Bernard Magee's Acol Bidding Quiz: Number One Hundred and Fifty-One July 2015

BRIDGE
Number One Hundred and Fifty-One
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.
July 2015
1. Dealer West. Love All. 4. Dealer East. Game All. 7. Dealer West. Love All. 10. Dealer East. Love All.
♠ 3 ♠ A 9 8 5 2 ♠ A 2 ♠ K Q 8 7 3
♥ A K 7 6 N ♥ 10 3 N ♥ K Q 8 7 6 5 ♥ A 5 2 N
N W E
W E W E
♦ Q 8 7 5 3 ♦ Q 5 4 ♦ 9 8 7 W E ♦ 7 6 S
S S
♣ A 8 2 ♣ 10 6 3 ♣ K 3 S ♣ 8 7 6
West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South
? 1♣ Pass 1♥ 1♠ 2♥ 2♠ 1♥ Pass
1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass ? 1♠ Pass 2NT1 Pass
? ? 118-19
2. Dealer East. N/S Game. 5. Dealer East. Game All. 8. Dealer South. Love All. 11. Dealer West. Love All.

♠ 4 3 ♠ A 9 8 7 2 ♠ 2 ♠ A K 5
N N
♥ 7 6 N ♥ 10 3 N ♥ K Q J 8 7 6 5 ♥ 9 8 7
W E W E W E
♦ A 6 5 4 3 ♦ Q 5 4 W E ♦ 7 4 ♦ A 8 7 6 5
S S S
S
♣ Q J 10 9 ♣ A 6 3 ♣ 7 3 2 ♣ A 7
3♠ Pass 1♣ Pass 1NT 1♦ Pass 3♦ Pass
? 1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass ? ?
?
3. Dealer South. Love All. 6. Dealer East. Game All. 9. Dealer East. N/S Game. 12. Dealer West. N/S Game.
♠ A 4 2 ♠ A 9 8 7 2 ♠ 4 2
♠ A K Q 4 3
♥ A 7 N ♥ 3 N ♥ K Q 3 N ♥ K 8 6 N
W E W E W E
♦ Q 4 ♦ Q 5 4 ♦ A J 6 5 ♦ 4 2 W E
S S S
S
♣ A K 9 7 6 5 ♣ A 6 4 3 ♣ 10 9 8 7 ♣ 9 8 7
2♠1 1♣ Pass 1♠ Dbl 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass
? 1
6-10pts & 6 spades 1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass ? ?
?
Answers on page 27 Answers on page 29 Answers on page 31 Answers on page 33

CHRISTMAS CRUISE 2015
Enjoy the summer sunshine of Cape Town – Luderitz Namibia
spectacular natural wonders and landscapes – Richards
and celebrate the festive season on this South Bay
Atlantic Indian
remarkable bridge voyage Ocean Cape South Africa Ocean
Town Mossel
Bay
Port
Elizabeth
Southern
YOUR ITINERARY
DATE PORT
Ocean ARRIVE DEPART
DEC 18 Depart UK
DEC 19 Arrive CAPE TOWN South Africa
Embark Aegean Odyssey overnight
DEC 20 CAPE TOWN (Table Mountain)
South Africa overnight
DEC 21 CAPE TOWN (Stellenbosch)
South Africa overnight
DEC 22 CAPE TOWN South Africa 7.00pm
DEC 23 At Sea
DEC 24 PORT ELIZABETH South Africa 8.00am
(Addo Elephant Park) 2.00pm
DEC 25 Christmas Day celebrations at sea
DEC 26 RICHARDS BAY South Africa 5.00am
(Hluhluwe Game Reserve) overnight
DEC 27 RICHARDS BAY South Africa
(St Lucia Nature Reserve) 9.00pm
DEC 28/29 At Sea
DEC 30 MOSSEL BAY South Africa 8.00am
(Garden Route) 6.00pm
DEC 31/ New Year’s celebrations at sea
JAN 1 ‘16
JAN 2/3 LUDERITZ Namibia 8.00am 6.00pm
JAN 4 At Sea
JAN 5 CAPE TOWN South Africa 8.00am
CAPE TOWN & THE HIGHLIGHTS OF Disembark and transfer to
Cape Town Airport for flight home
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10093
10093
*Mr Bridge fares are per person and subject to availability at time of booking. They may be withdrawn at any time without notice. †Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability. ABTA No.Y2206
Features this month include:
BRIDGE
ADVERTISERS’
1 Bidding Quiz by Bernard Magee INDEX
5 Mr Bridge 2 Christmas Cruise
to Cape Town and
Ryden Grange, Knaphill, 9 More Tips by Bernard Magee South Africa
Surrey GU21 2TH with Voyages
10 Julian Pottage Answers Your Questions
( 01483 489961 to Antiquity
12 Leading a Trump
[email protected] 3 Clive Goff ’s
by Andrew Kambites
Stamps
www.mrbridge.co.uk 14 David Stevenson Answers Your Questions
4 Odyssey to the
shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/ 16 Holmes is Misquoted Cape of Good Hope
mrbridge-shop with Voyages to
by David Holden and Roy Rowe
Antiquity
Publisher and 18 Mary’s Nineteenth Lesson by Liz Dale
Managing Editor 5 Just Duplicate
Mr Bridge 19 Defence Quiz by Julian Pottage Bridge Events
19 Declarer Play Quiz by David Huggett 6 Bernard Magee
Associate Editor and DVDs
Bridge Consultant 20 Robin Hood’s Long Journey by David Bird
Bernard Magee 7 QPlus 11
22 The Bath Coup by Heather Dhondy
bernardmagee 7 Mail Order Form
@mrbridge.co.uk 26 Wendy Wensum’s Diaries
8 Bridge Event
Cartoons & Illustrations 27 Bidding Quiz Answers (1-3) by Bernard Magee Booking Form
Marguerite Lihou 28 Remembering Phil Drabble by Ned Paul 8 Bridge Events
www.margueritelihou.co.uk
29 Bidding Quiz Answers (4-6) by Bernard Magee with Bernard Magee
Technical Consultant 30 The Best Chance of Winning is to Lose by John Barr 9 Mr Bridge
Tony Gordon Playing Cards
31 Bidding Quiz Answers (7-9) by Bernard Magee
Typesetting & Design 9 Tips for
32 Catching Up with Sally Brock Better Bridge
Ruth Edmondson
[email protected] 33 Bidding Quiz Answers (10-12) by Bernard Magee 15 Duplicate Bridge
Rules Simplified
Proof Readers 34 Seven Days with Sally Brock
Brigid McElroy 24 2016 Cruises to
36 Defending against 1NT: 2♣ Majors and More Ancient Civilisations
Mike Orriel by Jeremy Dhondy
Catrina Shackleton with Voyages to
39 Declarer Play Answers by David Huggett Antiquity
Richard Wheen
40 Leads by Bernard Magee 27 France Mini-Cruises
Customer Services with Fred.Olsen
Catrina Shackleton 41 Readers’ Letters
[email protected] 29 Norwegian
43 Defence Quiz Answers by Julian Pottage Festival and Fjords
Events & Cruises with Fred.Olsen
44 What are the Most Common Discard Methods?
( 01483 489961 by Julian Pottage 30 Better Hand
Jessica Galt Evaluation
[email protected] 45 Serendipity by Shireen Mohandes
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47 Sally’s Slam of the Month City Overnights
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38 Bernard Magee’s
Values supplied in 100s, higher values Tutorial Software
Address Changes available as well as 1st and 2nd class
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BRIDGE July 2015 Page 3

Sail with Bernard Magee and friends on a magnificent voyage
SPAIN
Tangier Malaga
Casablanca
Las Palmas Marrakesh
canary Agadir
MOROCCO
islands Dakhla
Western
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Cape Verde Bom Bom
Islands
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Sao Tome
& Principe Luanda
Angola
Atlantic Walvis Bay
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South Africa
Cape Town
CRUISE FROM MALAGA TO CAPE TOWN
NOV 19 Fly to MALAGA Spain
Embark Aegean Odyssey
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NOV 21 CASABLANCA/RABAT/
MARRAKESH Morocco
Morning sightseeing in Casablanca and
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Sightseeing. Drive to Agadir to rejoin ship
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LOW NOV 27/28 At Sea
JOIN THIS 4-WEEK SINGLE NOV 29 PRAIA Cape Verde Islands

NOV 30-DEC 5 At Sea
SUPPLEMENTS† DEC 6 SAO TOME
ODYSSEY TO DEC 7
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BOM BOM ISLAND Principe
At Sea – Crossing the Equator
THE CAPE OF DEC 10

DEC 11/12
DEC 13
LUANDA Angola
At Sea
WALVIS BAY Namibia
GOOD HOPE DEC 14

DEC 15
DEC 16-18
DEC 19
LUDERITZ Namibia
At Sea
CAPE TOWN South Africa
CAPE TOWN South Africa
overnight
31 days departing November 19, 2015 Transfer to Airport for flight home
AEG151119BR
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#Please note that bridge will not be possible during our overnight land tour from Casablanca to Agadir.
V OYAGES TO A NTIQUITY
10093
ABTA No.Y2206
TRANSFERS behaviour of some of their What can I say? She is
other members. Sniffing retiring as editor of English
CONTINUED
and snorting with a bad Bridge at the end of the JUST
cold, licking fingers before
pulling out a bidding-box
year. Has she really been
doing the job for 9 years?
DUPLICATE
card or a playing card and She will be sorely missed by BRIDGE
sometimes if the cards are the Union and its
new, over enthusiastically readership. A very hard act 2015
snapping them and even to follow. The good news is
more irritatingly, illegally that she has agreed to write
handling the contents of a The Memoirs of a Bridge
Now that I am land based, I bidding box by selecting a Editor for this publication,
am keeping going with the pass card and then putting commencing with the
red-suit transfers that I it back in the box. Too January 2016 issue.
talked about so earnestly much of this sort of thing
last month. Of course, I and you will find members TROUVILLE
have had to configure will begin to drift away,
imperceptibly at first, they Double and twins for four
QPlus 11 with these as part nights 11-15 February 2016
of my system. In view of my being quiet middle class
folk. In the last few months, at the lovely Trouville
conversion, I must make Hotel, Sandown, I.O.W.
careful note to ensure that at least three clubs have just
faded away. Club officers £399 per person. Full Wyndham Garden
QPlus 12 has red-suit board. Ferry fares included
transfers as the default should remind members of Grantham
the need for good manners in the package.
setting for Bernard Magee’s (formerly the Olde Barn)
Acol. As luck would have it, and encourage everyone to Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT
the very next day, someone rub along together for the GOFFIES STAMPS
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In the adjacent advert we British postage stamps at a
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configuration, do ring the lots of time at sea to listen class at 63p, still only 50p, Ashford North TN26 1AR
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practice in the supervised ( 0208 422 4906 or email
So far the opportunity to play sessions. An [email protected]
play transfers has only opportunity not to be See his advert on page 3. Holiday Inn
Newport NP18 2YG
come up a couple of times, missed. Go for it.
with QPlus reminding me AEGEAN 6-8 November £189
each time that my partner’s CHRISTMAS ODYSSEY
bid of 2♦ or 2♥ is a transfer, CRUISE On the back cover I am Chatsworth Hotel
eliminating my need to Worthing BN11 3DU
remember. You will On page 2 are the details of advertising the details of a
remember this was my the coming 2015 Christmas cruise on lovely Aegean 20-22 November £199
problem while playing with cruise. Need I say more? Odyssey. Still some singles
humans earlier this year. available with just a £100 27-29 November £199
supplement. Almost too
ELENA good to be true.
WHAT KILLS JERONIMIDIS Full Board
A CLUB No Single
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Every month and DUPLICATE 2015
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BERNARD MAGEE
TUTORIAL DVDs
1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks 11 Signals & Discards 21 Weak Twos
This seminar deals with declarer’s use of This seminar deals with Count, Attitude It is important to bid more in the modern
ruffing to make extra tricks and then looks and Suit-preference signals: aiming to get game and weak twos are an important
at how the defenders might counteract you working as a partnership in defence. choice for the competitive player. (104 mins.)
this. (74 mins.) (92 mins.)
22 Trump Control
2 Competitive Auctions 12 Endplay Handling the play of the hand when
This seminar focuses on competitive Bernard takes you through the basics of trumps break badly is an important attrib-
auctions from the perspective of the endplays before showing some hands ute: playing calmly and using a variety of
overcalling side and then from the opening where you can take extra tricks, then looks tactics to pave the way to success. (76 mins.)
side in the second part. (86 mins.) at how to avoid being endplayed. (80 mins.)
23 Sacrificing
3 Making the Most of High Cards 13 Hand Evaluation An exciting aspect of the auction is outbid-
This seminar helps declarer to use his high Going beyond just the point-count is ding your opponents and going down, but
cards more carefully and then looks at important. Reaching & making 3NT on 24 gaining by doing so. Learn to bid more
how defenders should care for their high HCP; and avoiding 3NT on 26 HCP when aggressively. (105 mins.)
cards. (83 mins.) there are only 7 or 8 tricks. (110 mins.)
24 Improving Bridge Memory
4 Identifying & Bidding Slams 14 Pre-Emptive Bidding Remembering every card is a dream for
The first half of this seminar identifies The art of pre-empting is so important most of us. However, learn ways in which to
when a slam might be on. The second in the modern game. Understanding the remember the important things. (90 mins.)
half covers some slam-bidding techniques. right hands to bid up on and realising the
(96 mins.) importance of position and vulnerability. 25 Defence as Partner
(96 mins.) of the Leader
5 Play & Defence of 1NT Contracts Defence is the hardest aspect of the game,
This seminar looks at the most common 15 Splinter & Cue Bids it is where most players can make great
and yet most feared of contracts: 1NT. Splinter bids are a vital tool to add to your progress. (104 mins.)
The first half looks at declaring 1NT and slam bidding armoury & try your hand at
the second part at defending. (88 mins.) Italian style cue bidding. (116 mins.) 26 Aggressive Bidding
at Duplicate Pairs
6 Doubling & Defence against 16 Avoidance Play Years ago, you needed 13 HCP to open
Doubled Contracts As declarer, an important tactic is to be the bidding and rarely competed for a
The first half of this seminar explores in control of the defenders: avoiding a partscore. Now the norm is to open lighter
penalty doubles and the second half particular defender getting the lead. As and compete for every hand. (114 mins.)
discusses the defence against doubled a defender, you can try to make sure the
contracts. (88 mins.) right player gets the lead. (88 mins.) 27 Strong Opening Bids
Managing your strong bids carefully can
7 Leads 17 Play & Defence at Pairs give you great joy, particularly when you
Bernard takes you through the basic leads Duplicate Pairs is the game most of us have a neat bidding sequence to a lovely
and the importance of your lead choice. play and getting used to the tactics will slam. (122 mins.)
If you start to think about your partner’s make a lot of difference to your perfor-
hand, you will get better results. (95 mins.) mance. (90 mins.) 28 Take-Out Doubles
Bernard deals with basic take-out doubles
8 Losing Trick Count 18 Thinking Defence and their responses, then progresses to talk
A way of hand evaluation for when you By far the hardest aspect of bridge, but if about competing for every partscore. (99 mins.)
find a fit. Bernard deals with the basics of you can improve your defence your results
the LTC then looks at advanced methods to will quickly improve. Learn how to think 29 Suit Establishment
hone your bidding. (92 mins.) through the defence. (87 mins.) in Suit Contracts
5-card suits (and longer) are powerful things:
9 Making a Plan as Declarer 19 Defensive Plan Bernard tries to get across his passion for
Bernard explains how to make a plan Looking at your own hand, then at dummy them by showing you how to develop your
then expands on how to make the most and envisaging how partner’s hand will extra tricks through establishment. (81 mins.)
of your long suits, both in no-trumps and allow you to make a plan for the defence.
suit contracts. (87 mins.) (112 mins.) 30 Landy / Defending Against
a 1NT Opening
10 Responding to 1NT 20 Further Into the Auction Competing against a 1NT opening allows
This seminar deals with Transfers and The first two bids of an auction are usually you to challenge for the partscore and
Stayman in detail. The 1NT opening comes easy, but beyond that the complications disrupts your opponents’ conventions.
up frequently, so having a good, accurate increase. Learn how to ‘talk’ to your part- Bernard talks about competing over 1NT in
system of responses is paramount. (93 mins.) ner during the bidding. (95 mins.) general and then about Landy. (85 mins.)
£25 EACH. PICK AND MIX. A BOX OF ANY 6. £105

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BRIDGE with Bernard Magee
BREAKS PROGRAMME
♦ Full-board ♦ Two seminars*
FRIDAY
♦ All rooms with ♦ Two supervised
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July 24-26 Thinking Defence 1745 to 1830

Please book ..... places for me at £....... per person,
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Single .... Double .... Twin ....
1830 to 2000
Name of Hotel/Centre............................................................. Dinner
2015 BRIDGE 1
Date(s) .................................................................................... DUPLICATE PAIRS
Inn on the Prom
Mr/Mrs/Miss ......................................................................... St Annes On Sea, FY8 1LU SATURDAY
Address................................................................................... SEPTEMber 18-20 0800 to 0930
Finding Slams Breakfast
................................................................................................ 1000 to 1230
SEMINAR &
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of SET HANDS
Email ..................................................................................... (tea & coffee at 1100)
1230 to 1330
Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, Blunsdon House Hotel
Cold Buffet Lunch
but we will do our best to oblige). Swindon SN26 7AS
1400 to 1645
OCTOBER 9-11 Better Defence BRIDGE 2
................................................................................................ OCTOBER 16-18 Doubles
TEAMS of FOUR
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................................................................................................
2015 BRIDGE 3
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28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent Worthing BN11 3DU
together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you 0800 to 0930
require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker. OctOBER 30 – NovEMBER 1 Breakfast
Sacrificing
1000 to 1230
SEMINAR &
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(tea & coffee at 1100)
1230 to 1400
Expiry: ................................. CVV......................... Issue No.................... Sunday Lunch
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Page 8 BRIDGE July 2015

