Number: 172 UK £3.95 Europe €5.00 April 2017 Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz This month we are dealing with responding to an opening one-level bid. You are West in the auctions BRIDGEbelow, 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. N/S Game. ♠ K 6 3 ♠ A K Q J 10 4 ♠ A K 7 6 ♠ K Q 7 5 4 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Q 4 2 N 8 N 5 N A 4 3 N ♦ 8 7 6 W E ♦ K 9 4 W E ♦ 6 3 W E ♦ K 6 4 2 W E ♣ K Q 8 6 S ♣ 6 5 3 S ♣ A Q 8 6 5 4 S ♣ 2 S

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♣ Pass 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass ? ? ? ?

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♣ Pass 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass ? ? ? ?

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South 1♣ Pass 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass ? ? ? ?

Answers on page 41 Answers on page 43 Answers on page 45 Answers on page 47 2189 Mr Bridge FULL page 171018BR_Layout 1 05/12/2016 15:20 Page 1

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Mr Bridge fares are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be 10093 withdrawn at any time without notice. Please see website for full terms and conditions. †Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability. ABTA No.Y2206 SHOT IN FOOT followed by supervised stamps are at a worthwhile CHARITIES play, speedball and discount. Give him a call duplicate every evening. on ( 020 8422 4906. Below is a listing of forthcoming bridge charity You can go by coach, rail or air. It’s your choice. UNWANTED MAIL events known to me. It is here for the last time, in this NEW TO US If you want to stop publication. I will try and unwanted mail, then continue to find other ways This year’s bridge event register with the Mailing to circularise the details. at the Trouville Hotel, Preference Service, Additionally, please send Sandown, Isle of Wight was FREEPOST, 29 LON 20771, I have sent out lots of the details much more in different. We used dealing London W1E 0ZT promotional emails in the advance. Even if you don’t machines for the first time. last three or four weeks. want the free advertising, Until now, I have been very UNWANTED CALLS Then the magazine was do ask for prizes. Don’t feel reluctant to introduce this sent out late with the result Similarly, if you are fed up shy, these are always but it seems that at least that the second-hand QPlus with unsolicited telephone provided. It is called half of our regular week- offer was out of date. calls (and who isn’t) then enlightened self-interest. end guests have computer register with the Telephone Please don’t be backward in As I still have some copies, dealt hands and print-outs Preference Service (TPS), coming forward. do send £10 in postage at their local club. Those DMA House, 70 Margaret stamps if you want one. at the event to whom this Street, London W1W 8SS. I also have Acol Bidding service is new had nothing ( 0845 0700707 MAY 2017 and Declarer Play, second- unfavourable to say, so 12 CHILDREN’S CHARITIES hand, at £15 each in I expect that we will be These details will take a Doddington Village Hall, March. postage stamps. Send in rolling this out by the end while to make a difference, 10am for 10.30am start. £16. Val Topliss ( 01354 653696 with confidence. Expires of the year on all our ships but you should find it does eventually reduce 25 STAMFORD BURGHLEY 30 April 2017. I will send and at all our venues. ROTARY CLUB out an email on 28 April both these nuisances. Bridge tea in Tinwell Village listing remainders. NEW DIARY DESIGN Hall, PE9 3UD. OUR FRED.OLSEN 1.15 for 1.30pm. £8.00. SAME OLD STORY My 16-month bridge diaries CRUISE COLLECTION Alan Kinch ( 01780 444276 for 2018 are in the course [email protected] Writing to you every of production and should 31 MACMILLAN CANCER CARE month, as I do, follows a be ready by the end of & DOWNHAM MARKET regular pattern. First of FESTIVAL COMMITTEE April. The design has been Festival duplicate bridge with all, there is the thinking of changed. The ball point pen tea. 1.15 for 1.30pm. £6.00. something interesting to is now held in the spine, Town Hall, Downham Market. tell you about. Then some thereby giving a more research. After that, I get Ann Taylor ( 01366 388408 streamlined finish. They [email protected] side-tracked. I have just have the same colour covers emptied my desk draw and and unchanged prices. JUNE 2017 exhausted all the other 16 GT STUKELEY displacement routines. …TO THE CARIBBEAN CONSERVATIVE CLUB I’m told it is a man thing. Village Hall, Gt Stukeley. On the back cover is 10am for 10.30am start. £15. I hope to make it an invitation for you Kay Brownlow As you can see from the ( 01480 880663 different next month. to join Bernard Magee above picture, I have once Sheila Stephenson and team for lots of again posted a collection ( 01480 457338 2018 RIVER CRUISE seminars and supervised of Mr Bridge cruises on JULY 2017 To be enjoyable, a river play on days at sea, of board the Fred.Olsen which there are many. 14 GT BARFORD CHURCH cruise boat needs to be flagship, Balmoral. Village Hall, Gt Barford, Beds. dedicated to bridge if it’s to 10am for 10.30am start. £15. GOFF STAMPS In addition to using work satisfactorily. To fill a Graham Evans Southampton and ( 01832 293693 river cruise boat, the event With postal rates rising Newcastle, we have added Gill Wilkes ( 01234 870428 needs to be advertised well this month, it is timely Rosyth for the benefit of [email protected] in advance so next year’s once again to remind Scottish Readers, with cruise is featured in a you of Clive Goff’s Stamp OCTOBER 2017 a June cruise around special centrefold pull out. Service, see page 4. 6 ST NEOTS MUSEUM the Baltic Cities. St Neots Outdoor Bowling Club. Bernard Magee and team The new rates are 65/56p 10am for 10.30am start. £15. All good wishes, offer the full programme respectively and his Jean Searle ( 01480 212298 including lectures supply of unused British Mr Bridge

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 3 Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ BRIDGE 1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee INDEX 3 Mr Bridge 2 Ancient Greece, Sicily Ryden Grange, Knaphill, & Spain with Surrey GU21 2TH 5 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage Voyages to Antiquity ( 01483 489961 5 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett 3 Charity Events [email protected] 6 A Tale of the Saucepan by Shireen Mohandes 4 Clive Goff’s Stamps www.mrbridge.co.uk 8 Is Bridge a Sport by Jeremy Dhondy 9 QPlus 12 shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/ 10 Find the Lady by Michael Byrne 11 Club Insurance mrbridge-shop 12 Robin’s Change of Plan by David Bird 11 Travel Insurance Publisher and 14 Bernard Magee’s Managing Editor 14 It Pays to Trust Your Partner by John Barr Tutorial Software Mr Bridge 15 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage 16 Designs for Bridge Bridge Consultant 16 Sally’s Slam of the Month Tables 17 Mr Bridge Playing Cards Bernard Magee 17 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett bernardmagee 18 Duplicate Bridge @mrbridge.co.uk 18 A History of Playing Cards by Paul Bostock Rules Simplified Cartoons & Illustrations 20 Blackwood – Friend or Foe by Ian Dalziel 18 Clive Goff’s Stamps Marguerite Lihou 22 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions 18 QPlus 12 www.margueritelihou.co.uk 29 All You Need to Know About Planning Dummy 19 Croatia with Mr Bridge Technical Consultant by Andrew Kambites 21 Bernard Magee DVDs Tony Gordon Set 7 31 About Advanced Planning Dummy Quiz Typesetting & Design by Andrew Kambites 25 Rhine Cruise & Ruth Edmondson Swiss Delights with 32 Defence as Partner of the Leader by Bernard Magee The River Cruise Line [email protected] 34 About Advanced Planning Dummy Quiz Answers 32 Bernard Magee DVDs Proof Readers by Andrew Kambites Sets 1-3 Julian Pottage 36 Wendy Wensum’s Diaries 33 Bernard Magee DVDs Mike Orriel Sets 4-6 Catrina Shackleton 37 Julian Pottage Answers Your Questions Richard Wheen 35 Denham Filming 2018 40 Catching Up with Sally Brock 43 Declarer Play Customer Services 41 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee with Bernard Magee Catrina Shackleton 45 Designs for Bridge [email protected] 42 What is the Best Range for a 1NT Rebid? Table Covers by Julian Pottage Events & Cruises 48 Acol Bidding ( 01483 489961 43 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee with Bernard Magee Jessica Galt 44 Readers’ Letters 50 Defence [email protected] with Bernard Magee Megan Riccio 45 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee 51 Seville, Morocco [email protected] 46 Can You Defeat 4NT? by Heather Dhondy & Canary Islands with Sophie Pierrepont Voyages to Antiquity [email protected] 47 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee 48 More Tips by Bernard Magee 52 A Passage to the Clubs & Charities Caribbean with Maggie Axtell 49 Seven Days by Sally Brock Voyages to Antiquity [email protected] Address Changes ( 01483 485342 REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE Elizabeth Bryan [email protected] Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, all mint with full gum. Quotations for commercial quantities available on request.

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Page 4 BRIDGE April 2017 DEFENCE DECLARER QUIZ PLAY by Julian Pottage QUIZ (Answers on page 15) by David Huggett (Answers on page 17) ou are East in the defensive positions below playing Ymatchpoint pairs with North-South vulnerable. Both sides ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge. are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman. YIn each case, what is your play strategy?

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

♠ K 5 ♠ A Q 8 6 4 West North East South West North East South ♥ 9 6 4 ♥ A K 7 3 Pass Pass 1♠ ♦ K Q 10 7 ♦ A 2 Pass 1♣ 1♥ 1♠ Pass 2♠ Pass Pass ♣ A 8 4 2 ♣ A 7 2♥ 3♠ Pass 4♠ Dbl 3♠ All Pass All Pass Partner leads the ♦K. What ♠ Partner leads the ♥4. What is your plan? You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 6 and is your plan? after 1NT-3NT and West West leads the ♣K. How leads the ♥7. How do you do you plan the play? plan the play?

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

♠ 3 ♠ Q 10 5 West North East South West North East South ♥ A J 10 3 ♥ A J 10 Pass 1NT 1♠ ♦ J 5 ♦ A K 6 Pass 2♣* Pass 2♠ Pass 2♦ Pass 3♠ ♣ A Q J 8 6 4 ♣ 7 5 3 2 Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass

All Pass Partner leads the ♥J, cov- You are declarer in 5♣. Fourth in hand you open Partner leads the ♣5. What ered by the ♥Q, ♥K and West leads the ♠A and 1NT and accept partner’s is your plan? ♥A. Declarer leads the ♠Q, switches to a low diamond. invitation to 3NT. West which your ♠K wins. What ♠ is your plan? How do you plan the play? leads the 7 and East plays the ♠J. How do you plan the play?

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 5 A Blast From the Past by Shireen Mohandes A Tale of the Saucepan (and One Other Macabre Rubber Bridge Story)

s in tournament bridge, in 1Acol two, showing eight playing tricks, 1Tempted to overcall spades to get in the rubber bridge there can be a forcing. way? Perhaps 3♠ messes things up for the mixture of spectacular plays, 2Responding to ordinary Blackwood, opposition? Let’s assume that West lies low. Agood card reading and calamities, but showing exactly two aces. 2Best not to force with 3♣ because the suit the involvement of financial risk gives isn’t good enough. everything extra spice. Let’s face it, The 2017 teams auction: 3The choices are to bid 2♦ (forcing for one which of us is not interested in reading round) or jump to 3♥ (game forcing, since about a gruesome deal, especially one West North East South partner responded with a suit at the two- which involves hundreds of pounds? 1♥ level). Rob Sheehan’s book, The Big Game, Pass1 2♣2 Pass 2♦3 4Fourth suit forcing. is a delightful collection of deals and Pass 2♠4 Pass 4♥5 5Almost self-supporting suit, at least seven, stories from London’s money games. Pass 4NT6 Pass 5♣7 possibly eight cards (so 11 or 12 red cards). Here’s a calamity (for one side) from Pass 7♥ All Pass 6Roman Keycard Blackwood. the collection, sportingly described to Sheehan by the perpetrator and victim, David Perkins. The Great Rose (TGR) The much admired, talented, and lunatic Glaswegian Irving Dealer South. Love All. Rose (1938-1996), nicknamed Rubber bridge at £5 a hundred. The Great Rose, was the ♠ A K J manager of St James’s Bridge ♥ Q Club, and before that, the ♦ K 10 7 manager of the bridge room at ♣ A Q 9 7 4 3 Crockford’s and The Eccentric ♠ ♠ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 2 Q 3 Club. The St James’s club ♥ ♥ J 2 N 7 6 moved in the 80s and changed ♦ Void W E ♦ Q J 9 5 4 3 S name. The owners paid tribute ♣ ♣ Rose with Jane Priday, Rixi Markus and Tony Priday 10 6 2 K 8 5 to their friend and manager by ♠ Void renaming the club in his honour. ♥ A K 10 9 8 5 4 3 Nowadays it is located at 19C ♦ A 8 6 2 Craven Rd, London W2 3BP, UK. ♣ J At tournament bridge, Irving Rose’s partnerships were very The original rubber bridge auction, successful. Notably Rose and from the 1980s: Sheehan earned a silver medal at the 1981 European Teams Championships. West North East South David Perkins Rose was married to Honor 2♥1 Flint’s daughter, Annette. Pass 3♣ Pass 3♥ Honor’s second husband was Left to right: John Matheson, Terence Reese, Pass 4NT Pass 5♥2 Jeremy Flint. Irving Rose, John MacLaren Pass 7♥ All Pass

Page 6 BRIDGE April 2017 7Zero or three key cards, obviously three in choosing either needs the suit to break back to Malinowski, who reached to this case. better than 6-0. What an awkward the back of the bidding box before his position to find yourself in. If there gaze fell to the scoresheet, and there Pairs who play Acol twos (or Benji) were kibitzers at the table, surely they was just a fractional readjustment as would have a similar start to the were sitting still. he emerged with the green pass card. original auction. Maybe they would The protagonist of this episode chose That last bit was lost on Saucepan, as bid Roman Keycard Blackwood. If to play a diamond to hand. When West it should not be for any rubber bridge you don’t play strong twos, then the trumped the ♦A with his last trump, player with a scintilla of a survival hand isn’t strong enough for 2♣, and declarer must have looked at it with instinct, because he was multi-tasking perhaps too strong for 4♥. horror. One assumes that dummy at the time, taking in the Manchester The opening lead was the ♠10. looked at declarer with disgust. United game on the wall-mounted TV. Looking at just the North/South If Robert does write a second Without pause for thought, hands, if trumps break there are 13 volume, it will no doubt have a section Saucepan bid 2♠. This got back to tricks (two spades, eight hearts, two on a man known to many London Malinowski who now had no difficulty diamonds and one club). players as Saucepan, a very fine player in finding a red card, with the dexterity To make the slam, declarer’s best who sometimes suffers from bad luck. of a seasoned symphony conductor. line is to win with the ♠A, play the Here is an eye-watering deal Saucepan glanced once more at the ♥Q, then take the safest route to involving Kevin Castner and telly, looking for succour perhaps, hand, a spade ruff, to draw trumps, Saucepan, as recounted by Castner. and tried 3♦. Castner joined in with claim, and enjoy writing 1,510 in the a double. Kay retreated to 3♠, and a plus column (£75 at that stake; after January 2017 at TGRs moment later Saucepan was declaring adjusting for inflation let’s call it £200 The Saucepan giveth 3♠ doubled. This was the entire deal: in today’s money). So what misadventure could At a Chicago game, Castner partnered possibly take place? South thought to Arthur Malinowski, the talented ♠ 10 9 3 himself, ‘If I play the ♠J, if West has current manager (Rose would tip his ♥ J 10 5 the ♠Q he is bound to be annoyed for cap, most likely to both Malinowski ♦ Q 10 9 a minute or so. If East has it, then his for raw skill, and to Saucepan for ♣ K Q 5 4 hopes may be raised. He may think insanity). To his left, one of the nicest ♠ Q ♠ A K J 8 I am short of a trick, and I’ll have to individuals in bridge, Andrew Kay. ♥ 9 8 7 N ♥ A K Q 6 4 look elsewhere. I can have a bit of fun To his right, Saucepan. At favourable ♦ A K 5 4 W E ♦ 3 S antagonising them.’ vulnerability with a 60 partscore, ♣ J 10 6 3 2 ♣ 9 8 7 So, declarer played the ♠J and East Castner held: ♠ 7 6 5 4 2 played the ♠Q. Declarer ruffed the first ♥ 3 2 trick and played a heart to dummy’s ♦ J 8 7 6 2 ♥Q. At this point declarer realised that ♠ Q ♣ A ♥ 9 8 7 N he needed to reach his hand safely to W E draw trumps. Had he originally won ♦ A K 5 4 S the first trick with the ♠A, then ruffing ♣ J 10 6 3 2 Carnage auction – 2017: a spade back to hand would have been pretty safe. But his tomfoolery resulted West North East South in having to make a decision. Which Malinowski opened 1♥ (showing five Castner Kay Malinowski The Saucepan minor is safer to use? plus hearts). The Saucepan passed and 1♥ Pass Holding seven cards in both minors, Castner responded 2♥. This was passed 2♥ Pass Pass 2♠ Pass Pass Dbl 3♦ Dbl 3♠ Dbl All Pass

American Kevin Castner is a keen rubber bridge player and often plays at TGRs. He describes Saucepan as, Castner led a heart, and the defence ‘… in person our young Pole is of medium height, played three rounds. Saucepan ruffed mid-30’s, balding and endlessly humorous. He is never and tried a trump. Armageddon. seemingly unhappy; rather, an irresistible positive energy Malinowski overtook the ♠Q, drew follows him around. Saucepan does everything fast, and trumps, cashed the rest of his hearts, when something goes awry is always ready with a broad and played a diamond. Just three tricks smile and his usual idiosyncratic, “What I’m supposed to for declarer and a score of minus 1,700. do?” to which most of his current partners snarl, “Not At this point, Saucepan threw his that.” His real name is the usual Eastern European hands up in the air, smiled and said, jumble of an extraordinary number of consonants with a ‘What I’m supposed to do?’ The almost Kevin Castner “y” or two tossed in for flavour….’ always even-tempered Andrew Kay suggested, ‘Nothing, you @^*#.’ ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 7 About the EBU by Jeremy Dhondy Is Bridge a Sport?

My name is Jeremy Dhondy and I am the Chairman of the English Bridge Union. 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]

Why is it important that One of the ways in which bridge’s schools, for example. The view of some bridge might be recognised status as a possible sport might head teachers was that all card games Qas a sport? Is there much be determined is by reference to involved the ‘devil’s play things’ and chance of this happening?’ Parliament. The last time they spoke were not to be countenanced. How- on the matter, it was to include bridge ever, this battle has been won and you This is a timely question as, in in the definition of sport used by a should not expect the police to turn January of this year, the High body such as the Charity Commission. up at your weekly game, well not for A Court ruled that the English Bridge now has a charity EBED (English anything to do with gambling anyway. Bridge Union could not proceed fur- Bridge Education and Development) In 1970, over 250 schools took part ther in its quest to have bridge recog- and around 20 affiliated clubs are now in a national competition sponsored nised as a sport. That represents the registered as charities. One argument by the Daily Mail and Peter Donovan, end of the road as far as legal action put forward by our lawyers was that its bridge correspondent. In some is concerned, at least for the moment. Sport England should use a modern schools, teaching bridge is linked to So why does it even matter? Is it just definition made by Parliament, rather mathematical skills, but there is no about money? than relying on an 80 year old law. The formal link to the national curriculum IOC and Sport Accord both recognise and nor will there be until there is What is a sport anyway? bridge. Erasmus+, an EU sport funding more formal recognition of the game. When this topic is discussed, it fre- programme also recognises bridge. That battle has been won in some quently starts with a pub-like disagree- Sometimes people use the expres- European countries such as Sweden. A ment as to what constitutes a sport, sion Mind Sport, which includes not quote from a USA citizen who came to with points about physical activity only bridge but other activities such as observe a youth training event, ‘To see and competition being made. There chess and go. seventh and eighth graders sitting and was a good moment in the EBU’s first concentrating for three hours, it never hearing against the imposition of VAT Why does it matter? happens except in bridge.’ on competition entry fees, when the Sport, Mind Sport, Game, Activity. It would be foolish to suggest that HMRC lawyer went on at length about What’s the difference? money has nothing to do with the anything that was a sport, not only In the 1930s, when bridge was arguments. Bridge clubs benefit involving physical activity but having relatively young, it got a lot of from grants from, for example, local participants who were fit and healthy. publicity at national level. Bridge authorities. Recognition would unlock ‘I expect you mean darts,’ came from matches between Great Britain and greater possibilities of funding from our lawyer (sotto voce) to the amuse- the USA were widely publicised as the National Lottery. There was a ment of at least one of the judges. I tests of skill, yet the police arrived at story in the press at the start of this suppose the first point is one of fair- a bridge congress in Harrogate in 1935 year about a bridge club (unaffiliated), ness. Why is bridge defined as a sport because of, they said, the existence which applied for and got funding to in some countries, including ones in of gambling. Last year, a number of help some club members participate the EU, but not in the UK? Why are bridge players, including UK expats, in a director training course, run some activities defined as sports and were disturbed by the police in Pattaya by EBED and the EBU. This council others not? The list of those that are during a duplicate and arrested. There may have been more enlightened in England is more than a touch arbi- was apparently a crackdown on vice than some, but a rise in recognition trary. Baton twirling? Model Aircraft ordered by the military government. and reputation can only help. As to flying? Dragon Boat Racing? It sounds The battle to have bridge regarded why there should be recognition and like an evening in watching Eurosport as a game of skill and not a gambling funding – it is a good idea to look at 2. Of course, widening the list means game went on in the UK for more how our game can assist society. the funding may have to go more than fifty years. As long as people, in ways, but it is perhaps not unreason- general, and the Government, specifi- Benefits of bridge able to suggest that the list should be a cally, regarded it as a gambling game, Introducing bridge, or its younger bit more consistent and logical. it wasn’t going to be promoted in brother mini bridge, into schools can

