BRIDGE

Number One Hundred and Thirty

Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz

October 2013

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

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South
? 1♥ 2♣ 1NT Dbl 2♥ 1♥ 3♠
? ? ?

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

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

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

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

Answers on page 10 Answers on page 12 Answers on page 16 Answers on page 22

 BERNARD MAGEE
Boxed Sets of six DVDs
Series 1
1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks
This seminar deals with declarer’s
use of ruffing to generate extra
tricks and then looks at how the
defenders might counteract this.
2 Competitive Tricks
This seminar focuses on competitive
auctions from the perspective of the
overcalling side to start with and
then from the perspective of the
opening side in the second part.
3 Making the Most
of High Cards
This seminar helps declarer to use
his high cards more carefully and
then looks at how defenders should
care for their precious high cards.
4 Identifying
& Bidding Slams
The first half of this seminar is about
identifying when a slam might be on
– one of the hardest topics to teach.
The second half covers some of the
techniques used to bid slams.
5 Play & Defence
of 1NT Contracts
This seminar looks at the most
common and yet most feared
of contracts: 1NT. The first half
looks at declaring the contract and
the second part puts us in the
defenders’ seats.
6 Doubling & Defence
against Doubled Contracts
The first half of this seminar
explores penalty doubles and the
second half discusses the defence
against doubled contracts.
Individual DVDs. £25 each.
Boxed Set of 6. £100.
Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
( 01483 489961
Series 2
7 Leads
Bernard takes you through all the
basic leads and the importance of
your choice of lead. If you start to
think not just about your hand, but
about your partner’s too, then you
will get much better results.
8 Losing Trick Count
A method of hand evaluation for
when you find a fit. Bernard deals
with the basics of the losing trick
count then looks at advanced
methods to hone your bidding.
9 Making a Plan
as Declarer
Bernard explains how to make a plan
then expands on how to make the
most of your long suits. The first half
deals with no-trumps, the second with
suit contracts.
10 Responding to 1NT
This seminar deals with Transfers
and Stayman in detail. The 1NT
opening comes up frequently, so
having a good, accurate system of
responses is paramount.
11 Signals & Discards
This seminar deals with Count,
Attitude and Suit-preference signals:
aiming to get you working as a
partnership in defence.
12 Endplays
Bernard takes you through the basics
of the technique before showing some
magical hands where you take extra
tricks from defenders. In the second
half, Bernard looks at how to avoid
being endplayed as a defender.
Individual DVDs. £25 each.
Boxed Set of 6. £100.
www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop
Series 3
13 Hand Evaluation
Going beyond just the point-count
is important if you want to improve.
Reaching 3NT on 24 HCP and making
it; and avoiding 3NT on 26 HCP when
there are only seven or eight tricks.
14 Pre-Empting
The art of pre-empting is so important
in the modern game. Understanding
the right types of hand to bid up
on and realising the importance of
position and vulnerability.
15 Splinter & Cue-Bids
Take your slam bidding to another
level. Splinter bids are a vital tool to
have in your bidding armoury and try
your hand at Italian style cue-bidding.
16 Avoidance
As declarer, an important tactic is
to be in control of the defenders:
avoiding a particular defender getting
the lead. As a defender, you can try to
make sure the right player gets the
lead at the right time.
17 Pairs Play & Defence
Duplicate Pairs is the game most of
us play and getting used to the tactics
will make a lot of difference to your
performance. Making more overtricks
and making sure you do not give
away tricks as a defender.
18 Thinking Defence
By far the hardest aspect of bridge,
but if you can improve your defence
your results will quickly improve.
Learn how to think through the
defence and get your mind in gear for
the decisions that await you.
Individual DVDs. £25 each.
Boxed Set of 6. £100.
 FEATURES
BRIDGE 1 Bidding Quiz
by Bernard Magee
5 Mr Bridge
Ryden Grange, Knaphill,
9 The Diaries of
Surrey GU21 2TH
Wendy Wensum
( 01483 489961 10 Bidding Quiz Answers
(1-3) by Bernard Magee
e-mail:
bridge@mrbridge.co.uk 12 Bidding Quiz Answers
website:
(4-6) by Bernard Magee
www.mrbridge.co.uk 15 Pass-Outs & Averages
by David Stevenson
Publisher and 16 Bidding Quiz Answers
Managing Editor (7-9) by Bernard Magee
Mr Bridge 18 Defence Quiz
by Julian Pottage
Bridge Consultant
18 Declarer Play Quiz
Bernard Magee
by David Huggett
Technical Consultant 19 Julian Pottage
Tony Gordon Answers Your Questions
22 Bidding Quiz Answers
Typesetting & Design (10-12) by Bernard Magee
Ruth Edmondson 26 David Stevenson
Answers Your Questions
Proof Readers
Tony & Jan Richards 30 Defence Quiz Answers
Catrina Shackleton by Julian Pottage
Richard Wheen 31 Austrian Festivities
Don’t Help My Bridge
Hugh Williams
by John Barr
Office Manager 32 Things You Should
Rachel Everett Know About . . .
by Andrew Kambites
Events & Cruises 33 Things You Should
( 01483 489961 Know About Stayman
Rosie Baker by Andrew Kambites
Jessica Galt 35 About Stayman Quiz
Megan Riccio by Andrew Kambites
Sophie Pierrepont 36 Readers’ Letters
Clubs & Charities 38 The Honeymoon is Over
by Dick Atkinson
Maggie Axtell
39 Bridge and Travel Tip
maggie@mrbridge.co.uk
41 Declarer Play Answers
Address Changes by David Huggett
( 01483 485342 44 Seven Days
Elizabeth Bryan by Sally Brock
elizabeth@mrbridge.co.uk 47 About Stayman Answers
by Andrew Kambites
All correspondence should
be addressed to Mr Bridge.
Please make sure that all ADVERTISEMENTS
letters and e-mails carry 2 Bernard Magee DVDs
full postal addresses and
telephone numbers. 3 Tunisia 2013/2014
4 Mr Bridge
Just Duplicate Bridge
Page 3
6 Denham Grove
Filming Event Mr Bridge
7 Mail Order Form
Cut-out Form AT THE
8 Bridge Event ROYAL KENZ
Booking Form
TUNISIA
8 Bridge Events with
Bernard Magee Half-board
10 Bridge Events at Duplicate Bridge
Cheltenham
Holidays
Regency Hotel
11 Digital Hearing Aid
Information Service
12 Mr Bridge Playing Cards
13 Fischer Future Heat
14 Bernard Maggee’s
Tutorial Software
16 Five-Card Majors
with Bernard Magee
17 The Mobility
Furniture Company
22 Bridge Events at
The Inn on the Prom
23 S R Designs Bridge Tables
23 Bathing Solutions
24 2014 Med Cruises with
Voyages to Antiquity
27 Duplicate Bridge
3-17 November 2013
Rules Simplified Tony and Jan Richards
29 Bridge Events at: £769*
Elstead Hotel
Chatsworth House 23 Feb – 9 March 2014
Ardington Hotel Bernard Magee
Blunsdon House Hotel
£799*
32 Better Hand Evalution
35 Mr Bridge 2014 Diaries 30 March – 13 April 2014
36 Bridge Tie Crombie & Helen McNeil
£899*
37 Charity Events
37 Mr Bridge Christmas *per person half-board sharing
& New Year 2013/2014 a twin-bedded room and is
inclusive of bridge fees. Single
38 Stamps supplement £6 per night.
These prices are based on air
39 We Are Survivors travel from Heathrow to Tunis.
Flights from other UK airports
Tea Towel
are available at a supplement.
40 Rubber / Chicago Prices for seven-night stays are
Bridge Events
available on application.
Pay £70 per fortnight per person
40 Bridge Events at: extra and have a garden-facing
room, tea & coffee making
Denham Grove facilities, bath robe and a bowl of
The Olde Barn Hotel seasonal fruit.
These holidays have been
40 Tips for Better Bridge organised for Mr Bridge by Tunisia
First Limited, ATOL 5933.
41 Begin Bridge
with Bernard Magee
DETAILS & BOOKINGS
42 Global Travel Insurance
( 01483 489961
48 QPlus 10
JUST DUPLICATE BRIDGE
11-13 October £199 14-16 February £199
Cheltenham Regency Elstead Hotel

18-20 October £169 21-23 February £199

The Olde Barn Blundson House Hotel

25-27 October £199 28 Feb – 2 March £199

Cheltenham Regency Chatsworth Hotel

Blunsdon House Hotel The Olde Barn Hotel

25-27 October £199 Swindon SN26 7AS
28 Feb – 2 March £199 Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT
Ardington Hotel Blundson House Hotel

1-3 November £169 10-12 January £199 30 May – 1 June £199

£50
The Olde Barn Blundson House Hotel Chatsworth Hotel

8-10 November £199 10-12 January £199 13-15 June £169

OFF
Elstead Hotel Elstead Hotel The Olde Barn

17-19 January £169 Just Duplicate Events 27-29 June £169

The Olde Barn in 2014. See page 5 The Olde Barn
for terms and
conditions.
24-26 January £199 4-6 July £199
Elstead Hotel Denham Grove

31 Jan – 2 Feb £199 14-16 March £199 11-13 July £169

Elstead Hotel Blundson House Hotel The Olde Barn

Ardington Hotel
31 Jan – 2 Feb £199 14-16 March £169 18-20 July £199
Worthing BN11 3DZ
Chatsworth Hotel The Olde Barn Blunsdon House Hotel

15-17 November £199 7-9 February £199 21-23 March £199 1-3 August £169
Elstead Hotel Denham Grove Chatsworth Hotel The Olde Barn

22-24 November £199 14-16 February £199 28-30 March £199 12-14 September £169
Ardington Hotel Chatsworth Hotel Denham Grove The Olde Barn

22-24 November £199 28-30 March £199

Elstead Hotel Elstead Hotel

22-24 November £169 25-27 April £199

The Olde Barn Blundson House Hotel

29 Nov – 1 Dec £199 9-11 May £199

Ardington Hotel Blunsdon House Hotel

6-8 December £199 Elstead Hotel 16-18 May £169 Chatsworth Hotel
Cheltenham Regency Bournemouth, BH1 3QP The Olde Barn Worthing BN11 3DU

Full Board – No Single Supplement

Booking Form on page 8.
Please note there are no seminars, set hands or prizes at these events.
 THINGS TO COME
During the last couple of
weeks, Mrs Bridge and I
have enjoyed the wedding
of our youngest – the last of
seven – and celebrated, as
quietly as is possible within
a large family, our Golden
Wedding. With these
landmarks now out of the
way, it is time once again to
focus on BRIDGE.
This issue sees the
introduction of a new
series, ‘Things You Should
Know About...’ by Andrew
Kambites. In January, new
writers will join established
regulars David Stevenson,
Julian Pottage, Bernard
Magee, Wendy Wensum
and Sally Brock. Marguerite
Lihou rejoins the team
along with David Bird who
will tell us about the
bridge-playing exploits of
Robin Hood and his Merry
Men. In my enthusiasm for
this particular new series, I
have reprinted two of David
Bird’s Robin Hood books,
just in time to make useful
stocking fillers. £12, see the
form on page 7.
FULL CIRCLE
So my bridge life really
does prove the old adage,
what goes around, comes
around. I find myself once
again selling subscriptions.
BRIDGE still remains free
to download and print off
from my website library:
www.mrbridge.co.uk/library
SUBSCRIPTIONS
I will continue to send
printed copies of BRIDGE
from time to time, as and
when sponsorship permits.
This may well be sufficient
for you. However, to ensure
continuity, you will need to
take up a sub. Indeed, it is
my hope that you will do so
and possibly even buy one
for a friend as a Christmas
present at the special
introductory rate of £20 per
year which almost covers
all the cost of the postage
and packing.
NEW Q IS COMING
In Bali, Indonesia, the
World Computer Bridge
Championships are just
about to start. Here’s
wishing ever hopeful Hans
Leber the best of luck.
Meanwhile, I list a few
more hands for you to try.
0841-01 0244-10
6756-10 4498-01
4498-11 9142-08
3033-11 7354-05
8462-07 9910-14
QPlus 11 will be on sale at
the end of October. Those
ordering now will receive
QPlus 10 immediately and
QPlus 11 when it is ready at
the end of October.
Both are self-contained
products, so you will be
able to give QPlus 10 to a
friend once you receive
your copy of QPlus 11.
NEW DVD SERIES
Bernard Magee’s 2013
DVDs are now on sale.
Please go to the inside front
cover where all 18 in the
three year series are listed,
see order form on page 7.
They are being very well
received and are enjoying a
growing reputation as the
definitive tutorial of each of
the given subjects.
Page 5
JUST DUPLICATE CLUB INSURANCE
£50
The annual insurance
policy, designed by Moore
Stephens for clubs, is due
for renewal on or before the
beginning of November.
OFF
For a club with up to 100
members, the annual
premium of just over £60
provides security and peace
of mind for the committee
members of over 500 clubs.
The £50 off, on all my Just
Ring Moore Stephens
Duplicate Events, is again
( 0207 515 5270.
repeated for 2014, subject to
availability, for a limited
GOFFIES STAMPS
number of places.
The fun of duplicate lies in
the numbers, so to be
certain of these, most of the
places are sold ahead of the
event at special prices.
Payment is taken in full at
If you want to save on
the time of booking, by
cheque or debit card. This postage you should try
Clive Goff’s discounted
offer must close by
30 November. Clubs should stamp service.
consider a block-booking Value supplied in two
and maybe hire a coach. stamps, combined to make
up the 50p 2nd class rate,
FESTIVE BERNARD 2nd class to you at 41p. 1st
class 60p, only 50p to you.
We are filling up for the
Available in lots of 100.
festive season earlier than
( 0208 422 4906.
usual this year. As a result,
clive.goff@londonrugby.com
we have put on an extra
weekend event between
YOU AS WELL
Christmas and New Year in
north west England. On page 39, you will find I
have reprinted my tea
Inn on the Prom, Lytham
towel, We are Survivors.
27-29 December 2013
Signals and Discards Whenever I read it, even for
Bernard Magee £245 the umpteenth time, it still
No single supplement. makes me chuckle.
ANTIQUITY GOURMET BRIDGE
Mrs Bridge and I join
Aegean Odyssey in March
on a lovely Voyage that
includes the Holy Land. I
am really looking forward
to visiting these historic
sites. I am also looking
forward to going to the Those who enjoy their food
Black Sea in Autumn 2014. as much as they enjoy their
See the advert for both in bridge, should consider
the centrefold or better still, The Ardington Hotel,
ring for a brochure. Worthing. The chef’s fame
( 01483 489961. is beginning to spread.
 HOT TICKET
BERNARD MAGEE The next six films in the
Better Bridge with Bernard
at Magee series, are to be shot
during an extended
Denham Grove weekend at The De Vere
near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG. Denham Grove Conference
Centre this coming
January. See adjacent
10-13 January 2014 advertisement for topics.
The course, which includes
£299 full board three nights full board,
starts on Friday morning at
(Special early booking price)
10.15am and ends with a
lazy Monday breakfast.
2014 DIARIES
Next year’s bridge players’
diaries are now in stock.
Both standard and luxury
versions are available. See
the adjacent order form.
FESTIVE FUN
I am looking forward to
saying hello to everyone at
the New Year’s Eve Gala
Dinner at Denham Grove. I
hope to stay on for a game
afterwards as I did last year.

Topics Those coming a distance

may wish to book for the
BOXED CARDS
Thursday overnight stay. I am clearing twin packs of
SACRIFICING my lovely premium quality
An exciting aspect of the auction is outbidding your
£60 per person, dinner, bed
and breakfast. playing cards, in a tasteful
opponents and going down, but gaining by doing so. gold-coloured drop-lid box.
Learning to bid more aggressively and make the best This is extra to the special
of your cards will enhance both your scores and your
£7 per box, 2 for £12. These
enjoyment levels.
early booking price of £299 are not on my mail order
per person. No single sales list. Please write in or
TRUMP CONTROL supplement. However, full order by telephone.
Handling the play of the hand when trumps break badly is payment must be made at
an important attribute: playing calmly and using a variety the time of booking.
UNBOXED CARDS
of tactics to pave the way to success.

WEAK TWOS CHATSWORTH

It is important to bid more in the modern game and weak HOTEL PRIZE QUIZ
twos are an important choice for the competitive player. This month’s problem came
They allow for pre-emptive and accurate bidding.
in a deal while I was using
DEFENSIVE PLAN QPlus. The prize is a room
for one or two as it suits, at
Looking at your own hand, then at dummy and envisaging
how partner’s hand will allow you to make a plan for the any of my weekend events
at The Chatsworth Hotel. My premium quality
defence. By having a framework to make your way across
you will hopefully learn to identify various defensive Entries by 25 October 2013, playing cards are still
situations and solve the problems you face. please, by post, to Ryden available at the special price
Grange or email to bridge@ of £60 for 60 packs, post
FURTHER IN TO THE AUCTION mrbridge.co.uk paid from The London
The first two bids of an auction are usually easy, but Bridge Centre, see the
beyond that the complications increase. Learn about your You are dealer, both sides advert on page 12. Ideal for
various options and how to ‘talk’ to your partner during not vulnerable. bridge clubs. With or
the bidding.
without bar-codes.
♠ 5
IMPROVING BRIDGE MEMORY ♥ A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6
Remembering every card is a dream for most of us. ♦ 2 SMALL GIFTS
However, learn ways in which to remember the important
things. What was the first discard or how many trumps
♣ A K I have added ball-point
are left out? pens with a built-in torch to
What would you bid? my list of fun gifts. £5 each.
Boxed and including p&p.
6 seminar sessions with Bernard1 Likewise, I also list key-
LETTER SHORTAGE
rings, with a re-usable
6 sessions of supervised play2 There has been a drop off in pound size coin to use in
Contact Mr Bridge to book your place the number of letters. I put supermarket trolleys or the
this down to the wonderful like. £5 including p&p.
or for further details: ( 01483 489961
summer. Now, as autumn
All good wishes
Filmed
1 2
Not with Bernard Magee overtakes us, let’s be
hearing from you. Mr Bridge

Page 6
✄

✄
Mr Bridge MAIL ORDER If you have not
TUTORIAL DVDs contacted us recently,
PLAY SOFTWARE NOVELTIES
please enter your
QPlus 10 / QPlus 11 2011 Series – £25 each Torch Pen (boxed) £5.00 .........
details in the box
when ready £92.00 ......... Ruffing for Extra Tricks ......... Pound for Life Keyring £5.00.... below to re-register:
QPlus 10 Competitive Auctions .........
Second Hand £49.00 ......... BOOKS
Making the
Bridge Baron 23 £63.00 ......... Duplicate Bridge Rules Name (Mr, Mrs, Miss)
Most of High Cards .........
Simplified £5.95 .........
Bridge Baron Identifying &
Better Hand Evaluation ...............................................
Trade-in for 23 £25.00 ......... Bidding Slams .........
Bernard Magee £14.00 ........
Address ................................
TUTORIAL SOFTWARE Play & Defence of
Tips for Better Bridge
1NT Contracts .........
Begin Bridge Bernard Magee £14.00 ........ ...............................................
Acol Version £66.00 ......... Doubling & Defence
Robin Hood’s Bridge Memoirs
to Doubled Contracts ......... ...............................................
Acol Bidding £66.00 ......... David Bird £12.00 ........
All 6 DVDs
Advanced Bridge Adventures of Robin Postcode ..............................
as a boxed set £100.00 .........
Acol Bidding £96.00 ......... Hood – David Bird £12.00 ........
Declarer Play £76.00 2012 Series – £25 each Telephone .............................
MR BRIDGE DIARIES
Advanced Leads .........
Standard: E-mail ....................................
Declarer Play £81.00 Losing Trick Count .........
Red £6.95 ........
Defence £76.00 ......... Making a Plan as Declarer .........
Navy £6.95 ........
Five-Card Majors with Responding to 1NT ......... Please send BRIDGE
Strong No-Trump £89.00 ......... Tan £6.95 ........ to the following
Signals & Discards .........
Better Bridge 2011 with Black £6.95 ........ enthusiasts:
Bernard Magee £69.00 Endplays .........
Burgundy £6.95 ........
Bundleware Offer All 6 DVDs
Club Prices 10 for £35 ........
Any two CDs £140.00 ......... as a boxed set £100.00 ......... Name (Mr, Mrs, Miss)
and pro rata
TEA TOWELS 2013 Series – £25 each Luxury Kidrell Covers ...............................................
Hand Evaluation ......... & ball-point pen:
Life’s a Game, but
Ruby Red £14.95 ........ Address ................................
Bridge is Serious £7.00 ......... Pre-Empting .........
The Pot Boiler. A Double Splinter & Cue-Bids ......... Navy Blue £14.95 ........ ...............................................
Dummy Problem £7.00 ......... Bottle Green £14.95 ........
Avoidance .........
10 Commandments for ...............................................
Pairs Play & Defence ......... Club Prices 10 for £90 ........
Bridge Players £7.00 ......... and pro rata Postcode ..............................
10 Commandments for Thinking Defence .........
Duplicate Players £7.00 ......... All 6 DVDs SUBS (Introductory Rates) Telephone .............................
as a boxed set £100.00 ......... 12 Months £20.00 .........
25 Road Traffic Signs for
E-mail ....................................
Bridge Players £7.00 ......... 24 Months £35.00 .........
MR BRIDGE TIE
Back In Our Day £7.00 ......... £15.00 ......... 36 Months £50.00 .........

