Gisborne surveyed his hand wearily. fourth round with her last trump. A beginning to fade and there would Should he lead the ♥K or the singleton heart to dummy’s ace provided access be time for just one more rubber. club? Giselda had shown two aces, to the established ♦8 and the slam was Gisborne’s momentary hope for a responding to the Richmond 4NT. home. further change of partners failed Surely the Countess would hold the ‘What a clever play, ducking that to materialise. The final rubber had other two aces to justify invoking the diamond, Mama!’ declared Giselda, reached Game All when the Countess convention. Since the Sheriff could flashing a splendid smile. Gisborne’s arrived in another slam. not hold an ace, he decided to lead the pulse was racing. Such a smile in his ♥K. direction would have been treasured Giselda laid out her dummy and, for many weeks. Dealer North. Love All. once again, her mother was not ‘No lady member of court would ♠ 10 7 5 impressed. ‘Another minimum hand miss it,’ the Countess replied. ‘With ♥ A 2 for me,’ she declared. ‘Your father only one side entry to dummy, it’s the ♦ J 9 7 always passes with 11 points. It’s lucky only way to survive a 4-2 diamond ♣ A Q 10 3 2 for you that I have such a good hand.’ break.’ ♠ 4 2 ♠ 8 6 3 The Countess won the first trick with ‘Maybe a heart lead would beat the ♥ K Q J 10 9 6 N ♥ 8 7 4 dummy’s ♥A and drew two rounds W E ♦ ♦ slam,’ suggested Giselda. ‘You win with K 10 4 3 S 8 5 2 of trumps with the ace and king. All the king, but if you duck a diamond, ♣ 4 ♣ J 9 7 6 would be well if the clubs broke 3-2 then they would play another heart ♠ A K Q J 9 and her next move was to play the king before the diamonds were set up.’ ♥ 5 3 and ace of the suit. Gisborne winced. Who in the world ♦ A Q 6 When Gisborne showed out but would lead from the J-9-6 when they ♣ K 8 5 could not ruff, the Sheriff winced. The had a Q-J-10 sequence elsewhere? Countess was the luckiest player he had ever encountered. Did the woman realise there was still a trump out? The Countess continued with dummy’s ♣Q and ruffed a fourth round of clubs with the ♠J. She returned to dummy by overtaking the ♠9 with the ♠10 and discarded her heart loser on the thirteenth club. A finesse of the ♦Q lost to the king but she then claimed the remaining tricks with a trump and two diamonds. ‘Brilliant play, Mama!’ said Giselda. ‘If you’re not the best player in the shire, I don’t know who is.’ The Countess shook her head. ‘All my lady friends would have made it,’ she declared. ‘If clubs turned out to be 3-2, I could draw the last trump then.’ The visitors departed and Gisborne looked somewhat dejected as he trudged back to the castle barracks. The Sheriff had achieved no more success with the dazzlingly beautiful Giselda than he had. Ah well, three or four pints of Garfield’s strong ale would rectify the situation. They usually did. ■

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 31 A Blast From the Past by Shireen Mohandes Detective Kelsey

cotsman (1926- making provisional assumptions West: 0 to 5 HCP. East: 13 to 18 HCP. 1995) is well known as one of the about the layout, working out what world’s leading bridge writers. follows from those assumptions, and SSee BRIDGE 164, page 28. Amongst then playing accordingly. A similar his works was a series of short books approach is often used in Sudoku. 12 on specific card play themes, for pub- So, try your hand at this deal, based lishers ‘Master Bridge Series’. on a deal in the book – I have slightly The deal below is from Test Your altered it to fit in with the style of . It has 36 well-presented bidding and opening lead that is more 0-5 13-18 deals which he has used to train the commonly used in the 21st century. reader to build a chain of logic to help declarer place cards and find the best 10 line of play. Dealer East. Game All. The best approach often requires ♠ A 6 ♥ A Q 9 3 ♦ Q 10 8 5 3 If all the points are on the right, with ♣ Sudoku 8 4 East, then we have potentially three losers, certainly no more than that: l Predecessors to the modern N ♣A, ♥K, ♦A. Sudoku appeared in France, W E S Even if the trumps lie badly, breaking in the late 19th century. 4-0, then there are enough entries to l The word Sudoku is a ♠ K 5 4 take these winners: two top spades, portmanteau of two Japanese ♥ J 10 8 7 4 two in the minors (having knocked out words Num(ber) Pla(ce). ♦ K 7 the aces), four trumps in hand and two ♣ K 6 3 l In 1997 New Zealander ruffs in the short hand … or … instead Wayne Gould, a Hong Kong of trumping in the short hand, try to judge developed a computer establish one or two extra tricks by program to generate puzzles. West North East South setting up the diamond suit. 1♠ Pass ♥ l In 2008 an Australian drugs- What if West has the K? Then that 1 ♥ related jury trial was aborted Pass Dbl Pass 3 means: when it became known that Pass 4♥ All Pass five of the twelve jurors had 1An imperfect shape for a take-out double, been playing Sudoku instead but North has to do something in the of listening to evidence. protective seat. 12 Surprisingly, there is no offence under the NSW Jury Act Opening lead: ♠8 for playing games or being All the Starting with what we know for ♥K missing inattentive to a degree that certain: top cards causes a trial to be abandoned. Between the North/South hands Source: Wikipedia, and we have 22 HCP. If West had as few Sydney Morning Herald as 5 HCP, there might have been a 10 response, rather than just a pass.

Page 32 BRIDGE June 2018 Our heart finesse will succeed, and the three possible ways that we can avoid The full deal is: ♣A will be with East (remember, West losing to them: passed, so he cannot have both the ♥K and the ♣A). So game will make. l Endplays ♠ A 6 Let’s visualise an adverse lie of the l Squeezes ♥ A Q 9 3 cards. The worst things can be is: the l Playing for the honours to ♦ Q 10 8 5 3 ♣A lies over the ♣K. drop (ie dropping a doubleton ♣ 8 4 queen, or a singleton king). ♠ 9 8 2 ♠ Q J 10 7 3 ♥ 6 5 2 N ♥ K ♦ 9 6 4 W E ♦ A J 2 On this deal, we cannot endplay West, S ♣ ♣ ♣ 8 4 for there are too many suits that he A 10 7 2 Q J 9 5 can use as exit cards. Also, there is no ♠ K 5 4 squeeze, because we are about to lose ♥ J 10 8 7 4 four tricks pretty quickly (the losers ♦ K 7 ♣ ♣ A ? ? Q J 10 ? ? are not slow, as they say). ♣ K 6 3 That leaves us with the dropping option. Looking at two possible ♣ K 6 3 branches: West North East South 1♠ Pass Pass Dbl Pass 3♥ Pass 4♥ All Pass In the same way that we are being pessimistic, East will be optimistic, and were he to have a hand like this: ... ♣A is if ♥K is sure to here ... be here ♠ Q J 10 7

N ♥ K 2 W E ♦ A J 2 S ♣ Q J 9 5

He would think to himself, ‘Let’s hope If the ♥K is with West all along, then that partner has the ♣A, and we can the ♣A is sure to be with East (we take the ♥K, ♦A and two club tricks.’ considered this earlier in the article). We can rely on him to play clubs before we can manage to establish the diamond suit. If he does have that hand, there is nothing that can be done. And this is the key theme behind the ‘chain of logic’. That chain if ♥K is here is the chain of doom and gloom. singleton, So, let’s look at a different chain … ♣A is irrelevant Hugh Kelsey

Author’s note: if you wanted to win the first trick in dummy with the ♠A, ♥K with and start by playing a club towards ♣A with East, but I If the ♥K is with East, and is singleton, your king, then that is a good line too West must not and we drop it, then we don’t care who (ie deferring the ‘try to drop the ♥K’). lose to it has the ♣A. Because we have one fewer However, what you cannot do is win loser than our original reckoning. the opening lead in dummy, play the The line suggested by Kelsey is to ♥A, and then play a club up, because win the opening lead in hand and play the opponents may play two more to the ♥A. If the ♥K does not fall, set rounds of trumps, preventing you up the diamond suit. The heart pips from ruffing black cards in dummy, When high cards are positioned so allow you to trump diamonds without and you’ll need a friendly lie of that our finesses will lose, there are fearing an over-ruff. diamonds to prevail. ■

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 33 Julian Pottage Answers your Bridge Questions

Should I Play for Overtricks at Pairs?