More Tips from Bernard Magee
Bernard Magee’s Tips
Always contemplate for Better Bridge
establishing a long suit 65 invaluable tips in 160 pages
Bidding Tips 33 A low lead usually promises
I love long suits: they so often the ♥J and lead a diamond 1 Always consider bidding length and an honour
spades if you can 34 When declaring 1NT,
give you a chance for an to the ace and ruff a dia- 2 Bid more aggressively try to be patient
extra trick or tricks. However, mond, a spade to the ace when non-vulnerable 35 Duck an early round when
if you are going to make the and another diamond ruff, 3 Always double when the you are short of entries
opponents steal your deal 36 Lead up to your
most of them, you do need followed by a spade to 4 A take-out double shows two-honour holding
to start early. Establishing a the king. With both play- shortage in the suit doubled 37 Do not always assume
5 ‘Borrow’ a king a suit will break well
long suit will often require a ers following to spades
to keep the auction open 38 Drop a high card
lot of entries, so your play at and diamonds you know 6 After a penalty double, to put off the defence
trick one could be crucial: that your plan is working. don’t let the opponents escape 39 Play your highest card to tempt
7 Halve the value of a singleton a defender to cover
You ruff a third diamond
honour when opening 40 Draw trumps first unless you
and finally draw the last 8 Only add length-points for a have a good reason not to
♠ Q J 10 9 8 7 ♠ A K trump. A heart to the king suit that might be useful 41 Do not waste your trumps
9 Isolated honours are bad 42 Consider leaving a lone defen-
♥ A Q J 5 ♥ K 4 allows you to make your fifth
N except in partner’s suit sive trump winner out
♦ 2 W E ♦ A 8 7 5 4 diamond and discard the ♣9. 10 Use the jump shift sparingly
♣ A 9
S
♣ 6 5 3 2 Finally you cross to the ♣A 11 Consider passing and letting Defence Tips
partner decide 43 Keep four-card suits intact
and take your two remaining whenever possible
12 You need two top honours
6♠ by West. Lead: ♥10. heart winners. 13 tricks made for a second-seat pre-empt 44 Give count on declarer’s leads
and a well-deserved top. 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
You are in a great slam well in no-trumps when dummy is put down
15 One stop in the opponents’ suit 47 High cards are for killing
contract and there should Dealer South. E/W Game.
can be enough for no-trumps other high cards
be little trouble making 12 ♠ 6 2 16 Keep your two-level 48 Do not waste
tricks: six spades, four hearts ♥ 10 9 8 7 responses up to strength intermediate cards
17 Use your normal methods in 49 Pick two key suits to
and the two minor suit aces. ♦ K J 9 3
response to a 1NT overcall concentrate on during the play
However, is there a chance ♣ Q 8 7 18 Don’t overcall just because 50 If in doubt, cover an honour
for a thirteenth trick? ♠ Q J 10 9 8 7 ♠ A K you have opening points with an honour
19 Overcalls can be quite weak, 51 If a lead is from two honours, it
Contemplate the idea ♥ A Q J 5 ♥ K 4 is best not to cover
N so be prudent when responding
of establishing your long ♦ 2 W E ♦ A 8 7 5 4 20 Weak overcalls must be based 52 Keep your honour to kill
S
diamond suit: if the suit ♣ A 9 ♣ 6 5 3 2 on strong suits dummy’s honour
21 6NT requires 33 points 53 Try to show partner your
breaks 4-3, then you will ♠ 5 4 3 solid honour sequences
not 4 aces and 4 kings
require three ruffs to estab- ♥ 6 3 2 22 Raise immediately, if weak 54 Lead the normal card when
lish the suit, which, in turn, ♦ Q 10 6 with four-card support leading partner’s suit
23 In a competitive auction, 55 Never underlead an ace at trick
means you will need four ♣ K J 10 4 one in a suit contract
show support immediately
entries to make the suit. You 24 Bid to the level of your fit 56 Be wary of leading from
always require one more quickly with weak hands four cards to only one honour
25 With strength and support, 57 Lead a higher card from
entry than the number of Playing duplicate pairs, every a suit without an honour
use the opponents’ bid suit
ruffs because you need to trick counts: making overtricks 58 Lead through ‘beatable’
get back to your winner. does make a lot of difference strength and up to weakness
Declarer Play Tips 59 Cash your winners before try-
You have four entries, but and it is so often the case that 26 When your contract depends ing for a trump promotion
you must keep your ♥K intact. it will be a long suit that gives on a finesse, think ‘endplay’ 60 Be patient when defending
27 Consider what a defender 1NT
You win the first trick with you the extra trick. ■ 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
Mr Bridge Premium Quality Cards cashing your winners
30 Use your opponents’
62 Do not put important cards
at either end of your hand
bidding to your advantage 63 Avoid being declarer when
Standard Faces with or without bar codes.
31 Avoid the ‘baddie’ you are dummy
Unboxed. gaining the lead 64 Before you lead, ask for a
32 Use the Rule of Seven when review of the auction
6 red / 6 blue £19.95.
holding up in no-trumps 65 Enjoy the Game!
30 red / 30 blue £60
Available from The London Bridge Centre. £14 including postage and packing from Mr Bridge,
( 020 7288 1305 www.bridgeshop.com Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. ( 01483 489961

Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions
Can I Pass
a Reverse?
Q
What, if 3NT Maximum (8-9) your partner’s overcall be passed. A jump to
anything, should unsuitable for any is always understood 4NT could be possible
I rebid if the of the other bids to show at least five. in some circumstances
auction starts as follows: 4♥ As for 3♥ but maximum What should we but seems a bit crude.
have done? If I have another
Me Partner Only the bids defined Peter Stonehouse by email. 4- or 5-card strong
1♥ as minimum or already suit, should I bid that
A
1NT 2♠ game are non-forcing. Since an overcall first and then jump in
? You have not promised itself indicates at hearts after that?
3-2 in the majors with 1NT. least a five-card Bruce Paul by email.
As my first bid of 1NT For all partner knows, you suit, a change of suit by
A
described my holding might be 3-1 or 2-2 or overcaller’s partner also Having a special bid
of no 4-card majors (playing 4-card majors) 3-3. indicates at least a five-card to show a game-
and 6 HCP, I passed suit. Partner’s raise of your forcing hand with
preferring spades to ♣♦♥♠ presumed five-card suit with primary support is a good
hearts as I held 2 hearts three-card support is normal. idea. If you have to bid
Q
and 3 spades. There I wonder if you You should have bid 2♣. A another suit first, partner will
were several groans could help on the bid of opener’s suit indicates not know how good your
at the table, but I had following hand fair values (say 10+ points) support is. As you say, a
told my partner what I we played at duplicate. and either support for jump to 4NT is going to be
held: 3-2-4-4 shape. partner’s suit or a very strong too crude on most hands.
Michael Coggins, hand with tolerance for it. If you play in a tournament,
Pleasley, Derbyshire. ♠ A 7 2 Some people call this an you will find that almost
♥ J 7 6 2 N unassuming cue bid because everyone uses a 2NT
A
W E
An opener’s ♦ K Q 8 3 S it does not promise a specific response to show a game-
reverse after a ♣ K 4 holding in opener’s suit – you forcing raise. You do not
one-level response might or might not have a need to worry about the loss
creates a one-round stopper or control in it. of a natural limit bid; with
force, so responder does West North East South such a hand you can bid
need to find another bid. 1♣ 1♦ Pass ♣♦♥♠ a suit first and then rebid
Responder’s rebids are 1♥ Pass 2♥ All Pass 2NT. If you currently play a
Q
along the following lines: Partner opens, 2NT response as Baron, I
My partner had 11pts say 1♥, and recommend that you switch
3♣ 5 or 6 goodish clubs but only ♥A-Q-3. As I have 4- or to Jacoby (the usual name
3♦ 5 or 6 goodish trumps did not split 5-card heart support for the 2NT response to
diamonds I went badly off. and 16+ points so show support), certainly in
3♥ 3 hearts or at least H-x I said I thought she had a slam looks on. response to a major. Hands
3♠ 3 good spades four hearts otherwise I want to show my on which you can make a
2NT Minimum (6-7) she would have rebid her support for hearts but slam because your side has
unsuitable for any diamonds. She said that a bid of 2♥, 3♥ or 4♥ a fit are rather more
of the other bids bidding a new suit over is too weak and could common than those

Ask Julian continued How should we been a quantitative best response?
have bid it? bid. Should I have just Doreen Parrington by email.
Ray Andrews by email. bid 6♣ and hoped for
A
the best or is there an Nothing is ideal. I
A
on which you can make a You need at least alternative bid I could would use Stayman,
slam based on high cards. 15 HCP for a high have made? My partner hoping to hear 2♥
There are two standard reverse. I suppose held a maximum (14) or 2♠ from partner. You can
treatments for opener’s you might shade that slightly for her no-trump bid. raise 2♥ to 4♥ or rebid 2NT
rebids after the Jacoby with a 6-5 shape or 5-5 Jane Boszormenyi by email. over 2♠. If partner bids 2♦,
2NT response. The first, with strong suits but not with this is trickier. You might
A
but probably less common, 5-4. Even with 15-16 and In traditional methods pass or bid 2NT depending
is for suits to be natural. 5-4, you might do better you do not have a upon the scoring method,
The second is for opener to to rebid 2NT rather than good bid. You really vulnerability and your mood.
show a shortage. Playing introduce your second suit want 3♣ to be forcing, but
4-card majors and a at the three level. With your that is not the case. A cue bid ♣♦♥♠
weak no-trump, opener’s actual hand, partner’s 2♦ of 3♦ would create a force
Q
rebids can be as follows: response in your singleton but is unlikely to help much. This is deal 4 in
is hardly encouraging You could jump to 6♣ as a Bernard Magee’s
3 new suit: because it suggests a misfit gamble if you feel you are Acol Bidding
shortage (singleton or void) or at least a partial misfit. going to have to guess the Quiz Bridge 148:
3 agreed suit: Although your partner final contract. Your partner
waiting, no shortage, might have judged to might well have two aces
unsuitable for other bids pass 4♥ – either you were and you would then have a ♠ 6 2
3NT: minimum or you had no fighting chance of making it. ♥ A 9 8 6 3 N
W E
strong balanced hand spade control (because you I strongly recommend ♦ A 5 S
with only four trumps did not cue bid 3♠) – your playing the Lebensohl ♣ A K Q 6
4 new suit: 3♣ rebid is really to blame convention in this situation.
strong second suit for the disaster. I recommend If you play in a tournament,
4 agreed suit: the sequence 1♥-2♦-2♥-4♥. almost everyone uses West North East South
minimum and no shortage Lebensohl. Many club players 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass
♣♦♥♠ use it too. This convention ?
♣♦♥♠ has one special bid: 2NT. The
Q
My partner and 2NT bid says, ‘please bid 3♣, What do you think of
Q
Even though this I were playing I probably have a hand that a 1NT rebid for West,
opening hand at a regular wishes to compete in a suit showing 15-17 points
(West) doesn’t club night and I held lower ranking than their suit.’ and a balanced hand?
have the high card the following hand: The loss of an invitational David Register by email.
points, does it warrant 2NT is small because you
A
the 3♣ high reverse? My can double on such hands. A 1NT rebid is indeed
partner said it should ♠ K Playing Lebensohl, you a possible alternative
be stronger – hence the ♥ A Q 6 N have two ways of showing to 2♣. You do have
W E
4NT over my 4♥ and ♦ 6 S clubs. You can either bid 3♣ stoppers in the minors and,
the final contract of 5♥. ♣ K Q 10 9 6 5 4 2 directly, which is strong – or yes, it would describe your
This was one off (the you can bid 2NT and pass point count. The fast winners,
diamonds were 5-1). partner’s forced 3♣, which however, suggest a suit
West North East South is weaker. With your actual contract. If fewer of the values
1NT 2♦ hand, you bid a forcing 3♣. were in the long suits or if
West East ? the hand had more queens
♠ K 8 2 ♠ J 10 ♣♦♥♠ and jacks, a 1NT rebid would
♥ K J 9 8 2 ♥ 10 6 3 I bid 5♣, my partner be more attractive. This
Q
♦ 2 ♦ A K Q 8 5 4 passed and I made Partner opens particular hand has only two
♣ A Q 10 4 ♣ K 8 13 tricks, although I 1NT. I hold 11 of its points in lower honours
should have made only points with (the ♣Q) and only four of its
12. We were missing a 0-4-5-4 shape. points (the ♦A) in the short
West North East South just the diamond ace. What would be the suits. ■
1♥ Pass 2♦ Pass How do we reach 6♣?
3♣ Pass 3♥ Pass We do not play Gerber
E-mail your questions for Julian to:
4♥ Pass 4NT Pass and I could not bid 4NT
[email protected]
5♥ All Pass as that would have

Improve Your Defence with Andrew Kambites
Leading
A
Trump
W
hen in doubt lead a trump. West North East South leads his second trump. Declarer is
This is undoubtedly an 3♠ now limited to seven spade tricks in
oversimplification but Dbl 4♠ 6♥ Pass his hand and one heart ruff in dummy.
there are many advantages to leading Pass 6♠ Dbl All Pass The defenders may be slightly
a trump. disappointed with +800 when they
A trump lead from a holding of First, East could have bid 5♥. He bid would almost certainly have made
three small cards tends to be passive 6♥ with the expectation that it would +1430 in 6♥ but that is the best
and can also often fulfil the positive make. East-West clearly have the large they can do. Both sides should feel
purpose of preventing declarer ruffing majority of the points. reasonably satisfied. Perhaps North
losers in dummy. Second, North-South didn’t choose might point out that if South underled
In this article, I will look at types of to be in 6♠ because they thought it his ♠A at trick 1, North could defeat
bidding sequences which particularly would make. Originally, North wanted 6♥ by giving South a diamond ruff,
suggest a trump lead. to play in 4♠, maybe as a sacrifice but we all know that this wouldn’t
before East-West could compare notes. happen in real life.
Lead a trump He bid 6♠ only when East bid 6♥.
against a grand slam The obvious conclusion is that
North believes 6♥ is likely to make, Dealer South. East/West Game.
If opponents have bid to a sensible and is sacrificing. This is reinforced ♠ K J 9
grand slam there is almost certainly by the vulnerability. North-South are ♥ 5
nothing sensible you can do except not vulnerable so any sacrifice will be ♦ 9 8 7 3 2
avoid throwing tricks away. relatively cheap. It is likely that North- ♣ 5 4 3 2
A trump lead from a holding South have a lot of spades and not ♠ 4 3 ♠ 8
of three small cards fits the bill much else. ♥ A K J 2 N ♥ Q 10 6 4 3
W E
admirably: passive and it just might Now try to imagine where South’s ♦ Q 5 4 S ♦ A K J 10 6
inconvenience declarer if he has any tricks in 6♠ are likely to come from. ♣ K Q 10 7 ♣ A J
cross-ruffing in mind. South is highly unlikely to get many ♠ A Q 10 7 6 5 2
tricks from outside spades. He will ♥ 9 8 7
Lead a trump if declarer have to try to make as many spade ♦ Void
is clearly sacrificing tricks as possible: in particular any ♣ 9 8 6
against your contract chance he has to ruff losers in dummy
will be welcome. So that gives a good
What thoughts do you have looking at clue as to West’s priority in making the On the other hand, suppose West
the sequence in the next column? At opening lead. The defenders should starts with the ♥A against 6♠. Seeing
this stage don’t worry about the layout get in as many trump leads as possible. dummy he would quickly switch to a
of cards. On the hand in the next column, trump but it is too late. Declarer would
South is the dealer, East-West are suppose West leads a trump. North win, cross-ruff hearts and diamonds
vulnerable against non-vulnerable. wins and plays a heart. West wins and and lose only 500.

Leading a Trump continued What would you lead from this hand Declarer now has nowhere to go for
after the sequence shown below? his tenth trick.
Good and bad holdings

♠ A K 10 9 for a trump lead
Lead a trump against hands ♥ 8 6 4 N
W E
where declarer or dummy has ♦ J 10 9 8 S Often leads that are excellent as side
announced a two-suiter and his ♣ Q 5 suits make poor trump leads and
partner has picked one of the suits vice versa. I finish this article by
considering a few common cases.
What should West lead with the hand South North With ♠A-2, lead the ♠A followed by
below after the auction shown? 1♠ 1NT the ♠2.
2♥ 3♥ With ♠A-3-2, the ♠2 is a good
4♥ lead. I have argued strongly against
♠ A 7 underleading a side suit ace against a
♥ J 7 6 N Admittedly, leading the ace from an suit contract because the layout might
W E
♦ Q J 10 9 S ace-king combination is usually a very be something like:
♣ K Q 10 5 attractive lead but look at the bidding.
South has shown five spades and four
hearts. The purpose of your spade hon- ♠ 10 8 6 4
West North East South ours is to take declarer’s spade honours. N
1NT 2♣1 Pass 2♠ Leading the ♠A shows you haven’t lis- ♠ A 3 2 W E ♠ Q J 9 5
S
All Pass tened to the bidding. However, you
1
At least 5-4 shape in the major suits. should not just sit back and assume ♠ K 7
your spade tricks will present them-
If you examine the layout below, you selves to you on a plate. North showed
will see that if West starts with the very little enthusiasm in responding Any spade lead from you would
♠A and ♠7, declarer has no eighth 1NT to 1♠. His interest picked up con- concede a cheap trick. If spades are
trick. When East gains the lead with siderably when he heard that South trumps, this sort of layout is impos-
the ♥A, he perseveres with his last had four hearts. It would not surprise sible. Leading the ♠2 has two advan-
trump. It is frequently the case that you in the least if dummy turned out to tages. First, you take no risk of crash-
if an opponent shows two suits in the have a singleton spade as well as four ing partner’s ♠K singleton. Second, if
bidding, his partner has support (or at hearts. There is a very real danger that partner has a small doubleton he can
least tolerance) for one and shortage in declarer will look to ruff his spade los- return a trump if he gets the lead and
the other. This leaves declarer needing ers in dummy. Here is the layout: you can play a third round of trumps.
to ruff some of the losers in his second Leading the ♠2 from ♠K-3-2 is sur-
suit in the hand with short trumps. prisingly safe. If your ♠K is sitting after
Defenders can make life difficult for ♠ 6 the ♠A it will still score. If dummy has
him by leading trumps. ♥ K Q 7 2 the ace, the king was probably never
♦ K 6 4 3 going to make a trick. Leading from a
♣ 9 6 4 3 holding like ♠Q-3-2 (or ♠J-3-2) is very
♠ Q J 10 9 5 ♠ A K 10 9 ♠ 5 4 2 dangerous. If you lead from ♠Q-3-2
♥ K Q 9 5 ♥ 8 6 4 N ♥ A 3 you will probably never make your ♠Q,
W E
♦ A 5 3 ♦ J 10 9 8
S
♦ 7 5 2 and in particular consider this layout,
♣ 4 ♣ Q 5 ♣ J 10 8 7 2 where a sure trump trick disappears:
♠ A 7 ♠ 6 4 2 ♠ Q J 8 7 3
♥ J 7 6 N ♥ A 10 8 4 2 ♥ J 10 9 5
W E
♦ Q J 10 9 ♦ 6 2 ♦ A Q ♠ K 10 5 4
S
♣ K Q 10 5 ♣ A 9 7 ♣ A K N
♠ K 8 3 ♠ Q 3 2 W E ♠ J 6
S
♥ 3
♦ K 8 7 4 Declarer has five easy winners in the ♠ A 9 8 7
♣ J 8 6 3 2 minor suits. His contract will depend
on whether he can make five trump
tricks. West should lead a trump. Finally, it is highly dangerous to lead
In particular, lead a trump East wins the ♥A and returns a heart. a singleton trump. Partner is quite
when declarer has bid two Declarer tries to prepare his cross ruff likely to have a holding like ♠Q-6-5.
suits and you have a powerful by leading a spade to his ♠Q, but West Left to his own devices declarer would
holding in his other suit takes the ♠A and leads his last trump. probably have played for the drop. ■

David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics
Are Agreements
Allowed over
Insufficient Bids?
Q
This question in clubs. If they do decide to they might have defended penalties are the same at
concerns an accept the lead, partner is differently and if they have rubber bridge, Chicago
insufficient fully justified in deciding why lost a trick or tricks, again the bridge, four deal bridge and
bid by an opponent. and using the information. director will restore them. duplicate bridge and this
It is in two parts: You may have agreements Ignore people who say, includes the 50 points ‘for
1. Would it be legal over an insufficient bid ‘everyone is responsible the insult’ when a doubled
to convey information unless the sponsoring for dummy.’ It is not known contract is made, or 100
to partner by accepting organisation forbids it. In the where this saying came from, points if it was redoubled.
or not accepting an British Isles such agreements but it is not true. Dummy 2. Yes, there are automatic
insufficient bid? are nearly always legal. is required as a matter of penalties for revoking (the
2. Would it be legal Note that in the USA such law to put down his thirteen modern name for reneging)
to have an agreement agreements are not legal. cards, sorted correctly, so which apply whether the
as to what bids mean they can be seen and is at player who revoked gained
after an insufficient bid ♣♦♥♠ fault if this does not happen. or not. The idea is to
is accepted, as long as persuade players to follow
Q
it is not contrary to the Declarer is play- ♣♦♥♠ the most basic rule of bridge
partnership’s normal ing in spades. there is, namely that you
Q
agreements? For exam- Nobody notices 1. Playing must follow suit. In this case,
ple, could a partnership that the dummy, when Chicago, I where he did not win the trick
agree that 1♥-(1♦)-1♥ tabled, has only twelve understood by revoking, you will lose
shows a hand that would cards showing. During there was no penalty one trick at the end of the
have stretched to a the play, declarer ruffs of 50 points for the hand, unless neither of you
competitive raise after a diamond in dummy. insult when doubled won a trick after the revoke.
1♥-2♦, whilst 1♥-(1♦)- Later, he discovers a and this was only played
2♥ is stronger, show- small diamond that was in rubber bridge. ♣♦♥♠
ing a full value raise? stuck behind dummy’s 2. My partner reneged
Q
Paul de Weerd, Isle of Man. spades. How should on one round by not We play
the director rule? following with a trump. duplicate bridge
A
Whenever you are Nicholas Beswick, Brynmawr. I noticed, but kept quiet. and recently the
given a choice by On the next round of boards were played in
A
a director or by Dummy has trumps, he played his last the opposite direction,
the laws, the choice you revoked, but there trump and the renege ie North pointed South
make indicates something is no automatic trick was noted. He did not and vice versa. This was
to partner and he is penalty for dummy. However, gain from the renege not noticed until after the
perfectly entitled to use that if the declarer has gained so is he still penalised game had been played.
information, which is covered from it, the director ‘restores and, if so, what would I was advised that it
by the wording of law 16A1C. equity’, ie he changes the be the penalty? made no difference and
For example, if declarer score to what it would have Catherine Thorley, Worthing. this happened quite
leads from the wrong hand, been without the revoke. often. However, although
A
either defender may accept The defenders may also 1. I am afraid your the lead came from the
the lead, despite the fact that have been misled: if they understanding is same hand it was from
this never seems to happen had seen the correct dummy wrong. The basic a different player

