BRIDGE

Number One Hundred and Forty-One

Bernard Magee’s Acol Bidding Quiz

September 2014

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

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South
? 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 1♥ 1NT Pass 1NT 2♣*
? ? ?
*Shows hearts & another suit

2. Dealer West. Love All. 5. Dealer North. Love All. 8. Dealer South. Love All. 11. Dealer West. Love All.
♠ A K 8 2 ♠ A 8 ♠ A Q ♠ K 2
♥ Q J 5 N ♥ 8 5 3 N ♥ K 6 5 N ♥ A Q 5 4 N
♦ Q J 4 2 W E ♦ K Q J 6 2 W E ♦ A J 3 2 W E ♦ 8 7 6 W E
S S S S
♣ J 5 ♣ K 8 4 ♣ K 8 7 6 ♣ A K 3 2

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South
1NT Pass 2♦* Pass 3♣ Dbl Pass 2♠* 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass
2♥* Pass 3♦ Pass ? ? 1NT Pass 2♦ Pass
? *Transfer to hearts *Weak. 6 spades. 6-10 HCP. ?

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

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

West North East South West North East South West North East South West North East South
1♥ Pass 1NT Pass 1♥ 1♠ Dbl* 1♥ 1♠ 2♥ 1♠ 2♣
? ? *Take-out double ? ?

Answers on page 7 Answers on page 8 Answers on page 11 Answers on page 19

 Join Mr & Mrs Bridge on an unforgettable voyage.
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V OYAGES TO A NTIQUITY
10093

ABTA No.Y2206
 FEATURES
BRIDGE
1 Bidding Quiz
by Bernard Magee
4 Mr Bridge
Ryden Grange, Knaphill, 7 Bidding Quiz Answers
Surrey GU21 2TH (1-3) by Bernard Magee
( 01483 489961 8 Bidding Quiz Answers
(4-6) by Bernard Magee
bridge@mrbridge.co.uk
www.mrbridge.co.uk 11 Bidding Quiz Answers
(7-9) by Bernard Magee
shop: www.mrbridge.co.uk/
12 Machines – Good or Bad?
mrbridge-shop by John Barr
Publisher and 13 David Stevenson
Managing Editor Answers Your Questions
Mr Bridge
13 Defence Quiz
Associate Editor and by Julian Pottage
Bridge Consultant 14 The Prestwich Bequest
Bernard Magee by David Bird
bernardmagee 16 Declarer Play Quiz
@mrbridge.co.uk by David Huggett
Cartoons & Illustrations 17 Julian Pottage
Marguerite Lihou Answers Your Questions
www.margueritelihou.co.uk
18 Bridge and Travel Tips
Customer Services 19 Bidding Quiz Answers
Catrina Shackleton (10-12) by Bernard Magee
catrina@mrbridge.co.uk 21 Accelerated Bridge
Technical Consultant Teaching by Ned Paul
Tony Gordon 22 Mary’s Ninth Lesson
by Liz Dale
Typesetting & Design
Ruth Edmondson 24 Rovinj, Croatia – Part 1
by Bernard Magee
ruth@mrbridge.co.uk
26 Cruise Report
Proof Readers by Richard Wheen
Tony & Jan Richards
28 Why is Cue Bidding
Richard Wheen
Hugh Williams so Useful?
by Julian Pottage
Office Manager 30 The Summer of 1958
Rachel Everett by Shireen Mohandes
rachel@mrbridge.co.uk
33 September 2014
Events & Cruises by Jeremy Dhondy
( 01483 489961 35 Catching Up
Rosie Baker
by Sally Brock
rosie@mrbridge.co.uk
37 Declarer Play Answers
Jessica Galt
by David Huggett
jessica@mrbridge.co.uk
Megan Riccio 38 Readers’ Letters
megan@mrbridge.co.uk 42 Seven Days
Sophie Pierrepont by Sally Brock
sophie@mrbridge.co.uk 45 Defence Quiz Answers
Clubs & Charities by Julian Pottage
Maggie Axtell 46 The Diaries of
maggie@mrbridge.co.uk Wendy Wensum
Address Changes ADVERTISEMENTS
( 01483 485342
2 Bangkok to Singapore
Elizabeth Bryan with Voyages to Antiquity
elizabeth@mrbridge.co.uk
3 Better Hand Evaluation
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 3
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Bernard Magee
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Rules Simplified
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with Voyages to Antiquity
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Travel Insurance
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with Mr Bridge
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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
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 5.
 Name needed
Last month I rambled on so
much I failed to use my
Round Tuit. There was no
Mrs Bridge cake for the
20th birthday of this
publication.
I suppose that now BRIDGE
is metamorphosing
from an entirely free
promotional publication,
into a self-supporting
monthly, it should have a
new name. Bridge Monthly
immediately springs to
mind. What do you think?
Please let me know quickly
as I need to get going
with the marketing
and promotion.
WHAT’S NEW
To mollify those who write
and complain there is too
much Sally Brock and
Bernard Magee, my
resident programmer has
written new software to
enable blogs for bridge
players to be able to
incorporate bridge hands
easily. This is important as,
let’s face it, it’s the bridge
you want. With immediate
effect, I have launched
separate Sally Brock and
Bernard Magee blogs.
Do visit my website:
www.mrbridge.co.uk
OTHER NEWS
Our new computers,
purchase of which as has
been made necessary by
Microsoft stopping support
for Windows XP, are
working well and we have
Page 4 BRIDGE September 2014
all adapted easily to the
new operating software.
The new telephone system
is yet to be fully integrated.
When it has been, the new
database management
system will come into its
own. The postage machine
means I spend less with
Clive Goff and save time
not sticking stamps on
envelopes.
NEW PACKAGING
In future all my DVDs
(films) are to be marketed
with sealed wrappers. For
this reason all the old stock
of DVDs is now being
cleared – Mrs Bridge is
spitting blood at these
wasteful marketing
practices. Purely cosmetic
she says… and she’s right,
of course. The film you
watch really is just the
same. However, if I am to
widen the market for these
products, of which I am
enormously proud, then
they need to be packed and
presented properly.
The same applies to all CDs
developed, distributed and
published by my company.
Attempts are made, from
time to time, to copy and
sell pirate versions. One
way for me to deal with
this problem is to
cellophane wrap. In future,
those with AppleMac
computers really will need
to buy Windows for Mac
software to use them.
REPLACEMENT
You might just need a
replacement CD as nothing
these days lasts forever it
seems. Before everything is
sealed, it might well be
possible to fix you up at
relatively modest cost.
Also, my team in the office
are all trained to re-install
your QPlus and Bernard
Magee software. They really
are very patient and
helpful. Give them a ring.
WINTER HOLIDAYS
I went to Sandown on the
Isle of Wight last week with
my friends the Honours,
below, to review The
Trouville as a bridge venue.
Well, it is just the right size
for us and we will have the
whole hotel to ourselves
from 2-9 February.
I have tried the food,
studied the menus and I am
really sure that it has
everything I could want for
a successful bridge event.
Mrs Bridge will be with me
along with a team of hosts
and helpers to greet you.
We will stay for the first few
nights until Bernard Magee
joins the party to host the
second leg of what promises
to be a great event.
The price is £520 per
person, no single
supplement and inclusive of
full board and car ferry
(minimum two people per
vehicle). Ring the office for
a programme of the event
and a hotel brochure.
Some regular supporters of
my events up in the north
west are keen to come for
the week. For an extra
charge I plan to provide a
coach from Lytham with
pick ups in Liverpool and
Manchester. It will return
from Sandown after
breakfast on 9 February.
Such an arrangement could
also be provided from
north London via Victoria
and Guildford. Like I said,
ring for details.
The heading said winter
holidays, so I must mention
Tunisia in November and
March, their weak currency
making the all-inclusive
holidays attractive
pricewise. Sharm el Sheik
for the last two weeks in
January at the all-inclusive
Three Corners resort
provides real winter sun
for those that want it.
BRIDGE TABLE
Mrs Goldsmith, who lives
in the Edgware area, has an
almost new table for sale
at £25. It must be collected.
( 0208 958 5080.
 REPRINT
✄
I am reprinting the Round
Tuit because the stock
clearances represent
extra-ordinary value. The
wrappings really don’t
matter, it’s the content. The
software is supported by my
back-up team a phone call
away here at Ryden Grange.
MORE MARMITE
Take a bow Marguerite
Lihou (pictured above)
whose caricatures enliven
these pages.
GOFFIE’S STAMPS
Remember, Clive Goff’s
discounted stamp service is
really 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.
WHAT ELSE?
What else indeed? Well,
there is Denham Filming,
Festive Bridge at the Olde
Barn and Denham Grove.
Croatia in May with
Bernard Magee and a full
selection of cruises for you
to pick and choose from.
All good wishes,
✄
Mr Bridge
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 5
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 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
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.

Answers to 
Bernard Magee’s  VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY
Bidding Quizzes 1-3
on the Cover
1. Dealer West. Game All.
♠ A 8 4
N
♥ 7 6
W E
♦ A 7 6 S bidding 3♥. This gives your partner the
♣ K 9 5 3 2
West North East South
?
Pass.
A simple question. 11 HCP and little
distribution, so pass. You do have a
five-card suit, but its quality should
not persuade you to upgrade and all
your honours are isolated. Notice the
vulnerability. If you do ever choose to
open light, then generally do it when
non-vulnerable. If you did choose to
open with this hand, it would be because
you upgraded it to 12 points and so you
would open 1NT (not 1♣). However,
there is no real reason to value the hand
above 11 points.
2. Dealer West. Love All.
♠ A K 8 2 ♠ 4 3
♥ Q J 5 N ♥ A K 7 6 4
W E
♦ Q J 4 2 S ♦ A K 9 8 3
♣ J 5 ♣ 2
West North East South
1NT Pass 2♦* Pass
2♥* Pass 3♦ Pass
? hands with 3-card support (imagine
*Transfer to hearts
3♥.
When East makes a transfer bid, he is
showing five or more cards in the suit
irrespective of what he bids next. Your
partner is not rebidding diamonds to
deny hearts, he is bidding them to show
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 7
1815 Mr Bridge third page ad Ist-Ven_Layout 1 29/07
Classical
Greece &
Adriatic
his second suit. He has five hearts and
at least four diamonds with game-going
values and he is interested in discussing
further. You should support his hearts by
JOIN
chance to explore for greater things if he BERNARD
wishes. Here, he might cue bid in clubs MAGEE
to suggest a slam and, when you can cue
bid 4♠, 6♥ might be reached.
3. Dealer West. N/S Game.
♠ K 9 7 6 ♠ 8 5 4
♥ K Q 8 4 2 N ♥ 5
W E
♦ A 3 S ♦ K Q 7 6 5
♣ K 2 ♣ Q 9 4 3
West North East South
1♥ Pass 1NT Pass Enjoy daily duplicates on this
? fascinating bridge cruise to
ancient Greece, Croatia and Italy
Pass.
August 6, 2015
Your partner has shown 6-9 points. So
12 days from Istanbul to Venice
the first point to note is that game is
Fly to Istanbul and join Aegean Odyssey
likely to be beyond you as you have a Cruise the Dardanelles and
maximum of 24 combined points. So past Mount Athos • Thessalonica
your only consideration is to find the best Volos (Meteora) • Patmos
Athens • Gythion (Sparta & Mystra)
denomination for your partscore. Had Preveza (Arta) • Corfu • Dubrovnik
East held four spades, he would have Ravenna • Venice • Fly home
responded 1♠, so there is no point in Great value Mr Bridge fares
bidding spades, which leaves a choice Standard Inside from £2,095pp
between passing 1NT and 2♥. Standard Outside from £2,550pp
The maximum number of hearts your Premium Outside from £2,695pp
partner can have is three, the minimum is Single supplement just 10%
zero. Also bear in mind that your partner Extend your holiday with hotel stays in
Istanbul and/or Venice – please ask for details
might have raised 1♥ to 2♥ on some
For reservations call
swapping East’s hearts and spades on
this layout and 2♥ would have been a on 01483 489961
good response).
If in doubt when rebidding over a 1NT
response, you should repeat a suit only
with six or more cards. www.mrbridge.co.uk
Passing 1NT leaves you in the best
Terms and conditions apply – see brochure for details
partscore. ■
 Answers to Bernard Magee’s
Bidding Quizzes 4-6 on the Cover
4. Dealer West. Love All.
♠ A 9 8 7 6 5 4 ♠ 2
♥ A K Q N ♥ J 8 7 6 5 4
W E
♦ A K 6 S ♦ Q J 2
♣ Void ♣ J 8 7
West North East South
2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass
? the lead will be coming up to you, so you
2♠. You chose to open 2♣ because
you want to finish in a game contract
(probably 4♠) even if your partner holds
a Yarborough. Give your partner a
singleton spade with no points at all and
you would expect only to lose two spades
and one diamond. Your partner’s 2♦ is
the negative response: it does not say
anything about diamonds.
Once you have opened 2♣, you do
not need to make a jump rebid in a suit
unless you are certain that your suit is the
only possible trump suit. Because your
spades are weak, it is not unreasonable
to think that both diamonds and hearts
could make reasonable trump suits if
your partner has length. Therefore, you
should rebid 2♠, knowing your partner
has to bid again.
Here, your partner will rebid 3♥ and
you can settle for hearts as trumps,
finishing in 6♥ or 7♥, depending on your
ambition.
Had you rebid 3♠, then your partner
would simply raise to 4♠ to finish the
auction.
5. Dealer North. Love All.
♠ A 8 ♠ K Q 6 5
♥ 8 5 3 N ♥ A 9 6 4
W E
♦ K Q J 6 2 S ♦ A 9 8 5
♣ K 8 4 ♣ 2
West North East South
3♣ Dbl Pass
?
Page 8 BRIDGE September 2014
3NT. Your partner’s double is for take-
out showing about the strength of an
opening bid, with shortage in clubs and
support for the other three suits. Holding
an opening hand yourself, you should be
aiming for a game contract. Which is the
most likely making game contract?
With only one long suit, 5♦ is certainly
one option, but what about no-trumps?
Your ♣K is safe if you bid 3NT because
should go for it.
When you have an opening hand and
a stop in the opponents’ suit, then, if you
are not long in an unbid major, it is worth
considering a no-trump contract opposite
a take-out double. 5♦ may well make on
this hand, but 3NT will often score more,
perhaps +430 instead of +400.
6. Dealer North. Love All.
♠ A 6 5 3 2 ♠ K Q J 9 7
♥ 2 N ♥ 8 7
W E
♦ 9 8 7 S ♦ A 4
♣ Q J 4 3 ♣ 10 8 6 5
Elstead Hotel
Bournemouth BH1 3QP
Full Board – No Single Supplement
Booking Form on page 10.
West North East South
1♥ 1♠ Dbl*
?
*Take-out double
4♠. Your partner has made a simple
overcall of 1♠. He is not showing great
strength, but he should have at least a
five-card suit. When responding to an
overcall with a little bit of distribution, then
it is a good idea to support aggressively,
bidding to the level of your fit. You have
five spades and your partner should also
have five: together that makes ten, so bid
to make ten tricks – jump straight to 4♠.
Over time, it has been shown that this
tactic works really well. Sometimes 4♠
will make, but more often it will go off,
giving you a good score because your
opponents can make a contract of their
own. By bidding to the level of your fit
fast, you put maximum pressure on your
opponents. They will have to guess at
their best contract. 5♥ is a good contract
for East-West, but they might choose to
double you in 4♠ instead. 4♠ will go one
or two off, which is certainly better than
-450 for 5♥ making. ■
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
Discover Japan
& China
aboard Minerva
with Tony & Jan Richards

Stimulating, informative, relaxing, sociable - just some Japan and China Discovery
of the words passengers have used when describing the
Swan Hellenic experience. A cruise aboard Minerva is like 3 – 24 January 2015
nothing else, with meticulous attention to the finest details No
22 Days from £2,999pp suppl single
and with a quality and charm that is simply unique. emen
SPECIAL OFFER PRICES
t*
Join your Mr Bridge team, along with the crew and staff of Cabin Type Per Person
Minerva on a journey of discovery to Japan & China. Enjoy Balcony Saver £8,499
duplicate bridge every evening after dinner. On days at sea Outside Saver £4,999
there are morning seminars and afternoon bridge sessions. Inside Saver £2,999
There are also exclusive drinks parties hosted by Tony &
Jan Richards. Exceptional, inclusive value
✓ Mr Bridge programme ✓ All meals included –
✓ A tailor-made shore open-seating dining
excursion programme ✓ Captain’s gala nights
✓ All gratuities on board ✓ A selection of engaging
and ashore onboard activities
✓ Flights and overseas ✓ Enhanced benefits
airport transfers in selected cabins
✓ Porterage of luggage ✓ Complimentary
✓ Port taxes, visas chauffeur service**

**On all cruises, passengers booking selected cabins (category A-C) within 75 miles
of your departing UK airport (London or Manchester only). For passengers living further
away, excess mileage charges will apply.

