

NEW BOOKS FROM

MASTER POINT PRESS
THE BRIDGE PUBLISHER

The Eight of Clubs was Good?

Comfort Food for the Bridge Player’s Soul
Elizabeth Flynn

As a new bridge player, Elizabeth Flynn began blogging about

her experiences with the game and the people she met. Through
a series of heartwarming and humorous anecdotes, the author
details in this book her struggles as a new player learning a
complex game. We encounter some of the remarkable people she
has met in the world of bridge and the often funny, sometimes
touching, things that have happened at her local bridge center.
The perfect gift for any bridge enthusiast, the book even includes
recipes for some goodies to take along to the next game.

Out of Hand… Out of Mind

A Humorous Look at Bridge
Bill Buttle

Bill Buttle’s ‘Out of Hand’ cartoon panels appear

regularly in a number of bridge magazines, notably
the ACBL’s monthly Bridge Bulletin. This is his first
collection devoted solely to bridge humor. A great
gift for any bridge enthusiast in your life.

Also by Bill Buttle

Out of Hand... And Off the Fairway
The Humorous Side of Bridge and Golf

In this collection Bill Buttle aims his darts not only at bridge
players but golfers. This book of hilarious one-panel cartoons
will make a great gift for any bridge nut or golf addict.

AVAILABLE FROM CHESS & BRIDGE

2 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine


Bridge at the Top

BRIDGE
At a meeting of the World Bridge Federations
High level Players Commission in Denver dur-
ing the ACBL National, Giorgio Duboin was
unanimously elected as a Member of the WBF
Executive Council, representing High level Play-
ers, joining Janice Seamon-Molson, who was
MAGAZINE elected in January 2015.
The meeting also elected Ata Aydin as Chairman Emeritus, Philippe
Cronier as Chairman and Ishmael Del’Monte as Vice Chairman.
The HLPC approved the institution, starting from 1st January
2016 of the HLPC Express Line to enable concerns regarding
possible unethical behaviour to be reported confidentially. To see
44 BAKER STREET
what that entails go to: http://worldbridge.org/Data/Sites/1/media/
LONDON W1U 7RT documents/official-documents/HLPCExpressLine.pdf
Tel: 020-7486 8222
Fax: 020-7486 3355 Any WBF registered member may report suspicious occurrences
email: [email protected] or activities, related to unethical behaviour, which may materially
http://www.bridgeshop.com infringe the Laws, Rules and Regulations of Bridge. You will find
Editor: more on that at: http://worldbridge.org/Data/Sites/1/media/doc-
Mark Horton uments/official-documents/Policies/WBFDisciplinaryCode.pdf
Assistant Editor:
Christina Lund Madsen
Advertising:
Justice for All
Matthew Read
The Israeli Bridge Federation has announced that the oral hearings
Photographer:
Ron Tacchi
involving Lotan Fisher & Ron Schwartz that were scheduled for
Proofreaders:
20 December 2015 and 3 & 5 January this year have been can-
Danny Roth celled but one is due to have taken place by the time you receive
Monika Kummel this issue.
Herman De Wael
Typesetter: Meanwhile, Fisher and Schwartz have filed a motion seeking a
Ron Tacchi reconsideration of their current (temporary) suspension.
BRIDGE Magazine is published
monthly.
Online Subscriptions: European Bridge League
1 year: £19.95
Individual Issue: The 16th European Women’s National Pairs Championships will
£2.00
Distributors be held at the Groupama Arena Budapest, Hungary from 16 to
CHESS & BRIDGE LTD.
44 Baker Street
18 June 2016 as part of the European Teams Championship.
London W1U 7RT U.K.
Views expressed in this publication are not It is anticipated that the Championship will consist of two stages:
necessarily those of the Editor. Editorial
contributions will be published at the a Qualifying Stage, and a Final Stage comprising the Champi-
Editor’s discretion and may be shortened
if space is limited.
onship Final A and Consolation Final B. However, should the
No parts of this publication may be
reproduced without the prior express
number of participants permit, there will be a one stage all-play-
permission of the publishers. All rights
reserved. 2016
all (Endless Howell) competition.
The details of the format are available in the Supplemental Condi-
tions of Contest on the EBL Website at: http://www.eurobridge.
org/conditions-of-contest.aspx

3 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine


The Provisional Schedule is:
Registration 10:00-18:00 Wednesday 15 June
Qualification and Final Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 June
Prize-Giving Ceremony 21:00 Saturday 18 June
All Women bridge players who are registered members of Zone 1 NBOs and in good standing
with their Federation, are entitled to participate.
Except for Final B, all pairs must comprise two players from the same NBO.
The entry fee is €300 per pair and must be paid by Bank Transfer on or before 15th May 2016 to:
Credit Suisse AG
Rue de Lion d’Or 5-7
CH-1002 Lausanne-Switzerland
Account: EUROPEAN BRIDGE LEAGUE
IBAN: CH88 0483 5135 2558 8200 0
SWIFT/BIC: CRESCHZZ80A

New Kid on the Block

Thanks to victories in two of the three biggest matchpoint events on the NABC calendar, Cedric
Lorenzini is the ACBL’s 2015 Player of the Year. The Parisian is the first member from outside
the U.S. to win the title and at 26 years old, he is also the youngest.
Lorenzini, with 690.30 platinum points, outpaced one of our panellists, Eric Greco, who finished
second with 679.97.
Lorenzini’s first win was the Platinum Pairs last spring playing with Thomas Bessis. He followed
that up with a victory in the von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs in Chicago partnering Jean-Christophe
Quantin. He secured the title on the final day of the recent Denver National with a sixth-place
finish in the Reisinger that was worth 80 points.
Lorenzini, who holds a doctorate in polymer chemistry, has chosen to put a career in science on
hold for the time being while he plays bridge professionally. This year he will be playing with Jean
Christophe Quantin as a member of the Street team (Paul Street, Nicolas L’Ecuyer, Thomas Bes-
sis, and Frederic Volker). As a member of the French National team, he will also be competing
for a place in the 2017 Bermuda Bowl.

In This Issue
I 5 Problem Corner — Ron Tacchi & Patrick Jourdain. I 58 Test Your Defence — Julian Pottage
I 6 Senior Service — The Editor reports on the I 60 The Mother of Discpline’s Verdict — David
selection for the English Senior Team to Bird
participate in Budapest I 67 Solution to Non-Prize Problem
I 24 Book Review — Bob Baker reviews Winning GI 68 This Month’s Video Page 
Declarer Play by Dorothy Hayden Truscott
I 69 Solution to Test Your Defence
I 26 England’s Nap Hand — The Editor reports the
first weekend of the Camrose I 71 Partnership Profile — Mark Horton
GI 50 The Rainbow Bridge Club — Alex Adamson & I 79 Marks & Comments — Alan Mould
Harry Smith

4 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Ron Tacchi and Solution to Prize Problem 311
Patrick Jourdain’s Desperate Measures

Problem
♠ Q5 N ♠ K J 10 9 7
♥ Q 10 7 6 ♥ 532
♦ AJ 6 5 W E ♦ —

Corner ♣ J 10 6
West North
S
East
♣ AK 9 7 3
South
sponsored by – 1♦ 1♠ 2♦
Double Pass 3♣ Pass
THE ORION PUBLISHING GROUP
3NT All Pass
Master Bridge Series
After an excess of Brandy Butter on both yours and
your partner’s Christmas Pudding you arrive in an
Non-Prize Problem See Page 67 ambitious contract. North leads the king of hearts
and gets a discouraging card from his partner. He
Dealer North. N/S Vul.
now switches to a small diamond to South’s king.
♠ 10 9 3 2
♥ K 10 9 7 How do you propose to make your contract? What
♦ AK assumptions are you going to make?
♣ J 10 2 You must assume that North holds ace of spades
♠ 765 and the king of hearts, otherwise South will gain
♥ A5 the lead and continue diamonds through your jack
♦ Q8652 as it appears from the play of the diamond suit that
♣ AK4 North also also holds the queen of diamonds. That
equates to 14 points in the North hand. For South
to venture 2♦ you must assume he has the remain-
West North East South
– Pass 2♥(wk) Double ing five points which includes the queen of clubs.
Pass Pass 2♠ Pass
So now you force out the ace of spades and then play
Pass Double Pass 2NT to drop the doubleton queen of clubs in the South
Pass 3NT All Pass hand but not forgetting to unblock the jack and ten
Two Spades doubled might have suffered a heav- on dummy’s ace and king.
ier penalty than the N/S game but the vulnerability If chance is on your side you will bring home your
and uncertainty about how many spades North held improbable contract and perhaps resolve to be more
encouraged South to remove. temperate before future bridge sessions.
West leads ♦J.
South cashes the top diamonds, East discarding a
heart on the second round, and plays a spade. West
cashes the ♠AK and exits with the ♦10, East dis- Look for Patrick Jourdain’s Problem Corner,
carding another heart. How should South continue? available from Chess & Bridge.

Congratulations
Prize Problem 310.
Edwin Lau had the good fortune to find his name Prize Problem 312
on the folded piece of paper expelled from the sort- Dig Deep
ing hat.
♠ 87 N ♠ A 10 9 4
♥ KQJ74 ♥ A 10 3
♦ K65 W E ♦ A8 2
♣ AQ 8 S ♣ K73
Email your answers to [email protected] or send
on a postcard to The Editor, Bridge Magazine, 44 Baker After an uncontested auction you arrive in 6♥ and
Street, London, W1U 7RT. Entries must be received before North leads the jack of diamonds. What is your plan?
29th February. The first correct solution out of the hat will
receive £15 of BRIDGE Magazine book vouchers.

5 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Senior Service
The Editor takes a look at the trials to select England’s Senior team for the European
Championships in Budapest.

S ix teams contested the first stage of the trials to determine England’s Senior team in the
European Championships in Budapest later this year.
They played a complete round robin with the two leading teams going forward to a head-
to-head playoff at the end of January.
Here are some of the key deals:
Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
♠ K2
♥ 10 7 3 2
♦ J8754
♣ 82
♠ Q 10 9 8 5 N ♠A
♥ KJ6 ♥ 94
♦ Q962 W E ♦ A3
♣6 S ♣ A K Q J 10 7 4 3
♠ J7643
♥ AQ85
♦ K 10
♣ 95
Open Room
West North East South
Penfold Capal Selway Harris
– – – Pass
Pass Pass 2♣* Pass
2♦* Pass 3♣ Pass
3♠ Pass 5♣ Pass
6♣ All Pass
2♣ Strong
2♦ Waiting
One BBO commentator described West’s raise to slam as ‘incroyable’.
However, it fulfilled Hamman’s definition of a good slam, as it made.
South led the ace of hearts and continued with the eight, but with no options declarer tried
the jack and when it held he pitched his losing diamond on the king of hearts for +920.

6 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Suppose South had led an unlikely spade?
Declarer wins in hand and cashes six rounds of clubs to reach this position:
♠K
♥ 10 3
♦ J87
♣—
♠Q N ♠—
♥ KJ6 ♥ 94
♦ Q9 W E ♦ A3
♣— S ♣ 43
♠J
♥ AQ8
♦ K 10
♣—
When declarer plays a heart South has to duck and after winning in dummy, declarer ruffs a spade
and plays his last trump. (As the cards lie declarer does not need to guess to play the jack of hearts
rather than the king.)
Closed Room
West North East South
Burn Collins Callaghan Kendrick
– – – Pass
Pass Pass 1♣ 1♠
Pass Pass 3NT All Pass
South led the ace of hearts and switched to the four of spades and declarer won and allegedly claimed
eleven tricks. Hard to believe he did not play off all the clubs catching South in a show-up squeeze.
Whatever, it was 10 not unlucky IMPs to Penfold.
Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
♠ K7
♥ 10 9 8 6 4
♦ Q J 10
♣ K 10 7
♠3 N ♠ 10 9 8 6 2
♥ AK 7 5 ♥Q
♦ 984 W E ♦ K765
♣ 98653 S ♣ QJ2
♠ AQJ54
♥ J32
♦ A32
♣ A4
Open Room
West North East South
Penfold Capal Selway Harris
– Pass Pass 1NT
Pass 2♦* Pass 2♥
Pass 3NT Pass 4♥
All Pass

7 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
West led the three of spades and declarer won with dum- ♠ K7
my’s king and ran the queen of diamonds, repeating the ♥ 10 9 8 6 4
finesse when it held, West following with the four and ♦ Q J 10
eight (a good alternative is to follow with the eight fol- ♣ K 10 7
♠ 3 N ♠ 10 9 8 6 2
lowed by the nine). ♥ AK 7 5 ♥ Q
When declarer played a heart from dummy East won ♦ 984 W E ♦ K765
with the queen and played a spade and West’s ruff was ♣ 98653 S ♣ QJ2
the setting trick, -50. ♠ AQJ54
♥ J32
Closed Room ♦ A32
♣ A4
West North East South
Burn Collins Callaghan Kendrick
– Pass Pass 1NT
Pass 2♦* Pass 2♥
Pass 3NT Pass 4♥
All Pass

West led his spade and declarer won in dummy and immediately played a heart. When East
switched to the seven of diamonds declarer could finesse and play on hearts for +420 and 10 IMPs.
Board 23. Dealer South. All Vul.
♠ A Q J 10 8 3
♥ Q 10 6 2
♦A
♣ A8
♠ K64 N ♠ 97
♥8 ♥ J7543
♦ 632 W E ♦ J754
♣ KQ7532 S ♣ 64
♠ 52
♥ AK9
♦ K Q 10 9 8
♣ J 10 9
Open Room
West North East South
Penfold Capal Selway Harris
– – – 1♦
Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT
Pass 2♦* Pass 2NT
Pass 4♠ All Pass
2♦ Hearts
How would you describe North’s jump to 4♠?
Agricultural was the choice of the BBO commentator.
East led the six of clubs and declarer won with the ace, unblocked the ace of diamonds, crossed to
the ace of hearts, pitched a club on a diamond and took a spade finesse. When it held declarer tried
to cross to dummy with a heart, but West ruffed, so declarer had to lose a heart at the end,+650.

8 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Closed Room
West North East South
Burn Collins Callaghan Kendrick
– – – 1♦
Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT
Pass 2♣* Pass 3♦*
Pass 6♠ All Pass
2♣ Crowhurst
3♦ Denies three spades
The early play was identical, but having disposed of his losing club declarer played a spade to the
ace and the queen of spades and was soon claiming, +1430 and 13 IMPs, Penfold winning their
opening match 79-35.
Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
♠ QJ9532
♥ 54
♦ 32
♣ 542
♠ K 10 4 N ♠8
♥ A J 10 8 7 6 ♥ 93
♦ K65 W E ♦ AQ J 9 4
♣6 S ♣ A K Q 10 9
♠ A76
♥ KQ2
♦ 10 8 7
♣ J873
Open Room
West North East South
Collins Robinson Kendrick Solomon
1♥ Pass 2♦ Pass
2♥ Pass 3♣ Pass
3♦ Pass 4♣ Pass
4♦ Pass 4♠* Pass
5♣* Pass 6♣ Pass
6♦ All Pass

Had South kicked off with a top heart (and East’s failure to bid 4♥ was a significant clue) there
would have been two inevitable losers, but South’s seven of diamonds allowed declarer to win in
hand and play a spade, establishing the king for an eventual discard. Declarer won the diamond
return, cashed three top clubs and claimed, +1370.
Closed Room
West North East South
Lawy Simpson Ward Penfold
1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass
3NT Pass 4♥ All Pass

9 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
A mystifying auction, but a sound contract.
North led the queen of spades and South took the ace and tried a devious two of hearts.
Declarer won with dummy’s nine, played a second heart and was soon claiming eleven tricks,
+650, but 12 IMPs to Penfold.
On the next deal N/S reached 4♥ with ♠74 ♥10876432 ♦Q ♣K97 opposite ♠A53 ♥AK ♦A102
♣Q10832.
There was a trump loser, so the fate of the contract turned on how declarer tackled the clubs.
West had been dealt the ♣AJ doubleton and when Penfold broached the suit by starting with the
two from hand she gained another 12 IMPs.
Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.
♠ KJ954
♥ A2
♦4
♣ KQ632
♠8 N ♠ A3 2
♥ 10 7 5 4 ♥ KJ83
♦ AK Q 5 W E ♦ 10 6 2
♣ J754 S ♣ A 10 9
♠ Q 10 7 6
♥ Q96
♦ J9873
♣8
Open Room
West North East South
Collins Robinson Kendrick Solomon
– – 1♥ Pass
4♥ 4♠ Double All Pass

East followed up his surprising double with the lead of the three of hearts and that was all the
help declarer needed (leading trumps should deliver +500).
He put up dummy’s queen and played a club for the queen and ace. East belatedly switched to
a spade and declarer won in hand, cashed the king of clubs, ruffed a club, played a heart to the
ace, ruffed a club and claimed, +690.
Closed Room
West North East South
Lawy Simpson Ward Penfold
– – 1♦* Pass
1♥ Double* 2♥ 2♠
3♥ 4♠ All Pass

With all his points in diamonds you can understand why West was not tempted to double 4♠.
He led the ace of diamonds and switched to the seven of hearts, giving the defenders four tricks,
+100 and 14 IMPs.

10 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
♠ QJ754
♥—
♦ A Q 10 7 6 4
♣ 76
♠ 63 N ♠ AK 2
♥ A J 10 4 3 ♥ KQ95
♦ K82 W E ♦ 53
♣ J 10 3 S ♣ KQ42
♠ 10 9 8
♥ 8762
♦ J9
♣ A985
Open Room
West North East South
Collins Robinson Kendrick Solomon
– 1♦ Double 1♥
Double* 1♠ Double* 2♦
Pass Pass 3♥ Pass
4♥ All Pass
Double Hearts
Double Penalties
South led the jack of diamonds and North overtook it with the queen to play the queen of spades.
Declarer won with the ace, cashed the king of hearts and when North showed out he played a
diamond. He ruffed the diamond return with the nine of hearts and claimed, +620.
Closed Room
West North East South
Lawy Selway Ward Penfold
– 1♠ 1NT Pass
2♦* Pass 3♥ Pass
4♥ All Pass
2♦ Transfer to hearts
South led the ten of spades and declarer won and cashed the king of hearts. Expecting North to
hold the ace of clubs he drew trumps, but that meant that when South got in she could play the
jack of diamonds, giving the defenders three tricks in the suit and 12 IMPs.

11 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
♠ Q 10 8 3
♥ 86
♦ Q3
♣ QJ854
♠ 962 N ♠ AK J 7 5
♥ A 10 9 3 ♥ KJ75
♦ 10 5 2 W E ♦ AK 7 4
♣ A6 3 S ♣—
♠4
♥ Q42
♦ J986
♣ K 10 9 7 2
Open Room
West North East South
Collins Robinson Kendrick Solomon
– – 1♠ Pass
1NT Pass 3♦ Pass
3♠ Pass 4♣* Pass
4♥* Pass 6♠ All Pass

Once East had bid Three Diamonds it was not easy to get to hearts (with careful play you can
make 6♥ even if you get the trumps wrong). Perhaps East could have jumped to 6♥ offering West
a choice between the majors?
South led the two of hearts and declarer won with dummy’s nine and played a spade to the
jack. When South showed out on the next round declarer had to lose a spade and a diamond, -50.
Closed Room
West North East South
Lawy Selway Ward Penfold
– – 1♣* Pass
1♦* Pass 1♠ Pass
4♠ All Pass

An uninspiring auction was more than matched in the play.

South led the six of diamonds and declarer took North’s queen with the ace and cashed the
top spades. When South discarded the two of clubs declarer played a heart to the ace and a spade.
North went up with the queen and returned a diamond and declarer’s goose was cooked. He played
low, but South won with the jack and returned the suit for North to score the ten of spades. There
was still a heart to come, +50 and a push.
When E/W held ♠A2 ♥K85432 ♦K962 ♣8 opposite ♠10875 ♥J1096 ♦Q8 ♣A92 Collins
and Kendrick bid 1♥-2♥-3♦-4♥, which made in comfort, declarer winning the club lead with
dummy’s ace and running the ten of hearts to the bare ace.
In the other room Lawy and Ward bid 1♥-2♥-3♥ and lost 10 IMPs.
On the penultimate deal of the match N/S held ♠AQ109 ♥85 ♦AQJ10 ♣K97 facing ♠K7
♥A1064 ♦9654 ♣Q54.
Robinson and Solomon bid 1♠-1NT. If they were playing Acol then South would have done

12 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
better to respond 2♦ when they would have been sure to reach game. Needless to say Selway and
Penfold sailed into 3NT and with the king of diamonds singleton onside declarer took ten tricks
when East led a spade from ♠32 ♥KJ93 ♦8732 ♣1062 in response to his partner’s opening bid
of 1♠.
Penfold had another 10 IMPs and another win, this one 71-42.
Board 12. Dealer West. None Vul.
♠ AK6
♥ AK6
♦ AQ764
♣ 42
♠ J 10 5 4 2 N ♠ Q3
♥ 952 ♥ J874
♦2 W E ♦ K985
♣ KJ75 S ♣ AQ 6
♠ 987
♥ Q 10 3
♦ J 10 3
♣ 10 9 8 3
Open Room
West North East South
Hackett Simpson Senior Selway
2♠ Double Pass 2NT*
Pass 3NT Double All Pass
2NT Lebensohl
West led the two of spades and declarer won with dummy’s ace and decided to lay down the ace
of diamonds. He continued with a low diamond and won with the ten as West pitched the five
of hearts. When West threw the two of hearts on the next diamond East won and played the ace
of clubs followed by the queen and that was one down, -200.
Closed Room
West North East South
Collins Hallberg Kendrick Holland
Pass 2NT Pass 3NT
All Pass

East led the four of hearts for the queen, two and six and declarer ran the jack of diamonds. When
East won and returned a heart declarer was home, +600 and 13 IMPs for Hackett.
There was no rush to take the king of diamonds.
If East had ducked West would have had the opportunity to give some sort of signal on the
next round when East would at least have a chance to find the club switch.

13 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
♠8
♥ 76
♦ K Q 10 6 5 4 2
♣ 10 8 6
♠ KQ954 N ♠ A J 10 7 3 2
♥ Q 10 9 5 ♥ K2
♦7 W E ♦ J8
♣ K94 S ♣ 752
♠6
♥ AJ843
♦ A93
♣ AQJ3
Open Room
West North East South
Hallberg Collins Holland Kendrick
– – – 1♥
1♠ Pass 4♠ Double
Pass 5♦ All Pass

East led the ace of spades and when West followed with the nine he switched to the seven of clubs.
Declarer won with dummy’s ace and claimed – his losing heart would vanish on a club, +600.
Closed Room
West North East South
Selway Hackett Simpson Senior
– – – 1♥
1♠ Pass 4♠ Double
Pass 5♦ All Pass

Once again East led the ace of spades, but this time West followed with the king. East switched
to the two of hearts and when declarer played low from dummy West put in the nine. He con-
tinued with the five of hearts and declarer could not avoid the loss of a club, one down, -100 and
12 IMPs to Penfold.
When Holland and Hallberg held ♠K1096 ♥KQ65 ♦4 ♣AK108 opposite ♠Q43 ♥984 ♦AKJ
♣9752 they bid 1♣-1NT-2♣-3♣ and gave up 12 IMPs to the 3NT reached in the other room.
That looks like the sort of problem that might have appeared in Bill Pencharz’s former Bridge
Magazine series ‘Que Culpa?
Despite that Hackett secured a narrow win, 49-44.

14 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
♠ AQ7
♥ A952
♦ A832
♣ 74
♠ KJ943 N ♠ 10 8 6 5
♥ 73 ♥ KJ
♦ KQJ74 W E ♦ 65
♣8 S ♣ Q 10 9 6 3
♠2
♥ Q 10 8 6 4
♦ 10 9
♣ AKJ52
Open Room
West North East South
Lawy Hackett Ward Senior
1♠ Pass 3♠ Double
4♠ Double All Pass

North led the seven of clubs and South won with the jack and switched to the two of spades,
North winning with the queen and returning the two of hearts. When declarer put in the jack
South won with the queen and the defenders had six tricks, -800.
Closed Room
West North East South
Holland Warner Hallberg Robinson
Pass 1NT Pass 2♦*
2♥* 3♣* 3♠ 4♥
4♠ Double Pass 5♥
All Pass
2♦ Transfer
2♥ Take out
3♣ Maximum with four hearts
West led the king of diamonds and declarer won with dummy’s ace and played the two of hearts,
East going in with the king and switching to the three of clubs. Declarer won with the ace and
attempted to cash the king of clubs. A grateful West ruffed and cashed the queen of diamonds
for 14 gifted IMPs.
When N/S held ♠98 ♥A10876542 ♦J5 ♣10 facing ♠3 ♥J ♦K9862 ♣KQJ963 Hackett opend
4♥ and Ward, with ♠AKJ54 ♥KQ ♦A7 ♣A872 overcalled 4♠.
South led his heart and North won and returned the six, South ruffing and exiting with the
king of clubs. Declarer had to lose a trick in each minor, one down, -100.
After an identical auction Robinson led his heart, but Warner switched to a club at trick two
and declarer won, drew trumps and played the ace of diamonds and a diamond, +620 and 12
IMPs for Hackett.

15 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
♠ 10 9 8 4
♥ 93
♦ K8543
♣ 10 5
♠ Q62 N ♠ A7 3
♥ AK 7 5 2 ♥ Q86
♦ AJ W E ♦ Q62
♣ A3 2 S ♣ 9876
♠ KJ5
♥ J 10 4
♦ 10 9 7
♣ KQJ4
Open Room
West North East South
Lawy Hackett Ward Senior
– – Pass 1♣
1♥ Pass 2♥ Pass
4♥ All Pass

North led the ten of clubs and when South followed with the four declarer won with the ace,
played three rounds of trumps ending in dummy and a diamond to the jack and king. North
returned the ten of spades and South won with the king and cashed two clubs, +50.
Closed Room
West North East South
Holland Warner Hallberg Robinson
– – Pass Pass
1♥ Pass 1NT Pass
2NT Pass 3♥ Pass
4♥ All Pass

As Terence Reese frequently observed, 3NT would have been easier.

Here too North led the ten of clubs, but declarer ducked, won the next club, drew trumps end-
ing in dummy and played a diamond to the ace and a diamond. North won and played the ten
of spades, but declarer could win with dummy’s ace, pitch a club on the queen of diamonds and
play a spade towards the queen for 10 tricks and 10 IMPs.
Declarer needed South to hold the king of spades, and as he had already shown up with the
♣KQJ he could not have the ♦K as he would have opened the bidding.
It was a big win for Hackett, 72-28.
When the last round started Sansom led with 49.66 VP followed by Penfold on 48.89 and
Hackett, 47.92. Lawy’s 39.11 gave them an outside chance, but they would need a big win plus
the other results to go their way.
The big match was between the two teams at the top.
After 8 deals Sansom led 15-9.
Then N/S picked up ♠Q1065 ♥A9 ♦A9852 ♣104 opposite ♠A9874 ♥KQJ5 ♦K ♣AJ6.
Kendrick and Collins bid 1♠-4♠, but Jephcott and Sansom got to 6♠. On a diamond lead

16 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
declarer won and laid down the ace of spades, which gives an 82.78% chance of avoiding two
trump losers.
Alas, East held ♠KJ2 and that gave Penfold 11 IMPs.
Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
♠ K 10 8 2
♥—
♦ AQJ86
♣ A 10 7 4
♠ QJ94 N ♠ 65
♥ K652 ♥ Q J 10 9 7
♦— W E ♦ 9742
♣ J9652 S ♣ K8
♠ A73
♥ A843
♦ K 10 5 3
♣ Q3
Open Room
West North East South
Willoughby Collins Fishburne Kendrick
Pass 1♦ Pass 1♥
Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣*
Pass 3♣ Pass 4♦
Pass 5♣* Pass 5♦
All Pass

East led the queen of hearts and declarer ruffed and played the four of clubs, East going in with
the king and returning a heart. Declarer took dummy’s ace, pitching a spade and played a dia-
mond to the jack. A club to the queen was followed by a heart ruff and declarer continued with
the ace of clubs.
East pitched a spade, as did dummy and declarer played a spade to dummy’s ace. At this point
declarer can play three rounds of trumps, squeezing West in the black suits for an overtrick, but
he ruffed a heart and then played the king of spades. East ruffed, but that was the last trick for
the defence, +600.
In the other room Sansom and Jephcott got to 6♦, but declarer did not manage to find a win-
ning line and Penfold picked up 12 IMPs and at the break they led 32-15.
On the opening deal of the second half North held ♠QJ654 ♥K105 ♦- ♣KJ432. Collins opened
1♠ and stymied Fishburne, who was looking at ♠K1098 ♥A732 ♦AJ2 ♣Q5.
Kendrick responded 1NT with ♠72 ♥Q6 ♦K1097653 ♣87 and rebid 2♦ over his partner’s
2♣. That finished three down, -300, but in the other room Sansom opened 1♣ and that allowed
Simpson to double.
Selway jumped to 2♥ and when that was raised to 3♥ he offered partner a choice by bidding
3NT, which Simpson passed. It was a winning view, as 4♥ might have been defeated, whereas
3NT could only be prevented by the double-dummy lead of the five of hearts which would ena-
ble South to win and then switch to a spade.
7 IMPs to Penfold, strengthening their position.

