130.pdf

BRIDGE Number One Hundred and Thirty

October 2013

Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz You are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no-trump (12-14 points) and 4-card majors.



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

West North East South ?



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



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

West North East South 1♥ 2♣ ?



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

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

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

West North East South 1NT Dbl 2♥ ?

West North East South 1♥ 3♠ ?



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

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

West North East South 3♥ Pass ?

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

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

12. Dealer West. E/W Game. ♠ A K 2 N ♥ 5 3 W E ♦ A Q 7 6 5 4 S ♣ 4 2



West North East South 1♠ Pass ?

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

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

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



West North East South 1♠ ?

West North East South 1♥ Dbl Pass ?

West North East South 1♦ 1♠ Dbl ?



Answers on page 10





Answers on page 12



Answers on page 16





West North East South 1♦ 1NT 2♥ Pass ? Answers on page 22

BERNARD MAGEE Boxed Sets of six DVDs Series 1

Series 2

Series 3

1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks

7 Leads

13 Hand Evaluation

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.

Going beyond just the point-count is important if you want to improve. Reaching 3NT on 24 HCP and making it; and avoiding 3NT on 26 HCP when there are only seven or eight tricks.

8 Losing Trick Count

The art of pre-empting is so important in the modern game. Understanding the right types of hand to bid up on and realising the importance of position and vulnerability.

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.

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.

Individual DVDs. £25 each. Boxed Set of 6. £100.

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.

14 Pre-Empting

15 Splinter & Cue-Bids Take your slam bidding to another level. Splinter bids are a vital tool to have in your bidding armoury and try your hand at Italian style cue-bidding.

16 Avoidance As declarer, an important tactic is to be in control of the defenders: avoiding a particular defender getting the lead. As a defender, you can try to make sure the right player gets the lead at the right time.

17 Pairs Play & Defence

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

Duplicate Pairs is the game most of us play and getting used to the tactics will make a lot of difference to your performance. Making more overtricks and making sure you do not give away tricks as a defender.

12 Endplays

18 Thinking Defence

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.

By far the hardest aspect of bridge, but if you can improve your defence your results will quickly improve. Learn how to think through the defence and get your mind in gear for the decisions that await you.

Individual DVDs. £25 each. Boxed Set of 6. £100.

Individual DVDs. £25 each. Boxed Set of 6. £100.

11 Signals & Discards

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

( 01483 489961

www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop

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 ( 01483 485342 Elizabeth Bryan

[email protected] All correspondence should be addressed to Mr Bridge. Please make sure that all letters and e-mails carry full postal addresses and telephone numbers.

6 Denham Grove Filming Event

FEATURES 1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee

7 Mail Order Form Cut-out Form

5 Mr Bridge

8 Bridge Event Booking Form

9 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum 10 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee 12 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee 15 Pass-Outs & Averages by David Stevenson 16 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee 18 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage

10 Bridge Events at Cheltenham Regency Hotel

AT THE ROYAL KENZ TUNISIA Half-board Duplicate Bridge Holidays

11 Digital Hearing Aid Information Service 12 Mr Bridge Playing Cards 13 Fischer Future Heat 14 Bernard Maggee’s Tutorial Software

18 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett 19 Julian Pottage Answers Your Questions 22 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee 26 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions 30 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage 31 Austrian Festivities Don’t Help My Bridge by John Barr

16 Five-Card Majors with Bernard Magee 17 The Mobility Furniture Company 22 Bridge Events at The Inn on the Prom 23 S R Designs Bridge Tables 23 Bathing Solutions 24 2014 Med Cruises with Voyages to Antiquity 27 Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified

32 Things You Should Know About . . . by Andrew Kambites

29 Bridge Events at: Elstead Hotel Chatsworth House Ardington Hotel Blunsdon House Hotel

33 Things You Should Know About Stayman by Andrew Kambites

32 Better Hand Evalution

35 About Stayman Quiz by Andrew Kambites

35 Mr Bridge 2014 Diaries 36 Bridge Tie

36 Readers’ Letters 38 The Honeymoon is Over by Dick Atkinson 39 Bridge and Travel Tip 41 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett 44 Seven Days by Sally Brock 47 About Stayman Answers by Andrew Kambites

ADVERTISEMENTS 2 Bernard Magee DVDs

8 Bridge Events with Bernard Magee

Mr Bridge

37 Charity Events 37 Mr Bridge Christmas & New Year 2013/2014 38 Stamps 39 We Are Survivors Tea Towel 40 Rubber / Chicago Bridge Events 40 Bridge Events at: Denham Grove The Olde Barn Hotel 40 Tips for Better Bridge

3 Tunisia 2013/2014

41 Begin Bridge with Bernard Magee

4 Mr Bridge Just Duplicate Bridge

48 QPlus 10

42 Global Travel Insurance

Page 3

3-17 November 2013 Tony and Jan Richards

£769* 23 Feb – 9 March 2014 Bernard Magee

£799* 30 March – 13 April 2014 Crombie & Helen McNeil

£899* *per person half-board sharing a twin-bedded room and is inclusive of bridge fees. Single supplement £6 per night. These prices are based on air travel from Heathrow to Tunis. Flights from other UK airports are available at a supplement. Prices for seven-night stays are available on application. Pay £70 per fortnight per person extra and have a garden-facing room, tea & coffee making facilities, bath robe and a bowl of seasonal fruit. These holidays have been organised for Mr Bridge by Tunisia First Limited, ATOL 5933.

DETAILS & BOOKINGS

( 01483 489961

JUST DUPLICATE BRIDGE 11-13 October £199 Cheltenham Regency

14-16 February £199 Elstead Hotel

18-20 October £169 The Olde Barn

21-23 February £199 Blundson House Hotel

25-27 October £199 Cheltenham Regency

28 Feb – 2 March £199 Chatsworth Hotel

25-27 October £199 Ardington Hotel

Blunsdon House Hotel Swindon SN26 7AS

1-3 November £169 The Olde Barn

10-12 January £199 Blundson House Hotel

8-10 November £199 Elstead Hotel

10-12 January £199 Elstead Hotel

28 Feb – 2 March £199 Blundson House Hotel

£50

OFF

The Olde Barn Hotel Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT

30 May – 1 June £199 Chatsworth Hotel 13-15 June £169 The Olde Barn

Just Duplicate Events in 2014. See page 5 for terms and conditions.

27-29 June £169 The Olde Barn

31 Jan – 2 Feb £199 Elstead Hotel

14-16 March £199 Blundson House Hotel

11-13 July £169 The Olde Barn

Ardington Hotel Worthing BN11 3DZ

31 Jan – 2 Feb £199 Chatsworth Hotel

14-16 March £169 The Olde Barn

18-20 July £199 Blunsdon House Hotel

15-17 November £199 Elstead Hotel

7-9 February £199 Denham Grove

21-23 March £199 Chatsworth Hotel

1-3 August £169 The Olde Barn

22-24 November £199 Ardington Hotel

14-16 February £199 Chatsworth Hotel

28-30 March £199 Denham Grove

12-14 September £169 The Olde Barn

17-19 January £169 The Olde Barn 24-26 January £199 Elstead Hotel

22-24 November £199 Elstead Hotel

28-30 March £199 Elstead Hotel

22-24 November £169 The Olde Barn

25-27 April £199 Blundson House Hotel

29 Nov – 1 Dec £199 Ardington Hotel

9-11 May £199 Blunsdon House Hotel

6-8 December £199 Cheltenham Regency

Elstead Hotel Bournemouth, BH1 3QP

16-18 May £169 The Olde Barn

4-6 July £199 Denham Grove

Chatsworth Hotel Worthing BN11 3DU

Full Board – No Single Supplement Booking Form on page 8. Please note there are no seminars, set hands or prizes at these events.

THINGS TO COME

During the last couple of weeks, Mrs Bridge and I have enjoyed the wedding of our youngest – the last of seven – and celebrated, as quietly as is possible within a large family, our Golden Wedding. With these landmarks now out of the way, it is time once again to focus on BRIDGE. This issue sees the introduction of a new series, ‘Things You Should Know About...’ by Andrew Kambites. In January, new writers will join established regulars David Stevenson, Julian Pottage, Bernard Magee, Wendy Wensum and Sally Brock. Marguerite Lihou rejoins the team along with David Bird who will tell us about the bridge-playing exploits of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. In my enthusiasm for this particular new series, I have reprinted two of David Bird’s Robin Hood books, just in time to make useful stocking fillers. £12, see the form on page 7.

FULL CIRCLE So my bridge life really does prove the old adage, what goes around, comes around. I find myself once again selling subscriptions. BRIDGE still remains free to download and print off from my website library: www.mrbridge.co.uk/library

SUBSCRIPTIONS

JUST DUPLICATE

I will continue to send printed copies of BRIDGE from time to time, as and when sponsorship permits. This may well be sufficient for you. However, to ensure continuity, you will need to take up a sub. Indeed, it is my hope that you will do so and possibly even buy one for a friend as a Christmas present at the special introductory rate of £20 per year which almost covers all the cost of the postage and packing.

NEW Q IS COMING

In Bali, Indonesia, the World Computer Bridge Championships are just about to start. Here’s wishing ever hopeful Hans Leber the best of luck. Meanwhile, I list a few more hands for you to try. 0841-01 0244-10 6756-10 4498-01 4498-11 9142-08 3033-11 7354-05 8462-07 9910-14

£50 OFF

The £50 off, on all my Just Duplicate Events, is again repeated for 2014, subject to availability, for a limited number of places. The fun of duplicate lies in the numbers, so to be certain of these, most of the places are sold ahead of the event at special prices. Payment is taken in full at the time of booking, by cheque or debit card. This offer must close by 30 November. Clubs should consider a block-booking and maybe hire a coach.

FESTIVE BERNARD

QPlus 11 will be on sale at the end of October. Those ordering now will receive QPlus 10 immediately and QPlus 11 when it is ready at the end of October. Both are self-contained products, so you will be able to give QPlus 10 to a friend once you receive your copy of QPlus 11.

NEW DVD SERIES Bernard Magee’s 2013 DVDs are now on sale. Please go to the inside front cover where all 18 in the three year series are listed, see order form on page 7. They are being very well received and are enjoying a growing reputation as the definitive tutorial of each of the given subjects.

We are filling up for the festive season earlier than usual this year. As a result, we have put on an extra weekend event between Christmas and New Year in north west England.

CLUB INSURANCE The annual insurance policy, designed by Moore Stephens for clubs, is due for renewal on or before the beginning of November. For a club with up to 100 members, the annual premium of just over £60 provides security and peace of mind for the committee members of over 500 clubs. Ring Moore Stephens ( 0207 515 5270.

GOFFIES STAMPS

If you want to save on postage you should try Clive Goff’s discounted stamp service. Value supplied in two stamps, combined to make up the 50p 2nd class rate, 2nd class to you at 41p. 1st class 60p, only 50p to you. Available in lots of 100. ( 0208 422 4906. [email protected]

YOU AS WELL

Inn on the Prom, Lytham 27-29 December 2013 Signals and Discards Bernard Magee £245 No single supplement.

On page 39, you will find I have reprinted my tea towel, We are Survivors. Whenever I read it, even for the umpteenth time, it still makes me chuckle.

ANTIQUITY

GOURMET BRIDGE

Mrs Bridge and I join Aegean Odyssey in March on a lovely Voyage that includes the Holy Land. I am really looking forward to visiting these historic sites. I am also looking forward to going to the Black Sea in Autumn 2014. See the advert for both in the centrefold or better still, ring for a brochure. ( 01483 489961.

Those who enjoy their food as much as they enjoy their bridge, should consider The Ardington Hotel, Worthing. The chef’s fame is beginning to spread.

Page 5

BERNARD MAGEE at Denham Grove near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG.

10-13 January 2014 £299 full board (Special early booking price)

Topics SACRIFICING An exciting aspect of the auction is outbidding your opponents and going down, but gaining by doing so. Learning to bid more aggressively and make the best of your cards will enhance both your scores and your enjoyment levels.

TRUMP CONTROL Handling the play of the hand when trumps break badly is an important attribute: playing calmly and using a variety of tactics to pave the way to success.

WEAK TWOS It is important to bid more in the modern game and weak twos are an important choice for the competitive player. They allow for pre-emptive and accurate bidding.

DEFENSIVE PLAN Looking at your own hand, then at dummy and envisaging how partner’s hand will allow you to make a plan for the defence. By having a framework to make your way across you will hopefully learn to identify various defensive situations and solve the problems you face.

FURTHER IN TO THE AUCTION The first two bids of an auction are usually easy, but beyond that the complications increase. Learn about your various options and how to ‘talk’ to your partner during the bidding.

IMPROVING BRIDGE MEMORY Remembering every card is a dream for most of us. However, learn ways in which to remember the important things. What was the first discard or how many trumps are left out?

6 seminar sessions with Bernard1 6 sessions of supervised play2 Contact Mr Bridge to book your place or for further details: ( 01483 489961 Filmed

1

Not with Bernard Magee

2

HOT TICKET The next six films in the Better Bridge with Bernard Magee series, are to be shot during an extended weekend at The De Vere Denham Grove Conference Centre this coming January. See adjacent advertisement for topics. The course, which includes three nights full board, starts on Friday morning at 10.15am and ends with a lazy Monday breakfast. Those coming a distance may wish to book for the Thursday overnight stay. £60 per person, dinner, bed and breakfast. This is extra to the special early booking price of £299 per person. No single supplement. However, full payment must be made at the time of booking.

2014 DIARIES Next year’s bridge players’ diaries are now in stock. Both standard and luxury versions are available. See the adjacent order form.

FESTIVE FUN I am looking forward to saying hello to everyone at the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner at Denham Grove. I hope to stay on for a game afterwards as I did last year.

BOXED CARDS I am clearing twin packs of my lovely premium quality playing cards, in a tasteful gold-coloured drop-lid box. £7 per box, 2 for £12. These are not on my mail order sales list. Please write in or order by telephone.

UNBOXED CARDS

CHATSWORTH HOTEL PRIZE QUIZ This month’s problem came in a deal while I was using QPlus. The prize is a room for one or two as it suits, at any of my weekend events at The Chatsworth Hotel. Entries by 25 October 2013, please, by post, to Ryden Grange or email to bridge@ mrbridge.co.uk You are dealer, both sides not vulnerable.

♠ 5 ♥ A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 ♦ 2 ♣ A K

What would you bid?

LETTER SHORTAGE There has been a drop off in the number of letters. I put this down to the wonderful summer. Now, as autumn overtakes us, let’s be hearing from you. Page 6

My premium quality playing cards are still available at the special price of £60 for 60 packs, post paid from The London Bridge Centre, see the advert on page 12. Ideal for bridge clubs. With or without bar-codes.

SMALL GIFTS I have added ball-point pens with a built-in torch to my list of fun gifts. £5 each. Boxed and including p&p. Likewise, I also list keyrings, with a re-usable pound size coin to use in supermarket trolleys or the like. £5 including p&p. All good wishes

Mr Bridge

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Bridge Baron 23

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Making the Most of High Cards .........

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Identifying & Bidding Slams .........

