BRIDGE

Number One Hundred and Thirty-Nine

Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz

You are West in the auctions below, playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no-trump (12-14 points) and 4-card majors.
July 2014

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

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

2. Dealer East. Love All. 5. Dealer North. N/S Game. 8. Dealer East. Love All. 11. Dealer North. N/S Game.
♠ A 6 5
♠ 5 4 ♠ A K Q 6 5 ♠ 8 6 5
♥ 9 5 2 N ♥ A K 6 3 N ♥ 7 4 2 N ♥ A 2 N
♦ A 4 3 W E ♦ 7 6 2 W E ♦ Q J 4 W E ♦ A 9 8 7 6 5 W E
S S S S
♣ Q 8 3 2 ♣ A 10 5 4 ♣ 3 2 ♣ 7 3

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

3. Dealer West. N/S Game. 6. Dealer West. Love All. 9. Dealer West. E/W Game. 12. Dealer North. Love All.

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South
1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 1♣ 1♠ 2♦ Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass 2♥* 2NT Pass
? ? 2♥ Pass 3♣ Pass ?
? *weak, 6-10 HCP and 6 hearts

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

 Join Mr & Mrs Bridge on an unforgettable voyage.
Thailand
Bangkok
Angkor Wat
Cambodia Vietnam
SINGLE Sihanoukville Ho Chi Minh City
Ko Samui
SUPPLEMENT Gulf of
£100* Thailand
Malaysia
Kuantan
Malacca
Singapore

15-day fly-cruise departs February 16, 2015

DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART
FEB 16 Depart UK
FEB 17 Arrive BANGKOK Thailand
Transfer to hotel overnight hotel
FEB 18 BANGKOK Thailand overnight hotel
FEB 19 BANGKOK Thailand
Embark Aegean Odyssey 8.00pm
FEB 20 At Sea
FEB 21 KO SAMUI Thailand 6.00am 1.00pm
FEB 22 SIHANOUKVILLE Cambodia 7.00am
(Phnom Penh) 8.00pm
FEB 23 At Sea
FEB 24 HO CHI MINH CITY Vietnam noon overnight
CRUISE TO FEB 25
FEB 26
HO CHI MINH CITY Vietnam
At Sea
2.00pm

THE JEWELS OF FEB 27

FEB 28
MAR 1
KUANTAN Malaysia
At Sea
MALACCA Malaysia
1.00pm 6.00pm

7.00am 6.00pm

SOUTHEAST ASIA MAR 2 SINGAPORE

Disembark and transfer to
Singapore Airport for flight home
7.00am

Departs February 16, 2015 fares from £2,795pp include:

• SCHEDULED ECONOMY CLASS FLIGHTS
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Sail with Mr & Mrs Bridge to the jewels of Thailand, •EXPERT GUEST SPEAKER PROGRAMME
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duplicates, seminars and afternoon bridge when • BRIDGE SEMINARS WHEN AT SEA
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ON 01483 489961 Join Mr & Mrs Bridge on a visit to

ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA
TO RESERVE YOUR Depart UK on the 13th and extend your
Bangkok stay with a 3-day excursion by air
CABIN, OR VISIT to Siem Reap in Cambodia to visit the
www.mrbridge.co.uk magnificent temple ruins at Angkor.
2 NIGHTS SIEM REAP/1 NIGHT BANGKOK
†All prices shown are per person, based on double occupancy, available only on certain cabin grades, Supplement including flights
are subject to availability at the time of booking and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.
*Single accommodation is available only in certain categories and is subject to availability.
Twin sharing £589pp/Single £695pp

V OYAGES TO A NTIQUITY
10093

ABTA No.Y2206
 FEATURES ADVERTISEMENTS

BRIDGE
Ryden Grange, Knaphill,
1 Bidding Quiz
by Bernard Magee
4 Mr Bridge
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with Voyages to Antiquity
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RUBBER /
CHICAGO
Surrey GU21 2TH 6 Bidding Quiz Answers
Bridge Events 2014
(1-3) by Bernard Magee 5 Subscriptions to BRIDGE
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Supplement
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Address Changes
( 01483 485342
All correspondence should be addressed to Mr Bridge.
Elizabeth Bryan
Please make sure that all letters and e-mails carry full Booking Form on page 8.
elizabeth@mrbridge.co.uk postal addresses and telephone numbers.

BRIDGE July 2014 Page 3

FEBRUARY VOYAGE
Now that Mrs Bridge has
thankfully made a full
recovery we feel able to
make some plans.
We thought of the comfort
of Aegean Odyssey and the
warmth of Thailand in
February and were soon
sold on the idea. We also
decided to include the
pre-cruise excursion to
Angkor Watt as the extra
cost seems good value. This
means we can visit the
Jewels of Cambodia,
Thailand and Vietnam,
before sailing down the
Malaysian Peninsula to
Singapore.
Make a provisional booking
and I will hold a cabin for
seven days while you look
into insurance, kennels,
cattery and other personal
matters. I suggest you do
this as previously many of
you have been really
disappointed. There is
an advertisement on the
inside front cover.
( 01483 489961.
MODERN MAN
New computers, new
operating software, new
telephone system, new
database management
software, new postage
machine. A lot of NEWS.
To help me cope with all
this, I have appointed
Bernard Magee as Associate
Editor with immediate
effect. The future of my
Page 4 BRIDGE July 2014
monthly magazine,
BRIDGE, will rest
increasingly on his broad
shoulders. In addition to
visiting all the extant
writers he will be pro-active
in seeking out new material
and fresh contributors.
Meanwhile, back at the
ranch, I will quietly
continue as managing
editor. The role is largely
devoid of technical bridge,
but I will keep you up to
speed with all my recent
initiatives. Including apps,
DVDs, interactive CDs and
hotels and ships new to us.
GET ONE FREE
2015 diaries are in stock
and those who have taken
advantage of my
introductory subscription
may order their 2015 diary
from stock and receive one
free. This offer is in place
until the end of July.
Standard diaries are £6.95.
They come in navy, red,
green or maroon. The
luxury version with soft
kidrell cover and ballpoint
pen is available in either
ruby red or navy blue.
£14.95. Those who have
ordered will find their
free diary included with
their own.
QPLUS HANDS
Last month all the strange
and wonderful hands that I
have drawn to reader’s
attention in the last 3 years
were listed. If you missed
this, send me an email and
I will forward you the list.
bridge@mrbridge.co.uk
TUNISIA ALL IN
From this coming
November, our policy is to
have bed, board, beverages
and bridge combined in an
all-inclusive package. I had
thought this would be
inappropriate for bridge
players as they wouldn’t
want to drink too much
and spoil their game
However, all-inclusive now
seems the norm in Tunisia.
See page 11 for our
November and March dates
and prices.
GOFFIES STAMPS
Following the recent rise
in postal charges, Clive
Goff’s discounted stamp
service is worth a try. Value
supplied in two stamps,
combined to make up the
53p, 2nd class rate 2nd class
to you at 44p. 1st class 62p,
still only 50p to you.
Available in lots of 100.
( 0208 422 4906.
CROATIA
Our first visit to Croatia
was a great success and we
are confidently preparing to
offer a fortnight at the same
venue at more or less the
same price in 2015. Indeed,
Bernard Magee’s report to
my office made very good
reading, so much so that I
was planning to print it on
the facing page but was
dissuaded from so doing as
it seemed really OTT.
However, I would be only
too pleased to send a copy
either by email or post.
Just ask.
REPEAT
When you go on holiday,
do try to resolve any
difficulties at the time
either with the airline or
hotel. It may sound
obvious, but all too often,
the first we hear of any
problems is when it is too
late to do anything about it.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
I have been collecting
subscriptions for over a
year now at the special £20
introductory rate. Readers
whose subscriptions have
expired may renew at the
same special rate.
MY EXPERTS SAY
Last month, Peter Green,
of Barnet, Herts, wrote in
with details of a hand the
like of which had never
before cropped-up in over
the fifty years he has being
playing bridge. See the
diagram below:
♠ A K x x x x x
♥ Void
♦ K Q x x x x
♣ Void
He said he’d like to know
what I would have done.
I said I’d ask Julian Pottage,
Bernard Magee and Sally
Brock for their suggestions
and promised to publish
their replies in the July
issue. Here’s what they
have to say.
Julian Pottage playing
strong two’s (he can just
about remember what they
are) would open 2♠.
Otherwise, he would open
1♠. The chance that the
bidding would go 1♠-pass
is extremely remote. Sally
Brock says that Peter
seemed to manage the hand
perfectly without any help
from her. She thinks he did
just the right thing. The
best way to get partner to
volunteer support for your
suit is to make a simple
one-level opening. Then,
when he does support,
bidding a slam is perfect.
Well done. The only foolish
person was his right-hand
opponent. Did she think
you didn’t know you had
those two aces missing?
Bernard Magee said 1♠.
JUNIOR TEACH-IN
22-24 August 2014 at
Loughborough University
run by English Bridge
Education and
Development. All levels
will be catered for – from
absolute beginners to junior
experts. Come and enjoy a
packed weekend of bridge
coaching, play and social
activities for all young
people under the age of 21.
Only £140 per student
inclusive of all meals,
two nights en suite
accommodation and all the
bridge tuition and play.
For more information or to
book please call Lisa on
( 01296 317217, email:
lisa@ebu.co.uk info at
http://www.ebu.co.uk/
youth.Junior-Teach-In
LOOKING AHEAD
Bernard Magee will be
hosting bridge on board
three quite different
Mediterranean cruises next
year on lovely Aegean
Odyssey. The supplement
for single occupancy of a
cabin has been kept to an
absolute minimum and if
you are one of the growing
numbers who want a cabin
to themselves, I strongly
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 5
urge you to make your
booking and keep yourself
warmly comforted in the
coming winter months
with the prospect. See
centre fold for dates and
itineraries.
STOCK
CLEARANCE
The remainder of the May
clearance is listed on the
back of the carrier sheet. If
you have binned yours, do
ask what is left.
USED STAMPS
I am still saving my used
stamps in support of ‘Little
Voice’ and I hope you are
too. With Bernard
travelling around the
country, I will use him as a
collector. More details of
this next month or send
them to: Mr M Finebaum,
8 Mountford House,
Crescent Road, Enfield.
EN2 7BL.
FRESH DATA
Do keep sending in names
and addresses of those who
might like to see a printed
copy of BRIDGE. After all
they don’t know what they
are missing. If they include
an email address, I will, let
them know as soon as I
have put it up on our
website. Telephone or use
the form on page 7.
VOYAGER
I have heard talk of the
possibility of a very good
deal for the Black Sea cruise
on Voyager in October, but
at the time of going to press
I have no details. Anyone
interested ring Maggie
( 01483 489961 and she
will give you the up-to date
news and prices. The offer,
when it comes, really looks
attractive but I can’t say
more at this stage.
WHAT LUCK
BRIDGE
Make sure you
don’t miss your
favourite monthly
I have a quantity of the first articles by taking
set of Bernard Magee’ out an annual
DVDs without cellophane
subscription.
wrappers and/or boxes.
There are still some to clear l Acol Bidding Quiz
at £30 including delivery, & Answers
reduced from £100. The set Bernard Magee
of six is guaranteed.
l Ask Julian Pottage
Order by phone or by
post or online at l Julian’s FAQs
www.mrbridge.co.uk/shop/ l Misleading Cases
as reported by our
RETHINK court correspondent
l Ask David
Stevenson
l David’s SPECIAL
OFFER
FAQs
PRICE
l Mary’s
First Lesson
l Helpful
The clearance of the first Conventions
series of DVDs has made and Related Quiz
me rethink the packaging
l Defence Quiz
and as you know I have
l Tales from
been selling off the second
Sherwood Forest
series, all in sealed boxes, at
by David Bird
£48 per box inclusive of
postage and packing. I am l Things You
now going to clear all the Should Know...
second series DVDs at £38
l Catching up
a set (of six), inclusive of
postage and packing until l Seven Days
they are sold out. l Jeremy Dhondy
l Sally Brock Tip
WHILE I’M AT IT
l Travel Tip
To be completely consistent,
l Readers Letters
I am clearing out the entire
remaining stock of series 3
Special
at £54 per set. Singles are
not on offer. Strictly subject Introductory
to availability but they must
be cleared to make room Subscription:
£20 for twelve
for the new production run.
What luck indeed, monthly issues.
everyone’s a winner.
See mail order
All good wishes, form on page 7.
Mr Bridge
 Answers to Bernard Magee’s
Bidding Quizzes 1-3 on the Cover
1. Dealer West. Love All.
♠ J 8 6 4 3 ♠ 7 5
♥ A N ♥ K Q 9 8 5
W E
♦ Q 7 6 4 3 S ♦ A 8
♣ K 2 ♣ J 5 4 3
West North East South
? If you respond 2♣ or 2NT, you will take
Pass. What are the requirements for an
opening bid?
Usually 12 HCP or 13 points including
length. Some players use the rule of 20:
this rule requires you to add the number
of cards in your two longest suits to your
point count. If the total comes to 20 or
more, then you have the potential for
an opening bid. The key here is that you
have the ‘potential’, not that you should
open the bidding. Very often, the key to
good light opening bids are strong suits.
Hands like this one will always work
out well if you find a fit, but if you do
not have a fit your hand is going to be a
long way short of an opening hand: you
are unlikely to be able to use your two
long suits to establish tricks because of
their weakness, leaving you with only two
useful cards.
If ever you are borderline for an
opening bid, consider the strength of
your long suits. Here, if you open, the
auction would start 1♠-2♥-2♠-? You are
too high already.
2. Dealer East. Love All.
♠ A 6 5 ♠ K 8 7 2
♥ 9 5 2 N ♥ A Q 8 4
W E
♦ A 4 3 S ♦ K Q 7 5
♣ Q 8 3 2 ♣ J
West North East South
1♥ Pass
?
1NT. You have 10 HCP, but your 4-3-3-
3 shape is the most undesirable – it offers
Page 6 BRIDGE July 2014
no ruffing potential and very little chance
to establish a suit. I like to take a full point
off with this shape: perhaps if there are
mitigating factors (tens and nines or use-
ful cards in partner’s suit), you could still
treat it as worth 10 points, but with no
such factors here, you should change the
evaluation of your hand to 9 points and
therefore you should respond 1NT.
the auction too high: the hands have
25 HCP between them, but game is not
within reach because of the lack of shape
and potential in your hand.
3. Dealer West. N/S Game.
♠ K 2 ♠ A 9 8 6
♥ A K 4 3 2 N ♥ 7 6
W E
♦ A Q J 6 S ♦ K 8 4 2
♣ 6 4 ♣ 7 5 2
West North East South
1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass
? partscore with game beyond reach. ■
Elstead Hotel
Bournemouth BH1 3QP
Full Board – No Single Supplement
Booking Form on page 8.
2♦. Your natural rebid would be in
diamonds, to show five hearts and four
diamonds. When starting out in bridge,
we divide our rebids between strong
and weak opening hands: rebidding 2♦
with 12-15 points and rebidding 3♦ with
16-19. However, as you move on in the
game, you will have noticed that a jump
rebid at the 3-level takes the auction very
high and more importantly, it is a forcing
bid, which means you do need to be very
strong. Your partner might have just 6
HCP, so to make a rebid at the 3-level,
you would need at least 19 total points:
enough to make game likely. You are not
strong enough for 3♦ with this hand, but
you do have one other option: 1NT.
If you had cover in clubs and
diamonds, then 1NT is a reasonable lie –
showing your strength (15-17) and being
semi-balanced. However, with your weak
clubs, 2♦ is a better bid, knowing that
only very rarely will your partner pass.
East may well pass 2♦ on this hand,
but you will be pleased to be in the best
10-12 October £199
Just Duplicate
Jo Walch
31 October – 2 November £199
Just Duplicate
Val Passmore
14-16 November £199
Just Duplicate
Mary Stebbing
21-23 November £245
Doubles
Bernard Magee
✄

✄
Mr Bridge MAIL ORDER If you have not
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Expiry: ............. CVV ........ Issue No. ...........
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return to: Mr Bridge,
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( 01483 489961 www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop Surrey, GU21 2TH.
✄

BRIDGE July 2014 Page 7

 ✄
BRIDGE EVENTS
BRIDGE  with Bernard Magee
BREAKS 28-30 Blunsdon House
£245 Distributional
♦ Two seminars*
Hands
♦ Full-board
♦ All rooms with ♦ Two supervised JANUARY 2015
en-suite facilities play sessions*
♦ No single supplement ♦ Four bridge sessions** 23-25 Blunsdon House
£245 Competitive NEW
Please book ..... places for me at £....... per person, Bidding

Single .... Double .... Twin .... Chatsworth Hotel

Worthing BN11 3DU

Name of Hotel/Centre.............................................................
SEPTEMBER
Date(s) ....................................................................................
26-28 Holiday Inn
Mr/Mrs/Miss ......................................................................... £245 Doubles

Address................................................................................... OCTOBER
Elstead Hotel
................................................................................................ 3-5 Chatsworth Hotel Bournemouth BH1 3QP
£245 Game Tries
Postcode .................................................................................
30-1/2 Holiday Inn
( ........................................................................................... £245 Finding Slams

Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed, FEBRUARY 2015

but we will do our best to oblige).
20-22 Inn on the Prom
................................................................................................ £245 Better Leads
and Switches
Please give the name(s) of all those covered by this booking.
APRIL 2015
................................................................................................ Holiday Inn
Newport, S Wales NP18 2YG 17-19 Olde Barn Hotel
Please send a non-returnable deposit of £50 per person per place by
£245 Better Finessing
cheque, payable to Mr Bridge. An invoice for the balance will be sent
with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, 10-12 Olde Barn Hotel
28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent £245 Endplay 24-26 Queensferry Hotel
together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you & Avoidance £245 Declarer Play
require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker.
NOVEMber
7-9 Chatsworth Hotel
£245 Hand Evaluation

14-16 Blunsdon House

Expiry: ................................. CVV......................... Issue No.................... £245 Further into
(CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) the Auction
Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH.
21-23 Elstead Hotel The Olde Barn Hotel
( 01483 489961 £245 Doubles Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT
e-mail: jessica@mrbridge.co.uk
website: www.holidaybridge.com Full Board. No Single Supplement.
*on tutorial weekends only. **6 sessions on rubber/Chicago & Just Duplicate events.
Please note: Just Duplicate events contain no seminars and do not award prizes. See Adjacent Booking Form.
✄

