113.pdf

no

s on ing se le s le up cT p ed lem cr e ui nTs se s La Gomera, Canary Islands

Minerva

Temple of Apollo, Pompeii

Alhambra, Spain

Nice, France

Exceptional value Bridge cruising aboard Minerva

At swan Hellenic we will always go further and delve that bit deeper. our on board guest speakers and inclusive excursions ashore take you behind civilisations both ancient and modern, with fascinating results. You will travel in country-house style with around 350 other like-minded passengers. choose to dine in the restaurant of your choice and in the company of your friends and you will still be assured of exceptional value for money, including all tips on board and ashore. Travel with a truly great British company, established in 1954, and enjoy an experience that will live with you forever. All passengers who have booked and registered through will be eligible to partake in the late afternoon bridge sessions, held on days when the ship is at sea. There is no bridge supplement as, like most of the excursions, it is included in the price. Mr Bridge actively encourages singles to join the party and they will always be found a partner for a game.††

vinTAge iBeriA And iTAlY

16 – 29 mAr 2012 Inside £1,495†, Outside £1,995†, Balcony Suite £3,885 MIN120316

posTcArd from THe mediTerrAneAn

A mediTerrAneAn mAsTerpiece

29 mAr – 11 Apr 2012 Inside £1,495†, Outside £1,995†, Balcony Suite £3,665

8 mAY – 22 mAY 2012 Inside £1,495†, Outside £1,995†, Balcony Suite £4,280

MIN120329

MIN120508

Livorno Palma de Mallorca Seville

Civitavecchia Italy

Cadiz

Malaga Tangier

Funchal Portugal

Istanbul Turkey

Sorrento Palermo Sousse

Port Vendres

Vigo

Portoferraio

Nice

Civitavecchia Italy

Athens (Piraeus)

Mahon

Valletta Portimao

Malaga

Cadiz

From the garden isle of Madeira, sail to Cadiz and enjoy a river transit to Seville. Discover the architectural links between Morocco and Moorish Andalusia manifest in the superb Alhambra Palace and Seville’s Cathedral Tower. Explore the Balearic island of Majorca and conclude your cruise in Italy, visiting iconic cities such as Lucca and Pisa.

Experience the fusion of Mediterranean cultures, art and architecture and trace the history of empires and peoples as you sail from one great city to the next. Visit the iconic cities of Rome, Naples, Valletta, Athens and Istanbul as well as exploring the delights of Sorrento, the medina of Sousse and Norman stronghold of Palermo.

itinerary: • Funchal • Cadiz • Seville • Tangier • Malaga • Palma de Mallorca • Livorno • Civitavecchia

itinerary: • Civitavecchia • Naples • Sorrento • Palermo • Sousse • Valletta • Piraeus • Istanbul

Your guest speakers include:

mr Jeremy paterson – Italian, Roman, Carthaginian history & archaeology rear Admiral John lippiett – naval history The rt revd Barry rogerson – history

mrs maggie mcnie – Master of Wine professor carole Hillenbrand – Islamic history professor robert Hillenbrand – Islamic art The revd dr rupert Bursell – theology

inclusive shore excursions include: Cabo Girao Scenic Drive, Levada Hike, Seville Cathedral & Alcazar Walk, Italica, Tetouan, Alhambra Palace, Palma walk, Lucca, Pisa, Ostia.

Your guest speakers include:

inclusive shore excursions include:

Tarquinia, Ostia, Pompeii, Villa Oplontis, Monreale, Palermo City Tour & Palatine Chapel, El Djem, Sousse Town Walk, Valletta Walk, Acropolis, New Acropolis Museum, Sounion, Blue Mosque & Aghia Sofia, Rumeli Hisar & Sadberk Hanim.

To book or request a brochure call

01483 489 961 www.bridgecruises.co.uk

• Exclusive Mr Bridge drinks parties* • Travel in country-house style comfort with around 350 likeminded passengers

Portsmouth England St Peter Port

Civitavecchia Italy Naples

Your voYAge includes:

An enticing blend of Mediterranean islands, the French Riviera, the Algarve and Green Spain create an idyllic early summer cruise, highlighting cities of history, art and architecture.

itinerary: • Civitavecchia • Portoferraio • Nice • Port Vendres • Mahon • Malaga • Cadiz • Portimao • Vigo • St Peter Port • Portsmouth Your guest speakers include:

professor christopher Andrew – modern & contemporary history mr Tim earl – ornithology & wildlife The rt revd michael Turnbull – theology

inclusive shore excursions include: Ostia, Tarquinia, Elba island drive, Portoferraio town walk, highlights of Nice, Riviera scenic drive, Collioure, Mahon scenic island drive, ancient Minorca, full day Alhambra Palace & gardens, Jerez walk, Cadiz walk, Silves & Cork Museum, Santiago de Compostela.

• Discover the history and culture of civilisations, ancient and modern • Enjoy a tailor-made programme of inclusive escorted shore excursions worth up to £500pp • Travel with eminent Guest Speakers, who bring you closer to each destination • Dine in the restaurant of your choice in the company of your friends • Be assured of exceptional value for money, including all tips on board and ashore • Travel with a British company, established in 1954

flY one wAY

Fares apply to new bookings only, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. †GTY fares will have the cabin allocated approximately three weeks prior to departure. Offer of no single supplements applies to Minerva cruises departing 16 & 29 March and 8 May 2012 and applies to new bookings only made directly with Mr Bridge. Offer is subject to availability, non-transferable, non-refundable and cannot be combined with any other offer. Only bookings made directly with Mr Bridge guarantee participation in the on board Mr Bridge programme * including the drinks party, ††Mr Bridge will try to find each single player a partner, subject to availability. Booking terms and conditions apply. Travel insurance not included. Swan Hellenic is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd. ABTA W0302 ATOL 3897.

BRIDGE Publisher and Managing Editor Mr Bridge Ryden Grange Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH

( 01483 489961 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.mrbridge.co.uk

Associate Editors Bernard Magee Julian Pottage Technical Consultant Tony Gordon Proof Readers Tony Richards Danny Roth Hugh Williams Richard Wheen Office Manager Catrina Shackleton Events & Cruises ( 01483 489961 Jessica Galt Rachel Everett Megan Riccio Sophie Pierrepont Clubs & Charities Maggie Axtell

[email protected]

Address Changes Elizabeth Bryan ( 01483 485342 All correspondence should be addressed to Mr Bridge. Please make sure that all letters, e-mails and faxes carry full postal addresses and telephone numbers.

FEATURES 5

ADVERTISEMENTS

Mr Bridge

2 Welcome Back Minerva

11 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions

3 Egypt 2012 4 Voyages of Discovery European Icons

15 Basic Bridge: The Guide to Good Acol Bidding & Play reviewed by David Huggett

5 Tunisia 2012 6 Haslemere 2011 DVDs 7 Bernard Magee’s Interactive Software

18 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum

8 Mr Bridge Tutorial Bridge Breaks

19 Jeremy Dhondy says A Double of an Artificial Bid Shows the Suit

9 Mail Order Form 10 Bernard Magee’s Tips for Better Bridge

21 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee 22 Bidding Quiz Answers by Bernard Magee

24 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage

16 Voyages of Discovery 2012 Summer Cruises

25 Declarer Play Quiz by Dave Huggett

18 Bernard Magee’s Hand Evaluation

28 Lead Quiz Answers by Andrew Kambites 29 Julian Pottage Answers Your Questions 33 Christmas Quiz 34 Christmas Quiz Answers 35 The A to Z of Bridge: I by Julian Pottage 40 Readers’ Letters 43 David Huggett says Bid Blackwood Only if You Know What to do Next 44 Seven Days by Sally Brock

A 5* spacious resort hotel complex with a friendly atmosphere situated 3km from the resort centre of Na’ama Bay and a 15 minute courtesy bus ride from the hotel’s private beach.

13 Haslemere 2012 13 Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified

27 Lead Quiz by Andrew Kambites

AT THE 5* KIROSEIZ THREE CORNERS, NA’AMA BAY EGYPT 2012

10 Bridge Event Booking Form

23 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage

26 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett

Mr Bridge

20 Bridge Events with Bernard Magee 23 Mr Bridge Rubber/ Chicago Events

Duplicate Bridge Bernard Magee

25 Mr Bridge Playing Cards

15-29 January 2012

26 Bernard Magee’s Begin Bridge CD 27 Voyages to Antiquity Cruise to Croatia 34 Pens 37 Charity Bridge Events 38 Global Travel Insurance 41 Stamps 42 Table and Tablecloths Offer 42 QPlus 48 Bernard Magee’s Five-Card Majors CD 48 QPlus

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or its Managing Editor. Page 3

from £1099* All inclusive board includes: buffet-style breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks served at selected times between meals, ice cream served in the afternoon and afternoon tea. An unlimited amount of hot, soft and alcoholic drinks (excluding international brands and cocktails) served 10am to midnight. *per person full-board sharing a twin-bedded room and is inclusive of bridge fees. Single supplement £220 per fortnight. These prices are based on air travel from Gatwick. Flights from Manchester, Newcastle and East Midlands are available at a supplement. This holiday is arranged in conjunction with Thomas Cook Holidays ATOL1179.

DETAILS & BOOKINGS

( 01483 489961

25%

Single ** Supplement bin on selected ca grades

European Icons Departing April 27th 2012 – 15 days Incredible cruise offers: Inside from only £999pp, Outside from only £1,449pp Mesmerising Istanbul – a showcase of Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, enthralling Athens – ‘cradle of western civilisation’ and romantic Rome – heart of the mighty Roman Empire. Three of Europe’s most notable cities, whose glorious histories live on through some of the world’s most remarkable edifices. Nasrid princes left opulent footprints in the remarkable Alhambra. Legendary Santiago de Compostela marks the end of the ‘Way of St James’. Brooding Mount Etna watches over Messina, whilst Napoleonic echoes resonate around Ajaccio. Guarding the strait between the Mediterranean and Atlantic, the unmistakable profile of ‘The Rock’. All passengers* will be eligible for seminars, drinks parties, quiz competitions, daily evening bridge after first and second dinner sitting and occasional afternoon bridge sessions. The bridge programme is fully optional and you may participate as much or as little as you wish. Mr Bridge actively encourages singles to join the party and they will always be found a partner for a game.

YOUR VOYAGE INCLUDES: • Evening bridge available for first and second diners

portsmouth

• Afternoon duplicate bridge when at sea and in port • Bridge seminars when at sea and in port • Exclusive Mr Bridge drinks parties

la coruÑa civitavecchia ajaccio

messina

gibraltar

istanbul

piraeus

almeria

• All meals, entertainment and onboard gratuities • Comprehensive lecture and guest speaker programme • Captain’s cocktail parties and gala dinners

01483 489961 for brochures and bookings www.bridgecruises.co.uk

Fares shown are per person based on two people sharing lowest inside twin-bedded cabin category and include all applicable discounts for new bookings only. All offers are subject to availability, cannot be combined with any other offer or loyalty offer, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. Fares shown include current fuel supplements correct at time of printing, but subject to change. Fares shown are based on a guarantee fare, where a cabin number may not be allocated at time of booking. See brochure for full terms and conditions. *Only bookings made directly with Mr Bridge are eligible to be part of the Mr Bridge Group. **25% single supplement applies to selected cabin grades and is subject to availability. Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd.

NO PRESSURE

The old year seems to have disappeared much more quickly than usual. Let us hope that the new one will be altogether better than it currently promises to be.

25 YEARS FLY BY In May, it will be twentyfive years since I first set out on my journey as Mr Bridge. To celebrate, my sponsors, Voyages of Discovery, are helping me promote a festival of bridge on board m.v. Discovery. We leave Istanbul on 27 April and sail home to Portsmouth. I have negotiated a really special lead-in fare of £999 per person sharing, all bridge fees included. Single cabins start from £1234 each. And it won’t all be bridge... unless that’s what you want it to be. In addition to the usual on board entertainment and port lectures, there will be bridge seminars and supervised play every morning, both when in port or at sea. Likewise, afternoon duplicate sessions. Best of all, a daily duplicate for those on first-sitting dinner, after dinner and before dinner for those on second-sitting dinner. There will also be cut-in rubber/Chicago sessions for those who prefer that form of the game.

PRESENT In the two weeks before Christmas, I set out to test some readers’ reactions by randomly offering them a Christmas present. I offered to send Bernard Magee’s DVD, Ruffing for Extra Tricks, completely free. Just send six 2nd class stamps to cover postage and handling charges. For those who preferred more modern ways, you could order from my web shop or telephone and provide a debit/credit card number for the same cost plus a 20p handling charge. In short, £2.36. This Christmas present offer is now open to all readers on the same terms as outlined above until 31 January 2012.

single supplement. I have a limited number of places at these prices, so I do ask you register your interest and we will send you brochure and a booking form. ( 01483 489961.

TUNISIA Thank goodness things are more settled in Tunisia. Join the Bernard Magee party for a really enjoyable couple of weeks this February. I have added the Bridge and Golf date in November, see advert.

Mr Bridge AT THE ROYAL KENZ TUNISIA Two-week half-board duplicate holiday

£769*

2012 DIARIES Nearly sold out this year. If you are not fussy what cover colour you want you can have two for the price of one.

Some of you will have either purchased or been given a full set. To put things right, please give your Christmas present to someone else to enjoy and claim £25 from your next mail order purchase.

RUBBER BRIDGE AT BLUNSDON

19 Feb – 4 March 2012 Golf available Bernard Magee and his team

ANOTHER PRESENT

Diana Holland, together with her husband Brian, are hosting a Chicago/ rubber bridge event at the Blunsdon House Hotel.

M.v. Minerva will shortly be leaving dry dock following a three month multi-million pound refit. To celebrate this new life, I am organising a full bridge party on three springtime cruises – for details see inside front cover. Prices for each sailing start at £1495 per person with no

4-18 November 2012 Golf available Tony and Jan Richards *per person half-board sharing a twin-bedded room and is inclusive of bridge fees. Single supplement £6 per night. These prices are based on air travel from Gatwick to Enfidha. Flights from other UK airports are available at a supplement. All prices are firm until the end of January 2012. Prices for sevennight stays (November only) are available on application. Pay £70 per fortnight per person extra and have a pool-facing room, tea & coffee making facilities, bath robe and a bowl of seasonal fruit.

Join them at this lovely Best Western hotel, pictured above. Only £199 for two days and nights full board, 17-19 February 2012. Good food in good company with good bridge.

Page 5

These holidays have been organised for Mr Bridge by Tunisia First Limited, ATOL 5933, working in association with Thomas Cook Tour Operations Limited, ATOL 1179.

DETAILS & BOOKINGS

( 01483 489961

Bernard Magee at Haslemere Hall 2011 DVDs Six DVDs record the seminars from Haslemere. Each seminar is divided into two halves: designed to look at subjects from two different perspectives. 1. Ruffing for £25 extra tricks This seminar deals with declarer’s use of ruffing to generate extra tricks and then looks at how the defenders might counteract this. 74 mins. 2. COMPETITIVE £25 AUCTIONS This seminar focuses on competitive auctions from the perspective of the overcalling side to start with and then from the perspective of the opening side in the second part. 86 mins. 3. MAKING THE MOST £25 OF HIGH CARDS This seminar helps declarer to use his high cards more carefully and then looks at how defenders should care for their precious high cards. 83 minutes.

The Bernard Magee bridge seminars, staged in Haslemere Hall as part of 2011 Haslemere Festival, proved to be even more successful than I had hoped. All the happenings have been faithfully filmed and made into a series of six DVDs by an experienced television film crew led by Hugh Dehn, the well know television director. Take a hall filled with enthusiasts, eager and willing to learn; mix in the technical support of the theatre and then add Bernard Magee on top form and you have the perfect ingredients for six highly entertaining DVDs. Buy with confidence.

HASLEMERE 2012 Book early – book now. For subject matter, see the advertisement on page 20. All six seminars will again be filmed in full.

You either love Sally Brock’s column or you hate it. However, there is no need to cancel BRIDGE, just don’t read those pages.

USED STAMPS Once again many thanks to Colin Bamberger, who sent in a further cheque for £470 in support of Little Voice, the children’s home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that I support. Do remember to put your used stamps to one side for this good cause.

5. PLAY & DEFENCE £25 OF 1NT CONTRACTS This seminar looks at the most common and yet most feared of contracts: 1NT. The first half looks at declaring the contract and the second part puts us in the defenders’ seats. 88 minutes.

Conventional postage will never get cheaper, so buying valid British stamps below face value must be a bargain. It also helps support this publication.

All 6 for £100

The number of charity bridge drives seems to have shrunk. I strongly recommend that organisers should not cancel their 2012 event even if it seems it will barely cover costs. The paying public really look forward to these lunches, teas and even dinners. Bookings coming in very late are the norm. Just as they are for holidays, cruises, weekends and in fact, pretty well everything.

Organisers should send in details for inclusion in my Charity Events Calendar as soon as a date is known or at least when the hall or venue have been booked. And remember, I will when asked, always send prizes. (Readers would be surprised how rarely I am asked.)

GOFF STAMPS

See Mail Order Form on page 7.

MARMITE

Once a date is cancelled, it is really difficult to rebuild the goodwill.

4. Identifying £25 & BIDDING SLAMS The first half of this seminar is about identifying when a slam might be on – one of the hardest topics to teach, because as soon as you announce the topic everybody is looking for slams. The second half covers some of the techniques used to bid slams. 96 minutes.

6. DOUBLING & DEFENCE AGAINST DOUBLED£25 CONTRACTS The first half of this seminar explores penalty doubles and the second half discusses the defence against doubled contracts. 88 minutes.

FUND-RAISING

BETTER BRIDGE

ANTIQUITY

For Clive Goff’s unique service, telephone him on: ( 020 8422 4906.

