Number: 209 May 2020 BRIDGEJulian Pottage’s Double Dummy Problem D BAL LOON RE S ♠ 4 3 ♥ 3 2 ♦ K Q 9 5 4 3 ♣ A K Q ♠ J 9 7 6 2 ♠ 10 8 5 ♥ N ♥ K 10 8 7 6 W E Q J ♦ A J 8 S ♦ 10 7 6 ♣ Void ♣ J 10 9 8 7 ♠ A K Q ♥ A 9 5 4 ♦ 2 ♣ 6 5 4 3 2 Contract 3NT by South Lead: ♥7 This Double Dummy problem can also be found on page 5 of this issue. The answer will be published on page 4 next month. Stephen Cashmore Says Two Opening Hands Should Bid To Game onventional wisdom is that you Opposite 1♣ (or 1♦ if that is your style) Of course, we have all failed in 3NT need about 25 points in your from partner, you have an easy response on a combined 28 points, or a doomed combined hands to take the nine of 1♥. When he rebids 1NT, showing 15- 4♥ with 30 points. Just because we know Ctricks required for 3NT, 26-27 to make 16 points, you simply jump to 3NT to we should bid a game doesn’t mean four of a major suit (because you need end proceedings. we are going to make it. You just can’t an extra trick), and 28-29 to make five of afford to wait for a 100% contract. a minor suit (which entails taking two West North East South extra tricks). 1♥ Pass ? It follows that, if partner opens the ♠ 9 5 2 ♠ 10 8 bidding with a value-showing bid, and Curiously, it is harder if partner kicks ♥ A Q 8 N ♥ K J 10 2 W E ♥ ♥ ♥ ♦ A Q 2 ♦ K J 8 6 you also have an opening hand, simple off with 1 , your best suit. 2 and 3 S arithmetic puts you in the region of 25 are out – they are non-forcing limit bids. ♣ K 10 6 3 ♣ A J 5 points or more. You should therefore 4♥ is also out – this is a pre-emptive bid, ensure the partnership bids to game. showing something like: Of course, this is not true if partner Here we see the combined cards for opens the bidding with something that the first example. West opens ♣1 , East shows less than opening values – easy ♠ J responds 1♥, West rebids 1NT and East examples being a weak-two bid or a ♥ K 10 9 6 5 4 jumps to 3NT. This is all very sensible, three-level pre-empt. You need a strong ♦ Q 7 5 2 but neither player has a spade stopper hand to think about going to game if ♣ 9 2 – the defenders might very well take partner has advertised a weak hand. the first five tricks. What went wrong? However, if partner makes a normal Well, nothing really: East-West are opening of, say, 1♥ or 1NT, and you too To bid your actual hand, you will, if you unlucky that their red-suit honours are have an opening bid, game should be ‘on do not have a gadget like a Jacoby 2NT duplicating each other – but that is hard the cards’. to show a game-forcing raise, have to to diagnose in the auction. This is more Let’s say you pick up this ordinary temp orise with 2♦. You intend to bid 4♥ typical: looking selection: on the next round. The key thing is to make a bid that ensures that there is a next round, not one that poor partner ♠ Q J 9 7 5 ♠ 10 8 ♠ 10 8 might pass. ♥ A Q 8 5 N ♥ K J 10 2 W E ♥ K J 10 2 ♦ A 2 S ♦ K J 8 6 ♦ K J 8 6 West North East South ♣ 10 6 ♣ A J 5 ♣ A J 5 1♠ Pass ? You also have a decision to make if Both members of the partnership have First in hand, you would no doubt open partner starts with 1♠. You cannot bid 13 points – enough for an opening bid 1NT. 2♥, as that promises five hearts. You – and game is excellent. You would In fact, partner is first to speak and could bid an immediate 3NT, but that expect to reach 4♥ and make it losing opens 1 (something). Your first thought risks missing a 4-4 heart fit, not to two spades and probably a club. Even should be that, as you have 13 points mention a possible slam if partner has the inferior games of 4♠ and 3NT stand yourself, you must make sure that the the right hand. So, you try 2♦ again –a a good chance of making. In 4♠, you bidding gets to game. bid to keep the auction open so that you might lose the same tricks as in 4♥. Here are some examples (you are can see what partner bids next. In 3NT, you might well get away with East): In all three cases, the key point is losing two spades and two clubs. that you can see immediately that you So, if you and partner have 25 (or West North East South should be bidding to game. You must more) points, you should bid up to a 1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass therefore make either a forcing