Page 8 BRIDGE July 2014

 Answers to 
Bernard Magee’s 
Bidding Quizzes 4-6
on the Cover
4. Dealer East. Love All.
♠ A 8 7 3 2 ♠ 4
♥ 5 4 N ♥ A K 7 6 3
W E
♦ 4 3 S ♦ A K 7 2
♣ Q 7 6 5 ♣ 9 4 3
West North East South
1♥ Pass
1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass
? Overcalls come up fre-
2♥. Your partner has shown
two suits and you have a very
weak hand. With a weak
hand, you have three options:
pass, give preference to part-
ner’s first suit, or rebid your
own suit. You should rebid
your own suit only if you are
pretty sure that it will make
the best partscore: this means
you should have at least a six-
card spade suit because your
partner will pass with a single-
ton. Here, as you can see, 2♠
would not be great. Instead,
you choose one of your part-
ner’s suits, giving preference
to his first bid suit: 2♥.
5. Dealer North. N/S Game.
♠ 5 4 ♠ K Q J 10 3
♥ A K 6 3 N ♥ 5 2
W E
♦ 7 6 2 S ♦ A 9 5 3
♣ A 10 5 4 ♣ 8 7
West North East South
1♣ 1♠ Pass
? If you ever decide to open
1NT. Responding to an over-
call is not the same as re-
sponding to an opening bid.
First of all, you do not have
to respond with 6 points; very
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 9
often, you will simply pass.
Secondly, your partner can
be quite a bit weaker than an
opening hand, which means
your no-trump responses
should be quite a bit stronger.
A 1NT response shows about
9-12 points, fewer than three
spades and a club stop, which
describes your hand beauti-
fully.
quently, so knowing how to
respond accurately is very im-
portant.
6. Dealer West. Love All.
♠ A 2 ♠ 5 3
♥ 7 4 N ♥ A 8 6 2
W E
♦ 7 6 4 S ♦ A K 9 8 2
♣ A K 8 7 6 4 ♣ Q 2
West North East South
1♣ 1♠ 2♦ Pass
?
3♣. Unless you have a differ-
ent agreement with your part-
ner, his 2♦ response is natural
and forcing, so you must not
pass. You have a minimum
opening hand: your six-card
suit certainly making it worth
opening: simply rebid your
suit and await developments.
Here, your partner’s next bid
would be 3♠, the opponents’
suit, to ask if you had a stop-
per and you would gladly say
yes by rebidding 3NT.
light, do not try to slow down
the auction later because you
regret your action: above all,
do not pass a forcing bid, just
show your weakness by rebid-
ding your long suit. ■
 BERNARD MAGEE’S
INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS
BEGIN BRIDGE ACOL ADVANCED DECLARER
ACOL VERSION BIDDING ACOL BIDDING PLAY
l Card Play Technique l Basics
l Opening Bids and l Suit Establishment
l Planning Card Play Responses in No-trumps
l Advanced
l Bidding Balanced Basics
l Slams and Strong l Suit Establishment
Hands Openings in Suits
l Weak Twos
l Bidding Suits
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 Defences to
l Pre-empting 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
System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM
 Answers to Bernard Magee’s  Mr Bridge
Bidding Quizzes 7-9
on the Cover
7. Dealer West. Game All.
♠ A K 6 4 2 ♠ 5
♥ 7 6 N ♥ A 8 4 2
W E
♦ A K 8 7 5 S ♦ 9 4 2
♣ 3 ♣ Q J 5 4 2
West North East South
1♠ Pass 1NT 2♥
? is beyond reach.
Pass. You open 1♠, partner responds
1NT and then South interrupts rudely
with 2♥. You would have had a simple
rebid of 2♦ available, but now you are
a little stuck. A lot of players would bid
2♠ with this hand, but don’t forget about
your partner: if your partner has three
spades in his hand, he can bid 2♠ himself
and if he doesn’t, then do you really want
to play in spades?
3♦ takes the auction rather high
opposite a partner who might have just
6 HCP. Unfortunately, you are left with
little choice but to pass. However, your
partner is still there and he might be able
to bid again if he has a long minor or he
may prefer simply to defend 2♥, which is
the case here.
You may well get a ruff in each hand
and end up taking 2♥ two down for
+200 and a great score.
8. Dealer East. Love All.
♠ A K Q 6 5 ♠ 4 2
♥ 7 4 2 N ♥ A K 10 5 3
W E
♦ Q J 4
S
♦ 7 6 2
♣ 3 2 ♣ Q J 6
West North East South
Pass Pass
1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass
? him.
Pass. The first two calls of this auction
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 11
ALL
INCLUSIVE
AT THE
ROYAL KENZ
TUNISIA
are very important, or more pertinently
2014/2015
your partner’s original pass. When you
know your partner is limited, the whole
framework of your bidding changes
slightly: particularly the emphasis on
having to make a rebid.
In a normal auction, East’s 2♥ bid is
unlimited: 10 or more points, but since
East has passed, you know he has 9-11
points, which means that you know game
Your partner has shown five or more
hearts and you have three, which means
you have a fit and, given that game is
beyond reach, you should leave the
bidding where it is and pass.
When your partner has passed as
the dealer, you do not have to keep the
Two-week
auction open in the same way as usual
because you know he has fewer than 12 All-Inclusive
points. Duplicate Bridge
Holidays
2-16 November 2014 £899*
9. Dealer West. E/W Game.
♠ A K 8 5 4 ♠ 3 2
Golf available
♥ K Q 9 8 N ♥ J 2 Tony and Jan Richards
W E
♦ K 4 S ♦ 8 7
♣ 3 2 ♣ K Q 9 8 7 6 5 1-15 March 2015 £935*
Golf available
Bernard Magee and his team
West North East South
1♠ Pass 1NT Pass *The prices shown are per person on an all inclusive
basis, sharing a twin-bedded standard room and are
2♥ Pass 3♣ Pass inclusive of bridge fees. Standard rooms all come
? with private bath, toilet and balcony. Single rooms are
double rooms for sole occupancy at a supplement of £6
per night. You can add a pool view supplement for £3
per person per night or a superior garden view room
Pass. What has your partner got? with bath robe, tea/coffee making facility for £5 per
person per night. These prices are based on air travel
He started by responding 1NT, but from Heathrow to Tunis. Flights from other airports
has now bid clubs: this means he did are available at a supplement. For details of what is
included as part of the all inclusive package please call
not have enough strength to bid clubs for an information pack or view the website. Prices for
seven-night stays are available on application.
originally. So he has 6-8 points and long
These holidays have been organised for Mr
clubs: he should have at least six clubs, Bridge by Tunisia First Limited, ATOL 5933.
because he is suggesting that 3♣ will be
a better contract than playing in either of
your two suits. Your partner is not inviting DETAILS & BOOKINGS
you to bid again, he is asking you to trust
( 01483 489961
East is quite right. 3♣ is by far the best www.mrbridge.co.uk/abroad
contract. ■
 Q PLUS 11
We Are Survivors
(For those born Before 1940 . . .)
We were born before television, before
penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods,
Xerox, contact lenses, videos and the pill.
We were before radar, credit cards, split
atoms, laser beams and ballpoint pens,
before dish-washers, tumble driers, electric
blankets, air conditioners, drip-dry clothes
Really user-friendly
. . . and before man walked on the moon.
We got married first and then lived bridge-playing software
together (how quaint can you be?). We
thought ‘fast food’ was what you ate
in Lent, a ‘Big Mac’ was an oversized FEATURES INCLUDE
raincoat and ‘crumpet’ we had for tea. We
existed before house husbands, computer
dating and sheltered accommodation was l Help button - explains the features for bidding
where you waited for a bus. and card play advice
We were before day care centres, group
homes and disposable nappies. We never l Displays on HD and large screens
heard of FM radio, tape decks, artificial
hearts, word processors, or young men l Comprehensive manual

£92
wearing earrings. For us ‘time sharing’
meant togetherness, a ‘chip’ was a piece l Minibridge option
of wood or fried potato, ‘hard­ware’ meant
nuts and bolts and ‘software’ wasn’t a l Save match function including
word. UK post and packing

Before 1940 ‘Made in Japan’ meant l Feed in your own deals

junk, the term ‘making out’ referred to
how you did in your exams, ‘stud’ was l 5,000 preplayed hands for teams
something that fastened a collar to a shirt
and ‘going all the way’ meant staying on l 4,000 preplayed hands for match-point pairs
a double-decker bus to the terminus. In our
day, cigarette smoking was ‘fashionable’, l Pre-programmed systems include Acol,
‘grass’ was mown, ‘coke’ was kept in the Standard American and many more or
coalhouse, a ‘joint’ was a piece of meat you create your own system.
ate on Sundays and ‘pot’ was something
you cooked in. ‘Rock Music’ was a fond l Closed room – button to view other table
mother’s lullaby, ‘Eldorado’ was an ice-
cream, a ‘gay person’ was the life and soul
of the party, while ‘aids’ just meant beauty
treatment or help for someone in trouble.
We who were born before 1940 must be a QPLUS TRADE-IN OFFER
hardy bunch when you think of the way
in which the world has changed and the Return any QPLUS CD and booklet with a
adjustments we have had to make. No cheque for £50 and receive wonderful QPLUS 11.
wonder there is a generation gap today
. . . BUT
Order with confidence.
By the grace of God . . .
we have survived!
Printed in the UK on a System: 8mb RAM, CD-ROM, Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8
100% cotton tea-towel
£7 from Art Screen Prints See Mail Order Form on page 7.
( 01287 654481

Page 12 BRIDGE July 2014

 Answers to 
Bernard Magee’s 
Bidding Quizzes 10-12
on the Cover
10. Dealer West. N/S Game.
♠ A 8 3 ♠ 7 2
N
♥ A 8 3 2 ♥ K Q 7 6
W E
♦ 4 S ♦ 10 9 8 5 2
♣ A Q 8 7 2 ♣ K 5
West North East South
1♣ 1♠ Dbl Pass
? for the deal. Your raise to 2♠ keeps
3♥. Natural Acol tends to include take-
out doubles of suit bids on the first round
of bidding. Your partner’s double is for
take-out and, when only one major has
been bid, the double should promise
support for the other major. Expecting
your partner to hold four hearts, you
should certainly reply in hearts, but you
also have to assess at which level to bid.
Your singleton should push you up: 14
HCP, a five-card suit and a singleton is
enough to jump to 3♥ (six losers). Your
partner would raise to game, which
should make comfortably.
East’s double is called a negative
(or Sputnik) double: it is an important
part of any bidder’s armoury, allowing
you to cope with overcalls more easily.
Generally, the double promises at least
four cards in an unbid major.
11. Dealer North. N/S Game.
♠ 8 6 5 ♠ A K 7 4 2
N
♥ A 2
W E
♥ 9 7 6
♦ A 9 8 7 6 5 S ♦ 2
♣ 7 3 ♣ K Q 8 5
West North East South
1♣ 1♠ Pass
? 3♣. When partner shows four spades,
2♠. Your partner has overcalled in
spades, promising a five-card suit,
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 13
Clifton
Park
Hotel
St Annes on Sea
FY8 1HN
which means you have a fit. Once you
have found a fit in a major, there is no
reason to look any further. You might
consider passing, but that would give
your opponents an easy opportunity to
compete for the deal. Spades are the
most powerful suit because they win the
auction at each level: by supporting to
2♠, you force North to bid to the 3-level
if he wants to try to find a fit and compete
North quiet and wins the auction. Had
you passed or bid 2♦, your opponents
might well have found their heart fit,
JUST DUPLICATE
which would allow them to compete for
the deal. 11-13 July
Ray Hutchinson
12. Dealer North. Love All. £199
♠ A 9 7 6 ♠ K Q 8 4
N
♥ 4 3 W E ♥ A 7
♦ A K 3 S ♦ Q 5 4 8-10 August
♣ 9 7 5 3 ♣ K Q J 2
Kay Adamson
£199
West North East South
2♥* 2NT Pass
?
*weak, 6-10 points and 6 hearts.
3♣. North has opened 2♥, announced
as ‘weak’, which shows 6-10 points and
six hearts. Your partner overcalled 2NT,
which is a natural overcall showing a
strong balanced hand: about 16-19
points.
Generally, if your side’s first natural
call is in no-trumps (at the one or two-
level), then you should play all of your
conventions in response to it.
Full Board
Here, you have enough strength for
game, but should investigate to see if you
No Single
have a spade fit first by using Stayman, Supplement
you can raise to game. 4♠ is excellent, Booking Form on page 8.
whilst 3NT has no chance on the obvious
heart lead. ■
 Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird
Robin Hood’s
Charitable
Mission
I
t was more than two months
before the main harvest would be
gathered and food supplies were
running low in the small villages
surrounding Nottingham. In such
circumstances, Robin Hood regarded
it his public duty to gather funds by
any possible means.
Hood and Nazir entered the Weary
Pilgrim, a staging post on the West side
of Nottingham. They had abandoned
their outlaw garb and wore the soiled
clothing of typical workmen.
Hood spotted two well-dressed
merchants, sitting at a table in the rear
of the establishment. ‘You looking for
a game?’ he enquired.
Rupert Locke surveyed the scruffy
new arrivals disdainfully. ‘If you’re
seeking some light entertainment
at penny stakes, try the Ferret and
Trouser down the road,’ he replied.
‘My colleague and I play for a crown
a hundred.’
The outlaws took their seats at the
table. ‘That’s no problem so far as we’re
concerned,’ Hood replied. ‘As long as
we win, of course!’
‘If it’s not too much trouble, we’ll
see the colour of your money first,’
declared Jeb Silver, whose smart jacket
and breeches would have cost any
normal man six months’ wages. ‘We
don’t want to waste our time.’
Robin Hood produced a deerskin
purse and loosened the string to permit
the two men to view its contents.
Reassured by the glint of silver and
gold, they nodded their acquiescence.
The game began and this was the first
deal:
Page 14 BRIDGE July 2014
Dealer North. Love All.
♠ 5
♥ A J 6 4
♦ K 6 2
♣ A Q 8 4 3
♠ K Q J 10 8 2 ♠ 9 7 6 3
N
♥ 8 3
W E
♥ 5
♦ Q J 10 8 S ♦ 9 5 4
♣ 10 ♣ K J 7 5 2
♠ A 4
♥ K Q 10 9 7 2
♦ A 7 3
♣ 9 6
West North East South
Rupert Nazir Jeb Robin
Locke Silver Hood
1♣ Pass 1♥
1♠ 4♥ Pass 6♥
All Pass
Rupert Locke was not amused to have
a slam bid against him on the first
deal. These clowns presumably had no
idea how to play the game. That didn’t
mean they couldn’t make a small
slam when they happened to be dealt
twelve or thirteen tricks on top. Still,
their luck wouldn’t last all evening.
If they thought they could have one
lucky rubber and flee into the night
with their winnings, they had another
think coming. He led the ♠K and
down went the dummy.
‘I was going to raise to 2♥,’ observed
Nazir. ‘When he bid spades, I added 5
points for my singleton spade.’
Robin Hood managed to keep a
straight face. It was their general
tactics in these money games to
appear to be inexperienced players.
Mind you, Nazir was overacting the
role somewhat.
Hood won the first trick with the ♠A
and drew trumps with the king and
queen. His spade loser could be ruffed
in dummy. How could he give himself
the best chance of setting up an extra
club trick to discard a diamond loser
from his hand? It would be child’s play
if clubs broke no worse than 4-2. What
if West had started with a singleton
club and East held five clubs? In that
case, it seemed that he might need to
use his ♣9 later.
Robin Hood led the ♣6 from his
hand and raised an eyebrow when the
♣10 appeared from West. If that was
part of ♣K10 or ♣J10, setting up the
clubs would be straightforward. If,
instead, it was a singleton, he must
win with the ace to preserve the power
of his ♣9.
Robin Hood reached for dummy’s
ace of clubs and returned a low club
towards his nine. Jeb Silver realised
that there was no future in playing
the ♣J. Whether or not declarer held
the missing ♣9, his ♣K would be
caught subsequently with a lead from
dummy’s ♣Q8 for a ruffing finesse. He
chose to play low, hoping that West
held the ♣9. Hood’s ♣9 won the trick
and the slam was made. He conceded
a diamond trick at the end.
Robin Hood turned towards Jeb
Silver. ‘I thought that might happen!’
he exclaimed. ‘It was difficult for you
when the ten appeared from your
partner. It could so easily have been
 Robin Hood continued
from the 10-9.’
The two merchants could not believe
what they were hearing. The declarer
was so dim-witted, he hadn’t even
appreciated the position. Once he had
decided not to finesse the ♣Q, the
slam was cold however East defended.
Two or three hands later, Rupert
Locke advanced the rubber to Game
All with a straightforward 3NT. The
players then picked up their cards for
this deal:
Dealer South. Game All.
♠ K Q
♥ 6 4
♦ A 10 7 6 5
♣ K Q J 5
♠ 8 4 3 ♠ 5 2
♥ Q J 10 8 N ♥ 9 7 5 3 2
W E
♦ 8 2 S ♦ K J 9 3
♣ A 10 9 4 ♣ 8 2
♠ A J 10 9 7 6
♥ A K
♦ Q 4
♣ 7 6 3
West North East South
Rupert Nazir Jeb Robin
Locke Silver Hood
1♠
Pass 2♦ Pass 3♠
Pass 6♠ All Pass
When playing high-stakes bridge, it
was the custom of Hood and Nazir to
prune their auctions to the minimum.
Using the latest conventions, such
as the Duke of Richmond’s 4NT
ace-asking bid, would be a sure give-
away that they were expert players.
For as long as possible, they would
maintain the illusion that they were
inexperienced clodpoles with more
money than sense.
Rupert Locke led the ♥Q against
the spade slam and down went the
dummy. Hood’s eyes narrowed as he
inspected the cards that Nazir had lain
down. As on the previous slam hand,
he would need to establish a diamond
discard on dummy’s club suit. That
might be possible if clubs broke 3-3
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 15
or if West held the ♣A. Mind you,
if West held four clubs to the ace, he
would need to lead towards the clubs
three times.
Robin Hood won the heart lead with
the king and immediately led the ♣3.
West played low and the ♣K won the
trick. Hood continued with dummy’s
♠K and then overtook the ♠Q with the
♠A. After drawing West’s last trump,
he led a second club towards dummy.
Once again Rupert Locke played low
in the West seat, dummy’s queen
winning the trick.
Hood returned to his hand with
the ♥A and led a third round of
clubs towards dummy. With a black
expression, Rupert Locke took his ♣A
and switched to a diamond. Hood won
with dummy’s ♦A and discarded the
♦Q on the established ♣J. The slam
had been made.
‘By the Saints, partner!’ thundered
Jeb Silver. ‘Can you not find a diamond
lead?’
‘I think I might still make it,’ said
Robin Hood.
‘Oh yeah?’ exclaimed Jeb Silver.
It really was too much, losing an
expensive rubber to these ill-bred
dunderheads. ‘How’s that, then?’
‘Well, you see, I would play a
low diamond from dummy,’ Hood
explained. ‘If I’m lucky and your friend
holds the ♦K, I can win the trick in my
hand with the ♦Q. Then I would draw
all the trumps and knock out the ♣A. I
think that comes to twelve tricks.’
Jeb Silver extracted the ♦K from his
hand and held it a couple of inches
from Hood’s eyes. ‘Still think you’d
have made it?’
At the prevailing crown-a-100 stake,
the outlaws pocketed a substantial
amount from the first rubber.
Robin Hood then rose to his feet. ‘A
very pleasant game, gentlemen,’ he
declared. ‘First time we’ve won for
over a month. Quit while you’re ahead
is my motto.’
‘Take your seat!’ snarled Jeb Silver.
‘No gentleman would turn tail and
flee into the night without giving his
opponents a chance to recoup their
losses.’
‘But it’s already quite late,’ replied
Robin Hood. ‘Did I not hear the
nightwatchman call nine on the clock
a short while ago?’
Rupert Locke beckoned for the
game to resume. ‘You’ve hit a run of
good fortune,’ he said. ‘It would be a
shame to waste it.’
Feigning reluctance, Hood and
Nazir resumed their seats. The
winnings from the first rubber would
feed a couple of villages up till harvest
time. In a few hours, with any luck,
they would have cleaned these two
out. Now, what adventures would the
next rubber hold? ■
(continued next month)
 David Stevenson answers your questions on Laws and Ethics
Q
I was at a table
with the director
in opposition. I
was declarer in 5♣. The
lead was in dummy and
I called mistakenly for
the ♥5 and changed it
immediately to a trump.
No cards were touched,
but the director said that
I had to play the heart
as I had nominated the
lead verbally. Is this cor-
rect? If so, why is it that
if declarer leads from
the wrong hand and is
corrected by the opposi-
tion, he can lead another
suit from the right hand?
I find it rather confus-
ing as I feel both are the
same mistake and yet
the latter can be rectified
and the first penalised.
Name and address supplied.
A
I am somewhat
surprised that you
consider two totally
different situations covered by
different laws with different
penalties similar in any way.
The lead out of turn
law allows the opponents
to accept it, which can
be to their advantage.
When you call for a card
from dummy, it must be
played unless you have
called for a card you did
not intend and attempt
to change it immediately.
Page 16 BRIDGE July 2014
Can Declarer Change
a Card called from
Dummy?
The opposition have no
right to accept the card you
called for if the director
decides it was unintended.
So, in the case you give,
if you intended to play the
trump but called for the
wrong card then you may
change it. If, however, you
intended the heart to be
played but realised it was a
mistake, in other words you
changed your mind, you
are not allowed to change
it. From the description you
give, I cannot tell you which
of these was the case so
I cannot tell you whether
your director ruled correctly,
though his explanation
seems dubious. Whether you
have to play it is nothing to
do with whether you have
nominated it, but depends on
whether it was unintended.
♣♦♥♠
Q
Playing duplicate
pairs in an EBU-
affiliated club,
I was South and the
bidding started as below:
West North East South
  2NT Pass 2♥
I pointed out East’s insuf-
ficient bid and called the
director. East, who had
not realised his insuf-
ficient bid until I pointed
it out, told the direc-
tor that he had made a
‘mechanical error’. East
was allowed to correct
his bid to 3♥ which was
announced by West as a
transfer to spades. West
completed the transfer
by bidding 3♠ and E/W
went on to bid a game
contract that made.
A week later, I raised
this incident with the
director. I said that her
ruling meant that, if in
the future I made an
insufficient bid, I just
needed to say that it
was a ‘mechanical error’
and I would be allowed
to correct it: without
penalty even if it was
meant as a conventional
bid. The director said
she had to take East’s
word for it and ‘wasn’t
going to call him a liar’.
Name and address supplied.
A
Whether a call
is unintended or
not is a matter of
judgement for the director.
It is not a question of calling
someone a liar: players
have learnt the words
‘mechanical error’ and
say them for any mistake,
mechanical or not. It is
extremely unlikely that an
insufficient bid of this sort
was a mechanical error: at
the time he reached for the
bidding box, he meant to bid
2♥ so it cannot be changed.
Furthermore, you do not
suggest that he tried to
change it before the director
arrived. It is thus out of time
and cannot be changed, even
if it was a mechanical error.
However, this is different
from deliberately saying it is
a mechanical error when the
player knows it is not: that
would be cheating. But most
players have no idea what
the term means or how it
applies, so when done out of
ignorance it is not cheating.
♣♦♥♠
Q
Our bridge
duplicate
afternoons
are usually played
over 22 boards, with
between 8 and 10 tables
taking part. Arrow
switching takes place
always for two boards,
sometimes for four.
Is this correct? If
not then what rule
should be followed?
I am at a loss to
understand how a
bridge session is
considered to be fair
when so few hands
are arrow switched.
Michael Beaumont
by email.
 Ask David continued
A
It has been proved
mathematically
that it is correct to
arrow-switch roughly one-
eighth of the boards. So if
you are playing four-board
rounds, you arrow-switch
one round: if two-board
rounds then either one or two
rounds is acceptable. You
are wrong to consider ‘so
few’ boards being arrow-
switched: on every board
you play there will be some
arrow-switches, not always
yourself of course, but
whoever plays the board last.
A full article on the
subject appeared in
BRIDGE 132, page 39.
♣♦♥♠
Q
Playing East with
North declarer
in 5♦, declarer
called for a small club
from dummy, West
followed suit, North
played the ♠10 and I
won the trick with ♣A.
North then declared
she had meant to trump
the club. Her partner
called the director, who
decided that as North
was declarer she could
change her card even
though it was played.
On the next hand, North
did exactly the same
thing, throwing away
when she could have
trumped. Her comment
was, ‘I don’t suppose I
can change it again, can
I?’ My point is that if it
is ethical to change the
card, then every time this
happens she could do so.
Her comment indicated
clearly to me that she
thought she was lucky
to have been allowed
to replace the card on
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 17
the previous hand. Is
this ethical? My partner
and I do not think so
but would welcome
your expert opinion.
Elizabeth Glover by email.
A
To change a card
played by declarer
is not permitted.
Perhaps it is time your
director started reading
rulings from the law book.
Nevertheless, I would not
use the term unethical, which
refers to someone doing
something seriously wrong
when knowing it is wrong,
and generally covers only
situations concerning ethics.
♣♦♥♠
Q
Can declarer
put a card face
up on the table
and then, before the
next player has put a
card down, replace it
with a different card?
David Salmon by email.
A
No, once declarer
puts a card on the
table, it counts
as played; nobody can
change a played card.
♣♦♥♠
Q
My partner,
North, was
pondering her
opening bid, when her
LHO pulled out several
bidding cards from her
bidding box and placed
them face down on the
table. I pointed out that
it was not her turn to
make a bid, to which she
replied that she would
make the same bid,
whatever my partner did.
The director was
unable to do anything
as the bid was face
down, though it seemed
that East was giving
unauthorised information
to her partner. East,
who had done the same
thing in Canada, was
under the impression
that she was not doing
anything wrong.
G M Brown by email.
A
If your RHO takes
the cards out of the
box because it does
not matter what your partner
calls, then the following is
true: First, she wouldn’t have
made the same bid, whatever
your partner opened. What
if your partner opened 6♠?
Second, she is passing
information to her partner
illegally. Third, while she has
not called, playing this way
is very likely to upset other
players, which is illegal.
I would have told her not
to do it again or I should
penalise her. Note that
the same ruling applies
in Canada where I would
also rule against her.
♣♦♥♠
Q
The declarer,
North, was in 4♥.
He took the first
trick and then played
the ♥A. I followed with
the ♥2, my partner,
West, (having Q-J-10)
played his ♥Q. The
declarer then played
DUPLICATE BRIDGE 
RULES SIMPLIFIED
(otherwise known as the Yellow Book)
by John Rumbelow and
revised by David Stevenson
Available from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961
his ♥K; I played my ♥4
and my partner his ♥J.
At this point, the de-
clarer protested, stating
that such a method of
play was incorrect and
muttered that he should
call the director. My part-
ner, for whatever reason,
apologised; I refuted the
apology, stating that no
apology was necessary,
as he can play cards in
any order he chooses.
What is your opinion?
Anthony Rogers, Southend.
A
It is a sad fact that
one thing that bridge
teachers often do not
explain fully is that bridge is
a contest between two sides
and there are different ways
of playing. Some people
come into the game thinking
that opponents will do what
they would do in any situation
and many players do not
try to put the opponents off.
In fact, this is all part of the
game: a false card is legal
and completely normal.
Even ignoring false
cards, there is the matter
of signalling: with equal
cards, you might play a high
one as a suit preference
signal, for example.
Tell your partner not to
apologise for playing
bridge in a normal and
legal fashion.
only
£595
 Ask David continued been no double, he must it could embarrass strong hands when holding
have thought North’s the other player. length in the opponent’s suit,
pass was the third and What do you think? partner being expected to
therefore waited for Ron Blake, Alton, Hampshire. balance when quite light. This