Ask David continued would have meant that card. Is that legal? some problem, perhaps
the match was drawn, Andrew Scott by email. remembering the bidding.
whilst 350 points would
A
have given us victory It is illegal to vary ♣♦♥♠
and, therefore, the and bragging rights! one’s tempo for
Q
lead may not have Edward Adam, the purpose of At various charity
been the same. This Cheadle, Cheshire. disconcerting an opponent, events where I
reinforced my thoughts so if your LHO deliberately help out, there is
A
as only one other Yes, they are additive, delayed despite having constant disagreement
score was the same. so long as the part- a hand not worth a bid about Chicago scoring
Could I have your score was made since then what he did is illegal. and how movements
comments please? the finish of the last game. Similarly, pausing during should run. Please
Charles Cane by email. So both sides get 300 for the play as though you had would you advise.
any game they have made, a decision when you have 1. Should each
A
It should not happen and also 50 for any part- no decision is also illegal. partnership swap
quite often. All score they have made since However, while this is the after every four hands,
the players have a the last game was made. law, there are certain other ensuring each player
responsibility to make sure considerations. First of all, plays with everyone else
the board is correct on the ♣♦♥♠ you say he had only five on the table during the
table. Of course, in theory, points, but, if he had a very session? We have one
Q
things are different because Last week, we distributional hand, he might organiser who insists
different people think were playing have a reason to contemplate you swap only after eight
differently, but as far as the rubber bridge bidding anyway. I assume hands and therefore you
game is concerned it is a for money. I opened 1NT this was not the case? rarely get to play with
perfectly valid result. As far and the opponent on You are playing rubber the fourth person on
as the scorer is concerned it my left delayed bidding bridge, so there is no director your table. This is
makes no difference whether (implying values). He (except in a very few rubber particularly annoying if
people sat North or South. then passed. My partner clubs), so it is not obvious they are the strongest
Thus, there is no reason bid and we found what you can do about it. Of player of the foursome.
not to score it normally. ourselves in 6♠. Each course, if your LHO thinks it is 2. Scoring. Should you
time my LHO delayed an acceptable tactic because total your plus scores and
♣♦♥♠ bidding and then after he does not know the laws, subtract your totalled
the 6♠ bid delayed for a you could explain to him, minus scores? Again we
Q
Playing bridge particularly long time (as possibly by showing him this have an organiser who
with friends, we if he was contemplating a reply in your copy of BRIDGE. wants you to total only
stopped with an double). He had only five Getting any redress otherwise your plus scores and
unfinished rubber. We points and was psyching, is unlikely and many players ignore the minus scores.
had game, together with which I thought was who play rubber bridge, Sue Hanrahan by email.
a part-score. The bonus wrong and illegal. Is it? especially good players,
A
for a side that is game I would also like your accept unethical behaviour It is completely
up is 300 points whilst opinion on small delays as just one of those things. standard to switch
that for a part-score when playing, that might There is also another after four deals.
is 50 points. Are these imply you are deciding point, and that is that some Chicago and four deal
additive? 300 points on a high card or a low inexperienced players have bridge were both invented
a habit of pausing for no to provide rubbers of exactly
apparent reason. While four deals, not eight.
they should not, it is just I do not understand your
DUPLICATE BRIDGE not worth bothering about.
You get to know who they
organiser at all. Does he
really believe that if a player
RULES SIMPLIFIED are and you just accept that
any hesitation from such a
makes a fool of himself
and loses 1,700 it should
(otherwise known as the Yellow Book) player is meaningless. You not score against him? Of
cannot really teach them course the minus scores get
only not to hesitate because they subtracted from the plus
by John Rumbelow and
revised by David Stevenson £595 have, in their own minds, scores. ■
E-mail your questions on bridge laws to:

Available from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 [email protected]

Bridge Adventures by David Holden and Roy Rowe
Holmes is
Misquoted
H
olmes, much to Watson’s mind worthy of my time. Instead we was already a competent player at the
concern, strode back and just wait for another trivial case. I Diogenes club. Many thought that
forth across his room, only cannot live without brain-work. What Sherlock’s deductive powers were
stopping for a few moments to stare else is there to live for? Stand at the inferior to those of his elder brother,
distractedly out of the window down window here. Was ever such a dreary, but Mycroft was somewhat lacking in
at the cabs plying their trade along dismal, unprofitable world?’ application, content in his mysterious
Baker Street. Then he retraced his role in the Civil Service.
steps back to his dresser and gave The problem was finding a fourth.
his attention to the syringe and vial He considered Inspector Lestrade
of cocaine which would relieve the but knew Holmes had a pretty low
tedium and let his mind slip into opinion of Lestrade’s cognitive
oblivion. Watson, always sensitive to abilities. Watson recalled that Mrs
his friend’s lapses into boredom and Hudson sometimes played whist with
worse, broke the silence, ‘I say Holmes, her neighbours and was somewhat
did you read the item in the Times this relieved when she readily accepted the
morning on how brilliantly you solved offer of learning and playing the new
the mystery of the theft of the Duchess game. At least Sherlock would be more
of Brookdale’s emerald necklace at her respectful to Mrs Hudson, for he knew
party last weekend?’ how fortunate he was to have such an
Sherlock replied ‘Pah! Greatly excellent cook and housekeeper.
exaggerated. It was obvious that one of ‘I hear there is a new card game Thus, two evenings later, the four
her guests must have been responsible. going the round of the clubs, Holmes,
All I had to do was eliminate the apparently quite a thinking man’s
innocents. Elimination was the key. game. They call it bridge and they
Of course, the miscreant, her nephew, say it will replace whist. I have tried
with his odd shoe laces was clearly in it a few times and it can be quite
need of money and an obvious suspect. demanding, even you might find it a
You know my method. It is founded bit of a challenge. Have a look at this
upon the observation of trifles. He pamphlet explaining the game. What
was no mastermind. Like all amateur do you say?’ asked Watson.
and most professional criminals, it ‘Why not’ replied Holmes, ‘anything
was child’s play to get him to give the is better than counting cabbies’, and
game away. I just had to announce he took the pamphlet and studied it
the necklace had been found and off for a while.
he went to check his hiding place. As An hour later, Holmes, having
instructed, you followed and he was absorbed the rules, announced it was were gathered and after an excellent
caught red-handed. I sometimes think a game with certain possibilities for supper prepared by Mrs Hudson they
they actually want to help you catch a few hours’ diversion for a cerebral settled down to play.
them. They seem willing to become man and challenged Watson to set Initially Mrs Hudson partnered
your ally in solving their crimes. It up a game. Watson gave it some Watson against the brothers. As to be
would be so much more satisfying to thought, then contacted Sherlock’s expected the latters’ deductive powers
have to deal with a criminal with a brother Mycroft, who Watson knew led to an optimal performance, in

Adventures continued nicely done, but you were quite lucky commenting, ‘You might also make
that Mycroft held that singleton ♥K.’ only 11, so just concentrate on making
Mrs Hudson, blushing slightly at 12’.
particular, their defence was the praise from the distinguished Mycroft, his suspicions now
immaculate, but to no avail as the brothers, replied, ‘Thank you confirmed, rebuked Sherlock
cards favoured Watson. So it was gentlemen, it was perhaps not likely pointedly with, ‘That’s enough
that Watson and Mrs Hudson won that the ♥K was singleton, but it was guidance Sherlock, I think the good
the first rubber, much to Sherlock’s the only hope. After all, Dr Watson Doctor has had more than enough
disappointment. had already shown up with 11 points, assistance already.’
The second rubber saw Mrs Hudson and could not possibly have that king Watson drew trumps ending in
partnering Sherlock and, on what or he would have bid.’ dummy, and played a heart finessing
would be the deciding hand, Mrs Sherlock added to Watson, ‘How the ♥Q. It lost, Mycroft played another
Hudson showed her ability as a card often have I said to you that when diamond, won perforce in dummy.
player. At game all, Watson dealt the you have eliminated the impossible, Watson then played a club, finessing
following: whatever remains, however again and was promptly defeated
improbable, must be the truth?’ when Mycroft showed up with ♣K.
The final rubber with Watson Watson stated, ‘That was unfortunate
Dealer West. Game All. partnering Holmes became a drawn- that both missing kings were with
♠ A K 6 4 out affair. With both sides vulnerable Mycroft.’ Sherlock disdainfully
♥ A 6 4 there was a series of part-scores and added, ‘To have lost to ♥K was hardly
♦ K 4 3 penalties as both pairings sought unfortunate considering the bidding,
♣ 10 9 7 to complete the rubber. Much to to lose to both kings was downright
♠ J 3 ♠ 10 9 8 7 Watson’s dismay, Sherlock was carelessness.’
N
♥ 8 7 5 3 2
W E
♥ K showing signs of boredom and had There followed a simple hand,
♦ J 10 9 S ♦ Q 8 6 5 momentarily adjourned and had played in 1NT and made with ease by
♣ A K Q ♣ 8 4 3 2 discretely partaken of his cocaine, Mrs Hudson completing the rubber
♠ Q 5 2 claiming he was getting a fresh pack and the bridge for the evening. Mrs
♥ Q J 10 9 of cards. Sherlock returned and dealt Hudson and Mycroft departed leaving
♦ A 7 2 the following hand, barely suppressing Watson (on his fourth glass of whisky)
♣ J 6 5 a self-satisfied smile. and Sherlock to muse over the game.
Watson said, ‘Shame about the slam,
but I could reasonably have expected
West North East South Dealer North. Game All. at least one finesse to have worked.’
Watson Sherlock Mycroft Mrs Hudson ♠ J 7 6 2 To which Holmes answered, ‘On
Pass 1♠ Pass 2NT ♥ 6 4 the contrary Watson, your play and
Pass 3NT All Pass ♦ A K Q expectations were far from reasoned
♣ 10 6 5 3 or reasonable; but in truth I guess it
The bidding was obviously simple, the ♠ Void ♠ 9 8 5 was partly my fault, I should never
parties having agreed to open 1NT ♥ K J 10 9 8 7 2 N ♥ 5 3 have dealt you that ♥Q. Without it you
only with at least 16 points. However, ♦ J 10 9 W E ♦ 6 5 4 3 might have just given up a heart and
S
the contract was reasonable. ♣ K 8 2 ♣ J 9 7 4 made the slam.’
Watson started off with his three ♠ A K Q 10 4 3 ‘What! You deliberately dealt me the
top clubs and then played the ♦J. Mrs ♥ A Q ♥Q? How did you know? You have not
Hudson paused for a while, analysing ♦ 8 7 2 been up to your conjuring tricks again?
the situation. She then cashed two ♣ A Q No wonder Mycroft’s suspicions were
top spades, thought for a moment aroused.’ exclaimed Watson.
on seeing Watson’s ♠J appear, then ‘I was bored, Watson, and, wanting
played the ♥A, dropping Mycroft’s West North East South the game over I used my marked deck
♥K and brought the contract home Mycroft Sherlock Mrs Hudson Watson to get a quick conclusion,’ confessed
with four hearts, three spades and two Pass Pass 2♠ Holmes, ‘I thought I would give you
diamonds. 3♥ 6♠ All Pass a spectacular hand to finish. With
‘Well played Mrs Hudson,’ hindsight, I should have gone for the
exclaimed Sherlock. Mycroft eyed Sherlock with a more mundane. No harm was done
‘Indeed, well played, shame the good suspicious stare and then led the ♦J. since you failed anyway.’
Doctor gave the game away by playing Watson, expressing his pleasure at ‘But the slam could never be made
all his honours,’ added Mycroft. the sight of dummy, said, ‘We might with both kings offside?’ Watson
Watson, less aware of declarer’s even make all 13 tricks here partner.’ asked.
prowess, and a little confused by This remark caused Sherlock some ‘Watson you should recall our con-
Mycroft’s criticism, commented, ‘Yes, concern and he could not refrain from versation of the other morning

Adventures continued Beginners’ Bridge Corner
when I said that criminals

often seem to help you solve
their crimes. It seems to
Mary’s Nineteenth Lesson
me at bridge you can also
get your opponents to help Responding to a 2NT Opening
you, to be your ally in ef-
fect. On that slam hand all
you had to do after draw- by Liz Dale
ing trumps was to play out
your diamond winners and West North East South points for game. Bid 3NT.’ ‘With 11 points, responder
then play the ♥A and then Pass 2NT1 Pass wants to know whether
the ♥Q. Mycroft must have ? 1
20-22 points the partnership has got
the ♥K for his bid, so there Hand C the necessary 33 points
was no point in finessing. Alasdair began, ‘It helps to ♠ K Q 8 7 6 for a small slam in 6NT.
He must then either give go through a basic routine. ♥ Q 9 6 W E
N
Responder can make the
you a ruff in dummy and a Remember your partner ♦ J 3 2 S
invitational bid of 4NT ask-
discard of your losing ♣Q is very strong. There is no ♣ 7 6 ing partner to pass if he’s
by playing another heart, weak take-out for 2NT.’ (8pts) 3♠ minimum, but to bid 6NT if
or give you a free finesse in Alasdair then showed maximum. This is quantita-
clubs. In other words, you some example hands tive and not Blackwood.’
had to eliminate the spades for responder. ‘Bid 3♠. Responder tells
and diamonds from My- partner immediately that
croft’s hand, then make him he has at least five points, Hand F
your ally by giving him a Hand A enough for game, and ♠ Q 10 9
heart trick. If you are going ♠ K 4 3 five spades. Responder ♥ Q J 10
N
W E
to continue with this game, ♥ 8 6 5
N
W E
is asking opener to bid ♦ K J 7 6 S
you should recall: Elimi- ♦ 9 7 6 5 S

4♠ if he has at least three ♣ K 9 8
nate, ally, my dear Watson. ♣ 8 7 3 spades or bid 3NT if he (12pts) 6NT
Eliminate, ally.’ (3pts) Pass has only two spades.’
Watson scribbled a few
words in his notebook, but ‘With 12 or more points,
the whisky had had its ef- ‘Pass with 0-4 points. Hand D responder can bid 6NT
fect and the writing lost Well done! Already ♠ J 10 3 immediately with a
much of its legibility. The you have identified the ♥ K Q 6 5 4 2
N
W E
balanced hand, or may
following morning when partnership does not have ♦ 4 3 S
prefer to go down the
writing in his journal of the necessary 25 points for ♣ 6 5 Stayman route if holding
his adventures with Sher- game. In fact, opener will (6pts) 4♥ a four-card major to
lock Holmes, he transcribed be very grateful if you pass investigate whether the
his notes as, ‘Elementary, with four points or fewer. slam may be better
my dear Watson. Elemen- It’s the only strong two ‘With enough points for played in a major.’
tary.’ ■ opener that responder can game and at least an ‘Yes, that’s right, Mary,’
pass on the first round.’ eight card fit, responder said Alasdair, ‘If your hand
bids 4♥; partner would is shapely you don’t need
There are several quotes not have opened 2NT as many as 33 points for a
from the work of Conan Hand B with fewer than a slam in a trump suit.’ ‘Too
Doyle in the story above. ♠ J 10 9 doubleton in any suit.’ many choices,’ murmured
Perhaps surprising is that ♥ 9 8 6 W E
N
Joan quietly. ‘Don’t worry,’
the famous ‘Elementary, my ♦ A Q 4 3 S
said Mary, ‘I’ll work on
dear Watson,’ was never ac- ♣ 8 3 2 Hand E it tonight and we can go
tually used, rather it was a (7pts) 3NT ♠ J 9 8 through it tomorrow when
creation in the novel ‘Psmith, ♥ A Q 5 W E
N
we meet up.’ Mary took
Journalist’ written by P.G. ♦ K 5 4 3 S
the first set board from
Wodehouse, and then used ‘No 4-card major so ♣ J 9 2 Alasdair. Great – it was
in several film adaptations responder doesn’t need to (11pts) 4NT time to play the set
of the adventures of Sherlock bid 3♣ Stayman. Enough hands. ■
Holmes.

DEFENCE DECLARER
QUIZ PLAY
QUIZ
by Julian Pottage
(Answers on page 43) by David Huggett
Y ou are East in the defensive positions below playing teams (Answers on page 39)
or rubber bridge. It is your turn to play. Both sides are us-
ing Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman.
Y ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge.
In each case, what is your play strategy?
1. ♠ 9 5 3. ♠ Q
♥ A Q J 4 ♥ A K 10 9 1. ♠ K J 9 3. ♠ 7 6 3
♦ K 10 7 3 ♦ Q 10 7 5 ♥ A 10 6 5 ♥ 6 2
♣ K 7 5 ♣ K 7 5 2 ♦ 9 5 4 2 ♦ A J 8 4
♠ K 10 7 3 ♠ K 10 7 3 ♣ A 4 ♣ 8 6 5 2
N
♥ K73 ♥ Q753
N
♦ J86 ♦ 863 N N
W E W E
W E W E
S ♣ J92 S ♣ 86 S S
♠ A 10 4 ♠ A 9 5
West North East South West North East South
♥ K Q J 8 7 4 ♥ A K J 10
1NT 1NT
♦ 8 7 ♦ K Q 3
Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠
♣ Q 5 ♣ K J 3
Pass 3NT All Pass Pass 3NT All Pass
Partner leads the ♠2, Partner leads the ♣Q, won

your ♠K losing to the ♠A. by the ♣A. Declarer runs You are declarer in 4♥ and You are declarer in 3NT
Declarer runs the ♥10 to the ♥J to your ♥Q, West West leads the ♦K-Q-J after West opened 1NT
your ♥K. What do you playing the ♥2. What do with East following suit. and East transferred to
return? you return? How do you plan the play? 2♥. West leads the ♠J with
East playing low. How do
you plan the play?
2. ♠ J 4. ♠ A 9 6 5 4
♥ A Q 8 5 4 ♥ A 3 2 2. ♠ A Q 7 4. ♠ A
♦ A 10 7 3 ♦ K 10 5 ♥ A 5 3 ♥ 7 6 2
♣ 7 6 5 ♣ K 7 ♦ J 6 5 3 ♦ 10 8 3
♠ Q 10 8 3 ♠ K 10 8 3 ♣ 6 4 2 ♣ Q 8 6 5 4 3
N
♥ 10 7 6 3 N
♥ J85
N N
W E ♦ K8 W E ♦ Q63
W E W E
S ♣ K82 S ♣ 865 S S
♠ K J 2 ♠ J 8 7 6 3 2
West North East South West North East South
♥ K Q 9 ♥ A 9
1♦ 1♦
♦ A K 2 ♦ A K Q J
Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣
♣ A K Q 5 ♣ A
Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT Pass 2♥1 Pass 2NT
All Pass Pass 3NT All Pass
1
Fourth suit forcing
You are declarer in 6NT You are declarer in 4♠
Partner leads the ♣J, your
and West leads the ♣J. and West leads the ♣2
♣K losing to the ♣A. De- Partner leads the ♥4,
clarer runs the ♦Q to your your ♥J losing to the ♥K. How do you plan the play? with East playing the ♣10.
♦K, West playing the ♦9. Declarer runs the ♦9 to When you play a spade,
What do you return? your ♦Q. What do you West follows with the ♠10.
return? How do you plan the play?

Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird
Robin Hood’s
Long Journey
R
obin Hood and Nazir original players and they left their unless diamonds were 4-0. To discover
frequently attempted to raise seats immediately. Robin and Nazir the lie of that suit he played the ♦A.
money for the poor by playing replaced them and the game began. When East discarded a heart, it was
high-stakes bridge. Their reputation as clear that only two diamond tricks
bridge experts was well-known in the would be available.
hostelries of Nottingham, Mansfield, Dealer South. Love All. Hood continued with the ♦5 towards
Lincoln and Chesterfield. In the hope ♠ A 10 dummy. The ♦9 appeared from West
of finding unwary opponents, they ♥ K 7 3 and he won with dummy’s ♦Q. ‘You
had spent much of the day riding on ♦ Q 8 7 6 4 2 defend well,’ he informed Hal Cossett.
horseback to Peterborough. ♣ A 6 ‘If you’d played a low diamond, I was
‘They say there’s a worthwhile game ♠ 8 5 2 ♠ Q 7 4 3 going to finesse dummy’s ♦8.’
at the Saracen’s Head,’ said Robin Hood ♥ J 10 9 4 N ♥ 8 6 5 2 The bald-headed Cossett declined
W E
as they reached the edge of town. ♦ K 10 9 3 S ♦ Void to point out that the ♦9 had been his
‘Not a name that appeals to me,’ ♣ 9 3 ♣ 10 8 7 5 2 lowest remaining card. What lamb-
Nazir replied. ♠ K J 9 6 brains these fellows were! They were
The sun was setting as the two ♥ A Q lucky, as well. Had they played the
outlaws tied up their mounts and ♦ A J 5 hand in six diamonds, they would
entered the chosen hostelry. A card ♣ K Q J 4 surely have lost two trump tricks.
game was underway in a far corner. Robin Hood could count four clubs,
‘Do you mind if we watch?’ Hood three hearts, two spades and two
asked, drawing up a chair. West North East South diamonds already made. That was a
‘If you’re players of Odd-or-Even or Hal Nazir Percy Robin total of eleven. A twelfth trick was
Kill the Witch, you’re wasting your Cossett Gallowes Hood guaranteed by finessing spades into
time,’ declared Percy Gallowes, a tall 2NT the safe East hand.
thin man who was wearing a fur coat Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT Hood returned to his hand with
despite the warmth of the room. ‘We Pass 6NT All Pass the ♥A and finessed the ♠10, losing to
play the game known as bridge.’ the ♠Q. East had no diamond to play.
‘I know it, I think,’ said Nazir. ‘You West led the ♥J and Nazir laid out the When he switched to a club, Hood
can choose trumps or no-trumps. Is dummy. ‘I wanted to find a diamond won with dummy’s ♣A and cashed
that the one?’ fit,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t bid 4♦ over 3NT the ♠A and ♥K, discarding the ♦J. He
Percy Gallowes, who was not one to in case you passed.’ then scored the remaining tricks in his
turn down an opportunity, surveyed ‘I wouldn’t have passed on my hand,’ hand with two spades and three clubs.
the two outlaws. Hood replied. ‘Stopping in 4♦ doesn’t ‘Sorry, I misguessed the spades,’
‘That’s the one,’ he replied. ‘You count for game, does it?’ Hood remarked. ‘Still, at least I made
two want to take us on? We play for a Gallowes and Cossett exchanged a it.’
crown a 100.’ glance. Why should such imbeciles Hal Cossett brought the score
‘Why not, my friend?’ said Robin play for high stakes? They scarcely to Game All on the next board.
Hood. ‘I’d like to learn a bit more understood the game. There was a prospect of a three-deal
about the game.’ Robin Hood won the first trick with rubber as the players picked up these
Gallowes nodded at two of the the ♥Q and saw that the slam was cold cards:

Robin Hood continued Robin Hood spotted a better chance.
He played the queen, king and ace Dealer North. Love All.
of clubs, pleased to see the suit break ♠ A 5
3-3. When he continued with the ♥ K 5
thirteenth club, West was unwilling ♦ A Q J 9 6 4 2
Dealer North. Game All. to ruff with the ace. He discarded a ♣ 6 4
♠ 10 8 6 5 3 diamond and Hood threw dummy’s ♠ J 10 7 ♠ Q 9 8 2
N
♥ 5 2 last heart, East ruffing with the ♠4. ♥ A 9 7 4 3 ♥ 6 2
W E
♦ J 8 7 Percy Gallowes played back the ♦ K 8 3 S ♦ 10
♣ Q 6 5 ♥K, ruffed in the dummy, and the ♣ K 2 ♣ A 10 8 7 5 3
♠ A ♠ K 4 defenders’ ace and king of trumps fell ♠ K 6 4 3
♥ J 10 9 7 N ♥ K Q 6 3 together on the next trick. The game ♥ Q J 10 8
W E
♦ A 10 9 4 2 S ♦ Q 6 5 3 and the rubber had been made. ♦ 7 5
♣ 10 9 3 ♣ J 8 4 ‘Hell’s teeth, what a lucky lie of the ♣ Q J 9
♠ Q J 9 7 2 cards!’ exclaimed Percy Gallowes. He
♥ A 8 4 extracted a money bag from inside
♦ K his fur coat and counted some silver West North East South
♣ A K 7 2 coins, which he tossed onto the table. Hal Nazir Percy Robin
‘More than enough for a good Cossett Gallowes Hood
evening’s drinking,’ exclaimed Robin 1♦ Pass 1♥
West North East South Hood. ‘I think we’ll stop there.’ Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT
Hal Nazir Percy Robin ‘Shuffle the cards!’ Gallowes cried. All Pass
Cossett Gallowes Hood ‘It’s the custom of the house that the
Pass Pass 1♠ losers of a rubber have a chance to With hearts bid against him, Cossett
Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ remedy their losses.’ led the ♠J. Robin Hood won in his
All Pass ‘Are the winners deprived of the hand with the king and finessed the
right to order a tankard of ale?’ queried ♦Q, East following with the ♦10.
West led the ♥J and Robin Hood won Robin Hood. ‘Please join me, you two. Hood paused to consider his next
with the ♥A. Four tricks were now Landlord, three tankards of your best move. If he played ace and another
available to the defenders. What could ale over here!’ diamond and the suit didn’t break
be done? Hal Cossett turned towards Nazir. 2-2, the defenders would clear the
One possibility was to crash the ‘You don’t drink?’ he asked. spade suit. He would not have time to
defenders’ trump honours. Suppose he Nazir shook his head. Following his develop a ninth trick from the hearts.
led the ♠Q from his hand. If West chose upbringing in Palestine, he had never Robin Hood leaned forwards and
to win with the ace from A-x (which touched alcohol in his life. played dummy’s ♥K. West had no
could be right if the defenders had The second rubber began with a counter to this. If he won with the ♥A
three-side tricks to cash), this would couple of failing part-scores. Then this and cleared the spades, declarer would
pick up his partner’s singleton ♠K. deal arrived: score three heart tricks in his hand
and repeat the diamond finesse. That
would give him three overtricks.
Hal Cossett eventually decided to
hold up the ♥A. Robin Hood then
reverted to diamonds, playing ace and
another. The defenders could score no
more than one heart, one diamond
and two clubs. The game was made.
‘What d’you think, Hal?’ asked
Gallowes. ‘Are these lads pulling wool
over our eyes?’
‘They’ve played the game before,
that’s for sure,’ Cossett replied.
‘You’ve played before too,’ Hood
declared. ‘Seems to me it’s a fair
encounter.’
‘It will be if we ever get any good
cards,’ said Percy Gallowes, reaching
for the deck. ‘Let’s see what I can do!’
Continued next month ■

Heather’s Private Bridge Lessons
The Bath Coup

H ow do you plan the play in 3NT
on the following hand? The lead
is the ♥K.
win. If West continues the suit, then
declarer takes two tricks. If he changes
suit, declarer may well gain a tempo,
Are you tempted to play a Bath Coup?
You have to lose the lead to the ♦A and
if East wins and leads a spade through,
and the suit is still stopped. Should the might you be in trouble?
ace win the first trick, then whenever No! If East gains the lead and began
♠ K 4 East obtains the lead a continuation with just two spades, the defence will
♥ 7 5 2 will allow West to win the remaining be unable to cash the suit provided you
♦ A 7 4 tricks in the suit. So, as declarer, you do not put up the jack. If East began
♣ K J 10 7 4 are much better placed by ducking. It with three, then there are just three
now becomes the defenders who are in spade tricks to be had along with the
N difficulty. ♦A and the contract will make.
W E
S
This is also a Bath Coup position: Take a look at the bidding now. West
has an opening hand, and therefore
♠ A Q 10 5 3 is almost certain to hold the ♦A. This
♥ A J 4 ♠ A 7 6 makes ducking the first trick pointless.
♦ K Q 2 N
The real danger on this hand comes
♣ Q 9 ♠ K Q 10 9 W E
S
♠ 5 3 2 from clubs. If West, realising that he
is caught in a Bath Coup, switches to
♠ J 8 4 clubs and East holds one of the top
You must duck the opening lead. Now honours, you may go down by losing
the defence cannot continue with three clubs, the ♦A and the ♠K. This is
hearts, since you will score the ace and In this situation, declarer plays low not the time for playing a Bath Coup.
jack, so must switch. Whatever they from dummy on the king. West is You should win the ace of spades.
switch to, you will be able to drive now caught in a Bath Coup and must How do you know if you are caught
out the ace of clubs in safety, since all switch in order to avoid giving two in a Bath Coup as defender? Put
your suits are still guarded. If you had tricks in the suit. yourself in West’s position against a
won the opening lead and played on How do you plan the play in 3NT on no-trump contract:
clubs, it is possible that East would be this deal on the ♠K lead?
able to win the ace and return a heart
through the jack. The act of ducking ♠ 8 7 6
the king holding the ace and jack, ♠ 6 3 N
thereby preventing a continuation, is ♥ K J 8 2 ♠ K Q 10 9 W E
S
known as a Bath Coup. ♦ K Q J 2
It has been well known for over 200 ♣ A J 6
years (from the game of Whist) and
N
usually occurs at trick one. W E
Suppose that the king has been led
This is a classic position: S and wins. What should you do next?
If South has the ♠A-J, then a switch
♠ A J 5 2 is advisable. If South has just the jack,
♠ 8 7 6 ♥ A Q 4 or just the ace, then a continuation is
N
♦ 10 8 5 3 safe and indeed may be crucial. How
♠ K Q 10 9 W E
S
♠ 5 3 2 ♣ 7 5 can you know? The answer is that your
partner must tell you.
♠ A J 4 The opening lead of a king in no-
West North East South trumps is a strong lead, and tells
1♠ Dbl Pass 2NT partner that you hold the queen and it
Declarer simply allows the king to Pass 3NT All Pass should also imply holding at least

The Bath Coup continued different since you might well lead
♠ A K Q J 2 a king from king-queen without
♥ 5 3 the jack or ten, thus East cannot be
♦ 8 7 6 certain that it is safe to unblock the
♣ 9 8 7 ace or jack. Instead, East must give an
one of the jack or the ten. Holding ♠ 8 encouraging signal if holding the ace
neither, then you would often choose ♥ Q 10 6 2 N
or jack and discourage otherwise.
W E
to lead something else or lead fourth ♦ K Q 10 9 4 S
You are sitting East on the following
highest with, say K-Q-4-2. ♣ 4 3 2 hand, and partner leads the ♥K:
Thus, it should be quite safe for
East, if he holds the ace, to overtake
the king with the ace and return the West North East South ♠ Q 9 5
suit. Similarly, if East holds the jack, 1♣ ♥ 8 6 4
he simply plays it under the king and Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT ♦ A Q 8 5
then West can safely continue the suit. Pass 2♣1 Pass 2♦2 ♣ K 7 2
If he holds neither, he follows low and Pass 3NT All Pass ♠ 8 3
West knows that he is caught in a Bath 1
Asking for 3-card spade support or 4 hearts N ♥ J 9 2
W E
Coup. The key is that if East holds 2
Neither S ♦ 7 4 3
either the ace or the jack, he plays it. ♣ A 9 6 5 4
Thus, if you hold the East cards on You begin with the ♦K and this is
the following deal, defending 3NT on allowed to hold the trick, partner
the ♣K lead: playing the three and declarer the five. West North East South
What do you do now? 1♠
If your partner held the ace or jack, Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠
♠ A 7 4 2 he should have played it on the first Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠
♥ K 10 7 3 trick. Therefore, you must presume All Pass
♦ J 9 5 that you are caught in a Bath Coup.
♣ 8 4 Knowing that declarer holds at most Which card do you play to this trick?
♠ J 10 8 three hearts, you have an attractive If you had been defending a no-trump
N ♥ Q 9 5 2 alternative suit to attack. Switch to a contract, you would have unblocked
W E
S ♦ 8 4 3 low heart now. This was the full deal: your jack now. However, you can’t
♣ J 6 2 afford to do this in a suit contract,
since partner may well not have the
♠ A K Q J 2 ten. If he doesn’t, then your act of
You should play your ♣J under your ♥ 5 3 unblocking the jack will create a
partner’s king. This was the full deal: ♦ 8 7 6 Bath Coup position for declarer and
♣ 9 8 7 prevent partner from being able to
♠ 8 ♠ 10 9 7 5 4 continue with the suit. Instead, you
♠ A 7 4 2 ♥ Q 10 6 2 N ♥ K J 9 8 must encourage with the nine (playing
W E
♥ K 10 7 3 ♦ K Q 10 9 4 S ♦ 3 2 standard signals), and partner will
♦ J 9 5 ♣ 4 3 2 ♣ A 6 know that it is safe to continue the suit
♣ 8 4 ♠ 6 3 if declarer follows low, since you hold
♠ 9 6 3 ♠ J 10 8 ♥ A 7 4 the ace or jack.
♥ 8 6 N ♥ Q 9 5 2 ♦ A J 5 This was the full deal:
W E
♦ A 6 S ♦ 8 4 3 ♣ K Q J 10 5
♣ K Q 10 7 5 3 ♣ J 6 2
♠ K Q 5 ♠ Q 9 5
♥ A J 4 You can see that even if spades were ♥ 8 6 4
♦ K Q 10 7 2 coming in for five tricks, declarer ♦ A Q 8 5
♣ A 9 cannot make the contract without ♣ K 7 2
driving out the ♣A. Thus, his best ♠ A 7 4 ♠ 8 3
chance was to win the ♦A and hope ♥ K Q 7 3 N ♥ J 9 2
W E
Once your partner sees your jack, he that either you held the ♣A or that ♦ 9 6 2 S ♦ 7 4 3
can continue with top clubs. Declarer the defence had only three diamonds ♣ J 8 3 ♣ A 9 6 5 4
will need to lose the lead to his ♦A to cash. However, he decided to hope ♠ K J 10 6 2
and he will be in a position to cash his instead that your signalling methods ♥ A 10 5
clubs and defeat the contract. weren’t up to scratch and that you ♦ K J 10
How do you plan the defence to 3NT would continue with diamonds. ♣ Q 10 ■
on the following deal as West? Against a suit contract, it is a little

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The Diaries of Wendy Wensum
Episode 39:
Return of the Cowboy
S
pouse looked a bit shell-shocked. empt in spades. Unfortunately we had to the ten of spades. The contract
His old university friend, Travis, never bothered to discuss subsequent was made with one overtrick. She
the Singing Cowboy, had phoned bidding in detail. The session was well definitely looked more cheerful now.
to say he was doing another gig in underway when this deal occurred. Her hand was more powerful than I
Norwich and asked Spouse to partner had anticipated.
him at the Riverside on the evening When Spouse and Travis played the
before. According to Spouse, Travis Dealer South: Game All. board the auction took a somewhat
had not played bridge since his last ♠ Void more laboured route. Travis, as dealer,
visit, but he had been reading books ♥ Q 9 7 4 2 decided his hand was worth game and
on the subject and was ready for ♦ A J 8 3 opened two clubs. Spouse thought
another outing. ‘Good for him,’ I said, ♣ K 9 7 5 his hearts too weak for a positive
‘I hope you agreed.’ ‘I did,’ conceded ♠ Void ♠ 10 7 4 3 2 and, anticipating a misfit, responded
N
Spouse, ‘but I don’t know why. I must ♥ A K J 5 3 W E ♥ 8 6 two diamonds. Travis confirmed his
be going soft-headed.’ ‘Incidentally ♦ Q 10 9 6 4 2 S ♦ K 7 suit was spades and Spouse showed
how on earth does he get away with ♣ 10 6 ♣ J 4 3 2 his hearts. Travis bid spades again
the name Travis in the world of folk ♠ A K Q J 9 8 6 5 and Spouse showed his clubs. Travis
music?’ I questioned. ‘Oh, he doesn’t; ♥ 10 established spades as the trump suit so
he uses the name of Blue Denim ♦ 5 Spouse used Blackwood and finding
Hank,’ Spouse informed me, ‘It would ♣ A Q 8 two aces bid the slam.
never do if it got out that his mother
is a senior civil servant, his father a West North East South
famous brain surgeon and his brother With both pairs vulnerable, Millie Spouse Travis
an eminent barrister. It would ruin his was dealer and opened four diamonds 2♣
street cred.’ which I alerted. I had two questions to Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠
Travis and Spouse emerged from consider: had Millie remembered our Pass 3♥ Pass 3♠
the bar in the Riverside. This time the agreement and what exactly were the Pass 4♣ Pass 4♠
cowboy outfit was not evident; Travis responses? Even with a void in spades Pass 4NT Pass 5♥
was casually dressed but still bearded I realised a slam might be possible so Pass 6♠ All Pass
and long-haired. ‘Hi sister, you’re as I bid a forcing four hearts. Millie bid
gorgeous as ever,’ was his greeting as four spades to end the auction. The unlucky contract was one off.
he hugged me and kissed me on both Later in the local hostelry, Travis,
cheeks. He addressed Millie with, West North East South a pint of beer in hand, admitted
‘Hello again, stranger,’ and she too Wendy Millie that he had thoroughly enjoyed the
received a long hug and a kiss. ‘Still 4♦1 evening of bridge. He and Spouse had
no horse I see,’ was Millie’s response. Pass 4♥2 Pass 4♠ finished well up the field, much better
‘No, the gig is not until tomorrow, All Pass placed than Millie and me. As we
so Trigger was entered for the three- 1
Strong pre-empt in spades parted, Travis invited us to his gig the
thirty at Fakenham this afternoon,’ 2
forcing, artificial, slam invitation following night and handed us some
retorted Travis, ‘He came in last.’ complimentary tickets. Millie, Justin,
Millie grinned. West led the ace of hearts, followed Spouse and I took up his kind offer.
Sometime ago Millie and I had by the king which Millie ruffed. As Blue Denim Hank, now in full cowboy
agreed to play Millie’s latest toy, dummy went down, although she said regalia, gave a great performance
opening four clubs as a pre-emptive nothing, I could sense that Millie had of folk, blue grass and country and
bid to show an eight card suit in become tense and was not happy with western numbers, accompanying
hearts, stronger than a direct four my bidding. She played spades from himself on his acoustic guitar. He was
heart opener. In like manner a four the top and finding the bad trump most entertaining, but there was still
diamond opener was a strong pre- break had to concede another trick no sign of his horse. ■