17 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
♠3
♥ A 10 8 6 3 2
♦ 10 9 8 4
♣ 10 2
♠ AK 8 7 5 2 N ♠ Q J 10 4
♥— ♥9
♦ K72 W E ♦ AQ J 6 5
♣ 9543 S ♣ AK 8
♠ 96
♥ KQJ754
♦3
♣ QJ76
Open Room
West North East South
Willoughby Collins Fishburne Kendrick
– – 1♦ 2♥
2♠ 5♥ 6♠ All Pass

North’s space-taking raise left East feeling he had no alternative but to settle for the small slam.
You might like to debate what bids of 5NT and 6♣ should show and also consider if West
should have considered going on to 7♠.
North led the ace of hearts and declarer claimed.
Closed Room
West North East South
Selway Sansom Simpson Jephcott
– – 1♦ 2♥
2♠ 4♥ 4NT* 5♥
6♥* 7♥ Double All Pass

Here East was given the room to ask for key cards
and when South got in the way West showed two
of them. With a singleton heart East had no option
but to double 7♥, but perhaps West should have
overruled him on the strength of his heart void?
Declarer lost the four obvious tricks to be -800,
which gave Sansom 5 IMPs.

Colin Simpson

18 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
♠ Q 10 4 2
♥ K 10 4
♦ 10 7
♣ 10 7 6 4
♠ K93 N ♠5
♥ 762 ♥ A9 8 3
♦ J543 W E ♦ AK Q 8 6 2
♣ AQ 9 S ♣ 85
♠ AJ876
♥ QJ5
♦9
♣ KJ32
Open Room
West North East South
Willoughby Collins Fishburne Kendrick
– Pass 1♦ 1♠
2♠* 3♠ 5♦ All Pass
2♠ Diamond raise
South led the nine of diamonds and declarer won in hand and played a spade. When South with-
held the ace declarer had stolen the game-going trick, +400.
Closed Room
West North East South
Selway Sansom Simpson Jephcott
– Pass 1♦ 1♠
2♠* 3♠ 5♦ All Pass

South made the same opening lead, but at trick two he rose with the ace of spades and switched
to the queen of hearts. That was one down and 10 IMPs to Sansom.

19 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
♠ Q 10 9 8 7 4
♥ 763
♦ 942
♣6
♠6 N ♠ AJ 5 3 2
♥ A J 10 5 ♥Q
♦ Q63 W E ♦ KJ7
♣ Q J 10 9 8 S ♣ K754
♠K
♥ K9842
♦ A 10 8 5
♣ A32
Open Room
West North East South
Willoughby Collins Fishburne Kendrick
– – – 1♥
Pass Pass 1♠ Double
All Pass

Facing a partner who (slightly surprisingly) could not muster a bid on the first round, South’s
double is suspect.
He led the king of spades and declarer won and ran the queen of hearts. A diamond to the
queen was followed by the ace of hearts, pitching a club, a heart ruff and a club. South ducked
and after winning with dummy’s queen declarer played a diamond to the king and ace. South
cashed the ace of clubs enabling North to discard his remaining diamond, but declarer was sure
to score the jack of spades for +160.
Closed Room
West North East South
Selway Sansom Simpson Jephcott
– – – 1♥
Pass 2♠* Pass Pass
3♣ Pass 3♠* Pass
3NT All Pass
2♠ Weak
The weak jump response would have a place in 25 Conventions you don’t need to know but it did
require West to find a protective bid on the next round.
North led the three of hearts and declarer took South’s king with the ace and played on clubs.
South won and returned a heart and declarer won and played a diamond, claiming ten tricks and
10 IMPs.
Sansom was not finished yet.
A couple of boards later N/S held ♠A85 ♥KQ83 ♦QJ1062 ♣7 opposite ♠K93 ♥A9654 ♦K
♣AQ64.
Collins and Kendrick bid 1♦-1♥-2♥-4♥, but in the other room Sansom rebid 3♥ after which
Jephcott asked for key cards before bidding 6♥. Everything was friendly so that was worth 13 IMPs.

20 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 23. Dealer South. All Vul.
♠ J 10 5
♥ Q 10 7 6 5 4 2
♦—
♣ J 10 7
♠ 863 N ♠ A9 7 4
♥ A8 3 ♥9
♦ K42 W E ♦ A J 10 8 5 3
♣ K843 S ♣ AQ
♠ KQ2
♥ KJ
♦ Q976
♣ 9652
Open Room
West North East South
Willoughby Collins Fishburne Kendrick
– – – 1♦
Pass 1♥ Pass 1NT
Pass 2♥ All Pass

Declarer was not hard pressed to take six hearts and two spades for +110.
Closed Room
West North East South
Selway Sansom Simpson Jephcott
– – – Pass
Pass 2♦* 3♦ Pass
3NT All Pass
2♦ Multi
North led the jack of spades and declarer went up with dummy’s ace, cashed the ace of diamonds,
played a diamond to the king and gave up a diamond. When South cashed his spades declarer
claimed ten tricks, +630 and 12 vital IMPs for Penfold.
A heart lead might appear more testing, but declarer can duck twice, pitching a diamond from
dummy. If South switches to a top spade declarer can duck that and the next spade, but should
then take the last nine tricks.

21 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul.
♠ J865
♥ 86
♦ AQ3
♣ J 10 9 8
♠3 N ♠ Q 10 7 4
♥ Q 10 9 7 ♥ 532
♦ 10 9 5 4 2 W E ♦ KJ876
♣ A6 5 S ♣Q
♠ AK92
♥ AKJ4
♦—
♣ K7432
Open Room
West North East South
Willoughby Collins Fishburne Kendrick
Pass Pass Pass 1♣
Pass 1♠ Pass 3♦*
Pass 4♣ Pass 6♠
All Pass
Clearly South meant 3♦ to be a splinter in support of spades, but it transpired that this sequence
was ‘undiscussed’.
East led the three of hearts and declarer won with dummy’s king and cashed the top spades.
When the queen did not fall on the second round the game was up.
Declarer continued by ruffing a heart, cashing the ace of diamonds to pitch a heart and then
playing a club for the queen, king and ace.
Had West returned a diamond the contract would have been five down, but he returned a club
and declarer emerged with nine tricks, -150.
6♣ would have been playable – in theory West must lead a low club to beat it.
Closed Room
West North East South
Selway Sansom Simpson Jephcott
Pass Pass Pass 2♦*
Pass 2♥* Pass 3♣*
Pass 4♠ All Pass
2♦ Multi
2♥ Pass or correct
3♣ 17+ short diamonds
With so much wasted in diamonds North could not envisage that any slam would be playable,
although South might have held a stronger hand.
East led the seven of diamonds and declarer won with the queen, pitching a heart from the
table, cashed dummy’s top spades, ruffed a heart and played the ten of clubs. When the queen
popped up he could claim, +420 and 11 IMPs.
Penfold had won 66-59.
Meanwhile Hackett had beaten Procter by 11 IMPs and that was enough to move them to the
top of the table.

22 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Looking through the deals afterwards, it seemed to me that Norman Selway was in tremendous
form, along with Paul Hackett & Brian Senior and this impression is borne out by the Butler scores:
Rank Sess1 Sess2 Sess3 Sess4 Sess5 IMPs Bds IMPs/Bd
1 Norman Selway 40.20 20.60 -0.20 0.60 9.48 70.68 84 0.84
2 Paul Hackett 20.80 9.00 0.20 28.80 0.00 58.80 72 0.82
2 Brian Senior 20.80 9.00 0.20 28.80 0.00 58.80 72 0.82
4 John Sansom 23.60 8.60 1.20 42.40 -20.08 55.72 120 0.46
4 Richard Jephcott 23.60 8.60 1.20 42.40 -20.08 55.72 120 0.46
6 Colin Simpson 34.00 1.20 -0.20 -16.20 20.08 38.88 96 0.41
7 Gunnar Hallberg -23.60 20.00 10.00 22.80 12.44 41.64 108 0.39
7 John Holland -23.60 20.00 10.00 22.80 12.44 1.64 108 0.39
9 Sandra Penfold 6.20 21.80 0.00 -16.80 10.60 21.80 60 0.36
10 Rob Lawy 33.80 -21.80 -1.20 -28.80 46.64 28.64 120 0.24
10 Trevor Ward 33.80 -21.80 -1.20 -28.80 46.64 28.64 120 0.24
12 Stewart Fishburne -26.20 25.60 -27.80 38.20 8.52 18.32 120 0.15
12 Mike Willoughby -26.20 25.60 -27.80 38.20 8.52 18.32 120 0.15
14 Dave Robinson 18.40 -15.00 27.80 -22.80 8.84 17.24 120 0.14
14 Warner Solomon 18.40 -15.00 27.80 -22.80 8.84 17.24 120 0.14
16 Patrick Collins 13.00 15.00 -10.00 -6.00 -8.52 3.48 120 0.03
16 David Kendrick 13.00 15.00 -10.00 -6.00 -8.52 3.48 120 0.03
18 Bob Holder -18.40 7.40 -9.60 6.00 -12.44 -27.04 120 -0.23
18 Phil Thornton -18.40 7.40 -9.60 6.00 -12.44 -27.04 120 -0.23
20 David Mossop 5.40 -24.00 0.00 0.00 3.24 -15.36 60 -0.26
20 David Price 5.40 -24.00 0.00 0.00 3.24 -15.36 60 -0.26
22 David Burn -13.00 -7.60 39.40 -42.40 -8.84 -32.44 120 -0.27
22 Brian Callaghan -13.00 -7.60 39.40 -42.40 -8.84 -32.44 120 -0.27
24 Robert Procter -33.80 -41.60 23.60 16.20 -3.24 -38.84 120 -0.32
24 Michael Robinson -33.80 -41.60 23.60 6.20 -3.24 -38.84 120 -0.32
26 Jonathan Harris -40.20 2.60 -53.40 -38.20 -46.64 -175.84 120 -1.47
26 Steve Capal -40.20 2.60 -53.40 -38.20 -46.64 -175.84 120 -1.47
VPs SCORE MATRIX
RankTeam HACK PENF SANS LAWY PROC HARR Adj Total
1 HACKETT 11.23 10.50 17.69 12.54 10.50 -2.5 59.96
2 PENFOLD 8.77 12.12 15.69 6.85 17.58 -2.0 59.01
3 SANSOM 9.50 7.88 5.40 15.39 19.37 57.54
4 LAWY 2.31 4.31 14.60 17.89 17.99 -0.5 56.60
5 PROCTER 7.46 13.15 4.61 2.11 12.33 39.66
6 HARRIS 9.50 2.42 0.63 2.01 7.67 22.23
In the final Paul Hackett, Gunnar Hallberg, John Holland, David Mossop, David Price and Brian
Senior will play the team of Sandra Penfold, Patrick Collins, David Kendrick, Norman Selway
and Colin Simpson.

23 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate

Book Reviews Bob Baker

Winning Declarer Play
Dorothy Hayden Truscott
£14.95 from MasterPoint Press
Over forty years ago I first read the above book when it was published as a hardback and a
copy still sits on my bookshelf. For many years it has been out of print, but now Master Point
Press have released it as a softback in their excellent Honors Book series.
One of the great advantages of books on card play, as opposed to bidding, is that they rarely
become dated. This new edition has had one or two “tweaks” (for example the defenders now
lead the ace from ace king) but the content is otherwise pretty well the same. This is a good
thing, because having read this book for the first time in a while I can again appreciate just
what a fine book it is.
The material is divided into three sections. Part 1 is entitled Elementary, although I suspect that
any club player reading carefully through the four chapters will immediately improve their play.
Chapter 1 on card combinations is essentially a primer on the basics: leading towards honours,
finessing and establishing long cards. However, I wouldn’t mind betting that some readers will
find combinations which, if they were honest, they would have misplayed. Chapter 2 looks at
safety plays, and rather than presenting a series of suit combinations to memorise the author
encourages the reader to work out what may go wrong and then what could be done about it.
Chapter 3 is on play at No-trumps, with example hands on selecting the best line of play, com-
bining chances, thinking about entries and several on the hold-up play. In Chapter 4 attention
switches to playing in a suit contract, and naturally consideration is given to drawing trumps
(or not), ruffing losers, suit establishment, playing two-suiters and the ruffing finesse. There
is then a useful discussion of the art of trump control, including play in a 4-3 fit and in a 4-4
fit (where control is sometimes a bigger problem than you might expect.
In Part 2, entitled Advanced, we move on to less elementary card play. In Chapter 5 we look at
Endplays, including elimination play, before what I consider to be the most valuable part of the
book: Chapter 6 - Reading the Cards. There are fine examples of counting the distribution and
high-card points in the defenders’ hands, as well as the inferences that are available from the
opening lead. Any declarer who makes a regular effort to work out what the opponents hold
based on the clues (which are nearly always there) will become a far stronger dummy player.
The next chapter is “Hocus Pocus with the Trump Suit” and covers dummy reversals, trump
coups, trump endplays, the coup en passant (a term borrowed from chess) and exotica such as
the Smother Play and the Devil’s Coup. Whilst some of these are perhaps included for their
entertainment value rather than for their practical application the hands are well explained
so that they may be understood by players who are not of expert standard. In Chapter 8 the

24 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
author looks at squeeze play with some of the rarer types of squeeze (e.g. Compound Squeezes,
the Guard Squeeze and the Stepping Stone Squeeze) included for the benefit of those stronger
players. Chapter 9 is called “The Gentle Art of Deception” and includes several hands which
(with subtle variations) will remind readers of the sort of tricks perpetrated by the Hideous
Hog in the Menagerie books. The last chapter in this part is “What are the Odds?” and looks
at a series of hands where there are alternative lines of play available. These should get a player
thinking along the right lines when faced with those difficult decisions. There is also one of
the more lucid explanations of the Principle of Restricted Choice.
The final section of the book comprises forty one single dummy problems, arranged more or
less in order of difficulty. Anyone who has read the earlier part of this book is sure to have
improved their play to the point where they are far more likely to come up with the right answer
to (most of ) these than they would have done before. This book is highly recommended.

25 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
England’s Nap Hand
The Editor reports on the first weekend of the Camrose Trophy

L ord Camrose, owner of The Daily Telegraph, donated the Camrose trophy in 1936 for the
winners of the first contest in 1937. The original trophy was lost and replaced. World
War II interrupted the series in 1939 and it was not resumed until 1946, despite which
the Camrose is the world’s most-played international bridge series.
This year it was the turn of Wales to field two teams and these were the line ups:
England Alexander Allfrey, Andrew Robson, Mike Bell, David Gold, David Bakhshi,
Tony Forrester (David Burn)
WBU Tim Rees, Gary Jones, John Salisbury, Mike Tedd, Bob Pitts, Barry Jones
(Patrick Jourdain)
Ireland Ciaran Coyne, Donal MacAonghusa, Enda Glynn, David Walsh, Tom Hanlon,
Hugh McGann (Gay Keaveney)
Wales Paul Denning, Adrian Thomas, Richard Plackett, Mike Pownall, Simon Richards,
Julian Pottage (Alan Stephenson)
N. IrelandRex Anderson, David Greenwood, Ian Lindsay, Robin Burns, Helen Cole,
Tyrone Currie (Ian Hamilton)
Scotland Brian Short, Alan Goodman, Sam Punch, Stephen Peterkin, Phil Stephens,
Frazer Morgan (Derek Sanders)
As a small diversion I offer you this:
Captain’s Kit for the Lady Milne.
I wonder if any of the Camrose Captains studied this before the event? https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=fPDgTI5n9xQ
In their first match England met Northern Ireland. After a quiet first half the Irish led 20-17.
It was a different story in the second session.
Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
♠ A K J 10
♥ 8654
♦—
♣ K Q 10 7 4
♠ Q5 N ♠3
♥ A7 2 ♥ KJ9
♦ J9842 W E ♦ A K 10 7 6 3
♣ J83 S ♣ A6 2
♠ 987642
♥ Q 10 3
♦ Q5
♣ 95
In the Open Room Bell & Gold were in 5♦ doubled which cost 300. Meanwhile Lindsay and
Burns reached 3NT, which could not be touched thanks to the spade blockage – 12 IMPs to N
Ireland.

26 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
♠ J952
♥ J86
♦ 643
♣ AK9
♠— N ♠ K 10 8 7 6 4 3
♥ 9753 ♥ A Q 10 4
♦ AK J W E ♦ 85
♣ J 10 7 6 3 S ♣—
♠ AQ
♥ K2
♦ Q 10 9 7 2
♣ Q852
Open Room
West North East South
Bell Greenwood Gold Anderson
– – 1♠ Pass
1NT Pass 2♥ Pass
4♥ All Pass

South led the ten of diamonds and declarer decided his best chance was to try to score three dia-
monds and seven trumps, so he put in the jack, cashed two more diamonds and he proceeded
to cross ruff the black suits. South ruffed in with the king of hearts on the third round of spades
and played a trump, but declarer won in hand and could cash the king of spades for ten tricks.
In the replay Lindsay went three down (perhaps fortunately the play record is missing) so Eng-
land recovered 11 1MPs.
Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
♠ K985
♥ 43
♦ A K Q 10 3
♣ J3
♠ J6 N ♠ 73
♥ KQJ5 ♥ 10 8 7 6 2
♦ 65 W E ♦ 9874
♣ Q 10 9 7 6 S ♣ K2
♠ A Q 10 4 2
♥ A9
♦ J2
♣ A854
Open Room
West North East South
Bell Greenwood Gold Anderson
Pass 1♦ Pass 1♠
Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠
All Pass

27 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Declarer won the heart lead, cashed a couple of trumps ♠ K985
and claimed twelve tricks. ♥ 43
Could England do better? ♦ A K Q 10 3
♣ J3
Closed Room ♠ J6 N ♠ 73
♥ KQJ5 ♥ 10 8 7 6 2
West North East South ♦ 65 W E ♦ 9874
Burns Bakhshi Lindsay Forrester ♣ Q 10 9 7 6 S ♣ K2
Pass 1♦ Pass 1♠ ♠ A Q 10 4 2
Pass 2♠ Pass 2NT* ♥ A9
Pass 4♦ Pass 6♠ ♦ J2
♣ A854
All Pass
2NT was clearly forcing and when North jumped to show his powerful diamonds Forrester had
heard enough, +1430 and 13 IMPs to England.
Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
♠ AK
♥ K8543
♦ K82
♣ 10 5 4
♠ 9754 N ♠ 10 3
♥ A6 2 ♥ QJ7
♦ 765 W E ♦ A Q 10 9 3
♣ K82 S ♣ 976
♠ QJ862
♥ 10 9
♦ J4
♣ AQJ3
Open Room
West North East South
Bell Greenwood Gold Anderson
– – Pass 1♠
Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠
Pass 2NT Pass 3NT
All Pass
East led the queen of diamonds and the trick was completed by the four, five and two. It looks natural
now to continue with a low diamond, but East cashed the ace and played a third round of the suit.
Declarer won and played a club to the queen. West took that and returned the two of hearts,
but declarer put up the king and took the remaining tricks for +430.
Having cashed the ace of diamonds, the only defence is to switch to a heart, but that is virtu-
ally impossible.
Closed Room
West North East South
Burns Bakhshi Lindsay Forrester
– – Pass 1♠
Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠
Pass 2NT Pass 3♣
Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT
All Pass

28 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
East led the ten of diamonds and declarer won with ♠ AK
dummy’s jack, played a spade to the king and a club to ♥ K8543
the queen. When that held he returned to hand with ♦ K82
a spade and played a club to the jack. West won and ♣ 10 5 4
♠ 9754 N ♠ 10 3
played a diamond and East cashed his tricks in the suit. ♥ A6 2 ♥ QJ7
Declarer threw his remaining club on the last of these, so ♦ 765 W E ♦ A Q 10 9 3
the defenders also scored a couple of heart tricks and the ♣ K82 S ♣ 976
contract was three down, -150 and 11 IMPs to Northern ♠ Q J 8 62
Ireland, regaining the lead, albeit by just 1 IMP. ♥ 10 9
♦ J4
♣ AQJ3
Board 23. Dealer South. All Vul.
♠ A Q 10 8 6 3 2
♥ J7
♦ QJ3
♣K
♠ K7 N ♠ J95
♥ K982 ♥ A6 5 4
♦8 W E ♦ 764
♣ A Q J 10 8 3 S ♣ 964
♠4
♥ Q 10 3
♦ A K 10 9 5 2
♣ 752
Open Room
West North East South
Bell Greenwood Gold Anderson
– – – 3♦
Double 4♦ All Pass

West led the ace of clubs and switched to the two of hearts. That gave the defence the first three
tricks, but declarer took the rest, +130.
Closed Room
West North East South
Burns Bakhshi Lindsay Forrester
– – – Pass
1♣ 1♠ Pass 2♦
Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠
All Pass

East led the nine of clubs and West won with the ace and returned the queen. Declarer ruffed,
crossed to the ace of diamonds and played a spade to the queen. When it held he cashed the ace of
spades and then played on diamonds, pitching a heart on the fourth round for +620 and 10 IMPs.
As you will have spotted, West must switch to a heart at trick two, which should not have been
too difficult to find.

29 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 29. Dealer North. All Vul.
♠ J2
♥ J 10 7 5
♦ 92
♣ 10 9 8 5 3
♠ AK 5 N ♠ Q 10 9 8 7 4
♥ A3 ♥ Q864
♦ AK J 5 W E ♦7
♣ AK J 7 S ♣ Q6
♠ 63
♥ K92
♦ Q 10 8 6 4 3
♣ 42
Open Room
West North East South
Bell Greenwood Gold Anderson
– Pass Pass Pass
2♣* Pass 2♦* Pass
2NT Pass 3♣* Pass
3♥* Pass 3♠ Pass
4♣* Pass 4♦* Pass
4NT* Pass 5♦* Pass
5♥* Pass 6♠ Pass
6NT All Pass
2♣ Strong
2♦ Negative
3♣ Muppet Stayman
3♥ No four- or five card major
4♣ Cue-bid
4♦ Cue-bid
4NT RKCB
5♦ 0 key cards
5♥ Asking about the ♠Q and kings
Huge balanced hands are notoriously difficult to bid with any degree of accuracy and so it proved
here, as England missed the grand slam, as did every other pair.
Closed Room
West North East South
Burns Bakhshi Lindsay Forrester
– Pass Pass 1♦
3NT All Pass

What can you say?

South’s timing was immaculate and England gained 13 IMPs.
Over the final ten boards, England had scored 57-0 to record a massive win, 104-48, which
translated into 18.05-1.95 VP.
You can replay these deals at: http://tinyurl.com/h45po55

30 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
In their second match England faced Wales.
Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
♠ AJ74
♥ Q62
♦ 10
♣ AKQ95
♠ K 10 3 N ♠ 986
♥ 73 ♥ K 10 9
♦ AK 5 3 2 W E ♦ Q64
♣ 832 S ♣ J764
♠ Q52
♥ AJ854
♦ J987
♣ 10
Open Room
West North East South
Thomas Bakhshi Denning Forrester
– – Pass Pass
1♦ Double 2♦ 3♥
Pass 4♥ All Pass

West led the king of diamonds and switched to the ten of spades.
Declarer put up dummy’s ace and cashed the top clubs, discarding spades from his hand. He
ruffed a spade, ruffed a diamond, ruffed a spade with the jack of hearts (how annoying to see
West’s king) and ruffed a diamond.
Declarer pitched a diamond on the jack of spades, but West ruffed and played a trump, hold-
ing declarer to nine tricks.
One of the (many) ways to secure a tenth trick would be to have ruffed the jack of spades with
the eight of hearts.
Closed Room
West North East South
Allfrey Plackett Robson Pownall
– – Pass Pass
1♦ Double 3♦ 4♥
All Pass

West led the ace of diamonds and switched to the two of clubs.
Declarer won with dummy’s ace and played the queen of hearts, covered by the king and ace. A
spade to the jack was followed by the ace of spades and the ace of clubs took care of the queen of
spades. A spade ruff was followed by a diamond ruff and a diamond was discarded on the queen
of clubs.
Declarer then played a club and ruffed it with the eight of hearts. When West could not over-
ruff, declarer could ruff a diamond for eleven tricks,+450 and 13 IMPs.

31 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
♠ 82
♥ KQ
♦ 10 7 6 3
♣ KQ962
♠ A7 N ♠ Q J 10 9 5 4
♥ 10 9 7 5 3 2 ♥ 86
♦ A4 W E ♦ J8
♣ A 10 7 S ♣ J43
♠ K63
♥ AJ4
♦ KQ952
♣ 85
Open Room
West North East South
Thomas Bakhshi Denning Forrester
– – – 1♦
1♥ 2♥* Pass 2NT
Pass 3NT All Pass
2♥ Diamond support
West led the five of hearts and declarer won with dummy’s queen, dropping the jack from his
hand as East followed with the six.
A diamond to the king and ace saw West play a second heart and declarer won with dummy’s
king and played the ten of diamonds for the jack and queen. A club to the king was followed by
a diamond to the nine and a club and West took the ace and exited with a heart. Declarer won,
played a diamond to the seven and cashed the queen of clubs, claiming ten tricks when the suit
divided.
Closed Room
West North East South
Allfrey Plackett Robson Pownall
– – – 1♦
1♥ 3♣* Pass 3♦
All Pass
3♣ Fit jump
Declarer lost a trick to each of the missing aces for +130, but that cost 11 IMPs.

32 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
♠ 10 9 6
♥ K 10 8
♦ Q85
♣ K 10 7 2
♠ A8 2 N ♠ 73
♥ J96 ♥ 7543
♦ K32 W E ♦ AJ 7 6
♣ QJ94 S ♣ 853
♠ KQJ54
♥ AQ2
♦ 10 9 4
♣ A6
Open Room
West North East South
Thomas Bakhshi Denning Forrester
Pass Pass Pass 1NT
Pass 3NT All Pass

West led the queen of clubs and declarer won with the ace, played a club to the ten and the ten
of spades, overtaking it with the king. West won with the ace and returned the nine of clubs, so
declarer could claim ten tricks.
There was no rush to take the spade. If West had ducked twice East would have been able to
signal for a diamond on the third round.
Closed Room
West North East South
Allfrey Plackett Robson Pownall
1♣ Pass 1♦* 1NT
Pass Pass 2♦ 2♠
Pass 3♥* Pass 3♠
Pass 4♠ All Pass
1♦ 4+♥
West cashed the ace of spades and continued with the two, declarer winning in hand, drawing
the outstanding trump and playing a diamond. West put up the king and returned the three for
one down and 12 IMPs.
On the next board Wales attempted 3NT with ♠94 ♥85 ♦KQJ752 ♣AQJ opposite ♠AQ853
♥K4 ♦10 ♣87542 after Robson, holding ♠2 ♥AQJ762 ♦983 ♣K109 had overcalled North’s 1♦
with 2♥.
On a heart lead declarer could only muster five tricks and with 3♥ going one down in the other
room after a diamond lead England pocketed another 11 IMPs and they led 44-17 at half time.
You can replay these deals at: http://tinyurl.com/zfcmnm5

33 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
♠ KJ7
♥ AQ74
♦ Q J 10 8 3
♣K
♠ Q 10 8 6 3 N ♠ A9 4 2
♥ J 10 8 2 ♥6
♦4 W E ♦9
♣ AQ 2 S ♣ J 10 9 6 5 4 3
♠5
♥ K953
♦ AK7652
♣ 87
Open Room
West North East South
Plackett Gold Pownall Bell
– – Pass 1♦
Double Redouble 2♣ 2♦
Pass 3♣* 3♠ Pass
4♠ 5♦ Pass Pass
5♠ Double All Pass

South led the king of diamonds and when North followed with the queen he switched to the five
of hearts. North won with the ace and returned a heart and declarer ruffed and played the nine
of clubs to the queen (there is never a Rabbi around when you need one) and king. Back came
a heart forcing another trump from declarer’s hand and when he cashed the ace of spades North
could ruff the next club, cash the king of spades and play a heart for four down, -800.
Closed Room
West North East South
Allfrey Richards Robson Pottage
– – Pass 1♦
1♠ Double* 4♠ Pass
Pass 5♦ 5♠ Pass
Pass 6♦ All Pass

North’s unsound bidding resulted in a slam that was quickly defeated, West leading a spade to
East’s ace and producing one of his own on the club return, 14 IMPs to England.

