Bridge Magazine 2015.04


Julian Pottage books from

Master Point Press
the bridge publisher
Julian Pottage
Julian Pottage has a well-earned reputation as a great bridge problem
constructor. He is a regular contributor to BRIDGE Magazine, and
has written a number of books. His 2004 book Play or Defend? won
the International Bridge Press Association’s Book of the Year Award.
In his most recent book, Why You Still Lose at Bridge, Pottage takes
as inspiration S.J. Simon’s classic Why You Lose at Bridge, using the
same approach of dispensing advice to the improving player through
Simon’s archetypical bridge characters to discuss common failings of
modern club players.
2 April 2015 BRIDGE Magazine


Two Diamonds
The first recipients of the EBU’s Diamond
BRIDGE
MAGAZINE ThrialeyTrophy
awards that recognise excellence and success
over a sustained period for English Inter-
national players are Nicola Smith and Tony
Forrester.
received their awards at the Lederer Memo-
event where Tony was a member of
the winning team.
Nicola has been one of the top Women’s players in the world since
the 1970s and before the split of the Home Unions she won many
titles representing Great Britain and has continued to do so under
the cross of Saint George.
44 BAKER STREET Tony has been one of our leading players since the early 1980s and
LONDON W1U 7RT aside from his numerous International successes (which include a
Tel: 020-7486 8222
Fax: 020-7486 3355 silver medal in the Bermuda Bowl) everyone is aware of his out-
email: info@bridgeshop.com standing record in both the Gold Cup and the Camrose Trophy
http://www.bridgeshop.com (in which he is England’s most capped player).
Editor:
Mark Horton Up for the Cup
Assistant Editors:
Sandra Landy Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School (HABS) from Elstree, North-
Neil Rosen
Christina Lund Madsen West London, has won the Bridge Magazine Schools Cup for the
Advertising: sixth time in a row. The team of Jack Ronayne, Dylan Dissan-
Matthew Read ayake, Jonathan Clark and Kripa Panchagnula claimed the title
Photographer: which HABS has won every year since 2010.
Ron Tacchi
Proofreaders: They beat the team of Aaron Hutton, David Dichmont, Anna Hut-
Danny Roth
Monica Kummel ton & James Burman, from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in
Typesetter: Horncastle, Lincolnshire by 23 IMPs in the final.
Ron Tacchi
BRIDGE Magazine is published The Editor’s almer mater, Nottingham High School, beat St Paul’s
monthly. School from London in the 3rd/4th place play-off.
Online Subscriptions:
1 year: £19.95 17 teams competed in the event, held at Loughborough Grammar
Individual Issue:
£2.00 School on 28th February. Those teams which did not qualify for
Distributors
CHESS & BRIDGE LTD.
the finals, or were not eligible for Schools Cup (as they were from
44 Baker Street
London W1U 7RT U.K.
more than one school) played in a consolation Swiss teams event
Views expressed in this publication are not for the Harry Scully Trophy. This was won by Harry Madden,
necessarily those of the Editor. Editorial
contributions will be published at the
Gideon Harvey, Daniel Winter & Bethany Madden. The team of
Editor’s discretion and may be shortened
if space is limited.
Liam Sanderson, Luke Dunne, Isaac Channon & Carlos Lapuerta,
No parts of this publication may be
reproduced without the prior express
from Westminster School, were second and won the Schools Plate
permission of the publishers. All rights
reserved. 2015
- the prize for the leading school in the Swiss competition.
Part of the winners’ prize were special commemorative playing
cards kindly donated by the Cutler Trust, the charitable trust of
the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards.


Giles Foster
Yorkshire stalwart Giles Foster passed away in February after a
brief spell in hospital.
Giles was born and brought up in Maidstone in Kent and grew
up with a love of music, playing both the cello and piano. He
moved to university in Leeds in the late fifties to study Maths
and began playing bridge. He was quickly taken under the wing
of the legendary Rita Oldroyd and she helped him to develop
his game.
A dedicated teacher, he found the time to build his own home
before moving to a farm with his wife Sheila.
Giles had a very long and illustrious bridge career both in Yorkshire and nationally. He was a Grand
Master and played for many years at national level with Rita and many players who have become
household names, including Tony Forrester, John Armstrong, Richard Winter, Steve Ray, Willy
Crook, Dessy Popova, Sally Brock & Sandra Penfold. (On more than one occasion he reluctantly
partnered your Editor) He often played for Yorkshire in the Tollemache and won the Wadding-
ton Shield nine times with four different partners.
In 1985 he won the Spring Fours and you will also find his name on Crockfords Cup and a host
of other trophies.
In the early days of using closed circuit TV at VuGraph presentations he became something of a
star as the cameraman and he later became a well-known commentator on BBO. His love of bridge
never faded. He won the last event he played in, the Yorkshire Pairs, just a few weeks before he died.
He leaves behind his wife of 33 years, Sheila, who has recently begun to play bridge in Giles’
footsteps.
He was a wonderful man to be around.
Camrose
There was a dramatic conclusion to this year’s contest for the Camrose Trophy.
When the last round started, Wales, who were playing Scotland, led with 131.36 VP.
Second-placed Ireland, on 119.19, faced Northern Ireland while England, 117.60 were up against
the NIBU.
England won their match 14.54-5-46 to finish on 132.48, but Ireland won 18.05-1.95 to post
a target of 137.24.
Needing 5.88 from their match Wales took an early lead, but Scotland played with plenty of
aggression and slowly but surely took control. They could afford the odd lapse (a couple of fail-
ing grand slams) and hard as Wales tried, they could not close the gap.
They lost 4.12-15.88 to finish an agonising second.
So, Wales were denied a second Camrose title and Ireland could celebrate their sixth victory.


Keep ‘em Peeled
Readers with a very long memory may recall that television presenter Shaw Taylor was the host of
Join us for Bridge, one of the few programmes to have made it to the small screen.
He was perhaps best known for his work on Police 5 (a forerunner of Crimewatch).
Sadly he died last month.
You can sample Join us for Bridge at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GQGfdlNYyM
Night of the Stars

Stars from around the world support the high profile charity bridge Pro-Am that operates purely
to raise money for charity and this year’s event raised more than £50,000, a new record.
You can see who took part at: http://www.nightofthestars.org.uk/
You will also find details of how to make a donation to this year’s charities, Maggies, Mencap,
React and The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability.
NEC Festival
Last month I reported that Jason Hackett, Brian Senior, John Holland & Gunnar Hallberg had
reached the semi-finals. They advanced to the final courtesy of a massive 78-5 win and in the final
they faced David Bakhshi, David Gold, Ricco van Prooijen & Louk Verhees.
It proved to be an exciting encounter and the result was still in the balance when the final deal hit
the table, but a solid result at both tables handed the title to Hackett & Co.
Early Birds
The EBU’s Easter Festival in London at the start of this month features a schedule that sees play
finish at 19.30 each day, which will allow the players to relax and discuss the hands over dinner.
Why not try it in Brighton?
In This Issue
I 6 Problem Corner— Ron Tacchi & Patrick Jourdain. I 85 Solution to Non-Prize Problem
I 7 The Full Danish— The editor areports on the I 86 Partnership Profile — Mark Horton
third Copenhagen Bridge Invitational. I 92 Test Your Defence — Julian Pottage
I 50 Choosing The Right Slam— An excerpt from GI 95 This Month’s Video Page
David Bird’s new book Winning Duplicate Tactics.
I 96 Solution to Test Your Defence
I 57 It’s That Man Again— The editor reports on the
2014 Gold Cup. I 97 Marks & Comments — Alan Mould
GI 80 The Abbot’s Bermuda Bowl Debut — David
Bowl

 Intermediate
Ron Tacchi and Solution to prize problem 301
Patrick Jourdain’s Major Detail
♠ AK J 9 ♠ 6
Problem
N
♥ 10 8 7 ♥ AK 3
♦ A Q J 10 3 W E ♦ K982
Corner
♣9 S ♣ J8754
After a simple auction you arrive in 6♦, against which
sponsored by North leads a small heart. Plan your play. What will
thwart your plan?
THE ORION PUBLISHING GROUP Your cunning plan is to ruff three major-suit cards
Master Bridge Series in dummy. This will give you eight trump tricks plus
your four top cards in the majors. You need to arrange
to be able to return to hand and to avoid any possibil-
Non-Prize Problem See Page 85 ity of an adverse ruff. So upon winning the first trick
in dummy you should immediately duck a club, this
South reaches Four Spades after West opens One Club will allow you to ruff clubs back into hand to continue
and East responds One Heart. How should South ruffing major-suit cards in dummy.
play on the ♥10 lead? Whatever the defence returns you are now in control.
♠ J95
There remains one thing you must do before embarking
♥ AK6
♦ 10 9 8 on your crossruff and that is to cash your four major
♣ Q742 suit winners, failure to do so would lead to defeat if
either defender is 2-2 in the majors. In this case when
♠ AK7432 you ruffed the third round of a major the defender
♥ J43 would discard from the other major and thus be able to
♦ A432 ruff when you tried to cash the second honour. This is
♣ — also the reason to play a club immediately rather than
cashing the top spades for a heart discard and ruffing
a spade. A defender who is 2-2 in the majors will dis-
card his second heart and when a club is led the other
defender can choose to win the club trick and give his
Email your answers to BMProb@vaupillon.com or send partner a heart ruff.
on a postcard to The Editor, Bridge Magazine, 44 Baker
Street, London, W1U 7RT. Entries must be received before
30th April. The first correct solution out of the hat will
receive £15 of BRIDGE Magazine book vouchers.
Look for Patrick Jourdain’s Problem Corner,
available from Chess & Bridge.
Congratulations
Prize Problem 300.
Harald Bletz, whose email address suggests he lives Prize Problem 302
in Germany, was fortunate enough to have his name A Chip off the Old Block
plucked from the hat of Mrs T. He gave a very detailed ♠ J86 N ♠ AK Q
exposition as to how to fulfil the contract, the epitome ♥ A7 4 2 ♥ 96
of how a solution should be presented ♦ K9653 W E ♦ A J 10
It would please me greatly if more subscribers entered ♣9 S ♣ AJ 9 6 2
the Prize Problem, your chances of winning the book After South opens the bidding with One Heart you
prize is quite high. A reminder that the email address arrive in 3NT. North leads the eight of hearts. South
to which you should now send your solutions is plays the ten, you duck and South continues with
BMProb@vaupillon.com. the king, North playing the five. How do you make
your contract?

 Intermediate
The Full Danish
The Editor reports on the third Copenhagen Bridge Invitational which took place in the
Danish capital in January.
W hat constitutes the perfect bridge tournament?

There is no consensus, as no two events, regardless of numbers or importance, are
exactly the same.
What is vital for one player is often a matter of indifference to another.
I am always surprised that events where play goes on late into the night (and sometimes extends
beyond that) are so well supported – wouldn’t everyone prefer play to finish at a civilized time
so that in the evening you are free to relax and discuss the deals over dinner in the company of
friends with good bottle(s) of wine an optional extra?
Copenhagen scores 10/10 on that point.
Players are entitled to expect good playing conditions and perfect performances from all the
technical support staff – directors, scoring team, bulletin etc.
There must have been a mistake in the Bulletin at some point so I would normally score that
at 9.5/10 but there was something extra special at this event – the use of the Bridge+Dealer, so
I’m going to mark that as:
Copenhagen 11/10.
The venue must be able to cope with the many foibles of the bridge playing community (it
also helps if it is well located). Given that it is only a short (albeit windy) walk into the centre of
Denmark’s capital city:
Got to give Copenhagen 10/10 on that one.
Hospitality can be tricky, but here it was impeccable from start to finish.
Copenhagen 10/10.
Accommodation can be a problem, but it’s hard to find fault with the Radisson Blue (okay the
shower in my room had a mind of its own, but that is more than offset by the fact that for the
first time I can remember I was next to the lifts instead of two miles down the corridor).
Copenhagen 10/10.
That’s a modest 51/50 for Copenhagen.
Because the event only takes place once every two years I have to deduct a point, making the
score 50/50.
By tradition the opening event is the Pro-Am where the stars who would compete in the Invi-
tational event were up for grabs. The minimum bid was DKK 1500 (€200) and that included
some lavish hospitality both before and after the event.
Dennis Bilde attracted the highest bid, DKK 4500, followed by the DKK 4000 paid for Sabine Auken.
His Royal Highness, the Prince Consort of Denmark is a keen player and he was on hand to
open the event (two years ago his hectic schedule allowed him to play).
The Gods will Decide

Trying to predict the winner of a Pro-Am tournament in any sport is just about impossible; so
much depends on how the partnerships meld together.
My own view was that Zia appeared to be in good form (admittedly this was based on just one
hand I quizzed him about during the short taxi ride from the airport – it was so good I’ll share
it with you).

 Intermediate
Looking at: ♠1098 ♥85 ♦8 ♣KJ107653 you see your opponents bid as follows: 1♦-1♥-3♠*-4♥-6♥.
Three Spades was a splinter and you have to lead.
With scarcely a pause for thought Zia went for the ♠10.
That was somewhat of an improvement on the club that was led at the table, as this was the
full deal:
Dealer East. N/S Vul.
♠ 10 9 8
♥ 85
♦8
♣ K J 10 7 6 5 3
♠ 742 N ♠ Q63
♥ QJ74 ♥ A K 10 3
♦ 9643 W E ♦ A K J 10 5 2
♣ A2 S ♣—
♠ AKJ5
♥ 962
♦ Q7
♣ Q984
Whatever you make of that, Zia was soon in hot water as the tournament got under way.
Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
♠7
♥ AJ962
♦ J 10 6 4 2
♣ KJ
♠ AK J 6 N ♠ Q 10 8 5 4 2
♥8 ♥Q
♦ AK 9 7 5 W E ♦ Q8
♣ 832 S ♣ 10 7 6 4
♠ 93
♥ K 10 7 5 4 3
♦3
♣ AQ95
West North East South
Mathiesen Auken Mahmood Capion
– – – Pass
1♦ 2♥ Pass 4♥
Pass Pass 4♠ 5♥
Double All Pass
Just a few weeks ago Zia and Sabine Auken were on the winning team in the World Mixed Teams
Championship, but here they were in opposition.
Zia struck gold with his 4♠ bid, but when South went on to 5♥ West could not resist doubling
and that resulted in -650.
It didn’t take long for another five-level contract to appear:

 Intermediate
Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
♠ Q3
♥ KQ3
♦ 53
♣ KJ9743
♠ AK 8 7 6 N ♠ J 10 9 5 2
♥ 8762 ♥4
♦ AJ 4 2 W E ♦ 10 9 8
♣— S ♣ AQ 8 6
♠4
♥ A J 10 9 5
♦ KQ76
♣ 10 5 2
Hansen Bessis Hanlon Kristensen
– – – Pass
1♠ 2♣ 4♠ 5♣
5♠ Pass Pass Double
All Pass
On a club lead declarer put in the queen, drew trumps, gave up a heart and subsequently lost a
diamond for +850.
I thought the Poker Stars did well on this deal:
Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
♠ A 10 3
♥ J8743
♦ J3
♣ K 10 6
♠ Q9 N ♠ 542
♥ A Q 10 ♥ K65
♦ K Q 10 8 W E ♦ A9 5
♣ 9853 S ♣ AQ J 2
♠ KJ876
♥ 92
♦ 7642
♣ 74
Brogeland Hanlon Kraunsøe Hansen
– 1NT* Double 2♠
3NT All Pass
1NT 10-13 (give or take a point)
North led the ace of spades and continued with the ten. After some thought South put up the
king and that was a fast one down.
Can you remember what you did when you were eleven years old?
Well, Christian Lahrmann played bridge!

 Intermediate
Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
♠ A J 10 2
♥—
♦ 9862
♣ Q J 10 9 3
♠ Q87 N ♠ K96543
♥ AK J 9 8 4 ♥ 10 7 6 3
♦ KJ7 W E ♦A
♣2 S ♣ 54
♠—
♥ Q52
♦ Q 10 5 4 3
♣ AK876
Cullin Hanlon Lahrmann Hansen
– – – 2♦*
2♥ 5♦ 5♥ 6♦
Double All Pass
West led the king of hearts and although that didn’t score the defenders had three trump tricks
to come for+300.
Christian Lahrmann
If
Some years ago I played in a Pro-Am in London with David Haig (he was Bernard in Four Wed-
dings and a Funeral) who later starred as Rudyard Kipling in My Boy Jack. That reminded me of
these lines from one of Kipling’s most famous poems:
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And-which is more-you’ll be a Man my son!
Slam bidding can be tough at the best of times – for a Pro-Am partnership even more so.

 Intermediate
Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
♠ AKJ85
♥ J 10 5
♦ J54
♣ 64
♠ 10 6 N ♠ 43
♥ 8764 ♥ AK Q 2
♦ A9 7 3 W E ♦ KQ8
♣ KQ8 S ♣ A5 3 2
♠ Q972
♥ 93
♦ 10 6 2
♣ J 10 9 7
Hagen VangLarsen Brenner Clausen
Pass Pass 1♣ Pass
1♥ 1♠ 2♠ 3♠
4♣ Pass 4♦ Pass
5♣ Pass 5♥ Pass
6♣ Pass 6♥ All Pass
The BBO commentators were of the opinion that by bidding 4♦ East convinced West he had a
spade control. Whatever you make of that theory North was happy to cash two spades.
Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ 10 8 4
♥ QJ63
♦ J 10 5 4
♣ 62
♠ A9 N ♠ J762
♥ AK 8 7 ♥ 95
♦ AK Q 6 W E ♦ 72
♣ QJ4 S ♣ AK 9 7 5
♠ KQ53
♥ 10 4 2
♦ 983
♣ 10 8 3
Skjønneman Helness Welland Jacobsgaard
– Pass Pass Pass
2♣* Pass 3♣ Pass
4♣ Pass 4♦ Pass
4♥ Pass 4NT Pass
5♦* Pass* 5♥* Pass
5NT* Pass 6♣ Pass
6NT All Pass
What a pity West fell at the final hurdle.
South led the king of spades and declarer could only muster eleven tricks.

 Intermediate
♠ K 10
♥ J 10 6
♦ A Q 10 6 4 2
♣ Q3
♠ J75 N ♠ 642
♥3 ♥ 942
♦ 853 W E ♦ K97
♣ A J 10 9 6 4 S ♣ K852
♠ AQ983
♥ AKQ875
♦J
♣7
Tokay Chagas Bune Skov
– 1♦ Pass 2♥
Pass 3♥ Pass 4NT*
Pass 5♣* Pass 6♥
All Pass
The combination of South’s game-forcing 2♥ and North’s raise led to the excellent slam.
West led the ace of clubs, but that was the last trick for the defenders, +980.
Last Board
One of my many current projects is a book I am writing with Eric Kokish that recounts deals that
have determined the outcome of important events – specifically the final ones.
After 20 of the 28 deals Alfredo Versace & Jan Nielsen (well known for his skill as a BBO
operator) Michael Barel (who won two years ago) & Lars Øgaard and Per-Ola Cullin & Chris-
tian Lahrmann (remember,just 11 years old!!) vied for the title, being separated by just 6 IMPs.
Four boards later Cullin & Lahrmann had taken the lead, while Thomas Vang Larsen & Ulla
Clausen had joined Versace & Nielsen in second place, with Barel & Øgaard right behind.
When the last board was a possible grand slam it was clear the event would go down to the wire.
The last deal of the Pro-Am certainly had the potential to play a vital role – and might just
make it into the book.

 Intermediate
Board 28. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
♠4
♥ 9875
♦ K98
♣ J 10 8 7 5
♠ KQ97 N ♠ A J 10 8 6 3
♥ AK 6 3 ♥2
♦ AQ J 7 3 W E ♦ 10 5
♣— S ♣ Q962
♠ 52
♥ Q J 10 4
♦ 642
♣ AK43
Mathiesen Zia
2♣* Pass 2♠ Pass
3♠ Pass 4NT* Pass
5♦* Double 6♠ All Pass
This was one of the auctions.

When South led the ace of clubs, Zia played a crossruff, scoring all ten trumps separately for
+1010.
He was the only declarer to take all the tricks, but my question is how good a grand slam is 7♠?
Unless the defenders start with a trump (the traditional, but perhaps overrated lead) declarer
can crossruff à la Zia. Even with a trump lead declarer is well in the game, especially if North has
doubled a diamond bid as here (unless Zia has swopped seats!)
When the final scores flashed up onto the giant screens in the playing room the huge burst of
cheers made it clear that we had a great story from day one, as Per-Ola Cullin & Christian Larh-
mann were confirmed as the winners.
Prodigies
In the world of chess it is not unusual for players to come to the fore at an early age.
The legendary Paul Morphy and José Raúl Capablanca won matches against strong adult oppo-
nents at the age of 12, and Samuel Reshevsky was giving simultaneous exhibitions aged six!
Since the fifteen-year-old Bobby Fischer became the youngest grandmaster in 1958 (a record
that stood until 1991 when it was surpassed by the strongest ever woman, Judit Polgar) it has fallen
steadily - in 2002 Sergey Karjakin, the current record holder achieved the title at the age of 12.
The reigning world champion, Magnus Carlsen was one year older when he got the title, but
now, aged 25 he is already the undisputed king of the Royal Game.
Watching Magnus destroy the world’s second-highest ranked player, 23 year old Fabiano Caru-
ana in the tournament at Wijk aan Zee, it prompted me to start a discussion over dinner as to
why we don’t have such prodigies at bridge.
One reason is that bridge is a partnership game – you might be brilliant, but you need a foil for your skills.
Reigning Bermuda Bowl champion Agustin Madala was a top-class player by the time he took
part in the World Youth Team Championships in Brazil in 2001, but his first world title only
came in 2013 when he was 26 years old.
At the 14th Red Bull World Bridge Series Open Team Championships in Sanya last year 18

 Intermediate
year old Michal Klukowski was a member of the Polish team that won the gold medals. I sat next
to him on the plane going to Hong Kong and he professed to being exhausted.
In Sanya, Marion Michielsen won two world titles, making her one of the youngest women to
hold such a title, but like Madala it took a while for her obvious skill as a junior to take her on
to a world title.
Denmark’s home-grown Christian Lahrmann caused a sensation here, but we had spotted him
at the Junior Championships in Burghausen last year and Patrick Jourdain had told me he already
had the demeanour of a Champion.
Italy and Poland have great bridge pedigree and can field powerful teams. Can Christian become
a world champion before he turns 18? Watch this space.
Before I move on to the main event I should mention that this year there was a third event, the
Radisson Blu Scandinavian IMP Pairs, which ran alongside the Invitational which offered a first
prize of not less than DKR 10,000, (€1340).
The Anglo/Welsh combination of David Burn & Laura Woodruff collected a handsome prize
by finishing fourth.
Eve Brenner & Frances Loughridge have not been playing long, but they told me they had
never enjoyed a bridge event more and are sure to be back in 2017 – my advice is to join them.
The Emperor’s New Clothes

One could be forgiven for imagining that the result in the Pro-Am was predicated on one of Hans
Christian Andersen’s fairy tales.
The legendary Danish story teller did not always deliver a happy ending, but frequently pre-
sented lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity, attributes that are more than useful
to a bridge player.
A new day demands a new theme, so in tribute to the great Dane I selected the title of one of
his most famous tales, but with a twist.
Andersen wrote about two weavers who promise an Emperor a new suit of clothes that is invis-
ible to those unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent. However, when the Emperor parades
before his subjects in his new clothes, a child cries out, “But he isn’t wearing anything at all!”
However, the day before travelling to the Danish capital I started reading a new account of the
Battle of Waterloo by Bernard Cornwall and that brought to mind The Emperor’s New Clothes
a 2001 film that stars Ian Holm as both Napoleon and Eugene Lenormand, a Napoleon look-
alike, Iben Hjejle as Nicole ‘Pumpkin’ Truchaut and Tim McInnerny as Dr. Lambert. The plot
re-invents the history surrounding Bonaparte’s exile to St. Helena following his defeat at Waterloo.
One last thing, Andersen’s story has been translated into over a hundred languages – this one
has a way to go.

 Intermediate
Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
♠ J854
♥ K7
♦ K Q 10 6 5 4
♣5
♠ A Q 10 7 6 3 N ♠ K2
♥ 96 ♥ A Q 10 5
♦9 W E ♦8
♣ AJ 7 4 S ♣ K Q 10 9 6 2
♠9
♥ J8432
♦ AJ732
♣ 83
Upmark Garvey Nystrom Carroll
– – 1♣ Pass
1♥* Pass 2♥ Pass
2♠ Pass 3♣ Pass
4♦* Pass 4♥* Pass
4NT* Pass 5♠* Pass
6♣ All Pass
1♥ Transfer to spades
4♦ Splinter
4♥ Cue-bid
4NT RKCB
5♠ 2 keys + the ♣Q
That was well bid to the top spot.
Notice that it is important to avoid 6♠ (and not everyone managed that).
♠6
♥ A98
♦ K 10 9 8 5
♣ J842
♠ J3 N ♠ A K 10 9 5 4 2
♥ J 10 6 5 2 ♥7
♦ QJ7643 W E ♦2
♣— S ♣ Q763
♠ Q87
♥ KQ43
♦A
♣ A K 10 9 5
– – – 1♣*
Pass 2♦* 4♠ Double
All Pass
2♦ 8-11 at least 5♦

 Intermediate
♠ 6 In theory N/S can collect +800 – South must lead the
♥ A98 ace of diamonds, then switch to hearts, North taking the
♦ K 10 9 8 5 ace and returning a spade.
♣ J842
Here South led the king of clubs and declarer ruffed
♠ J3 N ♠ AK109542
♥ J 10 6 5 2 ♥ 7 and played the jack of hearts to South’s queen. A spade
♦ QJ7643 W E ♦ 2 went to dummy’s jack (perhaps South should have cashed
♣— S ♣ Q763 the ace of diamonds first) and declarer played a heart,
♠ Q87 North erring by going up with the ace. Now declarer
♥ KQ43 played three rounds of trumps, North pitching the nine
♦ A
♣ A K 10 9 5 of hearts followed by the five, ten and nine of diamonds.
That third trump gave South a chance to get rid of the
ace of diamonds, but he hung on to it and declarer missed the chance for the endplay for one down.
South did eventually pitch the offending ace on the last trump and declarer exited with a club.
South put on the nine and now it was North’s turn to fall from grace by failing to overtake with
the jack.
Declarer collected a club at the end for only one down, -200, sure to be worth a few IMPs.
Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
♠ J963
♥J
♦ AQ843
♣ 732
♠ Q7 N ♠ 542
♥ Q853 ♥ K 10 7 6 4 2
♦ J 10 W E ♦ K96
♣ Q 10 8 6 5 S ♣A
♠ A K 10 8
♥ A9
♦ 752
♣ KJ94
– – 2♥ Double
3♥ 4♠ All Pass
East led the ace of clubs and switched to the six of diamonds. Declarer won with the queen and
cashed dummy’s top trumps. When the queen fell he came to hand with a diamond, drew the
outstanding trump and gave up a diamond, +450, which did not look at all shabby.
The Irish pair had made a dramatic start, winning this match by 109 IMPs to go to the top of
the leader board.

 Intermediate
The Spinning Tops
Tivoli Gardens (or simply Tivoli) is a famous amusement park and pleasure garden in Copenhagen,
Denmark. The park opened on 15 August 1843 and is the second oldest amusement park in the
world after Dyrehavsbakken in nearby Klampenborg.
With 4.033 million visitors in 2012, Tivoli is the second most popular seasonal theme park
in the world, the most visited theme park in Scandinavia and the fourth most visited in Europe,
only behind Disneyland Paris, Europa-Park Rust and the Efteling.
The newest ride, Aquila, opened on 11 April 2013. It is a giant swing and spinner with cen-
trifugal powers up to 4 G, named after the constellation of the Eagle.
As the park is closed until 1 April we will have to make do with the thrill of the Bridge Spin-
ner as we head off to Round 2.
♠ AJ654
♥—
♦ J54
♣ K J 10 5 3
♠ 983 N ♠ Q7
♥ J3 ♥ A Q 10 9 8 7 6 5
♦ A Q 10 9 6 W E ♦8
♣ Q84 S ♣ 97
♠ K 10 2
♥ K42
♦ K732
♣ A62
Brenner Fredin Chagas Fallenius
– – – 1♣
1♦ 1♠ 2♥ Double*
Pass 4♠ All Pass
Double three-card spade support
East led his diamond and West played three rounds of the suit. East ruffed and understandably
tried to cash the ace of hearts. Declarer ruffed, drew trumps, and pitched two clubs on dummy’s
red suit kings.
At this point if declarer had ruffed dummy’s last heart he would have been 100% sure of the
distribution, West being known to be 3-2-5-3. I recall Andrew Robson saying (no doubt with
tongue in cheek) that in this situation you work out who has three cards in the suit and then play
for the queen to be doubleton.
Declarer didn’t bother with a heart ruff, simply playing a club to the king - one down, which
did not look promising.

