NewBridgeMag - 2019-03

A NEW BRIDGE MAGAZINE
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EDITION 15
March 2019
A NEW BRIDGE MAGAZINE – March 2019
A NEW
Following the Law no longer be prevented
The World Bridge Federation’s Laws Committee from happening. A
has released its Commentary on the 2017 Laws common example is
of Duplicate Bridge. dummy stating that
declarer has led from
http://www.worldbridge.org/wp-content/
BRIDGE
the wrong hand. Before
uploads/2019/01/2017LawsCommentary.pdf declarer leads from the
From this lengthy document (that all tourna- wrong hand, dummy
ment players should read at least once) we have may try to prevent him
selected the following extracts: from doing so; once declarer has done so, this
Law 1 – The Pack This Law now requires that irregularity can no longer be prevented. Dummy
the reverse side of the playing cards be symmet- cannot be the first to point out an irregularity
MAGAZINE rical. Some older cards might not now comply

with this Law. For instance, those with a sin-
or to summon the Director before attention has
been legally drawn to the irregularity by another
Editor: gle logo on the back may look different when player.
Mark Horton pointed up to down. The Committee also recom- Law 45C1 – A card from a defender is deemed
Advertising: mends the use of symmetrical card faces. to be played when it is possible that his partner
Mark Horton Law 6 – The Shuffle and Deal This Law is now has seen it. The question is not whether his part-
clear: two consecutive cards in the deck should ner did see it, only whether it was possible that
Photographers:
not be dealt to the same player’s hand. There is he could have seen it. This means that if both
Ron Tacchi
Francesca Canali also a recommendation that the cards be dealt declarer and dummy have seen the face of the
in four piles clockwise. card, then it is almost certain to have also been
Proofreaders:
visible to partner.
Danny Roth, Monika Kummel, Herman De Wael Law 7B – Inspection of an Opponent’s Hand
Typesetter: After a board is played, a player may look at a Law 45C2 – For declarer the manner in which he
Ron Tacchi hand if either of his opponents agree or if the exposes the card is very important. Declarer is
TD allows it. allowed to discover that he detached the wrong
Reviews:
card from hand and attempt to retract it. Such
Martin Cantor Law 7C – Returning Cards to the Board After
a card is not necessarily played, even if it has
A NEW BRIDGE Magazine is published monthly. play, each player should mix his cards before
become visible to one or both of the defenders.
Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of returning them to the board. This is to avoid
the Editor. Editorial contributions will be published at the Editor’s Bringing the card to the table and retracting it
discretion and may be shortened if space is limited. unauthorised information being obtained from
No parts of this publication may be reproduced without the prior in the same movement also does not make it
express permission of the publishers. All rights reserved. ♥2018 the order in which cards were played at a pre-
‘played’. The definition of a declarer’s played
Advertisements: Although staff of A New Bridge Magazine take vious table.
all reasonable precautions to protect the interests of readers by card is only fulfilled at the moment when the
ensuring as far as practicable that advertisements in the pages
of A New Bridge Magazine are bona fide, the magazine cannot
Law 9A3 – Prevention of an Irregularity The card comes to rest.
accept any undertaking in respect of claims made against Laws allow any player to try to prevent another
advertisers. Legal remedies are available if redress is sought, Law 61B3 – Inquiries Concerning a Revoke
and readers who have complaints should address them to the player from committing an infraction or irreg-
advertiser. Readers should note that prices advertised may not be The controversy created by an earlier version of
accurate due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or tax changes ularity. Once an irregularity has occurred, it can
the code where the Regulating Authority could
Page 2
prohibit defenders from asking each other whether they had revoked has Player of the Year
been removed. The laws now say that players are allowed to ask. The laws In 1990, the American Contract Bridge League introduced Platinum
still mention the possibility of creating UI by asking partner, but normally Points, and has been using them ever since to determine their ‘Player of
this will not be the case. An example where it would be UI is when the the Year’. Four players, Zia Mahmood (5) Jeff Meckstroth (3) Bob Ham-
purpose of the question is not to avoid a revoke, but to draw attention man (3) and Michael Rosenberg (2) have won more than once. They have
to an unexpected situation with an opponent still holding cards in that been joined by a member of the magazine’s Master Point Press Bidding
suit. If players ask routinely, it is hard to imagine UI being transmitted. Battle panel, Eric Greco, who has repeated his success of 2016 in win-
If they ask rarely, or if the tone of the question indicates surprise, then ning the 2018 title.
there will be UI. Example 45:
That set me thinking about the creation of a similar award for English
West North East South players. Not one based on the accumulation of master points, but on a
Pass Pass Pass 1NT combination of results and actual performance at the table.
Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠
Pass 3NT Pass 4 ♠ Looking back over 2018 it seems to me that the outstanding player was
All Pass Sally Brock, who, apart from all sorts of domestic success, won gold and
silver medals at the World Championships. I am going to search out a
West leads the ♦Q; the dummy has ♠K9873 ♥K94 ♦632 ♦A95. When East sponsor so that at the end of 2019 we can announce the first recipient
discards a club West asks: “no diamonds partner?” and declarer turns of A New Bridge Magazine’s Player of the Year award.
out to have ♠AJ4 ♥A7 ♦AK10854 ♣J6. The TD should be suspicious of a
defender who only asks when he is surprised: this tells their partner that
declarer has more cards of the suit than might otherwise be expected.
Keep Bridge Alive
The Keep Bridge Alive campaign is gathering momentum. If you want
to see the many comments from some of the world’s best players go to:
https://w w w.facebook.com/search/str/Keep+Bridge+Alive/
keywords_blended_posts?epa=SEARCH_BOX
Page 3
In This Issue
4 FUNBRIDGE — Test Your Technique

Test Your Technique
with Christophe Grosset see Page 37
6 Around The World In Eighty Deals — The Editor
19 GOTO Bridge 19 Matchpoints. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
23 FUNBRIDGE — Misplay These Hands With Me ♠ A 8 6 4
25 Crossword — Getting into The Bidding ♥ A 9 8 6
♦ 10 9 4
26 Deals That Caught My Eye — David Bird looks at the Australian Open Teams 2019
♣ 6 3
30 Crossword Solution
31 Enterprising Tales — Marc Smith
36 Defend With Julian Pottage ♠ K Q J 7
37 FUNBRIDGE — Test Your Technique solution ♥ 10 5
38 Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair — Alex Adamson & Harry Smith with another tale from the ♦ A Q J 7 3
Over The Rainbow Bridge Club ♣ J 8
43 Defend With Julian Pottage — The Answers The bidding goes:
44 Bridge With Larry Cohen West North East South
46 The Final of the French Mixed Teams Trials — Martin Cantor Pass Pass Pass 1♦
52 Kit’s Corner — Kit Woolsey Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠
56 Flags and Scrambles — Excerpt ‘The Rabbi’s Rules’ by Mark Horton and Eric Kokish Pass 2♠ All Pass
67 Angie Booker’s Clever Play — David Bird West leads the ♣7 and East plays the king, and
71 The uBid Auction Room — Mark Horton switches to a low diamond. How do you play?
77 Master Point Press Bidding Battle — Moderated by Brian Senior
91 Master Point Press Bidding Battle Competition — Set 15
95 Hands for This Month’s Auction Room
96 Comments on Bidding Battle 13 — Brian Senior
Page 4
BE PART OF A NEW RECORD!

••••••••••••••••••••••
We scored a new record in 2018 when we had 486
paris in a one session pair tournament. We are aiming
to break this record in 2019 and are hoping for a
magic 500+ pairs. y
y HOW TO GET TO ÖREBRO?
••••••••••••••••••••
By plane: Örebro has a small airport but not many
flights. However, the most convenient and least expensive
way would be to fly to Gothenburg or Stockholm, then
take the train (see below).
SWEDISH BRIDGE FESTIVAL
•••••••••••••••••••• By train: Trains from all major cities in Sweden go to
CONVENTUM ARENA | ÖREBRO | SWEDEN Örebro. The venue is just 200 meters from the Örebro
JULY 26th - AUGUST 4th 2019 Södra train station. Tickets at www.sj.se.
By car: 200 km from Stockholm (E18 towards Oslo). 280

km from Gothenburg (E20 towards Stockholm). 500 km
from Malmö (E4(E6) towards Stockholm, then road 50
towards Örebro). y ACCOMODATION?
•••••••• ••••
How to get to the Bridge Festival venue: Conventum Örebro offers many hotels and different kinds of acco-
SIMPLY
Arena (Fabriksgatan 28) is situated in the middle of the modation. We are happy to have five of the hotels as
city, just 200 meters from the Örebro Södra train station, partners.
and straight across the street from Scandic Grand Hotel.
City Hotel +46 19-601 42 00
www.cityhotelorebro.se/
ENTRY FEES & PRIZES Clarion Hotel +46 19-670 67 00
•••••••••••••••• www.nordicchoicehotels.se/hotell/sverige/orebro/clarion-hotel-orebro/
Elite Stora Hotellet +46 19-15 69 00
WORLD CLASS
The entry fees for our tournaments are as follows:
www.elite.se/sv/hotell/orebro/stora-hotellet/
Bronze tournaments 1 ticket
Silver Tournaments 2 tickets Scandic Grand +46 19-767 44 00
www.scandichotels.se/hotell/sverige/orebro/scandic-orebro-vast
Gold Mine Pairs 3 tickets
Scandic Väst +46 19-767 43 00
www.scandichotels.se/hotell/sverige/orebro/scandic-grand-orebro
Tickets may be pre-bought at our hospitality desk for
100 SEK/ticket (more or less 10€).
HOW TO REGISTER?
40% of the entry fees are going back as cash prizes in ••••••••••••••
all tournaments. You need to pre-register your team to be able to play
the Chairman’s Cup. Your registration has to be submitted
Chairmans Cup entry fee 2800 SEK/team, if pre-paid latest Friday 26th of July at 20.00. Register by sending
2400. Fixed prizes with 50 000 SEK to the winning team. an e-mail to kansliet@svenskbridge.se.
2nd to 6th get 25 000, 15000, 10 000, 7500 and 7500.
For all other tournaments, you just need to reserve a
Masterpoints in all tournamaments in three categories: seat 20 minutes before game time. Please remember that
bronze, silver and goldpoints. y we always start and stop at the scheduled time!
y
Page 5
Around the World in Eighty Deals
The Editor reports on interesting deals from around the bridge world
In the Classic Jules Verne novel, Around the World in Eighty Days, Phil- The precise meaning of 3♣ and 3♦ is unclear, but it resulted in 6♦ being
leas Fogg and his valet, Passepartout set out to travel around the world played from the strong hand. North led the ♥10 and declarer won with
in 80 days. The hero was fond of playing whist and would no doubt have dummy’s jack, unblocked the diamonds, cashed the ♣A, ruffed a club,
been a fine bridge player. drew the outstanding trump and played a heart for +1390.
During the course of his journey, Fogg visited many different coun-
tries, including France, Italy, Egypt, India, Singapore, China, Japan, the Closed Room
USA and Ireland. West North East South
Thanks to the power of the Internet and courtesy of BBO, this month Frazer Cooper Ebery Thompson
we present just a handful of the deals played in the last few weeks from – – Pass Pass
around the world. 2♣* 3♣ 3♦ Pass
Our adventure begins in Sydney, Australia, where the ABF hosted a Mixed 3♥ Pass 4♥ All Pass
Team Playoff for the 2019 World Championships at the end of January. Is the West hand worth 2♣? If you are worried partner might pass 1♥ you
When the last session of the final started, Tutty led Gold 107-72. can always start with 2NT. That is debatable, but East’s decision to raise
Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul. to game rather than cue-bid 4♣ is perhaps more open to question. Even
♠ K J 3 2 then West’s decision to let matters rest at 4♥ is conservative – especially
♥ 10 with a 35 IMP deficit.
♦ 10 6 Declarer won the club lead with dummy’s queen, played a heart to
♣ K 9 5 4 3 2 the queen and a heart to the nine and king. The spade return was taken
♠ A Q 7 N ♠ 9 6 4 by the ace and declarer now drew the outstanding trump, taking twelve
♥ A Q 8 4 3 2 ♥ J 9 6 tricks when the diamonds behaved, a loss of 12 IMPs that more or less
♦ A J W E ♦ K Q 8 5 4 3 settled the outcome, Tutty eventually winning 140-93.
♣ A 8 S ♣ Q You can replay this deal here or https://tinyurl.com/yb9bzjsy
♠ 10 8 5 We stay in Australia for the final of the NOT between Milne (Liam Milne –
♥ K 7 5 Andy Hung – Sartaj Hans – James Coutts, Shane Harrison – Sophie Ashton)
♦ 9 7 2
♣ J 10 7 6 and Leibowitz (Tony Leibowitz – Peter Gill, Ashley Bach – Michael Cor-
nell, Michael Whibley – Matthew Brown).
Open Room
By the time the last session started, Leibowitz led 125-69.
West North East South
Beauchamp Muntz Tutty Gold
– – Pass Pass
2♣* Pass 3♣* Pass
3♦* Pass 4♣* Pass
6♦ All Pass
Page 6
Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul. but declarer did not finesse and finished with ten tricks for a loss of 10
♠ 10 3 IMPs. That made the set score 42-11 in favour of Milne, but they could
♥ 6 3 not maintain their charge, Leibowitz winning 161-125.
♦ A K J 9 4 3 You can replay this deal here or https://tinyurl.com/y9thjuz7
♣ K 7 3 Our next stop is in Turkey, for the Istanbul Open Teams Championship.
♠ 8 6 N ♠ K Q 7 5 4 2 Later in the year the City will host the European Open Championships.
♥ K 10 9 8 7 4 2 ♥ A J In the last of the ten rounds Dedehayir faced Yilankiran.
♦ 8 5 W E ♦ 10
♣ 5 2 S ♣ Q 8 6 4 Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
♠ A J 9 ♠ A Q J 4 3
♥ A 5 ♥ A Q 10
♦ Q 7 6 2 ♦ J
♣ A J 10 9 ♣ A J 9 7
Open Room ♠ K 8 5 N ♠ 2
♥ K J 2 ♥ 9 4 3
West North East South ♦ Q 9 7 5 4 3 W E ♦ 10 8 6
Bach Milne Cornell Coutts ♣ 10 S ♣ Q 8 5 4 3 2
3♥ Pass Pass 3NT
♠ 10 9 7 6
Pass 4 ♠* Double 5♣ ♥ 8 7 6 5
Pass 5NT Pass 6♣ ♦ A K 2
All Pass ♣ K 6
The commentators speculated about the meaning of 4♠, suspecting that
Open Room
it was a keycard ask with diamonds as trumps. South did eventually alert
4♠, but the BBO operator could not see exactly what was written – his West North East South
impression was that South though it showed clubs. Karaivanov Kandemir Basaran Kolata
West led the ♠8 and declarer took East’s queen with the ace, played – – – Pass
the ♣J to dummy’s king, finessed the ♣9, went to dummy with a dia- Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣*
mond drew trumps via the marked finesse and claimed. Pass 4♦* Pass 4 ♠
All Pass
Closed Room
2♣ Drury
West North East South 4♦ Splinter
Hung Whibley Hans Brown East led the ♣3 and declarer won with the jack, crossed to dummy with a
2♥ 3♦ 3♥ 3NT diamond and ran the ♠10. He repeated the finesse, drew the outstanding
All Pass trump, crossed to the ♣K, pitched a heart on the ♦K and took the heart
West led the ♥10 and declarer ducked, won the next heart and cashed finesse for all the tricks.
six rounds of diamonds. The last of these forced East to pitch a club,
Page 7
Closed Room It looks as if 3♣ promised very good diamonds, with 3♥ and 3♠ being
West North East South cue-bids. South might have redoubled to confirm his first round control,
Cubukcu Ozcan Cubukcu Kaya but preferred to ask for key cards. Whatever North’s 5NT promised South
– – – Pass hesitated before bidding 6♦ and when North went on to the grand slam
Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣* the Director was called and the result was adjusted to 6♦+1.
Pass 2♥ Pass 4 ♠ Closed Room
Pass 4NT* Pass 5♦*
Pass 6♠ All Pass West North East South
2♣ Drury Cubukcu Ozcan Cubukcu Kaya
4NT RKCB Pass 1NT Pass 2NT*
5♦ 1 key card Pass 3♣* Pass 3♥*
Here too the opening lead was a club and declarer followed a similar line Pass 3♠ Pass 4♣*
for all the tricks and 11 IMPs to Yilankiran. Pass 4♦ Pass 4NT*
Pass 5♦* Pass 5♥*
Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul. Pass 5NT* Pass 6♦
♠ K 8 All Pass
♥ K 8 4 2NT Transfer to Diamonds
♦ Q 10 4 3 3♣ Fit
♣ A K 10 8 3♥ Cue-bid
3♠ Cue-bid
♠ 7 3 2 N ♠ Q J 9 6 5 4♣ Cue-bid
♥ 10 7 6 5 3 ♥ Q J 9 2 4NT RKCB
♦ 6 5 W E ♦ 8 5♦ 1 key card
♣ J 9 4 S ♣ Q 5 3 5♥ ♦Q?
♠ A 10 4 5NT Yes
♥ A You can understand why North bid 4♦, but it may have been better to
♦ A K J 9 7 2 continue with 4♥. South then bids 4♠ and continues with 5♥ over North’s
♣ 7 6 2 5♣. When North bids 6♣ South knows that if North has two spades the
Open Room grand slam is cold. The only distribution that could lead to a hopeless
contract would be 3-3-4-3 and even then North might turn up with a vital
West North East South queen. However, one tends not to bid a grand slam unless you can count
Karaivanov Kandemir Basaran Kolata the tricks so even going down this road might not lead to the top spot.
Pass 1NT Pass 3♣* In passing you can also make 7NT on this deal.
Pass 3♦ Pass 3♥*
Pass 3♠* Double 4NT*
Pass 5♣* Pass 5♥*
Pass 5NT* Pass 6♦
Pass 7♦ All Pass
Page 8
Declarer will unblock the ♥A, cross to dummy to cash the ♠K, the ♥K Open Room
and a top club and then play diamonds to reach this position: West North East South
♠ 8 Marks Zawada Ogloblin Sarniak
♥ 8 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass
♦ — 2♠* Double Redouble Pass
♣ K 10 3♣ Pass 3♠ Double
♠ 7 N ♠ Q J Pass Pass 4♦ Pass
♥ 10 ♥ Q 4♥ Pass 4NT* Pass
♦ — W E ♦ — 5NT* Pass 6♦ All Pass
♣ J 9 S ♣ Q
It looks like 2♠ showed a shortage and with diamonds agreed West cue-
♠ A 10 bid in hearts and then showed two key cards and a void.
♥ —
♦ 7 North led the ♠10 and dummy’s jack was covered by the ace and ruffed
♣ 7 by declarer, who now had a parking place for a losing heart. A diamond
to the ace was followed by the spade king, declarer pitching the ♥4, and
When declarer cashes the ♦7 West and dummy pitches a spade East must trumps were drawn. Declarer then cashed the ♥A and crossed to dum-
throw a heart. Then the ♠A squeezes West. my’s king. A third heart was ruffed, South discarding a spade and declarer
Yilankiran won the match 22-7 and presumably the tournament. continued with a club to the ace and a club for the jack and queen. That
You can replay these deals here or https://tinyurl.com/yb3crf3q meant South took the setting trick with the ♣10.
We move on to Poland for the final of the trials to select the Polish team After ruffing a heart declarer should cash the ♣K, cross to dummy with
for this month’s European Mixed Team Championship in Lisbon, Zawada the ♣A and play a third round, scoring the three tricks needed 84.72%
v Wojcieszek. of the time.
With only two of the eight sets remaining Zawada led 151-124. Closed Room
Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul. West North East South
♠ Q 10 9 8 5 Zatorski I Grzejdzia Zmuda S Grzejdzia
♥ J 8 7 3 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass
♦ 10 2 2♣ Pass 2♠* Pass
♣ Q 7 3♥ Pass 3NT Pass
♠ — ♠ K J 3 2 4♦ Pass 4♥* Pass
N 4 ♠ Pass 5♦ All Pass
♥ A 5 4 ♥ K 10 6 2
♦ K Q J 8 7 5 W E ♦ A 6 2♠ Fourth-Suit Forcing
♣ K J 9 3 S ♣ A 6 4 4♥ Cue-bid
4♠ Cue-bid
♠ A 7 6 4
♥ Q 9 Here too North led the ♠10 and declarer ruffed South’s ace, drew trumps,
♦ 9 4 3 cashed the ♥A, crossed to dummy’s king, ruffed a spade and played a
♣ 10 8 5 2 heart, claiming twelve tricks when North took the jack.
Clearly a spade lead helps declarer enormously, but you might make 6♦
Page 9
even if North leads something else. Suppose North starts with a trump. Closed Room
Declarer takes three rounds, then plays the top hearts, ruffs a spade and West North East South
plays a third heart. North wins and can only exit with a heart. Declarer Zatorski I Grzejdzia Zmuda S Grzejdzia
wins in dummy pitching a spade and South has to part with a club. – Pass 1NT Pass
Declarer ruffs a spade and cashes the last trump pitching a club from 2♦* Pass 3♥ Pass
dummy. South has to throw a second club and now declarer is unlikely 3♠* Pass 3NT Pass
to go wrong. 4♦* Pass 4 ♠* Pass
Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul. 4NT* Pass 5♥* Pass
6♥ All Pass
♠ J 7 6 5 3 2♦ Transfer
♥ Q 9 3♠ Cue-bid
♦ 10 7 4 4♦ Cue-bid
♣ Q 6 4 4♠ Cue-bid
♠ A 4 N ♠ K Q 10 4NT RKCB
♥ A J 8 4 2 ♥ K 10 5 3 5♥ 2 key cards
♦ K Q 8 2 W E ♦ 9 3 Slam swings on consecutive deals added up to 23 IMPs for Zawada who
♣ 5 2 S ♣ A K 8 3 took the set 35-3 to lead 186-127, enough for their opponents to call it
♠ 9 8 2 a day.
♥ 7 6 You can replay these deals here or https://tinyurl.com/yaelovm7
♦ A J 6 5
♣ J 10 9 7 Now we head North West to Sweden to drop in on a Swedish Team Trial
featuring Sylvan-Fredin, Nystrom-Upmark, Rimstedt O-Rimstedt M,
Open Room Ekenburg-Hult, Ahlesved-Warne and Michielsen-Cullin. Sweden has qual-
West North East South ified for the upcoming Bermuda Bowl, but are in no rush to decide which
Marks Zawada Ogloblin Sarniak three pairs will represent them. Their Captain, Jan Lagerman (probably
– Pass 1NT Pass the best Captain in the World) is going to consider results in the Cav-
2♦* Pass 3♥ Pass endish, the Slava Cup and the US Nationals before making a decision.
3♠* Pass 4♣* Pass This deal is from the second of seven sessions:
4♦* Pass 4♥ All Pass
2♦ Transfer
3♠ Cue-bid
4♣ Cue-bid
4♦ Cue-bid
With trumps 2-2 and the red ace onside there were twelve tricks.
Page 10
Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul. Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
♠ K J 7 5 4 ♠ J 9 6 4 2
♥ 9 2 ♥ 5
♦ J 5 4 2 ♦ 7 5 4
♣ 9 4 ♣ K Q 7 2
♠ 9 8 6 3 2 N ♠ A ♠ — N ♠ A K 10
♥ A 4 ♥ K Q J 10 8 6 5 3 ♥ Q 9 8 6 ♥ A K J 10 4
♦ A 9 3 W E ♦ Q 6 ♦ K Q J 10 6 3 W E ♦ A 9
♣ A 8 7 S ♣ K 5 ♣ A 6 4 S ♣ J 8 3
♠ Q 10 ♠ Q 8 7 5 3
♥ 7 ♥ 7 3 2
♦ K 10 8 7 ♦ 8 2
♣ Q J 10 6 3 2 ♣ 10 9 5
Open Room Open Room
West North East South West North East South
Bertheau Andersson Wrang Bergdahl P Schaltz Caspersen D Schaltz Graversen
1♣ Pass 1♦* Pass – – 1♣* Pass
1♥ Pass 2♦* Pass 1♦* Pass 1♥* Pass
2♠ Pass 3♥ Pass 4 ♠* Pass 4NT* Pass
4♣ Pass 4NT* Pass 5♣* Pass 7♥ All Pass
5♦ Pass 5♥ Pass 1♣ 15+
6♥ All Pass 1♦ 6+
1♦ Transfer 1♥ 4+♥
2♦ Transfer
The Operator assumed 4♠ promised a void with heart support, 4NT then
North led the ♦4 and declarer put up dummy’s queen, so +1430. asking for keycards, but one of the commentators thought it might be
As you can see, if declarer retains dummy’s ♦Q South gets squeezed exclusion Blackwood. Whatever, it led to the laydown grand slam.
in the minors for an overtrick.
In the other room E/W (I can’t tell you who) reached 6NT and took Closed Room
all the tricks to pick up an 1MP. West North East South
You can replay this deal here or https://tinyurl.com/y9j2wo65 Dahl Nielsen Berg Boesgaard
From Sweden, we move on to Denmark for the Observation tournament – – 2♣* Pass
for national teams played in Blaksets Bridgecenter in Copenhagen. The 3♦ Pass 4♦ Pass
BBO commentary team included National Coach Jacob Røn, Leif Thom- 4NT* Pass 5♦* Pass
sen & John Møller Jepsen. 5NT* Pass 7♦ All Pass
These deals are from the sixth and last round between the pairs at Playing in diamonds cost a couple of IMPs.
the top of the standings:
Page 11
Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul. Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ 9 5 ♠ J 4 3
♥ K Q 10 8 6 4 3 ♥ A J 10 2
♦ K 3 ♦ 7
♣ 7 2 ♣ K Q 10 5 2
♠ 6 N ♠ J 10 8 4 3 ♠ 10 5 2 N ♠ A 9 8 6
♥ J 2 ♥ — ♥ K Q 9 7 5 4 ♥ 6
♦ Q 10 7 6 4 W E ♦ J 8 2 ♦ J 4 W E ♦ 10 9 8 5
♣ A Q 5 4 3 S ♣ K J 10 8 6 ♣ J 4 S ♣ 8 7 6 3
♠ A K Q 7 2 ♠ K Q 7
♥ A 9 7 5 ♥ 8 3
♦ A 9 5 ♦ A K Q 6 3 2
♣ 9 ♣ A 9
Open Room Open Room
P Schaltz Caspersen D Schaltz Graversen P Schaltz Caspersen D Schaltz Graversen
Pass 3♥ Pass 4♣* – 1♣ Pass 1♦
Double Pass* Pass 4NT* 3♥ Pass Pass Double
Pass 5♣* Double 6♥ All Pass
All Pass West went for the full blooded overcall. North led the ♣K and switched to
4♣ Cue-bid his diamond, South winning with the queen, cashing the ♣A and the ♦A
Pass Denies first-round ♣ control
and then switching to a trump. Declarer was booked for five down, -1100.
4NT RKCB
5♣ 1 key card Closed Room
That was a painless +1430. West North East South
Assuming N/S find their diamond ruff, 7♣ would cost only 1100. Dahl Nielsen Berg Boesgaard
Closed Room – 1♣ Pass 1♦
2♥ Pass Pass 4♦*
West North East South Pass 4♥* Pass 4NT*
Dahl Nielsen Berg Boesgaard Pass 5♣* Pass 6♦
Pass 3♥ Pass 6♥ All Pass
All Pass 4♦ Sets diamonds as trumps and asks for a cue-bid
East led the ♠J, no swing. 4♥ Cue-bid
4NT RKCB
5♣ 1 key card
West led the ♥K and declarer won with dummy’s ace and tried the
Page 12
diamonds. When they failed to divide declarer had to lose a trump and The meaning of 3♣ is uncertain – Al Hollander speculated it might sim-
a spade, a 15 IMP swing. ply be game forcing, but it might also have been promising a shortage,
You can replay these deals here or https://tinyurl.com/y8tmc6aa with 4♣ confirming it was a void.
Our next stop is the Netherlands where we visit the final of the Dutch Closed Room
Major Class between The White House 1(Sjoert Brink – Bass Float, Vin- West North East South
cent Ramondt – Berry Westra) and BC ‘t Onstein 1 (Bauke Muller – Simon
Brink v Prooijen Drijver Verhees
de Wijs, Ricco van Prooijen – Louk Verhees, substitutes Bob Drijver –
– – 2♦ 2♥
Bart Nab).
Pass 4♥ Pass 4 ♠*
The five-session final was staged at the NDC Den Hommel in
Pass 5♣* Pass 5♦*
Utrecht where Wubbo de Boer and Joris van Lankveld provided
Pass 6♥ All Pass
expert commentary.
When the last session got underway the White House led 121-98. West led the ♦10 but declarer won, cashed the top trumps, pitched a dia-
mond on the ♣A, ruffed a club, crossed to dummy with a spade, ruffed a
Board 22. Dealer North. All Vul. club and played a spade to the queen, claiming all the tricks and 11 IMPs.
♠ K Q 10 By the time the anti-penultimate deal was reached BC’t Onstein had
♥ K 10 4 taken the lead by a single IMP, 123-122.
♦ 9 4 Board 38. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
♣ A Q 8 7 6
♠ 7 6 5 2 ♠ 8 3 ♠ J 10 6 4
N ♥ 7
♥ Q 8 ♥ J 5
♦ 10 7 W E ♦ K Q 8 6 3 2 ♦ K 10 7 6 5 3
♣ K J 10 9 3 S ♣ 5 4 2 ♣ 10 2
♠ A J 9 4 ♠ K 9 7 5 3 N ♠ Q
♥ A 9 7 6 3 2 ♥ J 3 ♥ A K 10 9 8 6 4
♦ Q J W E ♦ 4 2
♦ A J 5
♣ — ♣ A K 9 6 S ♣ 7 5 3
♠ A 8 2
Open Room ♥ Q 5 2
West North East South ♦ A 9 8
de Wijs Westra Muller Ramondt ♣ Q J 8 4
– – Pass 1♥ Open Room
Pass 2NT* Pass 3♣*
Pass 3♦ Double 4♣* West North East South
Pass 4 ♠ Pass 5♣ de Wijs Westra Muller Ramondt
Pass 5♥ All Pass – – 3♥ Pass
2NT 3+fit, invitational up to a bad game force 4♥ All Pass
Page 13
The 53% chance that hearts would play for no loser failed to materialise Open Room
and the contract had to fail by a trick. West North East South
Closed Room Tundal van de Bos Kvangraven v Lankveld
– Pass 2♣* Pass
West North East South 2♦* Pass 2NT* Pass
Brink v Prooijen Drijver Verhees 3NT All Pass
– – 3♥ All Pass 2♣ 9-15 HCP NV vs. V 11-15 HCP other vuln
That was worth 6 IMPs. 2♦ Forcing for one round
On the penultimate deal de Wijs and Muller bid 6♥ with ♠Q6 ♥Q1073 2NT Maximum, single suiter
♦A6542 ♣K8 opposite ♠KJ ♥AK9654 ♦KJ3 ♣A4. The ♦Q was doubleton East had the option of rebidding 3♠ to show a maximum with 6+♣ and
onside. Was that the match winner? Not quite, as Brink & Drijver dupli- a spade shortage.
cated that result and for once the last board had no significant role to South led the ♥7 and declarer took North’s ten with the ace, unblocked
play, the White House winning 130-123. the ♠Q and exited with the ♣5. South won with the queen and tried the
You can replay these deals here or https://tinyurl.com/ycg4btg9 ♥9 but declarer put up dummy’s queen and claimed.
Al Hollander mentioned that there will be test matches for open and Closed Room
women’s teams later in the year, but they always seem to have some- West North East South
thing going on in the Netherlands to make sure their top players get the
Verhees Livgard v Prooijen Aa
best possible practice and my next deal comes from the last session of a
– Pass 2♣* Pass
practice match between the Netherlands and Norway, which the home
2♦* Pass 3♦* Pass
team won 546-329.
3♥* Pass 3NT* Pass
Board 25. Dealer North. E/W Vul. 4♣* Pass 4♥* Pass
6♣ All Pass
♠ 9 8 4 3 2♣ 10-14(15) 6+♣
♥ 10 5 4 2♦ Relay
♦ 8 7 5 3 3♦ Maximum, one-suiter, short spades
♣ J 3 3♥ Relay
♠ A K 10 6 N ♠ Q 3NT 1(32/23)7
♥ Q 8 6 3 ♥ A 2 4♣ Asking for controls A=2, K= with a maximum step 1shows 4
♦ A Q 6 W E ♦ J 9 2 4♥ 5 controls
♣ 10 4 S ♣ A K 9 8 7 6 5
Declarer won the spade lead, cashed the top trumps and took a diamond
♠ J 7 5 2 finesse for all the tricks and 12 IMPs.
♥ K J 9 7
♦ K 10 5 You can replay this deal here or https://tinyurl.com/y7hojdyg
♣ Q 2 Now we step across the border into Belgium for the sixth and last ses-
sion of the Finale between Riviera 1 and BCOB, the latter having already
having sown up the match by outscoring their opponents 257-107.
Page 14
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul. Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
♠ A K Q ♠ A 7 4 2
♥ K 8 5 4 ♥ K Q 9 2
♦ 9 7 ♦ K 9 7
♣ K 7 5 3 ♣ K J
♠ 8 7 6 N ♠ J 10 4 3 2 ♠ J 6 N ♠ 10 9 8
♥ Q J 10 6 ♥ 9 2 ♥ 10 8 7 6 ♥ J
♦ J 8 2 W E ♦ K 6 ♦ A J 8 4 W E ♦ Q 10 5 3 2
♣ Q 9 6 S ♣ J 10 8 4 ♣ Q 8 7 S ♣ 10 6 5 3
♠ 9 5 ♠ K Q 5 3
♥ A 7 3 ♥ A 5 4 3
♦ A Q 10 5 4 3 ♦ 6
♣ A 2 ♣ A 9 4 2
Open Room Open Room
Backes Amsel Coenraets Greens Backes Amsel Coenraets Greens
– 1NT Pass 2NT* – – Pass 1♣
Pass 3♦* Pass 4♣* Pass 1♦* Pass 1♥*
Pass 4♦ Pass 4♥* Pass 1♠ Pass 2♥
Pass 4 ♠* Pass 4NT* Pass 2NT Pass 4 ♠
Pass 5♣* Pass 6♦ Pass 6♥ All Pass
All Pass 1♦ Hearts
2NT Diamonds West led the ♦A (nothing helps) and declarer was soon in a position to
3♦ No fit claim, ruffing just one diamond in hand. This slam was worth 13 IMPs
4♣ Cue-bid
against the game in the other room but the 23 IMPs on these two deals
4♥ Cue-bid
were a pinprick as BCOB 1 cruised home 275-136.
4♠ Cue-bid
4NT RKCB You can replay these deals here or https://tinyurl.com/ybraqave
5♣ 1 key card We move along the coast into France for our penultimate exhibits from
Declarer won the spade lead and played a diamond to the ten. West won the top division of the French League, which come from the Round 9
and switched to the heart queen, but declarer won and played a diamond, match between Fleury and Vinciguerra. After a low-scoring first half
claiming when the king appeared. They stopped in 3NT in the other room Fleury led 11-7.
so that was worth 10 IMPs.
Page 15
Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul. bid 4♦ and rebid 5♦ after North’s 4♠. Then North will surely bid at least
♠ A 4 6♥.
♥ A 5 4 3 It was 11 IMPs for Fleury now ahead 25-8.
♦ A 10 8 6 5 4 3 Board 26. Dealer East. All Vul.
♣ —
♠ K 9 5 3 ♠ J 8 7 2 ♠ 3
N ♥ A Q J 7 5 4 3
♥ Q 6 ♥ —
♦ 7 W E ♦ Q J 9 2 ♦ Q J 6
♣ A Q J 10 4 3 S ♣ K 9 7 6 2 ♣ 4 2
♠ Q 10 6 ♠ Q J 10 6 5 N ♠ A K 9 8 7
♥ K J 10 9 8 7 2 ♥ 9 ♥ K 2
♦ K 8 3 2 W E ♦ A
♦ K
♣ 8 5 ♣ A K 3 S ♣ Q J 10 6 5
♠ 4 2
Open Room ♥ 10 8 6
West North East South ♦ 10 9 7 5 4
Stamatov Charletoux Danailov Dupuis ♣ 9 8 7
– – Pass 3♥ Open Room
Pass 6♥ All Pass
Didn’t we just see this auction in Denmark? Stamatov Charletoux Danailov Dupuis
Declarer ruffed the club lead in dummy, played a heart to the king,
– – 1♣* Pass
unblocked the ♦K and drew the outstanding trump, claiming the rest,
1♠ 2♥ 2♠ Pass
as the diamonds could be established.
3♦ Pass 3♥* Pass
Could Vinciguerra find a route to 7♥ in the replay?
4♣* Pass 4♦* Pass
Closed Room 4♥* Pass 4NT* Pass
West North East South 5♣* Pass 6♠ All Pass
1♣ Strong
Guillaumin Eisenberg Palau Vinciguerra
3♥ Cue-bid
– – Pass Pass 4♣ Cue-bid
1♣ 1♦ 1♥* Double 4♦ Cue-bid
2♠ 3♠* Pass 4♥ 4♥ Cue-bid
All Pass 4NT RKCB
1♥ Spades 5♣ 1 key card
3♠ Heart support
North led the ♥A, which the commentator surmised might save an IMP.
The answer was a resounding no.
North might have done better to jump to 4♣ over 2♠. South can then
Page 16
Closed Room Closed Room
Guillaumin Eisenberg Palau Vinciguerra Guillaumin Eisenberg Palau Vinciguerra
– – 1♠ Pass Pass Pass 1♠ Double
3♥* 4♥ 4 ♠ All Pass Pass 2♠* Pass 3♥
3♥ Mini-splinter Pass 4♥ All Pass
If East had bid 5♦, would West have jumped to 6♠? I think you should, as West led the ♠7 and East played three rounds of the suit, declarer ruff-
you know partner has gone to the five-level with at least two losing clubs. ing with the nine of hearts, West overruffing with the jack and exiting
Indeed, you might prefer to bid 6♣, in case partner’s heart king is the ace. with the ♣6, for the two, queen and king. Declarer went to dummy with
It was 13 IMPs to Vinciguerra, suddenly ahead 34-25. a diamond and played the ♥3 to the queen. That held, but now East’s
♥K8 were worth a trick.
Board 28. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
As you will already have realised declarer must play dummy’s ♥10,
♠ Q 10 8 2 intending to run it. If East covers with the king, declarer wins, returns
♥ 10 5 4 3 to dummy with a club and takes the heart finesse.
♦ A 6 It’s possible that West started with the ♥J87, but then he might some-
♣ A 9 2 times have followed with the eight on the first round of trumps – a
♠ 7 4 N ♠ A K 9 5 3 variation of the theory of restricted choice.
♥ J 7 ♥ K 8 2 It cost Vinciguerra 13 IMPs and the match, 37-46.
♦ 9 8 7 5 4 W E ♦ 3 2
S You can replay these deals here or https://tinyurl.com/y85khlsu
♣ 8 6 5 3 ♣ Q 10 7
Finally, just like Philleas Fogg we return to London, for the Lady Milne
♠ J 6 Trials.
♥ A Q 9 6
♦ K Q J 10 Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
♣ K J 4
♠ 8 5 2
Open Room ♥ 9 7
West North East South ♦ Q 7 3
♣ 9 8 7 4 2
Stamatov Charletoux Danailov Dupuis
Pass Pass 1♠ Double ♠ K 7 N ♠ Q J 6 4 3
Pass 1NT Pass 2♠*
♥ K 5 ♥ A 6 4
♦ K 5 4 2 W E ♦ J 10 8 6
Pass 3NT All Pass ♣ K Q J 10 5 S ♣ A
2♠ Game try
♠ A 10 9
East led the ♠5 and declarer won with the eight and played a heart to ♥ Q J 10 8 3 2
the nine and jack. East took the spade return with the king and switched ♦ A 9
to the ♣10. When dummy’s jack held, declarer came to hand with a dia- ♣ 6 3
mond and played a heart to the queen for eleven tricks.
Page 17
Open Room After the same lead and play to the first two tricks, declarer played the ♠3
West North East South at trick three and South defended well by putting in the ten (if she takes
Rosen Caplan Senior Godfrey the ace declarer unblocks the king). Having won with the ♠K declarer
– – – 1♥ cashed her clubs. South could afford to pitch a spade but was then forced
2♣ Pass 2♠ Pass to pitch two hearts or one heart and a diamond. Realising if she pitched
3NT All Pass two hearts declarer would cash the ♥K and then exit with a spade, she
threw the ♦9. That allowed declarer to exit with a small diamond, but she
North led the ♥9 and declarer safely negotiated the first hurdle by ris- misread the position, playing South for the ♦AQ9 and only five hearts,
ing with dummy’s ace. She unblocked the ♣A but then fell from grace by cashing the ♥K before exiting with a spade, so she was also one down.
playing a diamond. South went up with the ace and cleared the hearts, Sally Brock and Gilly Cardiff recovered from a poor start to win the
leaving declarer with only eight tricks. trial with 91.67 IMPs, ahead of Susanna Gross and Catherine Draper
Closed Room who scored 84.34. These two pairs are guaranteed a place in the England
team. Nicola Smith and Yvonne Wiseman, finished third on 78.67 IMPs
West North East South and as no other pair managed a positive score they will surely get the
Nettleton Dhondy Gold Anoyrkatis third spot on the team.
– – – 1♥
1NT Pass 2♥* Pass You can replay this deal here or https://tinyurl.com/y6ww34tn
2♠ Pass 3NT All Pass
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Page 18
In this issue we launch
GOTO Bridge 19
The must-have bridge software for more than 20 years. Lessons, practice and competition directly at home.
Lessons and exercises The game mode “Challenge the best international players” will even give
GOTO Bridge 19 bidding and card play lessons and exercises are an excel- you the opportunity to compare yourself to world champions.
lent source of learning and progress. The deal manager is made for you. This tool can be used as teaching
material for your bridge lessons since it allows you to prepare and import
Easy deals your own deals, save them and sort them as you see fit. Besides, thanks to
Ideal to take up bridge or have fun, it is the perfect game mode to prac- the printing module included, you can print your deals, bidding boards,
tisewithout any constraints. tricks and commentary.
Bidding practice Developed by bridge experts