Name (Mr, Mrs, Miss)

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

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

Postcode............................................................................. ( .......................................................................................... Telephone .............................

E-mail ....................................

Please complete all or

Expiry: ............. CVV ........ Issue No. ...........
(CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) part of this form and
return to: Mr Bridge,
Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH Ryden Grange, Knaphill,
( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop Surrey, GU21 2TH.
✄

Page 7
 ✄
BRIDGE  BRIDGE EVENTS
with Bernard Magee
BREAKS
April 2014
♦ Full-board ♦ Two seminars*
4-6 Chatsworth Hotel
♦ All rooms with ♦ Two supervised £245 Finding Slams
en-suite facilities play sessions* 11-13 Blunsdon House
♦ No single supplement ♦ Four bridge sessions** £245 Leads & Defence

Please book ..... places for me at £....... per person, June 2014
6-8 Olde Barn Hotel
Single .... Double .... Twin .... £245 Bidding NEW
Chatsworth Hotel
Worthing BN11 3DU
Distributional
Name of Hotel/Centre.............................................................
Hands
Date(s) .................................................................................... 20-22 Olde Barn Hotel
October 2013 £245 Finding Slams
Mr/Mrs/Miss ......................................................................... 11-13 Blunsdon House
£245 Splinters OCTOBER 2014
Address................................................................................... and Cue Bids
3-5 Chatsworth Hotel
18-20 Chatsworth Hotel £245 Game Tries
................................................................................................ £245 Playing &
10-12 Olde Barn Hotel
Defending 1NT
£245 Endplay &
Postcode ................................................................................. 25-27 Queensferry Avoidance
£245 Finding Slams
( ...........................................................................................
NOVEMber 2014
Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, NOVEMber 2013 7-9 Chatsworth Hotel
but we will do our best to oblige). 8-10 Olde Barn Hotel £245 Hand Evaluation
£245 Better Leads
14-16 Blunsdon House
................................................................................................ & Switches
£245 Further into
15-17 Chatsworth Hotel the Auction
Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking. £245 Distributional
NEW 21-23 Elstead House
Hands
................................................................................................ £245 Doubles
22-24 Blunsdon House
28-30 Blunsdon House
Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place by £245 Better Defence
£245 Bidding NEW
cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice for the balance will be sent 29-1 Chatsworth Hotel Distributional
with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, £245 Suit
28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent
Hands
Establishment
together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you
require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker.
JANUARY 2014
10-13 Denham Grove
£299 Filming Weekend
17-19 Chatsworth Hotel
£245 Better Leads
NEW
& Switches
Expiry: ................................. CVV......................... Issue No....................
(CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) March 2014
21-23 Inn on the Prom Blunsdon House Hotel
Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH.
Blunsdon, Swindon SN26 7AS
£245 Doubles
( 01483 489961
e-mail: jessica@mrbridge.co.uk
website: www.holidaybridge.com Full Board. No Single Supplement.
*on tutorial weekends only. **6 sessions on rubber/Chicago events. See Adjacent Booking Form.
Please note: Just Bridge events contain no seminars and do not award prizes.
✄

Page 8
 The Diaries of Wendy Wensum
Episode 18: A Sicilian Jaunt
Part 2: Luck of the Gods
Wendy, Spouse, Millie and Justin are on the island of Sicily sightseeing and playing bridge. The story continues.
M
illie and Justin decided to
stay at the hotel for afternoon
bridge, whereas Spouse
and I set off on a coach excursion
to the south side of the island. The
scenery as we crossed Sicily’s central
plain was varied with mountainous
areas and unexpectedly verdant
farmland. We passed the occasional
traditional hilltop village, but in
general the region appeared sparsely
populated. It was a long journey to
our destination, the World Heritage
Site of Agrigento. By the time we
arrived it was extremely hot. ‘Where
did you get that hat? It’s enormous!
Is it a sombrero? How did you get it
here?’ enquired Spouse in quick-fire
succession. ‘It rolls up like a Panama,’
I replied proudly. Protecting me from
a blazing sun, my fashionable hat
proved a great success. We wandered
along the broad avenue connecting
the ancient Greek temples. Each one
was dedicated to a particular deity:
Juno, Concordia, Hercules and Zeus.
The elevated site was interspersed with
wonderful modern bronze statues and
there were splendid views over the
neighbouring countryside. It was an
inspiring experience.
We arrived back at the hotel,
rather later than expected, to find
that Millie and Justin’s afternoon
bridge session had not gone well.
Apparently, Millie was also anxious
that we would not return in time to
compete in the evening team event.
To ease her troubled mind and relax
her for the next session of bridge she
had considered taking a yoga class,
but had rejected this option on the
grounds that it required too much
effort. As Spouse remarked later, he
found watching daytime TV equally the ♠A and exited with the ♠8. Justin
effective in clearing the brain of any decided to win the ♠J and play a heart
thoughts and that with no exertion at to the nine. He drew trumps and
all. We eventually located Millie in the when the heart suit came in, he had
bar where she was already sampling a 12 tricks. I don’t think Justin’s play
bottle of Sicilian white wine to calm was the best line. At our table, Spouse
her. Served chilled, the wine was and I defended as East/West. The
very welcome as the heat of the day opposition took a more direct route to
subsided. Following dinner on the 6♠, but the play took a different turn.
terrace, as we entered the bridge room
Millie remarked, ‘Is it dark in here?’ North South
‘Sun glasses, Millie,’ said Spouse and Pass 2♠
I in unison. ‘Oops,’ said Millie ‘Silly 3♥ 3♠
me.’ 4♠ 6♠
The event seemed to be going All Pass
smoothly and this hand turned out to
be critical. For some inexplicable reason, Spouse
sitting West led the ♣2 won in hand by
declarer, who then crossed to dummy
Dealer North. N/S Vul. with the jack of trumps. Presumably
♠ J 4 assuming that Spouse would not have
♥ A 10 6 5 4 led from the ♣K, declarer tried to set up
♦ 5 the suit by taking a ruffing finesse. He
♣ Q J 10 4 3 led the ♣Q, I played the ♣6, declarer
♠ A 8 ♠ 9 6 5 2 ditched a small diamond and Spouse
N
♥ 7 3 2 W E ♥ Q 8 won with the ♣K. It was a toss-up as to
♦ 9 8 7 2 S ♦ J 10 6 4 who was most surprised, South or me.
♣ K 9 5 2 ♣ 8 7 6 With the ace of trumps still to lose, the
♠ K Q 10 7 3 contact was defeated by one trick. This
♥ K J 9 result was the clincher that gave us a
♦ A K Q 3 narrow victory in the event overall.
♣ A In the post-match analysis, none of
us could decide the best approach
to playing the board, but Millie was
North South certain that the visit by Spouse and
Millie Justin me to the temples had been the source
Pass 2♣ of our combined inspiration. She
2♦ 2♠ insisted it was necessary to thank the
3♥ 4♦ ancient gods of Agrigento by toasting
4♠ 4NT them in local wine to ensure their
5♦ 6♠ goodwill throughout our stay. I forget
All Pass how many toasts were required, but
yet another bottle appeared as if by
West made the unexpected lead of magic. ■
Page 9
 Answers to Bernard Magee’s
Bidding Quizzes 1-3 on the Cover
1. Dealer West. Love All.
♠ 2 ♠ 7 6 5 4
♥ A K Q 7 6 5 4 N ♥ 9 8 2
W E
♦ A K 3 ♦ 7
S
♣ A 2 ♣ K 9 5 4 3
West North East South
? ♦ 8 2
2♣. You have an extremely strong
hand: give your partner an average
Yarborough and you will still expect to
make game. Any strong hand that can
make game by itself must open with the
strongest bid to get its hand’s potential
across. Remember that the definition of
the traditional Acol 2♣ opening is: 23
or more points or a hand that can make
game by itself. By opening 2♣ with this
hand you allow your partner to envisage
a slam as well as you. He can see two
possible tricks and if you think you have
ten in your own hand, then there has to
be a chance for slam.
If you open a strong 2♥ or a Benji
Cheltenham Regency Hotel
Cheltenham GL51 0ST
Full Board. No Single Supplement. Booking Form on page 8.
Strong Two, then the responding hand is
going to expect just 8 tricks from you and
will not be thinking of slam at all.
2. Dealer East. Love All.
♠ Void ♠ A K 8 7 6
♥ Q 7 6 5 4 3 2 N ♥ 8
W E
S
♦ A Q 9 5 3
♣ A 7 6 5 ♣ 4 2
West North East South
1♠ Pass
?
1NT. In many ways this is a simple
question: you have six points so you
should respond, but you do not have
enough to bid at the two-level, so that
leaves just one choice – 1NT.
A 1NT response does not promise
a balanced hand, it simply denies the
strength for a 2-level response. It looks
completely ridiculous to bid no-trumps
with your hand, but your first duty is to
11-13 October
Just Duplicate Bridge
£199
25-27 October
Just Duplicate Bridge
£199
6-8 December
Just Duplicate Bridge
£199
Page 10
slow the auction down and deny much
strength. Later on, you might get the
chance to show your long suit.
On this deal, your partner rebids 2♦
and you are able to rebid 2♥. Having
shown a weak hand with your first bid,
your 2♥ now shows a very weak hand
with long hearts. Your partner should
pass 2♥ and you will have stopped at the
right level. The problem with a direct 2♥
response is that it is forcing and shows
10+ points. Your partner will rebid 2♠,
then you might bid 3♥ and he should
manage to pass, but that has taken you
uncomfortably high.
3. Dealer South. Love All.
♠ A 9 7 6 ♠ 4
♥ 7 3 N ♥ A Q 8 4
W E
♦ A K Q 4 S ♦ 7 6 5 3
♣ J 9 8 ♣ 10 7 5 3
West North East South
1♠
?
Pass. You pick up this hand and ready
yourself to open the bidding 1NT, but
then South opens in front of you with 1♠.
At this point, I would like to remind you
of the name of the opening bid you were
just about to make: the weak no-trump.
Balanced hands of 12-14 points are
nothing to write home about and do not
need to bid if upstaged by an opponent’s
opening.
It is important to remember that you
do need a stronger hand to overcall
with 1NT: 15-18 points. The reason for
this is that North is waiting to bid and if
he holds 9+ points he will find it easy to
make a penalty double of a 1NT overcall.
With no five-card suit and no shortage
in spades, your only option is to pass.
If you double for take-out, you should
not be surprised to hear 2♥ from your
partner. ■
All you need to know about hearing
aids is in the world’s best
Consumers Guide
and it’s now FREE
Comparisons of over 500 hearing aids.
Essential for anyone who has a
hearing aid or is considering one.
It is invaluable. Sent by Freepost
In the last ten years, new technology has created a maze of
choices in the selection of hearing aids.
With more people than ever using hearing aids, it is essential that
you have a reference to what hearing aids are about.
There is far more to it than buying a pair of glasses.
The introduction of digital chip techniques has brought more
features than existed under the old days of analogue hearing aids.
The options that come with a hearing aid – circuit configurations,
channels, feedback cancellations and more – can be
puzzling to say the least.
The Consumers Guide To Hearing Aids is an A4 colour guide
with 32 thorough pages which tell you everything you
Was £5.99 Consumers
To get a FREE copy of the
now FREE! Guide to
need to know about hearing aids.
It is the A-Z of Hearing Aids and can help you select the specific Hearing Aids now just:
(Please quote
make and model which is best suited for your hearing loss.
It explains what you spend your money on and can save your
FREEPHONE ref: A412CD)

hard-earned cash before you buy a hearing aid.

It gives you comparisons of hearing aids by brand,
circuit option and model.
This offer is only available to those who have a genuine hearing
0800 074 3960
Lines open 8am-8pm Weekdays. 10am-4pm Weekends.
problem and is therefore limited to one copy per household. or to receive it by post fill in and send the coupon below
or request details online at www.dhais.co.uk
The Contents of the Guide Please post me FREE Consumers Guide to Hearing Aids by FREEPOST.
H Explains if you need a hearing aid and what it can do for you. Tick if pensioner. Scottish, N.I., Eire & I.o.M. enquiries welcome.
PLEASE COMPLETE ALL SECTIONS MARKED* IN BLOCK CAPITALS.
H 24 Worldwide Brands.
H Whether you need one or two hearing aids.
!

* Mr/Mrs/Miss _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

H Digital Hearing Aid Technology explained. * Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

H What is Directional-Microphone Hearing Aid Technology. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

H Entry Level Digital Hearing Aids. *Postcode *

D.O.B D D M M Y Y
H Basic Digital Hearing Aids. * Telephone/ Mobile Number (we cannot despatch without all details)
H The FM Listening Advantage.
H Advanced Digital Hearing Aids.
H Premium Digital Hearing Aids. Mobile
H Has an excellent section on common questions and answers. Email
Phone or send coupon today to:
!

(No stamp required)

H Why Open Ear Hearing Aids are satisfying customers. Digital Hearing Aid Information Service (A412CD)
H Definitions of Hearing Aid Terms. Freepost LON15651 London, SE1 1BS
And More... The information we will send you will be from our authorised associate for your area. If you do not wish to receive
additional information by mail, phone, email or otherwise please advise. Certain hearing aids may not always be
available in all areas and may not help all types of hearing loss.
 Answers to Bernard Magee’s 
Bidding Quizzes 4-6 on the Cover

4. Dealer East. Love All.
♠ 7 6 5 ♠ A 9 8 2
N
♥ K 7
W E
♥ A Q 5 3 2
♦ J 7 4 S ♦ K Q 2
♣ A Q 9 6 3 ♣ 8
West North East South
1♥ 2♣
? penalty; quite possibly 500 points, which
Pass. It is possible that you play a
double for penalties in this situation, in
which case you could make that call,
but most players like to play doubles of
suit contracts on the first round to be
for take-out. In fact, your partner would
have to alert a double here, if it was for
penalties.
Assuming that you do not play penalty
doubles, what choices are you left with?
The answer is simple: you want to play
in clubs, so pass. 2NT might have been
the choice of some, but you have no
strength in the two unbid suits and more
importantly you give up on the chance of
a penalty from 2♣.
The take-out double system can work
very well if played correctly: it allows you
to show all sorts of hands as responder,
but it can also still allow you to get penal-
ties. Here, your partner will re-open the
bidding with a take-out double of his own
and you will be well-placed to pass this:
happy to know that you will get a lovely
is worth more than a game contract.
5. Dealer East. Love All.
♠ A 9 8 2 ♠ 5 4
N
♥ K 4 2
W E
♥ A Q J 10 3
♦ A 7 6 5 S ♦ 4
♣ 4 3 ♣ A 9 6 5 2
West North East South
1♥ Pass
1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass
?
3♥. When a player opens in one suit and
rebids in a second suit, he promises at
least five cards in the first bid suit. This
is the key information that allows you to
calculate your correct response. Knowing
that you have a heart fit, your second
decision is what level to bid at. You have
11 HCP and eight losers, both of which
suggest raising to the 3-level to invite
game. Your partner will raise to game
with his extra distribution.
Jumping to 3♥ is important on hands
like these to show your genuine support
and aspirations for game. Game on 22
HCP might seem ambitious, but accurate
play should allow you to make ten tricks
most of the time.
6. Dealer North. Game All.
♠ K J 7 4 3 ♠ A Q 9 6
N
♥ 7 6 4 3 ♥ 9
W E
♦ A 8 2 S ♦ K Q 7 3
♣ 5 ♣ Q 8 7 6

West North East South

1♥ Dbl Pass

Mr Bridge ?

Premium Quality Cards 2♠. When responding to a take-out

double it is important to show your
strength as well as your best suit. Up
to about 8 or 9 points you can respond
Standard Faces cheaply, but if you have 10 or more you
with or without must respond with a jump; with 13+ you
bar codes. Unboxed. must suggest a game is on.
You only have 8 HCP, but you have a
6 red / 6 blue singleton and you should evaluate for
that: remember that your partner has
£19.95 suggested that he has support for all the

30 red / 30 blue unbid suits, so you can assume a fit and

evaluate accordingly. Your hand is worth
only £60 11 points (8 losers), which is worth a
jump response: 2♠. Your jump response
should set you on the way to game.
The London Bridge Centre If you just respond 1♠, your partner,
( 020 7388 2404 www.bridgeshop.com who has a relatively minimum hand,
should probably stop bidding. ■

Page 12
 Call FREE 0800 103 2708
or 0116 242 5533
www.fischer-futureheat.co.uk
Exclusive
40mm Replace your night
Clay Core storage heaters with
LOW INPUT modern,
Smart Fischer
Controllable
Storage Heaters.
Heat
Use less,
save more...
40%
Reduction*

High Quality
German
Engineering

Beat the rising

energy costs - Slimline, Low
act now! Input, Smart
Heaters
The unique Fischer
40mm chamotte
clay core for Buy NOW
extended storage, Summer 10 Year

reducing energy Installation Pay NEXT Manufacturer

wastage.
* When you replace your 3.5Kw night
storage heater with 1.9Kw Fischer
storage heater with electronic
programmable thermostat
† Subject to status
15% off SPRING†
• Direct from the manufacturer
• Economy 7, Solar PV compatible •
• Maintenance free with no pipes
• Feet, castors or wall mounted
• Instant heat for one room or the
whole house
• Easy to install - uses 13 amp
Fischer-Future Heat UK, The Waterfront, 19-20 North Mills, Leicester, LE3 5DH
Guarantee
• Modern 110mm slimline design
Control your room temperature
with our modern, wireless,
intelligent room thermostat for
total comfort
• Use less energy and have total
control over your heat

To request your free catalogue...

Simply complete your details below, cut out and pop into an envelope with
this address: FREEPOST FISCHER FUTURE HEAT. No stamp or address
required. Or call us on FREEPHONE 0800 103 2708, quoting MBM02SEP
Name:

Address:
Post Code:
Telephone/Mobile:
Your information will not be sold or exchanged to a third party.
 BERNARD MAGEE’S
INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS
BEGIN BRIDGE ACOL MORE DECLARER
ACOL VERSION BIDDING (ADVANCED) PLAY
l Card Play Technique ACOL BIDDING
l Opening Bids and l Suit Establishment
l Planning Card Play Responses l Basics in No-trumps
l Bidding Balanced l Slams and Strong l Advanced Basics l Suit Establishment
Hands Openings in Suits
l Bidding Suits l Weak Twos
l Support for Partner l Hold-ups
l Responding to a Suit l Strong Hands
l Pre-empting l Ruffing for
l Supporting Partner l Defence
Extra Tricks
l Responding to 1NT l Overcalls to Weak Twos
£66 l Entries in
l Stayman l No-trump l Defence to 1NT No-trumps £76
l Strong Two Opening Openings
l Doubles
and Response and Responses l Delaying

l Overcalls l Opener’s and l Two-suited £96 Drawing Trumps

l Doubles £66 Responder’s Rebids Overcalls l Using the Lead

l Pre-empting l Defences to
l Minors and Misfits l Trump Control
Other Systems
l Defence against No l Doubles l Endplays &
Trump Contracts l Misfits and Avoidance
l Competitive Distributional
l Defence against Suit
Auctions Hands l Using the Bidding
Contracts

ADVANCED DEFENCE FIVE-CARD BETTER

DECLARER PLAY MAJORS & BRIDGE
l Lead vs Strong No-Trump
l Making Overtricks No-trump Contracts l Ruffing for
in No-trumps l Opening Bids Extra Tricks
l Lead vs & Responses
l Making Overtricks Suit Contracts
in Suit Contracts l No-Trump l Doubling and
l Partner of Leader Defence
Openings
l Endplays vs No-trump Against
Contracts l Support £89 Doubled
£69
l Avoidance
for Partner Contracts
l Partner of Leader
l Wrong £81 vs Suit Contracts l Slams
Contract
& Strong Openings l Play and Defence
l Count
l Simple of 1NT Contracts
Signals l Rebids
Squeezes
l Counting
l Attitude £76 l Minors l Finding and
Signals & Misfits Bidding Slams
the Hand
l Discarding l Pre-empting
l Trump Reductions
& Coups l Doubles l Making the
l Defensive Plan
Most of High Cards
l Playing Doubled l Stopping Declarer l Overcalls
Contracts
l Counting l Competitive l Competitive
l Safety Plays the Hand Auctions Auctions

Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop Fax 01483 797302
System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM
 Pass-Outs and Averages
Pass-Outs
S
ome players feel cheated out of a
board if it is passed out. ‘What is
the point if it is not going to be
played at any table? Why can we not
re-deal?’ they ask. Re-deals are illegal,
but players would like to know why,
and what is the point?
Bridge is a game of various disci-
plines, such as memory, trust, tech-
nique and judgement. Too many peo-
ple think it is just a matter of counting
points and following rules, but the
great variety of this game makes it
much more than that. Consider what
happens when there are three passes
to you: do you open with 10 points? 11?
12? 13? If you always open with 12 or
13 and pass with 10 or 11, perhaps you
should review what you are trying to
do. Other factors are that some players
open light in third seat: if you never
do, perhaps you should try it. Some
players play a mini no-trump: again, it
is a thing to try. Light third and fourth
hand openings and mini no-trumps
mean you will not pass out hands that
others will and interesting results will
happen.
Of course, you do not get to play the
hand if it has been passed out. Some
people think they have been cheated
out of the actual play – and I agree.
That is true enough and perhaps that is
another reason to start opening light
in third or fourth: whatever happens,
you will get to play or defend the hand.
How about scoring? Do you get an
average for a pass-out? No, though
many people do seem to think so, in-
cluding I am afraid to say, some scor-
ers. You get a score of zero, which
beats all the minus scores your way,
and loses to all the plus scores your
way. If everyone else opens your hand
and gets a minus score and you pass it
out, you will get a top because of your
superior judgement.
by David Stevenson
How do you score it on a Bridge-
mate? You press the key marked ‘Pass’
and the score that your opponent will
verify is ‘Passed out’. This is not the
same as ‘Not Played’ which you reach
by pressing the ‘0’ key: that is very
rarely used and only by the director.
Careful directors make sure players
cannot enter ‘Not Played’. It is a set-
ting in the software setup.
Averages
S
o what is an average and how is it
different? An average is awarded
by the director when a board can-
not be played, for example, because of
slow play, late arrival, illness, unfor-
tunate comments overheard from
another table or players seeing cards
from another hand. It is not given just
because there is a hesitation or misin-
formation and the director decides the
score needs changing: then he must
give a real score, or a combination of
real scores with percentages. Note that
the director does not give ‘Not Played’
instead of an average: that is illegal,
though some directors find it easier.
When a director gives an average,
he has to decide whether to give an
average, an average minus or an av-
erage plus. When playing in an ordi-
nary duplicate, average is a 50% score
on the board, average plus is 60% or
the pair’s average score, whichever is
greater, average minus is 40% or the
pair’s average score, whichever is less.
If the director decides that the pair did
not cause the board not to be played,
then he gives them average plus. If he
decides that the actions of at least one
of this pair caused the board not to be
played, then he gives them average mi-
nus. If he believes they were partly to
blame, he gives them average.
Suppose a table finishes their penul-
timate board so late that he will not al-
low them to play the last board of the
Page 15
round. If he decides one pair was very
slow and not the other pair, he gives av-
erage minus/average plus. If he decides
they would have played the last board
if they had not both been slow then he
gives them both average. But, now sup-
pose he realises that one of them had
been so very slow they would not have
played the last board whatever, they get
average minus: if their opponents had
been pretty slow, he might give them
average. Another example is where a
previous table fouled the board: now
he gives each side average plus. So av-
erages need not balance.
When does a director use ‘Not
Played’? He does not use it for boards
that should normally be played but
are not for some reason, as explained
above. But he will use it if boards are
not to be played as a normal part of
the movement. Suppose he has 8.5 ta-
bles: normally he will tell the scoring
program this, then it will know which
pair is missing and nothing needs to
be entered. Now suppose when he set
the program up he thought that he had
nine full tables: does he need to restart
it? The movement is the same, except
for the missing pair. No, he can run it,
but he will have to enter ‘Not Played’ at
the sit-out table because the program
is expecting a score. So the difference
is that unexpected unplayed boards get
averages: expected unplayed boards
get ‘Not Played’.
Thus, to summarise, if a board is
played and there are four passes, that
is a pass-out, scored as zero, beating
minus scores, but losing to plus scores.
If a board should be played in the
movement but is not played, the direc-
tor awards averages, average plus or
minus or just average, scored usually
as 60%, 40% or 50% (with some ad-
justments). If a board is not expected
to be played but the scoring software
expects it, then ‘Not Played’ is entered,
and no score is recorded. ■
 Answers to Bernard Magee’s 
Bidding Quizzes 7-9 on the Cover

7. Dealer North. Game All.
♠ K Q 4 2 ♠ A 7
N
♥ J 10 8 4
W E
♥ Q 9
♦ 7 6 3 S ♦ K Q J 4
♣ 4 2 ♣ A J 8 5 3
West North East South
1NT Dbl 2♥
? 2♥ may well only make five tricks, which
Double. The first thing to note is that
your side should have a healthy majority
of points, so you should be aiming to
make points on this deal.
The second thing is that after one pen-
alty double, all subsequent doubles are
for penalties.
You have no long suit to bid, but you do
have length in hearts. Do not forget that
South is not showing any great excitement
when he bids 2♥, he is actually trying to
escape from a bad contract. Looking at
your hand, you know that he has found
another bad contract and you must put a
double on it, to make sure you make as
many points as possible.
Whenever your opponents escape from
a doubled contract, your first duty as a
partnership is to see whether you can
double for penalties again – do not let
them escape easily.
However, you do require trump length
to make a penalty double at low levels.
is worth 800 points.
8. Dealer East. Love All.
♠ K Q 4 2 ♠ 7 5
N
♥ 7
W E
♥ K Q J 10 8 5 3
♦ K Q 6 2 S ♦ 9 8
♣ K J 8 4 ♣ 7 6
West North East South
3♥ Pass
? 4♠. Your partner has made an overcall,
Pass. Opposite a pre-emptive bid, you
are looking for 16+ points to bid on
unless you have a good fit. You do not
have a fit and therefore should pass.
With a little bit of luck 3♥ will scrape
home, but with four aces missing game
has no chance.
Worst of all would be 3NT: with no
entries to the East hand, good defence
will deny you any heart tricks at all.
9. Dealer North. Love All.
♠ K 8 7 6 5 ♠ A Q J 9 2
♥ 2 N ♥ 9 8 7 5
W E
♦ A 7 6 4 S ♦ 9 8
♣ 9 3 2 ♣ 8 5
West North East South
1♦ 1♠ Dbl
?
then South has made a take-out style
double promising at least four hearts.
When supporting an overcall, the most

Five-Card Majors with a Strong No-Trump important element of your hand is its
distribution and particularly the length of
your support.
The Interactive Way of Improving Your Five-Card
Raising aggressively tends to work
Majors Bidding with Bernard Magee well: putting the pressure on your oppo-
nents. The best method, which balances
Contents (20 hands each) aggression with trick-taking potential, is
to bid to the level of your fit. Add your
l Opening Bids & Responses l Opener’s & Responder’s Rebids length to the length you expect your part-
l No-Trump Openings l Pre-empting ner to hold and bid to make that many
tricks.
l Support for Partner l Doubles
You have five spades and your partner
l Slams & Strong Openings l Overcalls should have five for an overcall: 5+5 =
l Minors & Misfits l Competitive Auctions 10. Bid to make ten tricks: 4♠. Now, North

£89
has to make his decision at the five-level
and he might settle for doubling you. Just
System Requirements 14 HCP between the two hands, but with
Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8, your distribution you will make an easy
8mb RAM, CD-ROM nine tricks.
including post and packing
One off doubled will cost just 100
See Mail Order Form on page 7. points as against the 450 points that 5♥
would make. ■

Page 16
 SALE!
Adjustable Beds
• any height, • any length, • any width

single bed sizes;

2’3”, 2’6”, 2’9”, 3’, 3’6”, 4’, 4’6”, 5’
double bed sizes;

25%
4’6”, 4’9”, 5’, 5’3”,
Off the 5’6”, 6’, 7’, 8’
1st item*

Off the
50% 2nd item*

Drawers for
extra storage
‘hi-low’ bed
system ideal
for home care
and care homes Optional
massage system

• Free home trial

Warranty included
• Home delivery & setup
• Removal of old furniture 5 YEAR FREE with every
mechanised item HANDCRAFTED IN
• Nationwide service GREAT BRITAIN

NeW! ultra Rise & Recline Chairs

comfort pocket
Choose from our extensive range
sprung ‘aero-seat’
option now • any width, • any depth, • any height
available! • 20, 25, 35, 50 and 70 stone models available
ask for Details

FOAM

POCKET
SPRUNG

Matching
settees and
fixed chairs also
available
Choice of over 400 fabrics & leathers

0800 810 8821

free home demonstration
HANDCRAFTED IN
weofdon’t
or a copy aim
our 32 page to be the biggest - just the best!
brochure call freephone GREAT BRITAIN

*50% discount is taken off the least expensive item

 DEFENCE DECLARER
PLAY
QUIZ
by Julian Pottage
QUIZ
(Answers on page 30)
by David Huggett
(Answers on page 41)
Y ou are West in the defensive positions below. It is your
turn to play. Both sides are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT.

Y ou are South as declarer playing teams or rubber bridge.

In each case, what is your play strategy?

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

West North East South West North East South ♠ A J 10 4 2 ♠ 6

1NT Pass Pass 1♠ ♥ 8 7 5 ♥ A J 9
Pass 2♣1 Pass 2♠ 2♣ 3♦1 Pass 6♠ ♦ A Q J 10 ♦ A Q J 10 7 6 5
Pass 4♠ End End ♣ A ♣ A K
1
Stayman 1
Diamonds and spades

You lead the ♦Q, won by
the ♦A. Declarer calls for
the ♥J, covered by the
♥K and ♥A. Now comes
the ♥Q followed by a low
heart. What do you do?
2. ♠ J 6
♥ 5 4
♦ J 10 9 2
♣ A K Q J 2
♠ K Q 10 7 ♦ K 10 8 4 3 S
N W E
♥ 10 3 W E
♦ A 6 S
♣ 7 6 5 4 3 ♠ K 5
West North East South
1♣ Pass 1♦
Pass 2♦ Pass 4NT
Pass 5♦ Pass 6♦
End
You lead the ♠K. Declarer
wins with the ♠A and leads
the ♥A-K-Q. What do you
do?
You lead the ♣K. Declarer You are declarer in 4♠ and You are declarer in 6♦ and
takes the ♣A, the ♦A and
West leads the ♣K. How West leads the ♠Q. How
the ♥A before leading a low
do you plan the play? do you plan the play?
heart. How do you defend?
4. ♠ K 8 7 2
2. ♠ A 4 3 2 4. ♠ 7 4
♥ K 3
♥ A Q 4 ♥ A 7 5
♦ A Q J 9 2
♣ 10 2 ♦ 6 5 2 ♦ K 10 8 3 2
♠ A ♣ 7 5 4 ♣ K Q 5
N
♥ J 6 W E N
N
W E
S
♣ J 8 7 6 4 S
♠ K Q 6
West North East South ♥ K 9 7 ♥ 8 6 4 2
2♥1 2♠ ♦ A 7 3 ♦ A Q 9
Pass 4♠ End ♣ A K 8 3 2 ♣ A J 9
1
Weak
You lead the ♥J. Partner You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 3NT
wins the first two tricks and West leads the ♦K. and West leads the ♠J. East
with the ♥A-Q and con- East follows with the ♦10. follows with the ♠2. How
tinues with the ♥10, South If you duck, West will do you plan the play?
following. What do you continue diamonds. How
do?
do you plan the play?

Page 18
 Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions
Q
I came across
McKenny (suit
preference)
discards many years
ago, when I did not like
the idea of throwing
away a high card in the
suit I wanted. What do
‘experts’ prefer and
what do you with your
regular partner?
Andrew Mountain,
Wrexham. (Similar from
Isaac Nahumy, Orpington).
A
Few experts play
suit preference as a
primary signalling
method (for a discard or on
partner’s lead). The usual
method, at the rubber bridge
table as well as amongst
experts, is that the main
method is attitude. If attitude
is obvious or irrelevant,
the next signal is usually
count, with suit preference
only coming in after that.
You are quite right that
sometimes you cannot afford
a high card from the suit
you want. To deal with this,
many experts play reverse
(or upside down) attitude; in
other words a low card asks
for the suit. If you watch a
VuGraph match on Bridge
Base Online, you will see
UDCA (upside down count
What is the
Best Discard
System?
and attitude) in frequent use.
For sure, some pairs
play suit preference as
the main discard method.
Giving a clear signal has its
advantages whenever there is
a suit you really want and you
can afford the appropriate
card. However, sometimes
you can only afford to discard
from the suit you want, in
which case a suit preference
signal does not work so well.
Since you ask, with one
of my partners I do play
suit preference discards;
it is attitude (or reverse
attitude) with all the others.
♣♦♥♠
Q
I know that I
am safe to use
Stayman when
4-4 in the majors; what
should I do if I have
fewer than this? What
are the rules then?
Anthony Rogers by email.
A
If you have a weak
three-suited hand
short in clubs, it is
fine to use Stayman even
with 4-3 in the majors; for
example, with a 4-3-5-1
or 3-4-5-1 shape, using
Stayman (and passing
partner’s reply) is likely
Page 19
to improve the contract. in the right place. How
If you have the values to should the bidding go?
raise to 2NT or 3NT, you Peter Calviou by email.
need only one four-card
A
major for Stayman because Like a 1NT opening,
then you can rebid 2NT a 2NT opening shows
or 3NT if partner does not a balanced hand.
reply in your major. The Whoever taught your partner
principle is that you need should have made this clear.
to be ready for any reply. The obvious start to the
auction is 1♣-1♦-2♥. As
♣♦♥♠ opener’s jump shift creates
a game force, you can take
Q
What do you things slowly from there.
think should With such good holdings
be opened in partner’s short suits, you
on this hand? will probably rebid 2NT
rather than 3♣. Partner then
continues with 3♥, telling
♠ Q you she is 5-6. After you
♥ A K 8 6 3 give preference to 4♣, she
♦ K checks on key cards (or
♣ A K J 10 6 4 aces) and you show two. 
Since you are missing
the ♣Q, it will be hard
My inexperienced to bid a grand slam.
partner opened 2NT As it happens, 7NT is a
because she had very good spot. You have
20 points. I held: 11 top tricks, with 13 either
if hearts are 3-2 or the ♣Q
falls in two rounds (or a
♠ A K 6 marked club finesse arises
♥ Q 7 4 on a 4-0 break). Finding
♦ A Q 8 4 out about the singleton ♠Q
♣ 9 5 3 and ♦K will be very difficult,
however. You will probably
finish in 6NT, the same
I bid 6NT and we made contract as you reached at
7NT because the ♣Q was the table.

Ask Julian continued
Q
Is it sensible for
opener to pass
some flat hands
with 12 or 13 points?
Joan Negus by email.
A
If you are vulnerable
and the alternative
is to open a weak
no-trump, it can be sensible
to pass a poor 12-point
hand. You will not miss game
if partner has the same
strength hand as yours; you
do not wish to risk going
several down vulnerable
(or being doubled). Most
12-point hands, however,
are worth opening whatever
the vulnerability.
With 13 points, you should
always open. If you and your
partner both start passing
13-point hands, you might
have 26 points between
you and pass out a game.
♣♦♥♠
Q
I have come
across different
forms of Benji.
Am I right that the 2♣
opener shows 18-19
HCP with a flat hand
or 8 playing tricks? Is
responder’s first bid
always a relay response
over 2♣, irrespective
of the hand (i.e. no
denial, no positive
response at this stage)?
Tony Baker by email.
A
Playing a balanced
hand as weak as 18
points in a Benjamin
2♣ is highly unusual. The
original range is 21-22,
with a 2NT opening as
19-20. Even if you swap
the ranges round, so that
going via 2♣ is weaker than
opening 2NT directly, you
would be stronger than 18.
A few expert pairs, who
do not like playing a weak
2♦, choose to open 2♦ with
18-19 balanced. I have
never tried that myself – it is
not Benjamin in any case.
In traditional Benjamin, you
do not have to respond 2♦ to
2♣ on all hands. You make
a positive response if you
have one. These days, many
pairs have swapped from the
traditional responses. With
the alternative method you
bid a good suit (a five-card
suit with two of the top three
honours at the two level or
a six-card suit with two of
the top three honours at the
three level) and otherwise
make a waiting bid of 2♦. So,
yes, there are two different
forms of responses. You and
your partner need to agree
which way you are doing it.
♣♦♥♠
Q
With the
following North
hand, my partner
opened an Acol 2♣:
♠ A K 7 5
♥ A K Q 6
♦ K 8 7 5 4
♣ Void
N in 4♥. With a 3-loser hand
W E
S
♠ Q 8 6 3
♥ J 10 8 7 2
♦ Q 6
♣ A J
I responded 2♥ (happily)
and partner raised
to 4♥. Initially I was
interested in a slam but
decided that I did not
like my soft points, i.e.
two Qs and two Js.
How should the
bidding have proceeded?
Should I have initiated
the slam bidding?
M Bleakley, Belfast.
Page 20
A
Despite the potential
playing strength,
most people would
open 1♦ rather than 2♣.
It is difficult to describe a
3-suited hand after opening
2♣. In any case, opener
lacks the usual 5 quick tricks
(though I appreciate the void
makes up for that). Having
decided to open 2♣, partner
should raise you to 3♥, not
4♥. The whole point of a 2♣
opening is to create a force,
giving you room to explore
further. Had partner raised
to 3♥, you would have had
an easy 4♣ cue bid to show
slam interest with a club
control. As it was, with 10
HCP facing a 2♣ opener,
you should not have given
up in 4♥, especially when
partner’s raise told you that
you had a fit. A cue bid of
5♣ would seem the best
continuation. Blasting 6♥ is
a fair alternative because
the small slam surely has
play while the grand slam
is unlikely to be laydown.
If partner opens 1♦, the
bidding is slightly trickier
as it happens. You respond
1♥ and partner rebids
4♣, a splinter bid showing
a raise to 4♥ with a club
shortage. You would sign off
rather than the expected
5-loser hand, partner then
continues with a 4♠ cue bid
and you should reach 6♥.
♣♦♥♠
Q
1. I opened 2♣
and rebid 3♣
over partner’s
2♦. This ended the
bidding. ‘All About
Acol’ by Ben Cohen and
Rhoda Lederer had led
me to believe that a
2♣ opening is always
forcing to game. Has
Acol bidding changed
since the book came
out or was it wrong in
the first place? Should
I have gone straight
to 5♣, which I made?
2. I opened 1♥ and my
partner went straight to
4♥. I assumed she had
long hearts and minimal
points. In fact, she had
a strong hand and four
hearts, which included
two honours. Was I cor-
rect in my initial as-
sumption? In the event,
we could not make a
slam, so the misunder-
standing did not cost.
Name and address supplied.
A
1. An Acol 2♣
opening creates a
game force unless
partner responds 2♦ and
opener rebids 2NT. This is the
same as it always has been
and the same across most
of the world. The whole idea
of creating a force is that
you can take things slowly
thereafter to explore the best
contract, be it game or slam.
Jumping to 5♣ would defeat
the object of the exercise.
Your 3♣ rebid sounds fine.
2. A raise from 1♥ to
4♥ (or 1♠ to 4♠) shows a
maximum of 10 HCP. What
it shows in terms of playing
strength may depend upon
partnership agreement and
vulnerability. Playing Acol
(i.e. 4-card majors), you
would typically have 5-card
trump support and a 7-loser
hand for the jump to game.
As per my first answer, with a
good hand, responder should
take things slowly. Many pairs
play one of 2NT or 3NT to
show a sound raise (in the
book you quote, a Swiss 4♣
or 4♦ might be the answer –
but hardly anyone plays Swiss
any more). If the partnership
methods do not include a
conventional way to show
a strong raise, responder
makes a delayed game raise,
bidding a new suit and then
supporting partner.

Ask Julian continued
Q
My partner,
North, and I
at favourable
vulnerability, held
these hands:
♠ 8 6
♥ K Q
♦ K 7
♣ K 10 9 8 7 6 5
N as per Modern Acol.’
W E
S
♠ 10 5 3 2
♥ J 8 5 4 2
♦ 9 2
♣ A 4
West North East South
1♣ Pass Pass
Dbl 4♣ Pass 5♣
Pass Pass Dbl End
I thought I was worth
my raise to 5♣, with
♣A-x and a ruffing
value. My partner said
I should have taken his
double jump as pre-
emptive. If so, should
he have opened 4♣?
J Vernon Hartley by email.
A
Your partner’s hand
is too flat offensively
and too strong
defensively for a 4♣ opening;
he also has too many high
cards for a 3♣ opening
in first or second seat.
Once you pass over
1♣ (a debatable decision
with your actual hand) the
position changes. Then
partner knows that the deal
belongs to the opposition
and can afford to make life
difficult for them. Having
said that, bidding 4♣ seems
bold, even at favourable
vulnerability. It would
not be hard to construct
layouts where 4♣ doubled
is going for 800, which
would be a disaster playing
matchpoints even if the
opponents can make game.
With a very good hand for
a one-level opening, partner
would redouble 1♣. Once
he fails to do so, this limits
his hand to an extent. I must
confess that I have never
come across the auction
1♣-Pass-Pass-Dbl-4♣
before and so am not
altogether sure what
hand it shows.
♣♦♥♠
Q
N/S were
defending a no-
trump contract.
South had a suit of K-9-
8-7-6-5 and no outside
entry. North was on
lead and led a different
suit. Later South got a
chance to signal for his
suit and North dutifully
led the 3 from A-J-3.
This blocked the suit,
restricting the defence
to three possible tricks
in the suit, but worse
was to come. To protect
his only entry, South
played the 9. A surprised
declarer, holding Q-10,
won and rattled off the
remaining tricks. N/S
took no tricks when
they could have had six.
Who was to blame?
Michael Canton by email.
A
Suits like this are
notoriously difficult
to untangle. If North
knows that three tricks in
the suit are insufficient,
switching to the ace is
correct. Counting how many
tricks you need to defeat
the contract often points
the way to the winning
defence. Likewise, South
needs to count declarer’s
points to work out whether
North was going to have an
entry. The fact that declarer
Page 21
rattled off the remaining
tricks suggests it was not a
sure thing for North to have
an entry. Without seeing
the full deal, it is hard to
apportion the blame.
♣♦♥♠
Q
After opening 1♦
and getting a 1♥
response from
partner, what should
you rebid on this hand?
♠ K Q 7
♥ A Q 8
♦ A Q 9 6 5 2
♣ 9
Marjorie Gill,
Menston, Yorkshire.
A
Yours is a difficult
hand to bid in a
natural system –
you see this sort of hand
in a bidding competition
where even the experts
are unable to agree.
You could rebid 3♦, which
shows extra values and a
six-card diamond suit – this
is the textbook bid on the
hand. However, with the
playing strength you have,
it is a slight underbid – also
you risk missing a 5-3 heart
fit. Some people would
invent a 1♠ rebid, hoping
that partner does not pass
or support spades too
vigorously – I would not
recommend that, as it seems
to create as many problems
as it solves. The other
possibility is to raise hearts.
The problem is that the hand
is too strong for a single
raise while you really do not
want to make a jump raise
with only 3-card support.
E-mail your questions for Julian to:
julianpottage@mrbridge.co.uk
Q
This South hand
came up in
Andrew Robson’s
column in The Times:
♠ 6 5 4 2
♥ A K 9
♦ A 7 6 5
♣ A 7
South was dealer and
opened 1♠. The footnote
said, ‘Higher-ranking
What is Modern Acol?
Secondly, when you
have two four-card suits,
which suit is it better
to open with and what
should your rebid be?
Some say lower-ranking
suit first followed by the
higher-ranking. Others
say higher-ranking
suit first followed by
the lower-ranking.
Paul Hobbs by email.
A
1. Modern Acol
means Acol as
played today. I am
not sure that Andrew Robson
was actually advocating a
1♠ opening. I think he was
merely mentioning that some
authorities recommend it.
2. Unless you have a 4441
type, you should not bid both
suits – you open one suit and
rebid in no-trumps (that is
assuming you were out of
range for a 1NT opening in
the first place). The official
Mr Bridge house rule is to
open the higher suit, though
not everyone would follow
that practice at the table. On
a hand like your example,
the very poor quality of the
spades would persuade
many people to prefer a 1♦
opening. ■
 Answers to Bernard Magee’s 
Bidding Quizzes 10-12 on the Cover

However, with such a powerful Pass.