Additional cruises & Grand Voyages available

Call 01483 489961 for brochures & bookings

Fares are calculated per person based on two people sharing. Fares apply to new booking only, are correct at the time of going to print and are subject to availability. Saver
fares are for unnumbered cabins, which may be berthed on arrival. Payment in full at time of booking, 100% cancellations & amendment fees apply. Cannot be combined with
any other offer or loyalty discount, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. See brochure for full terms & conditions. Swan Hellenic is a trading name of All
Leisure Holidays Ltd. *Subject to availability. 14_0686
 ✄
BRIDGE EVENTS
BRIDGE  with Bernard Magee
BREAKS 28-30 Blunsdon House
£245 Distributional NEW
♦ Two seminars*
Hands
♦ Full-board
♦ All rooms with ♦ Two supervised JANUARY 2015
en-suite facilities play sessions*
23-25 Blunsdon House
♦ No single supplement ♦ Four bridge sessions** £245 Competitive
Bidding
Please book ..... places for me at £....... per person,
30-1/2 Holiday Inn
Chatsworth Hotel Newport
Single .... Double .... Twin ....
Worthing BN11 3DU £245 Finding Slams
Name of Hotel/Centre.............................................................
SEPTEMBER
Date(s) .................................................................................... 26-28 Holiday Inn
Newport
Mr/Mrs/Miss ......................................................................... £245 Doubles

Address...................................................................................
OCTOBER
................................................................................................ 3-5 Chatsworth Hotel
£245 Game Tries
Postcode ....................................( ........................................ 10-12 Olde Barn Hotel
£245 Endplay Elstead Hotel
Bournemouth BH1 3QP
Email ..................................................................................... & Avoidance

Special requirements (these cannot be guaranteed,

but we will do our best to oblige). FEBRUARY 2015
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
................................................................................................
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 Holiday Inn 24-26 Chatsworth Hotel
with your booking confirmation. On receipt of your final payment, Newport, S Wales NP18 2YG
£245 Topic TBA
28 days before the event, a programme and full details will be sent
together with a map. Cancellations are not refundable. Should you 17-19 Holiday Inn
require insurance, you should contact your own insurance broker.
Ashford-North
£245 Signals & Discards

NOVEMber
7-9 Chatsworth Hotel
£245 Hand Evaluation
Expiry: ................................. CVV......................... Issue No.................... 14-16 Blunsdon House
(CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip) £245 Further into
the Auction
Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH. The Olde Barn Hotel
21-23 Elstead 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 10 BRIDGE September 2014


Answers to 
Bernard Magee’s  VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY
Bidding Quizzes 7-9
on the Cover
7. Dealer North. Game All.
♠ K Q 7 4
♥ 7 3 N
♠ J 10 8 5
♥ A 10 9
W E
♦ A J 4 2 S ♦ K Q 8 6
♣ 7 4 3 ♣ A J
West North East South
1♥ 1NT Pass
? ♥ A 2 N
2♣.
Your partner’s 1NT overcall shows 15-18
points and a stop in the opponents’ suit.
It is important to play your conventions
over this 1NT bid. You want to be able to
use Stayman for the same reasons as you
need it over an opening 1NT.
With 10 HCP, you have the strength for
game but, with four spades, you should
check for a spade fit before raising to
game. You bid 2♣, your partner responds
2♠ and you can raise to 4♠, finding the
best game.
8. Dealer South. Love All.
♠ A Q ♠ 4 3 2
♥ K 6 5 N ♥ A 8 7 4
W E
♦ A J 3 2 S ♦ Q 10 5
♣ K 8 7 6 ♣ 9 4 3
West North East South
2♠*
? so important. On competitive deals like
*Weak. 6 spades. 6-10 HCP.
2NT.
South opens a weak 2♠ showing 6-10
HCP and a six-card spade suit, a pre-
emptive style opening. Your defensive
system is to play a take-out double and
natural overcalls, including a natural
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 11
1815 Mr Bridge third page ad venice to Athens_Layo
Dalmatia
& the
2NT overcall to show 16-19 points.
With a very good spade stop and
17 points, 2NT describes your hand
perfectly. Your partner would pass on
Aegean JOIN
this hand. BERNARD
MAGEE
9. Dealer North. Love All.
♠ K Q 6 ♠ A J 9 5 4
♥ 7 6 5
W E
♦ K 8 7 6 5 S ♦ A 3
♣ 4 3 2 ♣ Q J 6
West North East South
1♥ 1♠ 2♥
?
3♥. Enjoy daily duplicates on this cruise
Your partner has made a simple 1♠ through the beautiful Adriatic
overcall. Meanwhile, your opponents to the ancient sites of the Aegean
have found a fit. Direct raises of your
partner’s suit are competitive – you do July 7, 2015
10 days from Venice to Athens
not need high card points, you need
Fly to Venice and join
length in partner’s suit. You bid to the Aegean Odyssey, then cruise to
level of your fit. So when you do have Split • Korcula • Dubrovnik
Kotor Bay • Corfu • Preveza (Arta)
a strong hand, you need to find another
Ithaca • Katakolon (Olympia)
way of showing it. With opening strength Pylos • Monemvasia • Hydra
and support for your partner, you want Athens • Fly home
to suggest that the deal belongs to your Great value Mr Bridge fares
side. To show strength, make a bid in the Standard Inside from £1,795pp
opponents’ suit: 3♥. Standard Outside from £2,195pp
Your partner also holds an opening Premium Outside from £2,350pp
hand, so can be confident of game, Single supplement just 10%
but will also know that it will be the Extend your holiday with hotel stays in Venice
and/or Athens – please ask for details
opponents sacrificing and not you: this is
For reservations call
this, the bidding is likely to progress to
the five-level and it is imperative that you on 01483 489961
know what you are doing. As the weaker
side, you would be contemplating a
sacrifice, whereas here, when you bid
3♥, you are suggesting that you are the www.mrbridge.co.uk
doubling side. 4♠ makes, but 5♠ does
Terms and conditions apply – see brochure for details
not, so your side needs to double 5♥. ■
 Letters from Overseas
Mr Bridge
2015 Machines - Good or Bad
Bridge by John Barr
Players’
T
he 2013/14 ski sea-
son in Austria has
Diaries been a strange one,
with limited snowfalls, but
great skiing. The majority of
pistes are now supported by
snow making equipment,
so when the temperature
was below freezing early in
the season, a deep base of
artificial snow was gener-
ated which has helped to
maintain the pistes in good
condition, despite the lack
Contents include of natural snow. Artificial
snow used to be no fun to
♦ Acol Summary ski on – it was hard, icy and
by Bernard Magee.
prone to turning into mar-
♦ Guide to the Laws.
bles – but the technology
has improved and now the
♦ Scoring Tables for artificial snow is not very
duplicate and different from the real stuff.
rubber bridge.
♦ Distributional odds.
♦ Hand patterns and
fascinating figures.
♦ Cover colours: Red, Navy,
Green, Burgundy.
♦ All covers printed in
gold-coloured ink.
♦ Individual diaries £6.95
each including p&p.
♦ Special concession
to clubs and teachers.
10 for £35,
thereafter £3.50 each Another area of life sup-
including p&p. ported by machinery now is
♦ Luxury version with super-
dealing bridge hands. Many
soft kidrell cover, gilded bridge players prefer com-
page edges and puter dealt hands as they
a ball-point pen attached, reflect the mathematically
in ruby red or navy blue.
£14.95 each including p&p. correct distribution, com-
pared with the more bor-
ing, flatter hands that can
See Mail Order
result from an inadequate
Form on page 5.
shuffle – while others think
that computers generate far
Page 12 BRIDGE September 2014
too many wild distribu-
tions. We have been using
computer dealt hands at
Kitzbühel Bridge Club for
a couple of years now and
there are often light hearted
complaints about the distri-
butions of computer dealt
hands. I have been respon-
sible for dealing the hands
for the last six months and
it is not unusual to hear a
cry of, ‘John, what has your
computer gone and done
now?’ as someone fails in
a contract due to a four-nil
trump break.
Personally, I much prefer
distributional computer
dealt hands, so I was
pleasantly surprised to pick
up the following human
dealt hand at love all during
a recent rubber bridge game.
♠ A Q J 10 9
♥ 7
♦ A K J 10 9 8 7
♣ Void
While I was wondering what
to bid, the dealer, on my
left, opened a weak two in
hearts, which was followed
by two passes. I considered
everything from double to
6♦, but eventually decided
to bid 3♥. Over one level
openings we play Michaels,
which is either weak or
very strong, so I hoped that
after my next action partner
would get the idea.
The next bid was a sur-
prising 4♣ from my left-
hand opponent, followed
by 4♠ from partner and 5♣
from my right-hand oppo-
nent. I considered bidding
5♠, hoping to hear 6♣ from
the opponents, over which
I might buy the contract in
6♠, but I decided that I’d
look stupid if 5♠ was passed
out when we could make 12
or 13 tricks, so I jumped to
6♠ which was the final con-
tract.
♠ A Q J 10 9
♥ 7
♦ A K J 10 9 8 7
♣ Void
♠ 4 2 ♠ 7 6
N
♥ Q 10 9 W E ♥ K J 8 6 5 3
♦ 5 2 S ♦ Void
♣ K Q 8 5 4 3 ♣ A J 10 9 2
♠ K 8 5 3
♥ A 4 2
♦ Q 6 4 3
♣ 7 6
A diamond ruff at trick
one would have held the
contract to 12 tricks, but the
opponents tried to cash a
club so we made all 13 tricks.
Who needs a computer to
deal crazy hands? ■
 Laws and Ethics Questions

DEFENCE
Answered QUIZ
by David
by Julian Pottage
(Answers on page 45)

Stevenson Y
ou are East in the defensive positions below at match-
point pairs at LOVE ALL. It is your turn to play. Both
sides are using Acol with a 12-14 1NT and 2♣ Stayman.

Q
Is speaking a bid odd spoken call – I know
1. ♠ Q J 8 2 3. ♠ A 8 7 2
whilst placing it a few people who make
♥ J 6 3 ♥ 8 2
on the table from a final pass by saying it. ♦ A 9 2 ♦ Q J 10 2
the bidding box allowed? But if someone does it ♣ K 9 5 ♣ K Q 4
Our only qualified Direc- continually, that tends to ♠ K5 ♠ KJ5
tor has recently left the annoy other people and N
♥ A952 N ♥ AK5
W E
club and a reference to should be stopped. ♦ 10 8 5 3 W E
♦ 85
S S
my question cannot be ♣ AQ8 ♣ A9875
found. I presume the an- ♣♦♥♠
swer to be no (possibility

of unauthorised infor-
mation etc.), otherwise
why use bidding boxes?
Norman Scott, Crook,
Co. Durham.
Q
In a no-trump West North East South West North East South
contract, in what 1♥ Dbl! 2NT1 Pass 2♥1 Dbl 4♥ 4♠
order should 3♥ Pass 4♥ 4♠ Pass Pass Dbl All Pass
dummy’s cards be faced? Pass Pass Dbl All Pass 1
Weak
Kaye Raymond by email. 1
Limit raise to 3♥ or better
Partner leads the ♥Q.

A A
It is not legal per Any order the Partner leads the ♥K and What is your plan?
se. If someone has player likes. The continues the suit. Having
difficulties – for only rules are that ruffed the second round,
example some blind people they are pointed lengthwise declarer leads the ♠4 to
the ♠6, ♠Q and ♠K. What
play with braille cards – and in suits towards declarer.
do you return? 4. ♠ 8 6 2
ask for it to be spoken as Some opponents ask for
♥ K 9 3
well, then of course it is colours to alternate because
♦ 9
reasonable to accede to they have problems seeing:
2. ♠ Q 8 7 2 ♣ A Q 10 8 3 2
their request. Also, I do not of course, players should
♥ Q 8 6 2 ♠ A K 5
suppose anyone minds the accede to such a request. ■ N
♦ K 6 2 ♥ J 10 8 2
W E
♣ Q 9 S ♦ 7 6 4 3
E-mail your questions to: davidstevenson@mrbridge.co.uk
♠ K5 ♣ K 6
N ♥ K5
W E
♦ J8753
S
♣ AJ85 West North East South
DUPLICATE BRIDGE 
Pass 2♣ Pass 2NT1
1♥

RULES SIMPLIFIED West North East South

3♣
Dbl All Pass
(otherwise known as the Yellow Book)
Partner leads the ♦10. De-
only
by John Rumbelow and clarer wins with the ♦A
revised by David Stevenson £595 and leads the ♣2 to the
♣Q, partner discarding
the ♥3. What is your plan?
Available from Mr Bridge ( 01483 489961
Pass 3♥ Pass 3NT
All Pass
1
15-19
Partner leads the ♠J. You
take the ♠K and ♠A, the
♠Q appearing from South
on the second round.
What do you do next?