Page 8 BRIDGE April 2017 improve mathematical skills 2008 finding published in mind sport-type activities and social skills. It gets vol- the American Journal of both in the field of health PLUS 12 unteers involved. However, Public Health. It suggested and also social inclusion. It’s Q the two hardest things in in- that social ties through com- already happening in other creasing this do not include munity groups, involving countries. I’ve mentioned Really user-friendly funding. It is a matter of activities such as bridge, can European countries already, bridge-playing getting volunteers and once preserve brain health, there- but bridge will be a part of software that is achieved, being able fore EBED’s attempts to add the Asian Games next year to get into schools and past to the body of evidence, in and it was on the short list, FEATURES INCLUDE those who think of bridge England, will be important but not eventually chosen, and smoky rooms, green in the fight for greater rec- for the Olympic Games in l Help button – explains eyeshades and dubious prac- ognition. Tokyo in 2020. the features for bidding tices in the same breath. Is In short, I would argue and card play advice Participation it fair? Of course not, but that whether you end up l Displays on HD and when our national press il- The number of universities calling bridge a sport, a large screens lustrates a story on bridge with bridge clubs is smaller mind sport or neither of with photos showing some than it once was. The win- those, it should be high on l Comprehensive retired colonels dressed in ning team, in the British the list of activities to be manual plus fours in golf clubs, sip- Universities Champion- promoted by our govern- l Feed in your ping large gin and tonics ship for the Portland Bowl, ment to all age groups, be- own deals before the sun has gone over qualifies to play in a Euro- cause it has a public ben- the yardarm, it is perhaps pean Universities event, ex- efit. The EBU may have lost l Minibridge option not that surprising. I invited cept that it doesn’t. Because its recent court battle (not l 5,000 preplayed hands one of the bigger press photo bridge is not recognised as the first time this battle has for teams agencies to the EBU Sum- a sport by the British Uni- been fought), but I think mer Congress to take some versities and Colleges Sport, the national organisation l 4,000 preplayed hands for matchpoint pairs more realistic pictures for participation for our teams should be seeking to raise their libraries but was ig- in this event is denied. I the profile of the game and l Save match function nored, sadly. think that for the first time promote it. If you agree let It is not, of course, just in quite a lot of years, the your local MP know. Several l Closed room – button to view other table about schools. We are living EBU will have more than MPs turned up recently at a longer and many want more 500 junior members in 2017 match between school chil- social and leisure activ- (still not quite 1% of mem- dren and members of the ity after retirement. Taking bership). That’s a welcome House of Lords, organised bridge lessons from scratch landmark but when you by the EBU, and they were or, perhaps going back to compare it with countries impressed by what they saw. £99 something you learnt forty such as France, Poland or the If bridge got the recognition including p&p years ago, can give you ac- Netherlands, it is a drop in it asks for and perhaps some cess to a whole new social the ocean. In Poland, bridge access to funding or relief environment, so when we is recognised by the Polish from VAT, then amongst the hear government bang on Olympic Authority. Bridge things that could happen TRADE-IN about social inclusion, then is taught and played in many would be: bridge has an important part schools, they have well over OFFER to play whether it is at home, 10,000 juniors, they pick up l A nationwide pro- Send in ANY in the local club or at the lo- a disproportionate num- gramme of minibridge bridge software, cal U3A group. ber of medals in the junior in schools using accred- together with a Then there are health ben- events and, in due course, ited teachers. cheque for £50 efits. There is some evidence this will filter through to the l The production of learn- that activities such as bridge full open team. ing material for begin- and receive (or the Sudoku puzzle for ners at all levels. QPlus 12. that matter) can help to de- For the future l Grants for clubs to help lay the onset of dementia- If we can get to a position them upgrade their fa- like illnesses by keeping the where there is more recog- cilities. Mr Bridge brain active. Bridge, on the nition for bridge and other l Reduced entry fees for ( 01483 489961 whole, is more sociable than equivalent activities, then we competitions. www.mrbridge.co.uk some other activities like will all be better off. Those l Training weekends for completing the crossword. who play will get help and players at all levels. System: 8mb RAM, CD-ROM, Much of the evidence comes acknowledgement. Society l Training programmes Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10 from the USA, such as the as a whole will benefit from for bridge teachers. ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 9 Michael Byrne on Playing with the Odds Find the Lady

ast month we looked at situations You reach 4♠ and the defence leads Now we have nine where you were missing the jack a club to the ace, returns the jack to ♥ A 5 4 3 2 cards, surely it is time to ♣ N of the key suit and needed to the king and exits with the 10. You W E play for the drop? Cor- Lconsider carefully what to do if the ruff and draw trumps and then try S rect – but only just. suit broke badly; this month we will a hopeful diamond to the king (if ♥ K J 7 6 Cash the ace and then a concentrate on the classic situation the ace is with West, then you have low one to hand. When of missing the queen and having to a discard for your losing heart). East the next hand follows it is close but negotiate the suit. foils that plan by winning with the ace playing for the drop just has the edge. Let’s start at the beginning and try and returning the jack. The queen will drop 52½% of the time and work out why we play certain How do you play the hearts? (40% for 2-2 and 12½% for singleton combinations the way we do. Of course, you know enough to queen), but the finesse will work just A simple every day suspect a trap when you see one, and I under 50% of the time (since some of ♠ K 3 2 combination with two hope all eager readers are demanding the time the suit will be 4-0). N choices about how to to know the bidding…. well here it is: You can see that nine is the critical W E S play it. You could play number when the play changes from ♠ A J 4 the ace and king, which West North East South taking a finesse to playing for the drop. will gain if the queen Pass 1NT 2♠ If we increase the number of cards drops doubleton, or you could cash the Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ then it becomes pretty obvious: king and lead a low card to the jack, All Pass You cash the ace, if which will gain if the queen is ‘onside’ ♥ A 5 4 3 2 everyone follows you N (with East). So, East has shown 12-14 points and W E can lay your cards on Of course it is not a close decision has turned up with the ♦A-J and the S the table, since the – the queen will only drop if the suit ♣A-J: ten high-card points. He simply ♥ K J 8 7 6 queen is certain to drop. breaks 5-2 (which happens about 30% must have the ♥Q to make up his Actually your odds of the time) and even then the queen point count, so your only chance is of making all the tricks with this must be in the two card holding not to cash the ace and king and hope the combination are even better than that, the five card holding, combined odds queen drops. since if East has all three, his partner of barely 9%. What about if you have more cards will show out and you can finesse on The finesse meanwhile will succeed between the two hands? Then isn’t the the second round. a full 50% of the time, assuming there queen more likely to drop? Digressing slightly, this combination are no other factors to influence us. The finesse is still 50%. shows the importance of being able to Let’s see a hand where other factors ♥ A 4 3 2 Even with seven cards count to 13 – I have seen improving might be at play: N the queen will only drop players who cash the ace and lead W E S doubleton 16% of the another one, when the next hand ♥ K J 6 time, which represents a shows out they assume the queen is ♠ Q 4 3 third (2 out of 6) of the guarded and duck the trick, losing to ♥ K J 7 48% for a 4-2 break. a now singleton queen. ♦ K Q 4 Now it is a little closer, It is very important that you count ♣ 6 5 3 2 ♥ A 4 3 2 but the queen will only how many cards you have between the N drop doubleton 27% of two hands and consequently work out N W E W E S the time. If you needed how many you are missing. S ♥ K J 6 5 four tricks (perhaps this So far we have looked at combina- ♠ A K J 10 7 6 is your trump suit in a tions where all your pips were very ♥ A 3 2 somewhat dubious grand slam) then poor, but what about if you have some ♦ 5 2 you will need the suit to be 3-2 and the more intermediate cards – does that ♣ Q 7 finesse right, half of 68% (34%) so the make a difference? odds are getting a little closer. Have a look at the hand below, where

Page 10 BRIDGE April 2017 you bid confidently to 6NT only to first diamond (the jack) or lets it go find that the cruel duplication of shape and covers the second diamond. CLUB makes it harder than it should be: INSURANCE ♠ K Q 2 ♠ K Q 2 ♥ K J 6 Every club should be ♥ K J 6 ♦ K J 10 4 covered and my inclusive ♦ K J 10 4 ♣ Q J 4 package, to suit clubs of up ♣ Q J 4 ♠ 10 9 7 ♠ A 6 5 4 to 300 members for less than ♥ 10 8 2 N ♥ 9 7 5 4 N ♦ Q 9 7 5 W E ♦ 8 £75 per year, is the right W E S S ♣ 9 7 3 ♣ 10 8 5 2 package at the right price. ♠ J 8 3 ♠ J 8 3 ♥ A Q 3 ♥ A Q 3 Contact FIDENTIA for a quote ♦ A 6 3 2 ♦ A 6 3 2 ♣ A K 6 ♣ A K 6 ( 020 3150 0080 [email protected]

The opponents lead the ♠10 to the king The general rule about cashing the ace and ace and play one back. Since you first is also worth a final look – how need to stake your house on finding would you play this combination with the queen of diamonds you should five winners needed? cash most of your spades, hearts and Holding eight cards we ♥ A 5 4 3 2 clubs before making a decision. know the finesse is the N If this article were on counting, then W E best play, but which top there would be some crucial clues to S honour do we cash and help you along your way, but sadly ♥ K J 10 who do we play for the both opponents follow to the rounds queen? For those with Pre-existing health of the suits. In this case, you have Actually, the first question is mislead- conditions (No Age Limit) nothing to go on but the odds. ing, because if we play the suit correct- l Travel Insurance with online How should we play the diamonds? ly we won’t cash either. If the suit was Medical Screening The critical factor here is the known to be 3-2, then again it would l Cover for medical conditions, presence of the ten, but the absence of be a complete guess between cashing up to a high level of severity, the nine. You appear to have what is the ♥A and leading to the ♥J (gaining even a terminal prognosis called a ‘two-way finesse’: you could if the queen is with East) or cashing the play the ♦K and run the jack round, or ♥K and leading the ♥J round, gaining l No age limits cash the ace and play low to the ten, if the ♥Q was with West. l Instant online cover but the two plays are not equal. However, the 4-1 breaks tell us what It is true that if diamonds were 3-2 to do. If West has four cards to the We fully understand that you may then it is a coin toss, but consider the queen, then we have a loser however wish to speak to us direct about possibility that diamonds are 4-1. Now we play, since we lack the middling cover and your medical conditions since you need four diamond tricks, cards (the nine and the eight). and assure you of the best attention cashing the king and running the jack The good news is that if East has by senior staff on a direct phone line wouldn’t help you, because when East four cards to the queen we can pick it that does not require you to hold or has ♦Q-x-x-x, he will cover the jack up, so that is what we play for. Start by press buttons for departments. and there will be a fourth round loser. leading low to the jack. If it wins come The right play is to cash the ace of back and lead low to the ten. Note that ( diamonds and finesse the jack. If it we mustn’t cash the ace first, since we 01268 524344 loses you go down, but if it wins and will be putting the ten beneath it, and We look forward to East shows out, you cross back to your that is a card needed to win a trick. speaking with you soon hand with your last winner (note the The general rule iscash a high careful way I said ‘cash most of your honour first if you can put a low card Email: [email protected] winners’ in the first paragraph) and under it, if you can’t then take a first Website: www.genesischoice.co.uk take the finesse again. The full hand is round finesse. in the next column. However foolish you will feel when Genesis Choice Ltd are an appointed To prove the point if you swap the representative of NDI Insurance you lose to a singleton queen, there are and Reinsurance Brokers Ltd who East-West hands, then even with the four other singletons which you will are authorised and regulated by the sight of all four hands, the contract benefit from by taking a first round Financial Conduct Authority No.446914 can’t be made whether East covers the finesse. ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 11 Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird Robin’s Change of Plan

here are you going?’ de- Rhoswen Beddle, who always wore then crossed to dummy’s ♠10 and led manded Maid Marian. one of her prettiest dresses when the ♥Q. ‘Just heading for a playing bridge, led the ♥9. She looked Ingrith Grosse covered with the ♥K ‘Wquick one in the Drunken Partridge,’ flirtatiously at Robin. ‘I trust this lead and Hood ruffed with the ♠K. He was Robin Hood replied. ‘It’s their pie night will make it difficult for you,’ she said. then able to lead the ♠9 to the ♠J and and Tuck feels self-conscious if he’s ‘I expect it will,’ Robin Hood replied. discard a club on the ♥J. A subsequent there on his own.’ It was not attractive to take the heart club to the king lost to the ace, but the ‘But it’s Thursday,’ Marian replied. finesse, since a club return would contract was made. ‘Surely you remember that we agreed then put the contract at risk. Hood ‘Your ♥9 lead made it easy for him, to play an evening’s bridge with leaned forward to play dummy’s ace. partner,’ Ingrith declared. ‘It told Ingrith and Rhoswen.’ He continued with the ♦A-K from his him that I had the ♥K. If you lead a ‘Perhaps Nazir could make up a hand and returned to dummy with a diamond instead, he’d probably take four,’ Hood suggested. low spade to the ♠8. His next move the heart finesse and go down.’ ‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ reprimanded was to lead the ♦J, discarding the ♥10 ‘I don’t think so,’ said Robin Hood, Maid Marian. ‘I promised them that from his hand when East played low. chuckling to himself. ‘On a diamond we’d play tonight. When have I ever West won with the ♦Q and returned lead, I win and cash the other top played with Nazir?’ a fourth round of the suit, allowing diamond. Then I can draw trumps, An hour or so later, Robin and her partner to ruff the established♦ 10. ending in the dummy and lead the ♦J, Marian were seated in the comfortable Robin Hood overruffed with the ♠Q, discarding a club. I make six spades, main room of the log cottage owned retaining his two lower trumps. He three diamonds and the heart ace.’ by Ingrith and Haryld Grosse. Play started and this was an early deal:

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

West North East South Rhoswen Marian Ingrith Robin 1♠ Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass

Page 12 BRIDGE April 2017 Goodness me, thought Rhoswen. considered his next move. Suppose he somewhat reluctant to display the How can anyone follow what he says played the ♥K next and West showed dummy. ‘This brandy is so powerful, when he speaks so quickly? ‘That’s out. When he led the ♥10 to East’s Robin,’ she said, arranging her cards right,’ she said. ‘Did you follow that, jack, she would force him again in as attractively as possible. ‘I wouldn’t Ingrith? My lead made no difference’ spades. After drawing the last trump normally open on only 10 points, of ‘I’m not deaf,’ Ingrith retorted. ‘Of he would have lost control of the hand. course. Still, I do have three trumps course I followed it.’ The defenders would doubtless score a for you.’ Maid Marian leaned forward with a spade trick when he cleared the clubs. ‘It’s fine,’ replied Robin Hood. conspiratorial air. ‘Is Haryld at home?’ Ah yes, there was an obvious safety Rhoswen switched to the ♠J and she asked. play to guarantee the contract. Hood won in his hand, proceeding ‘No,’ Ingrith replied. ‘He always Robin Hood crossed to the ♦Q and to play the ace of trumps. Two low goes to the pie night at the Drunken finessed the ♥10. A delighted Rhoswen trumps appeared and he considered Partridge. Their pies are really good, pounced with her ♥J. ‘Fooled you!’ she his continuation carefully. Suppose he he says. You should give them a try, cried. played another trump and one of the Robin.’ Hood ruffed the next spade and drew defenders had started with ♥K-Q-x. ‘He’s lucky that you allow him to go,’ the last trump, continuing with the She would win and knock out dum- Hood retorted. ace and queen of clubs. With trump my’s ♠A. She might then be able to ruff Maid Marian wasn’t listening. control retained, he could ruff the the second or third round of clubs and ‘Perhaps we could have a small glass of spade return and claim the contract. cash a spade trick for one down. his apple brandy, then?’ she suggested. ‘Did you see my wonderful play, Hood nodded to himself. The right ‘He wouldn’t mind. It’s not fair if he’s Ingrith?’ Rhoswen exclaimed. ‘With way to play the contract was clear. He out enjoying a few mugs of ale and we the queen and jack, I played the queen! must abandon the trump suit and play have to sit here with a dry mouth.’ Robin assumed you had the jack.’ on clubs. The game became increasingly ‘A clever trap, indeed,’ replied When the ♣A and another club convivial as the level in Haryld Grosse’s Maid Marian. ‘Have you had one were played, Rhoswen ruffed with the brandy bottle descended, inch by inch. glass too many, Robin? A 3-2 break ♥Q. She persisted with another spade, Robin Hood found himself in another is much more likely than a 4-1 break. removing dummy’s ace. East had to game contract: Continue with the ♥K and you make follow to the third round of clubs an overtrick.’ and Robin Hood then disposed of his Robin Hood made no comment. He spade loser on the fourth round. East Dealer South. E/W Game. looked forward to the prospect of relat- could score her ♥K when she wished. ♠ 8 5 4 2 ing the deal to Nazir and Tuck on the The contract was home. ♥ 4 2 morrow. How amused they would be. Marian wagged her finger playfully. ♦ Q 8 4 Not long afterwards, he had yet ‘Who’s had too much to drink?’ she ♣ 9 4 3 2 another contract to play: said. ♠ J 10 9 6 ♠ A K Q 7 Hood laughed. ‘Not me, I assure ♥ Q J N ♥ 8 5 3 you.’ W E ♦ ♦ J 7 6 S 10 9 5 2 Dealer North. Game All. ‘Trumps were 2-2!’ Marian ♣ K 10 8 6 ♣ 7 5 ♠ A 7 5 exclaimed. ‘Play a second round and ♠ 3 ♥ J 7 5 the king falls with the queen. It’s ♥ A K 10 9 7 6 ♦ 8 the same as that other hand you got ♦ A K 3 ♣ K Q 8 7 6 3 wrong. You’d make an overtrick.’ ♣ A Q J ♠ J 10 9 3 ♠ Q 6 4 Ingrith joined in the laughter. ‘That’s ♥ Q 2 N ♥ K 8 right,’ she said. ‘You were very lucky I W E ♦ ♦ A K Q 7 5 2 S J 10 6 4 3 had a third club. Otherwise I would West North East South ♣ 2 ♣ 10 9 4 have ruffed the third round with the Rhoswen Marian Ingrith Robin ♠ K 8 2 king and cashed a spade winner. You’d 2♣ ♥ A 10 9 6 4 3 have gone down when you could have Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ ♦ 9 made an overtrick!’ Pass 2NT Pass 4♥ ♣ A J 5 ‘If you’d started with only two clubs, All Pass the suit would be 2-2,’ Hood replied. ‘Rhoswen couldn’t have ruffed the Rhoswen led the ♠J, winning the first West North East South second round.’ trick and continued with another Rhoswen Marian Ingrith Robin ‘Just look how he makes excuses,’ spade. Robin Hood ruffed East’s ♠Q 1♣ Pass 1♥ said Ingrith, emptying the last drops and played the trump ace, the queen 2♦ Pass 3♦ 4♥ of the brandy into her glass. ‘It’s well appearing from West. All Pass known that men can’t take drink like Hood took another mouthful of we ladies can. Those two hands prove brandy, savouring the fiery liquid as he Rhoswen led the ♦A and Marian was it!’ ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 13 BERNARD MAGEE’S Letters from Overseas INTERACTIVE It Pays to Trust TUTORIAL CDS Your Partner ADVANCED FIVE-CARD DECLARER PLAY MAJORS & by John Barr Strong No-Trump l Making Overtricks in No-trumps l Opening Bids o you sometimes the ♣A and then played the ♥ l Making Overtricks & Responses wonder if your A. My first inclination was in Suit Contracts l No-Trump partner has taken to find a discard, but why Openings Dleave of his or her senses as had partner cashed the ♣A? l Endplays they make a play that seems Trusting that he had done l Avoidance l Support £89 for Partner to make no sense? After so for a reason, I ruffed his l Wrong partner has done a few odd ♥A and continued with a Contract £81 l Slams & Strong Openings£66 things, is it difficult to take club, hoping that he would l Simple their bids and plays at face ruff it – which he did. Two l Rebids Squeezes value? Here is an example more ruffs and the ♠K add- l Counting l Minors of a strange-looking play. Is ed up to seven tricks for the the Hand & Misfits partner bonkers, or is there defence, two off, and that l Trump Reductions l Pre-empting a message for you to decode? magical +200 score. & Coups l Doubles So remember, if partner l Playing Doubled l Overcalls does something that looks a Pairs. Dealer West. Game All. bit odd, there may well be a Contracts l Competitive ♠ 6 2 reason for it. If he has done l Safety Plays Auctions ♥ 10 something clever and you ♦ K 10 8 7 manage to work it out, that ♣ J 6 5 4 3 2 does wonders for partner- ♠ ♠ ADVANCED A 9 N Q J 10 5 4 ship morale, but if you ig- ♥ J 7 3 W E ♥ 9 8 6 5 nore partner’s play and de- ACOL BIDDING S ALSO ♦ A Q J 9 6 ♦ 3 fend without thinking too l Basics ♣ K 10 8 ♣ Q 9 7 deeply, the opposite is true. l Advanced ♠ K 8 7 3 The other side of the coin Basics l Acol ♥ A K Q 4 2 is that you should think ♦ l Weak Twos Bidding 5 4 2 carefully about doing some- ♣ A thing unusual as partner l Strong Hands (see p48) may interpret it as mean- l Defence ingful. So, for example, if to Weak Twos l Declarer West opened a strong no- on this hand South had ace l Defence to 1NT Play trump, and East bid 2♥ doubleton in clubs, it would l Doubles (transfer) which South dou- potentially confuse North l Two-suited (see p43) bled. Although he should if he cashed the club ace at Overcalls £96 pass with only two spades, trick two, so it is right to just l Defences to l Defence West completed the transfer continue with top hearts. Other Systems and 2♠ was the final con- One final thing to con- (see p50) tract. sider. If partner does some- l Misfits and Distributional On the face of it, the de- thing odd for no good rea- Hands fence will take two spades, son and you interpret it three hearts and the ♣A as being meaningful and for one off. While +100 is a defend accordingly, he will ( 01483 489961 reasonable score on a part appreciate that you trusted score hand, +200 is much him (even if there was no www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop better. Sitting North, I led good reason on this occa- System: MAC OSX (Intel chip), Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10, CD ROM my singleton heart. Partner sion) and will try harder in won with the queen, cashed future. ■

Page 14 BRIDGE April 2017 Answers to Julian Pottage’s Defence Quiz on page 5

West North East South trick two? 1. ♠ A Q 9 2 Pass 1NT For two reasons you should prefer a ♥ Q 2 Pass 2♣* Pass 2♠ club switch to a heart switch. The first is ♦ A K Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ that a discard might be coming on the ♣ J 9 6 4 3 All Pass fourth heart. The second is that while a ♠ J 6 ♠ 4 3 club cannot do worse than spare declarer N ♥ J 7 4 ♥ A K 10 6 5 Partner leads the ♣5. What is your plan? a guess, a heart switch might blow a trick W E ♦ J 9 5 4 3 S ♦ 8 6 2 For sure, you should win the first club if partner has Q-x-x or if declarer has ♣ A 8 5 ♣ Q 10 2 and cash a second round. Indeed, you Q-8-x. Leading from the ♥10 with the ♠ K 10 8 7 5 will surely then play a third round. Three ♥9 in view on your right is not safe at all. ♥ 9 8 3 rounds will stand up if partner has led Leave the hearts well alone. ♦ Q 10 7 middle from three low cards or low from ♣ K 7 J-x-x. Having taken three rounds of clubs, you do not want to play the thirteenth West North East South club. That would give a ruff and discard 4. ♠ A 6 Pass Pass while offering limited hope of a trump ♥ Q 9 2 Pass 1♣ 1♥ 1♠ promotion. A switch to avoid is a ♦ K Q J 8 7 5 2♥ 3♠ Pass 4♠ diamond. If partner has the ♦K but not ♣ 9 7 All Pass the ♦10, declarer can insert the ♦10 to ♠ 7 2 ♠ K 4 3

force out the ♦K. While a trump switch ♥ J 10 8 7 4 N ♥ K 6 5 Partner leads the ♥4. What is your plan? will generally be safe, you might be ♦ 10 3 2 W E ♦ 6 4 S You begin by cashing the two top hearts. saving your opponent a guess if partner ♣ J 6 3 ♣ A 10 8 5 2 If you fail to do so, declarer might hold the has ♠K-9-x. A heart is your correct exit at ♠ Q J 10 9 8 5 ♦Q-x-x and discard a heart from dummy trick four. ♥ A 3 on the ♦Q. What do you do then? While ♦ A 9 the only real hope of further tricks is in the ♣ K Q 4 club suit, you should be patient and return a diamond. If you lead a club, declarer might hold ♣A-K-x and avoid a loser. On 3. ♠ J 9 3 2 West North East South the actual layout, leading a club allows ♥ K 9 3 2 1♠ your opponent to make the contract. There ♦ J 5 Pass 2♦ Pass 3♠ is no guess as your initial pass means that ♣ A 9 5 Pass 4♠ All Pass you can hardly hold the ♣A. ♠ 7 4 ♠ A 6 ♥ Q 8 4 N ♥ 10 7 5 Partner leads the ♥J, covered by the ♦ K Q 10 3 W E ♦ A 9 8 6 2 ♥Q, ♥K and ♥A. Declarer leads the ♠Q, S ♣ K J 8 3 ♣ 7 6 2 which your ♠K wins. What is your plan? ♠ K Q 10 8 5 At teams or rubber bridge, you would 2. ♠ 10 8 7 2 ♥ A J 6 lead a low club next trying to give ♥ A Q J 2 ♦ 7 4 declarer a guess. At matchpoints, this is ♦ A 2 ♣ Q 10 4 highly risky because declarer surely holds ♣ 10 6 4 the ♦A on the bidding. If your opponent ♠ 9 6 4 ♠ J 3 plays the ♣K, whether from K-Q-x or ♥ 10 7 4 3 N ♥ 8 6 5 West North East South from K-x or by guessing right from K-J-x, W E ♦ ♦ K 9 3 S J 8 6 5 1♠ twelve tricks will presumably result. ♣ J 7 5 ♣ A K Q 8 Pass 2♠ Pass Pass You should cash the ♣A and, unless ♠ A K Q 5 Dbl 3♠ All Pass partner encourages, revert to hearts. ♥ K 9 This probably saves any overtricks. Note ♦ Q 10 7 4 Partner leads the ♦K. What is your plan? that you play the ♣A before the heart, ♣ 9 3 2 You start by encouraging with the ♦9. lest declarer ruffs the heart or partner What do you do after taking the ♦A at thinks you can ruff a heart. ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 15 Sally Brock Looks at Your Slam Bidding