10. Dealer East. E/W Game.
♠ A 2 ♠ 6 3
N
♥ K 2
W E
♥ A 9 8 7 5
♦ A Q J 7 6 5 S ♦ K 8
♣ 4 3 2 ♣ A J 9 6
West North East South
1♥ 3♠
? trumps, which will get the best score.
3NT.
Pre-emptive bids are annoying: they take
away all of your bidding space and force
you to guess. Well, not actually guess,
make educated decisions.
You have the strength for game, so what
do you think is the most likely making
game? 5♦ may well have chances, but
much of the time it makes, there will be
more tricks to be made in 3NT. Holding
the ♠A-x is very important, it allows you
to hold up one round and often cut the
pre-emptor off from his partner’s hand.
diamond suit, you may have enough
tricks from the very start, so it is surely
worth the risk. On a bad day North takes
the first five club tricks. More likely is that
you will receive a spade lead and find a
reasonably suitable dummy.
You might be able to scrape home
in 5♦ on these two hands, but it is no
surprise that there are ten tricks in no-
11. Dealer East. E/W Game.
♠ J 7 3 2 ♠ 8 5 4
N
♥ K 5 4 3 2
W E
♥ 9
♦ 5 S ♦ A K 8 7 6
♣ Q 8 4 ♣ A K 9 6
West North East South
1♦ Pass
1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass
? ♠ A K 2 ♠ 4 3
After a 1-over-1 response, a new suit is
not forcing. There is good reason for this,
the opener might have just 12 points and
the responder 6 points, which means the
partnership will not want to get too high.
It is very different if the responder replies
at the 2-level, showing 10+ points. Now
the partnership is comfortable and a new
suit would be forcing.
Having set the scene, you now have
the choice between passing 2♣, bidding
2♦ or rebidding your heart suit.
Responder should usually give in to the
opener unless he has a very good suit of
his own. For 2♥ you should have a good
six-card suit.
Given a choice between clubs and
diamonds it has to be clubs, so you
should pass.
12. Dealer West. E/W Game.
N
♥ 5 3 W E
♥ KQ9876
♦ A Q 7 6 5 4 S ♦ 8
♣ 4 2 ♣ 9 7 6 5

The Inn on the Prom

West North East South
St Annes-on-Sea FY8 1LU 1♦ 1NT 2♥ Pass
?
27-29 December 2013
Pass.
Bernard Magee This is a question of understanding the
Signals & Discards auction.
North has made a 1NT overcall show-
£245 ing a strong hand (15-18) and then your
partner has bid 2♥. Is your partner show-
21-23 March 2014 ing strength?
Bernard Magee With nine or more points, your partner
can double 1NT for penalties, so any
Doubles bid at the 2-level is a weak bid: trying
£245 to compete for the hand and completely
non-forcing.
Full Board. No Single Supplement. East should have six hearts in a weak
hand and most of the time you will pass
Booking Form on page 8. this.
2♥ is clearly the best contract. ■

Page 22
 Treat yourself to a better bridge table
From as little as £149 you can own one of our quality
French-made folding bridge tables.
There are three main points to consider when choosing a table; the wood, the
hinges and the playing surface.
Our hand-crafted tables are made by a team of French carpenters using the finest
beech and the unique Pelissier hinge. The playing surface is either traditional felt
or luxury velour.
Each table is hand-sanded for a perfect finish and inspected by ‘Maître Marc’ .
We have these tables specially made for us and then supply them directly to you,
the bridge player, so you get the best value.
Call for our brochure on
01483 750611
or go directly to our website
Top of the range Monaco table with velour finish £269 www.bridge-tables.co.uk

Hand sanding ensures perfect finish. Inserting the felt playing surface. The rounded edges of the Chartres table. Maitre Marc is on hand to check each table

Aquarius Wet Room

the ultimate answer to bathing difficulties
exclusively available from Bathing Solutions

Intensity No shower tray to step

Shower head over – floor is same level
throughout the room

Mosaic tiled floor;

slip-resistant and Fold down
available in a seat for added
choice of colours comfort

Open, easy-access Choice of colours for wall

entry; no doors panels & floor tiles

0800 783 1912

For a free copy PLEASE
of our 44 page QUOTE
brochure call REFERENCE
free on BRWR93

Say goodbye to bathtime struggles when you completely Please send me a free brochure on your range of easy-access showers and walk-in baths. BRWR93
replace your existing bathroom with the Aquarius Wet Room.
Title First Name
By waterproofing and then tiling the entire floor, it means there’s no tray to
Surname
step over and no door to open or close; it’s the ultimate in easy-access, safe
showering. Tel No.

Complete the totally new look by choosing sanitary ware from our superb range Address
and make bathing difficulty a thing of the past with the Aquarius Wet Room. Postcode
We may use this information to contact you about our products and pass it to suitable third parties to contact you
about their products and services. Please tick the box if you do not wish to receive information from us or third

www.safebathing.co.uk
parties . Please refer to our privacy policy for further details www.bathingsolutions.co.uk/privacy-policy
Post coupon to: FREEPOST BATHING SOLUTIONS (No further address details required).

Page 23
 BRIDGE CRUISES TO TH

Great value fares

with
in 2014
Join a Voyage to Antiquity and
explore the history of the ancient
world while enjoying the benefits of
small-ship cruising, personal service join
Hosted by
and intimate surroundings of the MR & MRS
bridge Bernard
Magee
award-winning Aegean Odyssey. MARCH 24, 2014 and team JULY 7, 2014

MEDITERRANEAN ISLES TREASURES OF ANCIENT

Plus with Mr Bridge special fares & THE HOLY LAND GREECE AND TURKEY
including flights, shore excursions Istanbul
Istanbul
in most ports, wine with dinner, Turkey
Greece Izmir Canakkale
on-board bridge programme, an Palermo Athens
Trapani sicily Mykonos Iskenderun
Antalya
Turkey
Syracuse Santorini Greece
Rhodes Tasucu
outstanding lecture programme Valletta
malta
Rethimnon
crete Limassol Athens
Izmir

Haifa
and on-board gratuities, you'll Jerusalem
Israel
Syros
Santorini Bodrum
Antalya
Kos Fethiye
also find exceptional value for money. Rhodes

24 days from £3,295 pp 13 days from £2,095 pp

A journey through the history of Combine the classical sites of Greece
the Mediterranean – from ancient and Turkey with quintessential white-
Greece to the Holy Land and the washed islands on this two-week voyage
heart of the Byzantine Empire. through the beautiful Aegean Sea.
DATE PORT DATE PORT
MAR 24 Fly to ATHENS Greece JUL 7 Fly to ATHENS Greece
Transfer to Aegean Odyssey in Piraeus Transfer to Aegean Odyssey in Piraeus
MAR 25 At Sea JUL 8 SYROS Greek Islands
MAR 26 SYRACUSE Sicily JUL 9 SANTORINI (Akrotiri)
MAR 27/28 PALERMO Sicily Greek Islands

MAR 29 TRAPANI Sicily JUL 10 KOS Greek Islands

MAR 30 VALLETTA Malta JUL 11 RHODES Greek Islands

MAR 31 At Sea JUL 12 RHODES (Lindos)

Greek Islands
APR 1/2 RETHIMNON Crete
JUL 13 ANTALYA (Aspendos) Turkey
APR 3 At Sea
JUL 14 FETHIYE (Patara) Turkey
ADD A HOTEL STAY APR 4 HAIFA Israel
JUL 15 BODRUM (Halicarnassos)
APR 5 HAIFA/JERUSALEM Israel hotel Turkey
Add extra time at the beginning or APR 6 JERUSALEM/HAIFA Israel JUL 16 IZMIR (Ephesus) Turkey
end of your cruise with a 2-night APR 7 LIMASSOL Cyprus JUL 17 IZMIR (Pergamon) Turkey
APR 8 ISKENDERUN Turkey JUL 18 CANAKKALE (Troy) Turkey
hotel stay in Athens and/or Istanbul. APR 9 TASUCU Turkey JUL 19 ISTANBUL Turkey
Please call for details. APR 10 ANTALYA Turkey Transfer to airport for flight home
APR 11 RHODES Greek Islands
APR 12 SANTORINI Greek Islands
APR 13 DELOS/MYKONOS Greek Islands
APR 14 IZMIR Turkey
APR 15 At Sea
APR 16 ISTANBUL
Transfer to airport for flight home
HE MEDITERRANEAN IN 2014

join
Hosted by
MR & MRS
Bernard bridge
Magee and team
AUGUST 21, 2014 OCTOBER 7, 201

GREECE, TURKEY & THE VOYAGE AROUND

CRIMEAN PENINSULA THE BLACK SEA
CRUISES TO
Odessa ukraine Odessa
UKraine
CLASSICAL CIVILISATIONS IN 2014
Sevastopol
Feodosiya

Special fares &

Istanbul Sevastopol Russia
Yalta Sochi
Canakkale Bulgaria
Greece
LOW SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
Nessebur
Athens Izmir Turkey Trabzon Batumi
Mykonos
Nauplia Delos
Santorini Istanbul TURKEY GEORGIA
crete
Rethimnon
Voyages to Antiquity fares include:
13 days from £2,095 pp 12 days from £1,995 pp •SCHEDULED FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS
Cruise to Minoan Crete and the gems This itinerary brings to life the
of the Aegean and beyond. This journey intriguing history of the regions you •EXPERTLY PLANNED ITINERARIES
combines the monuments of antiquity will visit, from the history of Mongols •SHORE EXCURSIONS IN MOST PORTS
and natural beauty of the Greek isles and Persians in Georgia to stories
with the heritage of the Black Sea. of the Crimean War in Sevastopol. •EXPERT ANTIQUITY GUEST SPEAKERS
DATE PORT DATE PORT •OPEN-SEATING DINING
AUG 21 Fly to ATHENS Greece OCT 7 Fly to ISTANBUL Turkey
Transfer to Aegean Odyssey in Piraeus Transfer to Aegean Odyssey •WINE INCLUDED WITH DINNER ON BOARD
AUG 22 NAUPLIA (Mycenae) Greece OCT 8 At Sea
AUG 23 RETHIMNON (Knossos) Crete OCT 9 TRABZON (Sumela) Turkey •GRATUITIES ON BOARD
AUG 24 SANTORINI (Akrotiri) Greek Islands OCT 10 BATUMI Georgia
AUG 25 DELOS Greek Islands OCT 11 SOCHI Russia
MYKONOS Greek Islands
PAST PASSENGERS SAVE MORE
OCT 12 FEODOSIYA (Sudak) Ukraine
AUG 26 IZMIR (Ephesus) Turkey Please call for details
OCT 13 YALTA Ukraine
AUG 27 IZMIR (Pergamon) Turkey OCT 14 SEVASTOPOL (Balaklava)
AUG 28 CANAKKALE (Troy) Turkey Ukraine
AUG 29 Cruise into the Black Sea OCT 15 SEVASTOPOL Ukraine BOOK NOW FOR A
AUG 30 SEVASTOPOL Ukraine OCT 16 ODESSA Ukraine VOYAGE TO REMEMBER
AUG 31 ODESSA Ukraine OCT 17 NESSEBUR Bulgaria
OCT 18 ISTANBUL Turkey
V OYAGES TO A NTIQUITY
SEPT 1 Cruise the Black Sea
Transfer to airport for flight home
SEPT 2 ISTANBUL Turkey
Transfer to airport for flight home

Call on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

All prices, savings and offers shown are subject to availability at the time of booking. Prices are per person, based on
double occupancy, are available only on certain cabin grades on the sailing shown and may be withdrawn at any time
without notice. Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability.
 David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics

Should the Score

Have Been
Adjusted?
Q
During a recent bears this out) and North no adjustment is made. East the score for 4♥+1 by N/S.
duplicate would have got a top, certainly treated 2♣ as strong
bridge session, the result of one down, by his repeated doubles. ♣♦♥♠
the following doubled, should stand. The immediate things

Q
circumstances arose: At the end of the the director must do are 1. Please could
session, the director to try to find out the actual you clarify the
West North East South awarded an average agreement and to ask West director’s duty/
2♣1 2♠2 Pass 3♥3 to both sides, but both why he opened 2♣. I cannot responsibility/authority
Pass Pass4 Dbl 3♠ sides felt aggrieved. say without seeing the hand, in respect of slow play
Pass Pass Dbl End I felt that North was but my best guess is that awarding averages.
1
N enquired and E said, ‘strong disadvantaged and this is another example of 2. Under what
19+.’ should have been given people playing Benjamin rule or law must
2
having 13 HCP an adjusted score of 5♥, and opening a pre-emptive bidding be allowed to
3
having 14 HCP under Law 75B. I would hand 2♣ instead of at the continue, once started?
4
with W sitting with 19+, what on appreciate your view.  one-, three- or four-levels. Peter Blackwell by email.
earth was S bidding on? Brian Hodges by email. In that case, saying ‘19+’ is

A
certainly misinformation. 1. If a board that is

3♠ doubled by North
went one off. Almost
all of the other tables
bid and made 5♥.
3♠ by North was
makeable and 3♠
doubled would have
got a top board, but
North claimed that they
played the hand thinking
the strong hand was
West and not East.
North was adamant
that they were
disadvantaged by the
mis-information of
the opening 2♣ bid
and under normal
circumstances would
have got to 4♥, probably
making 11 tricks.
East was adamant that,
as 3♠ was makeable
(the computer record
A
The ruling is certainly
illegal. If there was
misinformation then
the director adjusts to an
actual score, or more
usually a group of scores
with a percentage ap-
plied to each, so long as
damage has been caused
by the misinformation.
If there is no damage,
there is no adjustment. The
idea of giving an average is
over 50 years out of date.
Was there misinformation?
You have told me what 2♣
was described as, but was
this their agreement? If it was
and West psyched (delib-
erately made a bid that did
not suit his hand) or misbid
(accidentally made a bid that
did not suit his hand) then
that is perfectly legal and
Next is the question of
damage. Any time I have
27 points between the two
hands, I am really happy to
play in 3♠ doubled. What
happened? Why did it go off?
I am not impressed that Deep
Finesse made 3♠: because
it sees the opponents’ cards,
it plays hands much better
than real people. However, if
they did cause all their own
poor score, then there is a
law that says they should
keep their poor score, but we
still adjust against the pair
that caused the trouble.
Without seeing the hands
or convention cards and
without talking to the people
at the table, I cannot be sure
what the ruling should be, but
the most likely ruling is the
score stands for N/S, E/W get
meant to be played
is not played for any
reason, whether slow play,
illness, late arrival or any-
thing else, then the director,
as a matter of law, awards
average plus, average or
average minus depending
on the situation. He has no
option. It is certainly his duty
and his responsibility and the
laws give him the authority.
2. It is not a question of a
law that says bidding must
be allowed to continue, it is
the fact that no law gives the
director the right to stop the
bidding. Directors follow,
we trust, the laws of bridge
and do not stop boards,
give adjustments, penalise,
or anything else unless the
laws (or regulations) permit
them.

Page 26

Ask David continued
Q
I was East on
this hand.
Dealer South. E/W Vul
♠ 9 6 5
♥ 6 4 3
♦ K 10 7
♣ K 6 4 2
♠ K J 4 ♠ A 10 7 3
N
♥ A 10 9 2 W E ♥ K Q 8 7 5
S
♦ A J 5 3 2 ♦ 8 6
♣ A ♣ 9 8
♠ Q 8 2
♥ J
♦ Q 9 4
♣ Q J 10 7 5 3
West North East South
3♣
Dbl Pass 3♥ Pass
4♥ 5♣ Dbl* All Pass
*Without hesitation
The contract went four
off and, at the conclusion
of the play, North
immediately turned to
West and asked why
she hadn’t doubled. She
replied that she could
not as her partner had
already done so. South
made no comment in this
discussion until North
said he had not seen the
double and asked his
partner if he had. South
agreed that he had not.
I was the only one of
the four at the table to
keep a score card and
I showed them where
I had clearly written
down the contract, 5♣*,
together with a note of
the lead. N/S tried to
argue that I must have
pulled the pass card
in error at which point
I called the director.
The director admitted
he was unsure what to
do and offered to adjust
the score to half of the
800 points due. N/S
were happy with this, of
course, and although I
was aggrieved, I do not
argue with a director.
Upon inspection at the
end of the evening, the
traveller revealed that
the board had been
played 12 times, with
every E/W pair making
4♥, the vast majority with
overtricks and one pair
bidding and making a
small slam. What should
have been a very good
score had turned into
a complete bottom.
Your comments on
how to deal with this
situation would be
appreciated, both by
the director and me.
Jan Richards, Woking, Surrey.
A
Let me deal with
peripheral matters
first: North has no
right to ask an opponent
about why she made any
call. That is rude, unless
made between close friends
or regular partners. A
warning to North about the
behaviour seems suitable.
Second is similar:
the moment there is a
disagreement between
opponents over facts
players must not argue,
they must call the director.
Now, what should the
director do? Well, the actual
ruling is certainly illegal.
Part of every director’s job
is to make judgements as
to facts. So the director
either decides there was a
double or not and the score
is adjusted accordingly. If
either side does not like
the decision then they
appeal, they do not argue.
How does the director
make such a decision?
Well, he uses all the facts
available. The first and
Page 27
most interesting question
is whether the final pass
shown by you in the diagram
above actually happened.
The director should ask
each player whether
there was such a pass. If
there was then there must
have been a double.
The notation on your
score card is part of the
evidence. Even the fact
that passing was illogical
is evidence, though not
very strong: players
certainly make mistakes.
I could not tell you how I
would rule, because I was not
there. I would have asked all
four players what happened
and listened carefully to
their replies, then considered
the other evidence, but I do
think your case is stronger
than your opponents’.
♣♦♥♠
Q
Announcing at
the start of each
round that we
play 5-card majors (bet-
ter minor) and a strong
no-trump (15-17), on
two occasions in the last
week my partner has
opened 1♣/1♦, I have re-
plied 1♦/♥/♠ and his re-
bid has been 1NT. I have
been questioned about
how many points that
shows. Am I entitled to
just say it is a natural bid
or do I have to tell them
that it is 12-14 points?
Connie Pearce,
Milford On Sea.
DUPLICATE BRIDGE  only
RULES SIMPLIFIED
(otherwise known as the Yellow Book)
by John Rumbelow and
revised by David Stevenson
Available from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961
A
You need to tell them
what it shows, includ-
ing point-count. I
play a 1NT rebid as 13-17,
even with a strong no-trump,
and that counts as natural.
Your opponents have the
right to know your agree-
ments and while it may seem
obvious to you that such a
1NT shows 12-14, it may not
be obvious to opponents.
♣♦♥♠
Q
West (a BBO
rated expert)
playing with, I
believe, a non regular
partner, in a low level
Acol match, against two
intermediate players
opened 1NT (12-14) with:
Dealer West. Game All.
♠ J
♥ A K 7 4 2
♦ J 10 5 3
♣ J 5 3
Would this be regarded
as a psyche?
Emma Jones by email.
A
Yes, it is a psyche.
Partner would expect
more points and a
balanced distribution (unless
this pair tell their opponents
otherwise). Of course,
psyches are legal, so there
is no problem with this sort
of opening unless they do it
regularly or partner allows
for this.
£595
 Ask David continued
Q
Your statement,
‘cheating in
bridge in the
British Isles is fortunately
very rare,’ caught my
eye. I’m sure you’re
right but I still think I
have been a victim.
We were playing at
a club event against a
husband and wife pair.
The wife was much the
better player. After two
years, I forget the details
but the wife coached
the husband with
something like, ‘Don’t
forget what 2♣ means.’
Foolishly, I let it pass.
The following week she
did it again. Foolishly,
I remonstrated instead
of calling the director.
After the event, I asked
the director what I
should have done. The
couple came up and
verbally assaulted me,
accusing me of spoiling
a friendly game.
No action was taken
so I found another club.
I still think that was
cheating and that the
director was weak.
Ollie Killingback by email.
A
Of course there are
a few exceptions
to my general
comment and the director
should deal with them. If
you are verbally assaulted
then you should, in theory,
report it to the director who
will deal with that as well.
♣♦♥♠
Q
May I ask for
your advice
on something
that happened on
a club night? I was
West on this hand:
Dealer West. Love All.
♠ A K 9 8 6 4 2
♥ 8
♦ K 9 2
♣ J 2
♠ Q 5 ♠ 10 3
♥ Q J 10 9 6 3 ♥ A K 7 5
N
♦ Q J 8 W E ♦ A 6
♣ 9 7 S ♣ A K 8 6 4
♠ J 7
♥ 4 2
♦ 10 7 5 4 3
♣ Q 10 5 3
West North East South
2♥ 2NT 4♥ Pass*
Pass 4♠ Dbl End
*South couldn’t make up his
mind whether to bid and
kept touching the cards in the
bidding box before passing.
When North bid 4♠, my
partner objected and
said that after South’s
hesitation he should
pass, especially since
South had indicated
by his actions that he
couldn’t make up his
mind to bid or pass.
As it happened, North
was the playing director
and he explained that he
must make the bid that
he intended to make if
South had not hesitated.
He went on to say that if
East had passed South
was obliged to bid 3♣.
Then he (North) would
pass if his suit was clubs
or bid his suit which, in
this case, was spades.
South explained that
the reason for the
hesitation was that
he thought the 2NT
overcall was for the
minors, but decided
that he should pass 4♥.
The result was 8 tricks
for N/S for -300 but
we, as E/W, could make
11 tricks for +450.
North changed
the score in our
Page 28
favour to +450.
I hope that this was
the correct ruling and
the director (North)
was not giving us a
favourable result, simply
because the incident had
happened against him.
How would you
have ruled?
David Cree by email.
A
First, I should have
explained the laws
to East. I know many
people think that after a
hesitation partner must pass:
there is no such law. The laws
say that players must take
no advantage. Furthermore,
it is not really up to East
to tell other players what
they may and may not do
even if he had been right.
Second, I should have
explained the laws to North.
I know many people think
that after a hesitation
players must make the call
they would have made
without the hesitation, but
it is not as simple as that:
players often have a choice.
What they must do is avoid
taking any advantage.
This is complicated by the
fact that N/S seem to be
playing an unusual defence
to weak twos, which one of
them does not understand.
So, I would find out exactly
what 2NT showed and
whether it was alerted.
But the real question is
whether North is allowed
to bid 4♠ after his partner’s
hesitation, which clearly
shows values. Best is to give
the hand and sequence
(but not the hesitation) to
players and ask them what
they would do. So long as
some of them pass, then
pass is a logical alternative.
In my view, some players
E-mail your questions on bridge laws to:
davidstevenson@mrbridge.co.uk
would now pass and bidding
4♠ is suggested over pass
by the hesitation. Thus, I
would rule it as 4♥+1 by
West, scoring -450 for N/S.
♣♦♥♠
Q
Playing this week
in a team of four
competition,
my LHO opened 1♥,
partner passed, RHO
responded 2♦, I passed,
LHO displayed the stop
card and bid 3♣; i.e.
not a jump, realised his
mistake and quickly
put away the stop card.
I considered calling
the director but, as a
director, realised I did
not know the ruling. The
bidding continued to
a harmless makeable
game in hearts with
no adverse affect on
the match. A jump
shift was forcing to
game, so RHO had
unintended information.
What would have been
the director’s ruling?
Peter Bellingham,
Little Brickhill, Milton Keynes.
A
No call is
considered made, so
unchangeable, until it
has been fully made. So your
opponent has a perfect right
to put the stop card away and
bid 3♣ (or anything else).
However, the use of the
stop card is unauthorised
to his partner, who must
make every effort to
gain no advantage.
It was similar in the days
of spoken bidding: after
someone has said, ‘One ...,’
the call was not completed
and may be changed, but
the statement, ‘One ...,’ was
unauthorised to partner. ■
 Elstead Chatsworth Hotel Blunsdon
House
Hotel Worthing BN11 3DU