Answers to Bernard Magee’s
Bidding Quizzes 1-3 on the Cover
against that price.
1. Dealer West. Love All. If you play in 4♠ doubled you will need
♠ 3 ♠ A 8 7 6 5 to make only 7 tricks to make a profit:
♥ A K 7 6 N ♥ J 8 3 three off doubled costs 500 points which
W E
♦ Q 8 7 5 3 S ♦ J 6 2 would be a handsome profit against their
♣ A 8 2 ♣ 9 7 game – a good sacrifice.
Raise to 4♠ and make your opponents’
life difficult – they may not even feel able
West North East South to double you. As you can see, you should
? be able to make a comfortable 7 tricks,
whilst your opponents would have been
1♦. A nice and straightforward ques- able to make 10 or 11 tricks in hearts.
tion: open in your longest suit; 1♦. There
is no doubt that after a 1♠ response you
are left with having to make the rather 3. Dealer South. Love All.
unsatisfactory rebid of 2♦, but that is the ♠ A 4 2 ♠ 7 6
best you can do (you cannot rebid 2♥ ♥ A 7 N ♥ K 5 3 2
W E
because that is above your first suit and ♦ Q 4 S ♦ A J 5 2
would be a reverse). ♣ A K 9 7 6 5 ♣ 10 4 3
Some players seem to think that it is
all right to open 1♥ on hands like this,
but that can never be right because you West North East South
will be implying five cards in the heart 2♠1
suit when you rebid 2♦. Open 1♦ and you ? 16-10pts, 6 spades
will finish in 2♦, which is certainly a better
contract than 2♥. 2NT. South opens with a pre-emptive
style opening at the two-level. It is im-
portant to get used to dealing with weak
2. Dealer East. N/S Game. twos: they are becoming much more
♠ 4 3 ♠ A K 8 7 6 5 2 popular. The most sensible defence
♥ 7 6 N ♥ 9 2 against weak twos is to play double for
W E
♦ A 6 5 4 3 S ♦ 8 7 take-out and have a natural 2NT overcall
♣ Q J 10 9 ♣ 4 2 showing a strong balanced hand (about
16-19 HCP). Your overcalls should gen-
erally be based around a six-card or
West North East South longer suit.
3♠ Pass With 17 HCP you need to do some-
? thing and you have a choice of two calls:
2NT or 3♣.
4♠. Your partner has opened with a pre- With your spade stop being the ace,
empt showing 5-9 HCP and a seven-card you may well to be able to control the
spade suit and you have a weak hand play and make the most of your excellent
with little support, so what is there to club suit in a no-trump contract. When
think about? given a choice of two reasonable bids, it
You can be pretty sure that your op- generally makes sense to choose the one
ponents should be in 4♥ – your partner that has the better upside. Bidding 2NT
should not have four hearts, so the op- will often result in playing in 3NT, which
ponents have at least an 8-card fit and has a great upside, whilst 3♣ is less likely
they will have the strength and distribu- to score well, although it is certainly safer.
tion to make 10 tricks likely. At the fa- If your partner raises to 3NT you
vourable vulnerability, they would score should be able to establish your clubs
600+ for a game contract while your without South getting the lead, therefore
non-vulnerable undertricks will be cheap making at least nine tricks. ■

Maxims from Ned Paul
Remembering
Phil Drabble
D
o you remember One Man West North East South 2♦ on a moth-eaten 4-card suit, a
and His Dog, the BBC TV 1♥ 2♣ negative double with just three spades,
show about sheepdog trials? Pass Pass Dbl All Pass or a unilateral 2NT? None of these
Presented by the veteran countryman, is as successful as a penalty double.
Phil Drabble, the show was wildly East dealt and opened 1♥ and South Hapless North passed, and Jess in
popular as Saturday evening viewing, made a ‘Sink The Titanic’ overcall (see the East seat doubled. Again, it is
the audience peaking at around 8 BRIDGE 150) of 2♣. It is important important to realise there is no better
million in 1981. What has this to do to realise it is dangerous to overcall bid. It would be easy to bid 2♥, or, even
with bridge, you ask? vulnerable with hands like this, even worse, 2♠ but why act on your own
Well, one variant of the show was
the ‘brace’, where the shepherd used
two sheepdogs, one on either flank,
to round up the sheep and put them
in the pen. In these days of take-out
doubles, negative doubles, responsive
doubles, support doubles, competitive
doubles, value showing doubles and
the rest, it often takes two players
working together to impose a good
old-fashioned penalty double. A good
rule of thumb in a competitive auction
is that when you want to penalty-
double a part score, the player with
the length passes, and the player with
the shortage in the enemy suit actually
makes the double. The partner can
then convert this into a penalty double
by passing. though the suit has ‘lead quality’. when you can consult partner? Ben
The following hand is an example. North will need a good hand to make happily passed the double for penalty
the overcall work and if this is the and the North-South sheep were well
case, West will most likely be passing and truly corralled.
Dealer East. N/S Vul. and North will be able to protect. Ben led ♥9, Jess won with ♥J and
♠ 8 7 4 Interchange the West and North switched to ♠J. South covered and
♥ K 10 6 5 hands: West will pass and North will Ben cashed the two top spades before
♦ 10 8 5 3 have an easy take-out double. What switching back to hearts. Jess won
♣ 4 3 normally happens when South bids with ♥Q, cashed the ♠10 and led
♠ A Q 9 ♠ J 10 5 2 like this is that someone else bids and ♦K. That held, so Jess followed with
♥ 9 2 N ♥ A Q J 4 3 takes South off the hook and the deal ♦Q. However the play now went, the
W E
♦ A J 4 2 S ♦ K Q 6 plays out without much comment. defenders still had two trump tricks to
♣ J 9 7 6 ♣ Q At the table with the actual hands come and South took only four tricks
♠ K 6 3 were two ‘sheepdog bidders’, let’s call for a penalty of 1,100.
♥ 8 7 them Ben and Jess, who were well Think of Phil Drabble’s sheepdogs
♦ 9 7 used to working as a team. After the and look for good teamwork in the
♣ A K 10 8 5 2 overcall, Ben with the West hand just bidding and good teamwork in the
passed. What were the alternatives? play! ■

asking partner if he has anything more Norwegian
4. Dealer East. Game All. to show. One of the most common uses Festival & Fjords
♠ A 9 8 5 2 ♠ 4 3 for the bid is to find a stop in the fourth
♥ 10 3 N ♥ A 2 suit. Had you held strength in hearts
W E
♦ Q 5 4 S ♦ A K 6 2 you could have bid no-trumps yourself,
♣ 10 6 3 ♣ K Q J 8 2 instead you bid 2♥ and East bids 2NT as
he has a stop, then you raise to game.
West North East South

1♣ Pass
1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass 6. Dealer East. Game All.
? ♠ A 9 8 7 2 ♠ 4
Departs Newcastle
♥ 3 N ♥ A 8 2
W E 26th May 2015 • 5 nights
3♣. ♦ Q 5 4 S ♦ A K 6 2
Balmoral • L1610
Your partner has rebid in a suit higher ♣ A 6 4 3 ♣ K Q J 8 2
than his first suit at the two-level: this • Newcastle • Cruising
constitutes a reverse and is a strong bid: Lysefjord, Pulpit Rock & Kjerag
showing 16+ HCP. You are forced to West North East South Boulder • Bergen, Norway
• Eidfjord, Hardangerfjord
make a response. 1♣ Pass
• Cruising Hardangerfjord
With a weak hand, you should give 1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass
• Furebergfoss Waterfall,
preference to your partner’s first suit and ? Maurangerfjorden • Cruising
hope that keeps him quiet. Bid 3♣ and Hidrasund & Strandsfjorden
a good partner should probably pass 2♥. • Cruising Flekkefjorden &
although some might still want to risk Your partner has rebid in a suit higher Stolsfjorden • Newcastle
3NT. 3♣ is the best contract. than his first suit at the two-level: this
constitutes a reverse and is a strong bid Daily bridge on board, bridge
fees included. Mr Bridge welcome
showing 16+ HCP. You are forced to
drinks party. Partners for single
make a response. players. Special solos offers.
5. Dealer East. Game All. You have a great hand with primary
♠ A 9 8 7 2 ♠ 4 3 club support – had clubs been a major Great value Mr Bridge fares:
♥ 10 3 N ♥ A 2 you would have started your search for a Inside twin cabins from £569pp
W E
♦ Q 5 4 S ♦ A K 6 2 slam in the major by now, but minors are Outside twin cabins from £669pp
♣ A 6 3 ♣ K Q J 8 2 less easy to deal with. You prefer to play Superior Balcony cabins from £1,139pp
in 3NT when you can make only 5♣, it is
Solos offer –
only when you have a little more strength
Outside twin cabin for
West North East South that you will forgo the safety of 3NT. sole occupancy from £949pp
1♣ Pass How can you show your interest in clubs,
1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass but at the same time keep the bidding Balmoral
? low enough to allow 3NT still to be an

option?
2♥. Once again, the solution is to use the
Your partner has rebid in a suit higher fourth suit forcing. Bid 2♥ and then follow
than his first suit at the two-level: this up with club support: this is an important
constitutes a reverse and is a strong bid use of the fourth suit forcing convention
showing 16+ HCP. You are forced to and shows a strong supporting hand that
make a response. would like to know if your partner has any
You have the strength for game, but interest in exploring for a slam in clubs. For reservations call Mr Bridge
cannot be sure which game, so you 1♣-1♠-2♦-2♥-2NT-3♣…
on 01483 489961
should make a strong bid which keeps Your partner shows a heart stop with
the conversation going. Use a bid in the 2NT and you rebid 3♣. East should now www.mrbridge.co.uk
fourth suit: fourth suit forcing. A bid in bid 3♦ to express interest and a few Terms and conditions apply –
the fourth suit is useful as an artificial rounds of cue bidding will lead to 4NT see Fred.Olsen 2015 brochure or
www.fredolsencruises.com for details.
bid – promising nothing in the suit bid, and the partnership will settle for 6♣. ■
BRIDGE July 2015 Page 29 211:33

FOC307321_MR_BRIDGE_Mag_May_strip_ads_W.C.18.05.15_FV.indd
27/05/2015
Letters from Overseas
Better Hand
Evaluation
Bernard Magee The Best Chance of
Introduction
Better Hand Evaluation is
aimed at helping readers to
Winning is to Lose
add greater accuracy to their
bidding. It deals with auc-
by John Barr
tions in which you and your
T
partner, against silent op-
ponents, can describe your here is a tall build- in tempo and, instead of would win the ace and con-
hands fully to each other ing at the centre of passing, South started to tinue clubs, allowing me to
and, by evaluating them ac-
curately, find the best final
every worthy Austri- think. Five minutes later, he clear the suit while I still
contract. The emphasis of all an town which can be seen shrugged and bid 3NT. Al- held the ♥A – resulting in
good, accurate bidding is on for miles around. It guides two down. However, if de-
hand evaluation. you to the heart of the town clarer ducked the first club
There are two general types of and is the heartbeat of the he can take the marked fi-
auction: a) a fit is found and b) community. I am, of course, nesse on the second round
no fit is found.
referring to the local brew- of clubs, and now when
When you do not have a fit, ery. The Huber brewery in my partner is on lead with
you are aiming to describe the St Johann comprises several the diamond ace he has no
strength of your hand as soon
as possible, most often using buildings where the beer is more clubs to lead – con-
no-trump bids. This book be- prepared, stored and dis- tract made.
gins by discussing balanced- tributed from, including At the table I could see
hand bidding in Acol, as it a four storey tower with a what might happen if I
is very important that both
members of a partnership bar-restaurant on the top played the club king at
have an accurate knowledge of floor. On a sunny day you trick one, so I ducked this
how to show hands of different can sit on the balcony, enjoy (playing an encouraging
strengths. a fresh local beer and soak club eight). Now declarer
When a fit is found, there is in the majestic mountains is finished as my partner
much re-evaluation of the found in every direction. can continue clubs when
hand to be done; point count,
though still important, needs
I was playing a social in with the diamond ace
to be evaluated together with game of rubber bridge and I still have the heart
distribution. The best way of there recently when this ace for an entry.
reaching an accurate assess hand was dealt. So what happens if de-
ment is to use the Losing Trick
Count; this is an important
clarer plays low from dum-
method of hand evaluation and my at trick one? It would
takes up a number of chapters. Dealer West. Game All. though the opponents have be very tempting for me to
Finally, we move on to different ♠ A 9 4 only 23 points, 3NT stands contribute the jack and, as
forms of evaluation including ♥ K J 8 a good chance of success – before, if declarer wins this
game tries and splinter bids. ♦ 10 9 8 4 3 with two spade tricks, one the contract is doomed,
You can never know enough
♣ Q 9 heart, four diamonds and but if he ducks the contract
methods of hand evaluation;
the more you learn, the better ♠ K 10 8 6 5 ♠ 3 two clubs adding up to nine. makes. Again, the winning
you get at judging your hand. ♥ Q 6 5 4 ♥ A 9 7 3 The only danger for declarer play for me is to contribute
Although the Losing Trick ♦ A 7
N
W E ♦ 6 5 is that we can set up and en- the club eight, letting de-
Count is used more easily in ♣ 7 4 S ♣ K J 8 6 3 2 joy the club suit before he clarer win one of his club
tandem with your partner, a ♠ Q J 7 2 collects his nine tricks. tricks too early, and keeping
large proportion of the ideas communication between
♥ 10 2 Partner led the ♣7, de-
in this book can be used by an
individual. For example, eval- ♦ K Q J 2 clarer played the queen the defence hands open.
uating your hand to be worth ♣ A 10 5 from dummy and I almost It is an interesting hand –
an extra point is going to help covered this with the king in order to give themselves
anyone you partner – as long the best chance of success,
automatically. Let’s see what
as you get it right.
After two passes I bid an would have happened had I both declarer and defence
£14 including UK postage off centre 3♣, hoping to done so. If declarer was as should try to avoid winning
make life difficult for the unthinking as me and won the first trick – and whoever
See Mail Order Form
on page 7. opponents. South doubled with the ace, when he played does win the first trick will
for take-out, North bid 3♦ on diamonds my partner ultimately fail. ■

Bidding Quizzes 7-9
on the Cover Rivers, Canals
& City Overnight s
opening hand, generally with a six-card
7. Dealer West. Love All. suit or better. However, a 3♥ overcall
♠ A 2 ♠ 8 7 5 is available as a pre-emptive style bid,
♥ K Q 8 7 6 5 N ♥ A 9 3 2 although it is only a single jump. The
W E
♦ 9 8 7 S ♦ A 6 5 reason for this is that any strong hands
♣ K 3 ♣ 8 4 2 would make a penalty double, so a
strong jump overcall is unnecessary over
a 1NT opening.
West North East South Clearly your hand fits perfectly with the
1♥ 1♠ 2♥ 2♠ description of a 3♥ bid – the equivalent
? of a pre-emptive 3♥ opening.
Departs Southampton
By jumping to 3♥ you put the pressure
18th March 2016 • 7 nights
3♥. You opened 1♥, North overcalled on your opponents – making it much
Balmoral • L1604
1♠ and then your respective partners more difficult for them to find the best
supported, creating a very competitive contract. • Southampton • Cruising
auction. What are your ambitions on the Western Scheldt river • Antwerp,
board? Belguim • Hamburg, Germany
(overnight) • Cruising Elbe River
With only 12 HCP and your partner
• Cruising North Sea Canal
suggesting just 6-9 points, you should 9. Dealer East. N/S Game.
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
have no aspirations towards making ♠ 4 2 ♠ A K 7 5 3 (overnight) • Cruising North
game. However, that does not mean ♥ K Q 3 N ♥ A 6 2 Sea Canal • Southampton
W E
you should not be bidding on because ♦ A J 6 5 S ♦ K 4
Daily bridge on board, bridge
you might have aspirations for a magi- ♣ 10 9 8 7 ♣ 6 3 2
cal -50, for going down in your contract drinks party. Partners for single
rather than letting the opponents make players. Special solos offers.
theirs. West North East South
A bid of 3♥ in this auction is competi- 1♠ Dbl Great value Mr Bridge fares:
tive, it does not suggest game at all – it ? Inside twin cabins from £589pp
is simply an attempt to push the oppo- Outside twin cabins from £719pp
nents up and make their life more diffi- Redouble. Your partner opens 1♠ and Superior Balcony cabins from £1,079pp
cult – your hand is ideal for this call. You South doubles for take-out. You have no
Solos offer –
can use any other bid to show a stronger support for spades, but you do have a
Outside twin cabin for
hand which has aspirations for game good hand. The answer to this question sole occupancy from £839pp
(2NT, 3♣ or 3♦). relies on your knowledge of your system.
With no support for partner’s suit Balmoral
and 9+ points, you should start by

redoubling: this suggests that your side
8. Dealer South. Love All. has the majority of the points and you
♠ 2 ♠ A 8 7 3 might be able to take a penalty from your
♥ K Q J 8 7 6 5 N ♥ 9 2 opponents. Without this knowledge, you
W E
♦ 7 4 S ♦ A 6 3 2 might have bid a minor or even jumped
♣ 7 3 2 ♣ Q J 8 to 2NT, but the redouble is so much
better because it sometimes leaves your
opponents stranded. Whatever contract For reservations call Mr Bridge
West North East South your opponents choose they are likely to
on 01483 489961
1NT go down by at least two tricks, which if
? doubled is worth 500 points: more than www.mrbridge.co.uk
a game your way. Terms and conditions apply –
3♥. South opens 1NT and it is your After the strong redouble, any subse- see Fred.Olsen 2015 brochure or
turn to call. A 2♥ overcall shows a near quent doubles are for penalties. ■

27/05/2015
Catching Up by Sally Brock
L
ast month when I left you I flight to Heathrow. cally. Well, if partner did not want to
was in Shanghai. We had a re- Eventually, I got home about 10am, play in spades, neither did I. So I sim-
ally good time after the tourna- and had to leave just after two o’clock ply raised to 3NT. West led a club and
ment. On the first day we went to the to get to the Birmingham Holiday Inn that was nine easy tricks. In the other
Old French Concession and wandered for the Lady Milne (women’s home room North opened 2♣ and rebid 2♠
around for a while, paying a visit to the internationals). I have been to this ho- over partner’s 2♦, negative. South then
Shanghai Propaganda Poster Museum tel on several occasions, but this time raised to 4♠ and that was that.
which was fascinating. In the evening, couldn’t seem to find it. I put the ad- For a reason I can barely fathom, we
we went on a Night Street Food tour dress details in the satnav on my phone were still in contention at the end. We
– we were directed to a succession of but it kept sending me somewhere else needed to beat Northern Ireland by
local restaurants where we ate things and telling me I had arrived! At one lots, and Wales had to beat Scotland by
like water snake and rather strange stage I was in the airport car park and quite a lot and then we would win. It
funghi, as well as more normal deli- couldn’t get out without having to pay was not to be (and we certainly did not
cious offerings. In the middle of this, £1. In the end I found a different Holi- deserve to win). We did beat Northern
Binkie had to leave to catch his flight day Inn and they told me how to find Ireland (but not by enough), and Wales
home, but we carried on eating until the one I wanted. Because I was late, did beat Scotland (but by too much).
we could barely move. there was just time for supper and Ani- So we were second by only a couple
The next couple of days were spent ta (my partner) and I ignored everyone of IMPs. Wales were popular winners
wandering around rather aimlessly else and found a little table by ourselves as they had not won the competition
and extremely enjoyably, seeing sights for a last-minute system discussion. since 1988. Although our bridge was
and eating and drinking. Some of the The weekend was a bit of a disaster. not good, this is always a fun weekend
time we ate where the locals ate (one We lost the first match heavily on the played in good spirits and I certainly
day we had a perfectly delicious lunch Friday night and seemed to lose most enjoyed the social side of the weekend.
for just over £2 for the two of us), and other matches too. We did beat the Otherwise, we continue to survive
on the last day we splashed out and ate eventual winners, Wales. This was a in the knock-outs. A NICKO match
at an expensive place on the Bund (a good board for our team: had to be cancelled because someone
long row of colonial-style buildings was ill. We went to Cheltenham Bridge
overlooking the river). That was excel- Club and won a Crockfords match
lent too, except, somehow, by the end Love All. Dealer North. (though we made heavy weather of it –
of the evening Barry had no phone. ♠ A K Q J 9 5 a good job we had team-mates). Then
We left on the Thursday, getting ♥ A Q we went to somewhere near Winches-
to the airport on the Maglev, a high- ♦ 5 4 ter and won a Gold Cup match fairly
speed train that got up to 430mph. ♣ A 6 3 comfortably.
The flight (for some reason now China ♠ 6 3 ♠ 4 2 No news on the house sale front. We
N
Eastern rather than Air France) was ♥ 10 7 6 W E ♥ K J 9 8 3 did arrive home one weekend to find a
half an hour late leaving and seemed ♦ Q 9 8 S ♦ K J 10 7 note under our door saying that some-
to make no effort to catch up. Our ♣ K J 8 5 4 ♣ Q 9 one wanted to buy our house, but when
one and a half hours on the ground in ♠ 10 8 7 I refused to circumvent the agent he
Paris had seemed plenty to make our ♥ 5 4 2 seemed to lose interest. In truth, I am
connection but it wasn’t. It seemed ♦ A 6 3 2 not that bothered. Neither Briony nor
like half the flight had missed onward ♣ 10 7 2 Toby have much idea yet where they
connections too. There were no flights will be working in a few months, so
to Heathrow that night. Somehow, we I’m happy to stay where we are until I
hitched up with Andrew (who had I opened 1♠ as North and as our agree- have a better idea of how many people
been rushing home for his fourth wed- ment is not to pass an opening one of a I need to house when I move.
ding anniversary) and Frankie (who suit holding an ace, Anita bid – choos- I’ve been working hard to set up the
had been visiting her boyfriend) and ing to say 1NT rather than raise spades. online bridge club which is due to start
went off with them to a fairly grotty This is a style common to many strong next week. It all seems quite compli-
hotel somewhere near the airport. no-trumpers. The theory is that raising cated and I’m hoping nothing goes
Our dinner vouchers weren’t much partner can get him a bit excited so it wrong. When you read this it will be
use as the restaurants were closed. We is not a good idea to raise with a re- too late to avail yourselves of the first
did find a nearby hotel with a bar that ally poor hand. Better to bid 1NT. If he free taster week, but if you would like
served us a bottle of red wine to drown passes, it probably won’t matter a great to join us now, it is only £15 for a one-
our sorrows in. Then we had to get up deal and if he bids another suit you hour session. Email me at sally@sally-
at 4.30am the next morning for our can put him back to 2♠ unenthusiasti- brock.com and I’ll send you details. ■