34 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 25. Dealer North. All Vul.
♠ K64
♥ AK975
♦ K 10 8
♣ A9
♠ Q952 N ♠ AJ 8 3
♥ Q42 ♥ J63
♦ 62 W E ♦ 95
♣ 8532 S ♣ K J 10 4
♠ 10 7
♥ 10 8
♦ AQJ743
♣ Q76
Open Room
West North East South
Plackett Gold Pownall Bell
– 1♥ Pass 2♣*
Pass 3♦ Pass 3♥
Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT
Pass 4♣* Pass 4♦
Pass 4NT* Pass 5♣*
Pass 6♦ All Pass
2♣ Transfer to diamonds
4♣ Cue-bid
4NT RKCB
5♣ 1 key card
Played by North 6♦ cannot be defeated. With hearts 3-3 and trumps 2-2 declarer was in clover
and when East did not take his king of clubs declarer had the cheek to record an overtrick, +940.
Closed Room
West North East South
Allfrey Richards Robson Pottage
– 1NT Pass 3NT
All Pass

East led the six of hearts for the ten, queen and ace and declarer cashed two diamonds ending in
dummy and ran the eight of hearts. East won and tried the king of clubs, so that was 12 tricks,
but 10 IMPs for England, who took the set 60-7to win 104-24, or 19.25-0.75 VP.
You can replay these deals at: http://tinyurl.com/hyzq53f

35 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Next up for England were the Welsh Bridge Union.
Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
♠ A K Q 10 6 2
♥6
♦ A63
♣ KJ3
♠7 N ♠ 543
♥ K93 ♥ QJ875
♦ J52 W E ♦ KQ97
♣ AQ 8 7 6 5 S ♣2
♠ J98
♥ A 10 4 2
♦ 10 8 4
♣ 10 9 4
Open Room
West North East South
Tedd Bakhshi Salisbury Forrester
– – Pass Pass
3♣ 4♠ All Pass

East led the two of clubs and West won with the ace and returned the six, East ruffing with the
three of spades and returning the four of spades. Declarer won and proceeded to play his black
winners.
In the six card ending East was down to ♥QJ87 ♦KQ and he correctly threw a heart on the
ten of spades (parting with a diamond allows declarer to discard a heart from dummy – at this
stage consisting of ♥A1042 ♦108 – and duck a diamond, subsequently finessing against West).
The two of hearts went from dummy and West, down to ♥K3 ♦J52 ♣Q had only to discard
the worthless queen of clubs. Then both defenders can discard a heart on the last trump leaving
declarer with two losers.
When West pitched a diamond declarer could duck a diamond and was home, +420.
Closed Room
West North East South
Allfrey Pitts Robson Jones
– – 2♥* Pass
4♥ 4♠ All Pass
2♥ 5+♥, 9-12
After ruffing a club at trick two, East returned the five of hearts and declarer had no hope, soon
conceding one down to give England 10 IMPs and a slight advantage at the half, as they led 27-23.
You can replay these deals at: http://tinyurl.com/ja3jrep
On the first board of the second half East/West held ♠109 ♥A92 ♦AQ108543 ♣3 opposite
♠A8542 ♥K1087 ♦KJ2 ♣5.
East opened 1♦ and South overcalled 2♣ with ♠KQ7 ♥Q65 ♦6 ♣AJ9764. West doubled and
Gold raised to 3♣. That went back to Tedd who bid 3♠ and then passed his partner’s 4♦.
For the WBU Jones jumped to 4♣ and when Bakhshi bid 4♦ Forrester cue-bid 5♣ and then
passed 5♦.

36 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
That was worth 6 IMPs and was immediately followed a part score swing which added another
half dozen.
The WBU recovered them all when Rees opened 2♦ with ♠8 ♥42 ♦KQ1087 ♣Q10865 and For-
rester’s overcall of 2NT on ♠942 ♥AK3 ♦AJ43 ♣A43 ran into North’s ♠AKQJ105 ♥J1085 ♦- ♣K72
and his double collected +800, which was worth 12 IMPs against the +140 recorded at the other table.
Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
♠ AKQ97
♥5
♦ 10 6 4
♣ J 10 9 8
♠ J84 N ♠ 6532
♥ A9 8 7 4 ♥ K 10 6
♦ K73 W E ♦ 952
♣ 62 S ♣ Q74
♠ 10
♥ QJ32
♦ AQJ8
♣ AK53
Open Room
West North East South
Forrester Jones Bakhshi Rees
– – Pass 1♣
Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT
Pass 2♣* Pass 2NT*
Pass 3NT All Pass
2♣ Checkback
2NT Maximum, denies spade support
Playing fourth best against no-trumps West led the eight of hearts and East won with the king
and returned the six for the queen and ace, declarer throwing the eight of clubs from dummy.
He took the next heart shedding a diamond from dummy and then made the remarkable play of
the eight of diamonds.
West pounced on that with the king and cashed two hearts for one down.
Closed Room
West North East South
Tedd Gold Salisbury Bell
– – Pass 1♣
Pass 1♥* Pass 1NT*
Pass 2♦* Pass 2♥
Pass 3♣ Pass 3♦
Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT
All Pass
1♥ Transfer
1NT No spade fit
2♦ Game forcing checkback

37 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Here East returned the ten of hearts at trick two and ♠ AKQ97
West ducked declarer’s jack, as the seven of spades went ♥ 5
from dummy. ♦ 10 6 4
Declarer cashed the ace of clubs, overtook the ten of ♠ J 8 4 ♣ J 10 9 8
N ♠ 6532
spades and ran the nine of clubs. When that held he ran ♥ A 9 8 7 4 ♥ K 10 6
the ten of diamonds and West won with the king and ♦ K 7 3 W E ♦ 952
cashed the ace of hearts before it ran away. +430 and 10 ♣ 6 2 S ♣ Q74
IMPs to England. ♠ 10
When Forrester picked up ♠3 ♥J8643 ♦Q832 ♣QJ10 ♥ QJ32
♦ AQJ8
with neither side vulnerable he opened 2♥, showing ♣ AK53
5-10 with hearts and a minor. That caught partner with
♠AK109 ♥A10972 ♦KJ64 ♣- and his jump to 6♥ turned out badly.
North, looking at ♠Q875 ♥KQ5 ♦A75 ♣953 started with the ace of diamonds and a diamond
and declarer won, cashed a top spade, ruffed a spade and played the jack of hearts, putting up the
ace when North followed with the five, two down.
At the other table North opened 1♦, East overcalled 1♥ and South bid 1NT which must have
been a transfer to clubs. When West jumped to 4♥ South then saw fit to double and that cost
690 and 13 IMPs.
England edged the set by a single IMP, 43-42 to win 70-65, 11.07-8.93 VP.
You can replay these deals at: http://tinyurl.com/hzzc3rm
In the penultimate round England faced the old enemy, second-placed Scotland who were
almost 15VP adrift.
Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ Q87
♥ 86
♦ QJ97532
♣8
♠ K 10 3 N ♠ AJ 9 4 2
♥ KQ954 ♥2
♦ K 10 4 W E ♦ A8 6
♣ Q6 S ♣ 7543
♠ 65
♥ A J 10 7 3
♦—
♣ A K J 10 9 2
Open Room
West North East South
Goodman Bakhshi Short Forrester
– Pass Pass 1♣
1♥ 3♦ Pass 3NT
All Pass

After this mystifying auction West led the queen of hearts and when that held he continued with
the five, East pitching the two of spades as declarer won with dummy’s eight. Declarer played
dummy’s club, overtaking it with the nine, but West won and switched to the king of spades, fol-
lowed by the ten. That gave the defenders eight tricks, +400.

38 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Closed Room ♠ Q87
♥ 86
West North East South ♦ QJ97532
Allfrey Morgan Robson Stephens ♣ 8
– 2♦ Pass 2♥* ♠ K 10 3 N ♠ AJ 9 4 2
Pass Pass 2♠ 3♣ ♥ KQ954 ♥ 2
♦ K 10 4 W E ♦ A8 6
3♦* Pass 3♥* Pass ♣ Q6 S ♣ 7543
3NT Pass Pass Double ♠ 65
Pass Pass 4♠ Double ♥ A J 10 7 3
All Pass ♦ —
2♥ Constructive, non-forcing ♣ A K J 10 9 2
3♦ Spade support
South led king of clubs, cashed the ace and continued with the two.
If declarer ruffs that with the king of spades and then runs the ten he escapes for one down,
but when he put in dummy’s ten North overruffed and played the queen of diamonds, South’s
ruff ensuring two down and +300 to give Scotland 12 IMPs.
Did you spot how N/S can guarantee two down?
North must ruff the second club (!) and return a diamond.
Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
♠ 95
♥ J74
♦ 10 9 5 2
♣ A762
♠ A 10 4 N ♠ K876
♥ KQ98653 ♥ A 10
♦ AK W E ♦ QJ64
♣9 S ♣ Q43
♠ QJ32
♥2
♦ 873
♣ K J 10 8 5
Open Room
West North East South
Goodman Bakhshi Short Forrester
– – 1♦ Pass
1♥ Pass 1NT Double
3♥ Pass 4♥ Pass
4NT* Pass 5♣* Pass
5♥ All Pass

If West was unwilling to advance to slam after discovering East held only one key card then 4NT
was a poor choice.
Had he bid 4♠ East’s 5♥ would have denied a club control, making it clear that all his values
would be in the right paces.
North led the nine of spades, so declarer took all the tricks.

39 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Closed Room ♠ 95
♥ J74
West North East South ♦ 10 9 5 2
Allfrey Morgan Robson Stephens ♣ A762
– – 1♣ Pass ♠ A 10 4 N ♠ K876
1♦* Pass 1NT* Pass ♥ KQ98653 ♥ A 10
♦ AK W E ♦ QJ64
2♦* Pass 2♥ Pass ♣ 9 S ♣ Q43
4♣* Pass 4♦ Pass ♠ QJ32
4NT* Pass 5♣* Pass ♥ 2
6♥ All Pass ♦ 873
1♦ Transfer ♣ K J 10 8 5
1NT Denies 3♥
2♦ Game forcing
4♣ Splinter
4♦ Last Train
4NT RKCB
5♣ 1 Keycard
South led the queen of spades, +1460 and 13 IMPs.
On the last board of the set N/S held ♠AJ763 ♥93 ♦A1083 ♣AQ facing ♠K105 ♥A1086
♦642 ♣K86.
Bakhshi-Forrester bid 1♠-2♣-2♦-2♠-4♠ and East led the four of clubs from ♠Q84 ♥J72 ♦K5
♣J7543.
Declarer won in hand and played a spade to the king and a spade to the jack and queen. Now
as long as East leaves the diamond suit alone declarer will be a trick short, but he fatally switched
to the king of diamonds and declarer won with the ace, unblocked the clubs, drew the outstand-
ing trump and played a diamond. West, who had encouraged with the nine of diamonds (not
that it mattered) could win, but declarer could not be denied a second diamond trick and +420.
In the other room Morgan and Stephens bid 1♠-2♦-3♦-3♥-3NT-4♣-4♦-4♥-4NT*-
5♥*(Dble)-6♦-6♠ which looks akin to a verse from The Runaway Train.
On a heart lead declarer managed nine tricks, to lose 11 IMPs, Scotland trailing 19-36.
You can replay these deals at: http://tinyurl.com/zpr9uy7

Alexander Allfrey

40 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
♠ 10 9 8 6 3
♥ Q 10 5 4
♦ 92
♣ 10 7
♠ K52 N ♠ J74
♥ A7 6 ♥ KJ92
♦ AK 7 5 W E ♦J
♣ A5 2 S ♣ QJ984
♠ AQ
♥ 83
♦ Q 10 8 6 4 3
♣ K63
Open Room
West North East South
Punch Gold Peterkin Bell
1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass
2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

North led the ten of spades and South, realising that his partner held an almost worthless hand,
put in the queen.
Declarer won with the king and no doubt placed North with a suit headed by the A10. On that
basis the natural looking play at this point is a low club towards the queen, but declarer preferred
a heart to the king, followed by the queen of clubs. When that held she continued with the four
of clubs to the ace and exited with a club to South’s king.
He switched to the queen of diamonds and declarer won with the ace, cashed the ace of hearts
and played a spade to the jack.
South’s ace must have come as a shock and when he returned a diamond all declarer could do
was win and surrender, two down, -200.
Closed Room
West North East South
Allfrey Morgan Robson Stephens
1♣ Pass 1♦ Pass
2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Once again North led the ten of spades but here South won with the ace and switched to the
queen of diamonds. Declarer took the ace and played the two of clubs for the queen and king.
After winning the next diamond declarer cashed four rounds of clubs and played a spade for the
queen and king followed by a spade to the jack and a heart, claiming the rest when South showed
out, +660 and 13 IMPs.

41 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ KQ7
♥ Q 10 9 7 5 4
♦ 10 9 7
♣7
♠ J42 N ♠ A6 3
♥3 ♥ AK 8
♦ KQ6543 W E ♦A
♣ Q43 S ♣ K J 10 9 8 5
♠ 10 9 8 5
♥ J62
♦ J82
♣ A62
Open Room
West North East South
Punch Gold Peterkin Bell
– Pass 1♣ Pass
1♦ 1♥ 3NT* Pass
4♣ Pass 4♦* Pass
4♥* Pass 6♣ All Pass
3NT Long clubs with a heart stopper
4♦ Cue-bid
4♥ Cue-bid
South led the ten of spades and declarer won with the ace, cashed the ace of hearts, the ace of dia-
monds, ruffed a heart, pitched two spades on the top diamonds and claimed, +920.
Closed Room
West North East South
Allfrey Morgan Robson Stephens
– 2♥ 3NT All Pass

Declarer won the heart lead with the ace and played the king of clubs, South taking the ace and
returning the jack of hearts. +490, but 10 IMPs to Scotland.

42 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul.
♠ K72
♥ 754
♦ A2
♣ K 10 8 5 2
♠ 9654 N ♠3
♥ QJ3 ♥ A K 10 9 8 6 2
♦ Q54 W E ♦ 10 8 7
♣ J97 S ♣ Q3
♠ A Q J 10 8
♥—
♦ KJ963
♣ A64
Open Room
West North East South
Punch Gold Peterkin Bell
Pass Pass 4♥ 4♠
5♥ Double Pass 6♦
Pass 6♠ All Pass

With very little defence West’s 5♥ saw N/S advance to slam.

Declarer ruffed and played three rounds of diamonds, ruffing the third with dummy’s king of
spades, claiming +980.
Closed Room
West North East South
Allfrey Morgan Robson Stephens
Pass Pass 4♥ 4♠
All Pass

The play was identical, so England gained 11 IMPs.

David Gold

43 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 29. Dealer North. All Vul.
♠ K 10 6 2
♥ AJ43
♦ A83
♣ Q7
♠ J73 N ♠ 984
♥ 8762 ♥ Q5
♦ 976 W E ♦ K Q J 10 5 4 2
♣ J 10 3 S ♣2
♠ AQ5
♥ K 10 9
♦—
♣ AK98654
Open Room
West North East South
Punch Gold Peterkin Bell
– 1NT Pass 2♠*
Pass 2NT* Pass 5♦*
Pass 5♠* Pass 5NT*
Pass 7♣ All Pass
2♠ Transfer to clubs
2NT Denies three-card support
5♦ Exclusion Blackwood
5♠ 1 keycard outside diamonds
5NT Asking about the ♣Q
That was efficient, but it might have been more of a challenge if East had overcalled 3♦.
Closed Room
West North East South
Allfrey Morgan Robson Stephens
– 1♣* 4♦ 5♦*
Pass 5♥ Pass 6♣

Should South have bid 5♠?

Having bid 5♦ was it possible that he did not have a spade control?
Whatever, that was 13 IMPs for England.

44 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 30. Dealer East. None Vul.
♠ J54
♥ K82
♦ A7532
♣ Q3
♠ A Q 10 9 N ♠ K873
♥ 10 6 ♥A
♦ KQJ6 W E ♦ 10 8
♣ K64 S ♣ A J 10 9 5 2
♠ 62
♥ QJ97543
♦ 94
♣ 87
Open Room
West North East South
Punch Gold Peterkin Bell
– – 1♣ 3♥
Double* Pass 4♠ Pass
All Pass

South led the nine of diamonds and North won with the ace and returned the seven. Declarer
won with the ten, drew trumps and played the king of clubs and a club, +480.
Closed Room
West North East South
Allfrey Morgan Robson Stephens
– – 1♣ Pass
1♥* Pass 3♥* Pass
3NT* Pass 4♥* Pass
4NT* Pass 5♦* Pass
6♠ All Pass
1♥ Transfer to spades
3♥ Splinter for spades
3NT Serious slam try
4♥ First-round control
4NT RKCB
5♦ 3 keycards
North led the ace of diamonds and continued with the three. Winning with the ten, declarer drew
trumps, took a fourth round, cashed a top diamond and seeing South discard, played a club to
the ace and ran the jack.
One BBO commentator suggested that South might regret not bidding 3♥ as E/W might not
have reached the slam with less room.
To which South, 11 IMPs the richer, might have observed ‘Better to remain silent and be
thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt’ Abraham Lincoln
England had outscored Scotland heavily to win 111-51, 18.37-1.63 VP.
You can replay these deals at: http://tinyurl.com/grjxlgz
Could England make it a nap hand when they faced Ireland?

45 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
There was only one significant swing in the first half:
Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ A9764
♥ A987
♦ 53
♣ 54
♠ Q 10 2 N ♠ 53
♥ K J 10 4 2 ♥ 65
♦ 98642 W E ♦A
♣— S ♣ AK J 9 7 6 3 2
♠ KJ8
♥ Q3
♦ K Q J 10 7
♣ Q 10 8
Open Room
West North East South
Forrester Hanlon Bakhshi McGann
– Pass 1♣* Double
1♥ Double* 3NT Double
Pass Pass 4♣ Pass
Pass 4♠ All Pass
1♣ 11-13 or any 17+
I would have been tempted to double 4♣, when North, with a pair of bullets, would no doubt
have taken the money.
East led the ace of clubs and when West discarded the nine of diamonds he cashed the ace of
diamonds and followed it with the two of clubs. West ruffed and returned the four of diamonds
so declarer was down before he had started.
When East continued with the king of clubs West ruffed in with the ten of spades, but declarer
overruffed and played a spade to the king for one down, -100.
Closed Room
West North East South
MacAonghus Gold Coyne Bell
– Pass 1♣ 1♦
Double* 1♠ 2♦ 2♠
3♥ Pass 5♣ Pass
5♥ Double All Pass
Double Hearts
With a void in partner’s suit 5♥ was dubious.
North led the five of diamonds and declarer won perforce with dummy’s ace and cashed the
top clubs, pitching a diamond and a spade (keeping three spades might save a trick). Declarer
continued with a club, ruffing with the ten of hearts as North pitched his remaining diamond.
When declarer played a diamond North ruffed in with the seven of hearts, declarer pitching a
spade from dummy, and returned the eight (a low spade – difficult to find – would see South
win and switch to a heart which will mean five down). Declarer won and played a diamond and
North ruffed, cashed the ace of hearts and exited with a low spade, four down, +800 and 14 IMPs.

46 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Adding those to a few bits and pieces England led 32-7 at the half.
You can replay this deal at: http://tinyurl.com/hy52tfg
Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
♠ K97
♥ 985
♦ KQ6
♣ A653
♠ AQ 5 4 2 N ♠6
♥ Q6 ♥ AK J 7 4 3 2
♦ 95 W E ♦ A 10 4
♣ KQJ2 S ♣ 10 4
♠ J 10 8 3
♥ 10
♦ J8732
♣ 987
Open Room
West North East South
Bell Hanlon Gold McGann
– 1♣* 2♥* Pass
2NT* Pass 3♣* Pass
3♦* Pass 3♠* Pass
4♣* Pass 4♦* Pass
4NT* Pass 5♦* Pass
6♥* All Pass
1♣ 11-13 or any 17+
2♥ 10-13
2NT Forcing
3♣ Best or worst hand
3♦ Relay
3♠ Shortage
4♣ Cue-bid
4♦ Cue-bid
4NT* RKCB
5♦ 3 key cards
South led the jack of spades and declarer won with dummy’s ace and played the two of clubs.
North went up with the ace and switched to the king of diamonds, but it was too late, +980.
Closed Room
West North East South
Walsh Bakhshi Glynn Forrester
– 1NT 4♥ All Pass

South led the jack of spades and declarer won with dummy’s ace and ducked a diamond to North’s
queen. He won the heart return with dummy’s queen, played two rounds of diamonds ruffing,
and the king of clubs. That was eleven tricks, +450 but 11 IMPs to England.

47 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul.
♠ 83
♥ KQJ76
♦ 865
♣ 962
♠ Q J 10 5 N ♠ K97642
♥ 10 3 ♥ 985
♦ A7 W E ♦ Q 10 4
♣ Q 10 8 7 5 S ♣3
♠A
♥ A42
♦ KJ932
♣ AKJ4
Open Room
West North East South
Bell Hanlon Gold McGann
Pass Pass 2♠ Double
4♠ Double Pass 5NT*
Pass 6♥ All Pass
5NT Pick a slam
East led the three of clubs and declarer won with dummy’s ace, played a heart to the queen and
a diamond to the jack and ace.
Back came a club and East ruffed and played a spade and declarer could not avoid losing a sec-
ond diamond for -100.
Once declarer played a diamond he was down regardless of how he tackled the suit because of the club
ruff (in isolation the best line for four tricks in diamonds is low to the nine, which offers a 22.6% chance).
The only winning line is to cash the ace of spades at trick two, come to hand with a heart, ruff
a spade with the ace of hearts, draw trumps (pitching a diamond to prevent West exiting with a
club to lock declarer in dummy) and play a diamond to the nine.
Wouldn’t that be something!
Closed Room
West North East South
Walsh Bakhshi Glynn Forrester
Pass 2♦* Pass 2NT*
Pass 3♣* Pass 3♦*
Pass 4♣* Pass 4♥
All Pass
2♦ Weak 2M (4-8 Vul/ 3-9 NV) or 16+ 4441
2NT Relay
3♣ Non maximum
When North showed less than a maximum 3♦ was some sort of relay, and whatever 4♣ implied
it was enough for South to abandon any slam ambitions.
West led the queen of spades and declarer won, crossed to a heart and played a diamond to the
nine and ace.
He ruffed the spade continuation with the ace of hearts, drew trumps and played a diamond,
an effortless +480 and 11 IMPs.

48 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Near the end N/S held ♠K2 ♥K5432 ♦A1083 ♣K7 opposite ♠95 ♥AQ10 ♦KQJ6 ♣AQ104 and
both teams reached 6♥.
Forrester-Bakhshi bid 1♣-1♦*-3♥*-4NT*-5♠*-6♥, but West held ♠QJ1087 ♥J76 ♦754 ♣86
and when he led the queen of spades the contract was one down.
Hanlon-McGann bid 1♣*-1♥-2♣*-2♦-2NT-3♦-3♥-3♠-4♣-4♦-6♦-6♥ so they had right-sided
the contract.
East led the ace of spades and continued with the three. Declarer won, played a heart to the
queen, a club to the king and a heart to the ten.
Clearly he thought that by cashing the ace of spades East had hopes of a trump trick.
It was a brave piece of play that flattened the board.
For what it’s worth North might have passed South’s jump to 6♦.
England had increased their lead by 38 IMPs to win 83-20, 18.61-1.39.
You can replay these deals at: http://tinyurl.com/hp8uwfm
Here are the detailed results from the first weekend:
Eng WBU Ireland Wales N.Ire Scotland Total
England 11.07 18.61 19.25 18.05 18.37 85.35
WBU 8.93 7.40 14.39 0.96 16.79 48.47
Ireland 1.39 12.60 8.93 18.37 4.90 46.19
Wales 0.75 5.61 11.07 8.33 18.05 43.81
N.Ireland 1.95 19.04 1.63 11.67 4.63 38.92
Scotland 1.63 3.21 15.10 1.95 15.37 37.26
With one of the most impressive displays in the history of the Camrose England secured a lead
of 37 VPs to take into the second weekend - the largest since the format was changed in 2005.
The final weekend takes place in Wales on 4 to 6 March.

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49 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Bridge Over the Rainbow
Alex Adamson and Harry Smith with more stories from The Over The Rainbow Club

Air-Conditioning (2)
Aunty Em was exhausted! The committee meeting had finished at half past four in the morning.
If they had been discussing bridge, she might have enjoyed it. She would have preferred even the
normal topics of committee meetings such as the latest ideas from the witches on how to infringe
the rules without quite breaking them, or another case of the Tin Man upsetting some Munchkins.
She was even looking back nostalgically on committee meetings of 30 years previously when all
that was ever discussed were the latest ideas on rules about smoking.
The only issue discussed had been the new air conditioning system. It was causing chaos. It
would have been simple had there been a single issue of it being too hot, or too cold, or too
stuffy, or too draughty! But there wasn’t! Everyone seemed to have a different view of what the
problem was, and worse still it changed depending on not just where you were sitting, but when!
The Wicked Witch of the West held court throughout the discussion, and clearly enjoyed being
the expert authority on the topic. For every complaint she had a deep technical explanation. By
eleven o’clock, the other members of the committee were exhausted, by midnight, they each felt
as if their brain had been rubbed with a brillo pad, by two o’clock, they would have agreed to
anything, and by four o’clock, several were suicidal. But the Wicked Witch persisted.
Eventually the Wicked Witch proposed that a full review was essential, and that in the mean-
time, the Over The Rainbow Bridge Club would temporarily abandon its premises. This was
agreed unanimously; the rest of the committee would have agreed to anything, just to get home!
The next day, the club president found them short-term accommodation at a local hotel. It had
an upstairs function room, which was just the right size. That same evening, the club held its first
session there, and it didn’t take long for difficulties to emerge. To the surprise of no-one, it was
one of the witches who seemed to have the major problem with the new facility.
The Unpleasant Witch of the North had a bad hip. Bravely, she had not complained about
this before, but with the bar and the toilet downstairs, each of her many trips to one or the other
took an excruciating time to complete. This problem was at its worst on their third night in the
new premises. It was the annual individual tournament and without a partner to anchor her, the
Unpleasant Witch was regularly making her way to the wrong table on her re-entry to the room.
During an early enforced break while the tournament director tried to sort out another witch-
inspired glitch in the movement, the Tin Man collared the club president, the Chairman of the
Lollipop Guild. ‘When do we move back? Why hasn’t the air conditioning been sorted yet?’ he
snapped, by way of an opening pleasantry.
‘I must say, I must say, it is a most extraordinary situation,’ the Chairman replied. ‘It seems that
the only member of the committee who knows how the system works is the Wicked Witch of the
West. As you know, she has been away since the committee meeting. She should be back next week.’
‘What about the company that installed it?’
The Chairman leaned in confidentially. ‘You will recall that the Wicked Witch oversaw the
installation… it seems that our club has been blacklisted by the company, I’m afraid. We have
managed to source an independent engineer. He is actually at the club as we speak. I am hoping
to be able to make an announcement at the end of play. I think we all recognize that the current
arrangement is not satisfactory. Can you imagine holding the AGM here?’ He shuddered.