GOTO Bridge 19 allows you to practise the auction of your choice. Among them is Jérôme Rombaut, 2017 Vice World Bridge Champion.
The team is not new to this game. They are also behind the Funbridge
Card play practice app with a community of 400,000 players worldwide
The software makes bids on your behalf for the contract you want to play.
Corrections to your bidding
Play bridge offline GOTO Bridge 19 suggests corrections to your bidding and explains why.
Take the new GOTO Bridge 19 software everywhere with you and play
whenever you want! Corrections to your card play
On the plane, the train, the underground... You can play anywhere with- The app tells you which card you should play to take as many tricks as
out an Internet connection. possible on the deal.
GOTO Bridge lessons and exercises are made for you! Written by bridge Tips given by the computer
professionals, they will help you learn the basics of bridge in all game
areas (bidding and card play). Then you will be able to apply what you Ask the computer for advice and it will tell you what it would play if it
have learned with exercises. were in your shoes.
Evaluate your level, strengths and weaknesses thanks to the various Play all hands
practice exercises offered by GOTO Bridge. Select the game area of your
Play all players’ hands at the table.
choice (bidding or card play, attack or defence) and make progress thanks
to the corrections suggested by the software. “Show cards” feature
Pit yourself against the best players in the “Tournaments” mode! At the GOTO Bridge 19 shows you the cards held by the other players sitting
end of each deal, you will be compared to them on the same deals and at the table.
in the same conditions.
Page 19
Reverse, forward and replay buttons • Assessment of your bidding and card play on thousands of deals
Navigate through the deal as you want and replay tricks. and for 10 game levels.
GOTO Bridge is seen as the reference among bridge software in France. • Undo: you can cancel your last action if you made a mistake.
Thanks to its numerous game modes and features, it allows players of • Claim: as at a real table, claim the tricks you are certain you can
all ages and levels to have endless fun. take without being obliged to play the deal until the end.
• History: GOTO Bridge manages the history of the deals you play.
Playing bridge has never been easier Therefore you will always be able to search for a deal that you particu-
Feel the atmosphere of a game of bridge wherever you are (at home, in larly liked.
public transport, travelling abroad...) • Force a bid or the lead, play the hands of your choice: with GOTO
thanks to GOTO Bridge numerous assets and features. Bridge, you are completely free at the table. You can view and play all
• Unlimited deals. hands, replay a card and force the lead. In a nutshell, you do what you
want.
• Immediate comparison on all deals played.
• Save a deal and play it again later.
• Tips and help given by the computer.
• Analysis of your bidding and card play at the end of each deal. Unlimited deals
• Par score and contracts most often played on the deal. • The ideal game mode for a quick game.
• Bidding and card play lessons with exercises. “Unlimited deals” game mode
• Practise bidding and card play in the sequence and contract of
• This game mode allows you to play an unlimited number of deals,
your choice.
one after the other.
At the end of the deal, you are compared to the software which has played
the same deal as you in the same conditions.
You have access to its auction and card play to be able to analyse your
deals in minute detail.
• Lessons and exercises
• Enrich your knowledge thanks to GOTO Bridge lessons.
“Lessons and exercises” game mode
GOTO Bridge lessons and exercises are an excellent source of learning
and progress.
In this game mode, you will take lessons on:
• Bidding: 19 topics (major two-suiters after 1NT, natural responses
after an overcall, etc. with corrected exercises).
• Card play: 17 topics (defence in a trump contract, squeeze*, etc.
Page 20
with corrected exercises).
*This lesson is based on the book entitled “Le Squeeze au bridge” (“The
squeeze in bridge”) by Romanet, available at lebridgeur.com.
• Practice
• Improve your skills in different game areas.
“Practice” game mode
This game mode allows you to practice the different areas of the game.
It includes the following features:
• The “correction” mode behind the success of the previous ver-
sions of GOTO Bridge. Its principle is simple. During card play, GOTO
Bridge will show you the best card to play to take the highest number of
tricks on the deal. During the bidding phase, it will correct your bidding
cards and will explain your mistakes to you. At the end of the deal, you
will have the possibility to replay your deal from the moment when you
made a mistake.
• Easy deals to take up bridge or have fun: excellent practice with- • Statistics per game area (bidding, card play, attack or defence)
out any constraints. • Head-to-head comparison with the best international and Fun-
• Card play practice: GOTO Bridge makes bids on your behalf in the bridge players
type of contract that you want to play. • Card play tournaments: you are compared (card play only) to
• Bidding practice in the auction of your choice. other players who have played the same contract
• Random deals requiring special attention as when playing in a • Challenge “Argine”: pit yourself against the latest version of GOTO
club. Bridge game engine (i.e. the artificial intelligence playing with you) in
• Save your deals while playing tournaments and replay them. a 5-deal tournament in IMP scoring. Win 10 tournaments in a row and
get a 1-year subscription to the online bridge game Funbridge!
Tournaments
Set your own conventions
• Compare yourself to other players and challenge champions.
Select your bidding system in “Settings” among the SAYC (Standard
“Tournaments” game mode American Yellow Card), the English ACOL system, the French 5-card
This game mode allows you to compare yourself to other players and to major system, the Polish system, the Nordic system, the NBB Standard
be ranked among the best ones: this is the competition part of GOTO system and the 2/1 system. A free profile also allows you to set your own
Bridge. conventions.
• Assessment of the way you play on thousands of deals and for 10 Bidding systems and conventions
game levels
GOTO Bridge allows you to play several bidding systems:
Page 21
• SAYC system. Goulash mode
• English ACOL system. It consists of a challenge against Argine on 8 deals.
• French 5-card major system. What makes it special is that some deals are “Goulash”, i.e. with freak
• Polish system. distributions.
• Nordic system. You play the first deal as usual:
• NBB Standard system. • If the contract bid is at least a game, a slam or if it is doubled or
redoubled, you play the deal.
• 2/1 system.
• If the contract is a part-score or the deal is passed out, the pair
• Forum D system.
who has bid the contract gets the score that goes with it.
Several profiles are available for each system: beginner, intermediate,
If the contract is a part-score, on the next deal, each player sorts his 13
competition and strong 2.
cards by suits. All four hands are stacked back in the deck which is cut
You also have the possibility to create a free profile with your own con- once. Cards are then dealt in groups of 5-3-5 for instance instead of one
ventions to play GOTO Bridge as you wish. at a time as usual. It allows to create deals where the suits are more une-
But since a picture is worth a thousand words, the opposite screen shot venly distributed between the players. On this deal, you follow the same
should speak for itself. rules as above and so on.
Once the 8 deals are played, the winner is the one who has scored the
Deal manager
highest number of points: Argine (E/O) or the player in South. So this
Sort, prepare, view and print your deals thanks to the brand-new deal is not duplicate.
manager. 15,000 new deals
“Deal manager” game mode • 5,000 new easy deals for practice
Useful resource for your bridge lessons. Thanks to this tool, you can: • Challenge Argine on 5,000 new deals
• Prepare your deals as you want: set distribution, vulnerability, • 2,000 new deals in series tournaments
dealer, bidding sequence and lead. • Challenge elites on 2,00 new deals
• Import your deals, edit them and play them from any hand. • 1,000 new deals in card play tournaments
• Sort, view and save the deals you have created or imported. • Latest version of the game engine Argine
• Print your deals thanks to the customised printing module: print • Accurately mimicking human behaviour
all or part of the deal (i.e. bidding, card play or players’ hands) and add
Same robot as in the Funbridge app
your own commentary.
• Win a 10-year subscription to Funbridge
New « Goulash » game mode • All you have to do is challenge Argine
Challenge GOTO Bridge 19 artificial intelligence “Argine” on deals with
freak distributions (also called “Goulash deals”)!
Page 22
Misplay These Hands With Me

Spot the Mistake I win with dummy’s ace (East following with the six) and cash the ace of
Senior Events are all the rage, and as more experts attain the requisite clubs, East discarding the three of hearts. That’s a blow, but I still have
status, they are becoming stronger. During a round robin I pick up a chances. I duck a club to West’s ten, win the heart return and play the
hand with potential: six of clubs. Annoyingly West puts up the queen preventing me from
winning with the seven and ruffing a diamond. I take the king, pitch two
♠ A K Q 10 4 2 spades on the top diamonds and then have to decide how best to play
♥ K 8 the spades. By now East has played five hearts and I’m inclined to place
♦ — him with four spades so I play a spade to the ten. When West wins with
♣ J 9 8 6 5 the jack I am one down.
With both sides vulnerable I open 1♠ and my partner responds with a Time to look at the full deal:
game forcing 2♦. I show my second suit with 3♣ and partner bids 4♣, ♠ 5
which we play as agreeing clubs and asking for key cards. I respond 4♦ ♥ A
to show 1 or 4 key cards and partner continues with 4♥, asking about ♦ A K 9 8 6 5 3
the queen of trumps. When I bid 4♠ to deny it he jumps to 6♣. This has ♣ A K 7 4
been our scientific auction: ♠ J 6 N ♠ 9 8 7 3
West North East South ♥ Q 10 9 2 ♥ J 7 6 5 4 3
♦ J 7 4 W E ♦ Q 10 2
– – – 1♠
♣ Q 10 3 2 S ♣ —
Pass 2♦ Pass 3♣
Pass 4♣* Pass 4♦* ♠ A K Q 10 4 2
Pass 4♥* Pass 4 ♠* ♥ K 8
Pass 6♣ All Pass ♦ —
♣ J 9 8 6 5
West leads the ten of hearts and I get a very impressive dummy:
Post mortem
♠ 5
♥ A Declarer’s play in the spade suit was well thought out, but unnecessary.
♦ A K 9 8 6 5 3 At trick two he should play the eight of clubs under the ace followed by
♣ A K 7 4 a club to the nine and ten. By retaining the ♣65 declarer will have two
entries to dummy allowing him to ruff a diamond and establish the suit.
In the other room South jumped to 3♠ over North’s 2♦, implying a
♠ A K Q 10 4 2 solid suit and North leapt to 7♠ which East doubled. When West led a dia-
♥ K 8 mond declarer ruffed and cashed the top spades for a spectacular swing.
♦ —
♣ J 9 8 6 5
Page 23
Ruff Justice This was the full deal:
30 years ago my local club could boast a host of International players ♠ K 8 5 4
amongst its membership. They are thinner on the ground now but the ♥ A J 8 3 2
standard is still quite high. ♦ Q 10
During a single session team game I pick up the following collection:
♣ 5 2
♠ Q 9 6 N ♠ A J 10 7
♠ 3 2 ♥ K Q 10 7 4 ♥ 9 6
♥ 5 ♦ A 8 5 3 W E ♦ —
♦ K J 9 7 6 4 2 ♣ 10 S ♣ K J 8 7 6 4 3
♣ A Q 9
♠ 3 2
With only the opponents vulnerable, East the dealer opens 2♣. This ♥ 5
turns out to be Precision, promising a long club suit with 10-15 points. ♦ K J 9 7 6 4 2
I could overcall 3♦ which we play as a weak bid in an attempt to take ♣ A Q 9
up some space, but I don’t want to rule out a possible 3NT so I content Post mortem
myself with 2♦. West bids a constructive but non forcing 2♥ and when
Declarer could have made a certainty of the contract by playing the nine
my partner has nothing to say East rebids 3♣. Rightly or wrongly I bid
of clubs at trick two! If West ruffs and plays two rounds of diamonds
3♦ and when no one has anything to add we are left with this auction:
declarer can no longer ruff a club, but the ace of clubs will be the ninth
West North East South trick.
– – 2♣ 2♦ At the other table East opened 1♣ and when South overcalled 3♦ West
2♥ Pass 3♣ 3♦ bid 3♥. North could not resist doubling but then found it could not be
All Pass defeated. Declarer ruffed the diamond lead in dummy and ran the nine
West leads the ten of clubs and partner gives me a fair dummy: of hearts to North’s jack. After a club to the queen and a diamond return
declarer took the ace and played the king of hearts to North’s ace. He
♠ K 8 5 4 ruffed the club continuation and ran the nine of spades, followed by the
♥ A J 8 3 2
queen.
♦ Q 10
♣ 5 2
♠ 3 2
♥ 5
♦ K J 9 7 6 4 2
♣ A Q 9
I take the ten with the queen and cash the ace of clubs – at least I attempt
to, but West ruffs and continues with the ace and another diamond as
East discards a couple of clubs. I overtake dummy’s queen with the king,
draw the outstanding trump and try a spade to the king but East pro-
duces the ace and I have to go one down.
Page 24
Crossword - Getting Into The Bidding

Composed by Ray Lee - See Page 30 for Solution
(NOTE: Nine solutions are of a kind, not otherwise defined)

Across 1 2 3 4 5
6 Criticise really good artist? (7) 6 7 8

7 Carve the roast (5)
9 No place for palindromic rodents (4)
10 Software workers are close to finding bugs in there -- they’re look- 9 10
ing for empty slots (10)
11 Gutenberg’s lines are the ultimate answer (5-3)
13 Position of cards could be ‘and lit.’ (6) 11 12 13 14
15 Bewildered by Hamlet’s troubles? (4)
17 An electrical unit? The reverse (5)
18 Nothing gets an A in old sci-fi book (4) 15 16 17 18
19 Gets a better job on Broadway, maybe, but misbehaves (4,2)

20 I’m okay being around a heartless crook (8)
23 Releases record -- races around -- force of nature? (10) 19 20 21 22
26 American non-U snack? (4)

27 Eastern river backs up for 9s that go bang (5)
23 24 25 26
28 Dig up Yellowstone, but not fast (7)
Down 27 28
1 Plus it airs Songs of Praise? (10)

2 17th century house, acceptable in the beginning (6)
3 Carry on like angels are supposed to (4)
4 Hit musical (8)
5 Send back your starter -- this will heat it up (4) 21 Galaxy in LA, maybe? No, these 9s were in New York (6)
6 Short measure to Hamlet’s friend would be 5:7 (5) 22 Terra incognita (5)
8 Kind of illusion from working in a coalpit? (7) 24 Look out -- a dark passage! Give up (4)
12 Celtic inscription from Robin’s town -- he’s home with nothing 25 She’s grown right out of her dress! (4)
on! (5)
14 As Zlatan sounds -- someone who’s sinned badly? (3-7)
16 Bridge includes auction (but not at first) (7)
17 Google, possibly, the way of the Lord? (8)
Page 25
Deals that Caught My Eye
David Bird looks at some big swings from the final of the 2019 Australian Open Teams Play-Off in Canberra.
It’s time for us to look at some bridge from the far side the globe. There Well, I don’t want to be accused of judging the matter when I can see
won’t be any feeble jokes about upside-down signals, let me reassure you. all 52 cards. I will leave you to decide whether South should have diag-
Neill faces Hans and we will inspect some of the biggest swings, hoping nosed a heart switch.
to assess fairly the balance between blame, credit and luck. At the other table the bidding was 1♣ – 1NT– 3NT and all was easy for
We start with the largest swing in the first set of 16 boards: the defenders when Edgtton led the ♥6 from the South hand. It was an
early 13 IMPs to Hans, who led by 35-15 after the first set of 16 boards..
S1-Board 4. Dealer West. Both Vul. This was the biggest swing of the second set:
♠ 8 5 4 3 2 S2 Board 26. Dealer East. Both Vul.
♥ A Q 5 3
♦ 9 7 5 ♠ K 8 4
♣ 6 ♥ Q J 10 8 6 2
♠ K 9 ♠ Q J 10 ♦ 6 5 4
N ♣ 5
♥ 9 4 ♥ J 8 2
♦ A 4 W E ♦ K 10 8 6 2 ♠ 10 9 ♠ Q J 7
♣ A K Q J 9 7 2 S ♣ 8 5 N
♥ K ♥ 9 7 3
♦ A J 3 W E ♦ Q 10 9 8 7
♠ A 7 6
♥ K 10 7 6 ♣ K Q 10 9 4 3 2 S ♣ A 7
♦ Q J 3 ♠ A 6 5 3 2
♣ 10 4 3 ♥ A 5 4
♦ K 2
Open Room ♣ J 8 6
Open Room
Gill Gumby Hans Lazer
1♣* Pass 2♦* Pass West North East South
3NT All Pass Gill Kanetkar Hans Neill
Gill opened a strong 1♣ and the 2♦ response showed an 8-10 balanced – – Pass 1♠
hand. Gumby led the ♠5 against 3NT, drawing the 10, ace and 9. Lazer 2♣ 2♠ 2NT Pass
returned a spade and Gill was happy to enter +660 on his card. What do 3NT Double All Pass
you make of that? Neill led the ♠3 to partner’s king and Kanetkar was faced with a similar
The ♠5 could not be fourth best, so declarer was marked with the ♠K. ‘continue or switch?’ decision as on our previous board. If declarer had
West had made no attempt to locate a 4-4 major fit, so North must hold at ventured 2NT on a mere ♠Q75, and held the ♥A, a spade continuation
least three hearts. If he holds ♥Axx(x) or ♥Qxx(x), a heart switch will set would be the winning play.
up three tricks in that suit. It’s a bit much to hope for ♥AQx(x), it’s true. Kanetkar expected East to hold ♠QJx and switched to the ♥6. A
Page 26
handsome +1100 was the result. As it ♠ K 8 4 Open Room
♥ Q J 10 8 6 2
happens, it would have been the same
♦ 6 5 4 West North East South
on a spade return. After winning with ♣ 5 Edgtton Kanetkar Hung Neill
the ♠A, South would know that East ♠ 10 9 ♠ Q J 7 – 1NT Pass Pass
♥ K N ♥
had a spade stopper. He would surely W E 9 7 3 Double Pass Pass 2♣
♦ A J 3 ♦ Q 10 9 8 7
have tried his luck with the ♥A. On that S Pass Pass Double Redouble
♣ KQ109432 ♣ A 7
basis, perhaps there is something to be ♠ A 6 5 3 2 Pass 2♥ Double All Pass
said for a spade return from North at ♥ A 5 4
trick two, catering also for ♠AJxxx with ♦ K 2 Even if West’s double showed ‘majors or minors’ (no convention card is
South. ♣ J 8 6 available), it seems a dubious move at IMPs. Imagine for a moment that
the East hand was a fruit machine. You can see that Edgtton very much
Closed Room hit the jackpot.
West North East South Neill took flight and ended in 2♥ on a 4-3 fit, doubled by East. The
Beauchamp Hung Thomson Edgtton ♣10 lead seemed the most attractive available, but in fact it reduced the
– – Pass 1♠ penalty from 1100 to 800.
2♣ 2♦* Double 2♥ At the other table Lazer sat West. There was an apparent malfunction
of his crystal ball, and he allowed North to play undoubled in 1NT. After
3♣ 3♥ Pass Pass
a spade lead and a diamond switch, it looked like three down. Declarer
4♣ All Pass
cleared the clubs and Gumby was on lead at trick nine with ♥AJ104 ♦7.
North’s 2♦ showed hearts, East’s double indicating diamond values. There Two further diamond tricks in the West hand, plus the ♥A, would have
was no prospect of E/W playing in 3NT when the hearts were raised and collected +300. The ♥4 switch allowed declarer to win and cash his clubs,
+130 in 4♣ helped to reel in 15 IMPs. After two sets Neill led by just 61-58. going only one down.
Edgtton’s crystal ball was working magically on this deal: It was 12 IMPs to Hans, who took the set 62-7 and now led by 120-68.
S3 Board 37. Dealer North. N/S Vul. Big IMPs were exchanged on this heart-spade bidding battle from
the next set:
♠ 10 9 4
♥ K Q 2
♦ A 3
♣ K Q J 9 7
♠ K J 8 N ♠ A Q 5 3
♥ 5 3 ♥ A J 10 3
♦ K J 10 8 W E ♦ Q 7 2
♣ A 8 5 2 S ♣ 10 6
♠ 7 6 2
♥ 9 8 7 6
♦ 9 6 5 4
♣ 4 3
Page 27
S4 Board 52. Dealer West. Both Vul. the contract could not be beaten and it was 790 away. 14 IMPs to Hans.
♠ A K 9 5 3 2 More one-way traffic produced a winning set of 54-9 and an overall
♥ 6 half-time lead of 174-77 for Hans.
♦ 6 5 Edgtton and Hung produced a fine auction on this deal:
♣ 9 8 6 5 S5 Board 80. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
♠ 8 N ♠ Q J 6
♥ A K Q 10 2 ♥ J 8 5 4 3 ♠ 8 7 5 4
♦ J 9 8 7 W E ♦ K 3 ♥ 10
♣ Q 4 2 S ♣ K 10 3 ♦ 10 9 8 5 4
♠ 10 7 4 ♣ 10 8 5
♥ 9 7 ♠ A K Q 6 3 N ♠ J 10 9 2
♦ A Q 10 4 2 ♥ Q J 6 ♥ K 7
♦ — W E ♦ A K Q
♣ A J 7
♣ A Q J 9 4 S ♣ K 7 6 3
Open Room ♠ —
West North East South ♥ A 9 8 5 4 3 2
Edgtton Thomson Hung Beauchamp ♦ J 7 6 3 2
1♥ 1♠ 4♥ 4 ♠ ♣ 2
5♥ 5♠ Double All Pass Open Room
Hung did not have a text-book hand for his 4♥ bid – he had too much West North East South
defence and was somewhat short on playing strength. Edgtton had every Edgtton Thomson Hung Beauchamp
reason to expect 4♠ to be made and his 5♥ sacrifice would have cost 500
1♠ Pass 2NT 3♥
against their 620.
Pass Pass 4 ♠ Pass
Now we come to what I regard as the first really bad bid of the auction,
5♠ Pass 6NT All Pass
5♠ by North. He had no idea of partner’s hand type and no justification
for bidding five over five. South would have doubled 5♥ for a 500 pick-up, West’s 5♠ asked partner to bid a slam with a heart control. If the con-
whereas 5♠ doubled went one down for 200 away. trol was first-round (ace or void), East would have the option of bidding
6♥ in response. Hung closed the auction with the splendid bid of 6NT.
Closed Room Not only did this prevent a lead through the ♥K, it also precluded any
West North East South risk of an adverse ruff. Beauchamp led the ♥A and declarer claimed a
Edgtton Thomson Hung Beauchamp well-deserved +1440.
1♥ 1♠ 2♠ 3♥ If the other table can match this score, I will be impressed. (I will also
Pass 3♠ 4♥ Pass be surprised, since this series is billed as featuring big-swing deals.)
Pass 4 ♠ Double All Pass
East’s 2♠ was an accurate expression of his values. The remainder of the
auction was similarly impressive. East had his double of 4♠, it seems, but
Page 28
Closed Room ♠ 8 7 5 4 Right, this is the other 12-IMP swing that I have deemed worthy of
♥ 10 your attention:
West North East South ♦ 10 9 8 5 4
Beauchamp Hans Thomson Gill ♣ 10 8 5 S6 Board 87. Dealer South. Both Vul.
1♠ Pass 2♣ 4♥ ♠ A K Q 6 3 ♠ J 10 9 2
N
5♣ Pass 5NT Pass ♥ Q J 6
W ♥
E K 7 ♠ A 10 8 6 4 3
6♣ ♦ — ♦ A K Q
All Pass
♣ A Q J 9 4
S
♣ K 7 6 3
♥ Q 8 6
Beauchamp and Thomson play a 2NT ♠ — ♦ Q 7 2
response as 3+ spades and 8-12 points. ♥ A 9 8 5 4 3 2 ♣ 4
♦ J 7 6 3 2 ♠ — ♠ Q 9 7
East’s 2♣ was artificial and game-forc- ♣ 2 N
ing. 5NT was ‘pick a slam’. If West had ♥ 7 3 ♥ A J 10 9 4 2
picked 6♠, East might have corrected to 6NT. When West chose 6♣, the ♦ A K 10 9 6 5 3 W E ♦ 4
♣ A Q 10 9 S ♣ J 7 6
♥K would be protected from the lead anyway, and Thomson passed. The
♥A, a heart ruff and a spade ruff put the slam a cruel two down for 17 ♠ K J 5 2
IMPs away. ♥ K 5
The gale of IMPs had continued at full force and, with five of the eight ♦ J 8
sets played, Hans led by 223-83. ♣ K 8 5 3 2
The wind changed direction in the next set, Neill winning it by 80-9. Open Room
Remarkably, they picked up no fewer than five 12-IMP swings in 16
boards. Let me try to pick out the most interesting one. West North East South
While I’m considering the matter, try this opening lead problem. Edgtton Neill Hung Kanetkar
– – – 1♣
S5 Board 80. Dealer North. N/S Vul. 1♦ 1♠ 2♥ 2♠
Double 3♠ Pass Pass
5♦ All Pass
Edgtton Neill Hung Kanetkar
– 2♣ Pass 2♦ North led the ♣4 and dummy’s ♣J was allowed to win. As we will see in a
Pass 2NT Pass 3NT moment, declarer does best to play trumps next, Edgtton preferred to lead
All Pass the ♣6, finessing the queen. How should Neill defend in the North seat?
He ruffed and found the necessary switch to the ♥6. If declarer finesses,
What will you lead from: ♠964 ♥KJ53 ♦10543 ♣53? South will win and beat the contract by giving North a second club ruff
Hung led the ♥3. Was it any surprise that the 2♣-opener held ♥AQ10 (or returning a second heart). Edgtton won with the ♥A and drew trumps.
and the heart lead presented declarer with a ninth trick? At the other He could not avoid subsequent losers in both clubs and hearts and went
table Thomson led the ♦3 to beat the game. A spade lead would also one down.
have been successful. Let’s return to trick two, after dummy’s ♣J has won. Suppose declarer
Hung may have saved himself £10.95 by not buying the book ‘Winning draws two rounds of trumps and concedes a trick to North’s ♦Q. If North
Notrump Leads’, which uses computer simulation to justify the advice plays spades, declarer ruffs and leads a heart towards dummy. A low card
given. He did have to pay out 12 IMPs on this board, though. The computer from North will allow two heart finesses and the resultant club discards.
would have been horrified by his lead from ♥KJxx into a powerful hand. If instead North rises with the ♥Q, declarer can win with the ♥A and take
Page 29
a second club finesse. When he plays
his remaining trumps, South will be left
with ♥K ♣K8. Thrown on lead with a