In the February My last doubt is that with have bid 6♦. With so many would a of 2♥. edition of BRIDGE, declarer’s and dummy’s points and this shape, very The term ‘fourth suit QMichael Byrne uneven distributions in hearts few pairs, if any, will have forcing’ only applies when wrote an article on cross and spades, are the standard stopped in a part score, your side has bid three ruffing. My query is on an probabilities valid or is it making it reasonable to put suits. If the opponents aspect he did not cover. more likely there will be a 6-1 a game contract at risk. bid a suit, this does not On the second page he or 5-2 distribution in clubs? On your last point, the count as a suit bid by your shows hands which can David Lawrence, unbalanced North-South side. If the opponents make 11, 12 or 13 tricks, Hook, Hampshire. hands have no impact on have bid a suit, you can depending how clubs split. the standard probabilities of bid their suit as a force. He advocates only playing Michael’s article a 5-2 or 6-1 club division. one club in 5♦, two in 6♦ was about card play ♣♦♥♠ and three in 7♦ to ensure A generally rather ♣♦♥♠ the contract. I agree entirely than matchpoint pairs tactics On page 35 of when playing teams. specifically. Sometimes at In the following the April BRIDGE Playing pairs is there not matchpoints, you do aim bidding sequence, Qmagazine you a strong case for trying to for an overtrick even if it Qmy partner recommend opening a make overtricks, but how means putting the contract (West) said that his 2♣ hand with five spades many? My instinct and what at risk. The correct play will rebid was fourth suit and five clubs with a I would probably do at the depend in part upon your forcing. Is it correct? bid of 1♠ and not 1♣. table would be to play for assessment of what contracts Although many would 12 tricks in both 5♦ and 6♦. other pairs will reach. West North East South agree with your suggestion I However detailed analysis On most deals there will 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ Pass am also sure that many Acol may show differently. be at least one pair in an 2♣ players would disagree. In 5♦ with a 92.7% inferior contract, in which After a 1♠ opener the (30.5+62.2) probability of a case you want to make sure Raj Subramaniam, Southport. dustbin response of 1NT 5-2 or 4-3 club distribution it of beating them by making is not very informative appears obvious to play for your contract. This means No: after a response whereas a 1♣ opener leaves 12. Is it worth trying for 13 you usually need the chance at the one level, more space for development. tricks, a 62.2% probability, of an overtrick to be above A a rebid in a new John Martin by email. taking into account some 50% for it to be sensible to suit below two of opener’s people may have not bid 5♦ risk your contract in trying first suit is not forcing. The Over the years the (28 high card points between for an overtrick. If you are bid is quite wide ranging proportion of people the hands) or successfully in a slam contract, there in strength. Opener could A opening 1♣ with play the cross trump? will nearly always be some be minimum or could 5-5 in the black suits has Again in 6♦, is it worth pairs who have stopped in have some extras. steadily fallen. This is in trying for 13 with the 62.5% game, so you would be more The change of suit rebid part because bidding has probability, especially as it is cautious about risking the would be forcing either if become more competitive. much more likely that other contract for an overtrick. the initial response was Getting the spade suit pairs have not bid 6♦ than On the deal in question, if at the two level or if it into the auction is so it was that they did not bid you are playing matchpoints, took the bidding past two important because: 5♦ in the previous case? it is probably a good idea of opener’s first suit. (i) you can outbid the Now I am leaning more to try for 13 tricks if you If opener wished to force opponents at the same level; towards playing for 13 have stopped in 5♦ but to on your sequence, a jump (ii) you have a better tricks but am far from sure. play safe for 12 tricks if you to 3♣ would be forcing, as chance of making

Page 34 BRIDGE June 2018 game aiming for 10 If you really do not fancy I am West and have the best judge from the subsequent tricks rather than 11; raising no-trumps, you could hand I have seen in ages. I bidding whether to stop in (iii) you score more playing rebid 3♣. If partner then need to find my partner with 6♥ or risk going on to 7♥. in spades (an important factor bids 3♦ or 3NT, you can be something in diamonds but at matchpoints), sometimes confident 3NT is the right N/S open the bidding. My ♣♦♥♠ even if you make a trick spot. If partner rebids 3♥, 3♠ is forcing. The opposition less (140 for nine tricks in you will know to raise to 4♥. bidding doesn’t help me We were North- spades, 130 for ten in clubs). If partner gives preference but I push on. It’s a hand I South and West to 3♠, you can bid 3NT at want to declare not defend. Qopened 1♠. My ♣♦♥♠ your third turn, knowing North has a sixth sense partner doubled for take-out. you have expressed doubt and keeps bidding. Could I was South on the about whether 3NT is right. I have done any better? following deal. I The awkward thing partner Roger Harris, ♠ 3 Qopened 1♠ and might do is raise clubs... Stratford-upon-Avon. ♥ Q 8 7 4 my partner responded 1NT. With a combined 26 HCP, ♦ A K Q 9 What should I bid next? I do not see how you can No ♣ 8 5 3 2 avoid bidding game. As caters adequately for N the cards lie, 3NT will hands with two voids. W E A S ♠ Q 5 not make either, because Since the weak two opener ♥ Q 8 4 2 holding up the ♦K until the is unlikely to hold the ♦K, ♠ A Q 5 4 ♦ K J 4 third round does not help West only wants to be in a ♥ A K 9 5 ♣ 8 7 4 3 when East has the ♥A. grand slam if it sounds as ♦ 10 7 ♠ 9 7 6 4 3 ♠ 2 if East holds that card. ♣ K 10 7 ♥ 10 7 N ♥ A J 9 5 ♣♦♥♠ At equal vulnerability, W E ♦ A 9 5 S ♦ Q 10 7 6 3 it is unclear how strongly ♣ J 9 2 ♣ Q 10 6 Dealer South; West should feel about With 16 points I jumped to ♠ A K J 10 8 neither side buying the contract. If 3♥ to show strength. I didn’t ♥ K 6 3 Qvulnerable: North-South can make bid 4♥ as partner may have ♦ 8 2 nine tricks with spades as had only three hearts but ♣ A K 5 trumps, it is better to play perhaps I should have done. ♠ A Q 10 7 4 in 6♥ making an overtrick I considered 3NT but thought ♥ Void than collect 800 from 7♠ a suit contract would be I didn’t fancy 2NT with my ♦ K 10 6 3 doubled. If North-South safer. My partner passed weak diamond suit and felt ♣ 10 5 3 2 can make only eight tricks, and I made ten tricks. Other 2♠ a bit feeble so I bid 3♠ ♠ Void ♠ J 5 it is better to bid 7♥ even if pairs were in 4♥ or 3NT. which my partner raised ♥ A K Q 8 ♥ 10 9 4 they sacrifice because 1,100 Do you think I should N to 4♠, which went one off. 7 6 5 3 2 W E would be better than 1,010. have jumped to 4♥, 3NT Was 2♠ the correct rebid? ♦ A Q J 5 S ♦ 4 If you play a convention or possibly have bid the Hugh Ball, Eastbourne. ♣ Void ♣ A Q J 9 known as opponent’s suit? Or do you 8 7 6 (and North-South do not think North should have There are three ♠ K 9 8 6 3 2 compete much), you might raised my 3♥ to 4♥? He said rebids I might ♥ J be able to find out whether he didn’t raise it as he had A consider with your ♦ 9 8 7 2 East has the ♦K. You overcall minimum points, just 11, for hand; I am afraid 3♠ is ♣ K 4 4♦ to show a big red two a take-out double although not one of them because suiter. If East bids 4♥, you the shape was perfect. the hand is too flat and cue bid 4♠ and then 6♣, Jane Karfoot by email. lacks a sixth spade. Our table inviting partner to cue bid With a 5332 shape, the West North East South 6♦ with the ♦K; if instead North, being natural thing to do is to 2♠ East raises 4♦ to 5♦, you minimum, was raise to 2NT or 3NT. Partner 3♠ 4♠ 5♣ Pass bid 5NT to ask how many A right to pass 3♥. has already bid no-trumps 5NT Pass 6♣ Pass of the top three diamonds South’s jump to 3♥ is and the lead will be coming 6♥ 6♠ Pass Pass East has, correcting invitational, showing around up to whatever partner 7♥ 7♠ Pass Pass whatever the reply is to an 9-11 points. With 16 points has in diamonds. With 18 Dbl All Pass appropriate heart contract. South does not want to make HCP a raise to 2NT would Few people will play the same bid. Either you bid normally suffice. Here it Teammates table Leaping Michaels and here game or you make a bid would be reasonable to West North East South North-South would bid on that partner cannot pass: the upgrade the A-K-J-10-x 2♠ anyway. You start with a opposing suit. The cue bid is holding and raise to 3NT. 6♥ 6♠ Dbl All Pass 3♠ cue bid and hope to forcing to suit agreement,