50 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
‘But that’s still a fortnight away! Surely the problems will have been resolved before then!’ The
Tin Man looked visibly shaken.
The bridge did not improve his mood. At the end of the session he and Dorothy made their
way from the card room to the bar in search of lubrication.
‘Remind me never, ever, ever to enter this tournament again,’ groaned the Tin Man as they
stood in the queue on the stairs which had formed behind the Unpleasant Witch of the North.
‘I did,’ replied Dorothy. ‘As I did last year, and the year before. You should know by now what
the club individual is like. How did you score?’
‘I personally played a 70% game. My idiot partners played a 30% game with me then became
inspired when playing against me. In fact, they may have been playing against me all the time.’
Finally, they got to the bar. ‘Tell me a good horror story,’ said Dorothy. He tried to piece
together the fragments of his scorecard while she ordered the drinks. ‘Tell me about the one that
made you take up origami.’
‘Origami is paper folding, not tear...’, he began to say, but before he could complete his ped-
antry the Lion and the Scarecrow joined them.
‘I got a good score on board 7,’ the Lion preened. ‘Listen to this.’
Dealer South. All Vul.
♠ 10 5 3 2
♥ J2
♦ 53
♣ 86532
♠ AK Q J 4 N ♠ 986
♥ 976 ♥ K84
♦ J874 W E ♦ A 10 9
♣A S ♣ Q J 10 9
♠7
♥ A Q 10 5 3
♦ KQ62
♣ K74
‘I was South. I opened One Heart. West overcalled One Spade. Despite his wasted king of hearts
East showed a sound raise to three with a cue-bid, and West, despite his rotten hearts and dia-
monds, jumped to Four Spades. You know me – controlled aggression, but this was just macho
overbidding! Anyway, partner led the jack of hearts and continued when declarer ducked in
dummy. After taking my three heart tricks I switched to the king of diamonds. No way he we
going to make after that! That was my first board. Do you guys know how the sheet turned out?’
‘What a defence!’ said the Tin Man. ‘Just look at the hand. If you don’t switch to diamonds
declarer must lose two tricks in the suit.’
‘Yeah, well a plus score is a plus score,’ growled the Lion defensively.
The Tin Man turned to the Scarecrow. ‘I’m sure you would like to tell everyone about your
performance on this hand. Tell the Lion how you managed to out defend him by two tricks,’ he
said as he slumped back in his chair.
The Scarecrow, who had gone red, began his tale: ‘You see, it was really the fault of that ghastly
Irritable Witch of the South,’ he said apologetically. ‘She had been so unpleasant when we sat
opposite each other. She said ‘Don’t revoke, don’t lead out of turn, count your cards, lead back
my suit, and bid one less if you think you might play the hand.’ I mean, I know I do lose atten-
tion sometimes but there is no need to speak like that.’ Dorothy muttered agreement, the Tin
Man was silent, and the Lion had a sudden coughing fit.

51 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
‘Anyway, we had a similar start to the auction except that East raised to Two Spades, which I
think was a very good bid!’ He glanced at the Tin Man, ‘I doubled and West competed to Three
Spades. The Irritable Witch of the West led the jack of hearts and like the Lion I won the first
three tricks. I thought I would teach her a lesson. ‘Lead back my suit’ she had said so I thought
that’s just what I would do. I played another heart, even though I knew it was giving a ruff and
discard, honestly I did.’ He looked appealingly to the Tin Man who just snorted.
The Scarecrow continued: ‘Looking at all the hands I can see that declarer would have been
in a lot of trouble if he had ruffed. I suppose he knew I would be short in trumps because I had
doubled Two Spades. Anyway, he threw away a diamond. The Irritable Witch ruffed with the ten
of spades so he threw a diamond from the dummy too. Partner played a diamond. Declarer won
the ace and drew trumps but in the end I got the king and queen of diamonds. That meant he
was two down in Three Spades.’
‘Too much to ask that declarer would try to ruff a diamond in the dummy, of course,’ scowled
the Tin Man. ‘Diabolical, illogical play all round!’
‘I don’t see why you are so upset about it,’ said Dorothy. ‘What did you do on the hand?’
‘Me? Very little, other than sit with a harpy on my right, an idiot in front of me and the Scare-
crow on my left! The hand is a death trap. The inspired defence found by our friend leaves declarer
lying with his throat cut even in Three Spades. I’m afraid your +100 is nothing special, Lion.’ The
Tin Man felt some comfort in finding company in misfortune.
‘Well actually,’ said Dorothy, I made Three Spades on the ruff and discard defence the Scare-
crow found.’ The others looked at her incredulously. ‘On the fourth heart a trump, high or low,
is no good and we have seen how horrible it gets if you throw a diamond. The only thing left
was to discard my ace of clubs. North ruffed high and played a diamond. I won the ace and took
the ruffing finesse in clubs. After I had ruffed out the king of clubs I was able to draw trumps in
three rounds, ending in the dummy with the nine now an entry. The clubs allowed me to discard
all my losing diamonds.’
The Tin Man nodded and raised his glass mechanically. After a moment’s reflection he scrib-
bled down another hand. ‘How did we all do on this one? 3NT by East I would expect?’
Dealer East. N/S Vul.
♠ 863
♥ 42
♦ K75
♣ A 10 6 5 3
♠ Q 10 7 4 N ♠ AK J
♥ 10 6 ♥ K983
♦ A Q 10 8 W E ♦ J42
♣ 984 S ♣ KJ2
♠ 972
♥ AQJ75
♦ 963
♣ Q7
‘Sorry, I don’t remember it’, said the Scarecrow.
‘I do,’ said Dorothy. ‘Yes, I played 3NT from the East seat. I had shown hearts after Stayman,
which put South off leading them. She led a diamond, which I lost to North’s king. He played
back a low club. I can’t see any reason to get it right. I put in the jack. South won the queen and
played back a second club. North won and played a heart through. They had five tricks before
I had drawn breath. I wondered if I could have made it if I had gone up with the king, run the

52 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
pointed suits and sort of strip squeezed South. She ticked off the cards.
♠—
♥4
♦—
♣ A 10 6
♠— N ♠—
♥ 10 6 ♥ K3
♦— W E ♦—
♣ 98 S ♣ J2
♠—
♥ AQJ
♦—
♣Q
‘I would have eight tricks at this point and if I duck a club South will be endplayed into giving
me my ninth in hearts.’
‘Nice try but not good enough,’ said the Tin Man. ‘North can defeat you by going up with
the ace of clubs and playing a heart through. And keeping an extra heart would do you no good
because that would mean baring the jack of clubs, at which point North’s clubs would run. Any-
way, we are well into the realms of the double dummy. No-one would play this hand like that.
THIS hand, however, is a different matter. He wrote out an amended hand and slapped it in front
of the Scarecrow. ‘Recognise it now?’ he asked.
♠ 863
♥ 42
♦ K75
♣ A 10 6 5 3
♠ Q 10 7 4 N ♠ AK J 2
♥ 10 6 ♥ K983
♦ A Q 10 8 W E ♦ J42
♣ 984 S ♣ KJ
♠ 972
♥ AQJ75
♦ 963
♣ Q7
‘I was North. Our charming, or should I say charmed, friend held the East cards. The auction was as
at Dorothy’s table. By the way, why didn’t you convert 3NT to Four Spades?’ The Scarecrow opened
his mouth but no sound came out. ‘Never mind’, the Tin Man continued. ‘Despite himself he had
reached the normal contract. My partner also led a diamond. I also won the king and returned a
small club. Now, to be fair, there is no reason at all not to play the king. It is a guess, which for the
Scarecrow is the same as a certainty. He won the king. Would you care to take over, maestro?’
‘Well…,’ the Scarecrow marshalled his thoughts. ‘I could see four spade tricks, three diamond
tricks, one club trick and the best chance for a ninth seemed to be to lead up to the king of hearts.
I wanted to put that off for as long as possible because I was a bit worried about clubs.’ The Tin
Man snorted.
The Scarecrow ignored him and continued, ‘I thought I would cash my winners, trying to fin-
ish in the dummy before trying the heart. At least that way I would have eight tricks.’ He looked
around for support. Dorothy and the Lion nodded, trying to look more encouraging than bemused.
‘So, anyway, I took the diamonds, South throwing a spade, then the ace and king of spades. I

53 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
decided to cross over to dummy to take the last two. I played my small spade and then realised I
had had a hand sorting problem, again.’ He blushed.
‘Allow me to retake the reins.’ Jumped in the Tin Man with masochistic relish. ‘Look at the
position we had stumbled into.’
♠8
♥ 42
♦—
♣ A 10 6
♠ Q 10 N ♠J
♥ 10 6 ♥ K98
♦— W E ♦—
♣ 98 S ♣ J2
♠—
♥ AQJ75
♦—
♣Q
‘It is similar to the one Dorothy sketched out a minute ago except that everyone has two more
cards. Yet now the strip squeeze has worked! By playing his non-pointy, though undoubtedly
black, two of clubs declarer gave the defence an insoluble problem. If South is left on lead the
defence must concede a heart trick. If North overtakes then the jack of clubs is established and
the defence can take no more than two heart tricks before declarer regains the lead. If he doesn’t
South is endplayed. Sheer genius.’
He finished his drink and looked around ‘Same again everyone? Now Dorothy, as I was say-
ing, never, ever, EVER…’
He was interrupted by the Chairman of the Lollipop Guild’s call for attention.
‘Fellow members! Fellow members! Your attention, please. The heating engineer has returned
from our club. I’m sure you will all want to hear what he has to say!’
A young man stood before them wearing a startled look, clearly not having expected to be
reporting back to such an audience.
‘So, what have you found?’ ‘Is it fixed?’ ‘When can we go back?’ Various people shouted out.
The Chairman hushed everyone, then addressed the engineer. ‘Well, well. You can see how keen
our members are to hear your findings. What can you tell us all? Why is our system malfunction-
ing, and what can be done about it?’
The engineer shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. ‘To be honest, I have never
seen anything like it.’
‘But can you fix it?’
‘The thing is, it isn’t broken. It is working perfectly. It has to be the most sophisticated set up
I have ever seen. The way it has been broken into zones, the different settings, the range of tim-
ings across the zones is extraordinary. Whoever set it up is a genius!’
There were dark mutterings round the room. The words, witch, west and wicked echoed in
whispers. The Chairman remained statesmanlike and hushed the crowd. ‘I presume that setting
can be undone. Can you return it to its original settings?’
‘That’s the strangest thing about it. The system has clearly been reprogrammed recently, but all
earlier setting have been lost. It would be like starting from scratch. I could do it, but it would
be several days work, and I wouldn’t like to guarantee that the results would be what you wanted.
You would be far better speaking to the expert who set it up!’
As the disconsolate membership left the building the Irritable Witch of the South and the
Unpleasant Witch of the North were seen dancing a jig round the car park, cackling uncontrollably.

54 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

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56 February 2016 Bridge Magazine

 Intermediate

LYON - the place to be in August 2017

World Youth Championships
from 15th – 25th August 2017
LYON - FRANCE

Lyon is a place of warmth and

cultural exchange, and cultivates
a tradition of hospitality and
openness.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site

and a leading European tourist
destination, Lyon is also known
for the hosting and organisation
of major events.

In Lyon, the past and the future

meet. Ancient, modern and urban
combine with each other, every
discovery and every encounter
that you experience will be full of
wonder.

Welcome to Lyon where the 5th

World Youth Open Bridge
Championships, which are
organised by the World Bridge
Federation in cooperation with
the French Bridge Federation, will
be held at the Cité Internationale
of Lyon Schedule of play for the 2017
Youth Open Championships
The French Bridge Federation is
Pairs Registration Tues 15th Aug (at 10.00 hrs)
pleased to invite you to come and
participate in the events for Opening Ceremony Tues 15th Aug at 19.30
Juniors, Girls, Youngster
Pairs Championship From Wed 16th to Sat 19th Aug
and kids. (Prize-giving at 19.00)

Teams Championship From Sun 20th to Thurs 24th Aug

(Prize-Giving at 19.30)
Teams BAM From Tues 22nd to Fri 25th Aug
Championship
Prize-giving & Fri 25th Aug at 19.30 hrs.
Closing Ceremony

57 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate

Test Your
Defence
with Julian Pottage Solutions on page 69
♠ ♠ AJ9
1 ♥
AQ4
QJ6 2 ♥ Q3
♦ 10 7 ♦ AKQJ653
♣ Q J 10 9 8 ♣ 3
♠ 97652 N ♠ 10 3
N ♥ KJ74
♥ K53
W E ♦ Q92
W E ♦ 8
S ♣ 43 S ♣ A Q 10 7 6 4
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
– – – 1NT* – 1♦ 2♣ Pass
Pass 3NT All Pass Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT
1NT 15-17 All Pass
Partner leads the five of diamonds (second highest from Partner leads the nine of clubs. What is your plan?
poor suits, fourth highest from good suits). What is
your plan after dummy plays low?

58 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine



59 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate

The Mother of Discipline’s Verdict

David Bird

I t was more than three years since the Abbot had visited St Hilda’s Convent. Sister Grace, a
distant cousin of his, had recently recovered from a mysterious illness and the Abbot felt it
appropriate to lend support.
‘It’s wonderful to see you, Hugo,’ said Sister Grace. ‘I hope the drive here wasn’t too onerous.’
‘I could do with one of these modern cars that have air-conditioning,’ observed the Abbot. ‘It
hadn’t been invented when my Morris was built.’
‘Extravagant expenditure on personal comfort is hardly appropriate in our walk of life,’ Sister
Grace replied. ‘I was reluctant to have money spent on painkillers during my recent illness, but
the Mother Superior insisted on it.’
The Abbot nodded sympathetically, although he thought such an attitude way over the top. Had
she any idea how hot it had been in the car? ‘Have you been able to play any bridge recently?’ he
enquired. ‘I don’t usually feel like it when I’ve been ill.’
‘Not yet,’ Sister Grace required. ‘I can partner you tonight in our weekly duplicate if you like.’
She felt it was her duty to make such an offer. Few of the other nuns would welcome an evening
opposite the Abbot.
A few hours later, the game was under way. The Abbot had a chance to display his skills on
this early deal:
Dealer West. Both Vul
♠ AQJ64
♥ AK5
♦ A63
♣ 82
♠ K 10 9 8 7 3 2 N ♠—
♥ J7 ♥ Q 10 9 6 4
♦ 10 8 7 W E ♦ KQJ5
♣6 S ♣ 9753
♠5
♥ 832
♦ 942
♣ A K Q J 10 4
West North East South
Sister Sister Sister The
Euphemia Grace Frances Abbot
2♦ Double Pass 5♣
All Pass

Sister Euphemia opened with a Multi 2♦ and, in response to his partner’s double, the Abbot even-
tually decided to bid 5♣. The ♠10 was led and down went the dummy.
Now, thought the Abbot, which major suit was West likely to hold? There were seven spades
missing and seven hearts as well. It seemed right to finesse the spade queen. If this lost to the

60 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
king with East, at least he would have set up two surplus dummy winners for discards. ‘Queen,
please,’ he said.
The homely Sister Frances ruffed the trick and returned the king of diamonds. The Abbot
ducked this trick, hoping that some squeeze might develop later in the play. He won the next
diamond and drew trumps in four rounds. He continued with a heart to the ace and the ace of
spades, discarding a heart. Finally he ruffed a spade in his hand and played his remaining trumps.
East held the sole guard on the heart suit but West was able to guard the diamonds with her ten.
The contract was one down.
‘A bit careless at Trick 1, Hugo,’ Sister Grace remarked.
The Abbot blinked. Trick 1? What did she mean?
‘You should play low, ruffing the second round,’ Sister Grace continued. ‘Then you can score
two tricks with the ace-queen-jack, throwing three losers. Still, it wasn’t easy for you.’
‘I didn’t miss any such plays in the Bermuda Bowl, I can assure you,’ the Abbot replied. ‘Just
a momentary lapse.’
On the next round, the Abbot was granted a further chance to demonstrate his international-
standard cardplay. The opponents were two fresh-faced novices, who had entered the convent
only two months before.
Dealer North. E/W Vul.
♠ 754
♥ Q 10 2
♦ A5
♣ AJ963
♠ KQ2 N ♠ A9 8 3
♥4 ♥ K975
♦ 10 9 8 4 2 W E ♦ KQJ3
♣ 10 8 5 4 S ♣2
♠ J 10 6
♥ AJ863
♦ 76
♣ KQ7
West North East South
Sister Sister Sister The
Chloë Grace Imogen Abbot
– 1♣ Double 1♥
Pass 2♥ Pass 4♥
All Pass

The blonde-haired Sister Chloë smiled nervously at the Abbot and led the king of spades. Her
partner’s ♠9 was high enough to encourage a continuation of the ♠Q and a third round of the
suit went to East’s ♠A. The Abbot won the ♦K switch in dummy and ran the ♥Q successfully.
‘And the ten of trumps,’ he said.
Sister Imogen, who was unusually tall for a 15-year-old, covered with the trump king. The Abbot
won with the ace, West discarding a diamond. What now? He would need to enter dummy for a
further trump finesse and then return to score some more club tricks, discarding the diamond loser.
The Abbot soon spotted the required play. He led the king of clubs and overtook with dummy’s
ace. A marked finesse of the ♥8 came next and he drew East’s last trump with the jack. When he
played the club queen, he was happy to see East show out. Yes, indeed, his masterful play of the

61 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
club suit had been necessary. What a valuable lesson in cardplay for these two young girls!
The Abbot finessed the ♣9 and discarded his diamond loser on the ♣J. Ten tricks were there.
He looked across the table, where Sister Grace was already filling out the score-sheet. ‘Yes, aver-
age board,’ she said.
The Abbot was hoping for somewhat better news. ‘Really?’ he said.
‘The Mother Superior is Pair 1,’ Sister Grace replied. ‘She made eleven tricks on a diamond lead.
Two losers go on the clubs then.’
‘I’d never lead a diamond,’ declared Sister Chloë. ‘Partner’s likely to hold the ♠A when she dou-
bles an opening bid in hearts.’
‘I’m wondering if you could have beaten it,’ continued Sister Grace, taking a look at the curtain
cards. ‘What happens if Imogen returns a fourth round of spades? Ah, Chloë only had a single-
ton ♥4. You’d have had to ruff in your hand with the ♥6, Hugo, otherwise the ♥4 knocks out an
honour from dummy. That promotes a trump trick for East.’
‘I certainly would have done,’ replied the Abbot.
A few rounds later, the Abbot faced two middle-aged nuns, unknown to him. No doubt they
played the same sort of game as most of the monks back at St Titus - wooden, unimaginative and
very moderate in the cardplay department. Still, not everyone could aspire to dazzling heights of
the Bermuda Bowl.
This was the deal before them:
Dealer East. E/W Vul.
♠ K964
♥ K5
♦ AQJ95
♣ AJ
♠8 N ♠ 10
♥ 9864 ♥ AQ J 7 2
♦ 762 W E ♦ K84
♣ Q 10 9 6 3 S ♣ K872
♠ AQJ7532
♥ 10 3
♦ 10 3
♣ 54
West North East South
The Sister Sister Sister
Abbot Maud Grace Jubila
– – 1♥ 3♠
Pass 4♠ All Pass
The Abbot led the ♥9 against the spade game. ‘Better try the king,’ instructed Sister Jubila. Sis-
ter Grace won with the ace and scored a second heart trick with the queen. What next?
Declarer presumably held seven trump tricks and would shortly add a number of diamond
tricks. The only hope for the defence was to set up a club trick that could be cashed when the
diamond finesse lost.
Sister Grace was about to switch to a low club when a thought occurred to her. Suppose the
Abbot did hold the ♣Q, won with dummy’s ace. Declarer could then run all her trumps, reducing
the East hand to the ♦K8 and ♣K. A club exit would then force her in to lead into dummy’s ♦AQ.
There were very few nuns in the convent capable of making such a throw-in play and Sister

62 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Jubila was not among them. Still, there was no harm in defending accurately. Hugo had presum-
ably played well in Chennai. She would show him that her own play was not too rusty. Sister
Grace placed the ♣K on the table.
Sister Jubila won with dummy’s ace, drew trumps and ran the ♦10. Tricks in diamonds and
clubs put the game one down.
‘I needed the diamond finesse to work,’ observed Sister Jubila. ‘We were unlucky in both red
suits, partner.’
It was not Sister Maud’s habit to follow the play when she was dummy. She opened the score-
sheet and entered the result with a resigned air. ‘Everyone else found a way home,’ she said. ‘Still,
never mind.’
In the penultimate round of the session, the Abbot faced the Mother Superior and the ancient
Mother of Discipline. Much feared among the convent’s novices, the MoD kept her black pun-
ishment book plainly visible under her scorecard. On this particular session, unusually, she had
not yet found cause to make any entries in the book.
‘Hugo recently returned from abroad,’ said Sister Grace. ‘His team came 10th in the Bermuda
Bowl.’
The Mother of Discipline surveyed the Abbot disapprovingly. ‘Not all of us have the time for
bridge holidays in the Caribbean,’ she declared. ‘Not to mention the extravagant waste of money
that could have been devoted to the poor and the suffering. Do you not have a sense of duty
towards the community, Hugo?’
‘No, no, it wasn’t a holiday,’ replied the Abbot. ‘The Bermuda Bowl is a major championship for
the best players in the world. It was held in Chennai. You wouldn’t believe how hot it was there.’
The Mother of Discipline reached for her cards. ‘Hardly worth going all the way to the Carib-
bean just to come tenth,’ she retorted. This was the deal before them:
Dealer East. E/W Vul.
♠ KQ92
♥ Q843
♦ 86
♣ AQ4
♠8 N ♠3
♥ 96 ♥ A K J 10 5 2
♦ K 10 9 5 4 3 W E ♦ QJ7
♣ 10 9 8 6 S ♣ KJ2
♠ A J 10 7 6 5 4
♥7
♦ A2
♣ 753
West North East South
Sister Mother of The Mother
Grace Discipline Abbot Superior
– – 1♥ 1♠
Pass 2♥ Double 3♠
Pass 4♠ All Pass

Sister Grace led the ♥9 and the Mother of Discipline deposited her dummy on the table. The
Mother Superior leaned forward to arrange the cards into neat lines. ‘Thank you, Reverend Mother.
Very nice.’

63 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Since it would not suit her for the ♥9 to win, West then switching to a club, the Mother Supe-
rior called for the queen of hearts at Trick 1. The Abbot won with the king and switched to the
queen of diamonds, won by declarer’s ace.
The Mother Superior crossed to the king of trumps, all following, and then led the ♥8. As she
knew from the opening lead, only the Abbot could beat this card. When he covered with the ♥10,
she discarded the diamond loser from her hand. She ruffed the diamond continuation, crossed
to the ♠Q and ruffed another heart in her hand. A trump to the nine left these cards still in play:
♠2
♥4
♦—
♣ AQ4
♠— N ♠—
♥— ♥A
♦ K 10 W E ♦J
♣ 10 9 8 S ♣ KJ2
♠ AJ
♥—
♦—
♣ 753
The Mother Superior smiled warmly at the Abbot. ‘I think you know what’s coming now, Hugo,’
she said. ‘Play the heart, will you, partner?’
Trying to look as if he were enjoying the moment, the Abbot won with the ace of hearts. When
declarer discarded a club from her hand, he returned the jack of diamonds. The Mother Superior
disposed of her remaining club loser and ruffed in the dummy. The game was hers. ‘Don’t tell me
that the club was onside all along!’ she said.
‘I’m afraid not,’ said Sister Grace, displaying her ♣1098.
The Abbot winced. ‘You had a club sequence? A club lead beats it.’
‘I suppose I might have found a club lead without your double of Two Hearts,’ replied Sister
Grace.
‘Foolish double!’ muttered the Mother of Discipline, moving the next board into position. ‘The
sort of thing they do on bridge holidays, I expect.’
This was the final board of the session:
Dealer West. Both Vul.
♠ 964
♥5
♦ AK87653
♣ 54
♠ AQ J 10 7 5 2 N ♠ 83
♥ 10 8 6 3 ♥ J2
♦ 10 W E ♦ QJ9
♣2 S ♣ A J 10 9 7 6
♠K
♥ AKQ974
♦ 42
♣ KQ83

64 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
West North East South ♠ 964
Sister Mother of The Mother ♥ 5
Grace Discipline Abbot Superior ♦ AK87653
♣ 54
3♠ Pass Pass 4♥ ♠ A Q J 10 7 5 2 ♠ 83
All Pass N
♥ 10 8 6 3 ♥ J2
♦ 10 W E ♦ QJ9
Sister Grace led the ♣2 against the spade game and the ♣ 2 S ♣ A J 10 9 7 6
Abbot won with the ace. There was no point in return- ♠ K
ing a spade, since declarer was marked with a singleton. ♥ AKQ974
With a small nod of the head the Abbot returned the ♦ 42
♣ KQ83
jack of clubs, covered with the king.
Sister Grace ruffed and played the spade ace, dropping declarer’s king. The defence could make
no further tricks. The Mother Superior won the diamond switch in dummy and played six rounds
of trumps. On the last round the Abbot had to discard from the ♦QJ and the ♣109. Resignedly he
threw a club and the Mother Superior then claimed two clubs and a diamond to make the game.
‘Was that right, Hugo, rising with the ♣A?’ queried Sister Grace. ‘You could see that it would
set up the king-queen. I’m not sure the Reverend Mother can make it if you play a middle club
instead.’
‘I think you’re right,’ said the Mother Superior. ‘Suppose I win with the queen, draw three
rounds of trumps, cross to a diamond and lead a club towards the king. Hugo can rise with the
ace and lead another diamond for you to ruff. I would still have to lose a spade and a club.’
‘Quite so, Reverend Mother,’ replied Sister Grace. ‘Or he could just play another middle card
on the second round of clubs. You still can’t make it.’
‘Should have gone down, should it?’ muttered the Mother of Discipline. ‘It doesn’t surprise me.
No wonder he only came tenth on his bridge holiday!’

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65 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate

Some Enchanted Evening

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66 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate

Solution to Non-Prize Problem

South reaches Three No-trumps after the following:
Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ 10 9 3 2
♥ K 10 9 7
♦ AK
♣ J 10 2
♠ AK N ♠ QJ84
♥6 ♥ QJ8432
♦ J 10 9 7 4 W E ♦3
♣ Q9853 S ♣ 76
♠ 765
♥ A5
♦ Q8652
♣ AK4
West North East South
– Pass 2♥(weak) Double
Pass Pass 2♠ Pass
Pass Double Pass 2NT
Pass 3NT All Pass

Two Spades doubled might have suffered a heavier penalty than the N/S game but the vul-
nerability and uncertainty about how many spades North held encouraged South to remove.
West leads ♦J.
South cashes the top diamonds, East discarding a heart on the second round, and plays
a spade. West cashes the ♠AK and exits with the ♦10, East discarding another heart. How
should South continue?
The deal is from the 3rd Politiken Invitation Pairs in Denmark, 2000. Declarer was Vincent
Ramondt of the Netherlands, partnering Anton Maas.
Reading West’s shape as 2-1-5-5 he carefully played one top heart, the ace, to remove West’s
exit card and then threw West in with a diamond. Bocchi-Duboin were East-West and these
were their cards:
Duboin could cash another diamond but was then endplayed into leading a club. Three
rounds of that suit squeezed East in the majors.
If West exits with a club first. Declarer can enter hand with a second round of the suit and
play the fifth diamond to restore the timing for the squeeze.

67 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 VIDEO OF THE MONTH 3

15 World Bridge Games

th

Centennial Hall Wroclaw, Poland

3 – 17 September 2016
The magnificent City of Wroclaw (the fourth largest in Poland) will play host to the fifteenth World
Bridge Games, which incorporates the World National Open Teams, the Women’s, Seniors & Mixed
Teams and the World National Open, Women’s, Seniors & Mixed Pairs.

In each of the four team events the field will be divided into groups which will play a complete
round-robin with within the group. At the end of the round-robin, the highest ranked teams from
each group will be admitted to the knock-out stages, which will start with a Round of 16, followed
by Quarter-final, Semi-final, Final & Play-off KO matches.

The Pairs Championship in all four categories will take place during the second week (starting on
the morning of Sunday 11 September and ending on Saturday 17 September) and will consist of
Qualification, Semi-final and Final. Players eliminated from the Teams Championship both in the
Round of 16 and the Quarterfinals may drop-in into the Pairs Championship, in the appropriate
categories, in accordance with the appropriate Rules and Regulations.

In 2016 Wroclaw is the European Capital of Culture and the World Book Capital and will also play
host to the European Film Awards.

The City has prepared 12 adventurous weekends of culture for visitors from Poland and abroad.
Each weekend will comprise interdisciplinary events intended for a general audience. These have
been arranged in a way that will make it possible to immerse in culture and art for the whole day
– from visiting galleries and participating in concerts and spectacles to having fun during animated
workshops. Visitors can choose their own unique paths by selecting the most interesting events
from the rich cultural programme that will be on offer.

Many cultural events are scheduled to take place during the Championships, making Wroclaw a
must for bridge players and their families in 2016.

