- Mr Bridge

BRIDGE
Number One Hundred and Eighteen
MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS
ONE YOU’LL NEVER
FORGET!
Exclusive
saver
fares on four extraordinary
Voyages to Antiquity
Award-winning cruises aboard Aegean Odyssey
V OYAGES TO A NTIQUITY
www.voyagestoantiquity.com
November 2012
CHRISTMAS CRUISE
VIETNAM & THE JEWELS OF
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Join us on this celebration voyage
from Singapore to Bangkok, and enjoy
a Christmas you’ll never forget!
NO
SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT †
Fly to Singapore and enjoy time to explore and an included excursion of
this dynamic City. Cruise to the beautiful island of Borneo and the Sultanate
of Brunei, with its magnificent Royal Palace, and Kota Kinabalu in the state
of Sabah. Relax on board as we celebrate Christmas Day sailing the South
China Sea to Vietnam. Visit Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City where a
warm welcome, fascinating history and spectacular scenery await. Your final
destination is exotic Bangkok where you arrive in style as Aegean Odyssey
sails up the Chao Phraya River to berth in the heart of the city.
Aegean Odyssey – cruise in comfort, relax in style
Carrying around 350 passengers, the atmosphere
on board is relaxed with plenty of passenger space, a
choice of restaurants (with open-seating dining) and
generously-sized accommodations, plus the comfort
and attentive service of boutique-style cruising.
Add more time in Bangkok and visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia
An optional 4-night package is available offering 3 nights in a 5-star hotel
in Bangkok and 1 night in Siem Reap, Cambodia for a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to see the magnificent temple complex at Angkor Wat.
Details on request.
FARES INCLUDE:
SIGHTSEEING EXCURSIONS AT ALL PORTS
EXPERT LECTURE PROGRAMME
WINE WITH DINNER & GRATUITIES ON BOARD
EXCLUSIVE MR BRIDGE COCKTAIL PARTY
SCHEDULED AIR & TRANSFERS
PLUS MR BRIDGE SPECIAL FARES
CALL
ON 01483 489 961
ADD THAILAND, MALAYSIA & BURMA!
Begin your voyage on our preceding sailing on
December 6 and cruise to Kuala Lumpur, Phuket,
Yangon (Rangoon), Penang and Malacca. This makes
a magnificent 32-day Grand Voyage offering remarkable
value and even greater savings. Please ask for details
10093
Thailand
Bangkok
Vietnam
Nha Trang
Cambodia Ho Chi Minh City
Sihanoukville
Gulf of
Thailand
Singapore
Kota Kinabalu
Bandar Brunei
Seri Begawan
BoRNEO/
malaysia
DECEMBER 18, 2012 – 15 days from £2,850
DATE
DEC 18
DEC 19
DEC 20
PORT
Depart UK
Arrive SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE
Embark Aegean Odyssey
DEC 21/22 At Sea
DEC 23
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Brunei, Borneo
DEC 24
KOTA KINABALU Borneo
DEC 25
Christmas Day at Sea
DEC 26
NHA TRANG Vietnam
DEC 27
HO CHI MINH CITY Vietnam
DEC 28
HO CHI MINH CITY Vietnam
DEC 29
At Sea
DEC 30
SIHANOUKVILLE Cambodia
DEC 31
New Year’s Eve at Sea
JAN 1 ’13 BANGKOK Thailand
Disembark Aegean Odyssey and
transfer to airport for flight home
ARRIVE
DEPART
overnight hotel
6.00pm
7.00am
7.00am
8.00pm
5.00pm
1.00pm
6.00pm
6.00pm
overnight
6.00pm
6.00am
8.00pm
7.00am
ACCOMPANIED BY MR BRIDGE HOST
MR BRIDGE FARES*
Standard Inside
£2,850pp Superior Outside from £3,595pp
Superior Inside from £3,095pp Deluxe Outside from £4,150pp
Standard Outside
£3,450pp Deluxe Balcony from £4,895pp
* Prices shown are per person, single or double occupancy, include MR BRIDGE SPECIAL
SAVINGS. †Limited availability on cabins with no single supplement. This offer is subject
to availability, is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time.
BRIDGE PLAYERS: The bridge programme is completely optional and Mr Bridge
passengers can participate as much, or as little as they wish. There is a supplement
of £100 for those wishing to participate in the duplicate bridge programme.
Singles are made especially welcome and a playing partner will always be found.
V OYAGES TO A NTIQUITY
www.voyagestoantiquity.com
ABTA No.Y2206
BRIDGE
Ryden Grange
Knaphill, Surrey
GU21 2TH
( 01483 489961
e-mail:
[email protected]
website:
www.mrbridge.co.uk
Publisher and
Managing Editor
Mr Bridge
Typesetting
and Design
Ruth Edmondson
FEATURES
5
A
DVERTISEMENTS
Mr Bridge
2 Christmas in Vietnam
and South East Asia
9 Bernard Magee says
Run for Home
32013 Diaries
Standard and Luxury
10 Julian Pottage says
Opening 2♣ Often
Means Five Quick
Tricks and a Powerful
Game Going Hand
3 Bridge Tie
4 Tutorial Software
and QPlus 10
5 Just Duplicate Bridge
11 David Gold says
Limit Your Hand
6 Christmas 2012
and New Year 2013
13 Bidding Quiz
by Bernard Magee
16 Jeremy Dhondy says An
Acol Two Shows Values,
Not Just Eight Tricks
7 Mail Order Form
8 Cruise from Bali
to Borobudur
12 Tips for Better Bridge
12 Bridge Events
with Bernard Magee
19 Andrew Kambites says
Lead an Unbid Suit
14 Mr Bridge
Playing Cards
Proof Readers
Tony & Jan Richards
Danny Roth
Richard Wheen
Hugh Williams
20 Mike Wenble says
Force if You Know
Where You are Going
14 Stamps
Office Manager
Jane Cavell
23 Bernard Magee at
Haslemere DVDs
reviewed by June Booty
Events & Cruises
( 01483 489961
Rosie Baker
Jessica Galt
Rachel Everett
Megan Riccio
Sophie Pierrepont
15 Cruise from Bangkok
to Singapore
21 Julian Pottage says
A New Suit at the
Three Level is Forcing
17 Cruise India to Luxor
22 Bernard Magee at
Haslemere 2011/2012
24 Cruise Safaga to
Oman on Minerva
Bridge Tie
£15
including
postage
& packing
Clubs & Charities
Maggie Axtell
[email protected]
Address Changes
Elizabeth Bryan
From
Mr Bridge
( 01483 485342
[email protected]
All correspondence should
be addressed to Mr Bridge.
Please make sure that all
letters, e-mails and faxes
carry full postal addresses
and telephone numbers.
2013
Bridge
Players’
Diaries
6 Tunisia 2012/3
14 Bidding Quiz Answers
by Bernard Magee
18 Dave Huggett says
Majors Before Minors
Technical Consultant
Tony Gordon
Mr Bridge
( 01483 489961
www.mrbridge.co.uk
Order Form
on page 7
Page 3
Contents include
♦ Acol Summary
by Bernard Magee.
♦ Guide to the Laws.
♦ Scoring Tables for
duplicate and
rubber bridge.
♦ Distributional odds.
♦ Hand patterns and
fascinating figures.
♦ Cover colours:
Sorry only red and navy
blue remain in stock.
♦ All covers printed in
gold-coloured ink.
♦ Individual diaries £6.95
each including p&p.
♦ Special concession to
clubs and teachers.
10 for £35 and pro rata.
£3.50 each inc p&p.
♦ Luxury version with
super-soft kidrell cover,
gilded page edges
and a ball-point pen
attached, in ruby red,
navy blue or green.
£14.95 each
including p&p.
See Mail Order Form
on page 7.
QPLUS 10
Really
user-friendly
bridge-playing
software
l Updated
comprehensive
manual
£86
l
Displays on
HD screen
l
Supports large
screens
l
Minibridge option
l
Extra 500 preplayed
hands for teams
making 5,000 in all
l
Extra 500 preplayed
hands for matchpoint pairs making
4,000 in all
BERNARD MAGEE’S
INTERACTIVE TUTORIALS
ACOL
BIDDING
l Opening
Bids and
Responses
l
Slams and Strong
Openings
l
Support for Partner
lPre-empting
lOvercalls
Openings
and Responses
l
l
Opener’s and
Responder’s Rebids
Minors and Misfits
lDoubles
lCompetitive
l
l
New save match
function
l
Save deals with
automatic file
labelling
l
Closed room – new
button to view
other table
QPLUS
TRADE-IN
OFFER
Return any QPLUS
CD and booklet with
a cheque for £35
and receive the very
latest version of the
wonderful QPLUS
Bridge.
Order with absolute
confidence.
