123

BRIDGE Number One Hundred and Twenty-Three

DEFENCE QUIZ

March 2013

DECLARER PLAY QUIZ by David Huggett

by Julian Pottage

Y

ou are East in the defensive positions below. Both sides are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT. (Answers on page 16.)

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

A732 KJ7 754 J63

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

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

West North East South 1NT Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦1 Pass 3NT End 1 No four-card major

Partner leads the ♠6 to your ♠A. What do you return?

Partner leads the ♠4. You win with the ♠A, seeing the ♠3 on your left. Which card do you return?

ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge. What is your play strategy? (Answers on page 19.)

1.

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

West North East South 1NT Pass 3NT End

West North East South 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ End

J 10 8 2 J9864 A3 10 8

Partner leads the ♦6. You capture the ♦J with the ♦A, collecting the ♦5 on your left. What do you return?

♠ 8 3 2 ♥ Q 7 6 ♦ K J 10 ♣ A 7 4 3

3.

N

W E

S



♠ A K 5 ♥ J 10 9 5 4 2 ♦ Q 5 ♣ K 2

You are declarer in 4♥ and West leads the ♠Q. How do you plan the play?

♠ A Q 6 ♥ 7 3 2 ♦ K 10 6 5 ♣ K J 4

S



4.

N

You are declarer in 6NT and West leads the ♠J. How do you plan the play?

♠ Q 9 3 ♥ Q ♦ K 9 8 7 5 4 3 ♣ A 8 N

W E

S

♠ K 2 ♥ A Q 6 ♦ A 9 3 ♣ A Q 10 5 2

♠ K 6 ♥ A K 7 2 ♦ 9 5 3 ♣ A 6 3 2

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

W E



♠ 7 4 3 ♥ Q 5 ♦ A K J 10 6 ♣ K 7 4 N

W E

2.

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

Partner leads the ♠5. You win with the ♠K, South playing the ♠3. What do you return?

Y

S



♠ A K J 10 7 6 ♥ A 8 5 ♦ A ♣ Q 6 3

You are declarer in 7♠ and West leads the ♠8. How do you plan the play?

CRUISE ACROSS CONTINENTS

INDIA, OMAN & THE TREASURES OF EGYPT

Combine the mysteries of India and the ancient lands of the Pharaohs in one spectacular voyage!

SPECIAL MR BRIDGE FARES

Mumbai was made the headquarters of the British East India Company in 1687 but it was the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 that transformed the city – then known as Bombay – into one of the world’s great trading centres. Your journey begins here with an overnight hotel stay and a tour of all the main sights including Mani Bhavan, a museum that was once the residence of Mahatma Gandhi, the Victorian architectural monuments of the British Empire, the Prince of Wales Museum and the Gateway of India. Cruise in comfort, relax in style Board the elegant Aegean Odyssey and sail for Porbandar, birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, and the port of Muscat in Oman to visit the Sultan's Palace and the famous twin forts. Continue to Salalah, famous for the production of frankincense before relaxing at sea as the ship makes its way to Egypt. After arriving at Safaga you travel to Luxor and visit two truly breathtaking sites: the vast temple complex of Karnak and the subterranean marvels of the necropolis in the Valley of the Kings, a spectacular finale to this memorable journey.

FARES INCLUDE: SIGHTSEEING EXCURSIONS AT ALL PORTS EXPERT LECTURE PROGRAMME

Luxor Safaga EGYPT

Red Sea

Muscat Oman Salalah

Porbandar INDIA Mumbai

Arabian Sea MARCH 20, 2013 – 16 days from £1,695 DATE

PORT

MAR 20

Depart UK

ARRIVE

MAR 21

Arrive MUMBAI India

MAR 22

MUMBAI India Embark Aegean Odyssey

5.00pm

MAR 23

PORBANDAR India

7.00pm

MAR 24

At Sea

MAR 25-26 MUSCAT Oman MAR 27

At Sea

MAR 28

SALALAH Oman

DEPART overnight hotel

2.00pm

2.00pm

2.00pm

8.00pm

MAR 29 - APR 2 Cruising the Gulf of Arabia & Red Sea overnight hotel

APR 3

SAFAGA/LUXOR Egypt Disembark and drive to Luxor

APR 4

LUXOR Egypt Transfer to Luxor Airport for flight home

WINE WITH DINNER & GRATUITIES ON BOARD

ACCOMPANIED BY MR BRIDGE HOST

EXCLUSIVE MR BRIDGE COCKTAIL PARTY SCHEDULED AIR & TRANSFERS

MR BRIDGE FARES*

PLUS MR BRIDGE SPECIAL FARES

Standard Inside £1,695pp Superior Outside from £2,150pp Superior Inside from £1,795pp Deluxe Outside from £2,450pp Standard Outside £1,995pp Deluxe Balcony from £2,795pp

CALL

ON 01483 489 961

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ONLY £100

EXTEND YOUR HOLIDAY ADD INDIA’S GOLDEN TRIANGLE

* Prices shown are per person, double occupancy and include MR BRIDGE SPECIAL SAVINGS. This offer is subject to availability, is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time.

Enhance your voyage with the classical sights of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur at the begining of your voyage. Known as India’s “Golden Triangle”, this 4-night land tour is an opportunity not to be missed! Please ask for details.

Singles are made especially welcome and a playing partner will always be found.

10093

BRIDGE PLAYERS: The bridge programme is completely optional and Mr Bridge passengers can participate as much, or as little as they wish. There is a supplement of £100 for those wishing to participate in the duplicate bridge programme.

V OYAGES TO A NTIQUITY www.voyagestoantiquity.com

ABTA No.Y2206

BRIDGE

Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH

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

Publisher and Managing Editor Mr Bridge Bridge Consultant Bernard Magee Technical Consultant Tony Gordon Typesetting & Design Ruth Edmondson Proof Readers Tony & Jan Richards Catrina Shackleton Richard Wheen Hugh Williams Office Manager Rachel Everett Events & Cruises ( 01483 489961 Rosie Baker Jessica Galt Megan Riccio Sophie Pierrepont Clubs & Charities Maggie Axtell

[email protected]

Address Changes Elizabeth Bryan ( 01483 485342

[email protected] 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.

10 Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified

FEATURES 1 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage 1 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett

5 Mr Bridge 5 Bridge Etiquette

12 Rubber / Chicago Bridge Events

9 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions

14 Voyages of Discovery Voyager 2013 Cruises

16 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage

17 Mail Order Form

19 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett 20 Julian Pottage Answers Your Questions 23 Lead Quiz by Andrew Kambites

28 Charity Events 30 Athens to Venice with Voyages to Antiquity

39 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum

32 Venice to Rome with Voyages to Antiquity

43 Catching Up by Sally Brock



47 Bidding Quiz Answers by Bernard Magee

ADVERTISEMENTS

40 Global Travel Insurance 42 Tutorial Software and QPlus 43 Bridge Events at Denham Grove 43 S R Designs Bridge Tables 46 Bridge Events at: Ardington Hotel Chatsworth House 47 Bridge Events at: The Inn on the Prom 48 The Cities and Sites of Ancient Asia with Voyages to Antiquity

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

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

West North East South 1♠ Pass ? 2. Dealer South. Love All. ♠ 3 ♥ A 3 2 N ♦ J 8 7 6 2 W E S ♣ K 8 5 4

West North East South 1♥ Pass 2♥ Dbl 3♥ 4♦ 4♥ Pass Pass ?

36 Rome to Cannes with Voyages to Antiquity

44 Seven Days by Sally Brock

8 Bridge Events with Bernard Magee

19 Begin Bridge with Bernard Magee

27 Stamps

29 The A to Z of Bridge: R by Julian Pottage

7 Bridge Event Booking Form

18 Bernard Magee Haslemere DVDs

24 Voyages to Antiquity 2013 Cruises

27 Readers’ Letters

7 Mr Bridge Just Duplicate Bridge

17 Cut-out Form

23 Bridge Events at: Cheltenham Regency Hotel

26 Lead Quiz Answers by Andrew Kambites

4 Denham Grove May Event 2013

You are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no-trump (12-14 points) and 4-card majors. (Answers on page 47.)

12 Bridge Events at: Queensferry Hotel Elstead Hotel

3 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee

2 Cruise from India to Luxor with Voyages to Antiquity

Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz

11 Bridge Events at: Blunsdon House Hotel The Olde Barn Hotel



3. Dealer East. Game All. ♠ A 6 ♥ 5 4 N ♦ 6 5 2 W E S ♣ A Q 10 9 5 4

West North East South 1NT 2♠ ?



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

West North East South 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 2NT Pass ?

BERNARD  MAGEE at Denham Grove

near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG.



Tuesday 14 May

Wednesday 15 May

Thursday 16 May

From 9.30 am Check in Tea, Coffee & Biscuits

From 9.30 am Check in Tea, Coffee & Biscuits

From 9.30 am Check in Tea, Coffee & Biscuits

10.30 am – 12 noon Thinking Defence

10.30 am – 12 noon Splinters & Cue Bids

10.30 am – 12 noon Hand Evaluation (without a fit)

12 noon – 2.30 pm Supervised Play1 3-Course Buffet Lunch



12 noon – 2.30 pm Supervised Play1 3-Course Buffet Lunch



12 noon – 2.30 pm Supervised Play1 3-Course Buffet Lunch

3 pm – 4.30 pm Pre-emptive Bidding

3 pm – 4.30 pm Play & Defence at Duplicate Pairs

4.30 pm – 7 pm Supervised Play1 Tea, Coffee & Biscuits

4.30 pm – 7 pm Supervised Play1 Tea, Coffee & Biscuits

4.30 pm – 7 pm Supervised Play1 Tea, Coffee & Biscuits

Day guests may stay until 7pm.

Day guests may stay until 7pm.

Day guests may stay until 7pm.

3 pm – 4.30 pm Avoidance Play

£100 per day2. £270 for all three days3. A limited number of bedrooms are available: Dinner, bed and breakfast: £90 per person, per night. Contact Mr Bridge to book your place or for further details: ( 01483 489961 These seminars are to be filmed. When ready, a full boxed set of DVDs will be sent. 3 Not with Bernard Magee. 2Includes Page 4buffet lunch. Day guests only.

1

LIVING THE DREAM

The relocated programme of seminars announced in the last issue was forced upon me by the almost complete absence of bookings for the event at the Haslemere venue. As each of these series of filmings involves an outlay around £50,000, I needed to act decisively to ensure that this investment is secure and the long term project is not derailed. Supervised play is a major part of what we do and as Bernard Magee needs to rest in between each session, incorporating a lunch break and a couple of hours of supervised play, after the morning lecture, gives those attending a truly great day out.

FILM BENEFITS Watching and re-watching Bernard Magee’s DVDs over and over again is a real boon for us oldies. Believe me, it does eventually sink in and if you allow yourself to be subsumed by his charismatic charm, the lessons are even more permanently absorbed.

They are being scripted, performed and filmed by consummate professionals. By putting my name to these and to the ten interactive CDs that are planned for the supervised play, it should be possible to make learning to play bridge more entertaining and easier too.

On Arrival l Check whether you need to sign in. l Check whether a particular table is reserved for the TD.

General l Turn off your mobile phone. (If it is absolutely vital you

have it on, leave it on ‘vibrate’.) l It is necessary to play quite quickly. The aim is to be able

to play at least 21-24 boards in a session.

USED STAMPS Please remember to save your used postage stamps in support of Little Voice, a children’s orphanage and school in Addis Ababa.

Each New Round l Greet your new opponents as they arrive at your table. l Explain your system clearly and simply, if asked. Answer

any questions clearly. l Sort and count your cards quickly, so that you can bid

promptly when it is your turn. l Do not sort through your cards again when it is your turn

UNCHANGED

to bid.

Back in February 2008, the adjacent half-page was published on page 37 of BRIDGE number 87. The point of my reprinting it, unaltered, five years later, is to once again urge readers to print it out and put it up on their club notice boards. This is important as I can tell from my post bag that manners at the table have are again on the slide.

l Do not ask what a bid means unless you are intending

CONGRATULATIONS

l As declarer, plan your campaign before you select a

to bid. Ask any questions when the auction is over.

The Play l Do not put your bidding cards away until the initial lead

has been made. l When you are making the initial lead, play your card

before you write down the contract or enter the details in the Bridgemate. (Three people are waiting!) l Place this card face down on the table first, to check

whether partner has any questions about the auction. l As dummy, lay out the cards before you write down the

contract or enter the details in the Bridgemate. And lay out the cards as quickly as possible. (Three people are waiting!) card from dummy. l As dummy, do not play the first card (even if it is a

The venue is easily accessible from London and there are hotels and b & b’s in the area for those that need them. In all, I plan to produce sixty DVDs, each of around ninety minutes running time, covering almost every aspect of the game.

Bridge Etiquette

singleton) until declarer has worked out his plan and called for it. l As declarer, always call for the card you wish dummy to

play (unless dummy is away from the table or has a disability, making the play of cards difficult). l As declarer, when you lead to a trick, wait for LHO to

play his card before calling a card from dummy. l When making a claim, explain your intended line of play

clearly. l When the hand has been completed, North should fill in

the score on the traveller or Bridgemate quickly. East confirms it is correct.

Andrew Robson O.B.E. who goes to Buck House for his investiture on 13 February. Good for him and good for bridge.

On Completion of the Play l Do not hold long post-mortems unless you are clearly

well ahead of the other tables. l Do not touch other players’ cards – ask them to show you.

PRIZE QUIZ

l North handles new boards.

The latest prize quiz can be found on page 17. Entries, by post or email, close on 31 March 2013. Page 5

l Thank your opponents at the end of the round and move

quickly to your new table. Compiled by a new club member and sent to me by the secretary.

QPLUS Only a couple of really interesting hands since I last wrote, evidence that I have been working more and playing less.

said in the last issue, please don’t be backward in coming forward.

GOFFIES STAMPS

5464–09 4607–06 QPlus 11 will be available in the late summer at £92 but you can order it now and receive QPlus 10 right away. Be assured you will be sent a standalone QPlus 11 when it is released and you will be able to give the standalone QPlus 10 to one of your friends. If you are unsure, then I will sell you a clean secondhand copy of a standalone QPlus 9 for only £49. If you find you like the program, you can trade in QPlus 9 for the latest version as and when. Buy with confidence.

BETTER BRIDGE The first CD with six chapters, each with twenty hands and matching the six subjects covered by the 2011 DVDs. This is Bernard at his very best.

CLEARANCE As those who are on my database of email addresses are aware, I have been clearing out a lot of old or slightly soiled products. Do send me your email address if you would like to be in the loop.