♠ A 10 8 6 4 3
♥ Q 8 6
♦ Q 7 2
Crossword Solution
♣ 4 see page 35
heart, he will have to give declarer two ♠ — ♠ Q 9 7
♥ 7 3 N ♥
more club tricks. W E A J 10 9 4 2
♦ AK 10 9 6 5 3 ♦ 4
As you may have noticed, there is S
♣ A Q 10 9 ♣ J 7 6
no need for such fancy play. Declarer’s ♠ K J 5 2
error was in playing the ♣J on the first ♥ K 5
trick. He should play low, winning in ♦ J 8 1 2 3 4 5
his hand. After ace, king and another ♣ K 8 5 3 2 S S H H E
6 7 8
trump to North’s queen, he can use the R I P S T R A A S T R O
♥A entry to run the ♣J and pick up the club suit. Easy!
As the cards lie, only an outrageous heart lead can ensure the defeat A I U R M N P
9 10
of the diamond game. S T A R A P P L I C A N T S
Closed Room I I R L I
11 12 13 14
West North East South F O R T Y T W O T E N A C E
Beauchamp Hans Thomson Gill
U G O O A
– – – Pass 15 16 17 18
1♦ 1♠ Double 3♦* A S E A M O H A N N U L L
Double 3♦ 4♥ All Pass U L A A S
The ♠5 was led, Thomson ruffing in the dummy. He played the ♦AK, 19 20 21 22
A C T S U P M E C K W E L L
throwing a spade and continued with a third diamond. North won and
declarer threw his last spade. After ruffing North’s fourth round of spades T M O E A
in his hand, Thomson finessed the ♣9 and led a trump to the jack and 23 24 25 26
D I S C H A R G E S D O N T
king. North ruffed the ♣K return and played the ♠A, but declarer was
able to ruff, draw trumps and claim the remaining tricks. O A K O M I D
Thomson’s +620 was worth 12 IMPs and the 80-9 set win reduced the 27 28
N O V A E W O O L S E Y
margin to 232-163. The leaders resumed control, winning the 7th set by
20 IMPs, and the match was then conceded with the scores standing at E R N S H
277-188. The Hans team had deserved their win.
Page 30
Enterprising Bridge Tales: The Next Generation

Marc Smith
New BRIDGE Magazine is pleased to present a series of custom-writ- you needn’t worry about our telepathic abilities. The UBF technology
ten adventures featuring the characters from the much-awaited sequel that stymies them is very effective.”
to “Enterprising Bridge Tales: The Original Stories”. These articles are “Well, that’s good to hear,” agrees Daniel, rather nonplussed.
a continuation of the new book, which was published by Master Point “It doesn’t affect my powers of pyrokinesis, though,” she adds, “but
Press in September 2018. don’t worry… I haven’t accidently boiled anyone’s blood since I was
Captain’s log, stardate 21316.85. Of the four USS Competitor teams that about five.”
entered the Universal Bowl, three have qualified for the knockout stages, Somewhat alarmed, Daniel stares across the table with an inquiring
which begin today. My own team has been drawn against a Vulcan team, look.
whilst the team led by Chief Engineer O’Brain have a tough match against “She’s just kidding you,” interjects Job, smiling at his partner. “People
a team from Virgo V. The highly fancied team including Daniel Prussia and hear all sorts of strange stories about those of us from the Delta quad-
Lieutenant-Commander Dieter have been drawn against an unknown team rant, but we’re not all fire-breathing dragons you know.”
from the Delta quadrant. “Well, that’s good to hear,” comments Daniel as a caddy places the
With 64 teams surviving to the first knockout round of the Univer- boards on their table.
sal Bowl, the huge ballroom is packed. Daniel and Dieter fight their way The players draw their cards for the first of the day’s 48 boards. Vul-
through the noisy throng of players and spectators in search of their nerable against not, Daniel picks up a rather uninteresting collection.
assigned seats. Having led their group at the end of the two-day quali- He passes Fek’s opening One Club bid and then takes a few moments to
fying stage, they have been drawn against a lowly seeded team, but they glance at the Ocampa convention card, discovering that his opponents
know that they cannot afford complacency. Their opponents may be an seem to be playing some sort of Polish-Club type of system. When his
unknown quantity from the other side of the universe, but they have attention returns to the bidding tray, he finds that the auction has esca-
managed to survive the group stage so they cannot be taken lightly. lated somewhat unexpectedly.
“I think that’s where we are,” indicates Daniel, pointing at a table Daniel’s previously dull-looking collection has grown in potential and
where two of the seats are already occupied by what appear to be chil- he is now faced with a high-level decision in this position:
dren. “It’s unusual to see the caddies taking a break at what is surely a ♠ K Q 6
busy time for them,” he adds. ♥ 10 8 6 2
“I don’t think they’re caddies,” responds Dieter. ♦ 8 5 3
“We’re playing against them?” asks Daniel, disbelievingly. ♣ A 8 4
“I think they’re Ocampas,” Dieter accesses his internal memory banks, West North East South
“a race from the centre of the Delta quadrant who have a life expectancy
Fek Daniel Job Dieter
of only nine Earth years.”
1♣ Pass 2NT* 3♥
The starship pair take the empty seats between a boy and a girl, waifish
5♦ ?
humanoids with close-cropped dirty-blond hair and Vulcanesque-shaped
ears. Daniel establishes that the possibilities for the opening One Club bid
“Greetings. I am Fek and my partner is Job,” says the young girl. “And include natural clubs, a weak notrump type, or various strong hands,
Page 31
whilst Job’s jump to Two Notrumps shows a weak hand with both minors. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
“What a nasty guess to start with,” thinks Daniel. “Eleven tricks will ♠ Q 8 5 4
be easy in hearts opposite something like ♠Axxx ♥AKQxxx ♦x ♣xx, and ♥ —
we’re not likely to get rich from defending Five Diamonds.” ♦ A K 8 2
Daniel eventually talks himself into bidding Five Hearts. There is lit- ♣ A K 7 5 3
tle to the play and Dieter is soon claiming a disappointing ten tricks for ♠ A 10 3 ♠ K J 9 7 6 2
one down. This was the full deal: N
♥ K J 8 3 ♥ A Q 10 5
♦ 10 9 4 W E ♦ Q
Dealer North. N/S Vul. S
♣ Q 10 4 ♣ J 8
♠ K Q 6 ♠ —
♥ 10 8 6 2 ♥ 9 7 6 4 2
♦ 8 5 3 ♦ J 7 6 5 3
♣ A 8 4 ♣ 9 6 2
♠ A J 8 3 N ♠ 10 7 4
♥ 9 7 3 ♥ — West North East South
♦ K Q 4 W E ♦ J 10 9 7 2 Fek Daniel Job Dieter
♣ Q 9 6 S ♣ K J 7 3 2 – 1♣ 1♠ Pass
♠ 9 5 2 2♣ Pass 3♥ Pass
♥ A K Q J 5 4 4 ♠ 4NT Pass 5♦
♦ A 6 Double All Pass
♣ 10 5 Daniel opens the bidding and then watches as the Ocampan pair bid to
“That’s some Five Diamond bid,” observes Daniel. “It certainly stuck it game. One option is to double Four Spades, hoping to attract a heart
to me.” lead for a ruff and then relying on at least three of his minor-suit win-
“Non-vulnerable, what else can I do?” shrugs the diminutive girl. ners to stand up.
“I just hope our teammates find it so ‘obvious’,” comments Daniel, Feeling that more positive action is called for, Daniel instead essays
deciding that he rather likes the spirit of these small creatures. Four No-trumps, seeking a profitable minor-suit sacrifice. Fek produces
Towards the end of a tightly-fought first set, the players are faced a sharp double of Dieter’s Five Diamond response and lays down the ♠A.
with this layout: The android appears to glance only briefly at dummy before playing,
but experience has taught Daniel that a nanosecond is an eternity for
his partner’s computer brain. Dieter ruffs the spade lead, plays a club
to dummy’s king and ruffs a second spade. Re-entering dummy with a
second high club, he then takes a third spade ruff before exiting with a
third round of clubs to West’s queen.
Fek does her best, forcing dummy with a heart, but Dieter ruffs and
then ruffs dummy’s fourth spade with the ♦J. West is unable to overruff
and now declarer cashes dummy’s two high trumps. West is left with
a trump winner, but Dieter simply plays winning clubs until Fek ruffs.
Page 32
Eleven tricks and N/S +550: a profitable sacrifice, indeed! Dealer North. Both Vul.
The starship pair meet up with Sartak and T’Grau to score at the end ♠ K Q 9
of the 16-deal set. They fall behind by 14 UMPs when the Vulcans allow ♥ A K Q 7
their opponents to play Four Hearts on the first board of the set, but they ♦ K J 4
steadily chip away and move ahead when Dieter’s +550 is matched by ♣ K 7 2
+620 at the other table when the opposition do not find the heart lead. ♠ J 8 6 5 2 ♠ A 7 4
They have established a 15-UMP lead after the first set, but any precon- N
♥ J 8 3 ♥ 6
ceived notion that this match would be a cakewalk have certainly been ♦ 9 6 5 2 W E ♦ A Q
dispelled. ♣ 5 S ♣ A J 10 8 6 4 3
Damien and Dieter sit out the second set, and spend their time relax- ♠ 10 3
ing in the resort’s exceptional facilities. Daniel also manages to procure ♥ 10 9 5 4 2
a more than satisfying lunch from the poolside bar, and they are in a ♦ 10 8 7 3
positive frame of mind when they join their teammates to score the ♣ Q 9
second set. The team have gained on a low-scoring set, and they are 19
UMPs ahead as Daniel and Dieter reenter the fray, this time in tandem West North East South
with the Romulans. Radwill Pewtix Mickstorm Sousix
Dieter and Daniel are again playing against the Ocampans, whilst – 2♦ 3♣ Pass
Mickstorm and Radwill take on their rather more vociferous teammates. Pass Double Pass 3♥
The Talaxians are humanoids with heads that appear too large for their Pass 4♥ Double All Pass
amply-proportioned bodies: their main physical characteristics are high, The opening Two Diamond bid is a Multi variation, and Pewtix’s re-open-
ridged foreheads that extend not only across the front of their prom- ing double shows a balanced 20-21 count. Sousix’s best option is to pass,
inent domes but also along each side, and the thin, wispy covering of since Three Clubs-Doubled is booked to go a couple down, but he instead
rather unruly yellow hair. chooses to pull the double to his motley heart suit. Perhaps enamored by
Life at the Ocampan table is peaceful by comparison, but no one seems his superb trump support, Pewtix raises to game and Mickstorm expresses
able to silence the garrulous Talaxians for long. The problem is exac- his opinion of declarer’s chances with a red card.
erbated when Jeffrey Mickstorm makes the innocent mistake of letting Radwill leads the ♣5 to his partner’s ace, and Mickstorm returns a
on that he has become something of a ‘foodie’ since he began traveling suit-preference ♣3 for his partner to ruff. Radwill’s continuation of the
outside Romulan space. It so happens that Sousix, the older of the Romu- ♦2 is another suit preference signal, suggesting that a further club play
lans’ opponents and Mickstorm’s screen-mate, is the chef on the space might he beneficial to the defense. Trusting his partner, Mickstorm wins
trading vessel where the Talaxian pair live. Thereafter, the Romulan is with the ♦Q and then cashes his two pointed-suit aces before playing a
regaled with an apparently never-ending stream of strange-sounding third round of clubs. Declarer ruffs more in hope than expectation with
dishes, all apparently Delta quadrant staples, which he “simply must try”. the ♥10, but Radwill overruffs with the jack and plays a third round of
Fortunately, they also manage to play some bridge, despite the banter. diamonds, allowing Mickstorm to score the seventh defensive trick by
Any thought that Mickstorm’s concentration is in the slightest impaired ruffing with his singleton trump.
by distractions at the table is totally dispelled on our final deal. Although The Romulans inscribe +1100 onto their solid scorecard. Although
there are a handful of boards still remaining, the Romulan defense is Damien and Dieter also reach the same contract at the other table, no
devastating, and extracts the last breath from the sails of any comeback one doubles and the defenders drop one trick to let declarer out for -300.
hopes the Talaxians might have harboured. This is the full deal:
Page 33
That is their only poor-looking board, though, and the 13 UMPs gained
on it contribute to an impressive final set that sees the tournament’s
‘Dream Team’ move smoothly into the Round of 32 with an apparent-
ly-comfortable 57-UMP victory.
“The Ocampans played solidly against us,“ comments Daniel, as the
six teammates await the arrival of dinner that evening.
“The quality of the opponents rates to get higher each day,” points
out Mickstorm, philosophically.
“There are certainly plenty of strong teams still alive,” agrees T’Grau.
“It might also help if you didn’t encourage our opponents,” suggests
the more subdued of the two Romulans.
“Oh, he was pleasant enough and totally harmless,” observes Mick-
storm. “And I have to say that some of those Delta quadrant dishes he
was telling me about do sound worthy of investigation.”
“You could think about something other than your stomach,” smiles
Radwill, good-naturedly.
“Why on Romula would I want to do that?” retorts the bear-like crea-
ture as the waiter places a heavily-laden plate in front of him. “But I
will shut up for now as my mouth has far more important things to do
than talk.”
Page 34
Highlights and New Features
Funbridge News – March
Funbridge News – March
After focusing on the new features and enhancements brought to their app in 2018, the
Funbridge team is now presenting what is seen as the first major new feature of 2019: the ČBS tournaments
new chat system.
Funbridge has also welcomed the Czech Bridge Federation and the Polish Bridge Union as • Every other Friday
partners. Get ready for new tournaments!
• 00:01-23:59
Lastly, the Funbridge team has released a brand-new tool called “bid decoder”. Find out
more below.
• IMP
• 20 deals
New chat system coming soon! With group conversations and image sharing PZBS tournaments: starting 1st March
• 1 daily tournament from Monday to Saturday

• 2 tournaments on Sunday
• 00:01-23:59
• IMP (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) and MP (Monday, Wednesday, Friday
and Sunday)
• 16 deals
Discover the "bid decoder"

The bid decoder is an interactive tool that will
In a few days you will discover its new design and features including among other allow you to get the meaning of any bid,
things group conversations that are just perfect to talk about bridge (but not only) with your
whatever the previous sequence played is.
friends, members of your club or your family!
No more misunderstandings with your
partner thanks to this online tool based on
New partnerships: Czech Bridge Federation and Polish Bridge Union
Funbridge AI!
Funbridge is pleased to announce that they have been licensed by the Czech Bridge
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These tournaments will allow players to earn Masterpoints and thus improve their national
ranking (if they are members of these federations).
Page 35
Defend with
Julian Pottage
The Questions Solutions on page 43
111

♠ 10 9
♥ Q 4
2 ♠ J 8
♥ K J 5
♦ A K J 8 5 ♦ A 8 6 2
♣ K Q 8 5 ♣ K 9 7 4
♠ A 5 N ♠ K 9 6 4 N
♥ 10 7 ♥ 9 8 7 3 2
♦ Q 9 7 6 3 2 W E ♦ K J W E
♣ 9 6 2 S ♣ Q 5 S
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
– – – 1♠* – – 2♠* 3♦
Pass 2♦ 2♥ 2♠ 4 ♠ 5♦ All Pass
Pass 4 ♠ All Pass 2♠ Weak
1♠ Five-card majors You lead a low spade covered by the eight, ten and ace. Declarer plays a
You lead the ten of hearts. Partner cashes the king and ace (six and trump to the ace (ten from partner), ruffs a spade, cashes three hearts
eight from declarer) before playing a third round (the three) on which (spade from partner on the third round) and exits with a trump (another
declarer plays the jack. What do you do? spade from partner). What do you lead now?
Page 36
Test Your Technique
with Christophe Grosset see Page 4
Matchpoints. Dealer West. E/W Vul. Solution

♠ A 8 6 4 Neither of the opponents have an opening bid, and after the lead, East is
♥ A 9 8 6 marked with the ♣AK and is highly likely to have a heart honour, indeed,
♦ 10 9 4 with ♥KQ or ♥QJ, West would have led the suit instead of a club. That
♣ 6 3 makes it close to impossible that East has the king of diamonds (it would
give him 12+HCP). So you play the ♦A and are very satisfied when you
♠ K Q J 7 drop the stiff king.
♥ 10 5 Well done Zia for making this nice play as the speed of light during
♦ A Q J 7 3 the Rejkjavik Festival.
♣ J 8
The bidding goes:
Pass Pass Pass 1♦
Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠
Pass 2♠ All Pass
West leads the ♣7 and East plays the king, and switches to a low dia-
mond. How do you play?
Page 37
Fair Is Foul and Foul Is Fair
Alex Adamson & Harry Smith Give Us More Tales From The Over The Rainbow Bridge Club
Dorothy’s face looked very serious as she pushed her chair back. ‘It’s a The day after their discussion Aunty Em’s carefully laid plans were
great idea,’ she said, ‘but it leaves so many open questions.’ put into action. As luck would have it, Almira Gulch had already told
They were sitting on the terrace of her Aunty Em’s farmhouse, drinking the Professor that his services would not be required for the Ozian Cup.
coffee and sampling the home baking for which Aunty Em was famous. Earlier in the week, the Tin Man had taken great delight in showing her
‘We could have a good chance of reaching the final stages, and then, the new national master point list, and pointing out that she had been
who knows!’ Dorothy continued after a pause. reduced to third in the club. This was not a situation she could tolerate,
‘We make a great partnership,’ Aunty Em mused. Dorothy shuddered especially after the Tin Man had displayed his usual tact in their discus-
slightly. It was true, up to a point. They did play well together, but bid- sion of the matter. It was very clear from his tone that she should feel
ding with Aunty Em was rather like taking a Saint Bernard for a walk; it honoured to appear on the same page as him. She was in no doubt that
wasn’t you who made the decisions where the partnership was going! it was well worth the cost of three professionals to ensure a satisfactory
‘And I have to admit,’ Aunty Em continued, ‘that the two of them haul of blue points from this year’s Ozian Cup.
really are quite effective.’ For Aunty Em to regard any pair as other than There had been a sparkle in Glinda’s eye when Aunty Em had told her,
cretinous was unusual. For her actually to voice the compliment was apparently in passing as they stood in the queue for coffee, that the Lion
remarkable. ‘Professor Marvel has a style all of his own. And it clearly really liked her careful bidding style, and had decided to ask her to play
works.’ in a very important event with her. The Lion had turned a deep shade of
‘And the Tin Man actually respects him. I’ve been playing with him pink when Aunty Em had casually remarked to him at the bridge table
for years, and I still feel he regards me as the best of a bad lot as far as that Glinda had asked her if she could possibly arrange a team for her in
partners go.’ Dorothy and Aunty Em both chortled. the Ozian Cup, playing with one of the better players. She had, accord-
‘But if we ask them to play with us in the Ozian Cup,’ Dorothy con- ing to Aunty Em, thought that good players like the Lion wouldn’t want
tinued, ‘it leaves rather a lot of loose ends. The Lion and the Scarecrow to play with her.
won’t have teammates, and who would want to play in a team with the Aunty Em almost burst into laughter later that evening as she watched
Scarecrow? And Uncle Henry and Miss Gulch won’t have partners.’ the conversation between the Lion and Glinda. ‘I hope you’re not develop-
‘I’m sure we could sort out something for the Lion and the Scarecrow. ing a cold, my petal,’ Uncle Henry looked concerned, as his wife appeared
After all, Hank would be delighted to join any team. And I’ll soon find a to be having a difficult time with her hankie covering her face.
team for your Uncle Henry.’ Aunty Em was well used to her wishes being The other half of this team was easy. She had simply gone up to the
commands. ‘And as for Almira Gulch,’ she spat out the name,’ the phrase Scarecrow and wished his team success. ‘Actually, I don’t think I’ve made
‘couldn’t care less’ isn’t really strong enough.’ any arrangements yet,’ replied the surprised Scarecrow.
Aunty Em wasn’t one to leave matters to chance. By the end of the ‘Nonsense,’ replied Aunty Em. ‘I distinctly heard Shy the Munchkin
week it had all been arranged, and the astonishing thing was that every- arranging to play with you, Glinda and the Lion. You really can’t let him
one in each of the other teams that she created thought it had been their down, and it will be such a nice team to play in. Better than having to
own idea. score up with the Tin Man, wouldn’t you say?’
Page 38
Shy was quite astonished when the Scarecrow casually confirmed the played between the clubs, but seemed to need reassurance that ‘Glinda’
arrangement with him. The Lion had been trying to work out how to break and ‘Shy’ weren’t nicknames. Eventually with a sigh of relief he relaxed
the news to his regular partner that he would be playing with Glinda and when he got the answer he wanted to the crucial question: ‘So no Tin
was immensely relieved when the Scarecrow told him about their team. Man then?’
Sorting out her husband was even easier. All she had to do was laugh The Captain’s relief had faded as he entered the Over The Rainbow
at one of Munchkin Bob’s jokes and he was so delighted that he agreed Club for the match, and the first person he saw was object of his ire.
immediately to partner Uncle Henry. Zeke and Hickory, her own farm- He stomped up to the Lion. ‘What do you mean by this?’ he spluttered.
hands, were simply commanded to enter as Uncle Henry’s teammates. ‘What is HE doing here?’ The Lion calmly explained that there were two
Arranging her own team had been no problem whatsoever. The Pro- matches taking place, and the Tin Man was playing in the other one. The
fessor, having been dismissed by Almira Gulch, had only commented that Captain and all of his team, his partner, the Secretary, and the pairing of
he would make sure he brought a good supply of camomile pills for his Clara and Margaret, had still looked suspicious.
partner’s blood pressure. The Tin Man actually gave the impression to Aunty Em’s team had been drawn against players from the Emerald
Aunty Em that he thought the Professor might be good enough to play City that they didn’t know, two married couples, Alex and Freda Stout,
with him. He recognised that the new line-up should be a big improve- and Frederick and Alexandra Stark. It had been agreed that both matches
ment on his previous team. would play the same boards.
***** The Lion’s match had finished first. With constant nervous glances
across at the Tin Man, the Poppyfield team never really looked settled.
Six weeks later the draw had been drawn, arrangements had been They had left by the time the Tin Man came up to the Lion to find out
arranged, and the first round had been rounded up. The social area of the his result. ‘I barely know them,’ the Tin Man explained, ‘But they’re not
Over the Rainbow Bridge Club resounded to the raised voices of eight of complete duffers, so I would have thought that you were underdogs by
its members. There was laughter and there was mirth. Not a critical word about 30 IMPs.’ He couldn’t hide his astonishment that his discarded
was heard. Aunty Em beamed with delight at seeing her plans work out teammates could possibly win a match even against nonentities. ‘I’m
so well. Glinda was relaxing, a deep glow of pleasure on her face. Partner- thinking about your other pair, of course,’ he added in an attempt at tact.’
ing the Wicked Witch of the West, compliments were a rarity; the Lion Now, as all the members of both teams sat with glasses of wine or cups
had given her more praise in the five minutes that had passed since the of coffee, Dorothy started to compare the Scarecrow’s scoresheet with
opponents left, than she had received in the last ten years. The Tin Man her own. ‘How did you gain twelve IMPs on board ten?’ Dorothy looked
was explaining one of his master plays to a glazed-eyed Dorothy. She surprised. ‘Our opponents played in Four Spades while the Tin Man at
had lost track of the hand but was relying on her years of experience of the other table played in Four Hearts. Both look unstoppable.’ She looked
such situations to know when to contribute a heartfelt ‘Well done!’ The at the hand record. ‘Wait a minute, Deep Finesse suggests we could have
Professor was telling the Scarecrow about the ointment he had given beaten Four Spades. I can’t see how.’
one of the opposition to help with her hearing. Thinking back later that This was the layout:
evening, Dorothy thought that she had actually seen Shy the Munchkin
speak. His lips had definitely moved, though she could not be sure if she
had made out any sounds emerging.
The Lion’s team had been drawn against a team from Poppyfield. The
initial contact to set up the match had been a bit fraught. The Poppyfield
captain had called him, and, in frosty tones, had asked who was in his
team. The Captain remembered the Scarecrow from the social matches
Page 39
Dealer East. Game All ♠ —
♥ A K 10 8 7 5 2
♠ K J ♦ 3
♥ A K 10 8 7 5 2 ♣ 10
♦ 3
♣ Q 10 2 ♠ — N ♠ 10
♥ J 4 ♥ Q 6
♠ 8 6 N ♠ A 10 5 ♦ A J 8 7 4 W E ♦ K Q 10 9 5 2
♥ J 4 ♥ Q 6 ♣ K J S ♣ —
♦ A J 8 7 4 W E ♦ K Q 10 9 5 2
♣ K J 9 4 S ♣ 8 7 ♠ Q 9 7 4
♥ 9 3
♠ Q 9 7 4 3 2 ♦ 6
♥ 9 3 ♣ 6 5
♦ 6
♣ A 6 5 3 ‘Now whatever is played from dummy, West still has the ace of diamonds
as an entry to cash the winning club and then give you a club ruff.’ Dor-
The full auction was:
othy gasped. ‘That’s really brilliant. It’s lucky I wasn’t playing with the
West North East South Tin Man. I would have been told it was routine to find the club lead! It
Dorothy Alex Stout Aunty Em Freda Stout has to be found at trick one to beat the contract.’ She turned to Shy who
– – 1♦ 1♠ had been following the conversation, and noticed what she thought was
2♠ 3♥ Pass 3♠ a small smile. The Scarecrow was still apologising.
Pass 4 ♠ All Pass Dorothy scanned further down the Scarecrow’s scoresheet. She blinked
‘We might have done better in the auction by bidding on to Five Dia- when she saw that he had beaten the spade slam on board eighteen, and
monds. Both Aunty Em and I thought we had defensive values and with gained thirteen IMPs against game making at the other table. This was
no singletons or voids, neither of us felt we should do more. I led the ace the hand:
of diamonds, but couldn’t see any continuation that would do any damage Dealer East. N/S Vul.
to the contract. Surely there is at most only a club and a spade to take?’
The Scarecrow looked at the hand record, at first blankly and then a ♠ A K 10 7 4 2
red flush crept across his face. ‘I’m so sorry about this,’ he bumbled, ‘I’ve ♥ —
apologised to my whole team. I don’t know how many IMPs I cost us. You ♦ A Q 5 2
see, our auction was almost identical, in fact absolutely identical after
♣ K Q 5
the opening bid. I pulled out One Club instead of One Diamond. And so ♠ Q 9 8 N ♠ 3
my poor partner led the suit. He hasn’t said a word to me about it, but I ♥ 4 3 2 ♥ Q 9 7
♦ 10 4 W E ♦ K J 9 8 7 3
felt so guilty after the queen won the first trick in the dummy.’ S
Dorothy stared at the hand diagram. ‘That’s a brilliant defence. Now
♣ A 9 8 6 3 ♣ J 10 4
when declarer plays trumps, you win the first round, and play another ♠ J 6 5
club. After playing the second round of trumps, declarer is in dummy, ♥ A K J 10 8 6 5
and cannot get back to hand.’ ♦ 6
She scribbled the position on the back of her score sheet: ♣ 7 2
Page 40
At her table Aunty Em had played Six ♠ A K 10 7 4 2 ♠ K 10 7 4 2
Spades from the North hand after a ♥ — ♥ —
♦ A Q 5 2 ♦ Q
weak Two Diamond opening from East. ♣ K Q 5
The ♣J lead went to the ace, followed by ♠ Q 9 8 ♠ 3 ♣ K Q 5
N ♠ 9 8 ♠ —
a second round of clubs. Aunty Em had ♥ 4 3 2 W ♥
E Q 9 7 N
♦ 10 4 ♦ K J 9 8 7 3 ♥ 4 3 ♥ Q 9
won that, of course, cashed the ♠A, then S
♣ A 9 8 6 3 ♣ J 10 4 ♦ — W E ♦ K J 9 8
the ♦A, ruffed a diamond in the dummy ♠ J 6 5
♣ A 9 8 6 3 S ♣ J 10 4
and discarded her two remaining dia- ♥ A K J 10 8 6 5
monds on the two top hearts. Her hand ♦ 6 ♠ 6
was now down to trumps and the mas- ♣ 7 2 ♥ K J 10 8 6 5
ter club. Guided by East’s opening, she ♦ —
played West for spade length, successfully finessing against the queen. ♣ 7 2
Alexandra Stark, in the East seat apologised to her partner. ‘I’m sorry, ‘If declarer discards a club on the king of hearts, your partner can over-
I think my lead might have given that away. She doesn’t have the entries ruff when declarer tries to ruff his last diamond in the dummy, and then
to dummy to lead clubs up to her hand.’ cash the ace of clubs. If instead declarer discards his last diamond, your
Frederick Stark took a look at her hand. ‘You’ll be glad to know that partner has to duck the club when it is played off dummy, and you have
there was nothing better,’ he reassured her. ‘A diamond runs round to to play the jack or ten.’ She turned to Shy. ‘Is that what happened?’ This
her ace-queen, giving her an extra trick, a heart allows her to take a free time he definitely smiled as he gave a small nod of affirmation.
finesse and discard all of her clubs, and a trump picks up my queen.’ She stroked out the cards. ‘Now everyone is down to this.’
Despite this, Dorothy and Aunty Em had been hopeful of a gain on ♠ K 10 7 4 2
the board, but the result had been duplicated at the other table. ♥ —
Dorothy looked at the hand record. ‘Deep Finesse says our teammates ♦ —
could have beaten this. We thought that the lead of any card from the ♣ K 5
East hand gave a trick and the contract was unbeatable. So how did the ♠ 9 8 ♠ —
play go at your table? Did declarer get trumps wrong?’ She looked at his N
♥ 4 ♥ Q
card. ‘You led your singleton trump!’ Her voice rose in surprise. ‘You’ve ♦ — W E ♦ K J 9 8
just cooked your partner’s queen. How could declarer possibly go down ♣ A 9 8 6 S ♣ 10 4
now?’ ♠ 6
The Scarecrow had a familiar puzzled look on his face as he tried to ♥ J 10 8 6 5
piece together what had happened at his table. Dorothy, who knew the ♦ —
signs and the futility of waiting for him to answer, ticked off the cards ♣ 7
on the hand record as she went through the play.
‘Yes, if you had kept hold of the jack and ten of clubs then declarer would
‘North would win the lead and play on diamonds, ruffing the second
still have made by playing back a small one. If you were left on lead then
round, and then take two discards on his hearts.’ She took a deep breath.
you could not play a trump and declarer would be able to ruff his king of
‘I see it now.’ She drew the situation after the first top heart had been
clubs in the dummy while if Shy overtakes, that sets up declarer’s king
cashed:
of clubs. Amazing! So why did you play a high club under the queen?’
‘Well you see,’ the Scarecrow stammered, ‘the Lion taught me that
Page 41
if our defence is going to take a trick it is generally better if he wins it
rather than me. So I thought that if I got rid of the jack there was more
chance that Shy would get in than me. I suppose it worked?’ The Scare-
crow looked timidly at Dorothy and his partner.
Dorothy sought for the right words. ‘Yes, indeed,’ she stuttered. ‘Superb
stuff, and all stemming from two killer leads.’
The Lion had been following the conversation. He leaned over to Dor-
othy. ‘Clearly the secret of this game is to ensure you have good quality
teammates.’ He spoke in a voice that he ensured was just loud enough for
the Tin Man to hear. Putting his large paws round the Scarecrow and Shy
The Sociology of Bridge is a research project and an emerging
he said, ‘It’s a pleasure to play in such a friendly team, and you came up academic field exploring interactions within the mind sport,
with a couple of brilliancies there. In fact I might say ‘lead on MacDuf- well-being, healthy ageing and social connection as experienced
fers!’’ He roared with laughter as they left the club together. in the bridge world.
How you can help