Aegean Odyssey has been well received, especially by those who want single occupancy. Tony and Jan Richards will lead their fiftieth cruise from Imperial Rome to Venice. See page 30.

Oh, and remember, you can pay for the Christmas present by posting in £2.16 of these stamps to cover the charges.

As usual, a programme of excursions is included in the fare. Highlights this time include Pompeii and an exclusive evening visit to St Mark’s Cathedral.

[email protected]

Page 6

MAC FOR BRIDGE If you’ve a Mac and want a play program and do not want the expense of buying the Windows system for Mac, then Bridge Baron 22 is for you. £63. Upgrades from Bridge Baron 21. Just post in your disc and a cheque for £15. Alternatively, to trade in any old software, send in £36.

ONLY ONE IN 2012 By popular demand, Bernard Magee will be returning to the Queensferry Hotel for the weekend 9-11 March 2012. Subject matter will be the ever popular topics of doubles and doubling. The venue, which looks over the Firth of Forth, is the only Bernard Magee event planned for Scotland in 2012.

CLUB INSURANCE Sorry to nag, but insurance is all about being covered for those risks even the brightest committee members haven’t yet thought of. The premium of just over £60 for the year covers a club of up to 100 members very nicely and there are now over 500 groups covered. It really is foolish not to be covered and even more foolish to pay other insurers more. Ring Moore Stephens on ( 020 7515 5270. Larger clubs and bridge teachers should ring for a competitive quote.

FIVE-CARD MAJORS

Tutorial Bridge Breaks

At last Bernard Magee has completed his latest interactive tutorial CD. The advert on the back of the magazine gives the full list of contents, which is supported by a userfriendly manual. Bernard Magee has completed yet another labour of love.

JUNE 2012 8-10 £245

SEPTEMBER 2012

QPLUS 10

28-30 The Ardington £245 Leads and Defence Crombie McNeil

There is no new version of QPlus planned for the foreseeable future – October 2013 is a possibility, so buy a copy or upgrade with confidence if you are minded so to do.

TUTORIALS If you are only able to afford one of these CD’s, I strongly advise Defence. The improvement of your results will have you singing Bernard Magee’s praises. He is such an inspiring teacher.

TABLE OFFER My black vinyl covered metal tables are ideal for club use, as they can serve the needs of several different groups at the same venue, especially as most clubs use green table cloths these days. For those that feel the need for a green playing surface, I draw the special table and cloth offer to the attention of clubs and individuals alike. The cloths are made in the north of England of locally spun cotton velvet. I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year.

The Ardington Endplay and Avoidance Gary Conrad

OCTOBER 2012

Ardington Hotel Worthing BN11 3DZ

12-14 The Ardington £245 Losing Trick Count Sandy Bell

January 2012

MARCH continued

20-22 £245

30-1/4 £245

The Ardington Further into the Auction Ned Paul

FEBRUARY 2012 10-12 £245

The Ardington Landy Defence to 1NT Improvers Ned Paul

November 2012 9-11 £245

Blunsdon House Hotel Suit Establishment Ned Paul

16-18 £245

Chatsworth Hotel Worthing Finding Slams Crombie McNeil

APRIL 2012

The Ardington Takeout Doubles Improvers Ned Paul

27-29 £245

Blunsdon House Hotel Game Tries Alison Nicolson

24-26 The Ardington £245 Suit Establishment Gary Conrad

MARCH 2012 9-11 The Ardington £245 Hand Evaluation Crombie McNeil 9-11 £245

Blunsdon House Hotel Signals and Discards Alison Nicolson

23-25 The Ardington £245 Sacrificing Ned Paul

Blunsdon House Hotel Swindon SN26 7AS

See booking form on page 10.

Mr Bridge Page 7

BERNARD  MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS ACOL BIDDING l Opening

Bids and Responses

l Slams

and Strong Openings

l Support

MORE (ADVANCED) ACOL BIDDING l Basics

l Hold-ups

Twos

l Pre-empting

l Strong

l Overcalls

l Defence

l No-trump

£66

Hands

and Responder’s Rebids and Misfits

l Doubles l Competitive

£96

l Two-suited

Overcalls

l Defences

to Other Systems and Distributional Hands

l Using

vs No-trump Contracts

l Lead

vs Suit Contracts

l Partner

of Leader vs No-trump Contracts

l Partner

of Leader vs Suit Contracts

l Making

Overtricks in No-trumps

l Making

Overtricks in Suit Contracts

l Endplays

£81

Contract Squeezes

the Lead

l Trump

l Wrong l Simple

l Delaying

Control

& Avoidance

l Counting

the Hand

l Trump

Reductions & Coups

l Endplays

l Playing

l Using

l Safety

DEFENCE l Lead

£76

in Notrumps

Drawing Trumps

l Doubles

ADVANCED DECLARER PLAY

l Avoidance

l Entries

l Misfits

Auctions

for Extra

Tricks

to Weak Twos to 1NT

l Opener’s l Minors

l Ruffing

l Defence

Openings and Responses

Establishment in No-trumps Establishment in Suits

Basics l Weak

l Suit l Suit

l Advanced

for Partner

DECLARER PLAY

Doubled Contracts

the Bidding

Plays

FIVE-CARD MAJORS & Strong No-Trump

l Count

Signals

l Attitude

Signals l Discarding l Defensive l Stopping

£76

Plan

Declarer

l Counting

the Hand

l Opening

l

l

No-Trump Openings

l

Pre-empting

l

Support for Partner

l

Doubles

l

l

Overcalls



Slams & Strong Openings

l

Rebids

Bids & Responses

Minors & Misfits

l

Competitive Auctions

Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH

( 01483 489961

www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop

Fax 01483 797302

System Requirements: WindowsPage XP, Vista or 7, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM 8

£89

✄

Mr Bridge MAIL ORDER PLAY SOFTWARE

TUTORIAL DVDs

QPlus 10 QPlus 10 - Trade-in Bridge Baron – Mac compatible Bridge Baron – Trade-in

£86.00....... £35.00....... £63.00....... £36.00.......

TUTORIAL SOFTWARE Begin Bridge – Acol Version Acol Bidding More Acol Bidding Declarer Play Advanced Declarer Play Defence Five-Card Majors with Strong No-Trump

£66.00....... £66.00....... £96.00....... £76.00....... £81.00....... £76.00....... £89.00.......

SOFTWARE BUNDLE OFFER Any two software pieces

£120.00.......

BOOKS Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified Better Hand Evaluation – Bernard Magee Bernard Magee’s Bridge Quiz Book Bernard Magee’s Quiz and Puzzle Book Bernard Magee’s Tips for Better Bridge

£5.95....... £14.00....... £14.00....... £14.00....... £14.00.......

TABLES, CHAIRS and tablecloths Mr Bridge exclusive design black metal chairs, covered in black vinyl Set of four £199.00....... Mr Bridge exclusive black metal tables £63.50....... Mr Bridge tablecloth green ...... dark blue ...... burgundy ...... £29.95....... Table and Tablecloth Offer both for £75.00.......

Ruffing for Extra Tricks Competitive Auctions Making the Most of High Cards Identifying & Bidding Slams Play & Defence of 1NT Contracts Doubling & Defence to Doubled Contracts All 6 DVDs as a boxed set

£25.00....... £25.00....... £25.00....... £25.00....... £25.00....... £25.00....... £100.00.......

2012 Bridge Players’ Diaries Standard: Navy Blue ...... Red ...... Tan ...... Burgundy ...... Black ...... £6.95....... 10 or more each £3.50....... Luxury cover with ball-point pen: Ruby Red ...... Navy Blue...... Green ...... £14.95.......

LUXURY PLAYING CARDS One red back / one blue back in a gold-coloured drop-lid box 2 boxed pairs of luxury cards 10 refill packs (5 red / 5 blue)

£10.95....... £20.00....... £20.00.......

PENS Multi-suited Ball-point Pens Boxed set of four £19.95....... Refills

set of four £2.99.......

Prices are inclusive of VAT and postage to UK mainland. I enclose a cheque for £.......... Mr/Mrs/Miss .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... Address................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Postcode................................................................................................. ( ...........................................................................................................

Expiry: .......................... CVV .......................... Issue No. ..........................

(CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip)

Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH

www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop

✄

( 01483 489961

Page 9

Fax 01483 797302

Bernard Magee’s Tips for Better Bridge

BRIDGE  BREAKS ♦ Full-board

♦ Two seminars*

♦ All rooms with en-suite facilities

♦ Two supervised play sessions*

♦ No single supplement

♦ Four duplicate sessions**

65 invaluable tips in 160 pages

Please book ..... places for me at £....... per person, Single .... Double .... Twin .... Name of Hotel/Centre............................................................. Date(s) .................................................................................... Mr/Mrs/Miss ......................................................................... Address................................................................................... ................................................................................................ Postcode ................................................................................. ( ........................................................................................... Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, but we will do our best to oblige). ................................................................................................ Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking. ................................................................................................ Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place by cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice for the balance will be sent with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, 28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker.

Expiry: ................................. CVV......................... Issue No.................... (CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip)

Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH.

( 01483 489961 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.holidaybridge.com

Bidding Tips 1 Always consider bidding spades if you can 2 Bid more aggressively when non-vulnerable 3 Always double when the opponents steal your deal 4 A takeout double shows shortage in the suit doubled 5 ‘Borrow’ a king to keep the auction open 6 After a penalty double, don’t let the opponents escape 7 Halve the value of a singleton honour when opening 8 Only add length-points for a suit that might be useful 9 Isolated honours are bad except in partner’s suit 10 Use the jump shift sparingly 11 Consider passing and letting partner decide 12 You need two top honours for a second-seat pre-empt 13 Put the brakes on if you have a misfit 14 Strong and long minors work well in no-trumps 15 One stop in the opponents’ suit can be enough for no-trumps 16 Keep your two-level responses up to strength 17 Use your normal methods in response to a 1NT overcall 18 Don’t overcall just because you have opening points 19 Overcalls can be quite weak, so be prudent when responding 20 Weak overcalls must be based on strong suits 21 6NT requires 33 points not 4 aces and 4 kings 22 Raise immediately, if weak with four-card support 23 In a competitive auction, show support immediately 24 Bid to the level of your fit quickly with weak hands 25 With strength and support, use the opponents’ bid suit Declarer-play Tips 26 When your contract depends on a finesse, think ‘endplay’ 27 Consider what a defender might be thinking about 28 Always take your time at trick one 29 Establish extra tricks before cashing your winners 30 Use your opponents’ bidding to your advantage 31 Avoid the ‘baddie’ gaining the lead 32 Use the Rule of Seven when holding up in no-trumps

33 A low lead usually promises length and an honour 34 When declaring 1NT, try to be patient 35 Duck an early round when you are short of entries 36 Lead up to your two-honour holding 37 Do not always assume a suit will break well 38 Drop a high card to put off the defence 39 Play your highest card to tempt a defender to cover 40 Draw trumps first unless you have a good reason not to 41 Do not waste your trumps 42 Consider leaving a lone defensive trump winner out Defence Tips 43 Keep four-card suits intact whenever possible 44 Give count on declarer’s leads 45 Keep the right cards rather than signal 46 Take your time when dummy is put down 47 High cards are for killing other high cards 48 Do not waste intermediate cards 49 Pick two key suits to concentrate on during the play 50 If in doubt, cover an honour with an honour 51 If a lead is from two honours, it is best not to cover 52 Keep your honour to kill dummy’s honour 53 Try to show partner your solid honour sequences 54 Lead the normal card when leading partner’s suit 55 Never underlead an ace at trick one in a suit contract 56 Be wary of leading from four cards to only one honour 57 Lead a higher card from a suit without an honour 58 Lead through ‘beatable’ strength and up to weakness 59 Cash your winners before trying for a trump promotion 60 Be patient when defending 1NT 61 Trump leads can be safe throughout the play General Tips 62 Do not put important cards at either end of your hand 63 Avoid being declarer when you are dummy 64 Before you lead ask for a review of the auction 65 Enjoy the Game!

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Page 10

David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics

When can Declarer Change a Card from Dummy?

Q

Declarer (South) led from his hand and West ruffed. Declarer called for a card from the table, which effectively was an underruff. He realised immediately he had made a mistake and corrected this to a higher trump, claiming it was an ‘unintended designation’. Was the director right to let him change it? John Williams, Montrose (similar from Peter Last).

A

No, dummy must play a card declarer calls for except in the situation specified in Law 45C4B. Declarer may change a named card only if it is inadvertent rather than a change of mind and if he attempts the change without pause for thought. If you intend to play the diamond ace from dummy, and say, ‘ace of clubs, whoops, no, sorry, I mean the ace of diamonds,’ and you can convince the director you meant the diamond ace all along he will allow the change. The actual ruling looks wrong to me: it does not sound like an unintended

designation: he made a mistake. He called for the trump then realised a higher trump had been played. Since that is a change of mind, it does not qualify as an unintended designation and I would not have allowed the change. ♣♦♥♠

Q

On the following deal, East dealt with only NorthSouth vulnerable.

North ♠ A Q J ♥ K Q 10 7 5 ♦ Q 10 6 ♣ 9 6 West East ♠ 8 5 3 ♠ 9 7 6 2 ♥ J 4 3 ♥ Void ♦ A K 7 5 ♦ J 9 ♣ A 10 8 ♣ K Q J 7 5 3 2 South ♠ K 10 4 ♥ A 9 8 6 2 ♦ 8 4 3 2 ♣ 4

West North East South 3♣ Pass Pass Dbl Pass 4♥ Pass1 Pass 5♣ Pass Pass 5♥ End 1 long pause then pass

I called the director, who chose to favour E/W, saying East could bid what she wants. I went one down in 5♥ for a bottom. Can East really bid again even without the pause? Ron Niven by email.

A

Without the pause, East can bid whatever she wants. While it is not good bridge to pre-empt and bid again, it is legal. Personally, I would have opened 4♣ not 3♣ with his hand. After West’s hesitation, which gives East unauthorised information, she has to make every effort not to gain from it. Bidding 5♣ is certainly not making every effort; I would adjust the result to 4♥ making. I am surprised at the director, who seems never to have heard of the laws concerning unauthorised information. Perhaps you might ask him to read Laws 16 and 73C. ♣♦♥♠

Q

I was West defending North’s 4♠ doubled at game all

Page 11

when we had a cold game our way. Their contract was likely to go off 3 for 800. I led my ♦A-K-Q; partner fell asleep and trumped my queen. Later it turned out that my partner still had a diamond. The established revoke cost me two tricks, which I thought was unfair as the revoke had made no difference to the outcome. Three down less the two penalty tricks gave us 200 and a bottom rather than a top. John Roe, Westerham.

A

I am not sure what is unfair about it. Following suit is the most basic rule in bridge: it seems reasonable to penalise to stop people from revoking. In fact, since there are so many revokes, many people think the penalty should go back to what it was some years ago when it was always two tricks.

David Stevenson answers all queries based on the facts supplied by the letter writer. Neither Mr Bridge nor David Stevenson has any way of knowing whether those facts are correct or complete.

Ask David continued

Q

Am I right in thinking that you may not use a Stayman 2♣ followed by a 3♣ rebid to show a weak hand with clubs? Don Grammer by email (similar from Shirley Etheridge).

A

I am afraid you are wrong. The idea of bidding 2♣ followed by 3♣ to show a weak hand with clubs has been around for over 70 years and has always been legal. All responses to 1NT are permissible; ‘all’ means literally all, so you can play Stayman in any way you want, with any rebids you want, to cover any hands that you want. ♣♦♥♠

Q

I had a balanced 19 and opened 1♦. My LHO bid 3♠ (pre-empt). My partner took about 10 seconds before passing. My RHO protested at that delay before passing too. He said that he did not think it was correct for me to bid in view of my partner’s long delay. I stated that I was unaware of such a delay but bid 3NT having the ♠A. After my LHO led a small spade and dummy put down the ♠K, my RHO continued to rant and grumble about the unfairness and irregularity. We play in a friendly club and I said that he should either call the director or defer any discussion until after the end of play. He did neither. Distracted by

his continued comments, I played the ♠K and ♠A on the same trick, going one down. What are the rules on this? Tony Rogers, Leigh on Sea, Essex.

A

Firstly, let us deal with the behaviour issue: the moment an opponent starts to badger you, call the director. He has no right to badger you. Even if you had done something wrong, this does not condone his bad behaviour. Secondly, 3♠ is a jump bid; your partner has to wait ten seconds before calling, even if he has nothing to think about and even if the opponent does not keep his stop card out as he is required to do. Therefore, if it was only ten seconds that partner took, there was no hesitation and you are completely free to do what you like. Thirdly, it is quite possible that the opponents will claim your partner thought for longer than the usual ten seconds. That is a decision only the director can make. I think you should have called him about both the hesitation and the behaviour. Suppose, for argument’s sake, that the director decides that there was a hesitation, that your partner thought for at least eighteen or twenty seconds. Now you know he has some values and you must strain to take no advantage. The director will look at logical alternatives, calls that other people might consider. If he thinks your 3NT is almost automatic, he will allow it; if, instead, he thinks some people would bid 3NT and some would pass, he considers what the hesitation suggests. Well, the hesitation suggests partner has

values, and suggests bidding 3NT rather than passing, so he will disallow your 3NT bid, and adjust the score to 3♠ making some number of tricks. My experience of nearly fifty years of club bridge is that the nastiest arguments always start, ‘I am not going to call the director, but ...’. If you want to keep your club friendly, call the director immediately if there is a problem. ♣♦♥♠

Q

The following bidding sequence had taken place:

West North East South 1♦ Pass 1♠ 1NT 2♦ 2♥ 4♦ End

After West made 12 tricks, North admitted that he knew that the 1NT bid was the Unusual NT (hearts and clubs). E/W stated that had there been an alert, they would have bid to 5♦ or even 6♦. I changed the score to 5♦+1, which other tables had made. Was I correct? Robin Sutton, Chippenham, Wilts

A

When ruling, we look at the hand and the arguments, also discussing with other people what they would or might have done without the infraction, i.e. without the failure to alert. We do not look at the scoresheet: what people have done at other tables is irrelevant since their bidding and methods are unlikely to be identical. Without seeing the hands, I cannot say whether I consider the ruling right or wrong, but it is certainly a reasonable

Page 12

ruling. If you are not sure what would have happened without the infraction, however, it is normal to give a weighted score, perhaps 25% of 6♦ making +50% of 5♦ plus one +25% of 4♦ plus two It depends on what you think is the likelihood of these possibilities. ♣♦♥♠

Q

If my partner cannot follow suit and discards (on a spade), I ask, ‘Having no spades, partner?’ It now seems common for the discarder to declare, ‘I have no spades’ etc. What do you think about this? Olga Johnson by email.