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Page 7

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BRIDGE  BREAKS ♦ Full-board

♦ Two seminars*

♦ All rooms with en-suite facilities

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♦ No single supplement

♦ Four bridge sessions**

BRIDGE EVENTS with Bernard Magee April 2014 4-6 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Finding Slams 11-13 Blunsdon House £245 Leads & Defence

June 2014

Please book ..... places for me at £....... per person, Single .... Double .... Twin .... Chatsworth Hotel Worthing BN11 3DU

Name of Hotel/Centre............................................................. Date(s) ....................................................................................

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11-13 Blunsdon House £245 Splinters and Cue Bids 18-20 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Playing & Defending 1NT 25-27 Queensferry £245 Finding Slams

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NOVEMber 2013

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

8-10 Olde Barn Hotel £245 Better Leads & Switches 15-17 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Distributional NEW Hands 22-24 Blunsdon House £245 Better Defence 29-1 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Suit Establishment

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

6-8 Olde Barn Hotel £245 Bidding NEW Distributional Hands 20-22 Olde Barn Hotel £245 Finding Slams

OCTOBER 2014 3-5 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Game Tries 10-12 Olde Barn Hotel £245 Endplay & Avoidance

NOVEMber 2014 7-9 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Hand Evaluation 14-16 Blunsdon House £245 Further into the Auction 21-23 Elstead House £245 Doubles 28-30 Blunsdon House £245 Bidding NEW Distributional Hands

JANUARY 2014 10-13 Denham Grove £299 Filming Weekend 17-19 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Better Leads NEW & Switches

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

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

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

Full Board. No Single Supplement. See Adjacent Booking Form. ✄

*on tutorial weekends only. **6 sessions on rubber/Chicago events. Please note: Just Bridge events contain no seminars and do not award prizes.

Blunsdon House Hotel Blunsdon, Swindon SN26 7AS

Page 8

The Diaries of Wendy Wensum Episode 18: A Sicilian Jaunt Part 2: Luck of the Gods Wendy, Spouse, Millie and Justin are on the island of Sicily sightseeing and playing bridge. The story continues.

M

illie and Justin decided to stay at the hotel for afternoon bridge, whereas Spouse and I set off on a coach excursion to the south side of the island. The scenery as we crossed Sicily’s central plain was varied with mountainous areas and unexpectedly verdant farmland. We passed the occasional traditional hilltop village, but in general the region appeared sparsely populated. It was a long journey to our destination, the World Heritage Site of Agrigento. By the time we arrived it was extremely hot. ‘Where did you get that hat? It’s enormous! Is it a sombrero? How did you get it here?’ enquired Spouse in quick-fire succession. ‘It rolls up like a Panama,’ I replied proudly. Protecting me from a blazing sun, my fashionable hat proved a great success. We wandered along the broad avenue connecting the ancient Greek temples. Each one was dedicated to a particular deity: Juno, Concordia, Hercules and Zeus. The elevated site was interspersed with wonderful modern bronze statues and there were splendid views over the neighbouring countryside. It was an inspiring experience. We arrived back at the hotel, rather later than expected, to find that Millie and Justin’s afternoon bridge session had not gone well. Apparently, Millie was also anxious that we would not return in time to compete in the evening team event. To ease her troubled mind and relax her for the next session of bridge she had considered taking a yoga class, but had rejected this option on the grounds that it required too much effort. As Spouse remarked later, he

found watching daytime TV equally effective in clearing the brain of any thoughts and that with no exertion at all. We eventually located Millie in the bar where she was already sampling a bottle of Sicilian white wine to calm her. Served chilled, the wine was very welcome as the heat of the day subsided. Following dinner on the terrace, as we entered the bridge room Millie remarked, ‘Is it dark in here?’ ‘Sun glasses, Millie,’ said Spouse and I in unison. ‘Oops,’ said Millie ‘Silly me.’ The event seemed to be going smoothly and this hand turned out to be critical. Dealer North. N/S Vul. ♠ J 4 ♥ A 10 6 5 4 ♦ 5 ♣ Q J 10 4 3 ♠ A 8 ♠ 9 6 5 2 N ♥ 7 3 2 W E ♥ Q 8 ♦ 9 8 7 2 S ♦ J 10 6 4 ♣ K 9 5 2 ♣ 8 7 6 ♠ K Q 10 7 3 ♥ K J 9 ♦ A K Q 3 ♣ A

North South Millie Justin Pass 2♣ 2♦ 2♠ 3♥ 4♦ 4♠ 4NT 5♦ 6♠ All Pass

West made the unexpected lead of Page 9

the ♠A and exited with the ♠8. Justin decided to win the ♠J and play a heart to the nine. He drew trumps and when the heart suit came in, he had 12 tricks. I don’t think Justin’s play was the best line. At our table, Spouse and I defended as East/West. The opposition took a more direct route to 6♠, but the play took a different turn. North South Pass 2♠ 3♥ 3♠ 4♠ 6♠ All Pass

For some inexplicable reason, Spouse sitting West led the ♣2 won in hand by declarer, who then crossed to dummy with the jack of trumps. Presumably assuming that Spouse would not have led from the ♣K, declarer tried to set up the suit by taking a ruffing finesse. He led the ♣Q, I played the ♣6, declarer ditched a small diamond and Spouse won with the ♣K. It was a toss-up as to who was most surprised, South or me. With the ace of trumps still to lose, the contact was defeated by one trick. This result was the clincher that gave us a narrow victory in the event overall. In the post-match analysis, none of us could decide the best approach to playing the board, but Millie was certain that the visit by Spouse and me to the temples had been the source of our combined inspiration. She insisted it was necessary to thank the ancient gods of Agrigento by toasting them in local wine to ensure their goodwill throughout our stay. I forget how many toasts were required, but yet another bottle appeared as if by magic. ■

Answers to Bernard Magee’s  Bidding Quizzes 1-3 on the Cover



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

West ?

North

East

South

Strong Two, then the responding hand is going to expect just 8 tricks from you and will not be thinking of slam at all.



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

2♣. You have an extremely strong hand: give your partner an average Yarborough and you will still expect to make game. Any strong hand that can make game by itself must open with the strongest bid to get its hand’s potential across. Remember that the definition of the traditional Acol 2♣ opening is: 23 or more points or a hand that can make game by itself. By opening 2♣ with this hand you allow your partner to envisage a slam as well as you. He can see two possible tricks and if you think you have ten in your own hand, then there has to be a chance for slam. If you open a strong 2♥ or a Benji

West North ?

East South 1♠ Pass

1NT. In many ways this is a simple question: you have six points so you should respond, but you do not have enough to bid at the two-level, so that leaves just one choice – 1NT. A 1NT response does not promise a balanced hand, it simply denies the strength for a 2-level response. It looks completely ridiculous to bid no-trumps with your hand, but your first duty is to

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slow the auction down and deny much strength. Later on, you might get the chance to show your long suit. On this deal, your partner rebids 2♦ and you are able to rebid 2♥. Having shown a weak hand with your first bid, your 2♥ now shows a very weak hand with long hearts. Your partner should pass 2♥ and you will have stopped at the right level. The problem with a direct 2♥ response is that it is forcing and shows 10+ points. Your partner will rebid 2♠, then you might bid 3♥ and he should manage to pass, but that has taken you uncomfortably high.



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

West North East ?

South 1♠

Pass. You pick up this hand and ready yourself to open the bidding 1NT, but then South opens in front of you with 1♠. At this point, I would like to remind you of the name of the opening bid you were just about to make: the weak no-trump. Balanced hands of 12-14 points are nothing to write home about and do not need to bid if upstaged by an opponent’s opening. It is important to remember that you do need a stronger hand to overcall with 1NT: 15-18 points. The reason for this is that North is waiting to bid and if he holds 9+ points he will find it easy to make a penalty double of a 1NT overcall. With no five-card suit and no shortage in spades, your only option is to pass. If you double for take-out, you should not be surprised to hear 2♥ from your ■ partner.

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Answers to Bernard Magee’s  Bidding Quizzes 4-6 on the Cover



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

West North ?

East South 1♥ 2♣

Pass. It is possible that you play a double for penalties in this situation, in which case you could make that call, but most players like to play doubles of suit contracts on the first round to be for take-out. In fact, your partner would have to alert a double here, if it was for penalties. Assuming that you do not play penalty doubles, what choices are you left with? The answer is simple: you want to play in clubs, so pass. 2NT might have been the choice of some, but you have no strength in the two unbid suits and more

importantly you give up on the chance of a penalty from 2♣. The take-out double system can work very well if played correctly: it allows you to show all sorts of hands as responder, but it can also still allow you to get penalties. Here, your partner will re-open the bidding with a take-out double of his own and you will be well-placed to pass this: happy to know that you will get a lovely penalty; quite possibly 500 points, which is worth more than a game contract.



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

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

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3♥. When a player opens in one suit and rebids in a second suit, he promises at least five cards in the first bid suit. This is the key information that allows you to calculate your correct response. Knowing that you have a heart fit, your second decision is what level to bid at. You have 11 HCP and eight losers, both of which suggest raising to the 3-level to invite game. Your partner will raise to game with his extra distribution. Jumping to 3♥ is important on hands like these to show your genuine support and aspirations for game. Game on 22 HCP might seem ambitious, but accurate play should allow you to make ten tricks most of the time.



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

West ?

North East South 1♥ Dbl Pass

2♠. When responding to a take-out double it is important to show your strength as well as your best suit. Up to about 8 or 9 points you can respond cheaply, but if you have 10 or more you must respond with a jump; with 13+ you must suggest a game is on. You only have 8 HCP, but you have a singleton and you should evaluate for that: remember that your partner has suggested that he has support for all the unbid suits, so you can assume a fit and evaluate accordingly. Your hand is worth 11 points (8 losers), which is worth a jump response: 2♠. Your jump response should set you on the way to game. If you just respond 1♠, your partner, who has a relatively minimum hand, ■ should probably stop bidding.

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BERNARD MAGEE’S INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS ACOL BIDDING

BEGIN BRIDGE ACOL VERSION l Card

Play Technique

l Planning l Bidding

Card Play

Balanced

Hands l Bidding

Suits

l Responding l Supporting

to a Suit

Partner

l Responding

to 1NT

l Stayman

l Opening

Bids and Responses

l

Slams and Strong Openings

l

Support for Partner

l Pre-empting

l No-trump

Openings and Responses

Two Opening and Response

l Overcalls

£66

l Doubles

l

Opener’s and Responder’s Rebids

l Pre-empting

l

l Defence

l Doubles

against No Trump Contracts

l Defence

against Suit Contracts

ADVANCED DECLARER PLAY l Making

Overtricks in No-trumps

l

Making Overtricks in Suit Contracts

l Endplays

Contract

£81

l Simple

l

l l

Trump Reductions & Coups Playing Doubled Contracts Safety Plays

Lead vs No-trump Contracts

l

Lead vs Suit Contracts

l

Partner of Leader vs No-trump Contracts

l

Advanced Basics

l Weak l

Twos

Partner of Leader vs Suit Contracts

l Count

l

Defence to 1NT

l Doubles l Two-suited

Defences to Other Systems

l

Misfits and Distributional Hands

l

Opening Bids & Responses

l

No-Trump Openings

l

Support for Partner

l

Slams & Strong Openings

l Discarding

l

Pre-empting

l

Defensive Plan

l

Doubles

l

Stopping Declarer

l

Overcalls

l

Competitive Auctions

l Counting

the Hand

Suit Establishment in Suits

l

Ruffing for Extra Tricks

l

Entries in No-trumps

£76

l Delaying

Drawing Trumps Using the Lead

l Trump

Strong No-Trump

Minors & Misfits

£76

l

Control

l

Endplays & Avoidance

l

Using the Bidding

FIVE-CARD MAJORS &

l

Signals

Establishment in No-trumps

l

l

Rebids

l Attitude

£96

Overcalls

l

Signals

l Suit

l Hold-ups

Strong Hands to Weak Twos

DEFENCE

the Hand l

l

Auctions

Squeezes l Counting

Minors and Misfits

l Competitive

l Avoidance l Wrong

£66

DECLARER PLAY

l Basics

l Defence

l Overcalls

l Strong

MORE (ADVANCED) ACOL BIDDING

BETTER BRIDGE l Ruffing

for Extra Tricks

l

Doubling and Defence Against £69 Doubled Contracts

l

Play and Defence of 1NT Contracts

l

Finding and Bidding Slams

l

Making the Most of High Cards

£89

l Competitive

Auctions

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

( 01483 489961

www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop

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

Pass-Outs and Averages by David Stevenson Pass-Outs

S

ome players feel cheated out of a board if it is passed out. ‘What is the point if it is not going to be played at any table? Why can we not re-deal?’ they ask. Re-deals are illegal, but players would like to know why, and what is the point? Bridge is a game of various disciplines, such as memory, trust, technique and judgement. Too many people think it is just a matter of counting points and following rules, but the great variety of this game makes it much more than that. Consider what happens when there are three passes to you: do you open with 10 points? 11? 12? 13? If you always open with 12 or 13 and pass with 10 or 11, perhaps you should review what you are trying to do. Other factors are that some players open light in third seat: if you never do, perhaps you should try it. Some players play a mini no-trump: again, it is a thing to try. Light third and fourth hand openings and mini no-trumps mean you will not pass out hands that others will and interesting results will happen. Of course, you do not get to play the hand if it has been passed out. Some people think they have been cheated out of the actual play – and I agree. That is true enough and perhaps that is another reason to start opening light in third or fourth: whatever happens, you will get to play or defend the hand. How about scoring? Do you get an average for a pass-out? No, though many people do seem to think so, including I am afraid to say, some scorers. You get a score of zero, which beats all the minus scores your way, and loses to all the plus scores your way. If everyone else opens your hand and gets a minus score and you pass it out, you will get a top because of your superior judgement.

How do you score it on a Bridgemate? You press the key marked ‘Pass’ and the score that your opponent will verify is ‘Passed out’. This is not the same as ‘Not Played’ which you reach by pressing the ‘0’ key: that is very rarely used and only by the director. Careful directors make sure players cannot enter ‘Not Played’. It is a setting in the software setup.

Averages

S

o what is an average and how is it different? An average is awarded by the director when a board cannot be played, for example, because of slow play, late arrival, illness, unfortunate comments overheard from another table or players seeing cards from another hand. It is not given just because there is a hesitation or misinformation and the director decides the score needs changing: then he must give a real score, or a combination of real scores with percentages. Note that the director does not give ‘Not Played’ instead of an average: that is illegal, though some directors find it easier. When a director gives an average, he has to decide whether to give an average, an average minus or an average plus. When playing in an ordinary duplicate, average is a 50% score on the board, average plus is 60% or the pair’s average score, whichever is greater, average minus is 40% or the pair’s average score, whichever is less. If the director decides that the pair did not cause the board not to be played, then he gives them average plus. If he decides that the actions of at least one of this pair caused the board not to be played, then he gives them average minus. If he believes they were partly to blame, he gives them average. Suppose a table finishes their penultimate board so late that he will not allow them to play the last board of the Page 15

round. If he decides one pair was very slow and not the other pair, he gives average minus/average plus. If he decides they would have played the last board if they had not both been slow then he gives them both average. But, now suppose he realises that one of them had been so very slow they would not have played the last board whatever, they get average minus: if their opponents had been pretty slow, he might give them average. Another example is where a previous table fouled the board: now he gives each side average plus. So averages need not balance. When does a director use ‘Not Played’? He does not use it for boards that should normally be played but are not for some reason, as explained above. But he will use it if boards are not to be played as a normal part of the movement. Suppose he has 8.5 tables: normally he will tell the scoring program this, then it will know which pair is missing and nothing needs to be entered. Now suppose when he set the program up he thought that he had nine full tables: does he need to restart it? The movement is the same, except for the missing pair. No, he can run it, but he will have to enter ‘Not Played’ at the sit-out table because the program is expecting a score. So the difference is that unexpected unplayed boards get averages: expected unplayed boards get ‘Not Played’. Thus, to summarise, if a board is played and there are four passes, that is a pass-out, scored as zero, beating minus scores, but losing to plus scores. If a board should be played in the movement but is not played, the director awards averages, average plus or minus or just average, scored usually as 60%, 40% or 50% (with some adjustments). If a board is not expected to be played but the scoring software expects it, then ‘Not Played’ is entered, and no score is recorded. ■

Answers to Bernard Magee’s  Bidding Quizzes 7-9 on the Cover



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

West ?

North East 1NT Dbl

South 2♥

another bad contract and you must put a double on it, to make sure you make as many points as possible. Whenever your opponents escape from a doubled contract, your first duty as a partnership is to see whether you can double for penalties again – do not let them escape easily. However, you do require trump length to make a penalty double at low levels. 2♥ may well only make five tricks, which is worth 800 points.

Pass. Opposite a pre-emptive bid, you are looking for 16+ points to bid on unless you have a good fit. You do not have a fit and therefore should pass. With a little bit of luck 3♥ will scrape home, but with four aces missing game has no chance. Worst of all would be 3NT: with no entries to the East hand, good defence will deny you any heart tricks at all.

Double. The first thing to note is that your side should have a healthy majority of points, so you should be aiming to make points on this deal. The second thing is that after one penalty double, all subsequent doubles are for penalties. You have no long suit to bid, but you do have length in hearts. Do not forget that South is not showing any great excitement when he bids 2♥, he is actually trying to escape from a bad contract. Looking at your hand, you know that he has found



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

West North ?

East South 3♥ Pass

Five-Card Majors with a Strong No-Trump The Interactive Way of Improving Your Five-Card Majors Bidding with Bernard Magee Contents (20 hands each) l

Opening Bids & Responses

l

Opener’s & Responder’s Rebids

l

No-Trump Openings

l

Pre-empting

l

Support for Partner

l

Doubles

l

Slams & Strong Openings

l

Overcalls

l

Minors & Misfits

l

Competitive Auctions

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

£89 including post and packing

See Mail Order Form on page 7.

Page 16



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

West ?

North East South 1♦ 1♠ Dbl

4♠. Your partner has made an overcall, then South has made a take-out style double promising at least four hearts. When supporting an overcall, the most important element of your hand is its distribution and particularly the length of your support. Raising aggressively tends to work well: putting the pressure on your opponents. The best method, which balances aggression with trick-taking potential, is to bid to the level of your fit. Add your length to the length you expect your partner to hold and bid to make that many tricks. You have five spades and your partner should have five for an overcall: 5+5 = 10. Bid to make ten tricks: 4♠. Now, North has to make his decision at the five-level and he might settle for doubling you. Just 14 HCP between the two hands, but with your distribution you will make an easy nine tricks. One off doubled will cost just 100 points as against the 450 points that 5♥ ■ would make.

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DECLARER PLAY QUIZ

DEFENCE QUIZ by Julian Pottage



(Answers on page 30)

Y

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

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

by David Huggett (Answers on page 41)

Y

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

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

1.

♠ K 9 6 5 ♥ K 3 2 ♦ K 8 7 ♣ 8 6 4

3.

N

N

W E

W E

S

S

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

West North East South Pass Pass 1♠ 2♣ 3♦1 Pass 6♠ End 1 Diamonds and spades

You lead the ♦Q, won by the ♦A. Declarer calls for the ♥J, covered by the ♥K and ♥A. Now comes the ♥Q followed by a low heart. What do you do?

You lead the ♣K. Declarer takes the ♣A, the ♦A and the ♥A before leading a low heart. How do you defend?

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

West North East South 1♣ Pass 1♦ Pass 2♦ Pass 4NT Pass 5♦ Pass 6♦ End

You lead the ♠K. Declarer wins with the ♠A and leads the ♥A-K-Q. What do you do?



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

♠ A J 10 4 2 ♥ 8 7 5 ♦ A Q J 10 ♣ A



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

2.

4.

♠ A 4 3 2 ♥ A Q 4 ♦ 6 5 2 ♣ 7 5 4 N



♠ K 5 ♥ K 9 7 ♦ A 7 3 ♣ A K 8 3 2

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads the ♦K. East follows with the ♦10. If you duck, West will continue diamonds. How do you plan the play?

Page 18

♠ 7 4 ♥ A 7 5 ♦ K 10 8 3 2 ♣ K Q 5 N

W E

S

You lead the ♥J. Partner wins the first two tricks with the ♥A-Q and continues with the ♥10, South following. What do you do?

♠ 6 ♥ A J 9 ♦ A Q J 10 7 6 5 ♣ A K

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

W E

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

♠ A 8 5 ♥ 7 6 5 ♦ K 2 ♣ 8 7 5 4 3

S



♠ K Q 6 ♥ 8 6 4 2 ♦ A Q 9 ♣ A J 9

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads the ♠J. East follows with the ♠2. How do you plan the play?

Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions

What is the Best Discard System?

Q

I came across McKenny (suit preference) discards many years ago, when I did not like the idea of throwing away a high card in the suit I wanted. What do ‘experts’ prefer and what do you with your regular partner? Andrew Mountain, Wrexham. (Similar from Isaac Nahumy, Orpington).

A

Few experts play suit preference as a primary signalling method (for a discard or on partner’s lead). The usual method, at the rubber bridge table as well as amongst experts, is that the main method is attitude. If attitude is obvious or irrelevant, the next signal is usually count, with suit preference only coming in after that. You are quite right that sometimes you cannot afford a high card from the suit you want. To deal with this, many experts play reverse (or upside down) attitude; in other words a low card asks for the suit. If you watch a VuGraph match on Bridge Base Online, you will see UDCA (upside down count

and attitude) in frequent use. For sure, some pairs play suit preference as the main discard method. Giving a clear signal has its advantages whenever there is a suit you really want and you can afford the appropriate card. However, sometimes you can only afford to discard from the suit you want, in which case a suit preference signal does not work so well. Since you ask, with one of my partners I do play suit preference discards; it is attitude (or reverse attitude) with all the others. ♣♦♥♠

Q

I know that I am safe to use Stayman when 4-4 in the majors; what should I do if I have fewer than this? What are the rules then? Anthony Rogers by email.

A

If you have a weak three-suited hand short in clubs, it is fine to use Stayman even with 4-3 in the majors; for example, with a 4-3-5-1 or 3-4-5-1 shape, using Stayman (and passing partner’s reply) is likely

to improve the contract. If you have the values to raise to 2NT or 3NT, you need only one four-card major for Stayman because then you can rebid 2NT or 3NT if partner does not reply in your major. The principle is that you need to be ready for any reply. ♣♦♥♠

Q

What do you think should be opened on this hand?



♠ Q ♥ A K 8 6 3 ♦ K ♣ A K J 10 6 4

My inexperienced partner opened 2NT because she had 20 points. I held:



♠ A K 6 ♥ Q 7 4 ♦ A Q 8 4 ♣ 9 5 3

I bid 6NT and we made 7NT because the ♣Q was

Page 19

in the right place. How should the bidding go? Peter Calviou by email.

A

Like a 1NT opening, a 2NT opening shows a balanced hand. Whoever taught your partner should have made this clear. The obvious start to the auction is 1♣-1♦-2♥. As opener’s jump shift creates a game force, you can take things slowly from there. With such good holdings in partner’s short suits, you will probably rebid 2NT rather than 3♣. Partner then continues with 3♥, telling you she is 5-6. After you give preference to 4♣, she checks on key cards (or aces) and you show two.  Since you are missing the ♣Q, it will be hard to bid a grand slam. As it happens, 7NT is a very good spot. You have 11 top tricks, with 13 either if hearts are 3-2 or the ♣Q falls in two rounds (or a marked club finesse arises on a 4-0 break). Finding out about the singleton ♠Q and ♦K will be very difficult, however. You will probably finish in 6NT, the same contract as you reached at the table.

Ask Julian continued

Q

Is it sensible for opener to pass some flat hands with 12 or 13 points? Joan Negus by email.

A

If you are vulnerable and the alternative is to open a weak no-trump, it can be sensible to pass a poor 12-point hand. You will not miss game if partner has the same strength hand as yours; you do not wish to risk going several down vulnerable (or being doubled). Most 12-point hands, however, are worth opening whatever the vulnerability. With 13 points, you should always open. If you and your partner both start passing 13-point hands, you might have 26 points between you and pass out a game. ♣♦♥♠

Q

I have come across different forms of Benji. Am I right that the 2♣ opener shows 18-19 HCP with a flat hand or 8 playing tricks? Is responder’s first bid always a relay response over 2♣, irrespective of the hand (i.e. no denial, no positive response at this stage)? Tony Baker by email.

A

Playing a balanced hand as weak as 18 points in a Benjamin 2♣ is highly unusual. The original range is 21-22, with a 2NT opening as 19-20. Even if you swap the ranges round, so that going via 2♣ is weaker than opening 2NT directly, you would be stronger than 18.

A few expert pairs, who do not like playing a weak 2♦, choose to open 2♦ with 18-19 balanced. I have never tried that myself – it is not Benjamin in any case. In traditional Benjamin, you do not have to respond 2♦ to 2♣ on all hands. You make a positive response if you have one. These days, many pairs have swapped from the traditional responses. With the alternative method you bid a good suit (a five-card suit with two of the top three honours at the two level or a six-card suit with two of the top three honours at the three level) and otherwise make a waiting bid of 2♦. So, yes, there are two different forms of responses. You and your partner need to agree which way you are doing it. ♣♦♥♠

Q

With the following North hand, my partner opened an Acol 2♣:



♠ A K 7 5 ♥ A K Q 6 ♦ K 8 7 5 4 ♣ Void N W E S



♠ Q 8 6 3 ♥ J 10 8 7 2 ♦ Q 6 ♣ A J

A

Despite the potential playing strength, most people would open 1♦ rather than 2♣. It is difficult to describe a 3-suited hand after opening 2♣. In any case, opener lacks the usual 5 quick tricks (though I appreciate the void makes up for that). Having decided to open 2♣, partner should raise you to 3♥, not 4♥. The whole point of a 2♣ opening is to create a force, giving you room to explore further. Had partner raised to 3♥, you would have had an easy 4♣ cue bid to show slam interest with a club control. As it was, with 10 HCP facing a 2♣ opener, you should not have given up in 4♥, especially when partner’s raise told you that you had a fit. A cue bid of 5♣ would seem the best continuation. Blasting 6♥ is a fair alternative because the small slam surely has play while the grand slam is unlikely to be laydown. If partner opens 1♦, the bidding is slightly trickier as it happens. You respond 1♥ and partner rebids 4♣, a splinter bid showing a raise to 4♥ with a club shortage. You would sign off in 4♥. With a 3-loser hand rather than the expected 5-loser hand, partner then continues with a 4♠ cue bid and you should reach 6♥. ♣♦♥♠

I responded 2♥ (happily) and partner raised to 4♥. Initially I was interested in a slam but decided that I did not like my soft points, i.e. two Qs and two Js. How should the bidding have proceeded? Should I have initiated the slam bidding? M Bleakley, Belfast.

Q

1. I opened 2♣ and rebid 3♣ over partner’s 2♦. This ended the bidding. ‘All About Acol’ by Ben Cohen and Rhoda Lederer had led me to believe that a 2♣ opening is always forcing to game. Has Acol bidding changed since the book came out or was it wrong in

Page 20

the first place? Should I have gone straight to 5♣, which I made? 2. I opened 1♥ and my partner went straight to 4♥. I assumed she had long hearts and minimal points. In fact, she had a strong hand and four hearts, which included two honours. Was I correct in my initial assumption? In the event, we could not make a slam, so the misunderstanding did not cost. Name and address supplied.

A

1. An Acol 2♣ opening creates a game force unless partner responds 2♦ and opener rebids 2NT. This is the same as it always has been and the same across most of the world. The whole idea of creating a force is that you can take things slowly thereafter to explore the best contract, be it game or slam. Jumping to 5♣ would defeat the object of the exercise. Your 3♣ rebid sounds fine. 2. A raise from 1♥ to 4♥ (or 1♠ to 4♠) shows a maximum of 10 HCP. What it shows in terms of playing strength may depend upon partnership agreement and vulnerability. Playing Acol (i.e. 4-card majors), you would typically have 5-card trump support and a 7-loser hand for the jump to game. As per my first answer, with a good hand, responder should take things slowly. Many pairs play one of 2NT or 3NT to show a sound raise (in the book you quote, a Swiss 4♣ or 4♦ might be the answer – but hardly anyone plays Swiss any more). If the partnership methods do not include a conventional way to show a strong raise, responder makes a delayed game raise, bidding a new suit and then supporting partner.

Ask Julian continued

Q

My partner, North, and I at favourable vulnerability, held these hands:



♠ 8 6 ♥ K Q ♦ K 7 ♣ K 10 9 8 7 6 5

is going for 800, which would be a disaster playing matchpoints even if the opponents can make game. With a very good hand for a one-level opening, partner would redouble 1♣. Once he fails to do so, this limits his hand to an extent. I must confess that I have never come across the auction 1♣-Pass-Pass-Dbl-4♣ before and so am not altogether sure what hand it shows.

N W E S



♠ 10 5 3 2 ♥ J 8 5 4 2 ♦ 9 2 ♣ A 4

West North East South 1♣ Pass Pass Dbl 4♣ Pass 5♣ Pass Pass Dbl End

I thought I was worth my raise to 5♣, with ♣A-x and a ruffing value. My partner said I should have taken his double jump as preemptive. If so, should he have opened 4♣? J Vernon Hartley by email.

A

Your partner’s hand is too flat offensively and too strong defensively for a 4♣ opening; he also has too many high cards for a 3♣ opening in first or second seat. Once you pass over 1♣ (a debatable decision with your actual hand) the position changes. Then partner knows that the deal belongs to the opposition and can afford to make life difficult for them. Having said that, bidding 4♣ seems bold, even at favourable vulnerability. It would not be hard to construct layouts where 4♣ doubled

♣♦♥♠

Q

N/S were defending a notrump contract. South had a suit of K-98-7-6-5 and no outside entry. North was on lead and led a different suit. Later South got a chance to signal for his suit and North dutifully led the 3 from A-J-3. This blocked the suit, restricting the defence to three possible tricks in the suit, but worse was to come. To protect his only entry, South played the 9. A surprised declarer, holding Q-10, won and rattled off the remaining tricks. N/S took no tricks when they could have had six. Who was to blame? Michael Canton by email.

A

Suits like this are notoriously difficult to untangle. If North knows that three tricks in the suit are insufficient, switching to the ace is correct. Counting how many tricks you need to defeat the contract often points the way to the winning defence. Likewise, South needs to count declarer’s points to work out whether North was going to have an entry. The fact that declarer

rattled off the remaining tricks suggests it was not a sure thing for North to have an entry. Without seeing the full deal, it is hard to apportion the blame. ♣♦♥♠

Q

After opening 1♦ and getting a 1♥ response from partner, what should you rebid on this hand?



♠ K Q 7 ♥ A Q 8 ♦ A Q 9 6 5 2 ♣ 9

Marjorie Gill, Menston, Yorkshire.

A

Yours is a difficult hand to bid in a natural system – you see this sort of hand in a bidding competition where even the experts are unable to agree. You could rebid 3♦, which shows extra values and a six-card diamond suit – this is the textbook bid on the hand. However, with the playing strength you have, it is a slight underbid – also you risk missing a 5-3 heart fit. Some people would invent a 1♠ rebid, hoping that partner does not pass or support spades too vigorously – I would not recommend that, as it seems to create as many problems as it solves. The other possibility is to raise hearts. The problem is that the hand is too strong for a single raise while you really do not want to make a jump raise with only 3-card support.

Page 21

Q

This South hand came up in Andrew Robson’s column in The Times:



♠ 6 5 4 2 ♥ A K 9 ♦ A 7 6 5 ♣ A 7

South was dealer and opened 1♠. The footnote said, ‘Higher-ranking as per Modern Acol.’ What is Modern Acol? Secondly, when you have two four-card suits, which suit is it better to open with and what should your rebid be? Some say lower-ranking suit first followed by the higher-ranking. Others say higher-ranking suit first followed by the lower-ranking. Paul Hobbs by email.

A

1. Modern Acol means Acol as played today. I am not sure that Andrew Robson was actually advocating a 1♠ opening. I think he was merely mentioning that some authorities recommend it. 2. Unless you have a 4441 type, you should not bid both suits – you open one suit and rebid in no-trumps (that is assuming you were out of range for a 1NT opening in the first place). The official Mr Bridge house rule is to open the higher suit, though not everyone would follow that practice at the table. On a hand like your example, the very poor quality of the spades would persuade many people to prefer a 1♦ ■ opening.

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

Answers to Bernard Magee’s  Bidding Quizzes 10-12 on the Cover

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

West North ?

East South 1♥ 3♠

However, with such a powerful diamond suit, you may have enough tricks from the very start, so it is surely worth the risk. On a bad day North takes the first five club tricks. More likely is that you will receive a spade lead and find a reasonably suitable dummy. You might be able to scrape home in 5♦ on these two hands, but it is no surprise that there are ten tricks in notrumps, which will get the best score.

3NT. Pre-emptive bids are annoying: they take away all of your bidding space and force you to guess. Well, not actually guess, make educated decisions. You have the strength for game, so what do you think is the most likely making game? 5♦ may well have chances, but much of the time it makes, there will be more tricks to be made in 3NT. Holding the ♠A-x is very important, it allows you to hold up one round and often cut the pre-emptor off from his partner’s hand.



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

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

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Page 22

Pass. After a 1-over-1 response, a new suit is not forcing. There is good reason for this, the opener might have just 12 points and the responder 6 points, which means the partnership will not want to get too high. It is very different if the responder replies at the 2-level, showing 10+ points. Now the partnership is comfortable and a new suit would be forcing. Having set the scene, you now have the choice between passing 2♣, bidding 2♦ or rebidding your heart suit. Responder should usually give in to the opener unless he has a very good suit of his own. For 2♥ you should have a good six-card suit. Given a choice between clubs and diamonds it has to be clubs, so you should pass.



12. Dealer West. E/W Game. ♠ A K 2 ♠ 4 3 N ♥ 5 3 ♥ KQ9876 W E ♦ A Q 7 6 5 4 S ♦ 8 ♣ 4 2 ♣ 9 7 6 5

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

Pass. This is a question of understanding the auction. North has made a 1NT overcall showing a strong hand (15-18) and then your partner has bid 2♥. Is your partner showing strength? With nine or more points, your partner can double 1NT for penalties, so any bid at the 2-level is a weak bid: trying to compete for the hand and completely non-forcing. East should have six hearts in a weak hand and most of the time you will pass this. ■ 2♥ is clearly the best contract.

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David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics

Should the Score Have Been Adjusted?

Q

During a recent duplicate bridge session, the following circumstances arose:

West North East South 2♣1 2♠2 Pass 3♥3 Pass Pass4 Dbl 3♠ Pass Pass Dbl End 1 N enquired and E said, ‘strong 19+.’ 2 having 13 HCP 3 having 14 HCP 4 with W sitting with 19+, what on earth was S bidding on?

bears this out) and North would have got a top, the result of one down, doubled, should stand. At the end of the session, the director awarded an average to both sides, but both sides felt aggrieved. I felt that North was disadvantaged and should have been given an adjusted score of 5♥, under Law 75B. I would appreciate your view.  Brian Hodges by email.

3♠ doubled by North went one off. Almost all of the other tables bid and made 5♥. 3♠ by North was makeable and 3♠ doubled would have got a top board, but North claimed that they played the hand thinking the strong hand was West and not East. North was adamant that they were disadvantaged by the mis-information of the opening 2♣ bid and under normal circumstances would have got to 4♥, probably making 11 tricks. East was adamant that, as 3♠ was makeable (the computer record

The ruling is certainly illegal. If there was misinformation then the director adjusts to an actual score, or more usually a group of scores with a percentage applied to each, so long as damage has been caused by the misinformation. If there is no damage, there is no adjustment. The idea of giving an average is over 50 years out of date. Was there misinformation? You have told me what 2♣ was described as, but was this their agreement? If it was and West psyched (deliberately made a bid that did not suit his hand) or misbid (accidentally made a bid that did not suit his hand) then that is perfectly legal and

A

no adjustment is made. East certainly treated 2♣ as strong by his repeated doubles. The immediate things the director must do are to try to find out the actual agreement and to ask West why he opened 2♣. I cannot say without seeing the hand, but my best guess is that this is another example of people playing Benjamin and opening a pre-emptive hand 2♣ instead of at the one-, three- or four-levels. In that case, saying ‘19+’ is certainly misinformation. Next is the question of damage. Any time I have 27 points between the two hands, I am really happy to play in 3♠ doubled. What happened? Why did it go off? I am not impressed that Deep Finesse made 3♠: because it sees the opponents’ cards, it plays hands much better than real people. However, if they did cause all their own poor score, then there is a law that says they should keep their poor score, but we still adjust against the pair that caused the trouble. Without seeing the hands or convention cards and without talking to the people at the table, I cannot be sure what the ruling should be, but the most likely ruling is the score stands for N/S, E/W get

Page 26

the score for 4♥+1 by N/S. ♣♦♥♠

Q

1. Please could you clarify the director’s duty/ responsibility/authority in respect of slow play awarding averages. 2. Under what rule or law must bidding be allowed to continue, once started? Peter Blackwell by email.

A

1. If a board that is meant to be played is not played for any reason, whether slow play, illness, late arrival or anything else, then the director, as a matter of law, awards average plus, average or average minus depending on the situation. He has no option. It is certainly his duty and his responsibility and the laws give him the authority. 2. It is not a question of a law that says bidding must be allowed to continue, it is the fact that no law gives the director the right to stop the bidding. Directors follow, we trust, the laws of bridge and do not stop boards, give adjustments, penalise, or anything else unless the laws (or regulations) permit them.

Ask David continued

Q

I was East on this hand.

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

West North East South 3♣ Dbl Pass 3♥ Pass 4♥ 5♣ Dbl* All Pass *Without hesitation

The contract went four off and, at the conclusion of the play, North immediately turned to West and asked why she hadn’t doubled. She replied that she could not as her partner had already done so. South made no comment in this discussion until North said he had not seen the double and asked his partner if he had. South agreed that he had not. I was the only one of the four at the table to keep a score card and I showed them where I had clearly written down the contract, 5♣*, together with a note of the lead. N/S tried to argue that I must have pulled the pass card in error at which point I called the director. The director admitted he was unsure what to

do and offered to adjust the score to half of the 800 points due. N/S were happy with this, of course, and although I was aggrieved, I do not argue with a director. Upon inspection at the end of the evening, the traveller revealed that the board had been played 12 times, with every E/W pair making 4♥, the vast majority with overtricks and one pair bidding and making a small slam. What should have been a very good score had turned into a complete bottom. Your comments on how to deal with this situation would be appreciated, both by the director and me. Jan Richards, Woking, Surrey.

A

most interesting question is whether the final pass shown by you in the diagram above actually happened. The director should ask each player whether there was such a pass. If there was then there must have been a double. The notation on your score card is part of the evidence. Even the fact that passing was illogical is evidence, though not very strong: players certainly make mistakes. I could not tell you how I would rule, because I was not there. I would have asked all four players what happened and listened carefully to their replies, then considered the other evidence, but I do think your case is stronger than your opponents’. ♣♦♥♠

Let me deal with peripheral matters first: North has no right to ask an opponent about why she made any call. That is rude, unless made between close friends or regular partners. A warning to North about the behaviour seems suitable. Second is similar: the moment there is a disagreement between opponents over facts players must not argue, they must call the director. Now, what should the director do? Well, the actual ruling is certainly illegal. Part of every director’s job is to make judgements as to facts. So the director either decides there was a double or not and the score is adjusted accordingly. If either side does not like the decision then they appeal, they do not argue. How does the director make such a decision? Well, he uses all the facts available. The first and

Q

Announcing at the start of each round that we play 5-card majors (better minor) and a strong no-trump (15-17), on two occasions in the last week my partner has opened 1♣/1♦, I have replied 1♦/♥/♠ and his rebid has been 1NT. I have been questioned about how many points that shows. Am I entitled to just say it is a natural bid or do I have to tell them that it is 12-14 points? Connie Pearce, Milford On Sea.

Page 27

A

You need to tell them what it shows, including point-count. I play a 1NT rebid as 13-17, even with a strong no-trump, and that counts as natural. Your opponents have the right to know your agreements and while it may seem obvious to you that such a 1NT shows 12-14, it may not be obvious to opponents. ♣♦♥♠

Q

West (a BBO rated expert) playing with, I believe, a non regular partner, in a low level Acol match, against two intermediate players opened 1NT (12-14) with:



Dealer West. Game All. ♠ J ♥ A K 7 4 2 ♦ J 10 5 3 ♣ J 5 3

Would this be regarded as a psyche? Emma Jones by email.

A

Yes, it is a psyche. Partner would expect more points and a balanced distribution (unless this pair tell their opponents otherwise). Of course, psyches are legal, so there is no problem with this sort of opening unless they do it regularly or partner allows for this.

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Ask David continued

Q

Your statement, ‘cheating in bridge in the British Isles is fortunately very rare,’ caught my eye. I’m sure you’re right but I still think I have been a victim. We were playing at a club event against a husband and wife pair. The wife was much the better player. After two years, I forget the details but the wife coached the husband with something like, ‘Don’t forget what 2♣ means.’ Foolishly, I let it pass. The following week she did it again. Foolishly, I remonstrated instead of calling the director. After the event, I asked the director what I should have done. The couple came up and verbally assaulted me, accusing me of spoiling a friendly game. No action was taken so I found another club. I still think that was cheating and that the director was weak. Ollie Killingback by email.

A

Of course there are a few exceptions to my general comment and the director should deal with them. If you are verbally assaulted then you should, in theory, report it to the director who will deal with that as well. ♣♦♥♠

Q

May I ask for your advice on something that happened on a club night? I was West on this hand:

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

West North East South 2♥ 2NT 4♥ Pass* Pass 4♠ Dbl End *South couldn’t make up his mind whether to bid and kept touching the cards in the bidding box before passing.

When North bid 4♠, my partner objected and said that after South’s hesitation he should pass, especially since South had indicated by his actions that he couldn’t make up his mind to bid or pass. As it happened, North was the playing director and he explained that he must make the bid that he intended to make if South had not hesitated. He went on to say that if East had passed South was obliged to bid 3♣. Then he (North) would pass if his suit was clubs or bid his suit which, in this case, was spades. South explained that the reason for the hesitation was that he thought the 2NT overcall was for the minors, but decided that he should pass 4♥. The result was 8 tricks for N/S for -300 but we, as E/W, could make 11 tricks for +450. North changed the score in our

favour to +450. I hope that this was the correct ruling and the director (North) was not giving us a favourable result, simply because the incident had happened against him. How would you have ruled? David Cree by email.

A

First, I should have explained the laws to East. I know many people think that after a hesitation partner must pass: there is no such law. The laws say that players must take no advantage. Furthermore, it is not really up to East to tell other players what they may and may not do even if he had been right. Second, I should have explained the laws to North. I know many people think that after a hesitation players must make the call they would have made without the hesitation, but it is not as simple as that: players often have a choice. What they must do is avoid taking any advantage. This is complicated by the fact that N/S seem to be playing an unusual defence to weak twos, which one of them does not understand. So, I would find out exactly what 2NT showed and whether it was alerted. But the real question is whether North is allowed to bid 4♠ after his partner’s hesitation, which clearly shows values. Best is to give the hand and sequence (but not the hesitation) to players and ask them what they would do. So long as some of them pass, then pass is a logical alternative. In my view, some players

Page 28

would now pass and bidding 4♠ is suggested over pass by the hesitation. Thus, I would rule it as 4♥+1 by West, scoring -450 for N/S. ♣♦♥♠

Q

Playing this week in a team of four competition, my LHO opened 1♥, partner passed, RHO responded 2♦, I passed, LHO displayed the stop card and bid 3♣; i.e. not a jump, realised his mistake and quickly put away the stop card. I considered calling the director but, as a director, realised I did not know the ruling. The bidding continued to a harmless makeable game in hearts with no adverse affect on the match. A jump shift was forcing to game, so RHO had unintended information. What would have been the director’s ruling? Peter Bellingham, Little Brickhill, Milton Keynes.

A

No call is considered made, so unchangeable, until it has been fully made. So your opponent has a perfect right to put the stop card away and bid 3♣ (or anything else). However, the use of the stop card is unauthorised to his partner, who must make every effort to gain no advantage. It was similar in the days of spoken bidding: after someone has said, ‘One ...,’ the call was not completed and may be changed, but the statement, ‘One ...,’ was unauthorised to partner. ■

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Page 29

Answers to Julian Pottage’s  Defence Quiz on page 18 1. ♠ A 6 5 4 ♥ J 4 ♦ A K 2 ♣ J 9 7 2 ♠ Q 10 7 N ♥ 5 3 W E ♦ Q J 10 9 3 S ♣ A Q 6 ♠ K 9 8 2 ♥ A Q 8 ♦ 8 5 4 ♣ K 10 4

West Pass Pass End ♠ J 3 ♥ K 10 9 7 6 2 ♦ 7 6 ♣ 8 5 3

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

You lead the ♦Q, won by the ♦A. Declarer calls for the ♥J, covered by the ♥K and ♥A. Now comes the ♥Q followed by a low heart. What do you do? Are you tempted to ruff with the ♠7 to force out dummy’s ♠A? If declarer really does call for dummy’s ♠A, your ruff will have done no harm. In real life, dummy should discard the ♦2. With a diamond ruff in dummy available later, all you will make is two clubs and your ruff. As the ♥8 is declarer’s loser, you do not want to ruff it with a natural trump winner. Discard a loser instead.

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

♠ 9 8 5 4 3 ♥ J 9 8 6 2 ♦ 7 3 ♣ 8

North East South 1♣ Pass 1♦ 2♦ Pass 4NT 5♦ Pass 6♦

You lead the ♠K. Declarer wins with the ♠A and leads the ♥A-K-Q. What do you do? This one looks easy and, indeed, it is. This time declarer is leading a winner rather than a loser. Moreover, you can ruff with the ♦6 and still make the ♦A later. Although your ♦6 will not win (as dummy can overruff), by ruffing you prevent the ♠J from going away on the heart. If you fail to ruff at all, or if you ruff with the ♦A, declarer will avoid a spade loser and so make the slam. Another line for declarer would have been to try to throw a spade from hand on a club. This would have been inferior and failed too.

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

♠ 8 ♥ K 8 6 5 3 2 ♦ 9 7 4 3 ♣ 8 4

West North East South Pass Pass 1♠ 2♣ 3♦1 Pass 6♠ End 1 Diamonds and spades

You lead the ♣K. Declarer takes the ♣A, the ♦A and the ♥A before leading a low heart. How do you defend?

Page 30

Although you do not usually want to ruff a loser with a boss trump, here you have a good reason to do so. If you can gain the lead, you hope to cash the setting trick in clubs. What happens if you fail to ruff (or ruff low)? Declarer ruffs the heart in dummy, cashes a diamond to discard a club and then takes the trump finesse. After that, declarer ruffs your club exit, draws trumps ending in dummy and claims twelve tricks.

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

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

You lead the ♥J. Partner wins the first two tricks with the ♥A-Q and continues with the ♥10, South following. What do you do? Since the ♥10 is high, you do not need to ruff to stop declarer from discarding a club from dummy. Moreover, your ♠A is a sure winner whenever you play it. Nevertheless, you certainly should ruff. As your ♠A is short, you are unlikely to get the chance to capture an honour with it. By ruffing, you are saving your partner from having to play a low trump under it. J-10-x or Q-x of trumps in partner’s hand will be worth a trick if you get your ace ■ out of the way.

Letters from Overseas

Austrian Festivities Don’t Help My Bridge by John Barr

O

ne of the aspects of life in Austria that my wife and I greatly enjoy is the regular festivals that are an excuse to listen to local music, eat Wiener Schnitzel, and drink copious amounts of beer and wine. Many of the festivals are religious, or relate to local customs – such as the ‘cows coming off the mountain’ festival, when cows parade through the streets in head-dresses as they move to the valleys before the snows come. Other less important festivals are treated with the same enthusiasm, including ‘It’s Friday!’ and late night shopping on Wednesday. After enjoying one festival with perhaps a little too much enthusiasm, I wasn’t concentrating well at the bridge club. Dealer North. Game All. ♠ K Q J 7 ♥ 9 6 ♦ A Q 6 5 ♣ A J 10 ♠ 10 6 ♠ 9 8 4 3 N ♥ Q J 7 3 ♥ A K W E ♦ 9 7 4 S ♦ 10 8 3 2 ♣ 8 7 6 2 ♣ Q 4 3 ♠ A 5 2 ♥ 10 8 5 4 ♦ K J 2 ♣ K 9 5



West Pass

North East South 1♦ Pass 2NT 3NT All Pass

Partner led the three of hearts, playing fourth-highest leads, and I cashed the top two hearts. I could more or less place every card. South should have 11 or 12 points with four hearts, which must be four small given his failure to bid a heart. I knew that declarer had four hearts because of the Rule of 11, which says that; when playing fourth-highest leads, if you subtract the card that your partner has led (in this case the three) from eleven, that is the number of higher cards in that suit held by dummy, partner and declarer. Eleven minus three is eight and I could see two higher cards in dummy and another two in my own hand, so declarer must have four hearts higher than Page 31

the three. I exited with a spade, hoping that declarer would not guess the position of the queen of clubs. However, as I was marked with short hearts – and therefore long clubs – on the play of the heart suit, it was more in hope than in expectation. But my luck was in. Declarer won the spade ace in hand and played the club king and a club to the jack and my queen. I exited with the two of diamonds, which transformed itself into the two of hearts by the time it hit the table. Partner’s two heart winners took the contract one off. ‘Why can’t you just cash your ten top tricks?’ complained dummy. ‘After the first three tricks, West is marked with five hearts and East has no more, so I can safely take the club finesse into his hand.’ The rest of the room made 9 or 10 tricks – depending on whether a heart was led – and one down was a cold top for us. My partner said, ‘Great defence,’ but I was too embarrassed to admit that I’d lost the two of hearts in amongst my diamonds, so I gave a knowing smile and picked up the next board, promising myself that I would concentrate better and sort my hand correctly this time. ■

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

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Things You Should Know About . . . by Andrew Kambites

M

r Bridge has invited me to write a new series entitled, ‘Things you should know about . . .’ I have started with 12 articles on the most important aspects of the uncontested auction. Some of my articles will be on basic bridge knowledge. The emphasis will be on explaining why something is the recommended path, rather that just telling you what to do. Too many people decide on a system as though it is a series of unconnected decisions. Any good system is an integrated whole, put together as a result of many years of experience by strong players. One part affects the rest. For example, I will be recommending that you open all balanced hands in the 12-14 point range with 1NT, even if you have a weak doubleton. There are huge hidden gains by doing this, for example, that if you open 1♠ and rebid 2♥ you guarantee five spades. Of course you may decide not to accept my recommendation about opening 1NT with a small doubleton, but then you must accept that there are drawbacks that you might not have anticipated. I would strongly advise

you not to reinvent the wheel: the large number of homegrown systems that I see at club level have the disadvantage of bypassing the accumulated experience of experts over many years. Other articles will feature common conventional bids. I have criteria I apply to conventions.

First Criterion Any convention invariably replaces a natural bid. For example the best of all conventions, Stayman, prevents you from signing off in 2♣. Is that a price worth paying? The answer is a very strong Yes. Finding a 4-4 major suit fit is far more important than signing off in 2♣.

Second Criterion How often does it occur? If the answer is every week, it is worth the effort in learning it and you won’t forget it at the table. If it occurs once a year, then inevitably one of you will get it wrong. Of course, the more you play with a partner, the more ambitious you can be in your system.

Page 32

Third Criterion In real life, does it gain or lose? I am afraid that Gerber fails my test. In real life people regularly have misunderstandings about when 4♣ is or isn’t Gerber. Bridge is a game played by fallible human beings and any convention which does not recognise this is flawed. Whatever the merits of a convention, do understand all conventions need discussion and such discussion can only take place in a regular partnership. If you sit down for a casual session opposite somebody you hardly know, you might both agree to play red suit transfers, but that does not necessarily mean you mean the same thing. My articles try to anticipate problems, for example, if 1NT is doubled, is 2♣ still Stayman? If you and your partner both study my ideas and accept them, you should find them helpful. I will also try to advise you whether your partner’s bid needs announcing or alerting under current EBU rules. Good luck, and enjoy your bridge. ■

Things You Should Know by Andrew Kambites

About Stayman I

f your partner opens 1NT, then a response of 2♣ is universally played as the Stayman convention. The 2♣ bidder will have at least one 4-card major suit and is asking opener whether he has a 4-card major. Opener replies as follows: 2♦ denies a 4-card major. 2♥ shows four hearts. 2♠ promises four spades. With four cards in each major, opener rebids 2♥, showing his hearts but temporarily concealing his spades. ♣♦♥♠

U

nless you have agreed to play a version of Stayman with your partner called non-promissory Stayman, responding to 1NT with 2♣ promises that you hold a 4-card major. Having given partner that message, you can never cancel it. To see the implications of this, look at Layout A.



Layout A ♠ Q 7 6 5 ♥ A K 6 5 N W E ♦ K 3 2 S ♣ J 5

♠ K J 10 3 ♥ Q 3 ♦ A Q J 4 ♣ 10 9 7

West East 1NT1 2♣2 2♥3 3NT4 4♠5

With 12-14 points and a balanced hand it should be automatic for West to open 1NT. 2 2♣ is Stayman. 3 West has four hearts. 4 East has enough for game but doesn’t want to play in hearts, therefore he must have four spades otherwise he wouldn’t have used Stayman. 5 Knowing that East has four spades, West corrects to the best contract.

1



Layout B ♠ Q 7 6 5 ♥ A K 6 5 N W E ♦ K 3 2 S ♣ J 5

♠ 8 4 2 ♥ 2 ♦ A 8 7 4 ♣ A K Q 4 3

Note that your hand isn’t really strong enough to investigate playing in 5♣: 3NT requires nine tricks, 5♣ eleven.

♣♦♥♠ ♣♦♥♠

Y

ou must never use Stayman without a 4-card major just to see if partner can cover your weakness. Your partner opens 1NT and you have:

♠ 8 4 2 ♥ 2 ♦ A 8 7 4 ♣ A K Q 4 3

Your only sensible bid is 3NT. You are taking a gamble on the hearts, but most of the time you will be OK. Suppose you wrongly try responding to 1NT with the Stayman 2♣ and partner responds 2♥. You might feel reassured and jump to 3NT, but partner will assume you have four spades if he holds the West hand in Layout A, leaving you playing in a horrible 4-3 fit at the four level. Do you really want to play Layout B in 4♠? Page 33

I

n a Stayman sequence, you can work out the strength of the 2♣ bidder by imagining the auction without the 2♣ response and opener’s rebid. Look at Auctions C and D:

Auction C Auction D West East West East 1NT 2♣ 1NT 2♣ 2♥ 2NT 2♦ 2♠

In Auction C, East has 11-12 points, just as would have been the case if the auction had been: 1NT-2NT. Of course, East has four spades and West, armed with all this information, must decide on a final contract. With four spades and a maximum, West bids 4♠. With four spades and a minimum, West signs off in 3♠. With fewer than four spades and a maximum, West raises to 3NT. With fewer than four spades and a minimum, West passes 2NT.

About Stayman continued

In Auction D, East is signing off in 2♠, just as if the auction had been 1NT-2♠. You might wonder why East has bothered to use Stayman: the answer is that he has five spades and four hearts, maybe Hand E:

Hand E ♠ K J 6 5 4 ♥ Q 8 6 5 ♦ 7 ♣ 6 3 2

He isn’t interested in game and if he didn’t have four hearts he would have signed off in 2♠ directly. However, it does no harm to look for a 4-4 heart fit first. ♣♦♥♠

I

f you bid a Stayman 2♣, you must be prepared for any rebid by opener.

That means that usually you need at least 11 points (so that you can continue with 2NT or a higher bid if you don’t like opener’s rebid). However Hand E demonstrates using Stayman with a weaker hand. East is fully prepared. He intends to sign off in 2♠ if the rebid is 2♦, or pass a 2♥ or 2♠ rebid. Hand F would also be suitable because East could pass any rebid (including 2♦), but to bid Stayman with Hand G would be very dangerous because if opener rebids 2♦ (denying a 4-card major) East is stuck. Remember that a 2NT continuation would show 11-12 points. With Hand G, the best course of action for East is to pass 1NT. Hand F Hand G ♠ K 8 7 6 ♠ K 8 7 6 ♥ Q 8 6 5 ♥ Q 8 6 5 ♦ J 8 6 5 4 ♦ Void ♣ Void ♣ J 8 6 5 4

Note that some pairs play that the

sequence 1NT-2♣-2NT shows both majors. This gains nothing because, as seen in Layout A, opener rebidding 2♥ may temporarily conceal the spades, but all comes good on the next round. On the other hand, this unsound practice stops responder using Stayman on hands like Hand F.

2♣ to see if there is a 4-4 spade fit. West rebids 2♦ to deny a 4-card major, just as he would if 1NT had been an opening bid. East’s 2NT is a game try and with a maximum 1NT overcall, West raises to game.

♣♦♥♠

ou should play Stayman opposite a 2NT opening bid or a natural 2NT overcall.

Y

ou need to agree with your partner what a minor suit continuation means. Auction H Auction I West East West East 1NT 2♣ 1NT 2♣ 2 anything 3♣ 2♥/♠ 3♦

Twenty years ago, Auction H was played as a sign off in clubs (and an exception to the rule that 2♣ guarantees a 4-card major). Nowadays many pairs play it as forcing, showing a 4-card major and good clubs. Similarly, what does 3♦ mean in Auction I? Is it a sign off (because you play transfers and therefore cannot sign off in 2♦) or forcing with a 4-card major and good diamonds? ♣♦♥♠

Y

ou should also play Stayman opposite partner’s 1NT overcall.



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

♠ K 7 6 4 ♥ 6 3 ♦ J 10 2 ♣ A 6 3 2

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

In Layout J, if West had been dealer and opened 1NT, East would clearly have passed. However, West’s overcall of 1NT shows 16-18 points, so East is worth a game try. He starts with a Stayman Page 34

♣♦♥♠

Y

Of course the Stayman bid is now 3♣, which you should assume to be the usual 4-card version. However, I recommend that you try playing 5-card Stayman, whereby an initial 3♣ asks if opener has a 5-card major. The reason is that a 2NT opener is far more likely to have a 5-card major than a 1NT opener. If opener has neither a 5-card nor a 4-card major, he rebids 3NT (sensible enough because, unlike opposite a 1NT opening, responder rarely wants to sign off). If responder has a 4-card major but no 5-card major, he rebids 3♦, which leads to both partners bidding their 4-card majors until either a fit is found or 3NT is reached. Layout K shows this in action:



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

♠ K 7 6 4 ♥ 6 3 ♦ J 10 2 ♣ K 6 3 2

West East 2NT 3♣1 3♦2 3♠3 4♠4

Have you got a 5-card major? No, but I have got a 4-card major. 3 I have 4 spades but not 4 hearts. 4 In that case we have a 4-4 spade fit. 1 2

I

f your partner’s 1NT opening bid or overcall is doubled, 2♣ is no longer Stayman.

To grasp why, you need to

About Stayman continued

understand why Stayman is such a wonderful convention. Any conventional bid has gains and losses: the loss in playing Stayman is that you can no longer sign off in 2♣ if partner opens 1NT. However, the gains far outweigh this loss, both in terms of getting the big hands right and in terms of frequency of use. You are far more likely to want to investigate a 4-4 major suit fit than sign off in 2♣. But once opponents double 1NT for penalties, the priorities change. You are far less likely to be looking for game and you could be in serious trouble if you have very little. The emphasis must be on finding an escape route, so you need 2♣ as a natural sign-off bid. ♣♦♥♠

I

f you open 1NT/2NT and your partner responds with a 4-card Stayman 2♣/3♣, you should say for the benefit of your opponents, ‘Stayman.’ Stayman is a conventional bid and normally conventional bids are alerted, but the sequence 1NT/2NTPass-2♣/3♣ is so common that the EBU have decided that rather than wait for the inevitable question from opponents, you should tell them before they ask. This is called, ‘Announcing.’ Any other uses of Stayman, such as 5-card Stayman or Stayman opposite a 1NT overcall, should be alerted. ■

Things You Should Know About Stayman Quiz by Andrew Kambites (Answers on page 47) 1 What would you bid with Hands A, B, C and D if your partner opens 1NT? If you use Stayman, consider your continuations after all possible replies.



Hand A Hand B Hand C Hand D ♠ 8 ♠ Q 8 7 6 ♠ 9 3 2 ♠ 3 ♥ A 8 7 6 5 ♥ A 8 7 6 5 ♥ K 9 7 6 ♥ 6 2 ♦ Q 8 7 6 ♦ 8 ♦ Q 9 8 6 3 ♦ J 7 6 ♣ 9 3 2 ♣ 9 3 2 ♣ 7 ♣ A K Q 7 6 5 2

Mr Bridge 2014 Bridge Players’ Diaries

2 You are West. The bidding starts as shown. West East 1NT 2♣ 2♥ 2NT ?

What is your next bid with Hands E, F, G and H?



Hand E Hand F ♠ A J 7 6 ♠ A J 7 6 ♥ K 7 5 4 ♥ K Q 7 4 ♦ K 2 ♦ K 2 ♣ J 10 3 ♣ J 10 3

Hand G Hand H ♠ A J 7 ♠ A J 7 ♥ K 7 5 4 ♥ K Q 7 4 ♦ K 4 2 ♦ K 4 2 ♣ J 10 3 ♣ J 10 3

Contents include ♦ Acol Summary by Bernard Magee. ♦ Guide to the Laws. ♦ Scoring Tables for duplicate and rubber bridge. ♦ Distributional odds.

3 You are playing 5-card major Stayman opposite a 2NT opening bid. Your partner opens 2NT. What do you bid with Hands J and K? If you use Stayman, what do you plan to do if partner replies: i) 3♦? ii) 3♥? iii) 3♠? iv) 3NT?

♦ Hand patterns and fascinating figures. ♦ Cover colours: Red, Navy, Tan, Black, Burgundy. ♦ All covers printed in gold-coloured ink.

Hand J Hand K ♠ K Q 7 6 ♠ K 7 5 ♥ 8 4 3 ♥ 7 ♦ 8 3 ♦ Q J 7 5 4 ♣ 9 7 5 4 ♣ 8 4 3 2



4 Your partner opens 1NT and the next hand doubles. What do you bid with Hands L and M?

Hand L Hand M ♠ 5 ♠ J 4 3 2 ♥ 7 6 5 4 ♥ K 7 6 5 ♦ K 6 5 ♦ J 9 8 7 6 ♣ J 7 6 5 4 ♣ Void

Page 35

♦ Individual diaries £6.95 each including p&p. ♦ Special concession to clubs and teachers. 10 for £35, thereafter £3.50 each including p&p. ♦ Luxury version with supersoft kidrell cover, gilded page edges and a ball-point pen attached, in ruby red, navy blue or bottle green. £14.95 each including p&p.

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READERS’ LETTERS WEAK NO-TRUMP I wanted to raise a counter argument to that put forward by a number of readers recently, namely the concern that some people have over opening balanced 12-point hands with three aces and no other worthwhile card. It is true that you can sometimes catch a cold opening these hands 1NT, especially if you are in third seat with, potentially, a powerful hand sitting to your left. However, in the long run, not opening such hands is losing bridge and it has long been expert opinion that aces are, if anything, under-valued compared to other high cards using the normal 4-3-2-1 point count system. I think the argument that flat, 12 point, three-ace hands are

bad to open has been built on the back of a relatively few bad experiences and the fact that the hand type is quite memorable. People just forget the occasional bad results that they achieved opening similar hands, say, with two kings and three queens. Those who have had a few such bad experiences then tell their friends and, before you know it, the idea has spread round half the club. I suggest that, if you don’t like opening these hands with 1NT (and aces are more suited to play in a suit contract, sorry no pun intended), then you should consider playing a strong no-trump. It is true that you will get the odd balanced, four ace, 16 point hands, but

Bridge Tie £15 including postage & packing From Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk

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these are much rarer. Or at least play a strong no-trump in third and fourth seat. Playing a weak no-trump, in third seat, with two passed hands before you, only a weakish opening yourself and an unknown quantity sitting behind you, you are relatively likely to get into trouble regardless of how your 12 points are made up. In fourth seat, with three passed hands in front of you, you are slightly more likely to pick up a strong no-trump than a weak one. Plus, one of the major tactical advantages of the weak no-trump is its pre-emptive effect, but this doesn’t apply in fourth seat. The biggest downside to varying your no-trump range according to which seat you’re in is that partner is relatively likely to forget which no-trump range applies. However, certainly for a regular partnership, the odd early mishap is more than made up for once you get used it. You can then open these three-ace, weak no-trump hands with a one-of-a-suit bid which will generally work out at least as well – for a start, you won’t hear 1NT from partner or be obliged to rebid 1NT yourself, unless partner has got a share of the missing high cards.

West London Gay Bridge Club. Affiliated to the EBU. Come and start the week by playing duplicate bridge with like minded people at a relaxed club in Paddington. You don’t have to be gay to play at the club. All welcome. The Victoria Pub (upstairs). Strathearn Place, W2 2NH. Chris ( 0207 266 1358 Andy ( 0207 537 2481 Christopher Dee by email.

TOO SOON

Nick Warren, Crowborough, East Sussex.

I would be intrigued to know how Sally Brock is entitled to a bus pass at age 60. Since April 2010, bus pass entitlement has depended on the women’s pension age (which is rising each month towards age 66) e.g. women who have their 60th birthday in August 2013 will not reach their pension age and their entitlement to a bus pass until the autumn of 2017. In Greater London since last November 60 year olds can apply to the Mayor of London for an interim pass, paid for from the Mayor’s budget, until they reach the women’s pension age, when the pass will be paid for from the London boroughs’ budget. In Greater London, anyway, one does not have just a bus pass – the transport concessions there are train, underground and tram as well as bus.

GAY Bridge Club

Mrs Diana Beamish by email.

I am led to believe that you are the person to speak to regarding a free ad in BRIDGE.

Sally Brock replies: I stand corrected. Maybe I shouldn’t be in such a hurry ■ to be ‘old’.

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 36

CHARITY BRIDGE EVENTS

NOVEMBER 2013

MARCH 2014

2 EYE CANCER RESEARCH Reynolds Institute, Weymouth. £30 per table including tea. Val Pierce ( 01305 833686 Gene Hill ( 01305 786509

11 ST NEOTS’ BOWLING CLUB St Neots, Cambs. 10.00 for 10.30am. £14.00. John Shaw ( 01480 475454

7 EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice) Bridge Drive, 2.00pm. Rysbygate Club, Westley Rd, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3RR. Lynda Moore ( 01359 241534 [email protected]

25 CHILDREN’S CHARITIES Doddington Village Hall, March. 10.00 for 10.30am. Tickets £14.00. Val Topliss ( 01354 653696.

14 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE ROTARY CLUB Outlane Golf Club. 12 for 12.30pm. £44 per table. Sam Smith ( 01924 492540

16 MS THERAPY CENTRE Huntingdon, Cambs. £14.00. Hemingford Abbots Village Hall. 10.00 for 10.30am. Jenny Lea ( 01480  455810.

18 RNLI. Crowborough Beacon Golf Club bridge tea. 1.30 for 2pm start. £26 per table. Penny ( 01825 830006 22 ST MARY’S CHURCH Eaton Socon, St Neots. 10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50. Malcolm Howarth ( 01480 212910

MAY 2014

Hosted by Jo Walsh 23-27 Dec Just Duplicate Bridge £495 (with a small section for rubber/Chicago with Diana Holland) 27-29 Dec

15 ST IVES DAY CARE CENTRE Hemingford Abbots Village Hall. 10 for 10.30am. £13.50. Don Moorman ( 01480 463444

£445

Marston, Lincs, NG32 2HT Hosted by Val Passmore 23-27 Dec 27-29 Dec

Just Duplicate Bridge £495 Finding Slams

29 Dec–1 Jan Leads and Defence

£215 £445

Inn on the Prom

SEPTEMBER 2014

St Annes-on-Sea, FY8 1LU

12 ST MARY’S CHURCH Eaton Socon, St Neots. 10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50. Malcolm Howarth ( 01480 212910

OCTOBER 2014

Doubles

£215

The Olde Barn

JULY 2014

AUGUST 2014

Signals and Discards

29 Dec–2 Jan

13 ST MARY’S CHURCH Eaton Socon, St Neots. 10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50. Malcolm Howarth ( 01480 212910

27 THE CRUMBS PROJECT Bridge Drive. St Mark’s Church Hall, Wallisdown Road, Talbot Village. 12.30pm for 12.35pm. £20 per table including Christmas tea. Anne Gardner ( 01202 219843 [email protected]

1 EDP WE CARE APPEAL which benefits the Norfolk Millennium Trust for Carers. 1.30pm. The Costessey Centre, Longwater Lane, Old Costessey, Norwich, Norfolk NR8 5AH. Sue Hutchings ( 01508 494522

Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DU

JUNE 2014

11 GREAT BARFORD CHURCH Village Hall, Great Barford. 10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50. Derek Fordham ( 01234 870324

DECEMBER 2013

Denham Grove

APRIL 2014

23 RNLI. Cheltenham Bridge Club 1pm-5pm. £10 per person. Includes Tea & Cakes. Margaret Beverley ( 01242 510193 margaretbeverley@ dsl.pipex.com



Mr Bridge Festive 2013/2014

Hosted by Bernard Magee 27-29 Dec Signals and Discards

3 ST ANDREWS CHURCH Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton, Cambs. 10.00 for 10.30am. £14.00. Mavis Campion ( 01480 860477

£245

( 01483 489961 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.holidaybridge.com Booking Form on page 8.

E-mail your charity events: [email protected]

Page 37

From the Baron’s Archives by Dick Atkinson

The Honeymoon is Over W

hen my ancient Uncle, the 7th Baron von Münchausen, first decided to lodge with me, I was understandably flattered. When I discovered we shared an obsession – bridge – I was delighted. I very soon realised, however, that whenever Uncle Leopold gets anywhere near a pack of cards, they somehow misbehave in the most outrageous fashion. On one occasion, not long after his arrival, we were playing ‘Honeymoon Bridge’, in deference to his gout. You know the drill: thirteen cards each are dealt, and the next card turned. Non-dealer, or

subsequently the winner of the most recent trick, plays a card, and the opponent wins or loses the trick as normal. The winner of the trick takes the exposed card into his hand, the loser taking instead the next, unseen, card from the stock, and another card is turned up. After thirteen tricks, the stock is exhausted. Those first thirteen tricks are swept aside, and the players bid as at four-handed bridge for the right to name trumps, which also means contracting to take the named number of tricks. After he had beaten me out of sight all evening, I unwisely remarked on my poor luck.

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‘Luck? Luck!’ he barked. ‘Nein, nein. Your problem is that you can’t value a hand, can’t plan the play, and can’t remember which cards have gone!’ ‘But apart from that?’ I asked ironically. ‘Your shuffling is not bad,’ he conceded. ‘Anyway, how do you mean ‘can’t value a hand’?’ I asked. (Only later did I realise this amounted to a plea of guilty on the other two charges . . .)

The Baron Proves His Point He quickly put together three hands from the used deck:

Hand A Hand B ♠ A 5 3 ♠ K Q 2 ♥ K 6 4 ♥ Q J 3 ♦ A 4 3 ♦ K Q 2 ♣ A J 5 4 ♣ K Q 3 2

to realise that Hand B was a couple of points stronger than Hand A. It would obviously take all eight pictures against Hand C. Against Hand A I’d have to plan the play much more carefully in order to succeed. He took Hand A, announcing: ‘2NT,’ and I couldn’t prevent his taking eight tricks. He re-sorted the cards. ‘Try again.’ I took up Hand A, and he promptly picked up Hand C and called 2NT again! Had he taken leave of his senses? Moments later I was left red-faced and utterly bereft of words. He munched another bridge mint, very carefully tweaked his cavalier mustachios into perfect symmetry, dabbed at his aged, grey lips with a monogrammed handkerchief, and said: ‘Please do not mention points again.’

The Moral Hand C ♠ 9 7 6 ♥ 9 8 7 ♦ 8 6 5 ♣ 9 8 7 6

‘Choose the best hand!’ he said. It took me only a moment Page 38

Only now, years on, have I come to expect Yarboroughs to behave like that when the Baron is around. ■

Previously published in BRIDGE 59.

Bridge and Travel Tips

A POSITION OF STRENGTH Bridge tip from Sally Brock: When it looks as if your contract is completely cold, take a second look and see if anything could go wrong.

W

hen you are in a bad contract, you sometimes need a bit of imagination to think of a layout when you might succeed. However, when you are in a very good contract is the time to think if there is anything that can go wrong: bad trump breaks, bad side-suit breaks, etc. Here are a few standard safety plays: 1) A K 9 5 4

Q 10 6 3

2) A K 9 5 4

Q632

3) A K 9 5 4

7632

On 1) and 2), you should realise that only a 4-0 break can scupper you. 1) is 100%, provided you start by cashing the ace or king. Then you can pick up J-8-7-2 on either side. On 2), if North has J-10-8-7 there is nothing you can do, but if South has them all, you need to start by cashing the queen. On 3), you need a 2-2 break if you are going to avoid any loser, but if you can afford one loser, remember to cater for South having them all. Start by playing low to the nine. It’s not just a suit combination

you need to look out for. Sometimes it’s the way you should look at a whole hand:

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

You find yourself in the excellent contract of 4♠ on the ♦K lead. If trumps are 3-2 there is obviously no problem, but what if trumps are 4-1? Maybe you should duck a trump and then cash the ace. But that could get awkward on some 4-1 breaks (an opponent may be able to ruff a heart and cash a minorsuit winner before you can get them away). The sure fire way to success on anything but a 5-0 trump break (when you will surely always go down) is simply to win the opening lead, cash the ace of trumps and then set about your hearts. Just let the opponents make their three trump tricks whenever they like. You may have dropped a trick when trumps are 3-2, but when they are 4-1 you have guaran■ teed your contract.

Travel tip from Emma Thomson:

O

ccasionally, things go wrong on holiday. If you find reality doesn’t live up to the dream, what can you do? First, ask key questions before making your booking to minimise the risk of being disappointed. Secondly, don’t stew on it: if you booked a double room and are allocated a twin-bed room, say something to your rep or group tour leader, quietly and politely. Don’t lose your temper: a worried smile gets a better response. Thirdly, the hotel or tour operator is legally contracted to deliver what appears in the brochure and if it falls short you’re perfectly within your legal rights to insist on the situation being rectified.

Page 39

We Are Survivors (For those born Before 1940 . . .)

We were born before television, before penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, videos and the pill. We were before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams and ballpoint pens, before dish-washers, tumble driers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip-dry clothes . . . and before man walked on the moon. We got married first and then lived together (how quaint can you be?). We thought ‘fast food’ was what you ate in Lent, a ‘Big Mac’ was an oversized raincoat and ‘crumpet’ we had for tea. We existed before house husbands, computer dating and sheltered accommodation was where you waited for a bus. We were before day care centres, group homes and disposable nappies. We never heard of FM radio, tape decks, artificial hearts, word processors, or young men wearing earrings. For us ‘time sharing’ meant togetherness, a ‘chip’ was a piece of wood or fried potato, ‘hard­ware’ meant nuts and bolts and ‘software’ wasn’t a word. Before 1940 ‘Made in Japan’ meant junk, the term ‘making out’ referred to how you did in your exams, ‘stud’ was something that fastened a collar to a shirt and ‘going all the way’ meant staying on a doubledecker bus to the terminus. In our day, cigarette smoking was ‘fashionable’, ‘grass’ was mown, ‘coke’ was kept in the coalhouse, a ‘joint’ was a piece of meat you ate on Sundays and ‘pot’ was something you cooked in. ‘Rock Music’ was a fond mother’s lullaby, ‘Eldorado’ was an ice-cream, a ‘gay person’ was the life and soul of the party, while ‘aids’ just meant beauty treatment or help for someone in trouble. We who were born before 1940 must be a hardy bunch when you think of the way in which the world has changed and the adjustments we have had to make. No wonder there is a generation gap today . . . BUT

By the grace of God . . . we have survived! Printed in the UK on a 100% cotton tea-towel £7 from Art Screen Prints. ( 01287 637527

Denham Grove Denham, Bucks, UB9 5DG

25-27 October – £215 Finding Slams – Sandy Bell 10-13 Jan 2014 – £299 Filming Weekend Bernard Magee 7-9 February 2014 – £199 Just Duplicate Bridge 28-30 March 2014 – £199 Just Duplicate Bridge 4-6 April 2014 – £169 Rubber / Chicago Diana Holland

Full Board No Single Supplement Booking Form on page 8.

RUBBER / CHICAGO EVENTS Chatsworth Hotel Worthing BN11 3DU

7-9 February 2014 with Sheila Rogers

Denham Grove Bucks UB9 5DG

4-6 April 2014 with Diana Holland

The Olde Barn Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT

29-31 August 2014 with Diana Holland

£169 Full Board No Single Supplement Booking Form on page 8.

Bernard Magee’s Tips for Better Bridge 65 invaluable tips in 160 pages Bidding Tips 1 Always consider bidding spades if you can 2 Bid more aggressively when non-vulnerable 3 Always double when the opponents steal your deal 4 A takeout double shows shortage in the suit doubled 5 ‘Borrow’ a king to keep the auction open 6 After a penalty double, don’t let the opponents escape 7 Halve the value of a singleton honour when opening 8 Only add length-points for a suit that might be useful 9 Isolated honours are bad except in partner’s suit 10 Use the jump shift sparingly 11 Consider passing and letting partner decide 12 You need two top honours for a second-seat pre-empt 13 Put the brakes on if you have a misfit 14 Strong and long minors work well in no-trumps 15 One stop in the opponents’ suit can be enough for no-trumps 16 Keep your two-level responses up to strength 17 Use your normal methods in response to a 1NT overcall 18 Don’t overcall just because you have opening points 19 Overcalls can be quite weak, so be prudent when responding 20 Weak overcalls must be based on strong suits 21 6NT requires 33 points not 4 aces and 4 kings 22 Raise immediately, if weak with four-card support 23 In a competitive auction, show support immediately 24 Bid to the level of your fit quickly with weak hands 25 With strength and support, use the opponents’ bid suit Declarer-play Tips 26 When your contract depends on a finesse, think ‘endplay’ 27 Consider what a defender might be thinking about 28 Always take your time at trick one 29 Establish extra tricks before cashing your winners 30 Use your opponents’ bidding to your advantage 31 Avoid the ‘baddie’ gaining the lead 32 Use the Rule of Seven when holding up in no-trumps

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

£14 including postage and packing from Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. ( 01483 489961

Page 40

The Olde Barn Hotel Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT

1-3 November £169 Just Duplicate Bridge 8-10 November £245 NEW Bernard Magee TOPIC Better Leads & Switches 22-24 November £169 Just Duplicate Bridge 17-19 January 2014 £169 Just Duplicate Bridge 21-23 February £179 Stayman & Transfers 14-16 March £169 Just Duplicate Bridge 25-27 April £179 Will Parsons Further into the Auction 9-11 May £179 Gwen Beattie – Overcalls 16-18 May £169 Just Duplicate Bridge 6-8 June £245 NEW Bernard Magee TOPIC Bidding Distributional Hands 13-15 June £169 Just Duplicate Bridge 20-22 June £245 Bernard Magee Finding Slams 27-29 June £169 Just Duplicate Bridge 11-13 July £169 Just Duplicate Bridge 1-3 August £169 Just Duplicate Bridge 29-31 August £169 Diana Holland Rubber / Chicago 12-14 September £169 Just Duplicate Bridge 26-28 September £179 Stan Powell Declarer Play 10-12 October £245 Bernard Magee Endplay & Avoidance 14-16 November £179 Will Parsons – Doubles

Full Board No Single Supplement Booking Form on page 8.

Answers to David Huggett’s  Play Quiz on page 18 1. ♠ K 9 6 5 ♥ K 3 2 ♦ K 8 7 ♣ 8 6 4 ♠ Q 8 3 N ♥ J 6 4 W E ♦ 9 4 S ♣ K Q J 7 3 ♠ A J 10 4 2 ♥ 8 7 5 ♦ A Q J 10 ♣ A

♠ 7 ♥ A Q 10 9 ♦ 6 5 3 2 ♣ 10 9 5 2

You are declarer in 4♠ and West leads the ♣K. How do you plan the play? You can afford to lose a trump trick but not to West who might fire a heart through dummy when you are in danger of losing three tricks in that suit. Instead, play the ace of trumps at trick two and then lead the jack, ducking if West plays low. Even if it loses to a now singleton queen in the East hand, you will be able to discard a heart from dummy on the fourth round of diamonds and lose just two hearts and a trump.

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

♠ Q 10 9 7 6 ♥ J 5 3 2 ♦ 10 4 ♣ Q 9

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads the ♦K. East follows with the ♦10. If you duck, West will continue diamonds. How do you plan the play?

Win the second diamond and play a heart to dummy. Now lead a low club and play the ace if East follows low. Return to dummy and play another club. Now if East plays the queen, allow this card to win. If West follows, there are enough tricks for the contract, even if East has another diamond, for then all you are losing are three diamonds and a club. It was important to lead clubs from dummy, else an alert East might unblock the queen under the ace. It was also important to win the second diamond, otherwise East might discard the queen of clubs on a third round. Of course, if East does not produce the queen of clubs on the second round, you have to win the king, clear the suit, and hope that East has the three card holding.

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

You are declarer in 6♦ and West leads the ♠Q. How do you plan the play? This isn’t a great contract and will need a little bit of luck to succeed, but you will have to be alert and not squander that ace of spades entry in dummy. So win the first trick and play a heart to the nine. On a good day it will lose to the king or queen, but now you can win any return, play two rounds of trumps ending in dummy in order to lead another heart. If East follows with a low card, you play the jack hoping that it is East who has the

Page 41

remaining big honour. Note that East is twice as likely to have the king and ten or the queen and ten, rather than the king and queen.

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

♠ 5 3 2 ♥ Q 10 9 ♦ J 7 6 5 ♣ 7 3 2

You are declarer in 3NT and West leads the ♠J. East follows with the ♠2. How do you plan the play? As long as you keep East off the lead you will succeed in this contract if you make one spade, one heart, four diamonds and three clubs. This means that you mustn’t play diamonds from the top. If you do that and East has the suit guarded, he can play a spade through your remaining holding when he gets the lead. Instead win the first trick, cash the diamond ace if you want, but then enter dummy with a club to lead a diamond to the nine. If it wins you will have ten tricks, but even if it ■ loses you will still have nine.

BEGIN BRIDGE ACOL  £66 VERSION An Interactive Tutorial CD with Bernard Magee See Mail Order form on page 7.

G L O B A L 

T R A V E L  I N S U R A N C E

T h e T u r r e t , 2 5 F a r n c o m b e R o a d , W o r t h i n g , BN 1 1 2 A Y . ( 01903 235042 Fax 01903 229389 Email [email protected] Website www.globaltravelinsurance.co.uk SINGLE TRIP SUMMARY OF COVER The following represent the Significant and Key Features of the policy including Exclusions and Limitations that apply per person. A full copy of the policy document is available on request. CANCELLATION OR CURTAILMENT up to

£1,500

If you have to cancel or cut short your trip due to illness, injury, redundancy, jury service, the police requiring you to remain at or return to your home due to serious damage to your home, you are covered against loss of travel and accommodation costs. Policy Excess £75. For persons aged 61 to 70 years the excess is increased to £100. For persons aged 71 to 90 years the excess is increased to £150. See section headed Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions for increased excesses applicable to claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions. PERSONAL ACCIDENT up to

£15,000

A cash sum for accidental injury resulting in death, loss of sight, loss of limb or permanent total disablement. No Policy Excess. MEDICAL AND OTHER EXPENSES up to

£10,000,000

Including a 24 HOUR WORLDWIDE MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICE The cost of hospital and other emergency medical expenses incurred abroad, including additional accommodation and repatriation expenses. Limit £250 for emergency dental treatment and £5,000 burial/cremation/transfer of remains. Limit £2,500 for transfer of remains to your home if you die in the UK. Policy Excess £75 Areas 1, 2 & 3, £150 Area 4 or on a Cruise. For persons aged 61 to 70 years the excess is increased to £150 Areas 1, 2 & 3, £500 Area 4 or on a Cruise. For persons aged 71 to 90 years the excess is increased to £300 Areas 1, 2 & 3, £1,000 Area 4 or on a Cruise. See section headed Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions for increased excesses applicable to claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions. HOSPITAL BENEFIT up to

£300

An additional benefit of £15 per day for each day you spend in hospital abroad as an in-patient. No Policy Excess.

MAIN EXCLUSIONS AND CONDITIONS The following represents only the main exclusions. The policy document sets out all of the conditions and exclusions. A copy of the full policy wording is available on request in writing prior to application. MAIN HEALTH EXCLUSIONS Insurers will not pay for claims arising 1. Where You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends) have or have had symptoms which are awaiting or receiving investigation, tests, treatment, referral or the results of any of the foregoing, unless We have agreed in writing to cover You. 2. From any terminal illness suffered by You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends). 3. From any medical condition for which You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends) have within 12 months prior to the date of issue of this insurance been diagnosed with a medical condition or have been admitted or undergone a procedure/ intervention. 4. Medical conditions existing prior to the payment of the insurance premium or any consequence thereof in respect of which a Medical Practitioner would advise against travel or that treatment may be required during the duration of the Trip. OTHER GENERAL EXCLUSIONS Claims arising from 1. Winter sports, any hazardous pursuits, any work of a non sedentary nature. 2. Self inflicted injury or illness, suicide, alcoholism or drug abuse, sexual disease. 3. War, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities or warlike operations, civil war, rebellion, Terrorism, revolution, insurrection, civil commotion, military or usurped power but this exclusion shall not apply to losses under Section 3 – Medical Expenses unless such losses are caused by nuclear, chemical or biological attack, or the disturbances were already taking place at the beginning of any Trip. 4. Failure or fear of failure or inability of any equipment or any computer program. 5. Bankruptcy/liquidation of any tour operator, travel agent, airline, transportation company or accommodation supplier. 6. Travelling to countries or regions where the FCO or WHO has advised against travel. 7. Your failure to contact the Medical Screening Line where required. POLICY EXCESSES: The amount of each claim for which insurers will not pay and for which you are responsible. The excess as noted in the policy summary applies to each and every claim per insured person under each section where an excess applies.

PERSONAL LUGGAGE, MONEY & VALUABLES up to

£2,000

Covers accidental loss, theft or damage to your personal luggage subject to a limit of £200 for any one article, pair or set and an overall limit of £200 for valuables such as cameras, Jewellery, furs, etc. Luggage and valuables limited to £1500. Delayed luggage, up to £75. Policy Excess £50. Money, travel tickets and travellers cheques are covered up to £500 against accidental loss or theft (cash limit £250). Policy Excess £50. No cover is provided for loss or theft of unattended property, valuables or money or for loss or theft not reported to the Police within 24 hours of discovery. PASSPORT EXPENSES up to

£200

If you lose your passport or it is stolen whilst abroad, you are covered for additional travel and accommodation costs incurred in obtaining a replacement. No Policy Excess. DELAYED DEPARTURE up to

£1,500

If your outward or return trip is delayed for more than 12 hours at the final departure point to/from UK due to adverse weather conditions, mechanical breakdown or industrial action, you are entitled to either (a) £20 for the first 12 hours and £10 for each further 12 hours delay up to a maximum of £60, or (b) the cost of the trip (up to £1,500) if you elect to cancel after 12 hours delay on the outward trip from the UK. Policy Excess £50 (b) only. MISSED DEPARTURE up to

£500

Additional travel and accommodation expenses incurred to enable you to reach your overseas destination if you arrive too late at your final UK outward departure point due to failure of the vehicle in which you are travelling to deliver you to the departure point caused by adverse weather, strike, industrial action, mechanical breakdown or accident to the vehicle. No Policy Excess. PERSONAL LIABILITY up to

£2,000,000

Covers your legal liability for injury or damage to other people or their property, including legal expenses (subject to the laws of England and Wales). Policy Excess £250. LEGAL EXPENSES up to

£25,000

To enable you to pursue your rights against a third party following injury. No Policy Excess.

Pre Existing Medical Conditions You only need to undergo medical screening if You are travelling to Area 4, on a Cruise, or for a period in excess of 31 days. For all other Trips there is no need to advise us of your pre existing medical conditions. If you have a history of any medical condition and are travelling within Area 4 or on a Cruise, you must first contact Towergate Medical Screening Line to establish whether we can provide cover for your trip.

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Seven Days by Sally Brock

Things have been a bit quiet recently. We won our quarter-final match in the NICKO (National Inter-Club Knock Out) – actually we won surprisingly easily, but now have to face a Young Chelsea team in the semi-final. Then there was the last Young Chelsea duplicate ever at the Barkston Gardens venue. A record turn-out of 30 tables turned out for this momentous and rather sad occasion. The club is moving to temporary new premises at Queen’s Tennis Club. I spent a large part of this period preparing for a party I held on the last Saturday of July. It was partly a 60th birthday (six weeks or so too late) and partly because if I ever manage to sell this house and move somewhere smaller I won’t have room for a big party. The plan was a sit-down dinner for 36 people, which I can just about squeeze in. It was tricky organising a meal for so many, especially as I went for the Full Monty and we had four courses. It went extremely well, largely thanks to the help of my children and their friend Sam, who dealt magnificently with finishing off the cooking and serving food and wine. On the Sunday, after all the clearing up, I took Briony to Gatwick as she was off to Zante with some friends for a week. She did not really enjoy her previous holiday to Gran Canaria, so I really hope this one is better; but it’s going to make for a quiet week for me.

Monday I get up slowly and head off for the gym. Much too much food and drink over the weekend and now I have to keep on eating to deal with all the leftovers. There’s not a great deal of work on now so I spend the day sorting through old e-mails, dealing with some outstanding financial matters and generally tidying things up. In the evening, it’s leftover fish pie and lots of TV – in the almost unheard of position of being able to choose whatever I like.

Tuesday I always have the fond hope that I will sleep in late when I want to, but it never happens. Wide awake at 7.30, it’s nice to be able to read my book for a while. Then it’s time to do something constructive like working my way through a number of e-mails. Then off to visit my parents in Wiltshire. Toby comes with me this time, which is nice, but he sleeps in the back all the way there. After a good lunch in a local pub, we drive back and this time he sits in the front and talks to me. I can never make up my mind whether I should be worrying about him or not.

Then there’s a quick visit to the supermarket for supplies as I’m off tomorrow and he’ll be on his own. After yet another fish pie meal (I’m going to have to go away to escape it), I go out to New Amersham for the annual pivot teams championship. We have a good team: me, Simon Cope, Richard Bowdery and Steve Root, but we have a terrible evening. The boards are fairly boring and nothing goes right. I’m not sure we even finished average.