 Intermediate
Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
♠ Q 10 6 2
♥ K63
♦ 864
♣ 942
♠ J93 N ♠ AK 5
♥ A J 10 9 7 5 ♥—
♦5 W E ♦ AK J 9 7 3 2
♣ QJ7 S ♣ A 10 3
♠ 874
♥ Q842
♦ Q 10
♣ K865
– Pass 2♣* Pass
2NT* Pass 3♦ Pass
3♥* Pass 3♠ Pass
3NT Pass 4♣ Pass
5NT* Pass 6♦ All Pass
2NT 5+hearts at least two honours
3♥ 6+ hearts
5NT Pick a slam
South led the four of hearts and declarer won with dummy’s ace pitching a spade and ran the
queen of clubs to South’s king. He ruffed the heart return, crossed to dummy with a club and
played a diamond to the jack and queen – one down and probably a big result for N/S.
Consider this:
If South held two small diamonds might he not smoothly duck the queen of clubs? Then he
can win the second club finesse and declarer has no entry to dummy to finesse in diamonds.
On that basis declarer might reject the trump finesse.
It depends on how much you trust your opponents’ defence.
The Prince Consort watches Sabine Auken

and Thomas Bessis using the Bridge Spinner

 Intermediate
Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
♠ AQJ7
♥ 72
♦ Q9653
♣ 87
♠2 N ♠ K 10 9 8 3
♥ AK J 6 5 3 ♥4
♦ K2 W E ♦ AJ 7
♣ J963 S ♣ AK Q 4
♠ 654
♥ Q 10 9 8
♦ 10 8 4
♣ 10 5 2
– – 1♠ Pass
2♥ Pass 2NT Pass
3♣ Pass 4♣ Pass
4♦* Pass 4NT* Pass
5♦* Pass 6♣ All Pass
4♦ Cue-bid
4NT RKCB
5♦ 1 key
Declarer won the trump lead in dummy, took a second round, played a heart to the ace, ruffed
a heart, played a diamond to the king, ruffed a heart, cashed the ace of diamonds, ruffed a dia-
mond, drew the last trump and cashed three hearts, +920.
Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul.
♠ AQ532
♥ AQJ6
♦ A86
♣5
♠ K 10 9 8 7 4 N ♠—
♥ K3 ♥ 984
♦ 10 4 3 W E ♦ J97
♣ A7 S ♣ QJ98642
♠ J6
♥ 10 7 5 2
♦ KQ52
♣ K 10 3
2♠ All Pass
As he displayed dummy Gabriel Chagas remarked ‘I don’t think you are going to make it’.
North’s opening lead of the ♥Q ran to declarer’s king and he played back a heart, North tak-
ing the jack and switching to the five of clubs for the queen, king and ace.

 Intermediate
Declarer returned a club and North ruffed and played the ace of hearts, declarer ruffing and
playing a diamond to the nine and South’s queen. A diamond to the ace and a diamond to the
king saw South play the last diamond and when declarer ruffed with the ten of spades North dis-
carded his last heart. West exited with a spade and South won with the jack – three down, -300.
How good that would be was hard to say – it could have been worse if South had somehow
scraped up a double.
Meanwhile at another table:
Giubilo Gromov Cima Dubinin
1♠ Pass 1NT Pass
2♠ Pass 3♣ Pass
Pass Double Pass 3♦
All Pass
Might South have passed North’s double?

Too risky perhaps, but it would have netted +500.
On the ace of clubs lead declarer was +170.
The Swedes won by 38 IMPs to move into third place. Meanwhile the heroes of round 1 met
a grizzly fate at the hands of the new leaders, Helgemo & Helness who chalked up 131 IMPs to
add to the 73 they collected in the first Round.
The Castle
Borgen is a Danish one-hour political drama television series. It tells the story of charismatic pol-
itician Birgitte Nyborg who unexpectedly becomes the first female Prime Minister of Denmark.
Borgen (the Castle) is the nickname of Christiansborg Palace, which houses all three of Denmark’s
branches of government: the Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Supreme Court.
It is produced by DR, who are also responsible for another international Danish hit series, The
Killing.
Thirty episodes, divided into three seasons, were produced, the last of them starting in Janu-
ary 2013.
We don’t have 30 episodes, but we do have 19 rounds that that can easily contain just as much
drama as a television series.
Let’s take a look at some of the happenings from the rest of the first day’s play.

 Intermediate
Round 3
This deal was a nasty test for declarer that not everyone managed to pass.
♠ QJ62
♥ J65
♦A
♣ A Q 10 9 7
♠ K8 N ♠ 10 7 5 4 3
♥ A9 2 ♥ Q 10 7
♦ J 10 7 6 2 W E ♦ 98
♣ KJ3 S ♣ 865
♠ A9
♥ K843
♦ KQ543
♣ 42
Versace Barel Tokay Zack
1♦ Double Pass 2♦*
Pass 2♠ Pass 2NT
Pass 3NT All Pass
West led the two of diamonds and declarer won perforce in dummy, played a spade to the ace
and club to the queen. When that held he cleared the clubs and West won the third round and
returned a heart for the jack, queen and king. Declarer could cash a couple of diamonds, but the
defenders had the rest for +200.
It doesn’t feel right to lose contact with dummy – see what happened at another table:
Larsen Konow Lund Madsen Askgaard
1♦ Double Pass 2♦*
Pass 2♠ Pass 3NT
All Pass
After a similar start Askgaard simply jumped to 3NT over 2♠.

He won the diamond lead with the ace and played a spade to the nine and king. He took the
diamond return, played a club to the ten, a spade to the ace, cashed the queen of diamonds, played
a club to the queen and dummy’s winners meant eleven tricks, +660.
As the cards lie declarer will always make the contract by playing the queen or ten of clubs at
trick two – given West’s opening bid it is certainly a possible line of play.
It was a feature of the event that during the early stages that no sooner had a pair hit the front
with a big win that they were immediately brought back to earth.
Here it was Helgeness who were hit hard, going down to Bessis squared by no less than 158
IMPs, while, on this ‘dull’ set Versace & Tokay posted 111 IMPs to move to the top.

 Intermediate
Round 4
In this round Bessis Père et Fils (good name for a wine producer don’t you think) were E/W against
Hanlon & McIntosh.
On Board 9 N/S, holding ♠AKQ75 ♥QJ976 ♦84 ♣5 opposite ♠106 ♥K10 ♦KQ7652 ♣Q84
bid (somewhat mysteriously) 1♠-3♦*-3♥-3♠-4♠ and now West ventured a double with ♠J9843
♥A852 ♦A3 ♣A10. Still it only went one down.
My au pair responded 1NT and corrected 2♥ to 2♠. She asks when her invitation for 2017
will arrive.
On 10 N/S reached 5♣ with ♠9762 ♥AQ43 ♦876 ♣A5 facing ♠AK8 ♥K ♦AQ5 ♣KJ8742.
With West holding ♠Q103 ♥J8 ♦KJ1092♣Q93 eleven tricks were easy enough, but a spectator
asked if you can make 6♣?
Well, win the spade lead, cash the ♣K, the ♠K and then overtake the ♥K and pitch a spade on
the ♥Q, ruff a spade, go to dummy with a club and pitch a diamond on a spade. West can ruff
and be endplayed now, or discard and be endplayed later, as declarer ruffs a heart and if West
doesn’t overruff he is thrown in with a trump.
Very neat but surely impossible to find.
In any event, if West starts with a heart lead you have no chance.
On the next deal Hanlon doubled the opening bid of 1♦ with ♠AQ96 ♥10643 ♦KQ5 ♣J4.
That easily located the 5-4 spade fit, South having ♠KJ752 ♥Q98 ♦2 ♣AK96 but 4♠ was quickly
defeated by three rounds of hearts (♥AK52 opposite ♥J7) and the ♦A.
3NT would have made in reasonable comfort.
The Bessis boys chalked up 116 IMPs, but that was nothing compared to the 283 that was
assembled by Barel/Zack, giving us yet another change of leader.
Round 5
There was a Tiger loose on this deal:
♠ 10
♥ 96543
♦ J964
♣ K62
♠J N ♠ K97643
♥ J8 ♥ A 10
♦ Q1087532 W E ♦ AK
♣ A J 10 S ♣ Q83
♠ AQ852
♥ KQ72
♦—
♣ 9754
Bilde Auken Bilde Welland
– – 1♠ Pass
1NT* Pass 2♣* Pass
2♦ Pass 2NT Pass
3NT Pass Pass Double

 Intermediate
♠ 10 All Pass
♥ 96543
♦ J964 South knew things were breaking badly and after a spade
♣ K62 lead (this type of double is generally interpreted as asking
♠ J N ♠ K 9 7 6 4 3 for the lead of the first suit bid by dummy) he would get
♥ J8 ♥ A 10 a chance to decide how to continue the defence.
♦ Q 10 8 7 5 3 2 W E ♦ AK
♣ A J 10 S ♣ Q83 North led the ten of spades and South won with the
♠ AQ852 queen and switched to the seven of clubs. North won
♥ KQ72 with the king and returned the three of hearts, South
♦ — winning with the queen and returning the two. Declarer
♣ 9754 won and played the king of spades and South won and
the defenders took their hearts for three down, +500.
There was an interesting point on this deal:
♠ 975
♥ 98
♦ K J 10 3
♣ AJ73
♠ A K 10 8 3 N ♠ Q4
♥2 ♥ 10 7 6 5 4
♦ A8 7 W E ♦ 6542
♣ 10 8 6 4 S ♣ K2
♠ J62
♥ AKQJ3
♦ Q9
♣ Q95
Helgemo Michielsen Helness Zia
– – – 1NT
2♠ Double* Pass 3♥
Pass 3♠* Double 4♥
All Pass
West led the ace of spades followed by the king, then cashed the ace of diamonds before giving
East a spade ruff for one down.
Given East’s double was it possible for West to have underled his spades at any point?
As Professor Joad might say, ‘It all depends on what you mean by double.’
On 23 Michielsen/Zia had ♠QJ954 ♥9 ♦A10842 ♣AJ facing ♠2 ♥AK1082 ♦KQJ97 ♣K6
and bid 1♥-1♠-3♦-4♦-4NT*-5♠*-6♦,which made easily despite the 3-0 trump break, declarer
putting his cards down after West had cashed the king of spades and asking ‘Can you beat this?’
At the end of this round all the pairs had appeared once on BBO so we could now concentrate
on the most interesting-looking matches.

 Intermediate
Round 6
We had second (the Irish) against tenth (the Italian/Turkish alliance) and third (Cullin/Bertheau)
versus seventh (Helgemo/Helness).
♠ 983
♥ AJ4
♦ A873
♣ J64
♠ A Q J 10 6 5 N ♠ K72
♥ 987 ♥ Q52
♦ J65 W E ♦ KQ9
♣A S ♣ K753
♠4
♥ K 10 6 3
♦ 10 4 2
♣ Q 10 9 8 2
Versace Garvey Tokay Carroll
– Pass 1♣ Pass
1♠ Pass 1NT Pass
2♣* Pass 2♠* Pass
3NT All Pass
2♣ Checkback
2♠ Minimum with three spades
South led the nine of clubs and declarer won with dummy’s ace and played a diamond. Seeing
all four hands it is clear for North to hop up with the ace and switch to hearts (N/S play Smith
Peters, so they would surely have got that right) but alas, he could only see two and when he
played low declarer claimed, +600.
Defending 4♠ by East, Helgemo led a heart for a rapid one down.
On 27 Garvey held ♠AQ103 ♥J875 ♦J632 ♣10 and saw his partner open 2♣. Then E/W bid
2♥-3♦-3♥-3NT and when Garvey doubled East ran to 4♦. Having said A Garvey decided against
saying B (thereby denying the old Russian proverb). 4♦ finished two down.
By posting a massive 329 IMP gain the men from Monaco swept to the top of the table for
the second time.

 Intermediate
Round 7
♠ A9
♥ AKQ9
♦ 10 7 5 2
♣ 10 6 5
♠ 42 N ♠ K Q 10 7 3
♥ J76432 ♥ 10
♦J W E ♦ A9
♣ KQ98 S ♣ J7432
♠ J865
♥ 85
♦ KQ8643
♣A
Welland Askgaard Auken Konow
– – 1♠ Pass
2♣* Pass Pass 2♦
3♣ 3♥ All Pass
2♣ Like a forcing 1NT
Not a great result for N/S, who broke Burn’s Law of Total Trumps (which requires declarer to
have more trumps than the defenders) but reaching 5♦ was never going to be easy unless South
had risked an immediate overcall.
3♥ drifted two down, -200.
Upmark Bilde Nyström Bilde
– – 1♠ 2♦
2♥ 2♠* Pass 3♦
Pass 3NT All Pass
When East led a (dare one call it pedestrian) king of spades declarer won and forced out the ace
of diamonds, emerging with eleven tricks, +660.
♠ Q7
♥ AK975
♦ 82
♣ Q 10 6 3
♠ 52 N ♠ A K J 10 4 3
♥ QJ63 ♥ 82
♦ A K 10 3 W E ♦ 9754
♣ KJ7 S ♣5
♠ 986
♥ 10 4
♦ QJ6
♣ A9842
 Intermediate
1NT* 2♥* 4♥* Pass
4♠ All Pass
1NT 14-16, any 5-4 or 6322 or singleton honour possible
2♥ Hearts and a minor
4♥ Transfer to spades
North cashed his hearts and played a third round on which declarer pitched dummy’s club. South
ruffed and returned the six of diamonds. Declarer gave it a look before playing low, so that was +620.
♠ K632
♥ Q876
♦ A875
♣K
♠ 984 N ♠ Q 10 7
♥ AK J 9 ♥ 10 4 3
♦ 10 9 W E ♦ K2
♣ Q 10 8 7 S ♣ J5432
♠ AJ5
♥ 52
♦ QJ643
♣ A96
– – Pass 1♦*
1♥ Double 2♥ Double*
Pass 3♥* Double* Redouble*
Pass 3NT All Pass
Double 3 card spade support
Redble 2 or more small hearts
I wonder if North considered passing South’s double of 2♥?
East led the three of hearts and West won with the ace and switched to the ten of clubs. Declarer
took the ace and played ace of diamonds and a diamond, East winning and playing a club. Declarer
took dummy’s ace, cashed dummy’s diamonds, played a spade to the king, a spade to the jack and
the ace of spades for nine tricks.
Upmark Bilde Nyström Bilde
– – Pass 1♦
Pass 1♥ Pass 1NT
Pass 2♣* Pass 2♦*
Pass 2♠ All Pass
Even in these inflationary times one of the oldest rules in bridge is still worth observing: if your
partner opens the bidding and you also have an opening bid it is incumbent upon you to ensure
your side reaches game. Declarer took ten tricks in spades for +170.
At the end of day one Helgemo & Helness led with 452 IMPs from Brogeland & Birman on 326.

 Intermediate
Midsummer Murders
The success of the Danish television series, The Killing and Borgen is apparently matched by the
unexpected popularity of the English detective drama Midsomer Murders.
After it was revealed that it was Denmark’s best ever acquisition, the show’s 100th episode was
set partly in Midsomer’s first ever murder location at Badger’s Drift and also in Copenhagen, where
the English policemen joined forces with Nordic Noir favourites from The Killing and Borgen,
Ann Eleanora Jorgensen from The Killing, and Birgitte Hjort Sorensen from Borgen for a one-off
drama entitled The Killings at Copenhagen.
Midsomer tycoon Eric Calder is poisoned by one his company’s own empty biscuit tins whilst in
Copenhagen to seal a contract. As the goods were sent from Midsomer, detective Birgitte Poulsen
asks DCI Barnaby to investigate. He finds that Eric’s son Harry had no interest in the family
firm but had recently rowed with Eric whilst his wife Penelope has been having an affair with his
brother Julian. Also in the frame is chief baker Armand Stone, a man with a good knowledge of
chemistry. Julian is also murdered, drowned in whisky, but Barnaby and Nelson fly to Copen-
hagen from where a floral tribute was sent to Eric’s funeral, paid for by a credit card stolen from
Pastor Thomas Madsen. They find that Eric has been involved for many years with Ingrid Mad-
sen, by whom he has a daughter. Whilst Barnaby works out the identity of the daughter there are
more deaths back at Midsomer and he must link them with the killings of Copenhagen.
That plot has just about as many twists and turns as you can expect to find on the average bridge hand.
In Saturday’s opening match the leaders took on the Bildes while second placed Versace/Tokay
had to contend with Chagas/Brenner.
There was no shortage of drama – to begin with Dennis Bilde was late making his entrance
(was his understudy warming up?)
♠ A 10
♥ A J 10 5
♦ A9
♣ A J 10 4 3
♠ 965 N ♠ J8743
♥ Q63 ♥9
♦ J 10 5 4 3 W E ♦ 62
♣ 92 S ♣ KQ765
♠ KQ2
♥ K8742
♦ KQ87
♣8
Helgemo Bilde Helness Bilde
– – – 1♥
Pass 2NT* Pass 3♣*
Pass 3♠* Pass 4♣
Pass 4♦* Pass 4NT*
Pass 5♣* Double 5♦
Pass 6♥ All Pass
2NT Game-forcing with heart support
Declarer lost a heart, +980.

 Intermediate
West North East South ♠ A 10
Brenner Tokay Chagas Versace ♥ A J 10 5
♦ A9
– – – 1♥
♣ A J 10 4 3
Pass 2♣* Pass 2♦* ♠ 965 ♠ J8743
Pass 2♥* Pass 2♠* N
♥ Q63 ♥ 9
Pass 2NT* Pass 3♦* ♦ J 10 5 4 3 W E ♦ 62
Pass 3♥* Pass 3♠* ♣ 92 S ♣ KQ765
Pass 4♣ Double Pass ♠ KQ2
Pass Redouble* Pass 4♦ ♥ K8742
♦ KQ87
Pass 4♠ Pass 5♥ ♣ 8
Pass 5♠ Pass 5NT
Pass 7♥ All Pass
2♣ Game-forcing relay
2♦ 4+♦
2♥ Relay
2♠ Minimum
2NT Relay
3♦ Not super-minimum
3♥ Relay
3♠ Short clubs
Redble First-round club control
West led the two of clubs and declarer won with dummy’s ace, crossed to the king of hearts and
played a heart. It appeared that East was long in clubs, so declarer put in dummy’s ten for a dra-
matic +1510.
♠ J 10 7 4 3
♥7
♦ 853
♣ 10 8 7 5
♠ Q6 N ♠2
♥ K9853 ♥ AJ 6 4 2
♦ A6 2 W E ♦ Q94
♣ Q43 S ♣ A9 6 2
♠ AK985
♥ Q 10
♦ K J 10 7
♣ KJ
Pass Pass 1♥ 1♠
2♠* 4♠ Double All Pass
West led the three of hearts and East took the ace and returned the four of diamonds for the jack
and ace. Given the opening bid there was no way declarer was going to go wrong in clubs, so
that was +790.

 Intermediate
♠ K95
♥ AK742
♦—
♣ A K 10 5 4
♠ A 10 N ♠ J7642
♥ J53 ♥ Q6
♦ AKQ10653 W E ♦ J942
♣J S ♣ 97
♠ Q83
♥ 10 9 8
♦ 87
♣ Q8632
– – Pass Pass
1♦ 2NT* Pass 4♣
4♦ 6♣ All Pass
Was North expecting a little more from South for his jump to 4♣?
Perhaps, but change the colour of the queen of spades to red and 6♣ would have rolled home.
West led the ace of spades and declarer had to lose a heart for one down, -50.
Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
♠ KJ2
♥ A63
♦ KQJ5
♣ J64
♠ 865 N ♠ A 10 3
♥ 10 7 ♥ QJ8
♦ 10 W E ♦ A9 7 6 2
♣ AQ 10 9 8 7 5 S ♣ 32
♠ Q974
♥ K9542
♦ 843
♣K
3♣ Double Pass 4♣*
Pass 4♦ Pass 4♥
All Pass
Not everyone would double with North’s hand, but at least it conveyed the message of some high
card strength.
West led his diamond and East won and returned the nine of diamonds for West to ruff. After
cashing the ace of clubs a spade to the ace enabled East to give West a second ruff and the defend-
ers still had a trump to come for three down, -150.

 Intermediate
The auction and result were duplicated at my other featured table.
Helgemo/Helness scored 131 IMPs to stay on top, ahead of Carroll/Garvey who chalked up
266 against Brogeland/Birman, while Versace/Tokay’s 117 saw them drop to third.
Round 9
♠ J 10 3
♥ A J 10 8
♦ A6
♣ AJ92
♠ AK 4 N ♠6
♥ 965 ♥ Q74
♦ K Q 10 3 W E ♦ J97542
♣ K 10 6 S ♣ 753
♠ Q98752
♥ K32
♦8
♣ Q84
Fredin Auken Fallenius Welland
– 1NT* Pass 2♣*
Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥*
Pass 2NT* Pass 3♥*
Pass 4♠* All Pass
1NT 14-16
2♣ Forces 2♦
2♥ 4♠ game-forcing,5+♠ invitational
2NT Maximum
3♥ Retransfer to spades
4♠ 3♠ would not be forcing
This hand illustrates the power of a six card suit facing a reasonable number of points.
East led the four of diamonds and declarer won with the ace, ruffed a diamond and played the
queen of spades. West took the king and continued with the ace and four of spades. Declarer won
in dummy and played the queen of clubs for the king and ace, then played the jack of hearts to
the king and ran the eight of clubs for a majestic +450.

 Intermediate
Board 10. Dealer East. All Vul.
♠ 6432
♥ AKJ9876
♦K
♣5
♠ KQJ9 N ♠ A8 5
♥ 10 2 ♥—
♦ J42 W E ♦ AQ 8 7 6 5
♣ KQ86 S ♣ A7 4 2
♠ 10 7
♥ Q543
♦ 10 9 3
♣ J 10 9 3
– – 1♦ Pass
1NT* 3♥ Pass Pass
3♠ Pass 5♥* Pass
5NT* Pass 6♦ All Pass
1NT Game-forcing relay
5♥ Exclusion Keycard
5NT 1/4 keys
South led the jack of clubs and declarer won with the ace and cashed the ace of diamonds, claim-
ing all the tricks when the king appeared, +1390.
Zia Tokay Michielsen Versace
– – 1♦ Pass
1♠ 3♥ Double 4♥
Double All Pass
South followed the simple rule of raising partner with four-card support and reaped a huge reward,
4♥ doubled finishing one down, -200.
♠ 10 8 2
♥ 843
♦ Q4
♣ 76532
♠ AJ 7 5 N ♠ 964
♥K ♥ Q652
♦ J 10 7 3 W E ♦ K92
♣ K984 S ♣ AQ J
♠ KQ3
♥ A J 10 9 7
♦ A865
♣ 10

 Intermediate
– – – 1♥
Double 3♥ Double Pass
3♠ Pass 3NT All Pass
South led the ten of hearts and when dummy’s king held (North following with the eight) declarer
played the jack of diamonds, covered in turn by the queen, king and ace. South switched to the
three of spades and declarer went up with dummy’s ace, played four rounds of clubs, a diamond
to the nine and a diamond to the seven for +400.
I suppose South might have led the ace of hearts – but perhaps that’s simply too difficult.
Zia Tokay Michielsen Versace
– – – 1♥
Double Pass 2♥* Pass
2♠ Pass 2NT Pass
3NT All Pass
South led a heart. It was the ace.

Versace may have a future in this game,+50.
Board12. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
♠ 10 9
♥ 10 7 4
♦ 72
♣ AJ9874
♠ A6 5 2 N ♠Q
♥ 93 ♥ AK J 5 2
♦ AJ 6 W E ♦ Q984
♣ 6532 S ♣ K Q 10
♠ KJ8743
♥ Q86
♦ K 10 5 3
♣—
Pass Pass 1♥ 1♠
1NT 2♣ Double Redouble*
Pass 2♠ Pass Pass
Double All Pass
Redble Help!
West led the nine of hearts and East took the ace and king and then played the two for West to
ruff. A low spade was covered by the queen and king and when South played back a spade West
went in with the ace and exited with his last one. Declarer cashed two more spades and exited
with a diamond to East’s eight. He ruffed the heart return and played another diamond and West
went up with the ace and returned the jack to declarer’s king, East taking the last trick with the
queen of diamonds for two down, -500.

 Intermediate
On Board 14 Welland, second in hand at white opened 3♣ on ♠J5 ♥K9 ♦1075 ♣KQJ1073,
but after two passes East, with ♠AQ76 ♥10832 ♦KJ93 ♣9 had an easy double and West, with
♠K42 ♥Q7 ♦AQ64 ♣A652 converted it for +300.
On Board 15 Versace/Tokay reached a poor 6♠ with ♠KQJ52 ♥1063 ♦AK8 ♣84 facing ♠A98
♥KJ985 ♦J9 ♣AK6 – and when the heart suit did not oblige it had to go one down.
The top three all scored well – Helgeness stayed on top with a 144, Versace/Tokay’s 222 meant
they were second and Carroll/Garvey clocked up 119 to be third.
IMP Wars
There was no shortage of excitement as play resumed after lunch.
Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
♠ KJ2
♥ K82
♦ J942
♣ Q97
♠ AQ 9 8 N ♠ 74
♥ Q643 ♥ A9
♦ Q87 W E ♦ K 10 6 3
♣ 54 S ♣ J8632
♠ 10 6 5 3
♥ J 10 7 5
♦ A6
♣ A K 10
Helgemo Konow Helness Askgaard
– Pass Pass 1♦
Pass 1NT Pass Pass
2♣* Double All Pass
2♣ Majors
I suspect many readers may not have encountered the idea that Helgemo used here. It turned out
badly. After a diamond to the ace South returned the suit and declarer won with dummy’s ten
and played the ace of hearts and a heart to the queen and king. South ruffed the diamond return
and switched to the six of spades, North winning with the king and playing his last diamond for
South to ruff. Declarer won the spade switch with dummy’s ace, ruffed a heart and played a club.
South won and could exit in either major forcing declarer to ruff and lead into North’s ♣Q9 for
three down, -500.

 Intermediate
♠ A84
♥ A 10 8 6 3
♦ 985
♣ 83
♠ 10 9 7 2 N ♠ KJ65
♥J ♥ KQ9742
♦ K4 W E ♦ Q2
♣ QJ9642 S ♣ 10
♠ Q3
♥5
♦ A J 10 7 6 3
♣ AK75
– – 1♥ 2♦
Double 3♣ 3♠ 4♣
Pass 4♦ Pass 5♦
All Pass
West led the jack of hearts and declarer went up with dummy’s ace and played the four of spades.
East went in with the king and had only to play a heart to ensure the demise of the contract. When
he switched to his club declarer won with the ace, unblocked the queen of spades and played ace
of diamonds and a diamond for +600.
Bertheau Tokay Cullin Versace
– – 1♥ 2♦
Pass 2NT Pass 3NT
Double 4♦ All Pass
What did West base his double on?

Answers on a postcard to....
It served its purpose when North ran to what he hoped would be a safer spot.
West led the jack of hearts and declarer won with dummy’s ace and cashed his top clubs – well
he would have done except East ruffed the second one, played the queen of hearts, ruffed and
overruffed, West contiuing with the jack of clubs, ruffed and overruffed and when East played
another heart declarer discarded a spade and West ruffed for one down, -100.
Yes, 3NT doubled would have made in comfort, and if East starts with a top heart an over-
trick is possible.

 Intermediate
♠ Q 10 9 4
♥ A K 10
♦ Q7
♣ J 10 9 6
♠ KJ8765 N ♠ A2
♥3 ♥ Q9875
♦ 52 W E ♦ AK
♣ AK 8 5 S ♣ Q743
♠3
♥ J642
♦ J 10 9 8 6 4 3
♣2
– – – 3♦
3♠ Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Double Redouble All Pass
South led the two of hearts and North won with the king and switched to the queen of dia-
monds. Declarer won with the king and played back the nine of hearts, pitching a spade from
dummy. North won with the ace and played his remaining diamond. Declarer won, cashed the
ace of spades, took dummy’s top clubs, came to hand with a club, cashed the queen of hearts and
played a spade to the nine. North could win and cash a club, but then had to lead into the spade
tenace, a delightful +1000.
– – – Pass
1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass
2♠ Pass 2NT Pass
3♣ Pass 3♦ Pass
South led the jack of diamonds for the queen and king and declarer played the ace of spades and a
spade to the king. When he played a heart North took the ace and returned a diamond. Declarer
could win and cash three clubs, but the defenders had the rest, +200.