HELP WANTED My appeal in the last issue has resulted in a few candidates to join my team of hosts, helpers and lecturers but I do need to hear from more of you. Likewise I appeal for new ideas and columnists to join my growing team. Let me hear from you too. As I

I have notice an increasing number of letters that have multiple stamps on their covers. This I put down to Clive Goff and his discounted stamp service. Value supplied in two stamps combined to make up the 50p 2nd class rate, 2nd class to you, 41p. 1st class 60p, only 50p to you. Available in lots of 100. ( 0208 422 4906 [email protected]

GOOD CAUSES

CLUB INSURANCE

JUST DUPLICATE

Moore Stephens offer a club insurance package to cover clubs and more particularly their committee members for all the obvious risks. £60 for a club of 100 members... and most importantly, it covers the unforeseen.

Hey ho, here we go. One or two of our venues don’t understand our marketing strategy. Indeed they believe places at their hotels are too easy to sell and have increased their prices and insisted on single supplements.

I receive at least one letter a month telling me that I am scare-mongering, trying to drum up business, but it is the risks that aren’t obvious that are the problem and need to be covered by insurance. Ring Moore Stephens on ( 0207 515 5270.

These changes have resulted in a number of readers being inconvenienced and some disappointed. It was supposed to be my Christmas present. I will have to think of something better for next time. Your constructive suggestions would be most welcome.

VOYAGER

FUND RAISERS

Bernard Magee is joining m.v. Voyager on the following three cruises later this year.

I have a number of ideas for those of you who are looking for ways of raising funds for your pet good cause or charity. Give me a call or send me an email, but make sure to include your telephone number as I am old fashioned enough to want to talk to you.

Celtic Treasures 25 May – 2 June Prices from £849pp

At the risk of repeating myself, it always surprises me that charity promoters of bridge sessions, to raise funds for their good causes, do not use these pages more to advertise their events. After all, the space is free. All I ask is that both the relevant dates and information are provided well in advance. It is also surprising that so few ask for prizes. When bothering to raise funds, perhaps the organisers should have one of the committee put in charge of collecting these. We never refuse to provide support for any good cause. So organisers and promoters, let’s be hearing from you.

Midnight Sun 11 – 25 June Prices from £1869pp Med Medley 12 – 26 September Prices from £1749pp On each voyage he will sail with an experienced team dedicated to making the bridge element of your holiday truly memorable.

ROYAL KENZ TUNISIA

CHRISTMAS 2013 Details of this year’s Festive season will be published in the next issue. All those with us last year will be written to directly, so they may book early. We hope to be able to add an extra day at each end of the holiday, making a four-night stay an attractive proposition.

ON THE MEND

Two-week half-board duplicate bridge holidays.

BEST WESTERN Both the Blunsdon House and the Cheltenham Regency Hotels are branded Best Western.

Page 6

3-17 November 2013 Golf available Tony and Jan Richards from £769

Mrs Bridge is out of hospital and perhaps trying to recover too quickly. However, she has asked me to thank the many readers who sent their good wishes. To this I add my thanks. All good wishes

Mr Bridge

✄

JUST DUPLICATE BRIDGE 2013

BRIDGE  BREAKS

15-17 March The Olde Barn £169 22-24 March Ardington Hotel £199 5-7 April Cheltenham Regency £199 12-14 April Ardington Hotel £199 17-19 May Cheltenham Regency £199

♦ Full-board

♦ Two seminars*

♦ All rooms with en-suite facilities

♦ Two supervised play sessions*

♦ No single supplement

♦ Four bridge sessions**

Please book ..... places for me at £....... per person, Cheltenham Regency Hotel Cheltenham GL51 0ST

17-19 May The Olde Barn £169

6-8 September Cheltenham Regency £199

31 May – 2 June The Olde Barn £169

6-8 September The Olde Barn £169

14-16 June Chatsworth Hotel £199

13-15 September Cheltenham Regency £199

Single .... Double .... Twin .... Name of Hotel/Centre............................................................. Date(s) .................................................................................... Mr/Mrs/Miss ......................................................................... Address................................................................................... ................................................................................................

11-13 October Cheltenham Regency £199

Postcode .................................................................................

18-20 October The Olde Barn £169

( ...........................................................................................

25-27 October Cheltenham Regency £199

Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, but we will do our best to oblige).

1-3 November The Olde Barn £169

................................................................................................

Ardington Hotel Worthing BN11 3DZ

22-24 November Elstead Hotel £199

14-16 June Elstead Hotel £199

22-24 November The Olde Barn £169

21-23 June The Olde Barn £169

6-8 December Cheltenham Regency £199

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.

12-14 July Inn on the Prom £169 19-21 July The Olde Barn £169 26-28 July Cheltenham Regency £199

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

9-11 August Cheltenham Regency £199 16-18 August Inn on the Prom £169

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

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

The Olde Barn Hotel Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT

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

Full Board – No Single Supplement

*on tutorial weekends only. **6 sessions on rubber/Chicago events.

✄

Please note there are no seminars or set hands at these events.

Page 7

Please note: Just Bridge events contain no seminars and do not award prizes.

2013 BRIDGE EVENTS with Bernard Magee JULY 2013

PROGRAMME FRIDAY

5-7 Blunsdon House Hotel £245 Signals and Discards

1500 Mr Bridge Welcome Desk open Afternoon Tea 1745 to 1830 Welcome drinks reception

Chatsworth Hotel Worthing BN11 3DU

Cheltenham Regency Hotel Cheltenham GL51 0ST

MARCH 2013

October continued

22-24 Queensferry Hotel £245 Leads and Defence

18-20 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Playing & Defending 1NT

APRIL 2013 5-7 Blunsdon House Hotel £245 Losing Trick Count

The Olde Barn Hotel Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT

25-27 Queensferry Hotel £245 Finding Slams

12-14 Cheltenham Regency £245 Thinking Defence October 2013

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

2015 BRIDGE 1 DUPLICATE PAIRS

SATURDAY 0800 to 0930 BREAKFAST 1000 to 1230 SEMINAR & SUPERVISED PLAY of SET HANDS (tea & coffee at 1100) 1230 to 1330 COLD BUFFET LUNCH 1400 to 1645 BRIDGE 2 TEAMS of FOUR or FURTHER SUPERVISED PLAY of SET HANDS 1815 to 2000 DINNER

11-13 Blunsdon House Hotel £245 Splinters and Cue Bids

2015 BRIDGE 3 DUPLICATE PAIRS

SUNDAY Queensferry Hotel North Queensferry KY11 1HP

NOVEMber 2013

12-14 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Declarer Play 19-21 Inn on the Prom £245 Thinking Defence

1830 to 2000 DINNER

8-10 Olde Barn Hotel £245 Better Leads & Switches

Blunsdon House Hotel Swindon SN26 7AS

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

Full Board. No Single Supplement. See Booking Form on page 7. Page 8

David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics

Playing Tricks and Clear-Cut Tricks

Q

I have been reading Julian Pottage’s answer to Emma Jones’s question (BRIDGE 119). He outlines his method of determining the number of playing tricks for a strong two opening and, in the example, arrives at 7. I am re-reading a Ron Klinger book in which he says he adds a trick for any card over three in a suit. So, in the example, he comes up with 8, just as the partner of the person who posed the question. Now I accept this variation is a question of deciding which analytic method one wants to adopt, but my question is the difference between this and David Stevenson’s answer to my question (BRIDGE 119). Here he says that if opening a strong two based on playing tricks, firstly the hand must have opening HCPs, say a minimum of 11, and he analyses the playing tricks by giving partner a void and then taking the second worst split. On that basis, the example

is only 5. So what David Stevenson is saying is that one cannot analyse one’s hand as Julian Pottage or Ron Klinger recommends and open a strong two unless one elects (and shows on one’s convention card) that one opens on 16+ HCPs or a rule of 25 irrespective of playing tricks. I don’t see how I can make a call based on an analysis that gives 8 playing tricks, only to find that I am in breach of EBU rules which use a different method of analysis, if my opponents call the director and claim that the call is illegal. Godfrey Chasmer by email.

A

 You are confusing two different things; playing tricks, which is a somewhat optimistic count of tricks you expect to get and which is used as an aid to hand evaluation and clear-cut tricks, which is a pessimistic count to decide what bids are legal. Thus a hand with eight playing tricks might only have seven clear-cut tricks. The English Bridge Union

have decided that what constitutes a legal opening described as strong is based on three rules, one of which includes clear-cut tricks. This definition does not use playing tricks.  If you play in English or Welsh events, you are expected to use legal methods. They are based on the definition in BRIDGE 119 and clarified further above. In my view, they are extremely lax and to open a hand any weaker than that and call it strong is not just illegal, but is very poor bridge indeed. ♣♦♥♠

Q

Who is responsible for ensuring dummy’s cards are correctly displayed? I was called to a table by a defender midway through the play of a hand and told that the ♠A had been set in the position of the ♣A and nobody had noticed. Declarer held the ♣A. One of the defenders claimed that they had made a discard before the error was noticed, which they

Page 9

would not have made if dummy’s cards had been displayed correctly. This discard had cost his side a trick. I ruled that although it was obviously dummy’s prime responsibility to ensure his cards were displayed correctly, declarer and both defenders should have been inspecting dummy once it had been displayed and could have pointed out any problems. I therefore ruled that play should continue normally. Could you comment? Alan Mansell, Milford-on-Sea.

A

I am afraid you are wrong. It is dummy’s responsibility to set dummy out correctly and dummy should never be gaining because of failure to do this. You should have adjusted the score to give the defenders a trick.

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

I have asked this question at my club but have never had a satisfactory, definitive answer. You are dummy and you realise at a later point in the play that declarer has revoked. Perhaps you should have said at the time, ‘having none partner?’ but you didn’t and now it is too late. The opponents did not apparently notice and do not say anything as the score is about to be entered up for the hand. i) Is it incumbent upon you to say something? Are you morally obliged to change a happy partner’s possible (although ill-gotten) top into a sad partner’s 50% or less and have them wish you had kept quiet? Or ii) is there a law covering this situation that could be referred to? Or iii) is it not up to you to notice things for the opposition and could this mean that it is permissible to say something if it is detrimental to your side but not if it is to your benefit? (Here, I must

stress that the revoke was a genuine mistake and not a deliberate attempt to cheat.) Rod Bach by email.

A

There is no requirement in Law or ethics to point out partner’s revokes. If the opponents have not noticed that is their hard luck. Having said that, many people do point out their own or partner’s revokes. They feel that it is required by their own code of ethics. In effect, there are two sorts of ethics, ‘legal ethics’ which are required by the Laws, and ‘personal ethics’ which are a personal view and mean going further than legal ethics require. Many people point out their own side’s revokes because their personal ethics require it. However, if you do, please realise others will not have the same personal ethics as you, so you have no cause for complaint if they do not point out their side’s revokes. ♣♦♥♠

Q

 I am a regular and moderately successful player at my local duplicate bridge club, which is of average strength. My comments and question should be viewed in that context.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE  RULES SIMPLIFIED

(otherwise known as the Yellow Book) by John Rumbelow and revised by David Stevenson

only 95

£5

Available from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961

I have just received my last copy of BRIDGE and found in the excellent A to Z of Bridge, ‘Phoney Club – A rudimentary system ....’ Rudimentary seems a bit pejorative to me. However, there is a serious side to my question. One of my partners and I have decided to experiment with a 5-card major system. We open 1♣ on all hands we would have previously opened with a weak no-trump (with the sole exception of 5-3-3-2 hands when the 5-card suit is diamonds). Responder can reply 1♥/1♠ only if they have a 5-card suit. They reply 1♦ if they do not have a 5-card major. Therefore, 1♣-1♦ establishes that neither party has a 5-card major. Phoney 1♣ opening, phoney 1♦ reply. If it is terribly important that opener tells their partner they don’t have a 5-card major, isn’t it important that responder tells his partner if they have one? It all seems terribly clever and sophisticated to me. At our local club, we do not fill out convention cards, we simply tell our opponents the basics of our system. How should we succinctly describe our system? It isn’t SAYC. Do we say, ‘15-18 notrump and phoney club?’ If we describe our system in this way, many of our club members who read your excellent article will be highly amused and my reputation will be in tatters. Any suggestions? Alan Mansell, Milford-on-Sea.

Page 10

A

If you are playing 5-card majors and a phoney club, why not just describe it as that? ‘Five card majors with a phoney club,’ sounds fine to me. The no-trump range is less important because that will be announced when it comes up. ♣♦♥♠

Q

Playing Chicago with a new partner, who was a very cautious bidder, I was dealt the following hand.



♠ A K x x x x x ♥ Q J x x x ♦ A ♣ Void

I did not want to open 2♠ (strong) in case my partner passed. I therefore opened 6♠ and went one down when LHO had the four missing spades to the Q-J (partner had two small spades). As the cards lay we could have easily made 6♥, had I opened 2♣. My question is, am I allowed to open 2♣ with only 14 points? Matthew Scott, Mayfield.

A

Yes, you are. If you read earlier issues of the magazine, you will find details of the three possible rules for opening artificial 2♣ bids, one of which is that you may open a hand with 25 or more opening points, that is HCP plus the length of the two longest suits. You have 26 opening points. Whether it is a good idea is another matter: I would open an Acol 2♠, which partner is not allowed to pass.

Ask David continued

Q

Whilst directing at a nonEBU club, I had the following poser:

West North East South 1NT Pass Pass 2♥

At this point, East admitted that he should have alerted 1NT as strong. We play weak no-trump by default and an alert is required for a strong no-trump. South was reluctant to play on and asked advice. Les Cooper, Lymington, Hampshire.

A

Since North has not called, it is still in time for South to take his 2♥ back; therefore there will be no problem. If they had called you later, after North had bid, for example, you would have had to assign a score; you assess what would have happened without the incorrect information, maybe leaving them in 1NT. The players must play the board, whatever South thinks. Incidentally, any club, EBU affiliated or not, may have its own alerting rules. In practice, very few do. ♣♦♥♠

Q

Please could you clarify what the contract is after the following sequence?

West North East South 1NT Dbl 2NT End

Antony R Mann by email.

A

Doubles stand only if they are the last call of the auction

apart from passes. Thus, the contract is 2NT undoubled: of course, East or West could have doubled 2NT.

Blunsdon House Hotel Swindon SN26 7AS

♣♦♥♠

Q

In BRIDGE 119, Julian answered a question about off-shape 1NT opening bids. There are a wide spread of ranges in play, strong, three quarter, weak, mini, kamikaze. What is the minimum range which is legal? What spreads are legal? We meet several pairs playing Precision Club. They play weak notrump, 11-15, alerted as the hand may contain a singleton. They also open 1♦, 11-15, alerted as unsuitable for 1NT. This seems to be a duplication and we do not understand. Please comment. Alex Mathers, Brompton, Northallerton.

A

Players may agree any range for 1NT, any width of range they like, so long as it shows at least nine points (ten points at Level 2, ie for holiday or novice bridge). They may agree to allow a singleton or not. They can allow any distribution without a singleton (or void), for example, including a six or seven card suit. The rules provide great freedom for people to experiment with a variety of systems and agreements. Of course, they need to describe their agreements to their opponents. As for Precision, it is the responsibility of the players who open a short diamond to explain what it shows. If they do not, just ask them further questions until they clarify. Legally, there are a great many ways to play a short diamond.