A

You can ask your partner, ‘Having none?’ – a recent change for defenders. For them to say so unasked seems silly to me. ♣♦♥♠

Q

I think I read somewhere that you can open 1NT on any shape (even on a void) so long as partner alerts and explains as necessary. Is that right? James Ottway by email.

A

Although the vast majority play a natural 1NT opening (when a void would not be permissible), there are certain artificial 1NT openings, for example the Romex 1NT opening, which shows at least 20 points. Such openings are possible on a variety of shapes, including having a void somewhere. As with other artificial bids, partner alerts and describes their agreement if asked.

Ask David continued

Q

Due to a car accident, one pair had to leave without completing all the hands of the evening. The director decided to award them average minus for the unplayed boards, giving their would-be opponents average plus. Was this decision correct? Andrew Billson.

A

The decision was correct. It is in the Law book: Law 12C2A. ♣♦♥♠

Q

As East, my wife opened 1♣. I responded 2♠ and she rebid 2♦. North pointed out that the bid was insufficient. My partner changed her bid to 2NT. As someone who directs from time to time, I thought I knew the penalty for this and passed. Having failed to bid game, we scored a bottom. Did I do right even though my partner made the insufficient bid? Geoff Woods, Poulton Le Fylde BC.

A

It is naughty by both sides not to call the director. The treatment of insufficient bids is the same whoever bid last. If you had called the director, he would have offered your RHO the option of accepting 2♦. If he had not accepted it, the director would have applied the penalties on the assumption that your partner has made her choice with 2NT. This would silence you for the rest of the auction; in addition, lead penalties would apply if you had been defending.

Haslemere, Surrey

8 - 10 May 2012 Tuesday 8 May Morning Session: 11.00 – 12.30 Leads Afternoon Session: 15.00 – 16.30 Losing Trick Count

♣♦♥♠

Q

What is the procedure when dealer’s right-hand opponent places a stop card on the table out of turn? Dealer refused to accept the action. Derek Bruce, Bawburgh, Norfolk.

Wednesday 9 May Morning Session: 11.00 – 12.30 Making a Plan as Declarer

A

Taking a stop card out of the box does not count as making a call, so the player just puts it back. Dealer has no right to accept or refuse anything. The fact that the player took the stop card out, with all that implies, is unauthorised to his partner but authorised to opponents.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE  RULES SIMPLIFIED

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Thursday 10 May Morning Session: 11.00 – 12.30 Signals and Discards Afternoon Session: 15.00 – 16.30 Endplays

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Page 13

Please note that all sessions will be filmed.

Ask David continued

Q

Please explain when declarer can touch dummy’s hand. Pauline Clamp, Cheltenham.

A

In general, you may not touch another player’s hand at all. The exception is when you are playing rubber bridge and are declarer: then declarer normally plays dummy’s cards. At duplicate, declarer names the cards and then dummy plays them as asked. For most players, the only time that declarer should play dummy’s cards at duplicate is if dummy is not present. This might be when he has gone to the bar, toilet, outside to smoke or to look at the football results. He also plays them if dummy has a medical problem making it difficult for him to play the cards or to hear what card declarer has requested. Otherwise, declarer does not touch dummy’s cards. ♣♦♥♠

Q

In this sequence, N/S are playing the double to show a shortage of hearts and something in the minors.

West North East South 1♥ 1♠ 2♥ Pass Pass Dbl

every other sequence. The aim was to get a simple enough rule that everyone would be able to follow. Whether it is logical for the double to be for takeout has nothing to do with the rule. A great many people play the sequence you mention for takeout. ♣♦♥♠

Q

My partner dealt and opened 1NT (weak) with this hand:



♠ A 8 6 5 ♥ A 9 4 ♦ A 7 2 ♣ 10 4 3

A

An unalerted double of a natural suit below 3NT is for takeout. That applies to the sequence you mention and

♣♦♥♠

Q

If partner makes a bid that you need to announce or alert, when should you do so? Helen Blenkinsop, Cheltenham.

A

When partner makes an alertable or announceable call, you alert or announce immediately, so the next player knows this before he calls. ♣♦♥♠

She said she had only bid as she thought she had to with the points she held. Another of our number said she understood that the first or second bidders did not have to open if they did not feel it was the right thing to do, while those in the third or fourth positions must bid if they had the necessary points. What is the correct ruling? Janet Briggs by email.

A

Bridge is a game of judgement. There is no rule forcing you to bid or pass on any particular hand if you judge otherwise. Your position at the table makes no difference. ♣♦♥♠

Does the double require an alert? Name and address supplied.

A

Certainly: you may ask the meaning of any call whenever it is your turn to call, lead or play.

Q

Can you ask about the meaning of a bid even if there is no alert, as, for example, may happen when the bid is over 3NT? Fred Sleight by email.

Q

Fearing that my partner might pass 1♠ if she was weak, I opened 2♠:



♠ A K Q J 10 9 8 ♥ 7 ♦ 10 7 4 3 ♣ 8

With 17 points, she went slamming, thinking I had 20 points or so. We ended in 6NT and she made all the tricks. Was my opening legal? J B Turner, Gloucester.

A

Rules exist for agreements about strong bids if they are artificial. Since your 2♠ is natural rather than artificial, they do not apply, making your bid legal so long as partner does not announce it as strong. If you open 2♠ on such hands, the announcement must be ‘Intermediate to strong, forcing’. I might also point out that

Page 14

you will never find yourself passed out if you open 1♠ with so much shape and so few high cards. 2♠ is unnecessary and a poor bid in my view. ♣♦♥♠

Q

My wife was playing in 4♥ and her righthand opponent revoked. My wife made eight tricks and, adding two penalty tricks, this came out as ten in total. The traveller showed that some had made eleven tricks. The revoke completely altered my wife’s play because she would have drawn all the remaining trumps. Should the director have awarded her three tricks instead of the two she received? Ronald Gibbons be email.

A

Directors do not look at travellers before ruling. However, if she can persuade the director she would, or might have made three tricks more, he should give her an adjusted score, either of three tricks more, or of a weighted score, some percentage of three tricks more, some percentage of two tricks more. ♣♦♥♠

Q

My partner and I play a 2♦ response to an opening 2♣ as a simple relay. Should we alert this 2♦? David Donnison, Windermere.

A

It needs an alert. Artificial bids always do, with rare exceptions, so a 2♦ bid without an alert shows diamonds.

Ask David continued

Q

Can one take out an opponent’s hand and look at it after playing a board if the person has left the table? Rich Hamilton.

A

No, you may never take another player’s hand out, with or without permission. ♣♦♥♠

Q

On the hand below, 3NT went two down after a spade lead. E/W called the director, mentioning the incorrect information given to them. The director adjusted to 3NT-1. Is this decision correct?

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

West North East South 1NT 2♦1 3NT End Incorrectly described as showing both majors. N/S were playing 2♦ to show spades and a minor.

1

Huw Jones, Swansea.

A

Certainly not obvious that it is: what might E/W have done differently with the correct information? As for 3NT-1 instead of -2, I wonder why? It looks like no damage to me.

Basic Bridge The Guide To Good Acol Bidding & Play by Ron Klinger in collaboration with Pat Husband & Andrew Kambites reviewed by David Huggett

£9.99 from The London Bridge Centre ( 020 7486 8222 www.bridgeshop.com

♣♦♥♠

Q

Please could you tell me which of the following require an alert? (i) A Bergen raise, 1♠-pass-3♠, showing 0-5 pts, 4+ spades. (ii) a support double 1♦-pass-1♠-2♥-double to show three-card spade support. (iii) 1NT-double-2♦ (transfer to hearts). (iv) 1♠-pass-2♠, showing 0-6 pts, 3 spades. Andy Poole, Warlingham, Surrey.

A

I would alert all four sequences. The orange book deals specifically with playing 1♠-pass-3♠ as pre-emptive. Support doubles which show specific things are descriptive rather than just ordinary takeout. Announcements do not apply after a double, so since transfers are artificial they require an alert. The interesting one is the raise to 2♠. I play it as 3+ spades, 3-7 points, and do not alert it since, in the modern style, raises have become somewhat weaker. You are playing it in more of an extreme fashion, one that opponents are unlikely to expect, which makes it ■ alertable.

E-mail your questions on bridge laws to: [email protected]

Page 15

T

his book was first published in Great Britain in 1978 and the fact that this is the fifteenth impression since then gives testament to what an outstanding piece of work it is. It tells you just about everything you would ever need to know about how to play this game; in fact, if you know nothing at all, you will if you read the first thirty pages or so. Once the book starts in earnest, so to speak, there are fifteen chapters starting as you might expect with balanced hands and progressing gradually with advice on how to deal with less-balanced and stronger hands. (In the current bidding climate, it is refreshing to hear the virtues of the weak no-trump being extolled. Something of a rara avis these days.) About halfway through, the book starts to look at the competitive auction, dealing as it does with overcalls and the requirements for making a lowlevel takeout double. What is so good about this is that both during and at the end of each chapter, there are a gazillion examples and practice hands for you and your favourite partner to get to grips with. But, as I see it, what is better is that throughout the chapters on bidding, the writers never lose sight of the fact that having reached a contract, it needs to be played in the right way, so that bidding, play and, later, defence appear together. (As a teacher, I know one can spend too much time on the bidding to the detriment of other facets of the game.) The later chapters deal more

exclusively with declarer play and defensive strategies and, if that is not enough, there are a number of appendices at the end relating to a particular topic. Maybe it is about which suit to lead, or what card from that suit once you have chosen the suit, but to my mind, the best one is the debunking of all the myths and fallacies that surround the game. As an aside, I can tell you that people who learned at their mother’s knee remember all the bad things that are just not true and few of the things that are. I really wish I had come across this book earlier because, from a teacher’s point of view as well as the student’s, it is a gold mine of information and the practice hands alone are enough to warrant the cost of the volume. So did I like everything about this book? Not quite: I disliked the way the authors recommended adding on extra points for distribution, because the average learner finds it hard enough as it is with the simple 4-3-2-1 count. (Strangely, a class readily assimilates the concept of the Losing Trick Count, which to my mind, is a more fitting way to understand the true value of distributional hands.) I am not convinced either of the merits of opening the lower of two four-card suits in an otherwise balanced hand, but maybe that is a personal preference and these are minor quibbles. The book deservedly merits its undoubted acclaim and it should be compulsory reading for anyone hoping to get to grips with the game.

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Better Hand Evaluation

The Diaries of Wendy Wensum Episode 5: A Spanish Jaunt

Bernard Magee Introduction Better Hand Evaluation is aimed at helping readers to add greater accuracy to their bidding. It deals with auctions in which you and your partner, against silent opponents, can describe your hands fully to each other and, by evaluating them accurately, find the best final contract. The emphasis of all good, accurate bidding is on hand evaluation. There are two general types of auction: a) a fit is found and b) no fit is found. When you do not have a fit, you are aiming to describe the strength of your hand as soon as possible, most often using no-trump bids. This book begins by discussing balanced hand bidding in Acol, as it is very important that both members of a partnership have an accurate knowledge of how to show hands of different strengths. When a fit is found, there is much re-evaluation of the hand to be done; point count, though still important, needs to be evaluated together with distribution. The best way of reaching an accurate assess­ ment is to use the Losing Trick Count; this is an important method of hand evaluation and takes up a number of chapters. Finally, we move on to different forms of evaluation including game tries and splinter bids. You can never know enough methods of hand evaluation; the more you learn, the better you get at judging your hand. Although the Losing Trick Count is used more easily in tandem with your partner, a large proportion of the ideas in this book can be used by an individual. For example, evaluating your hand to be worth an extra point is going to help anyone you partner – as long as you get it right.

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Part 2: The Handsome Stranger

W

hile we were taking morning coffee, the holiday representative attempted to lure hotel guests from bridge by trying to persuade us to buy tickets for a tour to a Byzantine castle down the coast. ‘You can get there for a fraction of that price,’ Millie informed the assembled company. ‘Just catch the public bus outside the hotel.’ Unperturbed, the rep touted an evening excursion for a ‘real Spanish experience’ in a village in the mountains. ‘There’s a traditional taberna within walking distance,’ observed Millie loudly. At this point, the rep decided a strategic withdrawal was in order. In the corridor later, I overheard a heated discussion between Millie and the rep, who seemed a trifle upset as there had been no takers for either of his trips. He was bemoaning his loss of commission, while on the other hand Millie was using the encounter as an opportunity to psyche herself up for the forthcoming team event that afternoon. Just before lunch, Millie and I were in the bar having a pre-prandial drink. A handsome stranger waved from the other side of the room and came over to join us. He congratulated

us on our victory the previous evening in the pairs. He was pleasant company at lunch on the terrace and asked if we would play with him and his partner in the teams’ competition. We accepted the invitation gladly. The session was not going well. Although the Spanish wine was excellent, it seemed to be going straight to Millie’s head and, in all honesty, to mine too. Then at game all, I was North (dealer) and opened 1♥. Millie responded with 1♠:

♠ K J 9 6 ♥ A K 10 5 4 ♦ 4 ♣ 5 4 3 N W E S



♠ Q 7 5 4 3 ♥ 9 8 6 3 ♦ A 9 8 ♣ A

Perhaps over-stimulated by our alcohol consumption, the full exuberant auction was: West North East South Wendy Millie 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♣ Pass 4♥ Pass 5♦ Pass 5♥ Pass 6♠ End

Page 18

As chance would have it, hearts were 2-2 and spades behaved. The play of the hand was straightforward, even to Millie in her inebriated state and the 21-point slam came home. Our luck was clearly changing. As we scored up, it was evident that the handsome stranger and his partner were useful players. An impressive imps total mounted with the slam as our only contribution. On the same board, our partners had defended against 4♠. The handsome stranger complimented us for bidding the slam and congratulated us on two consecutive victories. He was clearly in a celebratory mood. ‘Where do you normally play your bridge?’ he enquired of Millie. On hearing her response, he became positively animated. ‘Norfolk!’ he repeated as he guided Millie to the bar for a refill. ‘A lovely county; I know it well,’ he continued. ‘I don’t suppose you ever come across...?’ Unfortunately, the name in question and Millie’s reply were lost in the general hubbub of the après bridge drinking, but I noticed that they were both laughing uproariously. I had a feeling the handsome stranger would not be a stranger for much longer.

Jeremy Dhondy Says

A Double of an Artificial Bid Shows the Suit

W

hen the opponents make con­ ven­tional bids, you often have the chance to get into the auc­ tion or to indicate a lead by doubling the artificial bid. Suppose you hold this hand:



♠ 8 6 ♥ A 7 2 ♦ 7 4 3 ♣ K Q J 9 8

South 2♣1 1 Stayman

If partner ends up on lead, you would prefer a club lead to anything else. If they end up in 3NT, it is likely that a club lead will beat the contract; even if they end in a suit contract, a club lead will be likely to be best for your side. Assuming you are a passed hand or you do not play a double in this sort of position to say that you would have doubled 1NT, the same principle applies if your opponents transfer after a 1NT or 2NT opening. You hold:



♠ 8 6 2 ♥ K J 10 9 7 ♦ A J 3 ♣ 7 4

N W E S

West North East Pass 1NT Pass ?

South 2♥1 1 transfer

If you double 2♥, it is suggesting to partner that you have hearts. If he ends up on lead, he will usually know to lead one; he can also have a chance to get into the auction himself if he has a fit. Suppose he holds:

♠ 7 5 3 ♥ A Q 5 3 ♦ K Q 4 2 ♣ J 9

West Dbl

N W E S

West North East Pass 1NT Pass ?

N W E S

North East South 1NT Pass 2♥1 1 2♠ ? transfer

Now partner can bid 3♥ to show you support, compete the part-score and take away the opponent’s bidding room. If your opponents are on their way to a slam using cue bids, you may also get a chance to double. Suppose you hold:

♠ 7 3 ♥ 6 4 2 ♦ K Q 10 7 ♣ 9 7 6 5

West Pass ?

N W E S

North East South 1♠ Pass 3♠ 4♣ Pass 4♦

Now you have the chance to double 4♦ to say that you want a diamond led against a spade contract. It may seem all upside to doubling an artificial bid for the lead but note that doing so with a bad suit can lead to bad things; also, a double of a cue bid gives the opponents extra space – so make sure you really want the suit led. This time you pick up:

♠ 7 3 ♥ K 6 3 ♦ K 7 4 3 ♣ 7 4 3 2

N W E S

Page 19

If the auction starts the same way as above, you do not double 4♦. For one thing, you have no idea that a diamond is right rather than a heart. Secondly, partner might have a good sequence to lead from and you will have put him off that by your injudicious double. One of the nice things about being disciplined about doubling is that you can also use the negative inference. Suppose you hold the following uninteresting West collection:

♠ 5 4 3 2 ♥ 8 7 5 ♦ Q 6 ♣ 5 4 3 2

West Pass Pass End

N W E S

North East South 1♦ Pass 1♥ 3♥ Pass 4NT 5♣ Pass 6♥

It is your lead. Have you any clues? Your choice seems to be between a spade and a club. Partner has not doubled 5♣ when he had the chance, so you try a spade rather than a club.