 Intermediate
Board 7. Dealer East All Vul.
♠ AJ987532
♥ KJ
♦ K76
♣—
♠— N ♠4
♥ A9 4 2 ♥ Q 10 6
♦ J 10 9 8 2 W E ♦ 543
♣ K Q 10 6 S ♣ AJ 9 8 5 3
♠ K Q 10 6
♥ 8753
♦ AQ
♣ 742
– – – 1♦*
Pass 1♠ Pass 2♠
Double 4♣ 5♣ Pass
Pass 6♠ All Pass
1♦ Viking Precision
East led the six of hearts and declarer was soon claiming, +1430.
– – – Pass
Pass 4♠ Pass Pass
Double Pass 5♣ 5♠
6♣ Double All Pass
South led the three of hearts and North won with the king and switched to the six of diamonds.
South won with the ace and returned the queen, and with a nod to Forquet North overtook it
with the king and returned the seven for South to ruff, three down, -800.
(Just in case you have not seen it before, here is the famous precedent:
♠ J 10 8 7 3
♥ A Q 10 9 7 6 4
♦—
♣8
♠ A9 5 N ♠ KQ
♥ J82 ♥ 53
♦ J864 W E ♦ 953
♣ J62 S ♣ AK 9 7 5 3
♠ 642
♥K
♦ A K Q 10 7 2
♣ Q 10 4

 Intermediate
In both rooms the contract was Four Hearts by North, East-West remaining silent throughout the auc-
tion. The play to the first three tricks was, again, the same. East led the king of clubs, saw West’s two,
and switched to the king of spades. West encouraged with the nine of spades and the queen of spades
followed. Thereafter, in the closed room, Belladonna was in command, dummy’s diamonds taking care
of the three losing spades.
With the spades blocked, could the result be any different in the open room? Commentators and audi-
ence alike expected a flat board. Forquet took his time before playing to that third trick. Then, making
up his mind, he overtook the queen of spades and gave Garozzo a ruff!
Forquet reasoned that, since Garozzo knew the club position after seeing the two, he would have
cashed his ace of clubs had there been room for declarer to have another club. So, somehow, the defence
had to take three tricks in spades, and it was significant that Garozzo, knowing that Forquet had the
ace of spades, led the queen of spades and not a low one. Maybe, of course, he had the jack of spades too.
But, maybe he had started with a doubleton. It was a chance and Pietro Forquet was quick to seize it.)
It was a bad round for Helgemo/Helness, who lost 218 IMPs to drop to fourth. Meanwhile Ver-
sace/Tokay scored 131 to move 256 IMPs clear at the top.
♠ A7
♥ A Q 10 8 3
♦ KJ3
♣ KQ9
♠ J 10 9 5 N ♠ KQ83
♥ 54 ♥ J762
♦ Q85 W E ♦ 62
♣ A 10 7 5 S ♣ J32
♠ 642
♥ K9
♦ A 10 9 7 4
♣ 864
Welland Helness Auken Helgemo
– 2NT Pass 3NT
All Pass
East led the queen of spades and when West followed with the five switched to the six of hearts.
Declarer won with dummy’s nine, unblocked the king and played a diamond to the king and ran
the jack to West’s queen. He took ten tricks, +430.
I can’t tell you what went wrong here for E/W -perhaps West should play the jack at trick one?
Even so it was still open to declarer to take the right view in diamonds.
Versace Madsen Tokay Larsen
– 1♥ Pass 1NT
Pass 3NT All Pass
West led the jack of spades and East overtook it with the king and returned the three to dummy’s ace.
Declarer cashed the king of diamonds and ran the jack to West’s queen. He cashed the ten of spades
and then switched to the five of hearts, which ran to declarer’s nine. Declarer could cash his diamonds,
but eventually had to play a club and West took the ace and played a spade for one down, -50.

 Intermediate
Alfredo Versace had been in great form so far – and as this deal illustrates that the slightest mis-
take was punished:
♠ QJ643
♥ Q9632
♦ J7
♣A
♠ A2 N ♠ K98
♥ A K 10 4 ♥8
♦ K52 W E ♦ A 10 9 43
♣ 9753 S ♣ Q642
♠ 10 7 5
♥ J75
♦ Q86
♣ K J 10 8
Versace Madsen Tokay Larsen
– Pass Pass Pass
1♣ 2♣* Double 2♥
Pass Pass 3♣ Pass
3NT All Pass
North led the two of hearts and declarer took South’s jack with the ace and played the king of dia-
monds and a diamond, ducking when North followed with the jack. South overtook that with the
queen and played a heart and declarer won with the king and played three rounds of diamonds.
On the last of these South, down to ♠1075 ♥5 ♣KJ10 fatally threw a spade (a club is essen-
tial). Declarer ducked a club to North’s ace, won the spade return in hand and played two more
rounds of the suit forcing North to surrender the game-going trick to the ten of hearts.
In a low-scoring round the leaders +97 was the best score, increasing their margin over the
field to 382 IMPs.

 Intermediate
Tops and Bottoms
The last round of the day pitted the pairs at the extreme ends of the table. On paper there could
only be one possible outcome.
♠4
♥ KQJ3
♦ QJ4
♣ J 10 9 4 3
♠ AJ 9 8 6 N ♠ 532
♥ 10 ♥ 7654
♦ A K 10 8 6 5 W E ♦2
♣5 S ♣ AK Q 7 6
♠ K Q 10 7
♥ A982
♦ 973
♣ 82
Versace Christiansen Tokay Nilsland
– – – Pass
1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass
1♠ Pass 1NT Pass
2♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass
North led the king of hearts and continued with the queen. Declarer ruffed and ducked a spade,
South winning with the ten and returning the ace of hearts. Declarer ruffed, cashed the ace of
spades and was doomed when the spades failed to break.
If there had been any clue that the spade were 4-1 declarer would have had little trouble mak-
ing 4♠, and even an overcall of 1♥ (who would do that?) might be enough to tip the balance (only
the 2 pairs who were doubled made 4♠).
In passing perhaps I should mention that theoretically South’s return of a heart when in with
the ten of spades was not the best. Declarer could have got home by ruffing, playing three rounds
of diamonds, ruffing in dummy, and then three rounds of clubs. When South ruffs low declarer
overruffs and plays a diamond.
Best is for South to simply play a top spade. Declarer can win, play three rounds of diamonds
and then three rounds of clubs, but South discards a heart and declarer has only nine tricks.
Did I mention the possibility of overcalling 1♥?
Bessis Michielsen Bessis Zia
– – – Pass
1♦ 1♥ 1♠* 2NT*
3♠ Pass 4♣ Pass
4♦ Pass 5♣ Pass
5♦ All Pass
I’m not 100% sure about the meaning of 1♠ – perhaps a transfer to clubs, perhaps denying 4
spades. Zia’s 2NT was probably showing heart support.

 Intermediate
When East bid 4♣ should West have preferred 4♠. Or should East have bid 4♠ over 4♦?
5♦ was hopeless and finished two down,-100.
Not a great result for E/W, but meanwhile on another planet this auction was taking place:
Fallenius Hanlon Fredin McIntosh
– – – Pass
1♦ 1♥ Pass 2NT*
3♠ Pass 6♣ Pass
Pass Double Redouble All Pass
That cost a modest 2800 and 191 IMPs.

Board 30. Dealer East. None Vul.
♠ AQ98
♥ Q4
♦ KJ96
♣ 643
♠ 7643 N ♠ J5
♥ A5 ♥ 9763
♦ 54 W E ♦ 10 8 7 2
♣ AK 8 7 2 S ♣ J 10 9
♠ K 10 2
♥ K J 10 8 2
♦ AQ3
♣ Q5
– – Pass 1NT
Pass 2♠ Pass 3♥
Pass 3NT All Pass
2♣ Does not promise a four-card major
West led the ace of clubs and when East followed with the jack he cashed the king and continued
with the eight, East winning and returning a heart for a fast two down, +100.
If South’s repeated heart bids showed a five-card suit there is a case for North to prefer 4♥.
Bessis Michielsen Bessis Zia
– – Pass 1NT
Pass 3NT All Pass
West led the seven of clubs and declarer won with the queen, cashed four diamonds and played
a spade to the ten, claiming +400 when it held.
For what it’s worth, holding an entry I prefer the lead made by Versace.

 Intermediate
♠ 10 6
♥ Q95
♦ K 10 8 2
♣ 8542
♠ AK9875432 N ♠—
♥— ♥ AK 6 4 3
♦5 W E ♦ AQ J 4 3
♣ A K 10 S ♣ QJ3
♠ QJ
♥ J 10 8 7 2
♦ 976
♣ 976
1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass
3♠ Pass 3NT* Pass
4♣* Pass 4♦* Pass
5♥ Pass 5NT Pass
6♠ All Pass
3NT Void in spades
4♣ Cue-bid
4♦ Cue-bid
5♥ Void
5NT 1 ace outside hearts
There will be no spade loser just 40.69% of the time, so the grand slam is well below the odds.
Tell that to the 7 pairs who recorded +2220 (one pair bid 2♣-7NT).
It cost the leaders 104 IMPs and resulted in the loss of the match by 56.
Life is Beautiful
On Sunday evening the event would be honoured by the
presence of the Prince Consort at the Closing Ceremony.
Searching for a way to keep that special moment in the
memory my thoughts inevitably turned to the movies.
There are many titles that include the word Prince – Robin
Hood Prince of Thieves, The Prince and the Showgirl, The
Prince of Tides, but none of them quite seemed to fit the bill.
Then I remembered the wonderful Italian film of my
title in which the main characters are sometimes referred
to as Prince Guido and the Principessa.
What better way to recall the conclusion to this magnifi- The Prince Consort
cent event than the prize-giving ceremony? (Now I come
to think of it maybe I should have risked The Prince and accompanied by the Editor
the Showgirl?)
Anyway, here is what happened at the start of day 3.

 Intermediate
♠ K93
♥ QJ8642
♦ Q2
♣ Q4
♠ AQ 6 N ♠ J8
♥ AK 9 7 5 ♥ 10 3
♦ J73 W E ♦ 9865
♣ J3 S ♣ 10 9 8 7 6
♠ 10 7 5 4 2
♥—
♦ A K 10 4
♣ AK52
Helgemo Barel Helness Zack
– – – 1♠
1NT Double 2♣ Double
Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠
AllPass
West’s overcall was totally normal, but looked like it was going to produce a poor result. However,
perhaps it was not totally clear to North that South’s double was 100% penalties and as a result
N/S settled for the shadow rather than the substance.
West led the ace of hearts and declarer ruffed and played a spade to the king followed by the
queen, king and ten of diamonds, ruffing in dummy, followed by three rounds of clubs, ruffing
in dummy, a heart ruff and the king of diamonds.
West could ruff and play a heart for East to ruff, but declarer still had a trump trick to come, +420.
♠ 8543
♥ Q 10 6 4
♦ 932
♣ 75
♠ AQ 2 N ♠ J 10 7 6
♥ 72 ♥ A9 8 5 3
♦ 65 W E ♦ Q4
♣ Q J 10 8 3 2 S ♣ 94
♠ K9
♥ KJ
♦ A K J 10 8 7
♣ AK6
Pass Pass Pass 2♣*
Pass 2♥* Pass 2NT
Pass 3♣* Pass 3NT*
All Pass

 Intermediate
2♥ 0-3(4) ♠ 8543
3♣ Puppet Stayman ♥ Q 10 6 4
3NT No major ♦ 932
♣ 75
West led the queen of clubs and declarer won with the ♠ A Q 2 N ♠ J 10 7 6
ace and played the king of hearts, West playing the two ♥ 7 2 W E
♥ A9 8 5 3
(yes, E/W play Smith). When East ducked declarer could ♣♦ Q65
J 10 8 3 2 S
♦
♣
Q4
94
play diamonds and had his nine tricks. ♠ K9
As we can see the winning defence is for East to take ♥ KJ
the ace of hearts and switch to spades. ♦ A K J 10 8 7
Is that too difficult? ♣ AK6
I guess so, as not a single East managed to rise to the
occasion.
Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
♠ 10 5
♥ A 10 9 6 3
♦ K 10 7 3
♣ K 10
♠ K63 N ♠2
♥ K7 ♥ J5
♦ AQ 6 5 W E ♦ J984
♣ AQ 8 5 S ♣ J97643
♠ AQJ9874
♥ Q842
♦2
♣2
– – – 4♠
Double All Pass
West led the three of spades and declarer won with the seven and played the two of diamonds,
West going up with the ace as East followed with the nine (standard count).
Now West has to cash the ace of clubs - when he returned a diamond declarer’s losing club
went away, as did +790.
4♠ was made 6 times (+790 x4) so E/W lost only 37 IMPs.

 Intermediate
♠ 754
♥ J4
♦ 10 8 3
♣ K 10 6 5 2
♠ 86 N ♠ A 10 2
♥ Q9876 ♥ A5 3
♦ AK Q J W E ♦ 94
♣ 98 S ♣ QJ743
♠ KQJ93
♥ K 10 2
♦ 7652
♣A
1♥ Pass 2♣ 2♠
Pass Pass 3♥ Pass
4♥ All Pass
Before you see how the play went after the lead of the four of spades do you see any hope for
declarer?
He won with dummy’s ace, cashed the ace of hearts and played a heart. When South failed to go
up with the king and cash a spade (or play a third heart) declarer could win with the queen, play
four rounds of diamonds, discarding dummy’s spades and ruff a spade in dummy for ten tricks.
Only two pairs made 4♥ so it was worth 70 IMPs to Helgeness who won by 113 to move into
second place, a long way behind the overnight leaders who added another 96 to their total.
What’s in a Noma?
René Redzepi, the head chef at the world´s best restaurant, Copenhagen’s Noma (book now and
you might just get a table during the 2017 Invitational) often draw attention to their new and
unique ways of rethinking architecture and gastronomy. Bridge theory is constantly changing, but
many principles and techniques have survived the test of time.
Some of them were on view in round 15.
♠ A8732
♥ KQ76
♦ AK
♣ AK
♠ J654 N ♠ K9
♥ 10 8 4 3 2 ♥—
♦ 10 3 W E ♦ QJ7652
♣ 10 3 S ♣ J9852
♠ Q 10
♥ AJ95
♦ 984
♣ Q764
 Intermediate
West North East South ♠ A8732
Bilde Garvey Bilde Carroll ♥ KQ76
– – – Pass ♦ AK
♣ AK
Pass 1♣* 3♦ Pass ♠ J654 ♠ K9
Pass Double Pass 4♥ ♥ 10 8 4 3 2
N
♥ —
Pass 6♥ All Pass ♦ 10 3 W E ♦ QJ7652
1♣ 11-13 balanced or any 17+ ♣ 10 3 S ♣ J9852
♠ Q 10
West led the ten of diamonds for the king, two and eight ♥ AJ95
and declarer played a spade, putting in the ten when ♦ 984
East followed with the nine (had he put up the queen ♣ Q764
he would have made seven!).
West won and switched to the two of hearts and declarer got the bad news as he won with
dummy’s six. He cashed dummy’s top clubs followed by the ace of spades. The appearance of
his majesty meant dummy’s spades were good and declarer cashed the eight, pitching a diamond
then ruffed a spade and played the queen of clubs. West tried pitching a diamond, but declarer
matched that with dummy’s ace and could crossruff for +980.
The only trap to avoid is to resist the temptation to cash one of dummy’s top hearts, as then
the crossruff will fail.
♠ AQ
♥ K 10 7 6 5 3
♦—
♣ K9632
♠ K 10 5 2 N ♠ 98643
♥Q ♥A
♦ Q 10 9 8 7 2 W E ♦ A5 4
♣ A 10 S ♣ QJ87
♠ J7
♥ J9842
♦ KJ63
♣ 54
Bilde Garvey Bilde Carroll
Pass 1♥ 1♠ 4♥
4♠ 5♦ Pass 5♥
Double All Pass
East led the queen of clubs and West took the ace and returned the two of spades. When the queen
held declarer cashed the king of clubs and ruffed a club, but West’s overruff meant one down, -200.
Unlucky or careless?
Versace Auken Tokay Welland
1♦ 1♥ Double 3♥
3♠ 4♣ 4♠ Pass
Pass 5♥ Double All Pass
East led the ace of hearts, so that was that, +850.

 Intermediate
♠ Q 10 5
♥ Q6432
♦ 10 4
♣ J 10 6
♠ K64 N ♠ AJ 3
♥ KJ ♥ A9 8 7
♦5 W E ♦ QJ863
♣ KQ98754 S ♣2
♠ 9872
♥ 10 5
♦ AK972
♣ A3
Versace Auken Tokay Welland
– Pass 1♦ Pass
2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass
3♣ Pass 3NT All Pass
South led the eight of spades for the queen and ace and declarer played a club to the king. When
North followed with the jack (an obligatory false card that is easy to miss) declarer continued with
the queen of clubs and South won with the ace and switched to the two of diamonds for the ten
and queen. Declarer played a spade to the king and a club, but North won and played a diamond
and South took three tricks in the suit for one down.
Have you spotted declarer’s mistake? You might imagine it was the play of the queen of clubs,
but having taken a trick with the queen of diamonds declarer should return a diamond! South
wins, but faces a dilemma. Not cashing two more diamonds allows declarer to set up the clubs,
but cashing them will result in North being squeezed in hearts and clubs.
♠ 9762
♥ 76
♦ J3
♣ Q7654
♠ J 10 5 4 N ♠3
♥ J 10 8 5 4 ♥ KQ9
♦ 10 8 6 2 W E ♦ KQ9754
♣— S ♣ KJ9
♠ AKQ8
♥ A32
♦A
♣ A 10 8 3 2
Bilde Garvey Bilde Carroll
Pass Pass 1♦ Double
3♦* Pass 4♦ Double
Pass 4♠ All Pass

 Intermediate
East led the king of diamonds and declarer won with dummy’s ace and cashed two top spades.
When East discarded on the second round he tried the ace of clubs and West ruffed ensuring the
contract was one down.
The bidding suggests that things may be breaking badly, but there is a way to prevail. Relying
on the tried and tested technique of developing the side suit first suppose declarer plays a low
club to the queen at trick two?
East wins and plays a diamond, but declarer ruffs, and plays ace of hearts and a heart. Now
whatever the defenders do declarer will lose only one more trick.
Only two declarers made 4[, one of them doubled.
It was a bad round for the leaders who lost by 216 and saw the poursuivants edge much closer.
Two deals stood out from the closing rounds – they illustrate perfectly that slam bidding needs
to be deadly accurate.
Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ 10 5
♥ Q 10 8 5 4 3 2
♦ 76
♣ 87
♠ J63 N ♠ A7 2
♥A ♥ KJ
♦ A Q 10 2 W E ♦ KJ54
♣ Q J 10 5 3 S ♣ AK 9 6
♠ KQ984
♥ 976
♦ 983
♣ 42
Versace Helness Tokay Helgemo
– – 2♦* Pass
3♥* Pass 4♣ Pass
4♥* Pass 4♠* Pass
5♦* Pass 5♥* Pass
5NT* Pass 7♣ AllPass
2♦ 18-19 balanced, not 5♥/♠
3♥ 0/1 ♥, ♣+♦ or one minor, limited
It seems East did not have a bid to say he liked both minors, so once he had bid 4♣ that suit was
locked in. After a series of cue-bids it looks as if West’s 5NT was pick a slam. If West had started
with six clubs the tricks would have been on top, but as it was declarer won the trump lead and
conceded one down. It cost 98 IMPs.

 Intermediate
Dealer East. All Vul.
♠ 74
♥ 95
♦ J9765
♣ 10 9 4 3
♠ A9 N ♠ Q 10 8 6 5 3
♥ AK Q 8 7 6 ♥ J42
♦ K8 W E ♦ A 10 4
♣ AQ 2 S ♣8
♠ KJ2
♥ 10 3
♦ Q32
♣ KJ765
McIntosh Tokay Hanlon Versace
– – 2♠ Pass
4NT* Pass 5♣* Pass
5♦* Pass 6♠ Pass
6NT All Pass
4NT RKCB
5♣ 1 key card
5♦ RKCB
6♠ ♠Q but no outside kings
West might have preferred 3♥ to the direct 4NT. Then East could have bid 4♣, showing heart
support and a club shortage. A fringe benefit of this approach is that if East does not have the ♦A
then the ♦K is protected with West as declarer.
North led the ten of clubs and declarer won with the queen and immediately played the ace of
spades and a spade, one down for a loss of 81 IMPs.
The position in the spade suit is analogous to the famous combination that formed the basis
of a new analysis by Fred Gitelman in which rather than cashing the ace of spades declarer starts
by running the queen.
That analysis was about taking the maximum number of tricks in a suit, whereas here declarer
was only looking for one extra trick. All one can say is that crossing to the jack of hearts and run-
ning the queen of spades would have worked.
Here is how those in the money finished:
Alfredo Versace - Mustafa Cem Tokay 880 40,000 DKK

John Carroll - Tommy Garvey 635 30,000 DKK
Geir Helgemo - Tor Helness 569 20,000 DKK
David Bakhshi - Simon De Wijs 404 10,000 DKK
First prize was the equivalent of €5367.

The winners of all events also received prizes from the Danish glass designer Holmegaard.

 Intermediate
65ème Festival International de Bridge de
LA BAULE
DU 15 AU 23 AOÛT 2015
SALLE DES FLORALIES - PLACE DES SALINES

 Intermediate
Choosing the right slam
This is a one-chapter excerpt from a new Masterpoint Press book, Winning Duplicate Tactics
(238pp) by David Bird. It contains 24 chapters that cover the best tactics in bidding, dummy
play and defence.
What odds do you need to bid a slam such as 6♠? If you are vulnerable and the slam is not
bid at the other table, you will gain 750 (1430 – 680) when the slam is successful. That will be a
swing of +13 IMPs. If you attempt a slam and go one down, you will lose the same amount (100 +
650). So, at both IMPs and matchpoints, you should bid a vulnerable slam only if it is better than
a 50% prospect. The odds are the same when non-vulnerable. You stand to gain 500 or lose 500.
In this chapter we will see how to choose between two different slams. At IMPs you should choose the
slam that is most likely to succeed. At matchpoints, particularly when you expect a slam to be widely bid,
you will look for a high-scoring slam, noting that 990 in 6NT beats 980 in a major and 920 in a minor.
Should I bid 6NT or six of a suit with a 4-4 fit?
What are the general guidelines when choosing between 6NT and a small slam in a suit where
you have a 4-4 fit? A potential advantage of the 4-4 fit is that an extra trick from a ruff may bump
your total from eleven tricks to twelve. When your values for a slam are minimal, it may there-
fore be necessary to play with a trump suit.
When you have relatively good values for a slam, there is more reason to choose 6NT. Firstly,
it will score more at matchpoints. Secondly, you cannot suffer an adverse ruff that may put you
down immediately. A third reason is that you may still be able to gather 12 tricks even if the suit
that would otherwise be trumps happens to break badly.
Let’s see some deals where these aspects are apparent.
♠ A 10 5
♥ AQ42
♦ AJ87
♣ J6
♠ J842 N ♠ Q97
♥ 73 ♥ 985
♦ 962 W E ♦ 10 4 3
♣ Q932 S ♣ K 10 5 4
♠ K63
♥ K J 10 6
♦ KQ5
♣ A87
– – – 1NT
Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥
Pass 6♥ All Pass
North has 16 points for a total of 31-33, not particularly high for a small slam on two balanced
hands. He decides to play in 6♥ rather than 6NT, in case a ruffing trick or two is needed to bring
the total to twelve. As you see, there are eleven top tricks in 6NT and hardly any play for a twelfth
trick. Playing in 6♥, you can give up a club and ruff a club for the twelfth trick.

 Intermediate
Now let’s make the combined holdings a bit more powerful:
♠ K632
♥ AQ4
♦ A7
♣ KQ76
♠ J 10 9 7 N ♠4
♥ 973 ♥ K 10 8 5
♦ 10 6 5 2 W E ♦ J943
♣ 93 S ♣ 10 8 5 2
♠ AQ85
♥ J62
♦ KQ8
♣ AJ4
– – – 1NT
Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠
Pass 6♠ All Pass
This time North holds 18 points, giving his side between 33 and 35 points. This should be enough
for 6NT to be a good contract. No, he decides to play in 6♠. One risk in that contract is that
there could be two losers in the trump suit. South actually has quite strong trumps in this lay-
out. Even so, the trumps break badly, giving declarer a certain loser in that suit. The heart finesse
loses too (wouldn’t you know it?) and the spade slam goes one down.
With 18 points opposite a strong 1NT, North should have bid 6NT. In this contract there are
9 tricks outside spades, after giving up a heart, and the three top spades will bring the total to
12. (If West held ♥Kxx or ♥Kxxx alongside his four spades, you could squeeze him for 6NT+1.)
Yes, it is only one deal and you could change a card or two and get a different result. The only real
way to determine the best tactics in the long run is to use computer simulation and we will do that next.
Should I bid Stayman on 4-4-3-2 shape, looking for a slam?
South opens a 15-17 point 1NT and you hold the North hand that we have just seen:
♠ K632
♥ AQ 4
♦ A7
♣ KQ76
Should you raise to 6NT or seek a 4-4 spade fit by bidding Stayman?
To answer this question, we will run a 5000-deal simulation where South holds a 15-17 point
1NT and would respond 2♠ to Stayman. The software will then compare the results for 6♠ and
6NT. This is the comparison:
Playing in a 4-4 spade fit, with an 18-point 4-3-2-4 North hand
Contract Makes Avg Tricks MPs IMPs (V) IMPs(NV)
6♠ 85.2% 12.2 17.2% -0.6 -0.5
6NT 89.3% 12.2 82.8% +0.6 +0.5
The results could not be clearer. The 4-4 trump fit is rarely needed to provide a twelfth trick. Indeed,
6NT is successful more often than 6♠, where you will sometimes suffer an adverse ruff or spade
losers that are unavoidable when that suit is trumps.