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 35 so if you bid 2♠ and follow support for your strong suit. Does the general with 3♥ then partner cannot After 3♥, your side continues rule that a double of pass that either. With four- with an exchange of cue bids Qa conventional bid card heart support, North 3♠-4♦. Partner has nothing shows the suit apply here? would raise to 4♥. On a hand really in reserve (bidding without four-card support, 3♥ rather than 4♥ already West North East South North could try 3♠ to ask showed some slam interest) 1NT Pass 2♣1 for a spade stopper or take and would pass if you bid 4♥. Pass 2♦2 Pass Pass some other suitable action. Perhaps you are worth a 4NT Dbl Hand-crafted Card Tables These English made tables ♦ enquiry once you get the 4 offerThese superb English quality made and have ♣♦♥♠ cue bid; then you reach 6♥. 1Stayman 2No four-card major the genuinetables offer Pelissier superb hinges. quality and have the With the strong hand ChooseThese Englishfrom the made great tables value genuine Pelissier hinges. We play a 15-17 NT as declarer, 6♥ is a very West had 15 points including offerTheseClub, superb Englishthe Premierquality made and ortables the have Chooseelegant fromRoyal the great good spot. At worst the offerthe genuine superb qualityPelissier and. hinges. have and Benjaminised a four-card diamond suit valueThese Club, English the made Premier tables or theChooseSpecial genuine from Prices Pelissier the forgreat Bridgehinges. value Acol, with 2♦ opponents lead a club and to the K-Q and a five-card offer thesuperb elegant quality Royal. and have Q ChooseClubClub, orders fromthe Premier theof 5great or or more. valuethe ♣ the genuine Pelissier hinges. as a game force and 2 you guess wrong (or North club suit. As it happens, East elegant Royal. SpecialChooseClub, fromthe Prices Premier the greatfor orBridge valuethe as eight playing tricks in has K-J-x and there is no took it as take-out, but if left Special Prices for Bridge ClubClub, orderselegant the Premier of Royal 5 or or. more. the a suit or 2NT (22-23). winning guess); then you in, the contract would have ClubSpecial orderselegant Prices of Royal for5 or Bridge. more. have the diamond finesse in been four down vulnerable. ClubSpecial orders Prices of 5for or Bridge more. reserve. On any other lead, Also, West said that the Club orders of 5 or more. ♠ A Q you expect to make 6♥ no double would be for penalty ♥ A K Q 9 8 2 matter who has the ♦Q. anyway, as N/S had bid ♦ J 10 8 no-trumps initially and ♣ A 10 ♣♦♥♠ whenever opposition bid Club Table with traditional green no-trumps, all doubles felt playing surface £159.00 N W E What do you are for penalty (except S Club Table with traditional green think of the rule a direct double of a Club Table with traditional Clubfelt playing Table surface with traditional £159.00 green ♠ 7 5 2 of 14 for deciding 1NT response to a suit green felt playing surface felt playing surface £159.00 Q with traditional green ♥ J 5 4 whether to respond 1NT or opening). Is this correct? Club£159 Table felt playing surface £159.00 ♦ A K 9 5 3 show a suit at the two level Colin Jones by email. ♣ Q 3 in response to partner’s one-level opening? By passing 2♦, Name and address supplied. South has shown North South A some diamonds, Premier Table, bevelled edges 2♣ 2♦ The rule of 14 so a reopening double is and baize playing surface £199.00 2♥ 4♥ is a slight over protective, competing for End simplification. Playing the partscore ie take-out. Premier Table, bevelled edges A and baize playing surface £199.00 matchpoints, it is fair enough With a strong hand West PremierPremier Table, Table, bevelled bevelled edges and baize playing surface £199.00 I suggested my partner to say that you can bid a should double 2♣. Indeed, Premieredges andTable, baize bevelled playing edges might have bid 3♦, hopefully lower suit at the two level since you say that West’s andsurface baize playing £199 surface £199.00 getting to 6♥ where 13 with ten points and a four- 15 point hand included tricks rolled in. What do card suit or nine points and a five-card club suit, it a five-card suit. Vulnerable does not matter whether you think a reasonable Royal Table, elegant surround and auction would have been? at teams, however, you do you play the double of baize playing surface £249.00 David France, Glasgow. not want to be responding 2♣ as clubs, a hand that Order online or by phone 1NT on many nine point would have doubled 1NT Royalwww.designsforbridge.co.uk Table, elegant surround and Here 4♥ is fast hands unless they are 4333; or possibly either: West Royalbaize playing Table, surface elegant £249.00 surround and baize playing surface £249.00 arrival and I suggest you would rather ensure you should have doubled 2♣. Royal01483Order Table, online elegant 270 or bysurround phone100 and RoyalSR DesignsTable, forelegant Bridge playing 2NT on the play in game with 16 facing If you play the double of baizewww.designsforbridge.co.ukOrder playing online surface or £249.00 by phone A surroundUnit A1, Send and Businessbaize Park, second round as a negative, nine and be willing to play 2♣ as definitely a hand that www.designsforbridge.co.uk playing01483Send,Order Woking, online surface 270Surrey or £249 by GU23 phone100 7EF leaving a 3♥ raise available www.designsforbridge.co.uk sometimes with 15 facing would have doubled 1NT 01483SR Designs 270 for Bridge 100 as agreeing hearts plus some nine. Even at matchpoints, then you might be able to Unit A1, Send Business Park, OrderSR Designs online foror by Bridge phone ♦ 01483Send, Woking, 270 Surrey GU23 100 7EF slam interest. I would not seven points and a seven- catch the opponents in 2 www.designsforbridge.co.ukUnitSR A1, Designs Send Businessfor Bridge Park, recommend a 3♦ rebid from card suit could be a bit frisky doubled. If not, I do not think Send,Unit A1, Woking, Send Surrey Business GU23 Park, 7EF partner when holding J-x-x as for a two level response. you can. ■ Send,01483 Woking, 270Surrey GU23 100 7EF SR Designs for Bridge E-mail your questions (including your postal address) Unit A1, Send Business Park, Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF for Julian to: [email protected]

Page 36 BRIDGE June 2018

About the EBU by Jeremy Dhondy Bring on the New Players

My name is Jeremy Dhondy and I am the Chairman of the . This column is to answer questions or comments about the EBU that you might have. If you have a comment or a question, I would be happy to hear from you. [email protected]

In my local area, I see the The progression is lessons, Involving new players same people all the time consolidation, supervised practice, Qat the club and also when I gentle duplicate, full duplicate. That’s One thing I am frequently told is that venture out to local tournaments. a lot of organisation not only to put on club players have no ambition to move How can we get new people involved? and teach lessons but for the club to on, that new players do not want to have the necessary number of teachers. play in the better game at their club let Teaching is important Far-sighted clubs help volunteers alone go to a tournament. Whilst not get the training necessary for them to everyone wants to visit a tournament I was recently invited to Preston Bridge become teachers. EBED run courses 150 miles away, it is important to Club to open their newly refurbished precisely for this. Have a look at http:// stage events that are suitable and premises and I thought they provided www.ebedcio.org.uk/teach if you or enjoyable for less experienced players. an object lesson in how to both your club are interested. EBED doesn’t Getting outside your immediate maintain their current membership mind whether your club is affiliated circle has much to commend it. Two and also to get new players into the or not. I think it is important to have new initiatives to mention are, first, a game. someone on the club committee national one. The EBU has just put on a First of all they have a pleasant who is responsible for the teaching ‘Jack High’ tournament to go with the refurbished environment and a lot of programme and the students. It Easter Festival. It is what it says on the the work and planning was done by sends the right message about the tin, ie available only to those who have volunteers in the club. This creates a importance of this. an NGS rating of Jack or below with great atmosphere. When the new players make it to the some prizes reserved for those with an Secondly, you have read previous normal club game it can be difficult if NGS of nine or below. The tournament articles by me going on about the they encounter players who are terse costs less than usual and the players importance of teaching before and and unhelpful, so it is important to should feel more comfortable as fewer it won’t surprise you I am about to create the right atmosphere. I asked boards are played. mention it again. The club has not a club manager about his success in In my local county they have decided only beginners’ lessons but also getting relatively new recruits to the to put on a tournament aimed at newer consolidation lessons for those who normal club game. He replied that players who may not wish to travel a have got to the end of the beginners’ the first thing he had to do was to long way to play. Again it is restricted, course. Once you have taught new chuck out about 6-8 long-standing this time, to those 10 or under on players, those taught there and perhaps club members who found it hard to the NGS. The county have contacted elsewhere need somewhere to play. be polite to anyone let alone relative clubs who have teaching programmes, Often relative beginners are slow beginners. That’s probably a lot easier whether they are affiliated or not to and unsure so need a welcoming if the club is a proprietor owned one invite entries and at the time of writing environment to start with where, rather than a members’ one and I’m it has already attracted a decent size perhaps, they play fewer boards. not sure a major cull is necessarily field with some weeks to go. Even before this there can be some the way to go but it does point to supervised play in order to make the importance of creating the right Is it safe? students feel more comfortable about atmosphere whatever your club’s aims playing. are. Famously this is a line delivered by