We need players, bridge clubs and organisations and
other supporters to join us in the Keep Bridge Alive
campaign so we can publicise and promote bridge
more widely. We would also be delighted to hear from
Master Point Press you if you have research ideas, expertise or even time
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Close enCounters I totally support the Keep Bridge I welcome the Keep Bridge Alive
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available from a bridge retailer near you
Page 42
Answers to “Defend With Julian Pottage” See page 36
1

♠ 10 9
♥ Q 4 2

♠ J 8
♥ K J 5
♦ A K J 8 5 ♦ A 8 6 2
♣ K Q 8 5 ♣ K 9 7 4
♠ A 5 N ♠ Q 6 3 ♠ K 9 6 4 N ♠ Q 10 7 5 3 2
♥ 10 7 ♥ A K 9 5 3 2 ♥ 9 8 7 3 2 ♥ 6 4
♦ Q 9 7 6 3 2 W E ♦ 10 4 ♦ K J W E ♦ 10
♣ 9 6 2 S ♣ 7 3 ♣ Q 5 S ♣ A 10 6 2
♠ K J 8 7 4 2 ♠ A
♥ J 8 6 ♥ A Q 10
♦ — ♦ Q 9 7 5 4 3
♣ A J 10 4 ♣ J 8 3
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
– – – 1♠* – – 2♠* 3♦
Pass 2♦ 2♥ 2♠ 4 ♠ 5♦ All Pass
Pass 4 ♠ All Pass 2♠ Weak
1♠ Five-card majors You lead a low spade covered by the eight, ten and ace. Declarer plays a
You lead the ten of hearts. Partner cashes the king and ace (six and eight trump to the ace (ten from partner), ruffs a spade, cashes three hearts
from declarer) before playing a third round (the three) on which declarer (spade from partner on the third round) and exits with a trump (another
plays the jack. What do you do? spade from partner). What do you lead now?
You have a choice of three options here. You can ruff the heart high, ruff You have the lead and might rather you did not. It will help you to count
low or discard. If you ruff high, you will win the trick and need to decide the shape of the deal. Declarer ruffed the second spade while partner has
what to lead next. shown out on the the third round of hearts and on the second diamond.
Although the jack of hearts is a winner, dummy tells you that no useful Having a count on three suits gives you a complete count because every-
discards is available, so in that sense you do not have to ruff. Then again, one began with 13 cards. Declarer must have started with 1-3-6-3 shape.
it is hard to see how it can cost to play a low trump on an opposing winner. If you lead either major, you will be doing so into a double void and giv-
If partner is void in diamonds, you can play the ace of trumps and then a ing a ruff and discard. Is this so bad?
diamond to deliver a ruff. There are two contraindications to this. Firstly, If partner has the ace and jack of clubs, you will still make two club tricks
with no diamonds, partner would have played the hearts differently, the after declarer has discarded one. Moreover, you will also do so if partner
nine now and maybe ace before king earlier. In any case, you could give has the ace and ten because you can cover the jack with the queen. In
a ruff after taking the first trump. contrast, attacking clubs may blow your side’s second club trick if you
The big gain to ruffing low comes if partner has Qxx because, after lead the suit. If you lead low, declarer must run it. If you lead the queen,
overruffing, dummy has insufficient length for declarer to finesse twice dummy covers and the contract would make even if declarer lacked the
against the queen. eight of clubs because partner would be endplayed.
Page 43
Bridge with Larry Cohen
www.larryco.com
The brilliant American player, writer and teacher presents a series of arti- 6 cards in a minor and only 5 cards in the MAJOR
cles aimed at intermediate players. Here, it isn’t clear which suit to open. The order and quality of the suits
Bidding 6-5 Hands is relevant. Opener must consider his rebid problem. With clubs and
spades, it is usually okay to open 1 , because it is convenient to get the
I constantly get asked about this topic. That’s usually a clue that there spades in next. But, when the major is hearts, you risk losing the heart suit
are many different teaching methods/explanations floating around. It (because a heart rebid will often be a reverse). Here are some examples:
also means that there is probably no one “exact” right answer. I agree ♠ A Q J 7 4
with all of this. ♥ 3 2
So, the best I can do is give my opinions and discuss the situation in general. ♦ –
It is true that 6-5 hands should “come alive.” The shape alone makes ♣ A K 8 7 6 5
the hand worth much more than its HCP.
But, the real problem is which suit to bid, how many times, and in This is a comfortable 1♣ opening. You likely will find it convenient to
what order. rebid in spades (twice).
♠ 3 2
6 cards in a MAJOR and only 5 in the minor ♥ A Q 10 7 4
The opening bid decision is easy. Start with the MAJOR. For example,
♦ –
♣ A K 8 7 6 5 4
open 1♥ with each of these:
♠3 ♥AQJ765 ♦KQ762 ♣2 This one is tougher. If you open 1♣ and partner responds 1♦, you’ll be
able to easily bid hearts now and then again later. But, if partner responds
♠A2 ♥K108765 ♦AJ765 ♥ –
1♠or 1NT, you would have to reverse to show the hearts. Are you worth
♠ – ♥QJ8654 ♦AKQ32 ♥65 it? Maybe. This is quite a good hand. So, 1♣ is acceptable (yet not 100%
Open 1♠ with: clear). Now, make it a little worse:
♠AJ7654 ♥3 ♦2 ♣AQ876 or ♠ –
♠J108765 ♥A2 ♦ – ♣AK652 ♥ A Q 8 7 4
After partner responds, should you rebid the major or introduce the ♦ 6 5
minor? There are two schools of thought:
♣ A J 8 7 6 5
1) Always introduce the second suit on your second turn. A 1♥ opening feels best. If you open 1♣, you risk losing the heart suit.
2) Introduce the second suit only with extra values. This hand, with only 11 HCP and a spade misfit is nowhere near worth a
I’m not a fan of either rule. I like to evaluate it on a hand-by-hand basis. reverse after 1♣-Pass-1♠. I’d like to get the hearts in with a 1♥ opening
The relative strength of the two suits is important. With AKQJxx in the and bid clubs next (several times if possible).
major and Jxxxx in the minor, I’d be likely to rebid in the major. Unfor-
tunately, there is no universal or exact answer to this rebid conundrum
(probably why I get asked about it so often).
Page 44
6 HEARTS and 5 SPADES
If you open 1♥ and partner responds 1NT, a 2♠ rebid would be a reverse,
showing a strong hand. So, if you were too open 1♥ with, say:
♠AJ765 ♥AQ7652 ♦4 ♣6
and partner responded 1NT, you would have to bid 2♥ next (suppress-
ing the 5-card spade suit and possibly missing a 5-3 spade fit). For that
reason, you could open this hand 1♠ and bid hearts at the next turn and
the next turn and the next turn ad nauseum. With more strength, maybe
♠AQJ76 ♥AKJ765 ♦43 ♣—
you could open 1♥ and would have enough strength to reverse into 2♠
after a 1NT response (and you would bid spades on your third turn as well).
Other issues:
With 5-5- in the black suits, I prefer a 1♠ opening, but don’t feel strongly
about it.
Sometimes I will open a weak 2-bid with 6-5. If the hand isn’t worth
opening bid strength, why not a weak-2? For example, I’d gladly open
2♥ with: ♠3 ♥AJ10876♦Q6543 ♣2. I can’t see any reason not to.
Summary:
There is no “one size fits all” answer for how to bid 6-5 hands.
Next month Larry looks at the related topic - Reverses
Page 45
European Champions’ Cup

Martin Cantor reports on the Final of the French Mixed Teams Trials
The Final of the French Mixed Teams Trials and ace. A small club was ruffed in hand to lead the ♦2. West gave this
I commentated on BBO on the last two sessions of the Fédération some thought but made the potentially fatal mistake of going in with
Française de Bridge’s Trials for the European Mixed Teams Champion- the king. She led another club, ruffed again, and now it was declarer’s
ships, to be held in Lisbon in February 2019. At the start of the fifth of turn to think, needing all the tricks bar one in this position.
six sets of 16 boards the Rolland team (Sabine Rolland, Nicolas Lhuissier, ♠ J 10 9
Marlene Duguet, Michel Duguet, Sophie Dauvergne, Lionel Sebbane) led ♥ A 8 3
the Cronier team (Bénédicte Cronier, Danièle Gaviard, Thomas Bessis, ♦ J
Philippe Cronier, Frédéric Volcker, Nathalie Frey) by 113-106.
♣ 9
This hand in the fifth set posed a tough problem for Nathalie Frey as ♠ 7 2 N ♠ Q 4
declarer ♥ 9 7 2 ♥ 10 5
♦ 7 W E ♦ A 10 8 6
Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul. ♣ Q 6 S ♣ —
♠ J 10 9 6 ♠ K 5
♥ A 8 3 ♥ K Q J
♦ J 4 ♦ Q 9 5
♣ A 9 7 3 ♣ —
♠ A 7 2 N ♠ Q 4 3 While there is only one obvious loser in the ace of diamonds, there aren’t
♥ 9 7 2 ♥ 10 5 the entries to dummy to both finesse in spades and then enjoy the long
♦ K 7 W E ♦ A 10 8 6 3 one. Not to mention the small but important matter of drawing trumps.
♣ K Q 6 5 4 S ♣ 10 8 2 But GIB said the contract could be made, and with the benefit of the sight
♠ K 8 5 of all four hands I spotted the answer. It seemed that declarer had too, as
♥ K Q J 6 4 she drew trumps ending in dummy (East discarding a diamond) and led a
♦ Q 9 5 2 spade, East ducking. The winning line, as you can see, is to play another
♣ J spade then exit with a diamond to the jack, endplaying East to lead into
West North East South the diamond tenace. But declarer played for East having started with 4-4
in spades and diamonds, so she exited the diamond jack without a third
Marlene Volcker Michel Frey
round of spades. One down, -50. In the other room Thomas Bessis in West
– – – 1♥
reopened 3♣ after 1♥ - 2♥, got doubled, and went 2 down for -300 and
Pass 3♦* Pass 4♥
8 IMPs to team Rolland instead of 3 to Cronier if 4♥ had made. Should
All Pass
Frey have got the endgame position right? I think probably yes, based
The 3♦ bid was presumably some sort of mixed or invitational heart on two clues. Firstly Michel Duguet’s ♠3 on the first round suggesting
raise, and Nathalie bid the game on thin values, not makeable on best an odd number, and while opponents do sometimes false-card, they do
defence. West led the ♣K to dummy’s ace, and the ♠6 went to the 3, 8 it less in the early rounds of play when it is important to help partner
Page 46
get a picture of the hand. And secondly Marlene Duguet rising with the Closed Room
♦K is more consistent with a holding of Kx than Kxx. Small indicators, West North East South
no certainties. Bessis T Rolland Gaviard L’Huissier
As we entered the final set the score was 154-123 to Rolland, a use- – 2♦* 3♣ 3♠*
ful but by no means emphatic lead. After a further 8 boards Rolland still Double Pass 4♣ Pass
led, now by just 10 IMPs, when the decisive deal arrived. 6♣ All Pass
Board 25. Dealer North. E/W Vul. 2♦ Multi
3♠ Pass or correct
♠ K Q 6 5 4 2 6♣ made easily for 1370 while 4♠ went 4 off for -200, a 15 IMP swing to
♥ 6 5 Cronier, taking the lead for the first time for a long time. I don’t know
♦ K 6 2
♣ 10 5 whether E/W were playing non-leaping Michaels, where a 4♣ bid by
Sebbane would have shown a game forcing club-heart two-suiter, but I
♠ J 10 9 7 N ♠ — can’t think of any other good reason not to overcall 4♣, even vulnera-
♥ A K 4 ♥ Q 10 9 ble against not. And if 4♣ is ruled out by your system, I think you need
♦ A Q 8 W E ♦ J 7 4 3
S to double. This hand certainly exemplifies that old bridge adage, oft
♣ J 7 2 ♣ A K Q 6 4 3
espoused by Bobby Wolff, that it might be dangerous to bid, but it can
♠ A 8 3 be equally dangerous to pass. Not to mention that other old adage: pre-
♥ J 8 7 3 2 empts work. So all credit to the Croniers for the aggressive pre-empt and
♦ 10 9 5 raise, also to Bessis-Gaviard for bidding the slam in a crowded auction.
♣ 9 8 Trials need to test not just bridge technique, but also other attrib-
Open Room utes like stamina and resilience. I don’t know whether the psychological
blow of letting 4♠ play undoubled on board 25 had any effect, but on the
West North East South very next board the Cronier team again outbid their opponents to gain
Dauvergne Philippe Sebbane Bénédicte a further 9 IMPs:
– 3♠ Pass 4 ♠
All Pass
Philippe Cronier found an aggressive pre-empt at favourable vulner-
ability, Lionel Sebbane surprisingly passed (see below) and Bénédicte
Cronier did well to raise to 4♠, else Dauvergne would surely have bid
3NT. And that was enough to shut the opponents out, when 4NT makes
E/W, as does 6♣ which was the successful contract in the other room
after this auction:
Page 47
Board 26. Dealer East. All Vul. Board 29. Dealer North. All Vul.
♠ J 7 ♠ A Q 7 4
♥ 10 7 5 4 ♥ K 10 3 2
♦ K J 4 3 2 ♦ 8 2
♣ A 4 ♣ Q 9 8
♠ Q 2 N ♠ A 8 6 5 ♠ K 10 9 6 5 N ♠ 3 2
♥ Q J 2 ♥ 9 8 6 3 ♥ A 7 ♥ J 5 4
♦ Q 5 W E ♦ 10 ♦ Q J 6 4 W E ♦ K 7 5 3
♣ K Q J 6 5 2 S ♣ 10 9 8 3 ♣ 10 4 S ♣ K J 7 6
♠ K 10 9 4 3 ♠ J 8
♥ A K ♥ Q 9 8 6
♦ A 9 8 7 6 ♦ A 10 9
♣ 7 ♣ A 5 3 2
Open Room Open Room
Dauvergne Philippe Sebbane Bénédicte Dauvergne Philippe Sebbane Bénédicte
– – Pass 1♠ – 1♣ Pass 1♥
2♣ Double 4♣ 4♦ 1♠ 2♥ Pass 4♥
Pass 5♣ Pass 5♦ All Pass
All Pass Another vulnerable game bid, confidently, on wafer thin values. Despite
Closed Room the lack of values the only lead to ensure defeat is the trump ace. After
some thought Dauvergne quite reasonably led the ♦Q, handing the ini-
West North East South tiative to declarer who ducked but took the subsequent ♦J with the ace.
Bessis T Rolland Gaviard L’Huissier Bénédicte now went into the first of a series of long thinks, during which
– – Pass 1♠ we commentators were still trying to find the winning line. It was Roland
2♣ Double 3♣ 3♦ Wald of Denmark who found it, not easy to see at double dummy, and so
Pass Pass 4♣ All Pass extremely hard to find at single dummy. After taking the diamond ace
5♦ made for +600 while 4♣ was 2 down and -200, a further 9 IMPs to you have to take the intra-finesse in clubs, leading low to the 8, so that
Cronier, now leading by 14 with six boards to play. you can subsequently run the queen to pin West’s 10. Declarer chose the
Board 29 was possibly the slowest played board I have ever watched ♠8, finessing the queen, and putting the defence back in control. Next
on BBO - at 27 minutes certainly the longest I have ever commentated came a heart to the 4, 8 and ace, and now it was Sophie’s turn to go into
on. Fortunately I had now been joined by four other commentators, from the tank. At this point any red card keeps the defence on top, any black
Denmark, France, Switzerland and USA, so as the advantage swung back card allows declarer to make.
and forth between declarer and defenders there were enough points of By now the other room had finished this board and we could see that
interest and enough of us to keep the comments flowing. West there had made 2♦ after an unopposed auction of 1♠ - 1NT - 2♦,
for +90. Meaning that if Cronier made this contract they would gain 12
Page 48
IMPs and lead by 26 with just three boards to play - not quite home and
dry, but very nearly. And one down here would be a flat board, leaving
them still in a strong but by no means unassailable position.
Master Point Press
Eventually Dauvergne led the spade king to dummy’s ace - advantage the bridge Publisher
declarer. We could see that if declarer now ruffed a spade to hand the
club intra-finesse would again lead to success. Cronier, without sight Presenting the new
of all four hands, took a further five minutes or so trying to analyse the
position, and led ….. a heart to the nine - advantage defence. Now she
made the club play of small to the 8, but too late as the timing no longer
works. Winning the ♣J Lionel quickly found the killing return of the ♥J,
and when declarer took this with the queen in hand she ended up two
down for -200 and 3 IMPs to Rolland.
I have made much of the time taken on this hand, but this is no criti-
cism. I made the point in my BBO commentary that all the players were
absolutely right to take as much time as necessary on a complex and
potentially decisive hand, especially towards the end of a long and gru- A fresh design for engaging content,
elling event. And that another of the important attributes of champions TeachBridge.com is now live.
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to do, team Cronier had come from behind to win 172-161. Congratula- newsletters geared to keep bridge teachers informed and
tions to them, and commiserations to the losers, who led for so long, but
can maybe take some small comfort in the knowledge that they have pre-
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Page 49
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Page 51
Kit’s Corner
by World Champion Kit Woolsey
World Champion Kit Woolsey reveals how an expert thinks, using real run the suit. If you lead the ace, declarer will be able to hold up from
deals from major events. Sit beside the master and compare his thoughts Kxx. However, this is necessary only if partner doesn’t have an entry. On
with your own. this hand, you must assume partner has an entry, or you aren’t going to
defeat this contract. Therefore, you might as well lead the ♦A. This will
One Suit Squeeze avoid giving declarer a second diamond trick if declarer has ♦Kx and
In the round of 16 of the open trials, you face a difficult opening lead dummy ♦Jxx, which is quite possible. Also, the appearance of dummy
problem. and partner’s signal may indicate that a shift is called for. You don’t have
As West, you hold: to commit yourself at trick 1. It is easier to defend when you are looking
at 26 cards than when you are looking at 13 cards.
Dealer West. E/W Vul. You lead the ♦A
♠ Q 9 7 ♠ —
♥ 9 8 7 5 3 ♥ A K J 10 4
♦ A Q 7 ♦ J 8 5 3
♣ 7 3 ♣ Q 8 5 4
♠ Q 9 7 N
West North East South ♥ 9 8 7 5 3
Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ ♦ A Q 7 W E
Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦* ♣ 7 3 S
Pass 2♥ Pass 3♣
Pass 3♦ Pass 3NT Partner plays the ♦4 (standard attitude signal at trick 1 on honour lead
All Pass vs. NT) and declarer plays the ♦6. What do you do now?
2♦ Artificial 4th suit, forcing to game ♠ —
♥ A K J 10 4
Your lead. Attitude leads vs. NT. From honour holdings, ace from AK, king ♦ J 8 5
power lead, Rusinow from lower sequences with 8 being the swing card. ♣ Q 8 5 4
A club lead into their 4-4 fit doesn’t make sense. A spade lead might
♠ Q 9 7 N
set up some tricks, but it also might give declarer a finesse he wouldn’t ♥ 9 8 7 5 3
be able to take for himself. A heart lead is safe, but may lose an impor- ♦ Q 7 W E
tant tempo. ♣ 7 3 S
A diamond lead could well work. Partner figures to have some dia-
mond length, since South has spades and clubs and North has hearts and What do you know about South’s hand? He definitely has at least 4 clubs
clubs. Partner didn’t double 3♦, but he wouldn’t be doubling for a lead for his 3♣ call. He has at least 4 spades, probably 5, since partner didn’t
with something like Jxxxx. bid over the 1♥ call and with 4-2-3-4 shape East might not have both-
It is often correct to lead the queen from AQx. The idea is to force ered showing the club support.
declarer to take his king so if partner has Jxxxx you will then be able to The ♦2 is missing, Partner could well have been encouraging diamonds,
Page 52
with the ♦4 being the highest spot he could afford. This would be con- ♠ —
sistent with East having 5-2-4-2 distribution. ♥ 10 4
Could it be right to continue with the ♦Q, playing partner for ♦K10xx ♦ J 8
or ♦K9xx? That is possible. But you would still need another trick to ♣ Q 8
defeat the contract. If partner has a heart or club entry, it won’t be nec- ♠ Q 9 7 N
essary to cash the diamonds. What if partner has the ♠A, and declarer ♥ 8 7
♦ Q W E
the ♥Q and ♣AKxx or ♣AJ10x? Now cashing out is necessary. This would
give declarer something like ♠KJxxx ♥Qx ♦10x ♣AKxx. Would declarer ♣ — S
have bid 3NT with that hand? He can’t know that his partner has such a Obviously you can’t afford to discard a diamond or a heart. It seems nor-
good diamond holding – in fact, many players would raise 2♦ to 3♦ with mal to discard the ♠7.
that hand, showing the 0-5-4-4 shape. South would certainly have bid You discard the ♠7. Dummy’s queen of clubs wins, partner playing
3♥ with that hand, keeping open the possibility of playing in a 5-2 heart the jack. Now the ♣8 from dummy. Partner discards the ♦9. What do
fit with the diamonds unstopped. you discard now?
It looks like declarer has at least Kx of diamonds. Would partner have ♠ —
encouraged in diamonds with ♦10942? Yes, he would. You lead ace from ♥ 10 4
AK vs. notrump, so from his point of view you have AKx of diamonds and ♦ J 8
he wants diamonds continued to set up his fourth diamond before his ♣ 8
entry gets knocked out. And it is always possible that declarer started with ♠ Q 9 N
K62 of diamonds, in which case continuing diamonds is really disastrous. ♥ 8 7
So, what should you shift to? Either black suit might cost a trick, and ♦ Q W E
it doesn’t look like you can establish enough quick tricks to defeat the ♣ — S
contract. A passive heart shift looks best. Partner could have the queen.
It is clear that partner has the ♠A, as otherwise declarer has 9 top tricks.
Declarer won’t have any particular reason not to take the finesse, since
Once again you must discard a spade. However, the ♠Q might be a lia-
from his point of view you are just trying to find a safe exit.
bility. Suppose, for example, partner started with ♠A10854 of spades. If
If you do shift to a heart, you should lead an honest ♥9. This won’t
declarer cashes the heart he is down, so he will exit with a small diamond
mean anything to declarer, but it might to partner. If partner has the
to your queen. You must lead your last spade, of course. If you still have
stiff ♥Q and declarer finesses, partner will know from your ♥9 shift that
the queen, partner can’t afford to overtake since declarer would have 2
declarer has only 3 heart tricks. This knowledge might help partner’s
spade winners. And now declarer, who will have a count on the hand, will
defence.
also duck and you will be forced to give dummy the last 2 tricks.
You shift to the ♥9. ♥J from dummy, and partner wins his ♥Q. Partner
leads back the ♦2 to declarer’s king. Declarer leads a heart to dummy and
♠It is vital that you discard the ♠Q. Now when you lead the ♠9 part-
ner can overtake with the ♠10, and it is the defence which is victorious.
cashes another heart, partner discarding the ♠4 and ♠5 and declarer the
The full hand is:
♠2. Now declarer leads a club to his ace (♣6 from partner), cashes the
king of clubs (♣10 from partner), and leads the ♣9. What do you discard?
Page 53
♠ — ♠ —
♥ A K J 10 4 ♥ 10 4
♦ J 8 5 3 ♦ J 8
♣ Q 8 5 4 ♣ —
♠ Q 9 7 N ♠ A 10 8 5 4 ♠ 7 N ♠ A 10 6
♥ 9 8 7 5 3 ♥ Q ♥ 8 7 ♥ —
♦ A Q 7 W E ♦ 10 9 4 2 ♦ Q W E ♦ 10
♣ 7 3 S ♣ J 10 6 ♣ — S ♣ —
♠ K J 6 3 2 ♠ K J 8 3
♥ 6 2 ♥ —
♦ K 6 ♦ —
♣ A K 9 2 ♣ —
Unfortunately, it didn’t quite happen this way. East lost the thread and When declarer leads the diamond off dummy, which spade does he dis-
discarded a third spade on the last club, hoping to fool declarer about card? If he discards the ♠3, he can no longer duck West’s ♠7. If he discards
the diamond position. Now the defence had no chance when declarer the ♠8, now East can afford to overtake with the ♠10 and will get 2 spade
exited with a small diamond from dummy. tricks. This is one of the most unusual variations of a one-suit squeeze
Should declarer have done better? I have ever seen.
Yes, declarer should have done better. Instead of cashing the fourth
club, all he had to do was lead a small diamond from dummy while he
still had the ♣8 entry. There was no reason for him not to do this. All
the evidence pointed to West having started with AQx of diamonds, and Master Point Press
if that weren’t the case declarer had no realistic chance anyway. the bridge Publisher
Aside from the bad spade discard by East, could the defence have been
improved on after the opening lead?
The heart shift was fine. East’s diamond return is normal, since from Master of bridge
his point of view West started with AKx of diamonds and after West wins
and plays a third diamond the defence would take 1 heart, 1 spade, and Psychology
3 diamonds while declarer takes only 4 clubs, 3 hearts, and 1 diamond.
However, there was a small slip-up. West’s first discard should have Inside the remarkable mind
been the ♠9, not the ♠7. To see why, imagine that declarer started with of Peter Fredin
KJ832 of spades. In the ending West will be down to a stiff ♠9. East can-
not afford to overtake, and once again declarer ducks forcing West to by Jeppe Juhl with
give dummy the last 2 tricks.
It may seem as though the same position arises if West retains the ♠7, Peter Fredin
as once again East can’t afford to overtake and declarer can duck. But
something funny happens along the way. Let’s look at the end position. AVAILABLE FROM A BRIDGE
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Flags and Scrambles