Waiting for Wroclaw 2016

running time: 3 minutes

68 February 2016 Bridge Magazine

 Intermediate
Solutions to “Test Your Defence”
with Julian Pottage See page 58

♠ ♠
1 ♥
AQ4
QJ6 2 ♥
AJ9
Q3
♦ 10 7 ♦ AKQJ653
♣ Q J 10 9 8 ♣ 3
♠ 10 N ♠ 97652 ♠ K87542 N ♠ 10 3
♥ 10 7 2 ♥ K53 ♥ A5 ♥ KJ74
♦ K86543 W E ♦ Q92 ♦ 10 7 2 W E ♦ 8
♣ A6 5 S ♣ 43 ♣ 92 S ♣ A Q 10 7 6 4
♠ KJ83 ♠ Q6
♥ A984 ♥ 10 9 8 6 2
♦ AJ ♦ 94
♣ K72 ♣ KJ85
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
– – – 1NT* – 1♦ 2♣ Pass
Pass 3NT All Pass Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT
All Pass
1NT 15-17 Partner leads the nine of clubs. What is your plan?
Partner leads the five of diamonds (second highest from Barring a highly improbable 5-0 diamond division,
poor suits, fourth highest from good suits). What is you can see eight tricks in dummy. Any winner in
your plan after dummy plays low? the unseen hand would provide the game-going trick.
In a way, prospects seem poor. You can see 12 points The lead and the bidding tell you that South holds the
in dummy, giving the opponents a minimum of 27 king of clubs. For sure, you must put up the ace of clubs
points between them. Furthermore, the heart layout and switch. Given that you have to place partner with
tells you that any heart finesse is working for declarer. the ace of hearts, naturally you will switch to a heart.
Thinking more positively, you have definite help in dia- If partner holds four hearts to the ace, you need take
monds and can see that any club finesse is losing for no special care. If, however, declarer holds four or more
your opponent. Unless the lead is from the ace-king, hearts, you will be unable to defeat the contract at once.
you need to hope that declarer has only one diamond You will need to arrange an endplay on dummy, play-
stopper and that partner has a top club honour. ing partner for the king of spades and (so that declarer
You begin by putting up the queen of diamonds, being cannot reach the king of clubs) the ten of diamonds.
ready to return the suit if you win the trick. As the You switch to a low heart. When partner shows out on
cards lie, declarer wins at once. Then, if declarer plays the third round, you know to switch to your diamond.
on clubs and partner lays down the king of diamonds, You should also be able to differentiate a three- or four-
you must unblock the nine. If, instead, declarer plays card holding by the way partner plays the suit.
on hearts, you will duck the first honour led from
dummy and cover the second.

69 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate

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70 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
PARTNERSHIP PROFILE
In this issue, the Editor takes a look at the main event in the ACBL’s Fall Nationals, the Reisinger Trophy .

It is a three-day, six-sessions event; two  qualification sessions and two semi-final sessions are fol-
lowed by a ten-team final over two sessions.
Each board is scored as a Win, a Loss or a Tie (Push). If the N/S pair is +620 and the E/W pair
at the other table is +100, the result is a full win and one point.
If a team is -1100 E/W at one table and -1700 as N/S at the other table, it is simply a loss and a
zero. If both tables achieve the same score, say +170 at each table, it is a tie and a 1/2 for each team.
At BAM, the part-score battle can be intense. Doubling a part-score is more prevalent than
in any other form of scoring. At matchpoints, tight doubles of part-scores are often avoided. At
BAM, if a player suspects his opponents have already out-competed him, a penalty double is
often a no-lose proposition.
During the play, overtricks play an important role. Concentration, courage and a strong bid-
ding technique are essential ingredients for this kind of competition.
We are going to concentrate on the two teams who finished well clear of the remaining eight.
The squad led by Vytautas Vainikonis (Jerzy Skrzyzpczak, Ron Pachtmann, Boguslaw Gierulski,
Olanski Wojtek and Pawel Zatorski) and Mark Gordon’s team, David Berkowitz, Michael
Rosenberg, Jacek Pszczola, Alan Sontag and Pratap Rajadhyaksha.
The Hands
(This month all the deals were played at BAM.)
Hand 1. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
♠ A9 8 7 5 3 N ♠ K Q 10
♥ 62 ♥ K J 10 7 5
♦ Q85 W E ♦ AK 6 4
♣ K7 S ♣A
North opens 3♣ and South raises to 5♣
West North East South
Auken Welland
– 3♣ Double 5♣
5♠ Pass 6♠ All Pass

North led the jack of diamonds from ♠J42 ♥94 ♦J ♣Q965432 and declarer won with dummy’s
ace, cashed two top spades, unblocked the ace of clubs, cashed two more spades and then tried
the queen of diamonds. When North discarded declarer took one more spade and then played a
heart, South’s ♥AQ giving the defenders two tricks.
West North East South
Pszczola Rosenberg
– 3♣ Double 5♣
5♠ Pass 6♣ Pass
6♠ Pass Pass Double
All Pass

As before North led the jack of diamonds.

Play followed a similar pattern, but here one down cost 100 and a loss.

71 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
In the match between Vainikonis and Zimmermann Helness did not open 3♣ and Skrzypczak-
Gierulski had a Polish Club auction: which started 1♣*-1♠-2♥*-2♠-3♠-3NT*- 4♣*-4♦-4♥*. At
this point Helgemo doubled and East signed off in 4♠.
At the other table Vainikonis also passed as dealer and Zimmermann-Multon bid 1♥-2♠*-4♣*-
4♠-4NT*-5♦*-6♠. When Olanski doubled Zimmermann ran to 6NT, which was passed out.
South led the jack of clubs from ♠6 ♥AQ83 ♦109732 ♣J108 and declarer won and cashed six rounds
of spades and the king of clubs, discarding four hearts from hand. South, discarding after declarer, was
down to ♥AQ ♦10932, but could discard the queen of hearts, as North had carefully retained the ♥94.
In the match between Cayne and Bramley Peter Gill made 6NT when Lauria discarded the
four of hearts. Now declarer could eventually play a heart (the six is the elegant card) and dum-
my’s remaining heart was the twelfth trick.
Recommended auction: Given a free run E/W might start 1♥-1♠-3♦-3♠-4♣*. If West then bids
4♦ East is likely to ask for key cards and then bid either 6♠ or 6NT.
After the pre-emptive strikes by N/S it is hard to avoid 6♠.
On a non-heart lead 6♠ is a good contract – declarer can draw trumps and test the diamonds,
falling back on a heart guess if they fail to break.
Marks: 6♠(E)10, 6NT (E)/6♠ (W) 8, 4♠/3NT 7.
Running score: Vainikonis 1(7) Gordon 0 (8)
Hand 2. Dealer West. All Vul.
♠ Q J 10 9 6 4 N ♠ 752
♥ QJ5 ♥ 10 8
♦ J 10 W E ♦ AK 9 8 3
♣ A3 S ♣ K62
West East
Gordon Pratap
1♠ 1NT
2♠ 4♠
Pass
Why East thought his hand was worth 4♠ is a mystery.
North led the six of hearts from ♠A8 ♥976 ♦Q654 ♣10975 and South cashed two tricks in
the suit and switched to a club, the defenders scoring two spade tricks for one down.
West East
Blakset Bruun
1♠ 3♥*
3♠ All Pass
3♥ Three-card limit raise
Meckstroth’s Law states that if you have a six-card major that is freely raised by partner you should
bid game, but if ever a hand was an exception this is it.
3♠ made on the nose for a win.
When Vainikonis met Becker Sadek and Elahmady bid 2♠-3♠ which was worth a win against
the 2♠-2NT*-3NT*-4♠ produced by Zatorski & Vainikonis.
Recommended auction: 1♠-2♦-2♠-3♠ would be the Acol sequence, but using our latest meth-
ods 1♠-1NT-2♠-3♠ fits the bill.
Marks: 3♠ 10.
Running score: Vainikonis 1(7) Gordon 0 (8)

72 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Hand 3. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
♠7 N ♠ Q6
♥ 10 7 6 ♥ AK Q 9 5
♦ J852 W E ♦ KQ6
♣ AQ 6 4 3 S ♣ 10 8 5
South opens 2♠ (weak) and North raises to3♠
West North East South
Skrzypczak Gierulski
– – – 2♠
Pass 3♠ 4♥ All Pass

South led the nine of diamonds from ♠A109543 ♥J3 ♦94 ♣K97 and North took the ace, cashed
the king of spades and switched back to diamonds. Declarer won, cashed the ace of hearts, ruffed
a spade, drew trumps, unblocked the diamonds and took the club finesse for +450.
West North East South
Strul Becker
– – – 2♠
Pass 3♠ All Pass

Bidding over 3♠ is not risk free, but it is one you have to take.
West led the six of hearts and East played three rounds of the suit, declarer pitching a diamond
on the third one. He subsequently lost two clubs to be one down, but that was a win.
Pratap and Gordon bid 2♠-4♠ which was enough to keep Peter Fredin out of the auction. They
were -200, but that was a win when Pszcola matched Gierulski’s 4♥ bid after 2♠-3♠.
Recommended auction: After 2♠-3♠ East’s 4♥ is a gamble, but as you can see it is one that some
players were willing to take.
After 2♠-4♠ if East doubles what should West do?
At the vulnerability is a Pass in order?
Marks: 4♥ 10, 3♠ (E/W) 3.
Running score: Vainikonis 2(17) Gordon 1 (18)
Hand 4. None Vul. Dealer West.
♠ AK Q N ♠ 8732
♥ K4 ♥ AQ 6
♦ AQ 9 8 4 2 W E ♦ 765
♣ 94 S ♣ K10 3
North overcalls 1♥
West East
Zatorski Vainikonis
1♦ (1♥) Double
2NT 3NT
Pass

North led the eight of hearts from ♠54 ♥J87532 ♦K ♣AQJ5 and declarer won with the king and
cashed the ace of diamonds. When the king fell he gave up a trick to the ten and took eleven tricks.

73 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
West East
Miller Gupta
1♦ (2♥) Double
3NT Pass

Gierulski led the queen of clubs and when dummy’s king held, declarer cashed his top spades
and followed them with three rounds of hearts. A diamond for the queen and king enabled the
defenders to collect the rest for two down and a win.
Jimmy Cayne overcalled 1♥ against Gordon and then found the lead of the queen of clubs. Declarer
won in dummy and, paying homage to the Rabbi, played a diamond to the ace for nine tricks.
Meanwhile Lauria preferred 1NT to a double and Rosenberg had no reason to lead anything
but a heart. Declarer won in dummy, cashed the ace of diamonds and was +460 for a win.
Recommended auction: Both auctions are fine.
Marks: 3NT 10, 5♦ 4.
Running score: Vainikonis 3(27) Gordon 1 (18)
Hand 5. Dealer North. Both Vul.
♠ 98732 N ♠ AK Q 5
♥ Q 10 ♥ AK J 7 6 3
♦ 742 W E ♦6
♣ J75 S ♣ A 10
If East opens 2♣ and West responds 2♦ North doubles and South bids 3♦.
West North East South
Olanski Vainikonis
– Pass 2♣* Pass
2♦* Double 2♥ 3♦
Pass Pass 3♠ Pass
4♠ Pass 5♣* Pass
5♥ Pass 6♠ All Pass
2♣ Game forcing
2♦ Negative
5♣ Cue-bid
5♥ Last Train
Full marks to E/W, particularly West who fully appreciated the value of his fifth trump and the
queen of hearts.
South led the king of diamonds from ♠J104 ♥84 ♦KJ3 ♣KQ864 but declarer was soon claim-
ing the rest, +1430.
West North East South
Weinstein Grabel
– Pass 2♣ Pass
2♦ Double 2♥ 3♦
Pass Pass 4♥ All Pass
This uninspiring sequence resulted in a loss.
In Gordon’s match against Gupta Dennis Bilde opened the North hand (♠6 ♥952 ♦AQ10985
♣932) 3♦ and when Rajadhyaksha doubled Morten Bilde bid 4♣. When North went back to 4♦
East bid 4♥ but North was still there with 5♣. East doubled that and South’s conversion to 5♦
but all West could do was bid 5♥ for +680.

74 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
At the other table Pszczola started with a weak 2♦ and when Gupta doubled Rosenberg raised
to 3♦, East’s 4♥ bringing the auction to a close and flattening the board.
Recommended auction: Olanski and Vainikonis produced an excellent auction. If North opens
2♦ and South raises to 3♦ East should consider bidding 4♦. When West responds 4♠ it is not
unreasonable to take a shot at 6♠.
Marks: 6♠/6♥10, 5♥ 5.
Running score: Vainikonis 4 (37) Gordon 1.5 (23)
Hand 6. Dealer East. None Vul.
♠ Q 10 N ♠ K76
♥2 ♥ A 10 9 4
♦ K 10 9 5 W E ♦ AQ 7
♣ A 10 5 4 3 2 S ♣ K96
If East opens 1NT South bids 2♣ for the majors and if possible North bids 3♠.
West North East South
Gordon Rajadhyaksha
– – 1NT 2♣
2NT* 3♠ 3NT Pass
Pass Double All Pass
2♣ Majors
2NT Transfer to clubs with at least invitational values
South led the five of spades from ♠J952 ♥KQ865 ♦J842 ♣- and when declarer put in dummy’s
ten North took the ace and returned the three to dummy’s queen.
Declarer’s next move was to play the two of clubs, putting in the nine when North followed
with the seven. When South discarded declarer claimed eleven tricks.
West North East South
Miller Gupta
– – 1NT 2♣
3NT All Pass
South led the six of hearts and declarer took North’s jack with the ace and cashed the king of
clubs, seeing South pitch the nine of spades. When he continued with a club to the ace and a
club, North won and played the seven of hearts for the ten and queen. South exited with a dia-
mond and declarer won and played a spade to the queen and ace and North cashed the queen
of clubs before exiting with a heart for three down.
Given the result at the other table it did not matter, but declarer could have made 3NT by
playing a spade to the ten and subsequently getting the diamonds right.
In Bramley against Vainikonis the latter opened 1NT and when Gill bid 2♣ Olanski responded
3♥ showing a shortage with both minors.
South led the king of hearts against 3NT and declarer won with the ace and played a spade to
the queen.
Hans took the ace and returned the jack of hearts. When that held he needed to go back to
spades to defeat the contract, but that was a tough play to find and a third heart was covered by
the ten and queen. Declarer won the heart exit and having pitched a couple of clubs from dummy
now played one to the ace. The next club forced North to put in an honour but declarer could
win and give up a club for +400.

75 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
In the other room Grabel and Weinstein were given a free run, bidding 1NT-2♠*-3♣*-3♥*-
4♥*-5♣, West having transferred to clubs and then show a shortage while East had shown a fit
for clubs and cue-bid in hearts.
Skrzypczak led the king of hearts and declarer won and laid down the king of clubs, after which
he could muster only ten tricks.
You will have spotted that there is a 100% line for five club tricks – declarer ruffs a heart and
plays a club, putting in the nine if North follows with the seven.
There is still some work to do, but declarer should prevail.
If South had bid over 1NT this is probably the right line, but with no clue declarer was sim-
ply unlucky.
Recommended auction: Of the featured auctions, I prefer the first one, which might avoid a
hopeless 3NT.
Marks: 3NT 10, 5♣ 8.
Running score: Vainikonis 5 (47) Gordon 2.5 (33)
Hand 7. Dealer North. None Vul.
♠ K 10 8 N ♠ AQ 7 5 3 2
♥ KQ3 ♥ A2
♦ AJ 9 8 W E ♦ Q 10 2
♣ Q72 S ♣ 94
South overcalls 2♣
West East
Olanski Vainikonis
– 1♠ (2♣)
3♣* 4♠
Pass
3♣ Good raise in spades
De Kniff,who had overcalled on ♠J9 ♥1084 ♦54 ♣AK10853 started with three rounds of clubs,
North’s ruff neutralising dummy’s queen and ensuring a third trick for the defence.
West East
Blakset Bruum
– 1♠ (2♣)
3NT Pass

North led the jack of clubs and when South ducked declarer won with the queen, played a spade
to the ace and the queen of diamonds. When Skrzypczak followed impassively with the four
declarer went up with the ace and claimed eleven tricks and a win.
In Gordon v Bramley both sides played in 4♠ for a tie.
Recommended auction: At this form of scoring I like Lars Blakset’s 3NT.
Marks: 3NT 10, 4♠ 8.
Running score: Vainikonis 5 (55) Gordon 3 (41)

76 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Hand 8. Dealer North. Both Vul.
♠ 74 N ♠ J963
♥ 9865 ♥ AQ 3
♦ 10 9 7 2 W E ♦ AK 8 5 4
♣ A6 5 S ♣J
North opens 1♣, South bids 1♠ and North rebids 1NT
West North East South
Multon Zimmermann
– 1♣ Double 1♠
Pass 1NT All Pass

East led the ace of diamonds and switched to the jack of clubs, turning a potential plus score into
a minus. West took the ace and returned the ten of diamonds and East won and played a third
diamond. Declarer cashed his club winners and when East threw a spade he had ten tricks.
West North East South
Pszczola Rosenberg
– 1♣ 1♦ 1♠
2♦ Pass Pass 3♣
Pass Pass 3♦ Double
All Pass

A typical BAM auction with N/S taking a risk that Lloyds of London might be loathe to cover.
Helgemo led the ace of spades from ♠AK1052 ♥J102 ♦6 ♣10942 and switched to the ten of
clubs, declarer winning with dummy’s ace and playing a spade to the queen. North tried to cash a
club, but declarer ruffed, cashed the top diamonds and ruffed the jack of spades. North could over-
ruff and play a club, but declarer ruffed, ruffed a spade and played a heart to the queen for +670.
Gordon matched that +670 in his match against Fleisher – he didn’t need to as in the other
room E/W collected +140 in 2♠.
Recommended auction: After the 1♣ opening I much prefer the 1♦ overcall.
Marks: 3♦ 10, 1NT (E/W) 7, 2♠/3♣ (E/W) 5.
Running score: Vainikonis 6 (65) Gordon 5 (51)
This month’s bonus deal is a corker:
Dealer North. N/S Vul
♠ KJ532
♥6
♦ 754
♣ AKQJ
♠— N ♠ A 10 8 7 6 4
♥ J542 ♥ AK Q 9 8 7
♦ Q9632 W E ♦8
♣ 7653 S ♣—
♠ Q9
♥ 10 3
♦ A K J 10
♣ 10 9 8 4 2

77 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
In the match between Fleisher and Vainikonis Auken opened 1♠ and Welland doubled Vain-
ikonis’s 2♥ overcall. When Olanski raised to game everyone passed.
In the Closed Room:
West North East South
Moss Gierulski Grue Skrzypczak
– 1♠ 2♥ Double*
4♥ Pass 6♥ Pass
Pass Double All Pass

South cashed the king of diamonds and switched to the three of hearts. Declarer ruffed and cross
ruffed spades and diamonds, conceding one down when the 5-2 spade break was confirmed.
Elsewhere Zimmermann and Multon defended 4♥ doubled and let two overtricks through to
surrender +790 – a disappointment for Helgemo-Helness who had scored +690.
Elahmady and Sadek were another pair to collect +690.
In the replay their teammates were not exactly shy during the auction:
West North East South
Versace Becker Lauria Strul
– 1♠ 2♥ Double*
5♥ Double Pass 5♠
Pass Pass Double Pass
Pass 6♣ Double All Pass

If East is inspired and leads a low spade his side can collect +800 but he started with the ace of
spades and declarer was only two down for a win.
When Fredin opened 1♠ and Grabel overcalled De Knijff raised to 2♠. That persuaded his
partner to try 4♠ over Weinstein’s 4♥ and that cost 800 – annoying for Blakset & Bruun who
had made 5♥ doubled.
As usual, I have saved the tastiest morsel until the end.
In the match between Bertheau and Gupta Brink & Drijver were +690.
In the Open Room Miller and Gupta took a pot at 6♥ and of course they were doubled.
South cashed a diamond and switched to the nine of spades, the grateful declarer cross ruffing
to establish the spades for +1210.
At the end of the first session of the final Gordon led with 16.5,just ahead of Zimmermann’s
16.0, with Becker next on 15.5, followed by Vainikonis on 15.0.
You can play through the deals mentioned in this article. Just follow the links:
Hand 1
http://tinyurl.com/zrzeltm; http://tinyurl.com/zc5y728; http://tinyurl.com/hnqpqck
Hands 2 & 3
http://tinyurl.com/hzzfsvm; http://tinyurl.com/hn87ytw
Hand 4
http://tinyurl.com/hjfal4v
Hands 5 & 6
http://tinyurl.com/jpcfs99; http://tinyurl.com/jbukdm2
Hand 7
http://tinyurl.com/zce39ja
Hand 8
http://tinyurl.com/jj4fba7; http://tinyurl.com/j5oc8f2

78 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate

MARKS & COMMENTS

Set 300 conducted by Alan Mould

I start this month with an apology. I reported that

problem 6 of Set 298 was sent in by reader George THE BIDS & MARKS
Willetts. Actually George has no s on the end of his Bid Marks No. of Votes
name – he is George Willett. Sorry George. 1. Three Spades 10 16
This is the first set where problems featuring the Double 8 4
new system were evident (last month I deliberately set Three Hearts 6 1
Pass 4 0
problems that were I hoped system neutral). And in Four Clubs 3 0
fact there has been a couple of interesting discussions Four Diamonds 1 0
around this plus some problems – but more of that later. 2. Four Diamonds 10 14
This month the problems are: problem 1 comes from Five Diamonds 8 5
Six Spades 7 1
round 12 of the round robin in Chennai and was sent Four Spades 5 1
to me by John Carruthers; problem 2 comes from reader Five Spades 3 0
Ray Stubbs; problem 3 was sent to me by Mike Law- Six Diamonds 3 0
rence and comes from am American regional; prob- Six Clubs 3 0
Five Clubs 2 0
lem 4 comes from the seniors event in Chennai and 3. Four Hearts 10 8
was sent to me by John Matheson; problems 5 and 6 Pass 9 6
were sent to me by Marc Smith and problems 7 and Four Spades 9 7
8 I played in the Ben Franks trophy, a local Manches- Four Diamonds 2 0
4. Five Spades 10 16
ter pairs event (though I changed one to IMP scoring). 4NT 9 1
OK on with the show. Pass 7 4
Six Spades 4 0
PROBLEM 1 5NT 3 0
5. Double 10 13
Pass 8 6
IMPs. Dealer East. E/W Vul Four Clubs 7 2
♠ K J 10 4 2 Three Spades
Three Hearts
3
3
0
0
♥ A9 8 3 2 Four Hearts 1 0
♦— Four Spades 1 0
♣ A7 4 6. Four Clubs
Four Spades
10
7
18
1
West North East South Pass 6 2
– – 1♦ 3♣* Five Clubs 2 0
? 3NT 1 0
3 ♣ Natural and weak
7.
Four Hearts
Five Clubs
1
10
0
8
Bid Marks No. of Votes Five Hearts 9 1
Three Spades 10 16 5NT 9 2
Double 8 4 Pass 8 4
Five Spades 8 1
Three Hearts 6 1 Six Clubs 7 3
Pass 4 0 Six Spades 7 2
Four Clubs 3 0 Six Hearts 6 0
Four Diamonds 1 0 Six Diamonds 4 0
Five Diamonds 4 0
When John Carruthers sent me this hand he included a 4NT 2 0
lengthy analysis so hey why should I work when John’s Seven Hearts 1 0
analysis is so good: Seven Spades 1 0
West North East South 8. One Spade 10 11
Pass 9 2
Rusev Clerkin Hristov Clerkin Two Clubs 8 3
– – 1♦ 3♣ One Diamond 7 3
3♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass Three Clubs 7 3

79 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
“The auction here was from the d’Orsi Trophy (the sen- Rigal: Three Spades. I plan to bid Three Spades then
iors event – AM) match between USA2 and Bulgaria. Four Hearts over any action for which this is legal.
It occurred to me that West’s response is not so clearcut. If partner raises to Four Spades I pass, regretfully,
By bidding Three Spades, one could easily miss a 5-4 and without any confidence I am doing the right
heart fit and play Four Spades on a 5-2 (partner has thing. Negative double may work if I hear a major,
some semi-balanced 2-4-5-2 for example. Possible bids but not over the likely Three Diamond response.
include Double, Four Clubs, Three Spades and Three Quite. The real problem is not if partner bids 3NT/
Hearts. Especially if the majors were interchanged, Four Diamonds as we can bid Four Hearts (though
Three Hearts would be more attractive as a nine-card as Paul says that is not necessarily a panacea), but if
spade fit could still be reached and Four Hearts might partner bids Four Spades when it is entirely possible
not be so bad if West’s hearts were better. As they are that we are in the wrong major-suit game. Marc actu-
Four Hearts could be a disaster opposite Qx. Suppose ally comes up with another problem:
you bid Three Spades and partner tries 3NT. Are you Smith: Three Spades. I suppose I then have to con-
supposed to pass? He might after all hold only one or tinue with Four Hearts over 3NT, although I won-
even no diamond stop. An interesting sidebar is: What der if he will give preference based on expecting
does Four Diamonds by responder mean (assuming 6-4 for this sequence. I can’t say I particularly like
Four Clubs shows diamonds and a GF – should it?)? In this route, but I like the options after double and
theory we do NOT preempt over preempts, so it should Three Diamonds even less – 3M sounds like a weak-
be a good limit raise plus, but perhaps pick-a-major ish single-suiter and Four Clubs sounds like dia-
is more useful. The problem would be remembering it mond agreement.
when it comes up again in 2019. What about Dou- Leufkens: Three Spades. Everything has drawbacks.
ble, giving partner the most room, then what do we After Double everything gets murky as you haven’t
do over Three Diamonds/3NT? Would a Four Club indicated a five-card suit. My experience tells me
bid agree diamonds still or force a choice between the to make it as simple as possible. So Three Spades,
majors? Many questions, no answers.” and after the expected Four Diamonds, Four Hearts.
Yes indeed. And the panel are of course aware of all After Three Spades-3NT it’s more difficult, but I
of them. Nonetheless three quarters of the panel go for think I’ll bid Four Hearts anyway. Sure, you want
the simple Three Spades and hope it will be alright a major suit game played in partner’s hand, but
on the night. Most panelists kindly tell us what they hoping for that with a double might be a bit naive.
will do over 3NT/Four Diamonds from partner, and Silver: Three Spades. The trouble (for me) with
that is usually Four Hearts: doubling is I don’t know if partner will take Three
Rosen: Three Spades. Then Four Hearts, vital to Hearts over Three Diamonds as forcing, or if he
get shape across. will assume I have both majors, and with 3-2 in
Brock: Three Spades. And Four Hearts over 3NT. the majors bid Three Spades over Three Hearts. So
Eric puts in a plug for the weak NT and, thoughtful as I will just apply my favourite convention K.I.S.S,
ever, points out a flaw in our new systemic agreements (Keep It Simple Stupid – AM) and bid a forcing
– no system is perfect and you cannot have everything: Three Spades now and a non-forcing Four Hearts
Kokish: Three Spades. Then Four Hearts over 3NT later if necessary.
or Four Diamonds. Difficult to love this plan, but Sime: Three Spades. On a very unlucky day we
the hardships accruing from a negative double seem will lose a number. It is a losing strategy not to bid
more daunting. FWIW, in strong-notrump systems because it might be that day. Akin to staying in
like BMAG2016 competitive decisions will tend because there might be a bear lurking round the
to be more difficult as opener can and often will corner. (I will pass 3NT, but bid Four Hearts over
have a minimum balanced hand for his minor-suit Four Diamonds).
openings. This simple truth is the best reason to No one on the panel was suggesting Pass Iain – it
play weak no-trumps, which happen to mesh very was WHAT to bid, not WHETHER to bid.
well with five-card majors. Apteker: Three Spades. Intending to bid Four
Bowyer: Three Spades. Intending to follow with Hearts over 3NT allowing partner to find the 5-3
Four Hearts. Partner will infer the 5-5 shape; fit in either major, if available, or to play in a 5-2
whether he can deal with the information is another major fit, preferably spades which has reasonable
matter. suit quality. The option is to double allowing part-
Good point! Won’t partner be happy when she is ner to bid a major if he has four but this will not
1-2-7-3 or the like  enable the 5-3 fits to be found.