Page 38 BRIDGE June 2018 Laurence Olivier, a dentist and also campaign may be more effective than a war criminal, whilst holding some a draconian one. Try asking for any BERNARD very unpleasant dental equipment call for the director to be below 75 next to Dustin Hoffman, who has decibels and accompanied by the word MAGEE’S no idea what he is talking about. It’s ‘please’. In one club I play in you hear a INTERACTIVE something which applies to games for call for ‘technical director’ which is the new players in my view. Is the event, player’s way of saying something has TUTORIAL CD whether in a club or further afield, gone wrong with the scoring machine likely to be something you want to or someone has 16 cards and nothing go back to? If an event has too many ethically challenging has happened at DECLARER boards or the experienced players the table. In short you don’t need the complain about slow play, bidding, Witchfinder General to deal with the PLAY the laws etc, then the newcomers will recalcitrants but you do need to create be discouraged from attending in the the right atmosphere in the club. future. A fundamental is that your club Bring on the robots has to have a way of welcoming new MAC or players into the game. If you are big If beginners feel unsure and they know Windows enough to organise supervised play, a they are slow then one possibility newcomers game, perhaps with fewer might be to play some bridge online boards will likely help, but if not then to build up confidence. These days you your regular players will need to adapt can play with robots. One example if there is to be a game at your club in game is Funbridge (https://www. years to come. Similarly even if there funbridge.com/en/). You can play at a is a newcomers’ game, eventually the time of your choosing, at a speed you idea will be for players to graduate. want and as frequently or infrequently So to go with the welcoming bit, the as you wish. You can start, stop for a new events and the club committee couple of hours and then pick up again. member charged with ensuring some Your robot is most obliging and will Bernard develops your teaching happens, you also need a firm play any system you want. Funbridge declarer play technique in code of conduct. We could call it ‘Best is French in origin but its grasp of Acol the course of ten Behaviour at Bridge’ but any name will has improved in the last few months so introductory exercises and do. You must expect your members to weak no-trump and four-card majors 120 complete deals. be pleasant to newcomers and to be is fine as a system. tolerant if they don’t get every little If you enjoy the game then there is l Suit Establishment nuance of the game right. In general, also a more competitive game run via in No-trumps for example, if there is a hesitation the EBU. You don’t have to be a member l Suit Establishment then a) it probably doesn’t mean all unless you want to register the master in Suits that much and b) it is unlikely that in points that go with it. Best of all no most cases beginners will know how robot that you play with will be critical l Hold-ups to take illicit advantage, so the only or sigh in a meaningful way if you go l Ruffing for harm comes when the experienced down in a solid contract. The robots Extra Tricks player makes a couple of cheap jibes themselves are not completely beyond £76 l Entries in about ethicality and follows that criticism on occasion although they No-trumps with a stentorian call for the director. are getting more reliable. Just as you Then he describes the situation to the learn whilst going along, the engine l Delaying director in the most unflattering way. which determines the robot’s play is Drawing Trumps Really this is just bullying. It is a good updated quite frequently to correct l Using the Lead idea for beginners to have something errors and improve bidding. You can brief about ethics in their lessons, play on your computer or laptop, l Trump Control not so much as to be off-putting but tablet or phone. It even understands l Endplays & Avoidance enough to know that one doesn’t give the Apple system so iPads are OK to l Using the Bidding the thumbs up to approve of a bid or use. play! It is also a good idea to have the If you feel that robots are a touch aforementioned code of conduct and impersonal then perhaps going away Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, to deal with any players who make the with others for a bridge weekend Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH lives of others unpleasant. When you with like minded players might help. ( 01483 489961 have your code you need to enforce I’m told Mr Bridge organises a few of www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop it. To avoid losing members, a gentle those! ■

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 39 Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Forty-Three Teams of Four

his DVD is all about a particular one is to see how going for games form of bridge when you play as affects your bidding: ♠ 7 6 5 a team rather than just a pair. ♥ A K 4 2 TIt is the most common form of bridge ♦ A K 4 at international level and is generally ♠ A Q 8 4 ♠ K J 3 ♣ 7 6 5 ♥ A 7 N ♥ 9 8 2 more popular with experts. It can be N W E great fun for players at any level and ♦ Q 10 8 2 ♦ 9 6 W E S S getting to know how the game works ♣ 9 8 4 ♣ A Q J 10 2 is worthwhile on a number of levels. ♠ A 4 3 2 You can play teams tournaments ♥ 7 6 at club, county or national level, but West East ♦ 9 8 you can also play a teams match as a 1NT 3NT ♣ A K Q 4 2 dinner party for eight people – a great mixture of social with a little bit of East has 11 points and a strong five- 3NT by South. competition. card club suit. Game might make or Lead ♠K. The DVD starts by showing how to it might not, but looking at your club play the form of the game and how to suit it might be reasonable to hope that score it. From the scoring it develops the game would have a 50-50 chance This is a simple contract, but it is one some of the most important tactics. even if your partner has just 12 points. that should be played very differently Going for vulnerable games is Rather than inviting game, gamble on at the different forms of the game. You shown to be important by looking at 3NT. Your game will depend on who have eight top tricks, so need one more two situations: has the ♣K. If North has the king you to make your game. If you bid two games (say 4♠) on two will make ten tricks, but if South has Playing pairs, overtricks are vulnerable boards and make one and the king, you will go down. important, so you should aim for ten go off in the other, then compare that Taking these gambles is worthwhile tricks. You duck a couple of spades with opponents who just bid 2♠ on because you gain more IMPs when (hoping for a switch), but then you both boards. you win than you lose if you go down. win your ace, cash a top club, cross Board 3: 4 ♠ making = +620 whilst The contrast with pairs is important to dummy and play a second club: teammates score -170 for 2♠+2 – you either get a bottom or a top – when East follows suit, you take your Board 4: 4 ♠ down 1 = -100 whilst you would not want to be in a less than top clubs. When clubs break 3-2, you teammates score -140 for 2♠+1 50% game because you do not gain by make ten tricks. However when East The scores for the two boards are: doing so. holds four clubs you go off because you Board 3: +620-170 = +450 The second half of the DVD deals cannot reach your last club winner – Board 4: -100-140 = -240 with declarer play and defensive you make just your eight top tricks. These two scores are translated in to tactics. Starting by talking about the Playing pairs this means you score IMPs by using the IMP table: decreased importance of overtricks: +630 about two thirds of the time for Board 3 = +10 IMPs so important in pairs bridge but a good score, but one third of the time Board 4 = -6 IMPs relatively worthless at teams. An you go off for a bad score – you should By making one game and going overtrick is worth 1 IMP, whilst a be happy with this outcome. down in the other you have gained game might be worth 10 IMPs. This However, playing teams your aim four IMPs. This means that vulnerable means making your contract is 10 is to make your contract, so you games are worth going for – a 50% times more important than making should plan for a bad break. You win game is a ‘good game’. an overtrick. the third spade and then duck a club After seeing the way to play the game The topic quickly moves on to trick to keep the communication – and score it, the DVD then shows the perhaps the most distinct set of tactics making sure of the one extra club main tactics of the game and the first which resolve around . trick you need for your contract (ex-

Page 40 BRIDGE June 2018 cept against a very unlikely (three points): that adds up Answers to Bernard Magee’s 5-0 break). You end with to 26 points. There are only just nine tricks, but a safe 14 points left and South Bidding Quizzes 1-3 game bonus. This means opened the bidding so must that most of the time (about have most of them. Playing on the Cover and page 7 two thirds) you make fewer pairs you would probably be tricks than the norm: nine trying to prevent declarer instead of ten. However, making overtricks, but play- playing teams, you lose just ing teams your one and only 12-14 1NT opening, but your 1 IMP each time you make aim is to try to defeat the 1. Dealer East. Love All. hand is a very different collec- one trick fewer, whereas contract. You have the ♣A ♠ A 8 7 ♠ K Q J tion to the previous one. With ♥ K 6 5 3 N ♥ J 9 4 2 about one third of the time but to make two more tricks W E 12 high card points you are you will make when others is surely not possible… un- ♦ Q 4 3 S ♦ A K 7 between a raise to 2NT and go off gaining 12 IMPs (if less you can get a ruff? ♣ Q 5 2 ♣ 7 6 3 a raise to 3NT, so you should vulnerable). So for the two If partner had a singleton use your hand evaluation to times out of three you gave club he should have led it, so decide whether you are on the away an overtrick you lost your only real chance is to West North East South strong side of 12 or the weak 2 x 1 IMP= -2 IMPs, where put him with the doubleton 1NT Pass side. as on the third hand you king of clubs – a long shot, ? You have two good suits, gained 12 which leaves you but your only vague chance high cards working together with a profit of 10 IMPs. of defeating the contract. Pass. and three tens and a nine. Finally, how might teams You switch to a low club Your partner has shown 12-14 The collection of tens should of four affect your defence? which your partner wins points and you have 11 high persuade you to add a full The DVD talks about the with the king, he then plays card points, which gives you point and the two robust mi- freedom you have in defence a club back to your ace and a chance of hitting the magi- nors should make you label to be flamboyant because you give him a club ruff for cal 25 points aspired to for a the hand a ‘good’ 13 points overtricks are not a worry an unlikely one off. Here is game contract. However, your and therefore a comfortable – your sole aim is to try to the full layout: hand is a very poor collection raise to 3NT. defeat the opposition, which of eleven high card points. All means that sometimes you of your honours are isolated get desperate – placing part- ♠ 4 2 and the shape is the worst of ner with the one card you ♥ A K 4 2 all: 4-3-3-3 – so flat I suggest 3. Dealer East. Love All. need to defeat a contract. ♦ K Q J 8 you downgrade the hand by ♠ Q 7 6 4 ♠ 9 8 ♣ Q 8 2 one whole point. ♥ J 8 2 N ♥ A K 4 3 Here is an example: W E ♠ Q J 8 7 5 N ♠ A 10 9 3 Your final evaluation for ♦ 4 2 S ♦ A K 6 5 W E ♥ 3 S ♥ 6 5 this hand should be a poor 10 ♣ J 6 3 2 ♣ A K 7 ♠ 4 2 ♦ 9 7 5 3 2 ♦ 10 6 points, with which you should ♥ A K 4 2 ♣ K 3 ♣ A 7 6 5 4 just pass. ♦ K Q J 8 ♠ K 6 You have a 4-4 heart fit, but West North East South ♣ Q 8 2 ♥ Q J 10 9 8 7 with no ruffing values, the two 2NT Pass