Page 11

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Ask David continued

Q

Playing E/W at my club last evening, a hand was passed out with South (vulnerable) in fourth position. At the end of the evening, the traveller for that board showed that every South, except our opponent, had opened. South had 12HCP and a balanced hand and we thought he should have opened 1NT (11-14 in fourth position). The traveller showed 9 out of 11 N/S going off 200 or 300. Should we have called the director at the time to reserve our rights in case we were damaged?  Jane Tourell by email.

A

Bridge is a game of skill and much of the skill is in bidding judgement. There is no rule that says a player must open on 12 points: if he judges to pass that is perfectly legal. So there was no need to call the director, since no rules have been broken. Of course, players learn to bid so-and-so with suchand-such. But those are not the rules of bridge: those are good players’ opinions of the best way to bid in general. But they are still subject to individual judgement. ♣♦♥♠

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12-14 April Diana Holland

17-19 May Diana Holland



£199 Full Board – No Single Supplement Booking Form on page 7.

Q

North, declarer, wins a trick and asks for a card, ♥Q, from dummy. West follows but then East points out that North was on lead. Has West, having played to the trick, condoned the lead? What should

Page 12

the procedure be and is there a penalty?

A

West’s play has condoned the lead out of turn and the ♥Q has become a legal lead. ♣♦♥♠

Q

I opened 1NT with the East hand below. I ended in 3NT, making 10 tricks after South’s spade lead. The director said that I could not open 1NT with an unbalanced hand (the singleton), not even as a one-off semi psyche, unless our card says, ‘any distribution.’ Is this right? Ian Watson, Kelso.



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

A

♠ K ♥ Q J 7 ♦ A Q 6 4 3 2 ♣ 10 8 2

According to Scottish regulations, the only bids that may not be psyched are strong forcing artificial openings. Thus, it is legal to psyche a 1NT opening in Scotland. In any case, according to the Scottish systems’ policy published on the SBU website, a 1NT opening may be opened with a singleton honour; this is legal despite the 1NT showing a balanced hand, so long as you do not have a system to identify the possibility of a singleton. Thus, your director was wrong on two counts. First, it was a legal opening, not a psyche. Second, if it had been a psyche, it would be legal anyway. A 1NT opening described as, ‘any distribution,’ in contrast, would not be permissible in a Scottish club.

Ask David continued

Q

Playing duplicate, declarer led the ♣5. His LHO played the ♣10. Declarer told dummy to play a club. As dummy reached for a low club, declarer immediately said, ‘No, the ace.’ Dummy played the ace but declarer’s RHO said, ‘You cannot do that, you asked for a low one.’ Declarer called for the director and said, ‘Sorry I made a mistake with my first call.’ The director ruled that the low club must stand. Is that reasonable? Bob Graham by email.

A

When declarer asks for a club, it does mean a small club. Nevertheless, declarer may correct an inadvertent designation if he does so without pause for thought. It is for the director to decide whether he made a mistake and called for a small club, then tried to change his mind when he realised it was a mistake, in which case the small club stands. Alternatively, the director may decide that he intended to play the ace but called for the wrong thing, in which case declarer may change it to the card he intended. Therefore, the director has to make a judgement: his ruling was reasonable. ♣♦♥♠

Q

I would much appreciate hearing from you as to the correct method of folding travellers, assuming there is a correct way. Having been a member of two

large bridge clubs in the past, I have been schooled to fold them, starting in an upright position to the left and right, in such a way that if anyone should wish to check whether they have played a board, or want to check back for any other reason they will be unable, inadvertently, to see details of contracts played. I have been informed recently by an expert player that the method I describe is wrong and that the traveller, while still in upright position, should be folded top to bottom, or vice versa. I was told that if there was a need to check whether a board had been played this should be done by the director only. Be that as it may, in reality the checking back of travellers during a session is often done by players and very often by a director who is also playing. John Peace, Stratford-upon-Avon.

A

There is no standard way of folding travellers and your so-called expert player is just another person who likes telling people what to do. I suggest you ignore him. ♣♦♥♠

Q

My partner was declarer after a competitive auction. Her RHO stated (before the lead) that her partner should have alerted her bid. As I started to remonstrate, her partner compounded this infraction by explaining how he

interpreted her bidding. I called the director and complained that the defenders were giving each other information. The director ruled that it was only fair to declarer to give the clearest view of the opposing bidding. I suggested that they should announce the failure to alert only after the last trick was complete, after which the director could investigate for any damage. Please could you clarify? Frans Vas Nunes by email.

A

You were right; the director was not. As a matter of law, if there is a wrong explanation, alert or announcement, or if there was a failure to alert or announce, defenders must say nothing until the end of the play and tell their opponents then. This is different from declarer or dummy, who must tell opponents at the end of the bidding. Perhaps the director should have read this rule from his law book. ♣♦♥♠

Q

At bridge drives, the accepted procedure of playing the cards is for each person to put her card face up in the centre of the table. The winner of the trick, or her partner, collects all four cards and puts these face down in a pile of four in front of her. However, at almost every event my partner and I meet a couple who try to insist

Page 13

on playing the cards as though we are at a duplicate session. I refuse to do this on the grounds that 1) I find it confusing to switch methods during the session and 2) I feel that if people choose to come to a non-duplicate event, they should be prepared to play the cards by the method adopted by that event. Usually, my refusal leads to the other partnership making heavy weather of playing the cards, with much eye rolling, sighing and complaining. This is distracting as well as making for a bad atmosphere which spoils my partner’s and my enjoyment of the event.  Am I within my rights to insist on playing by the approved method for that event? If so, could you please advise me on how to handle the situation. Penelope Daggett by email.

A

You are certainly within your rights. When you play rubber bridge you follow rubber bridge rules unless all four players agree otherwise. No doubt in these drives this pair is annoying other players. You will have to report this to the organisers of the drives and ask them to deal with this pair. Upsetting people by insisting on duplicate style, or complaining throughout if not doing so, is rude and against the laws. This pair needs to be told to behave, or just play ■ duplicate.

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

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

♠ A 7 3 2 ♥ K J 7 ♦ 7 5 4 ♣ J 6 3

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

Partner leads the ♠6 to your ♠A. What do you return? ♠2. The usual rule is to return your partner’s suit. You have no reason to depart from that. The usual card to play back from length is your original fourth best, which is the two. This will enable partner to count declarer for only three spades and so work out that the whole spade suit is ready to run.

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

♠ K 6 2 ♥ Q 9 7 5 2 ♦ Q 10 4 ♣ 6 5

West North East Pass 3NT End

South 1NT

Partner leads the ♠5. You win with the ♠K, South playing the ♠3. What do you return? ♠6. While you have quite an attractive heart suit of your own, you have no real reason to switch. For all you know, partner has led from A-10-x-x-x and the spade suit is ready to run. The normal card to return from an original three-card holding is the higher of your remaining cards, in this case, the six. Since the two of spades is missing, partner will work out that you cannot have started with four, which means declarer has a spade stopper. Hoping that you have an entry, in diamonds or perhaps the ace of clubs, partner can then duck the second round of spades, maintaining communication in the suit. If you returned the two mistakenly, partner would probably go wrong, either giving up on the suit altogether thinking that you have a doubleton or, more likely, assuming that you began with four.

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

♠ A J 6 2 ♥ 10 7 5 ♦ J 5 4 ♣ J 8 3

West North East South 1NT1 Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦2 Pass 3NT End 1 12-14 2 No four-card major

Partner leads the ♠4. You win with the ♠A, seeing the ♠3 on your left. Which card do you return?

Page 16

♠J. Your partner seems to have struck declarer’s weak spot. You certainly want to continue spades. Although the usual card to return from an original four-card suit is your fourth best, common sense has to take precedence over signalling rules. If the lead is from K-9-x-x, you need to return the jack to pick up declarer’s queen and pin dummy’s ten. You do not want to return the two and have it run round to the ten. On this occasion, no confusion should arise about your spade holding because South has denied four spades in the bidding.

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

♠ J 10 8 2 ♥ J 9 8 6 4 ♦ A 3 ♣ 10 8

West North East South 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ End

Partner leads the ♦6. You capture the ♦J with the ♦A, collecting the ♦5 on your left. What do you return? ♥6. If partner has led from the king, as is possible, you can return the suit and collect the first three tricks via a ruff on the third round. You would then lead up to dummy’s weakness in hearts. Unfortunately, declarer wins the rest with five trumps, four clubs and the ace of hearts. Given your trump holding, you know the ruff is useless. You will make a trump anyway. You should switch to a ■ heart at trick two.

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Page 17

123

BERNARD MAGEE Filmed Live at Haslemere Festival 2011

2012

1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks

7 Leads

This seminar deals with declarer’s use of ruffing to generate extra tricks and then looks at how the defenders might counteract this.

Bernard takes you through all the basic leads and the importance of your choice of lead. If you start to think not just about your hand, but about your partner’s too, then you will get much better results.

2 Competitive Tricks 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.

3 Making the Most 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.

4 Identifying & Bidding Slams The first half of this seminar is about identifying when a slam might be on – one of the hardest topics to teach. The second half covers some of the techniques used to bid slams.

5 Play & Defence 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.

8 Losing Trick Count A method of hand evaluation for when you find a fit. Bernard deals with the basics of the losing trick count then looks at advanced methods to hone your bidding.

9 Making a Plan as Declarer Bernard explains how to make a plan then expands on how to make the most of your long suits. The first half deals with no-trumps, the second with suit contracts.

10 Responding to 1NT This seminar deals with Transfers and Stayman in detail. The 1NT opening comes up frequently, so having a good, accurate system of responses is paramount.

11 Signals & Discards This seminar deals with Count, Attitude and Suit-preference signals: aiming to get you working as a partnership in defence.

12 Endplays

6 Doubling & Defence against Doubled Contracts The first half of this seminar explores penalty doubles and the second half discusses the defence against doubled contracts.

Bernard takes you through the basics of the technique before showing some magical hands where you take extra tricks from defenders. In the second half, Bernard looks at how to avoid being endplayed as a defender.

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

♠ 9 7 4 ♥ K 8 ♦ A 8 4 3 ♣ J 9 8 6

You are declarer in 4♥ and West leads the ♠Q. How do you plan the play? While it might look natural to start drawing trumps immediately, that would be wrong. If you try that, the defender who wins will play back another spade, setting up a winner for his side in that suit. Therefore, your first priority should be to find a parking space for your spade loser; you can do that by knocking out the ace of diamonds. Then, when a spade comes back, you play the two master diamonds, discarding the losing spade from hand. All you really need is for the diamonds to break no worse than 5-3 (or for someone to hold a doubleton diamond but no low trumps). Only after taking the spade discard should you start drawing trumps.

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

♠ 8 7 4 ♥ 10 8 4 ♦ Q J 7 2 ♣ 9 8 3

You are declarer in 6NT and West leads the ♠J. How do you plan the play? You can count eleven easy tricks. The twelfth may come either from a winning heart finesse or from an extra diamond. So try to combine the chances. Clearly, a good idea would be to play on diamonds first. However, should you cash the aceking and neither the queen nor jack appears, you would be wary of playing a third round in case they did not break; so it is better to duck a diamond first. A further point is this: if you duck a diamond into the East hand, a cunning defender might play back a heart, forcing you to guess whether to take the heart finesse or play for some other favourable position. So win the lead in dummy and play a diamond to the nine. Even if it loses, you can still test the suit (hoping for the remaining diamond honour to fall in two or three rounds) before relying on a kind position in hearts.

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

♠ Q J 9 8 2 ♥ 8 4 ♦ Q 2 ♣ Q J 10 9

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads the ♥J. How do you plan the play? Although the play looks easy, you do have to be a little careful. With seven tricks on top, you are looking for two more; clearly, the diamond suit will provide those. Even so, if you do the instinctive thing and take a diamond finesse, two awful things might happen. East might win and return a spade; if this happens, you are in danger of losing a bucket load of tricks in that suit.

Page 19

Since you can afford to lose a diamond, play off the ace and the king first. On a good day, you will drop the doubleton queen in the East hand, thus removing any danger from that quarter. If West has Q-x-x, you will lose a diamond but your ♠K will be a sure stopper.

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

You are declarer in 7♠ and West leads the ♠8. How do you plan the play? With so many trumps, it is tempting to draw the missing ones immediately. Unfortunately, if you do that, you will fail every time the diamonds break 4-1 because you will have insufficient entries to dummy to ruff two diamonds and get back to enjoy them. Thus, you have to cash the ace of diamonds at trick two; then play a spade to the queen and ruff a diamond. It does not matter if trumps are 3-1 because you can still reach dummy with the nine to ruff yet another diamond. After that, the ace of clubs allows you to reach your diamond winners. In all you make six spades, five diamonds and two outside aces. ■

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Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions

We Played in the Wrong Game

Q

I opened 1♠ holding 14 points and six good spades. My wife jumped to 5♣ as she had 12 points and an 8-card club suit to the king-jack. We went one off. All the other tables played in 4♠, which they made, in some cases with an overtrick. Afterwards, I said she should have bid 3♣ – a jump shift showing a game-going hand with long clubs. She agrees she went too high, saying she should have bid 4♣. We would both like your views on the correct response. Mike Armstrong by email.

A

When partner opens the bidding and you have opening values yourself, you do not want to pre-empt. Responder should start with a simple 2♣ or possibly with a strong jump shift of 3♣. It sounds as if 2♣ the first time and 4♣ the second time would be the best way to describe her hand – loads of clubs but not quite the values for a jump shift. I recommend strongly that you play 1♠-4♣ as a

I would not lead a spade because declarer is likely to be short in spades and be happy to discard a club loser or two on dummy’s spades.

splinter, showing a raise to game in spades with a shortage in clubs. If you played in a tournament, you would find everyone is doing that. Therefore, an immediate 4♣ response would not be an option.

♣♦♥♠

Q

I opened 1NT with 12 points and four spades to the ace-queen. My partner bid 4NT; I passed, thinking it was quantitative. She had 23 points and said it was Blackwood. We made 12 tricks, missing one ace. How should we have bid? Guy Arnoux, Wells.

♣♦♥♠

Q

What would you recommend leading with the following hand?



♠ 10 9 8 7 4 ♥ 9 8 ♦ Void ♣ A 8 6 5 4 2

N W E S

A

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

Ron Atkinson by email.

A

is whether you have the values for a grand slam. You could easily have all four aces, but not have the values for a grand slam.

Although, in general, an unsupported ace is not a good lead, it seems the clear choice here. If the opponents were in a slam, you might think of underleading it – trying to get partner in to give you a diamond ruff – but that does not seem right against game.