but also denying length in either major. Baltic Capitals &
10. Dealer East. Love All. When a minor is supported, both Stockholm Archipelago
♠ K Q 8 7 3 ♠ A 2 members of the partnership should have
♥ A 5 2 N ♥ K 9 8 4 3 aspirations towards no-trumps and all
W E
♦ 7 6 S ♦ A 9 4 their bids will be directed in that direction
♣ 8 7 6 ♣ A K 2 until they get to the 4-level (above 3NT).
With extra strength you would like to
go for game, but without a heart stop
West North East South you cannot be sure of 3NT. Furthermore,
1♥ Pass 3NT might be better played by your
1♠ Pass 2NT1 Pass partner.
? 1
18-19 Bids in new suits show strength in the
suit, but are not natural in the sense that
3♥. Your partner rebids 2NT which in they are aiming to play in the suit – they
Departs Newcastle
modern Acol shows 18-19 points. You are stop-showing no-trump trial bids.
30 July 2016 • 13 nights
th
have plenty of strength for game, but You bid 3♠, showing your spade
Balmoral • L1617
you would like to play in the best game, strength, but just as importantly
which looks as if it might be a major suggesting a weakness in hearts • Newcastle • Cruising
suit. You cannot be sure because you (because you missed the suit out). Your Stockholm Archipelago
might not have a fit in either spades partner replies with 3NT, happy that • Stockholm, Sweden (overnight)
• Cruising Stockholm Archipelago
or hearts, but you would like to check his ♥K is protected from harm if he is
• Tallin, Estonia • St. Petersburg,
before committing to 3NT. Any bid over the declarer. There are nine top tricks Russian Federation (overnight)
2NT is forcing to game which means in no-trumps and a tenth will come if a • Riga, Latvia • Copenhagen,
you have the time to talk. Because you heart is led. Had you risked 3NT then the Denmark • Newcastle
want to explore both major options you contract might have gone down because
Daily bridge on board, bridge
should continue by bidding 3♥. You did a heart lead would go through the king
not support hearts on the first round so rather than up to it. drinks party. Partners for single
your partner will expect only three-card players. Special solos offers.
support. He will either accept hearts by
raising to 4♥, or he will show three cards 12. Dealer West. N/S Game. Great value Mr Bridge fares:
in spades by bidding 3♠ or finally he ♠ A K Q 4 3 ♠ 6 Inside twin cabins from £1,259pp
could bid 3NT with no further interest in ♥ K 8 6 N ♥ A Q J 7 3 Outside twin cabins from £1,489pp
the majors. ♦ 4 2 W E ♦ A 9 7 5 3 Superior Balcony cabins from £2,429pp
S
Here, your partner will bid 4♥ and you ♣ 9 8 7 ♣ 4 3
Solos offer –
reach the best game: 11 tricks are likely
Inside single cabin from £2,209pp
in hearts, whilst a diamond lead might
endanger 3NT. West North East South Balmoral
1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass
?
11. Dealer West. Love All. 3♥. The key here is to remember how
♠ A K 5 ♠ 8 7 6 many hearts your partner’s 2♥ response
♥ 9 8 7 N ♥ K 2 shows. It should promise at least five
W E
♦ A 8 7 6 5 S ♦ K Q 4 3 hearts, which means you have a fit
♣ A 7 ♣ K 8 3 2 and can support hearts. You make a
minimum raise to 3♥, which your partner
will raise to game. For reservations call Mr Bridge
West North East South The reason that a 2♥ response should
1♦ Pass 3♦ Pass always have at least five cards is because
on 01483 489961
? it takes the auction very high and it www.mrbridge.co.uk
can be difficult to find the best fit if you Terms and conditions apply –
3♠. Your partner has raised to 3♦ think your partner might have only four see Fred.Olsen 2015 brochure or
showing 10-12 points and 4+ diamonds, hearts. ■

27/05/2015
Seven Days
by Sally Brock
Friday Saturday bar which is our favourite place for
a light ‘lunch’ – it is 3pm by now.
Up early to see my chiropodist, Simon, After an excellent breakfast, we walk Suitably fortified, we sit down to play
parking in Lidl car park – any later over to the Holiday Inn for the second the strong De Botton team. The first
and there are no spaces. Afterwards half of our first-round matches. We set is terrible. We lose four double-
I pop into the shop for some bits do very well in the first set and are 22 figure swings and are 48 down. For the
and pieces before heading home. up against Seale, but the second set is rest of the match we are OK but don’t
Briony is up and we have a cup of tea pretty terrible and we are afraid we manage to put much of a dent in our
together before I pack my stuff for the may have blown it, but all is well in deficit. Later, we go out for an excellent
weekend – the Spring Foursomes. My the end as we win by 5 IMPs and go dinner and feel quite positive about
old friend Kevin is passing by and we through undefeated. our chances tomorrow.
have arranged to go to the pub for We are pleased with the very first
lunch. Afterwards Barry and I set out
for Stratford upon Avon and arrive
board of the day where we bid a low-
point-count slam in brisk fashion: Sunday
without problem. We were due to play We are playing a team captained by
with Cameron and Martin, but Martin Paul Gipson – a solid team, but we
is ill with a high temperature and Game All. Dealer West. start as favourites. The match goes OK
tummy upset so we have drafted in Fee ♠ 9 8 6 2 and we eventually win by 26 IMPs.
as a substitute. Because Fee will stay ♥ J This is one of our gains:
with boyfriend Hugh, Martin’s non- ♦ 6 5 3 2
refundable room is going begging, so ♣ A 4 3 2
Barry and I have upgraded to that, ♠ K 5 ♠ 4 Love All. Dealer West.
N
while I suggest to Briony that if she ♥ 8 7 3 2 W E ♥ K Q 10 9 ♠ K 10 5
wants to get away for a couple of days ♦ K Q 9 8 7 S ♦ J 4 ♥ 6 4 3
she can use ours. She is going to come ♣ 10 6 ♣ Q J 9 8 7 5 ♦ A K 8 3
up tomorrow and just chill and enjoy ♠ A Q J 10 7 3 ♣ 8 7 3
the delights of Stratford. Our team ♥ A 6 5 4 ♠ 9 7 2 ♠ 4
N
meets up at Carluccio’s for supper and ♦ A 10 ♥ 9 7 2 W E ♥ A K 10 5
then the bridge starts. ♣ K ♦ Q J 10 7 5 2 S ♦ 9 4
The format of the Spring Foursomes ♣ 2 ♣ A Q J 6 5 4
is double-elimination knock-out, ♠ A Q J 8 6 3
ie you can lose once and still stay in West North East South ♥ Q J 8
the competition. We are drawn in Pass Pass Pass 1♠ ♦ 6
a threesome and have to win both Pass 3♠ Pass 4♥ ♣ K 10 9
matches to avoid losing a life. One of Pass 5♣ Pass 6♠
the teams, Miller, is unknown to us All Pass
(but does go on to win the Punchbowl West North East South
– the consolation final) but the other, My 3♠ is pre-emptive, showing four- 3♦ Pass Pass 3♠
the one captained by Catherine Seale, card (plus) trump support, a high Pass 4♠ All Pass
is tougher. We pile on the IMPs card and a ruffing value. Barry’s 4♥
against Miller but they are also losing is a second suit, wanting help. I don’t I would normally have bid 3NT with
to Seale so we desperately need to beat think I could have a better hand so that North hand, but East paused
Seale and at the end of play today (the cue-bid my ace of clubs and he can on the first round and I am worried
halfway stage of these matches) we are more or less see his twelve tricks. that the heart suit might not be
3 IMPs down. We head off to the Marina tapas good enough. I really shouldn’t be

Seven Days continued for a pint and to go through the card, and out to the London Coliseum for
picking out interesting hands for this the launch of the BGTW Yearbook I
and other bridge articles, eventually was working on last month. They have
arriving home about four. a really good launch party each year,
influenced by these things, because After a cup of tea Barry heads home always at a rather exotic venue. This
people are never thinking about what and I catch up on my TV, working on year is no exception and the home of the
I think they are thinking about. West my laptop while I do so. English National Opera is somewhere
leads his singleton club to East’s ace. I’ve not been to before. I catch up with
East then cashes the ace and king of
hearts and gives his partner a club ruff Tuesday a few people who work for Bradt, and
other members of the British Guild of
for one down. After the gym in the morning, I get Travel Writers I’ve met over the years.
Our other pair, Cameron and Fee, on with writing up some of the hands There is quite a lot to drink, a great
are not satisfied with such a modest I’ve been collecting over the last few raffle (I won a weekend in Dublin a
result. This is their auction: weeks. This seems to be my lowest few years ago) and this year not much
priority job and usually by the time I food, so afterwards Tricia and I go to
West North East South do it I have forgotten what happened. Côte for a steak before heading home.
3♦ Pass 4♦ 4♠ I’m also trying to get everything ready
Pass Pass Dbl All Pass for the online bridge club which starts
tomorrow. Briony comes home from Thursday
West leads his singleton club which work a bit early so we can spend a bit Barry is up and out early while I get up
East wins and returns the queen, of time together before my regular and on with Lapland. I have terrible
covered by the king and ruffed. Now Tuesday double dose of coaching Irish internet problems all morning and
a heart is won with the king, the jack women. I’m pretty exhausted after that spend a lot of time on the phone with
of clubs cashed so West can discard a and just have time to finish my book in Lee, my Apple Mac mechanic. I get
heart, and now the ace of hearts and a bed before falling asleep. in a bit of a tizzy because the second
heart ruff. Three down for 500. session of the online club is looming
After lunch at the Marina again, we
go into the next round against team Wednesday and I can barely get online. In the
end we connect through my phone.
Vitas. Vitas is an Estonian who is First thing in the morning I get Today, we have two full tables and
playing with a Pakistani resident in Lapland back to work on the second again people who have played seem
London, three Israelis and a Pole. The proofs. However, it is a bit of a disaster. to have enjoyed it. Immediately it
match is quite close but in the end we I work all morning and then manage is over, I leap into my car and drive
lose by 14 IMPs. to lose it all. Something to do with the off to Newport (just outside Saffron
We go out for another nice dinner new version of Indesign on my new Walden) where I am going to spend
(Cameron is good at booking places laptop not being compatible with the a few hours with Ben, Gemma and
for us to eat). Then we join the Irish old one on my old laptop. As if I don’t grandson Hayden. Ben is home alone
for a drink, and when the pub closes have enough to do, I stop at 12 and when I arrive, but soon Gemma and
we go back to our hotel for a nightcap. get myself packed. After a day or so in Hayden (aged five) arrive back from
Barry and I are the first to weaken and London I am going to Tallinn for the his trampolining class. There is barely
go to bed at 1am, leaving the others weekend with Barry – our Christmas time to say ‘hello’ before we all set off
to go on to a night club (it all makes present from Briony. I am really for the five-minute walk to the station
me feel old – I’d have been there with looking forward to it. (with Hayden riding a tractor) to meet
them in my younger days). I get to Barry’s by mid-afternoon Barry. A lasagna supper, and then
and spend some time starting to Hayden reads to us before we read
Monday redo what I was doing all morning.
At five we have the first online bridge
to him and put him to bed. We leave
about nine for a hotel up the road near
We leave Stratford about 11am, in club session. I’ve been pleased by the Stansted. We are greeted warmly at
Barry’s little MX5 with the roof down. general enthusiasm of the response the B&B (the White House at Takeley,
We stop off at a motor museum near and quite a few people have registered if you ever need to stay – and leave
Leamington that I’d often seen signs with the club. However, on this first your car – near Stansted). I finish off
for. It is fun wandering around among day we get only one full table up and Lapland while Barry snoozes in front
all those fabulous old cars. Some are running. Then there is a woman I play of the election results. Our alarm is set
familiar because my parents had ones with at another table against robots. for 4.30am and then it will be ‘Tallinn,
like them. Some are much newer There are a few teething problems. The here we come.’ ■
than my first car which was a bright process seems more complicated than
blue soft-top Morris Minor. When it ought to be. The feedback is good
If you’d like to play in the ProBridge
‘history’ is what has happened in your though, so we will persevere and hope
online club, visit www.pro-bridge.co.uk
own lifetime it does make you feel it grows. or email Sally at [email protected].
ancient. We move on and stop at a pub Almost as soon as we finish I am up

Conventions Part 7 with Jeremy Dhondy
Defending
against 1NT:
2♣ Majors and More
A
n old partner of mine when think it is too much for you, so a small
faced with the question, ‘What step in the right direction would be ♠ Q 7 4
is your defence to 1NT?’ would just to play Landy, where the only ♥ J 10 5 N
W E
answer, ‘Very good.’ The opponent conventional bid is 2♣ showing both ♦ A 7 6 5 S
would smile weakly and try again. At majors. Everything else is natural. If ♣ Q 9 5
least the opponents only had to listen you want to bid clubs naturally, then
to this once. I think I heard it over fifty you need at least six clubs and you
times. Still, he has now emigrated, so can overcall 3♣. Don’t be tempted to You have no interest in looking for
no longer. bid 2♣ to show the majors or perhaps game, but you do wish to play your
When the opponents open 1NT just clubs and then bid 3♣ on the next part-score in the best fit. You could
and play there undisturbed, they get round to clarify, because partner may guess, but better is to play that 2♦
good boards more often than bad well jump in one of the majors and shows equal length in the majors.
ones. Therefore, it follows that you then you will be clarifying at rather a It could be 2-2, 3-3 or even 4-4. This
want to get into the auction as often as high level. means that you will play in 2♥ if your
possible. In pairs events especially, it North opens 1NT (doesn’t much partner has the hand which bid 2♣
is the frequency of your gain you need matter what the range is) and you hold: above. If your partner also has equal
to consider. So, if you can get into the length in the majors then he will bid
auction and get a good board several the better one.
times and a bad board occasionally ♠ K J 9 5 If the opponents double 2♣, usually
(which can be -800), then you have N ♥ A Q 7 4 3 showing values, then the dangers of
W E
still done the right thing. In teams, S ♦ 9 4 3 a penalty are increased, so it is even
your -800 penalties will hurt more, ♣ 4 more important to play in your better
so you may be more circumspect. You major suit fit. Given the opponents
can test this for yourself by looking at have meanly doubled, you can at least
the next ten times you pass out 1NT You can bid 2♣ to show the majors. take advantage of the extra calls they
at pairs and see what percentage score Generally, you will be at least 5-4 (or have allowed you and now play:
you get for the board. 4-5) in the two suits and will have
To get into the auction you need tools, enough for an overcall, but not enough West North East South
because, although playing a completely for a double. If you are in the fourth 1NT 2♣ Dbl
natural defence is simple and you are seat after 1NT-Pass-Pass, then you ?
unlikely to have misunderstandings, may be more aggressive.
you will be forced to pass on many If you are going to make the most of Pass to show clubs.
hands when you do have a decent playing this, then you need to make An example hand is:
place to play. How to defend 1NT has sure you land in the right major,
been the subject of debate and many especially if they double you and look
different conventional agreements. At to take a penalty for your impudence ♠ 7 5
N
the moment something called Multi in coming in. ♥ 4 3 W E
Landy is fashionable. It allows you to Let’s suppose the auction has gone: ♦ K 4 S
show a six-card major, both majors ♣ Q J 10 9 7 4 2
and also a major and minor two- West North East South
suiter, so is quite flexible. 1NT 2♣ Pass
At the end of this article you may ? You can bid 2♦ if you have a similar

Defence to 1NT It looks likely partner has hearts and
♠ Q J 7 3 probably 2♥ will be enough, although
N ♥ A Q 6 4 3 you might be pushed to 3♥ if the
W E
S ♦ Q 8 3 opponents compete further, but if by
hand with diamonds as the longest ♣ 8 some small miracle partner corrected
suit. If you have equal length in the 2♥ to 2♠, you would want to raise him
majors and you want partner to choose to game.
his better major, then redouble. You barely had enough to bid 2♣ in If your majors are the other way
If you happen to have a hand where the first place so wish to do nothing to round and you hold:
you want to look for game it is almost encourage partner to bid too much.
always going to be in four of a major. So far, you are getting into the
Once in a blue moon you might want auction if you hold both majors, but ♠ A5
to play 3NT, but it isn’t worth trying to what about the other hand types? It is ♥ J753 N
W E
cater for this as you can always just bid hard, if not impossible, to cater for all ♦ KJ752 S
it. If you have a hand with one major hand types, but an improvement on ♣ K7
much better than the other then you Landy, if you have the memory for it,
can bid it. is Multi Landy.
Suppose you hold: The scheme of bids is: You bid 2♠ asking partner to pass with
spades and bid 3♥ or 4♥ with hearts.
2♣ majors You can bid 2NT over 2♦ if you
♠ A Q 7 5 4 2♦ A 6-card major want partner to clarify his suit and
♥ 8 N 2♥ 5 hearts and 4+ in a minor strength. The scheme is similar to the
W E
♦ K J 4 S
2♠ 5 spades and 4+ in a minor one already shown which is:
♣ Q 4 3 2
All responses to 2♣ showing the 3♣ minimum with hearts
majors are exactly the same as above. 3♦ minimum with spades
You have a simple 4♠ bid in response If you play an opening bid of 2♦ 3♥ maximum with hearts
to your partner’s 2♣ overcall. as a multi, then you will already be 3♠ maximum with spades
If you have a fit for both of your familiar with how to respond, but if
partner’s majors, then you can ask not then your first duty is to make sure If partner has a minor and a major, he
which is his better and then play in you play in the correct major. bids the major. He should always have
game. Most bids are what is called ‘pass or five in the major. It is too risky not to
For example, if you hold: correct’ which means if you respond have. He will also have a minor, so a
2♥ to your partner’s 2♦ overcall, you typical hand for a 2♥ overcall might
are saying to partner, ‘Pass if your be:
♠ A Q 7 5 suit is hearts and bid 2♠ if your suit is
♥ K J 7 3 N spades.’
W E
♦ K 9 4 3 S
A typical hand for this might be: ♠ 4 3
♣ 8 N ♥ A Q 8 7 5
W E
S ♦ 6
♠ J753 ♣ K Q 4 3 2
You might bid 2♦ to show equal length ♥ 95 N
W E
in the majors and then raise his longer ♦ KQ75 S
or better major to game. ♣ 642 He might only have four cards in his
Lastly, you might have an invitational minor especially if he is not vulnerable.
hand where game is going to be good If partner overcalls 2♥ you will pass
only if partner has a maximum. The You suspect partner has hearts. with a weakish hand and tolerance for
simple way is to jump in the major, so Opposite a six-card heart suit, you hearts, or will call:
partner can bid game if he has a decent simply want to play in 2♥, so you bid it
hand. A more complicated way is to and partner passes if he has hearts and 2♠ natural, at least six spades,
respond 2NT which asks partner to bids 2♠ if he has spades. invitational, but can be passed.
bid as follows: If you hold: 2NT asking for the minor and
showing values (see below).
3♣ minimum with better hearts 3♣ is a pass or correct bid asking
3♦ minimum with better spades ♠ J 7 5 3 partner to pass or bid 3♦
3♥ maximum with better hearts ♥ A 5 depending on what his minor is.
3♠ maximum with better spades ♦ K J 7 5 2 N 3♥ natural and non forcing.
W E
♣ K 7 S
An example of a 3♣ rebid might be: Game bids are natural.