N ♠ A 10 9 3 ♦ A 4 hands struggle in whatever ? W E ♥ ♣ S 6 5 J 10 9 denomination they finish in. ♦ 10 6 1NT is certainly high enough. Pass. ♣ A 7 6 5 4 This time you face a 2NT This might only work one opening bid, which shows 20- in eight times, but getting 22 points; you have a bare West North East South a vulnerable game down is 2. Dealer East. Love All. four high card points. More 1♥ worth 12 IMPs, so it is worth ♠ A 8 7 ♠ K Q J 6 than half the time your partner Pass 2NT1 Pass 4♥2 risking a potential overtrick ♥ 10 3 N ♥ J 9 4 2 opens 2NT he will have just 20 W E All Pass to try for it. ♦ K 10 9 8 S ♦ A 7 6 points – bearing this in mind 1Support for hearts, 13+ points. Teams can be great fun if ♣ K Q 10 6 ♣ J 3 you should be looking to hold 2Minimum opening. you understand what is go- at least five high card points ing on – it takes getting used to respond positively. Your West leads the ♠Q which to, but it is a great form of West North East South four points are pretty poor too you overtake with the ♠A bridge. When you play with 1NT Pass – individual honours with no and take stock. Add up friends as teammates it is ? tens or nines to back them up. some points: dummy has particular fun because you Pass and do not be surprised 15, you have eight and your can enjoy your successes 3NT. if your partner goes off in partner has shown ♠Q-J and failures together. ■ Once again you are facing a 2NT. ■

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 41 Michael Byrne on Managing Trumps Ruffing in Your Hand

ast month we continued who led the ♦Q is known to hold three looking at setting up long of them, so there are only 18 left, and ♠ K suits, sometimes by ducking East has 15-17). ♥ A K 8 2 Ltricks, sometimes by ruffing them. Let’s go through the play if we take ♦ A 9 4 3 2 As a general rule, ruffing in the long a few ruffs in our hand. Win with the ♣ 9 7 5 trump hand is to be avoided, but there ♦A, ruff a diamond (two tricks), then ♠ 5 ♠ Q 7 6 2 ♥ J 9 7 N ♥ Q 10 6 are times where not only is it a good back to the dummy with a spade and W E idea, it is also essential to making your ruff another diamond (four tricks). ♦ Q J 8 6 5 S ♦ K 10 contract. Now a heart to the dummy, ruff a ♣ 10 8 4 3 ♣ A K Q J Imagine you are declarer on this third diamond (six tricks), then play ♠ A J 10 9 8 4 3 hand: a second heart to the dummy and ♥ 5 4 3 ruff the last diamond (eight tricks). ♦ 7 You are left with ♠A-J in your hand. ♣ 6 2 ♠ K Simply play any of your losers and give ♥ A K 8 2 the lead to the opponents. If the queen ♦ A 9 4 3 2 of trumps is indeed on your right then Note that if East had two diamonds ♣ 9 7 5 you must make two more tricks. and two hearts then we couldn’t make There is one catch however… when our contract on this line, as there N W E you are ‘ruffing in’ as it were, it is would be no way to stop him getting S similar to a cross ruff (only you go a ruff, and we would have to resort to ♠ A J 10 9 8 4 3 back to dummy with high cards not dropping the queen of trumps. (Mind ♥ 5 4 3 ruffs) and you must follow similar you if East is 2-2 in the red suits then ♦ 7 technique. The Golden Rule of cross I suspect he won’t have a doubleton ♣ 6 2 ruffing is ‘Always cash your side suit spade as well as otherwise it would be winners first’ and we must try and a very unusual no-trump opening.) translate that here. This technique of ruffing in is often Your opponents open a strong no The reason for cashing side suit used when you have a long trump suit trump and you overcall 3♠, which winners first is that the opponents and not many in dummy (perhaps most people play now as a pre-emptive might end up ruffing them, and even a void). Sometimes it is used as a bid. Partner looks at his quick tricks that could be possible here. If East matter of desperation. (essential when considering what to began with two diamonds and three This is your hand: do facing a pre-empt) and raises you hearts, or even two hearts and three to game. The ♦Q is led. diamonds, then he will throw his Partner’s raise is well judged since hearts away when we are busy ruffing ♠ A Q 10 8 6 4 had your suit been just a little stronger diamonds and then he will be in a ♥ 7 6 3 then you would have had ten tricks on position to trump our ♥A. ♦ 7 6 5 top, but, as it is, it seems as if you need We must use the hearts as entries ♣ 7 the ♠Q to fall in two rounds. Is there first, so let’s have another go. Win the anything better? Actually yes, if you ♦A and ruff a diamond. Back to the ♥A take enough ruffs in your hand you and ruff a second diamond, then back You open an impeccable weak two in can come to ten tricks no matter how to the ♥K and ruff a third diamond. spades and the next hand doubles for many times the ♠Q is guarded. Use the ♠K as an entry to ruff the fifth take-out. Partner passes and the next Counting points strongly suggests diamond (which might be a boss by hand falls over himself to pass with a that East has the queen of trumps now, we don’t care) and then exit as smirk. You anxiously await the sight of (there are 21 points missing and West before. The full deal is this: dummy…

Page 42 BRIDGE June 2018 How do you play it on the to have to start ruffing his Answers to Bernard Magee’s lead of the ♣A and then the partner’s winners. At this ♣K? point he will be forced to Bidding Quizzes 4-6 lead a trump and you stick the ten in and score a trick. on the Cover and page 7 ♠ Void Now you are left with the ♥ A K 2 A-Q in trumps, and when second suit. ♦ J 9 4 3 2 you exit with your remain- 4. Dealer East. Love All. With all your cards in part- ♣ 10 8 4 3 2 ing plain card, East must ♠ K Q 7 6 5 ♠ 3 2 ner’s suits except for the ♠A, ruff and repeat the charade ♥ 9 8 2 N ♥ A K 7 6 5 you should expect the hands W E N ♦ A J 4 S ♦ 7 6 to work well together and go W E once more. At the end of S the hand you will discov- ♣ 9 7 ♣ K Q J 2 for game. Even if your partner er that you have made six is minimum, game is likely to ♠ A Q 10 8 6 4 trump tricks and two heart have a reasonable chance. ♥ 7 6 3 winners for a total of eight West North East South East is as weak as he can be ♦ 7 6 5 tricks. 1♥ Pass – after all he has shown a 5-4 ♣ 7 This might be the full 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass shape – so if you jump to 3♥ hand: ? he should pass. With the two hands fitting so well together, To pass the take-out dou- 2♥. Your partner’s bidding there should be no trouble ble when sitting under the ♠ Void suggests he holds five hearts, making ten tricks. spades, East must surely ♥ A K 2 so you do have a fit. However, have five spades to the K-J, ♦ J 9 4 3 2 the rest of your hand does not he probably has the good ♣ 10 8 4 3 2 fit well with your partner – no 6. Dealer East. Love All. pips as well. ♠ 5 2 ♠ K J 9 7 3 high cards in your partner’s ♠ K Q 7 6 5 ♠ 3 2 Counting losers (as is nor- ♥ Q 10 8 4 N ♥ J 9 5 suits. Your own long suit is ♥ 8 N ♥ A K 7 6 5 W E W E mal technique in a suit con- ♦ A Q 10 S ♦ K 8 going to need some work to ♦ A K 8 3 2 S ♦ 7 6 tract) suggests we have three ♣ A K Q 5 ♣ J 9 6 develop, so all in all, you are ♣ 8 7 ♣ K Q 4 2 spades, three diamonds, one ♠ A Q 10 8 6 4 going to need partner to hold club and one heart, that’s ♥ 7 6 3 perhaps 16 points for game to three down for -800. ♦ 7 6 5 have a chance. You do best to West North East South Can we do any better? ♣ 7 just bid 2♥ and settle at a com- 1♥ Pass Of course we can – sci- fortable level. Your partner has 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass ence has the answer, and we a reasonable hand for his bid- ? should ‘ruff ourselves in’ and Instead of giving you a ding but 2♥ is high enough. If try to make plenty of tricks. cheap ruff at trick two, West trumps break evenly you will 2NT. You have twelve high The defence have already would have done better to make nine tricks, but with any card points and two reason- given us a helping hand by switch to a heart (although kind of bad break you will only able five-card suits, so when playing clubs and helping us from his point of view he manage eight. your partner opens the bidding take a cheap ruff. Carry on didn’t know where the jack you will be thinking of a game with this technique. was), but East had an easy contract. However, as the auc- Cross to the dummy with chance to beat the contract 5. Dealer East. Love All. tion develops, your view of the a heart and play another by ruffing in on the fourth ♠ A 7 6 5 4 ♠ 3 2 hand should change. When- club, ruffing with the ♠6 in club. He would now have ♥ Q J 4 N ♥ A K 7 6 5 ever you suspect a misfit, you W E your hand. Cross back to one trump fewer and when ♦ 9 8 2 S ♦ 7 6 should downgrade your ex- dummy with the other top you give up the lead later on, ♣ A 9 ♣ K Q 4 2 pectations. Your partner has heart and play yet another he would be endplayed once shown length in hearts and club (East no doubt showing but not twice and you would clubs and you have all your out) and ruff with the ♠8. go down. West North East South cards in the other two suits. At this point you are left When you are caught in 1♥ Pass No-trumps is a reasonable with ♠A-Q-10 and (you pre- these awkward contracts 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass option, but 2NT is enough. It sume) East has the K-J. All where you have no long ? will not be an easy contract to you have to do is exit with cards to take in the side play as the two hands do not a non-trump card. Let’s say suits, then ruffing in your 4♥. A stark contrast to the mesh well together – having you choose to play a dia- own hand is a good way hand in Q4. After the same shortages in each other’s long mond. No doubt West will of making cheap trump bidding which has suggested suits. East would pass 2NT start cashing his red tricks, tricks as your opponents sit five hearts, you have good and you might scrape togeth- but remember, East has got there following suit impo- support for hearts and also er eight tricks, or perhaps drift five trumps – he is going tently. ■ a high card in your partner’s one off. ■