an excerpt from Mark Horton and Eric Kokish’s Rabbi’s Rules; this month’s Master Point Press Bidding Battle book prize
Flags & Scrambles but won’t kill a slam, on the other hand, owing to fast losers. Later we
It is universally acknowledged that developing the auction after an open- will get into some interesting follow-up sequences but for now we’ll
ing bid of 2NT is particularly difficult to do with any degree of accuracy, settle for some simple illustrations. These are control Superflags after
particularly when the responder . responder transfers to spades:
has a distributional hand. ♠K1032 ♥AK2 ♦AK86 ♣A8
The methods outlined here use major suit transfers, but include var- ♠AQ85 ♥A5 ♦A1092 ♣AK4
ious ways of breaking a transfer to show a fit for partner’s suit. These ♠AJ102 ♥AK98 ♦AJ10 ♣A2
transfer breaks rejoice in the name ‘Flags’ because the opener is delighted ♠AK92 ♥K6 ♦AK96 ♣A98
partner has shown the suit. These pure hands are rather infrequent but when they come up the con-
When opener does not have an immediate flag one might still be made trol Superflag can simplify the auction rather spectacularly
if responder introduces another suit. ♠ A J 10 3 ♠ K 8 7 5 4 2
N
When the opener does not want to flag he can use a ‘Scramble’ to ♥ A 10 2 ♥ 4
keep the auction under control. ♦ A K 8 W E ♦ 6 5
There are some advanced ideas, but the basic concepts are quite simple ♣ A 10 9 S ♣ K Q 8 2
and worthy of general revelation. So we’ll start with the bare bones and
attempt to deal with the more delicate stuff later on.
West East
2NT 3♥*
Major Suit Superflags 4 ♠* 7♠
(NOTE: throughout this analysis we will deal with a Here responder was going to introduce clubs next and look
20-21 2NT opening but adjustments can be made for for a delicate slam in one suit or the other without commit-
different ranges and other 2NT family bids) ting his side to six. The auction was bound to be awkward. It
The control Superflag: jump in the major fit ‘s never easy to try for slam in clubs and play game in spades
Some hands have so many controls (together with without clouding the distributional issue.
a good fit) that they justify a shot at game opposite Here responder gets a good break. When opener shows
any hand with 5-card length in the known major. We exactly nine controls and four or more spades, the grand slam
use a jump to four of the major to show this hand is suddenly easy to bid. Note that there is room in opener’s
rich in controls. It’s a bulky bid for slam purposes hand for the queen of trumps (instead of the jack) but that
so we’ve attempted to keep it pretty specific: exactly responder is in a position to risk the 3-0 break if he wishes to
nine controls (four aces and a king or three aces and (with no intermediates in the trump suit a 2-1 break might
three kings) and four-card support and no side suit be required).
as good as KQJ2 (concentration). This is a hand that This little example helps to clarify something that we
won’t produce slam on the basis of a source of tricks might already have known: When opener is known to have
Page 56
nine controls (ace=2, king=1), responder can always identify their nature ♠ AJ102 ♥ K2 ♦ AKQ4 ♣ A92 bid 4♦
if he himself holds two controls. If responder holds an ace he can tell that ♠ KQ87 ♥ A2 ♦ A74 ♣ AKJ10 bid 4♣
opener holds three aces and three kings; if responder holds two kings, ♠ AK85 ♥ KQJ5 ♦ A32 ♣ A2 bid 4♥
opener must hold four aces and a king. There’s no other way to make ♠ KJ105 ♥ A9 ♦ AJ10 ♣ AKJ2 bid 4♣
up nine controls . As responder will usually hold at least two controls to These are all good hands for game but the real bonus comes in the slam
make a slam try opposite a 2NT opening bid, this control information zone when responder, with the fourth honour in the “concentration” suit,
will generally be available and will clarify the slam search. If responder can count four sure tricks. Let’s take a look at a couple of illustrations:
holds only one control himself, he will sometimes be better off if opener ♠ A J 10 2 ♠ K 9 8 7 4 3
holds one combination rather than the other and we will see later that it N
♥ K 2 ♥ A 3
is not too difficult to graft a discovery mechanism onto the basic frame- ♦ A K Q 4 W E ♦ J 6 5
work. One more illustration: ♣ A 9 2 S ♣ 5 4
♠ K 10 7 4 N ♠ A J 9 8 5 3 2
♥ A K 3 ♥ 7 2 West East
♦ A 5 W E ♦ K 2NT 3♥*
♣ A K 6 5 S ♣ 4 3 2 4♦* 7NT
West East Responder had intended to transfer at the 3-level and raise himself
2NT 3♥* to game, a mild slam try if Jacoby Transfers are used in conjunction
4 ♠* 7NT with Texas Transfers. Suddenly, the potential is dramatically altered.
Responder knows that he’s facing four trumps to the ace and a second
Here responder’s slam interest was real but fuzzy and his plan of explo- honour, the club ace and precisely AKQ6 of diamonds. That’s only seven
ration was hardly well-marked. Of course, many players would simply controls so opener must have another king. What’s more responder can
check for aces and shoot out six, perhaps rightly. If responder chooses now identify opener’s remaining trump honour as the jack! With the
to start with a 3-level transfer (prior to his slam try) he gets lucky and queen he’d have 22 HCP, a point more than the announced range. From
finds that he can count 13 winners at no-trumps (opener must have three a position that looked touch-and-go for twelve tricks, responder can now
aces and three kings). visualise a tremendous play for thirteen winners in the safest possible
The concentration Superflag: bid a new suit strain. Inevitably, things won’t always be this easy, but sometimes the
picture becomes astonishingly clear.
A second family of great hands in support of a known 5-card suit is the ♠ K Q 8 2 ♠ A J 6 5 4 3
group that includes a source of tricks as well as excellent controls and N
♥ A 2 ♥ 3
decent trumps. We call this subgroup the Concentration Superflag and ♦ A 8 5 W E ♦ 9 6 4
define the requirements thus: eight or nine controls including at least three ♣ A K J 2 S ♣ Q 9 4
aces, four-card support to at least two of the top four honours, a side-suit at
least as good as K-Q-J-2. i.e. concentration. To nail things down, concen- West East
2NT 3♥*
tration means specifically: AKQ6, AKJ7, AQJ8, KQJ5. If you choose to open
a concentrated 5422 hand with 2NT then you might have an even more
4♣* 7♣
promising trick source or particularly exciting trumps. Responder should Here again responder was worth no more than a mild try (many would
not, however, count on more than four cards in the concentration suit. simply settle for game, perhaps rightly). When opener rejected the trans-
Some examples of concentration Superflags after a transfer to spades: fer with a concentration Superflag, however, responder was faced with a
Page 57
plethora of useful information that altered his expectations considera- While these hands might well produce a slam opposite the right com-
bly. In fact he could construct opener’s entire hand within one red card bination, we see them hands as flawed in some way, at least in terms of
(3-2 or 2-3). He could count twelve tricks in no-trump or spades but thir- the requirements of our other two Superflags. In some ways these gen-
teen in clubs if that suit were to divide 4-2 or better. The ruff in the short eral types may seem more promising. They are limited, however, by the
hand became the deal maker. The game-slam decision had become the tight definitions we’ve assigned to the control and concentration sub-
infinitely more pleasant choice between 6NT and seven clubs. groups. We can identify several other types, but we can’t slot them into
It wouldn’t be fair, even at this early stage of development, to suggest a convenient pigeonhole. Assume a transfer to spades:
that the concentration Superflag will solve all the complexities inherent ♠ AOJ84 ♥KQ2 ♦AQ7 ♣K9
in the accompanying follow up sequences –indeed the new information This is a very good hand for game, but only so-so for slam (only 6
can often breed a new set of frustrations: controls). The immediate concern is not missing game so we realise that
♠ K Q 6 5 N ♠ A J 8 4 2 this hand can’t just settle for three spades. We’ve got to draw the line
♥ A 2 ♥ 7 6 3 somewhere, however, and we think that 6 controls is the lower limit. And
♦ A 8 5 W E ♦ K 4 3 then only with great trumps.
♣ A K J 2 S ♣ Q 4 ♠ KQ102 ♥AJ98 ♦AK2 ♣A2
West East This is a very good hand for spades: four trumps and eight controls.
2NT 3♥* Yet it doesn’t fit into the other two Superflag categories. We lump this
4♣* ? type into the 3NT Superflag, and we do so with no regrets. It looks right
to do so. Note that there is no concentration in this eight-control type.
Without any mechanism to show a quasi-balanced hand with slam inter- ♠ AJ104 ♥K2 ♦KQ2 ♣AKJ2
est (serious partnerships are advised to consider the work of George This looks like our concentration Superflag and it is indeed similar.
Rosenkranz: Confi and Superconfi to solve this problem. See below.) What this hand lacks is an eighth control. It is fair to say that we approve
responder has to content himself with a transfer and a quantitative of a 3NT Superflag on hands blessed with four trumps, concentration and
no-trump bid of some sort. When opener rejects his transfer and shows only 7 controls.
concentration in clubs, responder solves his game/slam decision. He can ♠ AK2 ♥54 ♦AKQ75 A84
now count twelve tricks in no trumps. Good, yes? Well, only to a degree. For the first time we come across a hand with only three card support
If opener holds three hearts and two diamonds there are thirteen tricks that looks like a Superflag. On the surface it seems easy to pin this one
in spades. If he’s two-three in the red suits there’s no extra ruffing trick. down: three very good trumps, a solid-looking 5-card side-suit, lots of con-
Having recognised this problem we think that it’s worth solving. Perhaps trols. We like that, of course, but is the 8-control requirement realistic?
you already see an easy answer. How about:
We will deal with just this problem in a later installment. For now ♠ KQ2 ♥A4 ♦AKQ76 ♣K109?
we’ll have to be satisfied with reaching six notrumps in the last exam- Can we then reduce our requirements to something like 7 controls
ple. Not so bad, really. plus the queen of trumps? If we like this refinement, how do we deal with:
The General Superflag: bid 3NT ♠A85 ♥A2 ♦AKQ86 ♣A104?
That’s 9 controls but three not-so-good trumps. Is this hand worth a
Quite obviously there are other very good hands in support of the major Superflag? How about other balanced hands with 9 controls and no side-
that would suggest special treatment, i.e. more than simple acceptance suit or 4-card “concentration” that nevertheless contain a three-card fit,
of the transfer. We suggest lumping these general Superflags into one good or indifferent? These are very fuzzy hand types. It could be right
last basket: 3NT.
Page 58
to go either way . Despite the dangers in missing a decent game we feel about being able to confidently value a jack so highly.
that it’s a good idea to draw the line at three very good trumps, i.e. two of
the three top honours. Even the 9-control example above with ♠A85 and THE MAJOR-MINOR CAMPAIGN
the solid-looking diamonds will not produce a game that often opposite
a very poor responding hand. So even with the maximum 9 controls we REQUIREMENTS
recommend that you do not Superflag without some security within the
Once opener fails to Superflag responder’s major, responder is faced with
trump suit itself. If we don’t add this constraint we feel that we’re going
a borderline decision on many hands: should he introduce a minor suit
to overload 3NT and cloud the slam search with trump worries. As we’ll
or simply continue with 3NT over opener’s transfer acceptance? The
see later on, there will usually be an opportunity to Flag for the major
danger in bidding beyond 3NT with a marginal hand is usually only too
without resorting to an immediate Superflag.
clear – 3NT might have been the last plus. To settle for 3NT, however,
Another rule that seems to have some merit is this one (perhaps
might be to preclude a slam or better game in the minor suit. We had
self-evidently): it is impossible to Superflag without 2 aces. Four kings and
hoped to be able to spell out some firm rules for responder to follow in
an ace (6 controls) is simply not good enough. We’d like to be able to
close cases but we soon realised that many of these decisions are per-
stipulate that when opener holds fewer than 8 controls he should hold
sonal things. In a pinch, each of the following hands might well transfer
no dangerous side-suit (i.e. two quick losers) but we feel that:
to the major and bid the minor.
♠ KQ8 ♥ 54 ♦ AKQ97 ♣AK2 ♠ – ♥K108765 ♦43 ♣OJ765
is certainly good enough for 3NT. Perhaps we can say that if opener
♠ Q10874 ♥3 ♦ 2 ♣J9872
has neither 8 controls nor 7 controls plus the queen of trumps (together
♠ 108752 ♥K ♦Q109754 ♣3
with his meaty 5·card side-suit) he must hold no dangerous side-suit. Yes,
♠ 3 ♥KQ432 ♦54 ♣K10942
that might well be playable.
♠ K108543 ♥32 ♦K984 ♣5
So we can see that the 3NT Superflag is not the specific tool that the
♠ KJ972 ♥Q87 ♦K1065 ♣3
other two Superflags appear to be. Yet we feel that a general rejection of
♠ 7 ♥AQ1042 ♦754 ♣K764
the transfer is a necessary refinement and we feel that some definition
♠ AJ762 ♥4 ♦QJ95 ♣Q76
can be provided. Within the guidelines we have suggested above, we feel
♠ Q10865 ♥K104 ♦KJ65 ♣9
that constructive bidding can still be greatly simplified, at least beyond
♠ 3 ♥QJ972 ♦652 ♣AQ87
the level that go-as-you-please would seem to allow. For example:
♠ K2 ♥Q10982 ♦A1074 ♣64
♠ A K 2 N ♠ Q J 6 5 4 ♠ 43 ♥AJ1053 ♦K1095 ♣75
♥ 8 7 ♥ A 2
♦ A K Q 3 2 W E ♦ J 4 As we said earlier, we feel that 5332 are best handled with CONFI or per-
♣ A 5 4 S ♣ K 8 6 3 haps even Baron – search for suits upwards. We believe that 5422 hands
are in the same family and should usually be left out of this major·minor
West East adventure. Still, most pairs have not adopted Confi (it seems intimidat-
2NT 3♥* ing although it certainly is not complicated) and so 5422 hands are part
3NT* 4♣* of the present sample. We can state from the outset, though, that 5422
5♦* 7NT hands should usually contain at least 3 controls (or lots of extra high
The jump to Five Diamonds gets the hand-type across perfectly: three card content and good intermediates). 5431 hands should come close
good trumps, solid looking side-suit, 8 controls (since responder is look- to 3 controls or 10 HCP or at least contain decent texture. With ten
ing at the trump queen). There’s something especially appealing to us cards in two suits responder should try to hold at least 2 controls with a
Page 59
kicking queen. With eleven cards in his suits the requirements are vir- 3♠* 4♣
tually non-existent. We must remember, after all, that the major minor
sequence is not a clear slam try. The best game is often at issue. With a 2NT 3♥ *
hand like ♠ 108752 ♥K ♦Q109754 ♣3 responder might just transfer to 3♠* 4♦
spades and bid 3NT but who’s to say this course of action will work out
better than the more natural development of showing both suits?
Once opener doesn’t Superflag the major, responder, with a mar- 2NT 3♦*
ginal hand, is really only concerned with the best game or slam in the 3♥* 4♣
minor or slam in a fragment suit if he owns one. His decision to bring the One of the four sequences is anomalous, as we shall see a little later:
minor into the game is based on risk versus gain. A tricky but profita- 2NT 3♦*
ble exercise is to mentally construct two fairly normal 2NT openings 3♥* 4♦
that will produce a very good slam. If you can do that, by all means bid
your minor with a clear conscience. So often it will be no more than the Once responder has shown a major and introduced a minor, opener’s
right minimum that you will require for slam. Many of these minimums next bid will often be crucial. He wants to be able to express a favoura-
will require something like A6 or K7 in the major and some length in ble opinion toward the minor, the major (although limited by his failure
the minor or 5-card length in a 3-card fragment, certainly a reasonable to use a Superflag) and perhaps towards no-trumps. He’d like to be able
hope. Remember that opener needs a relatively specific hand to love the to say: “I’d rather not get too high if you (responder) don’t have much
major immediately. There are still plenty of very good hands left for him extra” on a variety of hands –fair support for either suit or no fit at all.
to hold in support of another suit. On better hands he’d like to be able to say: “I’ve got a good hand but I’m
Another consideration, and one that goes the other way, is this: even not sure where we’re going.” What we propose to do here is suggest a
by settling for 3NT rather than four of the minor at this juncture, a good scheme of bids for opener over responder’s four clubs or four diamonds
minor suit slam might still be reached if opener expresses interest in that will enable him (opener) to ensure that his desired message is prop-
the major over 3NT, viz. erly received. We feel that we can do just this with a network of Flags
♠ A 9 5 3 ♠ 6 4 and Scrambles.
N Let’s start with one of the three similar sequences above and explore
♥ A Q J ♥ K 10 7 4 3
♦ A J W E ♦ 7 3 opener’s various options in the light of our suggestions for Flags and
♣ K Q 6 2 S ♣ A 10 6 3 Scrambles.
2NT 3♥ *
These hands provide excellent play for 6♣ and we will later suggest that
the slam should be reached even after the auction begins: 3♠* 4♣
4♦ The cheapest bid by opener is a Scramble –a hand
West East not rich in controls or not blessed with a proven fit, tentatively no
2NT 3♦* desire to proceed beyond 4 ♠ (perhaps a 5-2 fit). If opener Scram-
3♥* 3NT bles and bids again he shows preference for a given strain with-
out much enthusiasm for slam, i.e. less than the values for a Flag.
THE BASIC FLAG-SCRAMBLE FRAMEWORK 4♥ The next available bid by opener is a Flag for re-
Once we’ve eliminated the Superflags we are left with only four basic sponder’s major –given the failure to Superflag for the major,
major-minor sequences. Three of these are essentially similar: opener can still have a good hand in support of the major (usually
with only 3-card support). We suggest these requirements: 6+
2NT 3♥ *
Page 60
“working” controls (ace=2, king in one of responder’s suits=l) or 5 five cipher bids available in each sequence and because they have a com-
“working” controls plus two key queens in responder’s suits. mon thread in three of the four cases, we decided to go with the present
4 ♠ The next available bid by opener is a Superflag for scheme. Please accept it as it is.
responder’s minor –this needn’t be as good a hand as a major-suit We mentioned above that sequence (4) is not quite the same as the
Superflag as responder has already shown strength by introduc-
ing a new suit. The “super” element here is the requirement of a other three. This is because the first available bid, 4♥, can be passed by
slammish holding in responder’s major, i.e. at least ace or king dou- responder if used as a Scramble.
bleton, together with a 4+ card fit for the minor and at least 6 con- After all, hearts is his main suit. We realised that we still required a
trols (usually 3 aces or compensating fillers). Scramble that would not get us beyond 4♥ , the most probable game once
5♣ Raising the minor is a Flag for that suit lacking ace or 3NT had been passed. Finally we concluded that 4♥ had to be retained as
king in responder’s major. There must be 6+ controls (usually more) the Scramble, awkward as this seemed. In this one major-minor sequence
and by inference very good trumps. opener can no longer Scramble and then convert to 4NT (“slow” no-trump)
Note that with “lesser” minor suit support types opener may Scram- or to 5♦ (Scramble for the minor). This then is the scheme:
ble and convert a minimum rebid to 5 of his minor. 2NT 3♦*
4NT We call this one the “fitless” Flag–opener has 3♥* 4♦
a good hand with lots of controls, perhaps a personal source of
tricks, but no “known” 8-card fit. This non-forcing bid encourag- 4♥ Scramble, but remember responder will often
es responder to keep bidding with a real two-suiter or say, 5431 pass it.
pattern, as he will buy a prime hand opposite. With a hand that 4 ♠ Flag for hearts, responder’s “known” major.
looks “slow” and might not produce four of a major on a five-two 4NT Still a fitless Flag. We feel that this is a vital hand
fit, opener first Scrambles then pulls to 4NT. With some “slow” no- to show.
trumps, opener will indeed settle for game in the major and hope
to ‘scramble’ home. 5 ♣ Superflag for diamonds, high doubleton in the
major, etc.
This is the basic structure, but there’s a lot more. As we’ll see later,
5 ♦ This is the key point of departure in this sys-
we suggest that opener can go beyond five of responder’s minor. That, tem. It seems to us that there might be a wide variety of hands
however, we consider more than a “simple pleasure.” that would prefer to play 5♦ rather than 4♥ . Because 4♥ can be
Sequences (2) and (3) above work exactly the same way, opener using passed there’s very little choice here: 5♦ or 4♥. We think that 5♦
each of the five bids through five of responder’s minor to Scramble and here is not quite the Flag that would be in (1), (2) or (3) above.
Flag in the same progression. Rather, 5♦ might better be described as a diamond Grope. Of
4NT always constitutes the fitless Flag; the cheapest bid is always the course, most of these hands will contain weak doubleton hearts
Scramble; the next available bid Flags the major; the most expensive bid and so they will generally fit our minor suit Flag standards. We
merely wish to point out that responder should make allowances
(the minor suit raise) is the minor-suit Flag without a high picture in the here.
major; the penultimate non-no-trump bid is always the minor suit Superflag.
Let’s take sequence (2) of our basic scheme and work with some
Please note that it is of no significance that opener sometimes actually
illustrations:
bids the major to Flag it and sometimes doesn’t. What is relevant is the
2NT 3♥ *
order of the available bids between four of the minor and five of the minor.
We thought originally that it might be a useful memory aid to Flag the 3♠* 4♦
major by bidding it but we found that we sometimes need the extra step ?
provided by the scheme that we’re presenting to you. As there are only Let’s give opener the following hands:
Page 61
♠ A3 ♥ AQ7 ♦ KJ8 ♣AQ964 4♥: Scramble 2NT 3♦* Hearts or a strong three-suiter or splinter in
♠ AQ5 ♥ K54 ♦ AQ7 ♣AJ106 4♠: ♠ Flag hearts, 6/4 or 4/6 minors
♠ A2 ♥ A87 ♦ AQ76 ♣ AK54 5♣: ♦ Superflag 3♠* This is the only transfer break: 4/5-card heart sup-
♠ 65 ♥ AK76 ♦ AQ76 ♣ AK6 5♦: ♦ Flag port with slam-suitability
♠ A5 ♥ AK5 ♦ K98 ♣AK65 4NT: Fitless Flag
3NT* Alert! I have 5+hearts, any strength
If we stopped right here we feel that we’d be well ahead of the “stand-
4♣* 4414
ard” players. In fact this is as far as we’re going to bring you in our simple
pleasures section. 4♦* 4144
This next section covers a variation to the sequence 2NT-3♦. 4♥* 1444
4 ♠* 4441
Jacoby Transfer Sequences 4NT* 2146, F1
The Walsh Substructure (if you prefer 3♦ to just be hearts you can skip 5♣* 2164, F1
to a relevant section)
After the three-suiter description, opener can sign off in a suit or 4NT or
2NT 3♦* he can ask for controls by bidding responder’s short suit (1st step=0 or
Transfer to hearts, but responder may not have a genuine heart type. 1, 2, 3, etc); follow-up rebid of short suit asks for specific queens). Over
If he doesn’t have hearts, he has a three-suited slam try or a slam try opener’s signoff, responder can ask for controls himself by bidding his
with heart shortness and 4♦/6♣ or 4♣/6♦. short suit (opener starts with 6, etc unless he’s confirmed 25+ and so
Opener may break the transfer only by bidding 3♠*, which promises starts with 7) and his follow-up short suit rebid asks for specific queens
4/5-card heart support and a slam-suitable hand. (queen asks show interest in seven). If responder has shown 2 controls
Responder confirms the genuine heart type by bidding 3♠* or 3NT* already with (say) an artificial control showing 2♥ response to 2♣, he
over 3♥, or by bidding 3NT over the 3♠* transfer break. All other actions shows specific queens immediately in reply to the first short-suit con-
deny 5+hearts and pinpoint the shortness. This double transfer is known tinuation by opener. If responder has shown 3+ controls (perhaps via an
as Walsh. artificial control-showing 2♠ response to 2♣) he clarifies, starting with
2NT 3♦* Hearts or a strong three-suiter or splinter in 3, 4, etc, next shows queens.
hearts, 6/4 or 4/6 minors Because we use the transfer to hearts as a multi-meaning bid we need
to engage in some artificial continuations, but we gain on these hands
3♥ 3♠* Alert! I have a “normal” 5+♥ hand: Please
by knowing early whether opener has two hearts or a more favourable
describe your heart support
number. If you like that, it’s yours, but if you use a more straightforward
3NT* Alert! I have a very weak hand with 5♥ 3♦=5+♥ method, your FLAGS and SCRAMBLES need to take into account
+5♣/♦ (4♣=pass/correct; 4♦=great for clubs) the full spectrum of opener’s heart length.
4♣* 4414 2NT 3♦* Hearts or a strong three-suiter or splinter in
4♦* 4144 hearts, 6/4 or 4/6 minors.
4♥* 1444 3♥ 3♠* Alert! I have a “normal” 5+♥ hand: Please
4 ♠* 4441 describe your heart support
4NT* 2146, F1 3NT Natural, two-card heart support
5♣* 2164, F1
Page 62
4♣* Three-card heart support, slam-suitable (responder’s 4♦ Natural 5+♥/4+♦ (ditto re ♦ for ♣)
4♦*=Last Train) 4♥ Mild slam try with 6/7♥ (else start with Tex-
4♦* Three-card heart support, not slam-suitable as)
4♥ Four-card heart support, but not slam-suitable 2NT 3♦* Hearts or a strong three-suiter or splinter in
Responder may continue over 3NT with a natural bid in a minor, after hearts, 6/4 or 4/6 minors.
which FLAGS and SCRAMBLES will apply but essentially related to slam 3♥ 3♠* Alert! I have a normal 5+♥ hand
suitability for the minor or strains other than hearts. 3NT* Natural, only two hearts
When opener confirms heart support, however, there is less room to
4 ♣ Natural 5+♥/4+♣
manoeuvre. 4♥ is a signoff and 4♠ by either partner is Kickback RKCB
1430 for hearts. 4NT shows an undisclosed four-card or longer minor, 4♦* Scramble –no special positive direction;
over which opener may introduce a minor himself to investigate alter- 4♥ still possible opposite decent five-card suit, but opener can try
native strains. Other bids show controls. 4NT/5♣ next, which would not be encouraging
2NT 3♦* Hearts or a strong three-suiter or splinter in 4♥* Flag-positive for hearts but trumps limited to ♥ or
hearts, 6/4 or 4/6 minors. HH, 5233/3253/4243
3♠* The only transfer break: 4/5-card heart support with 4 ♠* Flag for clubs, rich in controls
slam-suitability 4NT* Fitless flag rich in controls, no known 8-card fit
3NT* Alert! I have 5+hearts, any strength 5♣* Flag for clubs, based on strong trumps (what it
sounds like)
4♣* I have a four-card minor if you’re looking for
5♦* Superflag for clubs, e.g. ♠Axx ♥Kx ♦Axx ♣AKQ10x
a four-four fit: then 4♦ forces 4♥
2NT 3♦* Hearts or strong three-suiter or SPL ♥, 6/4
4♦ I have a hand rich in controls with no obvi- either way in the minors
ous lead value 3♥ 3♠* Alert! I have a normal 5+♥ hand
4♥* I do not have a four-card minor 3NT* Natural, only two hearts
When opener confirms 4/5-card heart support and a slam-suitable hand, 4♦ Natural 5+♥/4+♦
however, there is little room to manoeuvre. 4♥ is a signoff and 4♠ by 4♥* Scramble, but more suitable for 4♥ (♥ or HH) than
either partner is RKCB 1430 for hearts. 4NT directly over 4♣ or after first 4NT or 5♦. Although this is the worst case “scramble” scenar-
bidding 4♦ to force 4♥ shows an undisclosed four-card or longer minor, io it is improvable by also using 4 ♠ as a scramble.
over which opener may introduce a minor himself to investigate alter- 4 ♠* Scramble, but more suitable for 4NT or 5♦ than
native strains. Other bids show controls. for 4♥ (usually weak hearts)
2NT 3♦* Hearts or strong three-suiter or SPL ♥, 6/4 4NT* Fitless flag, rich in controls
or 4/6 minors 5♣* Flag for diamonds, good controls
3♥ 3♠* Alert! I have a normal 5+H hand 5♦* Flag for diamonds, good trumps
3NT* Natural, only two hearts 5♥* Superflag for diamonds (you’ll know it when you
4 ♣ Natural 5+♥/4+♣ (switching ♣ for ♦ is an see it, to drive to slam)
attractive alternative) Summary (After responder’s 3♦ “transfer” and 3♠*-3NT; natural 4♣/4♦):
Page 63
(1) Cheapest step is always the scramble (opener NEVER has 3+♥) 4 ♠* Flag for clubs, rich in controls
(2) When cheapest=4♥ it shows preference for play in hearts rather 4NT* Fitless Flag, rich in controls, no known 8-card fit
than NT or diamonds 5♣* Flag for clubs, based on strong trumps (what it
(3) When cheapest=4♥, 4♠ is also a scramble with preference for NT sounds like)
or diamonds 5♦* Superflag for clubs e.g. ♠Kx ♥Axx ♦Axx ♣AKQ10x
(4) When 4♦=scramble, 4♥is a “flag” (in context) for hearts with ♥ or 5♥* Superflag for clubs, as above with a second spade
HH (good doubleton) honour perhaps
(5) 4NT is always the fitless flag 5♠* Dbl Flag with 3+♠/4+♣, critical in evaluating best
(6) 5m-1 (excluding 4NT) is always the flag for the minor, based on strain for slam
good controls After a “scramble,” responder continues to bid out his shape, as sec-
(7) 5m is always the minor suit flag, based on good trumps ondary and tertiary 8+ card fits are still possible; after a Flag, however,
(8) 5m+1 is a superflag for the minor (truly sensational hand) responder’s new suit bids show shortness (as strain is established; this
For you, the exception you’ll want to make is for 2NT-3♦; 3♥-4♦, where follows the shortness rule: 9+ card in two suits, prime fit, FG auction),
4♥ would be a weak preference with three and 4NT would be NAT, not cheapest no-trump suggests 5422 with some extra values.
the so-called Fitless Flag. 3 ♠ 4♦ Natural, 5+♠/4+♦; opener continues:
NOTE: You will also want to jump to 5♥ over 4♦ (or 4♣) to show a
4♥* Scramble
double fit for responder’s suits.
After 2NT-3♥ Unambiguous transfer to spades, 5+♠ 4 ♠* Flag for spades (cheapest available non-scramble
is FLAG for M)
Opener may “super-accept” (break) the transfer via:
3NT “General” superflag: typically 8 controls, big 4NT* Fitless Flag
trumps, no concentration 5♣* Flag for diamonds, good controls
4♠ “Control” superflag: 9 controls, 4+H, no “concen- 5♦* Flag for diamonds, good trumps
tration (KQJx+) 5♥* Superflag for diamonds (you’ll know it when you
4♥ /4♣/4♦ “Concentration” superflag: 8/9 controls, see it, to drive to slam)
3+ aces, two honours to four+ in ♠, a side suit of at least KQJ6 5♠* Double Flag, 3+♠/4+♦
Responder’s 4♥* over a transfer break is a RETRANSFER, not a SUMMARY (After a transfer to spades and responder’s natural 4♣ or
cue-bid
4♦ rebid):
2NT 3♥ * (1) Cheapest step is always the Scramble
3 ♠ 4♥* Specifically 5044, slam interest. (2) Next step is always the (limited) Flag for the major
Other Standard JTB sequences (3) 4NT is always the Fitless Flag
2NT 3♥ * (4) 5m-1 (excluding 4NT) is always the Flag for the minor, based on
3 ♠ 4 ♣ Natural, 5+♥/4+♣; opener continues: good controls
(5) 5m is always the minor suit Flag, based on good trumps
4♦* Scramble, i.e. no special positive direction; 4 ♠ still (6) 5M is always the Dbl Flag
possible, but opener can try 4NT/5♣ next, which would NOT be
encouraging (7) Any other available bid is a Superflag for the minor (truly sensa-
tional hand)
4♥* Flag i.e. positive for spades (limited by non “su-
per-accept”)
Page 64
Appendix If opener wants to continue he makes an ‘impossible’ bid to show a
SuperConfi (subsequently described as SuperConfit by George Rosen- maximum in high cards.
kranz) was developed from Confi to search for grand slams with two Before we leave this topic take a look at this deal from San Diego 2009:
balanced hands and operates when all 12 controls are known to be ♠ Q 7 4
held. Initiating Super Confit creates a force to 6NT and the responder is ♥ 8 5
expected to sign off (usually in 6NT) if a control is missing. ♦ A
The workings of Super Confi are similar to Confi. Opener makes an ♣ J 9 8 7 6 4 3
opening bid (or rebid) of NT that has a range of three or less points. ♠ A K 8 3
Responder judges that a grand slam is close, so he checks for controls ♥ A Q J 6
by making the first “meaningless” bid. ♦ 8 4
For example, over 2NT (20-22, say) most people play: ♣ A K 5
3♣ Stayman 3♦/♥ Transfers into hearts/spades 3NT to play. West North East South
Thus, 3♠ can be used for Confi (a small slam try) and 4♣ can be used – – – 2♣*
as SuperConfi (a grand slam try). If you play 4♣ as Gerber then 4♦ can Pass 2♦* Double ?
be SuperConfi.
After Super Confi is initiated, opener’s rebid announces the number South’s decision to open 2♣ rather than 2NT is open to question. Before
of controls held. With a 20-21 balanced hand, he rebids 1st step mini- we consider the best way to proceed after East’s double of 2♦, would you
mum number of controls (3-6) 2nd step 7 3rd step 8 and so on. be able to reach the excellent club slam after a 2NT opening?
If the opener makes the ambiguous cheapest control showing response One method that I helped to refine with the famous partnership of
then he must next make the cheapest no-trump rebid unless holding the Sandra Landy & Sally Brock (Sowter as she then was) would have seen
maximum number of 6 controls for that bid. the auction go like this:
If responder learns that a control is missing he signs off in 6NT. Any North South
lower bid keeps a grand slam in the picture, but only in a limited way. – 2NT
If all the controls are present responder can rebid in any suit, search- 3♠* 3NT
ing for a possible fit. Note that in Confi the suit must be at least Qxxx, 4♥* 4 ♠*
but in SuperConfi the suit can be any quality as the mechanics of Super- 5♦* 5♥*
Confi ensure that a grand slam will not be bid if a top honor is missing. 6♣ Pass
If opener fits the suit he can either raise if missing the queen of that
3♠ asks South to bid 3NT and then 4♥ shows a slam try in clubs (4♣ would
suit, or, with the queen, cue-bid another queen (he bids notrump with
be clubs and diamonds, 4♦, diamonds and clubs, 4♠ diamonds and 4NT
no queens) by making the cheapest ‘impossible bid’ –a bid that could
5-5 or better in the minors). After a club-agreeing cue-bid by South it is
not correspond to a suit length he wants to show, which might some-
easy enough to cue-bid to slam.
times be a jump bid.
Going back to our first auction, the best move for South is to pass the
With no fit opener bids a suit of his own and the same rules apply.
double. That allows North to bid 3♣ and if South then raises to 4♣ North
If there is no fit either partner may bid 6NT to sign off. If responder
cue-bids 4♦ and once again the slam is easily reached.
wants to continue to investigate for seven he makes an otherwise mean-
However, South elected to bid 3♦ over the double, asking for a four-
ingless bid as a quantitative invitation and opener can accept by bidding
card major. North bid 4♣ and when South raised to 5♣ North decided
queens up the line.
to call it a day.
Page 65
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Page 66
Angie Brooker’s Clever Play
by David Bird
T he second round of the Crockford’s Cup required the Abbot’s team

to travel to London. The match would be played at the George Wall
bridge club in Shoreditch.
‘I won’t be happy, leaving my car in such a dubious part of town,’ said the