ADVANCED
DECLARER PLAY
l Making
Overtricks
in No-trumps
l
Making Overtricks
in Suit Contracts
lEndplays
l
Contract
£81
lSimple
Trump Reductions
& Coups
l
Playing Doubled
Contracts
l
Safety Plays
£96
Overcalls
Establishment
in No-trumps
l
Suit Establishment
in Suits
l
Ruffing for
Extra Tricks
l
Entries in
No-trumps
Defences to
Other Systems
l
Misfits and
Distributional
Hands
Drawing Trumps
Lead vs
No-trump Contracts
l
Lead vs
Suit Contracts
l
Partner of Leader
vs No-trump
Contracts
Using the Lead
l Trump
Control
l
Endplays &
Avoidance
l
Using the Bidding
DEFENCE
l
£76
lDelaying
l
l
FIVE-CARD
MAJORS &
Strong No-Trump
l
Opening Bids
& Responses
l
No-Trump
Openings
l
Support
for Partner
l
Slams & Strong Openings
l
Rebids
l
Minors
& Misfits
lDiscarding
l
Pre-empting
l
Defensive Plan
l
Doubles
l
Stopping Declarer
l
Overcalls
l
Competitive Auctions
l
Partner of Leader
vs Suit Contracts
lCount
Signals
lAttitude
Signals
the Hand
l
Defence to 1NT
lTwo-suited
Squeezes
lCounting
l Suit
lHold-ups
Strong Hands
lDoubles
lAvoidance
lWrong
Twos
to Weak Twos
over two years
from version 9
l
Advanced Basics
l Weak
Auctions
lImprovement
DECLARER
PLAY
l Basics
lDefence
£66
lNo-trump
MORE
(ADVANCED)
ACOL BIDDING
£76
lCounting
the Hand
£89
Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge , Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
( 01483 489961
www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop
Fax 01483 797302
System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista or 7, 8mb RAM, CD-ROM
WELL DONE
SECOND HAND
Good clean copies of QPlus
could make useful
Christmas presents for
grandchildren or even a
bridge partner. Support
Little Voice, the charity
with a school house in Adis
Ababa, Ethiopia. Just make
your selection.
Congratulations, Voyages
to Antiquity, on being voted
Best Specialist Cruise Line
at the 2012 cruise awards.
I can tell you from
experience that the award is
thoroughly deserved.
Well done them.
FESTIVE CRUISE
Aegean Odyssey will be in
South East Asia over the
Christmas Festive season.
There are still some cabins
available without single
supplement. I just thought
you’d like to know.
JUST DUPLICATE
with Mr Bridge
Q Plus 7 donation: £10.
Q Plus 8 donation: £16.
Q Plus 9 donation: £25.
Please send your cheque for
the CD of your choice,
made payable to L.U.C.I.A.
Little Voice with two 2nd
class stamps to cover the
cost of posting it to you.
BERNARD’S PARTY
Elstead Hotel, Bournemouth BH1 3QP
9-11 November 2012
hosted by Jo Walch
16-18 November 2012
Please note there are no seminars
or set hands at these events.
TRY MINERVA
Last issue, I wrote about the
compact cruise ship,
Minerva. On the back cover
of this issue, you will find
details of a Voyage to
Oman. Ann and I look
forward to cruising the Red
Sea, then along the Yemeni
and Oman coasts all the
way to Abu Dhabi. Lots of
sea days so lots of bridge,
lots of sunshine and some
off-beat countries to tick off
the list. Still some cabins
available without a
single supplement.
BETTER BRIDGE
The DVDs from Haslemere
2011 have been reviewed in
the recent issue of English
Bridge, see page 23.
The DVDs from Haslemere
2012 are now ready and
cover six entirely different
aspects of the game, all
clearly explained by
Bernard Magee.
Bernard Magee will host a
festive party at the
Chatsworth Hotel over the
weekend 28 – 30 December
for those of you who have
withdrawal symptoms. He
will be covering doubles.
All sorts of doubles:
takeout, negative, penalty
and even Lightener doubles.
JUST BRIDGE
Chatsworth Hotel, Worthing BN11 3DU
As you can see from the
adjacent advertisement we
have a new venue in
Dorset. The Elstead Hotel,
Bournemouth. I have
personally visited the hotel
and given it a really
thorough inspection. I have
asked them to provide
competitive rates for full
board, so that we can have
fairly frequent Just Bridge
events once again down in
Dorset. Full board at such a
lovely venue with 6 sessions
for £169. A real bargain. 16-18 November 2012
Page 5
hosted by Crombie McNeil
30 Nov - 2 Dec 2012
hosted by Ned Paul
£169 Full-board
No Single Supplement
Payment in full at the time of booking.
Mr Bridge
AT THE
ROYAL KENZ
TUNISIA
Two-week
half-board
duplicate
bridge holiday
DIARIES 2013
FESTIVE SEASON
Only red and navy blue
covers left. See facing page.
Last call for golf and bridge
in early November in
Tunisia. Tony Richards
leads a small party at The
Royal Kenz Hotel.
The adjacent advertisement
tells you about our
Christmas and New Year
events. Do give us a call if
you would like more
information. Playing
partners are always
guaranteed and there will
be an experienced support
team at both venues.
AND IN FEBRUARY
GIFT IDEAS
Bernard Magee and his
team once again take out a
party to the Royal Kenz. If
you haven’t been with
Bernard before, you will be
pleased. If you have, you
will already know what to
expect and get it.
With Christmas coming,
suitable gifts are always
hard to think of. How
about a bone china mug
with any one of the three
designs. It’s Only A Game,
the Mystery Man or the
XXXX bidding sequence.
They are all great fun.
TUNISIA 2013
STAMP DISCOUNT
4-18 November 2012
Golf available
Tony and Jan Richards
£769*
24 Feb – 10 March 2013
Golf available
Bernard Magee
and his team
£799*
*per person half-board sharing
a twin-bedded room and is
inclusive of bridge fees. Single
supplement
£6
per
night.
These prices are based on air
travel from Heathrow to Tunis.
Flights from other UK airports
are available at a supplement.
Prices for seven-night stays are
available on application.
Pay £70 per fortnight per person
extra and have a pool-facing
room, tea & coffee making
facilities, bath robe and a bowl of
seasonal fruit.
These holidays have been organised
for Mr Bridge by Tunisia First Limited,
ATOL 5933, working in association
with
Thomas
Cook
Tour
Operations Limited, ATOL 1179.
DETAILS & BOOKINGS
( 01483 489961
Just a quick plug for my
most faithful sponsor
whose support helps pay for
this free magazine.
( 0208 422 4906
[email protected]
Value supplied in two
stamps combined to make
up the 50p 2nd class rate,
2nd class to you, 41p. 1st
class 60p, only 50p to you.
Available in batches of 100.
Another suggestion is my
new design Mr Bridge tie.
Some might think it a bit
loud, see illustration on
page 3, but it’s ideal to be
worn at Christmas parties.
As a last resort, playingcards are always useful and
a boxed pair of packs will
always be welcome. £10.
OUT EAST
INSURANCE
With a 48-page magazine,
I always have a two page
advertisement promoting
Global Travel Insurance.
Having only half the pages
this time means you should
telephone my office if you
require their details.
ALL CHANGE
If you have been using the
same tutorial software for
some time, why not send in
your old CD and a cheque
for £39. Choose from the
list on the facing page. You
know the fun you have had
already, now you can have
the same all over again.
In January and early
February, Bernard is in
South East Asia hosting
two back to back bridge
parties, details of which
can be found on pages 8
and 15. These can be
booked as separate cruises
or as a grand cruise. Ring
( 01483 489961.
So much to do and so much
to look at but there are lots
of days at sea, so sightseeing can give way to
bridge. Then you can
have a rest from bridge and
explore what is still a very
interesting and mysterious
corner of the world.
All good wishes
Mr Bridge
Page 6
Christmas
& New Year
2012/13
Duplicate Bridge
Denham Grove
Near Uxbridge, UB9 5DU
24-27 Dec £455
Just Bridge
Jo Walch
(with a small separate
section for rubber / Chicago
hosted by Diana Holland)
27-29 Dec £215
Game Tries
Gary Conrad
29 Dec – 1 Jan £445
Finding Slams
Gary Conrad
The Olde Barn
Marston, Lincs NG32 2HT
24-27 Dec £455
Just Bridge
Val Passmore
27-29 Dec £215
Doubles
Patrick Dunham
29 Dec – 1 Jan £445
Losing Trick Count
Patrick Dunham
( 01483 489961
[email protected]
www.holidaybridge.com
✄
✄
Mr Bridge MAIL ORDER
TUTORIAL DVDs
PLAY SOFTWARE
QPlus 10
QPlus 10 - Trade-in
Bridge Baron
Mac compatible
Bridge Baron – Trade-in
£86.00........
£35.00........
£63.00........
£36.00........
TUTORIAL SOFTWARE
Begin Bridge
Acol Version
£66.00........
Acol Bidding
£66.00........
Advanced Acol Bidding
£96.00........