Hand-crafted Card Tables Sally’s These English made tables offerThese superb English quality made and have the genuinetables offer Pelissier superb hinges. quality and have the ChooseThese Englishfrom the made great tables value genuine Pelissier hinges. offerTheseClub, superb Englishthe Premierquality made and ortables the have Chooseelegant from Royal the great. Slam Clinic the genuine Pelissier hinges. offerThese superb English quality made and tables have ChoosevalueSpecial Club, from Prices thethe forPremiergreat Bridge value or offerthe genuine superb qualityPelissier and hinges. have ClubClub,the orders theelegant Premier of 5Royal. or or more. the theChoose genuine from Pelissier the great hinges. value SpecialClub, elegantthe Prices Premier Royal for or.Bridge the Choose from the great value Where did we better hand – at least a good SpecialClub,elegant the Prices Premier Royal for or.Bridge the Club orders of 5 or more. Dealer North. N/S Game. ClubSpecial orderselegant Prices of Royal for5 or Bridge. more. go wrong? 14-count. Club orders of 5 or more. That would lead to the fol- ♠ Q 10 9 7 ♠ A 6 Special Prices for Bridge N Club orders of 5 or more. This month’s deal was sent lowing auction: ♥ Void W E ♥ Q 7 6 5 4 S in by Ann Ridgway of Cov- ♦ A K Q 6 2 ♦ J 10 8 4 entry after a bit of a disaster: West East ♣ A Q 9 7 ♣ K 2 1♦ 1♠ Club Table with traditional green 2♠ 3♣ felt playing surface £159.00 ♠ K Q 8 ♠ A J 4 3 2 3♦ 3♥ West North East South ♥ J 8 6 3 N ♥ A K 5 3♠ 5♦ 1♥ Pass Pass Club Table with traditional green W E Club Table with traditional ♦ K Q J 5 3 S ♦ Void 5♠ 6♠ Dbl Pass 2♦ Pass Clubfelt playing Table surface with traditional £159.00 green green felt playing surface ♣ 8 ♣ A Q J 10 4 4♥ Pass 4♠ Pass felt playing surface £159.00 Club£159 Table with traditional green East bids naturally, keeping 5♣ Pass 7♦ All Pass felt playing surface £159.00 the bidding low, to get more West East information. When West West’s double was normal 1♦ 1♠ shows good diamonds, it is and East made life easy for 2♦ 3♣ unrealistic for East to think his side by responding 2♦ Premier Table, bevelled edges 4♠ 5♦ about a grand slam. His rather than 1NT. West’s 4♥ and baize playing surface £199.00 jump to 5♦ now is Exclusion now showed the void heart Their agreement was that Blackwood (if the partner- (3♥ would have been a sin- Premier Table, bevelled edges they played Exclusion Black- ship play that convention) gleton). East cooperated and baize playing surface £199.00 PremierPremier Table, Table, bevelled bevelled edges wood, but it is sometimes but is to check on the ♠K with a 4♠ cue-bid and West and baize playing surface £199.00 Premieredges andTable, baize bevelled playing edges difficult to identify. East for a small slam, rather than cue-bid 5♣. I think East’s andsurface baize playing £199 surface £199.00 meant 5♦ as ace-asking, but looking for a grand. leap to the grand slam was West did not think it applied a bit premature here – was when the suit had been bid it necessary for West to hold Royal Table, elegant surround and and rebid naturally. Slam such good diamonds? If a baize playing surface £249.00 My first comment is that of the Month diamond honour were to Order online or by phone I think West’s first rebid be missing, then it would Royalwww.designsforbridge.co.uk Table, elegant surround and should be 2♠, not 2♦. Three- almost certainly be with Royalbaize playing Table, surface elegant £249.00 surround and card support and a single- Readers are very good at North. West’s 5♣ was a try baize playing surface £249.00 Royal01483Order Table, online elegant 270 or bysurround phone100 and ton is OK with a minimum sending me their disasters. for a small slam, not for a RoyalSR DesignsTable, forelegant Bridge baizewww.designsforbridge.co.ukOrder playing online surface or £249.00 by phone surroundUnit A1, Send and Businessbaize Park, hand. Suppose East had the Maybe they don’t have so grand. Instead, East should www.designsforbridge.co.uk ♣ playing01483Send,Order Woking, online surface 270Surrey or £249 by GU23 phone100 7EF same distribution but only many triumphs! The winner have bid 6 to show the www.designsforbridge.co.uk ♦ 01483SR Designs 270 for Bridge 100 8 or 9 HCP. Now 2 would of this month’s star prize is second-round control, and Unit A1, Send Business Park, be a much worse contract now West, optimistic that OrderSR Designs online foror by Bridge phone Geoff Simpson, but only be- 01483Send, Woking, 270 Surrey GU23 100 7EF ♠ www.designsforbridge.co.ukUnitSR A1, Designs Send Businessfor Bridge Park, than 2 . To rebid diamonds cause I am short of material. East has nine or more red- Send,Unit A1, Woking, Send Surrey Business GU23 Park, 7EF (or clubs) and then show The auction went well until suit cards, can take a pot at Send,01483 Woking, 270Surrey GU23 100 7EF three-card support shows a the very last minute. the grand slam. ■ SR Designs for Bridge Unit A1, Send Business Park, Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF Send your slam hands to [email protected]

Page 16 BRIDGE April 2017 Answers to David Huggett’s Play Quiz on page 5

You are declarer in 5♣. West leads the ♠A need luck not only in spades but to some 1. ♠ 7 6 4 and switches to a low diamond. How do degree in hearts and diamonds also. ♥ K J 8 2 you plan the play? ♦ A J 3 An initial diamond lead would have ♣ K 7 6 been more difficult, but as it happens, ♠ A 8 2 ♠ Q J 10 9 3 the contract is a certainty – unless you go 4. ♠ 8 4 3 ♥ A Q 10 7 3 N ♥ 5 fishing for the queen of hearts and guess ♥ K 6 2 ♦ 9 2 W E ♦ 8 6 5 4 wrong. Win the diamond switch and ruff ♦ Q 10 5 S ♣ 10 5 3 ♣ Q J 9 a spade, enter dummy with a trump, ruff ♣ A Q 6 4 ♠ K 5 another spade and draw the last trump. ♠ A K 9 7 2 ♠ J 6 ♥ 9 6 4 Now cut loose by playing your diamond ♥ 9 7 5 N ♥ Q 8 4 3 ♦ K Q 10 7 and you will find that whoever wins either ♦ 9 2 W E ♦ J 8 7 4 3 S ♣ A 8 4 2 has to give you a ruff and discard or ♣ K 9 8 ♣ J 10 open up the heart suit, thus finding the ♠ Q 10 5 queen for you. In all, you will make two ♥ A J 10 You are declarer in 3NT after 1NT-3NT spade ruffs, three hearts, one diamond ♦ A K 6 and West leads the ♥7. How do you plan and five clubs. ♣ 7 5 3 2 the play? The game doesn’t look very promising but at least you have escaped a spade Fourth in hand you open 1NT and accept lead, when it would take a miracle to 3. ♠ 5 3 2 partner’s invitation to 3NT. West leads the come to nine tricks. Maybe the heart ♥ 8 ♠7 and East plays the ♠J. How do you lead doesn’t look particularly nice either, ♦ K Q J 8 7 5 plan the play? but just think for a moment. After this ♣ 8 6 4 Presumably West has led away from straightforward auction, there is no ♠ J 7 ♠ K 10 9 a spade holding headed by the ace and reason to believe that West has not just ♥ J 9 6 4 N ♥ Q 10 5 2 king, so it could be very awkward to lose led fourth highest and if that is the case, ♦ 9 3 W E ♦ 10 6 4 the lead before we make nine tricks. Even S then the Rule of Eleven will indicate that ♣ K Q J 9 3 ♣ 10 5 2 if we make six tricks in the red suits, we East has no card in hearts higher than the ♠ A Q 8 6 4 still need to make two clubs, but if the club seven. So play low from dummy and win ♥ A K 7 3 finesse fails we are surely going down. with the nine. Then you can tease West by ♦ A 2 And that is the crux of the hand. We need playing low hearts towards dummy. You ♣ A 7 West to hold the ♣K, but if he does then will make three heart tricks and six tricks he cannot possibly hold the ♥Q, because in the minors, or ten tricks if West switches that would give him twelve points and he to a spade. You are declarer in 6♠ and West leads would have opened the bidding. So take the ♣K. How do you plan the play? a club finesse at trick two, smile when it This is a fairly optimistic contract, but at wins and play a heart to the ten. ■ least the assumptions you have to make 2. ♠ Q 8 6 for the slam to succeed are easy to see. ♥ K 6 5 You need trumps 3-2 with the king onside Mr Bridge ♦ A 7 and, somehow, you have to dispose of Premium Quality Cards ♣ K 10 9 7 5 two heart losers and a club loser. So, how ♠ A K 10 7 ♠ J 9 5 4 2 about this? Win the lead and play the ace Standard Faces, ♥ Q 8 4 N ♥ 9 7 2 of hearts and ruff a heart. Return to hand with or without ♦ Q 10 6 4 W E ♦ K 9 8 3 2 with the ace of diamonds, ruff another bar codes. S Unboxed. ♣ 3 2 ♣ Void heart and now take a spade finesse. 6 red/6 blue £19.95 ♠ 3 Cash the ace of spades and play a 30 red/30 blue ♥ A J 10 3 diamond to dummy and a third diamond only £65 ♦ J 5 will enable you to dispose of your club ♣ A Q J 8 6 4 loser – you don’t care if they ruff this with Available from The London Bridge Centre. ( 020 7288 1305 www.bridgeshop.com the remaining, and master, trump. So you

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 17 DUPLICATE A History of Playing Cards: Part Four by Paul Bostock BRIDGE RULES SIMPLIFIED (otherwise known as the Yellow Book) The Ace of Spades by John Rumbelow only and revised by 95 David Stevenson £5

he Ace of Spades tends to be highly decorated, unlike the three other aces, Available from Mr Bridge and has somewhere along the way acquired a special status. It was neither ( 01483 489961 makers nor players of any special game that brought this about, so the story www.mrbridge.co.uk Tis highly unusual. It began in England in 1765 and it came about through the col- lection of tax. As the tax was very high – presumably intended as a deterrent to gambling – makers could be tempted to take short cuts, a temptation that ended REDUCE THE COST badly for one maker, the story of which appears on the next page. The taxation of playing cards was not new in 1765, but that year saw the OF YOUR POSTAGE introduction of a new process: makers would supply the Tax Office with paper (to match their other cards) and the Tax Office would print the Ace of Spades using engraved metal plates, a printing technology that was expensive and not widely available. The maker would then buy the printed Aces from the Tax Office – thereby paying the tax – and the cost was passed on to the customer. In order to make it more difficult to forge these Aces, a more elaborate design was made – and that is how it started. An Ace from before 1765 is shown below, together with one from around 1765.

Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, all mint with full gum. Quotations for commercial quantities available on request. Values supplied in 100s, higher values available as well as 1st and 2nd class. (/Fax 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected]

Q PLUS 12 l Help and Hint buttons l Displays on HD and large screens l Comprehensive manual l Feed in your own deals Ace of Spades, c 1680. Ace of Spades, c 1765. l Minibridge option l 5,000 preplayed These new Aces had other features: from 1765 they carried the Maker’s name, hands for teams they identified the King (George III in the card shown) and they were numbered £99 to identify which printing plate had been used. Before this, the Maker would have and 4,000 pre- including post played hands for and packing appeared on the wrapper but not necessarily on the cards. The wrappers were matchpoint pairs deliberately flimsy and were thrown away and usually tore when they were opened (this prevented a wrapper being re-used, with the ‘tax’ being kept by the seller Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 second time around.) The named Aces mean that we can identify the maker of any www.mrbridge.co.uk pack. Thereafter, the tax changed every 10-20 years, and the design was changed too. In short, the Tax Office has given the modern historian a way of identifying

Page 18 BRIDGE April 2017 A History of Playing Cards: Part Four by Paul Bostock CROATIA 2-16 May 2017 Bernard Magee HOTEL The Ace of Spades From EDEN £1,499 sharing ROVINJ

both the maker and a rough date for all cards made after 1765. It is a rare pleasure to feel gratitude for a part of the tax system. One card maker, Richard Harding, decided that if he printed his own Aces, he could sell the cards for the same money but not have to pay anything to the Tax Office. The problem was that card-makers had wooden blocks for printing, which simply cannot reproduce the fine detail of an engraving. In short, given one or two examples to look at, anyone can tell the difference. Suspicion was raised, as he seemed to have a thriving business but bought few Aces. Various manufacturing items were found with family and accomplices, including 2,000 forged Aces. At the time, the tax on one pack was about the same as a week’s wages for a labourer,

which indicates the scale of the forgery. Harding was found guilty at the Old Rovinj is situated on the western coast Bailey and hanged in 1805. of Istria in Croatia, the largest peninsula on the Adriatic coastline, a one hour drive from Trieste, 2.5 hours from Zagreb. Boasting a rich, natural and cultural heritage, with beautiful landmarks such as the old town, the Golden Cape Park Forest, protected islands and coastal area. The climate is warm and semi-dry, with more than four months a year without wind. Hotel Eden is wedged right between a peninsula covered by a one hundred year old park forest and a quiet cove. The old city centre of Rovinj is just a 20 minute walk away. Rooms: All rooms are equipped with a direct phone line, LCD SAT TV, mini-bar, safe, bathtub or shower, toilet, hair dryer, balcony, air conditioning/heating. Suites are available, details on application. Singles: There is a sole occupancy supplement of £12 per room per night. If you are a single bridge player, please do not Wood print forgery, c 1800. Ace of Spades, Goodall & Son, worry about being on your own. We will Maker’s own design c. 1862-3. always be able to find you a partner and you can always have a game.

Beaches & Pools: The playful curves of From 1862, each Maker was once again free to design an Ace of Spades as the the pool offer refreshment in the summer wrapper now showed the tax. Makers continued with elaborate designs because with a salty breeze coming from the natural that was expected, and ever since, the Ace of Spades has had its own design style. stone and pebble beach only a few steps The tax on playing cards was finally abolished in the UK almost another century away. The vast outdoor pool will cool you down after a day of lounging in the freely later in July 1960, but the special status and appearance of the Ace of Spades is here available deck chairs. to stay. ■ Half-board only. Terms and conditions apply. These holidays have been organised for Mr Bridge by Great Little Escapes LLP, ATOL 5933 The author is a Court Assistant in the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Details of the bridge programme Cards – see www.makersofplayingcards.co.uk. Many more sets of cards are illustrated on the author’s website www.plainbacks.com ( 01483 489961

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 19 Teacher’s Corner – Teaching Tips from Ian Dalziel Blackwood – Friend or Foe?

o you use Blackwood? – Of not helping my students’ slam bid- ter, they could play in 4NT when they course you do, surely everyone ding and was also causing problems had reached the four level but hadn’t does. Is it profitable? You pre- in non-slam hands. I took the radical found a fit: eg 1♠-3♦-3♥-4♦-4NT. My Dsume so, after all 95% of bridge players decision that my early lessons in slam students’ ‘natural method’ of slam bid- can’t be wrong. bidding would not include Blackwood. ding was far more successful than oth- I used to be a big fan and taught it at They would just bid small slams with ers who used Blackwood. It’s true they all my classes with two caveats: 33 points (including distribution for missed those slams where you need to 1. Use it only once the trump suit is suit contracts) and the aces would just know the aces to get into a slam (which agreed – otherwise 4NT is natural have to look after themselves. I knew can’t be bid on points), but such slams or quantitative. they would bid some suit slams with are rare. I went even further and limit- 2. Before asking for aces, ensure you two aces missing, but I felt it would be ed Blackwood to my advanced classes. have sufficient points (or playing a price worth paying. When bidding Of course, you will guess what hap- tricks) for the slam. slams was a common occurrence for pened; when my students played else- Sadly, it didn’t work out that way. them, then I would teach them Black- where, the ‘better players’ told them If a slam was possible, then asking wood to avoid those ‘bad slams’ with that they must learn Blackwood and to for aces was all that mattered and two aces missing. disregard my advice. This meant they few could recognise when 4NT picked up a half baked version – was quantitative. The convention Defending their bidding, of course, deteriorat- was a disaster despite all my Combinations ed but they were now fashionable efforts to teach it properly. I was Declaring 2 Aces and that seemed to matter more. I HCP Missing disappointed but I should not have 2 Aces 0/1/2 was forced to re-introduce Black- been surprised – for everyone Aces wood to my intermediate classes; it agrees that Blackwood is the most was a lost cause, but what else could misused of all conventions though 32 6 445 1.3% I do? no-one admits to being an abuser. My ‘discovery’ that if you have In the introduction to Easley 31 24 688 3.5% the points the aces will usually look Blackwood’s excellent book on 30 60 952 6.3% after themselves, was a big surprise Slam bidding, Richard Frey says, ‘If to me. There are lots of potential Blackwood had a nickel for every 29 144 1304 11.0 % suit slams with 33 points including time his convention was misused, distribution, which have only 28 28 286 1716 16.7% he’d be a multi-millionaire.’ That HCP or fewer. With 12 HCP miss- was written 46 years ago and 27 496 2184 22.7% ing, it seems a big risk that oppo- nothing has changed. nents have two aces (8 HCP), but it In the same book, Blackwood 26 820 2680 30.6% rarely happened. I wondered why. himself says, ‘The main purpose of 25 1224 3176 38.5% I then considered how points are the convention is to keep you out of made up. If there are 32 HCP be- unmakeable slams, helping to reach 24 1695 3650 46.4% tween two hands, then the eight makeable slams is only secondary.’ HCPs missing could be two aces He devotes a whole chapter to When is To my amazement, it didn’t hap- (AA), or two kings and a queen (KKQ), Blackwood Blackwood? and stresses the pen. If they bid slams ‘on points’, suf- AKJ, AQQ etc – I decided to count all importance of the natural use of 4NT. ficient aces nearly always materialised. the possibilities. AA can occur in six Therefore, the great man himself can’t Even better than that – if two aces ways, AKJ can occur in 64 ways and be blamed for the calamities that hap- were missing, unless the leader had so on. There are 445 ways that 8 HCP pen every week, at every club, in his both aces, the slam frequently made. It can be made up and only six of them name. Blackwood is easy to use, but meant 4NT could be used to invite no- consist of two aces. So, if you have 32 very difficult to utilise profitably. trump slams without any fear it would HCP, then there is a 98.7% chance that I soon realised that Blackwood was be taken as Blackwood and, even bet- two aces are not missing. I then did the

Page 20 BRIDGE April 2017 calculations for other point partner’s failure to dou- ranges – which was 17,000 ble does suggest you lead combinations. You can work another suit. them out yourself if you 5. If responder to Black- BERNARD have a few weeks to spare. wood becomes declarer, The table shows my results. knowing how many aces As you can see, if you he holds can help the de- have 30+ HCP, you almost fence. MAGEE certainly have at least three 6. Even top players have aces. Only with 26 HCP or misunderstandings as to fewer does the risk of two when 4NT is Blackwood. TUTORIAL DVDS aces missing become sig- So what do you do if you nificant. I have assumed that don’t use Blackwood, but all combinations are equally your partner wants to use it? likely which may not be the Just say no and refuse their Coming case. A statistician may get offer to teach you. If they are Set 7 Soon slightly different, but not any good at all, they should 37 MORE SIGNALLING dissimilar, results. be able to bid without Black- I will be looking at different times when you signal and I also checked it empiri- wood. If not, find another the messages you might want to give. Using signals in new cally by analysing 3,600 partner. No-one can make ways can greatly improve your enjoyment of defence as computer dealt hands. I you use a convention. well as pushing up your scores. checked every pair of hands All players, however, as- 38 4-4-4-1 HANDS with 24-32 HCP between pire to better things and Everybody’s least favourite type of opening hand. I will them (1,630 hands) and Blackwood (in its various be going through the methods for choosing the right suit counted the aces missing. forms) when combined with to open as well as coping with responses. As responder The results were similar to cue bidding, is essential for you need to be aware of the options and work out your the table above. grand slams and small slams partner’s type of hand. Strong 4-4-4-1 hands can be just as This analysis applies to with a low HCP count. To difficult and will be dealt with too. small slams; grand slams are use it properly requires great 39 DRAWING TRUMPS very different but, for learn- skill and the vast majority of ers, grand slams are not a club players would be better This seminar sounds straightforward, but we will not be simply drawing trumps, we will be considering the reasons priority. off without it. I propose that for delaying. Keeping control of trumps is an important Even used properly Black- players require a ‘driving part of declarer play. Knowing when to risk leaving trumps wood has its drawbacks: licence’ before using Black- out and when not. 1. If clubs are trumps and wood. To get it, they must 40 FIVE-CARD MAJORS you need two aces from first make 50 slams without partner and if he has Blackwood, then, if they add Popular around the world, this method is becoming more only one – his 5♦ reply it to their system, they will popular here. It is not a method I would advocate for club means you can’t stop in use it in its proper context. players, however it is important to understand the method 5♣. You can in theory There is no need to teach it as you will need to defend against it. in class – just refer the ‘li- stop in 5NT by bidding 41 FUNDAMENTALS OF DEFENCE an unbid suit, but how censees’ to Bernard Magee’s Defence is by far the hardest aspect of bridge: this seminar excellent lessons on the sub- many people know that? seeks to show the building blocks that can start you off on 2. If opponents intervene ject. a wonderful journey. If you can get the basics right then after Blackwood, they Of course, I’m asking the the more complicated aspects of defence can follow. might derail your bid- impossible. Using Black- ding. Have you agreed to wood makes people ‘feel 42 SUPPORTING MINORS use DOPI and ROPI? I clever’ and if you deny it to Minors are not as important as majors, but we have to bid bet you haven’t. them it’s like the ‘forbidden them and it is important to know your system. Bidding 3. If you have found a fit fruit’ and they will find a more 3NT contracts will get you better scores, but being able to spot a minor suit slam will put you a cut above. in a minor suit but have way to learn it. Sadly, human reached the four level, nature and fashion are more you sometimes want powerful influences in bid- to play in 4NT but you ding systems than science. I £25 per DVD or £105 for the set of six can’t, as it’s Blackwood. do hope, however, that I can 4. The artificial responses persuade bridge teachers to Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 to Blackwood can be exclude Blackwood from doubled for a lead that their early lessons on slam www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop might beat the slam; and bidding. ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 21 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions on Laws and Ethics Which Side Should Trumps be Placed?