 Intermediate
At matchpoints, the gulf is reminiscent of the Grand Canyon! You should not even contem-
plate playing a small slam in a 4-4 fit when you have a combined point-count that is likely to
give 6NT good play. On 67% of the 5000 deals, both 6♠ and 6NT made exactly 12 tricks and
the extra +10 gave the matchpoints to the no-trump slam. (On 10% of the deals, the 4-4 fit pro-
duced an overtrick in 6♠ and a swing of +20. The third most frequent result arose on the 8% of
the deals where 6NT was made and 6♠ went one down.)
What is the situation when North holds only 16 points instead of 18? This will reduce the
chance of 6NT making and may allow 6♠ to become the better contract (with one or more ruff-
ing tricks available). Let’s replace the ♥Q on the previous hand with the ♥7:
♠ K632
♥ A7 4
♦ A7
♣ KQ76
Should you use Stayman now? Once again, we will compare the results for 6♠ and 6NT on 5000
deals that match the bidding:
Playing in a 4-4 spade fit, with a 16-point 4-3-2-4 North hand
6♠ 70.5% 11.8 41.2% +2.5 +2.0
6NT 56.7% 11.6 58.8% -2.5 +0.5
Valuable information! 6NT is now much less likely to be made than 6♠ (56.7% compared to 70.5%) but
it’s still the better matchpoint contract. That’s because 6NT wins the board when both slams score 12 tricks
(which happens 42% of the time). At IMPs, 6♠ carries a sizeable 2.5 or 2.0 IMPs per board advantage.
Should I bid 6NT or six of a major with a 5-3 fit?
What happens when you have a 5-3 fit in a major suit? Which slam should you choose? When
twelve tricks are made, 6NT gives you a vital extra 10 points over 6♠ or 6♥. How often will play-
ing with a trump suit convert 11 tricks into 12? Suppose you hold this South hand:
♠ K983
♥ KJ6
♦ QJ4
♣ AJ 8
– – – 1NT
Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥
Pass 5NT Pass ?
North’s 5NT asks you to ‘pick a slam’. He has shown you five hearts and declined to show a sec-
ond suit on the next round. His shape is probably some variant of 5-3-3-2 and you must choose
between 6♥ and 6NT. Which slam would you select at IMPs and at matchpoints?
We will wheel out our special software to generate 5000 deals that match the bidding and see
which slam fares better.
Playing in a 5-3 heart fit, with 4-3-3-3 South hand
6♥ 68.6% 11.8 16.8% -0.16 -0.13
6NT 69.3% 11.8 83.2% +0.16 +0.13

 Intermediate
At matchpoints, 6NT wins by the biggest winning margin that we have yet seen! It scores 83.2%
of the matchpoints when competing against 6♥ over the 5000 deals. 6NT wins by a much more
modest margin at IMPs.
Next we will change the opener’s shape to some variant of 4-4-3-2, again with 3-card heart sup-
port. Perhaps 6♥ will now be made more often than 6NT.
♠ A4
♥ K85
♦ AJ 9 3
♣ K 10 7 4
– – – 1NT
Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥
Pass 5NT Pass ?
Would you choose 6♥ or 6NT at IMPs? Which slam would you choose at matchpoints? Here are
the results:
6♥ 89.2% 12.3 10.1% -0.36 -0.29
6NT 91.4% 12.3 89.9% +0.36 +0.29
Both contracts make much more often. That’s because the South hand has six controls (A/A/K/K)
and a more productive 4-4-3-2 shape. At the slam level, the ruffing value is of little use. You will
usually either have twelve tricks without it or be doomed to two losers anyway. Indeed, 6NT is
slightly more likely to make. That’s mainly because you may survive a bad break in hearts. At
matchpoints… wow! In a straightforward battle against the 6♥ bidders, you pick up 89.9% of
the MPs for bidding 6NT.
Should I bid 6NT or six of a major with a 5-4 fit?
Perhaps it is right to bid 6NT even when you have a 5-4 fit. Let’s see.
♠ KQ5
♥ AJ 9 3
♦ Q962
♣ K7
– – – 1NT
Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥
Pass 5NT Pass ?
Once again partner has shown a 5-3-3-2 hand and the values for a slam. You now have 4-card
support for his hearts and a ruffing value in clubs. Will you choose 6♥ or 6NT? Here is a com-
parison of the results for the two contracts over 5000 deals that match the bidding:
6♥ 74.5% 11.8 20.0% +0.62 +0.52
6NT 71.9% 11.7 80.0% -0.62 -0.52

 Intermediate
You could hardly wish for a clearer answer from the simulation. You should bid 6♥ at IMPs. The
suit slam is successful slightly more often and is worth an average gain of 0.6 or 0.5 IMPs per deal.
You should bid 6NT at matchpoints, giving yourself a better MP score than 6♥ on 80% of the deals.
What conclusion should we draw from this section? At matchpoints, you should raise directly to
6NT on 5-3-3-2 shape with slam values. It is a waste of time showing the 5-card major (or bidding
Stayman) because you want to be in 6NT even when partner has a 4-card fit for your long suit.
Should I bid 6NT or six of a minor?
Finally, we will look at situations where you hold a long minor suit. Should you be happy with
the lower-scoring minor-suit slam or place your chips on 6NT?
♠ A4
♥8
♦ K 10 7
♣ AJ 9 8 6 4 2
– – – 1NT (15-17)
Pass ?
No doubt you have a favoured method of showing long clubs. When you hold a 7-card suit, there is not
much need to seek a fit. Suppose you intend to announce the final contract immediately. How would
you compare 6♣ or 6NT? Or perhaps you wouldn’t bid a slam with that hand. What do you think?
6♣ or 6NT, with 7-card ace-high clubs opposite 1NT
6NT 62.1% 11.5 70.8% -1.5 -1.1
6♣ 78.4% 12.0 22.2% +1.5 +1.1
Our first answer is yes, you should bid a slam on that hand. 6♣ will make 78.4% of the time and
is the right slam to bid at IMPs. 6NT makes only 62.1% of the time, but (as we have seen more
than once before) it is still the right slam to bid at matchpoints.
The most common result, looking at the simulation deal by deal, is that 33% of the time both
slams make 12 tricks for a difference of +70 aggregate points. 22% of the time both slams make
an overtrick for a difference of +80 points. On 11% of the deals, both slams go one down and
the matchpoints are shared.
The situation may change when the 7-card suit is weaker. Let’s see.
♠ A4
♥ K7
♦ Q 10 8 7 5 4 2
♣ K6
– – – 1NT
Pass ?
How do you fancy your slam chances now? These are the computer simulation results:
6♦ or 6NT, with 7-card queen-high diamonds opposite 1NT
6NT 51.5% 11.1 62.5% -1.1 -0.7
6♦ 58.0% 11.6 37.5% +1.1 +0.7

 Intermediate
A pattern is emerging. If you are going to bid a slam, you should choose the suit slam at IMPs
and 6NT at matchpoints.
Note that it makes no difference if half the field decide to stop at the game-level. Since 6NT
will clearly outscore both 3NT and 6♦ on the 51.5% of deals when it is successful, it must be the
right contract to bid at matchpoints.
SUMMARY
When partner opens 1NT at matchpoints and you have slam values in a balanced hand including
a major suit of 4 or 5 cards, play the slam in 6NT. Do not start with Stayman or a transfer bid to
look for a trump fit. Even if the suit slam will succeed more often than 6NT, the extra 10 points
for 6NT will usually give you a top score.
Choose the higher-scoring slam at matchpoints (for example, 6NT instead of 6♠) even when
you expect much of the field to stop in game. All that matters is that 6NT has more than a 50%
chance of succeeding.
At IMPs prefer to play in a suit slam if you have a 9-card trump fit, or if the values are mini-
mal and you judge that a ruff or two may be needed.
At both IMPs and matchpoints, you should bid a slam that you expect to be more than a 50%
prospect. If you know that the slam will depend on an unavoidable finesse, do not bid it. If it
seems that the slam will be on a finesse at worst but may be cold, then you should bid it.
NOW TRY THESE…

1. ♠ KQ752
♥ KQ3
♦ AQ 7
♣ 64
– – – 2NT (20-21)
Pass ?
How do you plan to bid this hand opposite a 20-21 point 2NT? Would it make any difference if
it was matchpoints or IMPs?
2. ♠ AK 7 2
♥ KJ76
♦ 10 9 5 4
♣J
– – – 2NT (20-21)
Pass 3♣ Pass 3♥
Pass ?
Again partner opens a 20-21 point 2NT. You decide to bid Stayman, let’s say, and East shows a
4-card (or possibly 5-card) heart suit. What now? Would it make any difference whether it was
matchpoints or IMPs?

 Intermediate
3. ♠ J986532
♥ A6
♦ A 10
♣ A8
– – – 1NT (15-17)
Pass ?
How do you rate your slam chances? Would it make any difference to your bidding plan if it was
matchpoints or IMPs?
ANSWERS
1. With 16 points opposite 20-21, you have enough power for 7NT. A simulation shows that this
contract will be successful 93% of the time, so there is no point in seeking a spade fit of any sort.
You should respond 7NT at both IMPs and matchpoints.
(There is a 0.6% chance that an ace is missing. You should check for that if you have a mecha-
nism available after a 2NT opening.)
2. The total point-count is 32 or 33 and you have 4-4-4-1 shape opposite a balanced hand and
a known 4-4 heart fit. First you must assess the chance of making 6NT. I was surprised when a
simulation revealed that it is as high as 63%. Unless 6♥ is going to produce an overtrick fairly
often, this will make 6NT the winning bid.
Let’s rerun the simulation with 6♥ as the target contract and then compare the MPs and IMPs
between the two possible slams. Ah, 6♥ will be successful 88% of the time and the defenders
will score an average of only 0.8 tricks per deal. So, an overtrick will be made on one deal in five.
Finally we roll out the software to compare the two slams. Here is the results table
6♥ or 6NT with a 4-4 heart fit and a 4-4-4-1 responding hand
6♥ 88.5% 12.2 54.9% +4.6 +3.9
6NT 62.6% 11.6 45.1% -4.6 -3.9
6♥ is the better slam at matchpoints. The three most common results are: 6NT= and 6♥= (38%),
6NT= and 6♥+1 (21.4%) and finally 6NT-1 and 6♥= (20.4%). Also 6♥ is a massive winner at
IMPs because that slam is made much more often than 6NT. So, Stayman wins the day.
3. The chance of making 6♠ is a full 85%. You don’t hear the auction 1NT – 6♠ very often but
perhaps this is the moment. We must first take a look at 6NT. Perhaps that is runner. Ah, 6NT
will succeed 76% of the time, so surely it is the best matchpoint contract. Let’s check:
6♠ or 6NT with a 7-2-2-2 responding hand
Contract Makes Avg tricks MPs IMPs (V) IMPs(NV)
6♠ 84.7% 12.2 22.9% +1.7 +1.4
6NT 76.0% 11.9 77.1% -1.7 -1.4
Bid 6♠ at IMPs and 6NT at matchpoints. Message received!

 Intermediate
It’s That Man Again
The Editor reports on the closing stages of the 2014 Gold Cup
T he Gold Cup is the most prestigious Open Teams event in Britain, and is organised by
Bridge Great Britain. It is knock-out throughout, and, prior to the semi-finals, all matches
are played privately. It dates back to 1932. The original trophy, still awarded today, was
presented by Bridge Magazine. At the time it cost 100 guineas.
These were the quarter-final results:
Jim Mason beat Janet de Botton by 43 1MPs
Andrew McIntosh beat John Reardon by 25 IMPs
Simon Gillis beat Sally Brock by 23 IMPs
Alexander Allfrey beat Nick Stevens by 112 IMPs
In the semi-finals Allfrey (Gold, Bakhshi, Forrester, Robson) just managed to hold off a late
surge by Mason (Happer, Mould, Steele) to win 111-105.
McIntosh (Skorchev, King, Small) cruised past Gillis (Erichsen, Zia, Bjornlund, Holland,
Green) winning 140-83.
64 deals played in 8 sets of 8 would determine the outcome.
The first set was relatively quiet, the only swing of note coming here:
♠ 8743
♥ 10 7
♦ KQJ82
♣ J7
♠ 10 5 2 N ♠ AQ
♥ KJ54 ♥ AQ 9
♦ 10 9 W E ♦ 63
♣ AK 9 8 S ♣ 10 6 5 4 3 2
♠ KJ96
♥ 6532
♦ A754
♣Q
Open Room
Skorchev Bakhshi McIntosh Gold
– – 1♣* Double
1♥ Double 2♥ 2♠
4♥ All Pass
1♣ May be 2♣
2♥ Three-card heart support
North led the king of diamonds and when South followed with the seven he switched to the four of
spades. Declarer put up dummy’s ace, cashed the ace and queen of hearts and claimed eleven tricks, +650.

 Intermediate
Closed Room ♠ 8743
♥ 10 7
West North East South ♦ KQJ82
Robson Small Forrester King ♣ J7
– – 1♣* Pass ♠ 10 5 2 N ♠ AQ
1♦* Pass 1♥* Pass ♥ KJ54 ♥ AQ 9
♦ 10 9 W E ♦ 63
1NT Pass 2♣ Pass ♣ AK 9 8 S ♣ 10 6 5 4 3 2
3♣ All Pass ♠ KJ96
1♣ 1+♣,natural or balanced or 4441 ♥ 6532
1♦ 4+♥ ♦ A754
1♥ three-card heart support ♣ Q
South led the six of spades so declarer was soon claiming 12 tricks, +170 but a loss of 10 IMPs.
For what its worth, East with a six-card suit that partner had raised and a known double fit
might have made one more effort, after which there is a fair chance E/W would have bid one of
the making games.
At the end of the set McIntosh led 24-8.
In the second session both teams missed their way on this deal:
♠ 853
♥ 842
♦ Q654
♣ K J 10
♠ QJ9 N ♠ K2
♥ Q6 ♥ A K J 10 9 5 3
♦ AK 8 7 2 W E ♦J
♣ Q94 S ♣ 752
♠ A 10 7 6 4
♥7
♦ 10 9 3
♣ A863
Open Room
King Robson Small Forrester
– – 4♥ All Pass
South found the excellent lead of the ace of spades and when North followed with an upside down
eight he switched to the ace of clubs.
Desperate for a club continuation North followed with his lowest club, the ten, hoping South
would work it out.
Alas, South did not and went back to spades, allowing declarer to record eleven tricks, +650.
South thought North would play the jack from ♣KJ10, the ten denying the jack.
Looking at dummy it seems to me that if the defenders are to score four tricks they must come
from the black suits. Switching to a low club at trick two solves all problems and also caters for
the possibility that North started out with ♣KJ or ♣K10 doubleton, when he can win with the
king and return the jack.

 Intermediate
Closed Room
Bakhshi Skorchev Gold McIntosh
– – 1♥ 1♠
2♦ Pass 4♥ All Pass
South led the four of spades and a grateful declarer put up dummy’s queen and took his tricks, +620.
McIntosh scored only seven IMPs in the set, but that was one more than Allfrey who trailed
14-31.
Board 17. Dealer North. None Vul.
♠ K985
♥ QJ
♦ AJ6
♣ K764
♠ QJ762 N ♠A
♥ 8654 ♥ A K 10 9 7
♦ K8 W E ♦ Q543
♣ 10 5 S ♣ Q93
♠ 10 4 3
♥ 32
♦ 10 9 7 2
♣ AJ82
Open Room
Skorchev Robson McIntosh Forrester
– 1♣* 1♥ Pass
3♥* Pass 4♥ All Pass
3♥ Weak
South led the ten of diamonds and declarer won in hand with the queen, cashed the top hearts
followed by the ace of spades and then played a diamond.
The 2-2 trump break and the favourable location of the king of spades meant he could ruff two
losers in dummy, and dispose of another on the jack of spades, +420.
Closed Room
Gold Small Bakhshi King
– 1♣ 1♥ Pass
3♥ All Pass
With less at stake declarer won the diamond lead in hand and played back a diamond.
North won and switched to the four of clubs, South winning with the jack, cashing the ace
and then playing a diamond. Declarer ruffed, came to hand with a trump, ruffed a club, came to
hand with a spade and ruffed his last diamond. North could overruff, holding declarer to +140,
7 IMPs to McIntosh.

 Intermediate
♠J
♥ QJ3
♦ 10 6 4
♣ KJ8652
♠ KQ86 N ♠ A7 4
♥ A K 9 7 54 ♥ 862
♦ KQ9 W E ♦A
♣— S ♣ A Q 10 9 7 3
♠ 10 9 5 3 2
♥ 10
♦ J87532
♣4
Open Room
– – 1♣* Pass
1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass
2♠ Pass 4♦* Pass
4♠* Pass 4NT* Pass
5♥* Pass 6♥ Pass
Pass Double Pass Pass
Redouble All Pass
4♦ Splinter
4♠ Cue-bid
5♥ 2 key cards
Its not clear why North felt constrained to double 6♥.
He led the jack of hearts, but declarer won and claimed, +1620.
Closed Room
– – 1♣* Pass
1♥ Pass 2NT Pass
3♦ Pass 3♥* Pass
3♠ Pass 4♣ Pass
4NT Pass 5♦ Pass
7NT All Pass
1♣ 2+♣
3♥ 6♣ and 3♥
South led the two of spades and declarer won and cashed the top hearts, claiming one down when
the suit failed to break, -50 and the small matter of 17 IMPs.
When McIntosh added another 5 IMPs on the next deal the score was 14-60.

 Intermediate
♠ Q J 10 7 4
♥2
♦ K76
♣ J763
♠ 98 N ♠ K32
♥ K 10 9 8 5 ♥ QJ7643
♦ A9 8 W E ♦ 10
♣ AQ 2 S ♣ K98
♠ A65
♥A
♦ QJ5432
♣ 10 5 4
Open Room
– – Pass 1♦
1♥ 2♠ 4♦* 4♠
5♥ All Pass
Given that East was a passed hand West’s decision to go for the shadow rather than the substance
is debatable.
Four Spades would have been expensive, as with no quick entry to dummy declarer would not
have been able to avoid a diamond ruffs even if West had led a heart.
North led the queen of spades and when the king lost to the ace declarer conceded one down,
-100.
Closed Room
– – Pass 1♦
1♥ Double 4♦* Pass
4♥ All Pass
Here the lead of the queen of spades saw declarer claim ten tricks, +620 and 12 badly needed
IMPs for Allfrey.

 Intermediate
♠ AK
♥ K Q 10 5 2
♦ 53
♣ A864
♠ QJ876 N ♠5
♥ A8 6 3 ♥ J4
♦6 W E ♦ K98742
♣ J97 S ♣ KQ32
♠ 10 9 4 3 2
♥ 97
♦ A Q J 10
♣ 10 5
Open Room
Pass 1♥ 2♦ Pass
2♠ Double 3♦ Double
All Pass
If it is your style to overcall 2♦ with the East hand then you will occasionally come a cropper.
West’s decision to bid 2♠ did not improve matters.
South led the nine of hearts and declarer had to lose a heart, a spade, a club and four trump
tricks, three down, -500.
Closed Room
2♦* 2NT All Pass
2♦ Multi, weak in ♠ or ♥, 3-7 points
East led the seven of diamonds and declarer won with dummy’s ten and ran the nine of hearts to
East’s jack. When the two of diamonds came back declarer went up with dummy’s ace and played
on hearts, West winning the third round and switching to the jack of clubs. Declarer won and
claimed, +120, but 9 IMPs to Allfrey, who trailed 36-61.
Alexander Allfrey was indisposed at the start of the final and at this point it became clear that
he would be unable to take any part in the proceedings.

 Intermediate
♠ J5
♥6
♦ A95
♣ AKQ9874
♠ AQ 9 7 6 2 N ♠K
♥ 8754 ♥ A J 10 3
♦ 82 W E ♦ K J 10 7 6 3
♣2 S ♣ 10 5
♠ 10 8 4 3
♥ KQ92
♦ Q4
♣ J63
Open Room
– – 1♦ Pass
1♠ 3NT Pass Pass
4♥ Pass Pass Double
All Pass
Whatever you make of North’s decision to bid 3NT the practical point is that it is unbeatable.
How to describe West’s 4♥?
The BBO commentator went for imaginative, I would say courageous.
North led the king of clubs and continued with the ace, declarer ruffing and playing a diamond.
North took the ace and switched to the five of spades and declarer overtook dummy’s king with
the ace and played a heart to the jack and queen. He won the spade return with the queen, played
a diamond to the king and when the queen fell he cashed the ace of hearts and played a winning
diamond, claiming eight tricks, -500.
Closed Room
– – 1♦ Pass
1♠ 3♣ All Pass
North’s more restrained overcall brought the auction to a conclusion.

East led the king of spades and continued with the ace of hearts, followed by the three. Declarer
won with dummy’s king, played a club to the ace, cashed the king and claimed ten tricks, +130,
9 IMPs to Allfrey.

 Intermediate
♠8
♥ 63
♦ Q 10 9 6 5 4 2
♣ AQ4
♠ Q 10 7 2 N ♠A
♥ AK Q J ♥ 10 8 5 4 2
♦ AJ 3 W E ♦8
♣ K6 S ♣ J98752
♠ KJ96543
♥ 97
♦ K7
♣ 10 3
Open Room
– 3♦ Pass Pass
Double Pass 4♥ Pass
4NT* Double 5♣ Pass
6♥ All Pass
4NT RKCB
Double Asks for a club lead
Holding both majors West preferred a takeout double to 3NT.
When the opponents interfere over Blackwood many pairs use ROPI and DOPI. Here it looks
as if East was simply showing one key card.
West’s 4NT was not unreasonable, but to bid 6♥ in the face of North’s double suggests that
there may have been some confusion about the meaning of 5♣, a view confirmed by the VuGraph
operator in the room.
South led the ten of clubs and that was a rapid one down, -100.
Closed Room
– 3♦ Pass Pass
3NT All Pass
North led the ace of clubs and switched to the eight of spades, an essential move.
If North had for example played a diamond declarer would have taken South’s king with the
ace, cashed four hearts and the king of clubs, crossed to dummy with a spade, cashed a heart and
exited with a club to endplay North.
Having taken trick two in dummy declarer played the eight of diamonds, and ducked South’s
king. He took the diamond continuation with the ace, cashed four hearts and the king of clubs
and exited with the queen of spades, forcing South to win and surrender a spade trick.
Well played, but one down, -100 and no swing.

 Intermediate
Board 31. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
♠ J943
♥ 532
♦K
♣ J 10 6 5 3
♠2 N ♠ A8
♥ AK 9 8 4 ♥ Q6
♦ Q6432 W E ♦ A 10 9 8 7 5
♣ Q8 S ♣ K42
♠ K Q 10 7 6 5
♥ J 10 7
♦J
♣ A97
Open Room
– – – 2♠*
3♥ 4♠ Double All Pass
2♠ Weak,9-12
West led the king of hearts and continued with the ace and the four, East ruffing, cashing the ace
of diamonds and switching to the two of clubs. That was three down, -800.
Closed Room
– – – 2♠
3♥ 4♠ Double Pass
5♦ Pass 6♦ All Pass
North led the four of spades so declarer took all the tricks, discarding all his clubs on hearts after
drawing trumps. 4 IMPs to Allfrey.
On the last deal of the set N/S held ♠AQ94 ♥K4 ♦AKQ ♣AK97 opposite ♠KJ762♥J ♦872
♣J32 and both tables bid 6♠.
With the ♥A and the ♣Q10865 onside there were 12 tricks.
Allfrey took the set 16-0 to reduce the gap to just 9 IMP at the half-way point.

 Intermediate
♠ KJ62
♥ KQ72
♦ Q52
♣ 98
♠ Q974 N ♠ 10 5
♥ A J 10 9 5 ♥3
♦J W E ♦ K9843
♣ K Q 10 S ♣ AJ 7 6 2
♠ A83
♥ 864
♦ A 10 7 6
♣ 543
Open Room
– – – Pass
1♥ Pass 1NT All Pass
Leading an unsupported ace is not usually recommended, although there are exceptions against
certain types of auction as we have already seen on Boards 10 & 29.
Here South found the potentially brilliant lead of the ace of spades.
North, anxious to secure a heart switch, followed with the six of spades rather than an encour-
aging two. It worked, as South tabled a red six. Unfortunately it was in diamonds and declarer
had his seventh trick, +90.
After a heart switch North wins and must return the queen of diamonds for the king and ace.
A second heart allows North to win and play a diamond and after taking the ten South reverts
to spades.
Closed Room
– – – Pass
1♥ Pass 1♠* Pass
1NT* All Pass
1♠ 0-4 spades
1NT 4♠, minimum
North led the nine of clubs and declarer won in hand and advanced the jack of diamonds.
When North followed with an unconcerned two declarer went up with dummy’s king and South
took the ace and returned the eight of hearts. Declarer put in the jack and North won with the
queen and returned a club. Declarer won in hand, cashed the ace of hearts and could do no more
than cash the clubs for one down, -100 and 5 IMPs to McIntosh.

 Intermediate
Board 37. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ Q4
♥6
♦ J863
♣ 10 9 7 5 4 2
♠ J82 N ♠ 10 9 7 6
♥ J754 ♥ AK Q 9 2
♦2 W E ♦ Q95
♣ KQJ63 S ♣8
♠ AK53
♥ 10 8 3
♦ A K 10 7 4
♣A
Open Room
– Pass 1♥ Double
Pass 5♣ Pass 5♦
Double All Pass
What West was doubling on is a mystery.

He led the king of clubs and declarer won, played three rounds of spades pitching dummy’s
heart, ruffed a heart, ruffed a club, ruffed a heart, ruffed a club, ruffed a heart with the jack of
diamonds, ruffed a club and claimed an overtrick, +950.
Closed Room
– Pass 1♥ Double
Pass 5♣ Pass 5♦
All Pass
West led the five of hearts and East won with the ace and returned the eight of clubs.
Declarer won with the ace, ruffed a heart, played a diamond to the ace, ruffed a heart and
played four rounds of spades, ruffing the last with dummy’s jack of diamonds and claiming +600
which saw Allfrey add 8 IMPs.
On Board 39 N/S held ♠83 ♥AQ974 ♦AQ9 ♣Q98 opposite ♠AJ742 ♥KJ8642 ♦103 ♣–.
In the Open Room Forrester passed the South hand and West, who held ♠Q98 ♥5 ♦K764
♣AK764 started with 1♣. Robson overcalled 1♥ and when East jumped to 3♣ Forrester cue-bid
4♣. West bid 5♣ and Robson understandably doubled which saw Forrester retreat to 5♥. Fac-
ing a passed partner it was asking a lot to envisage a slam, but had Robson cue-bid 5♦ Forrester
might have given it a shot and bid 6♥.
At the other table West opened 1♣ North bid 1♥ and when East passed South jumped to 4♣.
I’ll leave you to decide if North should now have bid 4♦ – his 4♥ ended the auction.

 Intermediate
♠ KQ6
♥ K87
♦J
♣ K98654
♠ J 10 7 5 4 N ♠ A9 3
♥ AJ 6 ♥ 952
♦ 10 6 5 W E ♦ Q832
♣ J3 S ♣ Q 10 2
♠ 82
♥ Q 10 4 3
♦ AK974
♣ A7
Open Room
Pass 1♣ Pass 2♣*
Pass 3♣ Pass 3♥
Pass 3NT All Pass
2♣ Game-forcing with 5+♦
East led the five of hearts and declarer took West’s jack with the king and played three rounds of
clubs pitching dummy’s four of diamonds. The return of the nine of hearts was covered by the
ten and ace and after the jack of spades was covered by the queen and ace declarer claimed the
rest, +430.
Closed Room
Pass 1♣ Pass 1♦*
Pass 2♦* Pass 4♥
All Pass
1♦ Transfer to hearts
2♦ 11-14 with 3♥
West led the jack of spades and East took dummy’s queen with the ace and returned the three of
spades to the eight, ten and king.
Declarer played two rounds of diamonds throwing a club, ruffed a diamond, ruffed a spade,
played a club to the king, a club to the ace, ruffed a diamond and played the king of hearts. How-
ever, West calmly ducked and declarer could not avoid losing the last three tricks for one down
and a loss of 10 IMPs.
Rather than ruff a spade declarer should have cashed the king of clubs, played a club to the ace
and ruffed a diamond (it does not help West to ruff in front of dummy). Only now does declarer
ruff dummy’s remaining spade and after ruffing his last diamond with the king of hearts he plays
a club from dummy and can simply cover East’s card assuring himself of one more trick.
At the end of this set Allfrey had taken the lead for the first time, 78-66.

 Intermediate
♠ AQ
♥ A84
♦ J653
♣ A 10 8 5
♠ K J 10 8 3 N ♠4
♥ 10 5 3 ♥ KQJ976
♦A W E ♦ Q 10 9 8
♣ QJ63 S ♣ K7
♠ 97652
♥2
♦ K742
♣ 942
Open Room
– – – Pass
1♠ Double Redouble 2♦
Double* 3♦ Double Pass
Double Take out
West was not sure about the meaning of East’s double of 3♦.
As David Burn pointed out Robson was quite safe in bidding to the level of what he hoped was
a nine-card fit, as no one can ever double anything for penalties any more, so you don’t actually
need any number of trumps to bid to any level.
Three Diamonds would almost certainly have gone down – in theory it is -300, but in practice
declarer might have escaped for one down.
Against 3NT South led the two of diamonds and declarer won perforce with dummy’ s ace and
continued with the three of clubs (a heart looks more natural, but the defenders always have at
least five tricks) and when the king won (South following with an upside down nine) he played
the queen of hearts. North ducked that and the next heart and took the third (South discarding
the four of clubs and the four of diamonds) returning the three of diamonds. When declarer put
up the queen South could win and switch to a spade and North took the queen and ace, cashed
the jack of diamonds and exited with the ten of clubs to endplay the dummy for three down, -150.
Closed Room
Gold Skorchev Bakhshi McIntosh
– – – Pass
1♠ 1NT Double Pass
2♣ Pass 2♥ All Pass
Here North preferred to overcall 1NT which East was happy to double. When West decided to
run East felt he could do no more than bid 2♥ (there is a case for bidding 3♥) and the reason-
able game was missed.
North won the trump lead and played another and declarer won in hand as South pitched the

 Intermediate
nine of clubs and played a spade to the jack and queen. A third heart was taken in dummy and
the king of spades covered by the ace and ruffed. Declarer played on clubs and had nine tricks,
+140 and 7 IMPs to Allfrey.
If East had been in 4♥ he would have needed to play North for the ♠AQ alone, ruffing a low
spade when in dummy for the first time.
♠ K32
♥ 532
♦ AJ943
♣ 10 3
♠ AJ 6 N ♠ Q 10 9 8
♥ Q 10 7 ♥J
♦ K75 W E ♦ Q862
♣ AK J 4 S ♣ Q852
♠ 754
♥ AK9864
♦ 10
♣ 976
Open Room
1♦ Pass 1♠ 2♥
Double* 3♥ Double All Pass
Double 18-20 balanced
Double Values, take out
West led the ace of clubs and continued with the ace and jack of spades. Declarer won with dum-
my’s king, played a heart to the king and a club and East won with the queen and cashed the
queen of spades. West had a trump trick to come so that was one down, -100.
There is a way to collect +300, but it requires West to lead a trump at trick one. Difficult to
be sure, but when you have all the side suits under control leading trumps is usually the way to
restrict declarer’s trick-taking potential.
Closed Room
1♦ Pass 1♠ 2♥
Double Pass 3♦ Pass
3NT All Pass
One Club would have been 2+♣, 11-13/14 balanced or 17-18/18-19 balanced. 1♦ promised four
cards in the suit, so presumably West chose it on tactical grounds.
North led the three of hearts and South won with the king and returned the eight. Declarer
won with the queen, took three rounds of clubs ending in dummy and ran the eight of spades.
North won and the defenders cashed out for three down, +300 and 9 IMPs to McIntosh.
With the diamonds under control and facing a partner who had overcalled should North have
doubled?