Defence to 1NT
BERNARD MAGEE’S
If you respond 2NT showing INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS
some interest then:
ACOL ADVANCED DECLARER
3♣ minimum with clubs
3♦ minimum BIDDING ACOL BIDDING PLAY
with diamonds l Opening Bids and l Basics l Suit Establishment
3♥ maximum with clubs Responses in No-trumps
l Advanced
3♠ maximum
l Slams and Strong Basics l Suit Establishment
with diamonds
Openings l Weak Twos in Suits
An example hand for a 3♥ l Support for Partner l Strong Hands l Hold-ups
rebid, having shown hearts l Pre-empting l Defence l Ruffing for
and a minor, would be: l Overcalls to Weak Twos Extra Tricks
l Defence to 1NT l Entries in
l No-trump
£66 No-trumps
♠ 8
Openings l Doubles £76
and Responses l Delaying
N ♥ A J 10 7 3 l Two-suited
W E
l Opener’s and Drawing Trumps

S

♦ A 5
♣ K J 10 5 2 Responder’s Rebids
Overcalls £96 l Using the Lead
l Defences to
l Minors and Misfits Other Systems l Trump Control

l Doubles l Misfits and l Endplays &
l Competitive Distributional Avoidance
Summary Auctions Hands l Using the Bidding
l It pays to get into

the auction over a ADVANCED DEFENCE FIVE-CARD
1NT opening. DECLARER PLAY MAJORS &
l Lead vs Strong No-Trump
l You can be a bit l Making Overtricks No-trump Contracts
more daring in in No-trumps l Opening Bids
l Lead vs
fourth position l Making Overtricks & Responses
Suit Contracts
after 1NT-Pass- in Suit Contracts l No-Trump
l Partner of Leader
Pass. l Endplays
Openings
vs No-trump
l Avoidance Contracts l Support £89
l If you are playing for Partner
l Wrong l Partner of Leader
pairs, it is the
vs Suit Contracts l Slams
frequency of gain Contract
& Strong Openings
l Count
that is important, l Simple
£81 Signals l Rebids
so be aggressive. Squeezes £76
l Attitude l Minors
l Counting
l A defence that the Hand Signals & Misfits
allows you to show l Discarding l Pre-empting
l Trump Reductions
a number of two
& Coups l Defensive Plan l Doubles
suiters is more
flexible than a l Playing Doubled l Stopping Declarer l Overcalls
natural defence. Contracts l Competitive
l Counting
l Safety Plays the Hand Auctions
l Make sure you
have discussed
Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge,
what to do if your
Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
opponents come in
over your bid. ■ ( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop
System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM

Answers to
David Huggett’s
Play Quiz on page 19
You are declarer in 6NT and West leads do you know? Well, unless West is being
1. ♠ K J 9 the ♣J. How do you plan the play? particularly deep, East must have the
♥ A 10 6 5 You have plenty of points, but there is queen of spades because otherwise West
♦ 9 5 4 2 horrible duplication in the spade suit and would have led that card (or the king)
♣ A 4 the contract is by no means guaranteed. instead of the jack, all of which means
♠ 6 5 3 ♠ Q 8 7 2 In such a case, you have to combine all that West must hold the queen of hearts
N
♥ 3 ♥ 9 2 your chances and you will make if clubs to make up his twelve points. As you
W E
♦ K Q J 10 S ♦ A 6 3 break 3-3, if diamonds break 3-3 or if know that East has five hearts because of
♣ K 10 8 6 3 ♣ J 9 7 2 the queen of diamonds is in the West his take-out bid, you infer that West has
♠ A 10 4 hand. queen doubleton in hearts, so you play
♥ K Q J 8 7 4 You cannot afford to test clubs first out the top cards in that suit rather than
♦ 8 7 (in case they don’t break) nor would it take a finesse.
♣ Q 5 be right to play diamonds from the top
(in case East has four with the queen).
Instead, cash a top diamond by all
You are declarer in 4♥ and West leads means, but then lead low towards the 4. ♠ A
the ♦K-Q-J with East following suit. How jack. If West has the queen you will make ♥ 7 6 2
do you plan the play? three tricks in the suit, but if not, you can ♦ 10 8 3
With two diamonds and a certain still hope for an even break in one of the ♣ Q 8 6 5 4 3
club to lose it looks as though you have minors, or even for one defender to have ♠ 10 9 ♠ K Q 5 4
N
to find the queen of spades to land started with four cards in each minor. ♥ Q J 5 4 W E ♥ K 10 8 3
your contract. Wouldn’t it be nice if the ♦ 9 7 5 S ♦ 6 4 2
opposition found it for you? Simply ruff ♣ J 9 7 2 ♣ K 10
the third diamond, draw trumps ending in ♠ J 8 7 6 3 2
dummy and ruff the last diamond. Now 3. ♠ 7 6 3 ♥ A 9
play ace and another club. Whoever wins ♥ 6 2 ♦ A K Q J
will either have to give you a ruff and ♦ A J 8 4 ♣ A
discard or open up the spade suit to your ♣ 8 6 5 2
advantage. The queen of clubs is actually ♠ K J 10 8 ♠ Q 4 2
N
a complete irrelevance. ♥ Q 3 ♥ 9 8 7 5 4 You are declarer in 4♠ and West leads
W E
♦ 10 6 5 2 S ♦ 9 7 the ♣2 with East playing the ♣10. When
♣ A Q 10 ♣ 9 7 4 you play a spade, West follows with the
♠ A 9 5 ♠10. How do you plan the play?
2. ♠ A Q 7 ♥ A K J 10 With a certain heart loser you have to
♥ A 5 3 ♦ K Q 3 limit your trump losers to just two and at
♦ J 6 5 3 ♣ K J 3 first glance it looks as though West might
♣ 6 4 2 have started with either K-10 or Q-10 in
♠ 10 8 ♠ 9 6 5 4 3 trumps, tempting you to play a low trump
N
♥ J 10 6
W E
♥ 8 7 4 2 You are declarer in 3NT after West the next time you lead the suit. That can’t
♦ Q 10 9 7 S ♦ 8 4 opened 1NT and East transferred to 2♥. really be right because then East will
♣ J 10 8 7 ♣ 9 3 West leads the ♠J with East playing low. have either Q-9 or K-9 left and will make
♠ K J 2 How do you plan the play? two further tricks. Instead, you have to
♥ K Q 9 You are doubtless annoyed at not play West for 10-9 doubleton in trumps
♦ A K 2 being able to defend a doubled heart and play the jack the next time round.
♣ A K Q 5 partscore, but that doesn’t mean you Then you will lose just two trump tricks –
can take your eye off the ball. So what to the king and queen. ■

Bernard Magee DVDs – Number Seven
Leads
D
efence is the most difficult king) and he watches for his partner’s
aspect of bridge, but the signal. East plays ♥3: low = no. West North
opening lead is more trusts his partner, so he switches ♠ A 9 3 2
accessible because it is before all the to diamonds. Declarer wins, draws ♥ 10 6 2
complications start. However, the trumps and plays clubs, but it is easy for ♦ 8 4
opening lead sets up the battle to East to win his ♣A and lead a second ♣ 9 8 7 2
come and is crucial to give the defence heart through declarer, making sure
power. I start by going through the of three heart tricks and defeating the
correct leads to make from any given contract. Auction 1
suit, from honour leads to high spot A key aspect of leading a high card West East
leads and low spot leads. I also talk against a suit contract is your partner’s 2NT 6NT
about aces: an ace lead should promise signal: you work as a team.
the king. This is such an important Once I have explained which card Auction 2
rule and yet it is the most broken rule to lead from any given suit, it is time West East
at club level. Players use the excuse to switch to the subject of picking the 2♣1 3♦2
of ‘having a look at dummy’. Your right suit to lead. After the obvious 3NT 4♦
ace’s job is to kill a high card and it choices, I turn the attention to trump 6NT
cannot do that if you lead it straight leads. As you move up the echelons of 1
The strongest bid
out: with the king in combination, it bridge, you tend to encounter more 2
Natural positive response
is OK because you can use the king to and more trump leads: they can be
do some killing. Furthermore, your attacking but, more often, they are In Auction 1, there is no reason to
partner is able to give you a signal relatively safe. expect any long suits, so you should
when you lead a high card, particularly Next comes the unbid suit, always defend passively hoping for your ace to
against a suit contract. worth thinking about: if your do some damage. Lead a high club: ♣8.
opponents have bid three suits, then
logic would suggest that they are
Dealer South. Love All. weakest in the unbid suit. However, Layout 1
♠ K 9 7 6 there is a big difference between ♠ A 9 3 2
♥ 8 5 4 minors and majors. Players will rarely ♥ 10 6 2
♦ A K 4 2 suppress a strong major suit, but a ♦ 8 4
♣ 8 7 minor can be hidden and will be a ♣ 9 8 7 2
♠ J 5 ♠ 10 8 nasty surprise in the play. ♠ K 8 5 ♠ Q 7 6
N N
♥ A K 10 2 W E ♥ J 6 3 I finish up with defending against ♥ A K 3 W E ♥ Q 9 8
♦ 9 8 7 S ♦ Q 10 6 3 slam contracts: should you lead an ♦ Q J 3 S ♦ A K 10 2
♣ 6 4 3 2 ♣ A 10 9 5 ace or not? Your choice of lead against ♣ A K 4 3 ♣ Q 6 5
♠ A Q 4 3 2 a slam will depend on the auction. ♠ J 10 4
♥ Q 9 7 Generally, if you think your opponents ♥ J 7 5 4
♦ J 5 have a very strong suit, (either in no- ♦ 9 7 6 5
♣ K Q J trumps or as a side suit in a trump ♣ J 10
contract) then you should attack – you
need to make tricks quickly while you
West North East South can, but on a more normal auction to a As expected, your opponents have
1♠ slam, then you would defend passively two balanced hands with 33 high card
Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ and hope that your ace will do its usual points. However, with no distribution
All Pass job of killing an honour. there are only 10 top tricks with an
Have a look at this hand from the obvious extra from spades. With clubs
This is a very straightforward defence: end of the seminar: what would you failing to break, declarer cannot make
West leads the ♥A (promising the lead against the two auctions: a twelfth trick.

Leads continued
READERS’ now probably aware, my

suitcase has been forwarded
on to Iraq. I wish I’d had
a camera ready for the
LETTERS
reaction of fellow passengers
The ♠A lead would give when I broke the news.
declarer his extra trick right Ruth Major, from on board
away by not killing an hon- lovely Aegean Odyssey.
our with the ace. As long as
North’s ace does its job of CRUISE TO USA LOST LUGGAGE DOUBLE-ENTENDRE?
killing a high card, declarer Very disappointed to see I just want to say a huge For you to headline a letter,
will go one off in 6NT. the price of single cabins ‘thank you’ to everyone. see Readers’ Letters, BRIDGE
In Auction 2, it is clear on the cruise next April to You have been incredibly issue 149, from an avowedly
that East has an extremely USA. When the magazine supportive regarding my ancient and deteriorating
powerful diamond suit came yesterday, I thought, recent ‘loss’ and I don’t know member ‘Nearly Expired’
which will supply most of ‘Wonderful, as a single how I would have coped would have some of the
declarer’s tricks, so you need passenger, I can afford to go without you all. Special brethren reaching for
to aim for two quick tricks. to the USA,’ but it is not Mr thanks must go to Matthew their long knives if not
Lead the ♠A and watch part- Bridge at all but Fred.Olsen Swire, who has put in so the telephone number of
ner’s signal: he plays the ♠8: who charge an arm and a much effort on my behalf their litigation solicitor.
high for like, so you contin- leg for single passengers. and demonstrated endless As it is, your double
ue with a second spade and Mrs M Rourke, patience throughout the entendre was enjoyed
defeat 6NT by one trick. Knutsford, Cheshire. whole trip. At one point he by me as well as, I
This is a long cruise and is must have thought I’d had hope, many others.
being well supported, but I yet another cabin change David O’Neill,
Layout 2 will ask the cruise company and was camping Colkirk, Fakenham.
♠ A 9 3 2 to reconsider the singles out in his office.
♥ 10 6 2 prices of this sailing. I have been overwhelmed HELP PLEASE
♦ 8 4 with kindness, consideration, My wife and I (average
♣ 9 8 7 2 ANY IDEAS? sympathy, condolences, players) have been asked
♠ Q J 10 7 ♠ 6 5 There’s a lot of emphasis on pearls of wisdom, humorous by friends (three couples) if
♥ A K Q J N ♥ 8 4 3 bidding, with little attention suggestions and the we could teach them how
W E
♦ Q 2 S ♦ A K J 10 given to playing hands. occasional shoulder to to play bridge. We have
6 5 3 Do you offer books on the cry on (thank you Arline). taught them how to use
♣ A K Q ♣ 6 important aspect of assessing Offers of help have been in high-card points to value
♠ K 8 4 and playing hands? abundance – suntan cream, their hands, trick and game
♥ 9 7 5 Anne Mullingar, wet wipes, body lotion, panty values (minor/majors suits
♦ 9 7 Ireland. liners, clothing and jewellery, and no-trumps) and some
♣ J 10 5 4 3 The classic work on this to name but a few. Strangely basic Acol bidding. Would it
subject is Card Play Technique enough, nobody offered be better to introduce them
by Mollo & Gardner. to lend me any scarves. initially to rubber bridge,
The auction is reasonable: Buy it from Amazon, (Fortunately I’d packed some which would make them
East has a wonderful hand, new or second hand. in my hand luggage). One learn how to fill in scorecards
which opposite a 23+ hand witty ship-mate suggested and would provide clear
is likely to make slam: after PHOTOCOPY THEM I stitch all mine together objectives, or should we
all they do have 14 top tricks. Having enjoyed Bernard’s to wear at my next ‘fancy teach them Chicago?
This is the key, because they tutorials on holiday, could dress’ appearance and Mr Kenneth Angus,
have such a powerful suit, it you please publish practice Reuben thought he had Midlothian, Scotland.
is likely that once they get in hands so that my partners found some of my clothes
they will make a lot of tricks and I can use them to on a tree in Rhodes. STRATFORD CHICAGO
so you have to be active, you improve our play? It would My luggage was expected I am promoting a Chicago
are searching for two quick be good as I play with to join me at 3 o’clock bridge event. Monday 14
tricks: either two aces or three different partners. yesterday afternoon at September to Wednesday
perhaps an ace and a king. Sue Clarke, Kusadasi and by this stage in 16 September 2015. Venue,
The DVD ends with the St Leonards on Sea, this ridiculous farce, Grosvenor Best Western
message: Choosing better East Sussex. I had been hoping to be Hotel. Cost £175 per person.
leads will not only increase On their way to you already, the only one wearing a There is a £10 supplement
your scores, it will also get but in future take the sheet ‘posh frock’ for this informal per night for single
you a happier partner. ■ home and photocopy them. party. However, as you are occupancy. We have

READERS’ LETTERS experts of the time as well Richard Clayton QC, electronic version is really
continued
as noting their contributions representing the EBU, quite unsuitable. I was
to the game and their said bridge was already interested in Mary’s 17th
successes. It is interesting recognised as a sport by lesson. Having been brought
five tables of bridge in the to note how they affected several European Union up on Ron Klinger, I had
drawing room, mornings the bridge we play today. countries and by the always been led to believe
and evenings. The hotel Both books are out of print, International Olympic that an Acol strong two did
is in the heart of Stratford but used and new condition Committee. Setting out not promise any specific
and we have afternoons copies are still available. Sport England’s case, point count but was based on
free to explore the town and Dr Godric Dearing, Kate Gallafent QC said, about 8½ to 9 playing tricks.
surrounding area. There is Liverpool. ‘The starting point of the Is this now old-fashioned?
also a visit to the theatre on Readers should try buying definition of sport is physical John Hankin, by email.
the last day should anyone new or second-hand books activity. Bridge cannot ever I have passed this to Julian
be interested. The price from Amazon. It is really satisfy this definition.‘ Pottage (see next issue).
includes half-board and easy, the service is great In his ruling, Mostyn said,
morning coffee. If there is and it’s not just for books. ‘If the brain is a muscle, it LETTERS FUTURE
anything else readers need Incidentally, I promoted both does [satisfy the definition]. When you started charging
to know they should email these books when they were You are doing more for your magazine, I decided
me. [email protected] first published in hardback , physical activity playing to continue my subscription
Diana Holland by email. reminding me that I will be bridge, with all that dealing primarily because of the
I am not a fan but wish celebrating 30 years as Mr and playing, than in rifle Readers’ Letters; they are by
your event well. Bridge in the spring of 2017. shooting.’ He added, ‘I do far my favourite part. In fact,
not conclude that this case I don’t read most of
FURTHER READING BRIDGE A SPORT? is completely unarguable the magazine. In the
What a fascinating piece An organisation that or that this challenge is April issue there was less
by Shireen Mohandes, represents bridge players vexatious or frivolous.’ than a page of Readers’
see BRIDGE number 150, hopes it has been dealt a Mr Benn Lee by email. Letters, when at least
featuring the match between winning hand by a judge who four pages used to be
Ely Culbertson’s team and has ruled it can challenge a NAUGHTY SALLY the norm. What are you
Lt Col Beasley’s in 1933. decision that the card game I do not want to set your planning for the future with
The picture of the annotated is not a sport. At a High contributors against each regard to this feature?
record which you own was Court hearing last week, other, but I would like to Name & email
fascinating. Shireen mentions Mr Justice Mostyn gave the ask for David Stevenson’s address provided.
some books on early bridge English Bridge Union (EBU) view on Sally Brock’s own Letters come into this
of which I think Mackey’s leave to mount a full judicial account of her action publication in many ways.
The Walk of the Oysters is review of a ruling by Sport in the Portland Pairs. Most come to me directly
excellent. May I suggest England that bridge is not a ‘Declarer revoked. We did and are now farmed out to
some others which I happen sport and therefore ineligible call the director, but decided my experts. Julian Pottage
to have in my library? for lottery funding. Mostyn to let it go, so she made an on general bridge, bidding,
For a great deal of said that despite a lack of overtrick when we could have play and defence. David
detail on Culbertson physical activity the game is insisted it went one down.’ Stevenson on matters of
as a man and bridge ‘arguably’ a sport, adding: Surely Sally has no laws, ethics, rules and
player – a comprehensive ‘The brain is a muscle.’ discretion to alter the regulations. Bernard Magee
biography from family The EBU wants bridge to proper score? It’s one thing on questions relating to his
and colleague interviews: be recognised as a ‘mind in a purely social game writings, interactive software
Culbertson The Man who sport’ so that it can apply but in a tournament you and, increasingly, about
made Contract Bridge – for public funding. Sport are disadvantaging other matters arising from his
John Clay – Weidenfield England says it is no more a pairs in the competition. thirty-odd films (DVDs) now
and Nicolson 1995. sporting activity than ‘sitting Pete Dean, in general circulation.
More generally, Tales from at home reading a book’. Formby, Lancs. A number of general
the Bridge Table – John Clay The ruling may have Over to you, David. matters form the basis of
– Coronet Books 1998. implications for other games my editorial column, club
Both of these are excellent and Mostyn, who admitted NEW SUBSCRIBER insurance, travel and
with very detailed and he had on occasion played I received a paper copy of holidays and especially
fascinating background bridge, directed that FIDE, Bridge for the first time in lots of what can collectively
on the characters and the world chess federation, ages. As I study it in the be described as bees in
idiosyncrasies of leading be informed of his decision. bath each morning, the bonnets. ■
Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH or e-mail: [email protected]