BRIDGE September 2014 Page 13

 Robin Hood’s Bridge Adventures by David Bird
The Prestwich
F
riar Tuck had a sparkle in his eye
as he approached Robin Hood
one cold but sunny morning in
the outlaws’ camp. ‘I have some news
for you,’ he said. ‘Lord Fitzdouglas of
Prestwich Manor has died.’
‘Interesting news,’ Robin Hood
replied, ‘if I’d ever heard of the noble
lord.’
‘Ah, but I haven’t told you the best
bit,’ continued the Friar. ‘He has left
500 golden guineas in his will, to be
given to the deserving poor of some
part of the country.’
‘How are they to decide which part
of the country?’ asked Hood. ‘It’s a
handsome sum but, spread thinly, it
would not accomplish much.’
‘There is to be a two-day pairs
tournament, held in Prestwich
Manor and open only to members
of the priesthood,’ said Friar Tuck.
‘The winners will have the privilege
of buying food with the money and
distributing it within 20 miles of their
religious establishment.’
‘It’s scarcely believable,’ Hood
observed. ‘The sort of absurd plot
you would encounter only in books.
Anyway, is there some fellow priest
skilled enough to give you a chance of
winning?’
‘Ah, well, that’s the problem,’ Tuck
replied. ‘Perhaps, since it’s in a good
cause, we could er…’
Hood laughed. ‘I can read your vil-
lainous mind,’ he said. ‘Are you think-
ing of your good friend Friar Robin?’
A month or so later, the great hall
of Prestwich Manor was filled with a
motley assortment of churchmen from
around the country. Several nuns had
made the journey. At the other end
of the scale were at least two purple-
Page 14 BRIDGE September 2014
Bequest
clad bishops. It seemed that giving
to the poor was a popular pastime,
particularly if the money was supplied
by someone else. An early round saw
the outlaws facing two elderly priests.
Dealer South. Love All.
♠ 8 6 3
♥ 8 7 5 3
♦ 5 2
♣ K Q J 7
♠ K J 9 4 ♠ Q 7
♥ 2 N ♥ 10 9 6
W E
♦ K Q J 4 S ♦ A 9 7 3
♣ 9 6 5 3 ♣ 10 8 4 2
♠ A 10 5 2
♥ A K Q J 4
♦ 10 8 6
♣ A
West North East South
Father Friar Father Robin
Tomkin Tuck Aldis Hood
1♥
Pass 2♥ Pass 4♥
All Pass
Father Tomkin, who had poor
eyesight, peered closely at his hand.
When he eventually extracted the ♦K,
Father Aldis signalled encouragement
with the ♦9. He thumbed this card
halfway across the table to ensure that
it did not escape his partner’s notice.
The defenders then continued with
two more rounds of diamonds.
Robin Hood paused to consider his
play to the third trick. Suppose he
ruffed the third diamond in dummy
and trumps turned out to be 3-1. He
would not then be able to unblock the
♣A and draw trumps ending in the
dummy, to enjoy the remaining three
club honours. What could be done?
After a few seconds, Hood spotted
the solution. ‘Discard a spade,’ he said.
East won the third round of dia-
monds and switched to the ♠7. Robin
Hood rose with the ♠A and unblocked
the ♣A. He drew trumps in three
rounds and was then able to cross to
the ♥8 to discard three spade losers on
the ♣K-Q-J. The game was his.
‘Could have been worse,’ observed
Father Tomkin. ‘If he ruffs the third
diamond, he scores an overtrick.’
Father Aldis was reluctant to
contradict his partner, who was many
years his senior. ‘I’m not sure he can
reach dummy’s club honours if he
does that,’ he said.
‘Ruff the diamond and he’ll be in
dummy already,’ retorted the half-
blind priest.
A round or two later, the outlaws
faced two competent-looking nuns of
middle age.
‘Feeble Twos, 12-14 no-trump
opening and the Duke of Richmond’s
ace-ask,’ announced Sister Ingrith.
Dealer South. E/W Game.
♠ 7 4
♥ A K 7 6
♦ Q 9 7 6 3
♣ K 6
♠ K J 10 9 8 6 ♠ 5 3 2
♥ 8 3 2 N ♥ 5
W E
♦ J S ♦ K 10 8
♣ A Q 5 ♣ J 10 8 7 3 2
♠ A Q
♥ Q J 10 9 4
♦ A 5 4 2
♣ 9 4
 Robin Hood continued well. The first day’s play was nearing to hope that his hand would give some
its end when they faced the Bishop of play in 6♠?
Norwich and his choirmaster, Geraint The Bishop of Norwich, whose
Grope. enormous girth seemed out of place
West North East South in an event aiming to succour the
Sister Friar Sister Robin starving, led the ♦2.
Ingrith Tuck Letha Hood Dealer East. N/S Game. Hood’s eyes focussed on the dummy.
1♥ ♠ 9 5 2 If hearts broke 3-2, he could ruff the
1♠ 4♥ All Pass ♥ A Q 8 6 4 2 first trick and score all thirteen tricks.
♦ Void Still, East’s bidding surely foretold of a
Sister Ingrith led the ♦J and down went ♣ 10 8 5 2 bad heart break. If he had to establish
the dummy. Hood considered his pros- ♠ 8 7 4 ♠ 3 the heart suit with a ruff, he would
pects. If the opening lead was from ♥ J 9 7 3 N ♥ 10 need a trump entry back to dummy to
J-10-8, East’s ♦K would fall on the first ♦ 10 7 2 W E ♦ A K Q J 9 enjoy the long cards.
S
round. ‘Play low, please,’ he said. 8 6 5 3 His mind made up, Robin Hood
When the ♦8 appeared from East, ♣ J 7 3 ♣ K Q pointed a finger at the dummy. ‘Two of
Hood saw that it would be a mistake ♠ A K Q J 10 6 clubs,’ he said.
to win the first trick. If the lead was ♥ K 5 When Hood followed with the ♦4 on
from J-10, his play would make no ♦ 4 the first trick, Friar Tuck’s mouth fell
difference. If, instead, the ♦J was a ♣ A 9 6 4 open. By St. Barnabas! Why on earth
singleton, he could not afford East hadn’t he ruffed in the dummy?
to gain the lead twice in diamonds, With no idea of what was going on,
returning a spade on the first of these West North East South Geraint Grope won and continued
occasions. Bishop of Friar Geraint Robin with another top diamond. Perhaps
The ♦J held the trick and Sister Norwich Tuck Grope Hood the mad declarer would fail to ruff
Ingrith switched to a trump. Hood 5♦ 5♠ again.
won and drew trumps in two further Pass Pass 6♦ Dbl Robin Hood ruffed with the ♠A and
rounds. He then played ace and another Pass 6♠ All Pass drew two rounds of trumps with the
diamond, setting king and queen,
up the suit. The East showing out
pale-faced Sister on the second
Letha switched to round. He then
a spade, but Hood played the king
rose with the ace and ace of hearts
and proceeded to and ruffed a heart
discard the ♠Q high in his hand.
on the fifth round The ♠6 to the ♠9
of diamonds. A allowed him to
subsequent lead discard all three
towards the ♣K club losers and the
landed the game. slam was made.
Sister Ingrith ‘You buffoon!’
nodded apprecia- cried the Bishop
tively. ‘Not many of Norwich. ‘How
will find the duck can you push
at Trick 1,’ she in- them into a mak-
formed her part- ing slam?’
ner. ‘Sadly for the ‘But I was only
starving poor of 300 down in 6♦,’
Bodleigh Marsh.’ protested his part-
Robin Hood ner. ‘It was an ob-
was not immune vious sacrifice.’
to the irony of The Bishop
the nun’s remark. raised his eyes
Had his duck to the ornately
of the ♦J con- carved ceiling.
demned some innocent marsh dwell- When 6♦ ran back to Friar Tuck, he ‘When the paupers of Norwich cel-
ers to death by starvation? was unwilling to accept a modest non- ebrate our return on Monday, you can
Tuck and Hood continued to do vulnerable penalty. Surely it was better explain this one to them!’ ■

BRIDGE September 2014 Page 15

 DECLARER
PLAY
QUIZ
by David Huggett
(Answers on page 37)

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

In each case, what is your play strategy?

1. ♠ K 4 3. ♠ A 9 7 6
♥ A Q 10 6 ♥ A Q 5
♦ 7 6 4 ♦ K 2
♣ 7 5 4 2 ♣ 10 7 5 3

N
N
W E
W E
S
S

♠ A Q ♠ K Q J 8 3
♥ 9 8 7 ♥ J 2
♦ A Q J ♦ A Q 6
♣ Q J 10 9 8 ♣ Q J 8

You are declarer in 3NT You are declarer in 4♠ and

and West leads the ♠3. West leads the ♥4. How do
How do you plan the play? you plan the play?

2. ♠ Q 7 4 4. ♠ 6 5 4 2
♥ A 10 2 ♥ A Q J 7
♦ 8 7 5 ♦ 8 4
♣ K 8 6 4 ♣ Q 10 6

N
N
W E
W E
S
S

♠ A 6 2 ♠ A Q
♥ K Q J 4 ♥ 10 8 2
♦ 3 ♦ A K 6 3
♣ A Q J 7 3 ♣ K J 8 2

You are declarer in 4♥ You are declarer in 3NT

and West leads the ♦A and and West leads the ♠J with
follows up with the ♦K. East playing the ♠8. How
How do you plan the play? do you plan the play?

Page 16 BRIDGE September 2014

 Julian Pottage answers your bridge questions
Q Q
If partner opens
the bidding and
I hold a 7-card
suit with only a few
points, do I respond
three of that suit?
I might not have a
really good suit and
do not wish to mis-
lead my partner.
Doreen Parrington by email.
A
As a rule, you do
not want to pre-
empt when part-
ner opens the bidding.
If your side is bidding
and the other side (at
least so far) is not, bid-
ding space is more likely
to be useful to your side
than the opposing side.
If your suit is lower rank-
ing than partner’s, a jump
to three of a suit would be
a strong jump shift anyway,
not a pre-empt. A double
jump, if partner has opened
a major (e.g. 1♠-Pass-4♣),
is much more useful as
a splinter (raise to game
with a shortage in the suit
bid) than as a pre-empt.
If you are talking about the
situation where your suit is
higher than partner’s, then
yes, in theory, you could
make a double jump to the
three level. If you do play
that as natural and weak, it
would indeed make sense to
have a good suit for the bid.
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 17
Can I Respond
in a
Poor 7-Card Suit?
At game all,
the hand on my
right opened
1♠ and I held:
♠ 9 7 5 4 2
♥ A K
♦ A 8 4
♣ A K 7
I was going to bid 2NT,
but instead bid 2♠.
Someone suggested
that my 2♠ should be
asking for a spade
stopper. We ended up
going several down.
James Rodgers,
Columbjohn, Devon.
A
With only 18 HCP,
you would be light
for a natural 2NT
overcall. In any case, I rec-
ommend playing 2NT as for
the minors. The traditional
meaning of 2♠ is a very
strong hand, which over-
states your values. I would
recommend playing 2♠ as
a two-suiter in any event.
If you jumped to 3♠, that
would ask for a spade stop-
per – it would also suggest
a long running minor, which
again you do not have.
Realistically, your only
choices are 1NT, double
or pass. If, as you say, the
opponents were vulner-
able, it seems reasonable
to go quietly and hope to
defeat them in whatever they
choose as a final contract.
♣♦♥♠
Q
Playing at a
bridge drive,
North opened
2♥ (strong). East has
11 points and 5 good
spades with all honours.
Should East overcall 2♠?
Jeannette Jones,
Banstead, Surrey.
A
Even if the rest of
the hand is J-x-x, x-x
and x-x-x, ♠A-K-Q-
J-10 sounds enough for a
2♠ overcall, except perhaps
if you are vulnerable against
not. You do not want to
risk going for 800 against
a non-vulnerable game. If
the rest of the hand is not
as bad as I have suggested,
for example if you have a
singleton heart, it would be
reasonable to overcall 2♠
whatever the vulnerability.
♣♦♥♠
Q
Can you please
let me know
what odd &
even signals are? Many
years ago, friends used
E-mail your questions to: julianpottage@mrbridge.co.uk
that system to let part-
ner know which suit
they wanted returned.
I would like to
use the method.
Lionel Silver,
Messingham, Lincolnshire.
A
As a defender, you
can signal whether
you like a suit if
partner leads it or if you are
discarding on another suit
whether declarer or partner
leads it. Most people do
this by playing high or low;
you can do it by playing an
odd or even card instead,
so long as you have the
appropriate card, of course.
You just need to agree with
your partner which encour-
ages and which discourages.
I find Even Encouraging,
Odd Off-putting the easier
way to remember, though
the method may be more
popular the other way round.
There is a possible ethical
issue. Do not spend five min-
utes before playing an even
card because everyone will
know that you really wanted
to play an odd card (or vice
versa). If you have only cards
of the wrong parity for the
message you wish to convey,
the ethical way round the
problem is to play high-low
with such cards. ■
Bernard Magee’s Tips
for Better Bridge
65 invaluable tips in 160 pages
Bidding Tips
1 Always consider bidding
spades if you can
2 Bid more aggressively
when non-vulnerable
3 Always double when the
opponents steal your deal
4 A takeout double shows
shortage in the suit doubled
5 ‘Borrow’ a king
to keep the auction open
6 After a penalty double,
don’t let the opponents escape
Bridge and Travel Tips
HONOUR THY
33 A low lead usually promises
length and an honour
34 When declaring 1NT,
PARTNER
try to be patient
35 Duck an early round when Bridge tip from Sally Brock:
you are short of entries
36 Lead up to your
two-honour holding
Consider your partner’s problems
37 Do not always assume
a suit will break well
in defence and try to stop
38 Drop a high card
to put off the defence him making mistakes.
39 Play your highest card to tempt

7 Halve the value of a singleton
honour when opening
8 Only add length-points for a
suit that might be useful
9 Isolated honours are bad
except in partner’s suit
10 Use the jump shift sparingly
11 Consider passing and letting
partner decide
12 You need two top honours
for a second-seat pre-empt
13 Put the brakes on if you have a
misfit
14 Strong and long minors work
well in no-trumps
15 One stop in the opponents’ suit
can be enough for no-trumps
16 Keep your two-level
responses up to strength
17 Use your normal methods in
response to a 1NT overcall
18 Don’t overcall just because
you have opening points
19 Overcalls can be quite weak,
so be prudent when responding
20 Weak overcalls must be based
on strong suits
21 6NT requires 33 points
not 4 aces and 4 kings
22 Raise immediately, if weak
with four-card support
23 In a competitive auction,
show support immediately
24 Bid to the level of your fit
quickly with weak hands
25 With strength and support,
use the opponents’ bid suit
Declarer Play Tips
26 When your contract depends
on a finesse, think ‘endplay’
27 Consider what a defender
a defender to cover
40 Draw trumps first unless you
have a good reason not to
41 Do not waste your trumps
42 Consider leaving a lone defen-
sive trump winner out
Defence Tips
43 Keep four-card suits intact
whenever possible
44 Give count on declarer’s leads
45 Keep the right cards
rather than signal
46 Take your time
when dummy is put down
47 High cards are for killing
other high cards
48 Do not waste
intermediate cards
49 Pick two key suits to
concentrate on during the play
50 If in doubt, cover an honour
with an honour
51 If a lead is from two honours, it
is best not to cover
52 Keep your honour to kill
dummy’s honour
53 Try to show partner your
solid honour sequences
54 Lead the normal card when
leading partner’s suit
55 Never underlead an ace at trick
one in a suit contract
56 Be wary of leading from
four cards to only one honour
57 Lead a higher card from
a suit without an honour
58 Lead through ‘beatable’
strength and up to weakness
59 Cash your winners before try-
ing for a trump promotion
60 Be patient when defending
T
his is the most com- This is the end position in
mon example of not a typical no-trump con-
following the tip and tract.
I see so many players do- Declarer has exited with
ing it. I am hoping to cure a card to put East on lead.
you. East knows his partner has
South is in a no-trump the master diamond but
contract: it does not matter is not sure who has the
how many tricks he is trying master heart (or maybe he
to make, nor what went on even knows his partner has
before. the master heart).
Whatever the layout, it
cannot cost to play a heart,
♠ Void but so many Easts in this
♥ 10 situation play their mas-
♦ 10 ter card, here the king of
♣ Void spades. Suddenly, West,
♠ Void ♠ K who has perhaps not being
♥ J N ♥ x paying proper attention or
W E
♦ Q S ♦ Void may have a genuine guess,
♣ Void ♣ Void starts to think … Hopefully,
♠ 7 he will get it right but East
♥ Void should never have allowed
♦ 3 him to go wrong. Try to
♣ Void avoid making your partner
guess. ■
Travel tip from Emma Thomson:

might be thinking about
28 Always take your time
at trick one
29 Establish extra tricks before
cashing your winners
30 Use your opponents’
bidding to your advantage
31 Avoid the ‘baddie’
gaining the lead
32 Use the Rule of Seven when
holding up in no-trumps
T
1NT
61 Trump leads can be safe ravelling places unique stresses on a
throughout the play
relationship. Jet lag, sleeping in a strange
General Tips bed and touring sites of interest under an
62 Do not put important cards unrelenting sun can fray the evenest of tempers,
at either end of your hand
63 Avoid being declarer when so reserve an extra dose of patience for your loved
you are dummy one – even if they leave the passports at home. As
64 Before you lead, ask for a the saying goes, ‘The couple who travel together,
review of the auction
65 Enjoy the Game! stay together.’

£14 including postage and packing from Mr Bridge,

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

Page 18 BRIDGE September 2014


Answers to Bernard Magee’s 
Bidding Quizzes 10-12
on the Cover
10. Dealer East. Game All.
♠ A 4 2 ♠ K Q 5
N
♥ A 8 7 6 ♥ 4 3 2
W E
♦ 8 7 S ♦ A K 9 5 3
♣ K Q 4 3 ♣ 7 6
West North East South
1NT 2♣*
? *Shows hearts & another suit
Double. You cannot choose your
opponents. Sometimes, you will come
up against players who play different
defences to 1NT. These opponents are
playing Asptro, where a 2♣ overcall
shows hearts and any other suit.
Although it only promises 4+ hearts, it
should show a hand with at least nine
cards in the two long suits. What defence
do you play against it?
Your double should show general
strength and perhaps suggest a possible
penalty: other bids are natural except for
a bid of the suit that South has promised
(2♥). This would show a strong hand and
ask for the 1NT bidder to describe his
hand a little more.
Although you have the strength for
3NT, doubling first might pay dividends
if the opponents do not have a fit, which
is the case here. You may well get 800
points from doubling your opponents
but, if you decide against it later, then you
can still try for 3NT. On this particular
hand, 3NT might not make, so it certainly
would be better to take a penalty.
11. Dealer West. Love All.
♠ K 2 ♠ A 9 5 4
N
♥ A Q 5 4 ♥ 2
W E
♦ 8 7 6 S ♦ Q 9 5 4 3 2
♣ A K 3 2 ♣ 9 6
West North East South
1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass
1NT Pass 2♦ Pass
? bid up to 3♣. ■
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 19
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East cannot respond 2♦ at the first bid
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Accelerated
Bridge Teaching
A
s a bridge teacher, I am often
asked how long it takes to
learn bridge. Of course, we all
know that it takes a lifetime and then
you still will not have learnt it all, but
if you are a complete beginner, you can
learn the basic mechanics of bridge in
quite a short time.
A course I enjoy teaching is Learn
Bridge in a Weekend, a two-day
introduction to the game for complete
beginners that starts on Saturday
morning by assuming no knowledge.
The course ends on the Sunday
afternoon with the new players playing
their first ‘gentle’ duplicate with other
already established players.
I have taught this course successfully
for over ten years and found that it
gives the new players a good taste of
the game. The students especially like
the fact that, at a certain point, the
instruction stops and they can attempt
to play.
On the Sunday afternoon, we do
not use preset teaching deals, just
random hands from the previous
week’s duplicate. The newcomers
manage as best they can, getting
help where necessary from the more
experienced players in the game who
are happy to act as mentors. Those
new players who find that they like
bridge carry a lot of momentum and
motivation from a course like this.
They want to play again straightaway.
They soon start attending supervised
play groups – and this is the key: there
must be the opportunity for the new
players to continue playing. And I do
mean playing – it’s not worth them
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 21
Blogging with Ned
by Ned Paul
taking more lessons until they know
what they don’t know. If there is no
supervised play group to join, then the
initial learning effort will have been
wasted.
I like my beginners to be competitive
straightaway. In the traditional
beginner courses that last many weeks,
the tendency is to play set hands where
only one side enters the bidding. Real
life this ain’t! There is a learning
advantage to playing ‘normal’ deals.
For example, what would you do with
this hand that came up recently?
♠ K 8 6 5
♥ 7
♦ A Q 10 3
♣ J 5 4 2
You are North, second to speak at
love all. Dealer, West, opens 1♥. You
have only 10 HCP so your hand is not
worth any action at this point. You
need a five-card suit to overcall and
an opening hand to consider a take-
out double. East raises the opening bid
to 2♥, your partner passes and so does
West. The bidding has gone:
South West North East
1♥ Pass 2♥
Pass Pass ?
If you pass now, it’s losing bridge. If
the opponents have bid correctly, they
do not have more than about 22 HCP
between them as they have made no
move towards game. Partner therefore
has 8-10 HCP. Also, if the opponents
have an eight-card fit, they are likely
to make their contract while we have
a fit in a different suit. So it becomes a
golden rule of competitive bidding that
we do not let the opponents play in an
agreed suit at the two-level.
Despite holding only a four-card
suit, a bid of 2♠ would not be wrong,
but with the shape of your hand so
ideal, why not try double for take- out?
Your partner does have four spades
and duly bids 2♠ and you win the
board as 2♥ makes and 3♥ goes down.
2♠ makes comfortably, probably with
an overtrick.
Dealer: West. Love All.
♠ K 8 6 5
♥ 7
♦ A Q 10 3
♣ J 5 4 2
♠ Q 4 ♠ J 7 2
N
♥ K Q 6 4 2 W E ♥ A 9 8 3
♦ K 6 5 2 S ♦ 9 4
♣ K 3 ♣ Q 10 8 7
♠ A 10 9 3
♥ J 10 5
♦ J 8 7
♣ A 9 6
 Blogging with Ned continued Beginners’ Bridge Corner