Declarer Play
£76.00........
Advanced
Declarer Play
£81.00........
Defence
£76.00........
Five-Card Majors
with Strong No-Trump £89.00........
Better Bridge with
Bernard Magee Haslemere 2011 £69.00........
Better Bridge with
Bernard Magee In course
Haslemere 2012 of preparation
SOFTWARE BUNDLE OFFER
Any two software pieces £120.00........
BOOKS
Duplicate Bridge
Rules Simplified Better Hand Evaluation
Bernard Magee’s
Bridge Quiz Book
Bernard Magee’s
Quiz and Puzzle Book
Tips for Better Bridge
£5.95........
£14.00........
£14.00........
£14.00........
£14.00........
Haslemere 2011
1 Ruffing for Extra Tricks £25.00........
2 Competitive Auctions £25.00........
3 Making the
Most of High Cards
£25.00........
4 Identifying &
Bidding Slams
£25.00........
5 Play & Defence of
1NT Contracts
£25.00........
6 Doubling & Defence
to Doubled Contracts £25.00........
All 6 DVDs as a boxed set £100.00........
Haslemere 2012
7Leads
£25.00........
8 Losing Trick Count
£25.00........
9 Making a Plan
as Declarer
£25.00........
10 Responding to 1NT
£25.00........
11 Signals & Discards
£25.00........
12Endplays
£25.00........
All 6 DVDs as a boxed set £100.00........
MR BRIDGE TIE
Name (Mr, Mrs, Miss)
...............................................
Address ................................
...............................................
...............................................
Postcode ..............................
Telephone .............................
E-mail ....................................
Please send BRIDGE
to the following
enthusiasts:
Name (Mr, Mrs, Miss)
£15.00........
...............................................
BONE CHINA MUGS
Bidding Sequence
It’s Only a Game
Mystery Man
If you have not
contacted us recently,
please enter your
details in the box
below to re-register:
Address ................................
£15.00........
£15.00........
£15.00........
...............................................
...............................................
BRIDGE PLAYERS’ DIARIES
Postcode ..............................
Standard
Red
£6.95........
Navy
£6.95........
Luxury Kidrell Covers & ball-point pen
Ruby Red £14.95........
Navy Blue
£14.95........
Telephone .............................
E-mail ....................................
Name (Mr, Mrs, Miss)
...............................................
Prices are inclusive of VAT and postage to UK mainland.
I enclose a cheque for £..........
Address ................................
Mr/Mrs/Miss .....................................................................................................................................................................
...............................................
Address..............................................................................................................................................................................
...............................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
Postcode ..............................
Telephone .............................
Postcode............................................................................. ( ..........................................................................................
E-mail ....................................
Please complete all or
part of this form and
return to: Mr Bridge,
Ryden Grange, Knaphill,
Surrey, GU21 2TH.
Expiry: ............. CVV ........ Issue No. ...........
(CVV is the last 3 numbers on the signature strip)
( 01483 489961
www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop
Page 7
✄
✄
Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
CRUISE FROM
BALI TO BOROBUDUR
& BEYOND
HOSTED BY
Verdant rice paddies, ancient temples
and the vibrant cities of Asia all feature
on this splendid voyage!
BERNARD
MAGEE
The origins, construction and demise of the magnificent temple of
Borobudur in Java are shrouded in mystery. There is no written record
of who built Borobudur or why it was built. It was likely founded as a
religious site in the 8th century and the construction is thought to have
taken a period of 75 years and completed in about 825AD.
It was abandoned and hidden for centuries under layers of volcanic ash and
thick jungle growth. Nobody knows for sure why it was abandoned but it
was never forgotten entirely with folklore ensuring that stories of the great
monument lived on. What is certain is that your visit
to this spectacular site will be a highlight of your trip.
Your journey also takes you to the fascinating cities
of Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City and Thailand’s
vibrant capital, Bangkok. It begins, however, on
Bali, the famed “Island of the Gods”, with its varied
landscape of hills and mountains, sandy beaches and lush rice terraces
all providing a picturesque backdrop to its colourful, deeply spiritual and
unique culture.
FARES INCLUDE:
SIGHTSEEING EXCURSIONS AT ALL PORTS
EXPERT LECTURE PROGRAMME
WINE WITH DINNER & GRATUITIES ON BOARD
EXCLUSIVE MR BRIDGE COCKTAIL PARTY
Bangkok
Thailand
Sihanoukville
Ho Chi Minh City
Cambodia Vietnam
Gulf of
Thailand
Singapore
Java Sea
Semerang INDONESIA
Bali
JANUARY 23, 2013 – 15 days from £2,750
DATE
JAN 23
JAN 24
JAN 25
PORT
Depart UK
Arrive BALI Indonesia
BALI Indonesia
Embark Aegean Odyssey
JAN 26
At Sea
JAN 27
SEMERANG (BOROBUDUR)
Indonesia
JAN 28/29 At Sea
JAN 30
SINGAPORE
JAN 31
At Sea
FEB 1/2 HO CHI MINH CITY Vietnam
FEB 3
At Sea
FEB 4
SIHANOUKVILLE Cambodia
FEB 5
FEB 6
SCHEDULED AIR & TRANSFERS
PLUS MR BRIDGE SPECIAL FARES
CALL
ON 01483 489 961
EXTEND YOUR HOLIDAY
ADD EXTRA NIGHTS IN BALI
Begin with an optional extra 2-night Bali package
AND/OR BANGKOK & ANGKOR WAT
A grand conclusion to your journey. 5-days
in exotic Bangkok including an overnight
excursion to the temple of Angkor Wat!
Please ask for details
10093
ARRIVE
DEPART
overnight hotel
6.00pm
6.00am
9.00pm
6.00am
7.00pm
6.00pm
6.00pm
7.00am
8.00pm
At Sea
BANGKOK Thailand
8.00am
Disembark Aegean Odyssey
and transfer to airport for flight home
MR BRIDGE FARES*
Standard Inside
£2,750pp Superior Outside from £3,550pp
Superior Inside from £2,995pp Deluxe Outside from £4,075pp
Standard Outside
£3,425pp Deluxe Balcony from £4,795pp
* Prices shown are per person, double occupancy and include MR BRIDGE SPECIAL SAVINGS.
This offer is subject to availability, is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time.
BRIDGE PLAYERS: The bridge programme is completely optional and Mr Bridge passengers can
participate as much, or as little as they wish. There is a supplement of £100 for those wishing to
participate in the duplicate bridge programme.
Singles are made especially welcome and a playing partner will always be found.
V OYAGES TO A NTIQUITY
www.voyagestoantiquity.com
ABTA No.Y2206
Bernard Magee Says
Run For
Home
T
his maxim is more for teams
of four, rubber or chicago than
matchpoints. If you can see a safe
play for your contract, take it. Do not
take risks for overtricks: run for home.
Contract: 4♠. Lead: ♣6.
♠ 10 8 7 5
♥ K 3
♦ K Q 3
♣ A 7 5 3
♠ A K Q J 6 3
♥ 7 2
♦ A 6 2
♣ Q 4
N
WE
S
Playing pairs, you would let the club
run to your queen and expect to make
eleven tricks. However, playing teams
or rubber, you should ‘run for home’ in
case something bad happens: you can
count ten top tricks so take them.
♠ 10 8 7 5
♥ K 3
♦ K Q 3
♣ A 7 5 3
♠ 4 2 N
♥ Q 10 8 6 5 4 WE
♦ J 7 5 4 S
♣6
♠ A K Q J 6 3
♥ 7 2
♦ A 6 2
♣ Q 4
♠9
♥ A J 9
♦ 10 9 8
♣ K J 10 9 8 2
If you duck the first club, East wins and
returns a club for West to ruff; a heart
shift then beats you. Of course, if you
grab the ace of clubs, you can draw
trumps and ensure ten tricks.
Contract: 3NT. Lead: ♣6.
♠ 7 6 5
♥ A 10 9 8
♦ A Q J
♣ A K 3
N
WE
S
♠ A K 4
♥ 5 4
♦ 10 8 7 6 4
♣ Q 4 2
You win the club with the queen and
play a diamond to the jack, which wins
(all follow). What do you do next?
Playing pairs, it would be tempting to
finesse again in diamonds, so you cross
back to hand with a spade and play a
diamond to the queen. Unfortunately,
East takes his king and returns a spade.
♠ 7 6 5
♥ A 10 9 8
♦ A Q J
♣ A K 3
♠ 9 3 2
♥ K J 7 3 N
WE
♦ 5 2
S
♣ J 9 8 6
♠ A K 4
♥ 5 4
♦ 10 8 7 6 4
♣ Q 4 2
♠ Q J 10 8
♥ Q 6 2
♦ K 9 3
♣ 10 7 5
With the diamonds blocked and your
last entry gone, you would go down.