Your own bidding sounds fine. With 23 points facing 12-14, partner should be driving at least to a small slam. Besides, it is impossible for there to be two aces missing when your side has at least 35 points between you. The correct, but rare, response for partner is 5NT. This invites you to bid a grand slam (usually 7NT) if you are maximum and to sign off in a small slam (6NT) if you are minimum. When you have balanced hands, the important thing

Page 20

♣♦♥♠

Q

You hold a 4-card major and a 5-card (or longer) club suit. Partner opens 1 diamond. Under what circumstances should you respond in the 4-card major (at the 1-level) in preference to the longer club suit at the 2-level? John Crowe, Ledbury, Herefordshire.

A

The usual rule is that if your hand is strong enough for a responder’s reverse then you show the long suit first, planning to show the major next time; if your hand is too weak for a responder’s reverse, you just bid the major. Traditionally, you need 11 points for a responder’s reverse. An increasing number of players are treating it as a game force, in which case you would need 12/13 to be responding 2♣ with this type of hand.

Ask Julian continued

Q

The bidding proceeded as follows:

West North East South 1♥ Pass 2♥ Dbl End

South had a good hand with support for the other suits. North passed this out, assuming that this was a penalty double. Who was right? Heather Toynbee by email.

A

This is definitely a take-out double: South has not had the chance to double previously and the opponents had agreed hearts. Even if East had bid a different suit, double would still be for takeout. North should pass only when holding a heart stack (unlikely on this auction).

A

♣A twice). What are your thoughts on our bidding? How should we have bid the slam? David Nicholls, Llandudno.

A

Standard Acol includes strong jump shifts, so North should start with 2♠ rather than 1♠. As the jump shift creates a game force, you can take things slowly with 3♣. After partner rebids 3♠, showing a long strong spade suit, you are too good for a simple raise to 4♠: you should cue bid 4♦. It should be easy to reach the slam from there. At the very least, partner will make a return cue bid of 4♥. With 16 points facing a strong jump shift, you will not be giving up at the game level. On your actual sequence, partner could have bid 3♠, (forcing) rather than 4♠. However, as I suspect you would have bid 3NT over 3♠ it would not have helped much.

♣♦♥♠ ♣♦♥♠

Q

Playing standard Acol, my partner and I bid:



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



♠ A ♥ K 5 ♦ K 9 4 2 ♣ K Q 8 7 6 3

North South 1♣ 1♠ 3♣ 4♠ End

Partner then made 13 tricks (East ducking his

Q

Should I have bid my weak major suit at the 3-level or my ‘longest and strongest’ minor suit at the 4-level? I held:



♠ 7 4 ♥ J 9 6 5 ♦ 7 6 ♣ A Q 7 5 4

With your actual hand, I would bid 3♥. This keeps the bidding lower and is a suit partner will be expecting you to bid. Switch the minors (and the opening bid to 3♣) and the decision is much closer because you can show either suit at the three level. Partner will not always have the perfect shape for a take-out double. If you are going to find 3-card support in dummy, you would rather play in a 5-3 fit than a 4-3 fit. Then again, if you can make the same number of tricks in either suit, you would rather play in the major because it scores more and requires a trick fewer for game. I think I would still bid the major because you have a few values and do not mind if partner decides to raise you to game. ♣♦♥♠

Q

With N/S playing weak two openings, the bidding went as follows:

West North East South Pass 1♦ Pass Pass 1♥ 2♦ Pass Pass 2♥ 3♦ End

Could South have bid 3♠ on this hand, inferring North is 4-6 in the majors?

N W E S



West North East South 3♦ Dbl Pass ?

If you reverse the clubs and diamonds (and make the opening 3♣), what would you recommend then? Name and address supplied.

♠ K 10 8 7 ♥ 10 3 ♦ A J 2 ♣ A J 4 2

Emma Jones by email.

A

Page 21

Holding a 4-card spade suit is one possible explanation

of North’s failure to open a weak 2♥ despite obviously having a 6-card heart suit. A weak heart suit is the other plausible explanation. An argument in favour of the weak heart suit option is that, after East has repeated the diamonds, North could have re-opened with a double but chose not to. Therefore, 2♥ suggests a hand without four spades. It would be somewhat imaginative for South to bid 3♠, though doubling 3♦ would be reasonable. ♣♦♥♠

Q

On the hand below, I made 4♠. Unfortunately, everyone else was in 3NT, also making ten tricks on the standard heart lead.



♠ K Q J 6 4 ♥ K 7 4 3 ♦ 10 ♣ K J 10

Me Partner 1♦ 1♠ 2♣ 2♥1 2♠ 4♠ 1 Fourth-suit forcing

Should I have bid 3NT in the first place or after partner’s spade support (on ♠A-2)? David Lampert by email.

A

Partner’s 2♠ does not guarantee 3-card spade support (he could jump to 3♠ with genuine support), so you should take the bidding more slowly. You should bid 2NT (forcing because you bid fourth suit the round before) to see what partner does.

Ask Julian continued

Q

Playing Benji Acol, we would like to use weak jump overcalls like opening weak twos. Although they do not often occur, how do we show strong overcalls? Name and address supplied.

A

With a hand on which you would have made a strong jump overcall, there are two possible approaches: (i) you can make a simple overcall with a view to taking further action on the next round, such as doubling or perhaps repeating your suit; (ii) you can start with a double and introduce your suit later. Modern thinking is that (i) is more suitable than (ii) on most hands. This is because, if the opponents escalate the bidding, partner will at least know your best suit. ♣♦♥♠

Q

I had trouble responding to partner’s 1NT (weak) with this hand:



♠ A J 7 5 ♥ 9 6 4 ♦ A K 9 5 4 ♣ 2

My partner does not like me to support her no-trump when I have a singleton, so I tried the Stayman route. The auction went: 1NT-2♣-2♦-3♦-End. She held four clubs and 3NT would have made. Rupert Timpson by email.

A

I too would have started with Stayman. On the next round, I would bid 3NT. Partner is likely to have four clubs when she does not have a fourcard major, especially when you have more diamonds than clubs yourself. Your 3♦ should be forcing anyway. ♣♦♥♠

Q

You hold 16-19 points with a 5-card minor and a 4-card major, shape say, 4-2-5-2. If you open with the minor suit and your partner bids 1NT (denying a major suit) should you force your partner by reversing? Bernard Coffey by email.

A

If you have a 4-card major and you know your partner does not, it can be a good idea simply to pass, raise to 2NT or raise to 3NT (with 16, 17-18 or 19 points respectively). You bother to show your second suit only if you have a serious interest in a suit contract (4-1-5-3 shape, for example). ♣♦♥♠

Q

When you were discussing wriggles over 1NT, you said that you like to have the option of playing in 1NT doubled (but not redoubled). How important do you regard the ability to play in 1NT doubled? Chris Dawe (similar from Huw Jones).

A

If you are playing matchpoints and you are going one down non-vulnerable, there is a huge difference between losing 100 (doubled) and

200 (redoubled). The former may be a reasonable score; the latter is unlikely to be. If you are vulnerable or going down more than one, the penalties for failure in a redoubled contract are more severe whatever the scoring method. This is why you do not want to have to play in 1NT redoubled. Remember, if you run to a suit, you are contracting to make an extra trick without any assurance of finding a fit, so it is often better to stay at the one level. I would not want a convention to force me into running from 1NT doubled. ♣♦♥♠

Q

Playing with a stranger, the bidding was as follows:

 

♠ A Q 3 ♥ Void ♦ Q J 10 8 7 5 4 3 2 ♣ 5



♠ K 6 ♥ Q J 9 7 6 3 ♦ A ♣ A K 7 2

N W E S

North South 1♦ 2♥ 3♦ 3NT 4♦ 5♦ End

Should either player have made a cue bid? I think that I, North, could have taken stronger action. Edward Bland, Bristol.

A

Freak deals are difficult to handle. I would be opening 5♦ rather than 1♦. Then everyone else would have

Page 22

to guess what to do. On your actual auction, South might have made a cue bid rather than simply raising 4♦ to 5♦. This might (or might not) have excited North. ♣♦♥♠

Q

People tell me constantly that you cannot open an Acol 1NT (12-14) with a 5-card major. Even if the major has just a single honour and you have no other 4-card suit, you have to open the major, which I think can give you a rebid problem. Is this right? Ray Enever by email.

A

This question comes up quite often. With a 5332 shape and a poor 5-card major, it is acceptable, indeed desirable, to open 1NT. ♣♦♥♠

Q

Partner opens 1♦. I hold:

♠ J 8 5 ♥ 9 4 ♦ K Q 9 3 ♣ A 8 7 2

Should I support the diamonds or bid clubs? Does it make any difference if the other 4-card suit is a major? Michael Hunt, Ware, Hertfordshire.

A

When the secondary 4-card suit is a minor, you just ignore it and make a limit raise to 3♦. Yes, it does make a difference if the other 4-card suit is a major. Then it is normal to show the major before supporting partner.

Ask Julian continued

Q

After partner opens 1♥, if I hold four hearts, 11/12 points and 7 losers, I would go straight to 4♥. People tell me that this would be a shut out and that I should bid 3♥; they say this is stronger than raising to 4♥. Are they right? Geoffrey Down, Padbury, Buckingham.

Cheltenham Regency Hotel Cheltenham GL51 0ST

A

♣♦♥♠

Q

My partner opened 1♥; I had four hearts and eight losers, so I bid 3♥. A defender then told me that playing Acol a jump from one to three of a suit showed an ace (which I did not have). I have not heard of this; is it true? Brian King by email. The requirement to hold an ace for a limit raise is a new

BRIDGE EVENTS 2013

Q

My partner and I are experimenting with a 5-card major system. We open 1♣ if we have no 5-card major, which promises only a 3-card suit. What is the response to an opening bid of 1♣ if responder has a Yarborough with a shortage in clubs e.g. 4-4-4-1 or even 5-4-4-0? Alan Mansell by email.

5-7 April – £199 Just Duplicate Bridge 17-19 May – £199 Just Duplicate Bridge 12-14 July – £245 Bernard Magee Thinking Defence 26-28 July – £199 Just Duplicate Bridge 9-11 August – £199 Just Duplicate Bridge

A

With a Yarborough or other hand too weak to justify a response, you pass. It does not really matter whether partner’s opening promises significant length in the suit. The fewer cards you have, the more your partner is likely to have. Although you might end up in 1♣ undoubled, you can rescue partner from 1♣ doubled. If LHO doubles 1♣ and RHO leaves in the double, you have the option to make an SOS redouble to tell partner that you think a ■ better spot is available.

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

Andrew Kambites’ Lead Quiz You are West in the auctions below playing teams or rubber bridge. It is your lead. (Answers on page 26.) 1 ♠ 7 5 ♥ A J 6 5 N W E ♦ A 7 2 S ♣ 10 9 8 7

♣♦♥♠

Bidding 3♥ is not stronger than 4♥. If you think the hand is strong enough to insist on game, you do not want to make a limit bid of 3♥. However, you should reserve the jump to 4♥ for shapely hands with no more than 10 HCP. Some pairs play either 2NT or 3NT as the way to show a game forcing raise of opener’s major. If you do not want to do that, you can start with a new suit and bid 4♥ next time (traditionally called a delayed game raise).

A

one on me too. Sometimes, people who have played all their bridge within a small circle of players can get some funny ideas about what counts as normal. Perhaps the player in question is confusing the auction with 2♥ (Acol)Pass-3♥. Traditionally, 3♥ in that sequence does show an ace because you would jump to 4♥ without one (assuming, of course, you have the requisite values and heart support).

6-8 September – £199 Just Duplicate Bridge 13-15 September – £199 Just Duplicate Bridge 11-13 October – £199 Just Duplicate Bridge 25-27 October – £199 Just Duplicate Bridge 1-3 November – £215 Further into the Auction 29 Nov – 1 Dec – £215 Declarer Play 6-8 December – £199 Just Duplicate Bridge Full Board No Single Supplement Booking Form on page 7.

Page 23

West North East South 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 3♥ Pass 4♠ End

2 ♠ K 2 N ♥ J 8 6 W E ♦ J 9 8 7 S ♣ J 9 7 2

West North East South 3NT1 Pass 4NT2 Pass 5♦3 Pass 5NT2 Pass 6♦3 End 1 a long, solid minor 2 Blackwood 3 one ace and one king.

3 ♠ A 5 4 3 2 ♥ K 2 N W E ♦ A 4 2 S ♣ A 3 2

West North East South 1NT Pass 3NT End

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

West North East South 1NT Pass 3NT End

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Answers to Andrew Kambites’  Lead Quiz on page 23 The leads in these problems are hardly standard. Treat them as puzzles to solve.

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

West North East South 3NT1 2 Pass 4NT Pass 5♦3 2 Pass 5NT Pass 6♦3 End 1 2 a long solid minor Blackwood 3 one ace and one king.

Does a club lead seem obvious? Look closely at the bidding. N/S have found a 5-3 heart fit before settling for spades. Since partner must have a singleton heart, you can see how to beat this: two red aces and two heart ruffs. Cash your ♥A at trick 1. Continue with the ♥J for partner to ruff – why the ♥J? The ♥J is a McKenney (or suit preference) signal, showing an entry in diamonds, the higher ranking of the two remaining side suits. The defence will take the first four tricks: ♥A, ruff, ♦A and another ruff.

North bid 5NT, confirming that the partnership holds all four aces and asking South how many kings he holds. Most players play that a gambling 3NT denies a side suit king or ace; if your opponents play differently, that is their right. Presumably North would have bid a grand slam if South had a second king; perhaps South would bid a grand slam if holding an eight-card suit. In any case, you know that South has all the top diamonds, so North holds the rest of the aces. How do you fancy your chances of beating 6♦? Certainly, you have an unpleasant surprise for declarer: the trump suit is not as solid as he thinks. However, if he needs a spade finesse, it will work for him – unless you put him to the test before he knows about the bad trump break. Try leading the ♠2 at trick 1. Of course, he could finesse dummy’s ♠Q; in practice, he will not. He will be too worried that you have led a singleton. He will surely rise with dummy’s ♠A and have no way of recovery when he finds the trumps are 4-0. If you fail to lead the ♠2 at trick 1, declarer will take the spade finesse later.

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

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

♠ 9 6 ♥ 2 ♦ 8 6 5 4 3 ♣ Q J 6 5 4

West North East South 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 3♥ Pass 4♠ End

Page 26

♠ 9 8 7 ♥ 9 8 7 5 3 ♦ 3 ♣ 8 7 5 4

West North East Pass 3NT End

South 1NT

While a spade lead is obvious, now is the time for leading a deceptive ♠2, telling the world you have only four spades. You will deceive partner – but partner can have nothing, so that hardly matters. If you can persuade declarer that you have only four spades, he will believe that it is safer to drive out the ♣A and ♦A rather than take the heart finesse.