Please can you opening may have fewer Is the revoke card half quick tricks or not, since tell me on which than three clubs, the partner definitely the one played he bids 2NT with any hand Qside trumps should of the person who made the to the revoke trick, or can where he does not, but that be placed? Some people bid immediately says, ‘may it be the one withheld does not make it artificial. say on declarer‘s right and be two cards,‘ (or one or to score a trick later? others on declarer‘s left. none if they play that way). Yvonne Dickinson by email. ♣♦♥♠ Alice Farrell by email. ♣♦♥♠ If the player wins the How would you Trumps are put trick by revoking it is have dealt with the down in dummy My partner and I A a two-trick penalty, Qfollowing situation? A on declarer‘s left, play a forcing 2NT otherwise it is a one trick that is on dummy‘s right. Qrebid over a two- penalty. If the ♣10 won West North East South level response: 1♥-2♣ (must the trick then it would have 1♥ Pass 1NT ♣♦♥♠ have ten points) -2NT. The been a two trick revoke. Pass 2♥ Pass 2NT bid is 15 to 18 points Of course, the revoker We are not an EBU and forcing. Can you tell me never gains, so the director At this point, South hesitated; affiliated club, if this is alertable, please? can adjust if the revoker took out pass; hesitated; Qalthough several Erica Sheppard by email. actually gains, despite replaced the pass and bid of us are members and also the revoke penalty. 3♥. North then passed play in other clubs. Can you This is a little tricky. and made nine tricks. The tell me the rule on alerting a In tournaments, ♣♦♥♠ traveller showed 4♥-1; 1♣ false bid, opening points A it is now fairly 2♥ made; and 2♥+1. but no five-card major. I standard to play 2NT In BRIDGE 168, Martin Plane by email. know there is something forcing, so it does not need your reply to Liz about the club bid, as to an alert and, in the clubs I QBretherton describes Assuming that by whether it is could be as few play in, I do not alert it. a trial bid as natural. ‘took out pass‘, you as two or as few as three. If you play in a club at Surely a trial bid asks for A mean the pass card I ask players to explain which almost no-one else help in the bid suit and is was out of the box, then the bids clearly as we have plays it as forcing, then per- therefore artificial under pass stands and may not a mix of abilities, but find haps you should alert it there. the definition of an artificial be corrected, unless West some EBU players persist call? Are you saying that wishes to accept the 3♥ bid. in cryptic announcements. ♣♦♥♠ FSF has a surprise meaning If he does so, then North has Name and address supplied. but a trial bid does not? unauthorised information North revoked Name and address supplied. that it was a very minimal 3♥ If you are not an mid-contract. bid and must not use this in- EBU affiliated QHer ♠J should A trial bid is natural formation. If the director feels A club, then you can have fallen beneath her since it shows he has used the information, make up your own alerting partner’s winning ♠Q, but A length in that suit: for example, by passing 3♥ rules. However, with several she discarded the ♣10 in an artificial bid does not. with a possible 4♥ bid, then EBU players, you would error and the revoke became You might bid fourth suit he might adjust the score. probably find it easier to established. She gained the forcing with a void: a trial follow EBU rules which are lead on the penultimate trick bid shows at least three ♣♦♥♠ helpful to opponents. and cashed the winning ♠J cards. I think your idea of an When a 1♣ opening for the final trick. The director artificial call is flawed. You The dealer opened shows at least three clubs, ruled that the revoke card could argue that an Acol 1♣ and announced there is no alert and no had not won the trick so he two asks partner to show Qit as a phoney announcement. When a 1♣ gave a one-trick penalty. whether he has one and a club. Surely this is not

Page 22 BRIDGE April 2017 acceptable and what is appreciated, because the would be appreciated. Some players leave the penalty procedure? discussion has already Michael Griffiths, the bidding card Jean Gill by email. generated a lot of emails. Tunbridge Wells. A showing the final Bob Parker by email. contract at an angle in their In most cases where The reason why bidding box. It is similar to there is a fairly None of the respons- directors make leaving the bidding card on A minor breach of the es are alertable so A rulings is that they the table, though unreason- rules, especially by some- A long as opener can- have a reasonable knowl- able to expect anyone else one who appears not to not pass them. Since the 1♣ edge of the laws, and can to do it for them. Since it understand them, a warning is alerted, the opponents have consult over bridge judge- is legal to ask the contract and an explanation of why no reason to suppose the ments. The idea of leaving at any time this cannot it is wrong suffices. If this responses show the normal a ruling to adjudicators, possibly do any harm. player repeats the offence values, and a 2♣ response apart from being illegal – the Nevertheless, it is a matter then a standard penalty to 1♣ is not a raise any more director gives rulings ac- for bidding box regulation should be applied, which than a 3♣ response to an cording to the law – is that so a club could specifically is 10% of a top at pairs. Acol 2♣ is a raise. Similarly, their knowledge of the laws allow or forbid the practice. However, this has given a 1♠ rebid is not alertable. may be flawed. Of course, unauthorised information Natural bids are only asking them for advice is ♣♦♥♠ to partner, so if the direc- alertable when they have a fine: it is recommended that tor judges that partner has quite unexpected meaning. judgement rulings are not At our usual dupli- used it in any way, then he If the opponents cannot be given without consultation. cate sessions, I was might adjust. For example, bothered to ask why 1♣ is As a result, the ruling given Qplaying North and he may feel that the player alerted, or they forget, that has no basis in law and is we were playing four-board would not have said it on this is their bad luck. It is not illegal. If there is no dam- rounds. When one E/W pair occasion unless he was short expected that the response age, then no adjustment came to our table, East re- in clubs, so he might adjust to a strong 1♣ would be the can be given, and the idea moved three boards placing if his partner does not raise same as to a natural 1♣. of taking the double away them on the floor to his right. clubs with an apparent fit. without apparent cause is I objected, but he said that it ♣♦♥♠ abhorrent. That is not the was normal to have only the ♣♦♥♠ way rulings are given. board in play on the table. In A difficult judge- Of course, directors can the past, I have resisted put- One of my partners ment arose when penalise for any offence, so ting boards on the floor be- insists on play- QNorth alerted a it would be legal to ap- cause on more than one oc- Qing a strong club conventional call by tapping ply a penalty to the player casion, when there has been (16-21 points). A response instead of showing his alert who alerted wrongly. But a relay, the wrong boards of 1♦ shows 0-5 points, card. After E/W had over- that is a very unusual level have been passed on. and a response at the two stretched and been doubled, of penalty for a minor of- Should all the boards level is natural, maybe losing 100, East complained fence, unless this player has remain on the table and four cards with 10+ points that he had been misled as been warned previously. who has control of the (rather like Precision). he had not seen the alert. boards? If East had asked I have three questions: The director referred the de- ♣♦♥♠ if he could put the three 1) If I open 1♣ and cision to adjudicators who, boards on a chair next to me partner responds 2♦, looking to award an adjust- My regular partner, I would not have objected. is that alertable? ed score, found it impossible whilst still playing John Strange, Dronfield. 2) If I open 1♣ and he to postulate any alternative Qpretty well at our responds 1♥, and I re- logical bidding sequence, local club, is having increas- There is no rule as bid 1♠ (showing 16-18 part of the difficulty lying ing difficulty in remember- to whether boards and at least four spades), in E/W’s bidding which ing the contract. We realise A are left on the is that alertable? would probably have been that one is allowed to ask table or not, unless the club 3) If partner opens 1♣, 1♠ the same had the alert been at any time, but this can introduces such a rule. Since is overcalled and I bid 2♣ seen and explained. How- become a little embarrass- North is normally looking or 2♦, are these alertable? ever, the adjudicators were ing. Would it be allowed after the boards, it is usu- Last night one of the op- loath to adjudge ‘no penalty’ that the final bid card be left ally left to North to decide, position insisted that 1) and and, in the absence of any exposed for all to see until though it is normal for him 3) should be alerted. So after logical alternative, elected the end of the hand, which to only have one board on the evening five directors to cancel the final double, I often advise when teach- the table if asked politely. discussed these points, but which reduced N/S’s share of ing a group of beginners? East’s actions sound with differing opinions. the matchpoints from around Dr R Cruthers, tactless at the very least and Your views would be 60% to 30%. Your comments Warlingham, Surrey. possibly over the borderline

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 23 into actual rudeness. It is not often make some sort of LHO said, ‘No, play them,‘ play the cards. Please allow normal unless it is normal comment that is in effect and this was repeated by him to explain his claim. in that club to only have a ruling, which is often my RHO. I said that I had If you are not satisfied, one board and it is certainly wrong, and also the fiercest made a claim and should please call me again.’ normal to ask North or South arguments usually start not now play the hand, but Then, if the club wanted rather than do it himself. when a director is not called. be allowed to give a full to change its rules to ban Nevertheless, if a stop card explanation. My opponents all claiming, that could be ♣♦♥♠ is not used when it matters prevented me from doing considered by its Committee. little, it does not matter if this, so I called the director. Tim Sharrock, I am South in a the director is not called. The director told me to Blunham, Bedford. competitive auction Any jump bid requires a play the hand out. Rather Qand it is my bid. I stop card. So if a stop card than argue, I complied. As a matter of law am pondering my bid (not is not displayed, it means I cannot find the regulation play ceases after for long) when my partner either that the player has covering such a claim and A a claim: law 68D suddenly tables a card. At forgotten (or in the case of the playing of the cards. is quite clear. So neither the inquest, he admits that some rather rude players, Am I right in believing that opponents nor the director he thought I had passed and they do not bother) or it I should not play them out? can make you play on after he was leading to an E/W could mean that the player (It is, after all, in the interests a claim. Claiming is part of contract. East accepted the did not mean to jump. The of the opponents that I bridge so the club cannot ban lead and we played the E/W failure to use the stop card do not do so, but give an claiming. A lot of slow play is contract. Is this correct as I is unauthorised information immediate explanation.) caused by players slowly and was deprived of my bid? to partner who must take no After the play of the next meaningfully playing out a Alastair Love by email. advantage, but is authorised board (we were playing hand, when all the tricks are to the opponents. To make it two-board rounds), the clearly theirs. Friendly clubs The law on leading worse, a player who realises director stood up and encourage claims so as not during the auction he jumped when he did not addressed the whole room to delay play unnecessarily. A says that the leader’s mean to often displays some (14 tables), saying that this partner must pass at his first emotion, which makes it clear was a friendly club and that ♣♦♥♠ turn to call, so the effect was what has happened and players should not make the same. It is nothing to do provides further unauthorised claims, since some players We are a small with whether the opponent information to partner. were more knowledgeable club without a accepts it, which he has no than others and not everyone Qqualified director right to do. It also becomes a ♣♦♥♠ could understand a claim. and the majority of players major penalty card, but since Since 1) there had been some are holiday makers. At our that means it must be led, In a recent IMPs noise at our table, with my duplicate session today, one again there is no difference. event, this hand opponents shouting me table passed out a board. Qcame up: down when I tried to explain None of the players had ♣♦♥♠ my claim, and 2) the director opening points or a five card had been called to our table suit. There was a difference If a player does ♠ A K 5 4 (a fairly unusual event at this of opinion between two not put out a stop ♥ 10 2 club), everyone knew that I experienced players on how Qcard for a jump bid ♦ A 6 5 was the person involved and to score the board. One said or a jump bid by mistake, ♣ K Q J 7 that the director’s statement both pairs scored zero and for example 3♣ over 1NT was essentially criticising the other said it should be an N instead of 2♣, should the W E me for taking advantage average. Which is correct? S opponents call the director? of weaker players. I was Fred Sleight by email. Is any unauthorised ♠ Q J 6 greatly upset by this. information given ♥ Q J 9 I believe that the correct Correct is zero. When away in this action? ♦ K Q J 10 8 3 action by the director you pass a hand Your comments would ♣ A should have been to say A out, your score beats be appreciated. at the table when called, all the minus scores your Ron, Alton BC. ‘The cards should not be way and loses to all the plus I was South, declarer in no- played after a claim has scores. In an extreme case, it It is always trumps. My LHO led the ♣2. I been made. Tim should not could be a top or a bottom. ■ reasonable to call the said, ‘I make all the tricks ...‘ A director if opponents and started to lay my hand (or your side, for that down on the table, prior E-mail your questions (including your postal address) matter) do anything wrong. to explaining how I would on bridge laws to: [email protected] If you do not, someone will play them. At this stage, my

Page 24 BRIDGE April 2017 Rhine Cruise & Swiss Delights – May 2018

Join Bernard Magee onboard ms Serenity 9 DAYS FROM for this spectacular river cruise £1119

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

ms Serenity & Lucerne

RCL DGT Mr Bridge 4pp Rhine Cruise & Swiss Delights.indd 1 07/03/2017 14:50:16 Elbe IJsselmeer NORTH Join Bernard Magee for an SEA NETHERLANDS

Rhine exclusive Mr Bridge river cruise GERMANY

along the magnificent Rhine BELGIUM Andernach English start Channel Koblenz Main aboard ms Serenity Rüdesheim

By coach: 16–24 May 2018; by rail or air: 17–24 May 2018 Neckar MoselleSpeyer FRANCE Danube There’s no better way to see the spectacular sights along the Rhine than from the river itself Strasbourg and on this leisurely cruise you can witness the countless treasures of three countries as we Breisach glide through Switzerland, France and Germany. Along the way you can enjoy all the amenities of our ship whilst taking in the beautiful scenery as we cruise from Switzerland towards the Basel lush plains of the Alsace and onwards between the sheer valley walls of the spectacular Rhine Lucerne Gorge. Our ship is never far away, so after a day of exploring you can return to comfortable By coach SWITZERLAND surrounds and relax as the crew take care of you – it’s what river cruising is all about.

Day 1: UK – Overnight hotel (Coach) We travel by coach to Dover and take the ferry to Calais, where we continue to our overnight hotel ITALY with breakfast included. Day 2: Overnight hotel – Breisach (Coach) UK – Breisach (Air/Rail) – Basel We travel to Breisach where we board our ship for an evening of relaxation as we sail to Basel. Those travelling by air or rail join today. Day 3: Basel Enjoy a full day in Basel or join our included full day coach excursion which takes you on a route that tunnels through the Jura mountains to the Swiss

The Rhine

resort of Lucerne, the historic and scenic heart of the main sights by coach before taking you on a Switzerland. We berth overnight in Basel ready to walk around the old city. Enjoy another fantastic set sail again in the morning. optional excursion this evening as we cruise along Strasbourg’s waterways, which is a great way to see Day 4: Breisach the city. Our ship berths overnight in Strasbourg. As our ship sails back to Breisach, you can venture into the cooler mountain slopes of the Black Forest Day 6: Strasbourg – Speyer on our optional full day coach excursion, which also Relax on board as we enjoy a morning cruising visits the largest waterfall in Europe. We rejoin our through the lush Rhine Plains to reach the Celtic ship in Breisach and enjoy a relaxing evening. Roman city of Speyer. Join our optional coach excursion to visit the majestic city of Heidelberg, Day 5: Breisach – Strasbourg home of Germany’s oldest university. We berth We arrive at the magnifi cent city of Strasbourg, overnight in Speyer ready to set sail again in the well known for its world heritage status, in the morning. Breisach afternoon. Our optional guided tour lets you see

To book or for more information contact Mr Bridge 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

RCL DGT Mr Bridge 4pp Rhine Cruise & Swiss Delights.indd 2 07/03/2017 14:50:22 Basel

YOUR CRUISE INCLUDES BY COACH Strasbourg  Coach travel to the port from your local area  Return ferry crossings from Dover  Seven nights’ cruise on a full board basis  One night’s bed & breakfast hotel accommodation BY RAIL  Return travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras  Coach transfers between station and ship  Seven nights’ cruise on a full board basis BY AIR  Return fl ights from London Gatwick  Coach transfers between airport and ship  Seven nights’ cruise on a full board basis

Date No. of days Departure point 16 May (coach) 9 Dover 17 May (rail) 8 St Pancras 17 May (air) 8 Gatwick

HOLIDAY PRICES BY COACH / RAIL / AIR per person Code Deck Berth Coach 9 days Rail 8 days Air 8 days Main 2 £1119 £1249 £1269 Middle 2 £1319 £1449 £1469 Panorama 2 £1519 £1649 £1669

All prices shown are per person; a limited number of cabins ms Serenity – Lido bar terrace for sole occupancy are available with a reduced 25% supplement (thereafter 50% supplement applies). ______Travel Insurance – from £39.95 per person ______Deposit – £350 per person, payable to ______The River Cruise Line OPTIONAL DRINKS PACKAGE: £99 per person Includes house wines, house beers and soft drinks served in the restaurant at lunchtime and evenings

EXCURSIONS  Rüdesheim highlights ...... £26 Day 7: Speyer – Rüdesheim which travels across the Rhine for breathtaking  Rüdesheim by night...... £27 This afternoon you are free to join our optional views. The cable car leads to the mighty fortress excursion ‘Rüdesheim Highlights’ which features of Ehrenbreitstein Castle where entrance is  Heidelberg highlights ...... £19 a panoramic ride to the heights of the gorge by included.  Strasbourg guided tour ...... £21 cable car. Later on, we also o er another option  Day 9: Koblenz – UK Strasbourg canal cruise ...... £27 excursion which takes you to a traditional wine This morning we bid farewell to our Captain  Koblenz Cable Car cellar to sample some of the region’s best wines, and crew and disembark for the return journey & Ehrenbreitstein Castle ...... £19 before exploring the captivating street called the home.  Lucerne ...... Included Drosselgasse. We remain berthed in this pretty  Black Forest & Rhine Falls ...... £22 town overnight. A full bridge programme of seminars, set hands and duplicate sessions will be organised around the Day 8: Rüdesheim – Koblenz cruise itinerary, together with a Welcome and a Mr Bridge recommends you pre- This morning we cruise to the 2,000 year Farewell drinks party. book at his special package price £125 old town of Koblenz where you can join our Saving per person £36 optional excursion on the Koblenz Cable Car Gratuities – all gratuities are discretionary

Please have your passport and insurance details to hand when calling to book

RCL DGT Mr Bridge 4pp Rhine Cruise & Swiss Delights.indd 3 07/03/2017 14:50:29 Departure Points Routes D1 to D12 – ferry crossings from Dover to Calais Avon Essex St Albans D4 Oxfordshire Warwickshire Bath D9 Basildon D1 Stevenage D3 Banbury D4 Nuneaton D4 Bristol D9 Brentwood D1 Watford D6 Oxford D6 Rugby D4 Chelmsford D1 Welwyn Garden City D3 Witney D6 Stratford-upon-Avon D4 Bedfordshire Clacton-on-Sea D1 Bedford D3 Colchester D1 Kent Shropshire West Midlands Dunstable D4 Harlow D2 Ashford D12 Oswestry D5 Birmingham D4 Luton D4 Romford D1 Canterbury D12 Shrewsbury D5 Coventry D4 Southend-on-Sea D1 Chatham D12 Telford D5 Hopwood Park Berkshire Thurrock Services D1 Dartford D12 Services M42 D4* Bracknell D9 Witham D1 Deal D12 Somerset Solihull D4 Chieveley Services D9 Faversham D12 Bridgwater Services D8 Sutton Coldfi eld D4 Maidenhead D9 Gloucestershire Folkestone D12 Taunton Deane Services D8 Walsall D4 Newbury D9 Cheltenham D6 Gillingham D12 Weston-super-Mare D8 Wolverhampton D4 Reading D9 Gloucester D6 Herne Bay D12 *SW Birmingham to service Slough D9 Tewkesbury D6 Maidstone Sta€ ordshire Bromsgrove & Redditch area Wokingham D9 Services D9 D10 D12 Cannock D4 Margate D12 Lichfi eld D4 Wiltshire Greater London Sta– ord D4 Buckinghamshire Bexleyheath D12 Medway Swindon D9 Aylesbury D4 Services D1 D3 D4 D12 Stoke-on-Trent D4 Bromley D9 Tamworth D4 High Wycombe D6 Croydon D9 Orpington D9 Worcestershire Milton Keynes D4 Enfi eld D3 Ramsgate D12 Evesham D6 Rochester D12 Su€ olk Kidderminster D6 Kingston-upon-Thames D9 Bury St Edmunds D1 Cambridgeshire Richmond-upon-Thames D9 Sevenoaks D10 Malvern Link D6 Cambridge D2 Sittingbourne D12 Felixstowe D1 Worcester D6 Sutton D9 Ipswich D1 Huntingdon D2 Uxbridge D9 Tunbridge Wells D10 Peterborough D2 Whitstable D12 Lowestoft D1 Yorkshire (South) Barnsley D3 Hampshire Cheshire Surrey Doncaster D3 Aldershot D10 Leicestershire Crewe D4 Camberley D10 Rotherham D3 Andover D10 Leicester Forest East Northwich D4 Services D3 Dorking D10 She™ eld D3 Basingstoke D10 Epsom D10 Cosham D11 Loughborough D3 Cornwall Godalming D10 North Wales Cowplain D11 Lutterworth D4 Bodmin D8 Guildford D10 Wrexham D5 Eastleigh D10 Market Harborough D3 Truro D8 Leatherhead D10 Fareham D11 Liskeard D8 Lincolnshire Reigate D10 South Wales Farnborough D10 Grantham D2 Staines D9 Bridgend D7 Fleet Services D10 Derbyshire Lincoln D2 Woking D10 Cardi– D7 Havant D11 Derby D3 Cardi– West Services D7 Petersfi eld D11 Norfolk Sussex (East) Carmarthen D7 Portchester D11 Devon Great Yarmouth D1 Bexhill D11 Llanelli D7 Portsmouth – The Hard D11 Exeter Services D8 Norwich D1 Brighton D11 Magor Services D7 Southampton D10 Newton Abbot D8 Thetford D1 Eastbourne D11 Neath D7 Waterlooville D11 Paignton D8 Hastings D11 Newport D7 Plymouth D8 Northamptonshire Hove D11 Port Talbot D7 Torquay D8 Herefordshire Kettering D3 Swansea D7 Hereford D6 Northampton D4 Sussex (West) Dorset Wellingborough D3 Bognor Regis D11 TRAVEL BY AIR Bournemouth D10 Hertfordshire Burgess Hill D11 Outward: London Gatwick Christchurch D10 Birchanger Green Nottinghamshire Chichester D11 13:45 – Basel 16:05 Dorchester D10 Services D2 Mansfi eld D3 Crawley D10 Return: Cologne 17:25 – Poole D10 Hatfi eld D3 Newark D2 Haywards Heath D11 London Gatwick 17:55 Weymouth D10 Hemel Hempstead D4 Nottingham D3 Littlehampton D11 Please note: All details are provisional Letchworth D3 Worthing D11 & subject to confi rmation. Profile South Mimms Services D4

Passengers using our complimentaryPanorama coach transferDeck service should be aware this may involve an earlyLounge departure/late Bar return. This may on occasion be the day before the date of departure/day after the date of return for those who live a long way from theMiddle port. Deck Regional departures are subjectReception to availability and are operatedRestaurant subject to minimum numbers of people. Main Deck Sun Deck MS SERENITY – DECK PLAN

Deck Berth Cabin facilities Panorama Deck Panorama Deck 2 Shower/WC

311 Lounge Bar 331 313 317 321 315 319 301 333 323 335 327 325 303 329 307 305 309 Lido Bar Middle Deck 312 314 316 318 310 332 322 334 324 336 330 326 328 320 302 304 306 308 2 Shower/WC

Middle Deck Main Deck Reception 211 231 213 217 221 215 219 201 223 227 225 203 229 207 205 209 Restaurant 2 Shower/WC 212 214 216 218 210 232 222 224 230 226 228 220 202 204 206 208

Main Deck 111 113 117 121 115 119 101 123 127 125 103 107 105 109 112 114 116 118 110 122 124 126 128 120 102 104 106 108 PB0405

Main Deck Middle Deck Panorama Deck To book or for more information contact Mr Bridge 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk Please have your passport and insurance details to hand when calling to book. You will need to accept the terms & conditions when making your booking – for full terms & conditions visit the Mr Bridge website or call for a copy.