Summary 1. Make sure you have some length in the suit if you double at lower levels. Partner might support you and will not expect A-K-x. 2. Have a reasonable suit. If you double on J-9-x-x-x, partner’s lead of an unsupported honour is likely to be catastrophic. 3. Look out for when partner does not double. This will suggest leading a suit that he did not get the chance to double. ■

PROGRAMME

2012 BRIDGE EVENTS

This is the format for all Bernard Magee hosted events.

FRIDAY 1500 Mr Bridge Welcome Desk open Afternoon Tea 1745 to 1830 Welcome drinks reception 1830 to 2000 DINNER 2015 BRIDGE 1 DUPLICATE PAIRS

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JANUARY 2012

APRIL continued

15 – 29 5* Kiroseiz Three from Corners, Na’ama Bay, £1099 Egypt

27 – 29 £245

FEBRUARY 2012

MAY 2012

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8 morning £10

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1000 to 1230 SEMINAR & SUPERVISED PLAY of SET HANDS (tea & coffee at 1100)

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SUNDAY 0800 to 0930 BREAKFAST 1000 to 1230 SEMINAR & SUPERVISED PLAY of SET HANDS (tea & coffee at 1100) 1230 to 1400 CARVERY LUNCH 1400 to 1645 BRIDGE 4 FURTHER SUPERVISED PLAY of SET HANDS or DUPLICATE PAIRS

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8 afternoon Haslemere Hall £10 Losing Trick Count 9 morning £10

1230 to 1330 COLD BUFFET LUNCH

Inn on the Prom Losing Trick Count

Haslemere Hall Making a Plan as Declarer

9 afternoon Haslemere Hall £10 Responding to 1NT

MARCH 2012

10 morning Haslemere Hall £10 Signals and Discards

9 – 11 £245

Brook Queensferry Hotel Doubles

10 afternoon Haslemere Hall £10 Endplays

23 – 25 £245

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30 – 1/4 £245

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Full Board – No Single Supplemen Page 20

Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz

with Bernard Magee

You are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no-trump (12-14 points) and four-card majors. (Answers overleaf)

October continued 19 – 21 £245

Chatsworth Hotel Signals and Discards

Brook Queensferry Hotel Fife KY11 1HP

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

West North East South ?

June 2012 8 – 10 Blunsdon House NEW £245 Playing Suit SEMINAR Combinations

Inn on the Prom St Annes-on-Sea FY8 1LU

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

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Chatsworth Hotel Worthing BN11 3DU

15 – 17 £245

9 – 11 Inn on the Prom £245 Declarer Play

Chatsworth Hotel Doubles

Blunsdon House Landy Defence to 1NT



3. Dealer West. Love All. ♠ A 10 N ♥ A J 10 9 8 6 W E ♦ A K 3 S ♣ A K

West North East South 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass ?

October 2012 12 – 14 £245

NEW SEMINAR

West North East South 1♠ Pass ?

Blunsdon House Swindon SN26 7AS

nt – See booking form on page 10 Page 21

4. Dealer West. Love All. ♠ K Q 4 N ♥ K Q 7 6 3 W E ♦ A 2 S ♣ Q 10 4

West North East South 1♥ 2♦ Pass Pass ?

Answers to Bernard Magee’s  Bidding Quiz on page 21

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

West North East South 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♦

1NT. Your hand is not of the best quality; still, with 12 high-card points and a five-card suit, it is worth an opening bid. However, do not forget that you should also plan your rebid. If you open 1♦, your partner is likely to respond 1♠; what do you do next? You cannot rebid 2♥ for that would be a reverse; nor can you rebid 1NT (showing a stronger hand, 15-17) – you would have to rebid 2♦. That is not good. Opening 1♦ and rebidding 2♦ does not really paint a good picture of your hand. When you hold a 5-4-2-2 hand with honours spread throughout the hand and the 5-card suit ranked just below the 4-card suit, it is often best to treat the hand as balanced and bid accordingly. While a hand with two doubletons is only semibalanced, since you have a king in each doubleton, calling it balanced is not stretching the truth too far. With 12-14 points, I would open 1NT. Which describes your hand better – ‘balanced with 12-14 points’ or ‘I want to play in diamonds’? When you bid a minor suit twice, you are suggesting strongly that you like the suit. 1NT ends the bidding and is a much better contract than 2♦.

West North 1NT End

East South 1♠ Pass

1NT. The guidelines for a 2-level response have changed over the years as the strengths of opening bids have decreased. When you needed 13 points to open the bidding, you needed slightly fewer to make a two-level response; now that you open regularly with twelve points and quite often with eleven, a two-level response needs to be stronger. In modern Acol, the general guidelines are that a two-level response shows more strength than the 6-9 for a 1NT response. Therefore, the requirement for a two-level bid is ten points; while this can include points for length, even if you do have a long suit, the minimum requirement is 9 high card points. I only like to add on full points for length if I have a strong suit: a 5-card suit with just one honour and no tens or nines anywhere is not worthy of upgrading the hand – you cannot be sure that the diamonds will be worth extra tricks to you. How would you describe your hand: ‘6-9 points balanced’ or ‘10+ with long diamonds’? If you do respond 2♦, you are likely to finish in 3NT going off; even 1NT might not make.



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

West North East South 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass ?

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

2♥. You have opened the bidding with 2♣; this means that if you rebid 2♥, your partner has to bid again – you are saying to your partner that you want to play in a game contract however weak he is.

Page 22

This means you have no need to make a jump rebid. Jump bids show hands with super-strong suits where opener knows that this suit should be trumps. You have a good heart suit, yes, but you are quite prepared to play in another suit if your partner wishes to show one. Over 2♥, East shows his diamonds and you should be able to bid to 6♦. If you rebid 3♥ or even 4♥, East will settle for your suit and the auction will die in 4♥.



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

West North East South 1♥ 2♦ Pass Pass ?

Double. On the first rounds of bidding, when there have been no no-trump bids, doubles of suit bids are normally for takeout. This is an excellent example of a situation where a takeout double is invaluable. How can you possibly have a hand with which you know it is right to make a penalty double of 2♦? It is very unlikely. A double of the overcaller’s suit (when your partner has passed) is a reopening double: it shows a decent opening hand with a shortage in the opponents’ suit. A double gives your side the best chance to find the right contract: if partner has three hearts, he will likely bid 2♥. With this actual hand, your partner will respond 2♠ and you will reach the best contract. Your original plan would have been to rebid no-trumps at the minimum level. However, when the opponents bid 2♦, you are not strong enough to bid 2NT; remember your partner has not shown you any values, so you might not be able to make 1NT, let alone 2NT. ■

DEFENCE QUIZ

Mr Bridge

RUBBER / CHICAGO

by Julian Pottage



(Answers overleaf)

Y

ou are East in the defensive positions below. It is your turn to play. Both sides are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT.

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

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

West North East South 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ End

West North East South 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ End

West leads the ♥4. You win with the ♥A and return the suit. Partner takes the ♥K and continues with the ♥9, which you ruff, felling the ♥Q. How do you continue?

West leads the ♥6 (from 9-6-4). You win the first three tricks with your hearts. How do you proceed?

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

J7 A8 Q9765 Q 9 6 4

Blunsdon House Hotel, Swindon SN26 7AS

hosted by Diana Holland

17-19 February 2012

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20-22 April 2012

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

West North East South 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ End

West North East South 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ End

West leads the ♥4. You win with the ♥A and return the suit. Partner takes the ♥K and continues with the ♥5, which you ruff, felling the ♥Q. How do you continue?

West leads the ♥6. You take the ♥K and cash the ♥A; South drops the ♥Q and West the ♥9. How do you proceed?

hosted by Sheila Rogers

3-5 August 2012 hosted by Sheila Rogers

23-25 November 2012 hosted by Ann Pearson Please note there are no seminars or set hands at these events.

£199 Full-board No Single Supplement Please see booking form on page 10.

Page 23

Answers to Julian Pottage’s  Defence Quiz on page 23 1. ♠ J 9 4 3 ♥ J 10 2 ♦ A Q 3 ♣ K J 7 ♠ 10 8 5 N ♥ K 9 5 4 3 W E ♦ K 8 4 S ♣ 10 3 ♠ A K Q 6 2 ♥ Q 7 6 ♦ 10 2 ♣ A 8 5

♠ 7 ♥ A 8 ♦ J 9 7 6 5 ♣ Q 9 6 4 2

West North East South 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ End

West leads the ♥4. You win with the ♥A and return the suit. Partner takes the ♥K and continues with the ♥9, which you ruff, felling the ♥Q. How do you continue? With no cards left in the majors, you must lead into one of dummy’s tenaces. As declarer can take the diamond finesse anyway, this is the safe suit to lead. The high nine of hearts should be a suitpreference signal, which is an added reason to try a diamond (the six).

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

♠ J 7 ♥ A 8 ♦ Q 9 7 6 5 ♣ Q 9 6 4

West North East South 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ End

West leads the ♥4. You win with the ♥A and return the suit. Partner takes the ♥K and continues with the ♥5, which you ruff, felling the ♥Q. How do you continue? As on the deal before, you do not want to lead a club; doing so would be very dangerous. If South has A-x-x (no ten), doing so could blow a trick outright. If South holds A-10-x, it would save a twoway guess for the queen. This time a diamond switch is not safe. South could hold the jack (and be ready to go up with it). A third diamond trick would allow declarer to discard a club and so avoid a loser in the minors. You may also have noticed that partner appears to have played a middle heart (the five) on the third round, which is a neutral signal rather than one for diamonds. Regardless of how carefully you have been watching the heart spots and how diligently your partner signals, the safe lead should be clear. You lead your remaining trump, which cannot possibly give anything away. At some point, declarer will try the club finesse and be out of luck there – one down.

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

♠ Void ♥ A K J 8 ♦ Q 10 4 ♣ J 9 6 5 3 2

West North East South 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ End

West leads the ♥6 (from 9-6-4). You win the first three tricks with your hearts. How do you proceed?

Page 24

Playing the thirteenth heart would be a bad idea – giving a ruff and discard usually is. You do not want to let declarer throw a loser from hand (in this case the two of diamonds) while scoring a ruff in dummy. Playing a diamond would also be a bad idea. If partner has nothing in the suit, declarer can let a diamond switch run round to the jack, avoiding a loser in the suit. Your safe exit is a club into dummy’s bare honours. This cannot cost. In due course, you will make a diamond as the setting trick. A club would be right even if the clubs that you could see were A-Q rather than K-Q.

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

♠ Void ♥ A K J 8 ♦ Q 9 8 3 ♣ Q 9 6 5 3

West North East South 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ End

West leads the ♥6. You take the ♥K and cash the ♥A; South drops the ♥Q and West the ♥9. How do you proceed? Once more, you are looking for a safe exit. This time, you need two more tricks. A club is risky on two counts. If West has the ace, you are saving declarer a guess. If South has the ace and at least two clubs with it, you will be giving a free finesse. A diamond is also very risky, likely to cost a trick or save declarer a guess any time partner does not have the jack. You should continue hearts, forcing declarer to ruff. Your side will come to two diamond tricks to defeat the contract. ■

Mr Bridge

DECLARER PLAY QUIZ

Premium Quality Cards

by David Huggett (Answers overleaf)

Y

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

1.

♠ A 7 5 3 ♥ J 6 ♦ Q 8 6 3 2 ♣ A 6

3.

N

N

W E

♠ Q J 10 9 6 2 ♥ A 3 ♦ A K ♣ K 7 5

You are declarer in 6♠. West leads the ♥K to your ♥A. How do you plan the play?

2.

♠ 7 6 ♥ 10 3 ♦ 7 6 4 ♣ A K Q 10 3 2

S



4.

6 red / 6 blue £19.95

W E S

S

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads the ♠Q. How do you plan the play?

♠ J 7 ♥ A 9 6 4 3 ♦ A Q 5 ♣ 10 5 4 N

N

♠ A K 5 3 ♥ A 9 6 4 ♦ A 8 2 ♣ 5 4

♠ A 6 2 ♥ 9 ♦ A K 9 8 7 6 2 ♣ J 3

You are declarer in 5♦. West, who has bid clubs, cashes the ♣A-K before switching to the ♦3. How do you plan the play?

W E



Standard Faces with or without bar codes. Unboxed.

W E

S



♠ K J 4 ♥ A 7 5 4 3 ♦ Q J 10 ♣ 8 5



♠ A 6 2 ♥ Q 2 ♦ K J 8 ♣ A K J 6 3

30 red / 30 blue only £60

You are declarer in 3NT after West has overcalled your 1♣ opening with 1♠. West leads the ♠K. How do you plan the play?

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Page 25

Answers to David Huggett’s  Play Quiz on page 25 1. ♠ A 7 5 3 ♥ J 6 ♦ Q 8 6 3 2 ♣ A 6 ♠ 8 N ♥ K Q 10 9 5 W E ♦ 10 9 5 4 S ♣ J 8 4 ♠ Q J 10 9 6 2 ♥ A 3 ♦ A K ♣ K 7 5

♠ K 4 ♥ 8 7 4 2 ♦ J 7 ♣ Q 10 9 3 2

You are declarer in 6♠. West leads the ♥K to your ♥A. How do you plan the play? The lead has struck your only weakness and you must be careful to dispose of your losing heart before losing the lead. On any other lead, it would be right to start by taking the trump finesse; you must spurn that idea now. For sure, you can cash the ace in case the king falls; having done so, play the top two diamonds from hand. After that, you enter dummy with the ace of clubs and play the queen of diamonds, pitching the losing heart from hand whether East ruffs or not.

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

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads the ♠Q. How do you plan the play? The spade lead has done you no harm but that does not mean to say you can be careless in your approach to handling the contract. With only five club tricks needed to ensure success, it might look tempting to play a low club from hand at trick two and play the ten from dummy if West plays a small card. That would be better than just playing the clubs from the top but it would still be a mistake. As long as West follows to the club lead, the contract is a certainty as long as you duck completely in dummy. With the suit breaking 5-0, this was necessary, as East will show out. Thanks to your careful play, this is not an inconvenience as you can finesse later against the known jack in West’s hand.

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

You are declarer in 5♦. West, who has bid clubs, cashes the ♣A-K before switching to the ♦3. How do you plan the play? You have ten tricks available in top winners and the eleventh could come from taking a successful spade finesse. However, there is a better option than just relying on finding one card well placed. After winning the diamond, play the ace of hearts and ruff a heart high. Re-enter

dummy with a trump and ruff another heart, noting that both opponents follow suit. Repeat this process, by which time dummy will hold the only heart left. This card you can reach by playing a spade to the king. You can then throw the losing spade from hand on that winning heart. Of course, if hearts do not break 4-3, you can always fall back on taking the spade finesse.

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

You are declarer in 3NT after West has overcalled your 1♣ opening with 1♠. West leads the ♠K. How do you plan the play? As you know from the bidding that West has at least a five-card spade suit, it is essential that you hold up the ace until the third round. You will need four tricks from the club suit to guarantee your contract but you must not even consider taking the finesse – because, if it loses, West will cash his remaining spades. Strangely, if the club finesse works, there is no need to take it because losing a trick to East can do you no harm. So bash out the two top clubs from hand and, on a good day, West will hold the doubleton queen. If he has the queen guarded more than once, ■ you can do nothing about it.

BEGIN BRIDGE – ACOL VERSION An Interactive Tutorial CD with Bernard Magee – See Mail Order form on page 9.

Page 26

♠ 5 4 3 ♥ 10 8 7 5 ♦ 6 4 2 ♣ 9 8 7

£66

0921 Mr Bridge Italy ads_Layout 1 16/08/2011 17:34 Page 1

CRUISES TO CLASSICAL CIVILISATIONS

Andrew Kambites’ Lead Quiz

HISTORIC ITALY

& THE BEAUTY OF CROATIA

You are West in the auctions below playing teams or rubber bridge. It is your lead. (Answers overleaf.)

1 ♠ 9 8 7 ♥ A 8 5 ♦ Q 7 6 2 ♣ 9 8 7

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FARES

NO SINGLE

SUPPLEMENT Split Brac Korcula Hvar Dubrovnik

N

W E S

West North East South 1NT Pass 6NT End

CROATIA

Venice ITALY

Civitavecchia Rome Sorrento Pompeii Tyrrhenian Sea

Palermo Taormina SICILY

Ionian Sea

2 ♠ 9 8 7 ♥ A 8 5 ♦ Q 7 6 2 ♣ 9 8 7

N

W E S

Valle�a MALTA

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West North East South 1NT Pass 4NT End

3 ♠ 9 8 7 ♥ A 8 5 ♦ Q 7 6 2 ♣ 9 8 7

N

W E S

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Page 27

West North East South 1NT Pass 2NT Pass 3NT End



4 ♠ 9 ♥ Q 8 7 ♦ K J 9 8 6 ♣ A Q 10 9

N

W E S

West North East South 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ Pass 2NT Pass 3NT End

Answers to Andrew Kambites’  Lead Quiz on page 27

T

he objective of these hands is to persuade you to listen to the bidding before deciding on your opening lead. When I am defending, I get vibes from the bidding. Good vibes mean that I think declarer will struggle to make his contract. Maybe I should take no risks and defend passively, letting declarer find his own tricks. Bad vibes mean I think that things are going to work out well for declarer. In that case, I must make things happen: try to set up tricks even if it carries risk. So what in the bidding gives me good vibes? An auction that suggests that declarer has just struggled to his contract and does not have much to spare. An indication that cards are lying badly for declarer and that his finesses are likely to fail. Holding honour cards in a suit declarer has bid gives me good vibes: declarer is likely to finesse into my hand. Evidence that declarer’s suits are breaking badly for him gives me good vibes. Equally, I get bad vibes if declarer has bid confidently to his contract or I have honours sitting under dummy’s suit. I also get them if I have 3-card holdings in opponents’ suits, suggesting they will break well for declarer.