80 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
Is that necessarily so? What if we double and then well have bid Three Hearts if my majors had been
bid 3M? Well Drew, David and others believe we can- reversed. As I’ve bid Three Spades, am I committed
not do that because: to Four Hearts over 3NT? No, I think not.
Cannell: Three Spades. A natural force that will John mentions Three Hearts – Adam thinks about
likely be followed by Four Hearts next to offer part- it before rejecting it entirely:
ner a choice of major-suit games. I cannot make a Zmudzinski: Three Spades. I couldn’t double –over
negative double as the follow-ups may prove diffi- Three Diamonds by the opener my Three Hearts/
cult to unravel on many rebids by partner. If I were Spades wouldn’t be forcing and Four Clubs agrees
to double Three Clubs partner in many scenarios diamonds . I considered Three Hearts and pray for
will rebid Three Diamonds. Now, any major-suit Three Spades/3NT but there is a trap – over Four
bid is non-forcing, and cue-bids will not be under- Diamonds by partner I have no action.
stood the way Alice in Wonderland would under- Which brings us to a lone voice – John does bid
stand them! Three Hearts:
Bird: Three Spades. If I double and then bid Three Matheson: Three Hearts and pass 3NT. If I
Spades over Three Diamonds, this will presumably responded Three Spades I would also pass 3NT.
be non-forcing (more on that later – AM), since I Three Hearts picks up more major suit fits.
declined to bid Three Spades on the previous round. And as Adam says you are doing what exactly over
In other words, I will be stuck. A double will work Four Diamonds John?
only when partner has a four-card major. Bidding The main alternative view is our flexible friend:
Three Spades looks better and may find a 5-3 fit Robson: Double. Then easy to find a 5-4 major fit
there. Over 3NT, I will pass. and a possible slam. If partner responds Three Dia-
OK frankly I do not understand at all this method monds, I’ll have to ad lib Three Spades.
of treating this hand. Yes you pick up the 5-4 and 5-3 And there is the rub… what to do over Three Dia-
spade fits but you lose entirely the heart fits. If you are monds from partner. If we had the agreement/knew/
going to pass 3NT isn’t it better to double Three Clubs whatever that 3M over Three Diamonds was forcing
and then bid 3NT over Three Diamonds? At least that then double would stick out like a sore thumb. But
way you pick up all of the 5-4 major suit fits. David in fact many of the panel either have the agreement
is not without his supporters though: that it is non-forcing or are not sure so will not risk it.
Cope: Three Spades. I expect the problem to come The doublers, not surprisingly, are sure 3M is forcing:
on the next round whatever I bid here with Dou- Greco: Double. This is why they pre-empt. I will
ble and Three Spades being the only real options. If double and follow a likely Three Diamonds with
partner bids 3NT I will let it go, but will bid Four Three Hearts which has to be both majors and forc-
Hearts over Four Diamonds. ing. I could never risk double with only a weak hand
Green: Three Spades. Tricky, I don’t think I can dou- and hearts on the three-level!
ble because over the probable Three Diamond bid That seems the way to play to me. The idea of being
from partner then Four Clubs for me would show able to stop on a pin head in 3M (particularly Three
diamond support not both majors (what would Hearts) on a weak hand with just one suit seems far-
Three Spades be over Three Diamonds from part- fetched to me. The auction never tempos out that way.
ner?) (Well I was hoping you would tell me that!). I’ll What if partner bids Three Spades over double? Or
start with Three Spades and then try Four Hearts 3NT? Or the oppo raise to Four Clubs, etc etc. Either
over Four Diamonds. Over 3NT I will have to guess bid or pass with one suiters, but don’t double.
what to do, I will probably pass that as there is no Mike and Tadashi are going to bid Four Clubs
guarantee of a fit. whatever:
Carruthers: Three Spades. If I double and partner Lawrence: Double. My first bid is double. Awk-
bids Three Diamonds, what am I supposed to do ward for sure. At least my partner isn’t going to pass
then? Four Clubs would not be pick a major, but a it. If he bids Three Hearts or Three Spades, I will
club control heading for a diamond slam. And three cue-bid Four Clubs and go from there. If he bids
of a major might well be construed as king-jack- Three Diamonds, I’m not happy but it should be a
ten to seven and out (Really? I thought that method rare event (why? We are void – I would have thought
had gone seriously out of fashion? The auction NEVER that was his most likely response). Over that, I guess
pans out to allow you to show it). I have some sym- I will bid Four Clubs. If partner bids 3NT, I bid
pathy for Three Hearts, which will find an eight- Four Clubs. Sounds like Four Clubs is the answer
card heart fit or a nine-card spade fit. And I might to everything.

81 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
You had better have firm agreements as to the mean- so I will cue-bid and follow up with Five Spades as
ing of Four Clubs over Three Diamonds or 3NT – in a slam try with a diamond control.
a casual partnership it might be inferred as agreeing Teramoto: Four Diamonds. A jump to Four Spades
diamonds. However a game with Tadashi beckons: shows a hand like 5-6 shape, but this is too good
Teramoto: Double. I would like to find a 5-4 major for that. If partner bids Four Hearts a jump to Five
suit fit if we have one. If I bid Three Spades he may Spades shows a strong 5-6. If he bids Four Spades,
raise with a doubleton spade. I will bid Four Clubs I will continue with Five Diamonds showing the
if partner bids Three Diamonds over my double. control.
And I will also bid Four Clubs if he bids 3M over Bird: Four Diamonds. Partner may well read this
my double. as showing 4-4 in the majors, but I can bid Five
I had a hand recently after this exact start where I Spades over Four Hearts to show the type. Bidding
was 5-5-2-1 and game-going values, so not only did I an immediate Six Spades will often work well but I
have both majors to sort out but diamonds could easily would hate anyone to think that I was uncultured.
have been the correct strain for game or slam. I tried Barry is rueful:
double and continued with Three Hearts over Three Rigal: Four Diamonds. Planning to convert Four
Diamonds – that duly got the dummy with Four Hearts Hearts to Five Spades, suggesting a hand with dia-
cold. This time partner has ♠AQx ♥Jx ♦KQJxxx ♣Jx monds and spades too good for Four Hearts. I admit
so Three Spades gets an easy raise whereas if we dou- this strategy will be inelegant if partner alerts this
ble partner bids Three Diamonds and now we need call as Exclusion Blackwood for hearts. I may be
to know what our continuations mean… happy that spades outrank hearts…
Kokish: Four Diamonds. Not much choice at this
PROBLEM 2 turn, and it’s not going to be any easier when East
bids Four Hearts. Inevitably, a statement like “nega-
IMPs. Dealer West. N/S Vul tive doubles through Three Spades” does not cover
♠ AQ 9 8 3 the subject completely. I think it’s implicit that East
♥ Q9 would bid Two Hearts (not a game force) rather
♦— than double with (say) 2-5-3-3 and a 10-count
♣ AK Q 9 5 3 (Concur – AM), and that a free Two Hearts would
not promise a rebid over a minimum rebid by
West North East South
opener (Concur again – AM). That makes it much
1♣ 2♦* Double 3♦
more likely that East has both majors here, and I
?
2 ♦ Natural and intermediate
do not think Four Diamonds-Four Hearts; Four
Spades is enough with this hand even though it’s
Bid Marks No. of Votes
a clear slam try. The complexity of continuations
Four Diamonds 10 14 like Five Diamonds and Five Spades suggests that
Five Diamonds 8 5 we’ll see that problem in a future bidding forum.
Six Spades 7 1
Four Spades 5 1 Some panelists are intending to bid a slam come
Five Spades 3 0 Hell or high water:
Six Diamonds 3 0 Bowyer: Four Diamonds. I am going to bid at least
Six Clubs 3 0 Six Spades so have to start with some sort of cue-
Five Clubs 2 0 bid. What would Five Diamonds mean? Something
An irritating problem. We have a huge hand opposite to discuss after the hand, I think.
partner’s negative double but how to convey it? Exclu- No – we will discuss it below!
sion Blackwood would be nice, but we have the little Matheson: Four Diamonds. I intend to bid a slam.
problem of not having yet agreed a suit. The major- This will help to decide between Six Clubs and Six
ity of the panel simply cue-bid Four Diamonds and Spades.
take it from there. Most are intending to leap to Five How John, how?
Spades over the inevitable Four Hearts from partner Carruthers: Four Diamonds. Heading for slam, for
as a slam try with a diamond control – not a terri- which we need only a couple of major-suit kings.
ble description: Although my partners, blast them, always seem to
Green: Four Diamonds. If I were to bid Five Spades have ♠Jxx ♥KJxx KJxx xx. What would Five Dia-
here I think I would be denying a diamond control monds by me be?
I was hoping you would tell me!

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 Intermediate
Other panelists are only bidding Four Spades over void diamond. Or is it…..
Four Hearts, which doesn’t really feel like enough to Lawrence: Five Diamonds. Exclusion Blackwood
me. Surely we would bid that way if our fifth spade for an unknown major. Hence, I think both majors
were a small diamond for example? are in the game. If I cue bid, I may not get to bid
Silver: Four Diamonds. Since I have to set trumps any kind of blackwood. If partner shows no key
I intend of course to bid Four Spades over Four cards (Five Hearts), I take a stab at Six Spades. If
Hearts, but I am doubtful it will get the job done. he shows the ace of hearts, (Five Spades) I bid Six
The problem is can I get across to partner that if we Diamonds, trying to sort out kings. Perhaps 5NT
have a black suit fit 2/3rds of the top major hon- should do this. Fortunately, all I was asked is what
ours is enough for slam without putting our side I would bid over Three Diamonds. My hope is that
in jeopardy trying to find out? (NB with North’s he will bid Six Hearts = 0, then I bid Six Spades,
overcall any missing major-suit kings rate to be Six Spades = 1, then I pass. If he has two, he should
offside). Should I hear Four Spades over Four Dia- bid something, perhaps Seven Diamonds, and I will
monds armed with a fit I will bid Five Diamonds. pick Seven Spades. Hope he doesn’t have the ace of
Zmudzinski: Four Diamonds. Then over Four diamonds. Could mess up my considerations. Bet
Hearts, Four Spades only. We need three proper this hand kills my score for the month.
cards for a grand slam and a four-card spade suit Smith: Five Diamonds. Exclusion, presumably. If
(double didn’t guarantee it). If partner has got three he shows an ace I’ll bid the grand and gamble that
spades probably he bids Five Clubs. Then Five he has the ♠K. Jumping to Six Spades feels like the
Spades, I think shows what I have. With good val- practical action, but it’s not high enough opposite as
ues partner shouldn’t pass Four Spades. little as ♠Kxxx ♥Axxx ♦xxx ♣xx. I don’t see a way
Rosen: Four Diamonds. Then spades. of setting spades as trumps and then using RKCB,
Some panelists keep stumm about their future but perhaps the panel will enlighten me.
intentions: No Marc they did not. You do mention just leaping
Cannell: Four Diamonds. Just because North has an to Six Spades though and we have one vote for that:
intermediate jump overcall does not mean that we Apteker: Six Spades. Practical. Opposite ♠K10xx
do not have a slam in spades or clubs. I am show- ♥Axxx ♦xxx ♣xx the grand is likely to make and
ing my extra values with this cue-bid. I am secure all slam exploratory routes seemed flawed. I could
with this advance as I can somewhat control the bid Four Diamonds and over Four Hearts bid Four
auction as I hold the highest ranking suit – spades. Spades but I do not think that is forcing (you’re right
I can always remove partner’s heart bids to spades. – it isn’t!). Or I could bid Five Diamonds immedi-
Greco: Four Diamonds. I will start here and then ately but without suit agreement, I am not sure
do some guessing over the likely Four Heart bid what partner’s response will mean and I am not
but maybe partner will do something else which going to find the king of spades in any case. This
would help me a lot. way, if partner has king of spades and ace of hearts,
Sime: Four Diamonds. I am expecting an inconven- he may bid Seven Spades.
ient Four Hearts, but it ain’t happened yet. Some- At the opposite end of the spectrum and totally out
times partners surprise you. Sometimes the surprise of kilter with the panel is:
is even a pleasant one. Leufkens: Four Spades. With all the disadvantages,
There was much talk of Five Diamonds and what e.g. partner might think it can be four cards or we
it meant from the Four Diamonds bidders. Five pan- might miss an easy (grand) slam. But at least it’s
elists bid it, so here we go: simple (again)! Four Diamonds might be for clubs
Cope: Five Diamonds. Since I am always prepared by the way.
to press on to the five-level on this hand to inves- Indeed it might and something no panellist men-
tigate slam. This feels most descriptive. West can tioned. But surely when you bid spades that is then
convert Five Hearts to Five Spades to complete sorted out? Partner held ♠K10xx ♥A10xx ♦10x
the picture. Hopefully partner will realise that two ♣10xx so the grand was laydown when trumps were
working cards will be enough for slam. not 4-0. With that hand I cannot see partner co-oper-
Brock: Five Diamonds. I’m always bidding a small ating much in slam tries and it looks like we will have
slam at least. Not sure that we’re going to be able to bid this ourselves. Getting to the grand looks too
to bid the grand very often though.  tough. I have marked down the Four Spade bid as it
Robson: Five Diamonds. Then Five Spades. is clearly out of kilter with the panel’s view.
OK it is a general slam try with (presumably) a

83 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
PROBLEM 3 in our five-card major base?). ♠xx ♥KQxx ♦KQxxxx
♣x just needs trumps 3-2 (and diamonds 3-2 and
IMPs. Dealer West. All Vul even then there may be a trump promotion. Mind you
♠ AK Q J 4 that hand is probably a double of Two Clubs not Two
♥ J762 Diamonds) and he could easily have be better than
♦ 32 that. This doesn’t feel like the right time to defend.
♣ 93 More on that later:
Leufkens: Four Hearts. I’m asked so answer in a
West North East South simple way (who asked that?). Sure, spades look like
1♠ 2♣ 2♦* 4♣*
six-card, but chances are good that partner’s got
Pass Pass Double Pass hearts (otherwise at least six diamonds).
? Apteker: Four Hearts. Double by partner is not
2 ♦ Reminder: 2♦ is nat F1, but not FG in comp.
4 ♣ Pre-emptive takeout, it just shows extra values so passing could
Bid Marks No. of Votes well be best. If I had three clubs and one diamond,
Four Hearts 10 8 I would definitely pass. It seems likely that game
Pass 9 6 will make opposite say ♠xx ♥Axxx ♦AKJxxx ♣x
Four Spades 9 7 while if opponents have some shape, we may only
Four Diamonds 2 0 take them down one in Four Clubs.
The closest vote of the set with only two votes separat- That suggested hand by Alon is a very good argu-
ing the three bids of the panel, suggesting that it is a ment for the panel’s next choice of Four Spades. Four
very close call. Partner has made a takeout double Hearts opposite that hand needs trumps 3-2 (more or
and we have an unbid (albeit ratty) four-card major less) whereas Four Spades is practically cold opposite
to show. Just enough of the panel look to that to gar- it. For that reason seven of the panel choose to ignore
ner the 10 marks. the weak four-card heart and instead try for game in
Cannell: Four Hearts. Partner’s double is more or spades. After all that suit will play for no losers almost
less competitive/action/takeout oriented. I will sim- all of the time – something that ♥Jxxx won’t!
ply bid my second suit in case partner holds four Matheson: Four Spades. Even if a 4-4 heart fit exists
hearts and six-plus diamonds for his original Two we might well be better in spades.
Diamond bid. Sime: Four Spades. Partner chose Two Diamonds.
Carruthers: Four Hearts. Partner CANNOT let If he has four hearts they are probably weak. Trump
me play Four Hearts without four-card support. losers may defeat us in a 4-4 heart fit. Playing in
Can he? Four Diamonds and Four Spades are in spades, where I live, I hope to discard hearts on
the running as well. dummy’s diamonds. Passing the double might be
Not Four Diamonds according to the panel John. right, but whilst minus 710 is unlikely, 200 for
Green: Four Hearts. This may be a matter of style. game is still nine IMPs away.
Would partner double Two Clubs here with four Some of the Four Spade bidders do so because they
hearts or would they start with Two Diamonds and think partner has denied four hearts:
introduce the hearts later? Zmudzinski: Four Spades. A matter of agreements.
I think it is normal to do the former with hands I do not bid Two Diamonds with four hearts outside.
that are less than FG and the latter on hands that are My hand doesn’t have too many defensive tricks - on
FG, but what do I know? a bad day 0 (that would be a very bad day – spades
Rigal: Four Hearts. I assume partner can cope with have to be 6-0 I would have thought in which case
my showing spades and hearts. I admit I may be you ain’t making Four Spades!). I am scared of -710
wrong, but if he doesn’t have more than two clubs and partners double means – “do something smart”.
I think we must have a place to play at the four- Cope: Four Spades. I would not expect partner to
level, mustn’t we? have four hearts on this auction and would expect
Rosen: Four Hearts. their shape to be 2-3-6-2 or 2-3-7-1. My spade suit
Smith: Four Hearts. It sounds like the opponents should mean that this will play fine opposite a dou-
have ten clubs so 2-3-7-1 is the worst shape part- bleton (and even if partner has four bad hearts and
ner can hold and even then spades should play OK. six good diamonds, spades will still play better).
Most of the time, I think he will have four hearts or Brock: Four Spades. I don’t think partner will have
three spades (surely three spades is extremely unlikely four hearts, and how is he going to know that we can

84 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
play in spades even facing a small singleton unless I for two down.
rebid them now. I think if he has four hearts, gen- Bowyer: Pass. Assuming partner would have dou-
erally he would double with less than a game force bled Two Clubs whenever he held four hearts he
and bid diamonds then hearts with a game force. figures to be 2-3-6-2. If so, this is the best chance
Lawrence: Four Spades. As good as some six-card of a plus score. If Four Spades makes we should
suits. I don’t rate to have too much. Pass is a rea- slaughter Four Clubs.
sonable choice. Andrew is rather less sanguine that Paul and Tadashi
Greco: Four Spades. I would imagine pass is the about the prospects against Four Clubs doubled:
long term winner but I just can’t bring myself to Robson: Pass. Guessing partner is short in spades
do it. The real question is what is going on here? and hoping a couple of rounds stand up. Worrying.
Partner didn’t double the first time and could have Partner held ♠xx ♥KQx ♦AQxxxxx ♣A. The over-
reopened with Four Diamonds or Four Hearts but caller has a somewhat obscene ♠xx ♥A10 ♦KJ10x
choose to double. Maybe they are 2-4-1-6 with ♣KJxxx leaving the Four Club bidder with a 4-4-0-5
good diamonds but I will treat my spades as six hand with ♣Q10xxx and out (which looks like Five
since they are so good and cannot be tapped initially. Clubs to me!). All of which means that Four Clubs
The last two comments bring us to the panel’s third doubled is one off if declarer remembers to take ruffing
and final choice – take whatever money is available: diamond finesses whilst Four Spades is rather messy to
Bird: Pass. Well, that’s a good problem. It seems play but ought to make (though Mike tells me some
that we should have a few winners to take against went down in it). With the panel vote so close every-
Four Clubs so I will move my chips in that direction. one gets plenty of marks.
A complete analysis from Eric:
Kokish: Pass. As Two Diamonds did not commit
our side to further action beyond Two Spades East’s
double shows the values for game, usually lacking
three-card spade support. The biggest question is ACBL Encyclopedia of
whether that double implies or denies four hearts Bridge
and that is probably more a partnership issue than
simple bridge logic: is East prepared to bid hearts Official ACBL Encyclopedia of Bridge –
at his next turn with game values and four hearts 7th Edition
with longer diamonds? One could make a case for
both approaches, the main argument for double Edited by Brent Manley, 600+ pages
being that Four Hearts commits us to playing the (Hardback)
hand while double increases our options. I’m all for OUT NOW
maximum flexibility but the pressure on opener to RRP £49.95 SUBSCRIBERS’ £45 + post free
guess correctly when he has four hearts is probably to UK customers (£10 for overseas customers)
too high a price to pay, so I’m with the school that
places East with the likes of 2-3-6-2 (although he The most complete volume of bridge informa-
could have a third club when West has only one). tion and instruction ever compiled.
Sure, we might make Four Spades, but we have lots Over 600 easy-to read and easy-to-search
of losers and if they could make Four Clubs they’d pages
often have bid five already. I think we’re more likely
to get 500 than 200, but more likely to go plus by • Thousands of entries
passing than by bidding. covering bridge terms,
Joey makes a good point about our new base com- conventions, sys-
tems, rules, and top
pared with our old one:
personalities.
Silver: Pass. My initial reaction was to bid Four
Hearts, but with 2-4-1-6 or the like partner might • Contains a CD-ROM
containing hundreds of
well have bid Four Hearts himself, thus chances are
extra biographies that
he has a flatter distribution, so I will take the low
didn't make the printed
road and try to chastise the villains. (If we are still edition
playing Acol I bid Four Hearts since partner may
well have three spades).
Teramoto: Pass. We don’t have a good fit. I hope

85 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
PROBLEM 4 The rest of the panel all make a slam try and all bar
one raise to Five Spades, focusing on the lack of a clue
IMPs. Dealer South. E/W Vul control they hope. Tim and Alon give us full analyses:
Cope: Five Spades. This feels like a general slam
♠ Q62 try with nothing specific to cue. We have to try to
♥ J87 work out what partner might have for a double fol-
♦ KQJ93 lowed by a leap to Four Spades, a bid they could
♣ 10 4 have made immediately. So it feels like they might
West North East South have a) a strong hand b) 6 spades and 4 hearts.
– – – 1♣ Now if the hand is ♠AKJ10xx ♥KQ10x ♦Ax ♣x
Pass 3♣* Double Pass which would be a minimum for this auction then
3♦ Pass 4♠ Pass Five Spades will be high enough. If we replace the
? ♥K with the ♥A we can make Six Spades, and if we
3 ♣ Natural and pre-emptive make the club singleton an extra diamond and the
Bid Marks No. of Votes ♥Q the ♥A we can make Seven Diamonds – so it
Five Spades 10 16 would be churlish not to make an effort. In these
4NT 9 1 dubious situations, my golden rule in terms of bid-
Pass 7 4 ding on in uncharted waters is whether I feel safe
Six Spades 4 0 at the five-level. Here I most certainly do.
5NT 3 0 Apteker: Five Spades. Too much to pass given that I
I invited the panel to comment on the earlier bidding. could have a Yarborough for my previous action and
Personally I would have overcalled One Diamond in not enough to drive to slam. Partner’s action should
a heartbeat on this hand but I appreciate it is not show a flexible hand with spades and hearts like
universal (though I thought it was normal these days) 6-4 with playing strength rather than a big spade
and it is also close to something a bit more than Three hand which would have been shown by an imme-
Diamonds over partner’s double. Several of the panel diate Four Spade bid (Or maybe a hand just TOO
chose to comment on one or the other. As it is we have strong for Four Spades? AM). Five Spades should be
shown nothing and partner has shown a HUGE hand a general slam try after this sequence without club
– doubling and leaping to game opposite what could control. I would have overcalled One Diamond and
be a zero count. We thus really have a lot for partner bid Four Diamonds after partner’s double.
who has shown about nine tricks or so. I thus cannot Kokish: Five Spades. This could be a huge hand
agree with four esteemed panelists: opposite the ♦A, but not so hot opposite: ♠AKJ10xx
Bird: Pass. Three Diamonds was obvious, as I see ♥AKQx ♦x ♣xx. Might East bid this way with that
it. I am maximum, I realise, but it is not for me hand? Perhaps that depends on who you are. Three
to gamble that the diamonds will allow Six Spades Diamonds was cautious, but a strong indication that
to succeed. South did open the bidding, after all. hands with the “right” shape take initial action with
And partner thinks he has a shot at Four Spades less than traditional values. I’m speaking of East’s
opposite a 3-3-4-3 0 count. double and not West’s (failure to) overcall: these
Smith: Pass. Yes, I have a huge hand but the five- days hardly anyone would pass One Club with a
level doesn’t seem like the place to be trying to make KQJ9x suit.
up for not bidding earlier. I would have overcalled Rigal: Five Spades. I like the Three Diamond call.
One Diamond on the first round, and perhaps No need to punish partner when Five Diamonds
jumped to Four Diamonds on the second, but it’s seems so far away. Here though partner has shown
too late now to hope we have exactly what part- not a moose but an ABSOLUTE moose. Too strong
ner needs. to jump to Four Spades, more HCP than Double
Just because you dislike the earlier bidding is no then Three Spades which in turn is stronger than
reason to give up now! Three Spades directly. Would you bid this way with
Rosen: Pass. I would have overcalled One Diamond ♠AKJxxx ♥AKxx ♦x ♣Ax? You might but you
to be honest. Now anything could work. I will pass probably shouldn’t. I can’t see how I can pass here,
– but that’s because I’m getting old! so will bid Five Spades and transfer blame appro-
Surely you are younger than me Mr. Rosen? priately to the ox opposite.
Zmudzinski: Pass. My hand might have a fit for Green: Five Spades. I would have overcalled One
partner and nothing else. Diamond with this hand. Partner has jumped to

86 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
game opposite potentially nothing so I feel I owe Gunnar did not, and I know he’s twice a World
him a raise – Five Spades asks for a club control Champion and he’s my favourite active player
for me. (Gunnar is particularly influenced by the vulnerabil-
Cannell: Five Spades. I guess this is an all-round ity in my experience), but…Secondly, I’d have bid
slam-try given the ensuing auction. I do have a Four Diamonds in response to John’s double. My
reasonable hand for my original pass after the One other choice would have been Four Clubs. Three
Club opening. I would have overcalled One Dia- Diamonds would not have occurred to me, hav-
mond if not at this red vulnerability (at IMPs or ing passed One Club. Zia Mahmood and Michael
MPs). Here, I agree with the original Pass. Rosenberg were not treated so cavalierly by Price
Greco: Five Spades. Partner is trying for slam and and Simpson at the other table and reached Seven
I have a great hand on this auction having not bid Diamonds on a magnificent auction after neither
One Diamond the first time (close) and only bid North nor South entered the auction. In my view
Three Diamonds the second time (close). Just in case they had the best auction I’ve seen in months:
partner has a solid majors and xx in clubs I will bid One of the most difficult tasks to accomplish in bid-
Five Spades to let partner off the hook. ding is to agree one suit, especially a major, then bid
Notice the difference in style – some overcall, some don’t. a slam in another suit. Michael Rosenberg and Zia
Bowyer: Five Spades. Nah Three Diamonds is Mahmood, playing in the USA1 team, did just that
fine, you can’t punish partner for coming in on in their round-robin match against England:
shape. Now I raise to Five Spades, suggesting no Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
club control. ♠ A K 10 8 7 5 ♠ Q62
Leufkens: Five Spades. I would have preferred Four ♥ AQ 5 3 ♥ J87
Diamonds, although it’s close. Partner doesn’t have ♦ A4 2 ♦ KQJ93
to stretch, and my hand is huge. I have to do some ♣— ♣ 10 4
more now. I don’t know what Five Spades is in our West North East South
system (general try?), but probably I’ve got it. Mahmood Price Rosenberg Simpson
Sime: Five Spades. I have too much to pass. A con- – Pass Pass Pass
sequence of my pass then the minimum Three Dia- 1♠ Pass 2♣* Pass
monds is that Five Spades is not a command to bid 2NT* Pass 3♦* Pass
slam with a club control. Which is fine. 4♦* Pass 4♠ Pass
Brock: Five Spades. I could have a Yarborough and 4NT* Pass 5♣* Pass
I have a huge number of tricks for him.  5♥* Pass 6♦* Pass
Teramoto: Five Spades. Slam invitational without 7♣* Pass 7♦ All Pass
a club control. Five Clubs would be slam invita- 2♣ Drury with a spade fit
tional with a club control. 2NT (i) Slam try, usually with a second suit, or (ii)
Silver: Five Spades. I am too good to pass, so I guess Choice of games with 4M or 3NT, to be clarified with a
3NT bid next time.
I will give partner the final guess. 3♦ I have a good diamond suit (two of the top three
Robson: Five Spades. I’m huge – we could almost honours)
have 13 running tricks. 4♦ In order to set up double key card
4NT Six Key Card Blackwood
Lawrence: Five Spades. Three Diamonds was fine, 5♣ One or four key cards
albeit conservative. I bid Five Spades now. 5♥ Queen ask
For the second time this set John produces a lone 6♦ Both the queen of spades and the queen of
diamonds
effort: 7♣ Please pick a grand slam (in case East has only
Matheson: 4NT. Rolling - showing useful cards, ♦ KQ109)
but nothing sensible to cue. I have shown no values Mahmood took a bit of a chance: a spade grand slam
so feel this interpretation of 4NT is more sensible would likely have been on the heart finesse if Rosen-
than RKCB. I would have overcalled One Diamond. berg had only four diamonds, unlikely as that was
Well it is to be hoped partner is on the same wave- (Rosenberg had denied heart control by bidding four
length! These days the default for 4NT always seems spades over four diamonds). Colin Simpson led a heart.
to be RKCB just as the default for 5NT is pick a slam. Rosenberg won with the ace, led a diamond to the king,
Last word to a man who knows the hand and wrote ruffed a club, cashed the ace of diamonds, came to the
an article on it: queen of spades, drew the last trump and claimed, plus
Carruthers: Five Spades. Despite the dreadful 1440. A brilliant effort.
hand, I’d have bid One Diamond first time. I know