Playing teams or rubber, you would
not fall for East’s duck. You would see
that by knocking out the diamond king
you could make ten tricks. You would
thus play dummy’s ace of diamonds and
continue with the jack. You would make
four diamond tricks instead of two and
Page 9
so finish with an overtrick.
Running for home is an important
tactic, but that does not mean you
should overlook safe overtricks:
Contract: 3NT. Lead: ♠Q.
♠ 7 6 5
♥ 7 5 4
♦ A K 7 6 4
♣ 4 2
♠ Q J 10 2 N
♠ 9 8 4
♥ 10 8 3WE
♥ 9 6 2
♦ Q 10 3 S
♦ J 5 2
♣ J 9 8
♣ K Q 10 6
♠ A K 3
♥ A K Q J
♦ 9 8
♣ A 7 5 3
With nine top tricks, you could run for
home, but it can do no harm at all to
duck a diamond in both hands. If the
suit breaks 3-3, you will find yourself
making two overtricks. You win the
spade and play a small diamond from
both hands – this retains the connection
with dummy’s hand. You win the spade
return and, when you cash your A-K of
diamonds, you find that diamonds do
break 3-3. You rack up 11 tricks without
risking your contract. Had you found
the suit breaking 4-2 you would have
settled for nine tricks. Playing teams of
four, overtricks are not very important
but, if you make two in complete safety,
you might gain 1 or 2 IMPs – and small
swings can add up over a long match.
Conclusion
Taking risks in a safe contract is a pairs
tactic. In all other forms of the game,
you look to run for home – taking your
tricks and ensuring your contract.
However, there is no harm pursuing an
overtrick if it is entirely safe to do so. ■
Julian Pottage Says
Opening 2♣ Often Means
Five Quick Tricks and a
Powerful Game Going Hand
I
n Acol, the strongest normal
opening bid is 2♣. If the hand is
balanced, this shows at least 23 high
card points. If not, you need five quick
tricks and a powerful game-going hand.
What are quick tricks and why do you
need them? Quick tricks are winners
you expect to make whether you are
declarer, dummy or a defender. A hand
with many quick tricks will be useful no
matter what the trump suit. In each suit
you count one for an ace or king-queen,
two for an ace-king, a half for a king and
one and a half for an ace-queen.
Hand A Hand B
♠ A 3 ♠ A K J 9 4
♥ K 8 5 ♥ A K Q 9 2
♦ A Q 8 5 ♦ A 8
♣ A K 7 2
♣3
Hands A and B both have five quick
tricks. A has one in spades, two in
clubs, a half in hearts and one and a
half in diamonds. Hand B has two each
in the majors and one in diamonds. Of
course, hand A is not a 2♣ opener. It is
a balanced hand, so the test is whether
you have 23 HCP, which you do not.
With 20 HCP, you open 2NT.
Hand B you do open 2♣. You have a
powerful game-going hand as well as
five quick tricks. You expect to make
game in whichever major partner
prefers, more or less whatever you find
opposite. Moreover, you need very little
from partner to make a slam. You would
fancy your chances of making 6♠ facing
the right Yarborough (a hand with no
points at all). All you really need in
that case is five-card spade support. If
you open anything other than 2♣ on
hand B, partner will never work out you
have a hand this good. You will end up
having to guess where to play and may
guess wrong.
Hand C Hand D
♠Void
♠ K Q J 10 2
♥ A K J 9 2
♥ K Q J 10 3
♦ A 9 4
♦ K Q J
♣ A K Q 4 2 ♣Void
Hand C (from a tournament in Beijing)
has five quick tricks and meets the other
requirements for a 2♣ opening. Facing
a hand with three low hearts and a
bust, you expect to make 4♥. As with
hand B, you need very little opposite to
make a slam good. A singleton diamond
and a fit for one of your long suits is
one way you could make a slam facing
Yarborough. Even if you open a strong
2♥, partner will not work out that you
need so little to make a game or a slam.
With Hand D, you expect to make
game in one of the majors, losing three
aces. On a bad day, partner has little and
the opponents will keep forcing you in
clubs, meaning you run out of trumps.
That would be unlucky.
Even so, you should not open 2♣ on
Hand D. You are well short of having
five quick tricks. Indeed, you have only
three, one for each of your three kingqueen combinations. 2♠ (strong) is fine.
What is the danger in opening 2♣ on
a hand like this? Partner might have
a couple of aces (one of them in clubs)
and assume that you must have a slam
on. Another danger is that the auction
will become competitive and partner
will find you have nowhere near the
expected defensive strength against an
opposing (club) contract.
How does the rule apply if you play
Benjamin? In this case 2♦ is the strongest
bid, with 2♣ covering the slightly
weaker eight playing trick hands. A
Benjamin 2♦ has the same requirements
as an Acol 2♣: if unbalanced, it shows
five quick tricks and a powerful game
going hand.
Page 10
What would you open on hands A, B,
C and D playing Benjamin? If you play a
2NT opening as 19-20 (as in the original
version of Benjamin), you open 2NT on
hand A. Because the hand has 20 HCP,
it is in both the 20-22 Acol range and the
19-20 range.
With hand B, you open 2♦. Most
hands on which you would open 2♣
in Acol you open 2♦ in Benjamin.
With a hand this good, you want to use
the system strong opening to create a
forcing situation.
Hand C is slightly more problematic.
In Acol, the sequence 2♣-2♦, leaves you
room to rebid 2♥. In Benjamin, if you
open 2♦ and partner makes the likely
2♥ response (negative, or for some a
waiting bid), you will have to go to 3♥
to show your heart suit. Another factor
is that partner is likely to be declarer in
a heart contract, putting your strong
hand on the table.
Playing Benjamin, I would not object
to either 2♣ or 2♦ on Hand C. However,
it is a matter to discuss with your
partner. If you are going to open 2♣ on
hands like this, you do not want partner
to pass after 2♣-2♦-2♥.
On hand D, if you were short of the
requirements for an Acol 2♣, you are
equally short of having enough for a
Benjamin 2♦. I would open 2♣. You
intend to rebid 2♠ over the expected 2♦
response and show your hearts later. If
you open 1♠, the bidding may end there
when you are cold for 4♥.
Summary
To open an Acol 2♣ (or a Benjamin 2♦)
when your hand is unbalanced you need
at least five quick tricks and sufficient
playing strength to make game opposite
nothing or next to nothing. In other
words, you need five quick tricks and a
powerful game-going hand or 23+ HCP
if balanced. ■
David Gold Says
Limit Your
Hand
O
ne of the most important things
to do in a constructive auction
is to limit your hand. What does
this mean exactly? Usually limiting
your hand means telling partner how
many points you have; occasionally it
means telling partner what level you
have aspirations to (i.e. whether you are
interested in a part-score only, or game
or perhaps even slam).
Limit bids are usually raises of
partner’s suit or no-trump bids. Limit
bids thus help partner to judge not just
how high to go but what denomination
in which to play. Change of suit bids and
forcing bids are the opposite – they are
usually unlimited bids.
Let us start with a common situation:
♠ Q J 3
♥ K 9 6 5
♦ K 2
♣ A 10 6 5
You hold the hand above and open 1NT
(12-14). Partner responds 3♠ showing
slam interest with at least six spades.
What would you bid?
Right, you should bid 4♣ as a cue bid.
You have only 13 points but you have
limited the strength of your hand by
opening 1NT so partner will expect at
most 14. You have also limited the shape
of your hand, which is why partner
knows that 4♣ shows the ace of clubs
and agrees spades; with a long string of
clubs, you would have opened something
else. You have nothing to be ashamed
of – you have three trumps, a possible
ruffing value with your doubleton
diamond and a couple of useful control
cards. See how opening 1NT made the
subsequent bidding easier; you do not
have to feel worried that partner will
expect more.
For the record partner held…
♠ A K 9 6 5 2
♥ A 2
♦ A Q 3
♣ 9 2
…and gratefully used Blackwood to
reach the cold slam.
Another common situation:
You pick up…
♠ K 10 7 6
♥ 6 5
♦ K J 7 5
♣ 7 6 3
… Partner opens 1♠ and you raise to 2♠.
Next partner makes a game try of 3♦ –
what now?
Well your 2♠ limited your hand. It
showed 6-9 points with spade support.
In that context, you are above
minimum with help in diamonds so you
have an easy 4♠ bid. Partner will not
be disappointed with your dummy; he
knows you hold at most 9 points.
Partner’s hand:
♠ A Q 9 3 2
♥ K Q 4
♦ A 10 6 2
♣9
4♠ should make in comfort.
Whenever partner makes a limit bid
– a no-trump bid, a raise or preference
to your suit or perhaps a non-forcing
repeat of his suit – stop to work out
the combined values. You are probably
doing this without realising it already.
For instance, if partner opens a 12-14
1NT, you know that with 14 points you
can go for game but not a slam.
Page 11
Now you may be ready for a more
subtle situation, one that came up in a
match.