 Intermediate
Whatever, McIntosh had taken the set 13-7 to trail 79-85.
There was only one significant swing in the penultimate set:
♠ QJ62
♥ Q2
♦ KJ5
♣ AK72
♠5 N ♠ 10 8 7
♥ A K 10 8 4 ♥ J763
♦ A7 6 2 W E ♦9
♣ QJ4 S ♣ 10 9 8 6 5
♠ AK943
♥ 95
♦ Q 10 8 4 3
♣3
Open Room
All Pass
West led the ace of hearts and when East followed with the jack West cashed the king and saw
East follow with the seven.
West’s next card was a diamond - unfortunately it was the six and declarer was home, +620.
David Burn suggested double scotches for his team and a hemlock for himself.
Closed Room
All Pass
West led the ace of hearts and when East followed with an encouraging three he cashed the king
and saw partner contribute the jack.
Out came the ace of diamonds and it was followed by the two, one down,+100 and 12 IMPs.
By winning the set 19-3 Allfrey had gained a little breathing space at 101-79.

 Intermediate
♠ KJ9542
♥ Q7532
♦Q
♣ 10
♠7 N ♠Q
♥ AJ 4 ♥ K986
♦ A K 10 7 W E ♦ J863
♣ Q8765 S ♣ AK 4 3
♠ A 10 8 6 3
♥ 10
♦ 9542
♣ J92
Open Room
– – 1♦ Pass
2♦* 3♠ Pass 4♠
6♦ Pass Pass 6♠
Double All Pass
2♦ Forcing
It would have been easy enough for North to show both majors, but he preferred to emphasise
his longer suit.
It was suggested that 6♦ might have failed, but once North showed up with two minor-suit
singletons declarer might well do the right thing in hearts.
The defenders scored a heart, a diamond and a club, two down, -500.
Closed Room
– – 1♣ Pass
1♦ 2NT* 3♦ Pass
4♠* Pass 5♦ All Pass
4♠ Splinter
South described 2NT as promising one major, which explains his inactivity.
North led the ten of clubs and declarer won with dummy’s ace and ran the jack of diamonds,
North winning with the queen and tabling the king of spades. South overtook it and returned
the two of clubs and when North discarded the two of hearts declarer won, drew trumps, cashed
the ace of hearts and then ran the jack, +600 and 3 IMPs to Allfrey.

 Intermediate
♠ K64
♥ Q J 10 9 7 3 2
♦ 73
♣ 10
♠ J853 N ♠ A 10 7 2
♥4 ♥5
♦ A 10 9 8 W E ♦ J542
♣ KJ65 S ♣ AQ 4 2
♠ Q9
♥ AK86
♦ KQ6
♣ 9873
Open Room
Pass 3♥ Pass 4♥
All Pass
East led the ace of clubs and followed it with the ace of spades. There was another ace to come,
but declarer had the rest, +620.
Closed Room
Pass 3♥ Double 4♥
4♠ All Pass
North led the ten of clubs and declarer won with king and played a spade to the ten and queen.
South returned the seven of clubs and North ruffed and returned the two of hearts, South win-
ning and giving North a second club ruff. There was still a diamond to come, two down,-100,
but 11 IMPs to Allfrey.
Credit those IMPs to Bakhshi, who was not afraid to double facing a passed partner.

 Intermediate
♠ A732
♥ A96
♦ KJ63
♣ 10 8
♠ 10 6 54 N ♠ KQJ8
♥ KQ754 ♥ 32
♦ A2 W E ♦ Q87
♣ K9 S ♣ AJ 7 6
♠9
♥ J 10 8
♦ 10 9 5 4
♣ Q5432
Open Room
– 1♣* Double 2♣
3♣* Pass 3♠ Pass
4♠ All Pass
3♣ Both majors
South led the two of clubs and declarer won with the jack, played a club to the king and a spade to
the queen followed by the ace of clubs, pitching the two of diamonds. North ruffed and returned
the six of diamonds and declarer won perforce with dummy’s ace and played the king of hearts,
following it with a low heart when it held. North won with the nine and played the king of dia-
monds, but declarer ruffed and claimed via a crossruff, +620.
Closed Room
– 1♦ Pass 1♥
Pass 1♠ Pass 2♦
All Pass
East led the king of spades and declarer won with the ace, ruffed a spade, played the jack of hearts
for the queen and ace, ruffed a spade and continued with the ten of hearts.
West took the king and exited with the seven of hearts, East ruffing, cashing the ace of clubs
and exiting with the six. West took the king, cashed the ace of diamonds and played another dia-
mond. Declarer put up the king, but still had to lose a spade for one down, -100 but 11 IMPs
back to McIntosh who trailed 94-115 with just three deals left.
After a dull push N/S held ♠Q75 ♥QJ ♦KQ106 ♣AJ74 opposite ♠AKJ432 ♥A8 ♦97 ♣K85.
Forrester opened 1♠ and after Robson bid a game-forcing 2♣ Small came in with 3♥ on ♠6
♥K106532 ♦A843 ♣102. Forrester doubled and Robson’s jump to 4♠ ended the auction.
Declarer was not hard pressed to take 12 tricks.
In the replay South opened 1♠ and when North responded 2♣ East interjected 2♥. North raised
South’s rebid of 2♠ to 3♠ and that was followed by a series of cue-bids, 4♣.4♦ and 4♥ before
North bid 4♠. South tried 4NT and North bid 5♣ and then passed South’s 5[.

 Intermediate
Spurning that opportunity meant the result was not in
doubt, but had the slam been bid then there was enough
potential in the last board for McIntosh to have won.
While the scores were being compared (Allfrey 115-98)
the winners’ names were engraved on the trophy in time
for the presentation.
For Tony Forrester it was yet another Gold Cup triumph,
his thirteenth.
Tony Forrester
Master Point Pressthe bridge publisher

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by Patty Tucker
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77 April 2015 Bridge Magazine



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 Intermediate
The Abbot’s Bermuda Bowl Debut

David Bird
T he Abbot had faced a tricky decision as to how he should present himself at the 2015 Bermuda
Bowl in Chennai. If he appeared as ‘Brother Tobias’, who had played in the African Champi-
onship qualifier, the deception would doubtless pass by unchallenged. In his view, though, this
would defeat the whole purpose of the venture. Suppose he came up with two or three marvellous
plays during the event, as was always possible. Did he want Brother Tobias to receive the credit in the
Daily Bulletin and in the eventual World Championship book? No, indeed! His mind was made up.
Come what may, he would be listed on the team-sheet as ‘Abbot Yorke-Smith’. If the heavens fell in and
the WBF discovered that he had no residential qualifications to represent Upper Bhumpopo, so be it.
Opportunities like this had to be firmly grasped. How could he relate endless tales of his remarkable
performance in the Bermuda Bowl if the internet records contained no mention of his participation?
The first match for the Upper Bhumpopo team was to be against Guadeloupe.
‘One of the weaker teams,’ the Witchdoctor informed his team mates. ‘Good opportunity for
us to field sponsor-bwana.’
‘For heaven’s sake!’ exclaimed the Abbot. ‘Will you stop referring to me as some weak-link sponsor?
None of the rest of you is an English Grandmaster. The level of my play easily matches any of yours.’
‘Different against teams like USA, Poland, England, Monaco, France,’ continued the Witch-
doctor. ‘No choice then. We have to playin’ top line-up.’
The Abbot shrugged his shoulders. They would soon change their tune when they saw the score-
cards that he and the Parrot produced.
Not long afterwards the first match was soon under way.
UPPER BHUMPOPO v GUADELOUPE

Board 3.Dealer South. E/W Vul.
♠ J 10 6 4
♥ 53
♦ A642
♣ 864
♠ Q82 N ♠3
♥ J9 ♥ Q 10 8 6 4
♦ Q J 10 9 5 W E ♦ K73
♣ AJ 7 S ♣ KQ95
♠ AK975
♥ AK72
♦8
♣ 10 3 2
Luc The Jean-Claude The
Soudain Parrot Pelletier Abbot
– – – 1♠
Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠
All Pass

 Intermediate
♠ J 10 6 4 When the bidding tray was pushed back under the
♥ 53 screen to the South and West players, the burly Luc
♦ A642 Soudain pointed quizzically at the 3♠ bid. The Abbot
♣ 864
wrote on his pad that the response was based on shape
♠ Q82 N ♠ 3
♥ J9 ♥ Q 10 8 6 4 rather than points. The queen of diamonds was led
♦ Q J 10 9 5 W E ♦ K73 against the spade game and the gate in the screen was
♣ AJ 7 S ♣ KQ95 lifted.
♠ AK975 The Abbot could feel his heart pounding. This was
♥ AK72 the first contract he had played at such an exalted level.
♦ 8
♣ 10 3 2 Would he be up to the challenge? Goodness me, the
Parrot had very little for his response. Was 3♠ meant
to be that weak? Still, if the trump queen fell in two rounds, it would be easy enough to ruff
two hearts in dummy. What could be done if trumps were 3-1 and the queen did not fall? ‘Ace,
please,’ he said.
The Abbot ruffed a diamond in his hand at Trick 2 and then played the two top trumps. When
a heart appeared from East on the second round, he sat back in his chair. All he could do now
was to continue to cross-ruff and hope that something good would happen.
The Abbot cashed the ace and king of hearts and ruffed a heart in dummy, West discarding a
diamond. Another diamond ruff in his hand left these cards still to be played:
♠J
♥─
♦6
♣ 864
♠Q N ♠─
♥─ ♥Q
♦J W E ♦─
♣ AJ 7 S ♣ KQ95
♠9
♥7
♦─
♣ 10 3 2
The Abbot, who had scored the first eight tricks, now led his last heart. Soudain, in the West seat,
had no answer to this. If he ruffed with the queen, declarer would throw a club from dummy and
score his last two trumps separately. West could not afford to discard his last diamond or the ♦6
would become good and could be used to force out West’s master trump. Somewhat reluctantly,
West discarded the ♣7. ‘Ruff with the jack,’ said the Abbot.
Because West had been forced to keep his last diamond, the Abbot could now ruff a diamond
in his hand, making the game. He faced his three low clubs, conceding the remaining tricks.
The Parrot, who was under strict instructions not to repeat his usual screeching and squawk-
ing at the table, leaned down to look at the Abbot through the window in the screen. ‘Nice one!’
he whispered.
The two Guadeloupe players also exchanged a glance. This was a match that they had enter-
tained high hopes of winning. It seemed that no team was a pushover at this level.
Later in the match, it was the Parrot’s turn to have his cardplay tested:

 Intermediate
Board 13.Dealer North. Both Vul.
♠ AKQ983
♥ AKQ6
♦ A8
♣A
♠ J 10 6 N ♠4
♥ 42 ♥ J 10 9 7
♦ KJ97 W E ♦ 6432
♣ J952 S ♣ Q 10 4 3
♠ 752
♥ 853
♦ Q 10 5
♣ K876
Luc The Jean-Claude The
Soudain Parrot Pelletier Abbot
– 2♣ Pass 2♦
Pass 2♠ Pass 3♠
Pass 4♣ Pass 4♠
Pass 6♠ All Pass
The Parrot won East’s ♥J lead, noting that all would be easy if the trumps broke 2-2. Indeed, he
would score an overtrick; he would be able to reach the blocked king of clubs by ruffing the fourth
round of hearts. A 3-3 heart break would also be enough for an early claim.
When two top trumps were played, East discarded a diamond on the second round. The Parrot
cashed the ace of clubs and then led out the three top hearts. West ruffed the third round with the
♠J and exited with a club. The Parrot ditched his losing diamond, winning the trick with dum-
my’s ♣K. He then claimed the contract, indicating that he would ruff his heart loser in dummy.
The Parrot peered through the screen at Luc Soudain in the West seat. ‘Diamond king?’ he
asked, making a valiant attempt not to squawk too loudly.
The West player nodded, spreading his hands to indicate that there had been nothing he could do.
‘Is it any better if you don’t ruff?’ his partner asked.
‘No, he ruffs his last heart and I have to overruff then anyway,’ Soudain replied. ‘Sorry, but I
think you needed to lead a diamond.’
The match drew to a close and the Upper Bhumpopo team were delighted to find that they
had won by 43 IMPs to14.
‘Hah!’ exclaimed the Witchdoctor. ‘We winnin’ even with sponsor in team. We playin’ Poland
next. Top squad for this one.’
The Abbot, who was feeling a bit tired after the first 16-board match, raised no objection. The match
against Poland might bring the Witchdoctor to his senses. He had no idea of the quality of the top
dozen teams or so. It would serve him right if they lost the next match by some embarrassing margin.
The Abbot headed downstairs towards the bulletin room. Surely they would be interested in
that spade game he had just made? You never know. Perhaps he was the only player in the Ber-
muda Bowl field who had managed to make it. Ah yes, and he must remember to tell them that
‘Yorke-Smith’ had an ‘e’ in it.
Upstairs, in the main playing area, the second round was underway. Poland’s Cesary Balicki
reached a spade game on this deal:

 Intermediate
UPPER BHUMPOPO v POLAND
Board 6. Dealer East. E-W Vul.
♠ K J 10
♥ A863
♦ 10 4
♣ KQ93
♠8 N ♠ 542
♥ J9742 ♥ Q 10
♦ 8753 W E ♦ AK Q 9
♣ 764 S ♣ A J 10 8
♠ AQ9763
♥ K5
♦ J62
♣ 52
Witchdoctor Zmudzinski Mbozi Balicki
– – 1NT 2♠
Pass 4♠ All Pass
The Witchdoctor led the ♠8 against the spade game and Balicki surveyed the dummy that went
down. To make the game he would need to ruff a diamond in dummy. The wild-looking guy in the
West seat was quite a sight! Anyway, he had made the one lead that might trouble him. If it was a
singleton, perhaps East could win the first two diamond tricks and lead two more rounds of trumps.
Aiming to put East under pressure later in the hand, Balicki played the king and ace of hearts
and led a third round of hearts from dummy. Mbozi decided to throw the ♦9 and declarer ruffed
in his hand. When a club was played to the king, Mbozi won with the ace and returned a second
round of trumps, West showing out. These cards were still to be played:
♠K
♥8
♦ 10 4
♣ Q93
♠─ ♠5
♥ J9 ♥─
♦ 875 ♦ AK Q
♣ 76 ♣ J 10 8
♠ AQ9
♥─
♦ J62
♣5
Balicki pointed at the dummy. ‘Heart,’ he said.
Mbozi had no answer to this. If he discarded from one of the minors, declarer would be able
to set up an extra trick in that suit. Nor was ruffing any good, since declarer would then have a
trump left in dummy to ruff the third round of diamonds.
When Mbozi eventually discarded the queen of diamonds, Balicki ruffed in his hand and
crossed to the king of trumps to lead a low diamond. He soon established his tenth trick in that
suit and the game was made.

 Intermediate
The Witchdoctor turned his yellow eyes towards Balicki, his screen-mate in the North seat. ‘Can
we beatin’ it?’ he asked him.
‘No, no,’ Balicki replied. ‘You made a good lead.’
The Witchdoctor scribbled 420 into the minus column of his scorecard. He didn’t like the
look of the board. Playing on hearts had been a clever idea. Perhaps it would prove beyond Mrs
Okoku at the other table.
A few boards later, the two Bozwambi women reached a game contract.
Board 10. Dealer South. Both Vul.
♠ A983
♥ 853
♦ A 10 7 4
♣ 74
♠ K J 10 6 N ♠ 74
♥─ ♥ Q 10 9 7
♦ Q982 W E ♦ KJ63
♣ J 10 8 6 3 S ♣ A9 2
♠ Q52
♥ AKJ642
♦5
♣ KQ5
Mazurkiewicz Miss Jassem Mrs
Nabooba Okoku
– – – 1♥
Pass 2♥ Pass 4♥
All Pass
The jack of clubs was led, East winning with the ace and returning the ten of trumps. Mrs Okoku
won with the ace and puffed out her cheeks when West discarded a club. Now, what was the best
continuation?
After the helpful club lead, she had four side-suit tricks at her disposal. Six trump tricks in addi-
tion would give her the game. She crossed to the ace of diamonds and ruffed a diamond in her
hand. It seemed to Mrs Okoku that East was unlikely to return a trump if he had begun with only
two clubs; he would then have been able to use his trumps to overruff the dummy. She cashed
the king of clubs and returned to dummy by ruffing the master queen of clubs. Another diamond
ruff in her hand was followed by a spade to the ace and a further diamond ruff. Her remaining
cards were the ♥AJ and the ♠Q4. She exited with a spade and waited to score two more trump
tricks at the end. The contract was hers.
The Upper Bhumpopo team were soon comparing scores, overlooked by the Abbot. They had
played a tight game but lost by 29 IMPs to 41.
‘Not so bad,’ declared the Abbot. ‘Poland is a strong team.’
‘The guys we played didn’t seem nothin’ special,’ declared the Witchdoctor. ‘Mos’ probably we
should have doin’ better.’
A near-draw to New Zealand completed the first day and the Upper Bhumpopo team found
that they were in 10th place out of 22, way above the Abbot’s initial expectations.
‘Time to goin’ to hotel bar for some cocktails!’ announced the Witchdoctor. He patted the
Abbot on the back. ‘You team sponsor,’ he said. ‘You leadin’ the way.’


‘I don’t mind having a small drink somewhere,’ the Abbot replied, ‘but not in a 5-star hotel like
this. Have you any idea what cocktails would cost? Add in the sales tax and the service charge and
one drink would cost about a week’s wages back in Upper Bhumpopo.’
‘Why you think we got a sponsor?’ the Witchdoctor retorted.
‘I’m not paying a hundred and fifty dollars for a round of drinks and that’s the end of the mat-
ter,’ declared the Abbot. ‘We can buy a few cans of beer in a shop somewhere and take them back
to the guesthouse.’
With some reluctance the rest of the team trailed behind the Abbot as he strode towards the
hotel exit.
‘This is last time I playin’ as professional,’ declared Mbozi. ‘Not much fun, I mus’ say.’
‘Hundred US dollars a day not so bad, Mbozi,’ said Miss Nabooba. ‘Where you rather be? Playin’
against famous bridge stars here in luxury hotel with A/C or sweatin’ at home, eatin’ maize-cakes?’
‘I enjoyin’ it,’ said Mrs Okoku. ‘I gettin’ lot of admirin’ glances. The people starin’ at me mos’
probably never seen such beautiful home-made dresses.’
‘Lots of people staring at me too,’ observed Miss Nabooba, who was wearing her standard uni-
versity gear of jeans and a thin yellow T-shirt.
‘Tomorrow I’m gonna wearin’ my special purple and blue dress with shoulder pads,’ declared
Mrs Okoku. ‘Wait till they all seein’ that!’
Solution to Non-Prize Problem

The deal is from the 1999 World Junior Team final between Italy and USA2 with Eric Greco
as declarer for the USA. If there was a trump loser his best chance was to find the diamonds
3-3 but he realised it might be necessary to keep East out of the lead.
Greco won the lead in dummy and ran the ten of diamonds to West’s queen. West led another
heart, the nine. Again Greco won and ran the nine of diamonds to West’s king. West had no hearts
left so Greco ruffed West’s club switch and laid down two top trumps. There was a trump loser but
when the diamonds broke 3-3, a heart went away from dummy and the losing heart was ruffed.
The full hand was ♠ J95
♥ AK6
♦ 10 9 8
♣ Q742
♠ Q 10 6 N ♠8
♥ 10 9 ♥ Q9752
♦ KQ5 W E ♦ J76
♣ K J 10 9 5 S ♣ A8 6 5
♠ AK7432
♥ J43
♦ A432
♣—
Note that if declarer plays the ace of diamonds except on East’s jack West can beat the
game by unblocking his high diamond.
Declarer at the other table in the same contract was doubled, won the heart lead, and played
a diamond to the ace. Had West unblocked he could have won the next diamond to lead a
second heart and allow East to win the third diamond and cash a heart. But West kept both
high diamonds and the contract made for a loss of 5 IMPs to the USA.
Italy won 261-186. The field also contained Augustin Madala of Argentina, aged 13.

 Intermediate
PARTNERSHIP PROFILE
In this issue the Editor takes a look the 2015 Lederer Memorial Trophy, which uses a combination
of IMPs and Point a Board scoring. In each match 48 VP are available, 30 from the IMPs and 18
via the Point-a-Board.This year a difference of 10 points was counted as a loss.
The Hands
(This month all the deals were played at IMPs combined with Point a Board.)
Hand 1. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
♠ A J 10 N ♠ 754
♥6 ♥ J852
♦ A 10 7 6 W E ♦ KQJ43
♣ AK Q 7 2 S ♣J
West East
Robson Forrester
1♣* 1♦*
2♦ 4♦
4NT* 5♣*
6♦ Pass
1♣ 1+♣, natural or balanced or 4441
1♦ 4+♥
4NT RKCB
5♣ 1 key card
The key to the auction was Forrester’s jump to 4♦, which made it easy for West to ask for aces
before bidding the slam. Yes, the jack of clubs was a good card, but East knew that when he jumped.
West East
Hoftaniska Padon
1♣ 1♥
2♦ 3♦
3NT 5♦
All Pass
Sometimes unfamiliar partnerships, unburdened by agreements, find slam bidding straightfor-

ward. Not this time.
That gave England Open 13 IMPs and the board.
Recommended auction: 1♣-1♦-3♥*-4♦-4♠-5♣*-6♦.
East can’t do anything useful over 3♥, but when West cue-bids in spades it must be right to
show some enthusiasm with 5♣, making it easy for West to bid the slam.
Obviously the Forrester-Robson sequence was very good.
Marks: 6♦10, 5♦ 6, 3NT 5.
Running score: Lederians 10.

 Intermediate
♠ A Q 10 2 N ♠ 97
♥ Q 10 9 8 ♥ AK 5
♦ AK Q W E ♦ J876532
♣ J4 S ♣8
North overcalls 3♣ (weak) and if East passes South bids 3NT and runs to 4♣ if it is doubled.
Malinowski Townsend
1♠ 3♣ Pass 3NT
Double Pass Pass 4♣
Double Pass 5♦ All Pass
Once East had passed over 3♣ it was going to be hard work to reach 6♦.
South led the three of clubs, so declarer could test the hearts and did not need the spade finesse
for twelve tricks.
Gold Bakhshi
1♦ 3♣ 4♦ Pass
4♠ Pass 5♣ Pass
6♦ All Pass
I don’t know if Gold/Bakhshi have made some recent changes to their system, but with 18-19 bal-
anced they usually start with 1♣ (which could be two) as 1♦ promises four (they were involved
in a similar situation in the Gold Cup Final.)
It was surprising that South, holding ♠K843 ♥J32 ♦109 ♣K932 did not raise to 5♣.
Once East showed a club control West jumped to the slam.
North led the four of hearts so declarer took all the tricks, 13 IMPs and the point-a-board VPs.
Recommended auction: 1♥-(3♣)-3♦-(3NT)-Double-(Pass)-Pass-(4♣)-Pass-4♦-4♠-5♣-6♦.
The one produced by Gold/Bakhshi cannot be faulted.
Marks: 6♦ 10, 5♦ 6.
Hand 3. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
♠ A K Q 10 3 N ♠ 9865
♥— ♥ KQ5
♦6 W E ♦ K32
♣ KJ65432 S ♣ A9 7
North overcalls 2♥ and South raises to 3♥.
Forrester Robson
– – 1♣* Pass
1NT* 2♥ 2NT* 3♥
3♠ Pass 4♠ Pass
6♥* Pass 6♠ All Pass
1♣ 1+♣, natural or balanced or 4441
1NT 5+♣ game-forcing
2NT Weak no-trump

 Intermediate
Even though he knew some of East’s modest values must be in hearts West forced to slam rather
than make a wishy-washy 5♥ bid.
Draper Bakhshi Dhondy Gold
– – 1♣ Pass
2♣ 2♥ Pass Pass
2♠ Pass 3♠ Pass
4♣ Pass 4♦* Double
Pass Pass 4♠* Pass
5♥ Pass 5♠ All Pass
The first thing to note is that Gold, holding ♠J42 ♥J862 ♦A1094 ♣Q8 did not raise hearts.
When he doubled East’s cue-bid West’s Pass and East’s 4♠ made it clear that the ace of dia-
monds was missing.
When West went on over 4♠ it was clear she held a first round heart control, but East, perhaps
worried about the possibility of a trump loser was unwilling to go past 5♠.
It cost 11 IMPs and the board.
Recommended auction: 1NT-2♠*-3♣*-3♠-4♠-4NT*-5♣-6♠
West starts by transferring to clubs and East’s 3♣ promises a fit. After East shows four card
spade support West asks for key cards, because if East has the three missing aces a grand slam will
be very good. This risks missing 7♠ when East only has both minor-suit aces. So, it might be best
to bid 5♣ over 4♠. Then if East bids 5♦ and South doubles East’s inability to show a first-round
control by redoubling will leave West to bid 6♠.
Marks: 6♠10, 6♣ 9, 5♠ 6, 5♣ 4.
Hand 4. Dealer West. Both Vul.
♠ Q75 N ♠ A K J 10 8 6 3
♥ Q52 ♥ K8
♦ J843 W E ♦ 95
♣ AQ 5 S ♣ J3
North opens 2♥ weak.
West North South East
Forrester Robson
Pass 2♥ 3♠ Pass
4♠ All Pass
North’s 2♥ was on ♠- ♥J109764 ♦Q1076 ♣642 so with the club finesse onside there were ten tricks, +620.
West East
Draper Dhondy
Pass 3♠
Pass
Terence Reese wrote that the pre-empt that was always weak was like a blunt sword, but when
you have the spade suit there must be less risk that things will go wrong by starting at a low level.
This match was remarkable in so far as England Open defeated England Women 65-0 and won
8 of the boards (they could have won the ninth, which was tied, giving the Women their only VP).

 Intermediate
Recommended auction: 1♠-2♦-2♠-3♠-4♠ or 1♠-2♦-3♠-4♠.
Marks: 4♠ 10, 3♠ 5.
Hand 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ A9 3 N ♠ 52
♥ AQ J 10 9 5 2 ♥K
♦ 96 W E ♦ AK Q J 7
♣5 S ♣ A 10 9 8 2
West East
Forrester Robson
– 1♦
1♥ 2♣
4♥ 5♥
6♥ Pass
Its always annoying to miss a grand slam when the tricks are on top. If East had asked for key
cards and discovered West had three of them he might have taken a shot at 7♥.
West East
Zia Bilde
– 1♦
1♥ 2♣
2♠* 3♣
4♥ 5♥
6♥ Pass
2♠ Fourth suit forcing
Recommended auction: 1♦-1♥-2♣-4♥-4NT*-5♠*-7♥. When West jumps to 4hx East asks for key
cards and when West shows two plus the trump queen can then bid the grand slam with fair confidence.
Marks: 7NT 10. 7♥ 9, 6NT 8,6♥ 7, 3NT 6, 4♥5.
Hand 6. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
♠ AK 4 2 N ♠ J83
♥ A K 10 ♥ QJ972
♦ K Q 10 9 6 W E ♦ 85
♣5 S ♣ J64
Gillis Erichsen
– 1NT Pass Pass
Double Pass 2♥ All Pass
North opens 1NT (15-17)
North’s 1NT was on ♠Q10 ♥854 ♦A4 ♣AKQ1093.
South led the two of clubs and North won with the queen and returned the four of hearts.
Declarer won with dummy’s ten and played the king of diamonds. When East ducked he contin-
ued with a low diamond and when the ace appeared he claimed eleven tricks.