Geoff Brother
Stimmer Paulo
– –
Arthur Brother
Docke Lucius
– 1♠
Abbot. ‘Every chance that it won’t be there by the time the match is over.’ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦
Brother Lucius maintained a straight face. Who in his right mind Pass 2♥ Pass 3♠
would choose to steal an old Morris Minor with a large dent in the front Pass 4NT Pass 5♠
offside? It was barely worth the scrap metal value. Pass 6♠ All Pass
‘Brother Shayne usually washes the car for me every Friday,’ contin- Geoff Stimmer, who made a tidy living from his large garage nearby,
ued the Abbot. ‘I’ll tell him not to bother this week. There’s no point led the jack of hearts against the spade slam. Brother Lucius won in the
inviting interest from the local villains.’ dummy and drew trumps in three rounds, ending in his hand. His next
The day of the match soon arrived and the Abbot’s team entered the move was a low club towards dummy’s honours.
club premises no more than ten minutes late. Stimmer was in no hurry to commit himself on this trick. His part-
‘No need to worry yourselves, gents,’ Geoff Stimmer informed them. ner had shown an odd number of hearts on the first trick, so declarer
‘We’ve saved some time by dealing all the hands.’ was marked with 6=2=4=1 shape. He surely held the ♦K for his bidding
The Abbot had rarely seen anyone who looked more like a lifelong and would be able to discard his two diamond losers on the ♣KQ if West
criminal. Could someone like that be trusted with dealing the hands in played the club ace on this trick. With a glance to his right, he tossed the
advance? It was not an easy question to answer. ♣3 onto the table. Dummy’s ♣K then won the trick.
Play started and this was an early board at Brother Lucius’s table: ‘Low diamond,’ said Brother Lucius. When the ♦8 appeared on his right,
Dealer South. None Vul. he contributed the ♦2 from his hand. He won the heart return and then
played his remaining trumps. If diamonds had started 3-2, the rest of the
♠ A J 2 suit would be good. If East had started with ♦Qxxx, West would show out
♥ K 6 when the ♦A was played and a finesse of the ♦J would then be marked.
♦ A 7 5 3 As it happened, it was West who held four diamonds. Since he had to
♣ K Q 6 2 retain the ♣A against dummy’s ♣Q, he was squeezed on the last trump.
♠ 7 N ♠ 6 5 3 When he chose to release a diamond, declarer made three tricks in that
♥ J 10 9 3 ♥ Q 8 7 5 2 suit to land the slam.
♦ Q 10 9 4 W E ♦ 8 Brother Lucius smiled at his opponent. ‘Nothing you could do,’ he
♣ A 9 4 3 S ♣ J 10 8 7 said. ‘It was a nice try, ducking the club.’
♠ K Q 10 9 8 4 Stimmer returned his cards to the wallet. A draw against four monks
♥ A 4 from Hampshire had appeared to be something of a gift. Perhaps they
♦ K J 6 2 wouldn’t be such a pushover after all.
♣ 5
Page 67
At the other table, the Abbot and Brother Xavier faced Angie Brooker, ♠ 8
the 50-year-old proprietor of a very popular escort agency. She was part- ♥ K J 8
nered by her second husband, Bill, who looked after the security side of ♦ Q 9 7
her business. Largely due to his reputation as a hard man, no rival escort ♣ —
agency was to be found within a 10-mile radius of Shoreditch. ♠ 10 5 N ♠ —
The players drew their cards for this deal: ♥ — ♥ 10 6 5 4
♦ K 10 8 6 5 W E ♦ A J 3
Dealer South. Both Vul. ♣ — S ♣ —
♠ A 8 3 ♠ 7 4
♥ K J 8 2 ♥ Q 9 7
♦ Q 9 7 ♦ 2
♣ Q J 3 ♣ 10
♠ Q J 10 5 N ♠ 9 6 Angie Brooker resisted the temptation to play the good club, throwing
♥ — ♥ 10 6 5 4 3 dummy’s last spade. East would ruff and return a trump. When she sub-
♦ K 10 8 6 5 4 W E ♦ A J 3 sequently surrendered a diamond trick, East would play a further trump
♣ A 8 4 S ♣ 6 5 2 and she would be one trick short. She led her singleton diamond instead,
♠ K 7 4 2 heading for a crossruff ending.
♥ A Q 9 7 Brother Xavier rose with the king of diamonds and cashed the ♠10,
♦ 2 the defenders’ third trick. Declarer then had the remainder. She ruffed
♣ K 10 9 7 the diamond return with the ♥7, ruffed a club with the ♥J, and ruffed a
West North East South diamond with the ♥9. She then ruffed her last spade with the ♥K and
Brother Bill The Angie
claimed the ♥Q as her tenth trick.
Xavier Brooker Abbot Brooker ‘Well done, love,’ said Bill Brooker, whose voice had deepened after
– – – 1♣ fifty years of smoking. ‘Nasty trump break, there.’
1♦ Double 2♦ 2♥ ‘Yeah, but I was always OK if he had three clubs,’ his wife replied. ‘Be
3♦ 4♥ All Pass a flat board, I expect.’
The Abbot had not enjoyed this confident display of expertise by a
The crop-haired Angie Brooker knew full well that a double would have female opponent. His expectations of an easy match were slipping away
shown her hand better than 2♥. Her cardplay was a good half-trick bet- rapidly.
ter than Bill’s, though, particularly at the start of a match. She won the Back on the other table, Brother Lucius had just arrived in a game
queen of spades lead with dummy’s ace and played a trump to the ace, contract.
West discarding a diamond. It was just as well she was playing the con-
tract. Bill tended to go off the rails when he encountered a bad break.
A club to the queen was allowed to win and declarer continued with
the jack of clubs. Brother Xavier won with the ace and persisted with
the jack of spades, won with the king. All followed to the club king and
these cards were left in play:
Page 68
Dealer South. N/S Vul. board. ‘Angie’ll find it, don’t worry.’
♠ 10 9 4 2 The first half was drawing to a close when this deal arose at the other
♥ J 10 6 table:
♦ Q 7 5 Dealer West. None Vul.
♣ K Q 7
♠ K 8 7 3 ♠ 6 ♠ 9 6 4
N ♥ A 2
♥ A K Q 9 4 3 ♥ 8 2
♦ 10 8 W E ♦ 9 6 4 3 ♦ A 9 8 7 2
♣ 10 S ♣ J 8 6 4 3 2 ♣ 5 4 2
♠ A Q J 5 ♠ K Q J 10 8 3 N ♠ —
♥ 7 5 ♥ J 8 6 ♥ Q 10 9 3
♦ 4 W E ♦ Q J 6 5 3
♦ A K J 2
♣ A 9 5 ♣ J 9 7 S ♣ 10 8 6 3
West North East South ♠ A 7 5 2
♥ K 7 5 4
Geoff Brother Arthur Brother ♦ K 10
Stimmer Paulo Docke Lucius ♣ A K Q
– – – 1♦
1♥ Double Pass 4 ♠ West North East South
All Pass Brother Bill The Angie
Xavier Brooker Abbot Brooker
Stimmer scored his two top hearts and continued with the ♥Q. On this 2♠ Pass Pass 2NT
trick the bespectacled East ruffed with the ♠6, overruffed with the ♠J.
Pass 3NT All Pass
Brother Lucius considered his next move carefully. Suppose he continued
with the ace and queen of trumps. If West had begun with four trumps Brother Xavier led the king of spades against 3NT, and the Abbot dis-
including the king, he could allow the trump queen to win. Trump control carded a low club. Angie Brooker paused to assess her prospects. She had
would then be lost. If declarer played a third trump, West would win and eight tricks on top, and it seemed she would have to make something of
force dummy’s last trump with another heart. If instead declarer played the diamond suit. If the suit divided 3-3 or West held a doubleton hon-
side-suit winners, West would score two trump tricks. our, everything would be easy. What if East held four or five diamonds
Once the potential problem had been identified, it was not too dif- headed by the queen-jack?
ficult to spot the solution. At trick four, Brother Lucius led the queen Angie Brooker won with the spade ace and ran the ♦10 at trick 2. If
of trumps from his hand. When this was allowed to win, he led the ♠5. the Abbot ducked, this would concede a ninth trick. He won with the
West had no counter. If he won with the king and led a fourth heart, diamond jack and returned the ♣8. Declarer won with the ace and led
declarer would ruff in his hand with the ace and cross to dummy to draw the king of diamonds, overtaking with dummy’s ace. It was then a sim-
the remaining trumps. When West chose instead to duck, Lucius won in ple matter to lead the ♦9. This set up the ♦87 giving her a total of three
the dummy and returned to the trump ace. He then played side-suit win- tricks in the suit. The contract was hers.
ners, claiming the contract for the loss of two hearts and a trump trick. ‘Well done, love,’ said her husband. ‘You played a hand like that on
‘Yeah, standard play,’ muttered West, thrusting his cards back in the Wednesday, didn’t you?’
Angie Brooker laughed. ‘Yeah, a nice top against that horse-face,
Page 69
Sandra Willis. She didn’t like that too much!’
At half-time, the monastery team found they were 18 IMPs adrift.
‘We’ll take a pie and a pint at the Wenlock Arms, if that’s OK for you
Swiss Open
“formerly Zurich Open”
gents,’ said Bill Brooker. ‘It’s only a two-fag walk, up the High Street. Hotel Hilton Zurich-Airport
The fresh air’ll do us good.’ Tournament Director: Peter Eidt
The Abbot had no intention of consuming any alcohol during such
an important match – not with an adverse margin of 18 IMPs, anyway. It
took almost fifteen minutes to reach the pub and he lagged well behind
the other players, aiming to avoid their cigarette smoke. He entered the
hostelry to see that the three other monks had already accepted a pint
of some strong-looking real ale. What an attitude! As always, he would
have to do the lion’s share of the work in the second half, if victory was
to be achieved. Friday, April 05, 2019 – Imps (Butler)
‘What’s yours?’ asked Bill Brooker, clamping a friendly arm on the Program: Mise en place 2.15 pm
Session starts 2.30 pm
Abbot’s shoulder. ‘We’re all drinking Stone-age Thunder. Brewed on the
Tournament fee: SFr. 40.—per player
premises.’
‘I don’t think I will,’ the Abbot replied, easing himself from the rival Red points (Swiss Federation) awarded
captain’s grip. ‘A half of lemonade and lime for me!’ Saturday, April 06, 2019 - Pairs
2 tournaments: Open I for all players and Open II for 2nd série players
Program: Mise en place 11.45 am
Session 1 starts 12.00 am
Session 2 starts 4.00 pm
Red and green points (Swiss Federation) awarded
Sunday, April 07, 2019 - Teams

Program: Mise en place 09.45 am
Session starts 10.00 am
Red points (Swiss Federation) awarded
Prize ceremony after each tournament
Accommodation: Accommodation has been reserved at the Hilton Hotel at the special
rate of SFr 160.-- per night including breakfast and VAT for double
or SFr 140.-- for single occupancy. For reservation please contact
Andrea Schoellkopf.
Registration: Andrea Schoellkopf – (+41) 79 222 11 18 - aschoellkopf@bluewin.ch

Fernando Piedra – (+41) 79 610 35 14 - ferpiedra@hotmail.com
„Sponsored by Zürcher Kantonalbank ZKB“
Page 70
The uBid Auction Room
Mark Horton
Welcome to the Auction Room, where we examine bidding methods from They would not help West here.
recent events. West North East South
This month we pay a visit to qualifying rounds of the Cavendish Teams
Sementa Gierulski Bocchi Skrzypczak
in Monaco.
– 2♦* Pass 2♥*
22 squads contested a seven round Swiss, with the top four going for-
Double 2♠* 3♣ 3♠
ward to the knock out stage.
6♥ All Pass
The Hands Could West have done more? I suppose he could have bid 4♠, but even
(This month all the deals were played at IMPs.) if East then bids 5♦ is it clear that shows the ♦A?
Four pairs reached 7♥ – and two of them made it redoubled. The only
Hand 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
negative score on the deal went to the pair who bid 7NT– only one down
♠ A K Q 7 N ♠ — when North did not find a club lead.
♥ AKQ109542 ♥ 8 6 Recommended auction: If you can find a cast-iron route to 7♥ then in
♦ J W E ♦ A 10 9 8 2 the words of Rudyard Kipling, ‘you’re a better man than I am Gunga Din’.
♣ — S ♣ J 9 8 7 4 3 Marks: 7♥10, 6♥ 5.
North opens 2♦ Multi; South bids 2♥ and if West doubles North bids 2♠.
Running score: Cavendish Stars 5
West East
Jassem Zatorski Hand 2. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
– 2NT* ♠ Q 6 4 ♠ K 5
6♥ Pass N
♥ — ♥ A J 7 4 3
2NT Weak with both minors ♦ 5 3 W E ♦ A K Q J 4
In The Mysterious Multi Jan van Cleeff and I suggest the following ♣ AKQJ10943 S ♣ 5
responses to 2NT: West East
3♣ to play, preference
3♦ to play, preference Versace Lauria
3♥ natural, invitational with a six card suit 1♣ 1♥
3♠ natural, invitational with a six card suit 3♣ 3♦
3NT to play 3♠ (Dble) Pass
4♣ natural, invitational
4♦ natural, invitational 3NT 4♣
4♥ natural, to play 4♥* 4 ♠*
4♠ natural, to play 4NT 6♣
4NT 6 Ace Blackwood
5♣ to play
Pass
5♦ to play
Page 71
West East West East
Levin Roll Jassem Zatorski
5♣ Pass – 1♣*
In principle the bids of 3♦ and 3♠ showed stoppers for no-trumps. Then 1♠ (2♦) Double
after a couple of cue-bids West bid a ‘rolling’ 4NT and the laydown slam 2♥ 3♦*
was reached. 3♠ 4♣
11 pairs reached 6♣. One played in 6NT. Four pairs bid a grand slam. 4♦* 4NT*
When North was on lead the ♠A put paid to 7♣. When East declared 7NT 5♣* 5♥
doubled South could not find the spade lead and the same thing hap- 5♠ 6♠
pened when East was in 7♣ (!) and in 7♦ (!!). Pass
Recommended auction: Were West to open 3NT East would have an easy 1♣ Polish Club
jump to 6NT. After 1♣-1♥-3NT would have the same effect if it promised 4♦ Cue-bid
4NT RKCB
a running suit (not everyone’s choice). After 1♣-1♥-3♣-3♦- Versace’s 3♠
5♣ 1 key card
suggested that he was not happy to bid an immediate 3NT, and know-
ing his partner held very good clubs Lauria was willing to go past 3NT. That was a well controlled auction to the top spot.
No less than 7 pairs bid 7♠.
Marks: 6NT/6♣ 10, 5♣/3NT 5.
Recommended auction: 2NT-3♣*-3♠-4♦*-4♠-5♥*-6♣*-6♠ would be
Running score: Cavendish Stars 15 one way to get there.
Hand 3. Dealer East. None Vul. Marks: 6♠ 10, 7♠ 5.
♠ Q 9 8 7 6 ♠ A K J 10 5 Running score: Cavendish Stars 25
N
♥ A Q 8 5 ♥ 10 9 Hand 4. Dealer West. Both Vul
♦ 9 W E ♦ A Q 6
♣ Q 4 3 S ♣ A K 2 ♠ K Q 10 6 3 ♠ J 9 5 4 2
N
♥ Q 6 4 ♥ A
West East ♦ A K J 3 W E ♦ 8 7 5
Lorenzini Rombaut ♣ 7 S ♣ A 8 6 3
– 1♠
2♣* 2♠ West East
4 ♠ 4NT* Lorenzini Rombaut
5♣* 5♦* 1♠ 2♣*
6♠ 7♠ 2♦ 4♥* (Double)
Pass* Redouble*
I can’t find 2♣ on the convention card – perhaps it was some sort of
5♣* 5♠
spade raise or more likely a game-forcing bid.
7♦ 7♠ (Double)
7♠ depended on the location of the ♥K. It was onside.
Pass
Again we see the 2♣ response to 1♠. 4♥ was a splinter and the combina-
tion of the Pass and Redouble confirmed it was a first round control. 5♣
Page 72
was a cue-bid but when East bid 5♠ West’s jump to 7♦ revealed that West Hand 5. Dealer East. Both Vul.
thought his partner had diamond support and was cue-bidding the ♠A. ♠ K 8 4 2 ♠ A 10
South held ♠A87 ♥KJ72 ♦Q10 ♣J1052 and his partner led the ♣K. N
♥ A J 10 9 ♥ 8 6
Declarer won with dummy’s ace and played on spades. South took the ♦ J W E ♦ A Q 9
second round and could have exited with a spade for two down – but he ♣ K 10 7 2 S ♣ A 9 8 6 4 3
returned a club and declarer could cross-ruff clubs and hearts, eventu-
ally drawing the last trump and finding a lucky position in diamonds. West East
Birman Winkler
West East – 1NT
Jassem Zatorski 2♣* 2♦*
1♠ 3♦* 3NT Pass
3♥ 4♥
4NT* 5♠ You would like to reach 6♣ on these cards. North held ♠QJ ♥7532 ♦K1072
6♥ 6♠ ♣QJ5 so the 3-0 split complicates matters. It did not matter in 3NT,
Pass declarer recording eleven tricks.
Once again we have a silent convention card. I wonder if 3♦ promised a West East
splinter, with 3♥ asking where? That would explain the bid of 6♥, ask- Soulet Vinciguerra
ing East to bid 7♠ with the ♠A and a void in hearts. (It’s 10.44 so blame – 1NT
this implausible rambling on the coffee!) 2♣* 2♦*
North led the ♣K and declarer won with dummy’s ace, ruffed a club, 3♣ 4♣
crossed to dummy with a heart, ruffed a club, ruffed a heart and ruffed 4♦* 4 ♠*
a club with the ♠Q (an essential move). So far so good, but now declarer 5♣ 6♣
ruffed a heart before playing a spade. The king won, but South took the Pass
next round with the ♠A and played the ♥K, promoting the ♠8 into the Philippe Soulet struck gold with his 3♣ bid.
setting trick. North led the ♠Q and declarer won in dummy and played the ♣3, no doubt
7 pairs bid 6♠. Agustin Madala had no chance when Diego Brenner expecting to be able to claim after drawing trumps. South’s discard of the
led a heart at trick one, but the other six all received a club lead. Only ♦4 was a blow and declarer won with dummy’s king and continued with
Mantineo Emanu found the winning line. a club to the ace and club, North winning and switching to the ♦7. When
Recommended auction: 1 ♠ -2NT*-3 ♣ *-3 ♥ *-3 ♠ -4 ♣ *-4 ♦ *-4 ♥ *- declarer put up dummy’s ace the contract went up in flames. If declarer
4NT*-5♥*-6♠. In this sequence 3♣ is a shortage and then we have some puts in dummy’s ♦Q he can then cash the ♦A, ruff a diamond, cash the
cue-bids before West checks on key cards. West can be reasonably sure ♠K, ruff a spade and play his remaining trumps, the last of which will
that 6♠ is at worst on the diamond finesse – and might be laydown. squeeze South in the majors.
Marks: 6♠ 10, 4♠ 7. You will have realised that North could have defeated the contract by
switching to a heart (it was difficult to lead the suit at trick one).
Running score: Cavendish Stars 35
Palma and Wrang were another pair to reach the excellent 6♣ and
again North led the ♠Q. Declarer won in dummy, cashed the ♦A, ruffed
a diamond and played the ♣K. When South discarded declarer took the
Page 73
ace, ruffed a diamond, cashed the ♠K, ruffed a spade and exited with a West East
trump. North won and carefully exited with a heart for one down. Gawrys Klukowski
It is clear that as long as trumps are 2-1 6♣ is cold, so the only danger 1♥ (2♣) 2♦
is that they break 3-0. When South discards on the first round it should 3♦ 4♣*
be clear that only a squeeze can deliver a twelfth trick. Having won with 4♦ 4♥*
the ♣K declarer must play a diamond to the queen. He then cashes the 4 ♠* 4NT*
♦A, ruffs a diamond and plays a club. If declarer wins this and exits with 5♣* 6♦
a club a heart switch from North will break up the squeeze, but declarer Pass
has an answer – he ducks the second round of clubs. North can exit with 4♣ Cue-bid
a heart, but declarer wins with the ace and can now play four rounds of 4♥ Cue-bid
clubs to put South to the sword. 4♠ Cue-bid
Six pairs reached 6♣ (well bid!) – but five of them went down. The 4NT RKCB
strange thing is that the one who made it received the lead of the ♥K, 5♣ 1 key card
after which it looks impossible to avoid the loss of two tricks. North’s gentle overcall did not overly embarrass E/W. The key bid was
Recommended auction: Suppose we start 1♣-1♥-2♣-3♦* (a splinter East’s 4♣, appreciating the power of his hand when partner raised
in support of clubs). Now it should be easy enough for E/W to reach 6♣ diamonds.
Marks: 6♣10, 3NT/5♣ 5. 11 pairs reached a slam with the N/S cards – the only casualties being
the pair who attempted 6♥.
Running score: Cavendish Stars 45 Recommended auction: If North overcalls 3♣/4♣ then I would still
Hand 6. Dealer West. None Vul. introduce the diamonds. After 1♥-(4♣)-4♦ if South passes West can bid
4♠ which must agree diamonds and put E/W on the road to 6♦.
♠ A K 9 7 N ♠ Q 6 5 4
♥ K Q 8 7 3 ♥ A 4 Marks: 6♦ 10, 6♠ 9, 5♦/4♠ 7 6♣X 5.
♦ J 8 7 W E ♦ A K Q 9 4 3 Running score: Cavendish Stars 55
♣ 5 S ♣ 2
If West opens 1♥ North bids 4♣ and South raises to 6♣ Hand 7. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
West North East South ♠ Q 10 5 N ♠ A K J 8

Rombaut Multon Lorenzini Zimmermann ♥ A K Q 3 ♥ 10 7 4
♦ Q 8 6 W E ♦ K J 10 3 2
1♥ 4♣ Double 6♣ S
♣ A Q 3 ♣ 10
Double All Pass
North’s hand was ♠10 ♥J1065 ♦10 ♣AKQ8643. West East
Winkler Birman
1♣ 1♦
2NT 3♠
3NT Pass
West was unwilling to go past 3NT.
Page 74
West East West North East South
O Rimstedt M Rimstedt Hurd Birman Demuy Winkler
2♦* 2♥* – – 1NT 3♥
2♠* 3♠* 3♠* 4♥ 4 ♠ Pass
3NT* 4NT* 5♣ All Pass
6♦ Pass 3♠ Denies 4+ ♠
I asked systems guru Al Hollander if he could decipher this auction: I suspect most pairs would be playing transfers over West’s 3♥, but you
2♦ 18-19 balanced, no 5 card major need to be clear about the meaning of 1NT-(3♥)-3NT. Holding 5♠ East
2♥ Spades or one-suiter , S/T (if S/T not hearts) felt entitled to bid them, but saw no reason to go past 5♣.
2♠ 2/3 ♠
3♠ 4♠ and 5+♦ West North East South
3NT Slam negative because of bad holdings in partner’s suits Roll M Rimstedt Levin O Rimstedt
4NT Quantitative with 5♦ – – 1NT 2♦*
Al pointed out that in the version of this method played by Lauria-Ver- 2NT* 3♥ 3♠ Pass
sace their bids over 3NT show exact shape, where 4NT= 4252 and 4♥ 4♦ All Pass
would promise 4351. Al thinks responder may be able to show 6♦ with 2♦ Multi Landy
4♥ being either 4351 or 4261. 2NT Lebensohl
Al is not sure why Ola guessed to play in diamonds nor if he had a way What went wrong?
to offer a choice between 6♦/6♥/6NT depending upon Mikael’s round West North East South
suits. Following the Lauria-Versace structure, maybe Mikael’s 4NT was
Palma Soulet Wrang Vinciguerra
an error and Ola wanted to play 6♦ opposite 4252 rather than guessing/
– – 1NT 2♣*
offering 6NT.
2♥* 2♠ Pass Pass
13 pairs reached a slam and with South holding ♠972 ♥65 ♦94 ♣KJ9764
4 ♠* Pass 5♣ Pass
there was nothing to the play.
5NT* Pass 6♣ All Pass
Recommended auction: After 1♣-1♦-2NT-3♠ West should bid 4♦ which
2♣ Majors
will lead to either 6♦ or 6NT.
2♥ Transfer to clubs
Marks: 6NT(W)/6♦ 10, 6NT(E) 8, 3NT/5♦/4♠ 5. 4♠ Shortage
Running score: Cavendish Stars 65 I’m guessing about the auction – but then I think West was guessing to
some extent about bidding a slam – unless 4♠ was asking for key cards.
Hand 8. Dealer East. None Vul.
♠ J N ♠ K 10 6 4 2 Rombaut Upmark Lorenzini Nystrom
♥ 3 ♥ A 4 2 – – 1♠ 3♥
♦ A 9 3 W E ♦ K 10
♣ KQJ109742 S ♣ A 5 3 4♣ 4♥ 4NT* Pass
5♠* Pass 6♣ All Pass
South overcalls 3♥
4NT RKCB
5♠ 2 key cards +♣Q
Page 75
When West introduced his clubs at the four level East, already suspect-
ing his partner held at most one heart, asked for key cards.
14 pairs bid a slam – the only ones to fail had the misfortune to attempt
7NT. The lucky pair were the one that bid 6NT and somehow made it Press Release – 27 February 2019
after the lead of the ♥K.
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Page 76
The Master Point Press Bidding Battle Set 14
Moderated by Brian Senior
A number of problems with a clearcut majority and