♠ A Q J 6 4
♥ K 10 5
♦ 5 3
♣ A Q 6
You hold the above hand as South
playing imps (teams).
Partner opens 1♦ and the auction
continues:
North South
1♦2♠
3♦?
Your 2♠ was a natural jump shift,
forcing to game. Partner’s 3♦ rebid
suggests a six-card or possibly strong
five-card suit. Since 3♦ is forcing it does
not show a minimum opening, though
often partner will have one. Neither
player has thus made a limit bid so
far.
Here I think the correct bid is clear.
Bid 3NT. This limits your hand to some
extent. You have shown some interest
above 3NT already (by making the
strength-showing jump shift).
The time has come to suggest that
you have ‘limited’ interest past game
(because 3NT is not forcing) not to
mention that you have the other suits
adequately stopped. This sequence
should show 16-18 points and stoppers
in the unbid suits. If partner chooses
to look for slam, he will now not be
disappointed with your hand.
Summary
See how easy the bidding was on these
three deals. My advice? Limit your
hand!
■
Bernard Magee’s Tips
for Better Bridge
2012-2013
with B
65 invaluable tips in 160 pages
Bidding Tips
1 Always consider bidding
spades if you can
2 Bid more aggressively
when non-vulnerable
3 Always double when the
opponents steal your deal
4 A takeout double shows
shortage in the suit doubled
5 ‘Borrow’ a king
to keep the auction open
6 After a penalty double,
don’t let the opponents escape
7 Halve the value of a singleton
honour when opening
8 Only add length-points for a
suit that might be useful
9 Isolated honours are bad
except in partner’s suit
10 Use the jump shift sparingly
11 Consider passing and letting
partner decide
12 You need two top honours
for a second-seat pre-empt
13 Put the brakes on if you have a
misfit
14 Strong and long minors work
well in no-trumps
15 One stop in the opponents’ suit
can be enough for no-trumps
16 Keep your two-level
responses up to strength
17 Use your normal methods in
response to a 1NT overcall
18 Don’t overcall just because
you have opening points
19 Overcalls can be quite weak,
so be prudent when responding
20 Weak overcalls must be based
on strong suits
21 6NT requires 33 points
not 4 aces and 4 kings
22 Raise immediately, if weak
with four-card support
23 In a competitive auction,
show support immediately
24 Bid to the level of your fit
quickly with weak hands
25 With strength and support,
use the opponents’ bid suit
Declarer-play Tips
26 When your contract depends
on a finesse, think ‘endplay’
27 Consider what a defender
might be thinking about
28 Always take your time
at trick one
29 Establish extra tricks before
cashing your winners
30 Use your opponents’
bidding to your advantage
31 Avoid the ‘baddie’
gaining the lead
32 Use the Rule of Seven when
holding up in no-trumps
33 A low lead usually promises
length and an honour
34 When declaring 1NT,
try to be patient
35 Duck an early round when
you are short of entries
36 Lead up to your
two-honour holding
37 Do not always assume
a suit will break well
38 Drop a high card
to put off the defence
39 Play your highest card to tempt
a defender to cover
40 Draw trumps first unless you
have a good reason not to
41 Do not waste your trumps
42 Consider leaving a lone defensive trump winner out
Defence Tips
43 Keep four-card suits intact
whenever possible
44 Give count on declarer’s leads
45 Keep the right cards
rather than signal
46 Take your time
when dummy is put down
47 High cards are for killing
other high cards
48 Do not waste
intermediate cards
49 Pick two key suits to
concentrate on during the play
50 If in doubt, cover an honour
with an honour
51 If a lead is from two honours, it
is best not to cover
52 Keep your honour to kill
dummy’s honour
53 Try to show partner your
solid honour sequences
54 Lead the normal card when
leading partner’s suit
55 Never underlead an ace at trick
one in a suit contract
56 Be wary of leading from
four cards to only one honour
57 Lead a higher card from
a suit without an honour
58 Lead through ‘beatable’
strength and up to weakness
59 Cash your winners before trying for a trump promotion
60 Be patient when defending
1NT
61 Trump leads can be safe
throughout the play
General Tips
62 Do not put important cards
at either end of your hand
63 Avoid being declarer when
you are dummy
64 Before you lead, ask for a
review of the auction
65 Enjoy the Game!
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Page 12
Bernard Magee’s
Bidding Quiz
3 BRIDGE EVENTS
You are West in the
auctions below, playing
‘Standard Acol’ with a
weak no-trump (12-14
points) and four-card
majors. (Answers overleaf.)
Bernard Magee
25-2/6Celtic
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25-7/5 God Created the
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and Cue Bids
1. Dealer West. Game All.
♠ Q J 7 6
♥K
N
WE
♦ A 7 6 4
S
♣ Q 9 4 2
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Hand
Evaluation
(without a fit)
WestNorth East South
?
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Page 13
Tales of India
and Arabia,
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2. Dealer West. Game All.
♠4
♥ A J 5
N
♦ Q 9 8 3 2
WE
S
♣ 7 6 5 2
WestNorth East South
1♠2♣
?
3. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ 7 6
♥4
N
♦ 8 3 2
WE
♣ K Q J 7 5 4 3 S
WestNorth East South
3♣ Pass3NTPass
?
4. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
♠ A 7
♥ K Q J 5 4
N
♦ Q J 8
WE
S
♣ K Q 7
WestNorth East South
1♥Pass4♥Pass
?
Answers to Bernard Magee’s Bidding Quiz on page 21
1. Dealer West. Game All.
♠ Q J 7 6
♠ K 4 2
N
♥ K ♥ 7 6 2
WE
♦ A 7 6 4 S
♦ Q J 3 2
♣ Q 9 4 2
♣ A K 7
West
?
North
East
South
Pass. ‘Twelve points, so what should I
open?’ Slow down. A singleton honour
is always of dubious value, even if it is
the ace, because it blocks a suit, but
especially if it is a lower honour because
it might end up as waste paper.
Whenever you are considering opening the bidding, you should count all
singleton honours (except the ace) at
half their value, so J=1/2. Q=1, K=11/2
and A=4. This hand is worth just 101/2
points and, with no five-card suit and no
tens, you do not have enough strength
to open the bidding. Notice how useless
the king of hearts turns out to be: it will
drop beneath the opponents’ ace, leaving your hand worth just 9 points. If you
had opened, your side would have bid
much too high; with 13 points, partner
would be likely to bid game.
2. Dealer West. Game All.
♠4
♠ A K 9 8 2
N
♥ A J 5
♥ K Q 10
WE
♦ Q 9 8 3 2 S
♦ 7 6 5
♣ 7 6 5 2
♣ A 4
West North
?
East
South
1♠2♣
Pass. Generally, if your opponents
come into the auction, try to ignore them
and stick to your usual bidding rules. Had
South passed, you would have responded
1NT but, because of his 2♣ intervention,
you cannot do that now. What a lot of
players would do is bid 2♦ instead. However, this still shows the same strength
as a direct 2♦ response; 9+ HCP and
10+ points including length. You are a
long way short of the requirements for a
2♦ response and should therefore pass.
Remember, your partner still has the
chance to bid. On this hand, he would
probably re-open with a take-out double
and now you could bid 2♦, finishing the
auction. Had you responded 2♦, partner,
placing you with 10 points, would have
bid 3NT – not a good result.
your partner knows what you have. With
his two outside aces and great support
for clubs, he hopes that he can make
seven club tricks and those two aces:
nine tricks.
As you can see, you will make the same
nine tricks in no-trumps as you would in
clubs – your partner was right.
3. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
♠ 7 6
♠ A 8
N
♥4
♥ A 6 3
WE
♦ 8 3 2 S
♦ J 10 9 7 6
♣ K Q J 7 5 4 3
♣ A 6 2
Pass. With 18 points and a good fivecard suit, should you go for a slam? In
Acol, the direct response of 4♥ is used
to show a distributional raise to game,
based on shortages and length rather
than high-card points. What would
partner need for a slam? Three aces,
or two aces plus a king and a singleton.
With such strength, he would have taken
his time and given you the chance to
explore for slam. The raise to 4♥ is not
a complete sign off – if you have enough
aces and kings yourself, you could try for
slam, but, missing so many of the higher
cards, it is highly unlikely that partner will
have enough. The down-side of trying for
slam is that you might go off in 5♥, as
on this deal. Give yourself the diamond
ace instead of the queen and jack and
now you need a lot less from partner and
it would be realistic to try for slam. But,
■
here, you should certainly pass.
West North
East
South
3♣ Pass3NT Pass
?
Pass. This really is as simple as just
remembering the rule: Never bid again
after making a pre-emptive bid unless
you are asked to. A simple rule, but an
important one. You have described your
hand neatly and your partner is taking
advantage of your accurate description
to bid the best contract. So pass and
trust your partner. From your hand, 3NT
might seem hopeless, but your opening
bid showed seven clubs and little else;
4. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
♠ A 7
♠ 3 2
N
♥ K Q J 5 4
♥ A 9 8 7 6
WE
♦ Q J 8 S
♦ K 10 9 7 6
♣ K Q 7
♣4
West North
East
South
1♥ Pass4♥Pass
?