Q
East had just an opening lead from used to be extremely

A
made six tricks South, that would not 1. Dummy must not common and is certainly
playing in a come unless East made participate in the legal, though these days
heart contract. N/S were the final pass. Was play. Choosing a most players play a simpler
sure the contract had the ruling sensible? card, whether it looks obvious style whereby they will
been 2♥ doubled. E/W Alisdair McLeod by email. or not, is participating in the overcall 1NT with most
were equally sure that play and is illegal. Perhaps unsuitable hands and

A
the contract had been 2♥ The director
undoubled. They began cannot adjust to
a heated exchange, but anything, certainly.
then called the director. One just has to make a
South said the director decision as to the facts.
a play looks obvious to
dummy and not declarer: do
we want dummy to coach
declarer? Obviously not.
2. As to calling the director,
allow their opponents to
get out of trouble easily.
♣♦♥♠

Q
would be unable to rule It is nonsense to say that the worst arguments in Playing with a
as there was a dispute the director cannot rule clubs always start with a new partner, my
about the facts. West because the facts are in failure to call the director. RHO opened 1NT
said he would have bid dispute: it is the director’s I strongly suggest players and, after two passes my
differently had South job to decide the facts. should call the director partner bid 2♣. Because
doubled and wanted an The only real advice I can whenever there is or might we had not agreed on
adjusted score if there give in this situation is to be a problem as otherwise Landy, I assumed this
had been a double. stop the players talking to the club will become less was a natural bid and
The director instructed each other, which apparently friendly and less pleasant. did not use my alert
the players to stop the director did, and to card; indeed, I raised to
talking to each other find as much evidence ♣♦♥♠ 3♣. My LHO asked about
and to start by giving as possible. I would have the 2♣, to which I replied

Q
the agreed facts. asked them about the final Recently, that I thought it was
North, when given the passes: sometimes you hear I watched natural. My partner went
chance to speak, said something that solves the two Italians two down vulnerable
that he had checked problem for you. I would playing bridge. Often, and then stated that
2♥ doubled was the also have asked to look they passed, non- her 2♣ was Landy. What
contract at the end of at all four score cards. vulnerable, with 16+ should be the ruling?
the auction period and points, balanced. They Phil Holloway, Stockport.
the opponents had not ♣♦♥♠ also passed, non-

A
said anything then. vulnerable, with 16+ You have no

Q
East and West said that 1. Can dummy
neither of them had choose the card
registered the double. for the declarer
The director believed when it looks obvious?
he did not have enough 2. Some players do
evidence to deem the not call the director
contract was 2♥ minus because they think
two. After all, if East it is unpleasant and
points, balanced, in the
overcalling position.
Their partner then
bid with 5+ points.
Is this bidding style
legal in England?
Alex Mathers by email.
agreement it is
Landy, so that is
what you should have said.
You are not required to tell
opponents about agreements
you do not have. Admittedly,
you should probably not
have told them it was natural:

A
thought that there had not friendly and find You cannot play you should have said you
opening passes as have no agreement. I do not
forcing or strong in see any reason to adjust.

Bernard Magee’s Tips England or Wales at Level

4 or below. They might ♣♦♥♠
be legal in one or two
for Better Bridge
Q
tournaments held at Level As declarer,
5, though not the Schapiro playing rubber
Spring Fours, the major one. bridge, may
65 invaluable tips in 160 pages You can play them in the I and should I draw
Camrose Trophy and trials. attention to an obvious
£14 including postage and packing. However, when overcalling, revoke by a defender?
Mail order form on page 7. it has always been normal Peter Wiseman,
enough to pass with quite North Walsham, Norfolk.

Page 18 BRIDGE July 2014

 Ask David continued
A Denham Grove
If you are declarer
and a defender
revokes you may
point it out immediately, or
you may wait until later in the
play or at the end of the play.
There is an advantage in
waiting until it is established,
which normally occurs when
the revoker or his partner
play to the next trick, since
then you get penalty tricks.
Waiting to get penalty
tricks is perfectly ethical.
Some players will think
this is a little sharp and they
would point out the revoke
immediately, so as not to
take advantage. That is a
matter of personal ethics: if
you want to follow them, feel
free, but you do not have to.
Note that this reply
would be the same at
duplicate bridge.
♣♦♥♠
Q
In a match
played privately,
West held:
Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ 10 7 4 3
♥ K
♦ 10 9 5 4
♣ 10 7 4 3
West North East South
1♥ 2NT1 4♥
5♦ 5♥ Dbl2 Pass
6♣ Pass 6♦ Dbl
End
1
alerted, both minors
2
after a considerable pause
N/S won the match
anyway, but would have
scored better in 5♥
E-mail your questions on bridge laws to:
davidstevenson@mrbridge.co.uk
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 19
doubled (making) than
defending 6♦ doubled
(down 100). What
2014 FESTIVE SEASON
would the ruling be if
there had been one?
Jeff Stanford by email.
Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DU
A
I would need to know
the E/W agreements
to rule. A double
after a considerable pause
shows doubt, which is
unauthorised information to
partner. So if pass with the
West hand was considered
a logical alternative to Christmas 23-27 December
6♣, I would rule it back Just Duplicate Bridge £495
to 5♥ doubled making.
Whether pass is a logi-
Jo Walch
cal alternative is not entirely
clear. Many people play the
Twixmas 27-29 December
2NT bid as always showing Doubles £245
a weak hand, in which case Bernard Magee
pass is far from obvious. Be-
sides, many players play the New Year 29 Dec – 2 Jan
double as a suggestion rather
than a command, which also
Hand Evaluation £445
suggests bidding 6♣ rather Bernard Magee
than pass. Furthermore,
The Olde Barn
West’s undisclosed club fit
will reduce the defensive
potential of the two hands.
Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT
I would find out how
they play 2NT: how they
play double: then poll
some other players, giving
them the sequence, the
meanings of the calls, but
not the hesitation, and
see what they do over the
double. I would ask them
which call they would Christmas 23-27 December
choose and which other Just Duplicate Bridge £495
calls they would consider.
So long as a significant
Sheila Rogers
number, say at least one
in five, either choose or
Twixmas 27-29 December
consider pass and so long Further into the Auction £215
as at least a couple actually Patrick Dunham
would pass, then pass is a
logical alternative: I would New Year 29 Dec – 1 Jan
rule it back to 5♥ doubled
making. My guess is that I
Declarer Play £345
would do so, but it could be John Ronan
quite a close decision. ■
Back to Back bookings save £50 per booking.
Booking Form on page 8.
See www.mrbridge.co.uk/ukbreaks for details and itineraries.

The Scottish Senior Ski Team
Tries its Hand at Bridge?
R
ecently I spent an enjoyable Sat-
urday skiing with three fellow
Scots in the local resort of Fie-
berbrunn. One I had met earlier in the
ski season after he posted a message
on a ski blog about the Kitzbühel Alps
Ski Guide book that I had published
recently. The other two were visiting
him for a ski holiday, but had never
previously met – despite living in the
same Scottish town. It then transpired
that we were all (to a greater or lesser
extent) bridge players – so we decided
to form two scratch partnerships and
try our luck at Kitzbühel Bridge Club
the following Tuesday.
My partner and I played a ‘natural’
system – which meant no conventions
at all (although I did convince him
to play Stayman). I have seen many
new partnerships losing heavily after
agreeing to play a heap of conventions
that neither partner fully understood,
so I thought that what we might have
gained on the swings of sophistication,
we could have lost on the roundabouts
of misunderstandings.
Hand 22 was interesting. A
combined 24 count for North-South,
with two flat hands and a solid 8 tricks
available looked to be a boring flat
board.
♠ K 8 4
♥ A 6 2
♦ 9 8 2
♣ K 10 9 4
♠ Q 9 ♠ J 10 7 5 2
♥ Q J 8 5 N ♥ 10 9 3
W E
♦ 10 6 5 ♦ K Q J
S
♣ A 8 6 5 ♣ 7 3
♠ A 6 3
♥ K 7 4
♦ A 7 4 3
♣ Q J 2
Page 20 BRIDGE July 2014
Letters from Overseas
by John Barr
My partner and I bid to an optimistic
3NT and West led the queen of hearts.
Winning with the king, my partner
played on clubs and, when West won
the ace, he switched to a diamond.
Ducking two rounds of the suit set
up the ninth trick, so a lucky 3NT
was bid and made. The other Scottish
pair defended 1NT and somehow held
declarer to seven tricks.
Board 6 showed that a small
defensive slip can be very expensive.
♠ Q 8
♥ A 6 4
♦ A 10 8 2
♣ J 10 9 2
♠ 4 ♠ K 9 6 3
♥ J 10 8 2 N ♥ 7 5
W E
♦ J 6 4 3
S
♦ K Q 9 7
♣ A 8 5 4 ♣ Q 7 3
♠ A J 10 7 5 2
♥ K Q 9 3
♦ 5
♣ K 6
4♠ is easier to play, but my partner
and I reached a contract of four hearts.
West led the ♠4 (an obvious singleton
after I had opened 1♠) that went to the
queen, king and ace. I played three
rounds of trumps ending in dummy
and led the ♠8, which ran to West
who trumped. With the aid of the club
finesse and my trump entry to hand to
cash the spades, I had 11 tricks and a
top score on the hand.
Now let’s see what happens if West
declines to trump the spade. I would
still be in dummy and would play a
club (which West should duck unless
I play the king, to keep me out of my
hand). Let’s say the club trick goes jack,
queen, king and ace. West can draw the
last trump and he has only minor-suit
cards to play so I can never get back
to my hand to cash the four winning
spade tricks. Winning the trump trick
early allows declarer to make 11 tricks,
but holding off limits him to just 8
tricks. With some more good luck, my
partner and I finished second, just a
few match points ahead of our friends.
If you are a keen skier you can
download the Kitzbühel Alps Ski
Guide free at www.austriaskiguide.
com, or find the printed version on
Amazon. ■
 A Blast From the Past by Shireen Mohandes

Par
Contests
I
n the 30s and 40s and with Ely
Culbertson as a driving force, par
contests were popular national
and international events. In 1934,
over 90,000 players from over 70
countries took part in a single contest
– just imagine the administration
finance the BBL fund for international
matches. Robert Sheehan, former Dealer South. E/W Game.
correspondent for The Times and ♠ 10 3
silver medallist at the Bermuda Bowl ♥ K J 6
in 1987, told me that Reese said that it ♦ K Q 10 7 4 2
took as long to prepare a set of sixteen ♣ 9 2
par contest hands as it did to write a N

and operational complexities of bridge book. W E

S
conducting such a tournament in that The deals are presented here as
era. Significant cash prizes and grand declarer play problems, although ♠ K J 4
trophies were awarded. back then points were awarded for ♥ A 8 5 3 2
Over the years, the popularity of play, good bidding (or should we say ♦ A 6
this sort of event declined and by the good passing) and choosing the best ♣ K 7 6
mid 60s most of the regular national opening lead.
and international events dropped off Although modern day bidding
the calendar. The most famous recent differs considerably from the 50s – Recommended Auction (1956)
par contest, thought of as ‘a revival’, especially aggressive opening bids, West North East South
was in 1998, in Lille, where Michael take-out doubles, contested auctions 1♥
Rosenberg won the Jean Besse Trophy and conventions – on these two deals Pass 2♦ Pass 2NT1
and a $35,000 prize. Unlike the the recommended 1956 auction has Pass 3♥ Pass 3NT2
Culbertson era tournaments, only stood the test of time. All Pass
34 invited expert players took part
and they sat at computers which had
special programs that tracked the
time taken and cards played (that
is, they were playing against ‘three
other computers’ at the table). This
allowed everyone to be compared
fairly and equally, without any outside
influences, errors or interruptions.
The two deals in this article,
originally prepared by Terence Reese
and Harold Franklin, are from a par
contest back in June 1956.
The card fees were five shillings
per player, over and above the club
table money. The money raised was to Jean Besse Trophy, 1998. Bart Bramley (USA) – runner-up, Michael Rosenberg (USA) – winner, Eric Rodwell (USA) – third