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

♠ 6 5 3 2 ♥ 10 9 3 2 ♦ J 5 ♣ 10 6 5

West North East Pass 6NT End

South 1NT

Although with a 4-3-3-3 shape my vibes are not good (i.e. suits will break for de-

clarer), I cannot do much about it. There is certainly no case for underleading the ♦Q. On the bidding, partner can hardly have the ♥K, so leading the ♥A cannot be right. Equally, he can hardly have the ♦K, so I cannot set up a trick to go with my ♥A. If I wrongly lead a diamond, I may well fatally open up a frozen suit, as shown in the diagram, or save declarer a diamond guess. I advise a passive spade lead (the ♠9 or ♠8).

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

♠ 6 5 3 2 ♥ 6 4 3 2 ♦ K 10 4 ♣ 6 3

West North East Pass 4NT End

South 1NT

My vibes are poor. Every suit is breaking for declarer and he was only a point or two away from 6NT. I need to attack. While leading the ♦2 is unlikely to work, it is the only realistic chance. Aim for the layout shown.

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

Page 28

♠ A K J 4 ♥ 10 7 6 4 3 ♦ J 5 ♣ 10 6

West North East Pass 2NT Pass End

South 1NT 3NT

While the 4-3-3-3 shape fails to fill me with great optimism, the opponents have only just staggered into game. Partner is marked with a decent number of points and I would prefer to defend passively by leading the ♠8 (the major rather than the minor). When partner turns up with four spade tricks, my opening lead has exceeded my wildest hopes. Note that a diamond lead allows declarer to take four diamond tricks and five club tricks.

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

♠ Q 10 8 7 4 ♥ 10 9 5 4 ♦ 7 5 ♣ 3 2

West North East South 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ Pass 2NT Pass 3NT End

My vibes are very positive. Both opponents are limited, North by 2♠ and South by 2NT. Moreover, I have great holdings in the minors, the suits declarer has bid. Declarer has shown five diamonds, four clubs and at least one heart stopper. He has at most two spades, more likely a singleton. No doubt, partner has enough in spades to stop spades from running. Every finesse declarer tries will fail: suits will not break and he is unlikely to have entries to dummy’s spades. Lead a passive ♠9. Why did you not double 3NT? ■

Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions

What is the Negative Reply to a Benjamin 2♦?

Q

My husband and I play Benjamin. With 23+ points, we open 2♦. When my husband opened 2♦, I had only 3 points with no 5-card major and responded 2NT as a negative bid. He assumed I had a strong hand and we ended up in 5NT, going down by two tricks. What should my negative response have been? Sue Green, Sherborne, Dorset.

A

The negative response to a game forcing 2♦ opening is 2♥. This is the next suit up; it follows the same principle that 2♦ is the negative response to an Acol 2♣ opening. As responder, you want to leave the strong hand as much space as possible, hence the use of the most economical bid as the negative response.

This left me in 2♥ when 3NT would have made. Should she have shown her diamonds? Kathleen Bence, Bideford, Devon.

A

The usual rule is that a 2♣ opening creates a game force except in the one sequence 2♣-2♦2NT. If you rebid in a suit (2♥ in your example), partner has to find another bid, bidding 2NT as a second negative if her hand is very weak. It sounds as if she should have done that rather than bid 3♦. ♣♦♥♠

Q

Is a takeout double the answer here?



♠ A J 3 2 ♥ A Q 10 6 ♦ 8 5 ♣ 10 9 8

♣♦♥♠

Q

I opened 2♣, partner responded 2♦ (showing fewer than 6 points) and I rebid 2♥. Holding ♦J-x-x-x-x and a bust, she passed.

West North East South (me) 1♣ 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ 2♣ 2♠ ?

I could not bid 2NT with weak diamonds, while a cue bid of 3♦ would

be forcing to game. I bid 3♣. My partner had a diamond stopper for 3NT, which makes. Martin Epstein by email.   If you are asking whether I would have doubled 1♦, the answer is ‘yes’. After a 1♣ opening and 1♦ overcall, a negative double shows both majors: if you have only one major, you bid it – even on a four-card suit. Your subsequent 3♣ seems reasonable, though partner may think you are merely competing – here you would have bid 3♣ had East passed over 2♣. While you might have bid 3♣ with a slightly weaker hand, I do not think a competitive (takeout) double of 2♠ really helps. It shows neither the club support nor the spade stopper; also, it rather suggests a fifth heart, which you do not have. After you bid 3♣, since the opponents had bid and raised spades, the main danger suit for no-trump purposes is spades. You could not expect North to convert 3♣ to 3NT just with a stopper in diamonds. What North might do is to bid 3♦. When the opponents have shown two suits and

A

Page 29

the partnership is looking for 3NT, a bid of one of their suits shows a stopper in the suit bid and asks for a stopper in the other suit. ♣♦♥♠

Q

After an opponent opens 1NT (12-14 HCP), what are the criteria for making an overcall? Antony Mann, Kidderminster.

A

In terms of values and playing strength, requirements are similar to those for any two-level overcall. Opening values and at worst a seven-loser hand are about what you are looking for. The difference between coming in over 1NT and coming in over a suit is that you do not have a takeout double available; nor do you have an opposing suit to cue bid. This makes it more difficult to show two- and three-suited hands – you do not want to be overcalling at the two level with a poor five-card suit. Many pairs therefore play some sort of conventional defence to 1NT so that you can show hands other than single-suited hands.

Ask Julian continued

Q

What is the correct auction and contract with these hands?  

♠ 9 4 3 ♥ J 7 5 ♦ 8 5 3 ♣ J 10 9 3 N W E S



♠ A 5 2 ♥ A K Q ♦ A K Q ♣ K 7 6 5

Mrs A Napuk, Edinburgh.

A

A possible auction is 2♣-2♦-2NT-3NT. With poor shape and poor spot cards, South treats the hand as being in the 23-24 range. North might view to pass 2NT (you generally need more than 25 points to make 3NT when the strength is nearly all in one hand), though those club spots look rather good. 3NT is against the odds on a spade lead: you need either a singleton ♣Q (so that you can lay down the ♣K and lose only one club trick) or the hand with longer spades to have neither the ♣A nor the ♣Q. Without a spade lead, prospects are better. ♣♦♥♠

Q

My partner opens 1♣; what should I respond?



♠ 9 5 3 ♥ K J 7 3 ♦ A Q 9 2 ♣ 7 3

I could bid 1♦, showing suits up the line, or bid 1♥, always looking for a major fit first. Shirley Rose by email.   The correct response depends upon your opening bid style.  If you follow Bernard’s recommendation (and the Standard English practice) of opening a 4-card major in preference to a 4-card minor, you should respond 1♦. You do not need to worry about missing a heart fit. If you have one, partner will have an unbalanced hand and be planning to rebid in hearts. If you do not open 4-card majors in preference to 4-card minors, or if you do not open 4-card majors at all, you should respond 1♥. Partner is much more likely to hold four hearts in that scenario.

A

a minor, the 6331 type would be the more typical. A possible hand for North is:



♠ K J 9 6 4 ♥ 6 ♦ A Q 7 4 ♣ K J 4

♣♦♥♠ ♣♦♥♠

Q

Could you suggest how to bid the following hands? We ended up in 6♦ and went down two tricks. South is the dealer.



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

♣♦♥♠

Q



West North East South 1♥ 1♠ 2♥ Pass Pass Dbl

Ruby Green, Bristol.   I do not think you should go two down in 6♦; at most, you seem to have a heart and a club to lose – you can ruff the third heart in the South hand. The slam looks better than 50% to me, so you do not need to regret being in it.  If you get a club lead, it is laydown. If the lead is the ace of spades, it is laydown. On a neutral lead, you have the entries to ruff three spades to test whether the ace comes down (and give West the chance to err by going up with the ace). Even if you have to guess the clubs, you would expect to guess right

I would appreciate some advice about the double here.

Would this mean a shortage of hearts and something in the other two suits? Name and address supplied.   Yes, the normal meaning of the double in this situation is extra values and at least tolerance for the other two suits. Typical shapes for the doubler include 5-1-3-4, 5-1-4-3 and 6-1-3-3. Depending upon your style and the strength of the spade suit, 5-0-4-4 is also possible. If the overcaller’s suit were

A

more often than not. Reaching 6♦ looks tough. If South opens a weak 1NT, North is not really going to envisage a slam. South’s doubleton heart is the key. At pairs, you would be happy to play in 3NT. 1NT-3♦-3♠3NT is a possible auction. Perhaps South is worth one more move with the excellent diamond support.

A

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♠ K 10 7 2 ♥ 8 3 ♦ A J 5 3 ♣ A 10 3

Q

1. Do you agree with opening 2NT (despite the poor clubs), or do you prefer 2♥?



♠ A Q J ♥ A Q J 7 4 ♦ A K 10 ♣ J 6

2. My partner opened 2NT (20-22 points). I held zero points and a 6-card spade suit. As we were not playing the Flint convention and thus unable to stop in 3♠, I jumped to 4♠. Was this wrong? J V Hartley by email.   1. With a 5332 type, it is normal to open 2NT rather than 2♥. A 2♥ opening suggests a more shapely hand than this. If you open 2♥ and partner gives a 2NT negative, you will be guessing what to do. Even if you guess correctly, raising to 3NT when that is the right contract, the strong hand will be on the table.  2. These days many people have switched from Flint to transfers. If you play 3♦ and 3♥ as transfers, showing hearts and spades respectively, you bid 3♥. When partner bids 3♠ as expected, you can pass.

A

Ask Julian continued

Q

I was South and held:

♠ Q 8 6 3 ♥ K 10 6 ♦ A J 10 5 ♣ 9 3

West North East South 1♣ 1♦ 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass ?

Should I have bid 2NT, showing 10/12 HCPs and diamond cover – or could I have bid 2♦, if that would show better diamonds than would 2NT? Partner had 15 HCPs with four hearts, which she was not quite strong enough to show. 3NT makes. John Dunbar by email.

A

If you rebid 2♦, that would not show good diamonds. When you are looking for 3NT and the opponents have bid only one suit, bidding their suit asks for, rather than shows, a stopper. With 10 HCP, a couple of tens and a solid diamond stopper, you should rebid 2NT. Clearly, your partner would have raised to 3NT. ♣♦♥♠

Q

Could you offer some guidance on whether bids are forcing, non-forcing, invitational or a sign off? Roy Tubbs, Farnham, Surrey.   The bids that are most likely to be forcing are those in a new suit after partner

A

has bid (e.g. 1♠-2♦). Bids below game in an auction where the partnership has shown game values are also going to be forcing (e.g. 1♦-2♣-2♠-3♣). Asking bids of any sort (Stayman, Blackwood etc) are forcing too. Most artificial bids (e.g. transfers) are forcing as well. Invitational bids tend to be bids below game in a denomination that the partnership has bid previously (e.g. 1♥-1♠3♠ or 1NT-2NT). Sign off bids are usually bids at the game level and the slam level (e.g. 1NT3NT or 1♠-4NT-5♦-6♠). Suit bids in a previously bid suit after partner has shown limited values can be sign offs too (e.g. 1♦-1♠-1NT-2♠). Bids of five of the agreed major are sign offs if the partnership is already above game but invitational if not.  Please note that this is just general guidance, which will work 90%+ of the time. There tend to be exceptions to most of the guidelines... ♣♦♥♠

Q

This deal occurred in a teams’ match. Both East-West pairs were playing weak twos.

North ♠ 7 ♥ K Q J 10 ♦ A 9 7 3 ♣ J 8 4 2 West East ♠ A K 8 3 ♠ Q 10 9 6 5 2 ♥ 8 4 ♥ 7 5 2 ♦ 10 8 5 2 ♦ K Q 6 ♣ Q 7 6 ♣ 5 South ♠ J 4 ♥ A 9 6 3 ♦ J 4 ♣ A K 10 9 3

 Table 1 West North East South 2♠ Dbl 3♠ 4♥ End Table 2 West North East South 2♠ 3♣ 4♠ 5♣ End

1. Should South double or bid 3♣? 2. If South doubles and partner bids 3♦, does 4♣ show a stronger hand than South has? 3. Should West bid 3♠ or 4♠? Shirley Durrant by email.   1. The idea of an opposing pre-empt is to make your life difficult. South does not have a perfect hand for either double or 3♣. Most people would double and hope that partner does not bid 3♦ – this is because the most likely games are 3NT and 4♥ rather than 5♣. 2. If you double and partner does bid 3♦, you just pass and hope for the best – you cannot rebid 4♣ on this strength hand – if you did bid again, you would bid 3♠, asking for a spade stopper. 3. You have not given the vulnerability, which may be important to this question. Unless West is vulnerable against not, it seems normal to raise to 4♠. West can see a good 10-card fit and a possible ruffing value (doubleton heart). At adverse vulnerability, a more circumspect 3♠ might be in order.

A

♣♦♥♠

Q

A friend of mine has read that it is not a good idea to open 1NT in third seat vulnerable with 12 points.

Page 31

Do you agree with this advice? Stella Burnett.

A

Yes, I do. With a balanced 12 facing a passed partner, you are unlikely to be making game. Moreover, since neither your partner nor your RHO has opening values, the chance that LHO has 15 points or more and so will be in a position to double you is higher than usual. If you open on such a hand, it is usually best to open your best suit (the one you want led if LHO buys the contract) with a view to passing partner’s response. Remember, when you open in third seat, you do not promise a rebid. ♣♦♥♠

Q

What could the double mean here?

West North East South 1NT 2♥ Dbl

Christopher Vouzaxakis.

A

There are three commonly played meanings for a double. 1. Penalties – the traditional approach, still the default if you have not agreed otherwise and popular at rubber bridge. 2. A raise to 2NT – this is if you are playing a convention known as Lebensohl, popular amongst tournament players. The double shows a raise to 2NT because a direct 2NT bid is conventional, asking opener to bid 3♣. 3. Takeout – on the basis that this is the most common type of hand – if opener is balanced and the overcaller is long in the suit, responder will often be short.

Ask Julian continued

Q

Playing in a suit contract, with no clues in the bidding and no other options, on the opening lead is it safer to lead the middle ranking of 3 low cards (MUD) or the fourth highest from an unsupported honour? Ann Bryan.

A

I am having difficulty with the conditions you are trying to set. Since the opponents must have bid something to buy the contract, there are never no clues from the bidding. In order to decide whether you should play safe or attack, you need to look at the bidding and the rest of your hand. If in doubt, I suggest you attack rather than play safe. Let us suppose, however, that you have decided a safe (passive lead) is right. In this case, it is safer to lead from low cards than from an honour. ♣♦♥♠

Q

With Roman Keycard Blackwood, when does it work better to play 3041 replies (5♣ = 0 or 3 key cards, 5♦ = 1 or 4) and when does it work better to play 1430 replies? Simon Hunter, Brookmans Park, Herts.   Which way round you play it only really matters when hearts is the agreed suit. This is because when partner bids 5♦ you cannot bid the next suit up to ask about the queen of trumps without committing the

A

partnership to a slam. 3041 replies work better when the partner to the 4NT bidder has 3 key cards; 1430 replies work better with 1 key card; in each case, you want the 5♣ bid to be the more common one as that leaves more room. Eddie Kantar, the convention’s inventor, recommends that you use both. If the 4NT bidder has shown a strong hand, making it likely that partner has only 1 key card, 1430 replies apply; if the 4NT bidder has not shown a strong hand, making it likely that partner has the stronger hand and thus 3 key cards, 3041 replies apply. You need to have a good agreement of what constitutes a strong hand, of course, for this to work. ♣♦♥♠

Q

Playing fourthsuit forcing, my opening hand was:

A

With your hand, I would bid 3♣ over 1♠ to show the sixth club and extra values. You were correct with just 16 HCP to bid only 1♥ at your second turn – this is not a reverse because partner has room to give preference back to two of your original suit. After that, the playing strength for your hand is unusually good for the 1♥ rebid and you need to find some way of conveying this. ♣♦♥♠

Q

South dealt and I was West on the following

deal:



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

♠ J 7 ♥ A K 8 4 ♦ K Q 6 ♣ A K J 8

West North East South 1♣ Pass Pass Dbl Pass 1♦ Pass 3♣ End

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

I did not know what my partner’s 3♣ meant. Should I have bid 3♥? I thought East should have rebid in no-trump. She said that she had insufficient cover in spades to bid no-trumps. How should we bid? John Dunbar.

We missed a good slam. At my third turn, there were three features I wanted to show (i) a spade stopper (ii) a sixth club and (iii) that I had a better than minimum opening. Which takes precedence? Had I already made a reverse? Paul Jesper by email.

The easier way to find the heart fit is for you to bid 1♥ after partner has doubled. It is usual to bid a major in preference to a minor when partner has made a takeout double. Over 1♥, partner might raise to 3♥, though many players would jump all the way to 4♥, overlooking that



♠ A 3 ♥ A Q 7 5 ♦ 6 ♣ A Q 10 8 7 5

A

Page 32

they had forced you to bid and so might have nothing. It looks as if 3♥ is the limit unless the ♥Q falls doubleton. After you decide to bid 1♦, the sensible bid for partner is 2NT, which shows a hand too strong for a protective 2NT bid. I would not have known what 3♣ meant either. Since the opponents have bid clubs, not spades, partner’s spade holding is fine for bidding no-trump. In an unbid suit, partner just needs not to have a singleton; there is no requirement for a stopper. ♣♦♥♠

Q

I have two questions for you. 1. East opens 2♦ (Multi, usually a weak two in one of the majors). South holds:



♠ 2 ♥ A K J 7 4 ♦ A 8 7 ♣ A K 8 4

Should South bid 2♥ or double? 2. The North/South bidding goes 1♣-1♥-2♣2♥. What does South show with a 2♥ rebid? Jack Weardale by email.