 Intermediate
Garvey Carroll
– 1NT Pass Pass
Double Pass Pass Redouble
Pass Pass 2♥ Pass
4♥ All Pass
Here East showed a willingness to defend 1NT doubled, but when South redoubled he did not
quite have the courage of his convictions.
However, he had shown some values and his partner did not hesitate to bid the game.
The defence started with two rounds of clubs and declarer ruffed with dummy’s king and played
the king of diamonds, North winning and returning a trump. Declarer won in hand with the
queen, ruffed a club, cashed the queen of diamonds, ruffed a diamond, drew trumps and claimed
eleven tricks. 10 IMPs to Ireland and the board.
Recommended auction: Once East has passed West’s double of 1NT any subsequent bid of 2♥
by East should be enough for West to go to game.
Marks: 4♥ 10, 1NT doubled 7, 3♥ 5.
♠ K 10 9 4 2 N ♠ AJ 5
♥ 64 ♥ A K Q 10 2
♦ J985 W E ♦6
♣ J6 S ♣ AK 3 2
South opens 3♦
Brogeland Lindqvist
– – – 3♦
Pass Pass Double Pass
3♠ Pass 4♥ All Pass
South, who had opened on ♠8 ♥3 ♦AQ7432 ♣98754 led the eight of spades and when dum-
my’s ten held declarer played the jack of clubs for the queen and ace. He continued with the king
of clubs and a club, ruffed with the six and overruffed by North, who returned the six of spades.
South ruffed, cashed the ace of diamonds and played a club, North’s ruff providing the setting trick.
Declarer was a little unlucky, but once the ten of spades has held it must be better to play off two
top hearts. When South discards on the second round declarer plays three rounds of spades, ruffing,
cashes the top clubs and exits with a minor. The ♥Q10 will provide the two tricks declarer needs.
Even if South avoids a spade lead, say starting with a club, declarer can cash two top hearts and
then duck a spade to North’s queen. Winning the club return declarer plays on spades, pitching
a diamond and then a club when North ruffs in. After ruffing the diamond return declarer exits
with a club and again has a trump tenace over North.
Moran Hanlon
– – – 3♦
3♠ Pass 4♦* Pass
4♠ All Pass

 Intermediate
North led the king of diamonds and continued with the ten. Declarer ruffed in dummy, cashed
the ace of spades and followed it with the top hearts, pitching a diamond. He ruffed a heart, took
dummy’s top clubs, ruffed a heart and played the jack of diamonds. North could ruff, but then
had to lead away from the queen of spades, a well played +650.
Recommended auction: Hard to better the Irish on this deal.
Marks: 4♠ 10, 4♥ 8.
Hand 8. Dealer West. Both Vul.
♠ KQ82 N ♠ A9
♥ AJ ♥ Q8532
♦ Q 10 8 2 W E ♦ AK
♣ K74 S ♣ A Q 10 3
West East
Malinowski de Botton
1NT 2♦*
2♥ 3♣
3NT 6NT
Pass
2♦ Transfer
When West showed no interest in either of her suits East abandoned any idea of a grand slam.
North led the five of diamonds and declarer won perforce in dummy and played a heart to the
jack. When that held he cashed the ace of hearts, went back to dummy with a diamond, cashed
the ace of clubs, came to hand with the king of clubs and cashed the queen of diamonds pitching
a heart. South could throw a spade on this trick, but when declarer played a club to the queen
felling the jack, the ten of clubs squeezed South for the overtrick.
West East
Matheson Coyle
1NT 2♦*
2♥ 6NT
Pass
Facing a 15-17 no-trump East surprisingly did not bother to introduce his clubs.
After a diamond lead, declarer played a heart to the jack, unblocked the diamonds, played a
heart to the ace and cashed the queen of diamonds, pitching a heart. He continued with a spade
to the ace, a spade to the king and cashed the queen of spades.
Having discovered that North had started with two spades, two or three hearts, five diamonds
and two or more clubs he rejected any idea of playing North for ♣Jxxx and made his contract –
for a losing board.
Recommended auction: That of Malinowski - de Botton
Marks: 6NT 10, 3NT 4.
You can play through the deals mentioned in this article.
Just follow the links:
Hands 1 & 2: http://tinyurl.com/q6n6zv8

 Intermediate
Hands 3 & 4: http://tinyurl.com/nkwd6ae
Hand 5: http://tinyurl.com/nnhd3ta
Hand 6 & 7: http://tinyurl.com/pftg3vv
Hand 8: http://tinyurl.com/qz3a7tp
Test Your
Defence
with Julian Pottage Solutions on page 96
♠ 9 ♠ A
1 ♥ AQ3 2 ♥ J 10
♦ A K Q 10 6 5 ♦ AJ642
♣ K J 10 ♣ K 10 8 6 2
N ♠ A6 N ♠ 8742
♥ K85 ♥ 653
W E ♦ J9842 W E ♦ K95
S ♣ A7 2 S ♣ A5 4
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
– 1♦ Pass 1♠ – – – 1♠
Pass 3NT* Pass 4♠ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥
All Pass Pass 3♣ Pass 3♥
3NT Suggests a long strong diamond suit Pass 3NT Pass 4♠
All Pass
Partner leads the ♥J. Declarer calls for the ♥A, throws
two hearts on two top diamonds and tackles trumps. Partner leads the ♣Q. Declarer ruffs, goes over to the
What is your plan? ♠A and runs the ♥J, which holds. Partner wins the
second round with the ♥Q and leads the ♦3 to your
♦K. What is your plan?


BLACK BRIDGE
Vienna for Connoisseurs a unique bridge holiday
August 23 - 29, 2015
Travel Itinerary
Day 1 - August 23rd Day 3 – August 25th finger food from Vienna’s award- in a Michelin award-winning
winning catering and a bridge restaurant in the historic vaults.
I ndividual arrival and check-in
at your hotel, with free time to
settle in and explore the neigh-
T he morning is at your
leisure. Lunch will be held in
the garden of a former city mo-
tournament await.
Day 7 – August 29th
borhood, such as the nearby nastery (Gault et Millau award- Day 5 – August 27th
Museum Quarter, one of the
world‘s greatest art and cultural
winning restaurant), then you
will depart for a bridge tour-
T he morning is at your
leisure. Lunch will be served
I ndividual check-out and depar-
ture.
areas. Late in the afternoon, en- nament in the Viennese Bridge * Subject to change. Alternative acti-
in an upscale restaurant right on
joy an official welcoming drink Club with dinner afterward at a vities will be arranged in the event of
the Danube River with a view of
at the hotel and then dinner in a winery under the stars. bad weather.
the Vienna’s modern skyline, fol-
stylish Art Nouveau atmosphere.
lowed by a bridge tournament
Day 4 – August 26th afterward in the Bridge Center. No scheduled activity is
Day 2 – August 24th In the evening, we will surprise
A fter breakfast, visit

the Vienna Secession Exhi-
A fter breakfast, head off on a
city walking tour with
stops at the City Park,
you with an exclusive dinner held
in one of the city’s museums with
mandatory - you set the pace of
your trip as you see fit.
You can join walking tours later or
a visit to the museum exhibition. leave earlier, and between
bition Hall (with a guided tour). Museum of Applied Arts and
activities you’ll have plenty
Then stroll through the lively the Otto Wagner-designed Aus- of time to relax or explore
Naschmarkt, Vienna‘s largest in- trian Postal Savings Bank buil- Day 6 – August 28th on your own.
nercity market, where you can ding. After lunch in a sophisti-
sample delicacies from around
the world. The culinary tour con-
cated tavern serving traditional
Viennese cuisine, you’ll continue A fter breakfast, take a vinta-
ge tram ride through Vienna
and then lunch at the city’s top For bridge players
tinues with a stop at a traditional with a tour of the Vienna city cen-
Asian fusion restaurant. Another of all levels.
Viennese coffee house, after ter, visiting Mozart´s House and
which you’ll return to the ho- St. Stephen´s Cathedral, among city walking tour in the afternoon
tel for optional participation in others. You’ll return to the hotel will include a visit to the Baroque Non-players are also
State Hall of the National Libra-
a bidding challenge. Depart for to relax, and then depart for the
ry. The closing dinner will be held
very welcome!
dinner in the Basteigarten. "Bridgecentrum" where the finest
www.blackfish-bridge.com


All-Inclusive Package
Vienna for Connoisseurs, August 23-29, 2015
Package includes 2,180 Euro per person

♣ 6 nights in a ‘classic’ double room in ♣ All travel information as well as advice
the 4-star boutique hotel ‘Altstadt on individual exploration and shop-
Vienna’, including an extensive break- ping
fast buffet and afternoon tea with ♣ Round-trip transportation to all
homemade cakes activities in a private bus or taxi
♣ Small groups with a maximum of ♣ Surprise gift
28 persons, guaranteed departures
from ten travelers
♣ Personal welcome from the tour Not included or optional
guide services
♣ Professional and individual assistance
throughout the journey ♣ Individual travel to Vienna
♣ Sightseeing tours and entrance fees ♣ Garage space for your car
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VIDEO OF THE MONTH 3
The 3rd Copenhagen
Bridge Invitational 2015
Between 15-18 January 20 top pairs battled against each other over three days at the Radisson Blu
Scandinavian Hotel, which is rapidly gaining a reputation as a hotel of choice for major bridge events (you
will recall it was also used for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last year).
This year the organisers introduced a new tournament to run alongside the main event, the Radisson Blu
Scandinavia IMP Pairs, an open 3-day event played simultaneously with the Copenhagen Bridge
Invitational (CBI) which gave everyone an opportunity to be a part of the magic surrounding the 3rd
Copenhagen Bridge Invitational. Before the serious business got under way there was a pro/am tournament
at which the guest of honour was HRH the Prince Consort of Denmark.
Throughout the event a camera crew shot many hours of film to be used in the future both to create interest
for the Copenhagen Bridge Invitational and to promote bridge in general to a larger audience.
The first video to be released introduces the CBI to sponsors, future participants and gives the many inhab-
itants of the bridge world who were not able to participate themselves a glimpse of the atmosphere sur-
rounding the CBI.
There are more videos to come, including interviews with Gus Hansen, Dennis Bilde and His Royal
Highness the Prince Consort of Denmark.
Click the image below to play this month’s featured video:
April 2015 Bridge Magazine


Solutions to “Test Your Defence”

with Julian Pottage See page 92
♠ 9 ♠ A
1 ♥ AQ3 2 ♥ J 10
♦ A K Q 10 6 5 ♦ AJ642
♣ K J 10 ♣ K 10 8 6 2
♠ K83 N ♠ A6 ♠ 65 N ♠ 8742
♥ J 10 9 4 ♥ K85 ♥ AQ 4 ♥ 653
♦ 73 W E ♦ J9842 ♦ Q83 W E ♦ K95
♣ 9543 S ♣ A7 2 ♣ QJ973 S ♣ A5 4
♠ Q J 10 7 5 4 2 ♠ K Q J 10 9 3
♥ 762 ♥ K9872
♦ — ♦ 10 7
♣ Q86 ♣ —
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
– 1♦ Pass 1♠ – – – 1♠
Pass 3NT* Pass 4♠ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥
All Pass Pass 3♣ Pass 3♥
3NT Suggests a long strong diamond suit Pass 3NT Pass 4♠
All Pass
Partner leads the ♥J. Declarer calls for the ♥A, throws
two hearts on two top diamonds and tackles trumps. The bidding and play to date have given you a com-
What is your plan? plete count on the distribution. The bidding tells you
that South has six spades and five hearts. The action of
Starting with four hearts and not knowing about the ducking the first diamond indicates a doubleton there.
5-2 diamond split, declarer would surely have tried a South must be 6-5-2-0.
third round of diamonds. You thus assume that part-
You can work out that defending passively will not work.
ner was the one with four, which means the ♥K is not
If you exit with a spade, declarer can just draw trumps,
going to make. It looks like your side needs to make
knock out the ace of hearts and claim. The situation is
three trump tricks to go with the ♣A.
much the same if you play a heart yourself.
Shall we see what happens if you play low on the first Playing the ace of clubs, even though it forces declarer
trump? Partner wins and does best to play a club to your to ruff, is no good either. Your opponent draws trumps
ace. You then play a diamond, which declarer ruffs a and, lacking an entry to get back to the hearts, stakes
high. If your opponent then guesses correctly to lead all on the diamond suit. You need to return a diamond
a low trump next, a trump promotion does not work. into the jaws of the tenace – the finesse is working any-
You do better to grab the first spade. You play a third way. Partner covers to put the lead in dummy. If declarer
round of diamonds and then a fifth round when you get tries running the diamonds, you discard on the fourth
in with ace of clubs, promoting the ♠8. Taking the first round to let partner ruff.
round of trumps also works best if partner has Q10x or
QJx, enabling two overruffs.

 Intermediate
MARKS & COMMENTS

Set 290 conducted by Alan Mould
Hi one and all. Perhaps not a great set this month with
too many problems having clear majorities. Six of the THE BIDS & MARKS
eight problems had overall majorities with two being
perilously close to the unanimous panel. Personally I 1. One Heart 10
Pass 8
blame the conductor. This month problem 1 comes from Two/Three Diamonds 7
reader Michael Kaye, problem 2 from our esteemed One Diamond 6
layout editor Ron Tacchi, problem 3 from reader Nick Two Hearts 4
Simms, problem 4 from David Bird, problem 5 from Three Hearts 1
2. Pass 10
Iain Sime, problem 6 from Marc Smith , problem 7 4NT 7
from reader Andy Poole , and finally problem 8 is from Five Clubs 7
reader Nick Simms. OK on with the show. Six Diamonds 7
6NT 5
Six Clubs 4
PROBLEM 1 All other bids 1
3. Four Clubs 10
Pairs. Dealer North. None Vul. Pass 8
4NT 8
♠2 Five Clubs 8
♥ KQ987 Four Hearts 6
♦ KQ7542 Five Diamonds
Four Diamonds
2
0
♣3 4. Four Hearts 10
West North East South Double 9
– Pass Pass Pass Three Spades 7
Four Clubs 5
? 4NT 3
Pass 2
Marks: One Heart 10, Pass 8, Two Diamonds 7, All other bids 1
Three Diamonds 7, One Diamond 6, Two Hearts 5. Five Diamonds 10
4, Three Hearts 1, Any other bid 0 4NT 9
Personally it would never occur to me to open this hand Five Clubs 9
Six Diamonds 8
fourth in hand – no spades, no aces, no points equals Five Spades 6
no bid for me. Who agrees with me? Double 3
Sime: Pass. If you catch me opening this against you Pass 0
in 4th seat, then I don’t rate your game. I cannot 6. 4NT 10
Four Clubs/Diamonds/Hearts 9
afford to pass out a hand out against you at Pairs. Pass 8
Please accept my apology, it is only my opinion. 3NT 6
It is true that passing may miss a game. It is more Four Spades 1
likely (against good opponents) that opening will Five Clubs/Diamonds 1
7. 1NT 10
result in a negative score. At Pairs, frequency beats Pass 7
magnitude. Two Spades 6
Apteker: Pass. Looks like the opponents control Two Clubs 4
spades and have roughly half the HCP. Two Diamonds/Hearts 1
8. Five Diamonds 10
Bowyer: Pass. A complete guess and, in practice, I Four Diamonds 9
might try any of One Heart, One Diamond or Pass. Double 7
Eric comes up with yet another reason to Pass: Six Diamonds 7
Kokish: Pass. I would open if the longer suit were Four Hearts 6
Four Spades 3
higher-ranking but as it is, getting the lengths right Five Clubs 2
without overbidding would be awkward; the so-far- 4NT 1
dormant opponents will often compete high enough Five Hearts 1
to force this hand to do something dangerous,

 Intermediate
particularly if East has some spades (South’s third- Lots of people however mention the dog that didn’t
seat pass hints that he has relatively short spades or bark in the night – why has South not opened third
he might well open light at Pairs) and introduces in hand:
the suit at an awkward level. I’m sure we can make Greco: One Heart. I don’t like passing it out when
110 or so in the right red suit, but I think it’s quite I have an excuse to open, especially when RHO
likely that we will get too high if I open. passed non-vulnerable in third seat. I normally like
OK who else for Pass?..... Err no one. The majority opening my longer suit but will make an exception
of the panel simply open their five-card major: here as I want to make sure I get both my suits in
Alder: One Heart. If this backfires, no doubt part- without reversing.
ner will ask if I have heard of the Rule of Fifteen. Lawrence: One Heart. Really scary. We may have
Indeed I am sure he will. The rule of 15 or Pearson a game (actually not unlikely) but so might they.
points extols you to add your HCP to your number of Since I have superb shape, something their side may
spades and only open in 4th if the total is 15 or more. not have, I open One Heart. Basically I am betting
Phillip is not the only one to mention this: that with four players having ten points, my ten is
Rigal: One Heart. Yes Pearson points suggest pass- better than theirs. Yes, we are missing the spade suit
ing but 6-5 come alive. We can’t maintain both ideas but my partner is as likely to have QJxxx as any-
simultaneously and I paid my entry fee so here I one else. Oddly, if in any other seat, I would pass,
come, ready or not. expecting to bid later.
Matheson: One Heart. A simple count of Pearson Bird: One Heart. Partner will hold around 10
points suggests a Pass. However, this hand could points and four or five spades, so I am not so wor-
easily make game in hearts or diamonds. Moreover ried about the opponents coming alive in that direc-
we will likely be plus if the opponents outbid us in tion. I might pass at IMPs but I’m willing to give the
spades or clubs as we know their suits are breaking pot a stir at Pairs. (I did pay for 24 boards, didn’t I?)
badly. At love all RHO did not find a spade bid in Some are passing this hand out – Ben is prepared
3rd seat – another indication this is our hand. to drive it to the four-level:
Zmudzinski: One Heart. According to the law of Green: One Heart. Yes you could pass it out as
15 (HCP + spade length) I should pass but two red the opponents might be making game in spades.
aces gives me 11 tricks. You could open Two Diamonds 9-13 and then bid
Marc – never behind the door where bidding is hearts but partner will never believe you have five.
concerned - here is tempted by the four-level: So I’ll start with One Heart and be prepared to bid
Smith: One Heart. This is a rather boring answer, diamonds at the four-level if necessary.
but it is surely the better of the two ‘obvious’ Wolff: One Heart. Just like I was in 1st chair, except
choices. Actually, though, I am rather tempted by I am convinced that my partner will have around
Four Hearts (Four Hearts – stone the crows!), since I 9-11 points. I cannot imagine that opening the
need only the right flat six count (♠Axxx ♥Jxxx ♦Jx bidding will not eventually show more plus scores
♣xxx) opposite to make game excellent and part- than minuses.
ner rates to have more than that. The opponents’ Teramoto: One Heart. I hope to get a plus score
silence suggests that suits are likely to be breaking and we may have game.
evenly too. With such huge playing strength, it is Rosen: One Heart. Second choice Pass.
surely right to ignore the Rule of 15 and open the Leufkens: One Heart. Interesting problem. First I
bidding despite the chance of the enemy outbid- wanted to open a two-suiter with Two Hearts. Not
ding us in spades, although that suit rates to be only don’t we play that, but it’s probably not good
breaking 4-4-4-1 round the table. either. You can miss game, but maybe more impor-
An interesting facet of this problem is how many tant, opponents won’t let you play in it at Pairs. One
panelists who chose to open did so with One Diamond. Diamond has got its advantages, but it’s probably
The answer is none – not a single one! Drew is one of too much. The hand has too much potential for
the few even to mention the possibility: passing (obviously).
Cannell: One Heart. I choose One Heart over One Which brings us those who do open but not at the
Diamond in an effort to attempt to get both suits one level. Two try Three Diamonds:
involved for the forthcoming competitive auction. Silver: Three Diamonds. I am afraid (the older one
Sure, I may receive belated preference to hearts gets the more it happens) that all opening the bid-
when partner is 2-2 in the reds, but willing to take ding at the one-level will accomplish is a minus
that chance. score when the villains start competing in the spade

 Intermediate
suit, so not being a complete coward I won’t pass, 1700, then we are probably making a grand. Hence
but rather pre-empt and hope for the best. a little exploration is in order.
Robson: Three Diamonds. Obviously a guess, but I Marc treats us to a little witticism:
hate to open One Heart and let them in so cheaply. Smith: Six Diamonds. In case you are wondering,
Plus if we do have (and miss) a heart contract, they’ll I’m not eschewing the Pass because I’m worried
likely have a spade contract. that Four Clubs Doubled might make. LHO surely
And alone Sally tries Two Diamonds. Interestingly has some hand for his four-level overcall on such a
she is set against the majority choice: weak suit – perhaps something like 1-4-0-8 shape.
Brock: Two Diamonds. Could persuade me to pass Even if partner is 5-4 or 5-5 in the majors, he rates
or open Three Diamonds. Never to open hearts to hold at least three diamonds and I would expect
(due to a really bad experience in my past!). If I was him to have four fairly often. He is also likely to
under any time pressure I’d Pass! have at least ♠A, ♥K, ♦A (and probably more) for
Partner held ♠Kxxx ♥A ♦J10xx ♣Q10xx. You can his four-level takeout double. At this vulnerabil-
make Four Diamonds and the opponents can make ity North doesn’t need to make too many tricks to
two or three spades. Meanwhile we have this prob- get out for less than 1370. Yes, we might have a
lem since South has decided for reasons known only grand on, but it might be wise to heed the warn-
to himself to pass a 4-4-1-4 twelve count in third seat. ing of bad breaks.
OK on to the mass of passers. They range from the
PROBLEM 2 dismissive:
Rosen: Pass. Yawn.
Pairs. Dealer West. E/W Vul. Brock: Pass. Trick question no doubt.
♠ 976 To the jokey:
♥A Rigal: Pass. You gotta be kidding me! I’m predicting
♦ KQ983 half the panel tell you that you are an idiot. Maybe
♣ AK Q J they are right, at that.
Silver: Pass. With 19 HCP and no known fit I
don’t plan to go over the rainbow looking for one,
1♦ 4♣ Double Pass
as Dorothy learned (and she didn’t even hold 100
?
honours in the Villain’s suit) there is NO Place like
Marks: Pass 10, 4NT 7, Five Clubs 7, Six Diamonds HOME!
7, 6NT 5, Six Clubs 4, All other bids 1 Apteker: Pass. I have a fair idea what to lead 
We have a 19 count, the opposition have offered to play Expecting to go plus at least 800 and while slam
at the four-level in the suit we have 100 honours in in diamonds and NT may be on, it is difficult to
and partner has made a takeout double of it. Could know how to explore.
there be a more obvious Pass? “No” say 90% of the I can understand your enthusiasm to lead Alon, but
panel. However is this so 100% clear? Unless North it is out of turn.
is a complete maniac she has some extreme shape – Greco: Pass. I am sure this is wrong and we have a
would it be that surprising to find North with 8-4 or small or grand slam but I really don’t have any good
even 9-4 distribution when we may not get enough? bid besides Pass anyway. Bridge is about percent-
Plus at other tables North may not have pre-empted ages and I feel this is the percentage bid and part-
so high allowing us more room to explore for the slam ner will feel good that we finally beat them when
that is likely to be there and Four Clubs doubled is I passed a double.
unlikely to be going for 1400 or 1700. I am not sure From the jokey to the slightly worried:
I believe any of this but it serves as an introduction to Cannell: Pass. A multitude of bad breaks are await-
the three panelists who do not Pass. In ascending order: ing our partnership after this Four Club effort on
Zmudzinski: 4NT. Nothing is perfect. Right now eight or nine small clubs! At least a certain plus
I showed usually 6-4. Pass out of question. Good score awaits us. A good match-point result may be
day Four Spades would be the best. But how to another matter.
reach the slam? Maybe 5NT but too many holes. Leufkens: Pass. Interesting again. Probably only
Sime: Five Clubs. Pass may be 1400, but that would five or six off with a very likely slam our way. But
lose to 6NT making 1440. No big deal at teams, which slam, and how to get there (5NT?)? And
a chunk of matchpoints at Pairs. If we can collect breaks will be bad. So pass as a coward.
Robson: Pass. Doubtless wrong and North does

 Intermediate
Teramoto: Pass. Defending Four Clubs Doubled
will get about 800 to 1100 which is more than game.
Green: Pass. This is so clear for me. This could
easily be going for 800 and there is no guarantee
CARD TABLES that we can make either 4NT (presumably natural)
when 500 would not be enough or a slam where
FOR SALE 800 might not be enough.
Bowyer: Pass. Should be 800+. Besides, I can’t see
Refurbished old tables standard size
any sensible effort to reach a slam.
with new green baize top Bird: Pass. It is not for me to gamble on what my
£29 each partner holds. Even if Six Diamonds is a ‘good con-
tract’, it may fail on an adverse club ruff. Since I am
Will deliver within reasonable distance expecting to pick up 800+ in defence, there is no
DANNY ROTH point in bidding a game contract our way.
47 Bearing Way, CHIGWELL, Matheson: Pass. I expect the penalty to outscore
ESSEX IG7 4NB our game with slam far from certain.
Wolff: Pass. Take the money, likely 800, and run.
020 8501 1643 tel/fax dannyroth@btinternet.com Although no slam dunk, it appears the most likely
highest scoring E/W score unless we have a slam,
which is, at least to me not likely with so much of
my strength in their suit.
Alder: Pass. What else? Six NT?
Well that is what Ron did in a local Pairs event in
know he’s missing those top cards so may have a France. Partner had ♠Axxx ♥Kxxxx ♦A10xx ♣ – so
nine-card suit or an 8-4 shape. However (1) Four that was indeed 1440 in top tricks with Four Clubs
Clubs doubled could well go down more than the not going for nearly enough.
value of our making game and (2) bidding may not
find our best game (or slam). Pass is so much easier. PROBLEM 3
Lawrence: Pass. We surely have a game, but which
one? And slam is in the picture, but again, which Pairs. Dealer East. All Vul.
one and how do we find it? 4NT could be con-
strued as simple Blackwood intending to play in a
♠ AK 9 8 2
major. Five Clubs just passes the buck and starts a ♥ KJ8632
guessing game. Passing rates to get us about 800 ♦9
and given that bad breaks exist, it might be enough. ♣J
I’d rather take this than start a high level guessing West North East South
game with uncertain tools. – – 3NT* Pass
On to Eric’s full analysis: ?
Kokish: Pass. I expect North to be seven-five or 3NT Gambling. Solid minor and no more than a
♣ ♣
queen outside. In response 4 /5 = pass or correct,
eight-four, so whether we get adequate compensa- ♦ ♠
4 = singleton ask, 4♥/ = natural, 4NT = bid your
tion for the vulnerable game bonus will depend on minor.
East’s holding in North’s side suit, which is prob- Marks: Four Clubs 10, Pass 8, 4NT 8, Five Clubs 8,
ably hearts. I could bid a natural 4NT or a hopeful Four Hearts 6, Five Diamonds 2, Four Diamonds 0
4♠ and expect to make either contract more often
The classic gambling 3NT has gone out of fashion
than not, but choosing the wrong one when the
at expert level, partially since it so often wrong-sides
suits are not breaking and communications might
3NT and partially as it is so easy to defend – lead an
be tenuous would be dreadful, so +300 or 500 with
ace and look at dummy. However it is still popular
a shot at +800 might be just fine. If we do have a
at regional and club level. What do we do here oppo-
slam, it’s difficult to see how we might get there. A
site it? It seems an awful long way to five of a minor
subtly nasty problem.
opposite this hand – even a cheap ruff with our sin-
Thank you Eric for that and for your support of the
gleton may not be enough – and this is Pairs so again
conductor I award you the comment of the month .
the panel by a majority of 16 to 5 just try to play in
Back to those who are certain:

 Intermediate
Four Clubs. Robson: Four Clubs. You can construct hands – just
Silver: Four Clubs. Taking the low road while pru- – where you can make 5m but it needs a perfecto.
dently trying to go plus in a form of scoring that Rigal: Four Clubs. Maybe they will come in if I
both emphasizes and rewards plus scores. pretend I am weak, like ju-jitsu where you take
Smith: Four Clubs. There is a strong incentive to advantage of your opponents’ manoeuvres.
go plus at Pairs, and this rates to be our best chance Teramoto: Four Clubs. I am going to play Four
– seven trump tricks, two spades and a winning Clubs or Four Diamonds. I expect that 3NT will
heart guess for +130. 3NT surely has no legitimate go down more than half the time.
chance, with almost certainly at least four losers in Rosen: Four Clubs.
the ‘other minor’ and the ♥A to lose before we start. Several mention they might have a go at teams:
Similarly game in partner’s minor rates to fail unless Green: Four Clubs. Interesting problem. I think I
he too has a singleton in his short minor. At IMPs, might shoot game at teams. I can’t guarantee that
you might take a shot at Four Hearts, hoping to we can make even ten tricks in a minor so I’m going
find something like three low or 10x opposite, but low. Interesting what partner’s suit is looking at my
the odds are that will be his singleton. holdings it rates to be diamonds so if I do bid Five
Alder: Four Clubs. This seems obvious to me. I Clubs or 4NT and he corrects to diamonds then
await the other panelists’ more imaginative ideas. the defence will be able to see dummy and are more
Brock: Four Clubs. My best effort at a plus score. likely to beat me. If my minors were reversed (so
Bowyer: Four Clubs. In theory we can’t make game partner rated to hold clubs) then I would be more
in a minor on a trump lead so I’ll play for a plus interested in bidding game as my hand would be
score. hidden from view.
Perhaps not surprisingly given the lack of dissent on Greco: Four Clubs. Since it is matchpoints I feel
the problems so far the panel are scoring cheap points this is the percentage bid as unless I catch a useful
off me. Fair enough as I take every opportunity to score Q most games will be bad. If partner has diamonds,
cheap points off them! I could consider correcting Four Diamonds to Four
Cannell: Four Clubs. Pass-or-correct. This is a vain Hearts as a game choice. In IMPs I probably would
attempt to secure a plus score. Well Alan I expect just pass and hope for the best.
you will get a plethora of different answers on this Which brings us to the minority choices:
one.  Lawrence: Pass. This is the only making game for
Bird: Four Clubs. To bid Four Hearts, hoping for our side. It will either make or be down three or four
♥Qx opposite, is a wild gamble – the equivalent tricks. If someone makes a takeout double, I will run
of sending in a resignation letter from the M&C if needed. I expect their side to have more issues with
panel. I am hoping for seven tricks in partner’s suit, my pass than with any of the possible bids you men-
the ♠AK and a heart trick. tion. If I bid something, it would be Four Clubs.
And Iain takes the opportunity (which he hasn’t Leufkens: Pass. No clue, and maybe North has got
for some time to be fair) to take a shot at the system: a problem (also).
Sime: Four Clubs. Probably our best chance of a Two try to play in partner’s suit at game level:
plus score unless the opponents do something stu- Kokish: 4NT. If “solid” really means AKQJ high
pid. If Four Clubs works out badly there is a sil- (Personally I am too old for that – I might die before
ver lining; I will have another reason to scrub this I picked that up again) I could bid Five Diamonds
nonsense from our system card. safely, but that’s a luxury I can’t afford just to leave
Apteker: Four Clubs. Am tempted to pass again North on lead to perhaps start with a helpful heart.
but I am getting tired of putting the pass card on Once in a while East has the ♠Q to facilitate the play.
the table! I want to preserve the plus score and four Matheson: Five Clubs. At game all I am expecting
of a minor has the greatest chance of doing so. If AKQxxxxx. Even so we still need something eg a
partner’s suit is clubs, we may have already won the helpful lead, a trick in hearts, spade queen.
battle with the 3NT opening as we may have shut At on his own Bobby fancies a shot at a different game:
the opponents out of their diamond fit. In teams, Wolff: Four Hearts. Obviously a guess, but select-
I would pass and go for the big upside which on ing a six-card suit appears much more likely to suc-
the wrong lead, will succeed. ceed than a five and to accept 3NT appears not to
Zmudzinski: Four Clubs. For me Four Hearts is be close to correct.
too risky. By the way thanks for the opening. Partner held ♠- ♥xx ♦xxx ♣AKQ109xxx so Five
You’re welcome Adam. Clubs is on the heart guess (ace onside, queen offside)

 Intermediate
but played by partner you may get the ace led. double or a “minors” 4NT, such as a slam try in
spades or a minor: that concept points to East bid-
PROBLEM 4 ding Four Spades over my Four Hearts when he
would pass a slam try in spades, and he need not
IMPs. Dealer North. All Vul. have four trumps to do that. As not everyone feels
♠ 10 9 7 3 the same way about the responsive double and a
♥— jump response of 4NT, this becomes a partnership
♦ KQ84 deal worth some effort.
♣ KJ952 Ben and Eric have similar ideas:
Green: Four Hearts. Choice of games. Some play
this as a good Four Spade bid, if that was the case
– 2♥* Double 3♥
(I don’t think it is in BM Standard) then I would be
?
2♥ Natural and weak
forced to chance a double and see if partner passes
(with great trumps) or bids 3NT/something higher.
Marks: Four Hearts 10, Double 9, Three Spades With a void heart partner rates to be balanced, per-
7, Four Clubs 5, 4NT 3, Pass 2, All other bids 1 haps a hand too strong to overcall 2NT.
Every panelists judged this hand to be a game force, so Greco: Double. While I don’t love doubling with
the only matter was how to get there. The panel are a heart void, I think it is a clear bid here. Partner
split between Double and Four Hearts. I was hoping should bid Three Spades (or something more) with
for a discussion of the difference between these two four of them, over which I have a Four Heart bid
bids and specifically whether Double would deny four (that seems a lot of bidding on this hand). I certainly
spades (this was the issue at the table) but no such luck. can’t commit to spades when we might have a slam
Phillip and David are amongst the few to comment: in a minor and could be down in a 4-3 spade fit.
Alder: Double. Responsive. The alternative is Four This of course brings up a partnership question as to
Hearts, but double seems to fit the bill – unless it what a direct Four Hearts shows? I think it should
denies four spades in BM Standard. (I have always be a spade slam try so I can’t do that when I don’t
liked the Sharples methods here. Double shows four even know our strain.
spades, some number of spades guarantees at least Mike is another in the “Double denies four spades”
five, and a no-trump bid indicates both minors.) camp, but then maybe changes his mind:
Bird: Four Hearts. I don’t like a responsive double Lawrence: Four Hearts. The choices are double,
because this tends to deny four spades. I will risk Four Hearts and Four Spades. I choose Four Hearts.
Four Hearts, even though partner may think that I This should, I think, show spades else I would dou-
will hold another good card for that bid. This will ble. Four Spades works wonderfully if partner has
get us to a minor-suit contract when partner doesn’t four of them and not so well if not. If partner bids a
hold four spades. minor, I will raise (Wow! Driving this hand to slam if
Since the panel is fairly close on this let’s interweave partner bids a minor seems an awful lot on this hand).
and see what we can glean: Perhaps double followed by Four Spades is better.
Bowyer: Four Hearts. Can’t see the problem, sorry. Sally introduces yet another wrinkle:
Must find the best fit. Brock: Double. I don’t want to play in a 4-3 spade
Well Paul one problem is whether Double denies fit on this one. If partner bids 3NT, as seems most
four spades or not. Another problem is the meaning likely, I’ll bid Four Spades and he’ll know I have
of Four Hearts. Listen to Eric: only four.
Kokish: Double. As the bad guys are not in Four Errr… will he? Unless Four Spades was a spade
Hearts, East will often hold three hearts and at least slam try, wouldn’t this sequence show a spade slam try?
a bit extra in high cards with dull pattern. Four Silver: Four Hearts. Not an uncommon situation
Spades might be the wrong game and my double where one must make a slight overbid (and even
is expected to deliver at least two places to play, so that I am not too sure about, i.e. that Four Hearts
when East takes out the double we should find is an overbid) in order to find the best fit.
our best strain. If he passes for penalty we’ll have Adam agrees with Sally:
to wait ‘til the play concludes to see how we’ve Zmudzinski: Double. Then Four Spades over 3NT.
done. Why not cue-bid Four Hearts? The main Marc is the first of several panelists to raise part-
idea is that Four Hearts should cover hand types ner’s shape and conclude that she is probably very
not included in the job description of the responsive strong balanced:

 Intermediate
Smith: Four Hearts. I don’t want to play game (or we play 5m.
even part-score) in spades if partner has only three Cannell: Double. Responsive Double. Seems like
of them, so let’s see if he can bid the suit. The odds the best shot at finding a playable strain. The level
are that partner has a very strong hand as it seems is another matter entirely.
unlikely that he has extremely short hearts for his Robson: Four Hearts. For me this is choice of games
double. Perhaps North has opened a weak two with with four spades and a longer minor.
a moderate seven-card suit but that still seems to Rosen: Double. Responsive. Don’t really want to
leave at least three hearts for partner in light of stress the spades instead. I play Four Hearts initially
South’s meagre raise. as a good Four Spade bid.
Enri is in Sally’s camp as well so what do I know? Wolff: Four Hearts. A serious overbid, but Three
Leufkens: Double. And Four Spades on next round. Spades is just too wimpy and Four Spades too mis-
Should make it clear(er). directed, so let us call on partner to help although,
Barry takes his next chunk out of the conductor: granted we may get too high.
Rigal: Four Hearts. This doesn’t begin to answer Matheson: Four Hearts. Partner does not always
the questions of this deal. Again the question set- have both minors.
ter has been highly negligent by not dealing with Apteker: Four Hearts. Ensuring I get to the cor-
follow-ups…but that is not my problem. Take the rect strain.
100% and move on. Ah well there was the rub… At the table West dou-
Damn!! I actually have to give him 10. Where are bled, partner thought that denied four spades and so
three more doublers when I need them? bid 3NT on ♠AQxx ♥QJx ♦A10xx ♣Q10 (it is
Sime: Double. I will risk a responsive double, arguable that Double was not the right bid last time).
although partner may make a penalty pass and We elected to stand that and a heart lead took care of
my hand is unsuitable for defending. Four Hearts that contract with Four Spades cold on the lie.
is possible, but partner may expect a better hand.
Partner has not promised four spades by doubling PROBLEM 5
Two Hearts, so bids spades in priority to minors.
Teramoto: Four Hearts. If he has four spades he IMPs. Dealer South. All Vul.
bids Four Spades and we play there. If he has not ♠ A 10 5
♥5
♦ K954
♣ A9 5 4 3
– – – 1♣*
Pass 1♠ 2NT* 4♠
?
1♣ N/S are playing weak NT and four-card majors
YOUNG CHELSEA but open the minor on balanced 15-19 with 4M and 4m
♦
2NT ♥s & s, at least 5-5
BRIDGE CLUB Marks: Five Diamonds 10, 4NT 9, Five Clubs 9,

Six Diamonds 8, Five Spades 6, Double 3, Pass 0
One of the World’s Great Bridge Clubs Well I am truly astonished at the panel here! Partner
Duplicate every weekday evening has bid 2NT vulnerable when he could have doubled
and could have passed. We have four-card trump sup-
port, a singleton in partner’s other suit and A, A, K.
Tel: 020 7373 1665 Is it so hard to believe partner has (say) ♠x ♥AKxxx
www.ycbc.co.uk ♦Axxxxx ♣x when we can throw Seven Diamonds
against the nearest brick wall? Take away the ♥K
and Six Diamonds is still cold. We don’t even need
to commit to slam ourselves – we have an easy Five
Clubs available for example. And yet over half the
panel bid a simple Five Diamonds. Better let them
make their case:

 Intermediate
Bird: Five Diamonds. There are two good reasons I take the practical, slightly feeble view. Clearly we
for this bid. First, it is blindingly obvious. Second, need no more than six diamonds headed by the ace,
I can probably do with an easy 10 points after some but has he got that?
of my other answers. Why would he have that? After all he has only bid
Well I don’t think it is blindingly obvious David. a vulnerable 2NT 
However you have plenty of support for your view: Silver: Five Diamonds. I do not want to be defen-
Bowyer: Five Diamonds. Bid what I think we can sive (if partner has extra distribution (likely) both
make. sides may well make game, or the villains given the
Rigal: Five Diamonds. And no redouble. I can’t be last guess might bid again) when my OX has ordered
responsible for my partner not having their bid. This me to be offensive instead. Ain’t I a good partner?
truly seems like a damp squib…unless the issue is I will leave that for your fellow Canadians to answer
whether to redouble. I don’t. Joey.
Cannell: Five Diamonds. South has a balanced Wolff: Five Diamonds. Very conservative, but the
18-19 HCP probably (Does he? Surely just about auction is not over, which means we may even get
any hand with shape bids Four Spades here. Wouldn’t doubled. A blast to Six Diamonds is also accept-
you bid Four Spades on ♠KQxx ♥Kxx ♦ – ♣KQJxxx able but not my first choice.
because I know I would). That makes a slam our way Which brings us to those who bid something else.
unlikely. Though, eleven tricks in a diamond con- Why not start with the Six Diamond bidders:
tract should have some chances. Leufkens: Six Diamonds. Opposite me this should
Drew thinks 11 tricks in diamonds “has some be laydown (can be seven!). Probably he’s got a 6-5,
chances”. John is even more leery: and otherwise he should have good (enough) suits.
Matheson: Five Diamonds. We have 9 or 10 dia- I’m not sure opponents will bid again, and I’m not
monds, and I am guessing they have 9 or 10 spades. sure I’ll make Six Diamonds, so let opponents guess
Our hand is pure suggesting the total tricks likely (and not me after a ‘smart’ Five Diamonds).
equal or even exceed the total trumps. However, it Green: Six Diamonds. Good problem. I know the
is very close and a double could well be the win- technical bid might be to start with 4NT (showing
ning action. a slam try in one of the red suits) and see if partner
I think I would leave the event if my partner dou- cooperates with a Five Club cue-bid. The problem
bled on this hand (not that I feel strongly about it!) with that is that I have so much in my hand, can
Teramoto: Five Diamonds. This will have a good partner ever have enough to cue-bid (unless he’s
chance to make. I expect the jump to Four Spades 7-6 or something weird)? Will he cooperate with
has good shape and Four Spades Doubled will not ♠x ♥KQJxx ♦AJxxxx ♣x when slam is great. I’ll
be easy to defend. take a shot straight away and if the opponents sac-
Yes - imagine if it made. I would leave the event rifice then I’ll be delighted.
even faster. Brock: Six Diamonds. My best guess.
Smith: Five Diamonds. Two-way shot. It seems With six votes Five Clubs came second in the polling:
quite possible that either Five Diamonds or Four Greco: Five Clubs. I have a massive hand for partner
Spades will make. Perhaps he’ll have something so I must make at minimum some positive noise
like ♠x ♥KQJxx ♦QJ10xxx ♣x and both games (thank you Eric!). The only question is should I just
will come home even. Hard to believe there won’t shoot out slam and force them to guess whether to
be a big majority for bidding. save right away.
Of course everyone bid Marc, – it is just what they The other Eric treats us to some wit of his own:
bid that surprises me. Kokish: Five Clubs. Anyone can bid Five Diamonds
Apteker: Five Diamonds. Who knows who can but only the unlucky expert could go down in Five
make what? We may have a slam on, they may be Clubs trying for an unlikely Six Diamonds. How-
going down a few already. Perhaps I should bid Five ever, as these days a NAT Two Clubs or Three Clubs
Clubs, showing a strong raise to one of our suits but overcall is part of the mainstream (not on this side
I prefer to not give the opponents the extra round of the pond where One Club is 5+ cards about 95%
of bidding and space to help them work out what of the time it isn’t Eric) it’s safe enough to offer the
best to do. opinion that it might well be our hand and involve
Or help us apparently East if N/S keep bidding. Switch the red suits and
Robson: Five Diamonds. Maybe 4NT and Five I would bid 4NT (choice between the red suits)
Clubs should mean something but absent discussion instead, intending to convert Five Diamonds to

 Intermediate
I have some advice for Phillip – cancel the game
with Ben or Eric K:
Alder: 4NT. I assume partner will treat this as
ACBL Encyclopedia of straight Blackwood (or perhaps six-ace Roman Key
Card Blackwood). If, though, it would be asking
Bridge partner to select the trump suit, I will jump to Six
Diamonds. By the way, would 1NT by partner have
Official ACBL Encyclopedia of Bridge– been natural or a weaker red two-suiter?
7th Edition Partner had ♠ – ♥KQ10xxx ♦AJxxx ♣xx which
Edited by Brent Manley, 600+ pages would not have been my choice – successful though
(Hardback) it was. Diamonds are 2-2 so Six Diamonds is cold
OUT NOW and Four Spades doubled is 800 if you get at all of
your tricks.
RRP £49.95 SUBSCRIBERS’ £45 + post free
to UK customers (£10 for overseas customers) PROBLEM 6
The most complete volume of bridge informa-
IMPs. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
tion and instruction ever compiled.
Over 600 easy-to read and ♠ 10 9
easy-to-search pages ♥ A5 3
♦ Q 10 7 4
• Thousands of entries ♣ 10 9 5 2
covering bridge terms, West North East South
1♠ 3♠
conventions, sys-
– Double
tems, rules, and top
personalities.
?
• Contains a CD-ROM
containing hundreds Marks: 4NT 10, Four Clubs 9, Four Diamonds 9,
of extra biographies that didn't make the Four Hearts 9, Pass 8, 3NT 6, Four Spades 1, Five
printed edition Clubs 1, Five Diamonds 1
A common problem. We clearly did not have enough
to bid last time but now have quite a good hand after
partner’s second double. Is this enough to bid game? Or
do we settle for a part-score? Or do we think our best
Five Hearts as a clear slam try. chance of a plus score is in Three Spades Doubled? More
Lawrence: Five Clubs. Willing to look for a slam. than half the panel elect to bid game despite it being
More delicate than a direct guess of Six Diamonds. non-vulnerable and us having the “death holding” in
I could just bid Six Diamonds and perhaps that is spades. This problem generated the greatest number
the easier thing to do. I would bid that if I had a of different answers from the panel and was only one
fifth diamond and one less black card. Obviously, I of two without an overall majority. With nine votes
am counting on partner not to have cheese. There’s the 10 marks go to those panelists who play game in
no reason for him to bid 2NT with a boring hand our best minor fit:
once they have both bid. Rigal: 4NT. Finally a real problem (Glad to finally
Thank you Mike oblige Barry). 4NT to show both minors seems like
Sime: Five Clubs. It is easy to envisage a slam here, a payable call; not that it will work but nothing else
so I cue-bid. The best excuse for bidding Five Dia- appeals and this might be right – or there again not.
monds instead is hoping to redouble. The cue-bid Matheson: 4NT. I have a useful hand opposite a
will probably frighten the vampires. good 1-4-5-3, 1-4-3-5 and 4NT will get us to the
Rosen: Five Clubs. Showing a good hand – we right strain. If partner is flatter eg a good 2-4-3-4
might easily have a slam here – though will be dif- etc we will probably be too high.
ficult to reach, which is why I considered a boring Leufkens: 4NT. Wow, anything can be good:
Five Diamonds bid as well. Pass, Four Clubs/Diamonds/Hearts, Five Clubs/
Zmudzinski: Five Clubs. We can have a slam. I Diamonds. When in doubt, I don’t pass. Even if
understand partner will never pass it.

 Intermediate
partner’s got two spades, five in a minor can be bet- Brock: Four Hearts. Again, guessing really. But
ter, e.g. ♠xx ♥KQxx ♦AJxx ♣AKQ. But if he has game in hearts is a level lower than the minors (bet
one spade, it’s for sure better to bid. Even if he has you didn’t know that!)
four good hearts, they can break very badly. Well I learn something every day – but don’t you
Apteker: 4NT. Anything could be right from pass- have to actually make the required number of tricks?
ing to four of either minor or Four Hearts. I choose Wolff: Four Hearts. Taking the high road and
the bid with the highest upside given that there are will double Four Spades, but considering bidding
no guarantees of finding a fit in a minor at the four- the wrong minor (Not enough in hand for 4NT,
level and Four Hearts may even land us in a 3-3 fit although not far off) makes me feel not adventur-
or partner having to take the ruffs in the long hand. ous enough not to gamble something.
Partner is unlikely to have five hearts but could cer- Zmudzinski: Four Hearts. Once a decade.
tainly have 1-3-5-4 shape and we should have some Teramoto: Four Hearts. I don’t want to defend
play in a hand like ♠x ♥KQxx ♦AJxx ♦♣AQxx. Three Spades Doubled when they have a 9- or 10-
Sime: 4NT. Pick-a-minor. A bit hangman, but card fit. Four Hearts risks bad breaks but gives the
partner was willing to play at the four-level oppo- chance of a game bonus.
site nothing. I would rather partner declared a 5-4 And that brings us to Pass. At Pairs I suspect we
minor fit in game than watch me struggle in a Moy- would have had more support for this bid. One off
sian partial if I picked the wrong minor. will beat all the part-scores and two off all the games,
And that is a good point in favour of 4NT. It is but what if it makes……? Not good at IMPs. How
easy to construct hands where you make game in one likely is that though? Have they really got ten spades
minor and not four in the other minor (partner being between them and not bid game? Maybe. What was
say 1-4-5-3) so sacrificing the level to get to the right it Bobby said a few months ago – “Beware the vul-
strain is another upside. nerable coward”. Two panelists are up for defending
Cannell: 4NT. Pick-a-minor. I have a pair of very and to me a surprising pair they are:
nice honours for the auction. Let’s see if a game Lawrence: Pass. I suspect that passing is right.
bonus is there for the taking. Opponents with ten spades tend to bid Four Spades
Greco: 4NT. I considered Four Hearts but if I give so partner could easily have a doubleton. If so, I
partner on average a 1-4-4-4 strong hand I feel like don’t want to bid unless we can find an eight-card
the minor will play better. Pass is an option at some fit. I’m not interested in trying for eleven tricks, an
forms of scoring but I don’t like it at IMPs. ace and a queen notwithstanding. I guess I talked
Kokish: 4NT. Sure, Four Hearts might be easier myself into passing. Hope we beat it. If partner
but this is a remarkably good hand facing two dou- has five hearts and that is our game, I pay off. Alan.
bles and I expect Five Clubs or Five Diamonds to Have we exhausted your supply of this auction and
be comfortable, with six on the horizon along with its derivatives yet?
the end of the rainbow. Not whilst they keep generating the greatest diver-
Silver: 4NT. Both an offensive and defensive move. sity of answers Mike 
Offensive in the sense of making a game try in our Bowyer: Pass. Nasty but as I am out to beat my
most robust trump suit, while giving North-South own record on passing on most of these problems
the last guess, and defensive in the sense of prevent- (not even close!) I choose that option here (!). Any-
ing the Villains taking a vulnerable transfer over our thing could be right but Four Hearts is too rich
very clever Four Heart bid (I am sure that will be a for my taste.
very popular choice with such a clever panel) thus Finally (well almost) we have five panelists who
giving us the last guess instead. settle for a minimum bid. Of them all Marc is the
This seems wrong to me on every count. What most unhappy:
guess do the Villains have at the five-level? They Smith: Four Clubs. Fetch the bucket, George!
have passed Three Spades – are they really wan- What a disgusting problem (well you sent it in!).
dering in with Five Spades at red? I don’t think so. I could pass and concede -930 when partner is
And ditto why should they bid Four Spades over 1-4-5-3 or bid a minor and go for a fair-size
Four Hearts when they haven’t bid Four Spades penalty when I land in a 4-3 fit. The one advan-
already? Finally the clever Four Hearts wasn’t a tage of Four Clubs over Four Diamonds is that
popular choice though it attracts the second great- if North produces a fast double I still have the
est number of votes (four) but Joey’s comment does option of running to diamonds. The downside
bring us neatly to it: is that if North carries on to Four Spades I may

 Intermediate
have missed the opportunity to suggest a lead. PROBLEM 7
Interested to see how many go for the jugular by
bidding Four Hearts! IMPs. Dealer North. None Vul.
Four Marc.
Green: Four Clubs. Another tricky one, at Pairs ♠ 83
I might go for the jugular and play for the magic ♥ A9 4 3
200 but that’s too much at teams. I toyed with ♦ J75
Pass, Four Clubs, Four Diamonds, Four Hearts ♣ AJ 8 2
and 4NT. Four Hearts could be the winner but West North East South
you could also end up in a 3-3 fit when partner is – 1♦ 1♠ Pass
2-3-4-4 with a big hand. I think 4NT is a bit too ?
much and the reason I bid Four Clubs over Four Marks: 1NT 10, Pass 7, Two Spades 6, Two Clubs
Diamonds is that if partner corrects Four Clubs 4, Two Diamonds 1, Two Hearts 1
to Four Diamonds on say a 2-4-5-2 shape then I Let’s start with a comment:
will raise him to game. Rigal: 1NT. Ho hum; a balanced hand without a
Will partner necessarily do that? great stopper; we’ve never seen one of these before
Bird: Four Clubs. I do not have enough to head have we? 1NT is right on shape and values while
for game. When partner made his second double, slightly overstating the stopper. If I’m wrong LHO
he was probably hoping for at least a flat 6-count may let me off the hook.
opposite. I prefer Four Clubs to Four Diamonds Barry is right – this is an old chestnut. So why did I
because when the second double was a close deci- set it? Two reasons. Firstly I have heard some minority
sion, partner may have been thinking (with 3-4 in views recently that you either bid Two Clubs on hands
the minors): ‘At least we will find a club fit when like these or bid Two Spades in violation of the LAW,
partner is 4-4 in the minors.’ With 4-3 in the the extra values compensating for the lack of the third
minors, he might have passed. trump and I wondered if any of the panel subscribed
I have to say I don’t think I have even thought that! to that view. And the second reason is this:
If I think I have a second double – I double. Alder: 1NT. I think this will be near-unanimous
The two Four Diamond bidders give no explana- for the panel, but less popular with the readership.
tion as to why they bid Four Diamonds rather than The first part of that I can confirm is spot on; the second
Four Clubs part we will have to wait until the votes come in. OK on
Rosen: Four Diamonds. I know I know all the panel to the rest of the comments which sing from a single sheet:
will be bidding 4NT with this hand but I don’t want Kokish: 1NT. Not a trace of remorse will you find.
to punish partner for doing the right thing. Close I Passing is not an option in 2015 unless your over-
admit. Prefer Four Diamonds to Four Clubs inci- calls are never good hands. If they can take a host
dentally – I’m a simple soul. of diamond tricks, we ought to have a good shot
Alder: Four Diamonds. At Pairs, I might risk a pass, at taking the remainder.
but that seems too dangerous at IMPs. Leufkens: 1NT. Next board. Especially with all
Completely out on his own (there are a remarkable these over-strength overcalls I have to do something.
12 solo bids this month!) is Andrew: Rosen: 1NT. Always have done this, always will –
Robson: 3NT. Pick a minor. Must be. you simply CANNOT pass.
Err must it? I don’t think anyone else on the panel Robson: 1NT. Too good to pass and wrong to com-
thinks so or they would have bid it. Hard to see how mit to spades.
4NT is better than 3NT if they both show the minors. Getting the message yet? Plenty more where that
Would we not fancy a shot at 3NT on say ♠KJx ♥xx came from!
♦Jxxxxx ♣xx hoping just to have the tricks? Greco: 1NT. This is perfect on points and suit
Partner held ♠x ♥KQxx ♦AKxxx ♣KQx. Hearts lengths and I almost have a stopper so this seems
are 3-3 and the club ace is onside so both Five Dia- like a clear choice.
monds and Four Hearts make in comfort. Four Clubs Zmudzinski: 1NT. Despite lacking a diamond stopper.
scrambles home as well. I do not know the opponents’ Cannell: 1NT. “Stoppers – we don’t need no stink-
hands but it looks like if opener is 5-3-1-4 you can- ing stoppers.” This is a homage to “The Treasure of
not beat Three Spades whereas if he is 5-3-2-3 it is the Sierra Madre”.
probably two off. Brock: 1NT. I nearly have a stopper.