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 43 Catching Up with Sally Brock

his has been a pretty hectic The weekend after the trials, Fiona I think you will all have to admit that period. First, there was a and I flew to Philadelphia to play in the dummy was rather good for its (lack huge brouhaha over the US Spring Nationals there. The format of) bidding. Twelve tricks rolled in; Ttrials. Basically, the problem was the of the Vanderbilt teams (the main making with an overtrick was worth weather. We knew on the Monday event) was the same as the we +1,090 for them. before the trials that Yvonne (who played in last year in Toronto. The first In the next round we drew a good lives in Stockholm) might have a day was concerned with getting the Polish squad. We were fairly mouldy problem getting to the Young Chelsea numbers down to 64, so the knock- in the first set we played, but I was for the start. We had a substitute out proper could start. We were in pleased with how we played in the standing by, who was indeed needed. a foursome. We played a 30-board second half of the match. Yvonne arrived halfway through the match against a decent team (by However, they did very little wrong second match but the selectors said chance it happened to be the same one and we were thoroughly hammered. they would prefer it if she didn’t play we played and beat in the first round in In the final set, when we were already until the first (of three) round robin Toronto) and got totally demolished. a lot down, I thought I would take the was finished so that everyone would After a weirdly early dinner (at 4.30) opportunity to out-and-out psych, play against the same quartet. We we then went to play the losers of the something I can’t remember ever knew that because of the substitution other match in our foursome. This doing before. we would no longer be guaranteed to team was delightful: they were a bunch This was the deal: go to the European Championships if of 27-year-olds who had all graduated we won, but thought this was only if in film and had decided to make a something very drastic happened (like film of their efforts to learn bridge. Dealer East. N/S Game. Kay being hugely better than Yvonne). They were not very good – having only ♠ A Q 10 5 In the end we won by nearly 5 VPs but been playing for eight months or so – ♥ K Q 8 7 the selection committee overturned but were eager to learn and the match ♦ 8 6 the result, arguing that the substitute was really good fun. We won by over ♣ A J 2 had materially affected the result, as 100 IMPs, but this is a deal they won’t ♠ 9 8 6 4 2 ♠ 7 we had not won the second and third forget. ♥ 9 5 N ♥ J 10 4 3 W E ♦ 9 ♦ 7 5 4 3 round robins (by 0.25 of a VP). S This was a pretty controversial ♣ Q 10 9 8 3 ♣ K 7 5 4 decision. The postings on Bridge Dealer East. N/S Game. ♠ K J 3 Winners hit the 1,000 mark and then ♠ A J 10 5 ♥ A 6 2 went beyond. Whether or not the ♥ J 7 3 ♦ A K Q J 10 2 result should have been overturned is, ♦ A K ♣ 6 to some extent, a matter of opinion, ♣ 9 8 5 3 but it is clear that the procedure went ♠ Q 9 8 7 6 3 ♠ 2 badly wrong. The penalty for having ♥ Void N ♥ K Q 5 First in hand, I opened the East hand a substitute should have been known ♦ 9 8 6 5 2 W E ♦ Q 7 1♠. The bidding proceeded: S before the end of the event. To start ♣ Q J ♣ A K 10 7 6 4 2 with we decided to stand together ♠ K 4 West North East South as a team and both Fiona and I, and ♥ A 10 9 8 6 4 2 1♠ Dbl then Nicola and Yvonne, rejected ♦ J 10 4 3 4♠ Dbl Pass 5♦ the offer to play in the European ♣ Void All Pass Championships. However, after a week or so when emotions had time to Had South passed the double of 4♠ settle a little we were given the blessing West North East South and the defence been accurate they of our team-mates, and decided to 1♣ 3♥ could have held me to one trick – for a change our minds, so will now be part 4♠ Pass Pass 5♥ penalty of 2,300. of the team for Ostend in June. Pass Pass Dbl All Pass However, South thought his partner

Page 44 BRIDGE June 2018 must have a singleton spade Answers to Bernard Magee’s and fewer values so decided BERNARD he should bid his vulnerable Bidding Quizzes 7-9 MAGEE’S game. INTERACTIVE When we came out, on the Cover and page 7 teammates were discussing TUTORIAL CD how they should have bid is a definite stop in the heart the grand slam, and were 7. Dealer East. Love All. suit. Hoping that you might ♠ K 8 2 ♠ A J have six running club tricks ACOL rather surprised to have N gained 13 IMPs. ♥ Q 7 4 W E ♥ 9 8 6 and two more tricks from your S BIDDING After a day’s shopping ♦ K Q 8 7 6 ♦ 3 2 aces, it is reasonable to gam- and working on our system, ♣ 8 2 ♣ A K 7 6 5 4 ble on 3NT. It is true that you we played in the National have nothing in spades, but Women’s Pairs. Most of remember that your partner the other good players were West North East South has an opening hand so has playing with clients, so it 1♣ Pass to have some points some- wasn’t the strongest event 1♦ 1♥ 2♣ Pass where. You might think that MAC or in the world, but we won ? bidding 2NT to invite your Windows comfortably and seemed to partner is enough, but East is collect a lot of kudos which Pass. As North has made a minimum for his 2♣ bid and was nice. bid in this auction, East was he would pass. As it is, if clubs The Open Pairs was won not required to bid again. This break evenly you will make by England’s Simon Cope is because if he passes you will nine tricks off the top. and Peter Crouch, so the get another chance to bid. This front of the bulletin the fol- means that he should have a Throughout 200 lowing day was dominated reasonable six-card suit for his 9. Dealer East. Love All. deals split into ten by English successes. 2♣ rebid. With 10 high card ♠ 4 3 2 ♠ A J chapters, Bernard ♥ N ♥ The final event was a points you might be hopeful of A 7 4 W E 9 8 6 3 evaluates your bids, S Swiss teams in which we greater things, but full evalua- ♦ A 9 8 7 6 ♦ 3 2 praising the correct performed rather indiffer- tion of your hand will stop you ♣ Q 2 ♣ A K 6 5 4 ones and discussing ently before rushing for our in your tracks. Your ♥Q may the wrong ones. flight home. well be worthless, you have no All my recent visits to help in clubs and you are ace- West North East South l Opening Bids the Far East and Australa- less. All this should persuade 1♣ Pass and Responses sia have made a little hop you to pass 2♣ and hopefully 1♦ 1♥ Pass Pass l Slams and across the Atlantic seem no collect a positive score. ? Strong Openings distance at all. l Support for Partner Other than that life 1NT. You have the same hand l Pre-empting marches on – online teach- 8. Dealer East. Love All. as on Q8 but there is an im- ing sessions, the odd match ♠ 4 3 2 ♠ A J portant difference – your part- l Overcalls ♥ N ♥ here and there. A 7 4 W E 9 8 6 ner has chosen not to make a l No-trump £66 We played in the Port- ♦ A 9 8 7 6 S ♦ 3 2 free rebid. After North’s bid, Openings land Pairs and after a terri- ♣ Q 2 ♣ A K 7 6 5 4 he can pass with an unsuitable and Responses ble start managed to win at hand and let you bid again if l Opener’s and the Young Chelsea, but you want to. East’s pass sug- Responder’s Rebids when it was scored over the West North East South gests a minimum hand with whole field we only man- 1♣ Pass no extra shape. Your ♣Q is l Minors and Misfits aged 25th. 1♦ 1♥ 2♣ Pass certainly a useful card, but l Doubles ? The flat seems quite small with just two bare aces beyond l Competitive with both children living that, your best rebid is 1NT: Auctions here for the moment but 3NT. Comparing your hand suggesting that that might be we’re getting on pretty well. with that in Q7, once again the limit of the two hands. On Ryden We might well look back you can rely on your partner a non-spade lead you should Mr Bridge, fondly on this time with us for a good six-card club suit manage seven tricks, other- Grange, Knaphill, all together I think. from his ‘free’ rebid of 2♣. wise six could be your limit if Surrey GU21 2TH Briony is enjoying This time you have a key card the clubs do not break 3-3. If ( 01483 489961 her new job, and trying in the club suit to help develop you do go off, it will not work www.mrbridge.co.uk/ to find somewhere else to a lot of extra tricks and you out too badly as 1♥ is likely to mrbridge-shop live. ■ have two aces – one of which make. ■