31 Jan-2 Feb £199

Hotel
Bournemouth Just Duplicate Swindon SN26 7AS
BH1 3QP 7-9 Feb £169
Sheila Rogers
Rubber / Chicago
14-16 Feb £199
Just Duplicate
28 Feb-2 Mar £199
18-20 Oct £245 NEW Just Duplicate
Bernard Magee TOPIC 21-23 Mar £199
Playing & Defending 1NT Just Duplicate
15-17 Nov £245 4-6 April £245
NEW
Bernard Magee TOPIC Bernard Magee
Bidding Distributional Hands Finding Slams
29 Nov – 1 Dec £245 3-5 October £245
Bernard Magee Bernard Magee
Suit Establishment Game Tries
BRIDGE EVENTS
17-19 Jan 2014 £245 7-9 November £245
BRIDGE EVENTS NEW
Bernard Magee 11-13 October £245
Bernard Magee TOPIC
Better Leads & Switches Hand Evaluation Bernard Magee
8-10 November £199 Splinters & Cue Bids
Just Duplicate Bridge Full Board – No Single Supplement 8-10 November £215
Booking Form on page 8. Stan Powell – Doubles
15-17 November £199
Just Duplicate Bridge 22-24 November £245
Bernard Magee
22-24 November £199
Ardington Hotel
Better Defence
Just Duplicate Bridge
10-12 January 2014 £199
10-12 Jan 2014 £199 Worthing BN11 3DZ Just Duplicate Bridge
Just Duplicate Bridge 21-23 February £199
Just Duplicate Bridge
24-26 January £199
Just Duplicate Bridge 28 Feb – 2 March £199
Just Duplicate Bridge
31 Jan – 2 Feb £199 14-16 March £199
Just Duplicate Bridge Just Duplicate Bridge
14-16 February £199 11-13 April £245
Just Duplicate Bridge Bernard Magee
Leads & Defence
28-30 March £199 BRIDGE EVENTS
25-27 April £199
Just Duplicate Bridge 25-27 October Just Duplicate Bridge £199
Just Duplicate Bridge
11-13 April £215 22-24 November Just Duplicate Bridge £199 14-16 November £245
Stan Powell 29 Nov – 1 Dec Just Duplicate Bridge £199 Bernard Magee
Signals & Discards Further into the Auction
24-26 Jan 2014 Declarer Play £215
21-23 November £245 28-30 November £245
21-23 February Overcalls £215
Bernard Magee Bernard Magee
14-16 March Take-Out Doubles £215 Bidding NEW
Doubles TOPIC
(Improvers)
Distributional Hands
11-13 April Hand Evaluation £215
Full Board
Full Board
No Single Supplement Full Board – No Single Supplement No Single Supplement
Booking Form on page 8. Booking Form on page 8. Booking Form on page 8.

Page 29
 Answers to Julian Pottage’s
Defence Quiz on page 18
1. ♠ A 6 5 4
♥ J 4
♦ A K 2
♣ J 9 7 2
♠ Q 10 7 ♠ J 3
N
♥ 5 3 ♥ K 10 9 7 6 2
W E
♦ Q J 10 9 3 S ♦ 7 6
♣ A Q 6 ♣ 8 5 3 do?
♠ K 9 8 2
♥ A Q 8
♦ 8 5 4
♣ K 10 4
West North East South
1NT
Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠
Pass 4♠ End
You lead the ♦Q, won by the ♦A. Declarer
calls for the ♥J, covered by the ♥K and
♥A. Now comes the ♥Q followed by a
low heart. What do you do?
Are you tempted to ruff with the ♠7 to
force out dummy’s ♠A? If declarer really
does call for dummy’s ♠A, your ruff will
have done no harm. In real life, dummy
should discard the ♦2. With a diamond
ruff in dummy available later, all you will
make is two clubs and your ruff. As the
 
West North East South Although you do not usually want
1♣ Pass 1♦ to ruff a loser with a boss trump, here
Pass 2♦ Pass 4NT you have a good reason to do so. If you
Pass 5♦ Pass 6♦ can gain the lead, you hope to cash the
End setting trick in clubs.
What happens if you fail to ruff (or ruff
You lead the ♠K. Declarer wins with the low)? Declarer ruffs the heart in dummy,
♠A and leads the ♥A-K-Q. What do you cashes a diamond to discard a club
and then takes the trump finesse. After
This one looks easy and, indeed, it is. that, declarer ruffs your club exit, draws
This time declarer is leading a winner trumps ending in dummy and claims
rather than a loser. Moreover, you can twelve tricks.
ruff with the ♦6 and still make the ♦A
later. Although your ♦6 will not win (as
dummy can overruff), by ruffing you
prevent the ♠J from going away on the 4. ♠ K 8 7 2
heart. ♥ K 3
If you fail to ruff at all, or if you ruff ♦ A Q J 9 2
with the ♦A, declarer will avoid a spade ♣ 10 2
loser and so make the slam. ♠ A ♠ Q 4
Another line for declarer would have ♥ J 6 N ♥ A Q 10 8 4 2
W E
been to try to throw a spade from hand ♦ K 10 8 4 3 S ♦ 7 6 5
on a club. This would have been inferior ♣ J 8 7 6 4 ♣ 9 3
and failed too. ♠ J 10 9 6 5 3
♥ 9 7 5
♦ Void
♣ A K Q 5
3. ♠ Q J 6 5
♥ J
♦ K Q J 10 2 West North East South
♣ 9 6 2 2♥ 2♠
1

♥8 is declarer’s loser, you do not want ♠ K 7 4 ♠ 8 Pass 4♠ End

to ruff it with a natural trump winner. ♥ 10 N ♥ K 8 6 5 3 2 1
Weak
W E
Discard a loser instead. ♦ 8 6 5 S ♦ 9 7 4 3
♣ K Q J 10 7 3 ♣ 8 4 You lead the ♥J. Partner wins the first two
♠ A 10 9 3 2 tricks with the ♥A-Q and continues with
♥ A Q 9 7 4 the ♥10, South following. What do you
2. ♠ J 6 ♦ A do?
♥ 5 4 ♣ A 5 Since the ♥10 is high, you do not need
♦ J 10 9 2 to ruff to stop declarer from discarding
♣ A K Q J 2 a club from dummy. Moreover, your ♠A
♠ K Q 10 7 ♠ 9 8 5 4 3 West North East South is a sure winner whenever you play it.
N
♥ 10 3 W E ♥ J 9 8 6 2 Pass Pass 1♠ Nevertheless, you certainly should ruff.
♦ A 6 S ♦ 7 3 2♣ 3♦1 Pass 6♠ As your ♠A is short, you are unlikely to
♣ 7 6 5 4 3 ♣ 8 End get the chance to capture an honour with
♠ A 2 1
Diamonds and spades it. By ruffing, you are saving your partner
♥ A K Q 7 from having to play a low trump under it.
♦ K Q 8 5 4 You lead the ♣K. Declarer takes the ♣A, J-10-x or Q-x of trumps in partner’s hand
♣ 10 9 the ♦A and the ♥A before leading a low will be worth a trick if you get your ace
heart. How do you defend? out of the way. ■

Page 30
 Letters from Overseas

Austrian Festivities
Don’t Help My Bridge by John Barr

O
ne of the aspects of life in West North East South the three.
Austria that my wife and I 1♦ Pass 2NT I exited with a spade, hoping that
greatly enjoy is the regular Pass 3NT All Pass declarer would not guess the position
festivals that are of the queen of
an excuse to listen clubs.
to local music, eat However, as I
Wiener Schnitzel, was marked with
and drink copious short hearts – and
amounts of beer therefore long
and wine. Many clubs – on the play
of the festivals are of the heart suit, it
religious, or relate was more in hope
to local customs – than in expecta-
such as the ‘cows tion.
coming off the But my luck was
mountain’ festival, in. Declarer won
when cows parade the spade ace in
through the streets hand and played
in head-dresses as the club king and
they move to the a club to the jack
valleys before the and my queen. I
snows come. Other exited with the
less important fes- two of diamonds,
tivals are treated which transformed
with the same en- itself into the two
thusiasm, includ- of hearts by the
ing ‘It’s Friday!’ and time it hit the table.
late night shopping Partner’s two heart
on Wednesday. Af- winners took the
ter enjoying one festival with perhaps Partner led the three of hearts, playing contract one off.
a little too much enthusiasm, I wasn’t fourth-highest leads, and I cashed the ‘Why can’t you just cash your ten
concentrating well at the bridge club. top two hearts. top tricks?’ complained dummy.
I could more or less place every card. ‘After the first three tricks, West is
South should have 11 or 12 points with marked with five hearts and East has
Dealer North. Game All. four hearts, which must be four small no more, so I can safely take the club
♠ K Q J 7 given his failure to bid a heart. finesse into his hand.’
♥ 9 6 I knew that declarer had four hearts The rest of the room made 9 or 10
♦ A Q 6 5 because of the Rule of 11, which says tricks – depending on whether a heart
♣ A J 10 that; when playing fourth-highest was led – and one down was a cold top
♠ 10 6 ♠ 9 8 4 3 leads, if you subtract the card that for us.
N
♥ Q J 7 3 ♥ A K your partner has led (in this case the My partner said, ‘Great defence,’ but
W E
♦ 9 7 4 S ♦ 10 8 3 2 three) from eleven, that is the num- I was too embarrassed to admit that
♣ 8 7 6 2 ♣ Q 4 3 ber of higher cards in that suit held by I’d lost the two of hearts in amongst
♠ A 5 2 dummy, partner and declarer. Eleven my diamonds, so I gave a knowing
♥ 10 8 5 4 minus three is eight and I could see smile and picked up the next board,
♦ K J 2 two higher cards in dummy and an- promising myself that I would concen-
♣ K 9 5 other two in my own hand, so declarer trate better and sort my hand correctly
must have four hearts higher than this time. ■

Page 31
Better Hand
Evaluation
Things You
Bernard Magee
Introduction Should
Know About . . .
Better Hand Evaluation is
aimed at helping readers to
add greater accuracy to their
bidding. It deals with auctions
in which you and your partner,
against silent opponents, can
describe your hands fully to
each other and, by evaluating
them accurately, find the best
final contract. The emphasis of
by Andrew Kambites
all good, accurate bidding is on
hand evaluation.

There are two general types of
auction: a) a fit is found and b)
no fit is found.
When you do not have a fit,
you are aiming to describe the
strength of your hand as soon
as possible, most often using
no-trump bids. This book be-
gins by discussing balanced
hand bidding in Acol, as it
is very important that both
members of a partnership
have an accurate knowledge of
how to show hands of different
strengths.
When a fit is found, there is
much re-evaluation of the
hand to be done; point count,
though still important, needs
to be evaluated together with
distribution. The best way of
reaching an accurate assess­
ment is to use the Losing Trick
Count; this is an important
method of hand evaluation and
takes up a number of chapters.
Finally, we move on to different
forms of evaluation including
game tries and splinter bids.
You can never know enough
methods of hand evaluation;
the more you learn, the better
you get at judging your hand.
Although the Losing Trick
Count is used more easily in
tandem with your partner, a
large proportion of the ideas
in this book can be used by an
individual. For example, eval-
uating your hand to be worth
an extra point is going to help
anyone you partner – as long
as you get it right.
£14 including postage
See Mail Order Form
on page 7.
M
r Bridge has
invited me to
write a new series
entitled, ‘Things you should
know about . . .’ I have
started with 12 articles on
the most important aspects
of the uncontested auction.
Some of my articles will be
on basic bridge knowledge.
The emphasis will be on
explaining why something
is the recommended path,
rather that just telling you
what to do. Too many
people decide on a system
as though it is a series of
unconnected decisions.
Any good system is
an integrated whole, put
together as a result of
many years of experience
by strong players. One part
affects the rest. For example,
I will be recommending that
you open all balanced hands
in the 12-14 point range
with 1NT, even if you have
a weak doubleton. There are
huge hidden gains by doing
this, for example, that if you
open 1♠ and rebid 2♥ you
guarantee five spades. Of
course you may decide not to
accept my recommendation
about opening 1NT with a
small doubleton, but then
you must accept that there
are drawbacks that you
might not have anticipated.
I would strongly advise
you not to reinvent the
wheel: the large number of
homegrown systems that
I see at club level have the
disadvantage of bypassing
the accumulated experience
of experts over many years.
Other articles will feature
common conventional bids.
I have criteria I apply to
conventions.
First Criterion
Any convention invariably
replaces a natural bid.
For example the best of
all conventions, Stayman,
prevents you from signing
off in 2♣. Is that a price
worth paying? The answer is
a very strong Yes. Finding a
4-4 major suit fit is far more
important than signing off
in 2♣.
Second Criterion
How often does it occur? If
the answer is every week,
it is worth the effort in
learning it and you won’t
forget it at the table. If it
occurs once a year, then
inevitably one of you will
get it wrong. Of course,
the more you play with a
partner, the more ambitious
you can be in your system.
Third Criterion
In real life, does it gain or
lose? I am afraid that Gerber
fails my test.
In real life people regularly
have misunderstandings
about when 4♣ is or isn’t
Gerber. Bridge is a game
played by fallible human
beings and any convention
which does not recognise
this is flawed.
Whatever the merits
of a convention, do
understand all conventions
need discussion and
such discussion can only
take place in a regular
partnership. If you sit down
for a casual session opposite
somebody you hardly know,
you might both agree to
play red suit transfers, but
that does not necessarily
mean you mean the same
thing.
My articles try to
anticipate problems, for
example, if 1NT is doubled,
is 2♣ still Stayman? If you
and your partner both
study my ideas and accept
them, you should find
them helpful. I will also
try to advise you whether
your partner’s bid needs
announcing or alerting
under current EBU rules.
Good luck, and enjoy
your bridge. ■

Page 32
 Things You Should Know by Andrew Kambites

About
Stayman
I
f your partner opens 1NT, 1
With 12-14 points and a balanced hand it
then a response of 2♣ is should be automatic for West to open 1NT. Layout B
universally played as the 2
2♣ is Stayman. ♠ Q 7 6 5 ♠ 8 4 2
Stayman convention. 3
West has four hearts. ♥ A K 6 5 N ♥ 2
W E
4
East has enough for game but doesn’t want ♦ K 3 2 S ♦ A 8 7 4
The 2♣ bidder will have at least one to play in hearts, therefore he must have ♣ J 5 ♣ A K Q 4 3
4-card major suit and is asking opener four spades otherwise he wouldn’t have
whether he has a 4-card major. Opener used Stayman.
replies as follows: 5
Knowing that East has four spades, West Note that your hand isn’t really strong
2♦ denies a 4-card major. corrects to the best contract. enough to investigate playing in 5♣:
2♥ shows four hearts. 3NT requires nine tricks, 5♣ eleven.
2♠ promises four spades. ♣♦♥♠
With four cards in each major, opener ♣♦♥♠

Y
rebids 2♥, showing his hearts but ou must never use

I
temporarily concealing his spades. Stayman without a n a Stayman sequence, you
4-card major just to can work out the strength of
♣♦♥♠ see if partner can cover your the 2♣ bidder by imagining
weakness. the auction without the 2♣

U
nless you have agreed response and opener’s rebid.
to play a version of Your partner opens 1NT and you have:
Stayman with your Look at Auctions C and D:
partner called non-promissory
Stayman, responding to 1NT ♠ 8 4 2 Auction C Auction D
with 2♣ promises that you ♥ 2 West East West East
hold a 4-card major. ♦ A 8 7 4 1NT 2♣ 1NT 2♣
♣ A K Q 4 3 2♥ 2NT 2♦ 2♠
Having given partner that message,
you can never cancel it. To see the In Auction C, East has 11-12 points,
implications of this, look at Layout A. Your only sensible bid is 3NT. You just as would have been the case if
are taking a gamble on the hearts, but the auction had been: 1NT-2NT. Of
most of the time you will be OK. course, East has four spades and West,
Layout A Suppose you wrongly try responding armed with all this information, must
♠ Q 7 6 5 ♠ K J 10 3 to 1NT with the Stayman 2♣ and decide on a final contract.
♥ A K 6 5 N ♥ Q 3 partner responds 2♥.
W E
♦ K 3 2 S ♦ A Q J 4 You might feel reassured and jump With four spades and a maximum,
♣ J 5 ♣ 10 9 7 to 3NT, but partner will assume West bids 4♠.
you have four spades if he holds the With four spades and a minimum,
West hand in Layout A, leaving you West signs off in 3♠.
West East playing in a horrible 4-3 fit at the four With fewer than four spades and a
1NT1 2♣2 level. maximum, West raises to 3NT.
2♥3 3NT4 Do you really want to play Layout B With fewer than four spades and a
4♠5 in 4♠? minimum, West passes 2NT.