 Intermediate
Silver: 1NT. Too good to pass, but with nowehere PROBLEM 8
to go I use my imagination, and pretend I have a
diamond stopper. Pairs. Dealer West. None Vul.
Green: 1NT. No second choice for me. Two Spades
is horrible with two little in support and I can’t pass
♠ 6542
with this much. ♥ K 10
Lawrence: 1NT. I have values and a quasi-fit and a ♦ AK Q J 7 6 5
partner who could have length in diamonds. Part- ♣—
ner can bid again over this with shape. I don’t see West North East South
an alternative. 1♦ 2♣ 2♥ 4♣*
Apteker: 1NT. I owe partner a response and this ?
seems the most accurate description. 4♣ Pre-emptive
Sime: 1NT. Since the upper limit for overcalls is Marks: Five Diamonds 10, Four Diamonds 9, Dou-
heading towards the stratosphere, I had better keep ble 7, Six Diamonds 7, Four Hearts 6, Four Spades
this open. Nothing is ideal, but 1NT is right on 3, Five Clubs 2, 4NT 1, Five Hearts 1
shape and values. Reasonably enough three quarters of the panel bid
Teramoto: 1NT. A good hand has to bid something either Four Diamonds or Five Diamonds here. Largely
and 1NT is the only choice. ♦Jxx may be good as those bidding Four Diamonds are convinced that it is
a side stopper sometimes. forcing whereas those bidding Five Diamonds were not
Wolff: 1NT. We have the wrong suits stopped, but so convinced. Should it be forcing? Let’s listen:
still the most descriptive bid available. Silver: Four Diamonds. The Villains’ club bidding
Marc is the only panelist to even mention one of leads me to believe this is a 30 point deck, so I bide
my alternatives: my time and bid Four Diamonds for now in an
Smith: 1NT. Partner will overcall on some quite attempt to set trumps (surely even in the Mother
good hands so I have to keep the auction alive on Country where Acol reigns supreme this must be
what may easily be enough for game in hearts or forcing) intending to cue-bid Five Clubs next. One
no-trumps. I do, at least, have a partial diamond thing I ain’t going to do is make this hand dummy
stopper – an even tougher call with Jx of spades and in spite of my beautiful two card heart holding.
three low diamonds, when perhaps raising spades Greco: Four Diamonds. My first instinct was to
would be an alternative. shoot out Six Diamonds, but since this HAS to be
Bird: 1NT. On moderate hands with no fit, I tend forcing (doesn’t it?). What’s the rush?
to pass more often than most players. Aware that Robson: Four Diamonds. Must be forcing. Tempt-
this is not the style of my expert colleagues on the ing to jump to Six Diamonds.
panel, I will attempt to emulate them. Some of the Four Diamond bidders think it isn’t
And you have succeeded! forcing but bid it anyway:
John is old enough to remember different times: Apteker: Four Diamonds. I don’t think this is forc-
Matheson: 1NT. Many years ago this was a rou- ing but will risk it to allow the possibility of still
tine pass, but these days overcalls can be very heavy. getting to Four Hearts. Would probably bid Five
This hand has more than required to bid, and 1NT Diamonds at IMPs.
reflects the balanced nature. Rigal: Four Diamonds. Meeting Oscar Wilde’s cri-
And Paul is still living there: terion of resisting everything but temptation. This
Bowyer: Pass. Could be wrong but I can’t see any might be too much or not enough – but I can’t see
sensible bid. North may well be back in the game anything that is closer to what I have than a call that
so the auction is not over. emphasizes diamonds and suggests no real extras.
I am grateful to Paul for avoiding the dreaded unan- Brock: Four Diamonds. Again, trying my best to
imous panel, but this hand shows the modern game – get a plus score. No doubt we will have established
if overcalls can be more or less unlimited then hands that I’m not much of a Pairs player!
like this (and weaker) just HAVE to find something to And some I am not sure about:
bid. The hand itself is not massively relevant. Partner Kokish: Four Diamonds. As pass is NF, West needs
has a non-standard (but also quite common style in the to do something, and with so much in diamonds
modern game) overcall of ♠AJ10x ♥xxx ♦Axx ♣xxx. and such weak spades, double would send the wrong
INT will end the auction unless South feels like join- message (more high cards in a flexible hand), and
ing in on his 6-3-3-1 eight-count in the pass out seat. you know how fond I am of doubling when nothing

 Intermediate
seems to fit. Four Diamonds does not preclude diamonds as an alternative trump suit with a jump
reaching Four Hearts or Four Spades and does a to slam at my next turn but, for now try to reach a
good job of showing where West lives. making game. The alternative seems to be Five Dia-
Cannell: Four Diamonds. A difficult one to be sure. monds, but we could easily have three cashing spades
I cannot bring myself to not bid this suit again (dou- off either game. Besides, it is Pairs and I don’t think
ble negative and all). Maybe Four Hearts is the thing Five Diamonds is any more likely than Four Hearts
to do, but seems to be a skewed action on this par- to get us to slam when that is where we belong.
ticular hand. I hope partner will sort this out for us. Two panelists are all in:
On to Five Diamonds: Wolff: Six Diamonds. A real slam try, but how can part-
Green: Five Diamonds. Since Four Diamonds is ner know what to do if we only bid Five Diamonds? Yes,
not forcing (and I am clearly worth game) I have to if RHO now bids Seven Clubs, I’ll Pass, continuing to
make a decision. Either to shoot out a slam where be aggressive. My guess is that Six Diamonds will make
we could be off two aces or two top spades or just 60+% of the time and if partner then bids seven over
bid game. I plump for game, although I agree it interference (after we show 1st round club control), that
may not be easy for him partner can still raise with percentage goes up to 90% to make the grand.
some hands with two aces. Obviously with ♠AKx Alder: Six Diamonds. Five Clubs followed by Six
♥QJ9xx ♦xxx ♣xx he won’t think of raising and Diamonds would be unclear, sounding as if I had
we will have missed a cold one but pre-empts work! heart support.
Sime: Five Diamonds. We are back to pairs, mak- And Neil is alone in trying to keep all the balls in
ing Five Diamonds less attractive. However, part- the air with our flexible friend:
ner also knows that it is Pairs, and that I have bid Rosen: Double. Probably a minority choice here (A
Five Diamonds to make opposite five hearts and a lot better that Marc’s prediction!) – but how else do we
nine-count. With a little extra he can raise. With a resolve the strain? I know I could just bid my dia-
lot extra he should cue-bid. monds again (five or six though) or even bid Five
Lawrence: Five Diamonds. Tempting to bid Six Dia- Clubs, but this must be agreeing hearts in my opinion.
monds but Five Diamonds should be enough. Partner Partner held ♠KQxx ♥AQ98xx ♦xx ♣J. There
should know enough about my hand to raise. Five was no spade ruff so slam was cold.
Clubs would suggest heart support that I don’t have. In a very high-scoring month (not surprising with
Leufkens: Five Diamonds. I can’t find whether Two so many large majorities) we have a three-way tie for
Hearts is forcing, so I assume it is (correct Enri). Will first place on 79 points between David Bird, Barry
partner cooperate with anything like ♠Axx ♥AQJxx Rigal and Tadashi Teramoto. Can any reader pip them
♦xx ♣xxx after Four Diamonds? I think chances are with the perfect 80? One behind are Drew Cannell
better that he raises after a direct Five Diamonds. and John Matheson on 78.
Teramoto: Five Diamonds. If partner has good
hearts we may make 12 tricks but I don’t hope too
much for that. A jump to Five Diamonds shows a
good hand so he may raise to slam.
Matheson: Five Diamonds. I would bid Four Dia-
monds if I thought it was forcing, but I don’t think it is.
Bowyer: Five Diamonds. As before. I bid a contract
I feel I might make. Another guess so I go for the
one with a good upside.
Zmudzinski: Five Diamonds. Bad news matchpoints.
Bird: Five Diamonds. This is a close one between
the two red-suit games. If partner has good hearts,
we might score better in Four Hearts. Still, a club
lead might prove awkward and when partner’s hearts
are not strong the heart game maybe unplayable.
Only one panelist tries Four Hearts. A club lead could
make that very messy unless partner’s hearts are solid.
Smith: Four Hearts. Seems like the obvious call at
this point (Not according to the panel Marc!). If partner David Bird
advances with a spade cue-bid, perhaps I can suggest

 Intermediate
SET 289 – THE PANEL’S BIDS & MARKS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
David Bird England 1♥ Pass 4♣ 4♥ 5♦ 4♣ 1NT 5♦ 79
Barry Rigal USA 1♥ Pass 4♣ 4♥ 5♦ 4NT 1NT 4♦ 79
Tadashi Teramoto Japan 1♥ Pass 4♣ 4♥ 5♦ 4♥ 1NT 5♦ 79
Drew Cannell Canada 1♥ Pass 4♣ Dble 5♦ 4NT 1NT 4♦ 78
John Matheson Scotland 1♥ Pass 5♣ 4♥ 5♦ 4NT 1NT 5♦ 78
Alon Apteker South Africa Pass Pass 4♣ 4♥ 5♦ 4NT 1NT 4♦ 77
Eric Greco USA 1♥ Pass 4♣ Dble 5♣ 4NT 1NT 4♦ 77
Ben Green England 1♥ Pass 4♣ 4♥ 6♦ 4♣ 1NT 5♦ 77
Bobby Wolff USA 1♥ Pass 4♥ 4♥ 5♦ 4♥ 1NT 6♦ 77
Joey Silver Canada 3♦ Pass 4♣ 4♥ 5♦ 4NT 1NT 4♦ 76
Mike Lawrence USA 1♥ Pass Pass 4♥ 5♣ Pass 1NT 5♦ 75
Enri Leufkens Netherlands 1♥ Pass Pass Dble 6♦ 4NT 1NT 5♦ 75
Phillip Alder USA 1♥ Pass 4♣ Dble 4NT 4♦ 1NT 6♦ 74
Neil Rosen England 1♥ Pass 4♣ Dble 5♣ 4♦ 1NT Dble 74
Adam Zmudzinski Poland 1♥ 4NT 4♣ Dble 5♣ 4♥ 1NT 5♦ 74
Paul Bowyer England Pass Pass 4♣ 4♥ 5♦ Pass Pass 5♦ 73
Iain Sime Scotland Pass 5♣ 4♣ Dble 5♣ 4NT 1NT 5♦ 73
Sally Brock England 2♦ Pass 4♣ Dble 6♦ 4♥ 1NT 4♦ 72
Eric Kokish Canada Pass Pass 4NT Dble 5♣ 4NT 1NT 4♦ 72
Andrew Robson England 3♦ Pass 4♣ 4♥ 5♦ 3NT 1NT 4♦ 72
Marc Smith England 1♥ 6♦ 4♣ 4♥ 5♦ 4♣ 1NT 4♥ 72
Master Point Pressthe bridge publisher

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by Harry Smith and Alex Adamson
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especially liked the captain’s insights when the team did not perform well - there
was much value there for the reader. — Michael Rosenberg
A wonderful tale — the best underdog story since the Jamaican Bobsled Team. A
must-read for any bridge player who wants to see what it is like to play in a world
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The authors give the reader a real sense of what is happening behind the scenes.
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


Bidding Competition – Set 291

Open to all – Free Entry
PROBLEM 1 Basic System

IMPs. Dealer North. E/W Vul. Natural, 4-card majors with a major bid before a minor (clubs before
♠ K4 West North East South diamonds and hearts before spades), limit raises in uncontested
♥ 6 — 1♥* Pass 3♦* auctions, weak no-trump, weak 2, 2 and 2 (5–9, 6-card suit) with
♦ A K Q 10 5 ? a 2NT relay asking for a high-card feature.
♣ A8743 No-trump bidding: After 1NT 12–14, 2 = Stayman, 2/2 =
transfers, 2 = a raise to 2NT or a balanced slam try, 2NT = minor-
1♥ five-card major suit sign-off or slam try with both minors (continue with major-suit
3♦ four-card heart support, invitational strength. No reference shortage).
to diamonds. 1NT rebid = 15–17 with a 2 enquiry encompassing all forcing
E/W methods are that Double would be takeout of hearts and sequences. Jump 2NT rebid = 18–19. Non-jump 2NT rebid = game-
Three Hearts would be Michaels. forcing. 3NT rebid = running suit.
After 2NT, 20-22, 3 = Stayman, 3/3 = transfers, 3 = slam try
PROBLEM 2 with both minors.
IMPs. Dealer East. All Vul. Initial response: Jump shifts are either single-suited or two-suited
♠ J 10 West North East South with opener’s suit.
♥ 6 — — 1♠ Pass Baron 2NT (16+) after 1/1. 2NT after 1/1 = game-forcing with
♦ 6432 Pass 2♥ Dble Pass 4+ card support (simple continuations natural, jumps splinters).
♣ Q 10 9 8 5 4 ? Continuations: Reverses are forcing for one round after a 1-level
response (preference to the first suit and 2NT are the only non-forcing
PROBLEM 3 continuations, rebid of responder’s suit is 1-round force, game-forcing
IMPs. Dealer South. E/W game. otherwise). All high reverses are game-forcing. Change of suit forcing
for one round after a 2-level response. Jumps when a bid of the
♠ J 10 7 6 4 West North East South suit one level lower is forcing are splinters, as are 4-level responses
♥ A 10 9 — — — 5♣ in a lower-ranking suit to 1/1. 4th suit = game-forcing. When
♦ J 10 9 8 7 Pass Pass Dble Pass responder’s suit is raised a return to opener’s suit is forcing.
♣ — ? Slam bidding: Roman Keycard Blackwood. Gerber (only immediately
PROBLEM 4 after 1NT and 2NT). Cue-bids are generally first-round ahead of
second.
IMPs. Dealer South. E/W Vul. Competition: Responsive and competitive Doubles through 3,
♠ J9532 West North East South negative Doubles through 3 – after that Doubles are value showing,
♥ A6 — — — 1♥ not penalties.
♦ Q52 Pass Pass 2♦ Pass Cue-bids in competitive auctions show value raises in partner’s suit
♣ J 10 4 ? whilst raises are pre-emptive. Fit-jumps after opponents overcall or
takeout Double. Double jumps are splinter.
PROBLEM 5 Lebensohl applies after interference over our 1NT (through
IMPs. Dealer North. All Vul. 2NT shows a stopper).
♠ AKQ6 West North East South Overcalls: In response to an overcall: UCB = 3 trumps, jumps = fit
♥ Q5 — 1♥ Pass 2♥ jumps, jump cue = 4-card raise, change of suit = constructive, non-
♦ 63 Dble Pass 3♦ Pass forcing.
♣ A K J 10 5 ? Weak jump overcalls, intermediate in 4th. Michaels cue-bids.
Defences: Against all pre-empts, takeout Doubles.
PROBLEM 6 Over their 1NT, 2 = majors, 2NT = minors or game-forcing 2-suiter.
Over a strong 1, natural, Double = majors, 1NT = minors, Pass then
IMPs. Dealer North. E/W Vul
bid is strong.
♠ A J 10 4 West North East South Send stamped addressed envelope to Chess & Bridge Ltd for WBF style
♥ 6 — Pass Pass 3♣ Convention Card
♦ AQ82 Pass Pass Dble Pass
♣ J 10 7 3 ? How to enter
PROBLEM 7 Send your chosen bid in each of the eight sequences opposite,
IMPs. Dealer West. Game all. preferably by email, to John Carruthers at: marksandcomments@
♠ A K Q J 10 West North East South
sympatico.ca. Alternatively, you can enter by post, to: John Carruthers,
♥ A 2♣* Pass 2♦* Pass
1322 Patricia Blvd., Kingsville ON N9Y 2R4, Canada. Entries must be
♦ AK972 2♠ Pass 3♣ * Pass
received by the 30th April. Include your name, address and telephone
♣ KJ 3♦ Pass 3♥ Pass
number. Please quote the month, competition and value of your prize
when ordering Master Point Press books.
?
2♣ 23+ balanced or any game force
2♦ Negative PRIZES
3♣ Natural
1st £50 Master Point Press books
PROBLEM 8 2nd £25 Master Point Press books
3rd £15 Master Point Press books
IMPs. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
♠ K 10 9 8 5 West North East South
♥ 952 — — 1♦ Pass 4th £10 Master Point Press books
♦ A 10 4 1♠ Pass 3♦ Pass
♣ J6 ? Grand Prix
In addition there is an annual Grand Prix with Master Point Press
prizes of £100, £50 and £35. Only scores of 50 and over will count
and the maximum score is 400. Each contestant’s Grand Prix total is
their five best scores over the year (January–December).


WEST Bid these hands with those on the following
Hands for the page with your favourite partner; then turn to
April 2015 Partnership Profile Partnership Bidding inside to see how your score
compares to that of the experts
Hand 1. Dealer South. E/W Vul. Hand 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ A J 10 ♠ A93
♥ 6 ♥ A Q J 10 9 5 2
♦ A 107 6 ♦ 96
♣ AKQ72 ♣ 5
Hand 2. Dealer South. E/W Vul. Hand 6. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
♠ A Q 10 2 ♠ AK42
♥ Q 10 9 8 ♥ A K 10
♦ AKQ ♦ K Q 10 9 6
♣ J4 ♣ 5
North overcalls 3♣ (weak) and if East passes South bids 3NT Hand 7. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
and runs to 4♣ if it is doubled.
♠ K 10 9 4 2
Hand 3. Dealer East. N/S Vul. ♥ 64
♠ A K Q 10 3 ♦ J985
♥ — ♣ J6
♦ 6 Hand 8. Dealer West. Both Vul.
♣ KJ65432 ♠ KQ82
North overcalls 2♥ and South raises to 3♥. ♥ AJ
Hand 4. Dealer West. Both Vul. ♦ Q 10 8 2
♣ K74
♠ Q75
♥ Q52
♦ J843
♣ AQ5
BIDDING COMPETITION Why not enter a bridge hand or bidding problem of your
own for use in BRIDGE Magazine?
SET 291
♠
(for the April Competition) ♥
♦
My answers are (the Adjudicator) ♣
1. ♠ ♠
♥ ♥
2. ♦ ♦
3.
♣ ♣
♠
4. ♥
♦
5. ♣
6.
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
7.
8.
Total marks:
Email to marksandcomments@sympatico.ca
or post to: Bidding Competition (288),
John Carruthers, 1322 Patricia Blvd.
Kingsville ON N9Y 2R4, Canada
Name: ___________________________ (please print)
Address:
Telephone: ___________________________________
Entries must be received by

30th April 2015.


EAST Bid these hands with those on the previous
Hands for the page with your favourite partner; then turn to
April 2015 Partnership Profile Partnership Bidding inside to see how your score
compares to that of the experts
Hand 1. Dealer South. E/W Vul. Hand 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ 754 ♠ 52
♥ J852 ♥ K
♦ KQJ43 ♦ AKQJ7
♣ J ♣ A 10 9 8 2
Hand 2. Dealer South. E/W Vul. Hand 6. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
♠ 97 ♠ J83
♥ AK5 ♥ QJ972
♦ J876532 ♦ 85
♣ 8 ♣ J64
North overcalls 3♣ (weak) and if East passes South bids 3NT Hand 7. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
and runs to 4♣ if it is doubled.
♠ AJ5
Hand 3. Dealer East. N/S Vul. ♥ A K Q 10 2
♠ 9865 ♦ 6
♥ KQ5 ♣ AK32
♦ K32 Hand 8. Dealer West. Both Vul.
♣ A97 ♠ A9
North overcalls 2♥ and South raises to 3♥. ♥ Q8532
Hand 4. Dealer West. Both Vul. ♦ AK
♣ A Q 10 3
♠ A K J 10 8 6 3
♥ K8
♦ 95
♣ J3
BIDDING COMPETITION
Set 289 Top Scores Other Good Scores: 1 Mike Perkins 229
73 Simon Hill, Dudley Leigh 2 Graham Johnson 226
Prize winners should quote the month,
competition and value of their prize when 72 Bill Gordon, Graham Johnson, Kresten 3 Stuart Nelson 223
placing an order for Master Point Press Kristensen 4= Harald Bletz 222
books. Prize winners can refer to the list of 71 Malcolm Copley, Axel Johannsson, 4= Norman Massey 222
MPP titles on the inside back cover of the 6= Malcolm Copley 220
Stuart Nelson, Tony Poole, Olga Shadyro
current issue of Bridge Magazine. 6= Axel Johannsson 220
70 Peter Hawkes
Congratulations to Harald Bletz on 78, 8= Simon Hill 219
winning ₤50 worth of Master Point Press 69 Peter Barker, Janet Barnes, Nigel Osmer
68 Ian Andrew, Jeff Callaghan, Meic 8= Olga Shadyro 219
books from Chess and Bridge. Norman
Massey, on 76, wins ₤25 worth. Welcome Goodyear, Derek Markham, Frank 10= Bill Gordon 218
to newcomer Stanko Kruzic who wins Turton 10= Kresten Kristensen 218
₤15 worth with 75. Mike Perkins on 74 12= Meic Goodyear 214
rounds out the top four and collects ₤10 12= Peter Hawkes 214
worth. Grand Prix Standings
after Set 289 12= Mike Ralph 214
Here are the standings after the first three 15 Derek Markham 213
months in the Grand Prix. The top 10 are 16= Chris Bickerdike 212
all off to a fast start, but remember that 16= Jeff Callaghan 212
only your top five scores of the year count 18 Frank Turton 211
at the end, so with nine entries to go time
19= Peter Barker 209
there is lots of time to move up!
19= Ray Stubbs 209

MasterPoint Press October 2014_Layout 1 08/10/2014 15:56 Page 1
BOOKS FROM MASTER POINT PRESS

Master Point Press are the world’s leading bridge book publisher and winner of many bridge publishing awards. A list of Masterpoint
titles can be found below - for full details on each of these titles please visit www.bridgeshop.com. Recent releases are highlighted in
bold. Please note, winners of the Bidding Competition do not get the 10% Subscriber discount when redeeming their prize
VOUCHERS and a deduction will also be made to cover the cost of postage. For further details please call 020 7288 1305
Deadly Endplay (fiction) Allen, Ken £12.95 Complete Book Takeout Doubles (2nd ed.) Lawrence, Mike £15.95
Shades of Grey (fiction) Allen, Ken £11.95 Falsecards (New Edition) Lawrence, Mike £14.95
I Love This Game Auken, Sabine £12.50 Encyclopedia of Card Play Techniques Levé, Guy £21.95
25 Bridge Myths Exposed Bird, David £10.50 Bridge Squeezes Complete Love, Clyde. E £14.95
Bridge Endplays for Everyone Bird, David £12.95 Bridge, Probability and Information MacKinnon, Robert F. £12.95
Bridge Squeezes for Everyone Bird, David £11.95 Win the Bermuda Bowl with Me Meckstroth & Smith £11.50
Clever Plays in the Trump Suit Bird, David £12.95 The Setting Trick McCance, Ian £11.95
Defensive Signaling at Bridge Bird, David £11.95 Competitive Bidding in the 21st Century Miles, Marshall £11.50
Off-Road Declarer Play Bird, David £11.95 Inferences at Bridge Miles, Marshall £11.50
Somehow We Landed in 6NT Bird, David £12.95 It's Your Call Miles, Marshall £12.95
Winning Notrump Leads Bird & Anthias £10.95 Modern Constructive Bidding Miles, Marshall £11.95
Winning Suit Contract Leads Bird & Anthias £10.95 My System: The Unbalanced Diamond Miles, Marshall £11.95
Leading Questions in Bridge Brock, Sally £11.95 Bridge in the Menagerie Mollo, Victor £13.95
Bridge at the Edge Brogeland, Boye & Bird, David £13.95 Card Play Technique Mollo & Gardener £14.95
Bridge Crosswords Chen, Jeff £7.95 Diamonds are the Hog’s Best Friend Mollo, Victor £13.95
Following the Law Cohen, Larry £9.95 Swings and Arrows Mollo, Victor £13.95
Larry Cohen's Bidding Challenge Cohen, Larry £9.95 The Hog Takes to Precision Mollo, Victor £11.95
To Bid or Not To Bid Cohen, Larry £11.50 Kickback: Slam Bidding at Bridge Munger, Robert £7.95
Death in Duplicate Coplea, Carole £13.95 First Book of Play Problems O’Connor, Patrick £10.95
Standard Bidding with SAYC Downey, Ned & Ellen Pomer £11.95 Second Book of Play Problems O’Connor, Patrick £10.95
Bridge with Bells and Whistles Dufresne, MA & Ellingsen, M £11.95 Bridge Behind Bars (fiction) Pottage & Smith £12.95
A Modern Approach to Two-Over-One Eichenbaum, Ken £8.95 Clues from the Bidding Pottage, Julian £10.95
Winners, Losers and Cover Cards Eichenbaum, Ken £8.95 Defend These Hands with Me Pottage, Julian £11.50
Can You Win The USBC Team Trials Felmy, Matthias £13.95 Play or Defend? Pottage, Julian £8.95
I Shot My Bridge Partner (fiction) Granovetter, Matthew £9.50 Defend or Declare? Pottage, Julian £11.95
Murder at the Bridge Table (fiction) Granovetter, Matthew £9.50 Deadly Hold-Up Priebe, Jim £11.95
Bridge Conventions in Depth Granovetter & Granovetter £13.95 Double Elimination: A Bridge Mystery Priebe, Jim £11.95
Bridge Master Vs Bridge Amateur Horton, Mark £11.95 Matchpoint Defense Priebe, Jim £11.95
Misplay These Hands with Me Horton, Mark £11.95 Takeout Double: A Bridge Mystery Priebe, Jim £11.50
The Hands of Time Horton, Mark £10.50 Thinking on Defense Priebe, Jim £9.95
The Mysterious Multi Horton, Mark £12.95 Positive Declarer Play in Bridge Reese & Pottage £10.50
Duplicate Bridge at Home Horton & Gittelman £12.95 Positive Defense in Bridge Reese & Pottage £10.50
The Bridge Magicians Horton & Kielbasinski £11.50 The Extra Edge in Play Reese & Pottage £10.95
For Love or Money Horton & Senior £12.95 Modified Italian Canapé System Rexford, Ken £8.95
The Rabbi’s Rules Horton, Mark £12.95 New Frontiers for Strong Forcing Openings Rexford, Ken £8.95
Building a Bidding System Hughes, Roy £11.50 Overcalling Opponent's 1NT Rexford, Ken £6.95
Canada’s Bridge Warriors Hughes, Roy £15.95 Really Unusual Notrump (R.U.N.T.) Rexford, Ken £7.95
Card by Card Hughes, Roy £11.50 Variable Key Card Blackwood Rexford, Ken £8.95
Fantunes Revealed Jacobs, Bill £9.95 Breaking the Bridge Rules Rigal, Barry £12.95
One Trick at a TIme Jackson, Jim £11.95 Rodwell Files: Secrets of a champion Rodwell, Eric £17.95
Polish Club International Jassem,Krzysztof £10.95 How Good is Your Bridge Roth, Danny £11.95
Patrick Jourdain’s Problem Corner Jourdain, Patrick £12.95 Bridge on a Shoestring Schoenborn, Michael £13.95
Advanced Bridge Defense Kantar, Eddie £13.95 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know Seagram & Smith £10.50
Classic Kantar Kantar, Eddie £9.50 25 More Conventions You Should Know Seagram & Bird £10.50
Defensive Tips for Bad Card Holders Kantar, Eddie £14.95 25 Ways to Be a Better Defender Seagram & Bird £10.50
Kantar on Kontract Kantar, Eddie £10.50 25 Ways to Compete in the Bidding Seagram & Smith £10.50
Modern Bridge Defense Kantar, Eddie £13.95 25 Ways to Take More Tricks as Declarer Seagram & Bird £10.50
Roman Keycard Blackwood - 5th ed. Kantar, Eddie £13.95 Declarer Play at Bridge: A Quizbook Seagram & Bird £9.95
Topics in Declarer Play Kantar, Eddie £13.95 Defensive Play Quizbook: A Quizbook Seagram & Bird £9.95
Improve Your Bidding Judgment Kimelman, Neil £12.95 Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand Seagram & Bird £12.95
The Thin Line Kimelman, Neil £12.95 Pocket Guide to Defensive Play Seagram & Bird £6.95
365 Winning Bridge Tips Kleinman, Danny £13.95 Scotland’s Senior Moment Smith & Adamson £13.95
Human Bridge Errors Kleinman & Straguzzi £10.50 Becoming a Bridge Expert Stewart, Frank £13.95
A Bridge to Inspired Declarer Play Laderman, Julian £12.95 Frank Stewart's Bridge Club Stewart, Frank £10.50
A Bridge to Simple Squeezes Laderman, Julian £11.95 How to Play Bridge with your Spouse Tevkolsky, Roselyn £9.95
Bumblepuppy Days Laderman, Julian £14.95 Bridge at the Breakfast Table Thurston, Paul £1.50
Still Not Finding Squeezes? Laderman, Julian £7.95 25 Steps to Learning 2/1 Thurston, Paul £10.50
25 Conventions for ACOL Players Landry & Horton £11.95 North of the Master Solvers’ Club Vine, Frank £11.95
Complete Book on Overcalls (2nd ed.) Lawrence, Mike £13.95 Bridge at the Enigma Club Winkler, Peter £11.95
Complete Book on Passed Hand Bidding Lawrence, Mike £13.95 The Lone Wolff Wollf, Bobby £15.95

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Julian Pottage books from

2 April 2015 BRIDGE Magazine

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4 April 2015 BRIDGE Magazine

Night of the Stars

5 April 2015 BRIDGE Magazine

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W hat constitutes the perfect bridge tournament?

The Gods will Decide

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This was one of the auctions.

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The Emperor’s New Clothes

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The Prince Consort watches Sabine Auken

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Might South have passed North’s double?

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After a similar start Askgaard simply jumped to 3NT over 2♠.

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South led a heart. It was the ace.

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What did West base his double on?

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39 April 2015 BRIDGE Magazine

That cost a modest 2800 and 191 IMPs.

40 April 2015 BRIDGE Magazine

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42 April 2015 BRIDGE Magazine

43 April 2015 BRIDGE Magazine

East led the ace of hearts, so that was that, +850.

45 April 2015 BRIDGE Magazine

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Alfredo Versace - Mustafa Cem Tokay 880 40,000 DKK

First prize was the equivalent of €5367.

48 April 2015 BRIDGE Magazine

65ème Festival International de Bridge de

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