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 45 Seven Days by Sally Brock

Thursday Saturday Mahjong (when my father died we acquired his set – which he himself Today is Colin Simpson’s funeral. It’s a morning start today, and two had acquired from his elder sister). Colin was a great friend, a top-class sessions of bridge. Our second Then some card games before settling bridge player and a lovely man. He session is a little better and we move down to watch a movie. There are had been struggling with cancer for up the field. In the lunch break we upsides in having my kids living with perhaps the last five years. For more go to Carluccio’s with Simon and me. than a year he has been living in a Richard. Then the third session, which hospice near his home in Gerrard’s is terrible. Everything that could Cross. Across the road is a gastropub, go wrong does. I (South) hear the Monday and he was in the habit of meeting following auction: This is the most miserable bridge day his friends there for lunch – his wife that I can remember. It starts well Juliana would wheel him across the West North East South enough when Gilly comes to pick me road in his wheelchair and we would 1♦ 1♠ 2♥ 4♠ up in her new car – a Mazda MX5. We all have a convivial lunch. Although 6♥ All Pass drive to the Royal National Hotel with his physical health was in a steady the roof down – for me, there is little decline, until a few weeks from the I have to lead from: more exhilarating than driving with end his mind was working normally the top down. Somehow the bridge and he was as good company as he had starts badly and gets worse. On the always been – with tales of bridge and ♠ Q 9 7 4 first board I (North) open a weak no- of his work in Special Branch. ♥ 9 trump. Gilly bids 2♥ and I obediently His funeral is a non-religious one, ♦ K 10 bid 2♠. If East had passed now, Gilly with a ceremony in a rather rustic ♣ A Q 8 6 5 3 would not have made another bid, hall, followed by burial in a woodland with: setting, then lunch afterwards at Beaconsfield Golf Club. So I try the ♣A. There is a void in the Later I drop Barry off, drive home to dummy along with two small spades. ♠ J 10 8 7 5 2 leave the car, spend a couple of hours And, yes, we had two spades to cash ♥ 10 7 2 there before walking back to Barry’s which now go away on dummy’s ♦ 8 for the evening. diamonds. ♣ A K 6 After the bridge we go for a drink and then go back to Carluccio’s for a Friday very convivial dinner with plenty of However, the hands fit well when I had Today is the start of the Easter Bridge wine. four small diamonds, and we seemed Festival. I am playing in the first event, I am on a new drinking regime – no to be one of the few pairs not in game. the Championship Pairs, with Debbie. alcohol Monday to Thursday (though I In addition, East actually doubled 2♠. I spend the morning at Barry’s, and get can abstain during a weekend to build They bid ♦3 and we pressed on to 3♠. I to the Royal National Hotel just before up an extra day during the next week), had to guess the play, having ♠A-K-x. four. Our first session is about as close so suddenly weekends are much more Both sides were vulnerable and I knew to average as you can get. Later we fun than weekdays. East had only three hearts, so I played go for a quiet dinner at my favourite him for a singleton spade and finessed local Filipino restaurant, Romulo Café into his doubleton queen, so made on Kensington High Street. We go Sunday only ten tricks. A virtual zero. through the card together while we are A family day – at the request of the The day continues in the same vein. eating the truly delicious food (I can’t kids. Barry comes over for a late roast Everything we do seems reasonable recommend this restaurant highly chicken lunch. Afterwards we munch but goes wrong. Our high spot is enough). away at Easter eggs while playing beating Barry and Charles 11-9. As

Page 46 BRIDGE June 2018 time marches on we get depressed and On the last board they managed to make more errors, finally descending play in 4♠ doubled at both tables. I’m BERNARD to the bottom table for the last round. sure in the land of and MAGEE’S And, as it’s Monday I can’t even have the Hideous Hog, they would have a drink. A couple of alcohol-free lagers been able to make both contracts, but TUTORIAL CDS will have to do. in the real world that was –300 at one table and –1,400 at the other. ADVANCED Tuesday DECLARER PLAY I have put away my handbag-making Dealer West. Love All l Overtricks in No-trumps material, having just finished four for ♠ 6 3 l Overtricks in Suit Contracts my elder son and his family. ♥ A K 9 3 l Endplays I am returning to some general ♦ K 9 7 6 l Avoidance typesetting – the Yearbook for the ♣ K 6 2 l Wrong Contract £81 British Guild of Travel Writers. This ♠ A K Q 10 ♠ 4 2 l Simple Squeezes used to be an annual project until a ♥ 10 N ♥ J 7 6 5 l Counting the Hand ♦ Q 5 W E ♦ 8 4 3 couple of years ago when they decided S l Trump Reductions & Coups just to have an online version. Happily, ♣ A Q 9 8 5 3 ♣ J 10 7 4 l Playing Doubled Contracts for me, they have decided to go back ♠ J 9 8 7 5 l Safety Plays to the print version, so there is some ♥ Q 8 4 2 work for me. I spend all day working ♦ A J 10 2 on this and then meet Briony after ♣ Void ADVANCED work to go and see a room in a house ACOL BIDDING near Edgware Road tube. It is rather l Basics depressing. The room itself is OK, but Against us (E/W) the bidding was: l Advanced Basics there are five rooms in the house, one l Weak Twos £96 of which is en-suite while the others West North East South l Strong Hands all have to share one bathroom, which 1♣ Pass Pass 1♠ l Defence to Weak Twos is two floors down from the room 2♣ 2NT Pass 3♦ l Defence to 1NT that would be Briony’s. The location Pass 3NT Pass 4♠ l Doubles is great, but is it worth it? She had Dbl All Pass l Two-suited Overcalls hoped to join a house where there was l Defences to Other Systems some community spirit and social South thought that the 2NT bid l Misfits and interaction, but it seemed as if these showed a spade raise, while North Distributional Hands rooms were very separate. thought it was natural. West thought In the evening we sit down to watch he had a fairly clear double of the final several episodes of MasterChef. contract, and declarer lost a trick more FIVE-CARD MAJORS than she needed to when I was allowed & Strong No-Trump to make a diamond ruff for the second l Opening Bids & Responses Wednesday undertrick. l No-Trump Openings Next week I am off to Cyprus to play in In the other room, East/West were l Support for Partner their festival. There is a main pairs in using a system similar to the one the l Slams & Strong Openings which I am playing with Barry, but be- discredited Fantoni and Nunes used l Rebids fore that there is a two-session mixed to play: l Minors & Misfits pairs in which I am going to play with l Pre-empting £89 Zia. He likes his system and has sent West North East South l Doubles me several emails about it. Today we 1♣ 1♥ Pass 4♥ l Overcalls practice on BBO for an hour or so. It 4♠ Pass Pass Dbl l Competitive Auctions seems to go OK, and while am a lit- All Pass tle apprehensive, I am really looking ALSO forward to the chance to play with a The ♣1 opening was natural and l Defence (see p10) really great player. forcing. Quite why East decided to l Declarer Play (see p39) The rest of the day is spent working play in spades rather than clubs I do l Acol Bidding (see p45) on the BGTW project. Then I walk not know. In the event all declarer down to Barry’s for our customary could make was his four trump tricks. pre-bridge bowl of soup, and then it’s As I said earlier, next week I am off off to the Young Chelsea for our Super to Cyprus – at least the weather should ( 01483 489961 League match. We win comfortably be an improvement. I will tell you all www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop against a team who are not at their best. about it next month. ■

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 47 Julian Pottage answers your Frequently Asked Questions How Strong is 1NT by Responder?