There is no point in pro-

tecting beginners from this
Mary’s Ninth Lesson
kind of deal until they have
taken the appropriate les- by Liz Dale
son. It’s an everyday bread-

and-butter competitive deal
and the sooner they learn to
compete soundly the better.
I normally teach Learn
Bridge in a Weekend in
London three or four times
a year, but just recently I
have been looking to take it
on the road. I have started
working with Folkestone
Duplicate Bridge Club in
Kent. At Folkestone DBC,
teacher Chris Lohan runs
an active programme and
supported my proposal to
run a weekend course. At
the weekly duplicate there
is a ‘gentle duplicate’ op-
tion that runs alongside
the main duplicate. The
players play fewer boards
at a slower pace – ideal for
newer players to cut their
duplicate teeth. Tony Russ,
the Education Officer of
Somerset CBA, has also
approached me about run-
ning a beginner weekend in
Taunton and we have fixed
a date in November. If you
have friends who might be
interested in this acceler-
ated approach to learning
bridge, or you would like
to consider adding week-
end bridge teaching to your
own offering, you would be
welcome to contact me on
( 0208 892 9429. ■
J
oan had made a sur-
prise birthday cake for
Mary, which she brought
along to the Tuesday ses-
sion. Everyone said, ‘Happy
Birthday,’ to Mary when she
came in the door. ‘Oh my
goodness,’ thought Mary,
‘I really didn’t expect this,’
feeling quite flummoxed but
secretly pleased. Everyone
enjoyed the cake at coffee
time. Mary hadn’t had so
much fuss in years. But how
on earth did Joan know?
She had a lot to tell Liam
and Anne this evening.
Today’s lesson was on
limit bid responses. These
were bids made in the same
suit by opener’s partner
when opener has bid either
1♣, 1♦, 1♥ or 1♠. They were
very important responses, in
that partner of opener was
showing a fit in the suit, ie at
least four cards and, this was
the significant bit, also show-
ing a specific point count.
‘The responder’s limit bid
point count had to be learnt,’
Alasdair said. ‘Yes, afraid
so, learnt!’ he repeated. A
sigh went around the room.
Mary scribbled in large capi-
tal letters the word ‘learn’
on her notes. She would
work on it this evening.
Alasdair continued,
‘Say a 1♥ bid is made by
opener and partner makes
a reponse of 2♥. Responder
is promising 6-9 HCP and
at least four cards in hearts.
By making a bid of ‘stop’
3♥, responder promises
10, 11 or 12 HCP and at
least four cards in hearts.
If responder bids ‘stop’ 4♥,
he is promising at least 13
HCP and, therefore, enough
points for game, with at
least four card support.’
It was time to work
through some examples
on the board, but, actually,
after a few hands Mary
thought, ‘This isn’t too
hard. I think I can learn this
quite easily,’ but she didn’t
say this to anyone else.
It was obvious from the
responses that not everyone
thought like this. Some of
the group were making
quite heavy weather of it.
Mary was glad that she had
worked so thoroughly on all
the previous homeworks.
It was definitely paying
off, together with Joan’s
two evening practice
sessions a week.
Alasdair still stressed
the importance of the
combined partnership high
point count every lesson.
Now he was reminding the
group again, ‘21/22 HCP
should make seven tricks,
23/24 HCP should make
8 tricks and 25/26 HCP
should, probably, be a game
bid in 3NT or 4♥/4♠.’
It was almost time to play.
Alastair reminded everyone
that, ‘If you are declarer
you must not forget that, as
soon as dummy goes down,
you must plan the play by
counting top tricks and think
about how you are going to
make the extra tricks neces-
sary to ensure the contract
is successful. For example,
by finessing, ruffing or
establishing a long suit.’
Soon, the prepared hands
were on the table and the
mentors in place. Mary’s
table didn’t always have
the same mentor but, as
always, the mentor was
cheerful, willing and ready
to give as much assistance
as possible. All confusions
were dealt with immediately.
Mary loved this part of the
morning best of all. She
loved being Joan’s playing
partner. They both wanted
to be good players and,
during the week, they had
been working on their leads.
Yes, if either of them led a
small card, partner knew
it had been led from an
honour suit because it was
low for like. If the lead was
something like an 8 or 9,
partner knew it was high for
hate and therefore, partner
didn’t have to lead it back.■

Ned Paul is a bridge

professional – an After a one of a suit opening, eg 1♥, partner bids:
organiser, promoter,
club convenor and
2♥ = 6-9 HCP with at least 4 hearts.
teacher. He runs a 3♥ = 10-12 HCP with at least 4 hearts.
number of bridge clubs
in the London area. 4♥ = 13+ HCP with at least 4 hearts.

Page 22 BRIDGE September 2014

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Rovinj, Croatia:
Part One
I
t was good to have the chance to
try a new holiday venue, Rovinj
in Northern Croatia. I had made a
short recce trip to appraise the venue
and knew that the hotel was good and
bridge facilities excellent, but that had
not prepared me for how comfortable
the venue would be for the whole of
the bridge group.
The bridge party was small, which
was suitable for our first Croatian
venture; 42 players with a good team
of helpers, meant we would be between
10 and 11 tables. We had a spacious
bridge room, which contained room
for a seminar set-up too with a lovely
large screen which made viewing easy.
The party settled in quickly. We
had about 16 singles in the group who
rotated amongst each other and got on
really well, both at the bridge table and
Page 24 BRIDGE September 2014
Croatia 2014
by Bernard Magee
away from it – good friendships were
formed.
Most of us ventured towards town
the first time out. A promenade by the
sea allows you to take a leisurely stroll
to the restaurants and bars around
the port and then right round to the
old town of Rovinj. It is a delightful
town, very much in the Croatian
style with its high church tower in the
same design as St Mark’s bell tower in
Venice (which is just a two or three
hour boat trip away).
The favourite restaurant of our
group was right on the water’s side and
served the biggest prawns you have
ever seen. Not only that, you got eight
of them at a time. With beer or white
wine to wash it down, the seafood
was irresistible. Groups of bridge
players were frequently found gorging
themselves on the sea-life.
The dining in the hotel was good
too: we were seated on a stretch of 8
tables of six in the dining room right
beside the windows, which allowed
for a nice ambience and a good social
atmosphere. The food was good and
varied, with the vegetables particularly
tasty.
As usual, we had two seminars a
week, with set hands straight after.
In the first week, the seminars were
on bidding and one of the topics that
came up was the fourth suit forcing.
♠ K Q 5 4 3 ♠ A 2
N
♥ K Q 5 2
W E
♥ A 8
♦ 3 2 S ♦ 7 6 5
♣ A 3 ♣ K Q 7 6 5 4
 Croatia: Part One continued
West East
1♠ 2♣
2♥ ?
This particular hand came up in a
duplicate later and required a bid of
the fourth suit. After the first three
bids, East has no obvious natural
bid – he does not have the length to
support either of West’s suits, but 3♣
is non-forcing and 4♣ would take the
auction beyond a possible 3NT. East
uses a bid in the fourth suit (3♦) to ask
his partner to describe his hand a little
more. One of his hopes is that West
will be able to show a diamond stop by
bidding 3NT.
West has no diamond stop to show
and should simply rebid 3♠, showing
nothing extra. Now East, with 3NT
not available, has to choose the best
scoring game, so 4♠ is his best option.
5♣ looks the more obvious game,
but 4♠ is one fewer trick for 20 more
points. As long as the spades break no
worse than 4-2, you should be able to
make your game.
In the other direction along the
sea is the woodland. Well kept paths
weave through the woods as well
as clinging to the coast – take your
pick. The birdsong was wonderful.
We were able to hire bikes from the
hotel and outside too. Cycling through
the woods was easy, with the paths
set up for both walkers and bikers.
However, the crackle of the gravel
under the tyres drowned out some of
the birdsong, so it was necessary to
stop every so often and listen to the
songs and conversation of the birds.
Amazing variety – some of the tunes
so lyrical, whilst at other times it
sounded a little like an argument.
The weather was excellent, Rovinj
seems to have its own micro-climate
with the clouds dissipating inland.
The temperatures ranged from 18
to 26 degrees centigrade, so that, at
times, lying by the beautiful pools was
the order of the afternoon. However,
there was also the option of an indoor
pool, or a massage (or even the gym).
The spa was renovated recently and
was an excellent facility.
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 25
The atmosphere at the bridge table
was relaxed, with everybody there to
enjoy themselves, but also to enjoy
their bridge.
Perhaps the declarer on this hand
was a little too relaxed; he forgot that
making your contract is not your only
aim, but to make as many tricks as
possible.
♠ K J 4
♥ 3
♦ A J 6 2
♣ A 8 7 6 5
♠ 7 6 ♠ 5 3 2
♥ Q J 10 9 7 N ♥ K 8 6 5
W E
♦ Q 9 8 3
S
♦ K 10
♣ 4 2 ♣ K Q 10 9
♠ A Q 10 9 8
♥ A 4 2
♦ 7 5 4
♣ J 3
South North
1♠ 2♣
2♠ 4♠
After South chose to open the
bidding, the auction was relatively
straightforward. Declarer had eight
top tricks and could see the chance
of making his contract by taking two
ruffs in dummy. He won the ♥Q, ruffed
a heart, a trump back to hand and
another heart ruff. Ten tricks made
and a reasonable score on the traveller.
However, he was disappointed that
two tables had made more.
When I am asked how overtricks are
made, my first response is usually to
blame poor defence, but on this hand
if declarer gets on his bike, rather than
lying on his lounger, he might get his
top score.
The answer, as so often, lies in a long
suit. Dummy’s fifth club can supply
the eleventh trick, but you have to start
early. Win the ♥A and duck a club.
Win the trump return in hand, ruff a
heart, ♣A, ruff a club, ruff a heart and
ruff a club. Finally, you draw trumps
and can cross to the ♦A to take your
all-important overtrick with the ♣8.
Most of the clients were on the
holiday for a fortnight and most of the
tours were in the second week, much
more to look forward to and to see. ■
CROATIA
5-19 May 2015
Bernard Magee
and his supporting team
HOTEL From
EDEN
£1,399
sharing
ROVINJ
Rovinj is situated on the western coast
of Istria in Croatia, the largest peninsula
on the Adriatic coastline, a one hour
drive from Trieste, 2.5 hours from Zagreb.
Boasting a rich, natural and cultural
heritage, with beautiful landmarks such as
the old town, the Golden Cape Park Forest,
protected islands and coastal area.
The climate is warm and semi-dry, with
more than four months a year without wind.
Hotel Eden is wedged right between a
peninsula covered by a one hundred year
old park forest and a quiet cove. The old
city centre of Rovinj is just a 20 minute
walk away.
Rooms: All rooms are equipped with a
direct phone line, LCD SAT TV, mini-bar,
safe, bathtub or shower, toilet, hair dryer,
balcony, air conditioning/heating. Suites
are available, details on application.
Singles: There is a sole occupancy
supplement of £10 per room per night. If
you are a single bridge player, please do not
worry about being on your own. We will
always be able to find you a partner and you
can always have a game.
Beaches & Pools: The playful curves of
the pool offer refreshment in the summer
with a salty breeze coming from the natural
stone and pebble beach only a few steps
away. The vast outdoor pool will cool you
down after a day of lounging in the freely
available deck chairs.
Terms and conditions apply.
Packaged with and bookings
by Tunisia First ATOL 5933.
Details of the bridge programme
( 01483 489961
 Misleading Cases Number Nine
CRUISE REPORT
by Richard Wheen
Dear Jack,
When you recruited me as a
Tournament Director for your bridge
cruises, it was a condition of my
employment that I write to you at the
end of each cruise with an account of
the bridge activities during the cruise.
I have just completed my first such
cruise (the Mediterranean Highlights
holiday, from and to Southampton) in
the S.S. Pan European Ambassadress
and I am now writing to tell you all
about it.
After the lifeboat drill on the first
morning, I got the bridge players to sit
down at the card tables and introduce
themselves to each other. They were
an interesting looking collection and,
from the sound of things, there were
a number of different nationalities
represented. I gave them a short talk (in
English, which most of them seemed
to understand) on the arrangements
for bridge on this cruise and pointed
out that, since at the moment we were
heading in a southerly direction, the
back of the ship was North (‘Not the
back!’ roared a loud voice, ‘The stern!’
I later found out that the voice was that
of a retired Royal Naval officer, whom
we christened ‘the Admiral’). To
simplify matters and avoid the need
for convention cards, I told them that,
as the ship flew the Blue Ensign and
was therefore under the jurisdiction
of the English Bridge Union, we would
all be playing Acol, a 12-14 no-trump
and strong two bids. Also, the only
conventions allowed on the cruise
would be Stayman and Blackwood.
(At this point, I was asked what
Page 26 BRIDGE September 2014
Blackman and Staywood were, which
was when I first really took in that
there were indeed, as you had warned
me, players of all different standards
on the cruise.)
Shortly afterwards, the Captain of
the ship made a broadcast over the
tannoy, welcoming us all on board
(particularly mentioning the bridge-
playing passengers) and giving
some useful (and some less useful)
information about the ship and its
programme. He also made a point of
reminding us that we would be visiting
a number of different countries on
our cruise and warned us, in a rather
old-fashioned way I thought, that
we should be sensitive to their laws
and customs. He mentioned the case
(apocryphal, I hope) of the passenger
who went ashore in Albania to play
bridge at the local club and returned
to the ship next day minus a toe for
revoking.
All went well for the first hour or
so of bridge. Then, the Captain came
on to the tannoy again, explaining
that we were now passing into French
territorial waters and a new time zone.
Shortly afterwards, I was summoned
to table 3, where a hand had just been
completed and North was scoring.
When I enquired what the problem
was, the French South told me that, in
line with the Captain’s announcement
earlier about local laws and customs,
now that we were under French
jurisdiction the scoring and indeed
North’s other obligations should now
pass to South, and that we should
start using French playing cards (A,
R, D, V rather than A, K, Q, J). With
a heavy heart, but knowing he was
correct about the French rules and
with due deference to our Captain,
I went along with this. The worst
thing was replacing the cards in the
duplicate boards with their French
counterparts, which took me ages.
Thus it was that, after playing 24
hands we finished our session quite a
bit later than we should and, what with
the clocks going forward as well, we
missed lunch. I am afraid one or two
of the bridge players may be asking
you for a refund of part of the cost of
the holiday because of this – I am most
terribly sorry.
The following morning, our
duplicate session was interrupted by
the Captain’s announcement that,
having crossed the bay of Biscay (in
calm weather, since you ask), we were
now in Spanish territorial waters. So
guess what happened at table 9. The
Spanish North-South couple at that
table announced that they were now
reverting to playing their normal
(Spanish) system, namely weak twos, a
strong no-trump, five-card majors and
Gerber. After this, I gave up trying to
have everybody play the same system,
so inevitably the hands took longer
to play, in view of the need to discuss
systems and conventions at the start of
each round. So, next morning, in order
to make sure that we got to the dining
room in time for lunch, we played
only 18 hands. I hope there will be no
claims for refunds on that account.
Later that day, we turned East and
passed Gibraltar on our left. ‘Not on
our left! To port!’ said the Admiral, so
to encourage the bridge players to go
Misleading Cases continued
to the correct geographical
position, everybody had
to move one place to the
right. ‘Not to the right!
To starboard!’ roared the
Admiral.
Our first port of call was
Tangier, so in due course
we headed South again, but,
by this time, I had realised
that it was a bit silly to move
the players round the table
every time the ship altered
course, so for the rest of
the cruise, the sharp end of
the ship was deemed to be
North. ‘Not the sharp end!
The bow!’ called out the
Admiral.
When the Captain an-
nounced that we had ar-
rived in Algerian territorial
waters, I was called to table
7 by a charming Arab lady
who reminded me that Ara-
bic, spoken in most of the
countries of North Africa,
is written from right to left
(or from starboard to port,
as the Admiral would no
doubt have said) and ac-
cordingly bridge in North
Africa was played in an
anti-clockwise direction.
At first, I thought this was
a joke, but then I realised
that it was entirely logical.
So I made the requisite an-
nouncement to the play-
ers. Some of them initially
found it quite difficult to
switch to bidding and play-
ing the hands anti-clock-
wise, but, by the time we
left North Africa for Greece
and Italy a few days later,
they had all got the hang of
things. The Admiral (who
described himself as port-
handed) even preferred
playing anti-clockwise.
(It was not until this cruise
that I discovered that words
such as ‘admiral’, ‘caravan’,
‘aubergine’, ‘albatross’,
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 27
‘alibi’, ‘alcohol’, and the
names of many of the stars
in the sky, were imported
into English from the
Arabic. Also, as you know,
these days we use so-called
Arabic numerals. They are
called Arabic because they
were invented by clever
Arabs in the middle ages
to replace those dreadful
Roman numerals which
must have been impossible
to multiply and divide with.
So we have quite a lot to
thank the Arabs for).
On our way back to
Southampton, my Arab lady
friend drew my attention
to an interesting hand she
had just played, which I am
repeating below.
She was South playing
in 3NT (the bidding was:
1NT-2NT-3NT) and the
opening lead by East was
the ♠K. When declarer
held up dummy’s ♠A, East
kept leading spades. South
asked me how, on winning
trick 3 with ♠A, the rest of
the hand should have been
played.
Solution at the end. Re-
member to read the hand
from starboard to port and
don’t forget that the play
goes anti-clockwise.
3 6 A ♠
3 6 7 ♥
4 01 J A ♦
4 6 Q ♣
4 8 9 ♠ 2 7 J Q K ♠
5 9 01 A ♥ N
W E
4 8 ♥
3 5 6 ♦ S 7 8 9 ♦
8 01 A ♣ 5 9 J ♣
5 01 ♠
2 J Q K ♥ are good against the ♣A for
2 Q K ♦
2 3 7 K ♣ The keys to playing this
The rest of the cruise, via
Cairo, Cyprus, Athens and
Rome, passed off all too
quickly, in similar vein
and with glorious weather
Bridge
throughout. My thanks
to the Captain and crew,
and to the bridge players,
Tie
who were great company
(especially my Arab lady
friend, who will shortly be
my wife, and the Admiral,
who is to be my best man).
As far as I know, no toes
were lost in Albania this
time. Thank you for inviting
me to run the bridge on this
cruise – I have learned a lot
and enjoyed it enormously,
including (dare I say it)
coming home to Acol, weak
no-trump and clockwise
play. Roll on the next cruise.
Yours sincerely
Richard Wheen
Solution
to the problem
Win the third round
of spades in dummy,
discarding a club from
hand. Now lead a heart.
West does best to play low,
so South plays an honour,
£15
winning. Now lead ♦K,
playing low from dummy,
then lead ♦2 to ♦10.
Now lead another heart
and again West does best
including
to play low, so win in hand postage
with another honour. & packing
Now lead ♦Q overtaking
in dummy with the ♦A
and cash the remaining
diamond, discarding a club
From
from hand. North now
leads his last heart and West Mr Bridge
will probably take his ♥A
and (best) lead back ♥10,
( 01483
won by South’s remaining
honour. The ♣K and ♣Q
489961
the ninth trick.
hand are (a) to hold up your www.
♠A for two rounds (the Rule mrbridge.co.uk
of 7) and (b) to keep leading
hearts from dummy,
thereby making three heart Order Form
tricks even though, as is on page 5
likely, they break 4-2. ■
 Julian Pottage answers your Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Cue Bidding