BRIDGE July 2014 Page 21

 Par Contests continued
1
Playing a weak no-trump, South rebids 2NT
to show 15 to 18 points.
2
Some players would prefer to bid 4♥ hav-
ing found an eight-card major fit, but 3NT is
a good bid as the hearts are poor and the
♦A opposite partner’s suit represents an
alternative source of tricks.
Opening Lead: ♣5. East plays the
♣Q at trick one. Plan the play.
Analysis: With the club trick on the
opening lead, there are six top tricks.
A further three can be developed in
either hearts or diamonds – before
the opponents can get their hands on
enough defensive tricks in the black
suits to defeat the contract.
Which red suit should you try to
develop first? And which card should
you play at trick 2?
The diamond suit presents the better
chance of developing three extra
tricks. Any time the suit divides three-
two, or four-one with a singleton jack,
you are home. The heart suit needs
a three-two break with the queen
onside, which is less likely.
To combine both possibilities,
test the diamonds first, then fall
back on the hearts. But some
careful planning is needed. If the
diamonds misbehave, declarer
needs to take a first round heart
finesse, otherwise the South
hand won’t have a convenient
entry to run the hearts. So the
key point is that, if the diamonds
misbehave, declarer needs to
have one entry in the South hand
to finesse the jack of hearts and
one entry to enjoy the long heart
suit.
The only way to achieve this is
to start with the ♦6 at trick two.
After playing the ♦6 to the ♦K
and then a diamond back to the
ace, declarer will know enough
about diamonds behaving or
misbehaving. If they behave,
then the correct play would be
to cash the nine winners (and if the
♥Q happens to drop, then there’s an
overtrick in the bag).
But if the diamonds misbehave, then
Page 22 BRIDGE July 2014
declarer is well placed to try to develop
the heart suit and enjoy it.
This is a lovely simple hand that
even some very experienced players
might get wrong by playing too hastily
at trick two.
The full deal is:
♠ 10 3
♥ K J 6
♦ K Q 10 7 4 2
♣ 9 2
♠ A 8 6 2 ♠ Q 9 7 5
N
♥ Q 10 4 ♥ 9 7
W E
♦ 5 S ♦ J 9 8 3
♣ A J 8 5 3 ♣ Q 10 4
♠ K J 4
♥ A 8 5 3 2
♦ A 6
♣ K 7 6
The key trick is in red.
Reese and Franklin awarded points
in this manner: N/S get 4 points for
reaching 3NT and just 3 for 4♥. They
have available 4 points for making
the contract (so, they can earn at best
8 points). E/W can earn 1 point for
passing and a further one point for
leading a club (at best 2 points).
What is a par contest?
A par contest is a competition where, instead
of scoring matchpoints against the field, the
competitors are awarded pre-determined points
for taking the best action. The points can be
for bidding, opening lead, play or defence.
Sometimes the board comes with instructions,
prescribing the auction and a full instruction on
the opening lead and maybe the first few tricks.
How does it differ from a
simultaneous duplicate event?
In the modern day sims as they are sometimes
called, the matchpointing is done by computer,
across the whole field. With the use of
computers and the internet, it is possible to
achieve an overall winner fairly quickly. The
players are free to choose their own bids and
card play, just as in normal duplicates.
The second deal was considered a
bit harder – the most points N/S could
earn were 5 for reaching 6♥, and 5 for
making the slam.
Dealer East. E/W Game.
♠ A
♥ Q 6
♦ K 9 8 3
♣ A K 10 8 5 3
♠ K Q J 8 3 ♠ 7 6 4
N
♥ 8 7 5 2 W E ♥ 9 3
♦ 6 4 S ♦ Q J 10 2
♣ 7 6 ♣ Q J 9 2
♠ 10 9 5 2
♥ A K J 10 4
♦ A 7 5
♣ 4
Recommended Auction (1956)
West North East South
Pass 1♥
Pass 2♣1 Pass 2♥
Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT
Pass 4♥2 Pass 5♦3
Pass 6♥ All Pass
It was not commonplace then, nor is it now,
1
to jump shift on a two-suited hand. The
more room for constructive and informative
bidding, the better.
2
This very delayed heart support doesn’t
mean, ‘I give up, let’s play here.’ It shows a
strong hand and partner is invited to con-
tinue to explore slam with good hearts and
controls (a sort of delayed, delayed
game raise).
3
This is an excellent bid. Responder
can infer that partner doesn’t have a
spade control and yet is willing to risk
the 5 level. So he must have the ♦A
(rather than, say, shortage).
Contract: 6♥.
Opening Lead: ♠K.
Analysis: There are ten top
tricks. By far the best way to find
another two tricks is to establish
the club suit. The impulsive player
may win, draw trumps and then
rely on establishing the clubs with
just one ruff (that is, a 3-3 break,
or Q-J doubleton in clubs).
But is there a good line when
neither the clubs nor the hearts
are friendly? Yes, try to establish
just two extra club tricks.
The key play is to play ♣A, ♣K and
a small club, discarding spades. What
can the opponents do now? You can
win and arrange to ruff the fourth
 Par Contests continued
1956 was when …

l Sir Anthony Eden was

Prime Minister (but
DEFENCE
round of clubs high, draw
trumps (not caring that they
divide four-two) and then
not in good health;
and apparently he QUIZ
was prescribed ‘purple
travel to dummy using a
diamond to the ♦K. The two
hearts’ which are a by Julian Pottage
powerful combination
remaining clubs are win- of amphetamines
(Answers on page 32)
ners. Slam made. This ‘duck

Y
and barbiturates) ou are East in the defensive positions below at match-
the third round of clubs’ is
point pairs. It is your turn to play. Both sides are using
an unusual safety play and l British spies Guy
Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman.
easy to overlook. Burgess and Donald
Did you notice what Maclean resurfaced
happens if you ruff the in the Soviet Union
third club high instead of after being missing 1. ♠ K J 9 2 3. ♠ K Q 10 2
discarding? You can’t ruff for 5 years. ♥ K 6 4 ♥ K Q 9 6
the fourth round (because ♦ A Q 10 5 4 ♦ Q 8 5
l Elvis Presley entered ♣ 5 ♣ Q 5
the trumps don’t break) and
the USA music charts ♠ 10 6 ♠ 86
if you choose to discard on N N
for the first time, with ♥ A J 7 2 ♥ 732
the fourth round, then West W E W E
Heartbreak Hotel. S ♦ 7 6 3 S ♦ KJ743
will discard his last diamond
♣ A 9 8 4 ♣ A84
(the four) and East will give l The film Marty won
him a diamond ruff. the Oscar for best
This is the position after motion picture. West North East South West North East South
winning the lead and play- 1♦ Pass 1♠ 1NT
ing ♣A, ♣K and another l Heavyweight boxing
Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥
club, ruffing high in hand. champion Rocky
All Pass Pass 4♥ All Pass
Then back to dummy’s ♥Q. Marciano retired
without losing
Partner leads the ♣J and Partner leads the ♣3;
a professional you win with the ♣A. dummy plays low and you
♠ ­— boxing match. What do you return? win with the ♣A. What do
♥ 6
l Television broadcasting you return?
♦ K 9 8 3
commenced in
♣ 10 8 5
Australia.
♠ Q J 8 3 ♠ 7 6
N
♥ 8 7 5 W E ♥ 9 l Cecil B. DeMille’s
♦ 4 S ♦ Q J 10 2 epic film The Ten
­ ♣ — ♣ Q Commandments, 2. ♠ Q J 9 2 4. ♠ A K 9 3
♠ 10 9 starring Charlton ♥ Q J 9 6 ♥ A Q J 10 2
♥ A K J Heston as Moses, was ♦ A 10 5 ♦ 10 5
released in the USA. ♣ K 10 ♣ 9 2
♦ A 7 5
♠ 86 ♠ 10 8 4
♣ ­— N N
l Israel invaded the Sinai W E
♥ 10 7 2 W E ♥ 873
Peninsula and pushed S ♦ KJ73 S ♦ A973
Egyptian forces back ♣ A854 ♣ A85
Curiously, declarer can get
toward the Suez Canal.
home by ruffing the third
club low. If West overruffs, l Soviet troops invaded West North East South West North East South
you have enough trumps Hungary to crush a 1NT 1♥ Pass 1♠
to ruff the clubs good. revolt that started Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠
If he refuses to overruff, on October 23. Pass 4♠ All Pass All Pass
throwing a diamond, you Thousands were killed,
play ♦A and a diamond more were wounded Partner leads the ♣2; you Partner leads the ♣Q.
towards dummy’s king. and nearly a quarter take the ♣10 with the ♣A. What is your plan?
He can’t afford to ruff that of a million left the What do you return?
and beat air, so he has to let country. ■
you win ♦K. Now you can
crossruff twelve tricks.