Answers to Julian Pottage’s
Defence Quiz on page 19
West North East South partner has the ♦A entry, a club return
1. ♠ 9 5 1♦ would beat the contract. However, can
♥ A Q J 4 Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ partner have five clubs? The ♥2 is key:
♦ K 10 7 3 Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT suggesting three hearts and giving
♣ K 7 5 All Pass declarer two. With two clubs, declarer
♠ Q 8 6 2 ♠ K 10 7 3 would be 4-2-5-2 and would surely have
N
♥ 8 6 2 ♥ K 7 3 Partner leads the ♣J, your ♣K losing played diamonds first. Placing partner
W E
♦ 5 2 S ♦ J 8 6 to the ♣A. Declarer runs the ♦Q to your thus with at most four clubs, you switch
♣ A 10 8 4 ♣ J 9 2 ♦K, West playing the ♦9. What do you attention to spades. Playing your partner
♠ A J 4 return? for the ♠A is a better bet. To cater for
♥ 10 9 5 From the top of sequence lead you either A-J-x-x or A-9-8-x, switch to the
♦ A Q 9 4 know that declarer holds the ♣Q: the ♠K. You can then continue with the ♠10
♣ Q 6 3 suit is not ready to run. From the bidding to pick up the ♠J.
and partner’s ♦9 length signal to show
an even number, you place declarer with
West North East South five diamonds. This gives your opponents
1NT at least eight tricks: two clubs, four 4. ♠ A 9 6 5 4
Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦ diamonds and two hearts (any finesse is ♥ A 3 2
Pass 3NT All Pass working). Either the ♠A or the ♥K will be ♦ K 10 5
a ninth. You cannot do anything about ♣ K 7
Partner leads the ♠2, your ♠K losing to it if declarer holds the ♠A. However, if ♠ J 7 2 ♠ K 10 8 3
N
the ♠A. Declarer runs the ♥10 to your partner holds that card, perhaps you ♥ Q 10 7 4 W E ♥ J 8 5
♥K. What do you return? can run four spade tricks. To neutralise ♦ A 2 S ♦ Q 6 3
Returning the suit partner led is often dummy’s ♠J and to start finessing against ♣ J 9 4 2 ♣ 8 6 5
a good idea. Here, you started with the ♠K, you switch to the ♠Q. ♠ Q
four spades too and have no reason ♥ K 9 6
to switch. Although the usual rule is to ♦ J 9 8 7 4
return your original fourth best, the need ♣ A Q 10 3
to maximise trick-taking potential takes 3. ♠ Q
priority over signalling. To nullify the ♥ A K 10 9
♠9 in dummy, return the ♠10. Whether ♦ Q 10 7 5 West North East South
declarer covers or not your side makes ♣ K 7 5 2 1♦
three spade tricks. If you mistakenly ♠ A 9 8 2 ♠ K 10 7 3 Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣
returned the ♠3, declarer might play low ♥ 8 6 2 N ♥ Q 7 5 3 Pass 2♥1 Pass 2NT
W E
from hand to make a second spade trick. ♦ J 2 S ♦ 8 6 3 Pass 3NT All Pass
♣ Q J 10 4 ♣ 8 6 1
Fourth suit forcing
♠ J 6 5 4
♥ J 4 Partner leads the ♥4, your ♥J losing to
2. ♠ J ♦ A K 9 4 the ♥K. Declarer runs the ♦9 to your ♦Q.
♥ A Q 8 5 4 ♣ A 9 3 What do you return?
♦ A 10 7 3 With the ♥2 and ♥3 in dummy, you
♣ 7 6 5 know the ♥4 lead is from four – not
♠ A 9 6 2 ♠ Q 10 8 3 West North East South enough. The alternative return is a spade.
♥ J 9 2 N ♥ 10 7 6 3 1NT South’s bidding shows five diamonds
W E
♦ 9 2 S ♦ K 8 Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ and four clubs. You know of three hearts
♣ J 10 9 4 ♣ K 8 2 Pass 3NT All Pass from the lead. This leaves one spade.
♠ K 7 5 4 In case it is the ♠Q, you switch to the ♠K.
♥ K Partner leads the ♣Q, won by the ♣A. If the ♠A wins, your side later makes three
♦ Q J 6 5 4 Declarer runs the ♥J to your ♥Q, West spade tricks. If not, you can continue with
♣ A Q 3 playing the ♥2. What do you return? the ♠3 or revert to hearts. You did not
If the lead is from ♣Q-J-10-9-x and need to peek to ‘see’ the singleton. ■

Julian Pottage answers your Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Most

Common Discard Methods?
T
hree popular methods are as not spare a high card to ask for a high than the ♣5 (low to discourage) be-
follows: suit. cause partner might wonder about
whether you want a heart rather
1. HELD, also known as natural or 3. Reverse than a diamond. Without the ♥K,
rubber bridge discards. Reverse attitude discards are similar to declarer would have played an hon-
2. Suit preference, also known as Mc- HELD except with the meanings re- our from dummy at trick one – but
Kenney or Lavinthal discards. versed: a high card discourages the suit why put pressure on partner?
3. Reverse, also known as upside while a low card encourages the suit. 2. Playing suit preference discards,
down discards. The main advantages are that you can you have a beautifully clear card to
often use a low card with which to sig- discard: the ♥9. Being a high heart,
Let us examine the three in turn: nal and that you can often spare a high this asks for the higher of the other
card from a weak holding. The disad- two suits, in this case diamonds
1. HELD vantage is the temporary one of get- rather than clubs. The lowish ♣5
HELD stands for High Encouraging ting used to (and getting your partner would also ask for a diamond, dia-
Low Discouraging. A high card en- used to) the opposite to what you have monds being lower than hearts, but
courages the suit discarded while a low learnt. Reverse signals are common at is far less clear.
card discourages the suit discarded. the highest level, as those who watch 3. Playing reverse attitude discards,
High means as high as you can afford. the BBO vugraph can testify. you discard the ♦4 (low to encour-
Even a three can be high if you get to Let us look at some hands and see age). This is better than the ♣9 (high
make a second discard and discard the which discards you would choose us- to discourage) because encouraging
two next. Low means your lowest card ing these methods: a suit makes life easier for partner
in the suit. as explained above.
The main advantages of HELD are
that partner is likely to notice a high ♠ A 8 5 4 Let us change your holdings in the mi-
card and that many players under- ♥ Q J 7 2 nors.
stand the method. The main disad- ♦ J 8 2
vantage is that quite often you cannot ♣ J 3
afford to weaken your holding in the ♠ K ♠ A 8 5 4
suit you want led. ♥ 10 9 8 4 N
♥ Q J 7 2
W E
HELD is probably by far the most ♦ A Q 7 4 S
♦ J 8 2
common method in club and home ♣ A 9 8 5 ♣ J 3
play. ♠ K
N
♥ 10 9 8 4 W E
2. Suit Preference South, who opened 1♠, plays in 4♠ af- ♦ A 9 7 4 S
You discard a suit other than the suit ter you have made a take-out double. ♣ A Q 8 5
you want led. If you want a high-rank- You lead the ♥10, won by the ♥A on
ing suit, you discard a high card. If you your right. Declarer leads the ♠J to the
want a low-ranking suit, you discard ♠K and ♠A. Partner wins the second The bidding and the play to the first
a low card. If you have no preference round of trumps with the ♠Q. few tricks is the same as before.
between the other suits, you discard Whatever your method, you want to
a middling card. The advantages are ask for a diamond switch. Unless de- 1. Using HELD, you discard the ♣8, a
that you do not weaken the suit you clarer has a singleton, you can see the high card for the suit you want.
want led and that you have the op- contract down with two diamonds, a 2. Using suit preference, you discard
tion of making a neutral discard. The club and a spade. the ♦4 or the ♥4, a low card for the
disadvantages are that sometimes the low-ranking club suit.
only suit you can spare is the one you 1. Playing HELD, you discard the ♦7 3. Using reverse, you discard the ♣5, a
want led and that sometimes you can- (high to encourage). This is better low card for the suit you want. ■

A Blast From the Past 13 by Shireen Mohandes
Serendipity
F
ortunate happenstances occur partner win with the jack, nod bright- He will know how to play the suit for
all the time at bridge; probably ly and do something completely dif- four tricks, utilising three entries in
more at teams or rubber bridge ferent. Also possible is that partner dummy but only after your trumps
scoring when desperate or heroic had the jack, but decided not to play have been drawn. In other words, a
measures taken by the defence result it, instead playing a count or suit pref- blueprint for finessing as deep as the
in unexpected overtricks, or even the erence card, expecting declarer to win Mariana Trench.
contract. Let’s say you hold: with a singleton ace.
So far we have learned that desirable
outcome (a) if unmet is not calamitous,
♠ A Q J 9 8 2 but that an awful lot can go wrong
♥ 4 3 2 N with (b1), (b2) and (b3).
W E
♦ 9 8 7 6 S
Apart from the above-mentioned
♣ Void disastrous outcomes, there is worse to
come. If declarer has an unexpected
trick and has twigged the situation,
You open 2♠ (weak) and the next player then it may well help with negotiating
doubles for take-out. Your partner the suit that is breaking badly, or
raises to 5♠, putting maximum adopting a line of play to cater for your
pressure on the opponents. The hand void. Photo: Haig Tchamitch
on your right bids 6♥ and you all pass.

Mega duck with no reason
West North East South
2♠ Dbl 5♠ 6♥ A few years ago some friends of mine
All Pass (who had represented their country
at junior level internationally) were
Many a seasoned player would thumb staying at my home and they insisted
the ♠2, and taking care not to get too on drinking Bajan rum till the early
excited or anxious, lead it in the hope hours of the morning. Later that day,
that: they told me that, in defence, they
(a) the declaring side is not void held 150 honours in a suit and both
(b1) partner holds the ♠K and failed to win a trick in that suit when
(b2) upon winning it, notices that Photo: Haig Tchamitch declarer played it (declarer had three
this is in hand and one in dummy and was
(b3) her/his moment to shine and For example, if declarer has this club hoping to develop tricks by ruffing
return a club for you to ruff. suit: in the short hand). The unexpected
After all, why else did you un- winner somewhat startled declarer
derlead your ace, and why did who paused for quite some time; he
you lead such a small spade? ♣ 5 4 3 2 was not allowed to look at the last
However, many white-haired, wrin- N
trick once it was quitted, so had to
kled rubber bridge players might well W E
S
try to work out if he had revoked, or
interject to tell you about their tales of mis-sorted his hand. Eventually, play
underleading woe. Perhaps they un- ♣ A K 10 8 continued and, unsurprisingly, my
derled A-K-Q-5-4-3-2 then watched friends got a bottom on the board.

Serendipity continued opening lead of the ♥K. South took including the ten, and carelessly
the first trick, drew trumps and took chooses to play the lower card.
the successful club finesse, ending in That appears to be what the East
dummy after three rounds of clubs. player did think, and ducked. Declarer
Double duck with two was a little surprised to be without
different reasons a loser in the spade suit; so after
♠ 9 2 travelling back to dummy with a
Terence Reese reported this amusing ♥ 8 7 3 diamond, played the ♠9. This time
deal from a teams competition in the ♦ J 7 if East plays a top spade, South will
June 1965 edition of The Bridge World ♣ — still discard a heart, and wait for the
(this is the American title founded in ♠ 8 4 3 ♠ A K Q J 6 5 ruff and discard (but now it is for a
1929 by Ely Culbertson). You might ♥ Q J 9 5 N ♥ — serendipitous overtrick, because South
W E
like to cover the West and South cards. ♦ — S ♦ — has already scored ♠10).
♣ — ♣ 9 Fully ‘understanding’ the situation,
♠ 10 East ducked, swapping a spade trick
Dealer South. North-South Game. ♥ 10 6 for a heart trick. When questioned
♠ 9 2 ♦ A 10 9 6 about this play afterwards, the reply
♥ 8 7 3 2 ♣ — was, ‘I give a trick away from time to
♦ Q J 7 3 time … but I am never end-played.’
♣ A 10 4 Final result 5♦+1 by South.
♠ 8 4 3 ♠ A K Q J 7 6 5 At this point declarer led the ♠2 from
♥ K Q J 9 5 N ♥ 4 dummy. Picture yourself sitting East.
W E
♦ 5 4 S ♦ 2 You are probably a little bit unsettled.
♣ K 7 6 ♣ 9 8 3 2 You have honours in spades, you bid
♠ 10 the suit at the four level and partner
♥ A 10 6 did not lead it. You are also wondering
♦ A K 10 9 8 6 about your partner’s hand, and how to
♣ Q J 5 get him in to take his heart tricks.
If you win this trick and play another
top spade, declarer can discard a heart
Photo: Haig Tchamitch
The 1965 auction at one table. from hand, leaving you on lead (that’s
East-West’s second defensive trick) Going back to the opening lead
West North East South resulting in this 5-card ending: against 5♦. I polled 10 top players,
1♦ including some with a few gongs. The
1♥ 2♦ 4♠ 5♦ result was unanimous. They all led the
Pass Pass 5♠ Dbl ♠ — ♥K. Why am I bringing this up? In the
All Pass ♥ 8 7 3 published article back in 1965, Reese
♦ J 7 warned of the perils of not leading a
So how might the auction go in 2015? ♣ — spade. He said that an elimination and
Probably pretty much the same. Taking ♠ 8 ♠ A K 6 5 end-play was likely. Was he right? Or
into consideration the scoring, if you ♥ Q J 9 5 N ♥ — do the experts of today trump him? ■
W E
are defeated by three tricks then it is a ♦ — S ♦ —
save (three off not vulnerable is -500, ♣ — ♣ 9
against a making game of +600). The ♠ —
Serendipity
big question is: are they making 5♦? ♥ 10 According to Wikipedia:
At the other table, South won the ♦ A 10 9 6 The first noted use of ‘serendipity’
auction and 5♦ was the final contract. ♣ — (meaning pleasant surprise) in the
On a spade lead, the contract must English language was by Horace
surely be defeated because there is Walpole (1717–1797). In a letter
nothing that can be done about the You are now obliged to give a ruff to Horace Mann (1754), he said
two heart losers. So what possible and discard, allowing the contract to he formed it from the Persian fairy
adventure could have taken place? make. tale The Three Princes of Serendip,
Declarer managed to make two Let’s say you say to yourself, ‘maybe whose heroes ‘were always
spade tricks. I’m almost certain that my partner has the ♠10? After all, making discoveries, by accidents
and sagacity, of things they were
you are thinking to yourself, ‘that’s he probably has at least two spades,
not in quest of’.
bound to be a misprint.’ Well, it isn’t. and I cannot see a way of defeating
The contract of 5♦ made with an the contract if I swoop in with a top Serendip is the Persian and Urdu
overtrick. spade.’ There is also a small chance name for Sri Lanka.
West was reported to have made the that declarer has a doubleton spade

Sally’s Slam of the Month
All About
the Bidding
T
wo more slam hands for you easier and as far as I can see gives up
this month. The first, sent in Dealer North. E/W Game. very little.
by Jim Dapre, was all about the ♠ 9 8 The strong no-trumpers’ auction
bidding. ♥ 6 3 would go:
♦ 7 4 3
♣ A K 10 8 5 4 West North East South
♠ Void ♠ 7 6 4 ♠ A K J 7 5 2 ♠ Q 4 Pass 1NT Pass
N
♥ A K Q J 6 3 N ♥ 8 ♥ Q 10 8 4 W E ♥ K 9 5 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass
W E
♦ 7 5 S ♦ A J 6 3 ♦ 10 8 2 S ♦ A K Q 9 3♠ Pass 3NT Pass
♣ A Q 7 6 2 ♣ K J 9 5 4 ♣ Void ♣ Q 9 7 3 5♣ Pass 5♦ Pass
♠ 10 6 3 5♠ Pass 6♠ All Pass
♥ A J 7 2
West North East South ♦ J 6 5 People have very different methods
2♥ 4♠ Dbl Pass ♣ J 6 2 after a 1NT opening, but let us assume
5♣ Pass 5♦ Pass West first uses Stayman and, when
5♥ Pass 6♣ Pass East shows no major, rebids 3♠,
7♣ Dbl All Pass At Peter’s club no-one bid the slam and forcing. With no known eight-card fit,
he asked how I (playing with myself) East signs off in 3NT. A jump by West
It would be a good idea to discuss would have bid it. That depends rather now shows the void and East’s hand is
with your partner how he would on whether I was playing a weak or very suitable. He first cue-bids the ace
have understood East’s double of 4♠. strong no-trump. Let’s look at the of diamonds, and when West denies
Assuming a pass of 4♠ is non-forcing, weak no-trumpers’ auction first: a heart control, proceeds to a small
then the double should show some slam. Of course, if I was at the table
all-round defensive cards, with not West North East South I would have opened the North hand
much of a fit for hearts. When West Pass 1♦ Pass 3♣, and who can guess what would
obligingly removed to 5♣, there was 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass have happened?
no harm in East showing the diamond 2♦ Pass 2NT Pass On a club lead, how should declarer
ace. When it was clear that clubs were 3♠ Pass 4♦ Pass play? The straightforward line, and I
agreed, West had no trouble in raising 5♣ Pass 5♥ Pass can see no reason to deviate from it,
to the grand slam. North’s double was 6♠ All Pass is to ruff the club lead, draw trumps
out of pique and got what it deserved! and play a heart to the king and ace.
Nicely bid by East/West in not-so-easy This is a technical bit of system Ruff the club continuation, cross to a
circumstances. I would like to teach aspiring diamond and run the nine of hearts.
tournament players. When partner If the jack of diamonds does not fall
♣♦♥♠ rebids 1NT, two-way checkback works you need three heart tricks and the
very well. Using this convention, a percentage line is small to the king
The next one is not such a good 2♣ bid by responder insists opener and run the nine. You can’t afford to
contract, and one where you wouldn’t bids 2♦ (whatever has been opened). test diamonds first because then you
much mind whether you bid the slam Responder can then pass with a sign don’t have the entries to play hearts
or not. Traditional beliefs recommend off in diamonds, otherwise make the percentage way. ■
needing slams to be above 50% before some other natural bid to show an
they are worth bidding. However, I invitational hand. An immediate 2♦
Send your slam hands to
think it is fun to bid slams and I don’t bid by responder over the 1NT rebid,
mind being in a slam on a finesse. on the other hand, is game-forcing [email protected]
Thank you Peter Radcliffe, of Shalford and the rest of the auction is natural. and I’ll publish the best few.
Bridge Club, for sending me the deal. It makes bidding slam hands much

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BRIDGE

Number One Hundred and Fifty-One

Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz

Answers on page 27 Answers on page 29 Answers on page 31 Answers on page 33

BRIDGE July 2015 Page 3

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July 24-26 Thinking Defence 1745 to 1830

Page 8 BRIDGE July 2015

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Page 10 BRIDGE July 2015

BRIDGE July 2015 Page 11

Page 12 BRIDGE July 2015

Good and bad holdings

BRIDGE July 2015 Page 13

Page 14 BRIDGE July 2015

E-mail your questions on bridge laws to:

BRIDGE July 2015 Page 15

Page 16 BRIDGE July 2015

BRIDGE July 2015 Page 17

when I said that criminals

you should recall: Elimi- ♦ 9 7 6 5 S

Page 18 BRIDGE July 2015

Partner leads the ♠2, Partner leads the ♣Q, won

BRIDGE July 2015 Page 19

Page 20 BRIDGE July 2015

Continued next month ■

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Page 26 BRIDGE July 2015

BRIDGE July 2015 Page 27

Page 28 BRIDGE July 2015

West North East South

? low enough to allow 3NT still to be an

BRIDGE July 2015 Page 29 211:33

Page 30 BRIDGE July 2015

and 9+ points, you should start by

BRIDGE July 2015 Page 31 311:34

Page 32 BRIDGE July 2015

BRIDGE July 2015 Page 33 411:35

Page 34 BRIDGE July 2015

BRIDGE July 2015 Page 35