Page 33
 About Stayman continued
In Auction D, East is signing off in
2♠, just as if the auction had been
1NT-2♠.
You might wonder why East has
bothered to use Stayman: the answer
is that he has five spades and four
hearts, maybe Hand E:
Hand E
♠ K J 6 5 4
♥ Q 8 6 5
♦ 7
♣ 6 3 2
He isn’t interested in game and if he
didn’t have four hearts he would have
signed off in 2♠ directly. However, it
does no harm to look for a 4-4 heart
fit first.
♣♦♥♠
I
f you bid a Stayman 2♣, you
must be prepared for any
rebid by opener.
That means that usually you need at
least 11 points (so that you can continue
with 2NT or a higher bid if you don’t
like opener’s rebid). However Hand E
demonstrates using Stayman with a
weaker hand. East is fully prepared.
He intends to sign off in 2♠ if the
rebid is 2♦, or pass a 2♥ or 2♠ rebid.
Hand F would also be suitable because
East could pass any rebid (including
2♦), but to bid Stayman with Hand
G would be very dangerous because
if opener rebids 2♦ (denying a 4-card
major) East is stuck. Remember that a
2NT continuation would show 11-12
points. With Hand G, the best course
of action for East is to pass 1NT.
Hand F Hand G
♠ K 8 7 6 ♠ K 8 7 6
♥ Q 8 6 5 ♥ Q 8 6 5
♦ J 8 6 5 4 ♦ Void
♣ Void ♣ J 8 6 5 4
Note that some pairs play that the
sequence 1NT-2♣-2NT shows both
majors. This gains nothing because,
as seen in Layout A, opener rebidding
2♥ may temporarily conceal the
spades, but all comes good on the
next round. On the other hand, this
unsound practice stops responder
using Stayman on hands like Hand F.
♣♦♥♠
Y
ou need to agree with
your partner what a
minor suit continuation
means.
Auction H Auction I
West East West East
1NT 2♣ 1NT 2♣
2 anything 3♣ 2♥/♠ 3♦
Twenty years ago, Auction H was
played as a sign off in clubs (and
an exception to the rule that 2♣
guarantees a 4-card major). Nowadays
many pairs play it as forcing, showing
a 4-card major and good clubs.
Similarly, what does 3♦ mean in
Auction I? Is it a sign off (because you
play transfers and therefore cannot
sign off in 2♦) or forcing with a 4-card
major and good diamonds?
♣♦♥♠
Y
ou should also play Stay-
man opposite partner’s
1NT overcall.
Layout J
♠ A 3 ♠ K 7 6 4
♥ A Q 7 N ♥ 6 3
W E
♦ K Q 8 7 S ♦ J 10 2
♣ K 7 5 4 ♣ A 6 3 2
West North East South
1♥ 1
1NT Pass 2♣ Pass 2
2♦ Pass 2NT Pass
3NT End
In Layout J, if West had been dealer
and opened 1NT, East would clearly
have passed.
However, West’s overcall of 1NT
shows 16-18 points, so East is worth
a game try. He starts with a Stayman
Page 34
2♣ to see if there is a 4-4 spade fit.
West rebids 2♦ to deny a 4-card major,
just as he would if 1NT had been an
opening bid. East’s 2NT is a game try
and with a maximum 1NT overcall,
West raises to game.
♣♦♥♠
Y
ou should play Stayman
opposite a 2NT opening
bid or a natural 2NT
overcall.
Of course the Stayman bid is now 3♣,
which you should assume to be the
usual 4-card version.
However, I recommend that you try
playing 5-card Stayman, whereby an
initial 3♣ asks if opener has a 5-card
major.
The reason is that a 2NT opener is
far more likely to have a 5-card major
than a 1NT opener. If opener has
neither a 5-card nor a 4-card major, he
rebids 3NT (sensible enough because,
unlike opposite a 1NT opening,
responder rarely wants to sign off). If
responder has a 4-card major but no
5-card major, he rebids 3♦, which leads
to both partners bidding their 4-card
majors until either a fit is found or
3NT is reached. Layout K shows this
in action:
Layout K
♠ A Q J 3 ♠ K 7 6 4
♥ A 2 N ♥ 6 3
W E
♦ K Q 8 7 S ♦ J 10 2
♣ A 5 4 ♣ K 6 3 2
West East
2NT 3♣1
3♦2 3♠3
4♠4
Have you got a 5-card major?
No, but I have got a 4-card major.
3
I have 4 spades but not 4 hearts.
4
In that case we have a 4-4 spade fit.
I
f your partner’s 1NT opening
bid or overcall is doubled,
2♣ is no longer Stayman.
To grasp why, you need to
 About Stayman continued
understand why Stayman is
such a wonderful conven-
tion.
Any conventional bid has
gains and losses: the loss in
playing Stayman is that you
can no longer sign off in 2♣
if partner opens 1NT.
However, the gains far
outweigh this loss, both
in terms of getting the big
hands right and in terms of
frequency of use. You are
far more likely to want to
investigate a 4-4 major suit
fit than sign off in 2♣.
But once opponents
double 1NT for penalties,
the priorities change. You
are far less likely to be
looking for game and you
could be in serious trouble
if you have very little.
The emphasis must be on
finding an escape route, so
you need 2♣ as a natural
sign-off bid.
♣♦♥♠
I
f you open 1NT/2NT
and your partner re-
sponds with a 4-card
Stayman 2♣/3♣, you
should say for the
benefit of your oppo-
nents, ‘Stayman.’
Stayman is a conventional
bid and normally conven-
tional bids are alerted, but
the sequence 1NT/2NT-
Pass-2♣/3♣ is so common
that the EBU have decided
that rather than wait for the
inevitable question from
opponents, you should tell
them before they ask.
This is called, ‘Announc-
ing.’
Any other uses of Stay-
man, such as 5-card Stay-
man or Stayman opposite
a 1NT overcall, should be
alerted. ■
Things You Should Know
About Stayman Quiz Mr Bridge
by Andrew Kambites
(Answers on page 47)
2014
1 What would you bid with Hands A, B, C and D if your
partner opens 1NT? If you use Stayman, consider your
Bridge
Players’
continuations after all possible replies.
Hand A Hand B Hand C Hand D
♠ 8 ♠ Q 8 7 6 ♠ 9 3 2 ♠ 3 Diaries
♥ A 8 7 6 5 ♥ A 8 7 6 5 ♥ K 9 7 6 ♥ 6 2
♦ Q 8 7 6 ♦ 8 ♦ Q 9 8 6 3 ♦ J 7 6
♣ 9 3 2 ♣ 9 3 2 ♣ 7 ♣ A K Q 7 6 5 2
2 You are West. The bidding starts as shown.
West East
1NT 2♣
2♥ 2NT
?
Contents include
What is your next bid with Hands E, F, G and H?
♦ Acol Summary
by Bernard Magee.
Hand E Hand F Hand G Hand H ♦ Guide to the Laws.
♠ A J 7 6 ♠ A J 7 6 ♠ A J 7 ♠ A J 7
♥ K 7 5 4 ♥ K Q 7 4 ♥ K 7 5 4 ♥ K Q 7 4 ♦ Scoring Tables for
duplicate and
♦ K 2 ♦ K 2 ♦ K 4 2 ♦ K 4 2
rubber bridge.
♣ J 10 3 ♣ J 10 3 ♣ J 10 3 ♣ J 10 3
♦ Distributional odds.
3 You are playing 5-card major Stayman opposite a 2NT ♦ Hand patterns and
fascinating figures.
opening bid. Your partner opens 2NT. What do you bid
with Hands J and K? If you use Stayman, what do you ♦ Cover colours:
plan to do if partner replies: Red, Navy, Tan,
i) 3♦? ii) 3♥? iii) 3♠? iv) 3NT? Black, Burgundy.
♦ All covers printed in
gold-coloured ink.
Hand J Hand K
♦ Individual diaries £6.95
♠ K Q 7 6 ♠ K 7 5
each including p&p.
♥ 8 4 3 ♥ 7
♦ 8 3 ♦ Q J 7 5 4 ♦ Special concession
♣ 9 7 5 4 ♣ 8 4 3 2 to clubs and teachers.
10 for £35,
thereafter £3.50 each
including p&p.
4 Your partner opens 1NT and the next hand doubles.
What do you bid with Hands L and M? ♦ Luxury version with super-
soft kidrell cover, gilded
page edges and
Hand L Hand M
a ball-point pen attached,
in ruby red, navy blue
♠ 5 ♠ J 4 3 2 or bottle green.
♥ 7 6 5 4 ♥ K 7 6 5 £14.95 each including p&p.
♦ K 6 5 ♦ J 9 8 7 6
♣ J 7 6 5 4 ♣ Void See Mail Order
Form on page 7.
Page 35
READERS’
LETTERS
WEAK NO-TRUMP
I wanted to raise a counter
argument to that put forward
by a number of readers
recently, namely the concern
that some people have over
opening balanced 12-point
hands with three aces and no
other worthwhile card. It is
true that you can sometimes
catch a cold opening these
hands 1NT, especially if
you are in third seat with,
potentially, a powerful hand
sitting to your left. However,
in the long run, not opening
such hands is losing bridge
and it has long been expert
opinion that aces are, if
anything, under-valued
compared to other high cards
using the normal 4-3-2-1
point count system. I think
the argument that flat, 12
point, three-ace hands are
Bridge Tie
( 01483 489961
www.mrbridge.co.uk
bad to open has been built
on the back of a relatively
few bad experiences and
the fact that the hand type
is quite memorable. People
just forget the occasional
bad results that they
achieved opening similar
hands, say, with two kings
and three queens. Those
who have had a few such
bad experiences then tell
their friends and, before
you know it, the idea has
spread round half the club.
I suggest that, if you don’t
like opening these hands
with 1NT (and aces are
more suited to play in a
suit contract, sorry no pun
intended), then you should
consider playing a strong
no-trump. It is true that you
will get the odd balanced,
four ace, 16 point hands, but
£15
including
postage
& packing
From
Mr Bridge
Order Form
on page 7
Page 36
these are much rarer. Or at
least play a strong no-trump
in third and fourth seat.
Playing a weak no-trump,
in third seat, with two passed
hands before you, only a
weakish opening yourself
and an unknown quantity
sitting behind you, you are
relatively likely to get into
trouble regardless of how
your 12 points are made
up. In fourth seat, with three
passed hands in front of you,
you are slightly more likely
to pick up a strong no-trump
than a weak one. Plus, one of
the major tactical advantages
of the weak no-trump is its
pre-emptive effect, but this
doesn’t apply in fourth seat.
The biggest downside
to varying your no-trump
range according to which
seat you’re in is that partner
is relatively likely to forget
which no-trump range
applies. However, certainly
for a regular partnership,
the odd early mishap is
more than made up for once
you get used it. You can
then open these three-ace,
weak no-trump hands with
a one-of-a-suit bid which
will generally work out at
least as well – for a start,
you won’t hear 1NT from
partner or be obliged to
rebid 1NT yourself, unless
partner has got a share of
the missing high cards.
Nick Warren,
Crowborough, East Sussex.
GAY Bridge Club
I am led to believe that
you are the person to
speak to regarding a
free ad in BRIDGE.
Write to Mr Bridge at:
Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
or e-mail letters@mrbridge.co.uk
E-mail correspondents are asked to include
their name, full postal address, telephone
number and to send no attachments.
Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
West London Gay Bridge
Club. Affiliated to the EBU.
Come and start the week
by playing duplicate bridge
with like minded people at a
relaxed club in Paddington.
You don’t have to be gay to
play at the club. All welcome.
The Victoria Pub (upstairs).
Strathearn Place, W2 2NH.
Chris ( 0207 266 1358
Andy ( 0207 537 2481
Christopher Dee by email.
TOO SOON
I would be intrigued to know
how Sally Brock is entitled
to a bus pass at age 60.
Since April 2010, bus pass
entitlement has depended
on the women’s pension age
(which is rising each month
towards age 66) e.g. women
who have their 60th birthday
in August 2013 will not reach
their pension age and their
entitlement to a bus pass
until the autumn of 2017.
In Greater London since
last November 60 year
olds can apply to the
Mayor of London for an
interim pass, paid for from
the Mayor’s budget, until
they reach the women’s
pension age, when the pass
will be paid for from the
London boroughs’ budget.
In Greater London,
anyway, one does not
have just a bus pass – the
transport concessions there
are train, underground
and tram as well as bus.
Mrs Diana Beamish
by email.
Sally Brock replies:
I stand corrected. Maybe I
shouldn’t be in such a hurry
to be ‘old’. ■
CHARITY BRIDGE EVENTS
Mr Bridge
Festive 2013/2014
NOVEMBER 2013 MARCH 2014
2 EYE CANCER RESEARCH 11 ST NEOTS’ BOWLING CLUB
Reynolds Institute, Weymouth. St Neots, Cambs.
£30 per table including tea. 10.00 for 10.30am. £14.00.
Val Pierce John Shaw

Gene Hill
( 01305 833686 ( 01480 475454
Denham
Grove
( 01305 786509 APRIL 2014
7 EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s 25 CHILDREN’S CHARITIES
Hospice) Doddington Village Hall, Near Uxbridge,
Bridge Drive, 2.00pm. March. 10.00 for 10.30am.
Rysbygate Club, Westley Rd, Tickets £14.00. UB9 5DU
Bury St Edmunds IP33 3RR. Val Topliss
Lynda Moore ( 01354 653696. Hosted by Jo Walsh
( 01359 241534
lynda@saffrons.f9.co.uk MAY 2014 23-27 Dec Just Duplicate Bridge £495
14 HUDDERSFIELD PENNINE 16 MS THERAPY CENTRE
(with a small section for rubber/Chicago with Diana Holland)
ROTARY CLUB Huntingdon, Cambs. £14.00.
Outlane Golf Club. 12 for Hemingford Abbots Village
27-29 Dec Signals and Discards £215
12.30pm. £44 per table. Hall. 10.00 for 10.30am.
Sam Smith Jenny Lea
29 Dec–2 Jan Doubles £445
( 01924 492540 ( 01480  455810.
18 RNLI. Crowborough Beacon
JUNE 2014
The Olde
Golf Club bridge tea. 1.30 for
2pm start. £26 per table.
13 ST MARY’S CHURCH
Penny ( 01825 830006
Eaton Socon, St Neots.
22 ST MARY’S CHURCH
Eaton Socon, St Neots.
10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50.
Malcolm Howarth
Barn
10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50. ( 01480 212910 Marston, Lincs,
Malcolm Howarth NG32 2HT
( 01480 212910 JULY 2014
23 RNLI. Cheltenham Bridge Club 11 GREAT BARFORD CHURCH Hosted by Val Passmore
1pm-5pm. £10 per person. Village Hall, Great Barford.
Includes Tea & Cakes. 10.00 for 10.30am. £13.50. 23-27 Dec Just Duplicate Bridge £495
Margaret Beverley Derek Fordham
( 01242 510193 ( 01234 870324 27-29 Dec Finding Slams £215
margaretbeverley@
dsl.pipex.com AUGUST 2014 29 Dec–1 Jan Leads and Defence £445
27 THE CRUMBS PROJECT 15 ST IVES DAY CARE CENTRE
Bridge Drive. Hemingford Abbots Village
St Mark’s Church Hall,
Wallisdown Road,
Talbot Village. 12.30pm for
Hall. 10 for 10.30am. £13.50.
Don Moorman
( 01480 463444
Inn on
12.35pm. £20 per table
including Christmas tea. SEPTEMBER 2014
the Prom
Anne Gardner
( 01202 219843
St Annes-on-Sea,
12 ST MARY’S CHURCH
anne@crumbs.org.uk Eaton Socon, St Neots. 10.00 FY8 1LU
for 10.30am. £13.50.
DECEMBER 2013 Malcolm Howarth Hosted by Bernard Magee
( 01480 212910
1 EDP WE CARE APPEAL
which benefits the Norfolk
27-29 Dec Signals and Discards £245
OCTOBER 2014
Millennium Trust for Carers.
1.30pm. The Costessey Centre, 3 ST ANDREWS CHURCH
Longwater Lane,
Old Costessey, Norwich,
Mandeville Hall,
Kimbolton, Cambs.
( 01483 489961
Norfolk NR8 5AH.
Sue Hutchings
10.00 for 10.30am. £14.00.
Mavis Campion
e-mail: jessica@mrbridge.co.uk
( 01508 494522 ( 01480 860477 website: www.holidaybridge.com
Booking Form on page 8.
E-mail your charity events: maggie@mrbridge.co.uk

Page 37
 From the Baron’s Archives by Dick Atkinson

W
hen my ancient
Uncle, the 7th
Baron von
Münchausen, first decided
to lodge with me, I was
understandably flattered.
When I discovered we
shared an obsession –
bridge – I was delighted. I
very soon realised, however,
that whenever Uncle
Leopold gets anywhere
near a pack of cards, they
somehow misbehave in the
most outrageous fashion.
On one occasion, not
long after his arrival, we
were playing ‘Honeymoon
Bridge’, in deference to his
gout. You know the drill:
thirteen cards each are
dealt, and the next card
turned. Non-dealer, or
REDUCE THE COST
The Honeymoon
is Over
subsequently the winner of
the most recent trick, plays
a card, and the opponent
wins or loses the trick as
normal. The winner of the
trick takes the exposed
card into his hand, the loser
taking instead the next,
unseen, card from the stock,
and another card is turned
up. After thirteen tricks, the
stock is exhausted. Those
first thirteen tricks are
swept aside, and the players
bid as at four-handed
bridge for the right to name
trumps, which also means
contracting to take the
named number of tricks.
After he had beaten me
out of sight all evening, I
unwisely remarked on my
poor luck.
‘Luck? Luck!’ he barked.
‘Nein, nein. Your problem is
that you can’t value a hand,
can’t plan the play, and can’t
remember which cards have
gone!’
‘But apart from that?’ I
asked ironically.
‘Your shuffling is not bad,’
he conceded.
‘Anyway, how do you
mean ‘can’t value a hand’?’
I asked. (Only later did I
realise this amounted to a
plea of guilty on the other
two charges . . .)
The Baron
Proves His Point
He quickly put together
three hands from the used
deck:
Hand A Hand B
♠ A 5 3 ♠ K Q 2
to realise that Hand B was
a couple of points stronger
than Hand A.
It would obviously take all
eight pictures against Hand
C.
Against Hand A I’d have
to plan the play much
more carefully in order to
succeed.
He took Hand A,
announcing: ‘2NT,’ and I
couldn’t prevent his taking
eight tricks. He re-sorted
the cards. ‘Try again.’
I took up Hand A, and he
promptly picked up Hand C
and called 2NT again! Had
he taken leave of his senses?
Moments later I was left
red-faced and utterly bereft
of words.
He munched another
bridge mint, very carefully
tweaked his cavalier mus-
tachios into perfect symme-
try, dabbed at his aged, grey

OF YOUR POSTAGE

♥ K 6 4 ♥ Q J 3
♦ A 4 3 ♦ K Q 2
lips with a monogrammed
handkerchief, and said:
Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, ♣ A J 5 4 ♣ K Q 3 2 ‘Please do not mention
all mint with full gum. Quotations for points again.’
commercial quantities available on request.
The Moral
Values supplied in 100s, higher values Hand C
available as well as 1st and 2nd class ♠ 9 7 6 Only now, years on, have I
(eg 2nd class: 100x37p+100x13p) ♥ 9 8 7 come to expect Yarboroughs
♦ 8 6 5 to behave like that when the
♣ 9 8 7 6 Baron is around. ■
(/Fax 020 8422 4906
e-mail:
clive.goff@londonrugby.com ‘Choose the best hand!’ he Previously published
said. in BRIDGE 59.
It took me only a moment

Page 38
 Bridge and Travel Tips
We Are Survivors
A POSITION OF STRENGTH (For those born Before 1940 . . .)

Bridge tip from Sally Brock:
When it looks as if your contract is
completely cold, take a second look
and see if anything could go wrong.
We were born before television, before penicillin,
polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses,
videos and the pill. We were before radar, credit
cards, split atoms, laser beams and ballpoint pens,
before dish-washers, tumble driers, electric blankets,

W
hen you are in a bad
contract, you some-
times need a bit of
imagination to think of a lay-
out when you might succeed.
However, when you are in a
very good contract is the time to
think if there is anything that can
go wrong: bad trump breaks,
bad side-suit breaks, etc.
Here are a few standard
safety plays:
1) A K 9 5 4 Q 10 6 3
2) A K 9 5 4 Q632
3) A K 9 5 4 7632
On 1) and 2), you should real-
ise that only a 4-0 break can
scupper you. 1) is 100%, pro-
vided you start by cashing the
ace or king. Then you can pick
up J-8-7-2 on either side. On
2), if North has J-10-8-7 there
is nothing you can do, but if
South has them all, you need to
start by cashing the queen. On
3), you need a 2-2 break if you
are going to avoid any loser,
but if you can afford one loser,
remember to cater for South
having them all. Start by play-
ing low to the nine.
It’s not just a suit combination
you need to look out for. Some-
times it’s the way you should
look at a whole hand:
West East
♠ A 6 5 4 ♠ 9 8 7 2
♥ A K 8 7 4 2 ♥ Q J 3
♦ 7 ♦ A 10 6 3 2
♣ A 5 ♣ 6
You find yourself in the excel-
lent contract of 4♠ on the ♦K
lead. If trumps are 3-2 there is
obviously no problem, but what
if trumps are 4-1? Maybe you
should duck a trump and then
cash the ace. But that could get
awkward on some 4-1 breaks
(an opponent may be able to
ruff a heart and cash a minor-
suit winner before you can get
them away). The sure fire way
to success on anything but a
5-0 trump break (when you
will surely always go down) is
simply to win the opening lead,
cash the ace of trumps and then
set about your hearts. Just let
the opponents make their three
trump tricks whenever they like.
You may have dropped a trick
when trumps are 3-2, but when
they are 4-1 you have guaran-
teed your contract. ■
air conditioners, drip-dry clothes . . . and before man
walked on the moon.
We got married first and then lived together (how
quaint can you be?). We thought ‘fast food’ was
what you ate in Lent, a ‘Big Mac’ was an oversized
raincoat and ‘crumpet’ we had for tea. We existed
before house husbands, computer dating and sheltered
accommodation was where you waited for a bus.
We were before day care centres, group homes and
disposable nappies. We never heard of FM radio,
tape decks, artificial hearts, word processors, or
young men wearing earrings. For us ‘time sharing’
meant togetherness, a ‘chip’ was a piece of wood or
fried potato, ‘hard­ware’ meant nuts and bolts and
‘software’ wasn’t a word.
Before 1940 ‘Made in Japan’ meant junk, the term
‘making out’ referred to how you did in your exams,
‘stud’ was something that fastened a collar to a shirt
and ‘going all the way’ meant staying on a double-
decker bus to the terminus. In our day, cigarette
smoking was ‘fashionable’, ‘grass’ was mown, ‘coke’
was kept in the coalhouse, a ‘joint’ was a piece of
meat you ate on Sundays and ‘pot’ was something you
cooked in. ‘Rock Music’ was a fond mother’s lullaby,
‘Eldorado’ was an ice-cream, a ‘gay person’ was the
life and soul of the party, while ‘aids’ just meant
beauty treatment or help for someone in trouble.