he strength of a 1NT bid by positive message. alive. When opener has not jumped or responder depends on several The traditional range of 8-10 for a reversed or shown a fit, you can usually factors: 1NT response still applies today. With dismiss the chance of game. You will T a weaker hand, 6-7 points, respond 1♦ normally show preference between 1 whether the opening bid is in clubs or raise 1♣ to 2♣ (you must have at opener’s suits (passing if you prefer the or some other suit; least four cards in a minor if you do second suit). A 1NT rebid therefore 2 whether you are playing teams and not have a four-card major). shows 8-10 points, the same strength are vulnerable; If you are playing teams and are as an immediate 1NT response to a 1♣ 3 whether you are playing a weak or a vulnerable, you will be a bit more opening. strong 1NT opening; inclined to find a two-over-one Let us look at some hands and see 4 whether it is an immediate response response on a decent nine-point hand. how the above works in practice. or whether it is a rebid. The IMP scale rewards pushing for thin games when vulnerable. You do Partner You For simplicity, let’s assume you not want to stop out of game with a 1♥ ? are playing a weak no-trump and combined 25 points and you do not matchpoints. In this case an immediate mind being in 3NT sometimes with response of 1NT to one of any suit 24 points. If you have a good nine Hand 1 Hand 2 Hand 3 other than clubs indicates 6-9 points. points even without a five-card suit, ♠ K 9 4 3 ♠ 8 4 3 ♠ 10 8 3 Are there any exceptions? you should be reluctant to respond ♥ 8 3 ♥ Q 9 4 ♥ 5 Some nine point hands (with a good 1NT. If at the other table the bidding ♦ Q 9 5 3 ♦ Q 9 5 3 ♦ K 9 8 4 3 five-card suit) will make two-over-one might be going 1NT (strong)-3NT, you ♣ K 7 3 ♣ A J 2 ♣ Q 9 5 3 response rather than respond 1NT. do not want to be stopping in 1NT and Some five point hands, particularly playing the contract from the weaker if you are trying to improve the hand to boot. With Hand 1, you respond 1♠. contract, will also respond 1NT rather If a strong no-trump opening is Showing an unbid major at the one than pass. available, this does affect the upper level takes precedence over limiting In general, however, you will have limit of a 1NT response. You can your hand. 6-9 points and opener will continue freely respond 1NT on as many as ten With Hand 2, you respond 1NT (or not) accordingly. points. You will not be missing game whatever the scoring method and Remember also that you give priority if partner has a balanced 15-16 and vulnerability. Being maximum, you to showing a major, so a 1NT response partner passes, because with a hand will of course go on if partner raises to 1♥ denies four spades while a 1NT like that the opening bid would have to 2NT. response to one of a minor denies a been 1NT in the first place. Even if Although Hand 3 has only five four-card major. you play a weak no-trump, this is an points, passing 1♥ would mean the A 1NT response to 1♣ is slightly important point to remember because distinct possibility of playing with four different. Unless your only suit is the knowledge that responder could hearts facing a singleton – unlikely to clubs, in which case you have the hold as many as 10 points may affect be a good idea. You should respond option to raise to 2♣, you have a suit how you defend if the opponents play 1NT. You are hoping to see a rebid in that you could show at the one level. in a no-trump contract after a 1NT one of the minors (or a pass). It is not, therefore, necessary to use response. If partner rebids 2♥, at least you will 1NT as a dustbin bid. Bearing in Finally, a 1NT rebid by responder is know it is a six-card suit and that you mind that opener will have a better different to an immediate response. have removed the option for your left hand and is thus more likely to have With 6-7 points, you have already hand opponent to introduce spades at tenace holdings, it should carry a more done your bit in keeping the bidding the one level.

Page 48 BRIDGE June 2018 Partner You 1♣ ? Answers to Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quizzes 10-12 Hand 4 Hand 5 Hand 6 ♠ 6 3 2 ♠ 6 3 2 ♠ Q 9 4 on the Cover and page 7 ♥ K 8 2 ♥ A 10 3 ♥ K 7 3 ♦ K 9 3 2 ♦ K J 8 5 2 ♦ J 9 5 3 ♣ 10 5 3 ♣ 6 4 ♣ K 10 3 secondly that you have the nasty double 10. Dealer East. Love All. doubleton shape – two doubletons are ♠ 4 3 2 ♠ 5 often overvalued by the losing trick ♥ K Q 2 N ♥ A J 10 9 8 6 count. Finally your spade queen is not W E ♦ 4 ♦ A 8 7 likely to carry its full weight sitting under Hand 4, with only six HCP, is too S weak to respond 1NT to 1♣, which ♣ K Q J 6 5 2 ♣ A 9 8 a spade bidder. All these factors should remember shows 8-10 points. You persuade you to pass and leave your side should respond 1♦. at a comfortable level. While Hand 5 has the right strength West North East South for 1NT, your diamond suit is too 1♥ Pass good not to mention, so again you 2♣ 2♠ 3♥ 4♠ respond 1♦. Furthermore, with two ? 12. Dealer West. Love All. suits wide open, it might be better ♠ 3 ♠ 9 7 4 2 to have the lead run up to partner’s 4NT. Your partner has made a free ♥ A Q J 8 2 N ♥ 9 6 hand. Of course, if partner rebids bid of 3♥ which should be based upon ♦ A K 9 2 W E ♦ J 4 S 1♠, you will happily bid 1NT at a good six-card suit or better. You have ♣ Q 5 2 ♣ A K 8 7 6 your next turn, which still shows 8-10 superb heart support, a great six-card and will then show some sort of heart suit of your own, a singleton and there is stopper. good news from the auction too. Surely West North East South Hand 6 is perfect for the 1NT your opponents have at least a nine-card 1♥ 1♠ Dbl Pass response. You have nine points, a fit in spades which leaves your partner 2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass flat shape, secondary values and with at most one? ? something in every suit. Bidding 1NT Your hands seem to be fitting really also makes it harder for your left hand well – if your partner has three aces then 3♣. Once again, this hand looks very opponent to overcall. a slam is going to have a good chance: similar to its predecessor: this time ask your partner by using Blackwood. the difference is the shape and the How does opener His response will propel you to slam. positioning of the outside queen. You have 16 points and a singleton, so if you continue after a do have a fit in hearts your hand is quite 1NT response? powerful. Furthermore, your partner 11. Dealer West. Love All.. must have had a reason for doubling With a balanced hand and facing the ♠ Q 3 ♠ 9 7 4 2 on the first round and usually that will usual 6-9 range, opener passes with up ♥ A Q J 8 2 N ♥ 9 6 be because he has some strength in the W E ♦ ♦ to 16 points, raises to 2NT with 17-18 A K 9 2 S J 4 unbid suits (the minors). Since you have and jumps to 3NT with 19. ♣ 5 2 ♣ A K 8 7 6 good support for both minors your hands If responder has shown 8-10 (either might fit well. by bidding 1NT directly over 1♣ or by Your best continuation in this auction rebidding 1NT), a raise to 2NT shows West North East South is to try to finish the description of your 15-16 and a jump raise to 3NT shows 1♥ 1♠ Dbl Pass hand and then let your partner decide on 17-19. 2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass the denomination and the level. With an unbalanced hand, opener ? 3♣ is a great descriptive bid – it is typically shows a second suit if it is unlikely to show four cards because you lower ranking than the first suit. There Pass. Your partner has shown no great would have bid 2♣ rather than 2♦ on the is little need to worry about missing strength with his first round double previous round. What it does do is spell a fit in a higher-ranking suit because although you would expect six or more out your shape to your partner: probably responder would have bypassed that points. He has then followed up with a 1-5-4-3 – he will know you are short in suit to respond 1NT, making a fit in minimum rebid of 2♥. spades. a higher suit unlikely. A rebid in a You have 16 points and six losers, On this hand your partner is able to higher-ranking suit, while it does show so you might think there is a chance work out that clubs will make the best reversing values, does not promise a for game. First of all consider that you denomination and he might choose to 5-6 shape. ■ might not have a real heart fit and pass your bid. 3♣ is a great contract. ■

BRIDGE June 2018 Page 49 Letter from Overseas by John Barr A Dream, or a Nightmare?

esterday evening’s would be easy to squeeze session was a par- East as he held both black ticularly frustrat- jacks. After a while I gave Ying one. The bridge club up, but the hand was still computer decided to in- annoying my subcon- stall a Windows update at scious later in the day, so the last minute (although I tried another approach. I was sure I had deselected West led a heart and that option), which meant I started by cashing my I was late in starting to en- top clubs to see if the suit ter the names and prepare broke nicely. When West the movement. showed out on the sec- Then a pair arrived just ond round I switched to as we were about to start spades, and again West requiring the movement, showed out on the second table numbers and boards round. I now cashed my to be changed. To be fair, Image from http://freefoodphotos.com/imagelibrary/dairy/slides/cheese.html five red suit winners and they had phoned ahead East is in trouble – he still and said that they’d be late, but no-one doubleton. Of course, none of these has one more card to play here: had thought to tell the tournament options worked, and when I woke director. the next morning – feeling less than And throughout the evening, every refreshed – I wondered if the grand ♠ A time I settled down to focus on a hand slam could be made. ♥ — I’d hear the cry of ‘Tournierleitung’ ♦ — (German for TD) breaking my ♣ 10 9 concentration. Every finesse I took ♠ A K Q ♠ — ♠ J 6 failed and every break I hoped for ♥ 4 3 2 ♥ 10 N ♥ — W E failed to materialise. I know that at ♦ 4 3 2 ♦ J 10 S ♦ — duplicate it’s the same for everyone, ♣ 10 9 8 7 ♣ — ♣ J 6 but it seemed to earn me bottom after ♠ 5 ♠ J 6 4 3 2 ♠ 10 9 bottom. ♥ J 10 9 8 7 N ♥ 6 5 ♥ — W E ♦ ♦ ♦ So it was with some relief when I J 10 9 8 7 6 S 5 — settled into an armchair to watch the ♣ 2 ♣ J 6 5 4 3 ♣ A football highlights supported by a ♠ 10 9 8 7 cold beer and a cheese board. I may ♥ A K Q have overdone the cheese, as I spent ♦ A K Q Whichever jack East unguards, I can the night having fitful dreams about ♣ A K Q cash the ace in that suit and use the an imaginary hand on which I was other black ace to cross back to the playing 7NT (see deal in next column). winning 10 for my thirteenth trick. It With 12 top tricks you just need one If the hand was slightly different (ie if is certainly an interesting hand, but of the black suits to break 3-3, or one there was a club entry in dummy, or I think I’ll steer clear of a late night of the black jacks to be singleton or a spade entry in declarer’s hand), it cheese snack next week. ■

Page 50 BRIDGE June 2018