fewer minority choices this month, suggesting that THE BIDS & MARKS
scoring might be higher than usual. We shall see.
Bid No. of Votes Marks Bid No. of Votes Marks
PROBLEM 1
1. 3♠ 13 10 5. Pass 13 10
IMPs. Dealer South. E/W Vul. Pass 3 5 3NT 5 6
♠ A 9 7 3 2 3NT 1 2 6. 6♠ 12 10
♥ A J 9 6 5 3 4♠ 1 4 6♥ 3 6
♦ 8 6 3♥ 0 2 Pass 2 4
♣ – 2. Pass 11 10 5NT 1 5
West North East South 2♥ 7 8 7. 3♠ 16 10
– Pass 1♣ Pass 2♠ 0 2 5NT 1 5
1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass 3. 5♠ 13 10 4NT 1 4
2♥* Pass 2NT Pass
4♠ 4 6 3♥ 0 2
?
2♥ Constructive as 1♣–2♥ would have 6♠ 1 4 8. Dble 11 10
been weak. 4♦ 0 2 5♥ 7 8
Bid Votes Marks 4. 2♦ 10 10
3 ♠ 13 10 1NT 6 7
Pass 3 5 2♥ 2 5
3NT 1 2 3♦ 0 2
4♠ 1 4
3♥ 0 2
At the table, my partner jumped to 4♥ over 2NT–
which I thought was bonkers. Were the 2♥ bid not
constructive, 2NT would be a rare animal indeed
and would surely have to be based on some kind
of a heart fit, but the fact that 2♥ is constructive
means that opener will go on with many more
maximum hands.
There were the pessimists:
Page 77
McGowan: Pass. I give up. With three good laughs I will try and improve the contract and
spades he would prefer 2♠ to 2NT, so he has hope not to get doubled.
good cards in the minors. When you find a mis- Cope: 3♠. Playing 2NT seems to have little
fit – stop bidding. Hate the whole situation. chance with no great communication between
Always happy to apologise if I have missed some the hands as I am short in partner’s suit and
‘obvious’ inference. vice-versa. Offering spades at this stage should
Why on earth would he prefer 2♠ to 2NT if he show a 5-6 hand and if partner reverts to 3NT
had strength in both unbid suits? that is just one more down than 2NT was.
I find it hard to believe that 2NT is the right spot, Yes, though we are known to be limited so if
nor do I fancy this next one: things are laying badly we could be doubled in
Alder: 3NT. Why didn’t I respond 1♠ if I was not 3NT– or indeed in anywhere else we wind up.
going to force to game with 2♠ on round two? Teramoto: 3♠. It should be 5-6, because 2♣ bid
Now I am in Calcutta. My immediate reaction denies four spades. 2NT says no heart support,
was to bid 3♠, but how would partner ever divine I expect he often has three spades.
what I was doing? So, since we are vulnerable Apteker: 3♠. May well hit partner with three
at IMPs, I will hope partner has ten-doubleton spades who should read me for this type of
Brian Senior–your Moderator–universally in hearts and can scramble nine tricks. shape. With partner short in hearts, any level
and affectionately known as Mr. Grumpy Everyone else seemed happy enough to have NT contract is going to be poor so I don’t have
responded in their longer suit, and believe me, much to lose.
Bird: Pass. There is no point in bidding 3♠, since keeping this panel happy is no easy task. Sime: 3♠. A torture opportunity! Partner may
this would surely be forcing. Partner may well A 1♠ initial response could clearly work out bet- think that this shows concern about diamonds
hold 3-1-3-6 shape, so I suppose I might haz- ter sometimes – here we could easily have been left rather than a good 6/5 in context. If he bids
ard a leap to 4♠. I don‘t fancy making 10 tricks in 2♥ when having an eight-card spade fit, which 3NT, I can remove to Four Hearts which should
there and will hope that 15+9 points will some- might not have been very clever. AS we will see, clarify.
how yield eight tricks in no trump. the bulk of the panel think that partner should Cannell: 3♠. Good problem. Game is unlikely
There is no point bidding 3♠ but I could con- be able to work out what we are doing if we bid after partner’s Two Club and 2NT rebids. Try-
sider a jump to 4♠ – I’m lost looking for the logic 3♠ – or is that just wishful thinking on their part? ing to land on a pinhead in either Three Hearts
in that. How can 3♠ be worse than 4♠? Green: 3♠. A bit of a gamble but it looks like or 2NT is problematic. There is a chance for a
Rigal: Pass. I would have bid 2♠ over 2♣, rightly partner has a singleton heart and constructive 5-3 spade-fit that would lend itself to a making
or wrongly. Now can 2NT really be a better spot values, with a minimum and a miss-fit I think Four Spade game. Does this Three Spade bid
than a spade or heart contract…maybe not, but he would just pass or bid 3♣. The question is show 5-6 in the majors? I think it should given
it might well be a better spot than a doubled does he have three spades? He could easily be the previous auction. Here we go.
high-level contract. I pass and give up, wash- 3-1-3-6 in which case 3♠ or 4♠ could be making Zia: 3♠. Sounds like five to this old man.
ing my hands a la Pontius Pilate. but on the other hand he could be 2-1-4-6 in Brock: 3♠. I’ve no idea really. There is a bit of a
History has not been particularly kind to Pon- which case it might be out of the frying pan into feeling that someone might start doubling soon!
tius Pilate and… the fire. Since 2NT will not likely be a barrel of Does 2NT imply a partial heart fit? Would he go
Page 78
ever upwards with no fit? Maybe I should just Smith: 4♠. We expect partner to have a hand 3♠ should be forcing. I would have thought that it
bid 4♥ and keep my spades a secret (my usual nearly worth 3♣ at his previous turn, with short clearly should not be forcing. Both partners have
tendency)? As I don’t know, it makes sense to hearts and, presumably something in spades made limited bids, and if opener prefers to play in
involve partner. and diamonds, so something like ♠Kxx ♥x ♦AJx spades then surely he should be entitled to decide
Lawrence: 3♠. I have a maximum for my auc- ♣AQJxxx. I expect the majority to bid 3♠, but I at what level – he will know, for example, that two
tion and partner is showing extras. This bid cannot see the point of that. Will partner not minor suits headed by aces will be far more valu-
can’t hurt. assume that I am offering him some sort of able in a spade contract than two minors headed
Robson: 3♠. I think we’ve shown a 5-6 hand of choice of game with spade values and diamond by king-queens.
this ilk – perfect. weakness? Can I really expect him to realize I I could understand passing out 2NT if there was
Stabell: 3♠. Hopefully, partner will read this as want him to choose between 3♠ and 4♠? Best to a strong likelihood that this would be a good con-
5-6 in the majors and not just as worry about take the bull by the horns and bid the game we tract, but this six-five shape screams suit contract
diamonds. Tempting to blast 4♠, but 4♥ could think might make rather than confuse the issue. to me, and 3♠ is the descriptive bid that allows
be better if partner has a singleton honour. Will Many seem happy that 3♠ shows this distri- partner to make a decision – albeit he may have
pass 3NT if that is all he can manage. bution, but few address the point as to whether no winning choice.
Kokish: 3♠. Haven’t had this one before and
perhaps 4♠ would be more to the point, but PROBLEM 2
as East seems to have stoppers in both spades
IMPs. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
and diamonds 3♠ should not be interpreted as
concern about diamonds for no trump. If East ♠ 7 6 5 3
turns out to be 2-1-3-7 or 2-1-4-6, we will be ♥ A K J 6 4
too high everywhere and in significant jeopardy ♦ 9 3
of being doubled, but we will have done our ♣ 7 2
best to describe this awkward strength-shape West North East South
combination. – 1♣ Pass 1♠
Mould: 3♠. I know this one as I held the hand. I Pass 2♣ 2♦ Pass
suppose I might bid 4♠ as pard rates to be 3-1- ?
3-6 or so, but it is entirely possible that hearts Bid Votes Marks
could still be the place to play. I will bid 3♠
Pass 11 10
and see what happens. Clearly, I will bid game
2♥ 7 8
on this. My partner at the table passed 2♥ on
2♠ 0 2
the identical auction with the identical infer-
ences so I was not challenged in either the bid- This one was me being imaginative at the table,
ding or the play (pause for cheap shot from the I’m afraid. I wondered if the panel could work out
conductor….) what was going on. Well, I gave them a headache,
A number of panellists have mentioned 4♠, and which is always fun.
Marc actually chooses that bid. Alan Mould Let’s look at the majority.
Page 79
Alder: Pass. Partner’s auction is supposed to and weak suit since he didn’t act immediately. be? Most hands that want to compete in a red
show both minors, but that does not gel with On a good day, we might have nine easy tricks suit would simply double 2♣. I honestly don’t
what our opponents are doing. If we are making in NT, but chances are that he is short in hearts know what partner has but I don’t think bid-
4♥, I might have to apologise, but perhaps not! and we are high enough. ding hearts can be far off the mark.
Apteker: Pass. Can’t say I understand what How about a lead-director? Smith: 2♥. What is partner doing here? What
partner is doing and why he has not bid 1♦ first Cope: Pass. Partner’s failure to bid first time sort of hand can bid Two Diamonds now but
time round. The only logical explanation is that round (or double second time round) tends to could not overcall either One Diamond or Two
he has some club length, lacks heart length suggest a lead directing overcall with an antip- Diamonds over One Club? The lack of opposi-
(otherwise would double), and is pre-balancing athy to the suit they expect me to lead should tion bidding suggests that he has a decent hand,
with 5 weak diamonds or four very good ones. the next hand bid 2NT. so perhaps his suit is something like Qxxxxx.
If the opponents double for penalties, I will run Or maybe he has two suits but is missing one, The only options seem to be Pass or Two Hearts,
Rigal: Pass. I’d expect partner to be e.g. 2-2-5-4 hence no take-out double at his first turn? but there seems a fair chance that if I pass now
with a weak suit. I certainly don’t expect him McGowan: Pass. Why did partner not bid dia- North will back in with Two Spades (or even
to have hearts or fewer than five diamonds. I’m monds last time? Why is he bidding them now? Three Clubs). Given that the hand may belong to
passing again, and the resemblance to Pilate is I guess he has a major, but it is not hearts – he us, I want partner to compete to Three Hearts if
getting stronger I admit. does have a double card in his box? If this goes he has a fit, but he obviously won’t do so unless
Cannell: Pass. Partner failed to call after the Dble – P – P I shall think again – if my 2♥ is dou- I bid the suit now.
One Club bid. The auction leads me to believe bled I can always try 2♠. Bird: 2♥. It is anyone’s guess what sort of hand
that partner is somewhat two-suited in the Sime: Pass. As partner did not overcall One Dia- would persuade partner to pass on the first
minors and not all that strong. I see no com- mond, it is likely that his values are in the black round and bid 2♦ on the second. Since I am
pelling reason to remove Two Diamonds to Two suits. Let›s not hang him for pre-balancing. not a psychiatrist, I have no idea. Bidding 2♥
Hearts. Mould: Pass. This is a new one on me! Pard can- should give me a fair chance of surviving his
So maybe partner has both minors? Not this not bid over 1♣ but charges in over 2♣. I play eccentric action.
time, but maybe that is what he should have? double of 2♣ as take-out here, so pard cannot Kokish: 2♥. East has a good hand and did not
Or how about decent hand but bad suit? have the red suits. Even if they have, why did need a good suit to overcall 1♦ with five, so it
Zia: Pass. I can’t think of a hand where this they not bid over 1♣ with (say) 4-5 in the reds? sounds like he should have only four, which
bid makes sense. As my son would say, ‘What I have no idea what partner is doing, but if s/he would be consistent only with four or five cards
are you on?’ Maybe ♠Axx ♥x ♦Jxxxxx ♣Qxx? has chosen to make up system at the table (on in . . . clubs. He can’t really have five on the auc-
(though I would bid the first time). say 4-4 in the reds), this will teach them not to. tion and would not be in a hurry to enter the
As would I and, I imagine, most of the panel. I agree – he could have doubled 2♣ to show auction with four decent clubs, so we are in the
Brock: Pass. I never bid like this and have no both red suits. Twilight Zone (welcome to my world). Playing
idea what it means. Presumably should be a Green: 2♥. 2♦ is a very curious bid. How can with EOK, EOK can’t figure out what EOK is
decent hand with a long terrible suit – fright- partner not bid 1♦ at favourable and then sud- doing, but as abstention is not an option I have
ened that bidding 1♦ the first time might denly spring to life on the second round. I won- to assume East is not an EOK and has a good
encourage me to make a poor lead. der if he has both red suits (in which case per- hand but terrible suit. As I have something to
Stabell: Pass. Partner probably has a good hand haps I should bid 3♥)? But what would his shape contribute to our cause I’m not going to pass,
Page 80
♠ A Q J 4 Sime: 4♠. Possibly two diamond losers and it
♥ 10 5 is not certain that we can make the rest. If I bid
♦ A Q 7 6
Five Spades, partner would surely raise with
♣ 9 8 5
♠Kxxx ♥QJx ♦x ♣AKQxx or similar.
The table feel was that the opposition were lim-
Yes. I believe he would.
ited and I couldn’t bear to pass over 2♣. Double
Green: 4♠. Where are the clubs? Although I am
would have shown the red suits, so that only left
very good for my bidding there is no safety at
2♦, hoping to push them up a level. That didn’t
the five level as we could easily be off three top
work out as I was left to play 2♦ down one.
tricks if partner has good clubs. If I didn’t bid
What was weird, apart from my bidding, was
4♠ I am struggling to think of an alternative.
that I was right about the opposition being fairly
5♠ perhaps, asking for a diamond control? But
limited, but South had psyched and didn’t have
that is a big overbid in my view.
spades at all – he had diamonds, of course. Had
Ben has got it right on the actual hand, though
we been able to find a way to 2♠, we would have
of course that doesn’t necessarily mean that he
been playing for overtricks.
is right in theory – still, most partners and team-
PROBLEM 3 mates prefer the actual deal to theory anyway.
Brock: 4♠. Probably I should do more but if I bid
IMPs. Dealer North. N/S Vul. 4♦ partner might then remove my subsequent
4♠ because he also has clubs. I am not prepared
Andrew Robson ♠ A Q J 9 8 6 5 4 to do anything that forces me beyond game.
♥ K 9 4 Yes, if we start with 4♦ we may get to the five
and will bid where I live rather than raise to 3♦ ♦ J 3 level if partner converts a subsequent 4♠ over 4♥
♣ —
and subject myself to universal scorn. Am I the to 5♣ – after all, we would bid this way with four
only perplexed participant? West North East South spades and five clubs and game values, would we
Lawrence: 2♥. I expect partner to have two – 1♦ Double 3♦
not? He would then pass when we rebid 5♠, but
suits which I expect will be diamonds and ?
that could be a level too high on a bad day. The
hearts. Could be diamonds and spades. Weird. Bid Votes Marks majority, however, feel that 4♠ is just not enough
And 2♥ would be a good lead-director. 5 ♠ 13 10 on this hand and commit to the five level imme-
Teramoto: 2♥. This is for the lead, expecting 4♠ 4 6 diately to invite slam.
future competition. 6♠ 1 4 Bird: 5♠. It is just about possible that we will
Robson: 2♥. Confess I’d have put in a lead-di- 4♦ 0 2 have three losers. It is much more likely that
rector last time at these colours. I don’t much This one will sort out whose glass is always half bidding only 4♠ on such a monster will result
like partner’s pass-and-bid sequence and full and whose half empty. in general hilarity from the rest of the panel.
frankly I’ve no idea what he’s got but I’ll bid The half-empty brigade: Smith: 5♠. Hopefully, partner will interpret this
where I live i.e. 2♥ – can’t be far wrong. McGowan: 4♠. Tempting to get clever, but for jump as asking him to bid slam with a diamond
Time for me to confess, I suppose. I held: me that usually backfires. control, which is surely what I want him to do.
Page 81
It seems I can hardly bid less, or more, whilst to lower than the five level. Disappointingly, The Great Zia did not go for
starting with a Four Diamond cue-bid only rates Robson: 5♠. Quantitative/two diamond losers. the psychic Exclusion bid – I would have loved it,
to confuse the issue. There is then some debate about whether a of course. Yes, I suppose that they might save at
Alder: 5♠. In for a penny, in for a euro. Or should jump to 5♠ asks specifically for second-round this vulnerability, though they probably shouldn’t,
that be “in for a pound, out for a brexit”? diamond control, or is a more general slam try. as 6♠ does look like a bit of a punt from a player
Phillip! Wash your mouth out with soap and I’d go with Barry ( a novelty for us both), and say who doesn’t know whether he can make it.
water for using the b-word. that I am mostly asking about diamonds but part- I think I would have bid 5♠. The one thing that
Stabell: 5♠.Too strong for a simple jump to 4♠, ner can take a view with a second-round diamond is clear, apart from that I am inviting slam, is
and I hope this denies a diamond control since control but poor hand in context. Our next pan- that I do not have first-round diamond control.
I didn’t bid 4♦. Of course, diamonds might not ellists knows the deal: If I had, I would start with 4♦ and follow up with
be our only problem on this hand. Mould: 5♠. I know this hand as well. It seems to 5♠, suggesting that partner needs to look at other
Cope: 5♠. Since I am prepared to bid that high me impossible to get a plus score on this hand aspects of his hand.
if the opposition go to 5♦, I might as well bid after this start (Four Spades is the limit) since
it myself now either as a general value bid or 4♠ just looks so wet and 4♦ – 4♥ – 4♠ isn’t this PROBLEM 4
as most would play it asking partner to bid 6♠ hand, surely. I shall issue a general slam try
IMPs. Dealer East. None Vul.
with a diamond control. with two losing diamonds (else 4♦ – 4♥ – 5♠)
Teramoto: 5♠.It’s the simple way to make a and accept my 13 IMPs out. This was a com- ♠ 6
slam try. pletely random effect of which minor you open ♥ K 10 9 5 3
Apteker: 5♠. Asking partner to bid slam with a with 4-4. ♦ A Q J 5 4 2
control in diamonds and allowing for the Grand Yes, partner held: ♣ 5
investigation with first-round diamond control ♠ K 3 2 West North East South
Cannell: 5♠. I think this asks partner to bid Six ♥ Q J 7 6 – – 1♠ Pass
Spades with second-round diamond control, bid ♦ 10 9 ?
Six Diamonds with first-round diamond con- ♣ A Q J 4 Bid Votes Marks
trol, and Pass with no diamond control. I am Had the opening bid been 1♣, partner might 2 ♦ 10 10
gambling that partner does have the ♠K and not have doubled, and we wouldn’t have this
1NT 6 7
♥A. Scientific gobbledygook! problem. As it is, anything above the four level
Zia: 5♠. I would bid 5♠. This does not ask for a 2♥ 2 5
is doomed. Which tells you that this final effort
diamond control –just too good for 4♠. 3♦ 0 2
is not a winner:
Lawrence: 5♠. I could bid 4♠, craven, but our Kokish: 6♠. If we can’t make it they might save. Once again, Liz’s glass is half empty:
chance of Six or Seven Spades is too great for If they can cash two diamonds or two aces they McGowan: 1NT. 2-over-1 is a wonderful
that. may not do so. If we can make Seven I don’t see method, is it not? This might be a major mis-
Rigal: 5♠. Some would say this was solely about how to get partner sensibly involved. Maybe the fit, so I shall not overbid.
diamond control; I think partner can take a right move is 5♦, Exclusion Blackwood. That It’s fair to say that Acol is not ideal for a hand
position with second-round control and an will be TGZ’s choice, I’m sure, and Mr Grumpy like this either – you still have to pick a suit in
unsuitable hand, but I can’t imagine bidding will love it. which to respond then force to game if you want
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to get the other one into the game. me on 1NT if forcing but not a non-forcing NT. when we are cold for 6♦.
Cope: 1NT. Not prepared to make a GF bid on Teramoto: 2♥. Would like to avoid missing a Mould: 2♦. I do not see what else I can do other
a hand that may end up being a total misfit. heart fit if we have one. Game Force may be an than overbid by treating this hand as FG. I shall
Maybe they will surprise me with their rebid. overbid but it has good chance to make. bid diamonds, then hearts then hearts to show
Bird: 1NT. No, I am not willing to make a I see where they are coming from regarding my 5-6, unless pard gets in the way. I suppose
game-forcing suit response. I will recover with finding the five-three heart fit, but the remainder I could bid 2♥, then 3♦, but I hate distorting
some spirited effort on the next round. of the panel all preferred to start with the longer my suit lengths. Bidding 1NT on this hand has
If there is a next round. and stronger suit. no positive outcomes I can see (including if it
Cannell: 1NT. Forcing for one round. So close Green: 2♦. To game-force or not to game-force? goes All Pass!)
to a 2/1 response, but I fear a misfit. Not to I could try 1NT but describing my hand after Smith: 2♦. Of course, the hand could be a com-
mention do I respond Two Diamonds or Two that will be an uphill struggle to put it mildly. plete misfit and we can’t make anything, so
Hearts. Perhaps 1NT will work better. With such potential I prefer to overbid a little. forcing to game will be the wrong option. How-
Sorry Drew, but we don’t play 1NT as forcing. With such a disparity between the two suits I ever, equally stupid results might be produced
Stabell: 1NT. Hope is won’t end there, but I think 2♦ followed by 3♥ is a better description by starting with 1NT (i.e. he passes 1NT with
cannot bring myself to force to game opposite than 2♥ followed by 3♦. ♠Axxxx ♥AQx ♦Kx ♣xxx and we make +120
what could be a weak black two-suiter. Will bid Alder: 2♦. I think it is worth overbidding to instead of +980), so I guess to take the option
2♦ over 2♣ and hope that partner bids 2♥ with describe my hand shape accurately. with the larger upside. Since I am forcing to
a useful 5-3-1-4. Lawrence: 2♦. I’m going to risk getting my suits game anyway, I don’t see the need to distort
I suppose he might do that with a very good 2♣ in at cost of facing a misfit. Like the previous my shape by starting with Two Hearts.
rebid, though the misfit will discourage him, while hand, we have slam chances and starting with Kokish: 2♦. If 1NT were forcing it would have
of course he will raise diamonds with 5-1-3-4. anything else risks missing them. more appeal, but East will pass with balanced
Apteker: 1NT. Tempting to overbid and force Zia: 2♦. I know the majority will bid 2♥, but minimum hands that are good for game. 3♦ bur-
to game with 2♦ in order to describe the hand, I like bidding my length and will go through ies hearts and 2♥ would be OK with ♠x ♥AQJxx
fully accepting the risk that we may find the unless I receive heavy warning signs. ♦K109xxx ♣x, but not with this hand. If we use
right strain but at too high a level. This looks, Not this time – the vote was in favour of the the ‘would I open?’ test, this hand would be a
however, like it may be a big misfit, so I will take longer suit. solid ‘yes’, so I’m planning to bid out the shape
the low road for now and see what partner has. Sime: 2♦. Potential misfit I know, but that is accurately because the upside is so much greater
It’s as much a personality thing as anything, over-pessimistic. 1NT can be a disaster for dif- than the downside.
isn’t it. Some look at the upside of making a ferent reasons, e.g. playing a red-suit game or Yes, we would virtually all open the hand, and
2-over-1 response, while others see the down- slam in 1NT. that is a reasonable test for whether to make a
side. Given my Mr. Grumpy persona, you would Brock: 2♦. I’ll probably regret it. I really need 2-over-1 response.
expect me to be in with the pessimists – not so, I to guess now whether or not this hand is a com- Nobody else mentioned an invitational 3♦
am with the majority. plete misfit. If yes then I’d be better bidding response, and of course Eric quickly dismissed
Rigal: 2♥. Not elegant I admit but I plan to get 1NT; if not, then 2♦ will probably work best. the idea, but that would be what the hand would
both suits in and want to find the 5-3 heart fit. Non-vul I should probably go for the former, worth if keeping these high cards but changing
Maybe even a 5-2 fit? At pairs you could sell but I can’t bear the thought of playing in 1NT the shape to something like 1-3-6-3. Of course,
Page 83
we cannot choose a response which completely was concerned. has some values. Once every 10 years, partner
buries hearts. Brock: Pass. Only at this vulnerability. Any- might even find a protective double.
Robson: 2♦. Don’t I have longer and better body’s guess. Mould: 3NT. I know this as well, as it was from
diamonds? Alder: 3NT. Vieux chapeau. the recent EBU trials for the European Mixed
Simple question – simple answer. Yes, 2♦ could McGowan: Pass. I could bid 3NT, but it looks Teams. This seems a two-horse race and I shall
lead us way too high, but the upside is so much easier to collect several hundred from 3♣. Dou- predict that the only bids the panel make are
greater than the downside that I am with the ble would offend me if I were East Pass and 3NT (cue for Brian to tell me how
optimists. Cannell: 3NT. Robert Hamman’s first rule. wrong I am). Only at this vulnerability is Pass
Even the Great Man can be wrong on some remotely attractive, as you will certainly be col-
PROBLEM 5 hands. lecting a few hundreds if partner has enough
Lawrence: Pass. Whatever happens, I remain to make 3NT. However, I have to say that these
IMPs. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
in contention to get a good result and I’m not passes never seem to work out for me, so I shall
♠ A 10 3 2 going for a number. Brian. Could you possibly just bid 3NT, particularly if I was a lot up in a
♥ 8 have found a more annoying set of hands? knockout match, as was Michael Byrne when
♦ A K 10 7 Glad you’re enjoying them. he held this hand. Mind you, Michael never has
♣ A Q 8 5 Kokish: 3NT. Sorry, Harry, it’s ugly, but this is any green cards in his box, so it was not really
West North East South what they dealt me. Pass and 3♦ are different a decision for him.
– – – 3♣ gambles that will have appeal for those whose You are spot on with your prediction – except,
? personalities and experiences fit those choices. of course, that the panel made only the two calls
Bid Votes Marks Green: Pass. I think it’s close between 3NT and you predicted, not the two bids (yes, pedantry is
Pass. Pass has a big upside if partner re-opens alive and well and resides in Nottingham, UK).
Pass 13 10
with a double as I would expect 800 or more. If Stabell: Pass. 100 per undertrick is OK with me
3NT 5 6
partner doesn’t have enough to re-open then if it goes all pass. Yes, we might make a game
Double 0 2 we may not make 3NT and taking a couple of even if partner can’t balance, but on a bad day,
Smith: Pass. A take-out double is close to cer- hundred is not the end of the world. I would also we have the same five tricks in NT as in clubs.
tifiable, which seems to leave just two sensi- be worried that partner might take out 3NT to Cope: Pass. It is IMPs and they are vulnerable,
ble options, Pass and 3NT. Yes, we have a fair 4♥, which could be a perilous contract. so if this ends the auction we collect in 100s. I
number of points, but the hand is also relatively It could indeed. How to turn a sure plus into hope that partner with club shortage can pro-
trickless. In the perfect world, partner will reo- a minus. But: tect with a light take-out double and then the
pen with a double, and 3NT gives up that faint Rigal: 3NT. Ugh; enough of being non-com- 100s start multiplying. If partner cannot pro-
hope of a massive penalty, so I settle for collect- mittal. I just can’t pass and await a double (and tect in fourth then I am not sure that the pop-
ing some 100s rather than donating some 50s. we might get 800 for our grand slam anyway). ular choice of 3NT will end in success.
I agree – a take-out double with this hand is Transfers and Stayman I suppose will help get Teramoto: Pass. Would like to defend 3♣ dou-
certifiable. Nobody suggested that as a possibil- us somewhere silly. bled and await a double from partner. If 3♣
ity, I’m mildly comforted to say. Bird: Pass. It’s either 3NT, with not many tricks goes All Pass, it is not bad to defend 3♣ at this
There were two possibilities as far as the panel in my hand, or Pass and collect in 100s if partner vulnerability.
Page 84
Apteker: Pass. Seems like a straight choice PROBLEM 6 try with ♠QJxxxx ♥x ♦Axx ♣Axx.
between passing and bidding 3NT. At these Possibly not, but there will be other hands with
colours I pass hoping that partner can reopen IMPs. Dealer North. E/W Vul. which he might accept.
with a double, even if that is unlikely. Passing ♠ A K 8 7 5 Sime: 6♠. After checking the backs of the cards.
ensures the positive as I am almost certain that ♥ A It is tough to put partner with a hand which is
we will defeat the contract by two or possibly ♦ J 8 bidding 5♠ ahead of me lacking the ace and king.
three tricks which, at these colours, will not be ♣ K Q J 6 4 He didn’t start with Michaels or a pre-empt. I am
such a loss against 3NT making. There is also West North East South guessing QJ10xxx and a decent diamond suit,
the added possible upside, albeit small, that – 1♥ 1♠ 3♥ perhaps headed by an unleadable ace-queen.
North might act if I pass. 4♥ 5♥ 5♠ Pass Cannell: 6♠ – We are vulnerable after all. Part-
Sime: Pass. If partner cannot balance, I doubt ? ner DID bid Five Spades. I am pretty sure we
that we will have missed anything. If I bid 3NT are off an ace, but which one? They may have
Bid Votes Marks
now, I expect a heart lead. I may have traded to guess to lead a diamond to have a chance
6 ♠ 12 10
in 1100 or a slam for a minus score. If I dou- to defeat slam. Or, we get an unlucky single-
ble, what is the most likely response when we 6♥ 3 6 ton club lead from South to North’s ♣A and
have game? Pass 2 4 go down on a club ruff. This is my guess in this
Robson: Pass. Can’t resist trying for the num- 5NT 1 5 cramped auction.
ber. Plus, 3♣ passed out netting +300 will be We’ll start with the majority this time. Brock: 6♠. I surely didn’t need anything like
almost as good as game – and if partner can’t Zia: 6♠. One for the road is the English this much for 4♥. Partner presumably expects to
reopen (with short clubs), we may well not have expression? make 5♠ as he has bid it at adverse vulnerability.
game. Yes it is. Rigal: 6♠. Not a grand slam try I think – even if
Zia: Pass. At this age I have to get my turn ons Bird: 6♠. Partner has a very shapely hand, but I we get there we might be off the club ruff. Could
by passing and letting partner reopen with a am still guessing as to his minor-suit controls. partner have heart control, QJ-sixth of spades
double. Even if machismo levels are out of control and and e.g. AQxxx of diamonds? Surely he could;
I don’t believe that for a moment. a grand slam is thought possible, partner would but slam still has play.
There is a clear majority for the Pass. Yes, reject any such try anyway. Then there are those who don’t risk a grand
we might miss something, but this pretty much Smith: 6♠. Very close to just bidding Seven slam try in case it warns the opposition off the
ensures a plus score and, even without a reopen- Spades, since I don’t need much more than safe heart lead and attracts a killing diamond.
ing double from partner, the penalty will often be two aces opposite, but there is no way to find Teramoto: 6♠. We may have a Grand but I don’t
worth more than anything we can make – even out for sure. (Would partner not bid this way bid 6♥ as a try for 7♠. A diamond lead may be
supposing that bidding gets us to our best spot. with ♠QJxxxx ♥— ♦KQxxx ♣Ax?) With so much fatal for 6♠, and if I bid 6♥ that may suggest a
Maybe the chance of partner reopening is not all opposition bidding, there is also the additional non-heart lead.
that high, but if he can scrape up a double we will chance that the clubs will not produce five tricks Alder: 6♠. This could well turn +650 into – 100,
be hoping for a four-figure penalty. and we’ll be left with a diamond loser anyway. but maybe even if they can cash two diamond
Bidding Six Hearts is just about pointless, since tricks immediately, they won’t.
partner is not going to accept the grand slam Lawrence: 6♠. I doubt I will be allowed to play
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it. And if we do play it, it may take a diamond Cope: 6♥. Partner has bid in front of us, rather to permit discarding all the required diamonds
lead to set it. than using the pass-pull slam try, so we cannot for 13 tricks. Still, a rolling 5NT then 6♥ over
Robson: 6♠. They may bid 7♥ anyway. But not except the earth – I would bid 5♠ on ♠QJ10xxx 6♣ might get the job done if Seven is good. As
6♥ for that may induce an unwanted diamond ♥x ♦AKQx ♣xx. So our best route to the pos- I was not going to pass a retreat to 4♠ perhaps
lead versus 6♠. sible Grand is to show our first round control I should have bid Blackwood over 3♥ to at least
Liz’s glass isn’t just half empty, I think it’s and for partner to bid Seven with first-round resolve that problem. If there are two fast dia-
broken. controls in both minor suits. monds to lose do we really want to help South
McGowan: Pass. I believe this is a forcing Mould: 6♥. If pard expects to make 5♠ and I with the lead?
pass situation, so pass from partner would be have this lot then a slam should be on ice. The Partner did have too many minor-suit cards
stronger than 5♠. I expect two top losers in the minor aces are all I need for Seven. to get rid of all the diamonds, though this was a
minors. (Have I set a record for Passes in a bid- Apteker: 6♥. I have too much not to punt slam. touch unlucky. His hand was:
ding challenge?) The question seems to be whether to suggest ♠ Q J 10 4 3 2
Surely Pass from partner would be weaker or the Grand to partner via 6♥, which with even ♥ 8
stronger than bidding 5♠? Pass would cover hands both minor suit aces partner may not accept ♦ A 7 5 4
that intend to defend if we double, as well as hands given his poor spades, or whether to conceal ♣ A 3
that intend to pull our double as a slam try. information and not assist the opponents with and clubs were five-one.
Green: Pass. This feels like a guess to me and the lead. South may well lead hearts if I bid 6♠
may depend on partner’s style. For exam- but may find the potential killing lead of a dia-
ple if partner held ♠QJ10xxx ♥x ♦KQxxx ♣x, mond if I bid 6♥. As South may find the diamond
would that be a 1♠ bid, or would partner make lead anyway or misguess with a club, I prefer
a Michaels cue-bid (or perhaps even bid 3♠)? If to involve partner.
that’s a Michaels bid for this partnership then Or how about:
I might take a shot at 6♠. I think we could be Stabell: 5NT. I hope 5NT is RKCB when we
off two aces so I pass, but that could easily be didn’t have the chance to ask for aces with
wrong. Even if we avoid a heart lead the dia- 4NT. Partner could have made a forcing pass,
monds may not all go away on the clubs. North so should have a real hand for 5♠. Will bid 7♠
hasn’t opened 4♥ at favourable vulnerability so if he has two aces since he would have made a
I think he must have some defence. two-suited overcall if there is an inescapable
Passing could be the winner – I guess that part- diamond loser.
ner would bid 5♠ with that example hand, assum- I’m pretty sure that 5NT as RKCB is not part
ing that he would have started with a simple over- of the system, but it has always made a lot of
call, of course. But we are so much better than we sense to me that it should be so. Leif-Erik brings
could have been and he has bid in front of us, so up a key point – what about partner’s minor-suit
I think we should bid on. distribution?
Some are sufficiently confident that they are Kokish: 6♠. Duplicated heart shortness suggests
willing to make the grand slam try. East may have too many clubs and diamonds Eric Kokish
Page 86
PROBLEM 7 partner can hardly be wrong…can it? We’ve of the Acolsaurs. Now we see the advantages;
denied much fit so in context we have trumps we can make descriptive bids below game to
IMPs. Dealer North. N/S Vul. to spare! explore the correct level and strain. Having to
♠ A 4 Robson: 3♠. Preference, for now. Great cards in put this hand through fourth-suit forcing would
♥ A Q 4 partner’s suits, and two aces in partner’s short have left us with an awkward decision over 3♦.
♦ K 8 suits excites me too. Playing Acol we would have bid 2♥ over 2♦ and
♣ A 9 6 4 3 2 Smith: 3♠. This seems blindingly obvious for could still now bid 3♠ over 3♦, but we might bid
West North East South now (I already denied three spades when I failed the same way with three-card support, so there
– Pass 1♠ Pass to bid Two Spades last time). The real prob- is much less definition in our auction.
2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass lem comes when partner simply raises to Four Zia: 3♠. Lots of bidding left and Ax is not
2NT Pass 3♦ Pass Spades, since he could easily have something chopped liver.
? like ♠KQJxxx ♥x ♦Axxxx ♣x, which is what I Brock: 3♠. Presumably I have already denied
need for slam. four spades. He can always sign off in 3NT with
Bid Votes Marks
Apteker: 3♠. If partner is 6-5 or has five good poor suits.
3 ♠ 16 10
spades or more than a minimum opening, slam Lawrence: 3♠. Shows just two spades. Partner’s
5NT 1 5 prospects are good. This seems like the most bidding judgment will appreciate this. Failure to
4NT 1 4 unambiguous base from which to explore. If make this bid can be costly later in the bidding.
3♥ 0 2 partner bids 3NT, I will raise to 4NT. Cannell: 3♠. Let’s see how partner reacts to
While there were a couple of minority votes, this Or indeed has five good diamonds – that too this probe. I fear that a Three Heart bid would
one appears to be very straightforward. could be a trump suit for slam purposes. be ambiguous for strain and level.
Green: 3♠. Happy to show a doubleton spade Stabell: 3♠. We should be able to make a slam if FSF is always to a degree ambiguous as to
and keep the ball in play. 3NT would be very partner’s suits are good – even opposite a com- strain and level, being used precisely when we do
committal and would almost always end the plete minimum. Will try again with 4♦ if he not want to make a more committal call. Here,
auction. signs off in 3NT, then respect a sign-off in 4♠ it might help us as regards strain, with partner
Bird: 3♠. To bid 3NT would miss many a slam if that is all partner can manage. repeating a strong suit, but he would also repeat
when partner has a strong hand, or even a mini- Kokish: 3♠. Level and strain are far from clear a not so strong suit to show a sixth card in it, and
mum hand with the right cards. The subsequent as East’s range is very wide, but showing two- might feel that he had a problem even with five-
auction may still be difficult but at least I will card support has to be a good way for us to pro- five and nothing in hearts – our sequence might
not have to shoulder all the blame. ceed. If East continues with a NF 3NT he won’t express doubt about NT, so he may be scared to
Nobody else even mentioned 3NT, which would have the good suits we’re looking for in a slam sign off in 3NT merely to deny anything better
be a huge underbid, I think. investigation, but I intend to continue with 4♦ to say.
Alder: 3♠. For the nonce. as one good suit may still be OK for Six. I don’t see FSF as being as helpful as the Eric/
McGowan: 3♠. Please partner, do ask about That looks a good plan. We must keep dia- Leif-Erik plan of 3♠ followed by 4♦ over 3NT.
my controls monds as well as spades in the picture. There were two other suggestions.
Teramoto: 3♠. Shows two-card spades. Sime: 3♠. Must be ♥. Problem 4 was a bad hand Mould: 4NT. In my world 3NT on the last round
Rigal: 3♠. As usual in such positions raising for Two-Over-One, no doubt to the amusement was about 15-17. I therefore treated it as more
Page 87
than that last time and to be consistent with in the right strain (I am assuming partner had a Green: Dble. Partner has made a forcing pass
that I bid 4NT natural and invitational now. This reason to bid 3♦). If partner’s pointed suits are (3♥ set one up) and I don’t feel that I have
does not really get my excellent pointed suits KQJ10x and AQxxx then 6♠ will be right, but if enough to bid at the five level so that leaves
into the mix, but has the merit of clarity. If I KQxxx and AQJ10x then 6♦ will be best, so 5NT me with double.
bid 3♠ now and partner bids 4♠ as is very likely, pick a slam seems to hit the mark. Robson: 5♥. I think partner’s pass must be forc-
I shall have to go on and really I am then just As long as partner has one strong suit this ing at these colours so he probably has a single-
guessing. May as well let partner guess instead! should get us to the right strain. What it might ton spade. I’ll take my chances in 5♥ with every
OK, you have shown your strength well enough, make more difficult is getting to the right level. high card saying, “bid, don’t defend”.
but not that you have the two golden cards in part- Not just getting too high, but also making it tough Kokish: 5♥. As 3♥ was FG, East’s forcing pass
ner’s suits plus the other two aces. You could bid for partner to bid a grand slam – don’t forget that implies that he has no strong opinion about
this way with a lot more in clubs and hearts, or he is still unlimited, so Seven is not yet out of the defending versus declaring. I have the right
with poorer controls, so have not convinced me picture. No, 5NT solves a problem and were part- queen to vote for declaring but the wrong spade
that this beats the alternative plan. ner more limited I could be tempted by it, but I holding and pattern to make 5♥ a comfortable
Cope: 5NT. For once I like my hand – we have still prefer the slow approach, though I prefer action, but East might well be short in spades
a high percentage of the points if partner has a 5NT to 4NT. on the auction and might be able to raise to
club shortage, and it is just a question of playing slam knowing my opinion when asked for it.
PROBLEM 8 If we were not getting rich against 4♠ doubled
bidding on has much more going for it.
IMPs. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
Stabell: 5♥. Partner has made a forcing pass
♠ 8 4 with nothing in hearts, so 5♥ should have a
♥ A K Q J 8 7 chance. Cannot do more with this 7-loser hand.
♦ 9 6 3 Sime: 5♥. Another high level guess. Might
♣ Q 8 be – 800 for a plus score, might be a double game
West North East South swing. My only clue is that partner has passed
– – 1♣ 2♠ the decision to me, so probably has a stiff spade
3♥ 4♠ Pass Pass and long clubs.
? Alder: 5♥. What would partner’s double have
Bid Votes Marks meant in comparison to his forcing pass? I like
to play that double says East thinks it is right
Double 11 10
for us to bid higher, but I may pass if my hand is
5♥ 7 8
more defensive in nature. Then his pass is less
This was as much a matter of system as judgement
encouraging, and since I have no short suits,
for most – was partner’s pass forcing?
I think we should try for a penalty – rightly or
Yes say:
wrongly. If instead partner’s pass in encourag-
Lawrence: 5♥. I’m assuming 3♥ created a
ing me to bid and double would have shown a
Tim Cope game-force.
hand with a low offence ration, then I would
Page 88
bid 5♥. Four spades could be cold if they have even – 690 and – 800.
a double fit in the pointed suits. Teramoto: Double. 4♠ doubled is not interest-
Your way of playing double and pass may work ing, but 5♥ is too high with this hand.
very well, but I’m pretty sure that most play it the Cannell: Double. Co-operative in nature. The
other way around – pass encourages partner to bid ball is in partner’s court.
on, while double warns him off. You, of course, also Co-operative means “You take the blame
have the pass then pull route in your structure. partner”?
Smith: Double. After a number of two-option Zia: Double. I would have preferred 4♥ last
problems, we now seem to have found one with time. Now I try and tell my part it’s ‘our’ hand –
only one realistic choice. However, I seem to though that’s not clear!
recall that double was the wrong thing to do at You are not the only one to prefer 4♥ on the
the table, as partner had ♠x ♥xx ♦Axxx ♣AKJxxx previous round. I assume that this means that you
and we were cold for slam in either hearts or don’t think that 3♥ set up a force, as then part-
clubs, but it is hard to see what else we can ner’s pass would normally be played as encour-
do. Some combinations are just too difficult. aging and we would not be doubling to show that
Perhaps a jump to Four Hearts at our last turn it’s ‘our hand’, rather that we think we should be
would have enabled partner to do something defending.
more helpful over Four Spades, or is that just Brock: Double. I don’t really fancy the five-
wistful thinking? Marc Smith level but 4♠ could easily make. I guess I want
That doesn’t suggest that he sees pass as forc- partner to pass with a doubleton spade, and bid
ing. Liz definitely doesn’t, and David again does if partner has a stiff spade I will take my chances with a singleton. Or maybe his pass is forcing.
not look as though he plays pass as forcing. and bid on whatever the agreement. If North had passed, then East would have had
McGowan: Double. Don’t think this was a forc- Apteker: Double. Partner has made a forcing to bid 3NT on some balanced 12-counts, mak-
ing pass, but don’t think I should Pass this time. pass and so far expressed uncertainty whether ing 3♥ effectively game-forcing, and therefore
Bird: Double. Call me unadventurous but I’m to declare or defend. The opponents may only partner’s pass forcing. Sometimes this game is
not going to the five-level with so many top los- have nine trumps between them given the col- too difficult.
ers. Nor will I let them play undoubled. How- ours and we are likely to have eight to nine Rigal: Double. I’ll win or lose the event on the
ever dubious some of my previous answers may trumps in hearts. Based on the Law, it is there- next deal, leading a top heart I think. We don’t
have been, I have some hopes of 10 points here. fore correct to double and to take the money. need another hero.
Well predicted – 10 points it is – though maybe Mould: Double. I play 3♥ as FG here, so part- I wouldn’t have picked Barry to be a Tina
a closer vote than you expected. ner’s pass is forcing. Since I do not know what Turner fan.
Cope: 5♥. A lot may depend on how your part- partner will do on a WNT with nothing much As for winning or losing the event on the next
nership plays the pass of 4♠ – is it a forcing in spades, and since 5♥ seems a lot of tricks deal, are you really sure that your decision on this
pass that shows suitability to bid on (which it to make with this balanced hand, I will double one might not be decisive?
would if it were a fit auction) or just any mini- and hope for the best. It would not surprise I would take partner’s pass to be encourag-
mum opening bid. Since the auction sounds as me if my options here were – 590 and – 500 or ing, our 3♥ bid having forced to game so set up
Page 89
forcing passes, and with a solid suit and nothing SET 14 – THE PANEL’S BIDS & MARKS
in spades would bid 5♥. The majority, however,
prefer to play for a penalty. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
Congratulations to Zia, who has scored what Zia Mahmood USA 3♠ Pass 5♠ 2♦ Pass 6♠ 3♠ Dble 80
I believe to be the first perfect 80 of my relatively Sally Brock England 3♠ Pass 4♠ 2♦ Pass 6♠ 3♠ Dble 76
brief tenure as conductor. 3♠ 2♥ 5♠ 2♦ Pass 6♠ 3♠ 5♥
Mike Lawrence USA 76
Andrew Robson England 3♠ 2♥ 5♠ 2♦ Pass 6♠ 3♠ 5♥ 76
Iain Sime Scotland 3♠ Pass 4♠ 2♦ Pass 6♠ 3♠ 5♥ 74
Alon Apteker South Africa 3♠ Pass 5♠ 1NT Pass 6♥ 3♠ Dble 73
Drew Cannell Canada 3♠ Pass 5♠ 1NT 3NT 6♠ 3♠ Dble 73
Tadashi Teramoto Japan 3♠ 2♥ 5♠ 2♥ Pass 6♠ 3♠ Dble 73
Marc Smith England 4♠ 2♥ 5♠ 2♦ Pass 6♠ 3♠ Dble 72
David Bird England Pass 2♥ 5♠ 1NT Pass 6♠ 3♠ Dble 70
Leif-Erik Stabell Zimbabwe 3♠ Pass 5♠ 1NT Pass 5NT 3♠ 5♥ 70
Ben Green England 3♠ 2♥ 4♠ 2♦ Pass Pass 3♠ Dble 68
Tim Cope South Africa 3♠ Pass 5♠ 1NT Pass 6♥ 5NT 5♥ 66
Phillip Alder USA 3NT Pass 5♠ 2♦ 3NT 6♠ 3♠ 5♥ 66
Alan Mould England 3♠ Pass 5♠ 2♦ 3NT 6♥ 4NT Dble 66
Barry Rigal USA Pass Pass 5♠ 2♥ 3NT 6♠ 3♠ Dble 66
Eric Kokish Canada 3♠ 2♥ 6♠ 2♦ 3NT 6♠ 3♠ 5♥ 66
Liz McGowan Scotland Pass Pass 4♠ 1NT Pass Pass 3♠ Dble 62
Page 90
Page 91
Master Point Bidding Battle Competition – Set 15