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Page 14
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ABTA No.Y2206
Jeremy Dhondy Says
An Acol Two Shows
Values, Not
Just Eight Tricks
W
hen you have a good hand,
you want to get this across.
Some play Acol Two bids to
do so and others Benjamin (and open
2♣). Whatever your choice, you need
rules to decide whether a hand is worth
a two-level opening.
An Acol two is not just a good suit
with little outside. It is a hand of power
and quality. As well as eight playing
tricks, you need defensive strength,
high cards and a good suit. After all,
if you pre-empted at the four level and
were vulnerable against not, you would
expect to have eight playing tricks. A
starting point in deciding whether to
open at the two level is whether you
would be worried about missing a game
if partner passed with a bust.
This first hand is a classic for a strong
two: 20 high card points, eight (and a
half) playing tricks and a good suit.
Open 2♥ if playing Strong Two bids or
2♣ if playing Benjaminised Acol.
♠ A K
♥ K Q J 10 9 3
♦ A Q 4
♣ J 6
What do you do with eight playing
tricks but few points? You hold:
♠ A K Q J 10 6 4 3
♥5
♦ 3 2
♣ 6 5
It has the requisite number of playing
tricks but is more of a pre-emptive hand
than a Strong Two; I strongly prefer 4♠
to 2♠. Opening at the four level should
certainly make it hard for the opposition
to get together in hearts if they have a fit.
If you have a strong hand without
a good suit, you may prefer another
opening. For example, you hold:
♠ K Q J 7 5
♥ A K 6
♦ A 9
♣ K J 4
You have the points and defence to open
at the two level but should prefer to open
2NT with a balanced hand. You often
have a six-card suit to open a strong two
unless you are two suited, when you
might have a hand like this:
♠ A K J 5 3
♥ A Q J 10 6
♦ A 7
♣4
If you opened 1♠ and partner passed,
you might well have missed a heart fit
– and game might well make in hearts.
To make the most of opening a strong
two you should play it as forcing for
one round. If partner has a bad hand,
he might otherwise be tempted to pass;
some do play their strong twos as not
100% forcing but I believe this is flawed.
Consider holding the following hand:
♠ 4 2
♥ 9 8 5 4 3
♦ 8 6
♣ 6 5 3 2
You might be tempted to pass a 2♠
opening. Facing the two-suited hand
above, you would not miss game in
spades but you surely would make 4♥.
This is why you should keep the bidding
Page 16
open with a 2NT negative. If partner
simply repeats their suit, the pressure is
off and you can pass.
One good reason to have defensive
strength when you open a strong two is
what to do if the opponents come into
the auction. Partner opens 2♠, the next
hand bids 4♥ and you hold:
♠7
♥ Q 9 8 3
♦ K Q 5 4
♣ 7 6 5 4
I think you would want to double 4♥
and expect it to go several down facing
a normal Strong two bid. This does not
work so well if partner can hold:
♠ K Q J 10 9 6 3 2
♥Void
♦ J 8 7
♣ A 3
Now 4♠ will make unless they find a
diamond ruff while 4♥ might make or
go only one off. If partner is going to
remove your double because he has little
defence, he would have been better off
pre-empting anyway.
Summary
For an Acol Two bid you should have:
l At least 8 playing tricks
l A hand of ‘quality and power’
l A good suit
l
Some defensive strength if
the
opponents contest the auction (not a
purely pre-emptive hand).
l A hand that fears a significant risk of
playing at the one level when game is
available.
■
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ABTA No.Y2206
Dave Huggett Says
Majors
Before Minors
P
eople bid many more hands to
game in a major than in a minor.
The reason is not hard to see.
Firstly, eleven tricks are harder to make
than nine or ten, so often the best game
is elsewhere. There is also no room
for error. If you make less than eleven
tricks, you go down, while if you make
more you have missed a slam!
Take the following hand for example:
♠ A Q 7 6 4
♥ J 9
♦ K 10 5
♣ Q J 3
Playing a weak no-trump you open 1♠
but reverse the black suit holdings and
you should open 1NT and not 1♣.
Now suppose you have a balanced 15
count with four hearts and four clubs,
say, something like the following:
♠ K 6 5
♥ A K 9 7
♦ Q 9
♣ K 8 7 5
What do you open? Some say to open
1♣ but this is wrong since if partner
responds 1♦ you intend rebid 1NT
rather than bid your hearts. Surely, it
must be better to bid the major if you are
only going to bid one of the suits.
You also need to respond in a major
rather than a minor when partner has
opened and you have the choice.
♠ A J 6 5
♥ 7 6
♦ K 10 7 5
♣ 9 7 5
Let us suppose in the first instance that
break this rule.
partner opens 1♠ and you have the hand
You can see that if South bids 1♠ over
shown above. With nine losers and
1♦ North would have an easy raise to
four-card support, it seems obvious to
2♠ and they would locate an eight-card
bid 2♠, and so it is. Now imagine that
trump suit as opposed to a six-card fit!
partner opened 1♦. By reasoning similar
Even when it comes to overcalling you
to the above, you might think that a
must try getting those four-card majors
raise to 2♦ is correct but it just isn’t. If
into play. Look at this deal:
you make a raise in the minor in this
situation, whether it be to the two level
or three level you deny holding a four
♠ 7 3
card major. This also means that in the
♥ A K J 8 6
sequence 1♦– 3♦– 3♥/♠ this latter bid
♦ Q J 8
is not necessarily showing a four-card
♣ Q 7 5
suit because responder has denied one;
♠ A 10 8 5 N
♠ K Q 9 2
rather it is usually looking for a no ♥ 9 7 4 2WE
♥3
trump contract and shows values in the
♦ 9 2 S
♦ A K 10 5 3
suit bid.
♣ A J 3
♣ K 10 4
Sometimes you need to respond in a
♠ J 6 4
four-card major rather than bid a five
♥ Q 10 5
card minor as this example will show:
♦ 7 6 4
♣ 9 8 6 2
♠ K 10 7 4
♥ Q 5 3
♦ A Q J 9 6
♣7
N
WE
S
♠ A 8 3 2
♥ J 9 2
♦3
♣ K Q 9 8 5
When North opens 1♦, South should bid
1♠ and not 2♣ even though there are the
values for this latter bid. The reason is
that North might have a four-card major
but not strength enough to reverse,
which means he will have to fall back
on rebidding his minor. With a hand
minimum for a response at the two-level
responder will pass and you will be in
a silly contract (2♦). Only if responder
intends to bid at least twice should he
Page 18
West North
East
South
1♥DblPass
2♠Pass4♠End
By making a take-out double at his first
turn, East has brought all the suits into
play and not just diamonds. West has
enough to jump to 2♠ and now the easy
game is reached. In fact, with all the
cards behaving so well, declarer might
end up making twelve tricks!
Now imagine that East had simply
bid 2♦ at his first go. With the overall
strength of his partner’s hand uncertain
and no five-card suit of his own to call,
West would almost certainly pass and
an easy game would go begging. On the
other side of the coin, I recommend that
you normally overcall in a major if you
have a five-card suit, even if you have the
values for a take-out double. The partner
to the overcaller can then show support
on any three-card holding or longer.
Make sure you bid those major suits! ■
Andrew Kambites Says
Lead an
Unbid Suit
G
ood defence depends upon an
understanding of suit structure,
and a vital concept is that of a
frozen suit. The spade suit in layout A
seems very mundane but it has hidden
depths.
Layout A
♠ A 10 6 5
N
♠ J 9 3 2 WE
S
♠ Q 7 4
♠ K 8
You might find it helpful to make up
the suit from a pack of cards. Suppose
declarer has to play the suit himself. He
can never make more than two tricks.
Try it and see! Now suppose that West
decides to lead a fourth-highest two.
Dummy plays low and East has to play
the queen to prevent declarer’s eight
from winning the trick. Declarer wins
with the king and later finesses the ten
to make three tricks. You can see why
we call it a frozen suit – whichever side
starts playing it gives away a trick.
The characteristic feature of the frozen
suit is that the high honours and higher
spot cards are scattered between the
four hands. If you have a single honour
card in a suit, it is quite likely that the
suit is frozen.
Frozen suits are very common. If you
can manage to avoid opening up frozen
suits for the benefit of declarer, you will
become a good defender. Can you totally
avoid it? If the bidding has gone 1NT3NT, you might well decide to lead the
two of spades – unlucky. Now suppose
that this is the auction:
West
Pass
Pass
Auction B
North
East
South
1♣Pass 1♥
1♠Pass2NT
3NT
End
What does this auction tell you?
It tells you that dummy holds four
spades, and that declarer is balanced. If
you hold J-9-3-2, isn’t layout A just what
you might expect? Frankly, a spade lead
now is pretty awful. So what should you
lead?