BRIDGE July 2014 Page 23

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TION FOR 7 DAYS

 BERNARD MAGEE
Boxed Sets of six DVDs
Series 1
1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks
This seminar deals with declarer’s
use of ruffing to make extra tricks
and then looks at how the defenders
might counteract this. (74 mins.)
2 Competitive Auctions
This seminar focuses on competitive
auctions from the perspective of the
overcalling side and then from the
perspective of the opening side in
the second part. (86 mins.)
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 high cards. (83 mins.)
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 slam-
bidding techniques. (96 mins.)
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. (88 mins.)
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. (88 mins.)
Individual DVDs. £25 each.
Boxed Set of 6. £100.
PICK AND MIX. A BOX OF ANY 6. £105
Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961 email: mrbridge@mrbridge.co.uk
Page 26 BRIDGE July 2014
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. (95 mins.)
8 Losing Trick Count
A way 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. (92 mins.)
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. (87 mins.)
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. (93 mins.)
11 Signals & Discards
This seminar deals with Count,
Attitude and Suit-preference signals:
aiming to get you working as a
partnership in defence. (92 mins.)
12 Endplay
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. (80 mins.)
Individual DVDs. £25 each.
Boxed Set of 6. £100.
Series 3
13 Hand Evaluation
Going beyond just the point-count
is important if you want to improve.
Reaching & making 3NT on 24 HCP;
and avoiding 3NT on 26 HCP when
there are only 7 or 8 tricks. (110 mins.)
14 Pre-Emptive Bidding
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. (96 mins.)
15 Splinter & Cue-Bids
Take your slam bidding to another
level. Splinter bids are a vital tool to
add to your armoury & try your hand
at Italian style cue-bidding. (116 mins.)
16 Avoidance Play
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. (88 mins.)
17 Play & Defence at Pairs
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. (90 mins.)
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. (87 mins.)
Individual DVDs. £25 each.
Boxed Set of 6. £100.
 Julian Pottage answers your Frequently Asked Questions
Play Transfers?
A
transfer occurs when you bid
one suit to show length in an-
other suit, typically the suit
ranking immediately above the suit
you bid. The most common situation
for playing transfers is when partner
opens 1NT and you have five or more
cards in a major. Playing transfers, you
respond 2♦ to show hearts, 2♥ to show
spades. Opener normally bids the next
suit up, in other words, the suit you
have shown.
What are the advantages and
disadvantages to playing transfers? The
fact that if you play in a tournament
99% of the pairs will be playing
transfers tells you that the advantages
outweigh the disadvantages. Let us
start with those advantages.
The main advantage of a transfer is
that it gives responder two chances to
bid. A 1NT opening defines opener’s
shape and strength within a narrow
range, which means that responder
needs time to catch up. Since the
transfer guarantees responder the
chance to bid again, you get the
chance to show a second suit or extra
strength, for example:
Hand A Hand B Hand C
♠ A Q 9 7 3 ♠ A Q 9 7 3 ♠ A Q 9 7 3
♥ 9 6 5 ♥ 9 6 5 ♥ 9 4♥
♦ 7 ♦ K 7 ♦ K 7
♣ J 8 7 4 ♣ Q 10 4 ♣ K J 10 7 4
Playing transfers, with each of these
hands, you respond 2♥, showing
spades, if partner opens 1NT.
With Hand A, you pass opener’s
2♠ completion, reaching the same
contract you would have reached
playing a weak take-out.
With Hand B, you rebid 2NT (if the
opening showed 12-14). This shows
the values to invite game with only
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 27
Why Should I
five spades and a reasonably balanced
hand. Partner can then choose
whether to bid game (4♠ or 3NT) or
whether to alight in a part-score (3♠
or 2NT).
With Hand C, you rebid 3♣, which
is forcing. This will enable you to find
the best game, whether it is 3NT, 4♠
or 5♣. Without transfers, you would
be unable to show the club suit below
3NT, making it hard for partner to
judge what to do.
The other chief benefit of playing
transfers is that the opening hand
becomes declarer. The opening lead
will come up to what is often the
stronger hand – and that stronger
hand will remain concealed. This
benefit is greater playing a strong no-
trump, which increases the chance
that opener has a stronger hand than
responder does.
♠ 7 ♠ A K Q 9
♥ A J 10 7 6 3 N ♥ 8 4 2
W E
♦ 7 4 3 S ♦ K 5 2
♣ A K 10 ♣ J 9 3
You Partner
1NT
2♦ 2♥
Played from the East seat, with the
♦K protected, 4♥ will surely make. If
West declared, a diamond lead would
seriously endanger the heart game.
What are the disadvantages? A
minor one is that you cannot play in
2♦ using transfers. However, it is rare
that you would get the chance to play
in 2♦ anyway. If responder shows a
weak hand with a long minor, the
opponents will usually compete with
their majors.
The bigger disadvantage is that the
transfer gives the player in fourth
seat (to the right of the 1NT opener)
two chances to bid. For example, the
player in fourth seat can pass first time
with a hand that wishes to compete
but is relatively weak and can bid
immediately with a better hand. See
auctions 1 and 2 below.
Auction 1
West North East South
1NT Pass
2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass
Pass 2♠
Auction 2
West North East South
1NT Pass
2♦ 2♠
The player in fourth seat also has
the options to double the artificial
transfer bid, perhaps to show that
suit or maybe a hand that would
have doubled 1NT, or to cue bid
responder’s suit at the two level. In
Auction 3, North shows a take-out of
hearts. In Auction 4, depending upon
partnership agreement, North shows
either diamonds or a hand that would
have doubled 1NT.
Auction 3
West North East South
1NT Pass
2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass
Pass Dbl
Auction 4
West North East South
1NT Pass
2♦ Dbl
Since often the player in fourth seat
will not be bidding anyway, the gain
in giving responder two chances to bid
far outweighs the loss in giving that
opponent two chances to bid. ■
READERS’
LETTERS
COURT REPORTS
These jocular articles are
entertaining, but the author
should be aware of what
underlies the title Erehwon,
which Samuel Butler used
in his book over 140 years
ago to describe a country
– nowhere – in which the
creed is distributed to the
faithful on tablets as they
entered church. When they
left the church the tablets
were left behind. Indeed, the
precepts were observed only
whilst in church. By turning
around examples of social
and political behaviour in
Erehwon, Butler had a more
subtle way of criticising
British culture and practices
than Jonathan Swift as
his episodes in Gulliver’s
Travels became a more
and more outright vicious
attack on British society.
In Erehwon, the sick were
to be put in prison, which
the reader now reverses and
realises Butler is suggesting
that criminals perhaps need
treatment and not prison.
That the religious creed
should be left behind in
church is another example
of how Butler tries to get
his point across. It would
appear that this would not
REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR POSTAGE
as well as 1st and 2nd class (eg 2nd class: 100x37p+100x16p)
(/Fax 020 8422 4906 e-mail: clive.goff@londonrugby.com
Page 28 BRIDGE July 2014
be the correct interpretation
that your author wishes to
have applied for his articles
on best practice for bridge.
You may say, ‘How many
have read Butler?’ but I would
hope that as a principle
Victorian author and satirist,
he should deserve a rating
equal to that of Swift, Dickens
or even Shakespeare and
be found in any senior
school curriculum. Perhaps
an alternative to Erehwon
would sit more comfortably
with your readers.
Roger Grimsdick by email.
REPORTER REPLIES
I am duly mortified!
I have to admit not having
read Samuel Butler. I just
used the name Erehwon so
that nobody would get upset
if I used their town name.
Mr Grimsdick is clearly
much more widely read
than I (and I suspect than
most of our readers)
and I apologise if I have
done the wrong thing.
Richard Wheen,
Buckland, Surrey.
CARD GAME BOOKS
Once again I should like to
promote my new catalogue
of bridge books, magazines
Postage stamps for sale at 90% of face-value, all mint
with full gum. Quotations for commercial
quantities available on request.
Values supplied in 100s, higher values available
and other interesting items.
This is the third catalogue
and is now available.
Although there are many
items, one may be of special
interest. I have a set of
Jannersten bridge wallets,
numbered 1-64, complete
with cards. Although they
continue to be advertised by
Jannersten, the events which
require a full set of 64 must
be few and far between.
Gordon Bickley, Card
Game Books, Stockport.
( 07530 553594
gordonarf@aol.com
HEAR HEAR
Let us refute the common
perception that competitive
bridge is unfriendly: see
Christopher Dicker’s letter,
page 24, in BRIDGE 138.
It is perfectly possible to
play strictly to the rules
and simultaneously be
sociable and relaxed.
When I first attended a
duplicate club, I wanted to
play to the rules straight from
the start. If I transgressed,
I wanted to be told and
from being told, learn. The
rules are there to guarantee
fairness and to protect
players of all strengths. No
one needs to be unpleasant.
Sometimes I revoke and
am told, ‘Oh, put that card
back in your hand and
follow suit – it’s only friendly
bridge.’ I always decline,
otherwise we would need a
long discussion about which
other rules we were going to
ignore. I have illegally shown
a card to my partner and
there is a correct procedure. 
Friendly bridge can be
a euphemism for sloppy
bridge, often leading to
unfairness. Inexperienced
players sometimes correctly
alert a bid but immediately
explain it without being
asked. They are, probably
innocently, illegally giving
information to their partner. If
that’s too pedantic for some
people, I have a favourite
saying, ‘It’s friendly and fair
to play to the rules.’ They
have been honed over many
years and every single one
means exactly what it says.
Hurrah for David Stevenson.
Paul Habershon, Bedford.
ALL OF A DITHER
My husband is unable to
attend classes due to work
commitments. He has,
however, been able to pick
up enough bridge by himself
to play a reasonable game.
We play social bridge at
home whenever we can find
another pair. This can be
quite difficult on a regular
playing schedule. We would
like to improve our bridge
by playing regularly but
don’t think we are yet up
to duplicate standard.
Mrs Sabina de Gaston-
Cooper, Leigh, Surrey.
My advice is bite the bullet.
Club secretaries should drop
her an email with days and
times. Her email address is
sabina@pristinedata.co.uk
WHAT OFFERS
I am treasurer of Hitchin
Bridge Club. We have
recently updated our
Bridgemate system and have
about 30 Mark 1 handsets
looking for a new home. The
server has failed, but these
handsets could be useful to
a club looking for extras or
spares. Indeed, a club might
buy a new server and use
these to get up and running
for an affordable outlay. No
READERS’ LETTERS
continued
reasonable offer refused.
Robert Girvan, Hitchin,
Herts. ( 01462 433750
r.girvan@ntlworld.com
HERE’S YOUR CHANCE
You said in the last issue
of BRIDGE that the party
to Croatia was very small.
I would have gone on that
holiday, but I had already
booked a cruise with First for
Bridge. I would be interested
in hearing the feedback from
the trip this year, enjoyment
factor, weather etc. as I
would like to book next time.
Margaret Johnson,
Solihull, West Midlands.
Bernard Magee’s report
is on its way to you.
PRESS COVERAGE
There was a wonderful
article on the etiquette of
bridge in a recent issue of the
popular national newspaper,
Scotland on Sunday. This
was headlined, Just the Trick
when the Card Sharps cut up
Ruff, written by Shan Ross.
Behaviour has become
so bad that the SBU has
launched a ‘Better Behaviour
at Bridge’ campaign.
Fran Bennie,
Camberley, Surrey.
Thank you for letting me
know about this. It is not
often we see Scotland follow
the example of the English.
GOFFIE STAMPS
Readers should beware when
purchasing Clive Goff’s
discounted stamps that the
glue is not always effective.
A number of recipients of
my correspondence have
now told me they have
received letters from me
without postage on them.
Pat Fairs by email.
I have purchased thousands
of stamps from Mr Goff over
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 29
the years and have only
very rarely encountered this
problem. I think you may
just have been unlucky.
BETTER FOCUS
Just to say that I am finding
the Bernard Magee DVDs
I purchased very useful.
However, I would be reluctant
to buy any more if the
camera work remains the
same. I want to look at the
hands or Bernard, not the
audience. Other purchasers
I have spoken to also feel
irritated at the frequent
views of the audience... one
person’s comment was, ‘this
should not be a comedy
show.’ You probably never
get to hear these comments,
so I felt it was only fair
to pass on our views.
June Baguley by email.
CONFUSED
I am afraid that the article
about Revokes in the
June issue of BRIDGE has
left me confused. In the
paragraph, ‘If the revoke
is not established,’ it says,
‘subsequent cards played
by the revoking side,’ but
surely only one subsequent
card may be played by the
revoking side before the
revoke is established? In the
next paragraph but one, it
says, ‘In some cases, the
revoke makes no difference
and any automatic tricks
are to penalise the revoker.’
What does this mean?
What are automatic tricks
and how is the revoker to
be penalised? In the next
paragraph, it refers to a
revoke, but does not say who
the revoker is. Is it declarer?
I suggest the article be
rewritten, more precisely,
less chattily, with a summary
on the lines of, ‘If..., then...’
Peter Calviou by email.
I have sent this to David
Stevenson for his comments.
Watch this space.
‘Littlewood’s Law’ and the Coughing Doctors
I have been reading some interesting non-bridge articles
on the web recently and realised that they may be relevant
to the German bridge champions who were stripped of
their title for cheating.
John Littlewood was a distinguished mathematician in the
first half of the last century. His law states that an ordinary
person is likely to encounter a ‘miracle’ about once a
month. A miracle is defined as a one-in-a-million event
(Wikipedia, Littlewood’s Law, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Littlewood%27s_law). He was saying that you will encounter
highly unlikely events far more often than you expect.
I learnt about this law in an interesting article on
cheating in chess (KW Regan, Littlewood’s Law, Why it may
take a ‘miracle’ to catch some cheaters, http://rjlipton.
wordpress.com/2013/09/17/littlewoods-law/). The trouble
is that a good computer can beat almost all chess players,
so that if a player can link to a computer secretly for
advice, they have a major advantage. One way of
detecting cheating would be to look at the type of moves a
player makes. Computers play chess with a different style
to humans. You can test whether a chess player makes a
computer-like series of moves (or a bridge player gives an
unusual series of coughs). The trouble is that Littlewood’s
Law suggests that you see the apparently unusual far more
often than you expect. From time to time you should expect
to find computer-like chess moves or a pattern of coughing
that mirrors a perfectly innocent bridge player’s play.
Another article is by David Colquhoun, the scourge of
quack medicine, (D Colquhoun, On the hazards of
significance testing. Part 1: the screening problem, DC’s
improbable science, http://www.dcscience.net/?p=6473). If
you screen everyone for a rare disease and your test has an
error rate, most of the cases you detect will be people who
do not have the disease. The low number of wrong results
in the very large number of people who do not have the
disease will be greater than the correct results for the small
number of people who do have the disease. Similarly, a
suspicious pattern of coughing should be more likely to
have occurred by chance among the large number of
players who are not cheating, than among the small
number of players who are. I don’t know whether or not the
German doctors cheated. But if cheating is rare in top level
bridge, then my guess would be that they are most likely
victims of a Littlewood coincidence. If, on the other hand
cheating is rife, then I would guess they may well be guilty.
I am sure that the bridge authorities know the odds of
picking up a hand with a 5-3-3-2 distribution perfectly, but
do they understand equally well the implications of
Littlewood’s Law and just how hard it is to detect a real, but
rare effect against a random background?
Michael Green by email.
PS. An example of Littlewood’s Law: my brother, who lives in
Sydney, went on a cruise recently from the USA to Australia.
When I sat down to bridge last week, I discovered that my
partner was just back from the same cruise. ■
 CHARITY EVENTS
JULY
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Page 30 BRIDGE July 2014
OCTOBER continued
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cooked lunch with wine and a
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22 THE FRIENDS OF
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 Beginners’ Bridge Corner
Mary’s Seventh Lesson
T
he mentors had
guided the North/
Souths on each of the
four tables into bidding the
same contract, ie 4♠. East
(Mary) and West (Joan)
were the defenders at their
table. Mary was on lead.
What had Alasdair said
about leads? ‘Lead low for
like, high for hate. Always
lead a singleton but never a
doubleton. Lead from top of
a run, ie KQJ.’ Mary looked
at her hand again. She had
a doubleton but she didn’t
have a singleton. She didn’t
have a run. Ah, wait a minute
she did have an honour in
hearts, the ♥Q. Decision
made. Play could commence.
Mary led the ♥4 – low for
like. Joan would know she
had an honour in hearts..
Dummy’s hand went on the
table. Declarer announced,
‘Thank you, partner,’ and
was already counting top
tricks. Ummm! More than a
bit disappointing. Why on
earth had partner accepted
declarer’s invitation to
game with not enough
points? Declarer was trying
hard not to scowl or to
give anything away either
with his facial or body
language. But declarer was
In a suit contract, you can make extra tricks if the hand with the
shorter trumps has a void, singleton or doubleton in another suit.
Play the other suit first and then ruff the losers before drawing trumps.
The defence should lead trumps at every opportunity if they
see that declarer is trying to make tricks by ruffing losers.
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 31
by Liz Dale
not happy, he could see he
was going to go two down.
The play ended and yes,
exactly as declarer thought,
down two, -100, non vulner-
able, -50 for each trick down.
Alasdair waited for the last
table to finish playing out the
4♠ contract. The illustrated
hand was then shown
highlighted on the smart
board in large colourful
numbers and lettering.
Contract: 4♠. Three of the
tables had gone down one
trick, with Mary and Joan’s
North/South opponents
going down two tricks.
The delights of ruffing
were then spelt out to Mary
and the group. The North/
South declarers were left
in no doubt that in fact the
4♠ contract was make-
able with skilful play using
the ruffing technique.
Alasdair explained how it
works. ‘If you have a short-
age, maybe a void, singleton
or a doubleton in dummy, in
a suit other than the trump
suit, then, as long as you
lead the short suit before you
draw trumps, you could use
dummy’s trumps to make an
extra trick by trumping the
now void suit. However, if you
draw trumps straight away,
you have lost that chance.’
Alasdair played out the 4♠
contract on the smart board
with declarer making the
contract by using the trumps
in dummy to ruff diamonds
after the singleton diamond
in dummy had been played.
Mary found this quite excit-
ing. She really liked this for-
mula. Yes, she was definitely
going to practise this one.
Was it really as easy as this?
Alasdair said, ‘The secret of
its success was that declarer
had to identify when count-
ing his top tricks that his extra
tricks were going to come
from dummy’s ruffs and
plan the play accordingly. If
declarer didn’t work this out
in the planning stage, then
the contract would go down.’
Alasdair asked the group,
’How could the defenders,
East and West, have
sabotaged this technique?’
Quick as a flash, Mary heard
herself saying out loud,
‘Lead trumps.’ Alasdair said,
‘Yes, that’s right. Well done,
Mary.’ Mary beamed with
embarrassment. She found
it hard to believe she had
been the first to give the right
answer. Unbelievable! She
couldn’t wait to tell Liam and
Anne. ■
Better Hand
Evaluation
Bernard Magee
Introduction
Better Hand Evaluation is
aimed at helping readers to
add greater accuracy to their
bidding. It deals with auctions
in which you and your partner,
against silent opponents, can
describe your hands fully to
each other and, by evaluating
them accurately, find the best
final contract. The emphasis of
all good, accurate bidding is on
hand evaluation.
There are two general types of
auction: a) a fit is found and b)
no fit is found.
When you do not have a fit,
you are aiming to describe the
strength of your hand as soon
as possible, most often using
no-trump bids. This book 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 UK postage
See Mail Order Form
on page 7.
 Answers to Julian Pottage’s 
Defence Quiz on page 23
West North East South way of beating the contract. If partner
1. ♠ K J 9 2 1NT holds ♦A-x, a switch to the suit will give
♥ K 6 4 Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ your side the first four tricks. Do you risk
♦ A Q 10 5 4 Pass 4♠ All Pass this?
♣ 5 Unless you are desperate for a top, you
♠ 5 4 ♠ 10 6 Partner leads the ♣2; you take the ♣10 should not return a diamond. Partner
N
♥ 10 8 3 ♥ A J 7 2 with the ♣A. What do you return? could hold any of the ♠A, ♥A and ♣K
W E
♦ J 9 8 S ♦ 7 6 3 You face a similar choice. Do you rather than the ♦A.
♣ K J 10 7 3 ♣ A 9 8 4 attack with a diamond switch, trying Even if partner holds the ♦A, declarer
♠ A Q 8 7 3 to beat the contract, or do you defend may hold a doubleton. If you return a
♥ Q 9 5 passively? diamond and declarer has the ♦A, you
♦ K 2 For the diamond switch to work, have said goodbye to your ♦K. Just
♣ Q 6 2 partner needs the ♦Q and no more than return the ♣8.
two cards with it. Moreover, as the ♣Q
with declarer would provide a discard
West North East South for one of dummy’s diamonds, partner
1♦ Pass 1♠ needs the ♣Q too. While this is possible, 4. ♠ A K 9 3
Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ the odds are against it. Often, South ♥ A Q J 10 2
All Pass will hold more than 12 points or hold a ♦ 10 5
minor-suit queen. ♣ 9 2
Partner leads the ♣J and you win with the The busy diamond switch is more likely ♠ 7 ♠ 10 8 4
N
♣A. What do you return? to give away an overtrick than to defeat ♥ K 6 4 W E ♥ 8 7 3
Do you play to beat the contract or the contract. ♦ J 8 6 S ♦ A 9 7 3
do you try to stop declarer from making Exit with the ♠6. ♣ Q J 10 7 4 3 ♣ A 8 5
overtricks? ♠ Q J 6 5 2
If partner holds the ♠A and the ♥Q, a ♥ 9 5
trump switch is best. Partner can win and ♦ K Q 4 2
switch to a heart. Of course, that layout 3. ♠ K Q 10 2 ♣ K 6
is unlikely: declarer will often hold more ♥ K Q 9 6
than 11 points; partner might hold the ♦ Q 8 5
wasted ♣K or ♦K. At matchpoints, you ♣ Q 5 West North East South
should cash the ♥A at trick two, ensuring ♠ A 7 5 4 ♠ 8 6 1♥ Pass 1♠
a second defensive trick. Declarer cannot ♥ 10 8 N ♥ 7 3 2 Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠
W E
then make 12 tricks via five spades, five ♦ 10 6 S ♦ K J 7 4 3 All Pass
diamonds and two club ruffs. ♣ J 9 7 3 2 ♣ A 8 4
♠ J 9 3 Partner leads the ♣Q. What is your plan?
♥ A J 5 4 For a start, you take the ♣A. The big
♦ A 9 2 heart suit in dummy means you need
2. ♠ Q J 9 2 ♣ K 10 6 to take tricks quickly. On this deal, it is
♥ Q J 9 6 clear which suit to return: diamonds.
♦ A 10 5 For beating the contract, leading low is
♣ K 10 West North East South best. Declarer might hold the K-J and
♠ 7 5 4 ♠ 8 6 1NT misguess, letting partner’s queen score.
♥ A 8 3 N ♥ 10 7 2 Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ There might also be a trump promotion
W E
♦ 8 6 4 S ♦ K J 7 3 Pass 4♥ All Pass if partner holds a doubleton diamond
♣ Q 9 7 2 ♣ A 8 5 4 honour.
♠ A K 10 3 Partner leads the ♣3; dummy plays low The big risk is that declarer has no
♥ K 5 4 and you win with the ♣A. What do you guess or guesses correctly, in which
♦ Q 9 2 return? case you may well lose your ♦A. At
♣ J 6 3 Once more, you face a matchpoint matchpoints, this risk is too great. Start
decision. This time, you can see a simple diamonds with the ♦A. ■

Page 32 BRIDGE July 2014

 Bridge and Travel Tips

DECLARER
JUST GUESSING
PLAY Bridge tip from Sally Brock: Just because you
know that you are guessing is no reason to
QUIZ tell your opponents that you are guessing.

I
f you play with confidence, a diamond. If you wait until
by David Huggett you may get away with then to do your thinking,
anything. you will probably think for
(Answers on page 39)
Here is a deal from a pairs a little and play one of your
tournament: honours. Now it will be a

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

In each case, what is your play strategy?
simple matter for West to
cash his remaining minor-
♠ J 8 6 5 suit tricks to hold you to nine
♥ A Q 10 4 2 tricks.
1. ♠ A 8 6 4 3. ♠ K 9 7 2 ♦ 8 7 What you should do is
♥ K 9 7 ♥ K 10 3 ♣ 6 5 decide what you are going
♦ A 7 6 ♦ A 7 4 2 ♠ 10 3 2 N ♠ Q to play on the diamond after
♥ J 5 W E ♥ K 6 you win trick one. (And,
♣ J 9 7 ♣ K 5 S
♦ A Q 9 5 ♦ 10 6 4 2 generally, you should play
N ♣ A Q 9 3 ♣ J 10 8 7 the opening leader to hold
N
W E
W E 4 2 the ace – because he might
S
S
♠ A K 9 7 4 have led a diamond at trick
♥ 9 8 7 3 one if he had the queen,
♠ K 2 ♠ A Q J 10 8 3
♦ K J 3 but would never do so if he
♥ A 6 5 ♥ J 5
♣ K had the ace.) At one table,
♦ J 9 4 ♦ Q 10 declarer decided that he was
♣ A Q 10 8 2 ♣ A 9 3 going to try to make as many
Most pairs in the field played tricks as possible. When the
in a spade part-score. diamond came back, he
You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 4♠ and Generally, West led a trump played the king without a
and West leads the ♦5. West leads the ♦8. How to the queen and king. So flicker. West assumed that
How do you plan the play? do you plan the play? you make your plan. You are there was no guess. Wanting
going to draw trumps and to put his partner in to lead
play a heart to the queen. a club, West underled his
If it holds, you may make a queen of diamonds and
lot of tricks, but suppose it declarer made eleven tricks
2. ♠ Q 7 6 2 4. ♠ A 7 4 loses and East plays back for an outright top. ■
♥ 8 3 ♥ J 9 2
♦ A 9 3 ♦ A 6 4
♣ A K 9 8 ♣ K 9 7 2 Travel tip from Emma Thomson:

T
N here are two types of travellers: those who
N
W E
W E research a destination prior to leaving and
S
S those who prefer spontaneity. The latter can
be fun, but it can also cause unnecessary delays,
♠ J 10 9 8 3 ♠ 8 6 disappointments and expenses. So try to check the
♥ K Q J ♥ A K Q basics:
♦ K 7 6 ♦ K 7 3 2 1 What’s the local currency and are you required to
♣ 6 2 ♣ A J 6 4 pay any airport taxes in that denomination?
2 What plug-socket format is in use and do you re-
quire an adapter?
You are declarer in 4♠ and You are declarer in 3NT
3 Any essential etiquette rules, eg: tipping?
West leads the ♦Q. How and West leads the ♠K.
do you plan the play? How do you plan the play? 4 When are the public holidays? Sites of interest may
be closed on these dates.

BRIDGE July 2014 Page 33

 Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions
Q
Last night, my
partner opened
1♣. With 6
points and 5 hearts, I
responded 1♥. She then
bid 2♦. Having 3 cards
in each minor, I passed.
My partner maintained
that her change of suit
was forcing. She had 6
clubs and 4 diamonds
and 16 points. My clubs
were better than my
diamonds, I had K-Q-
4, but I had no way
of knowing that she
had extra strength.
I did my sums and
passed. Was I wrong?
Jean Barclay,
Lamlash, Isle of Arran.
A Q
When your
partner reverses,
bidding clubs
before diamonds, she
tells you two things.
The first thing is that her
first suit is longer. With
equal length, you need to
put her back to her first
suit because that will give
your side a better fit.
The second thing is that
she has extra values; with
a minimum opening bid,
partner simply repeats her
first suit. Indeed, it is usual
these days to play the reverse
as forcing for one round.
Page 34 BRIDGE July 2014
Is a Reverse
Forcing?
This means you cannot pass
2♦ even if your hand were
such as to suggest that her
second suit offers a better
fit. If, for example, you had
4 diamonds and 2 clubs,
you would raise to 3♦.
♣♦♥♠
Q
My partner and
I play Benjamin-
ised Acol with
a 12-14 no-trump and
an opening bid of 2NT
showing a balanced
19-20 HCP. We also play
that after two bids at
the one level, opener’s
rebids of 1NT and 2NT
indicate 15-16 HCP and
17-18 HCP respectively,
instead of the 15-17 and
18-19 ranges used in
standard Acol, on the
grounds that with 19
HCP, we would usually
open 2NT. Would you ad-
vise us to change to the
standard Acol ranges?
Ken Brown, Edinburgh.
A
General opinion is
that 3 point ranges
are fine for 1NT
openings – you have room
to invite game over 1NT
– but that a 2 point range
is better for 2NT openings
(or rebids after an artificial
2♣/2♦ opening). The 20-22
range is a bit of a weakness
in the Acol system. Many
Americans play a 20-21
point range for 2NT.
When I play Benjamin, the
usual ranges are as follows:
12-14 open 1NT
15-17 rebid 1NT
18-19 jump to 2NT
20-21 open 2♣, rebid 2NT
22-23 open 2NT
24+ open 2♦, rebid 2NT+
Some invert the 2NT
and 2♣ sequences, 20-
21 for the former and
22-23 for the latter.
♣♦♥♠
You mention that
it is rare to use
a 3♥ response
over a 1♣ opening as a
pre-empt. What would
you advise me to say
to a beginner group
who has learnt that
you always bid three
with a weak hand and
seven cards – regardless
of partner’s bid?
Bruce Paul by email
A
If your partner opens
the bidding and at
least one opponent
has passed (both opponents
will have passed if partner’s
opening was in second seat),
there is far less need to strain
to cut out the opponents than
in other types of auction.
To justify double jumping,
your bid needs to give an
accurate description of your
hand, say 6-8 points and
a good seven-card suit.
This is assuming you are
teaching your group Acol
with a weak no-trump.
If you are playing a
strong no-trump and a
prepared club, you have a
little more latitude because
a 1♣ opening will often be
a weak no-trump hand. In
this case, responder will
have a better idea whether
game is possible and might
pre-empt with a weaker suit
or weaker hand depending
upon the vulnerability.
♣♦♥♠
Q
Two EBU books
state that when
responder is
weak (6-9 points),
he needs six cards
in a suit to repeat it.
Neither explains why
you would not repeat
a five-card suit. Please
could you do so?
Kevin Dawson,
Church Minshull, Cheshire.