Travel tip from Emma Thomson: We who were born before 1940 must be a hardy bunch
when you think of the way in which the world has

O
ccasionally, things go wrong on holiday. If you find
reality doesn’t live up to the dream, what can you do? changed and the adjustments we have had to make.
First, ask key questions before making your booking to No wonder there is a generation gap today . . . BUT
minimise the risk of being disappointed. Secondly, don’t stew on
it: if you booked a double room and are allocated a twin-bed
room, say something to your rep or group tour leader, quietly
By the grace of God . . .
and politely. Don’t lose your temper: a worried smile gets a better we have survived!
response. Thirdly, the hotel or tour operator is legally contracted
to deliver what appears in the brochure and if it falls short you’re
perfectly within your legal rights to insist on the situation being Printed in the UK on a 100% cotton tea-towel
rectified.
£7 from Art Screen Prints. ( 01287 637527

Page 39
 Denham Bernard Magee’s Tips
Grove for Better Bridge
Denham,
Bucks, UB9 5DG 65 invaluable tips in 160 pages
Bidding Tips
1 Always consider bidding
spades if you can
2 Bid more aggressively
when non-vulnerable
3 Always double when the
opponents steal your deal
25-27 October – £215 4 A takeout double shows
Finding Slams – Sandy Bell shortage in the suit doubled
5 ‘Borrow’ a king
10-13 Jan 2014 – £299
to keep the auction open
Filming Weekend 6 After a penalty double,
Bernard Magee don’t let the opponents escape
7 Halve the value of a singleton
7-9 February 2014 – £199 honour when opening
Just Duplicate Bridge 8 Only add length-points for a
suit that might be useful
28-30 March 2014 – £199
9 Isolated honours are bad
Just Duplicate Bridge except in partner’s suit
10 Use the jump shift sparingly
4-6 April 2014 – £169
11 Consider passing and letting
Rubber / Chicago
partner decide
Diana Holland 12 You need two top honours
for a second-seat pre-empt
Full Board 13 Put the brakes on if you have a
misfit
No Single Supplement
14 Strong and long minors work
Booking Form on page 8. well in no-trumps
15 One stop in the opponents’ suit
can be enough for no-trumps
16 Keep your two-level
responses up to strength
17 Use your normal methods in
RUBBER / response to a 1NT overcall
18 Don’t overcall just because
CHICAGO you have opening points
19 Overcalls can be quite weak,
EVENTS so be prudent when responding
20 Weak overcalls must be based
on strong suits
21 6NT requires 33 points
Chatsworth Hotel not 4 aces and 4 kings
Worthing BN11 3DU 22 Raise immediately, if weak
7-9 February 2014 with four-card support
23 In a competitive auction,
with Sheila Rogers
show support immediately
24 Bid to the level of your fit
quickly with weak hands
Denham Grove 25 With strength and support,
use the opponents’ bid suit
Bucks UB9 5DG
4-6 April 2014
Declarer-play Tips
with Diana Holland
26 When your contract depends
on a finesse, think ‘endplay’
27 Consider what a defender
The Olde Barn might be thinking about
Marston, 28 Always take your time
at trick one
Lincs NG32 2HT 29 Establish extra tricks before
29-31 August 2014 cashing your winners
with Diana Holland 30 Use your opponents’
bidding to your advantage
31 Avoid the ‘baddie’
gaining the lead
£169 Full Board 32 Use the Rule of Seven when
No Single Supplement holding up in no-trumps
Booking Form on page 8. £14 including postage and packing from Mr Bridge,
Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. ( 01483 489961
Page 40
The Olde
Barn
Hotel
Marston,
Lincs NG32 2HT
33 A low lead usually promises
length and an honour
34 When declaring 1NT, 1-3 November £169
try to be patient Just Duplicate Bridge
35 Duck an early round when
8-10 November £245
you are short of entries
36 Lead up to your Bernard Magee NEW
TOPIC
two-honour holding Better Leads & Switches
37 Do not always assume 22-24 November £169
a suit will break well
Just Duplicate Bridge
38 Drop a high card
to put off the defence 17-19 January 2014 £169
39 Play your highest card to tempt Just Duplicate Bridge
a defender to cover
40 Draw trumps first unless you
21-23 February £179
have a good reason not to Stayman & Transfers
41 Do not waste your trumps 14-16 March £169
42 Consider leaving a lone defen- Just Duplicate Bridge
sive trump winner out
25-27 April £179
Defence Tips
Will Parsons
43 Keep four-card suits intact
Further into the Auction
whenever possible
44 Give count on declarer’s leads 9-11 May £179
45 Keep the right cards Gwen Beattie – Overcalls
rather than signal 16-18 May £169
46 Take your time
when dummy is put down Just Duplicate Bridge
47 High cards are for killing 6-8 June £245
other high cards Bernard Magee NEW
TOPIC
48 Do not waste Bidding
intermediate cards
49 Pick two key suits to
Distributional Hands
concentrate on during the play
50 If in doubt, cover an honour
13-15 June £169
Just Duplicate Bridge
with an honour
51 If a lead is from two honours, it 20-22 June £245
Bernard Magee
is best not to cover
52 Keep your honour to kill Finding Slams
dummy’s honour
27-29 June £169
53 Try to show partner your
solid honour sequences Just Duplicate Bridge
54 Lead the normal card when 11-13 July £169
leading partner’s suit Just Duplicate Bridge
55 Never underlead an ace at trick
one in a suit contract 1-3 August £169
56 Be wary of leading from Just Duplicate Bridge
four cards to only one honour 29-31 August £169
57 Lead a higher card from
Diana Holland
a suit without an honour
Rubber / Chicago
58 Lead through ‘beatable’
strength and up to weakness 12-14 September £169
59 Cash your winners before try- Just Duplicate Bridge
ing for a trump promotion
60 Be patient when defending 26-28 September £179
1NT Stan Powell
61 Trump leads can be safe Declarer Play
throughout the play
10-12 October £245
General Tips Bernard Magee
62 Do not put important cards Endplay & Avoidance
at either end of your hand
63 Avoid being declarer when
14-16 November £179
you are dummy Will Parsons – Doubles
64 Before you lead, ask for a
review of the auction Full Board
65 Enjoy the Game!
No Single Supplement
Booking Form on page 8.
 Answers to David Huggett’s 
Play Quiz on page 18
Win the second diamond and play a remaining big honour. Note that East is
1. ♠ K 9 6 5 heart to dummy. Now lead a low club twice as likely to have the king and ten or
♥ K 3 2 and play the ace if East follows low. Re- the queen and ten, rather than the king
♦ K 8 7 turn to dummy and play another club. and queen.
♣ 8 6 4 Now if East plays the queen, allow this
♠ Q 8 3 ♠ 7 card to win. If West follows, there are
N
♥ J 6 4 ♥ A Q 10 9 enough tricks for the contract, even if
W E
♦ 9 4 S ♦ 6 5 3 2 East has another diamond, for then all 4. ♠ 7 4
♣ K Q J 7 3 ♣ 10 9 5 2 you are losing are three diamonds and a ♥ A 7 5
♠ A J 10 4 2 club. It was important to lead clubs from ♦ K 10 8 3 2
♥ 8 7 5 dummy, else an alert East might unblock ♣ K Q 5
♦ A Q J 10 the queen under the ace. It was also im- ♠ A J 10 9 8 ♠ 5 3 2
N
♣ A portant to win the second diamond, oth- ♥ K J 3 W E ♥ Q 10 9
erwise East might discard the queen of ♦ 4 S ♦ J 7 6 5
clubs on a third round. ♣ 10 8 6 4 ♣ 7 3 2
You are declarer in 4♠ and West leads Of course, if East does not produce ♠ K Q 6
the ♣K. How do you plan the play? the queen of clubs on the second round, ♥ 8 6 4 2
you have to win the king, clear the suit, ♦ A Q 9
You can afford to lose a trump trick and hope that East has the three card ♣ A J 9
but not to West who might fire a heart holding.
through dummy when you are in danger
of losing three tricks in that suit. You are declarer in 3NT and West leads
Instead, play the ace of trumps at trick the ♠J. East follows with the ♠2. How do
two and then lead the jack, ducking if 3. ♠ A 8 5 you plan the play?
West plays low. ♥ 7 6 5
Even if it loses to a now singleton ♦ K 2 As long as you keep East off the lead you
queen in the East hand, you will be able ♣ 8 7 5 4 3 will succeed in this contract if you make
to discard a heart from dummy on the ♠ Q J 10 7 ♠ K 9 4 3 2 one spade, one heart, four diamonds and
N
fourth round of diamonds and lose just ♥ Q 8 4 3 ♥ K 10 2 three clubs. This means that you mustn’t
W E
two hearts and a trump. ♦ 3 S ♦ 9 8 4 play diamonds from the top. If you do
♣ J 9 6 2 ♣ Q 10 that and East has the suit guarded, he
♠ 6 can play a spade through your remaining
♥ A J 9 holding when he gets the lead. Instead
2. ♠ A 4 3 2 ♦ A Q J 10 7 6 5 win the first trick, cash the diamond ace
♥ A Q 4 ♣ A K if you want, but then enter dummy with a
♦ 6 5 2 club to lead a diamond to the nine. If it
♣ 7 5 4 wins you will have ten tricks, but even if it
♠ J 8 ♠ Q 10 9 7 6 You are declarer in 6♦ and West leads loses you will still have nine. ■
N
♥ 10 8 6 ♥ J 5 3 2 the ♠Q. How do you plan the play?
W E
♦ K Q J 9 8 S ♦ 10 4
♣ J 10 6 ♣ Q 9 This isn’t a great contract and will need BEGIN BRIDGE
♠ K 5 a little bit of luck to succeed, but you
♥ K 9 7 will have to be alert and not squander ACOL 
£66


♦ A 7 3
♣ A K 8 3 2
that ace of spades entry in dummy. So
win the first trick and play a heart to the
VERSION
nine. On a good day it will lose to the
king or queen, but now you can win any An Interactive Tutorial
You are declarer in 3NT and West leads return, play two rounds of trumps ending CD with Bernard Magee
the ♦K. East follows with the ♦10. If you in dummy in order to lead another heart.
duck, West will continue diamonds. How If East follows with a low card, you play See Mail Order form on page 7.
do you plan the play? the jack hoping that it is East who has the

Page 41
 G L O B A L 
T R A V E L  I N S U R A N C E
T h e T u r r e t , 2 5 F a r n c o m b e R o a d , W o r t h i n g , BN 1 1 2 A Y .
( 01903 235042 Fax 01903 229389 Email info@globaltravelinsurance.co.uk Website www.globaltravelinsurance.co.uk
SINGLE TRIP SUMMARY OF COVER
The following represent the Significant and Key Features of the policy including Exclusions and Limitations that
apply per person. A full copy of the policy document is available on request.
CANCELLATION OR CURTAILMENT up to £1,500
If you have to cancel or cut short your trip due to illness, injury, redundancy, jury
service, the police requiring you to remain at or return to your home due to serious
damage to your home, you are covered against loss of travel and accommodation costs.
Policy Excess £75.
For persons aged 61 to 70 years the excess is increased to £100.
For persons aged 71 to 90 years the excess is increased to £150.
See section headed Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions for increased
excesses applicable to claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions.
PERSONAL ACCIDENT up to £15,000
A cash sum for accidental injury resulting in death, loss of sight, loss of limb or permanent total
disablement. No Policy Excess.
MEDICAL AND OTHER EXPENSES up to £10,000,000
Including a 24 HOUR WORLDWIDE MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICE
The cost of hospital and other emergency medical expenses incurred abroad, including additional
accommodation and repatriation expenses.
Limit £250 for emergency dental treatment and £5,000 burial/cremation/transfer of remains.
Limit £2,500 for transfer of remains to your home if you die in the UK.
Policy Excess £75 Areas 1, 2 & 3, £150 Area 4 or on a Cruise.
For persons aged 61 to 70 years the excess is increased to £150 Areas 1, 2 & 3, £500 Area
4 or on a Cruise.
For persons aged 71 to 90 years the excess is increased to £300 Areas 1, 2 & 3, £1,000 Area
4 or on a Cruise.
See section headed Increased Excess for Pre Existing Medical Conditions for increased
excesses applicable to claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions.
HOSPITAL BENEFIT up to £300
An additional benefit of £15 per day for each day you spend in hospital abroad as an in-patient.
No Policy Excess.
MAIN EXCLUSIONS AND CONDITIONS
The following represents only the main exclusions. The policy document sets out all of the
conditions and exclusions. A copy of the full policy wording is available on request in writing prior
to application.
MAIN HEALTH EXCLUSIONS
Insurers will not pay for claims arising
1. Where You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends) have or have had symptoms
which are awaiting or receiving investigation, tests, treatment, referral or the results of any of
the foregoing, unless We have agreed in writing to cover You.
2. From any terminal illness suffered by You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends).
3. From any medical condition for which You (or any person upon whose health the Trip depends)
have within 12 months prior to the date of issue of this insurance been diagnosed with a medical
condition or have been admitted or undergone a procedure/ intervention.
4. Medical conditions existing prior to the payment of the insurance premium or any consequence
thereof in respect of which a Medical Practitioner would advise against travel or that treatment
may be required during the duration of the Trip.
OTHER GENERAL EXCLUSIONS
Claims arising from
1. Winter sports, any hazardous pursuits, any work of a non sedentary nature.
2. Self inflicted injury or illness, suicide, alcoholism or drug abuse, sexual disease.
3. War, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities or warlike operations, civil war, rebellion,
Terrorism, revolution, insurrection, civil commotion, military or usurped power but this
exclusion shall not apply to losses under Section 3 – Medical Expenses unless such
losses are caused by nuclear, chemical or biological attack, or the disturbances were already
taking place at the beginning of any Trip.
4. Failure or fear of failure or inability of any equipment or any computer program.
5. Bankruptcy/liquidation of any tour operator, travel agent, airline, transportation company or
accommodation supplier.
6. Travelling to countries or regions where the FCO or WHO has advised against travel.
7. Your failure to contact the Medical Screening Line where required.
POLICY EXCESSES:
The amount of each claim for which insurers will not pay and for which you are responsible. The
excess as noted in the policy summary applies to each and every claim per insured person under
each section where an excess applies.
PERSONAL LUGGAGE, MONEY & VALUABLES up to £2,000
Covers accidental loss, theft or damage to your personal luggage subject to a limit of £200 for any
one article, pair or set and an overall limit of £200 for valuables such as cameras, Jewellery, furs,
etc. Luggage and valuables limited to £1500. Delayed luggage, up to £75. Policy Excess £50.
Money, travel tickets and travellers cheques are covered up to £500 against accidental loss or theft
(cash limit £250). Policy Excess £50.
No cover is provided for loss or theft of unattended property, valuables or money or for loss or theft
not reported to the Police within 24 hours of discovery.
PASSPORT EXPENSES up to £200
If you lose your passport or it is stolen whilst abroad, you are covered for additional travel and
accommodation costs incurred in obtaining a replacement. No Policy Excess.
DELAYED DEPARTURE up to £1,500
If your outward or return trip is delayed for more than 12 hours at the final departure point to/from
UK due to adverse weather conditions, mechanical breakdown or industrial action, you are entitled
to either (a) £20 for the first 12 hours and £10 for each further 12 hours delay up to a maximum
of £60, or (b) the cost of the trip (up to £1,500) if you elect to cancel after 12 hours delay on the
outward trip from the UK. Policy Excess £50 (b) only.
MISSED DEPARTURE up to £500
Additional travel and accommodation expenses incurred to enable you to reach your overseas
destination if you arrive too late at your final UK outward departure point due to failure of the
vehicle in which you are travelling to deliver you to the departure point caused by adverse weather,
strike, industrial action, mechanical breakdown or accident to the vehicle. No Policy Excess.
PERSONAL LIABILITY up to £2,000,000
Covers your legal liability for injury or damage to other people or their property, including legal
expenses (subject to the laws of England and Wales). Policy Excess £250.
LEGAL EXPENSES up to £25,000
To enable you to pursue your rights against a third party following injury. No Policy Excess.
Pre Existing Medical Conditions
You only need to undergo medical screening if You are travelling to Area 4, on a Cruise,
or for a period in excess of 31 days. For all other Trips there is no need to advise us of
your pre existing medical conditions.
If you have a history of any medical condition and are travelling within Area 4 or on a Cruise,
you must first contact Towergate Medical Screening Line to establish whether we can provide
cover for your trip.
The number to call is: 0844 892 1698
If you are accepted, the level of excess stated below will apply. You will receive written
confirmation that you are covered for the trip. In the event that you are not accepted for cover
having been screened, we may be able to offer you cover under our Single Trip “PLUS”
product. Please ask us for further details or go to our website.
INCREASED EXCESS FOR Pre Existing
Medical Conditions
Acceptance of pre existing medical conditions is made by the application of increased
excesses in the event of claims arising from the pre existing condition.
If You already suffer from or have a history of any medical condition, the following excess will
apply (other than in respect of claims that are specifically excluded) :
Under the Cancellation or Curtailment section – double the normal excess.
Under the Medical & Other Expenses section –
For persons aged 60 years or less the excess is increased to £500 Areas 1&2, £750 Area 3,
£1,000 Area 4 or on a Cruise.
For persons aged 61 to 90 years the excess is increased to £1,000 Areas 1&2, £1,500 Area
3, £2,000 Area 4 or on a Cruise.
Please note that we consider a Cruise to be a Trip by sea in a liner calling at a number of ports.
This insurance is arranged by Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd

✄
who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
and our status can be checked on the FCA Register by visiting
www.fca.org.uk or by contacting the FCA on 0845 606 9966. This
Single Trip Travel Insurance
Insurance is underwritten by ETI – International Travel Protection, the Suitable for a single round trip starting and finishing in the UK
United Kingdom branch of Europäische Reiseversicherung (ERV) A.G.. and Channel Islands, is of no more than 94 days duration,
ERV is authorised by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht for persons whose age is 90 years or less.
(BAFIN – www.bafin.de) and the Prudential Regulation Authority and
subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Global Travel Insurance
Prudential Regulation Authority. The Turret, 25 Farncombe Road, Worthing, BN11 2AY.
( 01903 235042 Fax 01903 229389

SINGLE TRIP INSURANCE PRODUCT SUITABILITY SINGLE TRIP APPLICATION FORM

Please FULLY complete the following in BLOCK CAPITALS. Once complete,

As this description contains the Key Features of the cover provided it
constitutes provision of a statement of demands and needs.
This insurance is suitable for a single round trip starting and finishing
in the UK and Channel Islands, is of no more than 94 days duration, for
persons whose age is 90 years or less.
This insurance is only available to persons who are permanently
resident and domiciled in the UK and Channel Islands.
return the application panel direct to Global Travel Insurance at the address
above, with a cheque or with card details entered. Insurance is not effective
until a Policy has been issued.
Title (Mr/Mrs/Miss) Initials
Surname

Telephone No.
Single Trip PREMIUM RATING SCHEDULE
House Number/Name
GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS
1. United Kingdom – England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Street Name
Isle of Man, including all islands comprising the British Isles (except the
Channel Islands and the Republic of Ireland). Any British Isles or UK Town Name
Cruises are rated as Area 2.
2. Europe – Continental Europe west of the Ural mountain range, Postcode
all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea (except, Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon, Libya & Syria), the Channel Islands and the Republic Date of leaving Home
of Ireland, Iceland, Madeira, The Canaries and The Azores. (Persons
residing in the Channel Islands need to pay Area 2 rates for UK trips). Date of arrival Home
3. Worldwide – All countries outside of the above (except those within
Area 4). Screening Ref
4. North America, Central America & The Caribbean – Bahamas,
Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Greenland, Introducer Mr Bridge
Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, The Caribbean
Islands, United States of America. Geographical Area – See Premium Panel
(1,2,3 or 4)
SCHEDULE OF PREMIUMS
Names of all persons to be insured Age Premium
The following Premiums are valid for policies issued up to 31/3/2014
and for travel completed by 31/12/2014. Maximum age is 90 1 £
years. For periods in excess of 31 days please call for a quotation.
Maximum period of insurance is 94 days. All premiums include the 2 £
Government Insurance Premium Tax (IPT).
3 £
Geographical Areas
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
4 £

Persons Aged up to 80 Years 5 £

1 – 3 days £16.10 £24.70 £51.80 £74.50
4 & 5 days £19.40 £31.10 £65.10 £93.80
6 £

6 -10 days £22.60 £41.90 £88.20 £126.30
11-17 days £25.80 £45.90 £98.10 £141.30
18-24 days £29.00 £52.70 £110.40 £159.10
25-31 days £32.30 £60.00 £125.70 £181.00
Persons Aged 81 to 90 Years
1 – 3 days £24.15 £37.05 £103.60 £149.00
4 & 5 days £29.10 £46.65 £130.20 £187.60
6 -10 days £33.90 £62.85 £176.40 £252.60
11-17 days £38.70 £68.85 £196.20 £282.60
18-24 days £43.50 £79.05 £220.80 £318.20
25-31 days £48.45 £90.00 £251.40 £362.00
PREMIUM ADJUSTMENTS
All age adjustments apply to the age on the date of return to the UK
Infants up to 2 years inclusive are FREE subject to being included with an
adult paying a full premium.
Children 3 to 16 years inclusive are HALF PRICE subject to being included
with an adult paying a full premium. Unaccompanied children pay the adult rate.
✄
Credit/Debit Card Details TOTAL PREMIUM £
Card No
Start Date End Date Issue No
Security Code
DECLARATION
On behalf of all persons listed in this application, I agree that this application shall
be the basis of the Contract of Insurance. I agree that Insurers may exchange
information with other Insurers or their agents. I have read and understood
the terms and conditions of the insurance, with which all persons above are in
agreement and for whom I am authorised to sign.
Signed........................................................... Date...................................
The form MUST be signed by one of the persons to be insured on behalf of all persons to be insured.
Mr Bridge is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Global Travel Insurance
Services Ltd, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

429STI13
 Seven Days
by Sally Brock
Things have been a bit quiet recently. We won our quarter-final match in the NICKO (National Inter-Club Knock Out) – actually
we won surprisingly easily, but now have to face a Young Chelsea team in the semi-final.
Then there was the last Young Chelsea duplicate ever at the Barkston Gardens venue. A record turn-out of 30 tables turned out
for this momentous and rather sad occasion. The club is moving to temporary new premises at Queen’s Tennis Club.
I spent a large part of this period preparing for a party I held on the last Saturday of July. It was partly a 60th birthday (six
weeks or so too late) and partly because if I ever manage to sell this house and move somewhere smaller I won’t have room for a
big party. The plan was a sit-down dinner for 36 people, which I can just about squeeze in. It was tricky organising a meal for so
many, especially as I went for the Full Monty and we had four courses. It went extremely well, largely thanks to the help of my
children and their friend Sam, who dealt magnificently with finishing off the cooking and serving food and wine.
On the Sunday, after all the clearing up, I took Briony to Gatwick as she was off to Zante with some friends for a week. She did
not really enjoy her previous holiday to Gran Canaria, so I really hope this one is better; but it’s going to make for a quiet week
for me.