so Useful for Slams?

A
cue bid is a bid, in a suit other
than the agreed trump suit,
to say that you can stop the
opponents from cashing too many
winners in the suit. An ace or a void
is a first-round control. A king or a
singleton is a second-round control.
To make a slam, the partnership will
need first or second-round control of
all four suits. It will also need first-
round control of at least three of the
suits. You can usually find out about
the latter, whether you have enough
first-round controls, via a 4NT
enquiry. Cue bids deal with checking
that you have a control of sorts in
every suit.
The traditional method of cue
bidding is that you show first-round
controls before second-round controls.
The more modern method is that,
below the level of 4NT, you can show
first or second-round controls equally.
Cue bids are particularly useful in
three situations (i) you have a void or
(ii) you have two or more fast losers
in a suit or (iii) your hand is not quite
strong enough to take control with a
4NT enquiry.
♠ A K Q J 9 3 whether the opponents have two top
♥ Void diamonds to cash (partner’s aces could
♦ K Q J be the ♥A and the ♣A). Before bidding
♣ A K Q 10
West North East South
2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass
2♠ Pass 3♠ Pass
? the captain. Either player may
You intend to play in a small slam
at least and want to know whether
partner holds the ♦A for a grand slam.
If you bid 4NT and partner shows one
ace, you will have no idea whether it is
the desirable ♦A or the less desirable
♥A. The solution is to cue bid 4♣,
showing slam interest and normally
the ♣A.
If partner replies 4♦, you are in
business (once one player makes a
cue bid, all bids are cue bids except
no-trump bids and bids in the trump
suit). If partner bids 4♥, however, you
will give up on a grand slam (the rule
is that you cue bid the cheapest control
first, so 4♥ from partner would deny
a diamond control). You would also
settle for the small slam if partner
signs off in 4♠ (which would deny the
ability to cue bid 4♦ or 4♥).
♠ A K 8 7 6 5 4
♥ K J 10
♦ 7 3
♣ 2
West North East South
1♥ Pass
1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass
? values in partner’s hand.
If you bid 4NT and partner shows two
aces (quite likely), you will not know
4NT, you should cue bid 4♣, giving
partner the chance to cue bid 4♦.
Another plus point cue bids have
over a 4NT enquiry is that they
enable the partnership to exchange
information. Neither player becomes
conclude that sufficient information is
available to bid, or not bid, a slam.
You initiate or continue a cue
bidding sequence only if you believe
that the values and controls for a slam
may be present.
♠ A K J 9 8 3
♥ K 8
♦ 7 3 2
♣ A 6
West North East South
1♦ Pass
2♠ Pass 3♠ Pass
?
Having already shown a strong hand
with your jump shift, you lack the
values to take control via 4NT. Partner
may have a minimum opening.
Equally, you do not want to bid 4♠
to say you have a minimum for your
jump shift. That would waste a round
of bidding. Instead, you cue bid 4♣,
showing your club control. You are
inviting partner to make a return cue
bid (or ask you for aces/key cards with
4NT). As partner is unlimited and you
are still below game, your cue bid does
not promise strong slam interest: you
are allowing for the possibility of extra
How do you know that a bid is a
cue bid rather than natural? Cue bids
apply only after you have agreed a
trump suit (in some cases by inference
rather than a direct raise). If you have
agreed a major, a bid above three of the
major is usually a cue bid; if you have
agreed a minor, you need to go past
3NT before cue bidding starts. Once
cue bids start, all bids in side suits are
cue bids as well. If you bid the trump
suit, this suggests the final contract. If
you bid 4NT or 5NT, this is an enquiry,
as if you had not started cue bidding.
If you have never used cue bids
before, I realise this is a lot to take in
– but trying to bid slams without them
is like having a hand tied behind your
back – impossible to do efficiently. ■

Page 28 BRIDGE September 2014

 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

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 A Blast From the Past 3 by Shireen Mohandes

The
Summer
of 1958
T
his month’s step back in time thing we have in bridge is that, in 1981, as late as 1987), 11 down doubled,
looks at bridge reportage in another American ‘Bobby’ became the not vulnerable, was a save (2,100)
the summer of 1958. That year, youngest team member to win the against any vulnerable grand slam
the mighty Italians, known as the Bermuda Bowl. Bobby Levin was just (for example, 2,210 for 7♥). Yes, you
‘Blue Team’, won the Bermuda Bowl, 23 years old. just had to make two tricks to show a
bridge’s world championship, held at Back in 1958, Terence Reese, edi- profit.
Como, Italy. This tor of The Brit-
was the second in The British Bridge World reported ish Bridge World
what was to be an the following comment by English (also a winner Dealer West. N/S Game.
uninterrupted run captain Geoffrey Fell, overheard of the Bermuda ♠ A K Q
of 10 wins. Else- during the interval at the Camrose, Bowl, prolific ♥ A 9 3
where in the world ‘If I had thought that you were going bridge author, ♦ K Q J 3
of games, a most to make that bid I would have told and chess enthu- ♣ Q 7 3
exciting occur- you not to talk with your mouth full.’ siast), was seek- ♠ 5 2 ♠ J 8 7 4 3
N
rence was 14 year- ing an injunc- ♥ 10 6 4 2
W E
♥ J
old Bobby Fischer’s tion to restrain ♦ 7 6 4 S ♦ 10 9 8 5 2
meteoric rise in chess, leading to his Mr Ben Cohen over a book publish- ♣ 9 8 5 4 ♣ K 6
winning the US Championship later ing matter. Judgment was in Reese’s ♠ 10 9 6
in the year. To this day, the bridge favour. When the Court had not re- ♥ K Q 8 7 5
world hasn’t seen such a young person turned by five minutes past two, Reese ♦ A
dominate a game. Perhaps the closest tells us in his editorial, Boris Schapiro ♣ A J 10 2
(Reese’s long-time partner) propound-
ed that they ‘fine the Judge a couple of
matchpoints.’ The 1958 auction for North and South
Look at this hand and ask yourself, is not available, but I am reliably
‘When might I bid 7♠ all by myself, informed that this is how it might have
without a squeak from partner?’ been then:

West North East South

Bobby Levin in 2014
Photo: ACBL (Nick Mallouf)
♠ J 8 7 4 3 Harrison-Gray
♥ J Pass(z) 2NT Pass 3♥1
♦ 10 9 8 5 2 Pass 4♥ Pass 4NT2
♣ K 6 Pass 5♥3 Pass 7♥
Pass Pass Pass4
1
No transfers back in 1958 2Blackwood
No, the hand has not been misprinted! 3
2 Aces 4At the table, East had a small think
Well, back in 1958 (and indeed about bidding 7♠.

Page 30 BRIDGE September 2014

 Summer 1958 continued Bidding textbooks tend not to have a
chapter on responding with nine-card 1958 was when …
suits.
l 14-year-old Bobby Fischer
Opening lead: ♠5. won the United States
Dealer North. Love All. Chess Championship.
Analysis ♠ Q 9
♥ Q 10 7 4 l Seven Manchester United
7NT is the top spot because, if the ♦ A 9 7 6 footballers were among
hearts fail to bring in five tricks, then ♣ A Q 7 the 21 people killed in the
declarer can try the club finesse (three ♠ Void ♠ K 3 Munich air disaster.
N
tricks in each of the majors, four ♥ J 6
W E
♥ K 8 3 2
diamonds and three clubs, fingers ♦ K J 8 5 4 3 S ♦ Q 2
l A peace symbol was designed
crossed). ♣ K J 10 9 4 ♣ 8 6 5 3 2
and completed by Gerald
Gray, sitting South, was at the helm. ♠ A J 10 8 7 6 5 4 2
Holtom, commissioned by
Bob Rowlands, a partner of his in the ♥ A 9 5
CND, in protest against
1960s, said, ‘he had an uncanny knack ♦ 10
the Atomic Weapons
of picking up people’s nuances.’ He ♣ Void
Research Establishment.
won the first trick and played a small
heart to the king. Remembering that
hesitation in the bidding and also The 1958 auction was short: l A US B-47 bomber accidentally
seeing the ♥J, he placed East with a dropped an unarmed atom bomb
long suit, perhaps contemplating a West North East South on Mars Bluff, South Carolina.
sacrifice, or perhaps counting out the Dimmie Flemming Fritzi Gordon
penalty on his fingers (as some do). 1 NT Pass 6♠1 l The Bridge on the River
How envious his friends must have All Pass Kwai won seven Oscars.
been to see him finesse the ♥9 at trick 1
Perhaps taking a leaf (or a cover) from her
3 to bring home the grand. regular partner, Rixi Markus’s, book ‘Bid
l The first parking meters
If you inspect the auction, you will Boldly, Play Safe’.
were installed in Britain.
notice a small z
in the bidding. I asked Eng-
At another ta- Alan Hiron wrote of Terence Reese, land Interna- l The Beatles, at that time The
ble, Reese held ‘He was the author or co-author of some tional, Tom Quarrymen, paid 17 shillings
the West cards 90 books on the game, the bridge To w n s e n d , and 6 pence to have their
and opened 1♣. correspondent of the London Evening for his recom- first recording session.
This prevented Standard from 1981 and of the Observer mended auc-
the opponents from 1950. Perhaps his most acclaimed tion using all l The first Cod War began
from reaching book was Reese on Play (1948), a classic the gadgets between the United
any grand. which made his reputation as a writer.’ available to to- Kingdom and Iceland.
However, As of now, David Bird holds the record day’s experts.
Reese’s delight at authoring (including co-authoring) He replied,
123 titles. David believes that Reese l The Bossa Nova was born in
was short-lived. ‘To be honest,
His teammates wrote 107 books. the same as in Rio de Janeiro. The phrase
reached 7♥ and 1958.’ ‘bossa nova’ means literally
were defeated. ‘new trend’. Two hits you
The next deal comes from the Opening lead 5♦. might well know are ‘Quando,
Ladies Trials and has two interesting Quando, Quando’ (1962) and
features. Analysis ‘And I Love Her’ (1964).
Before you look at the top of the next
column, decide what you would bid There are two potential losers: one in l The long-running BBC
after your partner opens 1NT (12-14), spades and one in hearts (the other programmes Blue Peter
playing teams, at love all: small heart can be discarded on the and Grandstand were
♣A). So, at first sight, the key decision broadcast for the first time.
seems to be in the trump suit: go for
♠ A J 10 8 7 6 5 4 2 the finesse or not? With just two out- l Prime Minister Harold Macmillan
♥ A 9 5 standing trumps and nothing else to go opened the UK’s first ever
♦ 10 on, the odds slightly favour the drop. If motorway, the Preston Bypass.
♣ Void that fails, then the only hope is that a
defender has the singleton ♥K.

BRIDGE September 2014 Page 31

 Summer 1958 continued (with the ♠Q) and discard
her third heart.
If the spades don’t break
but East holds the king and
What actually happened is out of diamonds, as would
at the table was that Fritzi have happened on the actual
played for the drop, found layout, East is end-played:
no friendly heart layout
and went one down.
Interestingly, when Terence ♠ —
Reese first reported the ♥ Q 10 7 4
hand in his column in ♦ 9 7
The Observer, he (very ♣ A Q 7
surprisingly for him) ♠ — ♠ —
missed a small safety play, ♥ J 6 N ♥ K 8 3 2
W E
which he later noticed and ♦ K J 8 S ♦ —
described. Can you see it? ♣ K J 10 9 ♣ 8 6 5 3 2
Fritzi would not have ♠ J 10 8 7 6 5
blamed herself for missing ♥ A 9 5
something that Reese had ♦ —
not noticed seeing all four ♣ ­­­­—

Real Leather Gifts

hands. At trick 2, declarer

The perfect gift for your bridge-playing friends. Beautiful

Victor Mollo said this about Fritzi,
‘Few men play as well as Fritzi
Gordon. No woman plays better.
Where Rixi Markus is fiery, Fritzi
Gordon is icy cold. Where Rixi
takes her contract by storm, Fritzi
makes hers through merciless
efficiency – merciless towards
leather zipped cases in burgundy red or deep blue containing
two packs of cards and a set of our bridge design ballpoint
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A set of four scorepad holders - two burgundy and two blue
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Offered at this special price of £39.00
Fritzi Gordon

the slightest lapse on the part of

her opponents.’ (from The Bridge
Immortals, Victor Mollo, 1967).

Fritzi’s granddaughter, the

actress Tara Summers, said,
‘My mother was born under a
poker table. My grandmother,
a world champion bridge
Tara Summers
player, had been dealt a Photo: Diana Ragland
royal flush just as she went
into labour and she chose
to play the hand, rather than go to hospital. She was
excited about having a child but adamant that she
was not going to let it get in the way of her game.’
Tara Summers, The Daily Telegraph, December 2005.

should eschew the early
discard on the ♣A and,
instead, ruff a diamond,
then play ace and another
spade.
If there is no spade loser,
she can later enter dummy
Of course, this line might
result in going down by two
tricks, but the safety play is
definitely worth making.
Note that the ♥J or a
club lead gives the contract
immediately. ■
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Page 32 BRIDGE September 2014

 2014 with Jeremy Dhondy, Chairman of the EBU
September 2014: What have
they ever done for us?
T
here is a Monty Python Sketch
involving the Peoples’ Front
of Judea, or is it the Judean
People’s Front, which goes on for
some time and concerns whether the
Romans did anything for Palestine.
It ends, ‘All right, but apart from the
sanitation, the medicine, education,
wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a
fresh-water system and public health,
what have the Romans ever done for
us?’ The answer is, ‘Brought peace?’
followed by, ‘Shut up.’
If you think that is an odd way to
start an article, it brings to mind (my
mind at least) those who decry the
national organisation in bridge. Why
do we need one? What do they ever do
for the person who plays locally on a
Wednesday night? Why do we need to
belong?
Perhaps the first thing that a
national body does is to provide rules
and regulations. You have to have a
code to play by otherwise you don’t
have a game. In football, the Sunday
morning game at the local playing field
is governed by the same laws as the
final of the World Cup and so it is for
bridge. For sure, there are regulatory
bits about what system you can play
and whether there might be a screen in
front of you that might differ, but the
basic game is the same. In cricket, the
match between two pub sides may not
be governed by Duckworth-Lewis if
the weather is inclement, but the rules
on whether you are out or how you can
bowl are the same.
To stay with the rules for a moment,
most players don’t read the law book
for fun or indeed at all and they don’t
want to concern themselves with
it much but they do want someone
competent to administer rules fairly
if there is a problem, someone who
knows what to do when there is an
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 33
insufficient bid or a revoke. Training
directors for clubs provides an arbiter
whom people trust so they can get on
with enjoying their game.
Talking of enjoying the game, there
are many clubs where there are one or
two people who try to spoil the game.
They gloat, they are rude to partner,
‘Even an idiot would have led a spade,’
or perhaps to the opponents. They
belittle and hector and, of course,
know all the rules, except that they
often don’t. Clubs ought to have a code
of behaviour. The EBU introduced
Best Behaviour at Bridge around eight
years ago and a lot of clubs use that or
a variation of it, but some don’t and
allow the behaviour of a minority to
spoil the game of the majority. In the
end, it may come to asking a player not
to darken the doors of the club again.
If so, then having sensible and legal
procedures helps and the EBU provide
a model club constitution and advice.
Most people who play any game
like a method to compare themselves
with others. Bridge is, after all, a
competitive game. So the club ladder
may provide some of that but so does
a master point scheme and more
recently the National Grading Scheme.
One of the weaknesses of the NGS was
it provided only for pairs games but,
by the time you read this, multiple and
Swiss team games in clubs, counties
and nationally will all count.
If you look at clubs, in some the
players are quite elderly, the number
of tables is in decline and there
is no plan to get new recruits. A
national organisation needs to plan
for the future and having a teaching
programme is part of that. It’s easier
for clubs with their own premises to
have teaching sessions, but even if
the club hires its premises it’s often
possible to get new recruits. First,
however, you need trained teachers.
One problem here is that some who
teach have an interest in making the
courses rather long, but these days the
idea of a couple of dozen lessons before
you play a card in anger doesn’t much
appeal. Providing suitable courses and
training teachers is another job of the
national body.
We may not all be ready for it yet but
some bridge is already moving online.
We will need regulation for that, but
we need to prepare and see if the game
will work online.
A national body tends to have a
representative framework. Although
we think of that as the small number
who represent England, it is also
those who represent their county or
their club. Does your club play in the
National Inter Club knock out? Join
in if you haven’t. It’s fun and there is
a plate competition if you lose early on
(entry included in the entry fee).
So, apart from the basic rules
of the game, the meaning of bids,
dealing with bad losers, teaching
bridge teachers and training ordinary
players how to organise and run a
bridge session so that we can play
with our friends in a happy, calm, fair,
understandable environment to the
mutual satisfaction of all, organising
international teams, providing a
national grading system ... what has
the EBU ever – ah, well I suppose
you do get a free diary and a regular
magazine.
It does, of course cost money. That’s
where your 35p goes, although the
cost is kept down by the considerable
efforts of our many volunteers to
whom much thanks is owed.
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. ■
 Q PLUS 11
Mr Bridge
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Page 34 BRIDGE September 2014

 Catching Up
by Sally Brock
T
here’s not actually a huge
amount of catching up to do
this month. There was only a
week or so between my birthday and
leaving for Croatia. Most of that time
was spent preparing to go: several
online bidding sessions with Nicola,
decisions about what to take with me,
last-minute dribs and drabs of work.
We’re still working hard to improve
the ProBridge site (www.pro-bridge.
co.uk). By the time you read this, we
will have a comprehensive interna-
tional bridge calendar on the site. Any
of you who like to combine a holiday
with a bridge event will be able to see
what is available. On August 1st, we
launched a ‘Hand of the Day’, where
you can look at a daily bridge prob-
lem, with the solution published the
following day.
On the Thursday before we left,
I went to a party at TGR’s that was
hosted by John Pottage: a celebration
of winning the World Junior
Championship 25 years ago. That
event took place in Nottingham in
1989. Raymond was captain, but it
was before we were together and my
role was typesetting and layout of the
daily bulletin. John also invited those
involved in GB’s other World Junior
victory, in Bali in 1995. By then,
Raymond and I were married and I
was pregnant with Briony. I did some
VuGraph commentary and generally
relaxed, while all the others did most
of the work. It was good to catch up
with old friends, particularly those
whom I haven’t seen for years because
they don’t play bridge any more.
I flew to Zagreb with the rest of the
team early on Friday morning. There
was a coach to take us the 200km or
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 35
so to Opatija. The hotel was great (as
long as you were inside it and couldn’t
see it) and I had a lovely room on the
top (tenth) floor. There were indoor
and outdoor pools and a private jetty
where you could swim in the sea off
the rocks. The first night, after some
research, we went a short way up the
coast to a restaurant overlooking the
sea in a small village. Perfect. Almost
a pity we had to play bridge.
Most of the Saturday was spent
reading the system and exploring. The
opening ceremony was at a local ho-
tel and was mercifully short before we
were all allowed a drink on the terrace.
The nearby restaurant where we went
for dinner served good food but the
service was interminably slow. This
was something we were to find in most
places. I guess if you are on holiday,
you don’t mind if dinner takes three or
four hours, but, when you want to get
a fairly early night, it can be irritating.
We started the bridge on the Sunday
with a small loss against Scotland. It
would have been much worse but for
this deal:
Dealer East. Game All.
♠ A K 8 4 2
♥ A
♦ K J 8 5 2
♣ 6 3
♠ Void ♠ 10 3
N
♥ K 7 2 W E ♥ Q 10 8 5 4 3
♦ A 7 3 S ♦ 9 6 4
♣ A K Q J 10 7 2 ♣ 9 8
♠ Q J 9 7 6 5
♥ J 9 6
♦ Q 10
♣ 5 4
Nicola and I play a two diamond
opening which shows a very weak
hand with a six-card major and no
strong option. Our openings of two of
a major are stronger, from about 8 or 9
HCP up to 11 or 12.
So here, East passed, Nicola (South)
opened two diamonds and West
doubled. I, of course, thought that she
would have hearts, so for the moment
I passed to show diamonds. East bid
two hearts, Nicola passed and West
bid three clubs. It still sounded to me
as if Nicola had hearts, so I passed
again. Now, East bid three hearts and
West raised to four. Surely, now, Nicola
must have spades. I bid four spades.
When this was passed around to West,
she doubled and that was +790.
In the other room, they pressed on
to five clubs, which was also doubled
and made on the nose after a trump
lead.
After the match, Briony was outside
waiting to say hello, having arrived
safely. I was a bit nervous about
her and her friend Jess driving
themselves all the way from Zagreb,
in a left-hand drive car driving on
the wrong side of the road. But they
are both good drivers and managed
without a hitch.
The second match was a small win
against a strong Swedish side, so we
finished the day right in the middle of
the table.
On the Monday, we had a bye fol-
lowed by heavy wins against Bulgaria
and Serbia, leaving us in fourth place,
well in touch with the lead.
The Tuesday saw a narrow loss to
Greece, followed by wins against
Turkey and Croatia, leaving us in the
bronze medal position … page 42
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Page 36 BRIDGE September 2014
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 Answers to David Huggett’s
Play Quiz on page 16
1. ♠ K 4
♥ A Q 10 6
♦ 7 6 4
♣ 7 5 4 2
♠ J 9 8 3 2 ♠ 10 7 6 5
N N
♥ K J 3 ♥ 5 4 2
W E
♦ 9 8 2 S ♦ K 10 5 3
♣ A 3 ♣ K 6
♠ A Q
♥ 9 8 7
♦ A Q J
♣ Q J 10 9 8
You are declarer in 3NT and West leads
the ♠3. How do you plan the play?
It might look tempting to play on clubs
but can that really be right? By the time
the clubs have been established, the
defenders will have enough winners to
defeat you via three spades (at least),
and the top two clubs. Although it is a
very long shot, you need to play West for
both the king and jack of hearts and for
East to hold the king of diamonds. So
win the spade lead in hand and take a
series of finesses, hearts first and then
diamonds to return to hand in order to
take another heart finesse. You will need
three cards to be right, but that is a better
chance than no chance at all.
2. ♠ Q 7 4
♥ A 10 2
♦ 8 7 5
♣ K 8 6 4
♠ J 3 ♠ K 10 9 8 5
N
♥ 9 8 6 5 ♥ 7 3
W E
♦ A K 9 4 S ♦ Q J 10 6 2
♣ 10 5 2 ♣ 9
♠ A 6 2
♥ K Q J 4
♦ 3
♣ A Q J 7 3
You are declarer in 4♥ and West leads
the ♦A and follows up with the ♦K. How
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 37
 
do you plan the play?
Playing in a 4-3 fit is often a hazardous 4. ♠ 6 5 4 2
venture but, here, there is no need to ♥ A Q J 7
worry as long as you don’t panic. A quick ♦ 8 4
count of the tricks shows that you have ♣ Q 10 6
four hearts, five clubs and a spade but, ♠ K J 10 9 3 ♠ 8 7
of course, there is a problem. If you ruff ♥ 6 4 W E ♥ K 9 5 3
the second diamond and then play the ♦ Q 10 2 S ♦ J 9 7 5
three top trumps, you will be in trouble if ♣ A 9 3 ♣ 7 5 4
the suit splits 4-2, because the defender ♠ A Q
with the last trump will be able to ruff the ♥ 10 8 2
clubs as soon as he can and then cash ♦ A K 6 3
whatever diamonds remain. So, throw ♣ K J 8 2
spades from hand instead on the second
and third diamonds. Now, if they lead a
fourth round, you can ruff in dummy and You are declarer in 3NT and West leads
then draw trumps, not caring if they are the ♠J with East playing the ♠8. How do
4-2. you plan the play?
With two suits to attack – hearts and
clubs – it is important to play the right
suit first, although, at a casual glance, it
3. ♠ A 9 7 6 might not seem to matter. Suppose you
♥ A Q 5 take a heart finesse and it loses. East
♦ K 2 will probably return a spade and now
♣ 10 7 5 3 you are in trouble whenever West started
♠ 4 ♠ 10 5 2 with a five card suit and the ace of clubs.
N
♥ 10 8 7 4 ♥ K 9 6 3 Now, try knocking out the ace of clubs
W E
♦ 8 7 5 4 S ♦ J 10 9 3 first. Whoever wins will return a spade
♣ A 9 6 2 ♣ K 4 but now, when you take the heart finesse,
♠ K Q J 8 3 it will be into the defender who holds no
♥ J 2 more spades – or if he does, then the suit
♦ A Q 6 will have broken 4-3.
♣ Q J 8 Put another way, you can lose the ace
of clubs to either hand but you can only
ever lose a heart to East. ■
You are declarer in 4♠ and West leads
the ♥4. How do you plan the play?
If you look at your potential losers you Mr Bridge
will see that the most you should lose are Premium Quality Cards
two clubs and a heart, so you have to
ask yourself if anything could go wrong. Standard Faces
Well, if you decide to duck the opening with or without
bar codes.
lead – playing West for the king – then it Unboxed.
certainly might. 6 red / 6 blue
Not infrequently, East will produce the £19.95
king and play a club from a doubleton, 30 red / 30 blue
scoring a third round ruff, so that, in all, only £60
you lose two clubs, a ruff and a heart.
The London Bridge Centre
Of course, you can stop all that nonsense
by winning the first trick and drawing ( 020 7388 2404
www.bridgeshop.com
trumps.
READERS’
LETTERS
TOO MUCH SALLY
I have deliberated about
renewing my annual
subscription because I do
find that 5 pages by Sally
are rather too much for me.
Some time ago I defended
your right to print her articles
– it was a free magazine
and you were ‘paying the
piper’. Now that I help to
‘pay the piper’, I feel entitled
to express an opinion. I
have just renewed my sub
– for a year. I hope that
during that period some
thought, perhaps from the
new Associate Editor, might
bring about an influx of new
material, fresh contributors
and a reduction of some
from the current stable.
I am always interested
in Sally’s bridge comments
but not her private life,
family details, eating habits,
holiday arrangements,
wine preferences, clothing
problems, house sale, etc.
To me this is all very
pretentious and should be
confined to social media
sites where I am sure it
can be avidly consumed
by those interested in lives
other than their own.
I do enjoy BRIDGE. It has
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 38 BRIDGE September 2014
a more relaxed content than
other contemporaries. I am
not really enamoured with
the new cartoon type photos
of contributors, but can live
with that, but I do prefer
that a bridge magazine
concentrates on bridge
and not people’s lives.
Sorry if I sound a bit
grouchy about this matter.
I do not intend to be rude
but this month was the final
straw – Catching Up by Sally
and Seven Days by Sally.
A sally too far.
Mr G Makeham,
Lewes, East Sussex.
My HeroINE
My hero is Sally Brock; her
exploits leave me breathless.
That lass can accomplish
more in a week than I can
in a year. One minute she’s
dashing up to Inverness
to take part in a competi-
tion, back on the overnight
sleeper to edit a few travel
books, give lessons on the
internet, set up a website,
knock out a few newspaper
columns, book air tickets
for an international event in
Peking at the same time as
rustling up a chilli con carne
for a dozen house guests.
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
Sally has raised multi-tasking
to a new level; I suspect that
behind the scenes lurks a
battery of servants and pri-
vate secretaries, either that or
she’s on a banned substance!
Ken Thorp, Poole, Dorset.
ARDINGTON HOTEL
I am writing to ask if you
are intending to book any
more bridge weekends
at the above hotel. My
husband and I consider it
to be an excellent venue for
this purpose – especially
regarding the attentive staff
and the very good food
served. Personally, we would
be happy for Just Bridge to
be held there (no seminars),
as it is within reasonable
travel distance for us – as
elderly people. We are not
so keen on the Chatsworth,
with its much larger numbers
in the bridge party.
On recently telephoning,
I urged you to retain
The Ardington – especially
now that it has been
refurbished. I realise that
the lack of a lift may be a
drawback. However, there
always seemed to be a
reasonable sized party
attending your events
there – everyone seems
to acclaim its merits.
So, please will you continue
to include The Ardington
in your schedule of bridge
venues – you will have lots of
‘backers’ for this and we will
certainly be most grateful.
Mrs M Barnard,
Southsea, Hants.
MORE ARDINGTON
I have been coming to your
bridge weekends in Worthing
for some years, so imagine
my huge disappointment
in finding that you are no
longer having weekends
at the excellent Ardington
Hotel (pictured above). We
liked the Beach but do not
like the Chatsworth. I am
afraid to say that unless you
reinstate Just Bridge at the
Ardington, we will not be
coming to your weekends.
Anna Rees by email.
So sorry to hear that but
as repeatedly announced,
our programme of Just
Bridge events concludes
at the end of this year.
SOME DO,
SOME DON’T
Having just enjoyed your
July issue of BRIDGE, I
must write and agree with
contributor June Baguley
to Readers’ Letters on the
subject of ‘Better Focus’.
My wife and I often
watch Bernard’s DVDs
and repeatedly make the
same observation. The
continuous switching back
and forth to the audience
breaks our concentration.
Mr Alan Cooper,
Blewbury, Oxfordshire.
TRADING UP
Have just been on my first
Mr Bridge weekend and just
wanted to say everything was
fantastic. Excellent hosts,
good company and to be
thoroughly recommended.
Only downside was we came
bottom. We are now thinking
of taking a Bernard Magee
holiday doing some tuition.
Cath Marlow by email.
READERS’ LETTERS
continued
NOT NORMAL
This is really a question for
Bernard Magee as much as
one about QPlus. I cannot
avoid the impression, shared
by others I know, that the
software’s distributions are
consistently unfavourable
to those usually expected,
ie too many 4-0 and 5-0
trump splits. Is this because
these are competition boards
designed to test the best
declarers? If this is the case,
can I pat myself on the back
for avoiding congresses or
is it simple paranoia on my
part? Are the cards loaded
against declarer? The
program is great and used
often but there is this lurking
impression that the normal
distributions are not present.
Roy Howgill by email.
I have forwarded your letter
to both Bernard Magee and
Johannes Leber of QPlus.
Their replies will be included
in the next issue. As for your
comments on the boards
at congresses, I suspect
the EBU reply might be
the same as from Bernard
Magee and Johannes
Leber. I will ask Jeremy
Dhondy. Meanwhile, put a
bit of spice into your bridge.
Give the cards a thorough
shuffle before you deal.
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 39
CELEBRATION
I am attaching a recent
photograph of some of our
members with the magazines
you so kindly sent to me. I
distributed all eighty plus of
them and hopefully some
members will order their own
copies in the future. I don’t
think they all realise that they
will no longer automatically
receive your magazine
each and every month.
We had a great day at our
Summer Lunch in Norwich
on June 16th with twenty
tables of all abilities. There
were four spot prizes at
the end of each round.
Everybody had a popular
novel to take home as a
change from bridge items.
Trophies were won as follows:
Coventry Shield
(Winners)
Christine Sadd & Wendy Gee
Rifke Cup
(Runners Up)
Pete Wood & Tony Collins
Luncheon Trophy
(Most Improved Pair)
Marion Laurence & Jill Cadley
Ann Melville,
Aylsham & North
Walsham Bridge Circle.
DEBRA SUPPORT
The Olde
Barn Hotel
Marston,
Lincs NG32 2HT
Many thanks for the prizes
you sent for our Bridge
Tea. At the risk of sounding
greedy, this has spurred
me on to ask a favour as
we are launching a Winter
Pairs League for the Debra
Charity which will run from
November until Easter 2015.
Leigh Harding has kindly
donated free membership of
the No Fear Bridge website
for the League winners.
I wondered if you would
be prepared to donate or
26-28 September £179
sponsor prizes for all the Declarer Play
winners of each individual Gwen Beattie
group within the League
(this however could be a
10-12 October £245
lot of prizes; if the League
succeeds to our expectations, Endplay
it could be 50 prizes) or if & Avoidance
this was too much, perhaps Bernard Magee
for the 2nd and 3rd pairs
of the overall League?
Should you feel this were 17-19 October £169
possible, we would be very Just Duplicate
happy to mention your Bridge
help in our literature.
Patrick Dunham
Susan Hanrahan,
West Byfleet, Surrey.
Happy to help. Believe it or 31 Oct – 2 Nov £169
not, we get surprisingly few Just Duplicate
requests for prizes despite Bridge
repeatedly offering to
support fund-raisers using
June Dixon
bridge as their tool. and Carol Fisher
14-16 November £179
Doubles
Will Parsons
28-30 November £169
Just Duplicate
Bridge
Michael Haytack
Full Board
No Single Supplement
Booking Form on page 10.
 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
 READERS’ LETTERS BEGIN BRIDGE

BRIDGE Blunsdon
continued
I wish to thank you for
sending me your CD on
Begin Bridge – Acol Version
House Hotel
TURN OF PHRASE by Bernard Magee. Swindon SN26 7AS
Make sure you I just received the August I cannot tell you how
don’t miss your issue of BRIDGE. I look much I have enjoyed,
favourite monthly forward to reading your indeed am still enjoying,
articles by taking prologue and then turn to learning the game.
Bernard Magee’s quiz, which The CD is brilliant and
out an annual
helps me improve my bridge. I am totally engrossed
subscription. with each section. It is
very methodical, detailed
l Acol Bidding Quiz and explanatory and most
& Answers importantly, easy to follow.
Bernard Magee The bonus is that I can
Aegean Odyssey
l Ask Julian Pottage learn Acol at home and
I am concerned about at my own pace with no
l Julian’s FAQs BRIDGE EVENTS
the statement you made pressure until I am ready
l Misleading Cases ‘calming down about the and have the confidence
lovely Aegean Oydssey’ and to play socially.
10-12 Oct £199
as reported by our
court correspondent hope I have misinterpreted The DVD is interactive, so Just Duplicate Bridge
your meaning. I also love to speak, so when you ‘play’ Sheila Rogers
l Ask David Aegean Odyssey. Are you or ‘bid’, Bernard Magee,
Stevenson proposing to sever your the tutor, states whether the 14-16 Nov £245
l David’s SPECIAL connection with her? correct card has been played Bernard Magee
FAQs OFFER Please clarify why you or the right bid made.
PRICE Further into
are having to calm down. He points out the correct
l Mary’s I have booked with you to card or the correct way the Auction
First Lesson
travel on the Minerva and to play the hand. I have
l Play Quiz hope it is just as good an never encountered such an 28-30 Nov £245
experience as the one I excellent CD for learning Bernard Magee
l Defence Quiz had on Aegean Odyssey. the game of bridge before. Bidding NEW
TOPIC
l Tales from Once I have mastered
Distributional
Sherwood Forest this CD, I will send for Acol
Bidding, Defence and of
Hands
by David Bird
course Declarer Play.
l Blast from Now that I have retired, 23-25 Jan 2015 £245
the Past Minerva
the thought of getting back Bernard Magee
l Catching up Finally, congratulations on to playing bridge with other Competitive
your sixteenth grandchild. like-minded folk, as well Bidding
l Seven Days Rosalind looks a pretty baby. as joining in on some of
l Jeremy Dhondy Mrs Anna Crockford, the bridge weekends and
Old Malden, Surrey. holidays, will open another
l Sally Brock Tip Please forgive me, it was happy chapter in my life.
l Travel Tip just a turn of phrase. Maria by email. ■

l Readers’ Letters

Write to Mr Bridge at: Ryden Grange,

Special Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
Introductory or e-mail letters@mrbridge.co.uk
Subscription: E-mail correspondents are asked
£20 for twelve to include their name, full postal
address, telephone number and to
monthly issues. send no attachments. Full Board
No Single Supplement
See adjacent Letters may be edited for length Booking Form on page 10.
mail order form. and clarity.

BRIDGE September 2014 Page 41

 Seven Days by Sally Brock
Wednesday
This was originally supposed to be a
rest day but the weather forecast was
so bad that the organisers changed the
schedule so we play today and rest to-
morrow. It is only a ten-minute walk
to the venue but the weather looks
threatening so we wait for the bus.
(There was one memorable occasion
when we played in Malmo, Sweden,
where the heavens opened while Nico-
la and Heather were walking to the
venue. When they arrived, someone
had to give them a lift back to their ho-
tel to change out of their wet clothes
– apparently you could wring water
out of their underwear). For some rea-
son, the bus is not allowed to drive the
same route as we walk and the drive
actually takes longer than the walk.
We start against Austria and have a
great card. We win by 45 IMPs. Then
we walk back to the hotel in the rain. I
had been going to go out for lunch with
the girls in the car but the weather is so
bad no-one much feels like doing that
so we eat at the hotel. Afterwards, I go
to the gym. Then, we keep checking
the score but it is not going well and
we lose to Romania by 22 IMPs.
Then, it’s back to the sports centre
for the match against Russia. They are
usually a strong team but seem to be
doing badly here. We have a decent
card and win by 15 IMPs. I am pleased
with this slam hand:
Dealer North. E/W Vul.
♠ A J 10 9 7 4 3
♥ K Q J 10 4
♦ Void
♣ 8
♠ 8 6 5 2 ♠ K Q
N
♥ 8 3 W E ♥ 2
♦ A 9 7 4 S ♦ J 10 6 5 3
♣ K Q 7 ♣ A 10 9 5 2
♠ Void
♥ A 9 7 6 5
♦ K Q 8 2
♣ J 6 4 3
Page 42 BRIDGE September 2014
I have a passionate dislike for the
ubiquitous two-over-one (ie a two-
level change of suit response is forcing
to game) and am always glad when
it doesn’t turn out well. Here, we
have no problems. Nicola opens one
spade, I respond two hearts and we
are off to the races. Bidding the slam
is no problem. At the other table, the
Russian South has to respond one no-
trump and that gives North a problem.
If she shows a 5-5, or longer, two-
suiter, then South will give preference
to hearts when she is 1-3 in the majors.
In such a situation, spades is very likely
to be the better denomination. So she
simply rebids four spades (as happens
at a lot of tables across the field).
Then, it’s back to the hotel for a
quick drink and buffet dinner. I have
my weekly coaching session with my
Irish women. Skype Barry and then go
to bed.
Thursday
The long-awaited day off. I meet the
girls for breakfast as usual. Simon
joins us and decides to come with us
on our outing.
After the usual excellent buffet
breakfast we set out for the island
of Krk. This requires a 40km drive
down the coast to the toll bridge and
then over to Krk. We stop for a coffee
early on and then proceed to a good
watersports centre we have heard
about. They have a waterski zipwire
set-up – all very exciting but no-
one really fancies it. So, on to Punat
where we park the car and walk along
the promenade before choosing our
lunch spot. Special Krk pasta with
gorgonzola hits the spot admirably.
We quite fancy going out on a boat
but all the tours on offer seem rather
too long. Eventually, we find someone
who is prepared to take us out for an
hour for a mere £23 or so. We get an
ice cream first and then board this
small vessel. Out of the harbour and
around the island. Simon has the great
idea of stopping the boat for a swim.
We all jump off the boat and have a
good ten minutes or so in the water,
before climbing back on board to
continue the boat ride. Jess drives us
back to Opatija and, after a short rest,
we venture out to dinner at a nearby
pizzeria with the rest of the team.
A good day – a relaxing change
from the bridge (though I’m not sure
this tournament has been sufficiently
arduous really to need it).
Friday
The first match is against France. We
are a bit unlucky. First, I hold, as North:
♠ 9 5
♥ 10 8 7 5
♦ 3
♣ J 10 8 6 4 3
I hear Nicola open two clubs. I bid
two diamonds and she bids two no-
trumps. We play this as game-forcing.
I bid three clubs, asking about majors,
and she bids three diamonds, denying
a four- or five-card major. My choices
now are a jump to five clubs or a
simple three no-trumps. It’s possible
she has game more or less in her own
hand, perhaps with a diamond suit,
so I go for the nine-trick game. In
fact, there is no problem in making
three no-trumps, but she has a very
suitable hand for playing in five clubs.
In the other room, after a similar start,
North makes the other choice and
jumps to five clubs which her partner
raises to slam. Slam is on a finesse and
the finesse is right.
Then, later on, I hold:
♠ 7 6 5
♥ A 8 4 2
♦ J 6
♣ A 8 4 3
 Seven Days continued
I hear the bidding go, one spade on my
left, one no-trump on my right, three
no-trumps on my left. I pick a heart
and declarer has eleven tricks. In the
other room vagaries of system mean
that Nicola’s hand is on lead. She has
K-Q-6 in clubs and 10-9-5-3 in hearts
and unerringly fishes out a club. So
that is another 11 IMPs out, leading to
a final loss by 10 IMPs.
The second match is against Ireland
and we win by 10. Then, Nicola and I go
for a walk and visit the supermarket,
leaving the others to play Estonia,
whom they beat heavily. We eat on
the lower terrace at the hotel. Again,
the food is good but the service slow,
though we are entertained by a concert
on the other terrace (far enough away
that we can still hear each other talk).
Saturday
We start against Israel and have an
excellent card in both rooms to finish
with 20 VPs. I enjoy this one:
Dealer West. Game All.
♠ K 10 6 5 4 2
♥ 10
♦ Q 6 3
♣ Q J 6
♠ Q 7 ♠ J 3
N
♥ 9 7 W E ♥ 6 5 4
♦ K J 9 5 4 S ♦ A 10 7
♣ A K 7 4 ♣ 9 8 5 3 2
♠ A 9 8
♥ A K Q J 8 3 2
♦ 8 2
♣ 10
West North East South
1♣ 2♠ Pass 4♥
All Pass
I decide to call my hand balanced
and open one club rather than one
diamond. My top club opening lead
is easy and I can tell that it is likely
that declarer has a singleton. What
next? I switch to the queen of spades.
Declarer wins with the ace and plays
BRIDGE September 2014 Page 43
off lots of hearts but we are not under
any pressure. Eventually, she plays the
nine of spades. Time stands still for a
while and then she runs it. One down.
In the second match, we play
Denmark. Again, we have a good card
in both rooms and finish with a heavy
win. We are now lying third but only
3 VPs off the lead. Seven matches to
go.
However, the real excitement is in
the other events. After the end of the
second match, we all hang around to
see if the English Seniors will manage
to win with a match to go. When the
score is finally posted, they have a 19.61
VP lead, so would have to lose the last
match very badly not to win the event.
The English open team are also doing
well, after a somewhat rocky start.
They qualify at the head of their group
and when the complicated carryover
system is worked out, they are still
well placed. Everything to play for.
We are also pleased that the Irish open
team (Fee’s boyfriend Hugh McGann
is on the team) qualify for the final.
They are close at the beginning of the
day but have a tough finish, including
having to play Sweden and Monaco,
but they manage it.
After we finish, I go back to the hotel
and have a long Skype conversation
with Barry (for some reason we have
been just missing each other for most
of the week). I really like going through
the hands with him. Then, I go down to
the lower terrace of the hotel and swim
in the sea. After a shower and change,
we walk along the promenade to the
excellent fish restaurant we went to
on our first night. It is a lovely seaside
setting and the food is excellent.
Sunday
Today, we play the team lying bottom
followed by the team lying top:
Lebanon and then the Netherlands.
We are on the bench for the first
match. After breakfast, I go to the
gym and then rush back to my room
to follow progress online. It looks as if
things are going well. We are well up
and things are not going so well for
the other teams at the top. When the
smoke has cleared, we are lying first.
Then, it is time for the Netherlands,
long-time adversaries. We are on
BBO, of course. In our room, things
don’t seem to go particularly well.
Our opponents seem to do well and
we miss a couple of thin games. When
we come out, though, everyone is
smiling and we have won by 16 IMPs.
Apparently, this is the first time the
English women have beaten the Dutch
in a European Championship, ever.
That keeps us at the top of the table,
nearly 10 VPs ahead of Italy and the
Netherlands.
Afterwards, I change quickly and
go out with the girls and David Burn
for a little trip. We drive to Labin, 45
minutes or so along the coast, an old
walled town on the top of a cliff. We
wander around for a while and have
a lovely dinner looking out over the
coast.
Monday
Somehow the pressure is worse when
you are in front than when you are
chasing. We start against Germany
and it doesn’t go well. Plenty of room
for improvement and the card from
the other room is not perfect either. We
lose by 14 IMPs. Then Poland and the
match is much the same. We are now
second, 5 VPs behind the Netherlands.
Nicola and I go shopping with Briony,
checking the scores on our phones
every five minutes or so. Team-mates
do OK against Spain, winning by 19
IMPs. It’s looking OK but then the
Dutch make an unmakeable game on
the final board for 7 IMPs in instead of
5 out. We are back in the lead but only
by the tiniest of margins.
We eat at the buffet in the hotel and
all have an early night.
Tuesday
The first match is against Italy and,
although we start well, it soon
disintegrates. Again, a poor match in
both rooms leads to a heavy loss, by
40 IMPs. That puts them in the lead.
Somewhat remarkably, we are still in a
medal position. But France are chasing
us and they have only lowly Lebanon
to play in the last match. On a brighter
note, we are all quite excited
 Seven Days continued
about how well the open
team is doing.
One thing to keep in
mind at the end of these
round robin events is that
it is very stressful. It is not
just our team feeling the
pressure. Our last match is
against Norway, generally
a decent team but one that
has not been doing so well
in this event. Nicola and I
have a good match, though
the boards seem fairly flat.
When we come out, we are
rather surprised to find
that we are in the lead, but
only by a fraction of a VP.
Soon, we are overtaken by
the Netherlands. France
are lying third and Italy
are losing to Germany and
are no longer in a medal
position at all. Those two
matches finish and we are
ahead of both of them. It
is just a question of how
well the Netherlands do on
the final couple of deals.
They gain 6 IMPs on the
penultimate board when
the Estonians take 200
from three clubs doubled
rather than bidding their
own non-vulnerable game.
The last board is a terrible
vulnerable game that
makes:
Dealer West. E/W Vul
West East
♠ Q 6 4 ♠ 9 8
♥ A K 10 8 4 ♥ 5
♦ Q 8 ♦ A J 10 7
♣ 8 7 4 ♣ A Q 10 6 5 2
South has the ace-king of
spades, the diamond finesse
is right and North has king
doubleton of clubs, so either
three no-trumps or five
clubs will make. Although
game is a terrible contract,
Page 44 BRIDGE September 2014
if West decides to open,
then East may well force to
game. We know the Dutch 2014 FESTIVE SEASON
East-West have stayed in a
partscore. All of sudden,
we hear whoops and cheers
Denham Grove
from the orange-shirted Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DU
Dutch players and it is all
over. We have to settle for
silver.
In truth, the main
damage was done yesterday
and it is remarkable that we
were still in with a chance,
having lost three of our last
five matches. Christmas 23-27 December
We have a quick beer Just Duplicate Bridge £495
by the pool and go out to
dinner in Opatija Harbour. Jo Walch
While we are eating, we are
constantly checking on our
Twixmas 27-29 December
phones to see how the open Doubles £245
team are doing. They have Bernard Magee
the mighty Monaco to play
in the final round. Both New Year 29 Dec – 2 Jan
Monaco’s hopes for the title
and the English hopes of a Hand Evaluation £445
medal depend on this match. Bernard Magee
The antepenultimate board
is very exciting. Fantoni/
Nunes (popularly known
as Fantunes) for Monaco
The Olde Barn
Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT
manage to end up in six
spades on a 4-3 fit rather
than in their ten-card heart
fit. The trump suit is K-J-6
facing A-10-8-7. Spades are
3-3 with the queen under
the A-10-8-7. Nunes needs
to locate the ♠Q to make
his slam. If he does, then
Monaco will win the title Christmas 23-27 December
and England may not get a Just Duplicate Bridge £495
medal. Time stands still and
some excellent defence by Sheila Rogers
Tony Forrester offers Nunes
a losing option, which he Twixmas 27-29 December
takes and the slam is down. Further into the Auction £215
So it’s gold for Israel, silver Patrick Dunham
for Monaco and bronze for
England. New Year 29 Dec – 1 Jan
The closing ceremony is
at nine o’clock. At least it Declarer Play £345
is as short as possible. We John Ronan
wander back to the hotel
for a final drink before Back to Back bookings save £50 per booking.
retiring to bed to pack in Booking Form on page 10.
time for our early morning See www.mrbridge.co.uk/ukbreaks for details and itineraries.
departure. ■
 Answers to Julian Pottage’s 
Defence Quiz on page 13
West North East South high card, surely the ♦A or the ♦K, in
1. ♠ Q J 8 2 3♣ which case you might score a ruff as
♥ J 6 3 Dbl All Pass well. If that high diamond is the king, you
♦ A 9 2 certainly want to lead the suit from your
♣ K 9 5 Partner leads the ♦10. Declarer wins side of the table. So overtake the ♥Q with
♠ A 6 ♠ K 5 with the ♦A and leads the ♣2 to the ♣Q, the ♥K and switch to the ♦8. If declarer
N
♥ K Q 10 8 4 ♥ A 9 5 2 partner discarding the ♥3. What is your ducks, partner wins and continues
W E
♦ Q 6 4 S ♦ 10 8 5 3 plan? diamonds. You then take the ♠K as soon
♣ J 6 4 ♣ A Q 8 This time, the opposing bidding is as you get the chance and lead your ♥5
♠ 10 9 7 4 3 normal. You are the one who might have to put partner in to give you a diamond
♥ 7 bid differently. Again, you would like to ruff.
♦ K J 7 score 500 to beat the pairs making game
♣ 10 7 3 2 your way. For three down, you must hope
that declarer can never get to dummy. 4. ♠ 8 6 2
You also need to look for a ruff. Partner ♥ K 9 3
West North East South must hold both major-suit aces on the ♦ 9
1♥ Dbl! 2NT Pass 1
bidding. Take the ♣A, ♠K and ♥K, then ♣ A Q 10 8 3 2
3♥ Pass 4♥ 4♠ lead the major in which you think partner ♠ J 10 9 4 3 ♠ A K 5
N
Pass Pass Dbl All Pass started with four cards – you may have ♥ 5 4 W E ♥ J 10 8 2
1
Limit raise to 3♠ or better already decided that this is spades if you ♦ K J 8 2 S ♦ 7 6 4 3
read the ♥3 as showing an odd number ♣ 7 4 ♣ K 6
Partner leads the ♥K and continues the of hearts. In any case, partner can get to ♠ Q 7
suit. Having ruffed the second round, see all the cards in one of the majors and ♥ A Q 7 6
declarer leads the ♠4 to the ♠6, ♠Q and should know not to try to give you a ruff ♦ A Q 10 5
♠K. What do you return? in that suit. ♣ J 9 5
You will need to take the contract three
down to beat pairs making 4♥ your way.
Since partner surely holds the ♠A from the 3. ♠ A 8 7 2 West North East South
failure by declarer to finesse, prospects ♥ 8 2 1♥
are good. With the minor-suit honours ♦ Q J 10 2 Pass 2♣ Pass 2NT1
spread around the table, you must avoid ♣ K Q 4 Pass 3♥ Pass 3NT
leading those; dummy’s ♦9 becomes a ♠ 6 ♠ K J 5 All Pass
big card if you lead the suit. You must ♥ Q J 10 6 4 3 N ♥ A K 5 1
15-19
W E
also be careful to leave partner a safe exit ♦ K 9 6 4 S ♦ 8 5
card. So do not play a third heart. Play a ♣ 6 2 ♣ A 9 8 7 5 Partner leads the ♠J. You take the ♠K and
trump to partner’s ace. A third round of ♠ Q 10 9 4 3 ♠A, the ♠Q appearing from South on the
hearts is then available as a safe exit. ♥ 9 7 second round. What do you do next?
♦ A 7 3 The fall of the ♠Q means that the
♣ J 10 3 contract is going down. Indeed, you will
2. ♠ Q 8 7 2 surely make your ♣K as well as five spade
♥ Q 8 6 2 tricks to take it two down. However, as
♦ K 6 2 West North East South the contract appears normal, you should
♣ Q 9 2♥1 Dbl 4♥ 4♠ not stop looking there.
♠ A J 9 6 ♠ K 5 Pass Pass Dbl All Pass Given that you have both opposing
♥ A J 10 4 3 N ♥ K 5 1
Weak suits stopped, you can afford to try a
W E
♦ Q 10 9 4 S ♦ J 8 7 5 3 diamond up to dummy’s weakness.
♣ Void ♣ A J 8 5 Partner leads the ♥Q. What is your plan? If South has the ♦A-K, you have lost
♠ 10 4 3 Assuming that partner has no more nothing. As it is, the ♦K gives you a
♥ 9 7 than six hearts, you can see four tricks: a seventh trick. Indeed, if declarer grabs
♦ A spade, two hearts and a club. Might you the ♦A and West encourages with the
♣ K 10 7 6 4 3 2 make more? ♦8, the ♦J might make as well for four
You can hope that partner has another down. ■