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

West North East Pass 3NT End

South 1NT

This looks most promising: although partner can have nothing, you can drive out the ♥A and ♥Q to set up three heart tricks to go with the ♠A and ♦A. So is there anything to think about? The only issue is this, ‘is there any chance of escaping with only one heart loser?’ A singleton ♥A in dummy will not help, except in the unlikely event that declarer holds the doubleton ♥Q. However, what if dummy has the singleton ♥Q? In that case leading your ♥K will be a spectacular success. Does the North hand surprise you? 3NT is an eminently practical bid with the long and solid minor. If there is a lead to beat it, let the defenders find it. The lead will be coming up to any ■ tenaces in the South hand.

READERS’ LETTERS HOW I FEEL

Mrs Shutte, you are an example to us all.

Despite running a club that was always open, Terry made sure that there was a wellstocked bar and somehow had time to be a member of the EBU Laws and Ethics Committee. He was recognised as the most knowledgeable and respected director in the region and the sessions were always well organised. In 2005, the EBU presented him with the Dimmie Fleming Award for a lifetime of service to bridge. The same year, he retired, closing the Wessex Bridge Centre. He continued playing bridge, primarily with Gigi and was a regular at Bournemouth Bridge Club. He was always professional and a good friend. He will be sadly missed.

TERRY UDALL – R.I.P.

Miles Cowling, Bournemouth Bridge Club.

I have enjoyed your free publication, BRIDGE, for years and I have learned such a lot from it and hope to continue to do so. I have never written to you before but feel I must to tell you how much I enjoy Sally Brock’s contributions. She is someone I can relate to. As well as her busy bridge schedule, she has a life outside the game. Her touch is light and refreshing and she sounds warm and human. There is no point in thinking these thoughts and not passing them on. So now I have. Marie Shutte, Denmead, Hants. 

I recall Terry telling me that he bought The Wessex Bridge Centre in 1963, rebuilt it in 1972 and re-opened it in 1973. The club thrived and was for many years the largest in Dorset. With the possible exception of a few Weymouth-based players, The Wessex membership contained most of the County’s top players. If required to put out teams of 8, the second team would still be quite formidable. The club hosted most of the county tournaments and held an event most Sundays. It was Terry’s efforts (aided by his wife Gigi) that gave the club its deserved reputation. The club met every day except Saturdays.

They don’t make them like him these days.

SUGGESTION We thoroughly enjoy your magazine and the Bernard Magee Interactive Acol Bidding and Defence CDs. However, we are gradually becoming hooked on iPads. Please can you develop and produce the Interactive Series, Bidding, Defence and Declarer Play in a form suitable for the iPad. Elizabeth Puxley, Potters Bar, Enfield.

appreciation for the team led by Tony Richards. I have never done anything by myself before but they immediately made me feel at ease. The organisation was first class and they gave their time when we wanted to play supervised bridge. I cannot praise them enough. The seminars were well conducted, questions answered clearly and no one was ever made to feel their question unworthy of a good answer. Mrs F Casserly, Lee-on-Solent.

MORE PARTY BRIDGE At our bridge parties, we play bridge, but move as if at a whist drive, with the winning gent moving up the numbered tables and the winning lady moving down. The losing gent moves round one seat. This mixes partners up well. Some of our novelty hands are announced at stages throughout the evening. For example, a player holding the ♠A plays in 4♠. Players making a trick with a two get a chocolate from a selection box provided. The player with the ♣A plays in 3NT. Wine is provided by the club and members bring an American supper. Most hands however, are played as normal. We keep it simple and ban all conventions except Stayman and Transfers. Mrs R Bridger, Romsey.

BEGIN BRIDGE A group of my friends and I decided to take up bridge. We are at the stage of total

confusion. Last week, my brain was so addled I tried to bid, ‘One no club.’ Then I came across a piece of software which transformed my learning of the game. I waxed lyrical about this and, of course, all my friends wanted one. I told them it was by Barnie McGrew. ‘Wasn’t he a fireman and didn’t he have friends called Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub,’ asked one puzzled listener. He was, and he did and I realised my terrible mistake. So may I apologise to the amazing Bernard Magee, as it was his Begin Bridge CD that I bought. It is the best money I have spent in a long time. His explanations are so clear and he makes it all sound so easy. I know it isn’t, but at least I have a better understanding now. So, thank you Bernard. I always knew I would like bridge, but now I love it, and his use of the word brilliant when you get something right is so encouraging. Mrs Maria Wood, Lytham, Lancs.

CORRECTION As a bridge novice, I am very grateful for the knowledge and advice I learn from reading your magazine. However, as a rock music old hand I should like to point out that it was Motorhead, not Iron Maiden, that recorded The Ace of Spades, see Christmas Quiz answers in BRIDGE 121. Iron Maiden recorded Aces High. Mary Farrell by email.

REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value,

BACK HOME On 21 December, I arrived back in the UK, after a cruise on m.v. Voyager. I would like to register my

Page 27

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 2nd class: 100x37p+100x13p)

(/Fax 020 8422 4906 e-mail: [email protected]

CHARITY BRIDGE EVENTS APRIL 2013 10 RNLI Charity bridge match. The Institute, Leatherhead. Tickets £30 a table. Ann Chapman ( 01372 720020 peter.chapman @btinternet.com 16 ST. DOMINIC’S CATHOLIC CHURCH APPEAL FUND Church Hall, Jubilee Road, Dursley, Glos. GL11 4ES. 1.30-5pm. £5 pp includes afternoon tea and raffle. Pat Uglow ( 01453 542179 Richard & Syd Gwyer ( 01453 860512 19 MS THERAPY CENTRE Village Hall, Hemingford Abbots. 10.30am. £14.00. Jenny Lea ( 01480 455810 21 HOSPICARE Swiss Teams at Exeter Golf & Country Club 11am. £60 per team includes a salad platter and tea/coffee. Carol Horgan ( 01392 875513 26 ST WILFRID’S HOSPICE Inner Wheel Club of Chichester Bridge Drive. Lavant Memorial Hall, Pook Lane, Laven. PO18 0AH. 2pm. £24 per table (inc. tea). Please bring bridge cloth and playing cards. Beverly Guest ( 01243 605503 [email protected]

29 AFRICAN MISSIONS Bridge tea, Ladywell, Godalming, Surrey. 2pm. £32 per table. Sr. June Shirville ( 01483 419393 [email protected]

JUNE 2013 12 BREAKTHROUGH BREAST CANCER Bridge afternoon. Bartholomew Barn, Kirdford, West Sussex. RH14 0LN 1.30pm. £20 pp (tables of 4). Sumptuous tea, raffle and bubbles. Jo Rees ( 01903 740512 www.bartholomewbarn.co.uk 14 ST MARY’S CHURCH Eaton Socon, St Neots. 10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50. Malcolm Howarth ( 01480 212910

JULY 2013 4 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE ROTARY CLUB Outlane Golf Club. 12 for 12.30. £44 per table. Brian Noble ( 01484 427356 7 RUNSWICK BAY RESCUE BOAT Bridge Day. Hinderwell Village Hall. 10am. £16 each to include lunch. Karen ( 01947 841013  12 GREAT BARFORD CHURCH Village Hall, Great Barford. 10.00 for 10.30am. Tickets £13.50. Derek Fordham ( 01234 870324

MAY 2013

AUGUST 2013

9 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE ROTARY CLUB Outlane Golf Club. 12 for 12.30. £44 per table. Brian Noble ( 01484 427356

16 ST IVES DAY CARE CENTRE Hemingford Abbots Village Hall. Tickets £13.50. Don Moorman ( 01480 463444

17 CHILDREN’S CHARITIES Doddington Village Hall, March. £14. 10 for 10.30am. Val Topliss ( 01354 653696 17 FRIENDS OF GIRLGUIDING Oxfordshire, Eynsham Village Hall, 10am-3.30pm. £30 a pair. Bridget Walton ( 01993 702934 [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 2013 5 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE ROTARY CLUB Outlane Golf Club. 12 for 12.30. £44 per table. Brian Noble ( 01484 427356

OCTOBER 2013 4 ST ANDREWS CHURCH Mandeville Hall. Kimbolton. Tickets £14.00. Mavis Campion ( 01480 860477

E-mail your charity events: [email protected]

READERS’ LETTERS continued

WELL MET On the Inaugural Cruise of m.v. VOYAGER there were two couples from Kintyre, a remote area of Scotland. Neil and Hilary MacDonald met James and Celia Holgate for the first time. Neil, James and Celia were all bridge players and when it came to the competitions they won through. Neil MacDonald won the Bidding Quiz, and the Handicap Pairs Competition was won by James and Celia Holgate. Mrs C Holgate by email.

SHALL WE OR NOT We are a club of some 120130 members and have been asked by our chairman whether or not we would wish the club to become affiliated to the EBU. No one seems to know the ramifications of this. Could you offer us some unbiased information of the pros and cons of joining. What are the costs to both club and members? What are the advantages? What are the disadvantages? How will it work at club level? Tony Snarey, Glemsford, Suffolk.

This is in hand for the March issue.

BRIDGE BOOKS I am about to publish my first catalogue of largely out of print and antiquarian books on bridge and other card games (including whist, patience, canasta, bezique, poker, gin rummy) and packs of cards. If any reader would like to receive a

copy, please email or ring me and I will send you a copy. Gordon Bickley [email protected] ( 07530 553594.

 

AS YOU LIKE IT I recently purchased Bernard Magee’s DVD Responding to 1NT. Bernard was his normal professional self and that was fine. However, the camera work was not. There were endless camera switches to the audience and to Bernard himself. That made it very difficult to concentrate on the boards that were being displayed on the screen. I have no interest in seeing the audience (unless a question is being asked) and very little interest in a shot of Bernard who is explaining something that is on the screen. Such a pity. A good product needlessly spoilt. Mr J Emerson, Bartonupon-Humber, Lincs.

A point of view. I will consult Hugh Dehn, ahead of the Denham Grove filming.

I’M OLD FASHIONED 1NT is 12-14 points and no 5-card major. Mr M J (Dinger) Bell by email.

SAD NEWS Liz Hutchinson sadly died of heart failure late in December 2012. Liz will be greatly missed by husband Ray, family and friends. Liz enjoyed accompanying Ray on nearly all the many Mr Bridge cruises and weekend events which he was privileged to host, until he himself had to retire a couple of years ago. Roger Williams by email.

May she rest in peace.

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 28

■

A to Z of Bridge compiled by Julian Pottage

R

reveals one potentially weak suit (e.g. the opponents have bid it or the partnership has bid the other three suits), a raise to five of the agreed major asks partner to bid on with a suitable holding in the weak suit. Continuations are:

RABBIT

An inexperienced or weak player. RACK

Apparatus to hold handicapped players.

cards

for

RAGS

Pass No first- or second- round control 5NT King 6 agreed suit Singleton Any other bid Ace or void in the suit

A poor holding, e.g. ‘two rags’, a low doubleton.

For example:

RAISE



To increase the level of the contract in partner’s last-mentioned denomination. West’s last call shown in the auctions below is a raise.

♠ A J 7 5 3 ♥ 6 4 ♦ A K Q 9 4 2 ♣ Void

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

North East South Pass 2♦ Pass

Unless partner has bid the suit strongly, a raise normally shows support for partner’s suit. Example hands consistent with the above auctions are: Hand 1 Hand 2 ♠ J 9 4 ♠ A J 9 4 2 ♥ A 8 5 3 ♥ 9 4 ♦ Q 9 4 ♦ K J 9 3 ♣ 10 3 2 ♣ K 4

RAISE TO FIVE OF A MAJOR

In a slam sequence, when the bidding

N W E S

North East South 3♥ 3♠ Pass

West wants to play in a slam unless there are two fast heart losers and bids 5♠ to ask. RANK

1. The relative value of the cards: the ace is the highest and the two the lowest. 2. The status achieved in a ranking system. 3. The rank of the suits as used to distinguish between the major suits (spades and hearts) and the minor suits (diamonds and clubs). RANKING SYSTEM

A system of measuring a player’s ability and/or experience relative to other players. The English Bridge Union Ranking System works on Page 29

Master Points accumulated. Rank Master Points Local Master 100 Club Master 200 Area Master 500 District Master 1,000 County Master 2,500 Master 5,000 Advanced Master 7,500 * Master 10,000 ** Master 15,000 *** Master 20,000 **** Master 25,000 ***** Master 30,000 Tournament Master 40,000 * Tournament Master 50,000 (further star for each extra 10,000) Premier Master 5,000 including at least 10 Green Points * Premier Master 10,000 including at least 10 Green Points (further star for each extra 5,000) Regional Master 10,000 including at least 25 Green Points * Regional Master 20,000 including at least 25 Green Points (further star for each extra 10,000) Premier Regional Master 20,000 including at least 50 Green Points * Premier Regional Master 30,000 including at least 50 Green Points (further star for each extra 10,000) National Master 30,000 including at least 75 Green Points Premier National Master 40,000 including at least 100 Green Points Life Master 60,000 including at least 150 Green Points Premier Life Master 90,000 including at least 300 Green Points Grand Master 120,000 including at least 600 Green Points Premier Grand Master 1,500 Green Points The SBU, WBU and NIBU have similar ranking systems.

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ABTA No.Y2206

A to Z of Bridge continued

REBIDDABLE SUIT

A suit of five cards, normally headed by at least two of the top honours (ace, king, queen). Any six-card or longer suit. Bidding a suit twice or overcalling in it at the two level or higher normally shows a rebiddable suit. Hand 1 Hand 2 ♠ 8 4 ♠ 8 4 ♥ A J 4 ♥ K 10 4 ♦ A Q 5 ♦ A 5 ♣ K 9 4 3 2 ♣ K J 9 4 3 2

With the first hand, you do not have a rebiddable suit. You open 1NT (weak) or, if RHO opens 1♠, you double. With the second hand, you do. You open 1♣ or, if RHO opens 1♠ (or a red suit), you overcall 2♣. RECAPITULATION SHEET

Sheet on which the results of each board, the totals for each pair and the final placings are on display after a duplicate event. RECTIFYING THE COUNT

The deliberate loss of a trick or tricks in preparation for a squeeze. For most squeezes to succeed, you need to play the squeeze card when you have the ready winners to take all the remaining tricks but one. If you have two tricks to lose, usually the squeeze will fail. However, you can often remedy the situation by giving up a trick before playing the squeeze card. For example: ♠ 3 2 ♥ A K 6 ♦ A Q 7 2 ♣ A K Q 5 ♠ Q J 10 8 ♥ 3 2 N ♦ 6 5 W E S ♣ 9 8 7 4 3 ♠ A 5 4 ♥ Q 7 5 4 ♦ K 4 3 ♣ J 10 6

As South, you play in 6NT and receive the lead of the ♠Q. With eleven top tricks, the contract will be simple if either red suit divides 3-3. You can also succeed if either opponent holds at least four cards in both red suits, for then a squeeze is possible. However, if you win the opening lead and then cash four clubs, only five tricks will have gone. Each player will have eight cards left: anyone who started with four hearts and four diamonds will have no difficulty in retaining them; a squeeze will not operate. Instead, you duck the opening lead, win the spade continuation and then cash four clubs. At this point six tricks will have gone and only seven cards will remain in each hand. Neither defender will be able to retain four cards in both hearts and diamonds. On this layout, East is squeezed. Ducking the opening lead ‘rectifies the count’. RED

1. This is one of the traffic-light terms that the Laws and Ethics Committee of the English Bridge Union uses to categorise psychic bids. A ‘red’ psyche is one where the partnership’s subsequent actions provide sufficient evidence of an unauthorised partnership understanding to warrant an adjusted score. 2. Shorthand for describing the vulnerability of both partnerships on a board. The ‘red’ partnership is vulnerable but their opponents are not. RED DOT

A marking to go on a convention card signifying that the partnership employs non-standard leads. RED POINT

Scottish National Master Point, equivalent to an English Green Point. REDEAL

♠ K 9 7 6 ♥ J 10 9 8 ♦ J 10 9 8 ♣ 2

A fresh deal following an irregularity during the original deal or, in Chicago, a fresh deal after a pass-out. REDOUBLE

A call that doubles again the value of the trick score, the penalty for undertricks and the bonuses for overtricks of a contract that an opponent has already doubled. It will also lead to an Page 31

additional bonus (‘for the insult’) of 100 points if the contract makes. Redoubled contracts are rare because whichever side loses on the deal is likely to record a large loss. At low levels, many redoubles are conventional, either suggesting general strength or, if the opponents have made a penalty double, the desire for rescue. RE-ENTRY

A second entry. A re-entry can be useful for a number of purposes, such as to repeat a successful finesse or to cash an established winner. REFUSE

You refuse (to win a trick) if you play a low card when you have a winner available. Duck and hold up are more common terms for such a play. RELAY

A bid (often the cheapest bid) that does not convey any information but simply marks time while partner describes his hand. It is common in artificial systems. For example, with the Multi 2♦ convention, a 2♥ response to 2♦ says simply that responder wishes to play in 2♥ if opener has a heart suit. RELAY SYSTEM

A bidding system employing relays so that one member of the partnership describes his hand accurately and the other decides the final contract. RELAY TABLE

Table used for boards not in play, particularly during a Howell movement or a relay Mitchell. Boards move from playing tables on to the relay table(s) and then back to playing tables. REMAINING COUNT

A method of defensive signalling after you have not shown your length on the first play of a suit (for example if you were covering an honour, playing third-hand-high). If you have an odd number of cards left, you discard or lead your lowest card (just as you would play low from an odd number if you were signalling length on the first play of the suit.) If you have an even number left, you play a high card. For example, suppose you hold Q-J-6-3 and your first play is to put

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ABTA No.Y2206

A to Z of Bridge continued

up the jack third in seat. You have an odd number of cards remaining, so if you lead or discard from the suit, you play the three. If a partnership’s primary discarding method is suit preference or attitude, it is also quite common to play that a second discard shows remaining count, even in a new suit. REMOVE A DOUBLE

To bid again after partner has made a penalty double, thus signifying an unwillingness to defend the doubled contract. Removing a penalty double tends to be an exceptional action. You would need to have significantly better offensive potential or significantly weaker defensive potential than your previous bidding has indicated.

♠ 8 7 ♥ 6 ♦ K J 10 7 4 3 2 ♣ Q 10 3

N W E S

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

Although the strength of your hand is within the expected range, your 1NT response did nothing to suggest a singleton heart or a 7-card diamond suit. RENEGE

Old-fashioned term for revoke. REOPEN THE BIDDING

A call made by a player who is sitting in the position that, were he to pass, the bidding would end. He may be acting in a balancing role, deducing that his partner has some values from the opponents’ lack of desire to bid higher. The lower the level, the more likely it is that you will want to reopen. REOPENING DOUBLE

A double, intended for take-out, used by the player in the pass-out seat to keep the auction alive. A common

situation is for opener to reopen with a double as an effective way of competing after partner has passed over an opponent’s intervention, especially if negative doubles are part of the system.

♠ A Q 8 6 4 ♥ K 10 4 ♦ A Q 7 3 ♣ 3

West’s rescue into 1♥ suggests long hearts and short clubs, clearly in a hand too weak to bid the first time. West might hold:

N W E S

♠ 9 8 ♥ Q 10 7 5 3 2 ♦ J 8 5 ♣ 4 2

N W E S

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

To have an alternative line of play available, e.g. ‘To keep the heart finesse in reserve’.

Double is a much better call than 2♦, partly because it gives East the option to convert to penalties by passing and partly because the best contract may be in hearts.

RESERVE ONE’S RIGHTS

REPEATED FINESSE

RESPOND

To finesse more than once in the same suit against the same opponent.

♦ 8 5 2 N W E S



To make a bid after partner has opened the bidding, or if partner has made a conventional asking bid (such as Stayman or Blackwood). Unless partner’s bid was forcing, you do not have to respond with a very weak hand. RESPONDER

♦ A Q J

If you lead a diamond to the queen and it wins, you will want to return to the North hand and repeat the finesse against East’s presumed king by leading up to the jack. REPECHAGE

A competition in which competitors, knocked out in the qualifying stages of the main event, have a second opportunity to qualify for the final of the main event by winning a secondary event. RESCUE

To take out into what you hope to be a safer contract. The term usually applies after the opponents have made a penalty double (or left in a take-out double for penalties). West North Pass Dbl 1♥

To alert the opponents at the table that you believe an irregularity has occurred and therefore that you may need to call the Tournament Director.

East South 1♣ Pass Pass Pass

Page 33

The partner of the player who makes the opening bid. For example, if West opens 1♣, East is responder. RESPONDER’S REVERSE

A non-jump rebid by responder in a new suit that is higher-ranking than his first and is at the two-level or above. Opener Responder 1♣ 1♥ 2♣ 2♠

By tradition, a responder’s reverse is forcing for one round, though some modern players treat it as a game force. RESPONSE

This is a bid made following partner’s bid (usually an opening bid but sometimes a conventional enquiry). For example, in the sequence 1♣-pass-1♥, the 1♥ is a response to the 1♣ opening. If the response is in the suit partner bid, it is usual to call it a raise rather than a response. The range for a simple response

A to Z of Bridge continued

the jack half the time and the queen half the time, East is roughly twice as likely to hold the singleton queen as he is the queen-jack doubleton.

at the one level is very wide. You can have as few as 5 or 6 points. With a hand unsuitable for a jump shift, you could have 20 or even more points. For a two-level response, the minimum threshold is higher, 9 or 10 points in Acol, but more in some other systems.

RESTRICTED LICENCE

A treatment or convention licensed by the EBU for use only in certain competitions. RESULTS’ MERCHANT

A player who extols the merits of a line of play, either because on the actual layout of the cards it would have succeeded, or because on the actual results on a board it would have scored well, rather than on logical analysis.

Hand 1 Hand 2 ♠ 8 5 ♠ K 4 ♥ K 10 7 3 ♥ A K 10 7 4 ♦ J 7 4 ♦ 4 ♣ Q 8 5 4 ♣ A Q J 7 4

RETAIN THE LEAD

To keep the lead by playing a card known to be a winner. If you know the opponents have enough tricks ready to run to defeat your contract or make their contract, it can be a good idea to play in such a way as to retain the lead.

With the first hand, you respond 1♥ to 1♦ (or 1♣) but 1NT to 1♠. With the second hand, you respond 1♥ to 1♦ (or 1♣) or 2♥ to 1♠. RESPONSIVE DOUBLE The use of a double for take-out when partner has already made a take-out double and the third player has supported the opener. For example:



West North East South 1♣ Dbl 3♣ Dbl

N W E S

The double suggests the values to compete but with no strong preference for a particular suit. The partnership needs to agree how high responsive doubles apply. Up to and including 4♦ (the highest part-score bid) is popular.



RESTRICTED CHOICE

The Principle of Restricted Choice is a mathematical principle based on the assumption that, with two cards of equal value, a player will play either of them randomly. For example: K 10 9 8 7 6 N

♠ 7 6 ♥ A K 10 9 ♦ K J 9 4 ♣ 10 9 3

♠ A 4 ♥ J 5 ♦ A 10 6 2 ♣ A K J 8 2

As South, you play in 3NT and receive a spade lead. You have seven top tricks and a successful finesse against one of the missing queens would give you two more. However, a losing finesse would spell instant defeat. You therefore play to retain the lead early in the play, thereby maximising your chances. You cash the ♦A-K and the ♣A-K. If neither queen has dropped, you fall back on playing West for the ♥Q.

W E (J)-5-4 Q-(J) S

A 3 2

South, the declarer, cashes the ace and East drops the queen. Given that with queen-jack doubleton, East will play

RETURN

1. If you lead a suit that your partner has previously led, this is a return. 2. To make such a lead e.g. West led a spade. East won with the ace and returned the three. 3. To re-enter a hand, e.g. South took a Page 34

heart finesse and returned to dummy to finesse again. REVALUATION

The mental adjustment to the value of one’s hand in the light of the previous bidding. For example, a holding of K-x is likely to improve in value if one’s right hand opponent bids the suit but decline in value if one’s left-hand opponent bids it. Even a holding of small cards can improve (or decline) in value as the bidding progresses. For example, if you have 8-5-2 in a suit and RHO bids it, you will treat this as a poor holding as any honours partner has in the suit will be under the bid. However, if LHO supports the suit strongly, you will place partner with a shortage and adjust upwards, knowing you have no wasted values in the suit. REVERSE

A non-jump rebid in a new suit that takes you above the level of two of your original suit, usually in a higherranking suit. Any player can reverse, though the term most commonly applies to a reverse by opener. In the first three sequences shown below, the last bid shown is a reverse. West North East South 1♣ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♦ West North East South 1♦ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠

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

The 2♠ bid in the fourth sequence is not a reverse; this is because the 2♦ response had already taken the bidding above the level of 2♣. When a reverse is in a higher-ranking suit, the first bid suit will always be longer than the second suit. A reverse nearly always shows values beyond those already promised.

A to Z of Bridge continued

REVERSE SIGNALS/DISCARDS

A method of signalling/discarding whereby you play a low card to encourage and a high card to discourage. This reverses the standard high-low signals/ discards. The chief advantage is that, with a doubleton, you do not need to use what may be an important card that you cannot afford to encourage. Despite their technical superiority over standard signals, few pairs use them. REVERSING THE DUMMY

This is the same as a dummy reversal. It involves taking multiple ruffs in the long trump hand, thereby generating an extra trump winner, while leaving the short trump hand to draw the opposing trumps. Suppose you have a trump suit of A-Q-10-x-x facing K-J-9. If you take three (or more ruffs) in the long trump hand, you will make more than the five trump tricks with which you started. For reversing the dummy to be successful, you will usually need strong trumps and plenty of entries in the short trump hand. Another good reason for reversing the dummy is that dummy’s trumps are strong but yours are not. For example, with a trump suit of 6-5-4-3-2 facing A-K-Q, ruffing with the high trumps in the short holding is going to be unproductive. REVIEWING THE BIDDING

At his turn to call, a player may request a review of the auction. At duplicate, an opponent must give such a review and must include every call, with alerts. REVOKE

To fail to follow suit when able to do so. A revoke becomes established when either member of the offending side plays to the next trick. The Laws apply. REVOLVING DISCARDS

A system of discards whereby the rank of the discard signals for a lead in another suit. A discard of a high card asks for the lead of the suit ranking immediately above the suit of the discard (clubs above spades) and similarly for a low ranking discard (spades before clubs).

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

jors with longer clubs than diamonds and a 2♦ overcall shows both majors with longer diamonds than clubs. ROCK-CRUSHER ♠ 10 7 3 ♥ K Q 5 ♦ 7 2 ♣ Q 10 9 8 4

West leads the ♥3 against South’s 3NT. East plays the queen, taken by South’s ace. When declarer plays diamonds, West holds up his ace until the third round to allow his partner the chance to signal. Playing ‘revolving discards’, on the third round of diamonds the ♠3 or the ♣10 will ask for a heart. RHO

Short for Right-Hand Opponent. RHYTHM

To bid or play in rhythm is to bid or play at an even speed. RIDE

To take a finesse by playing a card and letting it run, if not covered by LHO. Q J 10 3 2 N

W E 8 6 K 9 4 S A 7 5

You lead the queen from the North hand and let it ‘ride’ unless East covers with the king. RIFFLE SHUFFLE

An effective form of shuffling by interweaving two portions of a pack and repeating the process several times. A perfect riffle shuffle (two portions perfectly interwoven) is not a true shuffle at all since a second identical shuffle restores the pack to its original form. RIPSTRA

A little used defence to an opening 1NT whereby a 2♣ overcall shows both maPage 35

A hand of tremendous trick-taking ability; powerhouse is a similar term. ROLLING BLACKWOOD

After a Blackwood 4NT enquiry some players use the cheapest available (non-trump suit) bid to ask for kings. This goes by the name ‘Rolling Blackwood’ or ‘Sliding Blackwood’. ROLLING GERBER

A convention whereby after the response to 4♣, a relay in the cheapest non-trump suit subsequently asks for kings. This also goes by the name Sliding Gerber. ROMAN ASKING BIDS

A method of establishing the suitability of the two hands for slam purposes. In certain situations, when a partnership has a trump suit, a bid of a new suit asks partner to describe his holding in that suit on the following scale: 1st step no control 2nd step king or singleton 3rd step ace or void 4th step ace-king or ace-queen ROMAN BLACKWOOD

A version of Blackwood originally used in the Roman system but now rare. After 4NT, the responses are: 5♣ zero or three aces 5♦ one or four aces The responses of 5♥, 5♠ and 5NT show two aces, either of the same colour, the same rank or the two other aces. The original school of thought was: 5♥ two aces of the same colour 5♠ two aces neither of the same rank nor the same colour (ie spades and diamonds or hearts and clubs) 5NT two aces of the same rank Some players prefer the CRO principle, i.e. 5♥ same Colour, 5♠ same Rank, 5NT the two Others. A player can then ask for kings in a similar way. ROMAN GERBER

A version of Gerber modelled on the same lines as Roman Blackwood.

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A to Z of Bridge continued

ROMAN JUMP OVERCALL

A system of two-suited jump overcalls whereby immediate jump suit overcalls show intermediate two-suiters. You bid the lower ranking of two touching suits (excluding the opener’s suit), whilst a 2NT overcall shows a strong unspecified two-suiter. Since this method does not allow you to make single-suited jump overcalls, very few pairs play it. ROMAN KEY-CARD BLACKWOOD

A sophisticated variation of Blackwood in which the king of the trump suit is like a ‘fifth’ ace; the four aces and the king of trumps are all key cards. The usual responses to 4NT are: 5♣ 0 or 3 key cards 5♦ 1 or 4 key cards 5♥ 2 or 5 key cards but not the queen of trumps 5♠ 2 or 5 key cards including the queen of trumps 5NT 2 key cards plus a useful void 6 suit 3 key cards with void in that suit (6 of the trump suit shows a void in higher suit) After a 5♣ or 5♦ response, the 4NT bidder may continue with a bid in the lowest non-trump suit to enquire about the queen of trumps. The responder returns to the trump suit at the lowest level without the queen or, with it, bids 5NT or cue bids a secondround control. An alternative method is for responder to proceed: one step without the queen, two steps with it. The 4NT bidder can continue with a bid of 5NT to ask for the non-trump kings. Responses can be to show the lowest king or on the standard step principle: 6♣ 0 king 6♦ 1 king 6♥ 2 kings 6♠ 3 kings

West East 1♠ 4♥1 4NT 5♠2 5NT 6♦3 7♠ 1 splinter 2 two key cards and the ♠Q 3 the ♦K or one non-trump king

Roman Key-card Blackwood is a powerful tool and popular amongst tournament players. ROMAN LEADS

A system of leads whereby one leads the second highest card from a sequence. For example, from K-Q-J-x you lead the queen. From an interior sequence, the lead is the same as the standard lead e.g. from K-10-9-x you lead the ten. ROMAN SYSTEM

System devised by Walter Avarelli and Giorgio Belladonna and used by them as members of the Italian Blue Team. The system uses an artificial 1♣ opening (either balanced 12-16 points or 17+ points) and canapé. ROMAN TWO DIAMONDS

A convention whereby a 2♦ opening shows a strong three-suited hand with, typically, 17-20 high card points. ROMEX TRIAL BIDS

A method used in conjunction with a strong club system that allows a player to make both long-suit and short-suit trial bids, by employing relays after a single raise of a major suit. ROPE

After an opponent doubles a 4NT ace enquiry, Redouble shows an Odd number of aces, Pass an Even number. ROPI

After an opponent doubles a 4NT ace enquiry, Redouble shows zero (O) aces, Pass one (I). This method is in popular use in the UK. ROTATION



♠ A J 10 7 4 ♥ A 8 5 4 N W E ♦ A Q 5 S ♣ Q

♠ K Q 8 3 ♥ 6 ♦ K 8 6 2 ♣ A 8 5 2

The sequence and order in which the bidding and play occur at the table. ROUND

A set of boards in a duplicate event Page 37

that a pair plays against the same opposition. ROUND OFF

To round off the net score at the end of a rubber to the nearest hundred, with players rounding 50 either upwards or downwards. ROUND ROBIN

A form of contest in which each competing group (team, pair or individual) plays against every other competing group. ROUNDED SUITS

Clubs and hearts, so named because of the shape of their symbols. Likewise, spades and diamonds are the ‘Pointed Suits’. ROVER

A pair in a Mitchell movement that displaces a different North-South pair each round, known as a ‘roving pair’. Using a rover can help to accommodate a pair that arrives late when there was originally a complete number of tables. RUBBER

The best of three games in rubber bridge. The term ‘rubber’ probably derives from the game of bowls. RUBBER BRIDGE

The original form of contract bridge in which the objective is to make two games before your opponents and thereby win the rubber bonus. You can make game by scoring 100 points ‘below the line’ either on one deal or by accumulating partscores to reach that total. RUBBER DUPLICATE

A teams-of-four event in which the players play boards in a fixed order in each room until one room reaches the end of a rubber. RUFF

To play a trump on the lead of a side suit. You can ruff a trick if you are void in the suit led and have one or more trumps in your hand. RUFF AND DISCARD

To discard a loser from one hand while ruffing in the other.

A to Z of Bridge continued

♠ 2 ♥ 2 ♦ Void ♣ Void ♠ Void ♥ Void N ♦ Void W E S ♣ 3 2 ♠ 3 ♥ 3 ♦ Void ♣ Void

RUFFING FINESSE

The lead of one of a sequence of high cards towards a void. If the player in second seat does not cover, you allow the lead to run; if there is a cover, you ruff and return later to cash the established winners. For example: K Q J 10 N

W E 9 8 7 6 2 A543 S

Void

As South, you lead the king of this side-suit from dummy. If East plays his ace, you ruff, thus establishing the Q-J-10 as winners. If East plays low, you discard a loser. If West held the ace, the ruffing finesse would fail, though you might still be able to discard a loser and succeed in setting up dummy’s winners. A trick won by a ruff.

A simple mathematical formula stating that, if the lead is fourth highest, the number of cards capable of beating it in the other three hands is equal to eleven minus the pip value of the card led. K52

♠ Void ♥ A K ♦ Void ♣ Void

South is declarer and spades are trumps. If any hand other than West is on lead then East will win a heart trick. However, with West on lead and obliged to lead a club, South can ruff in dummy and discard a heart from hand. Alternatively, he could choose to discard a heart from dummy and ruff in his own hand. As a defender, you generally want to avoid giving a ruff and discard if you can help it.

RUFFING TRICK

RULE OF ELEVEN

N

W E Q 10 8 7 AJ96 S

4 3

If East judges that the seven is a fourth-highest lead, he can use the rule of eleven. Taking seven from eleven leaves four cards higher than the seven, all of which he can see between his hand and dummy. He can deduce that South has no card higher than the seven and hence that he can play low at trick one to leave West on lead to play a second round of the suit through dummy’s king at trick two. RULE OF NINETEEN

Rule established by the Laws and Ethics Committee of the EBU, stating that the minimum agreeable standard for an opening suit bid at the one-level is either 11 high-card points or that the sum of the number of high-card points and the lengths of the two longest suits must total at least nineteen.

♠ K ♥ 8 6 5 4 2 ♦ A Q 6 4 2 ♣ 5 4

RULE OF TWO AND THREE

The doctrine, in pre-emptive bidding, that one should not risk going down more than two tricks, if vulnerable, and three tricks if not vulnerable. If you adhere to the rule, the opponents double and partner has a useless hand, you will lose a penalty of 500, broadly the same as an opposing game. With the rule, if you have seven tricks in your hand, you can pre-empt to the four level non-vulnerable or the three level vulnerable. Many modern players pre-empt a little more aggressively than the rule of two and three, partly because the opponents may have a slam if partner has a bust and partly because the opponents rarely double. RULING

A decision based upon the Laws of the game, made by a Tournament Director or by an Appeals Committee. RUN

1. To change to a different suit or to no-trumps if an opponent doubles a contract for penalties. 2. To run a suit is to play the suit card after card without losing the lead. For example, if dummy has ♣A-K-Q-J-7-5, declarer is likely to ‘run’ the clubs. 3. To take a finesse by leading an honour and play low if a higher honour does not cover it. For example: Q74



N

W E 5 2 K863

With 9 high-card points and two 5-card suits, this hand would be minimally acceptable under the Rule of Nineteen for an opening bid (9+5+5). Note that this rule does not suggest that weak hands of this type justify a sensible opening bid (especially here when the singleton king may be worth fewer than 3 points), but rather that bidding with a lower total than 19 (at level 2, 18 at level 3 and above) would constitute a psyche. Most players use either the rule of 20 or a more sophisticated rule that also takes account of the hand’s defensive potential. Page 38

S

A J 10 9

Here you might lead the queen from dummy (North) and ‘run’ it, thereby retaining the lead in dummy for a further finesse. RUSINOW LEADS

A lead method by which you lead second highest from a standard honour sequence (e.g. Q from K-Q-J) and third highest from an interior sequence (e.g. 10 from K-J-10). ■

The Diaries of Wendy Wensum Episode 12: An Aegean Jaunt Part 1: The Gallic Challenge

L

imnos is a Greek island of exquisite beauty, a holiday paradise with cooling breezes far from the blistering heat of Athens. Overlooking the sea between Myrini and Thanos is a village that evokes the spirit of traditional Greece. The narrow streets offer an endearing mixture of faded and freshly painted white dwellings, some in need of repair. All paths lead to the main square where local children play and old men drink ouzo, musing over games of backgammon, twisting and jostling their worry beads. Bordered on three sides by the church, the school and shops, the centre of village life is here. The square is completed by two tavernas. The leafy canopy of a grape vine shades one of these. No menu here. The curious enter the kitchen to inspect the dishes of the day, bubbling and sizzling on hobs and in ovens. In the evenings, the hubbub of voices continues past midnight, children as lively as their parents and grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts; the extended family is evident everywhere. Here, in this village, time tries to stand still. Could this peace be maintained? Was a new conflict about to break out? Dining at the taverna one evening, Spouse and I were surprised to hear snatches of French from the next table. Pierre and Marie were from Normandy. Using limited combinations of French and English, we soon discovered that they were enjoying their Greek holiday. The only thing they were missing was a game of bridge. The table was soon cleared for action. The chairs were rather hard and uncomfortable, demonstrating the inadequacies of

headache cures compared to cushions, but with a Union Flag on a cocktail stick set in a bowl of olives in front of Spouse and the Tricolour similarly mounted in front of Pierre, the cards were dealt. The Battle of Hastings was about to be re-fought. In the distance, the outline of the castle at Myrini was fading with the last glow of sunset, when, one rubber down and game all in the second, the following deal occurred: ♠ A 10 9 8 7 ♥ 10 2 ♦ Q J ♣ 9 8 5 4 ♠ 6 4 3 ♥ A J 6 5 N W E ♦ K 9 5 4 3 S ♣ 2 ♠ K J 5 ♥ K Q 9 7 3 ♦ Void ♣ A K J 10 7

♠ Q 2 ♥ 8 4 ♦ A 10 8 7 6 2 ♣ Q 6 3

As dealer, I opened the bidding with one heart, and the auction proceeded: South West North East Wendy Marie Spouse Pierre 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 3♣ 3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 6♣ End

With the ace of hearts to lose, the contract seemed to depend on locating both black queens. National pride was at stake. I ruffed Marie’s opening lead of the four of diamonds. I played the ace of trumps and all followed, so far so good. Next, I played the jack of Page 39

spades; Marie played low smoothly so I won with the ace. The club finesse worked but, even so, I removed the opponents’ last trump rather reluctantly. The play of the king of hearts produced the ace. The king of diamonds return was ruffed. I played the queen of hearts and then ruffed a heart, finding that the suit did not split. On the ten of spades, the queen appeared thankfully, and the slam was home, giving us the rubber. Needless to say, Spouse did not think my line was optimum. I am sure he was right on this occasion, although I quite often find his analysis is about as sharp as a marble. At one rubber each, we called it a day with honours even and ordered another carafe of local wine. The warm breeze from the sea wafted over us. ‘You both play well,’ said Pierre, ‘but of course you British invented the game.’ ‘I think that was America,’ I contradicted in the interests of accuracy. ‘You invented America?’ questioned Pierre with a hint of Gallic humour. ‘No, we are definitely not being fingered for that,’ declared Spouse emphatically. It had been a delightful evening and it was well past midnight when we agreed to meet our French friends again for a meal and the deciding rubber the following day by the harbour in Myrini. As we ambled slowly back to our apartment, Spouse remarked rather belligerently, ‘That makes us all square in the latest round of the Battle of Hastings, but now we need to prepare for a rematch of the Battle of Agincourt.’ ‘Why, is tomorrow Saint Crispin’s day?’ I inquired with feigned innocence. Honestly, like most men, Spouse can be OTT. ■

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Bids and Responses

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

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

Catching Up

Denham Grove

by Sally Brock

M

ost of October was fairly quiet, though it started with a bit of luxury. I took my parents to lunch at the Manoir aux Quat’Saisons near Oxford. This is a truly fabulous place, perhaps better for lunch than dinner because the gardens are splendid. Everything about it was superlative (including the bill). Then there was Barry’s birthday and his accidental party. What happened was that Kitty wanted to host a dinner – to celebrate our success in Lille. We were trying to find dates and focused on the weekend of October 13-14. She asked me whether the Saturday or Sunday would be better and I mentioned that the Sunday was Barry’s birthday (it was Raymond’s birthday too, so there were moments of sadness). So Sunday, it was, and it metamorphosed into Barry’s birthday party. She kept asking more people and it changed into a party at her apartment (a penthouse within Chelsea football ground). Barry got more presents than he knew what to do with and we all had a fabulous time. Perhaps the most exciting event at this time was Briony’s driving test. In the last issue, I mentioned that my brother-in-law had given her a good start when he came for the weekend. It was a couple of weeks after that before she managed to book some official lessons, but when she did the instructor was pretty impressed. She passed her

Denham, Buckinghamshire, UB9 5DG

theory test and booked a test for November 15th. But patience is not one of her virtues. She came back after her fourth lesson and said that he thought she was more than ready to take her test, so she decided to look for a cancellation. She found one in Reading, a town she had never driven in before. So off we went and she passed, just five weeks and one day after her 17th birthday. Now, that’s a fairly major lifestyle change for us – perhaps the most significant in a normal day is that, not having to get up and take her to school, I spend most of the day in my pyjamas. Then, at the very end of October, in half-term, we went to Malta for a week, mostly to stay with our good friend Mario. However, Briony had found a Groupon offer whereby we could stay for a couple of nights in the Corinthia Palace, perhaps the best hotel in Malta, for not very much, so we ended our stay doing just that. As usual, we had an excellent time (though the weather could have been better). Highspot number one was a day trip to Sicily (we had lunch nearly at the top of Mount Etna). Highspot number two (only after the event) was that I forgot to lie about her age to the jet ski people so had to go out on the jet ski with her. We started with her driving and me hanging on for grim death, and then swapped around so I was driving (at about half the speed). That’s another box ticked. ■ Page 43

BRIDGE EVENTS 2013 22-24 March

Leads & Defence Gary Conrad

£215

4-6 October

Doubles Gary Conrad

£215

25-27 October

Finding Slams Sandy Bell

£215

Full Board – No Single Supplement Booking Form on page 7.

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Seven Days by Sally Brock

Monday The beginning of the week is usually quiet. I keep forgetting that I no longer need to go to the gym first thing (because I don’t have to leave the house to take Briony to school). It’s not until I get stuck in the rush hour traffic that I remember that I could have gone at 10am. I spend most of the day working my way through my ‘to do’ list. Briony has joined a gym now she can drive to it (she has money to spare since she hasn’t needed most of what she put aside for driving lessons) and she goes after school, so is not home until quite late. We change into our pyjamas, dine on leftovers and watch TV.

Tuesday I go to the gym again. Home by 10.30am for an online teaching session. In the afternoon, I bid online with Barry. We are trying to knock our partnership into shape with the Tollemache looming and also the Gold Cup final weekend. We now have an up-to-date system file – all we need to do is read it (I have to say that ‘reading the system’ makes me feel very sympathetic towards the children when they complain about being bored with revising for exams). When Briony gets home, we do a quick supermarket shop and then home for another evening of being couch potatoes.

Wednesday It is my intention to move to London next year when Briony has finished school. I am going to put the house on the market after February half-term. In anticipation, I am beginning the process of decluttering … and there is an awful lot of clutter. I try to make an effort to get stuff ready for either the tip or the charity shop whenever

I go out. Although I don’t intend to look for another property until I have a buyer for this, I am keeping an eye on Right Move and Zoopla. Anyway, bridge friends have told me of a contact who knows his stuff regarding buying property in west London, so I go in on the train and take him out for lunch. Lots of interesting advice. I get back to Barry’s by 3pm for a session with Richard and Gerry (and Barry). Later, I meet Nicola on the Earls Court Road for a Chinese supper prior to our London League match. We have a disaster each. Nicola (East) holds: N W E S

♠ K 10 7 ♥ Q J 10 8 4 ♦ A Q 7 3 ♣ 6

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

She is worried that I’ll lead a club when a heart would be more successful, so she risks a double. Unfortunately, dummy redoubles and, even on a heart lead, the contract makes with two overtricks and we lose 1,800. Team-mates have bid the slam and are not best pleased to lose 9 IMPs. Despite this, we are still leading at the halfway stage. On the first board of the second half, I propel us into a close slam on these hands:

♠ 7 ♥ A 6 N W E ♦ K 7 6 3 2 S ♣ A 9 8 3 2

Page 44

♠ A K 4 ♥ K 9 8 3 2 ♦ 4 ♣ Q J 7 6

I am declarer as West. Despite the fact that South has overcalled in spades, I decide that I need trumps 2-2 with the king right. If the queen is covered by the king, I have chances if it is singleton and I finesse on the second round, but that needs other good things to happen too, so it is simpler to play for trumps 2-2. When the queen is covered by the king, I will play one back to the jack and, on the layout, would make my slam. However, when South plays the king, I manage to play a low one and am thus one down. Opponents stayed in three no-trumps in the other room. Both these boards are double swings, ie we lose a significant swing whereas if we had not made the error, we would have gained a double-figure swing.

Thursday Today is the annual match between the Houses of Commons and Lords. This year, the event is held in the House of Lords. It is the most beautiful building. In the past, the event has been held at the Portland Club or Crockfords and has included lunch; this year, it starts at 1.30pm and in the break we have a House of Lords tea – complete with cucumber sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream and the most beautiful tiny cakes. I, rather embarrassingly, top up the teapot with what I think is hot water, but is in fact coffee. These days, the hands are preprepared and the journalists are issued with a little booklet with the hands in. I always think this is a bit unfair on the players – it must be harrowing enough to be watched by bridge experts, but even worse to know that they can see all four hands. The booklet, prepared each year by Paul Bowyer, always contains many hands of interest. In the last session, I watch Kenneth Baker play this deal in three no-trumps:

Seven Days continued

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

♠ 8 7 6 3 ♥ A 3 ♦ 10 9 ♣ J 10 8 7 2

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

West leads the jack of hearts to the king and ace. East continues the suit and hearts are cleared. Declarer starts with a club to the king, when that suit does not behave most declarers would simply rely on the spade finesse and go two down. Lord Baker (who was actually playing for the Commons) does better and for a moment I think he is going to succeed (and I am the judge this year of the Best Played Hand and desperately need to find something). He next plays three rounds of diamonds and when East shows out on the third round he has a complete count of the hand. ♠ 4 ♥ Void ♦ 8 ♣ Q 6 5 3 ♠ K 5 ♥ 10 6 4 N W E ♦ J S ♣ Void ♠ A Q J 10 ♥ Void ♦ Void ♣ A 9

♠ 8 7 ♥ Void ♦ Void ♣ J 10 8 7

Now he cashes the ace and queen of clubs. West throws one heart and then, with obvious reluctance, anoth-

er heart. Declarer can succeed now by exiting with a diamond, allowing West to cash one heart trick, after which he has to lead away from his king of spades. However, declarer misreads the position and goes one down. West should have thought ahead and realised that his best chance was to blank his king of spades and he should have done it early, without such discomfort. The final result is a win for the Lords, taking their lead in the series to 21-17. After the match, I go back to Barry’s and we go out to an Ethiopian restaurant. The base for the meal is injera, which is a cross between a pancake and a chapatti. We order the ‘Special’ and get a large (maybe 16 inch) injera on a plate and on top are spoonfuls of various meats/vegetables in sauces. On the side comes a basket of rolled up injeras. The idea is to break off a piece and wrap it around some of the filling and then eat – all with your fingers. Certainly different and quite delicious.

Friday Barry is working on the south coast. I have my laptop with me, but not a lot of work to do, so I get up late and then meet Margaret for a Lebanese lunch on Edgware Road. Then we go for a ‘stroll in Hyde Park’ (her words), which turns into quite a trek. When I’m with Margaret we seem to have so much to talk about that I don’t really notice anything else – we must have walked miles. Still, I’m sure the exercise is good for me. Then back to Barry’s for a cup of tea before bridge at the Young Chelsea. I always really enjoy these Friday nights that are pairs with IMP scoring. We don’t win this time but have a good evening anyway.

Saturday After something of a lie-in, we go back to High Wycombe for lunch. This is a pretty lazy weekend. TV, interspersed with watching the Premier League final weekend on BBO. I have never got around to playing in this event, mainly because it is still not that easy for me to go away for a whole weekend. I much prefer single days away which is why I like playing in the national knock-out competitions. Page 45

Sunday Another lazy day. Though I do find the energy to go up into the roof and start to sort out some stuff. Barry helps me lug a lot of stuff down. I was hoping we could have a major clear-out but end up feeling that most of what we brought down needs to go back up. It is fun pottering about while Barry watches the Premier League. Every now and then he says, ‘You hold …’ The League was won by Frances Hinden, Graham Osborne, Jeffrey Allerton and Chris Jagger. When anyone has polls/conversations about the best women players in the country, Frances is sometimes overlooked because she doesn’t play women’s bridge, but she is right up there with (maybe even above) the rest of us. She is the first woman to have won the Premier League, though last year she was in the runners-up team and therefore was chosen to represent England in the Camrose Trophy (England won all its matches to win the event outright). I like this deal, which is not difficult, but it would be easy to go wrong. Love All. Dealer East. ♠ Q 8 2 ♥ K Q 10 6 ♦ J 7 ♣ K Q 9 5 ♠ K 10 7 6 5 3 ♠ 9 4 ♥ 8 2 N ♥ A 9 7 5 3 W E ♦ A 6 3 S ♦ 9 8 ♣ A 8 ♣ 10 6 3 2 ♠ A J ♥ J 4 ♦ K Q 10 5 4 2 ♣ J 7 4

West North East South Pass 1♦ 1♠ Dbl Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

In the other room, West led a spade and it was all over. Declarer could not knock out two aces without losing too many tricks. In this room, Tom Townsend, misguidedly in my view, chooses to lead a heart. East wins his ace over dummy’s king and switches to a

Seven Days continued

Ardington Hotel Worthing BN11 3DZ

BRIDGE EVENTS 2013 15-17 March

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£ 215

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Just Duplicate Bridge

£ 199

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Just Duplicate Bridge

£ 199

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£ 215

7-9 June

Suit Establishment

£ 215

Full Board – No Single Supplement Booking Form on page 7.

Chatsworth Hotel Worthing BN11 3DU

BRIDGE EVENTS 2013 12-14 Apr Bernard Magee Declarer Play 14-16 Jun

£245

Just Duplicate Bridge £199

NEW 18-20 Oct Bernard Magee Play and TOPIC Defending 1NT

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15-17 Nov Bernard Magee Bidding £245 NEW TOPIC Distributional Hands Full Board – No Single Supplement Booking Form on page 7.

spade. This knocks out the entry to the diamonds (although the jack of hearts is an entry, if she uses it then she cannot cash her hearts). I’m sure many of you would simply play the jack of spades, win the spade return and play a diamond to the jack, cash some hearts and play another diamond. West would win and clear spades, setting up plenty of winners for when he gets in with the ace of clubs. Frances times it perfectly. She wins with the ace of spades (had she ducked and West continued with a heart she might have had communication problems) and plays the king of diamonds. West ducks, perforce and now Frances plays a club. Had West ducked (best), she would have continued with the jack of diamonds (overtaking with the queen in case West ducks) and another diamond. West has no defence: if he plays a spade, she has nine winners; if he plays a heart, she can win in hand, cash the diamonds and play a spade to set up her ninth trick. This is a good result for the Hinden team who have qualified to represent England in this year’s Camrose. I can recommend this sort of half-watching when there is a decent event going on. Watching TV with the bridge open on a laptop is quite a fun way of passing the time. Later on, a friend of Briony’s comes round for a cookie cooking session – she really likes baking but needs help with the eating. Barry can be counted on to oblige. We all have a spaghetti supper, then Barry and Sam leave and the rest Page 46

of the evening is spent lolling about in the front of the TV in our pyjamas (X Factor results are a highspot, but Sunday evening is a bit empty now Downton Abbey has finished). ■

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. She has been a member of the British/English women’s team on and off since 1979.

Briony & Toby are Sally’s 17-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son. 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. Kitty Teltscher is a friend and captain of the team that Sally and Nicola play for in the London League. Mario Dix is a friend who lives in Malta whom Sally (and usually Briony) visit most years. Richard and Gerry are two of Sally’s regular online clients. Richard lives in North London and Gerry lives in Toronto. Every week Sally plays against them for a couple of hours, stopping to discuss problems that arise – sometimes with Barry if he is not working, and sometimes with herself, when she usually is almost flawless! Margaret Nygren is Sally’s best friend.

Answers to Bernard Magee’s  Bidding Quiz on page 3

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

West North ?

East South 1♠ Pass

Pass. There are good reasons for the requirement of 6 points to respond. To break the rules, you need an equally good reason. There is no such reason here – this question should have been very simple. With just 5 points and no useful distribution, you do not have enough to respond. Why do you need 6 points? Opener may have 19 points and adding your 6 he will hope to make game. If you respond 1NT, your partner might jump to 3NT – not good when 7 tricks are likely to be the limit.



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

West North East South 1♥ Pass 2♥ Dbl 3♥ 4♦ 4♥ Pass Pass ?

Double. Your partner has made a takeout double over 2♥ and you competed with 4♦. Now your opponents have gone further to 4♥. You have control of trumps (♥A), a singleton and a king. All of this and your partner should have ‘opening values’. Give your partner two aces and you are likely to make two spade ruffs, three aces and likely another trick from clubs – three off. Punish your opponents for overbidding – double. + 500 will be

even better than making 5♦, which is no certainty anyway.



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

West North ?

East 1NT

South 2♠

3NT. If you can make all of those lovely clubs, you will be doing well; if not, so be it – with such a good suit and the balance of power, you certainly do not want to defend 2♠. While that might suggest bidding clubs, actually you should be thinking of bigger things – no-trumps. If partner has the ♣K, you can almost count seven tricks for him; even if the ♣K is missing, the overcaller may well hold the card for his bid. When you hold a pretty strong and long minor suit, think of no-trumps.



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

West North East South 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 2NT Pass ?

3♠. (3♥ if you play transfers). Your partner has shown you 23-24 points and a balanced hand. If your first thought is to pass and let partner struggle in 2NT, remember that you have nothing for him in no-trumps, whereas in spades you might at least make a couple of tricks. If you do not play transfers, bid 3♠ –

Page 47

your partner will raise to 4♠ – this might not make but does have a good chance. In no-trumps, your partner is unlikely to make more than six tricks – he finds himself stuck in his hand. If you play transfers, you bid 3♥, still showing spades and enabling the strong hand to become declarer – partner will probably jump to 4♠ with his strong three-card spade support, excellent controls and possible ruffing ■ value.

The Inn on the Prom Bridge Events 2013

St Annes-on-Sea FY8 1LU

19-21 April Bernard Magee Thinking Defence £245 12-14 July Kay Adamson Just Duplicate Bridge £169 16-18 August Gwen Beattie Just Duplicate Bridge £169 Full Board No Single Supplement Booking Form on page 7.

ADVANCE NOTICE ENJOY DAILY BRIDGE WHILE VISITING

THE CITIES & SITES OF ANCIENT ASIA

Join Bernard Magee for a spectacular voyage

Book now to take advantage of these great Mr Bridge fares

Plan for next Winter now and start 2014 in style. This is a great opportunity for you to reserve your cabin and join Bernard Magee on this voyage to Asia’s great cities and ancient sites. Start with a hotel stay in Hong Kong then join the elegant Aegean Odyssey to cruise through the South China Sea to the highlights and breathtaking sights of Vientam.

Mr Bridge fares from just £3,350 include:

on 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk

• THE FULL BRIDGE PROGRAMME • FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS • EXPERTLY PLANNED ITINERARIES • SHORE EXCURSIONS • ANTIQUITY GUEST SPEAKERS • OPEN-SEATING DINING • WINE WITH DINNER ON BOARD • GRATUITIES ON BOARD COCKTAIL PARTY • EXCLUSIVE

Call

BRIDGE

If undelivered or unwanted kindly return to Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey, GU21 2TH

JAN 30

JAN 29

DATE

HONG KONG China Embark Aegean Odyssey

Arrive HONG KONG China Transfer to overnight hotel

Depart UK

PORT

FEB 6

FEB 5

FEB 4

FEB 3

At Sea

DA NANG Vietnam

HUE Vietnam

At Sea

HALONG BAY Vietnam

HALONG BAY (Hanoi) Vietnam

from £3,550

£3,350

£4,095

from £3,650

£3,450

Hue Da Nang

Hanoi Halong Bay

Vietnam

South China Sea

China Hong Kong

HONG KONG TO BANGKOK - JANUARY 29, 2014

JAN 31

FEB 7

NHA TRANG Vietnam

£3,995

Ho Chi Minh City

from £4,995

from £5,695

from £5,095

from £4,345

Single Cabin

from £5,595

Double Cabin Per person sharing

Deluxe Outside

ABTA No.Y2206

LOW SINGLE FARES

Past passengers can SAVE MORE please call for details

Deluxe Balcony

Superior Inside

Standard Inside

MR BRIDGE SPECIAL FARES

Cambodia

Nha Trang

FEB 8

Standard Outside

from £4,245

Angkor Wat

FEB 9

HO CHI MINH CITY Vietnam

Superior Outside

Thailand Bangkok

FEB 10

HO CHI MINH CITY Vietnam

FEB 1/2 At Sea

FEB 11

FEB 12/13 At Sea FEB 14

BANGKOK Thailand Disembark and transfer to airport for flight home

Prices are per person in double or dedicated single cabins and include MR BRIDGE SPECIAL SAVINGS. The number of dedicated single cabins is strictly limited. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

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V OYAGES TO A NTIQUITY