Monday
I get up slowly and head off for the
gym. Much too much food and drink
over the weekend and now I have to
keep on eating to deal with all the
leftovers. There’s not a great deal of
work on now so I spend the day sorting
through old e-mails, dealing with
some outstanding financial matters
and generally tidying things up.
In the evening, it’s leftover fish pie
and lots of TV – in the almost unheard
of position of being able to choose
whatever I like.
Tuesday
I always have the fond hope that I
will sleep in late when I want to, but
it never happens. Wide awake at 7.30,
it’s nice to be able to read my book for
a while. Then it’s time to do something
constructive like working my way
through a number of e-mails. Then
off to visit my parents in Wiltshire.
Toby comes with me this time, which
is nice, but he sleeps in the back all the
way there. After a good lunch in a lo-
cal pub, we drive back and this time
he sits in the front and talks to me. I
can never make up my mind whether I
should be worrying about him or not.
Then there’s a quick visit to the super-
market for supplies as I’m off tomor-
row and he’ll be on his own.
After yet another fish pie meal (I’m
going to have to go away to escape it),
I go out to New Amersham for the
annual pivot teams championship. We
have a good team: me, Simon Cope,
Richard Bowdery and Steve Root, but
we have a terrible evening. The boards
are fairly boring and nothing goes
right. I’m not sure we even finished
average.
Wednesday
Off to the gym – my last visit for a little
while. At lunchtime, I go to see my
friend Sonya who lives in a retirement
village in Denham. Now 91 and going
strong – still healthy and full of lots
of stories – she used to be the star of
the Irish women’s team in the sixties
and seventies. We just overlapped.
I remember playing against her in
the Teams Olympiad in Valkenburg
in 1980. In those days there were
no uniforms for the teams and after
dinner we dressed up in long dresses.
That evening, Nicola came to see me
as I was changing and was horrified
that I was intending to face the Irish
wearing a green dress. She made me
change. For the first half of the match,
Sandra and I were terrible, but for
some reason the captain (Raymond
Brock, a full ten years before we were
romantically involved) persevered
with us in the second half, when we
could do no wrong. Nicola told me
that the effect of wearing green took a
while to wear off.
After a lovely lunch, I go home to
pack and catch the train into London
to Barry’s. He’s working on the south
coast this week so he gets to the flat
at more or less the same time as I do.
This evening he has to plan his speech
for tomorrow. So I go out to the new
Young Chelsea Bridge Club to play
with Margaret.
The new YC is at Queen’s Tennis
Club. It is easy to get to and seems
a very pleasant venue. We play in a
room big enough for 15 tables which
has a bar/coffee station in the corner.
There is also another decent sized
room which can be used for matches
and/or teaching. We are there in a
temporary capacity until September,
but are hoping it will prove to be a
good arrangement all round and will
be continued.
Margaret and I have fun and don’t
play too badly, eventually finishing
third. This deal works well for

Page 44
 Seven Days continued
my latest new idea in opening leads:
Dealer West. Love All.
♠ A J 9 8 7
♥ A 9 3
♦ 7 5
♣ A K 4
♠ Q 10 5 4 ♠ K 6 3 2
N
♥ Q J 5
W E
♥ K 6
♦ 4 3 2 S ♦ A 10 8 6
♣ Q 7 2 ♣ 9 5 3
♠ Void
♥ 10 8 7 4 2
♦ K Q J 9
♣ J 10 8 6
West North East South
Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT
Pass 2NT All Pass
North-South were playing standard
Acol with a weak no-trump, so there
was no particular reason for North
to have a five-card spade suit. I have
spent so long making a terrible lead in
this type of situation, always seeming
to end up choosing declarer’s best suit,
that I have now decided that if my best
suit is one bid by an opponent, as long
as he hasn’t promised five or more
cards in it, I will lead it anyway.
So here I lead a spade, which goes to
the seven and king. Margaret switches
to a diamond won by declarer who
plays the jack of clubs. It is an error
on my part to cover this, but I do
and declarer wins and plays another
diamond to his jack. He now ducks
a heart to East who continues with a
club. Declarer’s communications are
a problem now. In practice he cashes
his clubs, goes back to the ace of hearts
and cashes the ace of spades before
exiting with a heart. I win and cash
the queen of spades, and Margaret’s
ace of diamonds is our fifth defensive
trick. Holding declarer to eight
tricks is worth 19 matchpoints out
of 20. Although nothing very special
happened on the hand, leading one
of declarer’s suits could easily have
turned out much worse.
After the bridge, we go back to
Shepherds Bush and have an excellent
curry at a local Indian restaurant.
Thursday
Barry is up and out at 7.15 and the best
I can do is keep out of his way. But
when he has gone I get up and settle
down to some work – the final proofs
of the Azores have arrived (actually
‘final’ is something of a misnomer as
there will be at least another couple
of sets yet; here ‘final’ means final set
where we expect a significant amount
of work – it’s time to put the maps in,
do all the cross-references and set the
index). I work until lunchtime and
then go for a walk up the road to get
some fish for supper.
In the afternoon I have a teaching
session with Richard and Gerry.
Because Barry is working, I am playing
with a robot and it is hard to put up
with it doing such strange things. But
for once the robot and I seem to be
winning. On the final board I am in
two hearts doubled:
Dealer West. N/S Vul.
♠ K Q 6 5
♥ A Q 10 8 5 3
♦ 6
♣ 3 2
♠ 9 7 2 ♠ A J 8 4 3
N
♥ K 2
W E
♥ J 7
♦ A K J S ♦ 10 7 5 3
♣ J 9 8 6 4 ♣ A 7
♠ 10
♥ 9 6 4
♦ Q 9 8 4 2
♣ K Q 10 5
West North East South
1NT 2♦ Dbl 2♥
Pass Pass Dbl All Pass
West’s 1NT opening is weak and the
robot bids two diamonds. When you
are playing with a robot, you can click
on his bid and it tells you what it means
(though it’s surprising how often he
doesn’t have it). Here he shows the
majors. I am happy to give preference
to hearts (and happy to be declarer).
This rather wrong foots Richard and
Gerry and they are unsure whether
their double is penalty or take-out or
Page 45
even just balanced values.
I’m not sure I would have even
shown both majors with the robot’s
hand (it’s usually better to bid a six-
card suit directly), but I am happy
with my final resting place.
West starts with a top diamond
and switches to a club to the ace
and a second club. I play a spade to
the king and ace and East returns a
diamond. I now know all I need to
know. I am pretty sure East would
not have doubled with a singleton
trump, so I know trumps are 2-2 with
the king onside. I also know from the
carding in clubs that clubs are 5-2. I
am about to cash the queen of spades,
ruff a spade, finesse in trumps, draw
the rest and make an overtrick and
score an all-too-rare victory with the
robot, when suddenly I lose my BBO
connection. Well, it is after five o’clock
(finishing time) and I haven’t set up
the table to stop other players coming.
It seems too much trouble to get rid
of them all just to finish this hand so
we agree to stop. But someone had the
bright idea of kibitzing the table to see
the outcome of the hand when other
players take over.
So the player who takes my place
ruffs the diamond in the dummy and
ruffs a low spade. He then ruffs a club
low and gets overruffed. East continues
with a spade which declarer ruffs.
Note that even now all he has to do is
draw trumps and make an overtrick,
but instead he ruffs a diamond in the
dummy and plays the queen of spades,
ruffed and overruffed. And now when
West plays a club, he ruffs low in the
dummy and is overruffed by the now-
singleton jack. One down. So although
I may have the moral victory, the paper
victory still eludes me.
Barry is home about six and we spend
a lazy evening eating the delicious sea
trout I bought earlier, snoozing and
watching TV.
Friday
Barry is off out early doing something
else this morning, so again I get up
slowly and start working on this
article. But he is home quite soon and
we have time for a quick coffee before
I go out for a lunch date with Debbie.
There’s a Greek place in Westfield
 Seven Days continued
that does a good range of mezze type
food. It’s good to catch up. There’s been
plenty happening in my life and she
and her family have been in the USA
for three weeks. Back in time for a cup
of tea and then it’s off to Gatwick …
We are going to Ireland for a week
– some bridge at the weekend and
then just driving around. All passes
off peacefully and we turn up at
our guesthouse in Galway just after
midnight. The key is where it should be
– under the lefthand flower pot – and
our room seems perfectly acceptable. a low spade. West is caught napping.
Saturday
We get up for an excellent cooked
breakfast and then wander into
Galway to have a look around. We
locate the bridge venue. There is a big
poker tournament, sponsored by an
internet poker site, Full Tilt Poker.
The first prize for that (the main event
actually being the following week)
is a million euros. The bridge is a
more modest affair but 54 pairs are
competing for a €5,000 prize, which
does make the standard EBU prizes
look a bit insignificant.
Our first session goes like a
dream. We can do no wrong and the
opponents can do no right. We end up
scoring just over 70%.
This is one of our better boards:
Dealer North. Love All.
♠ J 9 8 6
♥ K 9 5
♦ Q
♣ K Q 10 9 6
♠ Q 10 ♠ K 7 5
N
♥ Q 4 3 2
W E
♥ 10 8 6
♦ A K 10 6 2 S ♦ 9 8 3
♣ J 4 ♣ 8 7 5 3
♠ A 4 3 2
♥ A J 7
♦ J 7 5 4
♣ A 2
West North East South
Pass Pass 1♠
2♦ 4♠ All Pass
We play weak no-trump and five-card
majors in all except third seat when
it’s strong no-trump and four-card
majors. I’m not 100% convinced about
the general system, but I adore that
third-in-hand style. It means that you
don’t have to open with a weak no-
trump when you fear that fourth hand
may be sitting there ready to pounce.
It also allows you to open chunky (or
not-so chunky) four-card majors with
10 or 11 points without needing to find
a rebid.
Here we race into the game, then it
is a question of how to play it after a
top diamond lead and a heart switch.
Barry wins the jack of hearts and plays
If she had played the ten smoothly,
Barry would probably have run the
nine on the next round, playing her
for singleton ten. As it is she goes in
with the queen. On the next round
Barry runs the jack from the dummy,
pinning her ten to make eleven tricks
for a 96% score.
We grab some food in the break and
then are ready for the second session.
It is not so good this time, but still over
60%. So we have a fairly significant
lead over the field. I enjoy this slam:
Dealer East. Love All.
♠ K Q J 9 4 2
♥ Q
♦ A 9 6 4
♣ A 4
♠ 10 8 7 ♠ 6 3
N
♥ 8 5 2
W E
♥ A 10 9 7 6 3
♦ Q J 5 2 S ♦ K 10 7
♣ 8 7 3 ♣ 10 2
♠ A 5
♥ K J 4
♦ 8 3
♣ K Q J 9 6 5
West North East South
2♦ 3♣
Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT
Pass 4♣ Pass 4♠
Pass 5♦ Pass 6♣
Pass 6♠ Pass 6NT
All Pass
East’s two diamonds is a Multi, and
the three club overcall is natural. The
main thing in this sort of situation is
Page 46
not to panic. Three spades is forcing
here (when in doubt a new suit at the
three level is always forcing) and is
clearly the right bid. Over three no-
trumps I am too good to pass. It seems
right to show the delayed support for
clubs and South gives preference to
spades. I could use RKCB now, but I
can see potential problems in the play
if he doesn’t have the ace of spades
and they knock out the heart entry
immediately. Say he has:
♠ x x
♥ A K x
♦ Q x
♣ K J x x x x
Anyway, over five diamonds he tries
six clubs. I spend a while trying to
work out which black suit will play
better, but in the end it is a bit beyond
me and I just opt for the higher-scoring
contract. Barry now knows that I must
have solid spades and the minor-suit
aces and so can count twelve tricks in
no-trumps. We are on to an excellent
score for this anyway, but score all
the matchpoints when West finds the
rather curious opening lead of a club
so Barry takes all the tricks.
Sunday
After another enormous breakfast
we stroll around town, enjoying the
lively atmosphere. The bridge is so-so,
about 55%, but even so, that means
that our nearest rivals need to score
62% to overtake us. Unfortunately,
Jason Hackett and Alex Hydes have a
67% session and annihilate our lead.
We would have had to do better on
more than one of our poor boards to
reverse things. Although it is disap-
pointing, we are philosophical. Our
second prize is €2,000 which will pay
for the holiday. After the bridge there
is a prize-giving and we have a drink
or two before heading off for dinner.
Tomorrow we spend driving around
Connemara, before taking a couple
of days to drive up to north Donegal
to visit a friend, then taking another
couple of days to get back to Shannon
for our flight home. And it hardly
rained at all. ■
 Answers to Stayman Quiz on page 35
1 What would you bid with Hands A, B,
C and D if your partner opens 1NT?
If you use Stayman, consider your
continuations after all possible replies.
Hand A Hand B
♠ 8 ♠ Q 8 7 6
♥ A 8 7 6 5 ♥ A 8 7 6 5
♦ Q 8 7 6 ♦ 8
♣ 9 3 2 ♣ 9 3 2
Hand A: You must sign off in 2♥. If
you play transfers, you bid 2♦ and pass
partner’s 2♥ reply. Stayman is out of the
question because you will be totally stuck
if the reply is an all too likely 2♠.
Hand B: You can safely use Stayman. If
partner rebids 2♠ or 2♥, you will pass. If
partner rebids 2♦, you will sign off in 2♥.
To understand the sequence 1NT-2♣-2♦-
2♥, imagine it with the two middle bids
removed: 1NT-2♥. A sign off.
Hand C Hand D
♠ 9 3 2 ♠ 3
♥ K 9 7 6 ♥ 6 2
♦ Q 9 8 6 3 ♦ J 7 6
♣ 7 ♣ A K Q 7 6 5 2
Hand C: You can bid 2♣ (Stayman). You
must then be prepared to pass whatever
partner rebids including 2♠. Of course, if
the response is 2♠, you will be in a 4-3
fit, but you can ruff losers in the hand
with only three trumps.
Hand D: 3NT. If there is a lead to beat it,
let them find it. Suggesting 5♣ is not re-
ally an option: you are simply not strong
enough to suggest 11 tricks. You cannot
use Stayman to try to discover whether
partner can cover your weaknesses as he
will assume you have a 4-card major.
2 You are West. The bidding starts:
West East
1NT 2♣
2♥ 2NT
? partner replies:
What is your next bid with Hands E, F, G
and H?
The first step is to understand the auc-
tion. Partner has a 4-card major, other-
wise he wouldn’t have used Stayman. If
he had 4 hearts, he would have raised
your 2♥ to 3♥ rather than continue 2NT,
therefore he has 4 spades. How strong
is he? Take away the 2♣ bid and the 2♥
response and you have: 1NT-2NT. 11-12
points. So what does he want you to do?
He wants you to decide to play in game
if you are maximum or a part-score if you
are minimum.
He wants to play in spades if you have
4 spades as well as 4 hearts. Otherwise
he wants to play in no-trumps.
Whatever you do will end the auction.
Therefore:
Hand E Hand F
♠ A J 7 6 ♠ A J 7 6
♥ K 7 5 4 ♥ K Q 7 4
♦ K 2 ♦ K 2
♣ J 10 3 ♣ J 10 3
Hand E: 3♠. You are minimum but you
have 4 spades.
Hand F: 4♠. Maximum with 4 spades.
Hand G Hand H
♠ A J 7 ♠ A J 7
♥ K 7 5 4 ♥ K Q 7 4
♦ K 4 2 ♦ K 4 2
♣ J 10 3 ♣ J 10 3
Hand G:
Pass. Minimum without 4 ♣ J 7 6 5 4 ♣ Void
spades.
Hand H: 3NT. Maximum without 4
spades.
3 You are playing 5-card major Stay-
man opposite a 2NT opening bid.
Your partner opens 2NT. What do you
bid with Hands J and K? If you use
Stayman, what do you plan to do if
Page 47
i) 3♦? ii) 3♥?
iii) 3♠? iv) 3NT?
Hand J Hand K
♠ K Q 7 6 ♠ K 7 5
♥ 8 4 3 ♥ 7
♦ 8 3 ♦ Q J 7 5 4
♣ 9 7 5 4 ♣ 8 4 3 2
Hand J: Bid 3♣.
If partner rebids 3♦, he has no 5-card
major but a 4-card major. Continue with
3♠ to show you have 4 spades but not
4 hearts. If he then bids 3NT you must
pass.
If partner rebids 3♥, raise to 4♥, play-
ing in the 5-3 fit.
If partner rebids 3♠, raise to 4♠, play-
ing in the 5-4 fit.
If partner rebids 3NT, he has no 5-card
or 4-card major. Pass.
Hand K: Bid 3♣ in case you have a 5-3
spade fit. If partner rebids 3♠, raise to
4♠, delighted to have found a 5-3 fit. If
he rebids 3♦ or 3♥, sign off in 3NT. If he
rebids 3NT, you must pass.
Note that you cannot sensibly suggest
a diamond contract below 3NT (particu-
larly if you are playing transfers) and you
certainly don’t want to bypass 3NT.
4 Your partner opens 1NT and the next
hand doubles. What do you bid with
Hands L and M?
Hand L Hand M
♠ 5 ♠ J 4 3 2
♥ 7 6 5 4 ♥ K 7 6 5
♦ K 6 5 ♦ J 9 8 7 6
Hand L: 2♣. This is a sign-off in clubs,
not Stayman after a double.
Hand M: 2♦. You would like to use Stay-
man, intending to pass partner’s rebid.
Of course, you would have done just
that without the double, but sadly after
the double, 2♣ is not Stayman. Your best
practical hope is to sign off in 2♦. ■
 Q PLUS 10
Really user-friendly bridge-playing software
FEATURES INCLUDE
l QPlus 11 sent when ready
l QPlus can be passed on to a friend
l Comprehensive manual
l Displays on HD and large screens
l Minibridge option
l 5,000 preplayed hands for teams
l 4,000 preplayed hands for match-point pairs
l Save match function
l Closed room – buttonto view other table
Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
( 01483 489961
BRIDGE
If undelivered or unwanted kindly return to
Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey, GU21 2TH
QPLUS TRADE-IN OFFER
Return any QPLUS CD and booklet with a
cheque for £43 and receive QPLUS 10 now
and QPLUS 11 at the end of October.
SYSTEM
Order with absolute confidence.
l 8mb RAM
l CD-ROM
l Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8
TUTORIAL TRADE-IN OFFER
£92
Send in any QPLUS software together with
a cheque for £46 and receive the Bernard
including post and packing Magee tutorial program of your choice.
This offer must end 30 November 2013.
www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop