Bridge Today • May 2003 page 1

May 2003

ß
˙
∂
ç

Editor: Matthew Granovetter

The Magazine for People Who Love to Play Bridge

In this issue:

Play the New York $12,000 Open

Adam Wildavsky tests you with 24 real-life problems in this
“virtual” Individual tournament. Page 10.

Features

2 Viewpoint 30 The Traveling Score

Merits of the Bridge Pro Tour by Pete Kichline

3 Hot and Spicy 31 Building a Better Mousetrap

by Roselyn Teukolsky by Matthew Granovetter

5 Kantar’s Korner 32 Cruise Control

by Daniel Helman
9 The Par Line
by Andrew Robson 32 Hand of the Month

25 Are You Thinking Logically? 34 Between Sessions

by Marshall Miles Electronic Magazines

Welcome to our first Internet Edition! We are now a monthly!

ALERT: Please do not email this emag to anyone. Much time, energy and money was spent to produce this
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Bridge Today • May 2003 page 2

Viewpoint

A reader writes about the recent publicity we’ve been giving to the Bridge Pro
Tour: “I wonder what it is that you find positive about the pro bridge tour.
For the ‘amateur’ perhaps, it’s fun to play a hand or two with a good player. But
for good players, what’s the reward for playing with a random bunch of people
with whom one has no system? Consider, too, that to win you must play (usually)
four sessions, and coming in anything other than first or second really isn’t worth
the time....Perhaps the event could be played as an individual qualifying
followed by pairing up among the qualifiers. That would let the ‘amateur’ play
with good players and then the good players play with their regular partners
(assuming both qualified) or customers....”

The setup for the tour is in its early stages and does require fixing here and
there. But the current version of the tour is a mixture of different levels of players
only because the majority of pros haven’t yet taken the plunge (though in NYC
the field was quite strong). In any case, the BPT fields are certainly stronger than
the typical regional open pair game.

Larry King has said that the game of bridge at the tournament level is “corrupt.”
By corrupt, he means that anybody can buy his way into the winner's circle by
hiring a partner or team. This is not exactly true, since a sponsor still has to play
his share, but in any case this cannot happen in an individual. If, however, you
allow partnerships into the Pro Tour, you revert to the old path. Making bridge
popular with the general public requires a new path: a promotion that simplifies
the game to the bare necessities. Once you get partnerships and teams and
conventions involved, it complicates bridge. The path that King is taking is
similar to tennis or golf — sports that promote individual stars.

From the players’ perspective, “individuals” are a different kind of bridge, but
no more different than matchpoint scoring is to imps. Each kind of game requires
different talents. The “individual” reminds me of rubber bridge, where you have
to play the people (including your partner), not just the cards. It's fun and
psychological.

Eliminating partnerships means no hidden nuances or undisclosed agreements

between the opponents. Thus, every bid or play is out in the open for everyone
to see and interpret as best he can. Eliminating partnerships also means never
having to say you’re sorry. The beauty of the individual is that you can psyche,
make tactical bids, or risk a daring opening lead, without recriminations, because
you play only one board with the person opposite you. This new freedom will take
the game of bridge to a level of imagination and human drama that we have not
seen before. — the editor
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 3

Hot and Spicy

by Roselyn Teukolsky

In which the author is reminded

of a column B play.

We go with our teammates to a Chinese
restaurant and find that we are incompat-
ible. They want hot and spicy and we want
mild and edible. We all, however, want
variety, but no one wants to compromise.
The menu has items marked with one, two
and three asterisks. One teammate insists
that he will eat nothing less than three
asterisks. His partner is willing to go down
to two, but will not stoop to one. I need to
be assertive and announce that I don’t eat
anything with an asterisk next to it. My
partner, who is easygoing within the narrow
confines of no-asterisk food, allows me to
pick one beef and one chicken dish. We
will also have wonton soup. Our teammates
settle on two three-asterisk dishes, plus hot-
and-sour soup.
* * *
A strange thing happens when
the food arrives. My “mild”
chicken is covered in ominous
little red dots, while my team-
mates’ chicken is white, gluti-
nous and very mild, not a pepper in sight.
When I taste mine it’s a near-death experi-
ence and I call for the fire extinguisher.
When they taste theirs they call for the
waiter.
“Oh no,” the waiter explains, “the aster-
isk means ‘new dish.’ Two asterisks is very
new. Three asterisks is ‘new chef specialty
this week.’” It takes a lot to shut my team-
mates up, but this makes them speechless.
In the silence that follows, I contemplate an
earlier moment in the day when I took the
wrong inference.
I held:
ß A 5 ˙ A K J 10 6 ∂ K J 7 ç J 4 2,
sitting in first seat, with everyone vulner-
able. I opened one heart, my LHO over-
called one spade, and my partner bid two
hearts. I made a slightly aggressive jump to
four, and this ended the bidding.
South West North East
1˙ 1ß 2˙ pass
4˙ (all pass)
West led the ßK, and the dummy ap-
peared:
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 4

North North
ß 10 9 7 4 ß 10 9 7
˙Q74 ˙—
∂Q ∂—
ç A 10 9 8 3 ç A 10 9
ßK
South (Roselyn) South
ßA5 ß5
˙ A K J 10 6 ˙ 10 6
∂KJ7 ∂J
çJ42 ç42

This did not seem like a particularly At this stage I was fairly optimistic about
difficult hand. I could see nine tricks after my proposed line of play. Remember West’s
knocking out the ∂A. A double finesse in vulnerable overcall? All he had shown up
clubs offered an excellent chance of a tenth with so far was the ßK-Q and the ∂A.
trick, especially since West had made a There was plenty of room for the çQ.
vulnerable overcall. The probability of his
holding at least one of the missing club I duly played a low club to the 10. East
honors was high. won the çQ, and yet another hand was
sacrificed to the god of false inferences.
I won the ßA and immediately played a
low diamond. West hopped up with the Here were the hands:
∂A and returned a trump. I now drew the
rest of the trumps and noted that West ß 10 9 7 4
˙Q74
pitched the ∂2 on the third round. Now
∂Q
what? ç A 10 9 8 3
ßKQJ8 ß632
N
I realized that I needed two entries to my ˙83
W E
˙952
hand to take two club finesses, so at trick ∂ A 10 5 2 S ∂98643
ç765 çKQ
six I led the çJ. West played low very
ßA5
smoothly, and I played low, too. East won ˙ A K J 10 6
the çK and — somewhat to my surprise — ∂KJ7
returned a low diamond. I won with the çJ42
∂K, throwing a club from dummy.
At the other table, the contract was
Here was the situation. East-West had defeated with different defense. The open-
three tricks, and the lead was in my hand: ing lead was the same, the ßK. South won,
drew trumps and played a diamond. When
West won, he switched to a club. Declarer
finessed; East won and returned a spade.
West won and played another club. South
finessed, and ended with the same sad
result as I did.

But I was given a chance to make this

Bridge Today • May 2003 page 5

contract and failed to rise to the occasion. This hand is a beautiful example of a
show-up squeeze. The key to executing it is
At the stage that I ran the çJ, here was to give up both a diamond and spade early.
the position: So long as West doesn’t force me into a
premature club decision, the hand is cold! I
ß 10 9 7 was so blinded by the vulnerable overcall, I
˙—
∂—
failed to think beyond the simple-minded
ç A 10 9 8 3 inferences I took.
ßQJ8 ß63
˙— N ˙— * * *
W E
∂ 10 5 S ∂9864 The bad inferences in the Chinese res-
ç765 çKQ taurant give all of us a good chuckle. Din-
ß5
˙ J 10
ner is not the disaster that it appears to be.
∂KJ The three-asterisk chicken is benevolently
çJ42 divine, and the no-asterisk beef fires up our
teammates for the evening session.
Instead of a club, look at the effect of
leading my ß5. Suppose West wins and
returns a club. I can finesse and win what-
ever East returns (diamond or spade) in my
hand. Suppose I now cash my remaining
red winners. West is forced to hold onto his Kantar’s Korner
ßJ, Which means I can throw my spades
from dummy. Here is the two-card ending! by Eddie Kantar

ß—
˙—
∂—
ç A 10
ßJ ß—
˙— N ˙—
W E
∂— S ∂9
ç7 çQ
ß—
A collection of recent events
˙—
in the life of the author...
∂—
ç42

West has been forced to throw a club on Do you play upside-down attitude sig-
the previous trick. When I lead a low club nals? If you don’t, this is a compelling ex-
at trick twelve, and West shows up with ample of why you should.
another club, I know that he cannot hold
the çQ. His last card has to be the ßJ. (If
he really overcalled one spade with a three-
card suit, more power to him!)
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 6

North
Just got a call from Don Krauss.
ßQJ876
˙KQJ4 He is locked up in a room at the
∂K Bellagio playing rubber bridge
çQ84 around the clock with the likes of Bob
West East Hamman. This is a yearly three day (and
ßAK53 ß42
night) hiatus. Yes, they do take time off to
˙8653 ˙A97
∂J543 ∂Q982 eat at the best places — and even hit the
ç6 ç J 10 9 7 gaming tables a bit. He had one hand to tell
South me about, a ghoulie, of course (cards are
ß 10 9 dealt 5-5-3 instead of one at a time).
˙ 10 2
∂ A 10 7 6
çAK532 With both sides vulnerable, his partner
the dealer, Don was looking at:
West North East South
ßA
— 1ß pass 2ç
˙Q53
pass 2˙ pass 2 NT ∂ A Q J 10 9 8 5 3 2
pass 3 NT (all pass) ç—

Opening lead: ∂3 It’s a rather commonplace ghoulie hand,

by the way. The bidding started like this,
Dummy plays the king, and if East plays Don sitting West:
the 9, standard signal, he has just signaled
with the setting trick! If East plays the West North East South
deuce, upside-down, the defense will realize — — pass 6ç
two spades, two diamonds and a heart no 6 ∂* pass pass 7ç
matter how declarer plays. ?

*automatic
Kantar’s Card Combo
Before reading on, decide if you would
Say you open 2ß with ßA-10-7-6-5-4
pass, double, or bid. If you pass or double,
and wind up in six spades facing the
what would you lead?
ßK-9 doubleton:

ßK 9

ßA 10 7 6 5 4

You have no other losers, so you

have to come up with the best play for
five tricks. What would you do?

Solution on next page.

Bridge Today • May 2003 page 7

Krauss, who has been this route before, loses to the singleton jack or queen but wins
bid 7∂, got doubled and went for 800. He when fourth hand has a singleton 8, 3 or 2.
could have beaten 7ç, but he would have But the point of the diagram is this:
to lead a low heart to do it!
North
North ßK9
ß K Q J 10 7 4 3
˙K8 West (you) East
∂K764 ßQJ83 ß2
ç—
West (Don) East South
ßA ß98652 ß A 10 7 6 5 4
˙Q53 ˙J9764
∂ A Q J 10 9 8 5 3 2 ∂— If you are familiar with this combination,
ç— ç953
and you’re on defense, you should play the
South
ß— 8, not the 3, when South leads low. Sud-
˙ A 10 2 denly, you have presented declarer with a
∂— losing option (the reason behind all manda-
ç A K Q J 10 8 7 6 4 2 tory falsecards). If he assumes the 8 is from
shortness, perhaps a singleton, he must rise
If Don leads either ace (surely you didn’t with the king and run the 9. Surprise!
lead the ßA, thinking it would live, did
you?), declarer ruffs and uses the appropri- Here’s a similar one:
ate king for a heart discard. If Don leads
the ∂Q, say, declarer plays the king and North
overruffs East’s trump. Now come the KJ
onslaught of clubs and on the last one Don
West (you) East
is reduced to three cards. Two of them have
Q 10 8 3 2
to be aces to protect against the ßK and a
diamond in dummy. South
A97654
Dummy’s last four cards are a spade, a
diamond and the ˙K-8. So Don has to South needs five tricks and is about to
blank his ˙Q and now declarer leads a lead low to the jack, losing only to the
heart to the king and has a heart finesse for singleton queen (or Q-10-8-x with East,
the last two tricks. Only a heart lead on the which can’t be picked up anyway). How-
go prevents all this. Losing 800 is cheaper ever, a funny thing happens on the way to
than losing 2140, especially at the $$$$ the jack, if you play the 8! Again, South has
stakes they were playing for. a losing option if he decides that your play
is from shortness and rises with the king to
***** run the jack through a presumed Q-10-3-2
Solution to Card Combo in the East hand.

You have to make the best play to deal Would you like to see a couple of others?
with a 4-1 break, since a 3-2 break is irrel-
evant. The best play is low to the 9, which
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 8

North North (dummy)

— Kxx

West (you) East West East

J9 K432 Axx 10 x x or x x x

South South (you)

A Q 10 8 7 6 5 Q J x x or Q J 10 x

South needs six tricks. He plays the ace,
needing to find the J-9 or K-J doubleton. If
you play the 9, South has no choice but to
play the queen and hope you have J-9
doubleton; K-9 doubleton will not help
him. However, if as West you play the jack,
South has a losing option. He may play
your for K-J doubleton and lead low the
second time.
And now a combination where the 8
saves the declarer:
North (dummy)
J Did you see that caricature of me in the
West East
A973 Q 10 6 5
South (you)
K842
The contract is notrump and East gets in
and attacks with the queen. If the idea is to
avoid losing four tricks, play low. If East
continues with the 9 or 10, cover with the
king and your 8 represents a stopper. If you
cover the queen with the king, the defense
can take four tricks. And finally:
Say you are playing notrump and want to
drive out the ace. Lead low to the king. If it
holds, lead low to the jack. That is how
would you play with J-10-x-x and is far
more likely to induce a good West player to
take the ace. If you play low to the queen
the second time, you might as well be play-
ing with your cards face up, because you
are telling the table that you have the jack,
and West has an easy duck.
Before and After
new ACBL Bulletin? Even Yvonne thinks
it’s scary. I sent an email to Paul Linxweiler
over at the Bulletin office in Memphis and
told him that she wants them to make me
look less gaunt and take away some of my
wrinkles! He answered that I wasn’t the
only one who had complained and he
would see what he could do. He signed his
email Paul Linxweiler: Minister in Charge
of Vanity Projects.
Flash: Just received a second email from
Paul. “Eddie, the artist has diminished some
of the lines and wrinkles from your cartoon
(I thought it was a caricature). You look less
craggy and gaunt. The new you will appear
in the April issue. — Your plastic surgeon,
Paul.”

Ciao! — Eddie Kantar

Bridge Today • May 2003 page 9

The Par Line

by Andrew Robson

The most recent Par Contest was held North’s 4˙ bid was a splinter in support
during the 1998 World Championships in of clubs. It was an overstatement with his
Lille, northern France. The world’s best minimum opener and it encouraged South,
bridge players had to solve very tough Bramley, to try for the grand slam. His 4NT
declarer play problems on a computer under bid was Roman Key Card Blackwood, and
time pressure. It was won by Michael the 5ß response showed two of the five aces
Rosenberg of the U.S. (though Scottish by and the queen of trumps.
birth). Second place went to Bart Bramley,
also of the U.S., who actually made fewer West led the ˙Q against 7ç and the
errors but took substantially more time to mediocre dummy was tabled. Bramley won
solve the devilish conundrums. the ˙A, trumped a heart, crossed to the
∂K, trumped another heart, cashed the
Here is Bramley capitalizing on a lucky çK-Q, crossed to the ßA and played his
layout to make an optimistic grand slam in three remaining trumps, discarding spades
a summer nationals. from dummy. On the last trump East was
forced to discard either the ˙K, which
North dealer North would make declarer’s ˙9 into the thir-
N-S vul ßJ754 teenth trick, or a diamond from the ∂J-10-
˙3 9, which would allow dummy’s ∂A-Q-7 to
∂AQ72 take the last three tricks. He was inexorably
çKQJ4
squeezed and Bramley’s grand slam was
West East
ß Q 10 9 8 6 ßK3 made.
˙QJ6 ˙ K 10 8 7 2
∂654 ∂ J 10 9 3 Notice that Bramley could have relied on
ç97 ç 10 5 a 4-3 diamond break and 2-2 club break
South (Bramley)
instead. He cashes three diamonds and ruffs
ßA2
˙A954 all of his hearts in dummy. Then he needs
∂K8 clubs to divide, which they did. Don’t ask
çA8632 me which is the better percentage line of
play — par contests are not my cup of tea!
West North East South
— 1∂ 1˙ 2ç
2˙ 4˙ pass 4 NT
pass 5ß pass 7ç
(all pass)
Bridge Today • May 2003
Play the New York $12,000 Open
by Adam Wildavsky
a virtual tournament with matchpoint scores — sorry, no prizemoney
After reading about the Bridge Pro Tour
Individuals here in Bridge Today I was
anxious to try one for myself. Until BPT
came along individuals were few and far
between. I hadn’t played in one in over 20
years. I thought I had a secret weapon,
knowing how to be nice to my partners. It
turns out most of the contenders were good
at that. New York players are nicer than
they used to be!* I prefer to think that it’s
because they realize that being pleasant is in
their own best interest. Like Ayn Rand I
believe in the virtue of selfishness.**
The entry fee was $100 per player ($90 if
paid in advance); 14 tables (56 players)
played two qualifying sessions Thursday
afternoon and evening. We played three-
board rounds, changing positions after each
board so that we played one board with
*As an ex-New Yorker, I take exception to this
remark! — editor
**“The Virtue of Selfishness” is the title of a book of
essays by Ayn Rand and her associates. There Rand
explains one of the tenets of her philosophy, that the
individual ought to be the primary beneficiary of his
own actions. This is in contrast to altruism, which
holds that one's life should be lived for others.
Rand's philosophy may be controversial in life, but
it ought not to be in bridge. Surely every participant
in an event is trying to win, otherwise what's the
point in playing? In fact intentionally advancing the
interests of one's opponents is considered a serious
breach of the ethics of the game. — A.W.
page 10
each player at the table. Thirty-two pairs
qualified for the final, held at 9 a.m. Fri-
day. Everyone who made it to the final won
at least $100, which meant they broke even
after paying for their entry.
Everyone used the ACBL Standard
American Yellow Card, with fourth-best
leads and Ace from Ace-King. There were
no alerts or announcements. No questions
or explanations were allowed, except for
“Whose lead is it?”
The final was videotaped for a documen-
tary. When the camera was at my table for
the last two rounds I knew I must be doing
well. I learned I had won shortly after
finishing the last round. This article will
describe every hand from the final. I’ve
tried to compose a unique quiz to go with it.
It should help you answer the question:
“How would I have done if I’d played and
had as much luck as the winner did?”
Most articles focus on the most interest-
ing hands from an event. That's not a bad
thing, but it doesn't always give a realistic
picture of a competition or the skills neces-
sary to do well. Here I present every hand
from the final, good, bad, or indifferent.
Call it bridge verité — I hope you'll enjoy it.
As in real life, your decision won’t always
make a difference. As in real life, you
should assume that it will! The quiz will
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 11

follow my footsteps for 24 rounds. Each

problem you face will be the same as I faced
or my partner faced. I’ll present this in
Bridge Pro Tour
quarters, six problems at a time. Virtual Scorecard
Top on a board was 7, average was 84.
There was no carryover. You’ll need to
score 101.5, or just over 60%, to win. Fill in
your matchpoint scores in this virtual
scorecard.
New York $12,000 Open

Virtual Scorecard

Deal Wildavsky Your

Here are the players who fin- scores
ished in the money. In the virtual
1 3
tournament you’re taking Adam’s
2 2
place, so you only need to score
3 6.5
better than second place to win.
4 3
5 7
1. Adam Wildavsky 106.5 63.39% $4000
6 4
2. Chris Compton 101.5 60.42 $2000
7 4.5
3/4. Don Simmons 99 58.93 $ 750
8 7
3/4. Bob Heitzman 99 58.93 $ 750
9 7
10 3
11 7
12 4.5
13 6
14 3.5
15 7
16 5.5
17 2.5
18 3.5
19 5.5
20 5
21 .5
22 2.5
23 2.5
24 4
total 106.5
The author, on his way to winning
the New York $12,000 Open.
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 12

Problems 1-6 4. You are East, none vul:

1. You are West, E-W vul:
North
ß742 ßK43
˙ 10 ˙AKQJ8
∂K982 ∂954
çK7643 çQ7
East (you)
West North East South ßAJ82
N
W E ˙7654
— pass pass 1˙ S ∂QJ
pass 3˙ pass 3ß ç 10 6 3
pass 4∂ pass 4 NT
pass 5˙ pass 6˙ West North East South
(all pass) — — pass 1∂
pass 1˙ pass 1 NT
What is your opening lead? pass 3 NT (all pass)

Partner leads the ç4 and dummy’s queen

holds the trick. The ∂4 is led to your jack,
which holds the trick, partner following
2. You hold, all vul: with the deuce. Do you play the ç10 or the
ßA followed by the ç10?
ß4
˙J5
∂8653
ç A K 10 7 5 2

Partner deals and opens 1ß. You respond 5. Your are West, N-S vul:
1NT and partner rebids 2ß. What is your
next call? ßA
˙ 10 8 5 3 2
∂A965
ç762

West North East South

3. You hold, vul vs. not: — — pass 1 NT
pass 2ç 2ß 2 NT
ßAK742
pass 3 NT (all pass)
˙32
∂A532
ç 10 9 What is your opening lead?

Partner deals and opens 1ç. You respond

1ß. Partner rebids 1NT. What is your next
call? Choices: 2∂, 2NT, 3∂, 3NT.
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 13

6. You are South, E-W vul: Deal 2 North (Adam)

South dealer ß4
ß A K 9 ˙ 10 2 ∂ Q 4 2 ç A K 9 8 6 All vul ˙J5
∂8653
ç A K 10 7 5 2
West North East South
West East
— pass pass 1 NT ß986 ß A 10 5
pass 2ç double ? ˙K98642 ˙AQ7
∂K7 ∂ J 10 9 4
What is your call? çJ4 ç863
South (Fout)
ßKQJ732
˙ 10 3
∂AQ2
Solutions 1-6 çQ9
Deal 1 North (Boehm)
North dealer ß93 South West North East
E-W vul ˙AQ64 1ß pass 1 NT pass
∂A754 2ß (all pass)
ç 10 9 2
West (Grue) East (Adam) After the çJ lead, my partner won in
ß742 ßQJ65
dummy, played a trump to the king and
˙ 10 ˙J5
∂K982 ∂ Q J 10 3 another high trump to the ace. Now he
çK7643 çJ85 won the club return in his hand to draw
South (Fout) the last trump. He thus eschewed the dia-
ß A K 10 8 mond finesse and made an overtrick when
˙K98732
the king was doubleton offside. Plus 140.
∂6
çAQ
I thought this would be a good result, but
West North East South it was my second worst, two matchpoints
— pass pass 1˙ out of seven. At one table the ∂K was led
pass 3˙ pass 3ß after the same auction and declarer made
pass 4∂ pass 4 NT 170. Two other 170’s were scored and one
pass 5˙ pass 6˙ +200! Perhaps that was after a trump lead,
(all pass) the ˙A and a diamond switch. Even 230
was conceivable after the ∂K, if East con-
My partner, Joe Grue, stayed off the club tinues diamonds after winning the ßA.
lead, so we held it to six for almost average. Our score: 2 matchpoints.
He led a diamond. Our score: 3
matchpoints. Quiz: What is your call over 2ß?

Quiz: What do you lead against 6˙? Your score:

pass = 2 matchpoints
Your score: 3ç = 0*
ç = 1 matchpoint
anything else = 3 matchpoints
*Partner said afterwards he would have passed 3ç.
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 14

Deal 3 North (Adam) Quiz: What is your call over 1NT?

South dealer ßAK742
N-S vul ˙32 Your score:
∂A532 3∂ or 3NT = 6.5 matchpoints
ç 10 9
2NT = 3.5 matchpoints
West East (Grue)
ß 10 9 3 ßJ85 2∂ = 2 matchpoints
˙ Q 10 9 ˙J764
∂J74 ∂ K 10 6 Deal 4 North
çK754 çAQ8 East dealer ßK43
South (Boehm)
None vul ˙AKQJ8
ßQ6
∂954
˙AK85
çQ7
∂Q98
West East (Adam)
çJ632
ßQ97 ßAJ82
˙ 10 9 ˙7654
South West North East ∂ 10 6 3 ∂QJ
1ç pass 1ß pass çKJ942 ç 10 6 3
1 NT pass 3∂ pass South
ß 10 6 5
3 NT (all pass)
˙32
∂AK872
I thought my 10-9 of partner’s suit might çA85
prove useful, so I forced to game. They
were useful, though not in the way I’d West North East South
anticipated! My partner, Augie Boehm, won — — pass 1∂
the ß10 lead in his hand and cashed two pass 1˙ pass 1 NT
more rounds, relieved to find the suit pass 3 NT (all pass)
3-3. Now he led a diamond toward the
queen. Grue won the king and tried the The opponents had a normal auction to
çQ, çA, and ç8. Augie worked out to reach 3NT and my partner made a normal
duck the 8 and we scored 600 for a shared club lead, but on this hand the ß7 would
top. There are 3-to-1 restricted-choice odds have worked better. The ßQ lead would
in favor of ducking. With the çA-K-Q-8, have been outstanding! Declarer ducked a
East had six ways he could have played his diamond to my jack, and it didn’t matter
first two cards, but with A-Q-8 he had only whether I cashed the ßA, because declarer
two ways. Another way of looking at it is had only 11 tricks. Our score: 3
that there are three different ways he could matchpoints.
have been dealt two honors with the 8, but
only one way he could have been dealt Quiz: How do you defend?
three honors with the 8.
Your score: 3 matchpoints. It doesn’t
Could East have been dealt A-K-Q-8-7? matter this time what you do. I cashed the
That complicates matters, but if Joe held ßA in case declarer held the çA-K. That
the çK, I think Augie was ready to con- would have been wrong if declarer held the
gratulate him for finding a tough defense. çK-J instead of the çA, but in that case
Our score: 6.5 matchpoints. partner might not know to return a spade.
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 15

Deal 5 North Deal 6 North (Adam)

East dealer ß8754 North dealer ß Q 10 4 2
N-S vul ˙K7 E-W vul ˙Q95
∂ 10 ∂AK93
çQJ9543 ç42
West East (Adam) West East
ßA ß Q J 10 9 2 ßJ86 ß753
˙ 10 8 5 3 2 ˙A964 ˙87643 ˙AKJ
∂A965 ∂K32 ∂ J 10 8 5 ∂76
ç762 ç8 ç3 ç Q J 10 7 5
South South
ßK63 ßAK9
˙QJ ˙ 10 2
∂QJ874 ∂Q42
ç A K 10 çAK986

West North East South North East South West

— — pass 1 NT pass pass 1 NT pass
pass 2ç 2ß 2 NT 2ç double pass pass
pass 3 NT (all pass) 3ç pass 3 NT (all pass)

I took my life into my hands to bid 2ß
and my partner led a diamond! Declarer
made the mistake of following with the 4
under my king, so I knew he held five of
those. Accordingly, I switched to the ßQ.
Declarer covered this and now we took the
first eight tricks for +400. I’d have been
happier to go +200 on the lead of the ßA
and a low diamond switch. It’s also possible
that partner would switch to hearts if he
first led the ßA and we’d be +100. Our
score: 7 matchpoints.
Partner took 10 tricks on a club lead, but
where was the redouble? That would net us
+960 with best defense (two overtricks), or
likely 760 in practice. Our score: 4
matchpoints.
Quiz: As South, what is your call over
2ç-double?
Your score:
redouble = 6 matchpoints
anything else = 4 matchpoints

Quiz: What is your opening lead?

Your score:
∂ or ç = a lucky 7 in this case
˙ = 6 (assume a heart continuation)
ß = 6 (assume a diamond switch)
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 16

Problems 7-12 North

7. You hold, vul vs. not: ß85
˙AK52
∂—
ßKJ854
ç—
˙A
West (you)
∂J42
çQ984 ßK7 N
˙9763 W E
∂— S
Partner deals and opens 1NT. RHO ç—
overcalls 2ß. Do you double or bid 3NT?
Do you play the 7 or the king?

Deal 9 North
Deal 8 North
South dealer ßA95
South dealer ß854
None vul ˙AQ4
All vul ˙AK52 ∂754
∂AK7 ç9854
ç974 East (you)
West (you) ßQ84
N
ßKJ7 W E ˙ 10 9 2
˙9763 N S
W E ∂KJ6
∂ 10 6 4 2 S ç J 10 3 2
çK6
South West North East
South West North East
1 NT pass 3 NT (all pass)
1ç pass 1˙ pass
1 NT pass 3 NT (all pass)
Partner leads the ˙8, the queen winning
in dummy. At trick two declarer calls for
You lead the ∂2, to the king, 3, 9. The the ∂4. What is your plan? What do you
ç4 is led to the 2, jack, king. You continue play on this trick?
dimaonds: ∂4, ace, 5, jack. The ç9 is led.
Partner covers with the queen, won by the
ace. Declarer leads the ß3. You put in the 10. You hold, at favorable:
jack and partner overtakes with the queen.
Then he leads the ∂8, won by South’s ß 10 6 5
queen. Declarer cashes the ç10 and you ˙ J 10
discard the thirteenth diamond. Partner ∂AQ743
ç642
follows with the 8. Now declarer plays the
ßA: Your RHO deals and opens 1˙. You
pass and LHO bids 1ß. Partner jumps to
3ç. RHO passes. What is your call?
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 17

11. You hold at favorable: Solutions 7-12

Deal 7 North
ß 10 5 3 East dealer ß2
˙3
E-W vul ˙J8764
∂AQ874
ç A 10 7 6 ∂ 10 9 5 3
ç 10 6 3
West (Adam) East
you LHO partner RHO ßKJ854 ß93
— — — pass ˙A ˙Q952
pass 1∂ 1˙ 1ß ∂J42 ∂KQ87
pass pass double pass çQ984 çAKJ
South
2ç pass pass 2ß
ß A Q 10 7 6
? ˙ K 10 3
∂A6
What is your call? ç752

West North East South

— — 1 NT 2ß
12. North deals North double (all pass)
All vul ßAJ
˙AJ742 This was revenge of a sort. In the quali-
∂J fying game South had taken a save as my
ç K 10 9 5 3 partner that went for more than the value
of their game, perhaps unluckily, getting us
South (you)
ß K Q 10 9 7 5 3
a zero. Here he went for 800, but it turned
˙K6 out to be just over average for us. Our score:
∂7 4.5 matchpoints.
çAJ4
Quiz: What is your call over 2ß?
West North East South
— 1˙ 3∂ 3ß
Your score:
pass 4ß pass 4 NT
double = 4.5
pass 5˙ pass 6ß
3NT = 1
(all pass)

A diamond is led to the queen. A trump

is returned. How do you play it? (Trumps
are 2-2.)
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 18

Deal 8 North Quiz: Which spade do you play under

South dealer ß864 declarer’s ace at trick eight?
All vul ˙AK52
∂AK7 Your score:
ç974 ßK = 7
West East (Adam)
ßKJ7 ß Q 10 2
ß7 = 3.5
˙9763 ˙J84
∂ 10 6 4 2 ∂853 Deal 9 North
çK6 çQ852 South dealer ßA95
South None vul ˙AQ4
ßA953
∂754
˙ Q 10
ç9854
∂QJ9
West East (Adam)
ç A J 10 3
ß J 10 7 6 ßQ84
˙8753 ˙ 10 9 2
South West North East ∂92 ∂KJ6
1ç pass 1˙ pass çAQ6 ç J 10 3 2
1 NT pass 3 NT (all pass) South
ßK32
˙KJ6
My partner led a diamond. Declarer took ∂ A Q 10 8 3
an inconsistent play in the club suit, playing çK7
low to the jack and then, after a diamond
return, leading the 9, which I covered. I South West North East
had played the 2 on the first round of 1 NT pass 3 NT (all pass)
clubs. Giving count with the 5 not only
would have served no purpose, it could also My partner led the ˙8 and declarer won
give up a trick in the suit. the queen and led a diamond. I tried the
effect of the ∂K. After winning, declarer
Declarer had no entries for the percent- cashed the ∂Q and gave me a trick with
age play in hearts now, but we still had to the jack. I switched to the ç2 and the
defend carefully to hold him to nine tricks. contract was down one instead of making
After winning the çA he ducked a spade an overtrick.
and I overtook my partner’s jack with the
queen to return a diamond. Declarer cashed This shows the effect of luck in the
a club, partner pitching a diamond, and game. At his table Michael Polowan made
then tried the ßA. My partner, John the same ∂K play on the same auction, but
Gassenheimer, was careful to unblock the declarer entered dummy with a heart to
ßK, letting me score my ç8 to hold declarer take another diamond finesse. Our score: 7
to nine tricks and a top for us. matchpoints

I probably should not have overtaken Quiz: Which diamond do you play?
the ßJ. The unblock is easier to find if I
still have the ßQ, since declarer would Your score:
likely have taken the spade hook had he ∂K = 7
held that card. Our score: 7 matchpoints any other ∂ = 5* (see next page)
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 19

Deal 10 North (Compton) Deal 11 North

North dealer ßQ974 South dealer ßK4
N-S vul ˙AK85 N-S vul ˙Q42
∂ 10 5 2 ∂ K J 10 9 5
çK5 çQJ2
West East (Adam) West (Adam) East (Chris)
ßK ß 10 6 5 ß 10 5 3 ßAQ7
˙973 ˙ J 10 ˙3 ˙AJ985
∂98 ∂AQ743 ∂AQ874 ∂62
ç A Q J 10 9 8 7 ç642 ç A 10 7 6 ç954
South South
ßAJ832 ßJ9862
˙Q642 ˙ K 10 7 6
∂KJ6 ∂3
ç3 çK83

West North East South South West North East

— 1˙ pass 1ß pass pass 1∂ 1˙
3ç pass pass 4˙ 1ß pass pass double
pass 4ß (all pass) pass 2ç pass pass
2ß double (all pass)
I like Chris Compton’s 1˙ opening here.
I would have done well to save, or to sug- Chris finished second in the event. This
gest a save with 3∂ or 4ç. I didn’t want to deal didn’t hurt either of our chances. After
direct a club lead with 4ç, so I decided to underbidding twice I got out the axe even
leave well enough alone. Our score: 3 though I held no trump trick. Partner had
matchpoints me covered. Chris won my heart lead and
returned the ˙9. I ruffed and switched to
Quiz: As East, what is your call after ∂A and a diamond. Declarer won the jack,
North’s second-round pass? pitching a heart, but his ∂K was ruffed low
and after a trump to the king and ace, I
Your score: scored a second ruff for +500.
pass = 3
anything else = 6 Chris did well to balance over 1ß. At
some tables it was passed out there. Our
score: 7 matchpoints.

Quiz: What is your call over 2ß?

Your score:
*Footnote from previous page:
double = 7
Yes, you get lucky with 5 matchpoints for
-430. Four declarers made 460! This happened after pass = 5.5
a spade lead. Declarer won in dummy to finesse 3ç = 1
diamonds, returned to dummy for another finesse,
and on the run of diamonds and hearts, East dis-
carded a spade to hold three clubs (a mistake). Then
West was squeezed/endplayed.
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 20

Deal 12 North (Adam) Problems 13-18

North dealer ßAJ 13. You hold, all vul:
All vul ˙AJ742
∂J ßAK8
ç K 10 9 5 3 ˙AKQ93
West East ∂A
ß86 ß42 çJ765
˙953 ˙ Q 10 8
∂9865 ∂ A K Q 10 4 3 2 LHO opens 1ç. Partner bids 2ç, show-
çQ876 ç2
ing the majors. How many hearts do you
South (Sternlicht)
ß K Q 10 9 7 5 3 bid? A bid of 4NT gets you 5ç.
˙K6
∂7
çAJ4

After a diamond lead and a trump shift

14. You hold, none vul:
my partner, Elliot Sternlicht, did not want
to risk a heart ruff. So he drew trump and ßKQ94
tried to ruff out the ˙Q. If West had held ˙ K J 10 9
Q-x-x-x or longer, partner would have had ∂32
ç 10 5 3
a show-up squeeze, making unless East held
çQ-x-x. I like his line, and, even better, it
As dealer, you pass. LHO opens 1ç and
worked. Our score: 4.5 matchpoints.
RHO bids 1∂. Do you act?
Quiz: How do you play it?

Your score:
1. Draw trump, ruff out hearts, then
15. You hold, first seat, vul vs. not:
show-up squeeze if necessary, as at the table.
Score = 4.5 ß K 10 9 8 4 3
2. Try to ruff out hearts before drawing ˙K32
trump. This would fail against 5-1 hearts. ∂K9
Score = 4.5 ç86
3. Take a heart hook through West.
Do you pass or open 2ß?
Score = 0
4. Take a club hook through West. Score
= 4.5
5. Cash the top clubs, then take a heart
hook. Score = 0
6. Cash the top clubs, then play for a NOTE: You may have
squeeze. Score = 0 noticed that South is
declarer on every hand.
The hands were rotated
for ease of reading.
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 21

16. You hold, as West: Solutions 13-18

Deal 13 North
ßA752 West dealer ßQJ963
˙J632 All vul ˙ J 10 7 6 2
∂Q62 ∂ 10 7 6
ç 10 5 ç—
West East
ß 10 5 ß742
West North East South ˙8 ˙54
— — pass 1˙ ∂J942 ∂KQ853
pass 2ç pass 2˙ ç A K Q 10 3 2 ç984
pass 4˙ (all pass) South (Adam)
ßAK8
˙AKQ93
What is your opening lead? ∂A
çJ765

West North East South

17. You are East on defense: 1ç 2ç pass 6˙
(all pass)
North
ßQ96 Our score: 6 matchpoints.
˙ 10 6
∂KQ643
ç542 Quiz: How many hearts do you bid? If
East (you) you try 4NT, partner bids 5ç.
ß3
N
W E ˙AJ82 Your score:
S ∂J52
çAK763
7˙ = 7
6˙ = 6
South West North East anything less = 2
1ß pass 2ß double
4ß (all pass)
Bridge Pro Tour News
Partner leads the çQ. Which card do April 25, Hilton Miami Airport —
you signal with? Charles Miner, of Orlando, Florida,
an ACBL District 9 Board Member,
dominated the $12,000 Miami Open
18. You are third seat, favorable: final with a huge 67% game. Playing
in his first Bridge Prize Money Tour,
ß863 Inc. event, Miner won $4,000 for his
˙ 10 6 4 2
∂K9854
first place finish with a 112.7
ç8 matchpoint total.
May 5, San Diego — Charles
It goes pass, pass, to you. What is your Jurgens, Encino, California, has won
call? the $12,000 San Diego Open.
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 22

Deal 14 North Deal 15 North

West dealer ßA75 East dealer ßJ5
None vul ˙7 E-W vul ˙86
∂AJ6 ∂AQ763
çKQ9864 çAQ95
West (Adam) East West East (Adam)
ßKQ94 ß832 ßQ7 ß K 10 9 8 4 3
˙ K J 10 9 ˙6542 ˙ Q 10 9 4 ˙K32
∂32 ∂975 ∂J852 ∂K9
ç 10 5 3 çAJ7 ç742 ç86
South South
ß J 10 6 ßA62
˙AQ83 ˙AJ75
∂ K Q 10 8 4 ∂ 10 4
ç2 ç K J 10 3

West North East South West North East South

pass 1ç pass 1∂ — — pass 1ç
double 2ç pass 3 NT pass 1∂ 1ß 1 NT
(all pass) pass 3 NT (all pass)

I led the ßK and we held it to 3. De-
clarer took two spades, one heart, five dia-
monds and one club. Our score: 3.5
matchpoints.
Quiz: What is your call over 1∂?
Partner led the ßQ and continued
spades. Declarer won the third spade, part-
ner pitching the ˙10. Now declarer played
a club to dummy and ran the ˙8. Partner
returned the ∂2 and declarer hooked for
down three, -150.

Your score: It doesn’t matter on this Our score: 7 matchpoints.

hand, nor does it matter what you lead
against 3NT. Take 3.5 matchpoints. Quiz: As East, what is your call?

Your score: It’s difficult to say if it would

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The Bridge Pro Tour continues this
month in Cleveland, Ohio, at the
Independence Regional, May 22-25.
A month later the third annual
$12,000 Las Vegas Open takes place in
Nevada, June 25-28.
matter, because after a weak two-bid it’s
possible that the opponents will not reach
3NT. Would South make an off-shape
double? If not, would South bid 3NT after a
balancing 3∂ bid by North? For the purpose
of this quiz, I’ll be lenient and assume they
would reach 3NT and declarer would take
the same line of play to give you a score of
+150. Take 7 matchpoints.
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 23

Deal 16 North Your score:

East dealer ßQ86 ∂ = 5.5
None vul ˙ A 10 7 ß=4
∂7 anything else = 1.5
çAQJ852
West (Adam) East (Margie)
Deal 17 North
ßA752 ßKJ94
˙J632 ˙— South dealer ßQ96
∂Q62 ∂ K 10 5 4 3 All vul ˙ 10 6
ç 10 5 çK973 ∂KQ643
South (Sylwia) ç542
ß 10 3 West (Adam) East
˙KQ9854 ßJ8 ß3
∂AJ98 ˙7543 ˙AJ82
ç4 ∂ 10 9 8 ∂J52
ç Q J 10 9 çAK763
West North East South South
ß A K 10 7 5 4 2
— — pass 1˙
˙KQ9
pass 2ç pass 2˙ ∂A7
pass 4˙ (all pass) ç8

I played with Margie Gwozdzinsky while South West North East

Sylwia Uniwersal declared. We knew that
with three Poles at the table we were asking
for trouble! I led the ∂2 and Sylwia took
what seemed like a normal line. She ruffed
a diamond in dummy, cashed the çA and
ruffed a club (I played low, then the 10)
and ruffed another diamond. Her ∂J was
now good — she’d have been more likely to
make the hand if it weren’t! Now Sylwia
cashed the ˙A and the hand could no
longer be made. When I got in with the ˙J
we cashed two spade tricks and I scored a
diamond ruff.
Declarer seemed apologetic but at the
time I didn’t see a better line. In retrospect
trying to set up the clubs seems promising.
Play a club to the ace at trick two and run
the çQ, pitching a spade if it’s not covered.
If the defense leads trump, declarer will
likely have enough entries to set up the
clubs. Our score: 5.5 matchpoints
Quiz: As West, what do you lead?
1ß pass 2ß double
4ß (all pass)
Partner played the ç7 under my çQ
lead, so I continued the suit and declarer
had the rest of the tricks. Partner apolo-
gized saying he ought to have discouraged,
but I don’t think I’d have found the heart
switch. He could make certain of things by
overtaking the club and cashing the ˙A
himself. Our score: 2.5 matchpoints.
Quiz: You hold the East hand. Partner
leads the çQ. Which card do you signal
with?
Your score: This was a trick question. To
score all your tricks you must overtake and
cash the ˙A. Partner won’t know to switch
to hearts even if you discourage.
overtake and cash ˙A = 6
anything else = 2.5
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 24

Deal 18 North Problems 19-24

West dealer ß 10 9 5 4 19. You hold vul vs. not:
N-S vul ˙7
∂A632 ßA872
çA732 ˙ K 10 9 4
West East (Adam) ∂J
ßAJ72 ß863 çAJ54
˙KJ3 ˙ 10 6 4 2
∂ J 10 7 ∂K9854 You open 1ç in first chair and LHO bids
ç 10 5 4 ç8 2ß. Partner cuebids 3ß and RHO passes.
South
ßKQ
What is your call?
˙AQ985
∂Q
çKQJ96 20. You are West:

West North East South ßK84

pass pass pass 1˙ ˙7642
pass 1ß pass 2ç ∂Q85
(all pass) ç983

In third seat, favorable, I resisted the South West North East

temptation to open 2∂. I couldn’t have 2 NT pass 5 NT pass
been more pleased to have the chance to 6 NT (all pass)
pass out 2ç. North and South had each
underbid slightly and we went What is your opening lead?
-170.

The board didn’t score as well as I’d 21. You are West on defense:
expected. One pair duplicated our result,
one went -130, and two our way managed North
+100 against 3NT with the ∂J lead. Our ß986
score: 3.5 matchpoints ˙AJ97
∂KQJ3
çK9
Quiz: What’s your call in third seat? West (you)
ß A K 10 2
Your score: ˙8 N
W E
pass = 3.5 ∂ 10 9 8 6 4 S
çJ72
anything else = 2.5
South West North East
2˙ pass 4˙ (all pass)

You lead the ßA (ace from ace-king) and

partner plays the 4, declarer the 5. What do
you lead to trick two?
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 25

22. You are third seat, all vul:

Are You Thinking Logically?
ß532
˙K3
∂KQ87
ç K 10 9 6

Pass, pass, to you. What is your call?

by Marshall Miles
23. You hold as West:

ß5
Imps North
˙ 10 8 6 5 4
∂ K 10 7 5 N-S vul ß A K 10 5
ç K 10 6 ˙652
∂7654
ç Q 10
West North East South
East (you)
— 1ß pass 2ç ßJ9862
N
pass 2∂ pass 3 NT ˙J W E ˙A984
S ∂K982
(all pass)
ç—
What is your opening lead?
South West North East
1NT* 3ç 3 NT (all pass)

*15-17

24. You hold as West:

Partner leads the ˙J, which you duck
ßK42 around to the queen. South leads a low
˙J832 club to the 10, on which you discard a
∂ K Q 10 6 spade. Next he leads the çQ from dummy.
ç64
What do you play now, and what is your
plan?
West North East South
— 1∂ pass 1ß
[Solution on page 29]
pass 2ß pass 4ß
(all pass)

What is your opening lead?

Bridge Today • May 2003 page 26

Solutions 19-24 made the hand even if I played the ˙K; I

Deal 19 North run the ∂J, which LHO must duck, and
South dealer ß653 then I throw him in with a spade. Our
N-S vul ˙AQ8 score: 5.5 matchpoints.
∂AK9
çQ963
Quiz: What’s your call over 3ß?
West East (Debbie)
ßKQJ94 ß 10
˙32 ˙J765 Your score:
∂Q7542 ∂ 10 8 6 3 3NT = 5.5
ç8 ç K 10 7 2 anything else = 0.5
South (Adam)
ßA872
˙ K 10 9 4
∂J
çAJ54 Deal 20 North
South dealer ßA72
South West North East E-W vul ˙AKJ8
1ç 2ß 3ß pass ∂5
3 NT (all pass) ç K J 10 7 4
West (Adam) East
ßK84 ß9653
This was a pretty hand. I may not have ˙7642 ˙953
given it best play. I didn’t like my spades for ∂Q86 ∂ 10 9 7 2
notrump play but was reluctant to bid ç983 ç52
beyond 3NT. South (Debbie)
ß Q J 10
˙ Q 10
I could see that East (Debbie Rosenberg) ∂AKJ43
might have some discarding trouble, so I çAQ6
ducked two spades and won the third.
Debbie pitched the ∂3 and ∂6. I played a South West North East
heart to the 3, queen and 5. Noticing that 2 NT pass 5 NT pass
the ˙2 was missing but with nothing to do 6 NT (all pass)
about it for the present, I played a club to
the jack and then the çA. With 3-2 clubs Debbie made an overtrick in 6NT, but
I’d be playing for an overtrick by bringing most of the field bid and made a grand
in the hearts or finding a squeeze. Alas, slam. Our score: 5 matchpoints
LHO pitched the ∂2 on the çA. Next I
played a heart to the ace, LHO completing Quiz: What is your opening lead?
an echo.
Your score:
My best play now is probably to cash the low ß = 7*
top diamonds and play a heart to the king. anything else = 5
On the actual lie I can throw Debbie in
with the fourth heart to lead a club into the
*Declarer will go up ace, cash five clubs, four hearts
queen. Instead I led a heart and guessed to and then lead a diamond toward the A-K-J. You still
finesse when Debbie followed low. I’d have hold the ∂Q-8-5 behind her.
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 27

Deal 21 North Deal 22 North

South dealer ß986 West dealer ßK84
None vul ˙AJ97 All vul ˙6
∂KQJ3 ∂J96542
çK9 çJ53
West (Adam) East (Debbie) West East (Adam)
ß A K 10 2 ßQ43 ß76 ß532
˙8 ˙ K 10 3 ˙Q972 ˙K3
∂ 10 9 8 6 4 ∂A752 ∂A3 ∂KQ87
çJ72 ç 10 6 4 çQ8742 ç K 10 9 6
South South
ßJ75 ß A Q J 10 9
˙Q6542 ˙ A J 10 8 5 4
∂— ∂ 10
çAQ853 çA

South West North East West North East South

2˙ pass 4˙ (all pass) pass pass pass 1˙
pass 1 NT pass 2ß
This was my worst matchpoint result by (all pass)
far, and I don’t think I did anything wrong.
I led the ßA and Debbie played the 4. I Again I failed to open in third seat. This
knew this could have been from J-7-4. That time perhaps I should have. All seemed
was all right, I thought — the spades could well, though — my opponents missed a
wait. I switched to the ç2, knowing that game. Partner led a trump and we went -
Debbie had to hold a minor-suit ace and 200. I’d have passed 2ß with the North
that she’d switch back to spades when she hand but bid 3ß with the South hand.
got in. Alas, she never got in. Declarer won Our matchpoint score turned out to be well
the çK, ruffed out Debbie’s ∂A, played a below average. Three pairs went -170 with
trump to the ace, and pitched both his our cards, perhaps against 1˙. Our score:
remaining spades on the top diamonds. Our 2.5 matchpoints
score: 0.5 matchpoints.
Quiz: What’s you call in third seat?
Quiz: What do you lead to trick two?
Your score:
Your score: pass = 2.5
ß=5 anything else = 1
other = 0.5
If you open the bidding, West will make
a Michaels’ cuebid and force to game.
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 28

Deal 23 North Deal 24 North

North dealer ß K 10 9 4 2 North dealer ßAJ9
None vul ˙K92 E-W vul ˙Q5
∂A632 ∂AJ9742
ç9 çJ9
West (Adam) East West (Adam) East
ß5 ßJ8763 ßK42 ß 10 8 5
˙ 10 8 6 5 4 ˙7 ˙J832 ˙K964
∂ K 10 7 5 ∂QJ ∂ K Q 10 6 ∂8
ç K 10 6 çAJ752 ç64 ç A 10 8 3 2
South South
ßAQ ßQ763
˙AQJ3 ˙ A 10 7
∂984 ∂53
çQ843 çKQ75

West North East South West North East South

— 1ß pass 2ç — 1∂ pass 1ß
pass 2∂ pass 3 NT pass 2ß pass 4ß
(all pass) (all pass)

I led a normal heart. Declarer was able to
unblock spades, go to dummy in hearts and
drive out the ßJ for nine tricks. We could
not take more than three clubs. A minor-
suit lead would have beaten it. After two
rounds of clubs, for example, I can shift to
diamonds. Our score: 2.5 matchpoints
Quiz: You hold the West hand. What do
you lead?
Your score:
major = 2.5
minor = 6.5
I led a club and partner won the 9 with
ace and returned the suit. Declarer can
make the contract if he wins in hand and
leads a diamond up, ducking when I split.
That would be a tough play even if he
could see through the backs of the cards. In
real life, he won in dummy and in due
course went down one. Our score: 4
matchpoints
Quiz: Which suit do you lead?
Your score: It doesn’t matter which suit
you led — take 4 matchpoints.

* * *
Unusual Statistic I hope you enjoyed this play-by-play.
How did you do? — A.W.
Usually it pays to “hold the cards”
to determine your own fate. But in
this final session, the winner de-
fended 18 hands, was dummy on
four hands and declared only two
hands!
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 29

Solution to: Are You Thinking Logically?

(from page 25)

by Marshall Miles

Imps North You should discard a heart and hold

N-S vul ß A K 10 5 on to your diamonds as long as you can. If
˙652 you discard a diamond on the çQ, declarer
∂7654 will lead a low heart to his king for the
ç Q 10
West East (you)
ninth trick, and you won’t have enough
ß3 ßJ9862 diamonds left to set him. If he leads a spade
˙ J 10 ˙A984 to the queen and plays a high club, you
∂ A 10 3 ∂K982 must again avoid a diamond discard; de-
çJ987643 ç— clarer would lead a spade to dummy and
South
ßQ74
another heart toward his hand. Only when
˙KQ73 declarer cashes his last high club can you
∂QJ afford to discard a diamond (since now, if
çAK52 declarer establishes a heart trick, partner
will have enough clubs to set the contract).
South West North East
1NT* 3ç 3 NT (all pass) How do you know that you should
save your diamonds? Where else will your
*15-17 tricks come from? And when you discard
one spade and no more spades, declarer will
Partner leads the ˙J, which you duck realize that you started with five spades.
around to the queen. South leads a low
club to the 10, on which you discard a Even if declarer’s hand was
spade. Next he leads the çQ from dummy. ß Q x x ˙ K Q x x ∂ A J ç K J x x,
What do you play now, and what is your you still need to save your diamonds. In
plan? that case partner would win the çA at the
third trick and return a diamond, which
would be futile if you had discarded one of
your diamonds.
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 30

The Traveling Score

by Pete Kichline

Board 1 North trumps through East. South, a good spot-

North dealer ß97532 watcher, ducks East’s ßJ, knowing that
None vul ˙5 West must overtake whenever trumps are
∂AQJ5 2-1 either way. This technique allows
ç654 declarer to win West’s passive diamond
West East
return, extract the last trump and play the
ßQ ßKJ
˙ Q J 10 4 3 ˙K9876 diamond suit without worry.
∂8764 ∂93
çA87 ç Q J 10 9
South Board 1
ß A 10 8 6 4 N-S Contract Result N-S Score N-S MPs
˙A2 1 4S (S) = +420 11
∂ K 10 2
2 4S (S) -1 -50 4
çK32
3 4S (S) -1 -50 4
4 5HX (E) -2 +300 9
West North East South
5 4S (S) -1 -50 4
— pass pass 1ß
6 4S (S) -1 -50 4
pass 4ß (all pass) 7 5S (S) -2 -100 0
8 5H (E) -2 +100 8
Opening lead: ˙Q 9 4S (S) = +420 11
10 4S (S) -1 -50 4
Pre-Analysis 11 4S (S) -1 -50 4
An aggressive East may open the bidding, 12 4S (S) -1 -50 4
which could result in a 5˙ sacrifice (-300). 13 4S (S) = +420 11

Would it be a phantom sacrifice? An aver-

age declarer in four spades will win the
heart lead, plop down the trump ace from
his hand, then attack diamonds, leaving the
master trump outstanding.
Unlucky, as the dangerous opponent,
East, has a doubleton diamond and the
missing trump. Ruffing at first opportunity
to return a club defeats four spades.
A careful declarer, however, will get to
dummy via a heart ruff at trick #2 to lead
Post-Analysis
No doubt our expert readers have no-
ticed that East can be a hero by popping up
with his ßK on the recommended line of
declarer play. Had I been East, I wouldn’t
have found that play for two reasons: (1)
West could have been dealt a singleton ßA,
not the queen; (2) Declarer may hold a sixth
spade with the ace-queen and choose not to
finesse. Playing matchpoints, should he
finesse with A-Q-x-x-x-x?
Bridge Today • May 2003
Building a Better Mousetrap
by Matthew Granovetter
Two-Over-One Game Force Exceptions
The popularity of two-over-one game
forcing is due to the ease of bidding after
two-over-one: You never have to worry
about what’s forcing and what’s not.
Ah, if life were always so simple! The
problems with two-over-one begin when
responder doesn’t hold a game-force and
must bid a forcing notrump or some other
inventive call with a hand in which he
used to make a natural two-over-one. For
example, have you ever wrong-sided 3NT
because you were forced to bid 1NT with-
out stoppers?
You might easily play 3NT from the
wrong side of the table when responder is
forced to respond 1NT with all 9-11 point
hands.
Opener Responder
ßAKxxx ßQx
˙Kx ˙xx
∂Axx ∂ K Q 10 x x
çxxx çAxxx
1ß 1 NT (forcing)
2ç 2 NT
3 NT pass
The opening lead is the ˙Q and you lose
the first five tricks. Obviously, this hand
belongs in three notrump from opener’s
side. For this reason and others, I present
here a partnership check list for auctions
page 31
you might want to make not forcing after
your two-over-one.
2-over-1 Check List Exceptions
A two-over-one is a game force, with the
following exceptions (check the ones you
want to play with your partner):
1ß-2˙-2ß can be passed.
Responder’s rebid of his own suit at the three
level is not forcing.
Example: 1ß-2ç; 2x-3ç nf
Responder’s rebid of opener’s first suit at the two
level is not forcing, showing typically a doubleton
honor.
Example: 1ß-2ç; 2∂-2ß nf
1X-2Y-2X-3X is not forcing.
Example: 1ß-2ç-2ß-3ß nf
1X-2Y-2X-2NT-3any is not forcing.
Example: 1ß-2ç; 2ß-2NT; 3˙ (shows 6-4 majors,
minimum opening, nf)
To show a forcing 6-4 shape, rebid the four-card
suit first, and then rebid the six-card suit.
Example: 1ß-2ç; 2˙-2NT; 3ß (shows 6-4 majors
and a good hand)
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 32

Cruise Control Hand of the Month

The following hand was played in a

Grand National Team event by Kit
Woolsey, and reported by Chip Martel.

You reach 6NT with no bidding by the

opponents.
by Daniel Helman
North
It was a Saturday night imp pairs game ßKQ6
in Portland. I was North, partnered by Tom ˙A
Weeg. West was Jack Marsh, playing with ∂ Q J 10 6 5 4
his 10-year-old grandson, Nick Flores. ç765
∂9
South (you)
West dealer North ßA54
None vul ß A K 10 9 ˙KQ6543
˙8762 ∂K
∂AKJ2 çAKJ
ç5
The ∂9 is led to the 4, ace, king. East
South
ß72
returns the ç2 to your ace and West’s 3. A
˙AQJ53 heart is led to the ace, all following, and the
∂ 10 6 3 ∂Q is cashed, on which RHO throws the
çQ84 ß2.

West North East South Two questions:

pass 1∂ pass 1˙ (1) How good are your chances?
pass 3˙ pass 4˙ (2) How do you play from this point?
(all pass)

Opening lead: ∂9
“Sometimes you’re cruising along without
a care in the world...
Trick one: ∂9, ace, 5, 3
Trick two: ˙2, 4, queen, king
Trick three: ∂8, king
...when a tree jumps into the middle of the
road and you discover that you neglected to
buckle your seatbelt! West held:
ß J 8 ˙ K 10 ∂ Q 9 8 7 4 ç A 10 3 2.
Solution
Your chances are good if you play this
right. In fact, you have a one-hundred-
percent chance.
You have 11 sure tricks and West is
guarding the diamonds. If hearts are 3-3,
this hand wouldn’t be here. If East has four
or more hearts, you have a double squeeze.
Let’s look at this (turn to the next page,
please):
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 33

Solution to Hand of the Month

You reached 6NT with no bidding by club to keep the ˙J and so your çK-J take
the opponents. the last two tricks.

North Now suppose West holds four or more

ßKQ6 hearts along with his five diamonds. How
˙A
∂ Q J 10 6 5 4
do you make the contract? Well, look at the
ç765 ending again, this time with West holding
West East the ˙J:
ß ??? ß ???? ß—
˙ xx ˙Jxxx ˙
∂98732 ∂A ∂ 10 6
ç ??? ç ???? ç7
South (you) ß— ß—
ßA54 ˙J N ˙—
W E
˙KQ6543 ∂98 S ∂—
∂K ç— ç ???
çAKJ ß—
˙6
The ∂9 was led to the 4, ace, king. East ∂—
çKJ
returned the ç2 to your ace and West’s 3.
A heart was led to the ace, all following, and
Notice that West is holding three vital
the ∂Q cashed, on which RHO threw the
cards. He had to throw his last club (if he
ß2.
started with more than one) on the run of
your three spade tricks. He was triple
You come to your hand with the ßA
squeezed. So you can cash the ∂10 and
and cash the ˙K-Q, discarding a diamond
take a 100% finesse in clubs, assuming you
and a club. Then you cash the spades and
haven’t already seen West play the queen!
diamonds, coming down to this ending:

ß—
The full hand was:
˙
∂ 10 6 North
ç7 ßKQ6
ß— ß— ˙A
˙— N ˙J ∂ Q J 10 6 5 4
∂98 W E ∂— ç765
S
ç? ç ?? West East
ß98 ß J 10 7 3 2
ß— ˙J972 ˙ 10 8
˙6 ∂98732 ∂A
∂— ç94 ç Q 10 8 3 2
çKJ South (Kit)
ßA54
Notice that West is down to two dia- ˙KQ6543
∂K
monds and, therefore, has been squeezed to
çAKJ
one club. On the ∂10 East must throw a
Bridge Today • May 2003
Between Sessions
Electronic Magazines
by the Granovetters
Sixteen years ago, when we first decided
to go into the publishing business, and we
were going to buy our first computer,
Matthew’s cousin suggested we purchase an
Apple Macintosh, a crazy new computer
with a desktop laser printer and
a thing called a mouse. We took
his advice and published our
first book, Tops & Bottoms.
Then we started Bridge Today
Magazine and suddenly found ourselves in
the forefront of the new-age technology.
We didn’t know anything about this tech-
nology, but it was easy and fun to use!
A few years later when we were in our
third year of Bridge Today Magazine, our
friend (who passed away a year ago), Phil
deBourbon, phoned us and insisted we buy
a “fax machine.” Well, this seemed a bit
luxurious, but we took his advice and with
that entered the so-called modern age of
communications. Wow, our writers could
fax their columns to us instead of using the
mail!
Two years later, Matthew was speaking to
BT subscriber Marty Seligman about this,
and he said it was time we entered the
world of the Internet, a newfangled world
of electrons, wherein we could send and
receive articles and letters cheaply via a
modem. We took his advice and tried it. It
was great! We bought a modem and after a
year or so, very few writers were sending
their columns by fax. We were completely
immersed in the e-mail mode of thinking
and working. Then Lapt Chan, a software
page 34
writer, contacted us from New York and
suggested we set up a bridge website. With
Lapt’s help and the help of others the site
became Bridgetoday.com.
A few years ago, our rep at the printing
press we used in upstate New York sug-
gested we try emailing the entire magazine
to him instead of the old-fashioned way of
printing it on a laser printer and using
express mail. We tried it. It took awhile but
it got there in an hour or so. Wow! We still
waited for proofs sent through the post
office, however. Soon we stopped this pro-
cess as well, when our printer decided to
send us proofs through a thing called the
“pdf” file.
In the meantime, unfortunately, bridge
players were leaving bridge or (worse) pass-
ing away (we recently read that more than
1,000 ACBL members are lost each month!),
paper prices were going up, and U.S. mail-
ing costs were skyrocketing. It had become
more efficient to make Bridge Today but
more costly to produce it. So we ventured
into other areas of publishing, which had
less of an overhead, such as Email Bridge
Courses and a twice-a-week Bridge Today
Digest-Online, which arrives by email or
pdf attachment.
A year ago, we met with Cliff Meltzer, a
former bridge club owner who moved to
Silicon Valley a few years ago with his wife
Rose, to work in the computer industry.
Cliff’s vision is another electronic step
forward: a website that teaches bridge to
Bridge Today • May 2003 page 35

limitless numbers of people on their home

computers. Why a website and not a book? Coming Attractions
Because where are potential new players to
be found but on the Internet? And by using Vanderbilt Memories
a website, we could — if we did it right — by Barnet Shenkin
make the lessons interactive, with quizzes,
scores, moving graphics and questions The author reveals the hands that are
answered by lightening speed email. A book still keeping him up at night!
can’t do that.

We decided to take on the task of popu- Why I Lose at Bridge

larizing the game we all love via this new by Barry Rigal
system of communication. With the help of
software wizard Roger Dunn, formerly of An outline of ways to eliminate those
BridgePassion.com, we began to build a new annoying flaws in your game
Bridgetoday.com, dedicated to providing
non-bridge players with a place to learn the
game and providing seasoned bridge players Lonely Hearts
with a daily dose of top-level bridge. We by Pamela Granovetter
even enlisted Bob Hamman to write a
weekly quiz, based on his own unique ideas. Dear Ms. LH, Why do players suppress
This project is almost completed and will be their heart suit just because partner raised
up and running soon. spades?

Well, finally, we had to take the plunge

with Bridge Today Magazine as well. This The Tell Principle and the Forcing
would help financially, bring the magazine Notrump
to greater numbers of people, offer a more by Steve Bloom
timely magazine, and increase our ability to
produce 12 issues per year instead of six. More exploration into newer and better
This is our first issue, using pdf format, but ways to bid.
in the future we hope to improve and find
ways to make the magazine interactive as
well. We are open to suggestions from The Email Bidding Forum
readers on how to make Bridge Today a
truly wonderful emag, because as you can Readers have their say once again in this
tell by now — we like to listen to good new hi-tech email forum.
advice!

Who is Bridget O’Day?

She resides at the new Bridgetoday.com coming soon to the Internet!