A

1. A hand with 19 HCP is too good for a simple overcall. Unless you have the agreement that doubling promises support for both majors (when you would have to pass), you should start with a double. 2. South shows 6 hearts (possibly 7) and about 8-9 HCP i.e. some interest in game. With a weaker hand, South simply passes 2♣ as North has bid clubs twice.

Ask Julian continued

Q

1. With a 5332 hand (five cards in the major) and 12-14, when is it better to open the suit rather than 1NT? 2. If partner opens 1NT and you have a four-card major and the values to raise to 2NT or 3NT, when should you use Stayman? Dr A R Gourlay.   1. Factors that would suggest opening the suit are: strength in the 5-card major, a weak doubleton elsewhere, predominantly aces and kings. Factors that suggest opening 1NT are: a weak 5-card major, no weak suit, predominantly queens and jacks. Exactly where you draw the line is a matter of personal choice and judgement. The first hand below is a clear-cut 1♠ opener, the second a clearcut 1NT opener.  

A

easy make barring bad breaks. You should be more inclined to use Stayman when playing matchpoints. This is because the extra 20 points from playing in a major and making an extra trick counts for more than at IMPs or rubber bridge. Whatever the scoring, the first hand below is a clearcut Stayman enquiry, the second a clear-cut NT raise.  

♠ K Q 9 5 ♥ A 6 3 ♦ A 9 3 2 ♣ 3 2

♠ 10 9 5 2 ♥ K J 6 ♦ Q J 3 ♣ A Q 4

 

Mr Bridge CHRISTMAS QUIZ CARDS 1 Which card said ‘off with his head!’ 2 Which playing card, not in the diamond suit, has a diamond symbol on it (in most packs)? 3 Which card was used for the first Mr Bridge Credit Card? 4 Which card has seven club symbols on?

SCORES 5 What is the lowest score at duplicate that can result from a redoubled contract? 6 How can you get the score 210 in duplicate bridge? 7 Playing rubber bridge, non-vulnerable you hold ♠A-K-Q-J-10 and play in 4♠ doubled going one off. What is your net score?

♣♦♥♠

8 How can you get the score 700 in duplicate bridge?

Q

If one opponent opens a weak 1NT and the other bids Stayman or a transfer, which is the more effective use of a double? (a) To show a hand that would have doubled a weak 1NT opening  (b) To show a hand that contains a good five-card suit in the suit doubled, asking ♠ K Q J 10 4 ♠ 10 7 5 4 2 partner to lead the suit. ♥ A 6 3 ♥ K J 6 Ross Stacey by email. ♦ K 9 3 ♦ Q J 3   To be honest, there ♣ 3 2 ♣ A Q is not a lot in it. One   benefit of doubling 2. Similar factors apply to show you want partner to when deciding when to lead the suit you double is use Stayman. Factors that simplicity. You can play the suggest using Stayman same method whether 1NT is are: a strong 4-card major, weak or strong and whether mainly aces and kings, a you have passed or not. weak doubleton somewhere. If your general agreement Factors that suggest raising is that double shows 15+, NT are: a weak 4-card obviously you change from major, mainly queens and that if you are a passed jacks, no weak doubleton. hand. If the 1NT opening is The scoring method also strong, again it is normal to has a bearing, particularly play double as lead-directing when your values suggest no matter what you do when that game should be an 1NT is weak.

A

Page 33

DIRECTING 9 The auction starts 1♦ 1♣ 1♥ and then the director is called because the second bid was insufficient. What is the ruling? 10 At the end of the play of the hand, it is discovered that North revoked on the fourth trick in a no-trump contract. What is the usual ruling?

CARD GAMES 11 In which card game does an ace require the next player to play four cards, a king require him to play three cards, a queen require him to play two cards and a jack require him to play one card? 12 In which game are the queen of spades and jack of diamonds ‘married’ together? 13 Which card game is Lowball a form of? 14 Which card game might include Mr Bun the Baker?

ODD ONE OUT

(Which is the odd one out in each case?) 15 Suicide, Double, Rainbow, Automatic, Triple 16 In standard Acol the sequences: 2NT – 4NT, 1♥ – 3♥, 1♣ – 2♣, 2♥ – 3♥, 1NT – 2NT. 17 Negative, Heavy, Competitive, Support, Lead directing 18 In standard Acol, the opening bids: 1♣, 2♣, 3♣, 4♣, 5♣.

ANAGRAMS on a ‘BRIDGE’ theme 19 A GENTLE DOG 20 UNHORSE BY YARD

ANSWERS TO Mr Bridge CHRISTMAS QUIZ on page 33

1 Queen of Hearts. 2 Jack of Spades. 3 Ace of Diamonds. 4 Three of Clubs. 5 200: one off non-vulnerable. This is just less than the lowest score for a making contract. 1♣/♦ redoubled making = 230. 6 1NT+4 or 2NT+3. 7 +50. 8 Seven down vulnerable. 9 The insufficient bid has been condoned by the next player so the bidding continues with no penalty to either side. 10 Since the contract was in no-trumps, North could not have won the revoke trick, so, assuming his side did win a trick after the revoke trick, it would be a ONE TRICK PENALTY. 11 BEGGAR MY NEIGHBOUR (aka BEAT YOUR NEIGHBOURS OUT OF DOORS). 12 BEZIQUE. 13 POKER. 14 HAPPY FAMILIES. 15 RAINBOW – the others are types of SQUEEZE. 16 2♥ – 3♥ is forcing. All the other sequences are invitational and can be passed. 17 HEAVY – the others are types of DOUBLE. 18 2♣ – all the other opening bids show clubs. 19 GOLDEN GATE. 20 SYDNEY HARBOUR.

Multi-suited Design Ball-point Pens Boxed Set of Four £19.95 Four Refills £2.99

Ask Julian continued

Q

When partner opens 1♣, what should you respond with this hand?  



♠ Q ♥ K J 8 4 ♦ J 7 ♣ A Q 9 5 4 3

    The bid chosen was 1♥, which led to a missed slam. People have suggested a 3♠ splinter, 2♥, 4♣ and 4NT as alternatives. John Upson, Penrith, Cumbria.   The usual rule is that a splinter in response to 1♣ or 1♦ denies a 4-card major suit. This is because, if you belong in game, it could be important to contract for 10 tricks rather than 11 (plus the major scores more). When you have exceptionally good support for the minor or think the chance of a slam is good, you can use your judgement and make the splinter anyway. I would definitely not respond 2♥. Although, when you have good support for partner’s suit, you do not need to have a great suit for the jump shift, partner will be expecting a minimum of five hearts. It may be difficult to play in clubs if you start with 2♥. You cannot bid 4♣ – that would be a pre-emptive bid, grossly understating your values. 4NT would also be a very poor choice.

A

If partner replies 5♦, you will be in a slam missing two aces (and possibly with two fast diamond losers). The right bid depends upon your exact system. If you are using the Standard English style of opening the major when you have 4-4 major/minor in a strong no-trump hand, 3♠ seems right: if you have a 4-4 heart fit, you are likely to have a 6-5 club fit. If you are playing 5-card majors and a strong NT, when 1♣ may be short and partner will often have a balanced 12-14, 1♥ is correct. If your attitude to opening 4-card majors is somewhere in between, you have a close decision between 1♥ and 3♠.  ♣♦♥♠

Q A

What is a ‘better minor’ opening?

Doreen Parrington.   It is an opening bid when you are playing 5-card majors but do not have one. If you are strong enough to make an opening bid but out of range for a 1NT opening, you open the better minor. If you open a minor, you might have a 3-card suit in a balanced hand, out of range for 1NT, or it might be a natural opening. A number of players say they play ‘better minor’ when actually they do not open the better suit. In the US, it is common to play that you open 1♣ with 3-3 in the minors but 1♦ with 4-4 regardless of suit quality. This might seem a bit strange, but a lot of people ■ play it.

E-mail your questions for Julian to: [email protected]

See Mail Order Form on page 9

Page 34

A to Z of Bridge compiled by Julian Pottage

I ICY

Slang term for a contract that is certain to make. ‘Cold’ and ‘Frigid’ are similar terms.

IMPROPRIETY

A breach of ethical conduct. IN FRONT OF

Term describing the position of a player with respect to his left-hand opponent and therefore having to bid or play before him. INCOMPLETE RUBBER

A card not required for a specific purpose as distinct from a busy card. The term applies usually to unimportant cards in squeeze positions.

If a game of rubber bridge has to finish before one side has won two games, there are bonuses awarded depending on the state of the rubber. A rubber might finish incomplete if it is still in play at a club’s closing time or one of the players has to leave.

ILLEGAL CALL

INCOMPLETE TABLE

West North East South 1♥ Pass 2♦ Pass ?

INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENT

IDLE CARD

A call in the course of the auction that is insufficient, out of rotation, or otherwise improper. For example:

By West, a double, redouble or bid below 2♥ would be illegal. Any call by one of the other players would be illegal. IMP

This is an abbreviation for International Match Point (IMP), the standard method for scoring teamsof-four matches. IMPOSSIBLE NEGATIVE

In the Precision club system, after the strong 1♣ opening, a positive response in a suit shows a five-card suit while 1NT shows a balanced hand. To show 4-4-4-1 hands with positive values, one starts by giving the negative response of 1♦ and later one makes a bid inconsistent with a holding of negative values, thus indicating an ‘impossible negative’.

A table at which fewer than the necessary four players are sitting, especially a half table at duplicate. A movement used in an event where individual players score separately, competing with different partners against one another. Individual movements are great social occasions, though the standard of play is lower than in normal events because, inevitably, the casual partnerships have misunderstandings. INFERENCE

A conclusion drawn about the likely lie of the cards from the previous play and bidding. Inferences are a very important part of the game. Suppose declarer can see this spade suit:



West bid spades, East did not support and West leads a low diamond against South’s heart contract. The first inference is that spades are probably 6-2: if they were 5-3, East might have supported. The second inference is that East has the king of spades; if East did not hold the king, West would hold a sequence of honours (A-K or K-Q) and would very likely have led one. You can also infer that West does not hold an honour sequence in diamonds. INFORMATORY DOUBLE

Old term for takeout double. The term arose as the double ‘informed’ partner that the doubler held opening values. INHIBITORY DOUBLE

A psychic manoeuvre to make declarer panic into thinking that suits are breaking badly or that key finesses are likely to fail. Frowned on nowadays because it succeeds only against inexperienced players. INSPECTION OF TRICKS

In rubber bridge, any player may inspect the previous trick until his side has played to the next trick. In duplicate, he may not do so after he has turned his own card over. He may inspect, but not expose, his own card until someone has led to the next trick. INSTANT MATCHPOINTS

A method of scoring in a one-table situation or a duplicate event by comparing the score obtained with a predetermined chart. Computer scoring has made the use of instant matchpoints very rare in duplicate events.

♠ 9 6 4 N W E S

♠ J 3

Page 35

INSUFFICIENT BID

A bid not legally sufficient, below the level of the minimum allowable bid, e.g. 2♣ after someone has bid 2♦. The Laws apply.

A to Z of Bridge continued

East with the opening lead if North becomes declarer. INTERIOR SEQUENCE

INSULT

The bonus of 50 (100) points awarded for bidding and making a doubled (redoubled) contract is commonly referred to as ‘50 (100) for the insult’. INSURANCE BID

Sacrifice bid against a high-level contract by the opposition despite some expectation of defeating that contract. Insurance bids are more common at aggregate (rubber) scoring and IMPs than at matchpoints. In the former, you do not want to concede a large score when you might have made a score yourself or conceded a small penalty. At matchpoints, whether you are plus or minus assumes greater importance.

West ?

♠ J 9 5 3 ♥ 7 ♦ K 9 8 5 3 2 ♣ 9 4

North East South 4♥ 4♠ 6♥

The haphazard nature of the auction means you cannot be sure 6♥ is making. However, you do know that 6♠ doubled is going to be no more than a couple off. At rubber or IMPs, you would take out insurance by bidding 6♠. INTERFERENCE BID

Any defensive overcall made to obstruct the opponents’ bidding. It is not strength showing or attacking. Jump bids may be effective for preemptive interference. For example: West Pass 2♦

North Pass

East Pass

South 1♥

Since neither West nor East could open the bidding, it is unlikely that they will buy the contract. West’s interference overcall reduces North’s responding options and will help

A sequence of honour cards (possibly including the 9) that comprises two or more touching cards with one higher non-touching honour. For example, A-Q-J, K-J-10, Q-10-9. The standard lead from an interior sequence is the highest of the touching cards, i.e. the queen, jack and ten respectively. Here is the interior sequence lead in action:

N S

An opening bid of 2♥ or 2♠ to show a six-card suit with about 13-16 points (fewer with a seven-card suit). Using such a method, opening one of a major and rebidding two of the major implies a hand weaker than this; opening one of a major and rebidding three of the major promises a hand stronger. INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE PRESS ASSOCIATION (IBPA)

K42

A 8 5

After West leads the ten and dummy plays low, East can withhold the king, allowing the defenders to finesse against dummy’s jack. Had West led a fourth best six, East would have to put up the king to stop the eight from scoring, setting up the jack as a thirdround winner. INTERMEDIATE CARDS

Tens, nines and eights. The average hand has one ten, one nine and one eight. If you have significantly more or fewer intermediate cards than average, it is usual to adjust your hand valuation accordingly. Hand 1 Hand 2 ♠ Q 7 5 ♠ Q 10 5 ♥ K 8 2 ♥ K 10 2 ♦ A J 7 4 ♦ A J 9 4 ♣ Q 7 2 ♣ Q 9 2

If partner shows a balanced 12-14, you would merely invite game with Hand 1 (no tens or nines) but bid 3NT with Hand 2 (two tens and two nines). INTERMEDIATE JUMP OVERCALLS

A jump overcall based on an opening hand with a six-card suit. These are not very popular as you can start with a simple overcall on such hands whereas it is less easy to find a good alternative Page 36

INTERMEDIATE TWO BIDS

A worldwide organization whose members are either bridge authors or newspaper columnists.

J73 Q 10 9 6 W E

way to bid weak and strong hands.

INTERNATIONAL MATCH POINTS (IMPS)

A method of scoring used in teams’ matches; it converts the aggregate difference between the scores of opposing teams on each board to International Match Points on a defined sliding scale. The purpose is to reward larger swings more generously than small ones but to limit the extent of very huge swings to prevent the result on one board from effectively determining the outcome of an entire match. Aggregate IMP Difference Difference 0 – 10 0 20 – 40 1 50 – 80 2 90 – 120 3 130 – 160 4 170 – 210 5 220 – 260 6 270 – 310 7 320 – 360 8 370 – 420 9 430 – 490 10 500 – 590 11 600 – 740 12 750 – 890 13 900 – 1090 14 1100 – 1290 15 1300 – 1490 16 1500 – 1740 17 1750 – 1990 18 2000 – 2240 19 2250 – 2490 20 2500 – 2990 21 3000 – 3490 22 3500 – 3990 23 4000 + 24

A to Z of Bridge continued

Suppose a team’s scores are +420 in one room and -170 in the other. The swing is 250, which translates to 6 IMPs. If a team scores -100 in one room and -600 in the other, the adverse swing is 700, which translates to a loss of 12 IMPs. INTERVENING BID

An overcall.

INTRA FINESSE

A finesse against a lower honour held by one opponent in preparation for a finesse against a higher honour held by the other opponent. For example:

♠ Q 9 3 N

♠ 10 2 W E

♠ K J 7 6 5

S



Even if this contract does not make, it is very likely that the opponents could have made 2♥ or 2♠. The benefit of playing inverted raises is even clearer if you hold the second hand and partner opens 1♦. You can bid 2♦, forcing. In standard methods, you would have no satisfactory response. Hand 1 Hand 2 ♠ 7 5 ♠ 7 5 ♥ 9 3 ♥ A Q 3 ♦ K J 5 3 ♦ K J 10 5 3 ♣ Q 9 7 5 2 ♣ K 6 4

INVITATIONAL BID

A bid that encourages partner to bid on, holding any extra values in the context of his previous bidding. For example, 1♣-1♦-1NT-2NT invites partner to bid 3NT while 1♥-1♠-2♥-3♥ invites partner to bid 4♥.

♠ A 8 4

If, as South, you have reason to place East with the ♠K, you reject the normal play of leading up to the queen. Instead, you finesse the nine, losing to the jack. When you then get the lead in the North hand, you lead the queen to pick up East’s king and pin West’s ten. INVERTED MINOR SUIT RAISES

This convention ‘inverts’ the normal meanings of the single and double raises of a minor suit. Thus 1♣-Pass2♣ is stronger than 1♣Pass-3♣. The single raise is forcing for one round, enabling responder to make the bid on both invitational and game-going hands. Playing inverted raises, you would raise 1♣ to 3♣ or 1♦ to 3♦ with Hand 1 below.