87 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
PROBLEM 5 he bids three of a major after my double, we should
have a nine-card fit, so 4M could be on. I might, just
IMPs. Dealer North. E/W Vul might, have passed first time to see what was going
on (although I suspected the actual sequence).
♠ KQ942 Others mention the possibility of an initial pass as
♥ A J 10 8 4 well. Barry gives his scheme:
♦ Q5 Rigal: Double. After 1NT-P-2NT (one/both
♣A minors) one should assume one minor weak. 3m
West North East South natural, double balanced, 3M natural. Double fol-
– 1NT* Pass 2NT* lowed by suit natural so I guess I’d pass initially then
Double Pass Pass 3♣* double for take-out. I can’t show both majors easily
? now – except by passing then doubling. Double
1NT 15-17 then double is my best bet I guess.
2NT Weak with one minor or strong with both minors
3♣ Weak with clubs Joey is still more vociferous about preferring an
Bid Marks No. of Votes initial Pass:
Double 10 13 Silver: Double. Pass and then doubling the Three
Pass 8 6 Clubs is clearly takeout (my choice). Hopefully
Four Clubs 7 2 my OX will interpret my double now as takeout
Three Spades 3 0 also (after all that is the way I intended the bid to
Three Hearts 3 0 mean!) but doubling 2NT and then Three Clubs
Four Hearts 1 0 is “clearly” ambiguous, but I see no other choice
Four Spades 1 0 to get my two suits into play.
Do you have a defence to this particular gadget? I Tim makes a good point about the potential differ-
don’t so we have to rely on general principles. Here ence between the two sequences:
we have doubled to show a good hand and the oppo Cope: Double. The flexible option and convert
have backed into Three Clubs showing a weak hand Three Diamonds to Three Hearts to show the two-
with clubs. It is now a matter of partnership philoso- suiter. Double first time round seems right and then
phy and agreements as to whether a second double here double again to show strength – pass and double
is penalty orientated or takeout, but the expert view would be more protective in nature.
is moving more and more towards takeout from both Greco: Double. If RHO must have clubs I would
sides. Which suits this hand rather well and so perhaps have bid Three Clubs the first time but since that
not surprisingly nearly two thirds of the panel go for it. appears not to be the case (no it did not promise clubs-
Brock: Double. Another takeout double in my view, AM) here I can’t do that. Whether or not I doubled
and worth it with this lot. Obviously I will bid Three the first time or not I still would double the second
Hearts over Three Diamonds. After a 2NT open- time as I have a great hand for the majors but not
ing showing either minor, I play that Three Dia- enough to force to game.
monds = majors (with diamonds you can afford to Fair enough!
pass first) and maybe that should be the same here. Green: Double. Happy with the initial double. I
Now that is a nice wrinkle I have never thought intend to correct Three Diamonds to Three Hearts
of. I will discuss that if I ever get to a position where and partner should get the message.
I have a stable partner again! Several panelists (particularly the passers of which
Apteker: Double. I will pull the Three Diamond bid more later) comment on the dog that did not bark
to Three Hearts to show both majors and raise either in the night – why did partner pass 2NT doubled?
major to game. Not enough to bid Four Clubs (we Eric gives us a full analysis of this, though it is mainly
will get to that later!). I agree with the initial double. unanswered questions:
Carruthers: Double. Those spade and heart interme- Kokish: Double. East’s pass is of some interest as
diates are pretty attractive. Perhaps I should just bid West’s double of 2NT was not a penalty double. As
Four Clubs and be done with it – we are less likely I believe East has mostly minors and that double
to be doubled for a minus if I do that. Whereas if I of 2NT showed mostly majors, I’m not going to
raise to four of a major over partner’s three of major, commit to declaring over Three Clubs. Without
that double is more likely, Still Double allows us to discussion we don’t know how East would treat
play in Three Diamonds (if I pass it – will I?). And if Three Clubs or Three Diamonds over 2NT, not to
mention Four Clubs or Four Diamonds, but it’s

88 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
reasonable to expect him to treat double of 2NT As it is, I can bid Four Clubs now.
as a sound hand with support for both majors, so Teramoto: Four Clubs. Shows 5-5 in the majors.
I’m OK with the bidding to date. This hand needs little from partner to make game.
Eric might be OK with the bidding whilst Enri, We finish with the passers –six of them in all.
although agreeing with it, hates it: Bird: Pass. Bidding Three Spades or Four Clubs
Leufkens: Double. Agree with the first double, looks too much on this collection. I don’t see that
although I hate it. Any other action is even more a double of Three Clubs would be for take-out. It
flawed. I hate my second double also, but pass is would not be so wonderful, even if it was.
no alternative (partner will not bid with e.g. 4-3-3- Sime: Pass. I would have preferred to pass 2NT,
3). The worst scenario is obviously if partner bids anticipating Three Clubs passed round. Then I
Three Diamonds. Then Three Hearts and prepare could have doubled Three Clubs without overstat-
apology... ing my values, which are poorly placed. I will allow
Matheson: Double - takeout, and over partner’s partner to clarify why he passed 2NT doubled.
Three Diamonds I go Three Hearts. A number argue this pass is forcing and made def-
Andrew and Neil make virtually identical comments: initely so by partner’s pass of 2NT doubled. I don’t
Robson: Double. Take-out. Four Clubs is tempt- see this at all – what is the poor devil supposed to do
ing but too much. with say ♠xxx ♥xxx ♦xxx ♣xxxx over 2NT doubled?
Rosen: Double. Alternative is Four Clubs but just I would pass and hope that my LHO backed into the
seems too much... minor. Anyway let’s hear what they say:
OK since that has segued us neatly into Four Clubs Smith: Pass. Tough. Perhaps a better method is
let’s deal with that next. Essentially this is treating the needed, such as shorter/longer minor for takeout
hand as a game force, which it clearly is not worth over the original 2NT. We are flying blind here now.
(particularly when all the finesses are bound to be Four Clubs is possible to force him to pick a major,
wrong). On the other hand it will ensure we find the but do we want to play 4M doubled at ‘red’ oppo-
right major-suit strain and the old argument about site ♠xxx ♥xx ♦Jxxxxx ♣Jxx? Can we infer any-
sacrificing a level to ensure the correct strain still has thing from partner’s pass of the double? Would he,
validity. And what of John C’s argument that you are for example, be expected to bid Three Diamonds
far less likely to get doubled if you bid it this way? If on the hand above?
North thinks you really have it she may not make a Drew is alone on the panel in believing a second
potentially speculative double. Can the Four Club double from us would be penalty orientated:
bidders convince? Cannell: Pass. Once partner passes the double of
Lawrence: Four Clubs. Wish I had an agreement 2NT I believe we are in a forcing auction. There-
that Three Clubs or Three Diamonds was Michaels. fore, I can make a forcing pass to see what part-
ner has in mind. If partner doubles I take that as
penalty-oriented, and will pass. If I were to double
Three Clubs I think that should be penalty inclined
as well. I agree with the original double as we need
CARD TABLES to show the strength immediately. The multiple
meaning 2NT does not allow an artificial three-of-
FOR SALE a-minor call at our first turn (it would be natural).
Refurbished old tables standard size Adam makes the points I did:
with new green baize top Zmudzinski: Pass. In theory forcing. Uncomfort-
able situation. What are you doing with a flat, weak
£29 each hand over 2NT, Double? Probably You pass. Then
Will deliver within reasonable distance you pass Three Clubs and we avoid a penalty. If
you got something you bid over Three Clubs, Pass,
DANNY ROTH Pass then I bid Three Hearts to show a major two
47 Bearing Way, CHIGWELL, suiter (otherwise a straight Three Hearts).
ESSEX IG7 4NB Bowyer: Pass. Double was fine, what else? Now I
can make a forcing Pass, as South has told the world
020 8501 1643 tel/fax [email protected]
he is weak. Well, in practice, if partner has noth-
ing, doesn’t regard the Pass as forcing and passes
out Three Clubs then we won’t miss game...

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 Intermediate
Hmmm… playing Pass as forcing and allowing Robson: Four Clubs. Seems an excellent description
partner to pass it out is not winning bridge IMHO. of my hand. The first answer I feel truly happy about.
Partner held ♠10xx ♥K9x ♦10xxx ♣xxx so game is Kokish: Four Clubs. Unfortunately this will sound
no thing of beauty even vulnerable but with every- stronger to East than it is, but Three Spades figures
thing breaking, the ♥Q where it ought to be and the to be a poor contract even if East has a fifth spade
♠J onside nothing could stop 10 tricks. As for the pas- (less likely as he did not jump to Four Spades).
sers unless partner really believes it is forcing you will We might make Five Clubs if East can raise with a
defend Three Clubs which is cold. few trumps and a couple of working queens, but
I confess to believing that Four Clubs will usually
PROBLEM 6 be our last plus.
Rigal: Four Clubs. Even a 5-3 spade fit might easily
IMPs. Dealer South. None Vul
play worse than a 7-1 club fit (not likely but pos-
♠ A K 10 sible). Having shown my moose I can let partner
♥— decide where to go minus.
♦ K 10 5 Zmudzinski: Four Clubs. I disagree with a double.
♣ KQ97542 I would bid Four Clubs straight over Three Hearts.
West North East South Did I want to leave 3NT if partner bid it? Right
– – – Pass now my Four Clubs shows one ace more and a bet-
1♣ 2♥* Pass 3♥* ter suit. I do not have four spades!!!
Double Pass 3♠ Pass Apteker: Four Clubs. Double was the stronger route
? to compete to Four Clubs while giving partner the
2♥ Natural and weak option to pass Three Hearts doubled. With the 5th
3♥ Pre-emptive Spade and some values, partner can bid Four Spades.
Bid Marks No. of Votes Sime: Four Clubs. If partner is weak, Four Clubs
Four Clubs 10 18 is likely to play as well as Three Spades. If he has
Four Spades 7 1 something maybe he will now bid game.
Pass 6 2 Cannell: Four Clubs. Partner could not bid at his
Five Clubs 2 0 first turn so is somewhat limited. Also, his spade
3NT 1 0 length is uncertain as well. Therefore, I will bid
Four Hearts 1 0 what is in front of me, and see if this leads any-
OK mea culpa – I really don’t know in hindsight what where productive.
I was thinking about when I set this problem. Four Matheson: Four Clubs. Indicating strong and flex-
Clubs sticks out like a sore thumb and 18 of the 21 ible. It will not play well in a 4-3 spade fit.
strong panel bid it with various versions of the “What Bowyer: Four Clubs. Why not? The hand may play
else?” comment. Let’s just hear from them: appallingly in spades after a Heart lead. If East has
Bird: Four Clubs. It’s been a tricky set so far, but I long spades he can always go back to the suit as I
am completely happy with this answer. I’m showing have said I can tolerate them.
a strong Four Club bid, while still allowing partner Brock: Four Clubs. Should show a good hand with
to bid Four Spades with a five-card suit. If someone three spades in my book.
pointed a gun at my head and said ‘Choose something Greco: Four Clubs. Partner should expect a good
else, quick!’ I really can’t think what I would do instead. hand with three spades for this. I can’t possibly put
Fair enough! this hand down in a 4-3 fit here.
Cope: Four Clubs. Worth one more try for game Lawrence: Four Clubs. Spades won’t play unless
even though we know partner is relatively weak partner has five. Four Clubs shows my general hand.
(no action over Two Hearts and no positive action Teramoto: Four Clubs. Shows at least six clubs and
over our strength-showing double). Partner has the denies four spades.
chance to pass, raise or repeat spades with extra Rosen: Four Clubs.
length but if we are going nowhere I know which Carruthers: Four Clubs. Hoping he can find
strain I would prefer to play in opposite ♠xxxx another bid. I can hardly bid Four Spades on this
♥xxxx ♦xxx ♣xx. cheese. Can I?
Also fair enough. Well I am grateful to the following three panellists
Leufkens: Four Clubs. Finally an easy one. Go for avoiding the dreaded unanimous panel. Two put
back to clubs. Partner can go back to spades again. the dummy down:

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 Intermediate
Silver: Pass. If all partner could bid is Three Spades OK I will take the blame for this one! This problem has
over my three-level takeout double after my opening been cooked as a function of our new methods, with
the bidding I ain’t bidding any more with only three which the panel are unfamiliar. Most of the panel are
spades, 15HCP and a non-solid suit of seven cards. trying for a small or a grand slam in spades and talk-
Green: Pass. I’ve bid my hand, yes the hand may ing fondly of partner having ♠AKQxxx and a game
play better in clubs, but it may not and we are a force. I should have included a footnote to remind the
level higher. panel that the new system says (and I quote) “Jump
And Marc goes for all the marbles: shifts are weak at the two-level and invitational at
Smith: Four Spades. I’m exhausted already – tough the three-level. Bidding and rebidding a suit is invi-
set this month. Four Clubs is an alternative, but tational, bidding and jump rebidding a suit is FG
is that going to get us to Four Spades opposite (eg 1♦, 2♥ is weak, 1♦, 1♥, 2♣ 2♥ is invitational;
♠QJxxx ♥xxxx ♦Qxx ♣x? (according to the panel 1♦, 1♥, 2♣, 3♥ is FG).” Thus the one hand partner
yes) Of course, Four Clubs works well when we can has categorically DENIED is solid spades and a game
make ten tricks in clubs and partner has only four force since that hand would bid Three Spades over Two
spades. I suppose passing Three Spades is also pos- Diamonds. Thus partner has some game force with six
sible, but that seems like the worst of the guesses. spades, but certainly not very strong ones. This puts an
I agree with Marc here – I cannot see Three Spades entirely different complexion on the hand as it is easy
being right. If you can make Three Spades surely clubs to see that if partner is forced to ruff a club at trick1
is as good and there are plenty of hands where you can slam is very unlikely to make – in SPADES. Thus if
make Four Clubs but not Three Spades such as the one a slam is on we should be exploring other denomina-
he held which was ♠xxxx ♥J109x ♦xxxx ♣A. With tions instead. Paul has appreciated this and I have
clubs 3-2 and the ♦A onside 3NT was also cold and upgraded his solo effort accordingly:
if anyone can construct a rational auction to that con- Bowyer: Five Hearts. Don’t understand Four Clubs.
tract I would be interested in hearing it!. What was that meant to show? Spade tolerance and
a club control? (A cue for spades is the usual meaning
PROBLEM 7 isn’t it?) If that’s how partner’s read it he presum-
ably has said he doesn’t want to know. I’d have bid
IMPs. Dealer West. E/W Vul Five Hearts over Three Spades, emphasising that
♠ J9 suit, suggesting a slam there. Now what? Anything
♥ A K Q 10 7 2 I do may be read as showing better spades. I’ll still
♦ AJ 9 8 4 try Five Hearts and see how that pans out.
♣— Two others try the ubiquitous “pick a slam” 5NT
(though Mike thinks it is the old fashioned GSF…):
West North East South
Green: 5NT. Pick a slam. Happy to give slam a
1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass
whirl here, we can’t have a grand on in my view as
2♦ Pass 3♣* Pass
partner would have cue-bid Four Diamonds with
3♦ Pass 3♠ Pass
all of the top trumps and a diamond control.
4♣ Pass 4♠ Pass
Lawrence: 5NT. This feels like the old-fashioned
?
GSF, not pick a slam.
3 ♣ Fourth suit forcing. Forcing to game
I also invited the panel to comment if they would
Bid Marks No. of Votes have preferred a different action at any point. Whilst
Five Clubs 10 8 Three Diamonds is the “normal” bid with 5-5 over
Five Hearts 9 1 Three Clubs there is a case for example for Three Hearts,
5NT 9 2 emphasizing the hearts. The problem with Three Hearts
Pass 8 4
Five Spades 8 1 (which I actually chose at the table) is that a priori
Six Clubs 7 3 it does not show even six hearts over here as Three
Six Spades 7 2 Hearts would be the default bid on a hand such as ♠x
Six Hearts 6 0 ♥KQxxx ♦AKxx ♣xxx whereas in North America I
Six Diamonds 4 0 believe one is expected to bid Three Diamonds on that
Five Diamonds 4 0 hand. Eric comments on this:
4NT 2 0 Kokish: Five Clubs. I would have preferred Three
Seven Hearts 1 0 Hearts – my best feature at that point – over Three
Seven Spades 1 0 Clubs, intending Four Diamonds over a putative

91 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
3NT. But Three Diamonds worked well. Over Three At least I indicate first and second round club cue
Spades I would have much preferred Five Clubs as and partner has denied any red-suit control already.
Four Clubs would have been in order with hands So he’ll understand that ♣A is not useful, but spade
like: ♠J9 ♥AKxxx ♦Axxxx ♣x, given that East was honours are.
unlimited. Will Five Clubs get the job done now, Matheson: Five Clubs. Hoping to hear Five Dia-
given that East did not bid Five Spades (great spades, monds, and then I have a likely grand. Holding
no red control) over Four Clubs? Maybe not in a the Jass (jack) and Manille (nine) of spades I set
partnership in which East will wonder why West my sights high.
did not bid Five Clubs over Three Spades. This is a reference to the fine two-handed card game
This problem actually produced the greatest number Klaberjass which is played with a stripped deck and
of answers from the panel in the set (seven in total) where the top two trumps are the jack and nine. Full
so whilst it is cooked it is at least interesting. Having details can be found for example at https://en.wikipedia.
got to Five Clubs which gets the10 marks let’s con- org/wiki/Klaberjass. This reference wins John the com-
tinue with it. ment of the month.
Greco: Five Clubs. We might well have seven espe- Rigal: Five Clubs. I can imagine bidding more
cially on a non-diamond lead if partner has solid strongly with the South cards at an earlier stage, but
spades and out. I will start with this and partner since the auction has timed out nicely, I’ll live with
should get the idea if they are looking at solid it. Emphasizing the club control and both red-suit
spades. I am fine with Two Diamonds the first time controls will let partner decide what to show next,
although it is close. if he has anything to show.
See what I mean about panellists talking about Zmudzinski: Five Clubs. More or less OK. I had
solid spades? Both Erics have done so and they are no to show 5-5 and there was no space to show extras.
slouches in the system department. Eric G also men- I am doing it right now.
tions the possibility of a jump shift the previous round Some think Five Clubs isn’t enough:
(I just thought there was too much to show!) and sev- Apteker: Six Clubs. I would have bid Five Clubs
eral would have preferred that: Exclusion the previous round. And probably Three
Carruthers: Five Clubs. I pretty much hate my Diamonds over One Spade although it has worked
auction. I would have much preferred Three Dia- out quite well. I am not sure if Six Clubs now is
monds at my second turn, although it seems I have Exclusion (I think it is) or merely void showing but
got lucky later. The hand is a two-bid when part- either way partner will bid Seven Spades with AKQ
ner responds One Spade. As it is, can he have less of spades but only Six Spades without. Given that
than ♠AKQxxx (note the reference to this spade suit partner chose to show 6+ spades rather than bid
again…) and another card in the minors? His prob- 3NT over Three Diamonds, makes it hard not to
lem will be picturing me with so much. I have some see slam making because if partner has weak spades
sympathy for 4NT now despite the void. and values in clubs, he should have bid 3NT.
Bird: Five Clubs. I would have rebid Three Dia- Cannell: Six Clubs. I am content with the auction
monds on this. Even so, partner has shown game thus far. Four Clubs should be a cue-bid in support
values and excellent spades. I would punt Six Spades of spades. Now, I can wheel out Exclusion RKCB
at the table, possibly missing a grand. On a bidding to see if partner holds two key-cards with the Spade
panel, it goes without saying, I feel obliged to look Queen. This gets us to the grand slam. If anything
for something more impressive. less we will play in Six Spades, and hope for the best.
Sime: Five Clubs. With a tad in reserve for my Robson: Six Clubs. I like Five Clubs over Three
bidding this far, I am worth another look at Seven Spades. I’ll try Six Clubs over Four Spades.
Spades. I would have preferred Five Clubs (Exclu- Marc and Sally have heard enough:
sion RKC) over Three Spades. AKQxxx (and again) Smith: Six Spades. I seem to have a huge hand con-
and something useful will make Seven Spades a sidering that I have so far shown little more than
spread. AKQxxx and nothing useful might even an opening bid. Of course, we might be missing a
be enough for Seven Spades. AKQxxx and nothing grand, but surely I thought about what to bid now
at all is not a game force over One Hearts – One when I chose Four Clubs on the last round. RKCB
Spade – Two Diamonds. now doesn’t seem to help and I would have pre-
Leufkens: Five Clubs. Should have bid Five Clubs ferred Five Clubs Exclusion on the previous round.
Exclusion last time (Six Clubs now is not so clear I’m Although I am not a fan of some of the jump shift
afraid). 4NT is not smart because of void, obviously. rebids I see people make, this hand is probably

92 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
worth Three Diamonds on the second round. PROBLEM 8
Brock: Six Spades. It doesn’t sound as if the hands
fit wonderfully, but it’s hard to bid less. Pairs. Dealer East. All Vul
At the other end of the spectrum three panelists call
it a day right there (the same conservative action I ♠ 10 9 4 2
took, but at least I knew that partner could not have ♥2
solid spades). ♦ Q742
Cope: Pass. A reluctant pass but I am not sure ♣ KQ98
the five level is safe opposite say ♠AQxxxx ♥- ♦xx West North East South
♣KQJxx. I would feel more confident in passing – – 1♣* Double
if we partner had a Four Heart last train available ?
to show some slam interest on their side, so that I 1♣ Reminder: 1♣ can be 3 cards and a weak NT or
18-19 NT
“knew” Four Spades was a minimum hand.
Rosen: Pass. Very close to bidding on. But I refer Bid Marks No. of Votes
you to previous comment of getting old. One Spade 10 11
Teramoto: Pass. ♠J9 is dangerous to continue the Pass 9 2
Two Clubs 8 3
slam try. One Diamond 7 3
And finally Joey tries the invitational raise: Three Clubs 7 3
Silver: Five Spades. Slam or even grand slam seems Another hand I held and another hand that is a prob-
to depend on the extent of partner’s spade solidity, lem only in our new methods. Playing our old Acol
so it seems well worth the risk of taking a pilgrim- base we would have a clear cut Three Club bid. Here
age to the five level to find this out. we have to worry about partner only having three clubs,
Partner held ♠AQ10xxx ♥xx ♦Qxx ♣KQ mak- a potential 4-4 spade fit and the opponents poten-
ing Six Spades appalling and indeed not making even tially having only eight hearts between them. Add to
on the ♣A lead. Meanwhile Six Hearts is very good that the Pairs factor which means we have to find the
and makes on the lie. Hard to see what else partner highest-scoring strain and we have a problem. The
could bid at any point. Given that the panel are mak- result is that this seemingly simple problem produced
ing slam tries rather than slam forces I have slightly the second highest number of different bids from the
downgraded the slam drives. panel (five) with votes for bidding all three of our suits
(clubs at the two- and three-levels) and passing. Half
the panel went for bidding our ratty four card spade
suit, a number commenting on this being essential in
our new base:
Cope: One Spade. Ignoring the double is the mod-
ern style even though we would prefer a slightly
better suit. If partner gets to bid 1NT uncontested,
we can play there. If they compete in hearts, I will
YOUNG CHELSEA take my chances and compete in clubs assuming
partner denies four spades.
BRIDGE CLUB Eric is present as ever with a full analysis
Kokish: One Spade. The bid I would have made had
One of the World’s Great Bridge Clubs South passed. The advantage in starting with Two
Duplicate every weekday evening Clubs is reduced by the methods in place, as I would
not want to pass after: One Club (Double) Two
Clubs (Two Hearts); Pass (Pass) and Two Spades
Tel: 020 7373 1665 or Double would not be as safe with only four-card
www.ycbc.co.uk club support. If East cannot support spades (with
four) or employ a support double (with three – the
system summary does not include this treatment)
(yes we will have to do something about clarifying
these things in a further update soon. Also whether
we bypass diamonds to bid 1M over One Club etc.)

