SABF NEWSApril 2019

Published by the SA Bridge Federationhttp://www.sabridgefederation.com.au

Email: sabf-news@huiac.com

You know you something special is going to happen when this type of result comes your way.

♠K943 ♥952 ♦109753 ♣Q♠void ♠J1062♥AKQJ73 ♥void♦AK2 ♦QJ854♣J853 ♣K942 ♠AQ875 ♥10864 ♦void ♣A1076

Thishandturnedupneartheendofthesecondsessionofthefinal,anditgeneratedsomereallywildresults.IfNorthledthe♣Qagainst4♥,North-Souththenembarkedonacross-ruffoftheminorsuits,holdingdeclarertohissixhearttricks!Onepairmanagedtodefend6♥X(aLightnerdouble,indicatingadesiretoruffNorth’slongsuit),andscored+1700.Othersscoredthemore‘typical’+400withthecross-ruff.ThereseDemarcoandStephenFischerbidto5♥afterSouthandNorthhadbidandraisedspades.Onaspadelead,Fischerruffed,drewtrumps,andgarneredaclubtrick(smalltowardstheKing,makingtheJackintoawinner),tocollecthis11tricks.Thespadeleadledtoasixtrickdifference,asopposedtoaminorsuitlead!Thishand,togetherwithtwoothergoodboardsonthisround,shotthemintotheleadwithonesessionremaining.Theyheldthingstogetherduringthefinalsession,withresultslike the following:

GOLD COAST GOLD

DealerNorth ♠106EWVul ♥QJ108653 ♦2 ♣KJ6♠AQJ53 ♠K74♥void ♥AK97♦KQ1087 ♦A86♣1032 ♣A94 ♠982 ♥42 ♦J543 ♣Q875

TheAutumnNationalChampionshipswillbeheldatWayvilleShowgroundsfromThursday2ndMaytoMonday6thMay.Don’tforgettoenter!Iamalsotryingtoencouragenewerplayerstoparticpate.Tothisend,Iamofferingrookieplayers(withfewerthan25MPseach)fromeachaffiliatedSABFclubfreeentrytotheConsolationPairswhichisbeingheldonMonday6thMay.(Thisofferonlyappliestothefirstyearyouplay.)Ifyouareasingleplayerwhoisinterested,pleasecontactmeandIwillhelpfindyou a partner.Iamalsoappealingforhelpfromanyactiveplayersortheirfriendsorchildrenorgrandchildrenorneighbourstoactasacaddyforoneormorehalf-daysessionsattheevent.Ifyouareinterested,pleasesendmeanemailat:ANOT_Organiser@gmail.com.Jinny Fuss,Organiser (on behalf of the SABF) See advertisement on the back page.

StephenFischer(ACT)withSouthAustralia’sThereseDemarco,winnersoftheGoldCoastPairs

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:2

Whilsthalfthefieldplayedin3NT,failingonaclublead,DemarcoandFischerstoppedin2♠afterFischer(West)opened2♠(often5cardsuit)andDemarcowiselypassed.Carefulplayledto10tricks,anda92%score.Justplayinginapart-score(1NT,2♥or2♠)ledtoatleasta62%score!TheGoldCoastPairsfinalsarescoredbarometer-style.Thismeansthatyouseetheresultsround-by-round.Goingintothelastround,DemarcoandFischerstillledthefield,butonlyby11matchpointsfromafast-finishingSophieAshtonandSartajHans.Bothpairsweresittinginthesamedirectionforthelastthreeboards,buttheirscoresmatched,thusthegoldmedalwenttothishoneymoonpartnership.I’mconfidentthatthisresultmadeseveral“States”veryhappy.ThereseDemarcoandStephenFischerwouldhavemeteachotherwhenlivinginDarwin,andtheNorthernTerritorydoesnotgettoseemanynationaltitlesheadthatway!StephenFischerisnowresidentinCanberra.ThereseDemarcolivesinAdelaideandhasrecentlytakenupdirectingandtutoringattheSABridgeAssociation,wheresheisprovingverypopularinbothroles.[Ed: Therese describes her win as ‘incredible and unbelievable’. Well done. I know winning the Gold Coast Pairs isn’t easy and, having won, one is on a real high!]