Ask Julian continued
A
There are
three possible
scenarios here:
(i) opener has opened
and repeated a suit
(eg 1♥-1♠-2♥)
(ii) opener has opened
one suit and rebid in
another (eg 1♦-1♥-1♠)
(iii) opener has opened one
suit and rebid in no-
trumps (eg 1♥-1♠-1NT)
In case (i), opener has
promised five-cards and
will often have six. To justify
continuing the bidding with
a weak hand, responder
will need a better suit than
opener has. Clearly, a
five-card suit will not do the
job because opener has
already guaranteed five
and will often have six.
In case (ii), opener has
promised five cards in one
suit and four in another.
This leaves only four cards
between the remaining
suits. The odds are that
responder’s longest suit
coincides with opener’s
shortest suit. So repeating a
five-card suit will often land
you in a 5-1 non-fit or a 5-2
partial fit. Note that giv-
ing preference to opener’s
first suit or rebidding 1NT
does not preclude finding a
5-3 fit in responder’s suit.
Opener may be planning to
show three-card support for
responder’s suit on the next
round (eg 1♦-1♥-1♠-1NT-2♥).
In case (iii), opener has
indicated a balanced hand.
If responder is balanced too
(5332), no-trumps may play
better, especially as a suit
contract will involve raising
the level. If responder has
a second suit (so 5422 or
5431), it will often be in
order for responder to bid
again – but by introducing
the second suit rather
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 35
than repeating the first.
Yes, once in a while, you
will miss a 5-3 fit if you
wait for a six-card suit to
rebid. However, the majority
of the time, the policy
will be a winning one.
♣♦♥♠
Q
When opener
bids 1NT then
is doubled by
the opposition, can the
opener’s partner still
use transfers or a weak
take-out? I thought
a weak take-out was
better, but was told a
transfer can still be used.
Doreen Parrington,
Lytham St Annes.
A
It is a matter
of partnership
agreement whether
you play the same system
after a double as without.
The advantage with transfers
is that the doubler will often
end up on lead, though the
transfer itself will give the
other opponent an extra
chance to enter the auction.
If you do use transfers,
you can use redouble as a
transfer to clubs and 2♣ as
a transfer to diamonds.
♣♦♥♠
Q A
Is the weak
take-out bid
applicable over
an opening bid of 2NT?
Mairead Flanagan, Dublin.
A
The traditional
meaning of a 3♥
or 3♠ response to
2NT is natural and forcing.
To stop in a partscore you
would need to use the
Flint convention, whereby
a response of 3♦ would
demand 3♥ from opener;
then you would pass
with hearts or convert
to 3♠ with spades.
These days transfers are a
much more popular way to
cover these hands. You can
respond 3♦ to show hearts
(or 3♥ to show spades)
whatever your strength. If
you want to offer a choice
between 3NT and four of a
major, you transfer into your
major and rebid 3NT. If you
have a very weak hand, you
can transfer into your major
and pass, thereby getting
the best of both worlds.
♣♦♥♠
Q
My friend says
that he learnt
Gerber and
would like to know why it
is discouraged nowadays
since it keeps the
bidding at a lower level.
Daphne Marks,
Radlett, Herts.
A
A successful small
slam contract
requires a
number of ingredients:
(i) the playing strength
to generate 12 tricks
(ii) a suitable trump suit
(or a lot of high cards
for no-trumps)
(iii) first or second round
control in each suit
(so that the opponents
cannot cash the first two
tricks in a single suit)
(iv) either all four aces
or three aces plus a
no-loser trump suit
An ace or key card enquiry
addresses step (iv). You
really want to check steps
(i), (ii) and (iii) before
you deal with (iv).
You cannot usually identify
all of (i), (ii) and (iii) before
you get to 4♣, whereas often
you can by 4NT. In addition,
a 4♣ bid has numerous other
possible uses. Some of the
other possible uses, such as
a cue bid or a splinter, are
useful in identifying that the
other ingredients are present.
Q
I have been
playing negative
doubles like this:
1♥-(1♠)-Dbl
showing 4-4 minors
1♣-(1♦)-Dbl
showing 4-4 majors
1♣-(1♥)-Dbl
Showing 4 spades
1♣-(1♠)-Dbl
showing 4 hearts
Is this normal?
If the bidding goes
1♣-(1♦)-1♥/1♠ is this
OK if you have only
a 4-card major?
Bernard Coffey, Altrincham.
A
What you suggest
looks very normal to
me. In answer to
your supplementary
question, it is usual to play
that after 1♣-(1♦), double
shows both majors, so you
can bid 1♥ or 1♠ with only
four cards in the suit.
♣♦♥♠
Q
Is it common to
use Stayman
after a 1NT
overcall as opposed
to a 1NT opening?
I am not familiar
with the method.
Paul Mathers by email.
Traditionally,
Stayman did not
apply after a 1NT
overcall. If you wanted to
look for a 4-4 fit in the
unbid major(s), you would
cue bid opener’s suit.
However, that was in the
days when most people
used a weak take-out
rather than transfers.
Many players who use
Stayman and transfers play
the same after a 1NT overcall
as after a 1NT opening.
This keeps things simple
and avoids a strain on the
memory.
 Ask Julian continued
Q
I was South,
playing
duplicate and
held this hand:
♠ K J 6
♥ A
♦ A 8 6 3
♣ A Q 7 5 2
When West opened 1♣,
I did not know where to
go next. A double would
be inappropriate with
short major holdings
and 2♣ would not be a
natural bid. I bid 1NT
(seemed like the least
incorrect of all evils).
My partner bid 2♦,
intended as a transfer
to hearts. Not having as
many hearts as partner
would expect, I bid 2NT.
We finished in 3♥.
How would you
have bid?
Andy Robertshaw, Bridgend.
A
You have said that
West opened 1♣ and
that you were South
but made no mention of bids
in between. This is material.
If, in fact, East opened
1♣, your 1NT overcall
seems reasonable. 18
points is a fraction more
than partner expects but
your poor intermediates
(no mention of a 9 or 10 in
your diagram) mean you
can treat the hand as 17.
If West opened 1♣ and two
passes followed, you are too
good for a protective 1NT.
When you are in the re-
opening position, your bids
show about 3 points fewer
than in the direct position.
In this case, you are far too
good for a 1NT overcall and
must start with a double.
Page 36 BRIDGE July 2014
If you overcall 1NT and
partner makes a 2♦ transfer,
whether it is sensible to bid
2NT depends upon how your
partner is likely to understand
the bid. If you have agreed
that the bid shows an off-
shape 1NT overcall with a
singleton in partner’s major,
bidding 2NT is fine. Many
players, however, play the
same system after a 1NT
overcall as they would after
a 1NT opening, in which
case bidding 2NT is unwise.
Partner will take you for a
maximum with four hearts
or a maximum with
three hearts, whatever
transfer breaks normally
show for you.
♣♦♥♠
Q
1 Our opponents
were playing a
system whereby
with a weak hand 2♦
showed both majors,
while 2♥ showed hearts
and a minor, 2♠ spades
and a minor. Does
this have a name?
2 Our hands were:
♠ A K 4 ♠ 9 5 2
♥ A Q 6 N ♥ 10 7 3
W E
♦ A J 8 4 S ♦ 9 5 3 2
♣ K 5 4 ♣ 9 6 3
West North East South
2♦*
Dble Pass Pass 2♥
2NT End
*see above
I went two off for an
average score. How
should the bidding
have gone?
Alun Williams,
Llanfairpwll, Anglesey.
A
1. 2♦ to mean a weak
major two-suiter is a
Norwegian 2♦. Using
2♥ and 2♠ as weak major/
minor two-suiters is Lucas.
2. You bid quite well I
think. With 21 HCP, albeit a
poor 21, you are too good
to overcall 2NT the first time.
You could perhaps double a
second time if your partner
would take that as penalty
orientated. It was unlucky to
find partner with so little. I
imagine that at other tables
South passed and West
opened 2NT, which explains
why your score was average.
♣♦♥♠
Q
I learnt to bid
the higher
ranking of two
equal length suits. An
article, by June Booty,
in the EBU magazine
supports this, yet ‘Bridge
for Bright Beginners’
by Hugh Kelsey and
Andrew Kambites say the
opposite: bid the lower
of touching 4-card suits
in a balanced hand ie
diamonds before hearts.
Which is correct?
Bill Hogan, St. Helens.
A
Different rules
apply depending
upon whether your
suits of equal length are
four cards or longer.
With two four-card suits,
you are going to have a
balanced hand (unless you
have a third four-card suit)
so you will be thinking about
no-trumps if you do not
have a 4-4 fit – you do not
intend to bid both suits. By
keeping the bidding low,
bidding the lower suit, you
give your partner a chance
to bid your other four-card
suit. This is why, with 4-4 in
the majors, you respond (or
open) 1♥ rather than 1♠.
With two five-card suits
(or two six-card suits – you
will not have those very
often), you intend to bid both
your suits. By bidding the
higher suit first, you keep
the bidding lower. Suppose
the bidding starts 1♥-1NT-
2♦. Partner has the option
to let you play in 2♥ or 2♦.
However, if the bidding
started 1♦-1NT-2♥, playing
in 2♦ would be impossible.
With a four-card major
and a four-card minor, (this
must be the red suits if the
suits are touching), opinions
vary about which suit to bid
first. Some say that opener
should bid the major. Others
say that opener should bid
the lower suit and responder
should try to bid the major.
It does not matter too much
whether the onus is on
opener to bid the four-card
major or whether it is on
responder – the important
thing is that one of you does.
In Standard American
and some versions of
tournament Acol, opener
does not open (or rarely
opens) four-card majors, so
responder has to bid them.
In Standard English,
as you quote and as
Bernard teaches, opener
bids the major, in which
case responder does not
need to strain to do so.
♣♦♥♠
Q
I have The
Times software
series. South
(the computer) held:
♠ 10 8 7 6
♥ Q 8 3
♦ J 8 5 4 2
♣ K
West North East South
1♥ Pass 1NT
I am at a loss to
understand why South
would respond 1NT. Can
you clarify please?
Brian Swallow by email.
 Ask Julian continued
A
Bridge software
often relies on rigid
rules. It could be that
the programmer specified
you have to have a picture
card in a suit to make it
biddable (ruling out 1♠)
and that you have to have
four-card support to raise
(ruling out 2♥). Most experts
would raise to 2♥, while
many club players would
bid 1♠. I agree that very few
humans would bid 1NT.
♣♦♥♠
Q
A fellow player
has advised that
when playing
a weak no-trump (12-
14) at rubber bridge,
when vulnerable one
should not open 1NT.
If partner has a bust,
one is likely to go down
a bundle, especially if
doubled. Is this correct?
Brian Cooper, N W London.
A
The advice you have
received makes
no sense. What
is the point of playing a
1NT opening that you are
not going to use? A 1NT
opening is a very useful
bid: it describes both the
shape and the strength of
your hand to your partner,
often making it easy to find
the best contract. Moreover,
since the opponents cannot
overcall at the one level,
it makes it difficult for the
opponents to enter the
auction and/or find their best
contract. Besides, if you have
a 1NT opening and fail to
make it, you will often leave
E-mail your questions for Julian to:
julianpottage@mrbridge.co.uk
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 37
yourself an impossible rebid.
Originally, Acol featured
a variable no-trump, weak
The Olde Barn Hotel
non-vulnerable and strong Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT
vulnerable. If your partner
does not like opening
a weak no-trump when
vulnerable, it would be much
more productive to play a
variable no-trump than to
waste the 1NT opening,
by not using it at all.
♣♦♥♠
Q
I read, ‘eight
ever – nine
never,’ relating
to a missing queen.
I also read, ‘an even
number of missing cards
– the split will be odd 11-13 July Just Duplicate Bridge £169
most of the time; an odd Sheila Rogers
number of missing cards
– the split will be even
1-3 August Just Duplicate Bridge £169
most of the time.’ While
Patrick Dunham
I know these comments
are only guides, they do
seem to be contradictory.
29-31 August Rubber / Chicago
Which is correct? Diana Holland £169
Jacqueline Darts by email.
12-14 September Just Duplicate Bridge £169
A
You are quite right Sheila Rogers
that with four cards
missing, a 3-1 break 26-28 September Declarer Play £179
is initially more likely than Gwen Beattie
a 2-2 break (48% for the
former, 40% for the latter). 10-12 October Endplay & Avoidance £245
However, the reason why Bernard Magee
you play for the drop on the
second round is that once
the queen does not drop
17-19 October Just Duplicate Bridge £169
on the first round you can
Patrick Dunham
rule out a quarter of the 3-1
breaks (those in which the
queen is singleton). So that 31 Oct – 2 Nov Just Duplicate Bridge £169
reduces the chance of a 3-1 June Dixon and Carol Fisher
break to 36%, below the
40% chance of a 2-2 break. 14-16 November Doubles £179
There is no contradiction Will Parsons
– it is simply a matter of
taking into account the new 28-30 November Just Duplicate Bridge £169
information that the queen is Michael Haytack
not singleton. ■
Full Board - No Single Supplement
Booking Form on page 8.
 2014 with Jeremy Dhondy, Chairman of the EBU
July 2014:
We are the Champions
N
ational Teams create con-
troversy amongst the public.
Who hasn’t selected a better
cricket team than the selectors? Who
couldn’t pick a better football team for
the World Cup than Roy Hodgson?
Despite them not picking our team, we
will likely watch, especially if the team
do well. Sometimes (and for football
possibly not since 1966) we will have
pride in what they do and how well
they achieve. I was lucky enough to be
in Australia in 2010/11 watching when
England finally won a test series there.
In other sports, we can feel a patriotic
stir and become temporary curling
fans when the GB teams do well.
What is it like in bridge? Until
relatively recently, our teams went off
to far flung places and, perhaps, if you
read the right newspaper, you would
see some results and, after the event,
some articles in bridge magazines, but
today, anyone who wants can watch
a European or World Championship
from the comfort of their own
armchair. When England were
playing in Bali last year, our Women’s
team played in the final against the
USA and there were more than 3,000
people watching despite it being on
at a particularly unattractive time of
the day due to the time difference.
Audiences for open games are higher
and the final had over 7,000 people
watching. As more people acquire the
technology, the audience will grow.
Some people may ask, ‘What has all
that got to do with us?’ Well, when you
write down what a national body in
any game or sport ought to do, then
organising and supporting interna-
tional representation comes high on
that list. And it has an effect on those
who do no more than play in their club
each week. To give an example, if you
go to many clubs these days there is
a change in the basic system played.
Page 38 BRIDGE July 2014
Twenty years ago nearly all players in
clubs would play Acol or Benjamin-
ised Acol. Today, a proportion have
switched to a strong no trump and
five-card majors and that proportion
grows every year. At least, in part, this
is due to the systems played by our top
players. In the European Champion-
ship in Croatia, all of our open and
women’s team are playing a five-card
major system. The benefits of new sys-
tems (well, new to us) percolate down-
wards. The dreaded Multi comes orig-
inally from a desire by Terence Reese
& Jeremy Flint to fight fire with fire
in international events in the 1960s.
Once it was established at that level,
it became more common at club level
also. At a championship, the game is
not the only thing that goes on. It is
common to have meetings to develop
the laws of the game. Some may say
why should they change? My 1935 law
book says that an established revoke
cost three tricks. That is typically quite
draconian, but on occasion might be
insufficient. Imagine a revoke, the ef-
fect of which cuts declarer off from a
running suit in dummy. This could
easily cost five tricks so a concept of
equity in such situations has been in
the law for some years. Some elements
of bridge at the top level will stay
there. I don’t see players in clubs play-
ing behind screens any decade soon.
However, the technology supporting
scoring has certainly percolated to
most clubs and any club sticking with
its small bridge tables from 30 years
ago might regret this with the advent
not only of a scoring machine on the
table, but also four bidding boxes. In
championships, you need a badge in
order to gain admittance to the play-
ing area. The badge has a bar code on
it and at the end of a session you can
scan the bar code and get an immedi-
ate printout of your whole session with
scores. It won’t be long before that is
also available at English tournaments.
Even if that seems a step too far at the
club, many of us are used to leaving at
the end of a session and seeing the re-
sults on the internet by the time we get
home. All of this technology stemmed
initially from the world of internation-
al bridge.
Occasionally, there are letters to
bridge magazines talking about
internationals, the participants and the
cost. Most players I’ve met, however,
are keen to know how our teams have
done, whether they are in contention
and they want the team to do well. In
the last three years we have been lucky
that we have had an excellent Women’s
team. They won a European Title and a
World Title in 2012 and a silver medal
in the World Championships in 2013.
By the time you read this I hope they
will have won a further medal in the
European championships in Croatia.
I’d like to debunk one rumour I’ve
heard a few times. Although sending
teams to far flung parts of the world is
an expensive business, the players are
not paid a single penny for their time,
they don’t travel first class and they
don’t stay in the best hotel in town. All
our players also give up time before
each championship for training and
preparation and have a coach to help
them with this.
If you find bridge at this level
interesting to watch, whether it is to
learn new things or to watch even
our best players occasionally falling
on their faces then BBO (Bridge Base
online at www.bridgebase.com) is a
marvellous and free service that covers
all international championships. There
is a free app for your tablet also.
If you have constructive comment
or feedback on these or other topics,
I will be pleased to hear from you at
jeremy@ebu.co.uk. ■
 Answers to David Huggett’s 
Play Quiz on page 33
You are declarer in 4♠ and West leads
1. ♠ A 8 6 4 the ♦Q. How do you plan the play?
♥ K 9 7 You have four potential losers; two
♦ A 7 6 trumps, a heart and a diamond. If you
♣ J 9 7 win the first trick and play on trumps, the
♠ J 3 ♠ Q 10 9 7 5 opponents will play another diamond and
N N
♥ Q 8 3 2 ♥ J 10 4 you will be a tempo behind. You need to
W E
♦ Q 10 8 5 2 S ♦ K 3 get rid of a potential diamond loser early,
♣ K 4 ♣ 6 5 3 so, at trick two, you must aim to knock out
♠ K 2 the ace of hearts then the losing diamond
♥ A 6 5 from dummy can eventually be thrown on
♦ J 9 4 the third heart. But there is a danger. You
♣ A Q 10 8 2 have to win the opening lead in dummy
to make sure you can return to hand to
cash that third heart if they hold up the
You are declarer in 3NT and West leads ace for a round. There is no guarantee
the ♦5. How do you plan the play? that you would be able to return to hand
Clearly, if the club finesse works, you with a third round club ruff.
have more than enough tricks, although
you need only four club tricks to make
the contract. The danger, of course, is
that West might win and cash enough 3. ♠ K 9 7 2
diamonds to defeat you first. If that suit ♥ K 10 3
breaks 4-3, there is no problem, so you ♦ A 7 4 2
must address the situation when West ♣ K 5
has five diamonds and the king of clubs. ♠ 6 4 ♠ 5
N
It’s true he could have started with a five ♥ 9 8 6 4 2 ♥ A Q 7
W E
card suit headed by the king and the ♦ 8 S ♦ K J 9 6 5 3
queen but it is twice as likely that he only ♣ Q 10 8 7 2 ♣ J 6 4
has king to five or queen to five in which ♠ A Q J 10 8 3
case East has either queen or king dou- ♥ J 5
bleton. ♦ Q 10
So, win the first trick with the ace and ♣ A 9 3
hope to block the suit before taking a
club finesse.
You are declarer in 4♠ and West leads
the ♦8. How do you plan the play?
It might look tempting to duck the
2. ♠ Q 7 6 2 opening lead in dummy in case West has
♥ 8 3 led away from the king but that would
♦ A 9 3 prove disastrous on the actual layout,
♣ A K 9 8 where West has a singleton diamond
♠ A 5 4 ♠ K and East has both the ace and queen of
N
♥ 10 9 5 2
W E
♥ A 7 6 4 hearts. In fact, there are always ten tricks
♦ Q J 10 2 S ♦ 8 5 4 available via six spades, one diamond,
♣ J 3 ♣ Q 10 7 5 4 two clubs and a club ruff, so play safe
♠ J 10 9 8 3 and win the opening lead, draw trumps
♥ K Q J and hope to make a heart trick for an
♦ K 7 6 overtrick. This won’t happen on the ac-
♣ 6 2 tual hand, but at least you have guaran-
teed your contract.
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 39
4. ♠ A 7 4
♥ J 9 2
♦ A 6 4
♣ K 9 7 2
♠ K Q J 10 3 ♠ 9 5 2
♥ 10 8 3 W E ♥ 7 6 5 4
♦ Q 8 S ♦ J 10 9 5
♣ Q 8 3 ♣ 10 5
♠ 8 6
♥ A K Q
♦ K 7 3 2
♣ A J 6 4
You are declarer in 3NT and West leads
the ♠K. How do you plan the play?
If you can make three club tricks, you
will make your contract as long as you
don’t lose too many tricks first. Presum-
ably, it will be West who has the spade
length if the suit breaks 5-3, so your first
move must be to hold up the ace until
the third round. But, of course, you must
strive to keep West off lead now, so it
cannot be right to take a club finesse into
the West hand. Instead, play a club to the
ace and then lead a low club, playing the
nine if West plays low. Should West show
out, you simply win the king and play
back to the jack. As long as West does
not hold at least three clubs with both
the queen and the ten, you will make the
contract. ■
Mr Bridge
Premium Quality Cards
Standard Faces,
with or without bar codes. Unboxed.
6 red/6 blue £19.95
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( 020 7288 1305 www.bridgeshop.com
 Misleading Cases Number Seven
in the High Court of Justice in the Strand
After the evidence and Counsels’ closing speeches, his Lordship gave judgment as follows:
“T
his case arises out of
an allegation made by
Mr Terence Tuna, a
Tournament Director at the Erehwon
Duplicate Bridge Club, that one of
the players, Mr Aloysius Salmon, had
cheated one evening at bridge. At the
start of this hearing, I declared an
interest in bridge, having played the
game myself for many years. Both
sides were, nevertheless, happy for me
to hear this case.
Now, my first thought when I heard
about this allegation was that, if it were
true, surely the Laws of Bridge had been
infringed and the perpetrator should
have been dealt with in accordance
with those Laws. That was before I
discovered that the Laws of Bridge
have nothing to say about cheating –
take a look and see for yourself. Isn’t
that strange? So what is the director
supposed to do if he (or somebody
else) suspects someone of cheating?
Even after hearing this case, I am not
sure I have an answer to that question.
There have been allegations of
cheating in bridge ever since the game
was invented, even (nay, especially)
in expert bridge circles – the most
notorious case being at the 1965
Bermuda Bowl in Buenos Aires. In
that case, members of the US bridge
team (off duty), having watched
Terence Reese and Boris Shapiro, key
members of the British team, playing
a number of hands together, became
convinced that the British pair were
cheating by the use of hand signals
indicating the length of their heart
suits and reported the fact to the
organisers of the event. The British
captain then withdrew his team from
Page 40 BRIDGE July 2014
An Accusation
Salmon v. Tuna
before Mr Justice Pons
the competition. A later investigation
by a senior barrister hired by the
EBU cleared Reese and Shapiro (or
rather found them not guilty beyond
reasonable doubt, which is, of course,
a rather different matter), but the
position was never satisfactorily
resolved. It is noteworthy that Reese
and Shapiro did not go to court to
prove their innocence, although Reese
did write an account of the matter,
Story of an Accusation – you can get it
for £5 on eBay.
There is, as far as I know, no Act of
Parliament which defines cheating or
sets a punishment for it. Cheating is
what we lawyers call a ‘common law
offence’, in other words judge-made
law (as is murder, so don’t knock it
on that account). Anyone convicted
of cheating could be sent to prison
or fined a large sum. Furthermore, to
accuse anyone of such an offence is also
a very serious matter. It constitutes
defamation (described in one legal
source as ‘lowering [the claimant] in
the esteem of right-thinking people
generally’) and a person who can be
shown to have made a false accusation
of cheating could be liable for very
substantial damages. So perhaps it is
not surprising that claims of cheating
are not often made – it is too risky.
After the alleged cheating episode,
Mr Salmon was banned from the
Erehwon Club (and from other bridge
clubs nearby) and had to play his
bridge online – better than nothing,
but not such good company. In the
end, he decided, on legal advice, to
bring matters to a head by suing for
libel (defamation in written form,
as opposed to slander). That is how
a civil court such as this comes to be
deciding what is essentially a matter of
criminal law.
The hand on which Mr Salmon was
alleged to be cheating is shown below.
Dealer South. Love All.
♠ K 5 2
♥ J 6 5
♦ A Q 10 5
♣ A Q J
♠ Q 8 6 3 ♠ 10 7 4
♥ Q 3 N ♥ 9 8 4
W E
♦ J 9 8 2 S ♦ K
♣ 10 8 2 ♣ K 9 7 6 4 3
♠ A J 9
♥ A K 10 7 2
♦ 7 6 4 3
♣ 5
West North East South
1♥
Pass 2♦ Pass 3♦
Pass 4NT Pass 5♥
Pass 6♥ All Pass
Contract: 6♥ by South. Lead: ♦2.
The basic facts are not in dispute. Mr
Salmon was South, declarer, in a con-
tract of 6♥. West led ♦2, won with dum-
my’s ♦A, dropping East’s ♦K (which
South seemed to have been expecting).
Next came ♥J from dummy, but when
East played low, declarer played ♥A to
that trick followed by ♥K, (♥Q falling
from West) and then ♥10, drawing the
last trump. He then finessed ♦10 and
led ♣A, followed by ♣Q for a ruffing
finesse. It mattered not whether East
covered with ♣K. At the table, he
Misleading Cases continued
did. South ruffed then led ♠J
for a backward finesse, win-
ning the trick with ♠K when
West covered with ♠Q. De-
clarer now cashed dummy’s
♦Q and ♣J (discarding a
diamond), then successful-
ly finessed South’s ♠9 and
cashed ♠A and ♥7 for the
last two tricks. A backward
finesse, a finesse of ♦10 on
the second round of the
suit, plus a refusal to take
either the heart finesse or
a finesse on the first round
of diamonds gave him the
contract, whilst the success-
ful ruffing finesse made the
overtrick.
East and West were
dumbfounded. The ‘c’ word
was not actually used at
that stage, but they called
the director, Mr Tuna, and
persuaded him that declarer
must have seen their cards
to have played the hand in
such a way and that accu-
sation was made again in
Court. Mr Tuna is the de-
fendant in this case because
of a report he wrote on the
incident which did use the ‘c’
word and which was leaked
to Mr Salmon by a friend on
the club committee.
At the time the hand was
played, Mr Salmon was so
shocked (entirely under-
standably) by the reaction
of his opponents that he
said nothing in his defence
except to protest his inno-
cence, but in Court he gave
his account of the matter, to
the following effect.
‘I am a relative newcomer
to bridge, but (as recom-
mended by my bridge teach-
er) I regularly read books
and magazines on the sub-
ject. When the opening lead
of the ♦2 was made, there
were several possible sce-
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 41
narios, but by far the most
likely were that it was a sin-
gleton or fourth highest. I
had recently read an article
by Andrew Robson on the
subject of opening leads.
He made it clear that one
of the worst possible open-
ing leads against a suit con-
tract was from K-x-x-x, so
West (who is a good player)
would hardly have led from
that holding. He might well,
however, for want of a better
lead, have tried the ♦2 from
♦ J-9-8-2. In which case the
♦K would be singleton on
my right and would fall un-
der the ♦A (which is what
I expected). And if West’s
lead had been a singleton,
then playing the ♦A to the
first trick was essential to
stop East winning the trick
and returning a diamond for
West to ruff. So, playing the
♦A at trick one was, as the
Americans say, a no-brainer.
The later finesse of the ♦10
was, of course, marked.
As for the play in the
heart suit, when I led the ♥J
from dummy East played
low without a thought. I
had read that, if a defender
does not cover an honour
with an honour (or at least
stop to think about it for a
while), he is unlikely to hold
the honour you are looking
for – the chances are that ‘if
he don’t play it, he ain’t got
it’. So I spurned the heart fi-
nesse with good reason.
Another bridge book
I have read recently pro-
pounds the theory that the
queen in any given suit is
very likely to be sitting over
the jack in that suit – this is
because the queen will often
have covered the jack the
previous time the hand was
played and, because of poor
shuffling, would continue
to be in the hand to the left
of the one with the jack. So
the normal finesse against
the queen is less than a 50%
shot and I had recently de-
cided to take backward fi- Blunsdon
nesses whenever possible
in future. (I might add that, House Hotel
when it works, this is much Swindon SN26 7AS
more impressive than tak-
ing a simple finesse against
the queen, much more fun
and it bemuses the op-
ponents no end). And, of
course, since East was likely
to hold more clubs than
West, the odds favoured the
ruffing finesse in that suit
for the overtrick.’
I was very impressed by
Mr Salmon’s account of his
card play, although in du-
BRIDGE EVENTS
plicate bridge generally, I
think there is less truth in 18-20 July £199
what he said about the lo-
Just Duplicate
cation of queens than there
may be in rubber bridge. John Ronan
Nothing said by Mr Tuna,
10-12 Oct £199
his Counsel or his witnesses
(East and West) in Court Just Duplicate
led me to believe that Mr Sheila Rogers
Salmon had cheated. I am
entirely convinced by the 14-16 Nov £245
latter’s explanation, con- Bernard Magee
gratulate him on his exper- Further into
tise in playing the hand we the Auction
have been considering and
wish him well in his very 28-30 Nov £245
promising bridge career. Bernard Magee
Judgment accordingly. Bidding TOPIC
NEW
The amount of damages
I can award in libel cases is Distributional Hands
constrained by recent guid- 23-25 Jan 2015 £245
ance by the appeal courts,
so I am awarding Mr Salm-
Bernard Magee
on the maximum sum of Competitive Bidding
£50,000 (and costs), at least
£1,000 of which is to be
spent on lessons and bridge
books to further his bridge
career. I dare say the Club’s
insurance will pay.
Let no-one be in doubt
that calling a fellow bridge
player a cheat can prove
very expensive. Finally, I
trust that the Erehwon Du-
plicate Bridge Club will
reinstate Mr Salmon as a
Full Board
member forthwith (if not
No Single Supplement
sooner).”
Reporter: Richard Wheen, Booking Form on page 8.
after A.P. Herbert ■