93 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
he will have at least four clubs, so competing will Most of the One Spade bidders do so as that is what
be a bit more attractive. they would have bid without the double. Similarly the
Barry makes similar points: One Diamond bidders would have bid that without
Rigal: One Spade. Playing Acol I think a simple the double and do so now:
raise to Two Clubs is right. Playing five-card majors Cannell: One Diamond. I am pretending that
One Spade seems right. Knowing how to raise clubs South passed One Club. I will continue in the nat-
in competition may be critical here – and support ural vein if it comes to that – ie. I am able to bid
doubles are hugely useful. The margin of my answer One Spade if partner rebids One Heart (as long as
sheet isn’t large enough to contain all the issues we the opponents remain silent) (that would be FSF).
need to have agreed on. My view is that if partner does rebid One Heart
Sime: One Spade. We should not give up on 4-4 he should hold four-plus clubs – otherwise should
major fits at pairs. I am going to pass out partner’s rebid 1NT with the weak NT hand-type. That way I
1NT rebid (although I doubt if our opponents will). am able to delay support clubs with only four cards.
I think the new system is a big improvement, but Whilst I agree that partner should rebid 1NT with
we seem to have a hole. I prefer that an unopposed the WNT type but then I do not think you should
1X-1Y-1NT-3♣ is to play in Three Clubs, not 5/5 respond One Diamond – the 4-4 spade fit has just
Game Force. Alternatively, if preferred, 1X-1Y- disappeared!
1NT-2♣-2♦-3♣ is terminal. Leufkens: One Diamond. When in doubt, just bid
Yes I agree we need some further clarifications: as simple as possible. My spades are not that strong
Apteker: One Spade. Even though the suit is weak to give preference already.
and not a great suit for partner to lead, it is still The more I think about this option the more I like it:
the boss suit and higher scoring contract if part- Green: Pass. Choices for me are pass and dou-
ner has support and we buy the contract. If North ble later over hearts, over spades I will compete in
bids Two Hearts and it comes back to me, I will clubs or a direct Three Clubs which would normally
bid Three Clubs. deliver five trumps and deny a four card major. Any-
In a month light on wit (it must be the post festive one that bids One Spade on this hand is misguided.
malaise) John C has some fine irony for us: Not sure how many world champions above that
Carruthers: One Spade. In search of the Holy Grail, makes misguided then 
the 4-4 fit. In the old, old days, the whole world Robson: Pass. Dislike bidding weak four-card suits
would have bid Two Clubs; in the old days One after double. Pass planning to takeout double hearts.
Diamond; in the new days, One Spade. Is that pro- Finally we get to the old-fashioned idea of supporting
gress? Nowadays, no one has clubs when they open partner. This is what I did at the table and it worked
One Club and no one bids One Diamond even appallingly:
when they have diamonds. Bleh! Lawrence: Two Clubs. Expecting to make a later
Zmudzinski: One Spade. if we do not play trans- bid, perhaps a takeout double.
fers over One Club, Double. Forcing at the level So was I – I am still waiting.
of one. Otherwise it forces us to redouble with any Matheson: Two Clubs. A candle in partner’s
12+ and very distributional hands. There is no hurry. window.
We do have at least 19 HCP so in the worst situa- It got snuffed out.
tion the strength is equal. I do not expect to hear Bowyer: Two Clubs. Show support with support.
Four Hearts on my left. OK, partner may not have clubs but, if not, he is
Teramoto: One Spade. We should find the spade either weak (we miss nothing) or will bid again.
fit if we have it. If LHO bids Two Hearts, I will Don’t like the methods.
bid Three Clubs. If partner bids 1NT I will pass. Three panelists go for the jugular, fully aware that
Greco: One Spade. This is somewhat a style thing this could be a 4-3 fit.
but I like starting with One Spade and following Bird: Three Clubs. Yes, yes, he may hold only three
1NT with Two Clubs if that is too play. clubs but that wouldn’t be the end of the world.
It isn’t – it is invitational checkback. Whenever he holds more clubs (a better chance after
Silver: One Spade. I have a one bid hand, so I South’s double), I want to take away some bidding
choose the boss suit to spend it on. space. With all my points in clubs, I don’t like bid-
Rosen: One Spade. Important change to previous ding One Spade at all.
Acol system. Vital to collect major-suit fits in my Brock: Three Clubs. Not ideal as it could be a 4-3
opinion.... fit, but I’d rather take their space away. I don’t like

94 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate
bidding poor four-card majors over takeout doubles.  answers. With many problems with only three panel
Like Paul, Marc is unhappy with our new methods: bids we have not one but two of the rarely seen perfect
Smith: Three Clubs. This would be a routine Three 80s this month from John Carruthers and Barry Rigal
Club bid playing a sensible method. This is only so congratulations to them. Just one point behind is
a problem because I have agreed to play this daft Eric Kokish on79.
system. I really have no idea what it right, but it
seems to me that allowing North a cheap heart bid
(ie below the three-level) is losing tactics, so I’ll toss
the die into the air and hope no-one has a penalty
double available. My follow up plan is to go for a
cigarette immediately after putting down dummy.
I think partner may be happy to have you killing
yourself! He held ♠KJxx ♥A10xx ♦xx ♣AJx so getting
to spades for an easy nine tricks was the order of the
day. When I bid Two Clubs it was passed back to the
doubler who had a 3-4-3-3 17 count and did well to
pass in my opinion. Whilst Two Clubs made it was a
complete zero since everyone else either found spades or
was doubled in their WNT which, with ♦AK onside,
was unbeatable.
Several panelists commented that this was a par-
ticularly tough set. Good . Sadly the panelists then
proceeded to come up with very similar answers. Bad
. Only two problems did not have an overall major- Barry Rigal is not on the right
ity and only three problems generated more than three
SET 300 – THE PANEL’S BIDS & MARKS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
John Carruthers Canada 3♠ 4♦ 4♥ 5♠ Double 4♣ 5♣ 1♠ 80
Barry Rigal USA 3♠ 4♦ 4♥ 5♠ Double 4♣ 5♣ 1♠ 80
Eric Kokish Canada 3♠ 4♦ Pass 5♠ Double 4♣ 5♣ 1♠ 79
Eric Greco USA Double 4♦ 4♠ 5♠ Double 4♣ 5♣ 1♠ 77
Iain Sime Scotland 3♠ 4♦ 4♠ 5♠ Pass 4♣ 5♣ 1♠ 77
Tim Cope South Africa 3♠ 5♦ 4♠ 5♠ Double 4♣ Pass 1♠ 75
Neil Rosen England 3♠ 4♦ 4♥ Pass Double 4♣ Pass 1♠ 75
Alon Apteker South Africa 3♠ 6♠ 4♥ 5♠ Double 4♣ 6♣ 1♠ 74
Paul Bowyer England 3♠ 4♦ Pass 5♠ Pass 4♣ 5♥ 2♣ 74
Ben Green England 3♠ 4♦ 4♥ 5♠ Double Pass 5NT Pass 74
Adam Zmudzinski Poland 3♠ 4♦ 4♠ Pass Pass 4♣ 5♣ 1♠ 74
Joey Silver Canada 3♠ 4♦ Pass 5♠ Double 5♠ 1♠ 73
Drew Cannell Canada 3♠ 4♦ 4♥ 5♠ Pass 4♣ 6♣ 1♦ 72
Enri Leufkens Netherlands 3♠ 4♠ 4♥ 5♠ Double 4♣ 5♣ 1♦ 72
John Matheson Scotland 3♥ 4♦ 4♠ 4NT Double 4♣ 5♣ 2♣ 72
Tadashi Teramoto Japan Double 4♦ Pass 5♠ 4♣ 4♣ Pass 1♠ 72
David Bird England 3♠ 4♦ Pass Pass Pass 4♣ 5♣ 3♣ 71
Sally Brock England 3♠ 5♦ 4♠ 5♠ Double 4♣ 6♠ 3♣ 71
Andrew Robson England Double 5♦ Pass 5♠ Double 4♣ 6♣ Pass 71
Mike Lawrence USA Double 5♦ 4♠ 5♠ 4♣ 4♣ 5NT 2♣ 69
Marc Smith England 3♠ 5♦ 4♥ Pass Pass 4♠ 6♠ 3♣ 67

95 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

 Intermediate

Israel Bridge Federation

50th Annual Tel Aviv International Bridge Festival

June 3-9, 2016

The Festival will take place on June 3-9, 2016

We look forward to welcoming you to Tel-Aviv,
the city that never sleeps & where all the action happens!
This year, you will enjoy a variety of competitions with
prizes totaling €30,000.
Free
p
For more information and help: spec arking an
ial su d
activ
ities rprising
www.ibf-festival.org | +972-3-9794862 and t
reats
.

96 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine


Bidding Competition – Set 301
Open to all – Free Entry
See following pages for system and method of entry
PROBLEM 1 PROBLEM 5
IMPs. Dealer West. All Vul. IMPs. Dealer West. All Vul.
♠ AK 6 ♠4
♥ AQ 8 5 3 2 ♥ A Q 10 9 5 2
♦K ♦ J964
♣ AK J ♣ AK
West North East South West North East South
2♣* 5♦ Pass Pass 1♥ Pass 2♦* Pass
Double Pass 6♣ 6♦ ?
Double Pass 6♠ Pass 2♦ Natural and FG in BM standard now
7♣ Pass Pass 7♦
? PROBLEM 6
2♣ 23+ balanced or any game force IMPs. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
PROBLEM 2 ♠ 64
♥ KQJ
IMPs. Dealer South. E/W Vul. ♦ AK Q 7 4 2
♠ Q72 ♣ K9
♥ J93 West North East South
♦ K532 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass
♣ 974 ?
West North East South
– – – 2♠* PROBLEM 7
Pass 3♠ Double Pass IMPs. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
?
2♠ 5♠ & 4+m, weak, about 4-9. ♠ 98742
♥ KQJ853
PROBLEM 3 ♦ A 10
IMPs. Dealer East. All Vul.
♣—
West North East South
♠7 – – 1♦ 3♣*
♥ 32 3♥ 4♣ Pass Pass
♦ K J 10 9 ?
♣ AK Q 4 3 2 3 ♣ Natural and pre-emptive
West North East South
– – 1♠ 3♣* PROBLEM 8
? Pairs. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
3 ♣ Hearts and clubs, at least 5-5.
♠ A 10
PROBLEM 4 ♥ AK Q 9
Pairs. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
♦ AQ J 5
♣ A 10 7
♠ AK 6 5 4 West North East South
♥4 – Pass Pass 2♠*
♦ KJ843 Double 3♠ Pass Pass
♣ 74 ?
West North East South 2♠ natural and weak
– 3♥ Pass 4♥
?

97 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine


How to enter
Send your chosen bid in each of the eight sequences opposite, preferably by email, to John Car-
ruthers at: [email protected]. Alternatively, you can enter by post, to: John
Carruthers, 1322 Patricia Blvd., Kingsville ON N9Y 2R4, Canada. Entries must be received by
the 29th February. Include your name, address and telephone number. Please quote the month,
competition and value of your prize when ordering Master Point Press books.

Grand Prix
PRIZES In addition there is an annual Grand Prix with
1st £50 Master Point Press books Master Point Press prizes of £100, £50 and £35.
2nd £25 Master Point Press books Only scores of 50 and over will count and the
3rd £15 Master Point Press books maximum score is 400. Each contestant’s Grand
4th £10 Master Point Press books Prix total is their five best scores over the year
(January – December).

Bridge Magazine Bidding System

Basic Method Weak 2♦, 2♥ and 2♠ (5 – 9, six-card suit). In
response 2NT is a relay asking for a high-card
Natural feature if not minimum with 3NT showing a
Five-card majors good suit, non-minimum. 3♣ asks for a sin-
gleton with 3NT showing a singleton ♣. 4♣
Minors are three cards in length minimum. is RKCB
Always open 1♣ with 3-3 or 4-4, so 1♦ is 3
cards only if precisely 4-4-3-2 shape Three-level openings are natural and pre-emp-
tive. Over 3♦/♥/♠, 4♣ is RKCB and over 3♣,
15-17 no-trump in all positions and 4♦ is RKCB.
vulnerabilities
3NT opening is Acol gambling – solid suit and
Two over one is game forcing in all uncontested at most a queen outside.
auctions
Four-level opening are natural.
A 1NT is up to a non-game force but it is not-
forcing. However the only hands that pass are No-trump bidding:
weak no-trump types. After 1NT 15 – 17, 2♣ = Stayman, 2♦/2♥ =
Jumps at the two-level are weak (eg, 1♦ – 2♠) transfers, 2♠ = ♣s with 2NT/3♣ denying/show-
and at the three-level are invitational (eg 1♥ ing a fit, 2NT = ♦s with 3♣/♦ denying/showing
– 3♣) a fit. After this new suits are splinters. 3♣ is 5
card Stayman, 3♦ is 5-5 ms FG, 3♥/♠ 1-3-(4-
1M – 3M is a limit raise 5) / 3-1-(4-5) and FG. 4♣ is 5-5 majors, game
Inverted minors are played. 1m – 2m is F2NT only, 4♦/♥ = ♥/♠s (then 4NT = RKCB and
and 1m – 3m is pre-emptive. Over 1m – 2m, new suits are Exclusion).
2NT is a WNT and is non-forcing, 3m is unbal- 1NT rebid = 12 - 14 with 2♣ a puppet to 2♦
anced and non-forcing. All other bids are at least to play in 2♦ or make an invitational bid, 2♦ is
quasi-natural and FG game forcing checkback, new suits at the 3 level
are 5-5 FG and higher bids are auto-splinters.

98 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine


Jump 2NT rebid = 18 – 19 with natural Jumps when a bid of the suit one level lower is
continuations. forcing are splinters, as are four-level responses
in a lower-ranking suit to 1♥/1♠. Jumps when
After 2 over 1, 2NT is 12-14 balanced or 18-19 the previous level is forcing are splinters.
balanced and 3NT is 15-17 range with a reason
not to have opened 1NT 4th suit = game-forcing.
3NT rebid after a one-level response shows a When responder’s suit is raised a return to open-
good suit and a good hand. er’s suit is forcing.
After 2NT, 20-22, 3♣ = Stayman, 3♦/3♥ = Slam bidding:
transfers, 3♠ = slam try with both minors. Four
Roman Key Card Blackwood (1 or 4, 0 or 3, 2,
level bids are as after 1NT opening.
2 + trump Q).
Kokish is played after 2♣ opening (2♣-2♦-2♥-
Exclusion Blackwood only in clear circum-
2♠-2NT is 25+ balanced FG, and 2♣-2♦-2NT
stances including a jump to the five-level in a
is 23-24 balanced NF)
new suit and after 1NT – 4♦/♥. Responses are
Initial response: 0, 1, 2.
Jump shifts are weak at the two-level and invita- Cue-bids are Italian style, that is the lowest con-
tional at the three-level. Bidding and rebidding trol is shown regardless of whether it is first or
a suit is invitational, bidding and jump rebid- second round or a positive or negative control
ding a suit is FG (eg 1♦, 2♥ is weak, 1♦, 1♥, and skipping a suit denies a control in that suit.
2♣ 2♥ is invitational; 1♦, 1♥, 2♣, 3♥ is FG). Exception: a negative control in partner’s suit is
not shown immediately.
2NT after 1♣/1♦ is natural and invitational
without 4M. The default for 5NT is “pick a slam”.
2NT after 1♥/1♠ = game-forcing with 4+ card Competition:
support. Continuations in new suits are splin-
Responsive and competitive doubles through
ters, 3♥/♠ extras with no singleton, 3NT =
3♠ – after that, doubles are value-showing, not
18-19 balanced, 4 new suits are 5-5 good suits,
penalties.
4♥/♠ minimum balanced.
Continuations: Negative doubles through 3♠ – after that, dou-
bles are value showing, not penalties.
1x – 1M – 2M promises four-card support or
three-card support and an unbalanced hand. After a 1M opening bid and an overcall, 2NT =
Balanced hands with three-card support rebid four-card limit raise or better and a cue-bid is
1NT a three-card limit raise or better, raises are pre-
emptive, change of suit forcing one round but
Reverses are forcing for one round after a one- not FG. New suits at the three-level are FG.
level response. The lower of 2NT and 4th suit
encompasses all weak hands, responder’s rebid After a 1m opening and an overcall, 2NT is nat-
of own suit is F1 but not necessarily strong, all ural and invitational and the cue-bid is a limit
other bids are FG. raise or better, raise are pre-emptive, change of
suit F1 but not FG, new suit at the three-level
All high reverses are game-forcing. is FG.

99 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine


Fit-jumps after opponents overcall or take-out Defences:
double.
Against all pre-empts, take-out doubles with
Fit jumps after our overcalls. Jump cue-bid is a Lebensohl responses - same structure as above.
mixed raise (about 6-9 with four-card support)
2NT is rarely natural in competition (except as
Double jumps are splinters. defined above). Possibilities include Lebensohl
or scramble if game is not viable.
Lebensohl applies after interference over our
1NT. An immediate 3NT shows a stopper but Over 2M, 4♣/♦ are Leaping Michaels (5,5 in
not 4oM, 2NT then 3NT shows a stopper and ♣/♦ and oM, FG). Over Natural weak 2♦, 4♣ =
4oM, 2NT then cue-bid shows no stopper but Leaping Michaels (5, 5 in ♣ & a M with 4♦ to
4oM immediate cue-bid shows no stopper and ask for M). Over 3♣, 4♣ = Ms and 4♦ = ♦&M
no 4oM. In summary 3NT at any time shows with 4♥/♠ as P/C. Over 3♦, 4♣ = Nat and
a stopper and cue-bid at any time denies one, a 4♦ = Ms. Over 3♥, 4♣/♦ = Nat, 4♥ = ♠&m,
jump to 3♠ (eg 1NT – 2♥ – 3♠ is FG). 4NT = ms. Over 3♠, 4♠/♦/♥ = nat, 4♠/4NT
= two-suiter
2NT is rarely natural in competition (except as
defined above). Possibilities include Lebensohl Over their 1NT, Dble = pens, 2♣ = majors, 2♦
or scramble if game is not viable. = 1 major, 2♥/♠ = 5♥/♠ & 4+m 2NT = minors
or game-forcing 2-suiter.
Overcalls:
Over a strong 1♣, natural, double = majors,
After a 1M overcall, 2NT = four-card limit raise
1NT = minors, pass then bid is strong.
or better and a cue-bid is a three-card limit raise
or better, raises are pre-emptive, change of suit
forcing one round. Fit jumps, jump cue is a
mixed raise (about 6-9 and four trumps)
After a minor-suit overcall, 2NT is natural and
invitational and the cue-bid is a limit raise or
better, raises are pre-emptive. Fit jumps, jump
cue is a mixed raise (about 6-9 and four trumps)
Weak jump overcalls, intermediate in 4th.
Michaels cue-bids. 1m -2m = Ms, 1M – 2M
= oM and m with 2NT asking for the m, inv+
and 3m P/C

Send stamped addressed envelope to Chess & Bridge Ltd for WBF style Convention Card. You will be
able to find a link to the new Convention Card on our web site.

100 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine


WEST Bid these hands with those on the following
Hands for the page with your favourite partner; then turn to
February 2016 Partnership Profile Partnership Bidding inside to see how your score
compares to that of the experts
Hand 1. Dealer North. E/W Vul. Hand 5. Dealer North. Both Vul.
♠ A98753 ♠ 98732
♥ 62 ♥ Q 10
♦ Q85 ♦ 742
♣ K7 ♣ J75
North opens 3♣ and South raises to 5♣ If East opens 2♣ and West responds 2♦ North doubles and
South bids 3♦.
Hand 2. Dealer West. All Vul. Hand 6. Dealer East. None Vul.
♠ Q J 10 9 6 4 ♠ Q10
♥ QJ5 ♥ 2
♦ J 10 ♦ K 10 9 5
♣ A3 ♣ A 10 5 4 3 2
Hand 3. Dealer South. N/S Vul. If East opens 1NT South bids 2♣ for the majors and if
possible North bids 3♠.
♠ 7
♥ 10 7 6 Hand 7. Dealer North. None Vul.
♦ J852 ♠ K 10 8
♣ AQ643 ♥ KQ3
South opens 2♠ (weak) and North raises to3♠ ♦ AJ98
♣ Q72
Hand 4. None Vul. Dealer West. South overcalls 2♣
♠ AKQ
♥ K4 Hand 8. Dealer South. Both Vul.
♦ AQ9842 ♠ 74
♣ 94 ♥ 9865
♦ 10 9 7 2
North overcalls 1♥ ♣ A65
North opens 1♣, South bids 1♠ and North rebids 1NT

BIDDING COMPETITION Why not enter a bridge hand or bidding problem of your
own for use in BRIDGE Magazine?
SET 301
♠
(for the February Competition) ♥
My answers are (the Adjudicator)
♦
1. ♣
♠ ♠
2. ♥ ♥
3. ♦ ♦
♣ ♣
4. ♠
5.
♥
♦
6. ♣
7. WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
8.

Total marks:
Email to [email protected]
or post to: Bidding Competition (292), Name: (please print)
John Carruthers, 1322 Patricia Blvd. Address:
Kingsville ON N9Y 2R4, Canada Telephone: ___________________________________

Entries must be received by

29th February 2016.

101 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine


EAST Bid these hands with those on the previous
Hands for the page with your favourite partner; then turn to
February 2016 Partnership Profile Partnership Bidding inside to see how your score
compares to that of the experts

Hand 1. Dealer North. E/W Vul. Hand 5. Dealer North. Both Vul.
♠ K Q 10 ♠ AKQ5
♥ K J 10 7 5 ♥ AKJ763
♦ AK64 ♦ 6
♣ A ♣ A 10
North opens 3♣ and South raises to 5♣ If East opens 2♣ and West responds 2♦ North doubles and
South bids 3♦.
Hand 2. Dealer West. All Vul. Hand 6. Dealer East. None Vul.
♠ 752 ♠ K76
♥ 10 8 ♥ A 10 9 4
♦ AK983 ♦ AQ7
♣ K62 ♣ K96
Hand 3. Dealer South. N/S Vul. If East opens 1NT South bids 2♣ for the majors and if
♠ Q6 possible North bids 3♠.
♥ AKQ95 Hand 7. Dealer North. None Vul.
♦ KQ6
♣ 10 8 5 ♠ AQ7532
♥ A2
South opens 2♠ (weak) and North raises to3♠ ♦ Q 10 2
♣ 94
Hand 4. None Vul. Dealer West. South overcalls 2♣
♠ 8732
♥ AQ6 Hand 8. Dealer South. Both Vul.
♦ 765 ♠ J963
♣ K10 3 ♥ AQ3
North overcalls 1♥. ♦ AK854
♣ J
North opens 1♣ South bids 1♠ and North rebids 1NT

BIDDING COMPETITION
Set 299Top Scores Other Good Scores: • It is up to the entrant to know the
system; we accept your first bid, no
Prize winners should quote the month, 73 Peter Barker, Nigel Guthrie alternatives “in case that’s not the system”.
competition and value of their prize when 72 Brian McDowell
• Insufficient bids will be made
placing an order for Master Point Press 71 Peter Hawkes sufficient.
books. Prize winners can refer to the list of 70 Tony Burt, Mike Perkins, Olga Shadyro,
MPP titles on the inside back cover of the • Other illegal bids score zero.
Martin Turner
current issue of Bridge Magazine. • Only one entry per subscription is
69 Janet Barnes, Norman Massey allowed for prize purposes.
Once again the gremlins appeared and
problem #2 had only 12 cards. All answers 68 Derek Markham, Nigel Osmer • You may change a bid as long as it is
to that problem have been assigned 10 67 Harald Bletz, Michael Kaye, Andrew before the deadline.
(although we were tempted to give those King Please review your bids prior to sending
that didn’t notice - and they were many - 66 David Barnes, Axel Johannsson, Alan them! They are not looked at until time
somewhat less). Sant to score when it is usually too late to
Congratulations to Stuart Nelson starting 65 Phil Callow, Kresten Kristensen, Pyers correct an obvious error.
off the year with 76, winning ₤50 worth Only your top five scores are included in
Pennant
of Master Point Press books from Chess the Grand Prix total. Reporting on the
and Bridge. Tied on 75 are Graham Grand Prix standings will start when Set
Johnson and Nick Simms; the coin toss 301 is scored.
awarded ₤25 worth to Nick and ₤15 Competition: New Year Thank you to the readers who submit
worth to Graham. Bob Brown on 74 Reminders problems. We may not be able to use
wins ₤10 worth.
them all but please keep them coming.
The new year seems to be a good time for
a few reminders.

102 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine



103 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine



104 February 2016 BRIDGE Magazine

MasterPoint Press October 2014_Layout 1 08/10/2014 15:56 Page 1

BOOKS FROM MASTER POINT PRESS

Master Point Press are the world’s leading bridge book publisher and winner of many bridge publishing awards. A list of Masterpoint
titles can be found below - for full details on each of these titles please visit www.bridgeshop.com. Recent releases are highlighted in
bold. Please note, winners of the Bidding Competition do not get the 10% Subscriber discount when redeeming their prize
VOUCHERS and a deduction will also be made to cover the cost of postage. For further details please call 020 7288 1305

Deadly Endplay (fiction) Allen, Ken £12.95 Complete Book Takeout Doubles (2nd ed.) Lawrence, Mike £15.95
Shades of Grey (fiction) Allen, Ken £11.95 Falsecards (New Edition) Lawrence, Mike £14.95
I Love This Game Auken, Sabine £12.50 Encyclopedia of Card Play Techniques Levé, Guy £21.95
25 Bridge Myths Exposed Bird, David £10.50 Bridge Squeezes Complete Love, Clyde. E £14.95
Bridge Endplays for Everyone Bird, David £12.95 Bridge, Probability and Information MacKinnon, Robert F. £12.95
Bridge Squeezes for Everyone Bird, David £11.95 Win the Bermuda Bowl with Me Meckstroth & Smith £11.50
Clever Plays in the Trump Suit Bird, David £12.95 The Setting Trick McCance, Ian £11.95
Defensive Signaling at Bridge Bird, David £11.95 Competitive Bidding in the 21st Century Miles, Marshall £11.50
Off-Road Declarer Play Bird, David £11.95 Inferences at Bridge Miles, Marshall £11.50
Somehow We Landed in 6NT Bird, David £12.95 It's Your Call Miles, Marshall £12.95
Winning Notrump Leads Bird & Anthias £10.95 Modern Constructive Bidding Miles, Marshall £11.95
Winning Suit Contract Leads Bird & Anthias £10.95 My System: The Unbalanced Diamond Miles, Marshall £11.95
Leading Questions in Bridge Brock, Sally £11.95 Bridge in the Menagerie Mollo, Victor £13.95
Bridge at the Edge Brogeland, Boye & Bird, David £13.95 Card Play Technique Mollo & Gardener £14.95
Bridge Crosswords Chen, Jeff £7.95 Diamonds are the Hog’s Best Friend Mollo, Victor £13.95
Following the Law Cohen, Larry £9.95 Swings and Arrows Mollo, Victor £13.95
Larry Cohen's Bidding Challenge Cohen, Larry £9.95 The Hog Takes to Precision Mollo, Victor £11.95
To Bid or Not To Bid Cohen, Larry £11.50 Kickback: Slam Bidding at Bridge Munger, Robert £7.95
Death in Duplicate Coplea, Carole £13.95 First Book of Play Problems O’Connor, Patrick £10.95
Standard Bidding with SAYC Downey, Ned & Ellen Pomer £11.95 Second Book of Play Problems O’Connor, Patrick £10.95
Bridge with Bells and Whistles Dufresne, MA & Ellingsen, M £11.95 Bridge Behind Bars (fiction) Pottage & Smith £12.95
A Modern Approach to Two-Over-One Eichenbaum, Ken £8.95 Clues from the Bidding Pottage, Julian £10.95
Winners, Losers and Cover Cards Eichenbaum, Ken £8.95 Defend These Hands with Me Pottage, Julian £11.50
Can You Win The USBC Team Trials Felmy, Matthias £13.95 Play or Defend? Pottage, Julian £8.95
I Shot My Bridge Partner (fiction) Granovetter, Matthew £9.50 Defend or Declare? Pottage, Julian £11.95
Murder at the Bridge Table (fiction) Granovetter, Matthew £9.50 Deadly Hold-Up Priebe, Jim £11.95
Bridge Conventions in Depth Granovetter & Granovetter £13.95 Double Elimination: A Bridge Mystery Priebe, Jim £11.95
Bridge Master Vs Bridge Amateur Horton, Mark £11.95 Matchpoint Defense Priebe, Jim £11.95
Misplay These Hands with Me Horton, Mark £11.95 Takeout Double: A Bridge Mystery Priebe, Jim £11.50
The Hands of Time Horton, Mark £10.50 Thinking on Defense Priebe, Jim £9.95
The Mysterious Multi Horton, Mark £12.95 Positive Declarer Play in Bridge Reese & Pottage £10.50
Duplicate Bridge at Home Horton & Gittelman £12.95 Positive Defense in Bridge Reese & Pottage £10.50
The Bridge Magicians Horton & Kielbasinski £11.50 The Extra Edge in Play Reese & Pottage £10.95
For Love or Money Horton & Senior £12.95 Modified Italian Canapé System Rexford, Ken £8.95
The Rabbi’s Rules Horton, Mark £12.95 New Frontiers for Strong Forcing Openings Rexford, Ken £8.95
Building a Bidding System Hughes, Roy £11.50 Overcalling Opponent's 1NT Rexford, Ken £6.95
Canada’s Bridge Warriors Hughes, Roy £15.95 Really Unusual Notrump (R.U.N.T.) Rexford, Ken £7.95
Card by Card Hughes, Roy £11.50 Variable Key Card Blackwood Rexford, Ken £8.95
Fantunes Revealed Jacobs, Bill £9.95 Breaking the Bridge Rules Rigal, Barry £12.95
One Trick at a TIme Jackson, Jim £11.95 Rodwell Files: Secrets of a champion Rodwell, Eric £17.95
Polish Club International Jassem,Krzysztof £10.95 How Good is Your Bridge Roth, Danny £11.95
Patrick Jourdain’s Problem Corner Jourdain, Patrick £12.95 Bridge on a Shoestring Schoenborn, Michael £13.95
Advanced Bridge Defense Kantar, Eddie £13.95 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know Seagram & Smith £10.50
Classic Kantar Kantar, Eddie £9.50 25 More Conventions You Should Know Seagram & Bird £10.50
Defensive Tips for Bad Card Holders Kantar, Eddie £14.95 25 Ways to Be a Better Defender Seagram & Bird £10.50
Kantar on Kontract Kantar, Eddie £10.50 25 Ways to Compete in the Bidding Seagram & Smith £10.50
Modern Bridge Defense Kantar, Eddie £13.95 25 Ways to Take More Tricks as Declarer Seagram & Bird £10.50
Roman Keycard Blackwood - 5th ed. Kantar, Eddie £13.95 Declarer Play at Bridge: A Quizbook Seagram & Bird £9.95
Topics in Declarer Play Kantar, Eddie £13.95 Defensive Play Quizbook: A Quizbook Seagram & Bird £9.95
Improve Your Bidding Judgment Kimelman, Neil £12.95 Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand Seagram & Bird £12.95
The Thin Line Kimelman, Neil £12.95 Pocket Guide to Defensive Play Seagram & Bird £6.95
365 Winning Bridge Tips Kleinman, Danny £13.95 Scotland’s Senior Moment Smith & Adamson £13.95
Human Bridge Errors Kleinman & Straguzzi £10.50 Becoming a Bridge Expert Stewart, Frank £13.95
A Bridge to Inspired Declarer Play Laderman, Julian £12.95 Frank Stewart's Bridge Club Stewart, Frank £10.50
A Bridge to Simple Squeezes Laderman, Julian £11.95 How to Play Bridge with your Spouse Tevkolsky, Roselyn £9.95
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25 Conventions for ACOL Players Landry & Horton £11.95 North of the Master Solvers’ Club Vine, Frank £11.95
Complete Book on Overcalls (2nd ed.) Lawrence, Mike £13.95 Bridge at the Enigma Club Winkler, Peter £11.95
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