Bernard Magee's Acol Bidding Quiz: Number One Hundred and Forty-Nine May 2015

BRIDGE
Number One Hundred and Forty-Nine
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.
May 2015
1. Dealer West. Love All. 4. Dealer East. Love All. 7. Dealer West. N/S Game. 10. Dealer East. Love All.
♠ K Q J 6 4 ♠ 2 ♠ 3 ♠ K 8 4 3
♥ K J 9 7 6 N ♥ K 10 3 N ♥ A K J 5 4 N ♥ 7 6 5 N
W E W E W E W E
♦ 4 2 ♦ J 6 5 4 ♦ A 10 6 2 ♦ Q 4 3
S S S S
♣ 2 ♣ Q 8 7 6 3 ♣ A 9 4 ♣ K 7 3
West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South
? 1♥ 1♠ 1♥ 1♠ Pass Pass 1♥ Pass
? ? 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass
?
2. Dealer East. Love All. 5. Dealer East. Love All. 8. Dealer North. E/W Game. 11. Dealer East. Love All.
♠ A 8 ♠ 8 2 ♠ J 8 7 ♠ 9 8 2
♥ A 9 8 7 N ♥ K 10 7 3 N ♥ K Q 8 7 3 N ♥ 8 3 N
W E W E W E W E
♦ 10 6 4 3 ♦ A K 5 4 ♦ 6 ♦ Q J 10
S S S S
♣ K Q 3 ♣ K 8 3 ♣ K 8 3 2 ♣ A 9 6 4 3
3♣ Pass 1♥ 1♠ 1NT Dbl 2♦ 1♣ Pass
? ? ? 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass
?
3. Dealer East. N/S Game. 6. Dealer East. Love All. 9. Dealer North. Love All. 12. Dealer East. Game All.

♠ A Q 8 4 2 ♠ 8 2 ♠ A Q 7 6 5
♠ A K 5 4 3
♥ 9 8 7 N ♥ K 10 9 4 3 N ♥ 9 8 N ♥ 9 N
W E W E W E W E
♦ 3 2 ♦ 4 ♦ Q J 2 ♦ 10 6 5 2
S S S S
♣ 9 7 6 ♣ Q 8 7 6 3 ♣ 7 6 3 ♣ A K J
1♥ Pass 1♥ 1♠ 1♣ Dbl Pass 2♥1 3♣
1♠ Pass 1NT Pass ? ? ? 16-10pts & 6 hearts
?
Answers on page 6 Answers on page 9 Answers on page 11 Answers on page 13

BERNARD MAGEE
TUTORIAL DVDs
1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks 13 Hand Evaluation
This seminar deals with declarer’s use of ruffing to make extra tricks Going beyond just the point-count is important if you want to im-
and then looks at how the defenders might counteract this. (74 mins.) prove. Reaching & making 3NT on 24 HCP; and avoiding 3NT on 26
HCP when there are only 7 or 8 tricks. (110 mins.)
2 Competitive Auctions
This seminar focuses on competitive auctions from the perspective 14 Pre-Emptive Bidding
of the overcalling side and then from the perspective of the opening The art of pre-empting is so important in the modern game. Un-
side in the second part. (86 mins.) derstanding the right types of hand to bid up on and realising the
importance of position and vulnerability. (96 mins.)
3 Making the Most of High Cards
This seminar helps declarer to use his high cards more carefully 15 Splinter & Cue Bids
and then looks at how defenders should care for their high cards. Splinter bids are a vital tool to add to your slam bidding armoury &
(83 mins.) try your hand at Italian style cue bidding. (116 mins.)
4 Identifying & Bidding Slams 16 Avoidance Play

The first half of this seminar is about identifying when a slam might As declarer, an important tactic is to be in control of the defenders:
be on – one of the hardest topics to teach. The second half covers avoiding a particular defender getting the lead. As a defender, you
some slam-bidding techniques. (96 mins.) can try to make sure the right player gets the lead. (88 mins.)
5 Play & Defence of 1NT Contracts 17 Play & Defence at Pairs

This seminar looks at the most common and yet most feared of Duplicate Pairs is the game most of us play and getting used to the
contracts: 1NT. The first half looks at declaring the contract and the tactics will make a lot of difference to your performance. (90 mins.)
second part puts us in the defenders’ seats. (88 mins.)
18 Thinking Defence
6 Doubling & Defence against Doubled Contracts By far the hardest aspect of bridge, but if you can improve your
The first half of this seminar explores penalty doubles and the defence your results will quickly improve. Learn how to think through
second half discusses the defence against doubled contracts. the defence and get your mind in gear for the decisions that await
(88 mins.) you. (87 mins.)
7 Leads 19 Defensive Plan

Bernard takes you through all the basic leads and the importance of Looking at your own hand, then at dummy and envisaging how part-
your choice of lead. If you start to think not just about your hand, but ner’s hand will allow you to make a plan for the defence. (112 mins.)
about your partner’s too, then you will get better results. (95 mins.)
20 Further Into the Auction
8 Losing Trick Count The first two bids of an auction are usually easy, but beyond that the
A way of hand evaluation for when you find a fit. Bernard deals with complications increase. Learn about your various options and how to
the basics of the losing trick count then looks at advanced methods to ‘talk’ to your partner during the bidding. (95 mins.)
hone your bidding. (92 mins.)
21 Weak Twos
9 Making a Plan as Declarer It is important to bid more in the modern game and weak twos are
Bernard explains how to make a plan then expands on how to make an important choice for the competitive player. They allow for pre-
the most of your long suits. The first half deals with no-trumps, the emptive and accurate bidding. (104 mins.)
second with suit contracts. (87 mins.)
22 Trump Control
10 Responding to 1NT Handling the play of the hand when trumps break badly is an impor-
This seminar deals with Transfers and Stayman in detail. The 1NT tant attribute: playing calmly and using a variety of tactics to pave
opening comes up frequently, so having a good, accurate system of the way to success. (76 mins.)
responses is paramount. (93 mins.)
23 Sacrificing
11 Signals & Discards An exciting aspect of the auction is outbidding your opponents and
This seminar deals with Count, Attitude and Suit-preference signals: going down, but gaining by doing so. Learn to bid more aggressively
aiming to get you working as a partnership in defence. (92 mins.) and make the best of your cards. (105 mins.)
12 Endplay 24 Improving Bridge Memory

Bernard takes you through the basics of endplays before showing Remembering every card is a dream for most of us. However, learn
some hands where you take extra tricks from defenders. In the ways in which to remember the important things. What was the first
second half, Bernard looks at how to avoid being endplayed. (80 mins.) discard or how many trumps are left out? (90 mins.)
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9 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee
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10 Wendy Wensum’s Diaries Africa with Voyages
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13 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee Filming Weekend 2016
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mrbridge-shop 14 Sally’s Slam of the Month 6 Classical Greece
15 Mary’s Seventeenth Lesson by Liz Dale & Adriatic with
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Managing Editor 16 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions
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22 More Tips by Bernard Magee
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25 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage
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26 Catching Up with Sally Brock with Fred.Olsen
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28 Wise Wynfryth’s Successful Spell by David Bird 12 Tips for Better Bridge
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CHRISTMAS CRUISE 2015
Enjoy the summer sunshine of Cape Town – Luderitz Namibia
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SPRING 2016 FILMING
CLEARANCE The adjacent advertisement
spells out the programme
BERNARD MAGEE
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Such is the demand that it at Denham Grove
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diaries, all with a 40 page
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allocated to advertising and
summary of Bernard promotion, I haven’t room Limited places for Thursday night available.
£65pp single, £40pp double/twin.
Magee’s Acol bidding for the usual mention of
system. These I am most Clive Goff’s unusual stamp
unwilling to consign to the service. However, have a
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look at the advertisement
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Topics
of these really useful pocket I use this source of supply COUNTING DEFENCE
booklets (surprisingly two myself and can assure Defence is the hardest aspect of bridge, but if you can learn to
cost the same to post as readers that Mr Goff is a defend in conjunction with your partner, it becomes the most
rewarding element at the same time.
one), send two 2nd class reliable supplier of stamps.
stamps. Alternatively, Extra TRICKS in NO-TRUMPS
telephone my office and pay NO FLY CRUISES Long suits are an integral part of the bidding and the play –
£1.95 using your debit or developing extra tricks from them will often be the difference
between making or going down in your contract.
credit card or buy from my
online shop. They come in SUPPORTING PARTNER
maroon, red, green or navy When you hold support for your partner, the two hands can fully
coloured covers. evaluate, often allowing the partnership to bid much higher than
the high card points might suggest. We will look at a number
In addition, I am also of conventions that can help you bid to good games and bid to
clearing shop-soiled For 2016 I have selected great slams.
merchandise, including the cruises on m.v. Balmoral,

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Duplicate Bridge Rules high or low, finesse to the right or to the left?
Simplified I have also added two and
three night taster cruises BIDDING DISTRIBUTIONAL HANDS
Bernard Magee’s Tips
Bernard Magee’s Hand for those who have yet to Distributional hands can be great fun to bid and to play,
particularly when you find a fit. And how do you find a fit… by
Evaluation try this form of travel. bidding more!
Consider turning yourself
into a snail. Pack a case and COPING with PRE-EMPTS
NEXT SPRING arrive at the ‘hotel’ in How do you defend against pre-empts and weak twos; how do you
cope with weak overcalls and jump support? When your bidding
Once again I find myself Southampton, unpack just
space is taken away you have to use a few extra techniques, but
looking forward, this time the once and be at a new most of all you have to use your judgement. Improving your
to a pre-cruise, 4-night tour city or port almost every understanding will allow you to collect the big penalties and
day. As for eating there are better scores.
of India’s Golden Triangle,
the magnificent highlight restaurants, cafés and
of which is the Taj Mahal. bistros to suit everyone.
Bernard Magee recently A two nighter might be just 6 seminar sessions with Bernard1
travelled the same route what you need to spark
and tells me, most new enthusiasm and 6 sessions of supervised play2
emphatically, that I must possibly give you a fresh Contact Mr Bridge to book your place
include this on my schedule lease of life. Try it. or for further details: ( 01483 489961
of essential tourism,
disrespectfully referred to All good wishes, Filmed
1 2
Not with Bernard Magee
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VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY
Answers to Bernard Magee’s
Classical Bidding Quizzes 1-3

on the Cover
Greece &
Adriatic
suit, you do not need so much strength
1. Dealer West. Love All. because your support will strengthen his
♠ K Q J 6 4 ♠ 5 hand.
♥ K J 9 7 6 N ♥ 4 2 Raising to game in the minor would re-
W E
BRIDGE HOSTS ♦ 4 2 S ♦ A 8 7 6 5 quire a lot of extra tricks, but with excel-
CROMBIE & HELEN ♣ 2 ♣ A K 8 7 6 lent support for clubs, no-trumps offers
McNEIL much more potential. It is not unreason-
able to hope for seven club tricks with
West North East South two aces alongside it. You cannot be
? sure that the opponents will not take five
diamond tricks off the top, but since you
Pass. have some length in that suit, you might
A lot of players use the rule of twenty to be OK.
judge whether to open the bidding. They 3NT is certainly a gamble, but it is a
add the lengths of their two longest suits calculated risk: in the long run going for
to their points: if the total is 20 or above, no-trumps with good minor suit fits tends
Enjoy daily duplicates as you they are able to open the bidding. to pay off. You would be extremely un-
sail along the beautiful Croatian It is good to open more aggressively, fortunate for 3NT to be defeated on this
coast and explore the classical but I have one proviso: be wary of ace- hand.
sites of Greece less hands. If your hand has no aces,
August 17, 2015 then you should take a point off in this
10 days from Venice to Athens calculation (or aim for 21). 3. Dealer East. N/S Game.
Fly to Venice to join Aegean Odyssey, The problem with weak distributional ♠ A Q 8 4 2 ♠ K 5
Cruise to Split • Korcula • Dubrovnik
Kotor Bay • Corfu • Preveza • Ithaca hands without aces comes when you do ♥ 9 8 7 N ♥ A J 10 4 2
W E
Katakolon • Pylos • Monemvasia not have a fit: you will often find it dif- ♦ 3 2 S ♦ Q J 5
Hydra • Athens • Fly home ficult to access your hand. Furthermore, ♣ 9 7 6 ♣ A 4 3
MR BRIDGE FARES INCLUDE: your hand will not be very useful in de-
• Return air with free regional
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• Sightseeing excursions in most ports at any point. West North East South
• Mr Bridge programme Here, the misfit would expose your 1♥ Pass
• Complimentary wine at dinner
• Gratuities for on-board cabin and
light opening bid and you are likely to 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass
restaurant staff finish too high. ?
Standard Outside from £2,175pp 2♥.
Premium Outside from £2,295pp 2. Dealer East. Love All. Your partner has shown 15-17 points and
Single supplement just £100 ♠ A 8 ♠ 5 3 a balanced hand: you need to choose
on selected grades only ♥ A 9 8 7 N ♥ 6 4 the best partscore. With such a weak
Past Passengers on Aegean Odyessy W E
enjoy additional discounts
♦ 10 6 4 3 S ♦ 8 2 hand, you should be hoping to play in
Extend your holiday with hotel stays in Venice ♣ K Q 3 ♣ A J 10 7 5 4 2 a suit contract, but rather than rebidding
and/or Athens – please ask for details
2♠, which sets the contract, you should
For reservations call
bid 2♥ instead. This keeps both options
West North East South available: you are showing only three
on 01483 489961 3♣ Pass hearts, but you are also implying five
? spades because if you were 4-3 in the
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3NT. contract.
The general rule opposite a pre-empt is Your partner either passes 2♥ or bids
www.mrbridge.co.uk
that you need 16 HCP to go for game. 2♠. Here he clearly chooses to pass
Terms and conditions apply – see brochure for details
However, with support for your partner’s 2♥. ■
Page 6 BRIDGE May 2015

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Answers to Bernard Magee’s
Bidding Quizzes 4-6
on the Cover Fjords, Mountains
& Glaciers
– you are sure that 4♥ is on and, who
4. Dealer East. Love All. knows, greater things might be on.
♠ 2 ♠ A 5 4 3 A jump to 4♥ would not show your
♥ K 10 3 N ♥ A Q 8 5 2 strength and your partner would pass
W E
♦ J 6 5 4 S ♦ 10 9 expecting a weaker, more distributional
♣ Q 8 7 6 3 ♣ A 4 hand.
To show your support and all-round
strength, you need to make a bid of the
West North East South opponents’ suit: 2♠. This is an unusual
1♥ 1♠ bid, but it is an important bid: a bid of the
? opponents’ suit promises support and
Departs Southampton
shows excitement. If partner is suitable,
3rd July 2015 • 8 nights
Balmoral • L1509
2♥. When you are weak and the auction a slam might be on, never mind game.
becomes competitive, you should stretch East holds three aces and five hearts
Southampton
to show support. Either borrowing a few so he will be happy to join the party and
• Stavanger • Bergen • Flam
points or sometimes showing support take the excitement to slam level. A se-
with a card fewer when your distribution quence of cuebids will lead to Blackwood • cruising Naeroyfjord
makes up for it. Here, you hold only 6 and then on to 6♥. • Olden • cruising Nordfjord
HCP, but the singleton in the opponents’ • cruising Maurangerfjord
suit and three-card support for your part- & Furebergfossen
ner should persuade you to bid 2♥. The 6. Dealer East. Love All. • cruising Hardangerfjord
importance of this bid is that it allows ♠ 8 2 ♠ A 5 4 3 • Southampton
your partner to compete for the hand. ♥ K 10 9 4 3 N ♥ A Q 8 5 2
W E
If North competes to 2♠, East would be ♦ 4 S ♦ 10 9 Daily bridge on board, bridge
stuck if you had passed and 2♠ would ♣ Q 8 7 6 3 ♣ A 4 fees included. Mr Bridge welcome &
win the auction. However, with your raise farewell drinks parties. Partners for
single players. Special solos offers.
to 2♥, your partner can then compete to
3♥, forcing the opponents up to 3♠ which West North East South
is a lot less comfortable. 1♥ 1♠ Great value Mr Bridge fares:
Competing for partscores is a key el- ? Inside twin cabins from £899pp
ement of duplicate bridge and, to com- Outside twin cabins from £1,039pp
pete to the maximum, you need to find 4♥. A very different hand from question Superior outside cabins from £1,349pp
your fits. 5: you have heart support, but that is Solos offer –
where the similarity stops. This hand has Outside twin cabin for
great distribution and potential for game, sole occupancy from £1,333pp
5. Dealer East. Love All. but little or no aspirations for slam.
Balmoral
♠ 8 2 ♠ A 5 4 3 This is ideal for a leap to game, ‘Part-
♥ K 10 7 3 N ♥ A Q 8 5 2 ner, my distribution and support suggest
W E
♦ A K 5 4 S ♦ 10 9 that we will do very well in hearts, but the
♣ K 8 3 ♣ A 4 opponents might well be able to make a
lot of tricks themselves.’
You are trying to keep the opponents
West North East South out of the auction at the same time as
1♥ 1♠ having aspirations for ten tricks.
? 4♥ makes on the two hands, but no For reservations call Mr Bridge
more than that. At the same time, your
2♠. Once the auction becomes competi- opponents can make ten tricks in dia- on 01483 489961
tive, it is important to differentiate be- monds, so had they found their diamond www.mrbridge.co.uk
tween strong hands and distributional/ fit, they could have bid on to 5♦ for a Terms and conditions apply –
competitive hands. You have a great profitable sacrifice. However, your direct see Fred.Olsen 2015 brochure or
www.fredolsencruises.com for details.
hand, with primary support for hearts raise keeps the opponents out. ■

The Diaries of Wendy Wensum
Episode 37: Life at the Nineteenth Hole
R
umour has it that, many years pairs in the inter-club match settled 3NT plus one and a score of plus 630.
ago, a disparaging remark down to play an imps-scored teams- In the inter-club match, the bidding
(involving the word kitchen) of-eight match of bridge over twenty on the hand took a rather different
about the standard of bridge in the bar boards. Millie and I entered the open route. As South, Spouse opened 1NT.
at the River View Golf Club caused duplicate pairs event played with the West bid 2♣, showing both majors.
a bit of a rumpus and resulted in a same boards as the teams match. This With seven cards in the majors,
challenge match between the golfers deal gave Millie some initial problems. Justin passed for the present, hoping
and the then newly-formed Riverside to double for penalties later. With six
Bridge Club. The event was such a clubs, East passed. Spouse doubled.
success that it continues to this day. In Dealer South. Game All. With hindsight, West might have
this year’s event, eight golfers who play ♠ K 9 6 also passed, but, in reality, tried 2♥,
bridge and eight bridge players who ♥ K 7 5 3 doubled by Justin. East compounded
play golf volunteered, or were coerced, ♦ A 8 7 6 3 this error by bidding 3♣ (instead of
into two formal teams competing for ♣ J 2♠) which was doubled by Spouse.
the Golf and Bridge Trophy. Frankly, ♠ Q 8 4 2 ♠ J 7 5
N
as far as I could see, either team could ♥ A J 9 8 6 W E ♥ 4 West North East South
have represented either club as an ♦ K 2 S ♦ J 9 5 Justin Spouse
overwhelming majority belonged to ♣ 8 3 ♣ K 9 7 6 5 4 1NT
both organisations. ♠ A 10 3 2♣1 Pass Pass Dbl
On the day of the event, George ♥ Q 10 2 2♥ Dbl 3♣ Dbl
the jogger twisted his ankle on his ♦ Q 10 4 All Pass
morning run forcing a change of ♣ A Q 10 2 1
Both Majors
personnel in the Riverside team. A
reluctant Spouse was persuaded to Dummy could not have been a pretty
retrieve his clubs from the back of the Millie, in the South seat, opened the sight for West. The contract was
garage where they had lain unused bidding with 1NT. In an uncontested doomed from the start. He could see
for over a decade. Spiders and other auction, I responded 2♣, Stayman. one spade, one heart and a possible
beasts were forced indignantly from Following 2♦ from Millie, I decided to diamond trick as well as a few others
their long-time home. Spouse and try for game in no-trumps despite my in clubs. Justin and Spouse could not
clubs were reunited and dispatched singleton club and Millie accepted. recall the exact play of the hand, but
to the golf course to partner Justin the result was three clubs doubled four
for the afternoon session. Playing West North East South down, a very tasty plus 1,100 for them
as four pairs within each team, Wendy Millie and their team.
each pair played in what I think was 1NT In the bridge phase of the match,
called a four ball foursome over nine Pass 2♣1 Pass 2♦ Riverside won by 7 VPs to 1 VP
holes. Spouse’s round was not a great Pass 2NT Pass 3NT producing an overall tie of 8-8,
success as he visited every hazard on All Pass ensuring a shared trophy.
the course and the bridge club found 1
Stayman In the bar afterwards, Justin admitted
itself well down at the end of the golf that Spouse’s bridge was rather better
phase of the match, losing three of the It was a tricky problem for West and, than his golf. Spouse was more than
encounters with one halved giving a after much thought, he led the ♥9 happy to agree and announced that,
victory pointed score of 1-7. into Millie’s ten. Millie decided to following his afternoon performance,
Neither Millie nor I play golf. In set up diamond tricks so played the his golfing days were now definitely
any case, Millie would never possess small diamond to the ace, leading the over. He went further and said that he
sufficient willpower to leave the bar three back from dummy to the ten, would donate his golf clubs to charity.
in the club house, never mind exert and West’s king. West played the ♥A Justin unkindly thought the golf clubs
enough energy to reach the first tee. We and exited with the six won in hand were so ancient that a visit to landfill
arrived for pre-prandial drinks as the by Millie. She then played a small club or a museum of golf might be more
golf players finished their rounds and to the jack on which East played the appropriate. On this note, Millie
were joined by Spouse and Justin for king. A spade return, taken in hand, thought it timely to order another
the charity dinner. After the meal, the gave Millie the rest of the tricks, for round of drinks. ■

Answers to
Bernard Magee’s
Scandinavian
Bidding Quizzes 7-9 Experience
on the Cover
down and get a good penalty. However,
7. Dealer West. N/S Game. with shortage in diamonds it looks like
♠ 3 ♠ A 6 5 4 they might have found their fit: you
♥ A K J 5 4 N ♥ 2 should double at low levels only if you
♦ A 10 6 2 S
W E
♦ 5 4 3 have trumps as well as points.
Departs Southampton
♣ A 9 4 ♣ 10 8 7 6 5 You place your partner with about 16
9th June 2015 • 11 nights
Balmoral • L1506
points for his double so adding your nine,
you have the values for game. Which Southampton
West North East South game is likely to be best? • cruising Oslofjord • Oslo
1♥ 1♠ Pass Pass It is probably a choice between 4♥ and (overnight in port on board)
? 3NT, so you should make a bid that gives • cruising Oslofjord • Gothenburg
partner the choice between them. 2♥ is (Sweden) • Helsingborg (Sweden)
Double. no good because it does not get across • Copenhagen (Denmark –
Your partner has shown no strength at your strength. Instead, you jump to 3♥: overnight in port on board)
all, but with South passing, it looks like showing the strength for game and five • Skajen (Denmark) • Kristiansand
neither side has the potential for game, or more hearts. (Norway) • Southampton
so you should be aiming to compete for With short hearts, East would go for
the partscore. Your shortage in spades 3NT, but here, he has three-card support Daily bridge on board, bridge
suggests that the opponents may well so raises to 4♥. fees included. Mr Bridge welcome &
have a fit, so your side should aim to find farewell drinks parties. Partners for
your fit. single players. Special solos offers.
2♦ seems reasonable showing four 9. Dealer North. Love All.
diamonds and five hearts, but better is to ♠ A Q 7 6 5 ♠ K J 8 2 Great value Mr Bridge fares:
make a take-out double: with support for ♥ 9 8 N ♥ A 7 6 5 Inside twin cabins from £1,079pp
W E
each of the unbid suits, this allows your ♦ Q J 2 S ♦ A 9 4 3 Outside twin cabins from £1,259pp
partner to choose the best contract. ♣ 7 6 3 ♣ 2 Superior outside cabins from £1,529pp
Here, East would bid 2♣, which leaves Solos offer –
you in your best contract. Outside twin cabin for
West North East South sole occupancy from £1,439pp
1♣ Dbl Pass
Balmoral
8. Dealer North. E/W Game. ?
♠ J 8 7 ♠ A K 4 3
♥ K Q 8 7 3 N ♥ A 9 5 2♠.
W E
♦ 6 S ♦ A 8 7 4 Your partner has doubled 1♣ for take-
♣ K 8 3 2 ♣ Q 6 out: showing an opening hand with club
shortage.
When responding to a take-out double
West North East South it is important to show your strength. You
1NT Dbl 2♦ have 9 HCP and a good five-card suit, For reservations call Mr Bridge
? which amounts to 10 total points: make
a jump response to 2♠. on 01483 489961
3♥. A response of 1♠ could show no points: www.mrbridge.co.uk
Your partner has made a penalty double you are forced to bid; so when you have Terms and conditions apply –
of 1NT, so you should be on the look- a better hand, it is important to let your see Fred.Olsen 2015 brochure or
www.fredolsencruises.com for details.
out to double again, aiming to hunt them partner know. ■

Bernard Magee’s Tips
for Better Bridge
65 invaluable tips in 160 pages
Bidding Tips 33 A low lead usually promises
1 Always consider bidding length and an honour
spades if you can 34 When declaring 1NT,
2 Bid more aggressively try to be patient
when non-vulnerable 35 Duck an early round when
3 Always double when the you are short of entries
opponents steal your deal 36 Lead up to your
4 A take-out double shows two-honour holding
shortage in the suit doubled 37 Do not always assume
5 ‘Borrow’ a king a suit will break well
to keep the auction open 38 Drop a high card
6 After a penalty double, to put off the defence
don’t let the opponents escape 39 Play your highest card to tempt
7 Halve the value of a singleton a defender to cover
honour when opening 40 Draw trumps first unless you
8 Only add length-points for a have a good reason not to
suit that might be useful 41 Do not waste your trumps
9 Isolated honours are bad 42 Consider leaving a lone defen-
except in partner’s suit sive trump winner out
10 Use the jump shift sparingly
11 Consider passing and letting Defence Tips
partner decide 43 Keep four-card suits intact
12 You need two top honours whenever possible
for a second-seat pre-empt 44 Give count on declarer’s leads
13 Put the brakes on if you have a 45 Keep the right cards
misfit rather than signal
14 Strong and long minors work 46 Take your time
well in no-trumps when dummy is put down
15 One stop in the opponents’ suit 47 High cards are for killing
can be enough for no-trumps other high cards
16 Keep your two-level 48 Do not waste
responses up to strength intermediate cards
17 Use your normal methods in 49 Pick two key suits to
response to a 1NT overcall concentrate on during the play
18 Don’t overcall just because 50 If in doubt, cover an honour
you have opening points with an honour
19 Overcalls can be quite weak, 51 If a lead is from two honours, it
so be prudent when responding is best not to cover
20 Weak overcalls must be based 52 Keep your honour to kill
on strong suits dummy’s honour
21 6NT requires 33 points 53 Try to show partner your
not 4 aces and 4 kings solid honour sequences
22 Raise immediately, if weak 54 Lead the normal card when
with four-card support leading partner’s suit
23 In a competitive auction, 55 Never underlead an ace at trick
show support immediately one in a suit contract
24 Bid to the level of your fit 56 Be wary of leading from
quickly with weak hands four cards to only one honour
25 With strength and support, 57 Lead a higher card from
use the opponents’ bid suit a suit without an honour
58 Lead through ‘beatable’
strength and up to weakness
Declarer Play Tips 59 Cash your winners before try-
26 When your contract depends ing for a trump promotion
on a finesse, think ‘endplay’ 60 Be patient when defending
27 Consider what a defender 1NT
might be thinking about 61 Trump leads can be safe
28 Always take your time throughout the play
at trick one
29 Establish extra tricks before General Tips
cashing your winners 62 Do not put important cards
30 Use your opponents’ at either end of your hand
bidding to your advantage 63 Avoid being declarer when
31 Avoid the ‘baddie’ you are dummy
gaining the lead 64 Before you lead, ask for a
32 Use the Rule of Seven when review of the auction
holding up in no-trumps 65 Enjoy the Game!
£14 including postage and packing from Mr Bridge,

Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. ( 01483 489961

Answers to Bernard Magee’s VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY
Bidding Quizzes 10-12
on the Cover
Dalmatia,
Sicily &
Italy
majors (you would have responded 1♥
10. Dealer East. Love All. or 1♠ had you had four or more). With
♠ K 8 4 3 ♠ A Q 6 no interest in playing in another trump
♥ 7 6 5 N ♥ A K 4 2 suit, all new suit bids are trial bids for a BRIDGE HOSTS
W E JOHN & REBECCA
♦ Q 4 3 S ♦ 9 7 5 no-trump contract – they show a stop in
RONAN
♣ K 7 3 ♣ A 6 5 the suit bid and ask partner to view his
assets and either bid no-trumps or, show
a stopper in a suit, or, finally, return to
West North East South the original suit (clubs).
1♥ Pass Your partner has shown a diamond
1♠ Pass 1NT Pass stop and is asking you to show any stop-
? per you hold. Unfortunately, you have no
stopper to show, so you simply rebid 3♣.
Pass. Your partner has rebid 1NT, East knows now there is no stopper in
showing a strong balanced hand: 15-17 hearts so he gives up on no-trumps.
points. With 8 HCP, you might have a
chance for game if partner has 17 points.
Enjoy daily duplicates as you
However, your hand is not really worth 8 12. Dealer East. Game All.
sail to the outstanding beauty
points: you have the worst shape: 4-3- ♠ A K 5 4 3 ♠ 7 6
of the Adriatic and the historic
3-3, you have no intermediates (tens ♥ 9 N ♥ A K 7 4 3 2 sites of Italy
W E
or nines) and all your honours are by ♦ 10 6 5 2 S ♦ 9 8 7
June 26, 2015
themselves. All of the indicators point in ♣ A K J ♣ 4 2
12 days from Rome to Venice
one direction – downgrade your hand – I Fly to Rome to join Aegean Odyssey,
would estimate the hand to be worth a Cruise to Sorrento • Amalfi • Taormina
‘bad 7 points’. Bearing all this in mind, West North East South Corfu • Sarande • Lecce • Dubrovnik
Split • Urbino • Venice • Fly home
you should pass 1NT. 2♥1 3♣
There might be only 7 tricks available, ? MR BRIDGE FARES INCLUDE:
• Return air with free regional
so 1NT is the best contract. You actually 1
6-10pts & 6 hearts connections from selected UK airports
hold 25 HCP between the two hands, but • Sightseeing excursions in most ports
• Mr Bridge programme
the lack of potential in your hand would Double. With no fit for your partner,
• Complimentary wine at dinner
leave you short if you went for game. game is likely to be beyond you: 3NT will • Gratuities for on-board cabin and
not work because you are unlikely to be restaurant staff
able to get to your partner‘s hand and Standard Inside from £1,995pp
11. Dealer East. Love All. 4♥ is not sensible because you will have Standard Outside from £2,450pp
Premium Outside from £2,595pp
♠ 9 8 2 ♠ A Q 3 only seven trumps.
♥ 8 3 N ♥ 7 6 Having given up on game, you do not Single supplement just £100
W E on selected grades only
♦ Q J 10 S ♦ A K 4 have to give up on a big score. You have
Past Passengers on Aegean Odyessy
♣ A 9 6 4 3 ♣ K Q 8 7 2 lovely clubs sitting over the overcaller enjoy additional discounts
and can reasonably expect to take five Extend your holiday with hotel stays in Rome
and/or Venice – please ask for details
defensive tricks against 3♣ without any For reservations call
West North East South help from your partner.
1♣ Pass Once your side has pre-empted, all
2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass doubles are for penalties: this is because on 01483 489961
? the pre-emptor has described his hand
neatly: weak with a six-card suit.
3♣. Once your partnership has agreed a A penalty double fits the bill nicely
minor, both players should be considering here and, with partner’s heart holding,
www.mrbridge.co.uk
no-trumps if you have extra strength. should result in at least three off, for 800
Supporting a minor denies length in the points. ■

Sally’s Slam of the Month
Two Successes,
One Lucky
I
am beginning to get a pleasing West East
supply of slam hands from readers. ♠ A K Q ♠ J 8 7 6 2 2♥ 2♠
This was bid to the right contract ♥ A Q 2 N ♥ K 5 3♦ 3NT
W E
by Richard Wheen and his partner: ♦ J 5 3 S ♦ A K 9 7 4♣ 4♦
♣ A Q 10 8 ♣ 7 3 5♣ 5♥
6♦ 6NT
Dealer South. N/S Game. Pass
♠ A K 10 4 Now the grand slam is terrible, needing
♠ J 8 7 6 2
♥ A Q 2 N ♥ K 5 both club honours with South. Here, the 2♥ opening was Acol (I’m
W E
♦ J 5 S ♦ A K 9 7 In my opinion, when you have four- not sure whether 2♠ was a positive in
♣ A Q 10 8 ♣ 7 3 card support for the suit partner has spades or a negative, presumably the
transferred into, you should let him former or West might have been a bit
know immediately (with a minimum nervous about getting too high). 4♣
West East and 4-3-3-3 distribution, I’ll let you was Gerber. West’s final 6♦ bid would
2NT 3♥ off). This is the same after a 2NT have resulted in getting to the right
3♠ 4♦ opening as after a 1NT opening. contract, but East converted to 6NT –
4♠ 4NT With his actual hand, West no worries as the opening lead was a
5♦ 5♥ should ‘break the transfer’. Because club, so they made 6NT and scored a
5♠ 6♠ you are taking up a lot of space top.
Pass after a 2NT opening, it is best to Gerber is one of those conventions
play that an immediate jump in much loved by those who play in lo-
East transferred into spades and then partner’s suit (4♠ here) promises a cal clubs (and at home), but almost
showed his second suit. After getting top honour in every suit, ie, no need totally rejected by the tournament
preference to spades, he launched into to cue-bid, partner can go straight to world. Strong two-bids are in a similar
RKCB and, on hearing that there were RKCB if he is strong enough. With category. Here, West guessed that his
no key cards missing, he asked for the a suit uncontrolled (as here), West partner’s king was in clubs rather than
queen of trumps, signing off in a small should cue-bid. Here, he should bid spades. However, it is all very well to
slam when it was missing. 4♣. Now, East can use RKCB to check criticise when I cannot see a way to bid
Mr Wheen comments that presum- on aces. the hand accurately.
ably his partner was intending to bid As it went, East did not know about The hand is easier after starting with
the grand slam if West held the queen that all-important fourth trump. a one-bid (that is often the case, pro-
of trumps. vided you get over the first hurdle by
To my way of thinking, the problem ♣♦♥♠ partner not passing the opening bid).
with this bidding sequence is that East
never knew that West held four spades The following, from Peter Calviou of West East
and look at what a difference that Amersham, is very difficult: 1♥ 1♠
makes. On the actual hands, 6♠ is cold 3♦ 3♠
provided trumps are 3-1 or better and 4♦ 4♥
has good chances otherwise. A normal ♠ A ♠ Q 10 9 8 5 4 5♥ 6♦
line of play is to start by cashing one ♥ A K J 10 9 N ♥ Q
W E
top trump. If both opponents follow, ♦ A K Q 6 5 S ♦ J 4 Here, West’s 5♥ asks for a club control.
then cash the other and there are still ♣ J 6 ♣ K Q 5 3 This is a bit speculative because West
two left with which to ruff dummy’s has no way of knowing that East has
losing diamonds. If trumps are 4-0, the ♥Q. East would bid 6♣ if he had
the club finesse may be needed. Send your slam hands to the ace, so his 6♦ bid promises second-
But imagine that the two hands are [email protected] round club control and offers an
these: alternative slam. ■

Beginners’ Bridge Corner
Better Hand
Evaluation
Mary’s Seventeenth Lesson Bernard Magee
Introduction
Responding to Strong Twos 2♦, 2♥, and 2♠ Better Hand Evaluation is
aimed at helping readers to
by Liz Dale add greater accuracy to their

bidding. It deals with auc-
tions in which you and your
partner, against silent op-
ponents, can describe your
‘W
ell done you want to be a good Three different answers hands fully to each other
and, by evaluating them ac-
everyone.’ partner, you must learn it. were called out, ‘Pass’,
curately, find the best final
Alasdair It’s the responder’s artificial ‘2NT’, and ‘3♥’. I had contract. The emphasis of all
beamed. ‘You all seem to negative bid of 2NT, alerted a feeling it was 2NT, good, accurate bidding is on
know the 18-22 point count because it is not a natural but was not quite brave hand evaluation.
for opening 2♦, 2♥ and 2♠. bid. It is saying to opener, enough to shout it out. There are two general types of
I’m very pleased with you.’ “I have 0-7pts.” Your hand ‘2NT,’ said Alasdair. auction: a) a fit is found and b)
no fit is found.
Mary glanced around the passes over the green cards Inwardly, I was proud,
room. All eyebrows raised, and, with some trepidation but I would have liked When you do not have a fit,
surprise on everyone’s face. your 2NT negative bid finds to shout it out. you are aiming to describe the
strength of your hand as soon
Alasdair continued, ‘There itself on the table. Opener is ‘Pass is not allowed. 3♥ as possible, most often using
are more delays at the table already thinking, “Well done shows 8 or more points. no-trump bids. This book be-
with players uncertain about partner. Thank you.” Your You bid 2NT to show gins by discussing balanced
which strong two to open partner’s hand will usually fewer than 8 points.’ hand bidding in Acol, as it
is very important that both
than at any other time. be based on one strong suit, members of a partnership
Opening the strong two but he might have two, which have an accurate knowledge of
bids are not difficult provided means if you respond, he ♠ 4 3 how to show hands of different
you learn the point count can show his second suit. ♥ A K J 5 4 strengths.
and recognise the strength What if responder has 8+ ♦ 3 2 When a fit is found, there is
of a shapely hand. The points? Any responder bid ♣ 7 6 5 4 much re-evaluation of the
hand to be done; point count,
important message opener other than 2NT is a positive though still important, needs
is giving to partner is, “I natural bid: the partnership to be evaluated together with
have a strong hand and knows that game is on. ‘3♥!’ This time, I said distribution. The best way of
need fewer than 6 points This knowledge allows the my answer, as did most reaching an accurate assess
ment is to use the Losing Trick
from you to make game.” partnership to take their time of the class. We were Count; this is an important
2♦, 2♥ and 2♠ are strong to find their fit, keeping the getting the hang of it. method of hand evaluation and
bids so you must not pass, bidding going until game Mary was determined to be takes up a number of chapters.
even if you have no points is reached or moving on a good partner for Joan. She Finally, we move on to different
at all. Yes I mean it, you to investigating a slam. could see the importance of forms of evaluation including
must keep the bidding open. Over 2♠, what would the 2NT negative bid in game tries and splinter bids.
You can never know enough
Stress is written all over your you bid with this hand?’ giving opener so much
methods of hand evaluation;
face. You may wriggle in your information. the more you learn, the better
chair. Your first inclination is Although Mary didn’t find you get at judging your hand.
to pass. You look longingly ♠ 4 3 it easy, she knew she would Although the Losing Trick
at the green cards. No! You ♥ A 7 6 5 4 work on the responses until Count is used more easily in
mustn’t even think it. There’s ♦ 3 2 they became automatic. tandem with your partner, a
large proportion of the ideas
a negative bid to help both ♣ 7 6 5 4 She didn’t want to let Joan
in this book can be used by an
you and opener and, because down. ■ individual. For example, eval-
uating your hand to be worth
an extra point is going to help
NEW
anyone you partner – as long
ACOL BIDDING as you get it right.
Coming later this year is a new, revised version of this bestselling CD. First published nearly £14 including UK postage
16 years ago, it will feature extra hands, extra comments and in addition, feature, an app for See Mail Order Form
Android. Next year, apps for iPads and iPhones are planned. on page 7.

David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics
Should a Prepared
Club be Alerted
or Announced?
Q
We play five- clubs.’ or something transfers in response to the omission of arrow
card majors similar. I would welcome 1NT or 2NT (which are switching. I should
and a strong your suggestions. announced) – requires an very much like to be
no-trump and use the On a different point: alert. So an Ogust 2NT given the benefit of
prepared club when responder having response to a weak two your expert opinion
we don’t have a five- announced ‘weak’ to requires an alert and the on this matter.
card suit. We have been opener’s bid of 2♥/2♠, rebids by opener after Name and address supplied.
advised recently that the it is my understanding Ogust, which are artificial,
A
prepared club should that if this is followed by require alerts as well. Your understanding
be announced as, ‘may Ogust (2NT), this must is correct and I
be fewer than 3 clubs,’ be alerted by opener ♣♦♥♠ am afraid the club
and not alerted. At the since it is a convention just does not realise the
Q
same time, the EBU that forces a reply. I have always problem. The North-South
laws state that a strong Even if the rules do not understood that, pairs play no boards at
one club opening (as in require an alert, surely if a standard all in competition with the
precision club) should be the reply to Ogust itself Mitchell Movement is East-West pairs, so cannot
alerted, not announced. should be alerted since played without arrow compare scores meaningfully.
Our dilemma arises it is always artificial? switching, then two
from the possibility that Mike Ingle by email. separate result lists ♣♦♥♠
with a 4441 distribution, should be published,
A Q
opener’s point count You are playing one for N/S pairs and Please will
could be quite high a short club not the other for E/W you clarify:
– maybe 17 points, a strong club. Of pairs, (ref page 20 of during the
because we never open course, it may have 16 points EBU booklet Running play of a hand, can the
1NT with a singleton. or even 19 or 20 like any a Duplicate Event). declarer (or anyone
By this reckoning, other normal opening, so Recently, I played other than dummy)
an opening bid of 1♣ it is basically just a normal at a club where a ask about the meaning
would fall under the opening except for the fact single result list was of a conventional bid
requirement to alert that your club suit can be produced although no made in the bidding?
a strong artificial short. As a result, you are arrow switching was Name and address supplied.
bid rather than an required to say, ‘May be introduced. The scoring
A
announcement. two cards.’ or something was done on a computer. Certainly, whenever
We feel that the most similar: an alert is quite When I queried this, I it is their turn to
equitable approach wrong. A strong club has a was told the computer play. For declarer,
would be to both alert normal point range of 16 to takes care of that. that means he can ask
and simultaneously 30, which is quite different Surely no computer whenever he is about to
announce with, and requires an alert. program, however play from either hand.
‘minimum 12 points and Any artificial bid – written or modified, Note that, after playing the
may be fewer than three except Stayman and can compensate for first card, a player may

Ask David continued regrettably a lot of players as North retains the lead. view is that pre-empts should
take it back immediately after Note that all the be much more random,
they have put the bid on possibilities should be possibly either weaker or
the table which is incorrect. explained before West is stronger than normal.
not ask for a review, so he If done correctly, no-one asked to choose whether There is another
needs to remember the knows whether the next to accept 1♠ or not. possibility: if RHO is a really
bidding, but he may ask the player has a problem over inexperienced player, he
meaning of a call, whether the jump bid, or whether he ♣♦♥♠ may not know what the fuss
conventional or not. has nothing to think about. is about. Perhaps he thinks
Q
When the procedure Recently, I joined you need 12 points to open
♣♦♥♠ was first introduced, it a new club where at the one level and could
applied only to opening most members not think of anything else
Q
Is it appropriate natural bids at the three- play Benji Acol. My RHO to do with the hand. In that
to use the stop level. It was sensibly opened 3♦. There was case, you grin and bear it.
card for an extended to all jump bids. no alert. I was next to So the result should
opening bid of 2NT bid and held 16 HCP stand unless you honestly
in duplicate? I was ♣♦♥♠ and ♦A-x-x. I thought have been misinformed
told by a player that of bidding 3NT, but by a pair who play this as
Q
it wasn’t because it North is Dealer. chose to double. LHO stronger than normal: in that
was a natural bid. However, passed and my partner case, the director should
Gillian Harrand, South opens left the double in and adjust, though what you
Waverton, Chester. 1♠. West does not the contract made. It or your partner would do
accept the bid. What turned out that declarer differently is an interesting
A
You are required to is the ruling please? held 11 points and 7 question. Some sort of
use the stop card Pearl Evans by email. diamonds. I called the weighted score including
before any jump director who declared a proportion of the table
A
bid, natural or otherwise. If West does not the bid acceptable. I result would then seem fair.
The purpose of a stop card accept 1♠, then the disagreed but had to
is to give the player next to bidding reverts to accept the ruling. My ♣♦♥♠
speak time to reflect when North. North must pass for complaint was that, had
Q
a surprising bid is made. To the rest of the hand, South I bid 3NT, I would have Recently, the
keep it simple, it was decided can bid whatever he likes made at least 7 tricks. question came
any jump bid was a simple and, obviously, no bid by him Dr D R King, up whether
enough rule to define a is ever artificial. If East-West Berwick on Tweed. weak jump overcalls are
surprising bid. Before any finish up playing the contract, alertable or not. Could
A
jump bid, the player puts there will be lead penalties There are a number you advise us please?
the stop card on the table, unless South bids spades of reasons why Mike Clements by email.
makes her bid, then leaves again: if he does, there are opener might bid 3♦
A
it on the table for some no penalties. The penalties with this hand. If their system When a bid is in
seconds, more than five. The are that the first time North is to play 3-level openings as normal use and is
next player is not allowed to is on lead – possibly the this strong, so it is normal, natural it is never
call until it is removed. While opening lead – declarer then it should be alerted alertable, so no natural jump
most players put the stop can require a spade lead, and on any system card. overcall is alertable. These
card out before a jump bid, or forbid one for as long However, if they normally days, in many clubs and
play a 3-level opening as tournaments, weak jump
weaker and he just decided overcalls are the standard
to bid it on this one occasion and intermediate jump
DUPLICATE BRIDGE as a sort of psyche, that is
legal. The director should
overcalls are much rarer.
Practically no-one plays
RULES SIMPLIFIED really have asked his
partner what he expected
strong jump overcalls.
Confusingly, some people
(otherwise known as the Yellow Book) from a 3-level opening. play intermediate jump
Another possibility is that overcalls, showing about 11
only you were fourth in hand: to 15 points, but call them
by John Rumbelow and
revised by David Stevenson £595 after two passes, the expert strong. ■
E-mail your questions on bridge laws to:

Available from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 [email protected]

Heather’s Private Bridge Lessons
Negative
Doubles
W hat call do you make on the
following hand?
continuing with a third round of
clubs will force declarer to ruff with
dummy’s queen to avoid partner
West North

?
East
1♣ 1♠
South
over-ruffing. Now, if partner’s trump

♠ A 9 8 5 holding includes either the jack or Double to show four hearts.
♥ Q 4 3 2 N ten, you will have promoted a second
W E
♦ K J 10 S
trump trick in your hand to go with
♣ 10 7 your two club tricks. ♠ 9 7
This was your partner’s hand: ♥ A K Q 3 2 N
W E
♦ J 8 6 4 S
West North East South ♣ 7 3
1♦ 3♣ ♠ Q J 10 6 3 2
? ♥ 10 6
♦ 8 6 2 West North East South
Playing negative doubles, you can ♣ 8 2 1♣ 1♠
double, which ideally shows four cards N
?
in any unbid major. Holding four W E
cards in both majors, your hand is S Do not make a negative double here.
perfect for the call. It is much more descriptive to bid 2♥
Over your negative double, partner naturally.
jumps to 4♥ which ends the auction. Negative doubles apply after partner
Now switch to the South seat. This is has opened a suit at the one level and l 1♣-(1♦)-Dbl
the player who overcalled 3♣ and this there has been a suit overcall on your You are showing 4-4 in the majors
is your hand: right. because if you were 4-3, you would bid
Double is basically for take-out and your 4 card suit naturally.
suggests that you have some values
N and holdings in the other two suits. l 1♣/♦-(1♥)-?
W E
S
Usually, you will hold 4 cards in any You have the opportunity to
unbid major, or have a hand strong distinguish between holding exactly 4
♠ 7 4 enough to bid again. The values you spades or 5+ spades. Double to show 4
♥ K 9 7 need depend on the level to which you and call 1♠ if you hold 5 or more.
♦ 4 3 are forcing the auction.
♣ A K J 9 5 3
l 1♣-(1♠)-Dbl. ♠ K 10 7 3
You have four or more hearts, or a ♥ 9 6 3 N
W E
Naturally enough, you begin with a good hand with no other action. For ♦ A 7 5 S
top club. Your partner follows with example: ♣ A Q 7
the eight and declarer the four. It looks
as though partner has a begun a peter
in clubs to show a doubleton. Play the ♠ 9 7 West North East South
king of clubs to confirm the situation. ♥ A K 5 3 N
1♣ 1♥
W E
Your partner contributes the two and ♦ J 8 6 4 S ?
declarer the six. How do you defend? ♣ 7 3 2
With such poor trumps in dummy, Double to show precisely four spades.

Negative Doubles continued West North East South
♠ A 7 1♠ 2♦ Pass Pass
♥ A Q 8 2 N ?
W E
♦ K 3 2 S
♣ 9 8 3 2 If you were to open 1♠, you should
North competes to 2♥ and partner repeat the spades rather than make a
raises to 2♠. Now, you can jump reopening double.
directly to 4♠ which ends the auction. West North East South
Now, switch to the South seat. 1♦ 2♣
? ♠ A K 8 5 3
♥ J 10 3 N
N W E
W E
Here, you have ample strength to ♦ 4 S
S make a negative double – if partner ♣ A 8 7 2
bids 2♠, you can call again.
♠ J 9 6 4 You may also make a negative double
♥ A J 10 8 4 with a long suit and a weak hand – not West North East South
♦ K Q J strong enough to bid at the two level. 1♠ 2♦ Pass Pass
♣ 2 If you double and then bid your suit ?
it is non-forcing, but be wary because
partner may expect you to have the Re-open with a double. Although you
You begin with the ♦K which declarer unbid major and may jump in it. are minimum, partner may be strong
takes with the ace in dummy. Holding with a penalty in mind.
length in trumps, an honour sequence REOPENING DOUBLES
such as this is a preferable lead to a
singleton. If you are playing negative doubles, you ♠ A J 10 7 3
Declarer leads a trump to the ace, are no longer able to double the oppo- ♥ 5 N
W E
partner following with the two. How sition’s overcall for penalties. Instead, ♦ Q J 9 3 S
do you defend? you must pass with a penalty double ♣ K J 3
Partner’s trump is a singleton and hand and hope that partner is able to
declarer will cater naturally for the re-open with a double. Thus, you pass
only four-one trump holding that he with two types of hands: either because West North East South
can by cashing the queen next. On you are weak, or because you have a 1♠ 2♦ Pass Pass
seeing your partner’s discard, he will penalty double of RHO’s suit. ?
finesse your jack, draw trumps and As the opening bidder, you need to
may well have five club tricks to cash, consider which of these hand types Pass. You know partner doesn’t have a
since he must hold the king for his is more likely. If partner has a weak penalty double, so must be weak.
opening bid. Is there anything you can hand, you will want to pass most of the
do to put him off this line of play? time unless you are extremely strong.
You could try playing the nine on However, you will want to be bidding ♠ Q J 10 8 5 3
the first trick. It gives declarer a losing if partner holds the penalty pass. So ♥ A Q J 7 2 N
W E
option since he is now able to cater how do you judge which is more likely? ♦ Void S
for trumps to be four-one on either The answer comes simply by looking ♣ K 2
side. If he believes this nine could be at your length in the opponent’s suit.
a singleton he may continue with a If you hold a shortage, this increases
low trump towards dummy. He will the chance that partner has a penalty West North East South
see you follow suit and may become double and you should be prepared to 1♠ 2♦ Pass Pass
suspicious of your play, but it is a bit re-open with a double (take-out) unless ?
of a gamble for him now to finesse the you have a very weak or distributional
ten, which is what he needs to do to hand where you would not be happy to Bid 2♥. Although it is very likely that
make the contract. defend their doubled contract. In this partner has a penalty double, you
case, you will rebid your suit, or bid a wouldn’t have stood it if your partner
l 1♥-(1♠)-Dbl. second suit. had been able to make one. ■
You show at least 4 cards in a minor,
possibly both, and enough values to
bid at the 2-level. ♠ A K Q J 6 4 Improve with ProBridge
♥ 9 7 2 On May 5th, ProBridge are introduing
N
an online drop-in bridge club for
l 1♦-(2♣)-Dbl. ♦ 5 3 W E
S practise play supervised by an expert.
This shows at least one 4-card major ♣ 8 3
Email Sally Brock at [email protected]
and enough values to bid at the 2-level.

Improve Your Defence with Andrew Kambites
Leading from
Broken Honour
Sequences
N
o doubt you are well aware of 3) If declarer leads the ♠4 from his Suppose West starts with the ♠5.
the advice to lead the fourth hand and West rushes in with the Declarer wins trick 1 with the ♠K
highest of your longest and ♠A. West needs to heed the advice, but, even though he has been gifted a
strongest against an opponent’s no- ‘Second hand plays low,’ and keep second spade trick, he cannot come to
trump contract. I have dealt with the his ♠A to deal with a spade honour nine tricks without setting up clubs.
‘longest’ criteria already, coming to in declarer’s hand. East wins the first club and returns his
the conclusion that a 5-card suit is None of these three things should last spade. Declarer has to allow West
more attractive than a 4-card suit. In happen when defending against a to gain the lead with the ♣K and the
this article, I look at the implications suit contract. In particular, it is rarely contract is defeated, with three spade
of the strength of a suit. right to cash an unsupported side tricks to go with the ♣A-K.
suit ace against a suit contract and it Ideally, the defence would have
Leading from an Ace is virtually never right to underlead a liked East to be able to lead spades
side suit ace against a suit contract at twice through declarer but, with East
As a rule of thumb, the purpose of an trick 1. However, against a no-trump having just the one entry, that was not
honour card is to neutralise an honour contract, the lead of the ♠5 from a possible.
card in the hand of your right hand suit like ♠A-10-8-5-2 can be a good Note that underleading the ♠A has
opponent and maybe promote an attacking lead even if it costs a trick, as indeed cost a trick, but the reward has
honour card in your or partner’s hand. demonstrated by this deal. been two length tricks. This shows
So how many tricks should declarer why underleading side suit aces is so
take in this layout? South North unattractive against a suit contract.
1NT 3NT You run the same risk of giving away
End a cheap trick, but there is far less
♠ Q 7 3 potential reward because declarer will
N
ruff any length winners you set up.
♠ A 10 8 5 2 W E ♠ J 9 Dealer South. Love All. It is worth commenting that I simply
S
♠ Q 7 3 assume that partner will not underlead
♠ K 6 4 ♥ Q 9 a side suit ace at trick 1 against a suit
♦ A Q J contract.
♣ Q J 10 9 6 You might like to try to work out
The answer is one, provided West ♠ A 10 8 5 2 ♠ J 9 how declarer made 4♥ on the next
keeps his ♠A to deal with South’s ♠K. ♥ 8 5 2 N ♥ J 10 7 4 3 deal, despite the fact he had four
W E
There are three ways that declarer ♦ 7 3 2 S ♦ 9 8 6 5 inescapable losers.
might make two spade tricks. ♣ K 8 ♣ A 5
1) If West cashes the ♠A. ♠ K 6 4 South North
2) If West underleads the ♠A, declar- ♥ A K 6 1NT 2♣1
er’s ♠K wins trick 1 and declarer ♦ K 10 4 2♥ 4♥
still has dummy’s ♠Q sitting over ♣ 7 4 3 2 All Pass
West’s ♠A to provide a second trick. 1
Stayman

Leading from Broken Honour Sequences of your second card, the more likely
(i) ♠ 10 4 3 the lead is to be successful and the less
N
likely it is to concede a cheap trick.
♠ K 6 5 2 W E ♠ Q 9 7 Hence the idea of leading from your
S
longest and strongest suit.
Dealer South. Game All. ♠ A J 8
♠ J 8 5 3 Leading from a Queen
♥ 10 9 8 2
♦ A 2 In Layout (i), all your spade lead does Similar principles apply here. Lead-
♣ A K 6 is gift declarer a second spade trick. ing a spade from ♠Q-6-5-2 requires
♠ A 7 6 2 ♠ K 10 9 Declarer plays low from dummy, East partner to have a lot to make it work.
♥ A Q 4 N ♥ 5 3 has to contribute the ♠Q to prevent Leading from ♥Q-10-5-2 (or even ♦Q-
W E
♦ 10 6 3 S ♦ 9 8 5 4 declarer’s ♠J winning the trick, but 9-5-2) is far more likely to be success-
♣ J 4 2 ♣ 8 7 5 3 now the ♠J and ♠10 are equals against ful. Suppose you give partner the jack.
♠ Q 4 your king. Note that if declarer had to
♥ K J 7 6 play the suit himself, he could never
♦ K Q J 7 score more than one trick. The spades (iv) ♠ K 9 4
♣ Q 10 9 are a ‘Frozen Suit’. I will develop this N
idea later on in this series. ♠ Q 6 5 2 W E ♠ J 7 3
S
West led the ♠2 and dummy played ♠ A 10 8

the ♠3. (ii) ♥ 6 4 3
Of course, seeing all four hands, N
East would rise with the ♠K, however, ♥ K J 5 2 W E ♥ Q 9 7 In Layout (iv), if West leads the ♠2
S
if West had led from ♠Q-7-6-2 rather dummy plays the ♠4 and East has to
than ♠A-7-6-2, it would be essential ♥ A 10 8 play the ♠J to prevent declarer winning
for East to play the ♠9, keeping his ♠K the ♠10. Now, declarer can finesse
to deal with dummy’s ♠J. dummy’s ♠9 and make a third spade
East could not believe West had A heart lead in Layout (ii) works trick that he could never have made
underled the ♠A and, because the perfectly for you. The ♥Q fills the hole without your help. This is another
partnership was playing second between your ♥K and ♥J nicely. Of frozen suit.
highest from suits without a picture course, partner must play the ♥Q in
card, East assumed West must have third seat.
the ♠Q. A surprised declarer scooped (v) ♥ K 9 4
up the ♠Q at trick 1, leaving him with N
just one spade loser. (iii) ♦ 6 4 3 ♥ Q 10 5 2 W E ♥ J 7 3
S
Don’t underlead a side suit ace at N
trick one against a suit contract. ♦ K 10 5 2 W E ♦ Q 9 7 ♥ A 8 6
S
Leading from a King ♦ A J 8

On the other hand, leading the ♥2 in
Suppose you are considering whether Layout (v) works perfectly. Partner’s
to underlead a king at trick 1. The A diamond lead in Layout (iii) also ♥J fills the hole between your ♥Q and
contract is probably no-trumps, but works well for you, but you have a ♥10. The lead has given nothing away
the principles I am going to outline bit more work to do than in (ii). East and you are well on the way towards
apply in defence of a suit contract as rises with the ♦Q (third hand high). If making two heart tricks.
well. declarer wins the ♦A, then West cannot
Generally speaking, I will assume play diamonds again. However, if East Leading from a Jack
that it is not unreasonable to expect gains the lead and fires a diamond
your partner to hold one honour and through declarer’s remaining ♦J-8, By now, it won’t surprise you to learn
one intermediate card in the suit. the defenders will get three diamond that leading from ♠J-6-5-2 is unlikely
While, of course, you will be delighted tricks against a no-trump contract. to gain you much and is highly likely
if partner’s holding is stronger than The conclusion here is that the to throw a trick way. A lead from ♥J-9
this, if you are relying on that to make intermediate cards matter. A lead -5-2 or ♦J-10-5-2 is hardly the world’s
your lead a success, you are probably from ♥K-J-5-2 is more likely to be most attractive start to the defence,
showing unrealistic optimism. successful than a lead from ♠K-6-5-2. but the better intermediate cards
To show what you can expect, I have A holding of ♦K-10-5-2 is in between. somewhat improve your prospects,
given partner a holding of Q-9-7 each Leading from any of these holdings both of giving nothing away and of
time. carries a risk, but the higher the rank setting up a length winner. ■

More Tips from Bernard Magee
DEFENCE
QUIZ 5-5 hands are
by Julian Pottage
powerful
(Answers on page 25) if you find a fit
Y ou are East in the defensive positions below playing teams
or rubber bridge. It is your turn to play. Both sides are us-
ing Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman.
The potential of a hand
with two five-card suits Dealer South. E/W Game
is huge: if you have a fit ♠ J 7 5
with your partner, you will ♥ Q J 10 5
have a short suit for ruffing ♦ A 9 8 6
1. ♠ A K J 3. ♠ K J 10 9
and a second long suit ♣ 5 3
♥ A 6 3 ♥ K Q 10 9 8 5
♦ 8 5 3 ♦ J
to develop extra tricks. ♠ A Q 6 4 ♠ K 10 9 8 2
♣ K Q 5 3 ♣ 5 3 Be careful before you ♥ 8 2 N ♥ 9 3
W E
♠ 42 ♠ A Q 7 3 find a fit because a 5-5 ♦ Q J 5 S ♦ K 7 3 2

N
♥ K9872 N ♥ 6 4 shape does not play so ♣ J 10 8 4 ♣ Q 2
W E
♦ A96 W E
♦ K 10 5 4 well when your hand fits ♠ 3
S S
♣ A87 ♣ Q J 8 badly with partner’s. ♥ A K 7 6 4
However, once you find ♦ 10 4
a fit, you can bid up: be ♣ A K 9 7 6
West North East South West North East South optimistic – if in doubt,
1♣ 1♥ 2NT 1NT Pass opt to play the contract
Pass 3NT All Pass Pass 2♣1 Pass 3♥ rather than defend. West North East South
Pass 4♥ All Pass 1♥
Partner leads the ♥J and 1
Majors Pass 2♥ Pass 4♥
dummy plays low. What is ♠ Q J 2 All Pass
your plan? Partner leads the ♠5: ♠J, ♥ 9 7 5
♠Q and ♠4. What is your ♦ 5 3 2 As South, you open in the
plan? ♣ A 8 5 3 higher of your two five-
card suits, your partner
N
W E responds 2♥ and you have
S
to decide on your rebid. The
2. ♠ K 4. ♠ A J
losing trick count makes the
♥ A K J 7 5 ♥ K Q J 10 7 2
♠ A K 9 4 3 decision easy: it gives a full
♦ K Q 7 6 4 ♦ A J 10 6
♥ 8 4 evaluation of 5-5 hands; 5
♣ A 8 ♣ Q
♦ A J 10 6 4 losers would suggest going
♠ AQ4 ♠ Q 7 4 2
N
♥ 9432 N
♥ 6
♣ 6 for game. In point count
W E W E terms, you have to add
S
♦ 10 9 2 S
♦ K Q 3
♣ J93 ♣ 10 7 4 3 2 for length and shortage:
These two hands have 14 HCP + 2 for length +
fewer than 20 HCP between 2 for a singleton = 18.
West North East South West North East South them and they have only However, it is the quality
1♥ Pass 1♠ 1♣ Dbl 1♠ 2♥ an eight-card fit, but 4♠ is of your five-card suits
Pass 3♦ Pass 3♠ 2♠ 4♥ All Pass a good contract. There are that should inspire you. A
Pass 4♠ All Pass two hearts and, hopefully, good trump fit and a very
Partner leads the ♣A. only one diamond to lose. powerful side suit are a sure
Partner leads the ♦A fol- What do you play now The reason why you have recipe for a making game.
lowed by the ♦8. Declarer and what do you play on the potential for so many 22 HCP between the two
wins with the ♦J, overtakes gaining the lead? tricks is the two robust suits hands and a comfortable
the ♥Q with the ♥A, dis- in the South hand. The 11 tricks are the result.
cards a diamond on the spades make a good trump Two club ruffs in dummy
♥K and calls for the ♠K. suit, but the quality of the establish your last club – it is
What is your plan? second suit allows it to be the second suit that so often
established with ease. provides the extra tricks. ■

Bridge Adventures by David Holden and Roy Rowe
The Drones Club:

Bertie Passes Out
‘W
hat the hey?’ exclaimed today. I believe that she intends to to Bond Street and buy some more
Bertie, as the curtains take you for lunch to the Army and clothes. Dashed decent, eh? I don’t
were drawn and the Navy Club to meet Miss Periwinkle. suppose that you have come up with
morning sun flooded into the bed- I understand she believes Miss any ideas vis-à-vis the American hulk?
room. ‘Jeeves, what are you up to? It Periwinkle to be quite suitable.’ It makes me shiver to think of her
cannot be eleven yet!’ ‘Nonsense, Jeeves, they are the very muscular fingers.’
‘Indeed, it is not, it is just height of fashion and most appropriate ‘Not as yet, Sir, but I assure you
approaching nine and here is your for a dashed sunny day.’ the sculptress has my considered
breakfast. Have you forgotten, Sir, that ‘Very good, Sir, I will run your attention,’ replied Jeeves.
your Aunt Agatha is due here with her bath now. Half or full, Mr Wooster?’ ‘No, ah well, maybe tomorrow? By
niece, Clarice Periwinkle, sharp at ten responded Jeeves with a hint of a sniff. the way, have you considered how
thirty?’ ‘Righto, Jeeves, plenty of time. Make many meanings there are to the word
‘Oh great Scott!’ replied Bertie. it a full one and I’ll have a good soak’. ‘Pass’? I can think of at least a dozen
‘Last night’s dreadful events had quite and now another!’ and here Bertie
driven that from my mind! I was at chortled, ‘My brush with Marybelle is
the Drones. After I had sniffed down a bit of a faux pas, don’t you know?’
a couple of jars, I got into conversation ‘Very droll, Sir, but you may have
with that large American sculptor given me an idea.’ responded Jeeves,
lady, Marybelle Schultz, and discussed ‘Will that be all, Sir?’ and seeing the
playing bridge. Not quite sure how, but self satisfied grin on Bertie’s face, left
I rather think she got the impression the room and closed the door behind
that I had proposed ‘M’ to her. All him thoughtfully.
I said was that we ought to try a few Jeeves had developed a stratagem.
rubbers some evening. What can I He suggested that Bertie should elect
do? What a frightful prospect! And to play bridge with the sculptress,
I happen to know that her father is Marybelle. However, he should
big on Wall Street: he could take me endeavour to pass at vital times.
for thousands on a bally breach of Hopefully, this should convince
promise. You have to help me get out Marybelle that he was an idiot and
of this, Jeeves!’ unsuitable as a suitor. Actually, Bertie
Jeeves realised that the suggestion of Later that evening, after a was a surprisingly good player and
‘trying rubbers’ to an American lady surprisingly successful lunch, used to concealing this in the guise of
was an unfortunate turn of phrase and although both Agatha and Clarice, a buffoon. By this means, he had won
beyond Wooster’s comprehension, but (to whom Wooster had taken quite a quite a packet at Drones and the other
could only reply, ‘I will endeavour to shine) kept on their sunglasses for the London clubs and so could adopt
help, Sir, but for the moment, I can whole meal, Bertie was relaxing with a Jeeves’s plan readily.
see no solution. Turning to matters of G and T while Jeeves pottered around So, two days later, Bertie was again at
dress, Sir, I see that you have put aside tidying the apartment. the Drones Club and was partnered by
those yellow spats with matching tie ‘I say, Jeeves, what a bally successful Marybelle at bridge. Their opposition
and cap for your meeting today. I do lunch. That Clarice is really damned was one of Bertie’s cronies, Algy Ffyffe,
sincerely beg that you will reconsider attractive and Aunt Agatha was so partnered by the luscious actress Lola
and change to something more sober impressed by the spats that she gave de Breeze.
for your assignment with Aunt Agatha me fifty guineas and told me to go The first hand was typical. Bertie

Adventures continued penultimate hand was an
example.
DECLARER
and Marybelle, as West and ♠ Q J 3 ♠ A K 8 7
East, held:

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

♦ Q 5 3 2 S
♣ K 7
♦ A K 6
♣ 6 3

West East
Bertie Marybelle
by David Huggett
1NT 6♥ (Answers on page 47)
Pass

West East
Bertie Marybelle

Marybelle, expecting Ber- Y ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge.
In each case, what is your play strategy?
1NT 2♣ tie to pass if she tried Stay-
Pass! man, punted the slam in
hearts, but lost the first two
1. ♠ K 8 3. ♠ 6 4
A routine Stayman en- tricks on the club lead from
♥ K 10 2 ♥ K Q 3
quiry by Marybelle should South. Of course, 6NT and
♦ A 7 5 3 ♦ A J 10 6
have led to an almost lay 6♥ were absolutely cold by
♣ 8 6 5 3 ♣ K J 10 5
down slam in spades (one West, but the frustration
of Bertie’s clubs can go on had become too much for N
N
W E
the fourth heart), but Ber- Marybelle. S
W E
S
tie passed, saying later he The evening ended with
thought Marybelle’s 2♣ was Marybelle storming out af-
♠ 7 6 4 ♠ A 3 2
a weakness take-out. As ter Algy and Lola won yet
♥ A Q J 9 8 3 ♥ A J 8 4
it happens, North held six another rubber and Bertie
♦ K 9 ♦ Q 9 7
clubs to the A-Q, and Mary- taking out the insurance of
♣ K Q ♣ Q 9 8
belle went one proposing to
down when several other
South led a ladies before
You are declarer in 4♥ and You are declarer in 3NT
trump. going home
West leads the ♦J. How do and West leads the ♠5
Similar to report suc-
you plan the play? (fourth highest). How do
passes by Ber- cess to Jeeves.
you plan the play?
tie, in forc- Bertie offered
ing situations, to give up
followed and wearing the
2. ♠ K Q J 3 4. ♠ J 10 9 5
Marybelle yellow ensem-
♥ 6 5 ♥ 8 5
got more and ble and Jeeves
♦ 8 7 ♦ A 8 7 5 3
more disen- informed him
♣ Q 6 5 4 3 ♣ A 6
amoured of that he had al-
Bertie. An- ready donated N
N
W E
other factor in the whole out- S
W E
S
Bertie’s favour was that Lola fit to a caller from the Tem-
had grown tired of Algy’s perance Society earlier that
♠ 2 ♠ K Q 8 7 3 2
attention and flirted sug- day.
♥ A K Q J ♥ K 7 6
gestively with Bertie with Bertie, having resolved
♦ A K 6 3 ♦ K 6 4
her knee against his under to take up Aunt Agatha’s
♣ A K 8 7 ♣ 8
the table, an action which invitation for a week in
became obvious to Mary- her country house where
belle, deciding that Bertie Clarice was staying, re-
You are declarer in 6NT You are declarer in 4♠ after
was wrecking her bids just marked to Jeeves that this
and West leads the ♠10. West has opened 1♣ and
to please Lola (whatever should be a safe passage.
You play the ♠K and it East raised pre-emptively
Lola wants, Lola gets). Jeeves concluded by add-
wins. How do you plan the to 3♣. West leads the ♣K.
Of course, Marybelle then ing, somewhat disdainfully,
play? How do you plan the play?
began to overbid and try to ‘Very droll, Sir, and singular
dominate the auctions. The if I may say so.’ ■

Answers to Julian Pottage’s
Defence Quiz on page 22
Partner leads the ♦A followed by the ♦8. slightly unusual. It would be normal to
1. ♠ A K J Declarer wins with the ♦J, overtakes the lead a trump or to attack one of dummy’s
♥ A 6 3 ♥Q with the ♥A, discards a diamond on short suits.
♦ 8 5 3 the ♥K and calls for the ♠K. What is your As partner has probably led from a
♣ K Q 5 3 plan? doubleton, you should continue by cash-
♠ 10 9 8 5 3 ♠ 4 2 With both unseen hands out of ing the ♠A. You need to watch the pips.
N
♥ J 4 ♥ K 9 8 7 2 diamonds, you cannot give partner a If partner follows with the ♠2, the lead is
W E
♦ 10 4 2 S ♦ A 9 6 simple ruff. Even so, it could still be a indeed from a doubleton. You then con-
♣ 10 6 4 ♣ A 8 7 good idea to play the suit. Declarer may tinue with the ♠7, giving a ruff and indi-
♠ Q 7 6 have to ruff high to stop partner from cating that you prefer the higher-ranking
♥ Q 10 5 overruffing. minor just in case partner wants to know.
♦ K Q J 7 You duly win the first trump and play What would you do if your partner fol-
♣ J 9 2 a third diamond. Declarer ruffs high, on lowed upwards, playing something high-
which West discards a heart, and leads er than the ♠5? In that case, you switch to
the ♠J. Although you have run out of dia- the ♣Q. This way you cash two club tricks
West North East South monds, the unseen hands are now out if West has the ♣A or set up a trick if West
1♣ 1♥ 2NT of hearts, so you are back in a similar has the ♣K.
Pass 3NT All Pass position. You win with the ♠Q and play a
third round of hearts. This time, declarer
Partner leads the ♥J and dummy plays has no recourse. Ruffing high will leave
low. What is your plan? partner’s eight as a third-round winner; 4. ♠ A J
Since you expect South to hold a stop- ruffing low allows it to score at once. ♥ K Q J 10 7 2
per, you read the lead as from a short suit You do not need to work out the de- ♦ A J 10 6
rather than the J-10. To ensure you can tails. You need just to know that it is a ♣ Q
lead hearts safely, you should win the first good idea to lead a suit in which partner ♠ K 8 5 ♠ Q 7 4 2
N
trick; you then return the suit. After that, might overruff. ♥ 4 W E ♥ 6
no matter how declarer tackles the minor ♦ 8 7 4 S ♦ K Q 3
suits, you should grab the appropriate ♣ A K J 9 8 5 ♣ 10 7 4 3 2
ace and clear the hearts. You must not ♠ 10 9 6 3
allow your opponent to steal one trick in 3. ♠ K J 10 9 ♥ A 9 8 5 3
one minor and then switch to the other. ♥ K Q 10 9 8 5 ♦ 9 5 2
♦ J ♣ 6
♣ 5 3
♠ 5 2 ♠ A Q 7 3
2. ♠ K ♥ J N ♥ 6 4 West North East South
W E
♥ A K J 7 5 ♦ A Q 9 7 2 S ♦ K 10 5 4 1♣ Dbl 1♠ 2♥
♦ K Q 7 6 4 ♣ 10 9 7 6 2 ♣ Q J 8 2♠ 4♥ All Pass
♣ A 8 ♠ 8 6 4
♠ 8 3 2 ♠ A Q 4 ♥ A 7 3 2 Partner leads the ♣A. What do you play
♥ 10 8 6 N ♥ 9 4 3 2 ♦ 8 6 3 now and what do you play on gaining
W E
♦ A 8 S ♦ 10 9 2 ♣ A K 4 the lead?
♣ Q 7 5 4 2 ♣ J 9 3 You should play the ♣2. With a single-
♠ J 10 9 7 6 5 ton in dummy and strong trumps, your
♥ Q West North East South play should be a suit-preference signal,
♦ J 5 3 1NT Pass the low card for the lower-ranking point-
♣ K 10 6 Pass 2♣1 Pass 3♥ ed suit. If partner gets the message or
Pass 4♥ All Pass decides to lead a diamond anyway, you
1
Majors get in at trick two after declarer finesses
West North East South the ♦10. Since you do not want to risk a
1♥ Pass 1♠ Partner leads the ♠5: ♠J, ♠Q and ♠4. club in case it gives a ruff and discard
Pass 3♦ Pass 3♠ What is your plan? or lead up to dummy’s A-J holdings, you
Pass 4♠ All Pass The lead of dummy’s second suit is should exit safely with your trump. ■

Catching Up
by Sally Brock
W
ell, what’s been happening? slams in a row, something neither of was all over. Actually 6♠ is OK. If South
The house is back on the us could ever remember doing before. leads a diamond declarer goes up with
market, in all its magnolia the ace, draws trumps and then dis-
glory. We’ve had a couple of viewers cards a club on the fourth heart. An
but no real interest yet. Hopefully Board 11. Dealer South. Love All. initial club lead sets up a winner for a
that’s because it’s early days. ♠ K J 10 7 4 3 ♠ A Q 9 8 6 diamond discard and the other losing
The ProBridge site is going well ♥ 5 N
W E
♥ A K 8 6 3 diamond goes on the fourth heart.
(www.pro-bridge.co.uk). We are ♦ 4 2 S ♦ Void
starting our online bridge club on ♣ J 10 7 3 ♣ K Q 9
Tuesday May 5th. There will be an Board 13. Dealer North. Game All.
hour on Tuesday and an hour on ♠ A 10 4 2 ♠ K 8 5 3
Thursday to start with. You can join West North East South ♥ A 2 W E
N
♥ K 10
or not as you wish without notice 3NT ♦ 6 5 S ♦ A K J
and, when there, you can play bridge Pass 5♦ Dbl Pass ♣ A J 10 9 3 ♣ Q 8 5 4
with an expert on hand to watch, to 5♠ Pass 6♠ All Pass
give you advice about where you went
wrong. For more details of this, please There were no problems in the play. West North East South
email me at [email protected]. Pass 1♣ Pass
We made an attempt to win the Tol- 1♠ Pass 3♦ Pass
lemache (county teams-of-eight) three Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Game. 6♠ All Pass
times in a row. It didn’t start too well. ♠ 10 6 2 ♠ A K Q J 9 8
Generally, when I’m playing in the ♥ A J 10 8 N ♥ K 9 5 We play five-card majors and a weak
W E
Birmingham area, Ed and Gary give ♦ A 10 8 S ♦ Q 6 5 no-trump so the 1♣ opening was
me a lift in exchange for a full Eng- ♣ K Q 5 ♣ 2 the system bid. Barry could have
lish breakfast on the way and this was responded 2♣ but preferred 1♠,
no exception. As we were leaving my keeping the clubs up his sleeve. My
house, Gary had the wit to check on West North East South 3♦ showed a good strong no-trump
the traffic. He discovered that the M40 1♣ Pass 1♠ Pass with four-card spade support (3♠
was closed from junctions 8 to 10, so 1NT Pass 4♣ Pass would have promised a five-card club
we changed our route. It was slower 4♦ Dbl Pass Pass suit). Barry couldn’t think of a way to
than normal but we didn’t get caught Rdbl Pass 4♥ Pass find out how good the slam was, but
in huge queues. During our journey, 4♠ Pass 4NT Pass knew it had to have play. We knew also
we also heard that the M1 was closed in 5♥ Pass 6NT All Pass that at other tables my hand would
Bedfordshire. When we arrived, many probably open a strong no-trump and,
teams were incomplete as lots of other Barry upgraded his 14-count to 15- after Stayman, would become declarer,
people had had traffic problems, in- 17 and opened 1♣ rather than a weak so he did not want to bid too delicately.
cluding, of course, the rest of our team. no-trump. My 4♣ was a splinter agree- When trumps were 3-2 and the club
‘Why hadn’t we warned them?’ they ing my own spades. 4♦ was a cue-bid finesse was right, we had bid our third
asked. Why not indeed. The four of and when North doubled, I passed so slam. A hat trick.
us looked at each other and wondered that Barry could confirm first-round
how we could have been so stupid. control. When he signed off over 4♥,
None of our pairs shone and we I decided to press on. When there was Board 14. Dealer East. Love All.
finished fourth eventually (out of an ace missing, I thought it would be ♠ 3 ♠ A K 9 8 5
eight). However, we did beat the better for Barry to be declarer as North ♥ J 2 W E N
♥ A 8 5
top two teams heavily: Middlesex wouldn’t be able to hurt us with a dia- ♦ K 9 7 4 S ♦ A
and Manchester. Our high spot was mond lead. In the event, North led a ♣ A Q 10 7 3 2 ♣ 8 6 5 4
against Manchester, when we bid four heart, South played the queen and it

Catching Up continued view of the buildings inside the Krem-
lin walls. (The river thawed before VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY
we left on the Monday – apparently
West North

East South
1♠ Pass
nine or ten Muscovites are killed each
year in the thaw when they are walk-
ing along pavements and half-melted Greek
Islands&
2♣ Pass 3♦ Pass blocks of ice land on their heads.) On
4♣ Pass 4♦ Pass Wednesday evening, Nicola and Jona-
4NT Pass 5♥ Pass than arrived, so we had dinner with
6♣ All Pass them and on the Thursday intended to
Turkey
do some serious sightseeing. We had
My 3♦ was a splinter bid, agreeing saved the Kremlin and museums to
clubs. 4♣ set the suit and 4♦ showed see with them, but that was not a good
the singleton ace. 4NT was forward- idea as they were closed on Thursdays.
going (more encouraging than 5♣) but We went to look for the Matroshka BRIDGE HOSTS
denied a major-suit control (we don’t museum (which also turned out to be WILL & SYLVIA
count shortage in partner’s suit). 5♥ closed) while they went to Red Square, PARSONS
showed the ace of hearts and, by infer- but in the afternoon had to settle for
ence, the ace and king of spades. Had some fairly aimless wandering. In
Barry had the king of clubs instead of the evening, I had managed to get us
the queen, he would have bid the grand tickets for the ballet. None of us could
slam. As it was, the king of clubs was really be called ballet fans, but it was
right and we made all thirteen tricks. fabulous. It was called Anyuta and was
All very satisfying. based on a rather black Chekhov play.
On the following Monday, Briony We all enjoyed it thoroughly and the
and I travelled to Moscow. Nicola and theatre itself was pretty good too.
I were invited to play in a tournament, On the Friday, the bridge started, Enjoy daily duplicates as you sail
the Slava Cup, at the weekend, so Bri- and that was all rather indifferent. through the stunning Greek Islands
ony and I thought we’d go a few days There were 42 pairs and Nicola and I to the historic treasures
early and see some sights. We had had the rather dubious distinction of of the classical world
been warned that it might be seri- winning the US$500 prize for finish- August 26, 2015
ously cold and had come armed with ing precisely 20th (prizes for first to 11 days from Athens to Istanbul
snow boots and thick padded jackets, tenth … and 20th). Fly to Athens to join Aegean Odyssey,
but it was no colder than cold English On the Saturday, as we were going Cruise to Delos • Mykonos • Santorini
Crete • Kos • Rhodes • Fethiye • Izmir
weather. We were met at the airport out for lunch, an old friend turned Canakkale • Istanbul • Fly home
and driven to the Savoy hotel, one of up to see me. In 1999, the European
MR BRIDGE FARES INCLUDE:
Moscow’s swankiest and very central. Championships were held in Malta. • Return air with free regional
We just had time for dinner and bed The Maltese had never played before connections from selected UK airports
• Sightseeing excursions in most ports
the first night, but on the Tuesday, we (or since), but, as it was in their coun- • Mr Bridge programme
had some fun wandering around entry, they wanted to field a team. How- • Complimentary wine at dinner
joying the unfamiliarity of it all. On ever, their players were very inexperi- • Gratuities for on-board cabin and
restaurant staff
Wednesday, we went to see St Basil’s enced, so they hired me to bring them
Cathedral which was truly splendid. up to speed, hold trials and select and Standard Outside from £2,250pp
We also went on the metro. It was quite captain a team. At the time, they had Premium Outside from £2,395pp
confusing and difficult for people who only one person who was what I would
Single supplement just £100
were not that familiar with the Cyril- call a ‘real player’, and he was a Pole on selected grades only
lic alphabet, but the main purpose was called Marek who really held the team Past Passengers on Aegean Odyessy
to see the actual metro stations, which together. Now, nearly 16 years later, he enjoy additional discounts
have a reputation for being something is married with two children and liv- Extend your holiday with hotel stays in Athens
and/or Istanbul – please ask for details
special, so we only wanted to go one ing in Moscow. It was lovely to see him For reservations call
stop. We didn’t really care, but we again and catch up. We both remem-
didn’t go in the direction we intended bered going to Gozo with Raymond
on 01483 489961
and, while both stations were more and my kids on a day trip in Mario’s
interesting than the London equiva- rather battered car that broke down.
lent, I don’t think we picked the best. We got back to Gatwick on the Mon-
Anyway, we were happy to walk back day without incident (though I could
to our hotel from this far-flung sta- have done without the speeding ticket
www.mrbridge.co.uk
tion and crossed the frozen river in I managed to acquire on my journey
the process, which gave us a fantastic home). ■

Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird
Wise Wynfryth’s
Successful Spell
A
t half-time in the ‘Magnificent Little John led the ♥10 and down went exclaimed. ‘He’ll finesse you for the
Mixed Payres’ championship, the dummy. queen, sure as ’ouses.’
Robin Hood and Maid Marian ‘I nearly raised you to 6♠ with my A few rounds later, Robin and
were in a disappointing 12th position. five trumps and two aces,’ declared Marian faced a drably attired, elderly
‘That’s no good, Robin!’ exclaimed Maid Marian. ‘We’ll need a lot of good couple unknown to them. The first
Maid Marian. ‘The length of golden boards to catch up from 12th position.’ board of the round offered slam
cloth is easily the best prize on the ‘Raising to game is fine, my love,’ potential:
table. One of the pairs ahead of us is Robin Hood replied. ‘There’s no need
certain to choose it.’ to go mad.’
‘I’m doing my best,’ Robin replied. ‘Easy for you to say,’ Maid Marian Dealer South. Game All.
‘You can never be sure of winning any retorted. ‘You always wear green for ♠ K 4
event, let alone a mixed pairs.’ some reason. It’s different for a girl.’ ♥ J 10 7 4
‘You said yourself how good I’d look The curly-haired Meg Lockett ♦ 8 5 4
in a dress of that colour,’ Maid Marian overtook with the ♥J in case the ♣ A 7 6 3
continued. opening lead was a singleton. All ♠ J 7 5 ♠ Q 2
Robin Hood nodded. If truth be told, followed to the ♥A on the next trick ♥ 9 3 N ♥ 8 6 5 2
W E
it made little difference to him which and she continued with the ♥K. ♦ Q 10 9 2 S ♦ J 6
colour his beloved Marian wore. She’d Hood paused to consider his play ♣ K Q J 9 ♣ 10 8 5 4 2
be the prettiest and most delectable to this trick. The presence of the ♥9 ♠ A 10 9 8 6 3
girl in the shire even in some ill-fitting in dummy suggested that West had ♥ A K Q
sackcloth garment. led from a doubleton and was now ♦ A K 7 3
Play restarted and this was an early out of the suit. If East held the only ♣ Void
deal: missing trump, the king, he could ruff
with the jack and eventually seek an
overtrick in the club suit. Mind you, West North East South
Dealer East. E/W Game. if West happened to hold the ♠K and Alwyn Maid Ulric Robin
♠ Q 10 7 5 4 overruffed the third heart, he would Buckle Marian Buckle Hood
♥ Q 9 2 need to guess right in clubs just to 2♣
♦ A J make the contract. Pass 2NT Pass 3♠
♣ A J 4 It was a close decision but Robin Pass 3NT Pass 4♦
♠ K ♠ Void Hood decided to play safely. He ruffed Pass 4♠ Pass 6♠
♥ 10 6 N ♥ A K J 8 5 4 the third round of hearts with the ♠A, All Pass
W E
♦ K 10 9 6 3 2 S ♦ Q 8 5 4 crossed to the ♦A and ruffed dummy’s
♣ Q 7 6 2 ♣ 9 8 5 ♦J. He then exited with a trump, facing The stern-faced Alwyn Buckle led the
♠ A J 9 8 6 3 2 his cards. ‘Whichever of you wins the ♣K and down went the dummy. Robin
♥ 7 3 trick will have to play a club or give me Hood paused to make a plan. Barring
♦ 7 a ruff-and-discard,’ he said. a miracle, he had a loser in the trump
♣ K 10 3 The inexperienced, young Meg suit. One of his diamond losers could
looked at the cards on display. ‘Which be discarded on the ♣A. How could he
way you takin’ the club finesse, Robin?’ dispose of the other diamond loser?
West North East South she enquired. Suppose he ruffed the club lead and
Little Maid Meg Robin ‘He don’t need to guess that, Meg,’ played two rounds of trumps, followed
John Marian Lockett Hood explained Little John. ‘I’ll have to lead by the ♦A-K and the ♥A-K-Q. If the
1♥ 3♠ a club from the queen.’ defender with the last trump had
Pass 4♠ All Pass ‘Oh no, you’ve told him now!’ Meg started with only two diamonds,

Robin Hood continued request and the players drew their couldn’t win this event on her own.
cards for this deal: Wise Wynfryth cashed the ♣A and
ruffed a club in dummy. Next she
made a rather surprising play – lead-
they could be endplayed with a trump. Dealer North. Game All. ing the ♦5 from dummy. Her intention
Yes, they would have to lead a club or ♠ 8 6 5 3 was to give up a diamond, possibly set-
a heart, putting him in dummy, and ♥ A K 7 2 ting up the suit, while dummy still had
there would be two discards for his ♦ A K 8 5 trumps to deal with a club continua-
diamond losers. ♣ J tion.
Robin Hood soon spotted a better ♠ J 10 9 ♠ 7 2 Robin Hood won with the ♦Q and
plan. He ruffed the club lead and drew ♥ Q 8 3 N ♥ J 10 6 4 looked respectfully at the unkempt
W E
one round of trumps with the ace. ♦ J 9 6 S ♦ Q 10 3 declarer. Wynfryth was a strong play-
He then played his three top hearts. ♣ Q 10 8 4 ♣ K 6 5 3 er of the cards but he certainly hadn’t
If hearts were 3-3 and trumps 3-2, he ♠ A K Q 4 expected that move. He played back
could cross to dummy with a trump to ♥ 9 5 a second round of trumps, won by
take two discards on the ♣A and the ♦ 7 4 2 declarer. She ruffed another club in
♥J. The defenders would just score a ♣ A 9 7 2 the dummy, cashed dummy’s two top
trump trick. hearts and returned to her hand with
As it happened, Alwyn Buckle a heart ruff. After drawing Maid Mar-
ruffed the third round of hearts. Robin West North East South ian’s last trump, she muttered an incan-
Hood then had to hope that she had Maid Hubert Robin Wise tation in some ancient tongue.
begun with three trumps. He won the Marian Longpiece Hood Wynfryth Robin guessed that she was casting
club continuation with dummy’s ace, 1♦ Pass 1♠ a spell for a 3-3 diamond break. No-
throwing a diamond, He then drew Pass 4♠ Pass 6♠ one could deny her powers. Diamonds
the last two trumps with the ♠K and All Pass were indeed 3-3.
discarded his other Wise Wyn-
diamond loser on fryth duly dis-
the ♥J. How pleased carded her last
Marian would be! club on the thir-
‘I was worried teenth diamond
when you let that and the slam was
heart get ruffed,’ made.
Maid Marian ob- Maid Marian
served. ‘Never mind. sat back unhap-
Twelve tricks were pily in her chair.
still there.’ ‘A good one for
A few rounds you,’ she de-
later, Robin and clared.
Marian faced Wise Wise Wynfryth
Wynfryth. A much cackled her de-
respected and some- light at making
what wild-looking the slam. ‘I have
woman, she was a my eye on that
purveyor of spells, length of golden
both good and evil. cloth, Marian,’
She was partnered by she said. ‘We were
Hubert Longpiece, in third place at
who had reputedly half-time. Should
paid a fair sum for be in the lead by
the privilege. now.’
‘No business from Maid Marian
you recently, Robin,’ said Wise Wyn- Maid Marian led the ♠J and Wise Wyn- glared across the table. Had Robin
fryth, as she took her seat. ‘A man with fryth won with the ♠Q. ‘Not much for not realised how much she wanted the
so many enemies, surely you must me there,’ she informed her partner. beautiful piece of cloth for herself?
need a spell or two?’ ‘Marian’s found a good lead, too.’ ‘With my spell table covered in
‘If you have one to commit the Sher- Marian caught Robin Hood’s eye. gold, I’ll be able to put up my prices!’
iff permanently to a sick-bed, I’ll come She had already played her part, find- declared Wise Wynfryth. ‘You can
round tomorrow,’ Hood jested. ing such a good opening lead. It was have your one for the Sheriff at the old
Wise Wynfryth made a note of his now his turn to find a clever move. She price, Robin. Don’t worry!’ ■

Conventions Part 5 with Jeremy Dhondy
Defending Against
High Level Pre-empts
I
t’s bad enough when they open at opener will hold solid diamonds but if If partner doubles an opening bid of
the three level but if they pre-empt it is left in, you have an easy lead and 4♦ and you hold in fourth seat:
at a higher level, it can be even if they remove, partner knows you
harder to find the right spot. When have a balanced hand with a decent
they wade in at a high level, you may opening bid. ♠ J 10 9 5 4
wish to give a little more thought to If they do remove the 3NT opener ♥ K J 3 N
W E
extracting a penalty. to 4♣, then you should play double by ♦ 5 2 S
Let’s start at the lowest point. Your your side as suggesting some values ♣ K 7 6
opponent opens 3NT. These days, that with no clearcut action. If the opener
usually shows a solid minor and not has a solid minor, you are never going
much else (the Gambling 3NT). What to have a significant trump holding You would bid 4♠ and hope it might
should you do? You hold: so it is best to try to get across the make, but suppose your hand is
fact that you have some values to help strengthened so that on the same
partner make a decision. auction you hold:
♠ A J 7 6 5 If your opponents open 4♣ or 4♦,
♥ K Q 8 5 3 N then you will focus on the majors.
W E
♦ A 4 S
A double will be for take-out. The ♠ K J 10 9 5
♣ 6 principle of all take-out doubles of ♥ K J 3 N
W E
pre-empts is that they can be left if ♦ 5 S
there is nothing better. The higher the ♣ A K 9 4
You can guess that the opener has opening, the more likely it is to be left.
solid clubs and he could make 3NT Suppose the opening bid is 4♣. You
or have a very cheap sacrifice whereas hold: If you bid 4♠, you are very likely to
you could well be making 4♥ or 4♠. It’s make it but it will be hard for partner
best to have an agreement that 4♣ is to move on if a slam is in sight. One
for take-out which should give you the ♠ K 6 5 possibility is to bid 5♠ which is
most likely route to game. They may, ♥ A 3 N natural and shows a better hand than
W E
of course, sacrifice in 5♣, but at least ♦ K 9 4 3 S
4♠. Another possibility is to bid 5♦.
you have communicated to partner ♣ K J 9 2 If partner bids 5♥ over this, you can
that you have some playing strength bid 5♠. If partner bids 5♠ there will be
which will help him decide whether to some guessing as to whether to raise to
try for a five level contract or not. You pass the opening, as double would 6♠ or not. Generally, if the opponents
If you are more balanced and hold be for take out, and hope partner holds have made your life difficult with
something like: something like: a high level pre-empt, try to get to
a sensible contract even if it is not
absolutely the best. Sometimes, even
♠ A K 6 4 ♠ A Q 4 2 if a slam is a good bet in theory, bad
♥ A J 9 N N ♥ K 7 5 2 breaks may scupper it.
W E W E
♦ 4 3 2 S
S ♦ A 10 7 6 If the opponents open with 4♣ or
♣ K 9 5 ♣ 3 4♦ and partner doubles, then 4NT
is natural. As you will see below this
is not true if they open a major. The
It is best to double 3NT to show some and makes a protective double. A reason for this is that you may well
points and some defence. Here, the sizeable penalty should ensue. have a stop and good playing

Defence to Pre-Empts play in a 5-2 fit instead of a 5-4 fit. He be any two suits. He might hold:
can bid 4NT to show two suits (the
minors in this position) and partner
can bid his preferred choice. It helps ♠ 5
strength and, if you are vulnerable if partner doesn’t think 4NT is some N ♥ K 9 5
W E
against not, the penalty may not be kind of Blackwood and it is much S ♦ Q J 7 5 3
sufficient. An example where you more useful to use it as showing two ♣ K J 9 4
might bid 4NT after the auction has places to play rather than Blackwood
gone 4♣-Dbl-Pass is: (when you haven’t agreed a suit) or
to play (when you might have passed He removes your double of 4♠ to 4NT
seeking a penalty). Similarly, when and now you bid your lowest playable
♠ A 7 5 partner hears 4♥ opened on his right, suit. So with:
♥ 6 5 N a 4NT call is showing a two suiter and
W E
♦ A Q J 8 7 5 S
he doesn’t wish you to risk passing.
♣ K 6 One reason for this is what you ♠ J 8
should do when it goes 4♥-Dbl-Pass ♥ A Q 4 2 N
W E
and it is your turn. You are vulnerable ♦ A K 9 4 S
You have no major suit fit. 5♦ may and you hold the following miserable ♣ Q 10 6
make but 4NT allows you the maxi- collection:
mum chance to secure a useful positive
and, if the opener is short in diamonds, You would bid 5♦. If partner happens
you may not get rich in 4♣ doubled. ♠ 7 3 2 to have a hand with five hearts and
If the opponents open 4♥, then dou- ♥ 6 5 N five clubs, he would remove this to 5♥.
W E
ble is for take-out again. Very occa- ♦ K J 5 2 S
Something such as the following:
sionally, you may hold something like: ♣ J 8 6 4
♠ 5
♠ 5 The chances of making something at N ♥ K J 7 6 3
W E
♥ K J 9 7 N the five level are pretty slim and, worse, S ♦ Q 2
W E
♦ A K 5 3 2 S
the partner of the 4♥ bidder may be in ♣ K J 9 7 4
♣ A 5 4 a positon to double. 4♥ may make or
it may sneak one or two off if partner
has the right cards. Your best bet is to Using the 4NT bid this way increases
You would like nothing more than to pass. Even if it makes and you score flexibility and your side’s chances of
make a penalty double, but you should a disagreeable -590, it might still be finding a playable spot.
pass and hope partner is able to protect your cheapest option. In short, if you One of the hardest areas to judge is
with a double. It’s all a matter of remove, you should have expectations the five level. Beginners and experts
frequency. For every potential penalty of making a contract. alike find it tough. If your opponents
double such as the one above, you will If your opponent opens 4♠, then pre-empt and you find a playable spot
have many more hands where you double is still for take-out. It used to at the five level, consider it job well
want to try to get to the right contract. be the case that people played this done. Reaching for a slam can have
Sometimes, you will double for take- double as penalty and others for take- some unpleasant consequences, even
out and partner will pass. Sometimes, out, but the disadvantage of that was when it seems you have alighted in a
you belong in a game or slam and a you were compelled to bid 4NT for good contract. Consider the following:
take-out double helps you get there. take-out and, if you did so, partner
If you double and partner passes or could no longer pass for penalty.
bids 4♠, that is likely to be an end to If you hold: ♠ A 9 8 3 2
the auction, but what if he has, say, ♥ A 7 2
both minors? ♦ K 7
♠ K 9 ♣ Q J 9
♥ A J 6 4 N ♠ J 10 5 4 ♠ Void
W E
♠ 7 6 ♦ A K 8 6 S
♥ 10 4 N ♥ K Q J 9 8 6 5
W E
♥ 8 N ♣ A 7 5 ♦ 9 6 4 2 S ♦ 8 5 3
W E
♦ K Q 7 5 3 S
♣ 10 8 7 ♣ A 6 2
♣ A J 9 4 3 ♠ K Q 7 6
You would double 4♠ and be pleased if ♥ 3
partner passes. If partner removes, he ♦ A Q J 10
He shouldn’t have to guess which suit will quite often make use of a 4NT bid ♣ K 5 4 3
to play in. If he gets it wrong you might to show two suits. In this case they may

Defence to Pre-Empts
A Distributional Hand
Opposite a 1NT Opening
With the dealer East the bidding goes:
by Peggy Millidge
West North East South
R
4♥ Dbl ichard had a problem. He did which you can use Stayman. You bid
Pass 6♠ All Pass not know what to bid when his 2♣ and if partner bids a major you are
partner opened 1NT and he had happy, but if he bids 2♦, you rebid 2♠,
North was a bit nervous but thought two long majors. I gave him these hoping it is better than playing in 1NT.
himself far too good to bid 4♠. He general rules for four types of hand: ‘Oh yes, I see,’ said Richard, but
considered 5♠ but, in the end, took I had the feeling that these hands
the decision to bid the small slam. came up so rarely that he might very
He looked in kindly fashion at the Hand 1 Hand 2 well forget. How wrong I was …
dummy when the ♥K was led but it ♠ A Q 7 3 2 ♠ K 8 4 3 2
all turned sour when the spades were ♥ K Q 6 4 3 ♥ Q 6 4 3 2
4-0. Of course, he was unlucky, but the ♦ 6 4 ♦ 6 4 ♠ A K 4 3
normal 10% odds of a 4-0 break are ♣ 3 ♣ 3 ♥ K J 4 3 2
increased somewhat by the fact that ♦ 7 6 5
one hand has a seven card suit. Even ♣ 9
if the trumps break, 6♠ might still go
down if East can ruff a club. On a good Hand 3 Hand 4 N
W E
day, you will make 6♠. On a bad day, ♠ A K 4 3 2 ♠ K 6 4 3 2 S
you will underbid and opponents at ♥ A K 6 4 ♥ Q 6 4 3
some tables will bid and make 6♠ and ♦ 7 6 4 ♦ 7 6 4 ♠ 7 6
you will be criticised for your timidity. ♣ 3 ♣ 3 ♥ Q 9 7
When deciding what to bid over a high ♦ K Q J 2
level pre-empt, you should consider ♣ A 7 6 4
that partner was under pressure and On Hand 1, with two five-card majors,
may have less than you would hope or you know you will have a fit, so you
perhaps not the ideal distribution and can go for game with slightly fewer North South
also the suits are less likely to behave high-card points than usual. 5-5 1NT
favourably. ■ hands play very well when you have a 2♣ 2♦
fit, so go for game. When game is on, 2♥ All Pass
you can afford to make a transfer and
Tips rebid in a new suit at the three-level: Richard picked up the North hand
forcing to game. Start by transferring and was very pleased with himself
l Agree how you will defend a
to spades (2♥) and over your partner’s when he completed the auction above.
gambling 3NT
2♠ bid, you rebid 3♥. Your partner However, when he managed to
l Try to reach a sensible bids 3♠, 3NT, or 4♥. Over 3NT, collect 11 tricks, he was
contract rather than striving you should continue on to 4♥ to somewhat bemused.
for perfection promise at least 5-5 in the majors. I shook my head, ‘11 HCP, a
On Hand 2, you should bid 2♣ 5-card suit and a singleton – you
l If you have a balanced poor
(Stayman). If opener has a 4-card have to have more ambition!’
hand, plan to pass a double
major, he will bid 2♥/♠ which you will ‘But you said…’
of 4♥ or 4♠ rather than trying
pass. If he bids 2♦, however, showing He was right in part – I had not
for the magic fit and game.
no 4-card major, you will bid 2♠, covered all the options. ‘Transfer
l 4NT is a useful tool to show the better of your two majors (just). to hearts (2♦), then rebid 2♠ over
two suits after partner has On Hand 3, you have enough my 2♥. This shows an invitational
doubled four of a major points for game. Therefore, you hand with 4-5 in the majors. I would
l Remember partner is under
should transfer to spades, to let your have bid 3♥ confirming the heart
pressure when he bids over partner know that you have five of fit and you could have raised to
a pre-empt them and then rebid 3♥ as in Hand game, with your singleton counting
1. With just a 5-4 shape, you need to now you knew we had a fit.’
l Suits are more likely be stronger to go for game. If partner Richard huffed, ‘The rules
to break badly after pre- rebids 3NT, then you should pass. seem to change every hand.’
empts Hand 4 is another weak hand on I sighed. He was not far wrong. ■

Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Five
Play and Defence

Against 1NT
1NT
is one of the most You open 1NT as South and are left to kinds of suits are more common in
difficult contracts play there. West leads the ♠K. You are 1NT contracts because the points are
for declarer and likely to lose tricks in the spade suit, divided evenly around the table.
the defence: quite often both sides will but your job is to avoid allowing the
make a number of mistakes that might defence to attack diamonds. To this
cancel each other out. end, you aim to keep East off lead ♠ K 4 3
However, I would say this is the early in the play. You are aiming to N
contract where the number of tricks develop tricks in clubs and hearts, but ♠ Q 10 9
W E ♠ A 7 6 2
S
made tends to vary more than any in hearts, either defender might win
other. the defensive trick, whilst in clubs, it is ♠ J 8 5
You can have the same contract only West who can win. So your plan
making five tricks at one table and should be to play on clubs first.
nine tricks at another: perfect declarer You win the ♠A and lead the ♣Q, Here is a simple example of a frozen
play against poor defence, as opposed which runs to West’s king. He takes suit. If East or West lead spades, then
to poor declarer play against perfect three spade tricks, but cannot attack declarer (South) will make a trick: eg
defence. Because the points tend to be diamonds from his hand. East gets the West leads the ten and North plays
spread about the table, everybody has lead with the ♥A, but by then you have low: East plays the ace to stop the jack
the chance to affect the play except, of established your seven tricks: three winning, but now North’s king makes.
course, dummy. hearts, two clubs and the two other If North or South lead the suit, they
The first half of the DVD deals with aces. may well give up the whole suit. North
declarer play and the need for patience: Had you played on hearts first, East might lead small to South’s jack, but
remember that in 1NT it is important would win and if he had seen the West wins the queen and can then lead
to focus on more than one suit. You second part of this DVD, he would the ten back trapping North’s king and
do not mind the defence establishing not have returned a spade woodenly, making the whole suit for East-West.
one suit, but you cannot afford them he would switch to diamonds (up However, sometimes dummy will
establishing two suits. to dummy’s weakness). The defence tell you that there is a good suit to
would establish the diamond suit switch to: if dummy is on your right,
along with the spades, so you would look for the weakest suit in sight, if
♠ A 3 have to settle for six tricks: three dummy is on your left, lead through
♥ Q 10 7 6 hearts and three aces. heft.
♦ 6 5 3 2 The second part of the DVD deals
♣ Q J 6 with the defence against 1NT contracts
♠ K Q J 10 ♠ 9 8 7 and, once again, there is a focus ♠ 9 8 4 2
♥ 9 8 N ♥ A 5 2 on patience: try to avoid switching ♥ 8 6 5
W E
♦ K 8 4
S
♦ J 10 9 7 without good reason. Too often, ♦ A Q 10
♣ K 9 5 2 ♣ 10 8 3 defenders feel an urge to switch just ♣ 9 7 5
♠ 6 5 4 2 because a lead has gone wrong. Once ♠ Q 6 5 ♠ J 10 7 3
♥ K J 4 3 the opening lead has been made, you ♥ K 9 3 N ♥ A 10 2
W E
♦ A Q cannot un-make it: what is lost is lost ♦ K J 9
S
♦ 6 5 4
♣ A 7 4 and, quite often, by simply continuing ♣ Q J 10 2 ♣ K 8 3
that suit you do not give anything ♠ A K
more away. One of the main focuses ♥ Q J 7 4
West North East South is on frozen suits: when each player ♦ 8 7 3 2
1NT has one honour in a suit: the side that ♣ A 6 4
All Pass leads the suit gives a trick away. These

BERNARD MAGEE’S
1NT Contracts continued
West North East South INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS

1NT All Pass
ACOL ADVANCED DECLARER

Once again the auction is
simple with West opening
BIDDING ACOL BIDDING PLAY
1NT. You are South and l Opening Bids and l Basics l Suit Establishment
your partner leads the ♠8 to Responses l Advanced in No-trumps
your king. Basics
l Slams and Strong l Suit Establishment
Your partner’s lead is Openings in Suits
l Weak Twos
a high spot card, which
would suggest a weak hold- l Support for Partner l Strong Hands l Hold-ups
ing in the suit: placing de- l Pre-empting l Defence l Ruffing for

clarer with the ♠Q, you l Overcalls to Weak Twos Extra Tricks
contemplate switching. But l Entries in
l Defence to 1NT
to what? You do not look l No-trump
£66 No-trumps
at your hand to decide, you
Openings l Doubles £76
and Responses l Delaying
look at dummy. l Two-suited
l Opener’s and Drawing Trumps
Dummy is on your right
Responder’s Rebids
Overcalls £96 l Using the Lead
and there is a stand-out l Defences to
weakest suit: diamonds. l Minors and Misfits Other Systems l Trump Control
You switch to a diamond, l Doubles l Endplays &
l Misfits and
but are careful to switch to Avoidance
the ♦8: high to deny an hon- l Competitive Distributional
Auctions Hands l Using the Bidding
our.
Your partner wins the ♦10
and switches back to spades,
which you win and con- ADVANCED DEFENCE FIVE-CARD
tinue with the ♦2 to part- DECLARER PLAY MAJORS &
ner’s queen. North cashes l Lead vs Strong No-Trump
l Making Overtricks No-trump Contracts
the ♦A and, eventually, you
in No-trumps l Opening Bids
win your ♣A and cash your l Lead vs
l Making Overtricks & Responses
fourth diamond as the set- Suit Contracts
ting trick. in Suit Contracts l No-Trump
l Partner of Leader
Perfect defence: you need- l Endplays
Openings
vs No-trump
ed to lead diamonds twice
l Avoidance Contracts l Support £89
and have a third entry to for Partner
l Wrong l Partner of Leader
make your fourth diamond. l Slams
Contract vs Suit Contracts
So often, the right defence is & Strong Openings
l Count
found by looking at dummy l Simple
£81 Signals l Rebids
and not your own hand. Squeezes £76
Clearly, hearts look a bet- l Attitude l Minors
l Counting
ter prospect if just looking the Hand Signals & Misfits
at your hand, but a heart l Discarding l Pre-empting
l Trump Reductions
switch on this hand would
& Coups l Defensive Plan l Doubles
offer declarer the chance of
three tricks in the suit. l Playing Doubled l Stopping Declarer l Overcalls
Get better at playing and Contracts l Competitive
l Counting
defending 1NT and you l Safety Plays the Hand Auctions
will start enjoying the most
common contract of all. No
more fear of finishing in or Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge,
defending 1NT, instead, the Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
hope that your scores will ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop
improve whether declaring System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM
or defending. ■

Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions
What Should We
Play After a
1NT Overcall?
Q
What system of opener’s suit when the other it would have been. Balanced hands are defensive
responses do you three players claim to do The only slight difference in nature. With a more
recommend when so), you could do that on a is a stronger expectation shapely hand, you should aim
partner overcalls 1NT weaker hand looking for a fit. of a spade stopper now to come in, especially if you
and the next hand raises It is usual not to play that an opponent has bid can show both your suits.
the suit opened to the transfers if the opponents act spades. With a hand worth With a singleton in one
two level? Should we still over 1NT. A simple new suit 2NT but lacking a spade major, but fewer than five
play Stayman or should bid would be natural but not stopper, opener bids 2♠. cards in the other major, you
we play all bids natural forcing. A jump in a new suit 2. As responder may may be unable to show your
after an intervention? would be natural and (if not have nothing at all, 2♠ is shape with an immediate
Irene Brown by email. already game) be forcing. If not forcing, although it is action. You might then
you play Lebensohl after a encouraging. On a hand plan a delayed entry into
A
If an opponent 1NT opening, you can play that would have been worth the auction (via a take-out
opens, you overcall that after a 1NT overcall also. a bid had the opponents not double) after responder
1NT and the next overcalled, East would bid bids or transfers into your
hand passes, it is common to ♣♦♥♠ on. On a weaker hand, it is short suit. If responder
play the same continuations usual for responder either does not bid, your partner
Q
as you would after a 1NT Please could to go back to 3♥ or, with probably has five cards in
opening. This has the merit you help me more spades than hearts, your singleton, in which case
of simplicity, even if some on two bidding to pass 2♠. Opener figures the deal could be a misfit.
bids make less sense (like sequences: to be short in diamonds Playing matchpoints when
transferring into their suit). (otherwise it would be better neither side is vulnerable
If the next hand bids 1. West North East South to double rather than bid may be an exception to
(raising the suit opened in 1♥ 1♠ 2♣ Pass 2♠), so responder would passing with a 5332 shape,
your example), you can play 2NT need a lot of diamonds especially if your suit is good
the same again as you do (seven of them) to bid 3♦. and partner would be on
if you open 1NT and they What does the 2NT lead (he is unlikely to lead
overcall. As Stayman is a rebid show? ♣♦♥♠ your suit against 1NT). In
2♣ bid, any action they take that situation, you should
Q
over 1NT (apart from double) 2. West North East South Should you strain to overcall because
will render a 2♣ bid by your 1♥ 2♣ Pass Pass overcall an it is better to go down at
side insufficient. Cue bidding 2♠ Pass ? opponent’s 50 a time than to let the
the opposing suit would be opening bid of 1NT when opponents make a contract
strong and ask the overcaller Can East, if weak and holding a suit with 5 or or to make a contract rather
for further information, liking spades, pass? more cards in it – or is it than collect a 50 or two.
usually to show a four-card Anthony Shaw by email. better to keep quiet and
major (the 1NT overcall has hope to get them down? ♣♦♥♠
A
already promised a stopper, 1. Opener’s 2NT Mike Fairclough,
Q
so it would not be logical rebid shows more Caldy, Wirral. 1. On what
for a cue bid to ask for a or less the same as hands should you
A
stopper). If you play a double it would have done without In general, with open an Acol 2♣
as take-out (and it is hard the 1♠ overcall. The strength a 5332 shape, without 23 high
for the fourth player to have is certainly the same as you should pass. card points?

Ask Julian continued any undoubled contract. whether opener is maximum Also, if you decide
2. If you have 8 points or minimum – though I to pass which red suit
but no five-card major and understand some play it as would you lead ?
poor controls (less than an including other options. Mike Allen by email.
2. On what hands ace and a king), you would With a game-invitational
A
should you make a give a negative even on hand, responder passes 2NT Although game all
negative response with traditional methods. This or converts 3♣ to 3NT. is the least attractive
more than 7 HCP? is because a jump to 3♦ (if With a weak hand and vulnerability for
Mike Gurney, Holt, Norfolk. responder has a five-card long clubs, responder competing (because anyone
diamond suit) uses up a lot of converts 2NT to 3♣ going down does so at 100
A
1. Unbalanced hands bidding space, while a 2NT or passes 3♣. a time), the pair of five-
do not require 23 response will often have the With a weak hand and card suits tips the balance,
HCP. Traditionally, a effect of putting the strong long diamonds, responder especially if you have a
powerful game going hand hand on the table. These converts 2NT or 3♣ to 3♦. suitable way to enter the
with 5 quick (defensive) tricks days, some pairs play that With a strong hand, auction. You really want to
suffices. You count one quick a positive response shows responder does something show hearts and a minor,
trick for an ace or a king- a good suit (two of the top else, like rebidding 3♥ or 3♠. which you can with Astro
queen combination, two for three honours), in which case Some hands will prefer (as you play) or Multi
an ace-king combination, a 2♦ response will be much to go through Stayman Landy (when 2♥ shows
one and a half for an ace- more common. Indeed, since or a transfer, so the 2♠ hearts and a minor) but
queen combination and a responder will often have response on an invitational not with plain Landy (when
half for an unsupported king. ‘positive’ values, those using hand will tend to deny a 2♥ just shows hearts).
If you have a long such a method describe the 4-card or 5-card major. If your methods do not
club suit, you may need 2♦ response as ‘waiting’ Everyone round here allow you a good way to
to relax the requirement rather than negative. who plays the 2♠ response compete and 1NT becomes
for 5 quick tricks slightly as a range enquiry uses a the final contract, I would
because you do not have ♣♦♥♠ 2NT response to 1NT for lead a high diamond
any other way of showing a weak hand with a long (whichever is the ‘ordinary’
Q
a strong hand with clubs. Please could minor, meaning that the card rather than the one
It would be normal to open you describe the 2♠ enquiry is definitely that asks for an unblock).
2♣ on hands like these: McKendrick? game or slam invitational Depending upon dummy
Margaret Owen, and relatively balanced. and partner’s signal, you
Brentford, Middlesex. can then continue diamonds
♠ K Q 10 9 ♣♦♥♠ or switch to hearts.
A
♥ A K J 7 3 2 The McKendrick
Q
♦ A convention is a 2♠ Do you have ♣♦♥♠
♣ A 7 response to a 1NT any general
Q
opening. There seem to be principles Playing 5 card
slightly different ways of on overcalling 1NT, majors and a
♠ K 6 playing it, none of which given that current strong no-trump,
♥ Void I have used myself, so I thinking is to disturb it how should the following
♦ A K J 9 would not want to say for whenever possible? hands be bid with South
♣ A K Q 9 7 6 3 sure that what I am about Playing pairs at game as the first bidder?
to describe is the most all, RHO opened 1NT
common usage. Everyone (12-14) and I held:
If you are playing other two seems to play that opener ♠ A 2
level openings as weak, rebids 2NT with a minimum ♥ 9 8
you may need to relax the or 3♣ with a maximum. ♠ Q 7 ♦ A Q 10 9 6 5
5 quick trick requirement The basic concept is that ♥ 9 8 7 5 4 ♣ 8 6 2
whatever your long suit is. the 2♠ response is a multi- ♦ A K 8 6 3 N
The important point is that purpose bid, either a weak ♣ 8 W E
S
you expect to make game hand with a long minor
facing a near Yarborough or a hand with at least 11 ♠ K Q 9 8 5
and that you have a lot of points. Playing a 12-14 1NT I felt this had enough ♥ K
high cards, not just playing opening, I would expect offensive strength to bid ♦ J 2
strength. If the opponents the hand without the long 2♣ (hearts and a minor), ♣ A J 10 5 3
intervene, all passes are minor to be either game or especially as partner
forcing by the opening slam invitational – hence the has the option to choose
side. You cannot defend importance of finding out diamonds at the 2 level. Colin Woods by email.

Ask Julian continued If a double of 2♠ would partner is not going to get ALL
be for take-out, you could wildly excited about playing Mr BridgeINCLUSIVE
consider (but probably in clubs with three small in
reject) that. With a void, support, so it is safe to bid AT THE
A
These are not the minimum high cards and as though you have five. ROYAL KENZ
easiest hands to the opponents vulnerable,
bid. You are quite doubling is rather risky – ♣♦♥♠
TUNISIA
likely to get too high. 1♠- partner is all too likely to
Two-week
Q
2♦-2♠-3♠-4♠ has a degree leave in the double. On this What is
of inevitability about it. occasion, partner should not the correct
All-Inclusive
You are likely to need a pass the double. Bidding response to an Duplicate Bridge
3-3 spade break and a 2NT, a scramble, showing opening 1NT (12-14) Holidays
bit more to make 4♠. two places to play would holding 3 points and
If in your methods North be my choice. North cannot a 4441 distribution?
is too weak to respond suddenly have the values to Chris Rudge,
2♦ (as would be the case bid 2NT naturally, having Fawkham, Kent.
playing 2/1), you have a bid only 1NT last time.
A
better chance of stopping The correct response
low. Indeed, you might ♣♦♥♠ depends upon
bid 1♠-1NT-2♣-2♦. where your short
Q
Regarding suit is and possibly on your
♣♦♥♠ your ‘What is partnership agreements.
an opener’s If your singleton is in clubs,
Q
I, South, was reverse?’ in BRIDGE 147, you should use Stayman
left to defend suppose opener holds: and pass whatever opener
2♠, rather rebids. Once in a while,
than play in three of opener will be 3-3-2-5,
a minor in a match- ♠ 4 3 2 which is unlucky. Most of
pointed club evening. ♥ 3 2 the time, you will reach a
♦ A K J 9 better contract than 1NT.
♠ A K Q J If your singleton is in one
♠ Q J 7 3 of the majors, you do best
♥ 7 to pass. You cannot seek to
♦ K 9 3 2 You open 1♣ and partner improve the contract sensibly.
♣ Q 9 8 6 replies 1♥ (or 1♠). You If your singleton is in
N
have the points for 2NT diamonds, the correct 8-22 November 2015
W E
S
but no stopper in the action depends upon your Golf available
unbid major, so your partnership agreement. If you £999*
♠ Void only possible rebid is 2♦. play that after the bidding
*The prices shown are per person
♥ K J 8 6 2 So, is this a case where starts 1NT-2♣-2♦-2♥ then on an all inclusive basis, sharing a
♦ A 10 7 6 you are not showing five opener corrects to 2♠ with twin-bedded standard room and are
inclusive of bridge fees. Standard
♣ K 10 5 2 clubs with your reverse? 3-2 in the majors, you should rooms all come with private bath,
toilet and balcony. Single rooms are
Peter Calviou by email. use Stayman. Often you will double rooms for sole occupancy at
a supplement of £6 per night. You
find a 4-4 fit. If a 4-4 fit is
A
can add a pool view supplement for
West North East South While I certainly not present, you will nearly £3 per person per night or a superior
garden view room with bath robe,
1♥ would not wish to always end up in a 4-3 fit, tea/coffee making facility for £5 per
person per night. These prices are
1♠ 1NT 2♠ All Pass place the emphasis which will not be terrible. If based on air travel from Heathrow
to Tunis. Flights from other airports
that you have, I agree that on you do not allow opener to are available at a supplement. For
Should North have rare occasions a reverse will bid 2♠ after 1NT-2♣-2♦-2♥, details of what is included as part of
the all inclusive package please call
doubled instead of not deliver the expected five- you should pass. It is not for an information pack or view the
website. Prices for seven-night stays
bidding 1NT? card suit. This is similar to worth the risk of playing with are available on application.
Geoff Simpson by email. when you make a one-level only six trumps between you
Terms and conditions apply.
suit overcall. Partner bids on if partner is 3-2 in the majors
A
Packaged with and bookings
by Tunisia First LLP. ATOL 5933.
With four spades and the assumption that you have and you pick the wrong
potentially a double five. On the hand you quote, one. ■
spade stopper, FOR DETAILS CALL
North’s 1NT response seems
normal. No-trumps takes
E-mail your questions for Julian to: ( 01483 489961
[email protected] www.mrbridge.co.uk/abroad
priority over the minors.