M
illie and I were sitting in
the Riverside bar sipping
glasses of wine. We looked
up as Dawn arrived carrying her lit-
tle dog. ‘What on earth are you doing
with her?’ questioned Millie. We had
never seen Dawn’s dog at the club be-
fore, or for that matter, any dog. ‘As
you know I don’t normally bring. . .’
Dawn started to explain. ‘I was talking
to the dog,’ interrupted Millie rudely.
Dawn smiled and took no offence; she
was used to Millie’s ways and contin-
ued, ‘He’s called Pixie by the way.’ ‘Did
you say he?’ questioned Millie, ‘Pixie
seems rather a girly name.’ ‘Well, he is
Pixie,’ Dawn assured her, ‘That’s OK
isn’t it?’ ‘Fine by me, but I’m not sure
he approves,’ Millie declared with-
out any evidence. As far as I could
see, Pixie was perfectly content and
couldn’t care less about his name. ‘My
dog minder isn’t free tonight. I’d ar-
ranged to play with Dennis and didn’t
want to let him down,’ Dawn added
quite reasonably. She seated herself at
a nearby table with Pixie settling qui-
etly down on the floor beside her. The
arrival of the dog seemed to unnerve
Millie and make her unusually tense.
However, bridge started well enough
and when we arrived at Dawn’s table,
Pixie was underneath fast asleep, ap-
parently unaware of eight feet danger-
ously positioned in close proximity. A
bizarre auction took place on the first
and, as it turned out, the only board
of that round. Dennis was dealer and
opened 2♣, alerted by Dawn. Millie
checked their system card and then
overcalled 2♦. Dawn and I passed;
double by Dennis ended the auction.
West North East South
Dawn Wendy Dennis Millie
2♣1 2♦
Pass Pass Dbl End ♦ 10 9
1
Acol Game Force
Dawn led the ♥2 and I put down the
dummy. It was then I noticed that
Page 42 BRIDGE July 2014
The Diaries of Wendy Wensum
Episode 27: A Dog’s Life
Millie’s hand was still in the board.
She held red-backed cards, whereas
Dennis, Dawn and I were holding
blue-backed ones. Somehow, she had
inadvertently picked up the hand
from the next board; the evidence was
a gap in the appropriate pocket. The
director was called and, after lengthy
discussions with others, he ruled that
the contract stood. Millie was deemed
to have misbid during the auction as
a consequence of holding these cards
from the wrong board:
♠ A 10
♥ J 3 2
♦ A K Q 10 5 3
♣ 8 4
With some reluctance, Millie returned
them to their rightful location and
removed the correct hand from the
current board. Now she had thirteen
blue-backed cards like the rest of us.
She was still declarer as South playing
in two diamonds doubled, but now
with an unexpected and rather differ-
ent type of hand.
Dealer East. E/W Game.
Wendy
♠ Q 4
♥ Q 10 8 7 6 4
♦ 8 6 4
♣ 7 5
Dawn Dennis
♠ J 8 7 6 5 2 ♠ A K 9
N
♥ 2 W E ♥ A 3
♦ A 7 5 2 S ♦ K Q J 3
♣ 8 2 ♣ A K J 6
Millie
♠ 10 3
♥ K J 9 5
♣ Q 10 9 4 3
Prospects were not good. The lead
was still the ♥2. Dennis won with the
ace. The opposition removed Millie’s
trumps and ran all their winners
for eight down and a score of minus
2,000. Millie made no tricks at all. The
director was recalled and announced
the score would stand. The traveller
revealed that most pairs in the East-
West seats had bid a game or a small
slam in diamonds or spades. One
East-West pair had even bid and
made the grand in spades, giving zero
match points to that unlucky North-
South. It was not a good score for us,
of course, but at least it wasn’t quite
a bottom. Hardly surprisingly in the
circumstances, Dawn and I were in fits
of hysterics. Millie, rather like Queen
Victoria before her, was not amused.
Dennis who is hard of hearing couldn’t
quite make out what was happening.
‘He gets wax in his ears and won’t
have treatment,’ Dawn informed me
adding, ‘He’s afraid the prescribed
drops may affect his brain.’ With all
the mayhem, Pixie emerged from
under the table. ‘It’s not often we play
in a three-two trump fit when a six-
four heart fit is available,’ I observed
unwisely. ‘I blame you,’ accused Millie
looking straight at Pixie and pointing
an index finger in his direction. ‘I’m
allergic to canines and you’ve brought
on my hay fever. No wonder I can’t
concentrate.’ The dog ignored the
indictment with a wide, bored yawn.
The director returned to calm us down
and fined Millie for making the next
board unplayable. Millie and Pixie
eyeballed each other unerringly until
the move was called.
In our usual hostelry later, with
no dog in sight, Millie had cheered
up considerably as she stroked the
landlord’s cat, sitting contentedly
beside her. Perhaps Millie is really
allergic to dogs. A double brandy
soon soothed her nerves. ‘Exactly
how many tricks can we make in
hearts?’ I mused. ‘Rather more than in
diamonds,’ was Millie’s curt reply. ■
 Catching Up by Sally Brock
O
ne of the ongoing issues is
that the house is still on the
market. Very little interest.
We have a new lot of agents who were
full of enthusiasm and joie de vivre.
They planned an open day for us at
the end of April. They managed the
grand total of zero viewers! It is hard
to know what is wrong. Everyone who
comes to the house – be they friends,
tradesmen, estate agents, etc – says
they like it. Everyone, that is, except
potential buyers.
Another ongoing issue is the
ProBridge agency, which seems to be
going well. We’ve all been working very
hard to get as many pros as possible on
the site and ended up with a total of 30
for the launch at the beginning of May.
A good start I think. Now we need a
similar campaign to get clients. If
you’ve not had a chance to look at the
site yet, go to www.pro-bridge.co.uk
We’re also on Twitter (@ProBridgeUK)
and Facebook (ProBridge).
Just before Easter, we went to
Eastbourne for the weekend. Richard
(of Richard and Gerry fame) arranged
a bridge weekend for the members of
his 10CC Bridge Club at the Cavendish
Hotel (though the actual hotel was full
and we had to suffer being put up in a
suite at The Grand instead!). Fish and
chip supper on the Friday evening was
followed by some informal bridge (cut
for partners). On Saturday afternoon,
we played some bridge against Richard
and Simon, answering questions from
the kibitzers. Then we played with
assigned partners in a teams event –
with a suitable break for dinner. We
shared our two-bedroom suite with
my old friend and bridge partner
Sandra Landy. We left after breakfast
on the Sunday, on a mission …
My grandson Hayden is being
brought up quite strictly in regard to
eating sweets and we are visiting just
before Easter. Briony came up with the
brilliant idea of getting an ostrich egg.
We had finally tracked one down to a
farm in Lincoln which was having a
stall in the farmers’ market at St Albans
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 43
this Sunday. So our mission was to get
to St Albans in time to collect it. It was
all a bit of a rush but we did manage it.
The following Thursday (after a Super
League match in London with Nicola
on the Wednesday), I got a train to
Newport, near Saffron Walden and
walked to Ben, Gemma and Hayden’s
new house. I had lunch with them
and then Toby and Briony drove over
(Briony drove up to Bradford to col-
lect Toby while I was in Eastbourne).
We spent a good day with them and
enjoyed the ostrich egg the following
day. It took 50 minutes to soft boil but,
of course, what we forgot was that it
then took a while for everyone to pho-
tograph it, not to mention the time it
took to break into it. It ended up a little
overcooked, but fun nevertheless. We
dipped in soldiers made from a small
baguette split into vertical strips. To
my mind it didn’t taste much differ-
ent from a normal egg and the white
wasn’t very nice, but it was good fun
and something different for Hayden.
On Easter Saturday, we had a Gold
Cup match in High Wycombe which
we won comfortably and then, on the
Sunday, we met up with my parents
and my brother and his family in a
gastropub near Newbury for a family
lunch. On the Monday, Barry and I
played in the Swiss Pairs in London –
without distinction.
On the Tuesday after Easter, Toby
went back to uni and Briony and I set
off to France for a four-night break.
We spent the first night in Saint-Omer
before deciding that we would go to
Bruges rather than stay in France. We
took a cross-country route to get there
and checked into our hotel just before
lunch (I had an online session with
Richard and Gerry at two o’clock).
We spent a lovely couple of days in
Bruges. It is so lovely there – would
thoroughly recommend for a short
break. There are so many chocolate
shops. We must have visited at least 30
and there were plenty we didn’t visit.
In the UK, we seem to try to make
exactly as many Easter eggs as are
needed so it’s actually quite hard to
find one if you leave it too late and any
that are left are reduced drastically in
price afterwards. However, in Bruges,
they seemed much more relaxed about
it and the shop windows were still full
of them. We visited churches, we went
on a boat trip on the canal, we went
to a harp recital, we bought me an
outfit for my niece’s wedding in July,
we went to a Dali exhibition, we ate
mussels and asparagus and we sat and
watched the world go by.
Home on the Saturday and Briony
dropped me off at Barry’s. In the
evening, we went to David’s 50th
birthday celebrations at a vegetarian
restaurant in Hammersmith. The
food was so good, it even impressed
the carnivores. Then, the following
day was dinner with family friends in
Beaconsfield.
The big bridge event was the Spring
Foursomes in Stratford-upon-Avon,
held over the first May Bank Holiday
weekend. Barry and I played in a team
of four with Cameron and Phil. We
started off against a Midlands team
that we dispatched fairly easily despite
a costly disaster that left us 20 IMPs or
so down after the first eight boards.
Although we made lots of mistakes
over the weekend, we had a tremen-
dous slam record, gaining ten slam
swings and losing only one, in our five
matches. Maybe we got a bit lucky as
the good ones seemed fairly straight-
forward to us. This was the first:
♠ Void
♥ A K J 7 6 5
♦ 10 5 4
♣ Q J 10 9
♠ 8 6 5 ♠ 10 9 4
N
♥ 10 2 W E ♥ Q 8
♦ Q J 6 2 S ♦ K 9 3
♣ A K 7 2 ♣ 8 6 5 4 3
♠ A K Q J 7 3 2
♥ 9 4 3
♦ A 8 7
♣ Void
 Catching Up continued