Clearly, a lead from a single honour
(or even two or three honours) in a suit
that your opponents have bid carries
great danger. You may find yourself left
with only one choice, by default. There
is one suit the opponents didn’t bid –
diamonds. Our advice is this: When in
doubt, lead an unbid suit.
Hand C Hand D
♠ J 9 3 2
♠ 8 7 4
♥ Q 10 2
♥ Q 10 2
♦ 9 4
♦ A Q
♣ Q 10 6 3
♣ J 7 5 3 2
You might hold hand C after auction
B. This is most unappetising! You don’t
really want to lead anything. Therefore,
you must tackle it the other way round.
Which leads are worse? You quickly
rule out the three suits your opponents
have bid. This just leaves diamonds, the
fourth suit. Lead the nine of diamonds,
top of a doubleton. This is as passive as
you can be. You need to hope that your
small honours and good spot cards in
the suits that they have bid will trouble
declarer enough to make it hard for him
to come to nine tricks.
Suppose you have hand D after
auction B. This is something of an
exception to the rule in that a diamond
lead is most unattractive. You have the
ace and queen, almost certainly sitting
over declarer’s king so don’t give him a
cheap trick. This time leading a spade
(dummy’s suit) is relatively safe because
you lack a spade honour. There is
another maxim about leading through
Page 19
strength during the play.
Leading through strength really
means leading from weakness through
an opponents’ strength, not leading
from a broken suit.
Deal E
♠ K 5 2
♥ K 2
♦ K Q J 9 6
♣ 7 6 2
♠ J 6 3 N
♥ Q 10 8 7 5WE
♦2 S
♣ Q J 4 3
♠ A 10 9 8 7
♥ A 9 6 4
♦ 10
♣ A 9 8
♠ Q 4
♥ J 3
♦ A 8 7 5 4 3
♣ K 10 5
West North
East
South
1♠
Pass
2♦Pass 2♥
Pass
4♠End
Players always find it tempting to lead a
singleton against a suit contract. When
deal E occurred, one West found his
two of diamonds too hard to resist.
Everything that he could have wanted
happened: East had the ace and gave
West a ruff, but that was the last trick the
defenders took. Declarer could draw the
four remaining trumps in two rounds
and throw his losers on the diamonds
that West had so kindly set up for him.
The other West led his queen of clubs,
the unbid suit. The defenders made four
tricks: two clubs, the ace of diamonds
and a trump trick.
One final thought to finish with. Our
maxim applies mainly to the opening
lead! Maxims for defence are very
helpful early in the play before you
know what is going on. Later on, you
need to work out logically what is going
on. Counting overrules maxims.
■
Mike Wenble Says
Force if You Know
Where You are Going
F
orty or fifty years ago, if partner
opened the bidding, it was
common to jump on any hand
with 16 high-card points or more.
♠ A Q 10 5 3
♥ 8 4
♦ K J
♣ A K 9 8
With this, a 2♠ response to a 1♦ opening
would have been automatic.
These days, what with global warming
and everything, we have become more
circumspect about using up bidding
space in such a cavalier fashion. I doubt
that any expert today would prefer a
jump to 2♠ over a simple response of 1♠
on this hand.
The reason for the change of style
is that, when partner opens 1♦, we do
not yet know where we will end up
playing. Spades, clubs, no-trumps and
even diamonds are all possibilities at
this stage. By conserving bidding space
with a 1♠ response, we give partner the
chance to rebid 1NT, 2♣, 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠.
Any of these rebids would give us useful
information.
You should normally use a gameforcing jump shift only when you have
a clear idea of where you are heading. A
jump shift is appropriate on two main
types of hand:
1 You have strong support for partner’s
suit (and 16+ points).
2 You have a self-sufficient suit of your
own (and again 16+ points).
With these types of hand, you want to
set up a force and agree the suit (on the
next round) so that you can look for a
slam. This makes jumping a level of
bidding now a worthwhile investment.
We can clarify which of these two
types we hold on the next round of the
auction. With the first type, our rebid
will support partner’s suit; with the
second type, we repeat our own suit.
So, if we hold the hand above and
hear partner open 1♠ (rather than 1♦),
it is all but certain that we will play in
spades – the only question is at what
level. With the low doubleton in hearts,
this would not be a good hand on which
to leap straight into Blackwood. Instead,
we should force with 3♣ and show spade
support on the next round. Here is an example of the second type:
♠ K Q 3
♥ K Q J 10 6 5
♦A
♣ 8 7 2
If partner opens the bidding with 1♦,
only a jump to 2♥ does this hand justice.
You are highly likely to be playing this
hand with hearts as trumps (no-trumps
is also possible, but there is time and
space to check that).
If you responded just 1♥, and partner
rebid 2♦, you would have no rebid that
describes the hand properly. You would
have to manufacture an artificial rebid
of 2♠ to keep the auction alive. If partner
then raised your spades, all sorts of
confusion might ensue.
Knowing that responder nearly
always has one or other of these types
of hands for a force makes opener’s
life easy when it comes to choosing a
rebid. As opener, you want to keep the
bidding low so that partner can show
support for your suit or repeat his suit if
he has a single-suited hand. If you rebid
in no-trumps or reverse, this normally
shows extra values, just as it would over
a simple response. A jump in your own
Page 20
suit is rare, showing a solid suit.
Let us give opener a minimum hand:
♠ A 7
♥ A 3
♦ K 9 7 5 4
♣ Q 10 9 6
After a response of 1♥ or 1♠ to your 1♦
opening, you would rebid 2♣. The same
principle applies after a jump shift. After
a 1♦ – 2♥ start, you should simply rebid
3♣ and await developments. Having
forced, partner can rebid 3♦ if he has
hearts and diamonds or bid 3♥ with just
hearts.
If we put this hand with the second
responding hand, the auction might go
like this:
Opener
Responder
1♦2♥
3♣3♥
3♠14♦2
4♥3End
When responder shows that he has forced
with a long, strong heart suit, opener realises
that A-x is very good support. 3♠ is a cue bid,
economically showing first-round control
of spades and agreeing hearts as trumps.
Note that 3♠ cannot be a suit. As opener had
the chance to bid 2♠ over 2♥ he cannot want
to play in spades. Nor can 3♠ be fourth-suit
forcing trying for 3NT. With no spade stopper,
opener would just raise to 4♥.
2
4♦ shows first-round control of diamonds,
and by inference denies a club control. It
cannot mean diamond support. Responder
would have bid 3♦ last time with diamond
support.
3
This time opener is unable to help, having
no control in clubs, and so he signs off in
game. 4♥ is an easy make and is far better
than 5♥, which might fail on a club lead. ■
1
Julian Pottage Says
A New Suit at
the Three Level
is Forcing
I
n most constructive sequences, a
new suit at the three level is forcing,
often forcing to game. How does
having the bid as forcing help? You do
not have to guess the final contract too
early in the auction! Instead, you can
explore for it. If your side belongs in a
game or a slam, it can be vital that you
reach the right one. The fact that some
part score contracts become impossible
to stop in is a fair price to pay.
Here are some auctions that involve
introducing a new suit at the three level.
In each sequence, West’s latest bid is
forcing – East must bid again.
1 West
North
East
South
1♠Pass2♦Pass
3♣
In auction 1, 3♣ is a high reverse,
showing at least five-four in the black
suits and normally at least 15 HCP.
These values plus those that responder
has shown put you in the game zone.
Hands A and B would fit the bill: Hand C Hand D
♠ 9 3
♠2
♥ 9 8 ♥A
♦ K Q 10 8 5 ♦ A Q 8 6 4 2
♣ A K J 2 ♣ A J 8 7 3
You can see the wisdom of having 3♣ as
forcing from these hands, both of which
would fit auction 2.
On Hand C you do not want to bid
4♠ with only two spades or 3NT with
no heart stopper. 3♣ allows you to find
out more about opener’s hand. On D, a
slam is still possible if partner has club
support or secondary diamond support.
Keeping the bidding low with a forcing
3♣ leaves you room to find out.
The corollary is that you cannot bid
3♣ here on game-invitational or weaker
hands. You would have to bid 2NT, raise
2♠ to 3♠ or pass 2♠, whichever seemed
the most suitable action.
3 West
North
East
South
1♥ Pass2♥Pass
3♣
Hand A Hand B
♠ A Q 9 6 3
♠ K Q 9 6 3 2
♥ 8 5 ♥ A Q 2
♦ K 5 ♦Void
♣ A K 7 4 ♣ A J 8 3
In auction 3, 3♣ is clearly forcing
since you are not going to want to play
in clubs having bid and raised hearts.
With weaker hands than these, make
the ace of clubs the two for instance,
opener rebids 2♠, non-forcing.