bid, such game somewhere. Remember: opening 1NT Pass 3NT All Pass as a change of suit, or bid game. points + opening points = bid game. ■ Page 2 BRIDGE May 2020 Features this month include: ADVERTISERS’ BRIDGE 1 May Double Dummy Bridge Problem INDEX TheMr Bridge Monthly Magazine by Julian Pottage 3 Clive Goff’s Stamps Ryden Grange, Knaphill, 2 Stephen Cashmore says 4 Elizabeth and Mary Surrey GU21 2TH Two Opening Hands Should Bid To Game Tea Towel ( 01483 489961 5 Red Balloons 4 April Double Dummy Bridge Problem Answer Tea Towel [email protected] by Julian Pottage 11 Q Plus 15 www.mrbridge.co.uk 4 Mr Bridge 11 Duplicate Bridge Rules shop: mrbridge.co.uk/shop Simplified 5 Leanora Adds' Holiday Ideas 23 Books on Bridge Publisher/Managing Editor 5 May Double Dummy Bridge Problem 32 Acol Bidding with Mr Bridge Bernard Magee by Julian Pottage Associate Editor 33 Declarer Play with 6 Harol Schogger says Eight Ever Nine Never Bernard Magee Julian Pottage 35 Live YouTube Seminars [email protected] 7 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee with Bernard Magee 8 Fitting Cards by Andrew Kambites 39 Mr Bridge Luxury Playing Bridge Consultant Cards Bernard Magee 11 Fitting Cards Quiz by Andrew Kambites 41 Clive Goff’s Stamps bernardmagee 12 Transfer and Rebid by David Stevenson 43 Defence with @mrbridge.co.uk Bernard Magee 13 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage Cartoons & Illustrations 45 Advanced Acol Bidding 13 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett with Bernard Magee Marguerite Lihou 47 Advanced Declarer Play www.margueritelihou.co.uk 14 Catching Up by Sally Brock with Bernard Magee 15 Jeremy Dhondy says Use The Rule Of Twenty 49 Begin Bridge with Technical Consultant Bernard Magee Tony Gordon 16 Keep Bridge Alive Event Report by Shireen Mohandes 52 Tutorial Software with Bernard Magee Typesetting 19 Julian Pottage Answers Your Bridge Questions Jessica Galt 24 Robin Hood's Duty by David Bird [email protected] 26 Bernard Magee says Overtricks Matter At Pairs REDUCE Proof Reading Team 28 David Stevenson Answers Your Bridge Questions THE COST Mike Orriel OF YOUR Julian Pottage 31 Heather Dhondy says Use The Rule Of Eleven Catrina Shackleton 32 The Diaries Of Wendy Wensum POSTAGE British postage stamps Richard Wheen 34 Andrew Kambites says for sale at 90% of face- Do Not Bid A New Suit At The Two Level With Only Clubs & Charities value, all mint and with Maggie Axtell Eight Points full gum. [email protected] 35 Fitting Cards Quiz Answers by Andrew Kambites Quotations for Events, Holidays & Cruises 37 Declarer Play Quiz Answers by David Huggett commercial quantities ( 01483 489961 are available on 38 Sally's Slam Clinic Jessica Galt request. [email protected] 39 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage Values supplied in Megan Riccio 40 Seven Days by Sally Brock 100s, higher values [email protected] 42 Derek Rimington says Overcall With A Good Suit available, as well as 1st and 2nd class. Emily Hawkins 43 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee [email protected] ( 020 8422 4906 44 Dave Hugget says Don't Give A Ruff And Discard 8 clive.goff@ Customer Services 45 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee londonrugby.com Catrina Shackleton [email protected] 46 Justin Corfield says Combine Your Chances 47 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee Printed in the UK by 48 David Gold says Seven-Card Suits Should Be Trumps The Magazine 49 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee Printing Company 50 Mike Wenble says Lead Towards Strength www.magprint.co.uk 51 Freddie North says KISS BRIDGE May 2020 Page 3 are also a major part of this extended family and help to create the sense of community that is enjoyed by so many. BETH AND M IZA AR EL Y YOUTUBE ♠ 4 3 2 I know that Leanora Adds, ♥ A K in the adjacent column, is ♦ A Q Adjusting to life at home is keeping you up to date with ♣ Q J 5 4 3 2 strange for everyone. It is what Bernard Magee is ♠ 6 ♠ 10 9 8 7 also unnerving not to have doing on YouTube. This ♥ Q 3 2 N ♥ 5 4 regular contact with all my COVID-19 pandemic has ♦ W E ♦ J 10 9 8 7 S K 6 5 4 wonderful staff who are so really opened my eyes to ♣ A 10 9 8 ♣ K 7 6 dear to me.