BRIDGE September 2014 Page 45


T
he flight from Norwich trans-
ported Spouse and me to the
warm and welcoming Mediter-
ranean climate of the island of Crete.
On entering the terminal building, the
airport carousel coughed into life. A
cascading mass of passengers surged
towards it, all eager to reclaim their
baggage. At this critical moment, the
conveyer belt shuddered and reposed
into a frustrating stillness, without
hint of deliveries from the depths
of the basement. A second carousel
erupted into motion at the far end of
the arrival lounge and Spouse headed
a charge of males towards it. As he and
his marauding companions reached
their goal, it coughed and halted its
fragile activity. Simultaneously, the
first carousel, reviving from its hesi-
tant start, began to eject an endless
procession of bags, cases and sun-um-
brellas. I was soon re-united with our
luggage. Spouse rejoined me having
returned from his futile foray, breath-
ing heavily like a phantom telephone
caller. He took the suitcases sheepishly
from my hands.
We headed for the taxi rank and
reached our apartment in Rethymnon
without further mishap. Unknown to
us, the local bridge club was prepar-
ing for its weekly duplicate event in
a room below. A knock on our door
interrupted our unpacking. It was our
hosts, Costos and Elsa, who greeted
us with the immortal lines, ‘You don’t
play bridge by any chance do you? We
have a half table.’ It was an invitation
we couldn’t refuse. Set out on a table
in the centre of the playing area, were
jugs of fruit juices, bottles of water, ca-
rafes of local wines, bowls of fruit and
dishes filled with olives and other mul-
ticoloured delicacies. The drinks and
snacks disappeared as the sunny after-
noon progressed. We were welcomed
warmly at every table, where conversa-
tion was mainly in English as players
practised their foreign language skills.
Late in the session, we played this
Page 46 BRIDGE September 2014
The Diaries of Wendy Wensum
Episode 29: A Cretan Jaunt
board against Costos and Elsa.
Dealer South. Game All.
♠ A K J 10 7 3
♥ K Q 9
♦ K 7 4
♣ 2
♠ 8 5 2 ♠ 9 6 4
N
♥ J 10 6 3 2 W E ♥ 8 7 4
♦ Void S ♦ Q 10 9 8 6 5
♣ A K 7 5 4 ♣ 9
♠ Q
♥ A 5
♦ A J 3 2
♣ Q J 10 8 6 3
Costos was seated South and opened
1♣ as dealer. His wife, Elsa, sitting
North, responded 1♠. The bidding
reached a slam by a fairly direct route.
West North East South
Wendy Elsa Spouse Costos ace followed by a club return and a
1♣
Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣
Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT
Pass 6NT All Pass
Spouse can be rather impetuous at
times and on this occasion was about
as quick-witted as a Royal Mail pillar
box. My fingers caressed the ♣A and
♣K lovingly. I was ready to lead out
my two winners when, to my dismay,
Spouse tabled the ♦10 face up. Now,
if Costos plays the jack, the contract
can roll home with three diamond
tricks, six spades and three hearts. The
director was called and announced the
options for a lead out of turn. Costos
considered his situation carefully and
asked me to lead a diamond in order
to ensure three diamond tricks and
the slam. ‘I haven’t got a diamond,’
I explained. ‘In that case,’ said the
director, ‘lead what you want.’ The top
two club tricks defeated the slam. Much
hilarity ensued. ‘You daft thing,’ I
complained light-heartedly to Spouse,
‘Trust you to lead when it wasn’t your
turn.’ ‘I’m not that daft; at least I can
operate the video recorder on our telly
at home,’ Spouse retaliated in the same
jovial spirit but definitely emphasising
the ‘I’. ‘Anyway, why didn’t you double
6NT?’ he enquired not unreasonably.
‘I meant to but I forgot,’ I responded,
adding, ‘In any case there is not much
point in doubling if you are going
to lead out of turn.’ Costos entered
the fray by noting that Elsa’s hand,
without a high club honour, was not
the dummy he had expected or needed
to make the contract. Elsa brought the
discussion to an end with, ‘Maybe not,
but the dummy is very colourful. Look
at all the pretty pictures.’ More laughs
and more wine completed the round.
The traveller revealed that the popular
contracts were 4♠ and 3NT, but two
pairs had played in 6♠. One declarer
had gone one off, perhaps to a diamond
ruff and a top club. A club lead to the
careless low trump from North could
have the same effect. The other pair
had made the contract on a favourable
lead, presumably by removing trumps
before taking the marked diamond
finesse.
Later that evening, from the balcony
of our apartment, I gazed across the
still waters of the sweeping bay. I knew
we would enjoy our holiday here.
Rethymnon was outlined in bright
moonlight, the massive bulk of the
Venetian fortress contrasted with the
slender minaret beside it. The picture-
postcard view seemed to encapsulate
in that single moment the long and
chequered history of this town. With
care or insight, it could have become
the Cannes of Crete, but the easy-
going nature of its inhabitants had
made that possibility merely a dream.
Spouse gently disturbed my reverie by
whispering, ‘You’re very thoughtful.’
Placing his arm comfortingly around
my shoulder, we silently surveyed the
town in all its romantic tranquillity. ■
 V OYAGES A NTIQUITY TO

bridge cruises to
ancient civilisations
aboard Aegean Odyssey

Combine a daily duplicate with the best of cultural travel

and the comfort of small-ship cruising
The philosophy of our bridge cruises is simple – to relax
and play bridge with like-minded people in comfortable
surroundings while sampling the culture and the history
of each daily destination.
With the experience gained from several seasons of working
with Voyages to Antiquity, each new itinerary offers the
chance to indulge your passion for bridge in comfortable
and welcoming surroundings while exploring many of the
great classical sites and fascinating cultures of the world.
Classically elegant, but far from formal, Aegean Odyssey
provides gracious public rooms, a choice of two restaurants
with open-seating dining, generously-sized suites and
cabins and outstanding, friendly service. Her size means
she has the ability to visit ports that are too small for larger
vessels – from the classical sites of the Mediterranean,
Aegean and Black Sea to the great cities of Asia.
Accommodating around 350 guests, with a casual and
relaxed atmosphere on board, Aegean Odyssey offers the
bridge player every comfort at sea.

Benefits of cruising with Mr Bridge:

Special Mr Bridge fares across all cabin categories – Daily bridge on board and bridge fees included in the fare
Each voyage accompanied by bridge team – Mr Bridge welcome drinks party
Friendly fares for single travellers (a bridge partner will always be found) – Extra discounts for previous passengers

Also included in your fare:

• SCHEDULED FLIGHTS FROM UK & REGIONAL CONNECTIONS
•TRANSFERS AND BAGGAGE HANDLING ABROAD • SHORE EXCURSIONS IN MOST PORTS
• EXPERT ANTIQUITY GUEST SPEAKERS • OPEN-SEATING DINING
10093 • WINE INCLUDED WITH DINNER ON BOARD • ON-BOARD TIPS & GRATUITIES INCLUDED
ABTA No.Y2206

For reservations call on 01483 489961 or visit www.mrbridge.co.uk

 DVD CLEARANCE
All 18 DVDs £100 Series 3 DVDs £54
individually wrapped, unboxed individually wrapped, boxed
Series 1
1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks
This seminar deals with declarer’s
use of ruffing to make 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. (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 tech-
niques. (96 mins.)
5 Play & Defence of 1NT
Bernard looks at declaring 1NT
(the most common and yet most
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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.)
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Series 2
7 Leads
Bernard takes you through basic
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8 Losing Trick Count
A way of hand evaluation for
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9 Making a Plan as Declarer
Bernard explains how to make
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10 Responding to 1NT
This seminar deals with Transfers
and Stayman in detail. The 1NT
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having a good, accurate system of
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11 Signals & Discards
This seminar deals with Count, At-
titude and Suit-preference signals:
aiming to get you working as a
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12 Endplay
Bernard takes you through the
basics of the technique before
showing some magical hands
where you take extra tricks from
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to avoid being endplayed. (80 mins.)
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13 Hand Evaluation
Going beyond just the point-
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14 Pre-Emptive Bidding
The art of pre-empting is so
important. Understanding the
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16 Avoidance Play
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18 Thinking Defence
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