RCL DGT Mr Bridge 4pp Rhine Cruise & Swiss Delights.indd 4 07/03/2017 14:50:30 All You Need to Know by Andrew Kambites

About Planning Dummy

ummy goes down. You are de- A 3-1 club break is more likely than stores his accumulated experience in a clarer. How should you plan a 2-2 break, so look at Layout B and sort of memory bank and recognises your campaign? I have put a lot imagine you are playing in no-trumps. a pattern he has seen before. In this Dof thought into this, without definite Do you notice a problem now? article and the quiz that follows, I conclusions. The standard approach is hope to add some experience to your to give the inexperienced player a list: memory bank. count winners, count losers, look for Layout B This example demonstrates that entry problems etc. All very virtuous ♣ A K 5 4 3 there are two key elements of card but there is one flaw that is rarely ad- N play: diagnosis and finding the mitted: in practice, it just doesn’t work ♣ 9 W E ♣ J 10 8 solution. Often the diagnosis is the S for most inexperienced players. There hardest part. In Suit A, if I point out are too many things to do and too little ♣ Q 7 6 2 the potential problem in the club suit, time. There is also the matter of stam- most players can work out the solution. ina. A bridge session lasts for three In this article I am concentrating on hours: you have to formulate a strategy I enjoy giving this to players. Good diagnosis. that doesn’t leave you exhausted. There players immediately see the problem. are players who can successfully work The suit is potentially blocked. pend a few moments looking through the tick list, but they tend to Imagine playing it. You start with the at dummy. be fairly competent and, in practice, ♣Q, then enter dummy with the ♣A S skip a lot of the hard work by intuition. and cash the ♣K. Which club have you So how should you proceed when I am reminded of my elder son (now retained in your hand? If you have the dummy goes down? a professor of Mathematics) when he ♣7 you have no choice but to win the I certainly spend a few moments took his first driving lesson. He said, fourth club trick in your hand and then looking at dummy: frequently ‘This doesn’t work. There are three you have to find a way of re-entering something like the potential club pedals and I have only two feet.’ Within dummy to gain access to your fifth blockage in Suit A stands out. I give a fortnight he had forgotten about his club trick. Therefore, you must retain my memory bank time to kick in. The feet and was driving well. your ♣2 so that on the fourth round of declarer who instantly calls for a card If you have an approach that works clubs you can win the trick in dummy. from dummy is certainly not giving for you, I certainly don’t want to In my experience, learners can look at himself the best chance. The old chess change it. However, some of my ideas this club suit for ages without realising rule applies here. In chess, you have might help you so please give me a there is a problem. to move a piece if you touch it. Chess hearing. Look at Suit A. Does anything So how do good players recognise players who find it impossible to curb occur to you? this? In my view, it is mainly their instincts to immediately grab a experience. They have come across this piece are taught to sit on their hands type of problem before, and probably until they have come to a properly Suit A got it wrong. reasoned decision. That won’t help in ♣ A K 5 4 3 The difference between a player bridge because the laws tell you to call

N who is capable of progressing and a for a card from dummy rather than pick W E player who will never get beyond a it up, but perhaps you need to devise S certain level isn’t that the good player a similar strategy. Try pretending you ♣ Q 7 6 2 doesn’t make mistakes. It is that are a trappist monk (sworn to silence) he learns from those mistakes. He for the first 30 seconds.

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 29 ry to count top tricks, then put Hand D in to demonstrate that diamond with dummy’s fourth club. identify sources of extra tricks planning is not always possible. There Hand F looks very similar, but this T(including tricks that can are no patterns in the suits (eg touching time you have only 12 top tricks: definitely be developed by driving honours where you know that by four spades, three hearts, four clubs out top tricks, length tricks and driving out higher honours you can and the ♦A. The diamond finesse is finesses). Also, try to count losers. establish guaranteed winners). You are unlikely to work because players don’t not even sure whether to play dummy’s usually underlead kings against grand Look at Hands C and D below. ♥Q at trick 1. If you do manage to win slams, but you have no real alternative trick 1 with the ♥Q, you don’t know but to try it. what to do next. It is the sort of hand Sometimes, the opening lead can Hand C Hand D where I try a few finesses, see if suits reduce your options. In Hands G and ♠ Q 6 ♠ J 6 3 break and hope my opponents help H, you must decide whether or not to ♥ K Q 3 2 ♥ Q 5 2 me by opening up new suits. In other take the diamond finesse. ♦ 7 5 4 3 ♦ J 8 2 words, I bumble around and see what ♣ 8 5 4 ♣ Q 6 5 2 happens. This often works. This sort of hand is as hard for the defenders as it Hand G Hand H N N W E W E is for declarer. ♠ K 7 6 5 ♠ K 7 6 5 S S Generally speaking, the higher the ♥ 7 4 ♥ 7 4 ♠ A K J 10 9 8 ♠ A 10 7 level of the contract, the easier it is to ♦ A Q 2 ♦ A Q 2 ♥ 7 ♥ A 6 4 plan the play. Playing in a slam you ♣ A Q J 2 ♣ Q J 3 2 ♦ A K 2 ♦ K 9 5 3 are likely to have good sequences of N N ♣ A K Q ♣ J 8 4 honours and you won’t lose the lead W E W E S S often. Equally, playing in no-trumps Contract 6♠. Contract 1NT. it can be hard to count losers, because ♠ Q J 10 8 2 ♠ A Q J 10 8 Lead ♠2. Lead ♥3. you won’t necessarily know how your ♥ A K Q ♥ A K Q weaker suits are breaking. ♦ 8 5 ♦ 8 5 In Hands E and F, you have bid to ♣ K 10 7 ♣ K 10 7 In Hand C, you have 11 top tricks, six the giddy heights of a grand slam. spades, the ♦A-K and ♣A-K-Q. You You have to make a decision at trick Contract 6♠. Contract 6♠. need a twelfth and that will come from 1: whether or not to take the diamond (i) Lead ♦J. (i) Lead ♦J. developing a heart trick. You have two finesse. (ii) Lead ♥J. (ii) Lead ♥J. losers in your hand – a heart and a (iii) Lead ♠A, (iii) Lead ♣A, diamond. I find it helpful to pair then ♦J. then ♦J. up losers in the stronger hand with Hand E Hand F winners in the opposite hand. You ♠ K 7 6 5 ♠ K 7 6 5 cannot avoid a heart loser, but you ♥ 7 4 ♥ 7 4 In Hand G, you have eight top tricks: can develop a heart trick in dummy to ♦ A Q 2 ♦ A Q 2 four club tricks, three heart tricks and discard your ♦2. The key to this hand ♣ A Q J 2 ♣ A Q J 2 the ♦A. There are four extra tricks that is pairing up your losing ♦2 with one can definitely be developed, just drive N N of dummy’s hearts. You must diagnose W E W E out the ♠A and you have four spade S S another potential problem – that you tricks. However, you have two losers, need access to your heart winner. This ♠ A Q J 10 8 ♠ A Q J 10 the ♠A and potentially a diamond. can only come with the ♠Q, therefore ♥ A K Q ♥ A K Q Now try pairing up. The relevant pair you cannot start by drawing trumps. ♦ 8 5 ♦ 8 5 up is to realise that you might be able You must set about establishing the ♣ K 10 7 ♣ K 10 7 6 to discard your losing diamond on heart winner, so you win the ♠A at dummy’s fourth club. The question trick 1 and lead a heart. Contract 7♠. Contract 7♠. now is: do you have time to do that? Note that planning the hand has Lead ♦J. Lead ♦J. (i) The lead has exposed your resulted in you ignoring two of the diamond weakness. You cannot cash guidelines of declarer play. Normally 4 club tricks without drawing trumps you tackle a suit by leading the honours In Hand E, you have 13 top tricks: five and you cannot draw trumps without first from the short hand, but here you spades, three hearts, four clubs and losing the lead to the ♠A. You must try must play spades unnaturally in order the ♦A. You don’t need the diamond the ♦Q at trick 1. This hand is identical to retain an entry to dummy’s heart finesse. If you like the idea of ‘pairing to Hand E, except you now have a winner. Equally it is often good advice up’ losers in one hand with winners spade loser (the ♠A). However, that when playing a trump contract to start opposite, all the losers in your hand doesn’t necessarily mean that you can by drawing trumps, but here you have are covered by obvious winners in the just follow the same line of play and a good reason to do otherwise. same suit in dummy, except the ♦8. make one fewer trick. The missing ace How about Hand D? I have only However you can pair up your losing has changed the timing of the hand.

Page 30 BRIDGE April 2017 (ii) This time your pairing up works. Win the ♥A, drive out the ♠A, draw About Planning Dummy Quiz trumps and cash 4 rounds of clubs. by Andrew Kambites You never need to take the diamond finesse. (Answers on page 34) (iii) Again the pairing works, as with Plan your declarer play as South in Hands 1-8. Aim to make your contract. (ii). Hand H is virtually the same as Hand G, except this time you are missing Hand 1 Hand 2 Hand 3 the ♣A. Again, you are hoping to pair ♠ K 9 ♠ K 9 ♠ 4 3 2 up dummy’s fourth club with your ♥ 10 3 2 ♥ 10 3 2 ♥ A Q 2 diamond loser. ♦ A K 5 3 ♦ A K 5 3 ♦ K Q 3 (i) You have no time to use dummy’s ♣ A Q 3 2 ♣ A Q J 2 ♣ 7 6 4 3 fourth club so you must finesse the ♦Q N N N W E W E W E at trick 1. S S S (ii) and (iii) This time your pairing ♠ A Q J 10 6 5 4 ♠ A Q J 10 6 5 ♠ K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 up works as with Hand G (ii) and (iii). ♥ 7 5 4 ♥ 7 5 4 ♥ 7 Hands J and K provide you with ♦ 4 ♦ 4 ♦ 7 temptation. ♣ 7 4 ♣ 7 6 4 ♣ A 9 2

Contract 4♠. Contract 4♠. (i) Contract 4♠. Lead ♣K. Hand J Hand K Lead ♣5. Lead ♣5. (ii) Contract 4♠. Lead ♥3. ♠ 6 2 ♠ 6 2 (iii) Contract 3♠. Lead ♥3. ♥ K Q 2 ♥ K Q 2 ♦ Q 9 4 ♦ 8 6 3 ♣ A K J 10 6 ♣ A K J 10 6 Hand 4 Hand 5 Hand 6 N ♠ A 3 2 ♠ 5 4 2 ♠ 5 2 W E S ♥ A Q 2 ♥ K J 10 9 ♥ K Q 4 ♦ K Q 3 ♦ K J 7 ♦ Q J 10 9 ♠ A K ♠ A K ♣ 7 6 4 3 ♣ J 10 5 ♣ J 10 7 4 ♥ J 4 3 ♥ J 4 3 ♦ J 10 8 6 3 ♦ A J 10 9 7 N N N W E W E W E ♣ Q 8 7 ♣ Q 8 7 S S S ♠ K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 ♠ A K 3 ♠ A K Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. ♥ 7 ♥ 6 4 3 ♥ 7 5 3 Lead ♠Q. Lead ♠Q. ♦ 7 ♦ Q 6 2 ♦ 8 5 4 ♣ A 9 2 ♣ A K Q 9 ♣ A K Q 9 3

In Hand J, you have seven top tricks, (i) Contract 6♠. Lead ♥3. Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. ♠ ♥ ♠ ♠ the ♠A-K and five clubs. You can set (ii) Contract 5 . Lead 3. Lead Q. (i) Lead Q. (ii) Lead ♣8. up two tricks in hearts (losing the lead once to the ♥A) or three tricks in diamonds (losing the lead twice to the ♦ A-K). Hand 7 Hand 8 However, the opening lead has ♠ 10 9 6 ♠ A 6 knocked out one of your two spade ♥ A Q 2 ♥ K Q guards and you can only afford to lose ♦ 7 6 4 2 ♦ A Q 4 the lead once more, so you must play ♣ 8 6 5 ♣ K Q 9 8 5 4 on hearts. N N W E W E The logic in Hand K is identical. S S Certainly playing on hearts will guarantee you nine tricks, however, it ♠ A K Q J 8 7 ♠ 8 7 5 ♥ ♥ is worth pointing out that taking the 6 4 7 6 2 ♦ Q J 10 ♦ 9 8 3 2 double diamond finesse will give you ♣ A K ♣ A J 10 four diamond tricks 75% of the time. The other 25% of the time you will fail (i) Contract 4♠. Lead ♥3. Contract 3NT. spectacularly in a laydown contract. (ii) Contract 5♠. Lead ♥3. Lead ♠2. Playing duplicate pairs, you should take the risk. ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 31 Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Twenty-Five BERNARD MAGEE TUTORIAL Defence as Partner of the Leader

DVDS efence is by far the hardest declarer with the ace. Why has your aspect of bridge and for most partner led the suit? of you it will be the aspect you Perhaps it was his only choice? SET 1 Dneed to improve the most. You will If he had a singleton trump and 1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks have been taught about opening leads, isolated honours in the red suits, then but rarely do you get taught the defence he was left with Hobson’s choice – a 2 Competitive Auctions from the partner’s perspective. club. 3 Making the Most This DVD starts by analysing the Anyway, your play at trick one should of High Cards lead – trying to work out what your be a small club, following the general £25 partner has led and why and how this rule, that if there are two honours 4 Identifying per DVD might affect your play. When partner together, it is better to wait and cover & Bidding Slams leads an honour against a suit contract, the second honour. Understanding he is looking for an attitude signal the reason is not always necessary, just 5 Play & Defence from you to help him know what to do follow the rule because it generally of 1NT Contracts – do you like his lead or not? works. 6 Doubling & Defence When it is a spot card you have to against Doubled identify whether it is from an honour Contracts or not and whether it is from length ♠ J 8 7 5 or shortage. By using the bidding and ♥ J 9 4 2 SET 2 dummy you should be able to get close ♦ 7 to the answer most of the time – the ♣ Q J 6 3 7 Leads important element is concentrating. ♠ 2 ♠ Q 10 3 8 Losing Trick Count Here is an example: you are ♥ A 7 6 5 3 N ♥ K 8 defending against 4♠ and partner ♦ A 6 3 2 W E ♦ J 10 9 8 5 S 9 Making a Plan leads the ♣5 on which dummy plays ♣ 8 5 4 ♣ K 9 7 as Declarer the ♣Q. ♠ A K 9 6 4 ♥ 10 Responding to 1NT Q 10 ♦ K Q 4 11 Signals & Discards Dealer South. Love All. ♣ A 10 2 12 Endplay ♠ J 8 7 5 ♥ J 9 4 2 SET 3 ♦ 7 Declarer wins in dummy, plays two ♣ Q J 6 3 rounds of trumps, and the defence 13 Hand Evaluation ♠ Q 10 3 make four tricks: ♠Q, ♥A-K and ♦A. N ♥ K 8 Your play in clubs was crucial – had 14 Pre-Emptive Bidding W E S ♦ J 10 9 8 5 you covered the ♣Q with your king, 15 Splinter ♣ K 9 7 then declarer could have reverted to & Cue Bids clubs after the ♠A-K, discarding a £105 heart loser. 16 Avoidance set of 6 You might think that declarer could Play West North East South have continued with clubs anyway, but 17 Play & Defence at Pairs 1♠ he cannot be sure what is happening Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ in the suit – he cannot see your cards. 18 Thinking Defence All Pass Furthermore, he has no easy way back to dummy to make the last club. One of the golden rules in defence Look at West’s hand: he did not want Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 is never to lead away from an ace on to lead his singleton trump (which www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop the first lead against a suit contract. would have given away the trump suit) Trusting your partner, you place nor did he want to lead away from

Page 32 BRIDGE April 2017 Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Twenty-Five BERNARD MAGEE Defence as Partner of the Leader TUTORIAL

either of his aces. is missing any high cards in the suit, DVDS In the second part of the DVD, I then they will be in West’s hand and delve further into the defence from he will be able to take advantage of the perspective of the leader’s partner: your lead. SET 4 should you continue the suit led or So you win the lead with your ace 19 Defensive Plan should you switch? and switch to a high diamond – once Here, you are defending against again aiming to deny an honour (as 20 Further Into the Auction ♥ 3NT and your partner leads the 8, your partner’s lead did). 21 Weak Twos with dummy following small. 22 Trump Control ♠ Q 10 9 8 23 Sacrificing £25 Dealer South. Love All. ♥ K J 4 per DVD ♠ Q 10 9 8 ♦ 9 3 2 24 Improving ♥ K J 4 ♣ A Q J Bridge Memory ♦ 9 3 2 ♠ 7 4 2 ♠ A 6 5 3 ♣ A Q J ♥ 9 8 5 2 N ♥ A 10 3 SET 5 ♠ A 6 5 3 ♦ A Q J W E ♦ 8 7 4 S 25 Defence as Partner N ♥ A 10 3 ♣ 8 5 4 ♣ 7 6 3 W E of the Leader S ♦ 8 7 4 ♠ K J ♣ 7 6 3 ♥ Q 7 6 26 Aggressive Bidding ♦ K 10 6 5 at Duplicate Pairs ♣ K 10 9 2 27 Strong Opening Bids West North East South 1NT 28 Take-Out Doubles Pass 3NT All Pass There is no doubt that the diamond 29 Suit Establishment honours are sitting rather favourably in Suit Contracts Your first decision is whether to play for your side, but that is exactly what your ace or play the ten? What is dummy tells you – if there is weakness 30 Landy / Defending your partner’s lead? It looks to be a on your right, then your partner’s Against a 1NT Opening high spot card, thereby denying an strength may well be able to swallow honour – there are only two cards declarer’s. SET 6 missing above the ♥8, the ♥9 and On this hand your partner would ♥Q, so it is not fourth highest from an win your diamond switch with his jack 31 Counting Defence honour. Expecting partner to have led and, eventually, you will be able to win 32 Extra Tricks ♠ from length but without an honour, the A and play a second diamond in No-Trumps you should contemplate winning allowing your partner to make two and switching. To work out if there more diamond tricks. 33 Supporting is a potentially good switch, you do As usual, at the end of a defensive Partner £105 not generally look at your hand, but seminar I emphasise how difficult 34 Finessing set of 6 at dummy. Throughout this DVD defending is, but I also talk about how dummy was on your right (partner of enjoyable defence can be when you 35 Bidding the leader) therefore the focus was on work as a partnership. Trusting each Distributional Hands looking for weakness, ‘if dummy is on other to make reasoned decisions and 36 Coping with Pre-Empts your right, look for the weakest suit in putting the effort in to work out what sight.’ the reasons are. Diamonds are calling out to be led: As you learn to read your partner’s of course, declarer might well have ace- lead better, you will also learn to make Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 king-queen, but then no harm is done. the right play further on down the www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop The important point is that if declarer line. ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 33 Answers to About Planning Dummy Quiz on page 31

Plan your declarer play in Hands 1-8. win the ♥A and get on with drawing Hand 3 Hand 4 trumps. ♠ 4 3 2 ♠ A 3 2 Hand 1 Hand 2 ♥ A Q 2 ♥ A Q 2 4 You have ten top tricks: eight spades, ♠ K 9 ♠ K 9 ♦ K Q 3 ♦ K Q 3 the ♥A and ♣A. ♥ 10 3 2 ♥ 10 3 2 ♣ 7 6 4 3 ♣ 7 6 4 3 (i) You need two more tricks. Defend- ♦ A K 5 3 ♦ A K 5 3 ers are unlikely to let you make two N N ♣ A Q 3 2 ♣ A Q J 2 W E W E diamond tricks; even if West has the S S ♦A he can play low on your diamond N N W E W E ♠ K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 ♠ K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 lead and you cannot repeat the fi- S S ♥ 7 ♥ 7 nesse. Therefore, you need the heart ♠ A Q J 10 6 5 4 ♠ A Q J 10 6 5 ♦ 7 ♦ 7 finesse. Effectively, you are pairing ♥ 7 5 4 ♥ 7 5 4 ♣ A 9 2 ♣ A 9 2 one of your club losers with the ♥A ♦ 4 ♦ 4 and one with a diamond. ♣ 7 4 ♣ 7 6 4 (i) Contract 4♠. (i) Contract 6♠. (ii) Take the ♥A and set up a diamond Lead ♣K. Lead ♥3. for a club discard. This gives you 11 Contract 4♠. Contract 4♠. (ii) Contract 4♠. (ii) Contract 5♠. tricks. If you take the heart finesse Lead ♣5. Lead ♣5 Lead ♥3. Lead ♥3. and it fails, a club return will give you (iii) Contract 3♠. almost no chance. Lead ♥3. 1 You have ten top tricks: seven spades, ♦A-K and ♣A. You have four losers: Hand 5 Hand 6 three hearts and potentially a club. 3 You have only two top tricks: the ♥A ♠ 5 4 2 ♠ 5 2 You can pair up the ♦K in dummy and ♣A. You have seven extra win- ♥ K J 10 9 ♥ K Q 4 with one of your losers, provided ners in the spade suit once the ♠A is ♦ K J 7 ♦ Q J 10 9 the defenders do not take their four driven out, potential winners in dia- ♣ J 10 5 ♣ J 10 7 4 tricks first, which could easily happen monds (by force) and a possible heart N N if you take the club finesse and East finesse. You also have four losers: W E W E S wins the ♣K and switches to a heart. (two clubs, the ♦A and ♠A). You would S Take your ♣A and ensure your ten top prefer to set up your tenth trick in ♠ A K 3 ♠ A K tricks. diamonds because you are certain to ♥ 6 4 3 ♥ 7 5 3 make an extra trick there, as opposed ♦ Q 6 2 ♦ 8 5 4 2 You have nine top tricks: six spades, to the heart finesse, but the lead might ♣ A K Q 9 ♣ A K Q 9 3 ♦A-K and ♣A. You may have four los- mean that is not possible. ers: three hearts and perhaps a club. (i) The ♣K has exposed your four los- Contract 3NT. Contract 3NT. You can easily develop a second ers. You don’t have time to set up a Lead ♠Q. (i) Lead ♠Q. club trick. You can pair up the ♦K in diamond for a club discard. You must (ii) Lead ♣8. dummy with one of your heart losers, take the heart finesse. If it fails, you provided the defenders do not take might go two off. their four tricks first, which could eas- (ii) This time the heart lead has removed 5 You have six top tricks, the ♠A-K and ily happen if you take a losing club your only entry to dummy’s diamonds, four clubs. You need three more, but finesse. so you need the heart finesse. Again, you can only afford to lose the lead Take your ♣A, draw trumps, cash if it fails you might go two off. once because you have just one re- your ♦A-K discarding a heart and set (iii) The same arguments apply as in (ii), maining spade guard. You can es- up a club trick. but now four losers pose no threat so tablish two diamond tricks easily

Page 34 BRIDGE April 2017 enough, but that is not sufficient. You must play on hearts, hoping West has the ♥Q. You have enough entries to your hand to lead towards dummy’s BERNARD MAGEE hearts three times if necessary. at Denham Grove 6 You have seven top tricks, the ♠A-K and five clubs. near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG. (i) You need two more tricks but you can only afford to lose the lead once. You can certainly set up two diamond tricks, but you need to drive out the ♦A-K, by which time the defenders 12-15 January 2018 will be able to cash too many tricks. Correct play is to hope that West has the ♥A. Win the ♠A £399pp Friday – Monday and lead a heart towards dummy at trick two. If the ♥K wins, £369pp Friday – Sunday return to your hand with the ♣A to lead another heart. (ii) Now, still holding two spade stops, you can aim for two extra Full Board – No Single Supplement1 diamond tricks by driving out the ♦A and ♦K. Limited places for Thursday night available. £65pp single, £45pp double/twin.

Hand 7 Hand 8 ♠ 10 9 6 ♠ A 6 ♥ A Q 2 ♥ K Q Topics ♦ 7 6 4 2 ♦ A Q 4 ♣ 8 6 5 ♣ K Q 9 8 5 4 TEAMS OF FOUR This form of the game is the most common at International N N level, and is great fun to play at club level and even in the home. W E W E S S I will discuss the basic format and then look at the tactics you might use in the bidding and play. ♠ A K Q J 8 7 ♠ 8 7 5 GAME TRIES ♥ 6 4 ♥ 7 6 2 When your partner raises your suit to the two-level, you have a ♦ Q J 10 ♦ 9 8 3 2 variety of options available to you, in order to find out whether ♣ A K ♣ A J 10 game is a sensible option. I will talk about major suit game tries to find better games and minor suit game tries, when you consider the option of a no-trump contract. (i)3 Contract 4♠. Contract 3NT. 3 Lead ♥3. Lead ♠2. DISRUPTING DECLARER (ii)3Contract 5♠. A defender needs to try and predict what declarer might want to 3 Lead ♥3. do. Your job is then to disrupt declarer’s plan. Stop him ruffing, stop him establishing suits and generally try to put him off, by using only your cards, of course.

7 You have nine top tricks: six spades, the ♥A and the ♣A-K. DEFENDING SLAMS (i) You can easily develop at least one diamond trick, and the Making the right plays against slams can make a huge difference. Knowing when to attack and when to lie low: should you lead heart finesse might work. However, there is a danger in tak- an ace or not? We will not just consider slam contracts, but also ing the heart finesse. If it loses, the defenders might switch to other high level contracts in competitive auctions. diamonds and take the ♦A-K and a diamond ruff. To ensure your contract, you must spurn the heart finesse. Win the ♥A, OVERCALLING draw trumps and drive out the ♦A-K. Duplicate bridge is so much more competitive now and it is important you are part of this. Knowing the reasons for (ii) In 5♠ you need the heart finesse. You cannot afford to lose a overcalling and understanding them will allow you to compete heart trick as well as the ♦A-K. more and at the right time. PRESSING THE DEFENCE 8 You have eight top tricks, the ♠A, ♦A and six clubs. You have As declarer there are ways you can make life more awkward for two ways of building your ninth trick. the defenders, particular by disguising holdings in your hand for You can lead the ♥K. This sets up a guaranteed ninth trick a little longer. I will be exploring a number of tactics that will but you must lose the lead. It is the correct play if the missing help you to exploit the defenders including the dreaded squeeze. spades are breaking 4-4. Alternatively, you can return to your hand with the ♣A and 2 try a diamond finesse. This is your only chance if the missing 6 seminar sessions with Bernard spades break 5-3. So how do you know? The lead was the 6 sessions of supervised play3 ♠2. If opponents play fourth highest from length, then the spades appear to be breaking 4-4, so attack hearts. Contact Mr Bridge to book your place It would have been far less clearcut if the lead was the ♠3. or for further details: ( 01483 489961 ♠ You would then be asking yourself, ‘Who has the 2?’ 1Subject to availability 2Filmed 3Not with Bernard Magee Not all decisions in bridge have clearcut answers. ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 35 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum

Episode 60: Garden Cities: The County Heat

clash of fixtures resulted in club tricks and hoping I could provide the club continuation, Jo successfully fewer teams than usual en- two more, Millie opened a gambling made eleven tricks for plus 450 giving tering the Norfolk qualifying three no-trumps. East doubled for our foursome an IMPs score of plus 8. Aheat of the Garden Cities competition penalties. Millie’s solid suit was clearly In the ‘A’ section with Riverside sitting at the Riverside premises. The day of clubs and I briefly considered passing North-South the auction was very the event duly arrived and Millie and as I held an honour in each of the other concise. Justin opened a gambling I, with six other club members, were three. In the end, I thought discretion three no trumps which systemically ready to do battle on home soil against was the better part of valour and bid did not contain more than a queen teams from all over the county. four clubs. Following two more passes, outside its solid minor. Amazingly, at the end of the first a second double by East ended the session we found ourselves well placed auction. West North East South in the field. A brandy or two during the Justin Spouse interval revived Millie and, as team West North East South 3NT All Pass captain, she encouraged the other Rick Millie Mick Wendy seven of us to do even better in the 3NT Dbl 4♣ East led the spade ace with the second session. As two men with full Pass Pass Dbl All Pass harmless but unnecessary remark, ‘To pint glasses of lager approached us, look at dummy,’ then played the five to Millie whispered in my ear, ‘They’re Rick took a long swig of beer before his partner’s king. West switched the part of the Nag’s Head pub team.’ leading the six of diamonds to attack to diamonds and Justin went Locally, they are renowned for their partner’s king. Mick drained his glass off four tricks, losing three spades and skill at consuming large quantities of and then returned the jack. Without five diamonds for minus 200. Needless alcohol in record time. As they seated any real hope of success I played the to say, captain Millie was not amused. themselves at our table, they greeted queen losing to the ace. Rick now tried At the other ‘A’ section table with us cordially, introducing themselves the spade king, following with the two Nag’s Head as North-South, there was as Rick and Mick. Each of their black to Mick’s ace. Instead of the expected yet another three no-trump opener. beer-stained T-shirts was emblazoned heart or club, he played the queen This time Sarah and George reached with an image of a horse’s head of spades which I ruffed in dummy. game in diamonds. smoking a cigar. Their appearance Opponents’ trumps were removed in confirmed their team’s reputation and two rounds. I ditched dummy’s losing West North East South Millie’s accurate prediction. This deal heart on the jack of spades going one Sarah George proved quite difficult to handle and off doubled for minus 100. When the 3NT Dbl 4♣ produced a different result at each director called the move for the next 4♦ Pass 5♦ All Pass table. round, Rick and Mick thanked us politely, retrieved their empty glasses Five diamonds was clearly not the and headed back to the bar for refills. optimum contact, but Sarah took Dealer North. Love All. Later as we scored up with Jo and Kate, the right view in diamonds and just ♠ 9 4 our teammates in the ‘B’ section, it lost the two missing aces to bring the ♥ 7 3 emerged that their auction had started contact home for plus 400 and an IMPs ♦ 7 4 with a pre-emptive three club opener. score of plus 5. The two positive scores ♣ A K Q J 9 7 3 Kate had doubled for take-out, Jo tried generated a useful swing on the board. ♠ K 2 ♠ A Q 10 7 5 three diamonds, Kate suggested three To our great pleasure and surprise, as ♥ Q 10 8 6 N ♥ K J 9 2 hearts and Jo confirmed the contract the final scores were computed we saw W E ♦ A 10 8 6 3 S ♦ K J 5 of four hearts. our names at the top of the listings to ♣ 6 4 ♣ 5 qualify for the regional final. ♠ J 8 6 3 West North East South On arriving at our local hostelry ♥ A 5 4 Jo Kate later, we found Rick and Mick and the ♦ Q 9 2 3♣ Dbl Pass rest of the Nag’s Head team drinking ♣ 10 8 2 3♦ Pass 3♥ Pass pints of lager. They were more than 4♥ All Pass happy to rejoice at our success and celebrations continued to closing With the likelihood of running seven After the club lead and the ruff of time. ■

Page 36 BRIDGE April 2017 Julian Pottage Answers your Bridge Questions Should I Bid Game After RHO Opens a Weak Two?

Your right hand are more likely to have a major and a strong four-card opponent opens ♠ Q 10 7 4 singleton than a void for this holding in the other, I would Qa weak two in ♥ K 9 sequence), North will then feel inclined to rebid in the spades and you hold: ♦ K 8 5 be very interested in a slam. chunky four-card major. Most ♣ A J 7 4 In fact, you might not get of the time, particularly if the the chance to follow through singleton is an honour, a 2NT N ♠ A 6 W E with the 4♣ splinter, since rebid is as good as anything. S ♥ A K Q 9 4 2 North with four-card spade ♦ J 7 ♠ A 9 8 6 5 3 2 support might jump to 3♠ ♣♦♥♠ ♣ 9 6 3 ♥ A 7 3 over 2♥. News of four-card ♦ A Q 10 spade support certainly I have been reading ♣ Void improves the South hand; Jeremy Dhondy’s It is a standard pairs again, you should reach a Qarticles about club night, giving limited slam. With the ♠K missing, Lebensohl which I play time to consider options. With the South hand, you are never going to bid a with most of my partners. At the table, the player considering the weakness grand slam. You would not Recently, the opposition overcalled 4♥, leading to of the spades, would you want to be in a 52% grand opened with a weak 2♠ a failing 6♥ contract. What bid 3♠ as a slam try? slam in any event, especially and partner doubled. I had do you think is best? If so, how would you find when some pairs might fail a completely flat hand: Ian Blackburn by email. where North’s strength lies? to reach even a small slam. The spades broke 1-1 With sound opening and 13 tricks were made. ♣♦♥♠ ♠ J 10 7 5 values and a good John Dunbar by email. ♥ K 8 6 A suit to show, a 3♥ Can someone ♦ Q 9 5 overcall describes the hand With the South hand, clarify the three ♣ Q 7 2 admirably. Nothing else is I would start with a Qfour-card suit close to being right. 2NT, A 2♥ transfer and plan problem when you hold 23 with two suits wide open, to make a 4♣ splinter on or more high card points? If I call 2NT, partner bids could well go wrong. With the next round. 4♣ should Ray Enever by email. the expected 3♣ – then a likely seven tricks in your not be natural because what do I do? Partner was hand, 4♥ would be an 3♣ would be natural and I assume you are not best pleased when I unnecessary overbid: if forcing. Usually a splinter asking what to do passed the double as it holding three tricks or at agrees partner suit, but when A as opener with 23+ went only one off. Partner least the potential thereof, partner has bid no-trumps points and a 4441 type. had 16 points and a five- partner will surely find and you have shown a suit, For sure, you should start card diamond suit. a raise of 3♥ to 4♥. the unnecessary jump in a with 2♣. The real question Shirley Durrant, Yeovil. new suit must agree your own is what to do after the ♣♦♥♠ suit (you are confident of at anticipated 2♦ response. The Opposing pre-empts least a doubleton opposite). right action depends a bit on make life difficult at North opened Given that A-J-x-x is just where the singleton is and A times. Sometimes you 1NT (12-14) and about the ideal holding your honour locations. If you do not have the perfect hand QSouth replied 4♠. facing a singleton (you have a small singleton in one for any action. With the

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 37 hand you held, anything With ten points (and for a possible 4-3 fit so easily hold a better hand you do is a guess. If you bid playing a weak that was my choice. than you do and because 2NT and pass 3♣, partner A 1NT opening), the Partner said I should responder will quite often might not have clubs. If 2♦ response is correct. have doubled and then be in a position to double if you bid 3NT, you could be You risk missing game if we would not have missed your side has the minority way overboard. If you pass you respond 1NT because game (five pairs bid to of points. Furthermore, and the contract makes, partner with a balanced 3NT and the other to 4♥). the chance of game or that is sure to be bad. 15 or 16 will simply pass. Because my bid was a indeed any contract your At matchpoints, particularly Partner’s 2♠ reverse after free bid, and I could have way decreases once an if the opponents are your two-level response passed, I thought I must opponent has the values vulnerable, you could easily creates a game force. With have shown some points. to open the bidding. pick up 200 and a top or three-card support for What do you suggest? near top, so passing is partner’s first suit you must Angela Buckley, Leeds. ♣♦♥♠ actually quite an attractive show it. Since you are in option. Passing is less a game-forcing auction, Holding the North My partner opens attractive at IMPs (when the principle of fast arrival hand, I would the bidding as East. -470 or -670 is a disaster) applies: bidding game A respond 2♦. This is Q or if the opponents are (4♥) is weaker than taking what you would have bid non-vulnerable. I guess things slowly (3♥). With without the overcall. Given West East from the fact that defeating poor shape and minimum the awful intermediates, you 1♣ the opponents by one led high cards for your initial 2♦ are closer to downgrading 1♠ 2♣ to a bad score means they response, you should thus to 2♥, even though North ? were non-vulnerable. bid 4♥ rather than 3♥. might have stretched to How should we play Lebensohl is a convention raise in competition, than a rebid of 2♥ – forcing that allows you to deal with ♣♦♥♠ upgrading to 2NT. or non-forcing? many different types of Holding the South hand, hands, but it does mean you How should I would not pass the raise cannot bid a natural 2NT – the bidding to 2♥. I would rebid 2NT, ♠ J 8 6 4 2

this is one of the rare hands have gone on which shows 17-18 points, ♥ K J 6 2 N Q W E ♦ that you might lose out on. the following hand? a balanced hand, usually Q 4 2 S with only four hearts, and ♣ 7 ♣♦♥♠ with a stopper in the suit ♠ 6 4 2 overcalled. Given that North What responder’s ♥ A 5 4 had the chance to make a If we play 2♥ as forcing, I rebid should ♦ K 6 3 2 negative double but chose cannot offer partner a choice QWest make ♣ Q J 5 not to, I would not worry of majors at the two level. with the following hand about missing a spade fit. If we play it as not forcing, N (and do you agree with W E The responding hand then how do I show a stronger S the initial response)? has an easy raise to 3NT. hand such as this one? ♠ A Q J 3 ♥ K Q 9 2 ♣♦♥♠ ♠ 10 6 3 ♦ Q 10 ♠ A Q 9 4 2

♥ 8 6 2 N ♣ A 6 2 How many points ♥ Q J 6 2 N ♦ W E ♦ W E K 8 4 3 S do you need K 9 2 S ♣ A K 7 Qto make a 1NT ♣ Q West North East South overcall? We have had a lot 1♥ of disagreement on this call. West East 2♣ 2♥ All Pass Roseanna by email. Do I jump to 3♥? Someone 1♥ has suggested bidding 2♦ 2♠ As North, I thought double After the opponents an artificial 2♦. ? would show four spades, open the bidding, a Terry Gregory by email. not three poor ones. I had A 1NT overcall should I was West and bid 3♥ (I ten points – granted with be like a strong no-trump It is customary to play wondered about 3NT and good honours – but with opening, 15-17 or maybe that after opener 4♥); my partner then went no intermediates and a flat 15-18 points, with, of course, A rebids the same suit, into Blackwood, ending up hand I valued it as nine. at least one stopper in the a new suit by responder is in 6♥ going one down. I had a stopper in clubs suit opened. It is unsound forcing for one round. This Nick Goulder by email. but felt unable to stretch to overcall 1NT with a 12-14 saves you from having to to 2NT. The ♥A was good hand, because opener could jump to create a force. With

Page 38 BRIDGE April 2017 a weak hand you just have to you have a stronger hand. North South How would you bid pass; staying low with a misfit If you changed the ten 2♣ 2♦ the following hand is often a good idea anyway. of diamonds to the king or 2♥ 2♠ Qplaying Standard Yes, some people the queen of clubs to the 3♦ 3♠ American Yellow Card? (a minority even in a ace, a Benjamin 2♣ would 3NT 4♠ tournament) play 2♦, the next be fine. Changing the ten 4NT All Pass suit up, as an artificial game of diamonds to the queen, ♠ K Q 10 9 3 force: ‘Bourke relay’. If you as you suggest, is more The contract was 4NT, ♥ Q J play that, you can rebid 2♥ marginal because you could going just one down when I ♦ A J 9 8 4 on a moderate hand, because not be sure of making eight was lucky enough to make ♣ 7 your failure to use the strong tricks. If you did open 1♥ three tricks in diamonds. N 2♦ relay would mean you are with that hypothetical hand, I bid 4NT (RKCB) in the W E S denying game going values. you would rebid something hope I might hear news of stronger than a non-forcing the ♠K. Poor South, fumbling ♠ J ♣♦♥♠ 3♥, 3NT perhaps (not in vain for the brake, did ♥ K 8 7 4 needed to show a balanced not bid 2NT to mean a ♦ K Q 6 3 Would you explain hand if a 2NT rebid shows second negative. I am not ♣ A Q 4 3 the difference 18-19 and 20-point hands sure I would have stopped Qbetween an open at the two level). in game even if I had seen opener’s rebid with a six that second red light. North South card suit (16 -19 HCP) and ♣♦♥♠ Rupert Timpson by email. 1♠ 2♣ a Benji 2♣ opening? 2♦ 3♦ For example, the Partner leads a K (or As a general rule, it 3♥ 3NT bidding goes: A) asking for count. is best to investigate Q What do you play A slam potential Is South too strong for a 3♦ West East from 8-6-5-4-3-2 before going past game. bid – and is 3♦ passable? 1♥ 1♠ and 8-6-5-4-3? Nobody wants to play in a Is 3♥ better used as (i) FSF or ? Simon Gottschalk, freely bid five of a major (ii) stopper asking or Pendoylan, Glamorgan. (or 4NT) going down. (iii) stopper showing? If 2♠ showed five spades, Huw Jones, Swansea. ♠ 6 Playing standard then 3♠ should show a sixth

♥ A Q J 10 6 2 N count, you play spade, in which case North In SAYC, responder ♦ A 10 2 W E the six from the is able to agree spades after promises a second S A ♣ K Q 2 first holding and the three 3♠. There are two ways to do A bid after making from the second. A long this without going past game. a two-over-one response. weak holding is an easy The weaker way of doing so This being the case, 3♦ is With 16 HCP and a good holding from which to would be to raise to 4♠. The that second bid and sounds six-card suit, this is an give a clear signal. stronger way, appropriate non forcing. South might do example where opener is when you have a king more better, in theory, to rebid 2♥. supposed to now jump to 3♥. ♣♦♥♠ than you might have, is via When the partnership has However, suppose the a 4♣ cue bid – 4♣ cannot bid three suits and is clearly diamonds were changed Another failing be an attempt to play in the looking for 3NT, a bid of the to A-Q-2 giving 18 HCP, slam, this suit, because with good clubs fourth suit asks rather than would opener still bid Qtime a case of North would be bidding 3NT. shows – if you had a stopper, the same way or would ‘where’s the brake?’ If North has already shown you could bid no-trumps he open a Benji 2♣? that the 2♣ opening was not yourself. 3♥ on your auction David Cree, a minimum, it is much easier is asking for a stopper. Strathaven, Lanarkshire. ♠ A 3 to respect a 4♠ sign off. If responder had bid 2♥ ♥ A K Q 8 5 Making a 2NT second rather than 2♦, that would As you suggest, the ♦ A Q 7 4 negative on the South hand be a general force rather difference between ♣ A K seems to be another good than specifically asking for opening one then way of avoiding the problem. a stopper, although one A N jumping in the suit as a rebid, W E In the absence of a good fit, reason responder might be S and opening a Benjamin North then knows the values making the bid is a lack of a 2♣ before showing the suit ♠ 10 9 7 6 4 2 for a slam are lacking. stopper. ■ is that the latter is stronger. ♥ 6 With your example hand, ♦ 5 E-mail your questions (including your postal address) opening 1♥ and rebidding ♣ J 10 8 6 3 for Julian to: [email protected] 3♥ is fine. Now suppose

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 39 Catching Up with Sally Brock

his has been a pretty hectic with trying to find myself somewhere you get information about your month. The most significant to live in London. partner’s major-suit holdings which event was the death of my Then, of course, there was her is only of interest to your opponents. Tmother. She deteriorated quite quickly charity evening in aid of Stoke In my view, you should make the in 2016, to the extent that for most Mandeville Spinal Research. There decision: either pass, or bid 3NT, don’t of that time she was bedridden and was one extra table this year, and she involve partner. So I had this opening not taking much of an interest in again raised over £20,000. That might lead problem … the bidding goes 1NT anything. It got to the stage where go up, I guess. One of the things she – 2♣ – 2♠ – 2NT – 3NT, and I hold: she couldn’t eat or drink, so rather was really trying to plug this year was than put her on a drip, we stopped ‘regular giving’, ie trying to get people everything except morphine. She was to set up a direct debit with a regular ♠ J 6 5 3 peaceful enough, but it took a week for amount. Some of the big charities ♥ Q 9 3 2 N W E her to go. Although it was a relief in make millions of pounds in this way, ♦ Q 7 5 S some ways, I find myself soldiering on while her charity makes only just ♣ 7 2 most of the time, with the occasional over £1,000 – more than half of which tidal wave of grief sweeping over me. comes from me. It is so good for them Then, of course, there was taking to have a regular income they can I thought that dummy would probably care of my father and making sure he count on. If any of you would like to hold four hearts to go with declarer’s was coping, as well as organising the do this (it really is a good cause), then four spades. Partner did not double funeral, which, luckily, we managed please drop her a line (briony.brock@ Stayman, so I led a diamond. Had the to squeeze in before Barry and I go to smsr.org.uk) and she’ll tell you how. bidding gone 1NT – 3NT, I would have Japan and Australia at the beginning Back to the bridge … The first picked a major, probably hearts. This of February. weekend in January saw us up in was the full deal: And it was not just my mother who Manchester for the congress. We died. Sandra Landy, who was my first stayed, as we usually do, with friends international bridge partner and long- Rodney and Lorraine. The pairs ♠ A 8 7 time friend, died in early January. passed off peacefully enough with us ♥ 10 8 6 Many of you may have known her as retaining our mixed pairs title – this ♦ J 10 well, as she was a big figure in the world is for the highest placed mixed pair, ♣ K 10 9 8 5 of bridge and bridge teaching. She had and in order to qualify we have to fail ♠ J 6 5 3 ♠ 4 2 been struggling with dementia for a to win one of the other major prizes. ♥ Q 9 3 2 N ♥ K 7 4 ♦ Q 7 5 W E ♦ A 8 6 3 2 while but was coping and still living on This year we finished sixth after a S her own. In the end it was meningitis poor second session. On the Sunday, ♣ 7 2 ♣ Q J 3 that caused her death. Her funeral was we played in the teams with Rodney ♠ K Q 10 9 an excellent tribute to her life. and John Curry. It all went reasonably ♥ A J 5 I mentioned last month that Briony well but we were not destined to ♦ K 9 4 went to Australia at the very end of win – I don’t think we could have ♣ A 6 4 the year. That went spectacularly caught the winners who scored 83 well. She had a great time, enjoying IMPs to our 41. I was pleased with her own company most of the time the following hand which proved Note that only a diamond lead puts (though she did hang out quite a bit one of my oft-stated hobbyhorses … declarer under any pressure at all. In with a friend, Emily). She came back I have a strong aversion to playing order to succeed he has to rise with the full of enthusiasm for moving out. In in precisely 2NT. It seems to me that king on the second round of the suit, next to no time she found a fantastic whether or not this contract makes is and why should he do that? place to live – a detached residence usually serendipitous, ie sometimes A couple of weekends later was the that had been built as a granny flat in it does and sometimes it doesn’t, so point-a-board teams at the Young the garden of the landlord/landlady. why not play for the game bonus? If Chelsea Bridge Club in London. This She has a large lounge, decent-sized your partner opens 1NT and the only is a really fun event with an unusual bedroom, big dining kitchen and way you can invite game is via ‘non- form of scoring: instead of the usual compact bathroom. Perfect. As well as promissory’ Stayman, I hate inviting IMPs, there is just the comparison being great for her, that means when even more. This is because in order to between the two teams. Two points I get back from Australia I can get on try to stop on that particular pinhead for a win and one for a draw. However,

Page 40 BRIDGE April 2017 this was when my mother died, in the early hours of the Saturday morning. I Answers to Bernard Magee’s decided to play on the Saturday – and we qualified for the final – but on the Bidding Quizzes 1-3 Sunday I went to see my father while Robert played instead of me. They on the Cover finished third which was no disgrace and seemed to have a good day. This was an exciting hand from the other rebid would probably leave you qualifying round: 1. Dealer East. Love All. better placed (other than 2NT). ♠ K 6 3 ♠ A 8 5 The usual response would be 1♠ – your ♥ Q 4 2 N ♥ J 8 longest suit – but this would leave very Dealer South. N/S Game. ♦ 8 7 6 W E ♦ A K 5 little room for your partner and now the S ♠ A K Q J 5 3 ♣ K Q 8 6 ♣ A 9 7 5 2 likelihood of a 2♣ rebid is increased. ♥ A K J 10 4 3 Better is to respond in your lowest suit ♦ 6 and then plan to pass your partner’s next ♣ Void West North East South bid. ♠ 9 4 ♠ 7 1♣ Pass Now if your partner holds diamonds, ♥ 7 5 2 N ♥ Q 9 6 ? hearts or spades, you will find a better fit, ♦ K Q 10 5 4 W E ♦ A 8 7 3 or you finish in no-trumps and that might S ♣ A Q 6 ♣ K 9 8 7 2 1NT. When responding to 1♣ with play better than clubs. ♠ 10 8 6 2 club support and 6-10 points, you have Here, East would rebid 1♥ and you ♥ 8 two bids to consider: 1NT or 2♣. The would finish in a much better place than ♦ J 9 2 reason why 1NT is available as one of 1♣. Note, that if you had responded 1♠, ♣ J 10 5 4 3 the choices, is because with a different then your partner would have rebid 2♣, four-card suit you would respond in that, unable to show his second suit because so by responding 1NT you are denying that would be a reverse. This is the auction when Barry was any other four-card suit, which therefore North: means you must have four or more clubs. Given that there are two choices, they are West North East South generally assigned different strengths: 3. Dealer East. Love All. Pass 2♣ is the weaker 5-7 points and 1NT ♠ A 8 7 6 ♠ K 2 1♦ 2♦ 3♦ Pass the stronger 8-10 points. Bearing this in ♥ K 4 3 N ♥ 7 6 Pass 4♦ Pass 4♠ mind, you should respond 1NT. ♦ J 5 3 2 W E ♦ Q 10 9 4 S Pass 5♦ Pass 6♠ East, expecting to be opposite 8-10 ♣ 8 7 ♣ A K 6 5 4 All Pass points will raise to 2NT, inviting game and you can go on to 3NT. As Barry put his hand down (even West North East South before the ♣A opening lead had been 1♣ Pass faced) he said that he should have bid ? 7♠. He knew from my jump to 6♠ (I 2. Dealer East. Love All. can only show nothing so many times) ♠ 9 8 7 6 5 ♠ J 1♦. This time you have eight HCP so that I would probably have what I had ♥ K 4 3 N ♥ A Q 9 5 plenty of strength to respond: your – certainly at least four spades. So ♦ J 8 3 2 W E ♦ 9 6 5 choices are 1♦, 1♠ or 1NT. A 1NT S the grand slam would be good odds ♣ 4 ♣ A K 7 6 5 response is out of the question; it would provided the defenders didn’t lead a deny any four-card suit outside clubs. diamond. Anyway, we thought making With two four-card suits you should bid the overtrick would possibly have been West North East South the lower, giving your partner the room good enough to win the board. Little 1♣ Pass to show a second suit if he has one. did we know! Our counterparts in the ? This way, you will not miss a fit – if your other room bid and made the grand partner has four spades, he will rebid 1♠ slam (over a sacrifice of ♦7 ). 1♦. You only have four high card points over your 1♦ reply. As it is, your partner As for the knock-outs, we managed so the normal action would be to pass. will support diamonds: 2♦ leaving you in to lose our NICKO semi-final match However, with a singleton in your your best contract. against the de Botton team, but we’re partner’s suit, you may be in a poor If, instead you respond 1♠, East would plodding along in the others, having contract. You might consider bidding if have to rebid 2♣ and you miss your fit, won an early Gold Cup match and a you felt there was a reasonable chance since East cannot reverse to show his not-so-early Hubert Phillips match in of improving the contract. It is true that diamonds and you are not strong enough the same period. ■ your partner might rebid 2♣, but any to bid again. ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 41 Julian Pottage answers your Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Best Range for a 1NT Rebid?

he best range for a 1NT rebid a 2NT (jump) rebid as 18-19, again a 1NT rebid does also. That should depends in part on the range something Bernard and I recommend. be easy enough to remember. When of your 1NT opening. The In old fashioned Acol, a 1NT rebid was the last time you stopped in 2♣ Tgenerally accepted principle is that showed 15-16 while a 2NT jump rebid anyway? you do not want the range of a 1NT showed 17-18. Played in conjunction A simple set of responses to the 2♣ rebid to overlap with the range of your with a 20-22 range for a 2NT opening, enquiry are as follows: 1NT opening. this meant that hands with precisely If you play a weak 1NT opening 19 points would open one of a suit and 2♦ Minimum, no undisclosed (12-14), your 1NT rebid will show a rebid 3NT. Playing a single point count length in a major. hand stronger than a 1NT opening. for the 3NT rebid was inefficient, partly 2♥ Minimum and hearts (five if If you play a strong 1NT opening (15- because a single point count meant you the opening was 1♥, three if the 17), your 1NT rebid will show a hand were making little use of the bid and response was 1♥, otherwise four). weaker than a 1NT opening. If you partly because the big jump removed 2♠ Minimum and spades (three if are one of those brave souls who play a lot of bidding space. If the bidding the response was 1♠, otherwise a mini 1NT opening (10-12) at certain starts 1♥-1♠-3NT, responder cannot four). vulnerabilities and positions at the investigate a possible 5-3 fit in either 2NT Maximum, no undisclosed table, your 1NT rebid will show a hand major without going past what might length in a major and no strong stronger than a 1NT opening. be the best game. Responder cannot minor suit. Much of the world plays a 15-17 show a second suit without going past 3♣ Maximum, natural. 1NT opening and a 12-14 1NT rebid. 3NT either. 3♦ Maximum, natural. Since this is so standard, I am not If you accept the argument for not 3♥ Maximum and hearts (five after going to discuss alternatives. Note wanting to use a 3NT rebid to show a 1♥ opening, three after a ♥1 that this method gives a range of 19 points, why do we not suggest response, otherwise four). three points for both a 1NT opening a 17-19 range for a 2NT rebid? The 3♠ Maximum and spades (three and a 1NT rebid. This three-point answer is that responder has no room after a ♠1 response, otherwise range makes it reasonably safe to to invite game over 2NT – either you four). invite game in the hope that opener is bid it or you pass. Over a 1NT rebid, maximum. If responder can envisage however, responder does have space Here is an example: 25 points between the two hands to investigate. This is why the wider facing a maximum, you will have 23 range works out for a 1NT rebid, but between you if opener is minimum. not for a 2NT rebid. The solution is to ♠ A 9 5 ♠ 7 3 ♥ Q 8 4 N ♥ J 10 7 5 3 The latter should suffice to make 2NT do the same as the rest of the world – W E a reasonable contract. play a range of 18-19 for a 2NT rebid. ♦ K Q 8 6 3 S ♦ A J 2 In the UK, it is more common to How should responder continue ♣ A 3 ♣ Q 9 4 play a 12-14 1NT opening. If you are after the 1NT rebid? In the traditional a regular reader of BRIDGE, you style, jumps in a new suit or opener’s may know that both Bernard and suit are forcing to game, a reverse is West East I advocate a 15-17 range for a 1NT forcing for one round and the only 1♦ 1♥ rebid. As mentioned in the previous specifically invitational bids are a raise 1NT 2♣1 paragraph, a range of three points – 15, to 2NT and a jump in responder’s suit. 2♥2 Pass3 16 or 17 – is neither so narrow that the I strongly recommend adding another 1Please tell me more bid hardly comes up, nor so wide that possible way to invite game; the most 2Minimum (15 or poor 16) with three hearts responder is afraid to investigate game common method over here is with a 3That is all I need to know possibilities for fear that opener turns 2♣ enquiry. Just as a 2♣ reply to a 1NT up with a minimum. I should perhaps opening asks for more information Without the 2♣ enquiry, you could mention that most of the world plays about opener’s hand, a 2♣ reply to play in 2NT or 1NT but not in 2♥. ■

Page 42 BRIDGE April 2017 Answers to Bernard Magee’s BERNARD MAGEE’S Bidding Quizzes 4-6 on the Cover INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL CD but you should probably let spade stopper, over which 4. Dealer East. Love All. the opponents have one heart East should revert to 3NT with DECLARER ♠ A K Q J 10 4 ♠ 3 if they choose to lead that suit! his cover in hearts. ♥ 8 N ♥ 9 6 3 When you have a strong PLAY W E ♦ K 9 4 S ♦ A Q J 8 3 2 hand with a choice of suits West North East South ♣ 6 5 3 ♣ A 8 7 to show, making a simple 1♦ Pass response allows you the time 2♣ Pass 3♣ Pass to discuss which suit is best. 3♠ Pass 3NT All Pass West North East South However, here, you know you MAC or 1♦ Pass want to play in spades, so you Note that the 2♣ does not Windows ? do not need so much room – need alerting – it is ostensibly your jump to 2♠ helped the natural – from your partner’s 2♠. auction along. point of view you have shown I do not advocate making four or more clubs, hence his jump responses lightly. I like support to 3♣. to have a six-card suit and 5. Dealer East. Love All. a strong hand, usually 16+ ♠ A 8 7 ♠ 4 2 N points. However, it is impor- ♥ 8 2 W E ♥ A J 6. Dealer East. Love All. S tant to plan the auction: if you ♦ A Q 8 4 2 ♦ K 9 7 5 3 ♠ K 8 6 5 ♠ A Q 3 Bernard develops ♠ ♣ K 3 2 ♣ A 9 8 7 ♥ J 9 4 2 N ♥ K Q your declarer play respond 1 and your partner W E rebids 2♦, what will you bid ♦ 8 7 6 S ♦ A K 9 5 2 technique in the next? ♣ 3 2 ♣ 7 6 5 course of ten There is no right answer be- West North East South introductory cause no bid will adequately 1♦ Pass exercises and 120 complete deals. describe your hand. ? West North East South You would like to tell your 1♦ Pass l Suit Establishment partner you have a super- 2♣. ? in No-trumps strong spade suit (happy to Not an easy hand: you have l Suit Establishment play opposite a void) as well the strength for game, but do Pass. in Suits as game-going values and a not know which game will be Another very weak respond- beautiful king in his suit. The best. 2♦ is a weak bid, 3♦ is ing hand, so this time should l Hold-ups £76 only way to start this descrip- also non-forcing (10-12) and you respond? You only bend l Ruffing for tion is to respond 2♠. East 4♦ takes you past 3NT. A di- the rules if you have a good Extra Tricks would rebid 3♦ and then rect 3NT response is a gamble reason. Generally, that rea- l Entries in you can rebid 3♠. A jump with such a weak heart hold- son will involve holding a very No-trumps response in a suit, and then ing. With diamond bids not long suit or a distinct distaste a rebid in the suit, implies a suitable and no-trump bids for the suit your partner has l Delaying self-supporting suit. Now East also out, you are left with lit- chosen. You have neither of Drawing Trumps can bid 4♣: a cue bid. This is tle choice. You have to make a these, so you should pass – 1♦ l Using the Lead enough to propel you towards simple response in a new suit: looks reasonable from your l Trump Control a slam. You bid Blackwood this will be a lie, and when- perspective – three-card sup- and with one ace missing you ever you contemplate lying to port and shortage in clubs. l Endplays & settle for 6♠. your partner it is best to lie in Remember that if you Avoidance The full auction: a minor rather than a major, choose to respond, your part- l Using the Bidding as your partner is unlikely to ner has to make another bid, West North East South get over excited with minor so even if you do find a fit in 1♦ Pass support. Therefore, the ugly a major, you might find your- Mr Bridge, Ryden 2♠ Pass 3♦ Pass choice on this hand is 2♣ – self playing in 4♥ or 4♠ if your Grange, Knaphill, 3♠ Pass 4♣ Pass not nice, but the only sensible partner has 18-19 points. If Surrey GU21 2TH 4NT Pass 5♥ Pass bid in the system. you choose a 1♥ response on ( 01483 489961 6♠ All Pass East would bid 3♣ support- this hand, your partner will www.mrbridge.co.uk/ ing you and now you would jump to 2NT and you will be mrbridge-shop There are 13 tricks off the top, try for 3NT by showing your swimming in deep water. ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 43 misinformation and that a membership to enable you numerate director might be to do so. If you decide to READERS’ able to calculate a slightly do this, it is worth waiting adjusted score. I do not until April as independent criticise David; if this might EBU subscriptions run from happen he is right to warn April until March of the LETTERS people. Obviously, one could following year. I have one of protect oneself by stating these subscriptions myself. TREASURE TROVE in so doing. I have been on the system card ‘Pottage I was most interested in the informed today by the credit Leads’ and carrying a copy GREAT SWING Shireen Mohandes article card company that these are of the article. Regardless of Playing on BBO (a site I got on Autobridge, see BRIDGE regarded as two separate this, if I was the so-called from your magazine), this 170. I came across a 1938 contracts and, therefore, injured party, I would just week the most amazing Autobridge in a junk shop I have lost this money. accept the result. I have taken hand was dealt. in Auckland, New Zealand, The credit card company a percentage view which LHO opened 6♣-pass- in the 1970s. I bought it would have reimbursed happened to be wrong. pass to me, holding: for about a pound and as me if, for example, the Let’s just say that I hope ♠ Q x x ♥ A K ♦ A K x x x ♣ x x x. I left the shop I heard the hotel or airline had failed that players and the director I doubled. My partner shopkeeper tell his friend to meet their obligations. are sensible or there will be removed to 6♥, doubled, of that there was always I will try and claim travel no future for club duplicates. course, by the opener. 12 someone who would buy insurance, but with an Alan Armitage, tricks were made and 6♣ anything – not knowing what excess it may not be worth Wellington, Telford. was also lay down, so instead a treasure I had just got. it and, no doubt, it will most of losing 1,540, we gained I have the ‘advanced’ probably be quite difficult. DIRECTOR’S COURSE 1,660, a swing of 3,200 edition full of hands played by In view of this experience, I am a committee member points – thank you partner. Josephine and Ely Culbertson I would be very wary of of the Kent School of Bridge Brian Barrett by email. among others, with names future travel if it involves a (not a school anymore, just like Mrs Robert B Fuller who separate booking system as a members’ club), and I GREAT CAUSE was the US national Women’s these are not Atol covered. direct at two of our three Last year, we put together Champion in 1936-37 and Mary Davidson by email. venues following the death a bridge team of great Waldemar von Zetdwitz, so of our founder in 2014. I am American players to fight famous at the time then he OH DEAR! untrained and make decisions Alzheimer’s disease. didn’t need credits. I loved I hope Julian Pottage does based on experience Bob Hamman, Bobby the idea of working on not find himself participating and the Yellow Book. Wolff, Eric Rodwell, and real hands played by real in a tournament directed by I assume I mostly get it right Larry Cohen are a few of the people. In the 1970s, I was David Stevenson. In BRIDGE as I don’t get any complaints. all-time greats who played. mastering the basics of bridge 170, page 18, Julian gives However, it would be This year we are going and used it all the time. The a very decent summary of useful to go on a course and worldwide and Benito bidding was even then old- opening leads. In particular, become a qualified director. Garrozzo, Boye Brogland fashioned, but the advice on top of an interior sequence The only courses I can find and Norberto Bocchi, along play was really excellent. is ‘less attractive’ rather online are run by the EBU. I with several top Canadian Lyn Fry by email. than ‘generally to avoid’. I am not a member and the players have joined the team. and many others would go club is not affiliated (since I also hope to enlist Andrew BE WARNED along with this, though in this the Pay to Play drama). Will Robson and Tony Forrester. I felt that you should know case, it may well be a poor they accept an application An online auction is held this information regarding choice of lead. Declarer has from me, or does anyone else and the winning bidder gets your cruises, especially presumably limited himself run courses? Ideally, I would to play in a BBO tournament. potential Scottish passengers. to a maximum of three cards like to complete the whole The auction ends in June I was recently booked on in each major and responder course in one go (eg over and the player chooses a the failed Minerva cruise to four, depending on the one weekend), rather than time to play with the bidder. and, living in Edinburgh, complete bidding. Leading piecemeal, which is what the As soon as I have the had to book accommodation from a small doubleton would EBU seem to be offering. auction site set up, I will send and flights to and from be much meaner and might Keith Rylands, you further information. Gatwick. I booked these on work wonders. David, on p7, Ashford, Kent. Bruce Greenspan my credit card, as always, has stated that if this is not Take an EBU course, it ( (001) 617-510-8405 and understood there was on the system card, then it would be foolish not to. If www.greenspanbridge a fair degree of protection might just be construed as necessary, take out individual @yahoo.com ■

Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. [email protected]

Page 44 BRIDGE April 2017 Answers to Bernard Magee’s luxury bridge mat Just £24.99 Bidding Quizzes 7-9 on the Cover plus £4.99 p & p

gest the ♦A. This is enough high cards in spades or clubs, luxury 7. Dealer East. Love All. for West to bring out Key card I prefer the suit contract. ♠ A K 7 6 ♠ 8 2 Blackwood, the response On this hand, you will make bridge mat ♥ 5 N ♥ A J 8 6 3 2 showing three key cards and seven tricks in no-trumps for Just £24.99 W E plus £4.99 p & p ♦ 6 3 S ♦ A 5 now it is a choice between 6♣ +90, but in 2♥ you should ♣ A Q 8 6 5 4 ♣ K J 7 or 7♣. The grand slam basi- make the same seven tricks cally requires a 4-2 or 3-3 and a spade ruff, for +110. heart break, so is not too bad. West North East South It is a complicated auc- 1♥ Pass tion, but you will only have a ? chance to get to a club slam if 9. Dealer East. Love All. you bid your clubs first. ♠ J 6 3 ♠ 4 2 N 2♣. ♥ 4 2 W E ♥ A K 7 6 5 With plenty of strength to ♦ K Q 4 2 S ♦ A J 10 5 make game opposite an ♣ A J 7 6 ♣ K 2 opening bid, your aim should 8. Dealer East. Love All. Thick woven surface makes be to describe your hand ac- ♠ 8 4 ♠ A 7 6 an idealThick playing woven surface and N protects your table. curately so that your part- ♥ K 9 4 W E ♥ A Q J 10 West North East South surface makes Very popular with Bridge nership can choose the best ♦ A 7 6 5 2 S ♦ K 9 3 1♥ Pass Clubs.an 78cmsideal wideplaying so it fits game or even bid beyond. ♣ 8 4 3 ♣ J 10 5 ? a standardsurface 80cms and card table You do not have to jump on protects your table. the first round, because your 2♣. PaddedThickVery woven popular table surface with makesbag. partner has guaranteed that West North East South This is a traditional 2NT re- an ideal£39.00Bridge playing +Clubs. £4.99 surface p&p and he will bid again if you change 1♥ Pass sponse – 10-12 points, a bal- 78protects cms wideyour table. so it Very popular with Bridge the suit. Therefore, you should ? anced hand, with a doubleton fits a standard bid your longest suit: 2♣. in partner’s suit. However, in Clubs. 78cms wide so it fits a standard80cms 80cmscard cardtable. table It is important to bid your 2♥. the modern game you should longest suit first, so that you Seven HCP, so you should prefer to show a suit first and Padded table bag. can accurately describe your make a response, but you then rebid 2NT, allowing for £39.00 + £4.99 p&p hand – you have the strength cannot bid a new suit at the more discussion, in order to to show your second suit later. two-level because you lack find your best contract. One What this means is that if you the strength. This leaves two reason for this is to allow 2NT Large enough to take a standard 80cms bridge table. Made from have a good fit in clubs, you options: 1NT or 2♥. to be used conventionally, but tough nylon with carrying straps might be able to find the best Both these bids show 6-9 more important is to leave and Velcro fixing. Ideal for contract. points. 1NT suggests a bal- space for your partnership to storing or carrying your table. ♥ ♣ The auction might go: anced hand, whilst 2 sug- talk. Remember that over 2 , Order online or by phone gests four-card heart support. your partner must bid again, www.designsforbridge.co.uk West North East South With two weak suits and hon- so if necessary you can bid Large enough to take a standard 1♥ Pass our-to-three in your partner’s your 2NT then. 0148380cms bridge table.270 Made 100 from toughLarge nylon enough with carrying to take straps a 2♣ Pass 2♥ Pass suit along with a shortage, You bid the lower of the two standardandSR VelcroDesigns 80cmsfixing. for Bridge Idealbridge for 2♠ Pass 3♣ Pass 2♥ will often work well. Even four-card suits to give your Unitstoringtable. A1, or MadeSend carrying Business from your tough table. Park, 3♦ Pass 3NT Pass if you finish in a 4-3 fit, you partner the maximum space. Send,nylon Woking, with carrying Surrey GU23 straps 7EF 4♣ Pass 4♦ Pass will often score OK as you will Here, East would rebid 2♦ Orderand Velcro online fixing. or by phoneIdeal www.designsforbridge.co.uk 4NT Pass 5♠ Pass make an extra trick by ruffing over your 2♣ and with weak for storing or carrying 6♣ All Pass in the short trump hand. spades and primary diamond 01483your 270 table. 100 (or 7♣) This question is a matter of support, it is clear to raise to OrderSR Designs online orfor by Bridge phone taste – with a singleton and 3♦ rather than bid 2NT. Al- www.designsforbridge.co.ukUnit A1, Send Business Park, East rebids hearts, then shows three-card support, raising to though your partner might Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF club support and over 3♦ 2♥ is certainly best, but with bid 3♠ (fourth suit forcing) you 01483 270 100 (fourth suit forcing) he bids a relatively balanced hand it would deny a stopper and the 3NT. When West carries on is a close call. Scatter a few partnership will finish in a di- SR Designs for Bridge Unit A1, Send Business Park, with 4♣ showing slam poten- points about the hand and amond contract: 4♦ or 5♦ de- Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7EF tial, East can bid 4♦ to sug- 1NT looks OK, but with no pending on their ambition. ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 45 Bridge Movies by Heather Dhondy Can You Defeat 4NT?

t is teams; dealer South. Both sides West North East South and ace, then a spade back to the ace is vulnerable. You are West, holding: 1NT followed by a low diamond to the ace 2♥ 3♦ Pass 3NT and a club back to the ten. I Pass 4♣ Pass 4NT ♠ Q 9 7 4 What do you make of the play so far? ♥ A J 10 9 5 4 N What is happening now? W E ♦ Q 9 ♣♦♥♠ S ♣ K ♣♦♥♠ Answer: Let’s start with the first Answer: North is making a natural trick. If partner had held the ♥Q, he West North East South continuation, showing both minors should have played it to trick one. This 1NT (12-14) and is either looking for game in a would make it very hard for declarer ? minor or possibly a slam. South’s 4NT to duck and would therefore preserve bid is natural and suggests no interest communication between the defence’s What should West do? in the minors. hands. In addition, declarer might well have been more reluctant to play ♣♦♥♠ West North East South in no-trumps holding a single stopper. 1NT The conclusion is that declarer almost Answer: Overcall 2♥. You are not 2♥ 3♦ Pass 3NT certainly holds the ♥Q. strong enough to double, but have Pass 4♣ Pass 4NT He must also hold the ♠K to have good shape and a nice six-card suit. All Pass crossed to hand in the suit. Therefore, Even if you were playing a conventional there is no fast way to get to partner’s defence that allowed you to show two What should West lead? hand to get a heart led through suits, it is better to overcall a six-card declarer. major holding a 6-4 shape. ♣♦♥♠ This is the position you have reached (before the club is led from dummy): West North East South Answer: Lead the jack of hearts with 1NT your interior sequence. This is what 2♥ 3♦ Pass 3NT you can see: ♠ 6 ♥ — What does North’s bid show? ♦ K 10 4 3 ♠ 6 5 ♣ Q 7 6 4 ♣♦♥♠ ♥ Void ♠ Q 9 4 ♦ A K 10 4 3 2 ♥ A 10 9 5 4 N Answer: North-South are playing ♣ A Q 7 6 4 ♦ Q W E S Lebensohl, which means that the 3♦ ♠ Q 9 7 4 ♣ — bid is natural and forcing. North could ♥ A J 10 9 5 4 N have bid 2NT instead if intending to ♦ Q 9 W E S show a non-forcing hand with dia- ♣ K What should you be thinking about? monds. This would have demanded a 3♣ response from partner, after which ♣♦♥♠ 3♦ would have been purely competi- South discards a diamond from tive. South’s 3NT bid now guarantees dummy, partner plays the two and Answer: If the clubs are coming in, a decent stopper in hearts, since other- declarer wins with the king. Declarer the contract will make, so you must wise he could have enquired with 3♥. now plays the jack of clubs to the king assume that they are not.