JUST DUPLICATE BRIDGE

Barry opened one spade and
4-6 July £199 7-9 November £199
rebid three spades over my
Denham Grove Denham Grove
two hearts. I guess I should
have bid four hearts, but I
didn’t like the lack of solidity 11-13 July £169 14-16 November £199
in my suit, so I raised to four The Olde Barn Chatsworth Hotel
spades. Barry now bid five
diamonds. I was worried
about my void spade and my 11-13 July £199 14-16 November £199
lack of controls, so signed Clifton Park Hotel
Chatsworth Hotel
Elstead Hotel
off in five spades, but he bid Worthing BN11 3DU
the slam anyway. West led a
top club and Barry played 12-14 September £169
safely, losing a trick to the The Olde Barn
queen of hearts and making
twelve tricks.
Then it got tougher as 10-12 October £199
we drew the Irish national Blunsdon House Hotel
team and we were trounced
thoroughly. The Spring
10-12 October £199
Fours is a knock-out event
Elstead Hotel
but you have to lose twice Elstead Hotel Denham Grove
before you are eliminated, Bournemouth BH1 3QP Denham, Bucks UB9 5DU
so we now had to join the
once-defeated pool. It is an
extremely tough field, with 18-20 July £199 21-23 November £199
quite a lot of strong foreign Blunsdon House Hotel Chatsworth Hotel
teams this year, including
the Lavazza team from Italy.
We now had two fairly easy 1-3 August £169 28-30 November £199
draws and won our matches The Olde Barn Chatsworth Hotel
easily. On Sunday evening,
we drew Sinclair (the even- Blunsdon House Hotel
tual winners). We had our 8-10 August £199 Blunsdon, Swindon SN26 7AS 28-30 November £169
Clifton Park Hotel The Olde Barn
moments but neither pair
distinguished themselves 17-19 October £169
and we lost badly. We con- The Olde Barn
soled ourselves with an ex-
cellent meal out (as indeed
24-26 October £199
we did on the Saturday too Chatsworth Hotel
– Cameron had booked – I
know it sounds ‘normal’ to
think ahead when you are 31 Oct – 2 Nov £169
intending to have dinner The Olde Barn
in Stratford on a bank holi-
day weekend, but you’d be
surprised at just how many The Olde Barn Hotel 31 Oct – 2 Nov £199 Clifton Park Hotel
Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT Elstead Hotel St Annes on Sea FY8 1HN
bridge players find them-
selves walking the streets
trying to find somewhere
to serve them dinner). We
Full Board – No Single Supplement
decided not to play in the Booking Form on page 8.
Swiss teams on the Monday
but to wend our way back to Please note there are no seminars, set hands or prizes at these events.
High Wycombe. ■

Page 44 BRIDGE July 2014

 Seven Days
by Sally Brock
Saturday
We have a house viewing at 10.30am
so need to be out of the house by then.
Briony and I are having a short break
in Lyme Regis. We whizz down the
motorway to Bournemouth when I
have the bright idea of stopping for
lunch. Having played in the EBU
tournament there, I know how to
get to a place where I can park and
then walk through the gardens to the
beach where there is a good deli/café
overlooking the sea. The weather is
wet and windy, though not actually
raining. We watch the mad surfers
while I tuck into baked camembert
and Briony has mussels. Then it’s back
on increasingly rural roads until we
get to Lyme Regis – stopping on the
way at a supermarket to buy food for
the few days we are away. I have not
been to Lyme Regis before and it looks
lovely. A bit of a disappointment to
find no-one in when we arrive at our
rental apartment, but it doesn’t matter.
We walk into town and have a look
around.
Soon, I get a phone call from our
rental people and it’s a bit of a disaster
as they have never heard of us. It
appears that when we booked through
their website someone had hacked into
their email account and the people we
had an email correspondence with –
and paid – wasn’t them at all. So that
is £295 wasted, but more important,
after a visit to the local tourist
information office, who are extremely
helpful and ring around for us, there
is no self-catering accommodation to
be had in the area for love nor money.
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 45
Of course, we have a carload of food
so staying in a B&B is not a great idea.
Eventually, we decide to book into a
hotel for the night and have a rethink.
We manage to change our restaurant
booking from tomorrow to tonight.
We dress up a bit and out we go to Hix
Oyster and Fish Bar. This is a fabulous
place. We walk through the gardens
to get there and we are perched up
above the town with a fantastic view
of the harbour. Even though we don’t
have a window seat, we have a good
view. We eat fish and more fish. It is
slightly embarrassing when I discover
I have left my purse in my hotel room
but they seem happy that they have
my mobile number and are prepared
to trust me rather than force me to do
the washing up (did anyone ever force
a customer who couldn’t pay to do
the washing up?). We wander slowly
back through the gardens, remember
to ring up and pay the bill and settle
down for the night – also with a great
view.
Sunday
Up for an excellent full English
breakfast. Then back to my room to do
a couple of hours’ work (Iceland is in
its finishing stages). We check out and
set off. We have decided to go home
via my parents but are in no rush.
Briony had researched some things to
do in the area so we look at what is on
our way home. First we take the coast
road (which is lovely) to Little Bredy,
a supposedly extremely pretty village.
I’m not sure we really found it. There
are a few houses and we walk down a
road where there are some more, but
it doesn’t look as if there is anything
much there. We ask someone if there
is anywhere to get a cup of tea and he
says, ‘only on Monday or Wednesday.’
So we move on.
We stop for a pub snack in
Puddletown – such a lovely name.
Then to Sculptures by the Lake,
for which we had bought tickets in
advance.
If you are ever in the area, I can’t
recommend this place highly enough.
And take a picnic if the weather’s
good. There are two main lakes
with several other small ponds and
a running stream too and lots of
beautiful sculptures. Although it is
not in operation for us, apparently
there is a rowing boat you can take out
onto one of the lakes to visit an island
where there are more sculptures. We
spend a very pleasant hour exploring.
I am driving but having difficulty
keeping my eyes open. We see a
big Tesco store on the outskirts of
Shaftesbury and as we are going home
now there are bits and pieces we need.
Briony offers to go in and do a bit of
shopping while I sleep in the car for
an hour. Then it is up to Biddestone
to pick up my parents and out to
dinner at Jack’s, their local upmarket
restaurant.
We have an excellent evening with
good food and extremely helpful staff
– Briony has a lot of intolerances and
allergies and it is important that she
finds out exactly what is in anything
she is going to eat. Then we drop my
parents off and drive home – or rather
Briony drives home.
 Seven Days continued
Monday
Every cloud has a silver lining and
the lining to this one is that at least
I can get some work done. I am not
doing as much work for Bradt as I
used to but there is a lot on just now.
Two books to finish off for the printer:
Iceland and North Korea and a new
one, Mongolia. I get up at seven and
work all day, breaking the back of it.
Briony potters in the kitchen making
delicious concoctions.
Another ongoing thread that has
been running through the last few days
and is coming to a head is Killarney.
Barry and I are supposed to be going
to Killarney to play in the congress
there at the weekend – and away for
just over a week.
My friend Kate from the US and
her husband are coming to join us.
He barely plays bridge but has family
in Ireland and they are combining
the bridge with a holiday. We have
rented a house near the hotel where
the bridge is to be played and are
going to be joined by John Holland
and play as a foursome, playing in
various combinations. We have all
been looking forward to this for a
long time and everything is in place,
but … Kate’s husband is not well
and doesn’t feel up to the trip. She’s
not sure whether or not she can leave
him. Every morning, I’ve been getting
up to find an updated email full of
indecision …
In the evening, I have an online
practice match with Nicola against
Catherine and Fee. Fee and Susan
have been part of the English women’s
team for several years now, but after
the world championships in Bali
last year, Susan decided to stop for
a while, mostly for work reasons.
Fee has formed a new partnership
with Catherine Draper, who was on
the team when we won in 2008. I
have a good feeling about them and
think it will work out well, but their
partnership is very new, so they want
to get in as much practice as they can
before the European Championships
at the end of June.
Page 46 BRIDGE July 2014
Tuesday
Another email from Kate. She has de-
cided she can’t leave her husband and
is cancelling the trip. We are obviously
disappointed but quite understand. I
send off the odd email to see if I can
find a substitute, but it doesn’t really
matter. This was as much a holiday
as bridge event and none of the other
three of us mind not playing a session
or two. We shall turn up as a three-
some and see who is available to make
up our numbers.
This is the second day in a row I
haven’t got out of my pyjamas. Nose
to the grindstone all day. Briony cooks
the most delicious slow-roasted lamb
shoulder for dinner. In the evening, I
have a coaching session with my Irish
pair. They are keen to develop quite a
complicated system – it’s hard to keep
them grounded.
Wednesday
Finished Mongolia by lunchtime.
Get dressed finally and out we go.
First to a hat shop to hire hats for the
wedding in July – but it had closed
down.
Then to Waitrose for some bits
and pieces. Barry was expecting to
get to us in time for supper so we
bought Dover sole, a small lobster and
some mussels – Briony has a fairly
new-found enthusiasm for seafood,
especially mussels. A browse in the
charity shops for jigsaws and then to
the hairdressers. I usually go to a girl
down the road who gives me a dry trim
and charges very little; Briony hasn’t
had hers trimmed professionally for
eighteen months or so. So this is a
treat. A proper salon where your hair
is washed for you (while sitting on
a seat with a raised footstool which
massages your bottom and back at the
same time) and they then cut and blow
dry. We leave looking a million dollars
(and an equivalent amount poorer).
The only bad news is that while we
are there Barry rings to say he’s been
held up and won’t make supper. We
try taking the fish back to Waitrose
but, not unexpectedly, they won’t let
us return fresh food. So there is no
option but to stuff ourselves with a
seafood feast.
Then it’s off to the annual Berks
v Bucks match – teams of 48 face
each other across the green baize.
Each county has three teams of 16,
A, B and C teams, who play amongst
themselves. So there are three separate
contests and whichever county wins
two or more wins the shield.
This was a swingy board in a lot of
matches:
Dealer South. E/W Vul.
♠ A 10 8
♥ A 10 8
♦ 7
♣ A Q J 10 6 4
♠ K J 7 5 ♠ Q 9 2
N
♥ 9 7 6 5 3 W E ♥ 4
♦ K 10 S ♦ A Q J 6 3 2
♣ 9 2 ♣ 8 7 3
♠ 6 4 3
♥ K Q J 2
♦ 9 8 5 4
♣ K 5
At our table the bidding is:
West North East South
Pass
Pass 1♣ 2♦ 2♥
3♦ 4♦ Pass 4♥
All Pass
Barry leads a trump which declarer
wins in the dummy to lead a diamond.
I hop up with the ace and switch to
a spade and declarer has no chance,
eventually going two down.
But the Berks defenders do not do
so well against Carole Mueller. Their
bidding is:
West North East South
Pass
Pass 1♣ 2♦ Dbl
Pass 3♦ Pass 3♥
Pass 4♥ All Pass
At her table, West leads the king of
diamonds and switches to a trump.
Carole draws two rounds of trumps,
ruffs a diamond, plays a club to her
king, draws two more rounds of
trumps and plays clubs. West can take
his trump tricks when he wants but
dummy is good.
Not for the first time, Bucks A
 Seven Days continued
wins (no thanks to us this year), but
both B and C teams lose. Still, it is
quite a fun event. And it is great to see
Barry. What with me being away with
Briony and him having lots of work
on, I’ve hardly seen him recently. Roll
on Killarney.
Thursday
Both Iceland and North Korea have
gone to the printer now, so my main
job is to write this article. I get up
early and get on with it but, of course,
I am sidetracked by lots of incoming
emails and irritating estate agents.
Briony and I cook chicken cacciatora
for tomorrow’s bridge match – that
means she cooks and I do the prep –
skinning the chicken, grating garlic
and skinning kilos of tomatoes. Still,
good to do it together.
Then she goes into town shopping
while I have an online session with
Richard and Gerry. Later, I get a train
into London. I’ve wanted to get her
a little surprise present for being so
helpful recently and had the idea of
getting her summer pyjamas. So first
stop is Victoria’s Secret where I am
completely overwhelmed at the choice
of underwear, but eventually choose
some nice pink stripey PJs. Then it’s a
20-minute walk or so to TGR’s for our
Crockfords match.
We struggle a bit. 15 up after the first
set and then lose dribs and drabs to be
only 9 up with eight to go.
We expect to gain points on this:
Dealer West. E/W Vul.
♠ A 8 5
♥ 10 8 4 2
♦ 6 3
♣ Q J 9 8
♠ J 9 3 ♠ K 10 7 6 4
N
♥ Q 3 W E ♥ 6
♦ A 9 8 4 2 S ♦ J
♣ A 10 4 ♣ K 7 6 5 3 2
♠ Q 2
♥ A K J 9 7 5
♦ K Q 10 7 5
♣ Void
BRIDGE July 2014 Page 47
West North East South
Pass Pass Pass 1♥
Pass 2♥ 3♥ 4♥
4♠ Pass Pass 5♥
Dbl All Pass
Exciting stuff. I can’t think of anything
sensible to open in third seat so decide
to pass for the time being.
North-South are playing a strong
club system so South can’t have a
strong balanced hand, making it a
little safer for me to bid so aggressively
at unfavourable vulnerability on
the second round. Barry is always
optimistic and decides we have a shot
at making four spades and that has the
effect of pushing our opponents to five
hearts.
On a spade lead, declarer has to
decide whether Barry might have led
away from the king of spades. If hearts
are 3-0 (quite likely on my bidding),
then he needs this, so he ducks trick
one and now I switch to a diamond
and get a diamond ruff for one down
and 11 IMPs.
Other than that board, we’re not
very happy with our last set. We let
a vulnerable game through and fail
to find a very cheap sacrifice, but
our team-mates have a storming last
session and we put on 18 to win by 27
overall.
Friday
Off to another hat shop. This time
it’s open and the woman who owns
it is the mother of an old primary
schoolfriend of Briony. We spend some
time trying on various amazing items
of headgear. I am persuaded to buy a
navy fascinator. Briony can’t decide
between a silvery white hat and a royal
blue hair clip, but in the end decides
to leave it. So I’m going to look like an
idiot on my own. (I’m not really a hat
person, but like to give it a whirl from
time to time – the last time I hired a
hat was for Ben’s wedding eight years
ago).
Then home to do some bits and
pieces of work, pack for Killarney
and tidy the house for the match this
evening – and we have a viewing
tomorrow morning. Briony goes off to
spend some time with her friend Sam
and everyone arrives for the NICKO
match. Opponents include my old
friend Dave Armstrong and his wife,
so it’s a pretty sociable affair. We start
by having the chicken cacciatora with
jacket potatoes and green beans. It
seems to go down well. Then we play
the match – 24 boards played in two
halves.
We rather trounce them and at half-
time they decide they would rather
have a cuppa and cake (Briony makes
these delicious chocolate concoctions
that are a hard dark chocolate shell
with meringue and chocolate mousses
inside) and go home early than play
on.
Just in case you think I’m getting
a bit big for my boots and never do
anything wrong, I will share with
you one of the most ridiculous boards
Barry and I have ever had.
This was the club suit around the
table:
♣ 9 4
N
♣ K 7 5 2 W E ♣ Q 10 8 6 3
S
♣ A J
Our opponents miss their 4-4 spade fit
and alight in three no-trumps. Barry
leads the two of clubs to my queen and
declarer’s ace. Declarer then cashes
the king of spades and finesses a spade
to my queen. We have an agreement in
this sort of defensive position to play
‘Smith peters’. Using this method,
when you (either defender) play high-
low on the first suit played by declarer,
it means you like the opening lead.
Because I know I am going to win the
first defensive trick (spade queen), I
don’t bother to do this, so, when I get
in with the queen of spades and return
the ten of clubs (to pin dummy’s nine
in case Barry has led from a three-
card suit), Barry thinks I started with
Q-10-x. So he ducks the jack of clubs.
Declarer still needs to develop an ex-
tra trick and takes another finesse, this
time into Barry’s hand, but nothing
has happened to change Barry’s view
of the hand, so he gets off lead pas-
sively and declarer has nine tricks. ■
 BERNARD MAGEE
at Denham Grove
near Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DG.
9-12 January 2015
£399 Friday – Monday, £369 Friday – Sunday, full board
Limited places for Thursday night available. £45pp single, £65 double/twin.
Defence as Partner of the Leader
Defence is the hardest aspect of the game, but the one
that I love to teach the most: it is where most players can
make great progress. You are often taught about opening
leads, but what about as the leader’s partner? How do you
play to trick one and then what do you do later? Should
you continue with your partner’s suit or switch? I will try
to give you the answers to all of these questions and more.
Strong Opening Bids
Much focus is placed on weak opening bids in the
modern game which means many strong hands are hard
to bid. Managing your strong bids carefully can give
you great joy, particularly when you have a neat
bidding sequence to a lovely slam. I will talk about
your strong opening options and show you how to
make the most of them.
Suit Establishment
Five-card suits (and longer) are powerful things: I will
try to get across my passion for them by showing you
how to develop your extra tricks through establishment.
Every five-card suit merits your attention, however
weak. Once you have seen the opportunities for extra
tricks, you will understand why it is important to add
strength on for long suits during the auction.
6 seminar sessions with Bernard1
Contact Mr Bridge to book your place or for further details: ( 01483 489961
1
Filmed Not with Bernard Magee
2
Aggressive Bidding AT PAIRS
Forty years ago, duplicate pairs was in its infancy and you
needed 13 HCP to open the bidding and rarely competed
for a partscore. Now the norm is to open with 11 HCP and
compete for every hand. The reason is largely because of
the scoring system. -50 and -100 can score very well, when
your opponents can make a contract of their own. Since
going off can score well, you should bid more.
Take-Out Doubles
Take-out doubles are an increasingly important aspect of
duplicate bridge. I will deal with basic take-out doubles
and their responses and then progress to
talk about competing for every partscore.
Aiming to push your opponents higher or
looking to get the magic -50, which scores so well when
your opponents can make a contract of their own.
Landy / Defending Against 1NT
Competing against a 1NT opening allows you to chal-
lenge for the partscore and also disrupts your opponents’
conventions. I will talk about competing over 1NT in
general and then talk about the Landy Convention,
which is a relatively simple method of competing over
1NT. The weak no-trump is a powerful pre-emptive
opening, so you need to try hard to overcome it.
6 sessions of supervised play2