Wednesday Off to the gym – my last visit for a little while. At lunchtime, I go to see my friend Sonya who lives in a retirement village in Denham. Now 91 and going strong – still healthy and full of lots of stories – she used to be the star of the Irish women’s team in the sixties and seventies. We just overlapped. I remember playing against her in the Teams Olympiad in Valkenburg in 1980. In those days there were no uniforms for the teams and after dinner we dressed up in long dresses. That evening, Nicola came to see me as I was changing and was horrified that I was intending to face the Irish wearing a green dress. She made me Page 44

change. For the first half of the match, Sandra and I were terrible, but for some reason the captain (Raymond Brock, a full ten years before we were romantically involved) persevered with us in the second half, when we could do no wrong. Nicola told me that the effect of wearing green took a while to wear off. After a lovely lunch, I go home to pack and catch the train into London to Barry’s. He’s working on the south coast this week so he gets to the flat at more or less the same time as I do. This evening he has to plan his speech for tomorrow. So I go out to the new Young Chelsea Bridge Club to play with Margaret. The new YC is at Queen’s Tennis Club. It is easy to get to and seems a very pleasant venue. We play in a room big enough for 15 tables which has a bar/coffee station in the corner. There is also another decent sized room which can be used for matches and/or teaching. We are there in a temporary capacity until September, but are hoping it will prove to be a good arrangement all round and will be continued. Margaret and I have fun and don’t play too badly, eventually finishing third. This deal works well for

Seven Days continued

my latest new idea in opening leads: Dealer West. Love All. ♠ A J 9 8 7 ♥ A 9 3 ♦ 7 5 ♣ A K 4 ♠ Q 10 5 4 ♠ K 6 3 2 N ♥ Q J 5 ♥ K 6 W E ♦ 4 3 2 S ♦ A 10 8 6 ♣ Q 7 2 ♣ 9 5 3 ♠ Void ♥ 10 8 7 4 2 ♦ K Q J 9 ♣ J 10 8 6

West Pass Pass

North East South 1♠ Pass 1NT 2NT All Pass

North-South were playing standard Acol with a weak no-trump, so there was no particular reason for North to have a five-card spade suit. I have spent so long making a terrible lead in this type of situation, always seeming to end up choosing declarer’s best suit, that I have now decided that if my best suit is one bid by an opponent, as long as he hasn’t promised five or more cards in it, I will lead it anyway. So here I lead a spade, which goes to the seven and king. Margaret switches to a diamond won by declarer who plays the jack of clubs. It is an error on my part to cover this, but I do and declarer wins and plays another diamond to his jack. He now ducks a heart to East who continues with a club. Declarer’s communications are a problem now. In practice he cashes his clubs, goes back to the ace of hearts and cashes the ace of spades before exiting with a heart. I win and cash the queen of spades, and Margaret’s ace of diamonds is our fifth defensive trick. Holding declarer to eight tricks is worth 19 matchpoints out of 20. Although nothing very special happened on the hand, leading one of declarer’s suits could easily have turned out much worse. After the bridge, we go back to

Shepherds Bush and have an excellent curry at a local Indian restaurant.

Thursday Barry is up and out at 7.15 and the best I can do is keep out of his way. But when he has gone I get up and settle down to some work – the final proofs of the Azores have arrived (actually ‘final’ is something of a misnomer as there will be at least another couple of sets yet; here ‘final’ means final set where we expect a significant amount of work – it’s time to put the maps in, do all the cross-references and set the index). I work until lunchtime and then go for a walk up the road to get some fish for supper. In the afternoon I have a teaching session with Richard and Gerry. Because Barry is working, I am playing with a robot and it is hard to put up with it doing such strange things. But for once the robot and I seem to be winning. On the final board I am in two hearts doubled: Dealer West. N/S Vul. ♠ K Q 6 5 ♥ A Q 10 8 5 3 ♦ 6 ♣ 3 2 ♠ 9 7 2 ♠ A J 8 4 3 N ♥ K 2 ♥ J 7 W E ♦ A K J S ♦ 10 7 5 3 ♣ J 9 8 6 4 ♣ A 7 ♠ 10 ♥ 9 6 4 ♦ Q 9 8 4 2 ♣ K Q 10 5

West 1NT Pass

North East South 2♦ Dbl 2♥ Pass Dbl All Pass

West’s 1NT opening is weak and the robot bids two diamonds. When you are playing with a robot, you can click on his bid and it tells you what it means (though it’s surprising how often he doesn’t have it). Here he shows the majors. I am happy to give preference to hearts (and happy to be declarer). This rather wrong foots Richard and Gerry and they are unsure whether their double is penalty or take-out or Page 45

even just balanced values. I’m not sure I would have even shown both majors with the robot’s hand (it’s usually better to bid a sixcard suit directly), but I am happy with my final resting place. West starts with a top diamond and switches to a club to the ace and a second club. I play a spade to the king and ace and East returns a diamond. I now know all I need to know. I am pretty sure East would not have doubled with a singleton trump, so I know trumps are 2-2 with the king onside. I also know from the carding in clubs that clubs are 5-2. I am about to cash the queen of spades, ruff a spade, finesse in trumps, draw the rest and make an overtrick and score an all-too-rare victory with the robot, when suddenly I lose my BBO connection. Well, it is after five o’clock (finishing time) and I haven’t set up the table to stop other players coming. It seems too much trouble to get rid of them all just to finish this hand so we agree to stop. But someone had the bright idea of kibitzing the table to see the outcome of the hand when other players take over. So the player who takes my place ruffs the diamond in the dummy and ruffs a low spade. He then ruffs a club low and gets overruffed. East continues with a spade which declarer ruffs. Note that even now all he has to do is draw trumps and make an overtrick, but instead he ruffs a diamond in the dummy and plays the queen of spades, ruffed and overruffed. And now when West plays a club, he ruffs low in the dummy and is overruffed by the nowsingleton jack. One down. So although I may have the moral victory, the paper victory still eludes me. Barry is home about six and we spend a lazy evening eating the delicious sea trout I bought earlier, snoozing and watching TV.

Friday Barry is off out early doing something else this morning, so again I get up slowly and start working on this article. But he is home quite soon and we have time for a quick coffee before I go out for a lunch date with Debbie. There’s a Greek place in Westfield

Seven Days continued

that does a good range of mezze type food. It’s good to catch up. There’s been plenty happening in my life and she and her family have been in the USA for three weeks. Back in time for a cup of tea and then it’s off to Gatwick … We are going to Ireland for a week – some bridge at the weekend and then just driving around. All passes off peacefully and we turn up at our guesthouse in Galway just after midnight. The key is where it should be – under the lefthand flower pot – and our room seems perfectly acceptable.

Saturday We get up for an excellent cooked breakfast and then wander into Galway to have a look around. We locate the bridge venue. There is a big poker tournament, sponsored by an internet poker site, Full Tilt Poker. The first prize for that (the main event actually being the following week) is a million euros. The bridge is a more modest affair but 54 pairs are competing for a €5,000 prize, which does make the standard EBU prizes look a bit insignificant. Our first session goes like a dream. We can do no wrong and the opponents can do no right. We end up scoring just over 70%. This is one of our better boards: Dealer North. Love All. ♠ J 9 8 6 ♥ K 9 5 ♦ Q ♣ K Q 10 9 6 ♠ Q 10 ♠ K 7 5 N ♥ Q 4 3 2 ♥ 10 8 6 W E ♦ A K 10 6 2 S ♦ 9 8 3 ♣ J 4 ♣ 8 7 5 3 ♠ A 4 3 2 ♥ A J 7 ♦ J 7 5 4 ♣ A 2

West North East South Pass Pass 1♠ 2♦ 4♠ All Pass

We play weak no-trump and five-card majors in all except third seat when it’s strong no-trump and four-card majors. I’m not 100% convinced about the general system, but I adore that third-in-hand style. It means that you don’t have to open with a weak notrump when you fear that fourth hand may be sitting there ready to pounce. It also allows you to open chunky (or not-so chunky) four-card majors with 10 or 11 points without needing to find a rebid. Here we race into the game, then it is a question of how to play it after a top diamond lead and a heart switch. Barry wins the jack of hearts and plays a low spade. West is caught napping. If she had played the ten smoothly, Barry would probably have run the nine on the next round, playing her for singleton ten. As it is she goes in with the queen. On the next round Barry runs the jack from the dummy, pinning her ten to make eleven tricks for a 96% score. We grab some food in the break and then are ready for the second session. It is not so good this time, but still over 60%. So we have a fairly significant lead over the field. I enjoy this slam: Dealer East. Love All. ♠ K Q J 9 4 2 ♥ Q ♦ A 9 6 4 ♣ A 4 ♠ 10 8 7 ♠ 6 3 N ♥ 8 5 2 ♥ A 10 9 7 6 3 W E ♦ Q J 5 2 S ♦ K 10 7 ♣ 8 7 3 ♣ 10 2 ♠ A 5 ♥ K J 4 ♦ 8 3 ♣ K Q J 9 6 5

West North East South 2♦ 3♣ Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT Pass 4♣ Pass 4♠ Pass 5♦ Pass 6♣ Pass 6♠ Pass 6NT All Pass

East’s two diamonds is a Multi, and the three club overcall is natural. The main thing in this sort of situation is Page 46

not to panic. Three spades is forcing here (when in doubt a new suit at the three level is always forcing) and is clearly the right bid. Over three notrumps I am too good to pass. It seems right to show the delayed support for clubs and South gives preference to spades. I could use RKCB now, but I can see potential problems in the play if he doesn’t have the ace of spades and they knock out the heart entry immediately. Say he has:

♠ x x ♥ A K x ♦ Q x ♣ K J x x x x

Anyway, over five diamonds he tries six clubs. I spend a while trying to work out which black suit will play better, but in the end it is a bit beyond me and I just opt for the higher-scoring contract. Barry now knows that I must have solid spades and the minor-suit aces and so can count twelve tricks in no-trumps. We are on to an excellent score for this anyway, but score all the matchpoints when West finds the rather curious opening lead of a club so Barry takes all the tricks.

Sunday After another enormous breakfast we stroll around town, enjoying the lively atmosphere. The bridge is so-so, about 55%, but even so, that means that our nearest rivals need to score 62% to overtake us. Unfortunately, Jason Hackett and Alex Hydes have a 67% session and annihilate our lead. We would have had to do better on more than one of our poor boards to reverse things. Although it is disappointing, we are philosophical. Our second prize is €2,000 which will pay for the holiday. After the bridge there is a prize-giving and we have a drink or two before heading off for dinner. Tomorrow we spend driving around Connemara, before taking a couple of days to drive up to north Donegal to visit a friend, then taking another couple of days to get back to Shannon for our flight home. And it hardly rained at all. ■

Answers to Stayman Quiz on page 35 1 What would you bid with Hands A, B, C and D if your partner opens 1NT? If you use Stayman, consider your continuations after all possible replies.



Hand A Hand B ♠ 8 ♠ Q 8 7 6 ♥ A 8 7 6 5 ♥ A 8 7 6 5 ♦ Q 8 7 6 ♦ 8 ♣ 9 3 2 ♣ 9 3 2

Hand A: You must sign off in 2♥. If you play transfers, you bid 2♦ and pass partner’s 2♥ reply. Stayman is out of the question because you will be totally stuck if the reply is an all too likely 2♠. Hand B: You can safely use Stayman. If partner rebids 2♠ or 2♥, you will pass. If partner rebids 2♦, you will sign off in 2♥. To understand the sequence 1NT-2♣-2♦2♥, imagine it with the two middle bids removed: 1NT-2♥. A sign off.



Hand C ♠ 9 3 2 ♥ K 9 7 6 ♦ Q 9 8 6 3 ♣ 7

Hand D ♠ 3 ♥ 6 2 ♦ J 7 6 ♣ A K Q 7 6 5 2

What is your next bid with Hands E, F, G and H? The first step is to understand the auction. Partner has a 4-card major, otherwise he wouldn’t have used Stayman. If he had 4 hearts, he would have raised your 2♥ to 3♥ rather than continue 2NT, therefore he has 4 spades. How strong is he? Take away the 2♣ bid and the 2♥ response and you have: 1NT-2NT. 11-12 points. So what does he want you to do? He wants you to decide to play in game if you are maximum or a part-score if you are minimum. He wants to play in spades if you have 4 spades as well as 4 hearts. Otherwise he wants to play in no-trumps. Whatever you do will end the auction. Therefore:



Hand E Hand F ♠ A J 7 6 ♠ A J 7 6 ♥ K 7 5 4 ♥ K Q 7 4 ♦ K 2 ♦ K 2 ♣ J 10 3 ♣ J 10 3

Hand E: 3♠. You are minimum but you have 4 spades. Hand F: 4♠. Maximum with 4 spades.

Hand C: You can bid 2♣ (Stayman). You must then be prepared to pass whatever partner rebids including 2♠. Of course, if the response is 2♠, you will be in a 4-3 fit, but you can ruff losers in the hand with only three trumps. Hand D: 3NT. If there is a lead to beat it, let them find it. Suggesting 5♣ is not really an option: you are simply not strong enough to suggest 11 tricks. You cannot use Stayman to try to discover whether partner can cover your weaknesses as he will assume you have a 4-card major. 2 You are West. The bidding starts: West East 1NT 2♣ 2♥ 2NT ?



Minimum

without



Hand J Hand K ♠ K Q 7 6 ♠ K 7 5 ♥ 8 4 3 ♥ 7 ♦ 8 3 ♦ Q J 7 5 4 ♣ 9 7 5 4 ♣ 8 4 3 2

Hand J: Bid 3♣. If partner rebids 3♦, he has no 5-card major but a 4-card major. Continue with 3♠ to show you have 4 spades but not 4 hearts. If he then bids 3NT you must pass. If partner rebids 3♥, raise to 4♥, playing in the 5-3 fit. If partner rebids 3♠, raise to 4♠, playing in the 5-4 fit. If partner rebids 3NT, he has no 5-card or 4-card major. Pass. Hand K: Bid 3♣ in case you have a 5-3 spade fit. If partner rebids 3♠, raise to 4♠, delighted to have found a 5-3 fit. If he rebids 3♦ or 3♥, sign off in 3NT. If he rebids 3NT, you must pass. Note that you cannot sensibly suggest a diamond contract below 3NT (particularly if you are playing transfers) and you certainly don’t want to bypass 3NT. 4 Your partner opens 1NT and the next hand doubles. What do you bid with Hands L and M?

Hand G Hand H ♠ A J 7 ♠ A J 7 ♥ K 7 5 4 ♥ K Q 7 4 ♦ K 4 2 ♦ K 4 2 ♣ J 10 3 ♣ J 10 3

Hand G: Pass. spades.

i) 3♦? ii) 3♥? iii) 3♠? iv) 3NT?

4

Hand L Hand M ♠ 5 ♠ J 4 3 2 ♥ 7 6 5 4 ♥ K 7 6 5 ♦ K 6 5 ♦ J 9 8 7 6 ♣ J 7 6 5 4 ♣ Void

Hand H: 3NT. Maximum without 4 spades.

Hand L: 2♣. This is a sign-off in clubs, not Stayman after a double.

3 You are playing 5-card major Stayman opposite a 2NT opening bid. Your partner opens 2NT. What do you bid with Hands J and K? If you use Stayman, what do you plan to do if partner replies:

Hand M: 2♦. You would like to use Stayman, intending to pass partner’s rebid. Of course, you would have done just that without the double, but sadly after the double, 2♣ is not Stayman. Your best ■ practical hope is to sign off in 2♦.

Page 47

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