ISOLATING THE MENACE

A method of leaving only one player in the position of guarding a suit, thus increasing the chance of executing a squeeze. Technically, the more correct term is isolating the guard. ♠ Q 3 2 ♥ A 10 8 5 2 ♦ 6 5 4 ♣ K Q ♠ 8 6 5 ♠ 7 N ♥ K J 4 ♥ Q 9 6 3 W E ♦ 9 8 S ♦ J 10 7 2 ♣ J 10 9 3 2 ♣ 8 7 5 4 ♠ A K J 10 9 4 ♥ 7 ♦ A K Q 3 ♣ A 6

You and your partner do well to reach 7♠. You win the club lead in hand and

draw two rounds of trumps with the ace and king. When you discover the 3-1 split, it would be risky to attempt a fourth-round diamond ruff in dummy. Instead, you play for a squeeze. You want to arrive at a position where one defender alone is guarding each red suit. You cross to the ♥A, ruff a heart high, back to the ♠Q and ruff another heart high. After three rounds of hearts, you can be certain that only one defender can guard the suit. When you finish the trumps and cross to the ♣K, East, who has left the ♥Q and ♦J-10-7-2, has no answer. ITALIAN STYLE CUE BIDS

This style of cue bids, developed by the Italian Blue team, has now become the norm amongst tournament players. Below the level of 4NT, you treat first- and second- round controls equally. West North East South 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♦

West’s 4♦ shows first- or second- round control in diamonds (ace, void, king or singleton) and denies firstor second- round control in clubs. East, if lacking firstor second- round control of clubs knows immediately that a slam is not good. ITALIAN STYLE TAKEOUT DOUBLES

A style, widely regarded as unsound but used to good effect by the Italian Blue team, of making takeout doubles of suit openings on weak no-trump hands either when the doubler has a 4333 shape or when the doubler has a doubleton in an unbid suit. ■

Page 37

CHARITY BRIDGE EVENTS MARCH 2012 1 NSPCC. Taunton Committee bridge drive at Oake Village Hall. 10 for 10.30am to 3pm. Tickets £16.00 each to include coffee, biscuits, lunch and a glass of wine. Fay Thomas ( 01823 336443 2 HOPE AND HOMES FOR CHILDREN. St Ninian’s Church Hall, Bentinck Drive, Troon 2pm. £20 per table inc tea and prizes. Raffle. Lorna Richmond ( 01292 317681 13 ARC. St Neots Bowling Club, St Neots. £14.00. 10.00 for 10.30am. John Shaw ( 01480 475454 23 CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION Gt Stukeley Branch, Great Stukeley Village Hall  10.00 for 10.30am. £13.00. Kay Brownlow  ( 01480  880663 28 BRAIN TUMOUR UK Coleshill Village Hall. 1.30 for 1.45pm start. £36.00 per table includes high tea and prizes. Anne Parsons ( 01494 726671 [email protected]

APRIL 2012 25 PRINCESS ALICE HOSPICE Putney Leisure Centre. 10am for 11am £68 per table including lunch. Pam Turner ( 020 8995 2270 27 MS THERAPY CENTRE HUNTINGDON. Village Hall, Hemingford Abbots. 10.00 for10.30am. £14.00. Jenny Lea ( 01480 455810

MAY 2012 15 ST MARYS CHURCH Eaton Socon, St Neots. 10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50. Malcolm Howarth ( 01480 212910

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READERS’ LETTERS JUBILEE Congrats on your silver anniversary as Mr Bridge. Three movements (if that’s the right word) must have originated in the same year, the other two being Wimbledon Bridge Club and Wimbledon U3A. The single interest WBC has about 650 members (it nearly touched 1000 at one time), whereas the multi interest WU3A boasts only about 500. Must be due to premises, I guess, the WBC having virtually exclusive use of a large hall, whereas U3A events are mostly in people’s homes. How many followers, if that, too, is the right word, do you have? John Macleod, Wimbledon, SW19. PS When will QPlus be

issued as an app? I have no plans in this direction at the moment.

ANY PLANS I am wondering whether there are any plans to write a bridge playing app for the iPad 2 please? I see there is one for Bridge Baron and one for Omar Sharif, neither of which suits Acol bidders.

Wales. When I rang to enquire about playing, I could not have received a friendlier welcome and, after my first session, I was pressed to return. Mercifully, bridge down under is much the same as it is at home, though they all play a strong notrump and five card majors. I had four thoroughly enjoyable sessions in all, without any real bidding disasters and was made to feel most welcome on each occasion. I do hope that our clubs here are equally accommodating and hospitable to long distance migrants looking for a game. Nicholas Beswick, Hafod Farm, Brynmawr.

NEITHER A Borrower nor a ... Some time ago I lent my favourite bridge book to a ‘friend’. I have forgotten who it was and no one has come forward. Unfortunately, it is out of print. If anyone has a copy of Victor Mollo’s Winning Double, I will be extremely grateful. Mr R Barber, Dronfield, Derbyshire. ( 01246 416094

Succession I am writing to share with you my experience of bridge in Australia where I have recently been on holiday. It was quite by chance that I saw an advertisement for a local club, Port Stephens Bridge Club, in New South

Mr C Bamberger, 179 High Road, Trimley St Mary, IP11 0TN.

JUST RIGHT A new player needs help and encouragement. I think your magazine fits the bill nicely. Mrs J Lester, New Malden, Surrey.

SATURDAY NIGHT PM Bridge Bedford is the only club/group playing duplicate bridge on Saturdays in the counties of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. We play from 7 to 10pm in St Mark’s Church Hall, Calder Rise, Bedford and this is our 12th year. We belong to the EBU, give masterpoints and send out results by e-mail. The atmosphere is very friendly and all standards of players are welcome, including novices – but we do need more players. Partners are found for those without a partner. Peter Mohan, Ann Pillinger. ( 01234 212066

Barbara Rossell by email.

DOWN UNDER

to act as central collection points providing a cardboard box with a letterbox-size opening together with a request to support the charity with used stamps. As you know, I am nearly 85 and I am looking for a successor to take over handling all the stamps and collections that are sent in. It is not something that needs to be settled straight away but it would seem prudent to be prepared.

I think I have had a brainwave. You will recall the ongoing problem caused by donors not sizing and weighing their post into letters and packets which has resulted in over £400 of surcharges. Perhaps if most clubs were

ARE THEY WRONG? Somebody I am currently teaching to play bridge gave me a photocopy of Bernard Magee’s Acol Card. I noticed that under rebidding as opener, he recommends making a jump-shift on

Page 40

17-19 points, which is also the advice given by the EBU. As I also pointed out to them, this is quite wrong on 17 or 18 points. The bid is forcing to game and since responder has so far promised a minimum of only six points, you cannot force to game with just 17 or 18 points. By jumping on these values, you place the bidding at a higher level unnecessarily when with just six points, responder could have simply rebid his own suit, or shown preference, at the two level. The EBU’s excuse was that a sequence such as 1♥ – 1♠ – 2♦ left too wide a range for opener: potentially 12-18 points. Indeed it does, but all that means is that it is now incumbent upon responder to seek to limit his own hand and if he cannot, then opener, on his third bid, will likely make a limit bid himself. There is absolutely no reason to have opener jumping around on a 17 or 18 count; keep that bid for those 19 point hands when you know that at least the values for game are present in the two hands, as the founders of Acol in the 1930s intended. Ryan Garritty, Chatham, Kent.

ANY TAKERS I have approximately one hundred copies of Bridge Plus as well as some Bridge Plus Practice Series booklets. Any of your readers who are interested should give me a call. Mrs E Hocken, Reigate, Surrey. ( 01737 762743

my favourite The A – Z of bridge terms is the best part of an interesting and informative magazine. Mr R Skelton, Barnet, Herts.

READERS’ LETTERS continued

SHUFFLES I was reading some back numbers of BRIDGE and found a letter in number 101 from Ann Yeldon and others asking the best way to shuffle cards. You replied that the riffle shuffle was the most effective method to avoid flat hands. In the same issue, Doug Ball also extols the virtues of the riffle shuffle and said that it has become the standard method of shuffling at his club since he introduced it to his friends.  I have been using the riffle shuffle for the past 58 years, ever since I was shown how to do it when I was 7 years old by a waitress in a cafe in South Carolina, USA. Ann Yeldon mentioned that some people dislike the riffle shuffle because it bends the cards. However, if you follow the riffle shuffle with the ‘waterfall finish’ as I always do, this bends the cards back in the other direction so you end up with a deck of flat cards and everyone is happy. I really enjoy BRIDGE – long may it continue. Margaret Swift, Poole, Dorset.

GENTLE CRITICISM As one who takes a bridge class for the local U3A, I should like to thank you for the instructive articles in your publication, which class members enjoy. Indeed, one of the members of the class tells me he is attending a seminar this coming weekend. Like many authors who write about bridge, some of your contributors seem to be selective in the hands chosen to illustrate their points. For example, in BRIDGE 111, David Gold, in an article

titled Double 1NT with 15 Points, has RHO opening 1NT on each of the boards. Matters are somewhat different if sitting in fourth seat, but this does not get a mention in the article. Even Bernard Magee, whose comments on bidding are usually sensible and much admired, is not immune. In the current Bridge Weekly emag (84), in the quiz on the losing trick count, Bernard manages to place an ace opposite a singleton in no fewer than four of the eight hands with a trump fit, but (for example) KQ4 instead of A74, has one fewer loser, a higher point count and yet might lead to defeat in actual play. One further comment. I may have missed it, but in the LTC articles, I do not recollect seeing mention of the opening bid requirement of having two honour tricks in the 7-loser hand, nor mention of the adjustments downwards for unsupported queens or upwards for aces and extra suit length. Mike Dunstan, Bridekirk, Cockermouth.

GOOD EBUTA Out of curiosity, I recently attended a course run by the EBU to train bridge teachers. I have been teaching bridge to a small group of the younger members of my local golf club. Like many other bridge groups, we have been worried by the lack of younger people joining our ranks. I was amazed at the superiority and professionalism of the course. I trained as a school teacher many years ago and know quality when I see it. The enthusiasm and dedication of the EBU staff, aimed at expanding the game to a wider group than the 72 year olds mentioned

in Alan Mansell’s letter, was truly heartening. The selfishness and shortsightedness of the bridgeplaying pensioners of Milfordon-Sea, who won’t support an organisation if it is not in their immediate interest, is quite astonishing. In my experience, people want to see things they love go on after they die. In 10 years’ time, these 72 year olds will be dead and so will their bridge club. With attitudes like this, what hope does David Cameron have for a big society in which we all look out for each other. Without groups like the EBU working so hard to promote the game of bridge to new audiences there won’t be a game at all soon. Similarly, in your reply to Jane Mayer’s letter, to say that, ‘It will be a first’ for the EBU to have the interests of club members at heart is clearly rubbish. I know that Mr Bridge is also promoting bridge to both newcomers and more experienced players but there is room for more than one organisation in this field and, when there are such problems competing for the attention of younger people, this is not the place for professional antagonism.

Ashfield and Larkhill. Four pairs from each of the clubs fought it out over 24 boards with the clear winners, on 72VPs, being Ashfield (Jonathan Sayce, Brenda Goodchild, Shirley Cheetham, Carol Manan, Clive and Helen Worthington, Charles Harvey & Mike Coughlan). Runners-up were Stretford with 46VPs. Clive Worthington directed and managed the Bridgemate software program, which recorded the scores of all five teams perfectly. The evening was relaxed, professionally managed and all players had a very enjoyable evening. Because the clubs were all local, most participants knew each other and enjoyed the challenge of playing against old friends.

Lyn Fry, London, N6.

STILL ONLY A GAME

NW CUP COMP The second ‘Friendly Cup’ fought for by 5 local South Manchester clubs was held on Sunday, 20th November at Sale Bridge Club. The clubs taking part were Sale, Stretford, Chorlton,

Page 41

Peter Jackson, Secretary, Stretford Bridge Club.

WHAT ODDS? What are the odds of the same pair bidding and making two consecutive grand slams, I wonder? This happened to me and my partner last night in our regular weekly men’s four. John Helliwell, Colchester, Essex.

How about bringing back your front page Caption Competition of 2007 for a bit of fun and just for a few months? I still have a copy of BRIDGE number 83, ‘It’s only a game’ – what a delight. Mrs S Sheather, Motcombe, Dorset.

REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE 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 (eg 1st class: 100x37p+100x9p)

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READERS’ LETTERS continued

POINT OF VIEW As a regular enthusiastic reader of BRIDGE, I heartily endorse both ‘Disgruntled of Kew’s’ email and John Turner’s letter (BRIDGE 112) and have absolutely no interest in Sally Brock’s lifestyle. As Kew says, ‘what has it do with bridge?’ Three pages of your otherwise excellent magazine wasted. Alan Hess by email.

Another plug I saw a letter in BRIDGE telling folk about the Riverside Bridge Club in Chiswick and wondered if you could tell them about our club. Leisureland Bridge Club is well known in the Twickenham area for being a very friendly and welcoming club, especially for newcomers to duplicate. On Monday mornings, we have a session with a lesson followed by gentle duplicate. Following this success, we are trying to establish clubs at Lightwater and Wokingham. In Lightwater, we have a session with lessons for both beginners and improvers, and sometimes duplicate, on Tuesday afternoons. We have now started lessons for beginners in Wokingham on Monday evenings and Wednesday afternoons and hope this will expand to encompass improvers and gentle

duplicate. The emphasis in all of Leisureland’s activities is fun. If you would like more information, please contact me on ( 01189 796774 or by email at [email protected] June Booty, Wokingham, Berkshire.

no benefits Most bidding systems employ transfers to majors over 1NT. I was taught that this was to ensure that the weaker hand became dummy. If this is the case, then I see no advantage when employing the weak notrump (12 to 14 points). The opening bid is very limited in strength and distribution and, following this opening, the partnership will be attempting to a) reach game, b) get out of no-trump into a long suit or c) get into the lowest possible no-trump contract. If game is a possibility, then the responder will have as many if not more points than the opener so it will not be the weaker hand that is dummy. So why use transfers? The big disadvantage of using transfers is that it is impossible to make a weakness takeout in diamonds, losing a third of the responder’s arsenal. I believe that the use of transfers together with the weak no-trump has simply become a fad and has little or no advantage over the weakness takeout. Douglas Mumford, York. ■

Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH or e-mail [email protected] E-mail correspondents are asked to include their name, full postal address, telephone number and to send no attachments. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Page 42

David Huggett Says

Bid Blackwood Only if You Know What to do Next

B

lackwood, asking for aces, has been around a long time and may be the most popular convention of all. It is almost certainly the most abused. Take this hand for example. Partner opens 1♠ and you hold:



♠ A 6 ♥ Q J 10 8 7 6 ♦ 7 6 ♣ K Q 9

Obviously, you have a clear-cut response of 2♥ but what do you do when partner raises to 4♥? This hand is a lot better than partner might assume for several reasons. It has a heart more than might be expected and you have a good holding in partner’s first suit. Furthermore, it is a six-loser hand and, if we assume that partner has at worst a six-loser, we are certainly not being over ambitious in thinking that a slam might be on the cards. The best way to proceed is less evident. What you should not do is bid 4NT, Blackwood, asking for aces, because you will not necessarily know what to do when you hear the answer. Suppose, for example, that partner bids 5♥, showing two aces in ordinary Blackwood. Would you pass or would you award yourself a raise to a small slam? You would be correct to pass if these were the two hands:



♠ A 6 ♥ Q J 10 8 7 6 ♦ 7 6 ♣ K Q 9

N W E S

♠ K Q J 7 5 ♥ A K 9 3 ♦ 10 3 ♣ A 3

Now the opponents can take the first two diamond tricks, but you would be right to bid the slam on this layout:



♠ A 6 ♥ Q J 10 8 7 6 ♦ 7 6 ♣ K Q 9

N W E S

♠ K Q J 7 5 ♥ A K 9 3 ♦ A 3 ♣ 10 3

Now you have an easy route to twelve tricks. Alas, in both cases, the response to your Blackwood request would have been the same – 5♥. A simple rule that would have stopped you using Blackwood is to understand that you never use Blackwood with two or more fast losers in an unbid suit. Instead, the responder should have bid 4♠ – a cuebid showing the ace – and wait to see what partner had to say. Here is another example where players might use Blackwood prematurely:



♠ K Q 10 8 6 ♥ K Q 10 8 3 ♦ Void ♣ A K 3

You open 1♠ and are delighted when partner gives a jump response of 3♠, showing four-card support and about eleven points or an eight-loser hand. Surely, all that you want to know is whether partner holds both major-suit aces, but bidding Blackwood will not let you find out. If partner responds 5♥ showing two aces, the combined layout could be:



♠ K Q 10 8 6 ♥ K Q 10 8 3 ♦ Void ♣ A K 3

N W E S

♠ A 9 7 3 ♥ A 7 6 ♦ Q J 8 6 ♣ 7 2

With these hands, you would want to be in 7♠. Then again, they could be: Page 43



♠ K Q 10 8 6 ♥ K Q 10 8 3 ♦ Void ♣ A K 3

N W E S

♠ A 9 7 3 ♥ J 6 4 ♦ A Q 8 6 ♣ 7 2

Now the opposition can make the ♥A. If the response were 5♦, showing one ace, you would want to know whether it was a major-suit ace, which would be useful, or the wasted ♦A. Again, never rush to use Blackwood when you have a void: you do not need partner to have the ace of that suit. You should cue-bid 4♣ over 3♠. If partner makes a return cue-bid of 4♥, you will know he does not have the ace of diamonds. Then bid Blackwood and, over 5♥, bid 7♠. So, only use Blackwood when you know what to do after the response. Sometimes, even when your goal is clear, you might not get enough information through the deficiencies in your ace-asking convention. Suppose you held the following hand:



♠ 6 ♥ A J 8 7 5 4 ♦ K Q J 6 3 ♣ A

This is a powerful hand and you would be delighted if partner raised your 1♥ opening to 3♥. A bid of 4NT would let you know whether you had all the aces but you need to know about the king of hearts too. Playing traditional Blackwood, you cannot readily find that out, but you can if you adopt Keycard Blackwood or Roman KeyCard Blackwood. These treat the king of trumps as an extra ace; so, if you were playing one of these and got the reply that showed three ‘aces’, you would be able to bid 7♥ with confidence. ■

Seven Days by Sally Brock Thursday I wake up with a streaming nose and sore throat – just what I need. I take Briony to school (no Toby this morning because he has his driving test), then go home to finish packing. Barry and I leave about 9.30 and have an uneventful journey to the Channel Tunnel. Did I say uneventful? Of course, the main event was the phone call from Toby saying he had passed. This is such a relief – no more lessons. On arrival in France, we drive into Calais and have a plat du jour (white fish with pepper sauce) for lunch, before heading off on the motorway and finding our hotel in Ghent where we are to enjoy a couple of days before moving on to the world championships in Veldhoven, just outside Eindhoven in the Netherlands. After settling in, I dose myself up with more paracetamol and Strepsils. We go out, find a bar, have a drink, decide that most places look a bit posh for dinner (my taste buds are non-existent) and end up having spaghetti bolognese in a lively student café where we are at least twice as old as everybody else.

Friday Wish I could say I woke up feeling much better but I do not. However, today is why we are here: Barry’s 60th birthday. Coincidentally (and slightly spookily – though, of course, we have known about it for a while), it is also Raymond’s birthday. After breakfast in bed, we go out to meet my friend, Emma. More coincidence: after I had booked the hotel, I discovered that she was going to be housesitting in Ghent for six weeks while she finishes off her guidebook to Flanders. We meet for coffee and then she shows us around.

We take her to lunch and wander around a bit more before returning to the hotel for a much-needed rest before heading out to dinner. My taste buds may not be working properly, but you know what they say about feeding a cold, and starving a fever … We have an excellent meal at the Korenlei Twee, with a roaring log fire and a wonderful view of the canal and all those beautiful step-gabled buildings.

Saturday Breakfast in bed again. Then the rugby – Wales were robbed. In a bit of a rush now to check out of the room, get out of Ghent (not as easy as you might think – managed to get the car into a pedestrian zone without trying too hard) and get on the road. We achieve this with only a few harsh words. We are playing in a conference centre, which in some ways is reminiscent of a hostel. While everyone else has tiny single rooms (think university), I have managed a coup. Because Barry is going to be here until Tuesday, I have a double room, which I may keep until the end of the competition. The opening ceremony is a bit of a trial. Lots of boring speeches and then the organizing nation always feels the need to ‘entertain’ us, which is never what anybody wants. However good the entertainment may be – this time it was quite a good magician – everyone just wants to get to the bar and meet up with old friends.

Sunday Breakfast at 10ish, after which Nicola and I, along with Heather and Nevena, are in for the first match against Canada – after a sprinkling with lavender oil, of course. Nicola Page 44

is a great believer in all sorts of odd things: one of them is that nobody ever won a bridge match without the aid of lavender. Exciting boards. Board 2 gives us a chance to use a new bit of system: ♠ K J 9 8 3 ♥ K 10 ♦ A 10 6 ♣ K 7 5 ♠ Void ♥ A J 9 2 N ♦ 8 7 5 4 W E S ♣ J 10 9 8 4 ♠ A 10 7 5 4 ♥ 5 4 ♦ K Q J 9 3 ♣ Q

♠ Q 6 2 ♥ Q 8 7 6 3 ♦ 2 ♣ A 6 3 2

Nicola (South) opens 1♠, and I bid 2NT, forcing to game with at least four spades. She shows her second suit and I bid 3♥ to enquire further. She bids 3♠, showing at least a little extra with a singleton club. Now comes the new bit: when it is clear that we are going to play in a major, we use 3NT to show a hand that is a little interested in slam, though not good enough for a fullblooded try. Over 3NT, Nicola signs off in 4♠ and we are in a safe place. In the other room, they reach 5♠ and declarer gets trumps wrong to go one down. We have a couple of unlucky losses towards the end of the match and draw 15-15. We then play Sweden and Poland, ending the day with 52 VPs (average for a day is 45). The bridge finishes each day just after 7pm. We walk into Veldhoven and find a good, lively restaurant with excellent steaks.

Seven Days continued

Monday Today it is Brazil, USA1 and India. 60 VPs for the day is quite pleasing. In the evening, we walk into Veldhoven again – delicious Greek/ Turkish food in a downmarket café that mostly serves takeaways. It is not licensed but they allow us to nip next door to the supermarket to buy some wine to have with our meal.

Tuesday Barry goes home today. It is time to concentrate on the main event. Today we have two easy matches first and last (Japan and Egypt), sandwiching one real toughie against France. Nicola and I sit out against the French. We do our stuff, scoring 24 and 25 respectively, while the French play very well and we lose that 23-7. Barry texts to say he is safely in Calais. In the evening, we take the shuttle bus into Eindhoven and find an excellent Italian restaurant.

everyone keeps their head and we claw it back to a draw 15-15. Now we play China. Although they have been underperforming so far, we certainly do not underestimate them. We win 16-14, taking the lead for the first time.

Thursday Two tough matches today. First, we have Italy. It starts OK; then we have a couple of poor boards. Luckily, on the penultimate deal, their declarer has a bit of a blind spot:

Sally’s Dramatis Personae Sally Brock lives in High Wycombe with her two teenagers, her husband Raymond having died in early 2008. She works partly as a bridge professional, occasionally playing for pay but more often writing (she is the bridge columnist for The Sunday Times) and teaching online; the rest of the time she works on the production of travel guides – hence the occasional reference to rather obscure countries. She has been a member of the British/English women’s team on and off since 1979. Briony & Toby are Sally’s 16-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son.

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

Ben is Sally’s 35-year-old son who is married to Gemma. Hayden is their twoyear-old son; they live in Waltham Abbey.

♠ 10 4 ♥ K 8 7 6 5 ♦ J 7 5 ♣ 10 9 5

Wednesday

West North East South 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 3♣ Pass 4♠ All Pass

The first match, against Jordan, is a comedy of errors. I pull the wrong card and go down in a cold game; then I balance them into game but, luckily for us, they revoke to go down. Of course, we have plenty of good boards too and get another maximum. We are sitting out for the New Zealand match. It is actually fun to sit out. After the gym, I get a free Lavazza coffee and go to my room by when they have usually played a couple of boards. I have my laptop and can follow the match on BBO (www.bridgebase.com – the bridge website I repeatedly rave about). At the same time, I can also Skype Barry, or Briony, or one of my other friends, talking to them as I watch. When it is Barry, he watches at one table while I am at the other and we can tell each other if we are missing anything. In this match, we get a couple of early boards wrong and are soon 20 IMPs down; fortunately,

I lead the ♥10; winning this in dummy, declarer plays a diamond to her king and my ace. I continue with the ♥9, covered and ruffed by declarer. Now she cashes the ♦Q and ruffs a diamond in the dummy. What she needs to do next is draw trumps: if she just plays ace and another, there would be no problem (and she is unlikely to succeed if trumps break 4-1 anyway). However, for some reason, she decides to get clever and run the ♠J. I win with the ♠Q and play another diamond. Nicola ruffs brightly with the ♠10 and declarer is doomed. She overruffs with the ♠A, at which point she has to hope that the remaining trumps break 1-1. So she plays another trump. I win with the ♠8 and cash the ♠K; I then cash a diamond and the ♥Q – three down in a cold game. We lose 14-16 to USA2, beat Venezuela 22-8 and still head the table. Page 45

Barry Myers is Sally’s new partner, both at and away from the bridge table. He is a criminal defence barrister and lives in Shepherd’s Bush. Nicola Smith is Sally’s current international bridge partner. They formed a last-minute partnership in 2008 to join the England women’s team for the World Mind Sports Games in Beijing where they won the gold medal. Nicola has been playing international bridge since she was 17, which is rather a long time ago. Mario Dix and Margaret Parnis England are friends living in Malta whom Sally (and usually Briony) visit most years. Heather Dhondy, youthful and athletic, is a professional bridge player, teacher and writer, living in London with husband Jeremy. She played with Nicola until 2007 but now plays with Nevena. Nevena Senior, slim, elegant and feisty is the bridge partner of Heather. Born and raised in Bulgaria, she now lives in Nottingham with husband Brian. She is a full-time bridge professional. Susan Stockdale first played for England when she was 14. Big, blonde and gorgeous, Susan works as director of a company that markets and distributes products to the veterinary and animal healthcare sectors. Her bridge partner is … Fiona Brown, a small redhead who is always smiling, comes from Australia, but now lives in Harrogate with her boyfriend, Irish international Hugh McGann. Last year, she finished her IT degree and at the moment works part-time in a pharmacy – which leaves her plenty of time to concentrate on her bridge. Martin Jones, cheerful and cuddly, is the English women’s favourite captain, though family commitments restrict his cooperation in this regard.

Seven Days continued

the Netherlands. We choose Sweden in preference to France – we lost heavily to France in the Round Robin. That leaves China playing France.

Friday

Sunday

We start against Australia. The partscores are good but we have a series of minor accidents at both tables and lose 13-17, the only loss to a poor team we have had so far. In the second match, we play Indonesia, whom we regard as something of an unknown quantity. We do not expect them to be strong but they have been in the top eight for most of the event. It goes well enough and we win 20-10. The next match is against bottom-of-the-field-by-quite-a-lot Trinidad and Tobago; it is our turn to sit out. I do not know how they have played against everyone else; still, they play well against us: we lose 12-18, our second loss to a poor team. So we are only average on the day and surrender our lead. USA1 are just ahead of us with USA2 just behind.

We are out for the first set. So, we go off to the gym; we come back to keep an eye on the bridge – with the other eye firmly fixed on the rugby World Cup final. We put 23 IMPs on in the first set, to add to our 4 IMPs carry forward. We play the next two sets and things do not go too well. The worst board is when I hold:

Saturday The last day of the Round Robin. At the end, the leading team gets to choose its quarter-final opponents from the teams finishing in 5th–8th position. The team which finishes second goes next, etc. So the higher up that we finish the better. Nicola and I rest for the first match against the Dutch and watch anxiously from the sidelines. We need not have worried, though, as we win 21-9. However, both US teams have strong wins. Then we beat Morocco 20-10, while both US teams score 25; it now looks as if we will finish third just about whatever happens. Interestingly, one out of France, Germany and Netherlands is not going to make it – and we are playing Germany. We do well, winning 22-8, sending the Germans on their way home. The winning American team (USA2) picks Indonesia for the quarter-final. This does not entirely reflect their opinion of the strength of the other countries, as there is a carryover (half the score in the round-robin match, capped at 16 IMPs). USA1 then pick



♠ 4 ♥ A 10 9 5 ♦ A 8 6 3 ♣ A K 7 5

It is Love All. Nicola passes and RHO opens 1♣ (which could be short). I have nothing to say and pass, hoping to be able to make a takeout double of spades later. My LHO bids 1♠, which is a transfer to 1NT. My RHO obliges, so I pass again. LHO bids 2♦ showing both minors and RHO bids 2♠ showing preference for diamonds. (Do not ask me. It is not my system.) I pass again, after which LHO bids 3♦, passed around to me. I still cannot think of anything to bid. Nicola clearly has a few spades but not enough to double the 1♠ transfer, so I am not too worried. The full deal comes as something of a shock: ♠ K Q 10 5 2 ♥ 8 3 ♦ K Q 5 ♣ Q 4 2 ♠ J 9 7 6 ♠ 4 ♥ Q J 7 6 4 N ♥ A 10 9 5 ♦ Void W E ♦ A 8 6 3 S ♣ J 9 6 3 ♣ A K 7 5 ♠ A 8 3 ♥ K 2 ♦ J 10 9 7 4 2 ♣ 10 8

North had missorted her cards (I think). If she had opened 1♠, I would Page 46

have doubled and we would have reached 4♥. As it is, we not only defend the cold 3♦, we let through a couple of overtricks – not our finest hour. At the end of the day, we are 1 IMP up. In the evening, there is the press dinner. I share a table with Mario, Margaret and Jan van Cleeff, editor of the Dutch bridge magazine. The food is indifferent but the company good. I ring home and find out that the children are with Barry. Apparently, they had a good evening at his local Thai restaurant. On that happy note, I go to bed.

Monday After breakfast, Nicola and I go to the award ceremony of the IBPA (International Bridge Press Association). There is a new award, the Keri Klinger Award, for Play Under Pressure. Ron and Suzi Klinger have donated this in honour of their daughter Keri who died a few years ago. In its inaugural year, the award is going to John Holland and, posthumously, Michelle Brunner for their fine performance in the four years after Michelle received her diagnosis of terminal cancer. John asked Nicola and me whether we would accept the award for him. Then it was the gym and the dash back to my room to watch on BBO. Again, the girls did fine and, at the end of the first set, we are 9 IMPs up. During the Round Robin, we played very well and indeed headed the Butler pairs chart for most of it, only slipping to second place at the end. Despite that, it has not escaped the captain’s notice that the other four have always been positive against Sweden (two sets in this match, one in the Round Robin, and one in China where we also sat out). We, on the other hand, albeit a bit unluckily, have not been plus. So he is sitting us out again and letting the others get on with it. A decision with which I am perfectly happy (except that watching makes me more nervous than playing). Actually, it is even scarier than I imagined. At one point, I am actually shouting at my computer, willing Susan and Fiona to bid a game. At the end of all that nervousness, we are all square. One set to go. In the event,

Seven Days continued

we have a tremendous set at both tables, putting on nearly 60 IMPs. The other good news is that both American teams have lost; in fact, we are the only team from the top four of the Round Robin still standing. We are playing Indonesia in one semi; France will play the Netherlands in the other.

Tuesday Nicola and I play all day. I am generally pleased with how we play. Teammates are a bit all over the place. We end the day 7.5 IMPs up. At the end of this set, there is another dope test; Heather’s name comes out of the hat. She has to oblige by giving a urine sample … in the presence of the doctor. Not used to such a public performance, she needs about three litres of water to oblige.

Wednesday We sit out the first set. At one stage, we are a lot up but we lose some of it to end the set +32.5. Nicola and I are back in for the rest of the match, along with Heather and Nevena. The next set is trundling along quite merrily until the last two boards. First, the Indonesians bid a poor slam with the following NorthSouth cards. ♠ 10 7 3 ♥ Q 7 5 3 ♦ A K J 4 ♣ 9 7 ♠ 4 ♥ 10 8 6 4 2 N ♦ 10 8 6 W E S ♣ 10 8 4 2 ♠ A K 8 2 ♥ A J ♦ 7 3 ♣ A K Q 6 5

♠ Q J 9 6 5 ♥ K 9 ♦ Q 9 5 2 ♣ J 3

South opens 2♣ and North drives to 6NT (Nicola as East having doubled an artificial 2♠ bid by North on the way). I lead my singleton spade; declarer wins and plays four rounds of clubs. I

win the fourth round and switch to a diamond. Declarer wins with the ace, plays a heart to her jack and cashes the ♥A dropping Nicola’s king; she then cashes her last club and crosses to the ♦K to cash the ♥Q, squeezing Nicola in spades and diamonds (she knows by this point that Nicola started with four diamonds so that the squeeze is a better chance than the finesse). On the last board, I open a Multi 2♦ with the West hand: ♠ 10 6 ♥ J 8 ♦ J 9 7 6 ♣ Q 10 8 7 2 ♠ 7 5 4 ♠ A K J 8 3 ♥ Q 9 7 4 3 2 N ♥ K 6 ♦ 8 W E ♦ A K 5 2 S ♣ K 6 4 ♣ J 3 ♠ Q 9 2 ♥ A 10 5 ♦ Q 10 4 3 ♣ A 9 5

A bit fruity vulnerable, I know, but it does specifically show a weak hand so Nicola should tread carefully. This leads to Nicola playing in 4♥ rather than 4♠. As you can work out from the position of the missing honours, she could have made it by leading up to my ♣K and then ruffing a club in her hand; Nicola takes the more straightforward line of the spade finesse to go down. In two boards, we have lost 25 IMPs and trail by 1.5 IMPs. The final set is murky. Our opponents miss a couple of games and a slam but they are all a bit thin and teammates will not necessarily bid them. We have a couple of poor partscores. It is no great surprise to learn that the Indonesians have won, by the small margin of 7.5 IMPs. We all feel flat. Each one of us can easily find several single errors that cost 8 IMPs.

Thursday I have a terrible night. Severe cramps in my toes and calf muscles plague me. Suffice it to say, that apart from the general dispiritedness of our situation, I am also feeling really tired. Page 47

The morning’s Daily Bulletin is something of a revelation. We learn that the Indonesians have been in training for a year. They all moved into a hostel in Jakarta and played bridge seven hours a day seven days a week, only punctuated occasionally by SAS-type assault courses to build team spirit. It seems something of a miracle that we ran them so close. We now have the play-off match against the Netherlands for the bronze medal. Nicola and I play the first set, without inspiration. I tell Martin that I think it would be better if I do not play any more. Perhaps that is unfair of me, as probably everyone else is feeling miserable too. In any event, the standard of bridge in the next two sets is dismal; we lose by 20 or so. I have made no plans to get home. As I did not know when I would want to leave, there seemed no point. In the end, I book a Ryan Air flight for 9.25 tomorrow morning. Colin Simpson is on the same flight – his car is at Stansted and he has offered me a lift home. The world looks a more cheery place with home on the horizon. In the evening, we end up in a good Greek place where we do not bother with a menu – they just bring food. Our spirits are not too bad.

Friday When we get to the airport at about 8 o’clock the first thing we see is a sign saying that our 09.25 flight is going to be delayed until 16.50. Just what I need – a whole day at Eindhoven airport. At least I have my laptop and can get on with some work. The cafeteria is excellent: Colin and I share a bottle of wine with our fish and chips (pretty much the best I have ever had) at lunchtime. Mind you, the €5 refreshment voucher from Ryan Air does not exactly go far. Colin recommends a good restaurant in Marlow so I tell Briony to go ahead and book it. When I finally get home, after lots of hugs and kisses, we all go out for a lovely dinner.

PS In the Venice Cup final, France beat Indonesia quite comfortably. Watch this space in a couple of years’ time when the Venice Cup is due to be in Bali. ■

NEW

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Pre-empting

Minors & Misfits

Opener’s & Responder’s Rebids

Slams & Strong Openings

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No-Trump Openings

Opening Bids & Responses

Overcalls

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Competitive Auctions

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Contents (20 hands each)

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