Maxims from Ned Paul
Boxes on a Shelf
Y
ou pick up this very nice hand hearts and spades and 16+ HCP. South
as dealer: Dealer North. N/S Game. bid a straightforward 3NT and North
♠ J 9 8 6 5 saw no reason to disturb this.
♥ A K J 9 8 West led ♣J, covered by the ♣Q
♦ K and ♣K. South held up until the third
♠ J 9 8 6 5 ♣ Q 2 round and then cashed the top spade
♥ A K J 9 8 ♠ Q 10 ♠ 4 3 2 honours. Gratifyingly for declarer, the
♦ K ♥ 10 6 5 N ♥ Q 7 4 ♠Q fell doubleton, but it still wasn’t
W E
♣ Q 2 ♦ A 3 2 S ♦ Q 9 7 6 enough. East kept a heart guard and
♣ J 10 9 8 7 ♣ K 5 3 after declarer had won eight tricks, the
♠ A K 7 defenders were able to take the rest.
Which suit are you going to open – ♥ 3 2
hearts or spades? The first thing to ♦ J 10 8 5 4 What should
notice is that, with ten cards in your ♣ A 6 4 have happened
two long suits, the hand is unbalanced.
So your plan should be to bid both If North had started off by putting the
suits in turn. (This is quite different West North East South big spade box on the shelf first, good
from when the suits are 4-4 and you 1♥ Pass 2♦ things would have happened. Here is
are otherwise balanced. With the 4-4 Pass 2♠ Pass 3NT the correct auction:
hand you intend to make only one All Pass
suit bid. Then, if neither your bid nor West North East South
partner’s response has revealed an Beguiled by the quality of the hearts, 1♠ Pass 2♦
8-card fit, you are going to rebid no- North failed to open the higher of the Pass 2♥ Pass 4♠
trumps.) two 5-card suits. South responded 2♦ All Pass
Think of 5-5 suits as boxes of and only now did North introduce
different sizes you plan to store on a spades. This sounded like a reverse After the 2♥ rebid, South would know
rather high shelf. As you place the to South, promising 5-4 or better in that North held five spades. The 8-card
boxes on the shelf, the fit has been discovered, so
logical order is to put the South jumps simply to 4♠.
largest one at the back. East might lead ♦6; West
That way, when you have wins and switches to ♣J
finished, you, or your (best) but declarer wins
partner, can see exactly in the South hand and
what’s up there. The cashes the top spades, the
spade box, as befits the ♠Q falling. Now, before
highest-ranking suit, is drawing the last trump,
the largest box, the heart declarer plays ♥A-K and
box is a bit smaller and ruffs a heart in dummy.
so on down the line. So Getting back to hand via a
bid spades before hearts, diamond ruff, he can draw
hearts before diamonds, the last trump and claim
etc. eleven tricks.
Storing boxes on a shelf Remember – bid the
was clearly not on the higher of 5-card suits. Put
mind of North on this the big box on the shelf
deal from a club duplicate: first! ■

Seven Days
by Sally Brock
Thursday lent) Indian restaurant. It was her in-
tention to stay at her brother’s house
one season or the other. A certain part
of the spectrum brings out the best in
I’ve been at Barry’s since Tuesday. I for the weekend, but, on closer exami- you; the secret is deciding which that
came over to help Heather celebrate nation, this plan seemed flawed. To part is. I am ‘spring’, mostly what they
her birthday. Several of us met at her start with, he lives in Greenwich and call ‘jewel’ colours: coral, light bluey-
flat for a drink before proceeding to also (a) he is not there, (b) she has nev- greens and greeny-blues, buttery yel-
the local pub for a meal. Barry has had er been to this house before and (c) it low, apple green, cream (rather than
a rotten cold while I’ve been away and is a long way from a tube station. She white), etc. Black is a no-no. Also I
didn’t feel up to joining us, though he does not take a great deal of persuad- should wear gold and not silver (I re-
did come out at the end to pick me ing to prefer Barry’s floor. Actually, member Nicola arranging for some of
up and say hello. On Wednesday, I once she has moved the cushions from my favourite jewellery to be dipped in
worked at his place because I needed the sofa to the floor, it looks reason- gold). It doesn’t take very long to dis-
to be in London today. ably comfortable. cern clearly that Briony is ‘summer’.
At tea-time, I go over to Kitty’s to These colours are much cooler: bluey-
see her new house in Chelsea Harbour.
She lives opposite Jose Mourinho now, The Weekend greys, silver, rose pink, etc. When she
is wearing the ‘right’ colours, you first
but I don’t manage a sighting. Then, I After an excellent scrambled egg and see her eyes and apparently that is the
travel with her to the Royal Hospital smoked salmon breakfast, we make point. Anyway, it is good fun and we
for Neuro-disability for the annual our way to the Royal Automobile Club have a very enjoyable afternoon.
Night of the Stars. We get there nice on Pall Mall for this year’s Lederer. One When we get home, she bakes me
and early so manage to be at the head of my favourite competitions of the some more of those really fabulous
of the queue for the excellent supper year, this features ten invited teams, bread rolls with walnuts and blue
and wine. My partner, this year, is Ar- all of whom are of a high standard. It is cheese that she made a few weeks ago.
thur Goddard. We don’t have a lot of always played in the best of spirits. My Delicious.
luck and finish somewhere in the mid- team is the England Women, though
dle. Kitty and Willie win which is a
fine result for them.
we had a problem because neither Fee
nor Nevena were available. So that is Tuesday
After the bridge, Liz and I go back to why we have added Liz and Sam to the A quiet day for me. Off to the gym
Barry’s. Liz is staying at Barry’s for a team and the plan is for Catherine to early and then I am at home working
few days as she is playing in our wom- play with Heather. Unfortunately, the all day (mostly writing my articles for
en’s team in the Lederer at the week- bridge didn’t go at all well and the less Mr Bridge). Briony is out in the even-
end (more of that later). said about it the better. ing, so after my shower, I get straight
into my pyjamas. Somehow that seems
Friday Monday very decadent.
Barry is up and out early. I find it best

to hide in bed until he is gone on such
This is Briony’s day off when we tra-
ditionally do something nice together. Wednesday
mornings (usually reading on my Kin- I go to the gym in the morning while After another gym session, I get a bit
dle). As soon as he is gone, Liz and I she does her own thing. Then we have of work done before driving Barry’s
get up and have breakfast. At 10.30am, a rather rushed, early lunch before set- car (which he lent me to come home
I have an online coaching session and ting off for the treat I have arranged. in on Sunday) into London. I drop it
Liz sets off to explore Shepherds Bush. She is going to have her colours done. off and have a cup of tea with him be-
Barry is home in time for a bread and If you’ve not done this I can thorough- fore getting the tube to St John’s Wood
cheese lunch. In the afternoon, I have ly recommend it. Someone organised for a London Super League match. We
another online session, this time with it for my 40th birthday and I still pay don’t do very well. Nicola and I are
Richard and Gerry. In the evening, a lot of heed to it. There is a colour poor but our team-mates (who shall
Sam (Liz’s bridge partner) comes to wheel, divided into the seasons and be nameless) are awful. This board is
join us for dinner at our local (excel- the premise is that everyone falls into so bad as to be almost funny:

Seven Days continued
JUST
CHARITY EVENTS DUPLICATE
MAY AUGUST
Dealer West. N/S Game.
BRIDGE
15 Children’s Charities 21 St Ives Day Care Centre
♠ K 6 3 Doddington Village Hall, March.
10 for 10.30am. £14.
Village Hall Hemingford Abbots,
10 for 10.30am. £14.
2015
♥ A J 10 6 5
Val Topless Don Moorman
♦ K 6
( 01354 653696 ( 01480 463444 Denham Grove
♣ 10 4 3 Denham, Bucks UB9 5DU
♠ 9 5 4 2 ♠ Void 27 MacMillan CANCER CARE
N Festival Bridge with SEPTEMBER 26-28 June £199
♥ 7 4 3 W E ♥ K 8 2
afternoon tea in Downham
♦ 10 8 7 2 S ♦ A Q J 9 3 3 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE
Market Town Hall.
♣ K 9 ♣ J 8 7 5 2 1.15 for 1.30pm. ROTARY CLUB
♠ A Q J 10 8 7 Tickets £6. Outlane Golf Club.
Ann Taylor 12 for 12.30pm. £50 per table
♥ Q 9
( 01366 388408 including lunch, afternoon tea
♦ 5 4 & biscuits. Raffle prizes.
♣ A Q 6 Limited to 22 tables.
JUNE Rtn Sam Smith
( 01924 492540
2-4 British Red Cross samuelsmith396
West North East South Birkholme Manor, Corby, @btinternet.com
Pass 1♥ 2♦ 2♠ Grantham NG33 4LF.
2 & 3 June. 10 for 10.30am to
3♦ 3♠ Pass 4♣
3.15pm. 3-course lunch, glass
11 St Mary’s Church
Eaton Socon
Wyndham Garden
Pass 4♦ Pass 4♠ of wine & raffle. £17.50pp Church Hall Eaton Socon Grantham
All Pass 4 June. 1pm for 1.30pm to 10 for 10.30am. £14.
4.30pm. Tea and raffle. £10pp. Malcolm Howarth (formerly the Olde Barn)
Penny Hedley Lewis ( 01480 212910 Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT
West leads a diamond. East ( 01476 550255
cashes two diamonds and penny.hedleylewis
14-16 August £189
switches to a club. I go up @farmline.com OCTOBER 4-6 September £189
with the ace and start to 2 St Andrew’s Church Funds
12 St Mary’s Church 9-11 October £189
draw trumps, though I am Eaton Socon Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton,
brought up a bit short when Church Hall Eaton Socon. 10 for 10.30am. £14. 16-18 October £189
they turn out to break 4-0. I 10 for 10.30am. £14. Mavis Campion
Malcolm Howarth ( 01480 860477 13-15 November £189
then run the queen of hearts
( 01480 212910
which East wins and contin-
ues with a club. One down. 25 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE NOVEMBER Holiday Inn
ROTARY CLUB Ashford North TN26 1AR
It looks normal enough. 3-5 British Red Cross
Outlane Golf Club. 2-4 October £189
Would you believe that 12 for 12.30pm. £50 per Birkholme Manor, Corby,
against our other pair table including lunch, Grantham NG33 4LF.
North-South bid and make afternoon tea & biscuits. 3 & 4 Nov 10 for 10.30am
to 3.15pm. 3-course lunch,
Holiday Inn
six spades? Raffle prizes. Newport NP18 2YG
Limited to 22 tables. glass of wine & raffle. £17.50pp
At that table East overcalls Rtn Sam Smith 5 Nov. 1pm for 1.30pm to 6-8 November £189
an unusual two no-trumps, ( 01924 492540 4.30pm. Tea and raffle. £10pp.
Penny Hedley Lewis
not a great idea facing a samuelsmith396
Chatsworth Hotel
@btinternet.com ( 01476 550255
passed partner and with penny.hedleylewis Worthing BN11 3DU
diamonds so much better @farmline.com
JULY 20-22 November £199
than clubs. I’m not sure ex-
19 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE
actly how the bidding goes 9 Cheshire Disability ROTARY CLUB
27-29 November £199
(hardly dare ask) but South Bridge Afternoon. Outlane Golf Club.
comes to rest in the slam Cranleigh School. 2.00pm. 12 for 12.30pm. £50 per table Full Board
eventually. Mr B Fear ( 01483 277418 including lunch, afternoon tea
& biscuits. Raffle prizes. No Single
West leads the king of 10 Great Barford Church
clubs. Declarer wins, cash- Village Hall Great Barford,
Limited to 22 tables. Supplement
Rtn Sam Smith
es a spade, finding out the 9.30 for 10am. £14.
Derek Fordham
( 01924 492540 Booking Form
bad news and then runs the samuelsmith396
queen of hearts. East wins
( 01234 870324 @btinternet.com on page 8.
Please note there are no
and tries to give his part- seminars, set hands or
ner a club ruff and that is E-mail your charity events: [email protected] prizes at these events.
that. ■

Letters from Overseas TRAVEL INSURANCE
Last month I told you that I have been
planning my personal travel arrangements
Inspiration from the Heavens?

for the coming year and my travel insurance
cover. I am sure you are aware that when
we reach a certain age, as I have, insurance
by John Barr premiums start to rise, especially with
pre-existing medical conditions. I have had
D
to seek out a new policy provider as my
uring the winter, many Aus- gazing at the heavens could be a strong insurer for many years no longer wants my
trians spend their time look- trump holding. business. I have embarked upon researching
this with my usual energy. As Acumen
ing to the heavens, studying I considered playing a heart to the
Insurance Services Limited advertise their
the skies trying to guess what the eight, but realised that partner would Genesis brand, there are some points on
weather will bring in the coming days be far from impressed if that lost to their Cover Cloud travel insurance product
and scanning the conditions atop lo- the ten, the hearts split evenly and that I am sure will be of particular interest.
cal mountains to judge where the best West’s pause was caused by him trying Under their trading names, Genesis
and Cover Cloud, they are able to
snow will be to remember
cover any age of traveller and most
tomorrow if he’d fed the pre-existing medical conditions.
morning. cats before Cruise Cover is standard to all Cover
One night coming out to Cloud policies and Ski cover can be taken
at the bridge bridge. right up to 69 years of age, which is quite
unusual. They have also negotiated with
club, my I decided
their underwriters on the medical side of
partner and to play West the policy and if you fit into the following
I had a long, for a balanced criteria you may be able to take advantage
slow bidding hand with of this low cost policy on Annual and Single
sequence to four hearts Trips up to a maximum age of 79 years.
six hearts. and started Basically the definitions of pre-existing
medical conditions is as follows: ‘Any past
We had con- with a small or current medical condition that has given
sidered the heart to the rise to symptoms or for which any form
grand slam jack, which of treatment or prescribed medication,
along the way won. medical consultation, investigation or
and I should That was follow-up/check-up has been required
or received during the 24 months prior
probably have followed by
to the commencement of cover under
converted the two top this policy and/or prior to any trip.’
to six no-trumps, but six hearts was clubs and a club ruff, the two remaining Therefore, if you have not experienced
where we rested. top diamonds and then three rounds any of the above within the 24 months prior
Before his final pass, West paused, of spades leaving this position: to the commencement of cover, you will
be accepted. However, great care should
gazed at the ceiling as if looking for
be taken in checking your medical history
inspiration, before looking back at to ensure that you fit the criteria exactly.
his hand and, with an audible sigh, ♠ 10 I am now a Cover Cloud Policy holder,
he passed slowly and led a small ♥ 8 2 but this is in no way a recommendation
diamond. ♦ — as you would have to check the policy
to ensure it suits your particular
♣ —
requirements in every way.
♠ — Putting travel to one side for a moment,
♠ K 10 5 3 ♥ K 10 5 N immaterial when you click onto the Genesis logo from
♥ J 8 2 ♦ — W E my website and select ‘Get Quote’, you
S
♦ K 9 ♣ — will see that there are now a wide range of
♣ A K 9 3 ♠ — insurance products available to members
including Home Emergency, Mobile
♠ 9 4 2 ♠ 8 7 6 ♥ A Q 9
Phone/Gadget, Home Appliance plus Pet
♥ K 10 5 4 N ♥ 6 ♦ — Insurance. I am sure you will find some of
♦ 7 6 4 W E ♦ J 8 5 3 2 ♣ — interest. If you are interested in any of the
S
♣ J 7 4 ♣ Q 10 6 2 above do email me at bridge@mrbridge.
♠ A Q J co.uk giving me your name, address and
telephone number and I will ask the very
♥ A Q 9 7 3 A heart to the nine endplayed West: he helpful people at Genesis Choice Travel
♦ A Q 10 is forced to lead away from the ♥K. Insurance Specialists to ring you and
♣ 8 5 The moral of the story is that when answer any questions you might have.
you have a holding that you think will This is as enthusiastic an endorsement as
cause declarer problems – pass quickly I dare make without getting into trouble.
When dummy came down, I realised and don’t warn him of the danger that Mr Bridge
that the only justification for West lurks in your hand. ■

A Blast From the Past 11 by Shireen Mohandes
Very
Superstitious
S
uperstition, the song, was Ste- Pietro Campanile, which can be found
From The Reading Eagle
vie Wonder’s big hit in the early at http://tinyurl.com/or8cl55.
(a US newspaper) in 1937
1970s. Stevie was trying to tell At rubber bridge, the person who
us about the dangers of placing any wins the cut can choose their seat and by Eddy Gilmore
weight on the wisdom of the ancients. deck. Before the cards are dealt, there William Cheeks, in charge of
The chorus goes: are great opportunities to cultivate the superstition department
When you believe in things that you a superstition or two and then spend for the national contract
don’t understand, time talking about them. Maybe you bridge championships, looked
Then you suffer, are/have been a silent follower? Have over the entries with a sigh
Superstition ain’t the way, yeh, yeh. you secretly always preferred West today … his assignments:
It might be hard to believe nowadays, over East, or always one deck colour l Find a portable divan for
but many bridge players, especially over another, not wanting a score pad Edward Hymes jr., who curls
those who play rubber bridge, have of a certain type? Play has not even up with the cards before
had long lists of superstitions – indeed started yet, but there are many things making a tough play.
enough that The Bridge World carried a to fret about. The Catholic Church l Provide a masseur for P.
feature length article about them. This considers superstition sinful, yet so Hal Sims who never goes
article was later reprinted in Albert A many people are committing this sin into a tournament play
Ostrow’s excellent book entitled The every time they play cards, to protect without a head massage.
Bridge Player’s Bedside Companion them against bad luck, yet, in all l Keep the way cleared to John
(1956). A more recent retrospective probability, not worrying about the E Rau’s room. If he runs into
appeared in an amusing article by wrath of their deity. bad luck, he’ll dash upstairs
and change his clothes
right down to his socks.
Baron Waldemar von Zedwitz (1896-1984) l Forestall a carnation shortage in
the Capital. Ely Culbertson
Born and educated in Germany, the never enters play without one…
Baron served in the German cavalry in
l Make sure nobody sits in
WW1. He moved to the USA, naturalised
William McKinney’s chair.
and lived in New York and Hawaii.
He drags it from table to
He was friends with Harold Vanderbilt
table or he doesn’t play.
and, with Harold, was one of the key
players and promoters of bridge. l Prevent kibitzers from wishing
Professionally, he was a lexicographer Mrs. Sims well. She thinks it’s
and linguist. Talented at backgammon, bad luck to have someone
he won a major event at the age of 82. wish her good luck.
l Keep the way open from
The Baron had a summer home in
the door to the chair of
New Jersey, near the home of P.
Baron Waldemar von
Hal Sims. During a rubber bridge
Zedwitz, who won’t come
game at the Sims home, one of the
in until the whistle blows.
players used to sing hymns in Latin
when he was dummy. The other Photo: ACBL l Dissuade anyone from
players became a bit suspicious picking up the stub pencil
because declarer, a friend of the singing dummy, was unusually lucky in which Mrs. Mckinney carries.
locating honour cards. Ostrow reports ‘…An expert in Latin confirmed … She’s been known to insult
the singer was spotting honours for the benefit of the player…’ strangers who touched it.