Open to All – Free Entry
PROBLEM 1 PROBLEM 3 PROBLEM 6
IMPs. Dealer South. All Vul. IMPs. Dealer East. E/W Vul. IMPs. Dealer East. All Vul.
♠ A 4 ♠ K ♠ A 6 4
♥ A 6 ♥ A Q J 8 6 3 ♥ 10 9 7 6 5 3
♦ K 6 3 2 ♦ K 8 7 4 ♦ A 8 4
♣ J 10 9 5 4 ♣ K Q ♣ J
West North East South West North East South West North East South
– – – 1♣ – – Pass Pass – – 2NT* 4♠
Pass 1♠ 2♦ Double* 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass ?
? ? 2NT 20-21
Double Three spades PROBLEM 4 PROBLEM 7
PROBLEM 2 IMPs. Dealer South. All Vul. IMPs. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
IMPs. Dealer North. All Vul. ♠ 9 7 4 3 ♠ A K 3
♠ A 9 ♥ 9 ♥ 8 7 5
♥ J 10 4 2 ♦ K J 8 7 ♦ A J 10 9 6 4
♦ 3 ♣ 9 8 4 3 ♣ Q
♣ A J 10 8 6 5 West North East South
– – – Pass
West North East South 1♦ 2♠ 3♥ 4♠
Pass 1♥ Double Pass
– Pass 1♦ 1♠ ?
1♠ 2♥ Double Pass
2♣ 2NT* 3♣ 3♠*
2♠ Pass 2NT Pass PROBLEM 8
?
?
2NT Constructive three-card spade raise IMPs. Dealer West. None Vul.
3♠ Weaker than pass PROBLEM 5 ♠ K Q 10 7 5
IMPs. Dealer South. E/W Vul. ♥ A K Q 10 6 2
♠ 7 5 4 3 ♦ A
♥ A K 5 4 3 ♣ K
♦ 9 West North East South
♣ K 10 8 2♣ Pass 3♣ Pass
West North East South 3♥ Pass 4♣ Pass
– – – Pass ?
Pass 3♦ 3 ♠ 5♦
?
Page 92
A New Bridge Magazine Bidding System

Attention!!!
The Bidding System has been modified – please read carefully, this is the system to be used for the Bidding Battle from now on
Basic Method clubs minimum so NF, anything else is GF. Jump 2NT rebid = 18 – 19 with natural
Weak 2♦, 2♥ and 2♠ (5 – 9, six-card suit). continuations.
Natural After 2 over 1, 2NT is 12-14 balanced or 18-19
In response 2NT is a relay asking for a high-
Five-card majors card feature if not minimum with 3NT showing balanced and 3NT is 15-17 range with a reason
a good suit, non-minimum. 4♣ is RKCB. 2any – not to have opened 1NT.
Minors are three cards in length minimum.
2new = NAT Constructive NF; 2any – 3new = NAT 3NT rebid after a one-level response in a suit
Always open 1♣ with 3-3 but 1♦ with 4-4, so
Forcing. shows a good suit and a good hand. Where the
1♦ is 3 cards only if precisely 4-4-3-2 shape.
Three-level openings are natural and pre-emp- response was 1NT, 3NT may be a flat 19-count.
15-17 no-trump in all positions and
tive. Over 3♦/♥/♠, 4♣ is RKCB and over 3♣, 4♦ After 2NT, 20-22, 3♣ = Stayman with Smo-
vulnerabilities.
is RKCB. len, 3♦/3♥ = transfers, 3♠ = slam try with both
Two over one is game forcing in all uncontested minors. Four level bids are as after 1NT opening.
3NT opening is Acol gambling – solid suit and
auctions.
at most a queen outside. Reverse Kokish is played after 2♣ opening
A 1NT response is up to a non-game force but
Four-level opening are natural. (2♣-2♦-2♥-2♠-2NT is 23-24 balanced, and
it is not forcing. However, the only hands that 2♣-2♦-2NT is 25+ balanced GF).
pass are weak no-trump types. No-trump bidding:
Jumps at the two-level are weak (eg, 1♦ – 2♠) and
Initial response:
After 1NT 15 – 17, 2♣ = Stayman, 2♦/2♥ = trans-
at the three-level are invitational (eg 1♥ – 3♣). fers, 2♠ = ♣s with 2NT/3 denying/showing a fit, Jump shifts are weak at the two-level and invita-
1M – 3M is a limit raise. 2NT = ♦s with 3♣/♦ denying/showing a fit. After tional at the three-level. Bidding and rebidding a
this new suits are splinters. 3♣ is 5 card Stay- suit is invitational, bidding and jump rebidding
Inverted minors are played. 1m – 2m is F2NT a suit is FG (eg 1♦, 2♥ is weak, 1♦, 1♥, 2♣ 2♥ is
and 1m – 3m is pre-emptive. man, 3♦ is 5-5 ms FG, 3♥/♠ 1-3-(4-5) / 3-1-(4-5)
and FG. 4♣ is 5-5 majors, game only, 4♦/♥ = ♥/♠s invitational; 1♦, 1♥, 2♣, 3♥ is FG).
Over 1m – 2m, next step is a WNT and 2NT is (then 4NT = RKCB and new suits are Exclusion). 2NT after 1♣/1♦ is natural and invitational with-
GF with the next step suit; 3m is unbalanced out 4M.
and non-forcing. All other bids are at least qua- 1NT rebid = 12 – 14 with 2♣ a puppet to 2♦ to
si-natural and FG. play in 2♦ or make an invitational bid, 2♦ is game 2NT after 1♥/1♠ = game-forcing with 4+ card
forcing checkback, new suits at the 3 level are support. Continuations in new suits are natural,
After, say, 1♣ – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2NT/3♣ are WNT/long 5-5 FG and higher bids are auto-splinters. 3 partner’s suit extras with no singleton, 3NT
Page 93
=18-19 balanced, 4 of new suits are splinters but Slam bidding: Game try doubles where no space for any other
deny a second suit. 4 of partner’s major shows a Roman Key Card Blackwood (1 or 4, 0 or 3, 2, 2 game try.
bad opening. Such as 1M – 2NT– 3♦ – 3M – 4♣ = + trump Q). After our 1M opening bid and an overcall, 2NT
splinter (3NT is 5M-4♦-2-2). = four-card limit raise or better and a cue-bid
Exclusion Blackwood only in clear circumstances
Continuations: including a jump to the five-level in a new suit is a three-card limit raise or better, raises are
and after 1NT– 4♦/♥. Responses are 0, 1, 2. 4NT pre-emptive, change of suit forcing one round
1x – 1M – 2M promises four-card support or but not FG. New suits at the three-level are FG.
followed by 5NT is for specific kings.
three-card support and an unbalanced hand. Bal-
Cue-bids are Italian style, that is the lowest After a 1m opening and an overcall, 2NT is nat-
anced hands with three-card support rebid1NT.
control is shown regardless of whether it is ural and invitational and the cue-bid is a limit
Reverses are forcing for one round after a one raise or better, raise are pre-emptive, change of
first or second round or a positive or negative
level response. The lower of 2NT and 4th suit suit F1 but not FG, new suit at the three-level
control and skipping a suit normally denies a
encompasses all weak hands, responder’s rebid is FG.
control in that suit, except that a player may
of own suit is F1 but not necessarily strong, all
revert to traditional cue-bidding, e’g. spades are Fit-jumps after opponents overcall or take-out
other bids are FG.
trumps, cue-bidding 4♦ then 5♣ with 1st-round double.
All high reverses are game-forcing. ♦, 2nd-round ♣ if he feels that to be appropri- Fit jumps after our overcalls. Jump cue-bid is a
Jumps when a bid of the suit one level lower is ate and he is happy to commit to the five level. mixed raise (about 6-9 with four-card support).
forcing are splinters, as are four-level responses Exception: a shortage control in partner’s suit Where we overcall 1M, a 2NT response is a four-
in a lower-ranking suit to 1♥/1♠. Jumps when is not shown immediately. card limit or better raise, a cue-bid could contain
the previous level is forcing are splinters. four-card support if only worth a two-level raise,
The default for 5NT is “pick a slam” unless fol-
Where responder jumps in a third suit after lowing on from 4NT by the same player. but is otherwise a three-card raise.
opener has bid and rebid a suit, that is a splin- Double jumps are splinters.
ter, with a non-jump new suit NAT F1. Competition: Lebensohl applies after interference over our
Sequences such as 1♦ – 1♠ – 2♦ – 2♥ are F1; Responsive and competitive doubles through 1NT and facing our T/O double of a weak two bid
1♣ – 1♠ – 2♣ – 2♦ = ART GF, while 2♥ would be 4♦ – after that, doubles are value-showing, not or of 2M after they opened a multi 2♦ against us.
NF but opener is can raise. 1♦ – 1♠ – 2♦ – 3♥ = penalties. An immediate 3NT shows a stopper but not 4oM,
splinter in support of ♦. 1x – Dble – 1y – Dble = 4y and some values; 2y 2NT then 3NT shows a stopper and 4oM, 2NT
4th suit = game-forcing. = 5y and a hand that would have bid 2y over a then cue-bid shows no stopper but 4oM imme-
When responder’s suit is raised a return to open- pass from RHO. diate cue-bid shows no stopper and no 4oM. In
summary 3NT at any time shows a stopper and
er’s suit is forcing. Negative doubles through 4♦ – after that, dou-
cue-bid at any time denies one, a jump to 3♠ (eg
bles are value showing, not penalties.
How to Enter
Send your chosen bid in each of the eight problems, by email to biddingbattle@newbridgemag.com or enter via the website www.newbridgemag.com.
Entries must be received before the end of the month. Include your name, email address and number of the set which you are entering.
Page 94
1NT– 2♥ – 3♠ is FG). Note that most relatively Defences: Over their 1NT, Dble = pens, 2♣ = majors, 2♦ =
balanced hands with no stopper will start with Against all pre-empts, take-out doubles with 1 major, 2♥/♠ = 5♥/♠ & 4+m 2NT = minors or
a T/O double. Lebensohl responses against two-level open- game-forcing 2-suiter.
We open 1NT and they overcall. Whatever its ings – same structure as above. Over a strong 1♣, natural, double = majors,1NT
meaning, double of the overcall is T/O of the suit 2NT is rarely natural in competition (except as = minors, pass then bid is strong.
BID. Pass then double is also T/O and therefore defined above). Possibilities include Lebensohl
implies length in the first opposing suit. or scramble if game is not viable.
2NT is rarely natural in competition (except as Over 2M, 4♣/♦ are Leaping Michaels (5,5 in ♣/♦
defined above). Possibilities include Lebensohl and oM, FG). Over Natural weak 2♦, 4♣ = Leap-
or scramble if game is not viable. Scramble will ing Michaels (5, 5 in ♣ & a M with 4♦ to ask for
tend to apply in balancing situations, Lebensohl M). Over 3♣, 4♣ = Ms and 4♦ = ♦&M with 4♥/♠
(Good/Bad) where game is still a live possibility. as P/C. Over 3♦, 4♣ = ♣&M and 4♦ = Ms. Over
This includes the Good/Bad 2NT in situations 3♥, 4♣/♦ = Nat, 4♥ = ♠&m, 4NT = ms. Over 3♠,
where it is appropriate. 4♠/♦/♥ = nat, 4♠/4NT = two-suiter.
We double their Stayman or transfer over 1NT:
if 1NT = 14+, double shows the suit doubled. If
1NT is maximum 15 HCP, double is PEN of 1NT.
Our Overcalls:
After a 1M overcall, 2NT = four-card limit raise
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 single-jumps, splinter
double-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.
Page 95
WEST
Hands for the
March 2019 The uBid Auction Room MASTER POINT
BIDDING BATTLE
Bid these hands with those on the following page with your favourite partner; then turn to Results – Set 13
The Auction Room inside to see how your score compares to that of the experts The first set of the new year saw the following three readers
get a book:
Mark Bartusek (73), Dean Pokorny (72) and Mike Perkins
Hand 1. Dealer North. None Vul. Hand 5. Dealer East. Both Vul. (71). A fourth recipient will be drawn from Mrs. T’s hat.
♠ A K Q 7 ♠ K 8 4 2 In a valiant attempt to save the planet, the names of all the
♥ A K Q 10 9 5 4 2 ♥ A J 10 9 participants were not printed onto paper and then placed in Mrs
♦ J ♦ J T’s hat but were transferred electronically to Mrs T’s iPad. Where-
♣ — ♣ K 10 7 2 upon the randomising routine I loaded onto her machine selected
North opens 2♦ Multi; South bids 2♥ and if Hand 6. Dealer West. None Vul. Mike Perkins when the button was pushed. As you can see this was
West doubles North bids 2♠.
♠ A K 9 7 a flaw in my system, but a second attempt drew the name Stuart
Hand 2. Dealer West. N/S Vul. Nelson and it is he who gets the fourth voucher.
♥ K Q 8 7 3
♠ Q 6 4
♥ —
♦ J 8 7 Other Good Scores
♣ 5 69 Klaus Polap
♦ 5 3 If West opens 1♥ North bids 4♣ and South 68 Wladyslaw Izdebski
♣ A K Q J 10 9 4 3 raises to 6♣
66 Bill March, Todd Holes, Dominic Connolly
Hand 3. Dealer East. None Vul. Hand 7. Dealer South. N/S Vul. 65 Nigel Guthrie
♠ Q 9 8 7 6 ♠ Q 10 5 64 Nelson Pearson, George Willett
♥ A Q 8 5 ♥ A K Q 3 63 Rodney Lighton, Alex Athanasiadis, David Barnes
♦ 9 ♦ Q 8 6 62 Steven Handley, Erika Lindenthal, Carles Acero, Bazil Caygill , Brian McDowell
♣ Q 4 3 ♣ A Q 3 60 Simon Hil, Bill Linton
Hand 4. Dealer West. Both Vul Hand 8. Dealer East. None Vul.
The Yearly standings:
♠ K Q 10 6 3 ♠ J
♥ Q 6 4 ♥ 3 These are obviously the same as this month’s results.
♦ A K J 3 ♦ A 9 3
♣ 7 ♣ K Q J 10 9 7 4 2
Page 96
Comments on Bidding Battle Set 13

Brian Senior examines the responses of the readers and compares them against those of the panel.
PROBLEM 1 ♥ J 9 4
♦ A K J 10 9 6 2
IMPs. Dealer East. All Vul. ♣ A
♠ 10 3 West North East South
♥ 5 2 1♦ Pass 1♥ Double
♦ A 9 ?
♣ A K Q 8 5 3 2 Bid Panel Readers Marks
West North East South Rdbl 18 10 28
1♣ Double 1♦ Pass 3♦ 4 7 14
? 3NT 1 3 6
Bid Panel Readers Marks 4♦ 1 3 0
3♣ 22 10 43 2NT 0 2 1
3NT 2 5 2 We one other call:2NT . It seems a bit distorted with 10 red-suit cards,
2♣ 0 3 5 but at least gets the all-around strength across reasonably well so I’ll
One reader, Stuart Nelson, commented on one of the calls chosen by a award a couple of marks. However, there is too much risk that we belong
couple of the panel: in a red-suit contract and will get trapped in no trump, so I am not a fan
Stuart Nelson: 3NT– hope partner expects less after competition. of the bid.
From the point of view of looking for slam, partner will surely take
PROBLEM 3
the double into account. However, the bulk of the panel simply thought
that 3NT was too much and committed us to what might be a hopeless IMPs. Dealer East. None Vul.
game. Hence the vast majority voted for 3♣.
There were also five reader votes for a simple 2♣. That may fit the 13 ♠ J
HCP contained in the hand, but overlooks the likely eight running tricks, ♥ 10 9 4
so is at the other extreme to 3NT. I think it is a serious underbid, but I ♦ Q 8 5
suppose I should have awarded it 3 points as it could win IMPs if others ♣ A Q 10 9 5 3
are going down in 3NT. West North East South
– – 1♠ Pass
PROBLEM 2
1NT Pass 3♦ Pass
IMPs. Dealer West. All Vul. ?
Bid Panel Readers Marks
♠ K 9
4♣ 9 10 12
Page 97
3♠ 6 8 3 Double Pass 2♠ Pass
3NT 4 6 17 ?
4♦ 3 5 11 Bid Panel Readers Marks
3♥ 2 4 3 Pass 13 10 16
5♦ 0 2 2 3♠ 4 6 15
Double 0 0 1 2NT 4 6 2
Pass 0 0 1 3♣ 3 6 5
We can deal with one reader’s minority suggestions very quickly – Pass 2♠ 0 0 1
scores nothing because 3♦ is a forcing bid and we have no reason to be 3♥ 0 0 5
ashamed of our 1NT response. 4♠ 0 0 6
What about 5♦, chosen by two readers? Ignoring the panellists who There were three minority actions on this one but I’m afraid that I won’t
want to look for a club contract, it seems that 5♦ is flawed in two ways. be awarding anything to any of them. The 2♠ chosen by one reader has
Firstly, if partner is six-four (or even once in a while a powerful sev- a rather obvious flaw – was this the same reader who tried to double
en-four with slam aspirations), 5♦ will usually be inferior to 4♠, and a partner’s bid on the previous problem? The 3♥ cue-bid and jump to 4♠
simple 4♦ raise would work out better as he would bid 4♠ over that and are simply gross overbids when there are so many other strong but less
we would pass. Secondly, when partner has a real five-five or better two- committal options available to us. Regarding the jump to 4♠, we must
suiter, slam is distimctly possible. Four Diamonds leaves room for a 4♥ bear in ind that 2♠ is the default rebid partner will normally select on
cue-bid, over which we can cue 5♣ in turn, while 5♦ leaves no space at all bad hands, so it does not promise a fifth spade.
all for further exploration. That, I hope, answers the query below. I have Stuart Nelson: 3♣ – very interesting. 2♠ could exceptionally be a 3-3
added an award of 2 points for 5♦. fit. 3♣ can’t be totally natural, as didn’t bid it last turn.
Nelson Pearson (after reading the answers) asked: Well, 3♣ is natural, as double twice followed by 3♣ just shows a
Just for learning a bit more, may I ask you about set 13 Hand 3, why stronger hand than double once followed by 3♣, but there is perhaps
is it that you are not even considering my 5♦ bid? There is no perfect some suggestion of a less club-orientated hand than had the suit been
solution, as you say at the end, and 5♦ is a bid in harmony with the real bid a round earlier. 3♣ is a serious contender on this hand.
2 suiter hand you are transcribing.
PROBLEM 5
PROBLEM 4
IMPs. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
IMPs. Dealer North. All Vul.
♠ K J 10 4
♠ A K 5 ♥ 9 3
♥ A 4 2 ♦ 10 5
♦ Q 5 ♣ Q J 10 9 4
♣ A K 10 5 2
West North East South – – Pass Pass
– Pass Pass 1♥ ?
Double Pass 1♠ 2♥
Page 98
Bid Panel Readers Marks systemically GF). Others criticise specifically that they do not believe the
Pass 15 10 40 sequence qualifies for a FP, especially those who know 2♦ was not GF here
1♠ 6 7 7 If our previous pass was forcing by agreement a FP, where is the foot-
3♣ 3 5 1 note? – we aren’t playing by alerting regulations – and are entitled to
know what our side’s agreements are.
1♣ 0 2 1
Thus half the panel award themselves another forcing pass, even some
Three readers passed comments along with their answers:
of those who thought the first was forcing think it over-egging the pud-
Michael Alexander: 1♠ if playing Drury else Pass
ding to play another FP, and the rest of us playing the problem as it is
Carles Acero: Pass – don’t play poker
stated are left with guesswork (although I suppose I am content to get
Bill Linton added a ! to his Pass
7 for doubling knowing we could not make 6♣).
Fair enough – this sort of thing is a matter of personal style, even if
This is how the problem came to us. The panel’s discussion as to the
we all of course believe our style to be the winning one.
forcing or non-forcing nature of the previous pass, and also whether
PROBLEM 6 pass should be forcing in the position which we have reached, was much
of the purpose of setting the question. To add footnotes would there-
IMPs. Dealer North. All Vul. fore have rather defeated the object of the exercise. The logic that our
previous pass must have been intended as forcing, given that we surely
♠ 4 3 would have bid otherwise, is compelling, is it not? So when I looked at
♥ A 10 5 the actual problem I based my judgement on that assumption. Once you
♦ A K J 9 6 2 agree that the previous pass was forcing, it is perfectly reasonable to
♣ 10 5 assume that another pass at this point would also be forcing.
West North East South I don’t believe that the panel considered the previous pass to be forc-
– Pass 1♣ 1♥ ing because they misunderstood to what level 2♦ was forcing. Rather, it
2♦ 3♥ 4 ♣ 4♥ was a question of whether the free 4♣ bid set up a force. That discussion
Pass Pass 5♣ 5♥ also was part of what the problem was about.
?
PROBLEM 7
Bid Panel Readers Marks
6♣ 13 10 20 IMPs. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
Dble 7 7 26
♠ A K Q 10 8 7 5 4
Pass 4 6 3
♥ –
There were two reader comments: ♦ A 10 9 8
Alex Athanasiadis: 6 clubs (or pass if it is forcing) ♣ 2
Unfortunately, you have to decide – you can’t have two bites at the cherry. West North East South
Stuart Nelson wrote in (after seeing the answers): Q6 – I can’t think 1♠ Pass 1NT 2♠*
this one makes much sense. Everyone is guessing whether they have ?
previously made a forcing pass, with many (but not all) assuming they 2♠ Hearts and a minor
have (either because of their hand, or wrongly believing 2♦ was still Bid Panel Readers Marks
Page 99
4♥ 12 10 12 a Pass, but then...
4♣ 2 8 0 OK, I’ve mentioned that already.
3♦ 4 7 4 Martin Turner: 5♥ (Exclusion Blackwood)
4♠ 3 5 20 And that.
3♥ 2 4 5
PROBLEM 8
Pass 1 2 0
3♠ 0 0 2 IMPs. Dealer North. All Vul.
5♥ 0 0 2
5 ♠ 0 0 1 ♠ A J 10
Double 0 2 3 ♥ –
There were no fewer than four calls chosen by one or more readers that ♦ A J 9 8 7 5 2
were not selected by a panellist. ♣ A 10 2
Two readers chose 3♠. That bid is not forcing, and looking at nine likely West North East South
running tricks it is simply too little. Five Hearts is the other extreme, – Pass 1♣ Pass
committing us to slam facing the ace of clubs with no idea what is going 1♦ Pass 1NT* Pass
on in diamonds – slam could easily be a zero % contract when partner ?
has wasted heart or club values. Five Spades just doesn’t get partner to 1NT (11)12-14, Does not deny a four-card major
look at anything in particular, doesn’t show that we want diamond val- Bid Panel Readers Marks
ues rather than club values, doesn’t show the heart void... And finally,
3♥ 11 10 3
double – I guess this is harmless, in much the same way as is Pass, and
2♦ 10 9 11
might glean useful information, though personally I think both suffer
from the problem that the opposition may take away sufficient of our 2♠ 2 2 7
bidding space that we are no longer able to make as clear and descrip- 6♦ 1 4 0
tive a bid at our next turn as we can do now. I’ll award Double the same 2♣ 0 2 1
2 points as were awarded originally to Pass. 3♦ 0 0 11
Carles Acero: 3♥ – no rush 3NT 0 0 5
Except that 4♥ specifies the void while 3♥ sounds more like a single- 4♣ 0 0 1
ton, so it doesn’t give the clearcut spade slam try message. However, two 4♦ 0 2 2
panellists agreed with you. 4♥ 0 10 7
Nelson Pearson: Double (I reserve 3♥ for later). And afterwards: And 5♦ 0 2 1
on Hand 7 you are not considering my Double bid, but award points to What fun, with this one gathering a number of comments and no fewer
a Pass? Pass is one choice, 3♦ is a better one, 4♥ is an obvious one but than seven bids which did not receive any support from the panel. These
prevents partner from eventually showing ♦, and 4♠ is a conservative were the comments(or rather, most of them):
bid sacrificing any chance of slam while trying to prevent interferences; Dean Pokorny: 2♦ – if still 2-way CB, else 2♣.
but what about a double that shows strength while keeping the lines Michael Alexander: 2♦ gf checkback
open for further information? I could understand if you also discarded Wladyslaw Izdebski: 3♥ splinter
Page 100
Paul de Weerd: 2♦ checkback gf play 1♥ – 2♣ – 3♦ as 5-5+ GF, normally play 1♥ – 2♣ – 3♠ as shortage.
Simon Hill: 2♦ GF checkback. Presumably this sequence should show 6+♦ and 5♥, and that seems
Yes, 2♦ is GF Checkback. functional to me, and a hand type you might hold often enough oppo-
And these were the bids chosen: site a weak NT. Lesser distribution can use the GF checkback option and
2♣. This was surely intended as one-way Checkback. We’ll probably 2M can be used as weakish 4M, to play 2M/3♦, or infrequently find 4M
survive its use so I’ll award 2 points. 3♦ is invitational. That is insuffi- with a perfect fit.
cient on this hand so no award I’m afraid. 3NT could see us down in 3NT There is a flaw in your logic here, namely that we bypass diamonds
while slam is cold. It is seriously unilateral and no award. 5♦, 6♦ or, on to show a major with our first response, the popular Walsh convention,
a really good day, even 7♦ could be on if partner has no heart wasteage. so that a weakish hand with six diamonds and four+ hearts would have
Four Clubs – I’m not sure what the bidder intended by this but there is responded 1♥ in the first instance. That is another inconsistency in the
no guarantee of a club fit, we surely don’t play Gerber and even if we did situation that might have tipped someone off that there was something
it is unlikely to solve our problem, and it doesn’t help us find a diamond wrong – but, yes, I agree, you shouldn’t have to work these things out.
contract. Four Diamonds – well, it isn’t as good as 2♦ followed by3♦, but Higher bids are described in the system as auto-splinters, hence I
at least it does look like long diamonds, though possibly a stronger suit chose 4♥, but received no marks!!!
than this, and slam interest, so I’ll award a couple of points. Apparently The Conductor is still no more aware of the contents of
If we are going to make a clear-cut slam try, then a 4♥ auto-splinter the system file than the panel
(two in a row!) is surely going to be more helpful than 4♦, so that gets final comment.
4 points. It does, however, commit us to diamonds, giving up on 3NT. The problem was, as you will see above, that the conductor was per-
Four Spades is another bid which I don’t understand, so no points, and fectly well aware of what the system was, just he knew what it was
5♦, while getting us to a probably perfectly decent contract, does give supposed to say, and not the actual illogical wording.
up on slam as well as giving upon 3NT– 2 points though. I’m going to award 4♥ the same 10 points as were awarded to 3♥. I
Stuart Nelson then wrote in: actually consider 3♥ to be the superior bid, as it allows partner to bid
4♥ – Lovely – a test to see if any of your panel have read the system. I 3NT and us to play there, while also leaving an extra level to explore
don’t see what the point of this competition is now if the 10 point answer slam when partner does not have a stack of wasted heart strength, but
3♥, described unanimously by the panel as an auto-splinter, and in the the systemic problem made it impossible for some readers to bid 3♥.
system as GF 5-5+. This was a far superior feature when it was Acol based with an absolute
Stuart’s long comment deserves a serious response. Firstly, the sys- minimum of interesting system arrangements. It was highly irritating
tem actually says that jumps to the three level are 5-5, not 5-5+, but when this first changed, to try to teach Mr Mould how to play his esoteric
that is splitting hairs and we know that it would mean 5-5+. The prob- methods. I don’t mind if it has to be 5M strong NT, but please find a sim-
lem is that the system also says that unnecessary jumps are splinters. ple enough system that the panel can remember, or get right accidentally
The two statements are in conflict. The whole panel read the system as I seem to recall this feature was predicated on two expert players sit-
saying what it was intened to say, which I agree is not what the word- ting down with the minimum of discussion, I think it has now drifted
ing actually says, namely that jumps below the first suit are 5-5+ GF. too far from that to be an enjoyable exercise, or worthwhile competition.
So 1♣ – 1♥ – 3♦ is GF 5-5+. It was not intended to mean that 1♣ – 1♥ – I agree that things were much simpler when the system was Acol.
1NT– 3♠ was 5-5+. The intent was that bids above three of responder’s I remember that the IPBM system notes fitted into a small box in the
original suit are shortages and, probably because all of the panel plays middle of the problems page. Now we seem to need more and more
that way, they understood it that way. In the same way, even those who agreements and someone, either panellist or reader, will moan when
Page 101
there are no footnotes under every problem. The trouble with putting
the footnotes in is that this cuts out a large chunk of the discussion as
to what things actually should mean in a a given situation.
I suppose that ANBM wants to be more than just a domestic UK-based
magazine, and even in the UK more and more people are playing strong
25
NT and five-card majors, frequently 2-over-1 and more and more often th RED SEA
with a short club. If we based this feature on Acol, we would be getting INTERNATIONAL
steadily less and less relevant to the sort of target audience the editor
has in mind. Probably most of the panellists who still play Acol do so
when they partner clients, and otherwise play something closer to this
magazine’s methods. The trouble is, that there is so little uniformity in
the detail of what they assume to be normal. F E S T I V A L
E I L AT - I S R A E L
NOVEMBER 7-17, 2 19
Page 102
EAST
Hands for the Running Costs
March 2019 The uBid Auction Room
In order to meet our production costs we are relying on
sponsorship, advertising revenue and donations.
Sponsorship can come in many forms – one that is prov-
Bid these hands with those on the previous page with your favourite partner; then turn to The
ing popular is the sponsorship of a particular column – as
Auction Room inside to see how your score compares to that of the experts you will see from the association of FunBridge with Mis-
play these Hands with Me and Master Point Press with The
Bidding Battle.
Hand 1. Dealer North. None Vul. Hand 5. Dealer East. Both Vul. We have set ourselves a target of 50,000+ readers, which
should be enough to attract a significant level of advertis-
♠ — ♠ A 10
ing. As that number increases we will be able to approach
♥ 8 6 ♥ 8 6
more famous companies who might wish to associate them-
♦ A 10 9 8 2 ♦ A Q 9
selves with the bridge playing community.
♣ J 9 8 7 4 3 ♣ A 9 8 6 4 3
North opens 2♦ Multi; South bids 2♥ and if
You can help us to achieve our aims in several ways.
Hand 6. Dealer West. None Vul. Firstly – and by far the most important – by telling all your
West doubles North bids 2♠.
Hand 2. Dealer West. N/S Vul. ♠ Q 6 5 4 bridge playing friends that we exist and making sure they
♥ A 4 register at our web site, www.newbridgemag.com
♠ K 5
♦ A K Q 9 4 3 Secondly by becoming a sponsor. That could take many
♥ A J 7 4 3
♣ 2 forms – I have already mentioned the possibility of being
♦ A K Q J 4 If West opens 1♥ North bids 4♣ and South
♣ 5 raises to 6♣ linked to a column within the magazine and you will see
Hand 3. Dealer East. None Vul. Hand 7. Dealer South. N/S Vul. from this issue that is already popular. There is also the
possibility of linking directly to the title.
♠ A K J 10 5 ♠ A K J 8
Thirdly by becoming a Friend of the magazine. That would
♥ 10 9 ♥ 10 7 4
involve a donation. Anyone donating £500 would become
♦ A Q 6 ♦ K J 10 3 2
a Golden Friend.
♣ A K 2 ♣ 10
It is possible to make a donation by credit card – just go
Hand 4. Dealer West. Both Vul Hand 8. Dealer East. None Vul. to the appropriate page on the web site. A number of read-
♠ J 9 5 4 2 ♠ K 10 6 4 2 ers are making regular donations by bank transfer.
♥ A ♥ A 4 2 If you would like to discuss any of the above contact me
♦ 8 7 5 ♦ K 10 at: editor@newbridgemag.com
♣ A 8 6 3 ♣ A 5 3 Ask not what A New Bridge Magazine can do for you – ask
what you can do for A New Bridge Magazine.
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A NEW BRIDGE MAGAZINE

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