Page 46 BRIDGE April 2017 Why did declarer cross to his ace of spades? Answers to Bernard Magee’s Declarer cannot afford to lose the lead to partner for fear of a heart Bidding Quizzes 10-12 return and presumably needs to establish diamond tricks if the clubs on the Cover aren’t coming in. If he holds the ♦J, your queen is of no use, but suppose partner holds it and declarer began with just two? Now he will need to lose the lead in the suit at some point With only seven high card points and in order to establish them. If declarer 10. Dealer East. N/S Game. inadequate spade support, you have sees the queen of diamonds show up ♠ K Q 7 5 4 ♠ A J 9 8 2 to bid 1NT. 1NT is the rubbish bin bid from your hand on the next round of ♥ A 4 3 N ♥ 5 2 – where you throw all your weak hands – the suit, he will duck it for sure and the ♦ K 6 4 2 W E ♦ A 8 you do have seven clubs, but you do not S suit will be established without your ♣ 2 ♣ A 8 7 6 have the strength to bid 2♣. being able to cash the hearts. Over your partner’s 2♦ rebid you can now bid 3♣, which your partner should What can you do about it? West North East South pass: expecting you to have close to the 1♠ Pass equivalent of an opening 3♣ bid. ♣♦♥♠ ? If instead you bid 2♣ over 1♠, then your partner will expect more strength Answer: You must foil this plan 4♣. (10+) and might push towards 3NT. by discarding the ♦Q on the second You have first class spade support, 12 round of clubs. HCP and a singleton – plenty of strength This was the full deal: for game, but there is also the potential for more. You are looking for a bid that can convey all of the above and there is 12. Dealer East. N/S Game. ♠ 6 5 a perfect choice: 4♣ – a splinter bid – ♠ J 8 7 6 5 ♠ K Q 4 3 2 ♥ Void it pretty much describes all the hand’s ♥ 4 N ♥ A 6 ♦ A K 10 4 3 2 assets. A splinter bid is a double jump ♦ A 6 5 4 W E ♦ K 8 7 S ♣ A Q 7 6 4 over a major – it shows support for the ♣ 4 3 2 ♣ 9 7 5 ♠ Q 9 7 4 ♠ J 8 2 major, 11+ HCP and shortage in the ♥ A J 10 9 5 4 N ♥ 8 7 2 suit bid. Your partner can then evaluate ♦ Q 9 W E ♦ J 8 7 his hand – he has the perfect holding in West North East South S ♣ K ♣ 9 8 5 2 clubs – his ace wins the first round and 1♠ Pass ♠ A K 10 3 his other losers can be ruffed in your ? ♥ K Q 6 3 hand. All he needs to do is to check you ♦ 6 5 have a control in hearts, so he would 4♠. ♣ J 10 3 respond with 4♦ – a cue bid. You would Just 5 HCP, but five-card spade support cue bid 4♥ and then your partner would and a singleton. Nine losers might use Blackwood. 6♠ is a great contract. suggest a 2♠ response and that is one Being able to see through the backs of option. However, at this vulnerability, the cards would be useful at this game, your opponents vulnerable and you not, but it is sadly not a gift that any of us it will often pay to be more aggressive. possess. Seeing all four hands, you will Whenever you have five-card support for see that 6♣ is an excellent contract. 11. Dealer East. N/S Game. a major in a weak hand with a singleton However, the auction that North- ♠ 7 6 ♠ A K 8 5 4 or void, you should contemplate jumping South had was sensible enough. If ♥ Q J 2 N ♥ 7 6 to game, particularly with favourable declarer had held the ♥A-K and ♠K-Q ♦ 7 W E ♦ A K 3 2 vulnerability. S instead of the actual way round, they ♣ A 8 7 6 5 4 3 ♣ 9 2 Your partner has a minimum opener would have judged it correctly. and you will go one off in 4♠. However, Again, seeing all four hands you your opponents have a lot of potential will note that there are a number West North East South – they have a possible ten tricks in 4♥: of successful lines in 4NT, but what 1♠ Pass worth 620 points. How are they supposed declarer did was hardly unreasonable. ? to get into the auction if you leap to 4♠ The key to the defence was getting into like this? the mind of declarer and working out 1NT. They might not even manage to double what the problem was. ■ This really should be a simple question. you, so -50 is very cheap indeed. ■

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 47 BERNARD More Tips from Bernard Magee MAGEE’S Use the opponents’ suit to INTERACTIVE ask for a stop when you TUTORIAL CD have a minor suit fit

ACOL BIDDING bid of the opponents’ suit is West North East South used to show a strong hand 1♥ 2♣ Pass A and it usually promises a fit with 3NT All Pass your partner. However, when the fit is in a minor suit, your side will often be 3NT is not perfect, but with nine top tricks interested in the chance of playing in no- it is a reasonable contract. You would be trumps. Your focus should be on whether unlucky to find South with the ♦A and you have a stop in the opponents’ suit. If one defender with five cards in the suit, MAC or you have one yourself, then you can bid and for the suit not to be blocked. Note Windows no-trumps, but without one, you can use the power of the running club suit – your the bid of the opponents’ suit to find out ♣KQ are invaluable. whether your partner has. With West 2, you do not have a heart stopper, so you will need some help from West North East South your partner – this is the perfect hand for 1♥ 2♣ Pass a bid of the opponents’ suit – showing ? strength and support and hoping for a heart stopper so that you can finish in Here are two West hands to bid after the 3NT. Throughout 200 deals split into auction given: ten chapters, Bernard evaluates your bids, praising the correct ♠ A 7 6 5 ♠ 8 2 ones and discussing the wrong West 1 West 2 ♥ 9 2 N ♥ K 7 6 ♠ A 7 5 ♠ A 7 5 4 ♦ A 8 7 2 W E ♦ Q 5 ones. S ♥ A 3 2 ♥ 9 2 ♣ K Q 2 ♣ A J 10 8 4 3 l Opening Bids ♦ 9 8 7 2 ♦ A 8 7 2 and Responses ♣ K Q 2 ♣ K Q 2 l Slams and West North East South Strong Openings 1♥ 2♣ Pass It is important that you have high-card 2♥ Pass 2NT Pass l Support for Partner support for your partner’s suit so that you 3NT All Pass l Pre-empting can hope the club suit might be running. With the ♣K-Q in your own hand it is You bid 2♥, alerted by your partner – l Overcalls £66 not unreasonable to expect five, or more showing strength and support and ask- l No-trump probably, six running club tricks. With ing for a heart stopper. East bids 2NT to Openings two more tricks from your aces and show his heart stopper and you can bid and Responses having only given partner five points so 3NT. 3NT is not guaranteed, they might l Opener’s and far, you can expect to make nine tricks lead spades and switch at the right time, Responder’s Rebids from both hands. With West 1 you can but most of the time you will be making bid 3NT: you have a heart stopper and it 3NT. Had East not had a heart stopper, l Minors and Misfits is not unreasonable to hope your partner then he would revert back to clubs. l Doubles will have something in diamonds – the Note that on both deals 5♣ is a long focus tends to be on the opponents’ bid way away – 11 tricks is generally so much l Competitive Auctions suit. harder to achieve than nine, even with a trump suit. A bid of the opponents’ suit shows Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, ♠ A 7 5 ♠ K 2 strength, but when a minor suit is bid by Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH ♥ A 3 2 N ♥ 7 6 5 your side, it can be helpful to use it to W E ( 01483 489961 ♦ 9 8 7 2 S ♦ K 4 ask for a stopper, aiming to find a more www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop ♣ K Q 2 ♣ A J 10 8 4 3 lucrative no-trump contract rather than settling for the minor suit. ■

Page 48 BRIDGE April 2017 Seven Days by Sally Brock

redouble a game – something I haven’t Friday / Saturday done for a great many years: Monday

I wake up at my father’s, having been Briony goes off to work while two to visit. He is not very well – it seems Dealer North. Game All. men and a van (good value, I think, to be a recurrence of kidney stones. ♠ K 10 8 6 5 for £50 an hour all in) arrive for her Although he is a bit better than ♥ K 4 heavier furniture – bed, chest of yesterday he still can’t keep anything ♦ K 10 drawers, piano etc. It takes about two down, including water and his meds. ♣ J 10 4 2 hours to load up, drive (following I’m a bit worried but nevertheless ♠ A 4 2 ♠ 7 me) to her new place near Tring and leave about 9.30am. I arrive at Barry’s ♥ A J 9 3 N ♥ 10 8 7 6 5 unload (including dismantling and ♦ J 6 5 4 2 W E ♦ 8 flat by 11.30 and immediately have an S reassembling her bed). online practice session with Susanna. ♣ 8 ♣ K Q 7 6 5 3 I dash home to get some chores done Then I busy myself with getting my ♠ Q J 9 3 and then meet Briony at a big Tesco hair ready to go on holiday. A bit ♥ Q 2 for her to stock up on staples. We then more practice and a bite to eat before ♦ A Q 9 7 3 go home to pick up some more of her heading off to the Young Chelsea for ♣ A 9 stuff before setting off in convoy to the the start of the Lady Milne trials. We new place. I go via an Indian takeaway find we are sitting out the first set – it and we christen her new plates and would have been nice to know. The West North East South cutlery before I leave for home and my other two matches go OK and we are Pass Pass 1NT favourite TV show. lying second overnight. Pass 2♥ 3♣ 3♠ We start at 10.30am and it is a Pass 4♠ Pass Pass 64-board day – quite exhausting. We Dbl Rdbl All Pass Tuesday play OK for most of the day, but the I do a bit of work in the morning, after last three matches go badly – it’s not After a club lead, Susanna wins and a session on my exercise bike. Then, so much that we play badly but it all plays trumps. West wins and switches after collecting the orders of service seems to go against us, so we slide to a diamond, so now dummy’s hearts from the printer in Chesham, and a down the field. At the end of the day go away and she makes an overtrick couple of other errands, I pick Barry we are lying fourth but a lot of IMPs for +1480 and 13.14 IMPs to our side. up at West Ruislip station on the way away from the top three. Anyway, well done to Fiona Brown to my parents’ part of the world. We After the bridge we go to Barry’s and Helen Erichsen for winning, and to stop off at Biddestone church to leave local Indian with Helen and Fiona. Heather Bakhshi and Claire Robinson the orders of service with the vicar. A really good meal and fun to go for their runner-up spot, both pairs The church looks lovely. As well as lots through the hands. I just wish we were guaranteed an international cap. of larger splendid arrangements, there doing a bit better. Still, tomorrow’s After a quick drink at the finish, I are small vases of daffodils provided another day. drive home (via the Indian takeaway) individually by villagers. My mother to spend the evening with Briony – it would have loved it. Then we go on is our last while living together. She is to the hotel where quite a lot of us are Sunday moving out tomorrow, having spent booked, both for the night and for Unfortunately, our luck and most of the weekend sorting her stuff dinner. It is good to see some people performance don’t change and we and moving clothes, books etc. All we I hadn’t seen for ages (somehow the have another fairly miserable day, do is collapse in front of the TV – I’m extended family only seems to get eventually finishing sixth. sure we’ll do that again, but will it be together for weddings and funerals), Our best board of the event is when I quite the same? and it is an excellent evening.

BRIDGE April 2017 Page 49 Wednesday compared with making 5♥ doubled BERNARD in the other room. On Board 9, South Up early for breakfast, and then we has a seven-card heart suit. North MAGEE’S pick my father up and go on to the opens a weak no-trump and South INTERACTIVE crematorium. bids 4♦. Unfortunately, North thinks The service there is intentionally this shows spades and eventually the TUTORIAL CD brief and utilitarian, for close family auction stops in 5♠ doubled, team- only, and afterwards we all go to a mates losing 1,700 (never mind, we local pub for coffee. Briony and I gain 38 on the set). On Board 10, DEFENCE leave early to pick up Toby and to go North has another nine-card heart to the Biddestone pub where the wake suit. This time we sacrifice in♦ 5 , going is going to be in order to make sure for 500, at game all, for a 5 IMP gain we can display the photos we have to our side, when teammates press on collected. It is a good job we do this, to 5♥. because we don’t have the right cable These are the East-West cards on MAC or and in the end have to transfer the Board 19: Windows photos to the proprietor’s daughter’s laptop in order to connect to the large screen TV in the bar area. ♠ 9 ♠ A Q Then to the church. It is a lovely ♥ A Q J 10 9 3 2 N ♥ K 7 5 service and my nice Anna, my nephew ♦ K J 9 6 W E ♦ A 4 3 S Tom and my son Ben both present ♣ 5 ♣ J 10 9 8 2 tributes to my mother that have us all sitting with streams of tears running down our faces. The church is full and Nicola opens 4♥ and, as we have a it is a fitting finale to a fabulous life. stronger 4♥ opening than that (3NT), Afterwards we all adjourn to the pub I let it go. On a club lead and diamond Bernard develops your for a drink or two and an excellent switch she makes twelve tricks. In the defence in the course of ten buffet lunch, before the long drive other room, Sue Millard’s 4♥ opening introductory exercises and home and a quiet evening. is raised directly to 6♥ by her husband. 120 complete deals. After a trump lead, she draws trumps and takes the winning spade finesse, l Lead vs Thursday so she also makes twelve tricks. No-trump Contracts I drop Barry off at Amersham station Then there is Board 20: l Lead vs at lunchtime, and then go on to an Suit Contracts appointment with my chiropodist (I’m having problems with ingrowing ♠ J ♠ A 9 8 3 2 l Partner of Leader ♥ A K Q 10 7 6 3 2 ♥ J 9 vs No-trump toenails). I spend the rest of the day N ♦ ♦ Contracts packing, doing odd bits of work, etc, 10 W E 9 7 and cleaning the house in anticipation ♣ K 10 9 S ♣ A Q 5 2 l Partner of Leader of it being empty for a while. I have an vs Suit Contracts online session with one of my Irish l Count pairs and then an early night. This time Nicola opens 3NT, showing Signals about nine tricks as we are vulnerable. This time I do move, first asking her l Attitude £76 Friday Signals to transfer to her suit and then cue- I catch the 10.43 to Shepherds Bush bidding 4♠. She doesn’t need any l Discarding (thankfully, they have reinstated the further invitation and leaps to slam, l Defensive Plan once-an-hour direct service from making an overtrick. In the other Hemel to Shepherds Bush – a real room, the East hand does not move l Stopping Declarer godsend), and have a cup of tea at and South tries 4♠ – and goes for l Counting the Hand Barry’s before setting off for TGR’s 1,100, for an 8 IMP swing to us. and our Round 3 Crockford’s match We win comfortably and after a against Nicholas Davidson’s team. The glass of wine, it is back to the flat to Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, match is remarkable for the number eat up whatever’s in the fridge and to Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH of quasi-4♥ openers. On Board 4, finish packing. ( 01483 489961 North has a nine-card heart suit. He You’ll have to wait till next month to www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop overcalls 4♥, I double and he makes hear of all our adventures in Japan and an overtrick. So we lose 4 IMPs when Australia … ■

Page 50 BRIDGE April 2017 2189 Mr Bridge FULL page 171109BR_Layout 1 05/12/2016 15:29 Page 1

2017 AUTUMN BRIDGE CRUISE

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DEPARTS UK NOVEMBER 9, 2017

NOV 9 Fly to MALAGA Spain Transfer to Aegean Odyssey NOV 10 At Sea NOV 11 River cruising along the Guadalquivir River SEVILLE Spain overnight NOV 12 SEVILLE Spain NOV 13 CADIZ Spain (Jerez) NOV 14 CASABLANCA/FEZ Morocco Morning drive to Fez for afternoon sightseeing hotel* NOV 15 FEZ/RABAT/CASABLANCA Morocco Morning drive to Rabat. Rejoin ship in Casablanca overnight NOV 16 CASABLANCA/MARRAKESH Morocco Drive to Marrakesh for afternoon sightseeing hotel* SEVILLE 12-day fly-cruise from £1,795 per person NOV 17 MARRAKESH/AGADIR Morocco Rejoin ship in Agadir. With Mr Bridge and friends Afternoon sightseeing to Taroudant NOV 18 LANZAROTE Canary Islands This fascinating journey takes you from Moorish Spain to the NOV 19 LA PALMA Canary Islands NOV 20 TENERIFE Canary Islands treasures of the Canary Islands and the very best of Morocco with Disembark and transfer to a land tour to the great cities and sites, including hotels stays in Fez Tenerife Airport for flight home and Marrakesh. Cruise through the Strait of Gibraltar and inland AEG171109BR to moor in the centre of Seville. Sailing out into the Atlantic Ocean, MR BRIDGE VALUE FARES you’ll visit the sun-blessed Canary Islands and visit Lanzarote’s Standard Inside from £1,795pp famous Fire Mountains and the verdant landscapes of La Palma. Standard Outside from £2,195pp Premium Outside from £2,295pp Odyssey Club Members enjoy an additional 5% discount on prices shown above. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FARES INCLUDE: JUST 10%† • Scheduled economy class flights CALL NOW ON 01483 489961 • One night hotel stay in both Fez and Marrakesh • Expert guest speaker programme OR VISIT www.mrbridge.co.uk • Mr Bridge drinks party Cabins can be held at no obligation for 7 days • Duplicate bridge every evening • Morning seminars and afternoon bridge when at sea • Sightseeing excursions in all ports of call • All meals on board in choice of two restaurants • Complimentary wine with dinner on board • Gratuities for on-board cabin and restaurant staff • Overseas transfers and baggage handling

Mr Bridge fares are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be 10093 withdrawn at any time without notice. Please see website for full terms and conditions. †Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability. ABTA No.Y2206 *No bridge during hotel stays. BRAND NEW CRUISE - WINTER 2017 A PASSAGE TO THE CARIBBEAN 20 November 2017

Arrive into TENERIFE Canary Islands NOV 20 O Embark Aegean Odyssey NOV 21 TENERIFE Canary Islands NOV 22 AT SEA NOV 23 AT SEA NOV 24 PRAIA Santiago Island, Cape Verde NOV 25 MINDELO Sao Vicente Island, Cape Verde PORTO NOVO NOV 26 Santo Antao Island, Cape Verde NOV 27 AT SEA - DEC 2 NO SINGLE DEC 3 BRIDGETOWN Barbados O SUPPLEMENT DEC 4 BRIDGETOWN Barbados O BRIDGETOWN Barbados DEC 5 Disembark Aegean Odyssey and transfer to Barbados Airport Santiago Island, Cape Verde DEC 6 Arrive UK O Overnight stay in port AEG171120BR

MR BRIDGE SPECIAL FARES pp 17-day cruise from £1,995 Standard Inside Cabin from £1,995pp HOSTED BY BERNARD MAGEE Standard Outside Cabin from £2,750pp Premium Outside Cabin from £2,995pp Mr Bridge is pleased to present this brand new bridge NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT cruise that crosses the Atlantic Ocean from the dramatic volcanic landscapes of the Canary and Cape Verde Odyssey Club Members enjoy an additional 10% discount on prices shown above until 31 May 2017. Islands, to the tranquil blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. You’ll have plenty of time at sea to indulge in your FARES INCLUDE passion for bridge, especially as Bernard Magee is going to • Scheduled economy class flights from run some set hands sessions to complement some of the seminars. You can also London enjoy the many amenities of the premier class Aegean Odyssey, and return home • Mr Bridge drinks party refreshed and fulfilled. Call us today for more information. • Seminars and set hands available on this sailing Cabins can be held for seven days without obligation. • Duplicate bridge every evening (singles will always be found a bridge partner) • Sightseeing excursions at most ports of call • Expert destination speaker programme • Specialist excursion guides plus personal QuietVox devices • All meals on board in choice of two restaurants • Complimentary wine with dinner on board • Gratuities for on-board cabin and Call on 01483 489961 restaurant staff or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk • Overseas transfers and baggage handling

All Mr Bridge fares shown are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Single accommodation is available only in certain grades. Please see Voyages to Antiquity brochure or website for full terms and conditions. Ship’s registry: Panama.

VTA_170215_Mr Bridge Ad_March 2017.indd 1 09/03/2017 09:09:34