Very Superstitious continued lieve that the queen lies over the jack. fourth person? Won’t that mean that
Alan Truscott’s Rule advises that if the cards are then separated and so
you don’t have any information at all, stay separated?’ Yes, that is true, but
then as declarer, play the person on then I will ask you to think back two
I will return to this, but before I do, lead to have the queen. Alan wasn’t us- deals. Where was the queen then? If
here is a superstition common in Vi- ing superstition, he was using science. you can’t remember, then look at your
enna, described in Ostrow’s book. The Without the queen, he will sometimes scorecard and hope that your memory
proverb is, ‘Where the nine is, there is lead that suit, but with the queen, es- is prompted.
also the queen’. This is how it is meant pecially if it’s the queen of trumps,
to work: then he’ll never lead it for fear of losing
an opportunity for a potential trick. How many times do you
This advice from Alan is very simi- need to shuffle a deck?
A 4 3 2 lar to the situation when you have a
king-jack holding: Much serious research has been
N
W E carried out by maths professors
S
on this topic. The answer is, ‘seven
decent riffle shuffles.’ By decent,
K J 10 5 K J
I mean fairly inter-leaved, but
N certainly not perfect interleaves.
W E
S
If you aren’t a riffle-shuffler, but
Play the 5 towards the ace. If your left 4 3 2 rather you do cut-and-fold-in or
hand opponent plays any card other overhand type shuffles, then I am
than the nine, then play your ace and afraid you need between 2,000
play small towards your hand, finess- You have to decide who to play for and 2,500. Yes, I kid you not.
ing against East. the ace and queen. If you really have
no information to guide you (such as
distribution of the other suits, failure Migry Zur Campanile, a professional
A 4 3 2 to bid, etc) then it is advised to play bridge player now resident in New
N
your left hand opponent for the ace. York, told me about a famous player
Q 9
W E 876 After all, holding the queen, he may in Israel who may well have been the
S
or may not choose to lead the suit, but most superstitious person in the bridge
K J 10 5 with the ace and in a suit contract, he’s world. Apparently, before every match
very unlikely to lead away from the he would buy a new shirt, and cut a
ace. small hole in it just above the pocket.
However, if the nine does appear at Ready for a bit more science? The This hole allowed whatever bad bridge
trick one, then win the ace and play for following applies only for hand dealt that might be in him to exit his body,
the drop, ie, at trick two, play to your games (in other words, it is not rel- and be released to the outside world.
king and hope that your left hand op- evant for computer dealt cards, as is We started with poppycock (advice
ponent has exactly Q-9 doubleton. very common nowadays in duplicate from Austria being terrible and
Reader, this is terrible advice. One pairs and teams). Belgium neither here nor there) and
can only imagine that in a coffee moved onto science. Keeping on the
house somewhere dark, perhaps even science theme, I wondered if there
the basis of a sub-plot of a Graham A 10 9 8 has been any research on superstition.
Greene novel, a group of gangster N
Unsurprisingly, there has. In 2009, a
bridge professionals put out the word W E team from the University of Cologne
S
that this was the best way to play this in Germany published a paper in
combination. K J 7 6 Psychological Science. They conducted
four experiments to evaluate the
outcomes of superstitious behaviour.
Bathtub
Declarer needs to find the queen. On all counts there were positive
It is said that some rubber Because many players don’t shuffle improvements or performance
bridge players believe that if well, cards tend to remain in clusters. outcomes from those who are
they are seated in the direction If you do run the jack and it is suc- superstitious. In short, being confident
of their bathtub at home, then cessful, going, J-Q-A and then you about, or because of, your superstitions
they’ll be dealt better cards. don’t shuffle well, the chances are that lead to better results.
the cards will stay like that and when Robert Sheehan, former bridge cor-
they are dealt later, they’ll be friendly. respondent of The Times and holder of
So what do other people think about ‘Ah… but...,’ I can hear you saying, a silver medal at the Bermuda Bowl,
finding queens? In Belgium, they be- ‘what happens if the jack loses to the told me that he’s not superstitious

Superstitious continued he stumbled and fell. De-
spite some pain, as he didn’t
want to miss the event, he
continued on his way. Dur-
READERS’
LETTERS
himself, but plays regularly ing the first session the pain
against a player who is. That started to cause him some
player prefers the red deck concern, so he decided to go
over the blue deck, so Robert to the nearby hospital in the
makes damn sure that when break between the sessions.
it’s his choice, he chooses the It turned out that he had SLOWLY SPREADING is little scope for error.
red deck. broken two ribs. So commit- Thank you for putting Tom Inglis by email.
ted are bridge players that BRIDGE up on-line.
we can play three hours of I am an ACBL director/ EXTRA EXPOSURE
bridge while putting up with club owner from the US, now Here is an interesting auction
the agony of broken ribs. living in Singapore. I own and that occurred between
Turning full circle, was run the American Woman’s my partner and me.
Stevie Wonder’s advice right Association Duplicate I opened 1NT (15-17).
after all? If the German sci- Bridge Club. A British My partner held five
entists are to be believed, friend started forwarding hearts and intended to
then no, but only if you are me your magazine about transfer by playing the two
in a position to get what you three years ago and I love diamonds bidding card.
‘See a penny, pick it up. want, because if you can’t sit David Stevenson’s column. However, he placed
All the day, you’ll have good in the direction of your bath I copy his pages and make the ♦2 playing card on
luck.’ Just a few weeks ago, or choose the red deck when them available to all of my the table instead.
a USA player on his way to you want to, then perhaps members who choose to This remained on the
a bridge event saw a penny you would be better off hid- become more enlightened table as an exposed card
and reached down to pick ing your superstitions in the as bridge players. until the end of the auction,
it up, but somehow or other attic. ■ Thank you for your efforts which finished in 4♥ by
on behalf of bridge players me, so his whole hand
worldwide. We have such went down as dummy.
a great game, it is a great Andrew Mountain,
shame to see its decline. Wrexham, Wales.
Karol Crouse, by email.
GOOD POINT
ALTERNATIVE VIEW Unlike many recent
I have just read the article correspondents, I don’t
by Ned Paul in BRIDGE have a problem with Mr
147 and I disagree with Bridge deciding to charge
some of what he says. for BRIDGE, whether
In the example given, printed or online. That is
there is nothing wrong with his decision and one every
bidding 1♥ over 1♣ if, as publication with bridge
stated, the opener continues content has to make, from
with 2♣. Responder can The Times downwards.
then bid 2♦. This is similar What I do have a problem
Real Leather Gifts in principle to opening the

bidding with the higher of two
with is the online version
being made available to
Beautiful zipped case in burgundy red or deep blue equal length suits. Would it non-subscribers way before
containing two packs of cards and a set of our bridge design not be the case that bidding the magazine is even posted
ballpoint pens. £39.00 1♦ and then 2♥ in response out to subscribers. In the
Set of 4 scorepad holders - two burgundy, two blue, made to 2♣ would send the wrong case of the April issue, I
from top quality leather. £39.00 signals and possibly lead to was notified by email that
Special Offer for readers too high a final contract? the online version was
Buy the two for £68.00. Save £10 Another point is that available on 6 March, with
many players prefer to the following message:
www.bridge-tables.co.uk try 3NT where only nine ‘The April 2015 edition of
Phone 01483 750611 tricks are needed. Minor BRIDGE is now available to
suit games are notoriously view online... It is currently
tricky, largely because there being printed and postal

READERS’ LETTERS to find space in BRIDGE to can they play online but there TUNISIA DELIGHT
continued
advertise these events. is a free of charge facility to My wife and I celebrated
Mrs P Morgan, enable practice bidding with our Golden Wedding at the
copies will be with subscribers Bognor Regis, West Sussex. no opponents. My partner, Royal Kenz Hotel in Tunisia
in the next few weeks.’ See page 40. Liz Commins, and I do not this month with Bernard
This is clearly a ridiculous like online play, but we do and his excellent team – our
policy and is no way to NEARLY EXPIRED use it to practice our bid- first experience of a Mr
‘reward’ those who pay I hesitated to join the ranks ding and it is very good. Bridge event. Everything
(admittedly a modest sum) to of those refraining from David Stevenson, about it was a real delight,
receive a paper copy of the renewing my subscription Wirral, Merseyside. from the wonderfully varied
magazine. I trust this policy for fear of being allied with programme on offer, to the
will be reversed and in future the cohort of arrogant, DISAPPOINTED bridge instruction, the hotel
the online edition will only impertinent and downright I hear Bernard Magee and (quality, location, service
be made available after the rude persons who have, from his team had a successful and food), not forgetting the
magazine has had time to time to time, declared their weekend on the Isle of Wight. lovely golf course nearby.
be delivered to subscribers. departure on the grounds that I was disappointed at not We send a big ‘Thank You’
Mr Dave Simmons, you don’t know what you are being able to book this year. to Bernard and to all involved
Buntingford, Herts. doing or you are not doing Do include the Isle of Wight with the organisation,
This will be our new policy. things as they would and in next year’s planning. including Tunisia First and
anyway they know better. Val Halladey by email. Eden Tours. Also, to our
PLEASE RETHINK The stupefying pomposity great friend Anna who
With regret, I will not be of such individuals may UNANSWERED gave us a subscription to
renewing my subscription to perhaps be no more evident I do not believe that David your magazine, BRIDGE.
your magazine, BRIDGE. in bridge circles as in others Stevenson’s extensive Despite the tragic events
My main reason being which they inhabit. You response to the letter on in Tunis the following week
the personal ramblings of (and we) are well rid of Simultaneous Pairs in and the inevitable hit being
Sally Brock. I don’t need them (what the other bridge Bridge 148 really answered taken by its vitally important
to know all that ‘stuff’. circles do is up to them). the prime concern. tourist industry, we would
We shall particularly miss Unfortunately, the ‘we’ I play at two clubs, one certainly sign up again
the David Stevenson and above is a bit of a misnomer weaker than the other. If for another such treat.
Julian Pottage questions and because I am really no I played the same boards Maureen & Jeremy
answers. Thank you for all longer a bridge player at both clubs, then at the Rittener, Málaga, Spain.
the past magazines which due to infirmities such as weaker club on a number
we thoroughly enjoyed. memory and eyesight that of boards, I would make WE AIM TO PLEASE
Mr & Mrs M Mollart- afflict some others who more tricks than at the I suspect I will not be alone
Rogerson, Southampton. have attained 85. I am not stronger club. Hence, on in feeling that issue 148 is an
BRIDGE is a monthly fortunate enough to belong those boards, I would get outstandingly good one even
magazine. As such I try to to the elite who remain a higher actual score. by your high standards. As a
make its pages as varied keenly competitive until a If both sets of scores were player and teacher, I felt that
and interesting as possible. decade (or more) older. entered into the national every page had something of
Please don’t give up, just turn I am not sure when my simultaneous pairs, then value on it and all the articles
over the offending pages. present Founder Subscription I would do better with the are extremely clearly written.
I do hope you will change expires, but please note results from the weaker club And I’m a warm supporter of
your mind and, by the way, the non-renewal is coupled than the stronger club. The Sally Brock: where else could
congratulations on your with my enthusiastic best extent of the difference is you get advice and interesting
recent award from the EBU. wishes for your continued obviously dependent upon the hands from a world-class
success providing services. relative strengths of the two player, while being reminded
JUST BRIDGE Mr David O’Neill, clubs and how many extra that top bridge players do
Having enjoyed several of Colkirk, Fakenham. tricks I make on the boards. have friends and families,
your bridge weekends in Thank you. The fact that you can do have to cook meals, decorate
the UK in the past and not better nationally by playing at the house and also have
managing to attend Bernard’s FREE SERVICE a weaker club is the real issue brilliant hands and disasters?
events in Worthing so far this Pat Holman asks where with respect to the scoring. Keep up the exceptional work.
year, I was pleased to see they can practice their David Lawrence, Jim Miller,
that you plan to provide Just partnership bidding using Hook, Hants. Loughborough, Leics. ■
Bridge sessions again, but I their laptops (BRIDGE 147).
do not have a computer so If they join Bridge Base
Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey
cannot receive information. Online, or BBO as it is GU21 2TH or e-mail letters @mrbridge.co.uk
I do hope you will be able popularly known, not only

Julian Pottage answers your Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Multi
all About?
A
Multi 2♦ opening bid shows Let us see an example: pected, opener turns up with a weak
either a weak hand with a long two in your short major. A delayed
major or some strong hand. overcall is generally the same as an
The weak hand with a long major is ♠ A Q 9 7 4 3 ♠ 8 2 immediate overcall but weaker, save
like a weak two opening, say a 6-card ♥ 10 5 N ♥ A 8 that a delayed 2NT overcall shows two
W E
major with 6-10 points. ♦ J 4 S ♦ K 10 6 2 suits (minors) rather than a balanced
The stronger hand might be balanced ♣ 10 6 3 ♣ K J 7 4 2 hand.
or, as some play, eight playing tricks
in a minor or possibly a three-suited West North East South
hand. West East 2♦1
People play a Multi because doing so 2♦1 2♥2 ?
frees 2♥ and 2♠ for another purpose. 2♠3 Pass 1
Multi
In the early days of the Multi, the other 1
Multi
purpose for 2♥ and 2♠ was retaining 2
Relay, to play facing a weak hand with
them as natural Acol two openings. hearts Hand 1 Hand 2
Nowadays, I suspect the majority of 3
Showing a weak two in spades ♠ 7 ♠ Q 9 4
Multi users play 2♥ and 2♠ as weak ♥ A Q 9 5 3 ♥ K 4
two-suited openings such as ‘Lucas’. Note that this auction has taken an ex- ♦ K J 4 2 ♦ A J 10 3
Usually, responder to the Multi 2♦ tra round of bidding compared with a ♣ Q 10 3 ♣ K 9 8 2
opening takes one of three actions: weak 2♠ opening.
As the Multi is a complicated con-
(i) 2♥ = to play facing a weak two in vention, you may well be more inter- Hand 3
hearts. ested in how to play against it rather ♠ Q 5
(ii) 2♠ = to play facing a weak two in than how to play it. Defending against ♥ 9 3
spades but with heart support. it is a bit different depending upon ♦ A Q 5
(iii) 2NT = strong enquiry. whether you are in second seat or ♣ K 10 7 6 5 3
fourth seat. In either case, assuming
After the 2♥ response, opener passes the Multi bidder has a weak hand, you
with a weak hand and hearts, bids 2♠ will be bidding with strength rather With Hand 1, overcall 2♥. This will be
with a weak hand and spades, or bids than weakness. your last chance to show the suit at the
something else with a strong hand. In second seat, since you do not two level.
After the 2♠ response, opener passes know what opener’s suit is, you can- With Hand 2, double. This shows
with a weak hand and spades, bids 3♥ not readily make a take-out bid. The something like a weak NT (or a very
or 4♥ with a weak hand and hearts, upside is that much of the time, you strong hand).
or bids something else with a strong will get a second chance to compete. With Hand 3, you are a bit weak for
hand. A simple defence is to play everything an immediate 3♣ overcall. Partner
After the 2NT response, there is apart from double as natural. A dou- will be all too likely to bid 3NT over it
greater variation on the continuations. ble shows either a balanced hand too and find your hand a disappointment.
A possible set of rebids (where a bal- weak for a no-trump overcall (say 12- You should pass first time; you may be
anced hand is the only strong option) 15 points) or a strong hand (19 points able to bid 3♣ next round to compete
is: or more). Remember, partner does not the partscore.
normally have to bid after the dou- In fourth seat, the simplest thing is
(a) 3♣ = max weak two in hearts. ble. Usually, opener will have a long to treat 2♦(Multi)-pass-2♥ the same as
(b) 3♦ = max weak two in spades. major and will not be passing out 2♦ you would treat 2♥(weak)-pass-pass
(c) 3♥ = min weak two in hearts. doubled. If you are short in one major, and to treat 2♦(Multi)-pass-2♠ the
(d) 3♠ = min weak two in spades. you can pass first time and then make same as you would treat 2♠(weak)-
(e) 3NT = strong balanced. a take-out double next time if, as ex- pass-pass. ■

Answers to
David Huggett’s
Play Quiz on page 24
You are declarer in 6NT and West leads
1. ♠ K 8 the ♠10. You play the ♠K and it wins. 4. ♠ J 10 9 5
♥ K 10 2 How do you plan the play? ♥ 8 5
♦ A 7 5 3 In the excitement of the moment, you ♦ A 8 7 5 3
♣ 8 6 5 3 mustn’t let your concentration waver. If ♣ A 6
♠ Q 10 9 2 ♠ A J 5 3 you play a club to hand at trick two, you ♠ A 6 ♠ 4
N N
♥ 4 ♥ 7 6 5 won’t make the contract if the clubs break ♥ A J 9 2 W E ♥ Q 10 4 3
W E
♦ J 10 8 6 S ♦ Q 4 2 3-1 because the suit is blocked. You have ♦ 9 2 S ♦ Q J 10
♣ A J 7 4 ♣ 10 9 2 to be aware of that possibility and play ♣ K Q J 10 7 ♣ 9 5 4 3 2
♠ 7 6 4 another top spade from dummy instead. ♠ K Q 8 7 3 2
♥ A Q J 9 8 3 You can discard two diamonds from hand ♥ K 7 6
♦ K 9 on the second and third round of spades ♦ K 6 4
♣ K Q and come to twelve tricks via two spades, ♣ 8
four hearts, two diamonds and four clubs.
You are declarer in 4♥ and West leads You are declarer in 4♠ after West has
the ♦J. How do you plan the play? opened 1♣ and East raised pre-emptively
With six heart tricks, two diamonds 3. ♠ 6 4 to 3♣. West leads the ♣K. How do you
and a club, you are looking for only one ♥ K Q 3 plan the play?
more trick, but, even so, you have to be ♦ A J 10 6 You are in danger of losing one spade,
careful. If you draw even one round of ♣ K J 10 5 two hearts and a diamond and, with the
trumps before playing spades, you might ♠ Q 10 8 5 ♠ K J 9 7 ace of hearts likely to be sitting over the
N
find that, if East has the ace of spades ♥ 10 7 2 ♥ 9 6 5 king, you must aim to keep East off lead
W E
and three trumps, he will be able to deny ♦ 8 3 2 S ♦ K 5 4 at all costs. You are also likely to need
you a ruff in dummy by leading trumps ♣ A 6 2 ♣ 7 4 3 diamonds to break 3-2 to furnish heart
himself. Of course, the answer couldn’t ♠ A 3 2 discards in hand, but there is a danger
be simpler, just win the lead in hand and ♥ A J 8 4 that East will have three diamonds and
play a spade immediately. Even with the ♦ Q 9 7 therefore an entry to find the killing heart
spade ace wrong, nothing can prevent ♣ Q 9 8 switch. The answer is simple. Just duck
you from ruffing a spade in dummy for the opening lead and throw a diamond
your tenth trick. on the ace next time. That way, you can
You are declarer in 3NT and West leads ruff the third round of diamonds and will
the ♠5 (fourth highest). How do you plan have a trump entry to dummy to enjoy
the play? the suit. ■
2. ♠ K Q J 3 It looks tempting to take a diamond fi-
♥ 6 5 nesse at some point, but can that really
♦ 8 7 be right? From the lead and the Rule of
Mr Bridge
♣ Q 6 5 4 3 Eleven, if you care to apply it, it would Premium Quality Cards
♠ 10 9 8 ♠ A 7 6 5 4 seem that the spades are breaking 4-4. Standard Faces,
N
♥ 8 7 4 3 ♥ 10 9 2 If that is the case, then you can guaran- with or without
W E
♦ J 9 2 S ♦ Q 10 5 4 tee your contract by driving out the ace of bar codes.
Unboxed.
♣ 10 9 2 ♣ J clubs and leaving diamonds well alone. If,
6 red/6 blue £19.95
♠ 2 on the other hand, you take the diamond 30 red/30 blue
♥ A K Q J finesse and it fails, you will lose three only £60
♦ A K 6 3 spades and a trick in both the minors. As
Available from The London Bridge Centre.
♣ A K 8 7 usual, it is imperative to count your win- ( 020 7288 1305 www.bridgeshop.com
ners and not just play on autopilot.

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Bernard Magee's Acol Bidding Quiz: Number One Hundred and Forty-Nine May 2015

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BRIDGE

Number One Hundred and Forty-Nine

Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz

Answers on page 6 Answers on page 9 Answers on page 11 Answers on page 13

4 Identifying & Bidding Slams 16 Avoidance Play

5 Play & Defence of 1NT Contracts 17 Play & Defence at Pairs

7 Leads 19 Defensive Plan

12 Endplay 24 Improving Bridge Memory

£25 EACH. PICK AND MIX. A BOX OF ANY 6. £105

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 3

merchandise, including the cruises on m.v. Balmoral,

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 5

Classical Bidding Quizzes 1-3

Page 6 BRIDGE May 2015

Prices are inclusive of VAT and postage to UK mainland.

Return any QPLUS Address..............................................................................................................................................................................

System: 8mb RAM, CD-ROM,

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 7

Date(s) .................................................................................... 2015 BRIDGE 1

Expiry: ................................. CVV......................... Issue No.................... 1230 to 1400

Page 8 BRIDGE May 2015

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 9

Page 10 BRIDGE May 2015

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 11

£14 including postage and packing from Mr Bridge,

Page 12 BRIDGE May 2015

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 13

Page 14 BRIDGE May 2015

by Liz Dale add greater accuracy to their

ACOL BIDDING as you get it right.

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 15

Page 16 BRIDGE May 2015

E-mail your questions on bridge laws to:

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 17

over-ruffing. Now, if partner’s trump

Page 18 BRIDGE May 2015

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 19

Page 20 BRIDGE May 2015

West led the ♠2 and dummy played ♠ A 10 8

Leading from a King ♦ A J 8

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 21

♠ 42 ♠ A Q 7 3 find a fit because a 5-5 ♦ Q J 5 S ♦ K 7 3 2

Page 22 BRIDGE May 2015

The Drones Club:

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 23

Page 24 BRIDGE May 2015

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 25

Page 26 BRIDGE May 2015

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 27

Page 28 BRIDGE May 2015

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Page 30 BRIDGE May 2015

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Page 32 BRIDGE May 2015

Play and Defence

BRIDGE May 2015 Page 33

West North East South INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS

ACOL ADVANCED DECLARER

ing in the suit: placing de- l Pre-empting l Defence l Ruffing for