Hand E Hand F
♠ 9 3
♠Void
♥ A J 9 4 2
♥ A Q 9 5 3
♦ A K ♦ A J 9
♣ K 8 6 2 ♣ K Q J 8 3
2 West
North
East
South
1♠Pass
2♦Pass2♠Pass
3♣
In auction 2, 3♣ is not a reverse but it
is still a new suit at the three level and
therefore forcing. Responder (West)
needs opening values for the bid.
Hands E and F would fit here. Hand E is
the more typical – opener is trying for
game and would like some help in clubs.
With Hand F, West sniffs a chance of a
slam if East has the right cards. With a
weaker hand than E, West would simply
pass 2♥.
Page 21
4 West
North
3♦
East
South
1♠2♥
Although 3♦ is West’s first bid, it is a
change of suit response and so forcing.
West should have roughly opening
values or better.
Hand G Hand H
♠ 7 2
♠ 7 2
♥ 10 6
♥ 9 3
♦ A K J 6 2 ♦ A K 8 6 2
♣ K Q 10 4 ♣ K 10 4 2
Hand G is fine for 3♦ in auction 4. With
the weaker hand H, you double (for
takeout) rather than bidding 3♦, a new
suit at the three level remember.
5 West
3♦
North
East
South
1♠Pass 2♠
Do you spot the difference with this
sequence? East has only passed. West
is competing, albeit at a high level,
rather than engaging in a constructive
sequence. 3♦ suggests a fair hand and
rather a good suit, yes, but there is no
reason why this sequence should be
forcing. With a very good hand, West
could double 2♠ (take-out) or maybe
make some sort of two-suited bid.
Summary
Once one member of the partnership has
bid, the bid of a new (previously unbid)
suit at the three level by the other is
normally forcing, at least for one round
and generally to game. If your values do
not justify creating a forcing situation,
you must find some other bid (at the two
level), bid a suit that one of you has bid
before or pass. ■
BERNARD MAGEE
Filmed Live at Haslemere Festival
2011
2012
1Ruffing for Extra Tricks
7Leads
This seminar deals with declarer’s use of ruffing
to generate extra tricks and then looks at how the
defenders might counteract this.
Bernard takes you through all the basic leads and the
importance of your choice of lead. If you start to think
not just about your hand, but about your partner’s too,
then you will get much better results.
2Competitive Tricks
This seminar focuses on competitive auctions from the
perspective of the overcalling side to start with and
then from the perspective of the opening side in the
second part.
3Making the Most of High Cards
This seminar helps declarer to use his high cards more
carefully and then looks at how defenders should care
for their precious high cards.
4Identifying & Bidding Slams
The first half of this seminar is about identifying when
a slam might be on – one of the hardest topics
to teach. The second half covers some of the
techniques used to bid slams.
5Play & Defence of 1NT Contracts
This seminar looks at the most common and
yet most feared of contracts: 1NT. The first half
looks at declaring the contract and the second
part puts us in the defenders’ seats.
8Losing Trick Count
A method of hand evaluation for when you find a fit.
Bernard deals with the basics of the losing trick count
then looks at advanced methods to hone your bidding.
9 Making a Plan as Declarer
Bernard explains how to make a plan then expands on
how to make the most of your long suits. The first half
deals with no-trumps, the second with suit contracts.
10Responding to 1NT
This seminar deals with Transfers and Stayman in
detail. The 1NT opening comes up frequently, so having
a good, accurate system of responses is paramount.
11 Signals & Discards
This seminar deals with Count, Attitude
and Suit-preference signals: aiming to get
you working as a partnership in defence.
12Endplays
6Doubling & Defence
against Doubled Contracts
The first half of this seminar explores penalty
doubles and the second half discusses the
defence against doubled contracts.
Bernard takes you through the basics of the
technique before showing some magical hands
where you take extra tricks from defenders. In the
second half, Bernard looks at how to avoid being
endplayed as a defender.
DVDs
DVDs
Each £25. Boxed Set of 6 £100
Each £25. Boxed Set of 6 £100
Make your cheque payable to Mr Bridge and send to: Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Knaphill, Surrey GU21 2TH
( 01483 489961
www.mrbridge.co.uk/mrbridge-shop
Fax 01483 797302
‘Better Bridge with Bernard’ DVDs
reviewed by June Booty
T
First published in the October 2011 issue of English Bridge and reprinted by kind permission of the EBU.
his is a collection of six DVDs,
each one of a series of lectures
which were given by Bernard
Magee as part of the 2011 Haslemere
Festival, totalling eight and a half
hours in all. There are three playing
topics: Ruffing for Extra Tricks, Making
the Most of High Cards, and Play and
Defence of 1NT Contracts; and three
mainly bidding topics: Competitive
Auc­tions, Finding and Bidding Slams,
and Doubling and Defence against
Doubled Contracts. Because the lectures were filmed live there is audience
partici­pation. Often Magee asks the
audience what they think something
means and it is difficult to hear what
they are saying, but he sum­marises
their answers so it is easy to follow.
Often a member of the audience will
ask a question and the camera zooms
in on them. This interaction adds to
the interest of the DVDs. Magee treats
all of the audience comments with
respect, even when he doesn’t agree
with them, and gives comprehensive
answers.
Throughout all of the lectures
Bernard Magee is very knowledgeable
and enthu­
siastic about his subject.
His points are made in a clear and
structured way with plenty of examples
to illustrate his argu­ment. Initially his
arm movements are a little distracting,
as well as his repeated question to his
audience: ‘Can you see what I mean?’,
but the listener soon learns to ignore
these, and the animated enthusiasm
of body and voice helps to enhance
the enjoyment. Magee stands to one
side of a large projection screen upon
which he shows slides to illustrate his
points. These are very clear and help
the viewer to follow the points in the
lecture. It is very easy to follow a deal
that is being played in this way.
The Competitive Auctions DVD
deals with many aspects of competitive
auctions such as Unassuming Cuebids, Negative Doubles, and when to
compete and when to double.
One example deal used is:
Love All. Dealer West.
♠ J 9 5 3 2
♥ 7 4 2
♦ A K
♣ K Q 4
♠ A 6
♠ K 8 4
♥ A K Q 9 N
♥ J 10 8 5
WE
♦ J 9 4 S
♦ Q 10 5 3
♣ J 9 5 3
♣ 7 2
♠ Q 10 7
♥ 6 3
♦ 8 7 6 2
♣ A 10 8 6
West North
East
South
1♥1♠2♥2♠1
All Pass
Pass2Pass 3♥3
1 This is an example of raising to the level of
the fit, i.e. North has five or more spades
for his overcall and South has three
spades. This makes a total of eight spades
so South bids to make eight tricks.
2 West cannot guarantee that East has four
hearts as partner will often raise with
three-card support in these situations,
and the partnership cannot have enough
points for game, so he will pass and leave
the decision to partner.
3East knows his side has at least eight
hearts, and that the opposition have at
least eight spades, so is not prepared to
let the opponents play at the two level.
2♥ will make +110 for East-West,
which is the best positive score they
can make, but if North-South bid 2♠ it
will make for minus 110 for East-West.
Once North-South have found this
good score, East-West can sacrifice
in 3♥ which is then only minus 50
for them (minus 100 if the opponents
double); this is a better result for EastWest, especially at pairs. This rather
difficult topic is explained very clearly
step-by-step.
Finding and Bidding Slams covers
many useful conventions. It starts by
explaining when to look for a slam and
then explains Quantitative Bidding,
Page 23
Key-card Blackwood, Cue-bidding
and Splinter Bids.
Doubling and Defence Against
Doubled Contracts starts by explaining
what a penalty double means and
when a double is penalty and when it
is for take-out. It goes on to explain
when not to double.
The subjects covered are suitable for
all standards of players with at least
six months of playing experience, although the Ruffing for Extra Tricks
DVD starts very simply and addresses
popular basic playing errors. It addresses concepts such as ruffing in the
short hand rather than the long hand
and setting up a long suit, and goes on
to demonstrate strategies that defenders can employ to stop this. Most of the
other DVDs would require a little more
experience to get the most out of them
and would be suitable for players of all
levels up to average club standard.
Each DVD is in two parts and at the
beginning of each one Magee describes
what is going to be discussed. He goes
on to talk about these topics and also
about related subjects that fit in with
those being covered. It is not obvious
in which order they should be viewed
as on the back of each individual DVD
they are listed in one order while
on the back of the pack of six they
are listed in a different order. In the
Doubling and Defence of 1NT Contracts
Magee says, ‘We did cover this in Com­
petitive Bidding,’ so this would suggest
the order on the back of the DVDs is
correct, rather than on the box.
Bernard Magee’s bidding system
and concepts are extremely good, and
while I did not agree with absolutely
every point he made, everything he
says has merit and builds up to an
excellent thinking strategy.
The DVDs cost £25 each or a boxed
set of all six for £100, post free. Each
DVD lasts just over an hour (the first
few minutes of which have a preamble
showing where the lectures took
place), and is a high-quality and well
presented product.■
Minerva
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