Barbara Travis

West North East South 3♥ 3NT Pass4♥(1) Pass 4♠ Pass5♦(2) Pass 5♥(3) Pass6♦ Pass 6NT AllPass

Afterthe3♥openingbid,itwasextremelychallengingtobidtothegrandslam–whichonlyonepairmanaged.However,DemarcoandFischerdidverywellatcounteractingthepre-emptivebarrage.Fischertransferredtospadesthenbidhisdiamondsuitnaturally.Demarcoappreciatedthatherallhonourswereextremelygoodforslam(withthe♥A-Kand♣Adealingwiththeoutsidelosers),sobid5♥toencouragepartnerinhisefforts.OnceFischerhadconfirmedhis5-5shape,Demarcocorrectedto6NT,thehighestscoringsmallslamandawisechoiceatpairs.Thosein6♠scored54%,whereas6NTscored85%ofthematchpoints.Typicalresultsreflectedasoundunderstandingoftheneedtogeta‘plus’scoreatPairs.Manypairspushedtoohardonthishand,probablywithEastupgradingtheir14HCPhandtoa1NTopeningbid. ♠962 ♥Q62 ♦A432 ♣K87♠AJ1053 ♠74♥A98 ♥KJ43♦98 ♦KQJ65♣964 ♣A2 ♠KQ8 ♥1075 ♦107 ♣QJ1053

WinnersoftheGoldCoastSeniors’Teams:(lefttoright)NeilEwart-DavidSmith(Victoria),ZollyNagy-DavidMiddleton(SA)

ASouthAustraliancontingentattheGoldCoastCongress’TriviaNight

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:3

OPEN PAIRSFINAL1st Therese Demarco -StephenFischer

4th Phil Gue-BillHirst(fromUK)6th Justin Williams-NathanvanJolealso: Judy Hocking - Kevin Lange

FINAL B (Plate)3rd Joe Haffer -MarshallLewis(fromUSA)

SENIORS PAIRSFINAL B (Plate)1st Peter Chan-BobSebesfi

INTERMEDIATE PAIRSFINALWelldonetoJanet Munro - Milton Hart for qualifying

RESTRICTED PAIRSFINAL8th Joanne Bakas - Tassi Georgiadis

WEEKEND MATCHPOINT SWISS PAIRS (Open)12th Felicity Gunner - Prudie Wagner19th Carolyn & Brian Leach20th Dianne Marler -JaneDavies(fromUK)

MONDAY BUTLER SWISS PAIRS (Open)EAST-WEST:7th Ian Hilditch - John Zollo12th Felicity Gunner - Prudie Wagner

OPEN TEAMS=5th DavidBeauchamp-JodiTutty, Justin Williams-NathanVanJole

SENIORS’ TEAMS1st Zolly Nagy - David Middleton, NeilEwart-DavidSmith

INTERMEDIATE TEAMS16th Joanne Bakas - Tassi Georgiadis, Corinne Blanchard - Bill Bradshaw

RESTRICTED TEAMS11th Helen McBride - Sally Macdonald, Wardie Adamson - Sully Detmold

CongratulationstoPhilGueandhispartner,NigelRosendorff(fromSydney)whowontheRogerPennySeniorSwissPairsattheTasmanianFestivalofBridge(28thto31stMarch).GeorgeSmolanko,togetherwithGeorgeKozakos(fromSydney)finished6thinthesameevent.IntheRestrictedPairs,MargaretandHerbNeumeisterwereoneoftheleadingtwopairsuntiltheysufferedabiglossinthelastmatchtothepairwhowon.MargaretandHerb(fromGawlerBC)finishedaveryrespectable4th,andRitaandRayJones(fromKadinabutaffiliatedwithGawlerBC)alsodidthemselvesproud,finishingin9thplace.Inthefinallead-upevent,theIslandMatchpointedSwissPairs,ThereseDemarcoandLoriSmithcame5th.ThemaineventistheTBIBAustralianSwissPairs,heldovertheweekend.ThewinnerswereDavidBeauchampandJodiTutty,practisingfortheirstintintheAustralianMixedTeam.OurSouthAustraliansdidnotplace,withThereseDemarcoandLoriSmithfinishing13thandPhilGuewithNigelRosendorfffinishing21st.

OPENING LEAD TIP Whenresponderpassesopenerinopener’ssecond-bidsuit(e.g.1S–1NT–2H–Pass),youshouldleadtrumps.Thisauctionsuggeststhatresponderisveryshortinopener’sfirst-bidsuit,thereforeyouleadtrumpstolimitdeclarer’sabilitytotrumpindummy.

GOLD COAST RESULTS TASMANIAN FESTIVAL OF BRIDGE

PhilGue-whowontheRogerPennySeniorSwissPairsinTasmania.

BRIDGEYousitroundatable,yourcardsinyourhands.It’sonlyacardgamebutmakessuchdemands.EnoughpointstoopenorshouldIjustpass?

Orperhapstryapre-empt-thatwouldcutquiteadash!I’mnotthedealer-openerbidsfirst.

TheyopenoneheartandIfeartheworst.Nowadoublefrompartner-fortakeoutthat’sclear.Thingslookalotbrighter-fourspadescouldbenear.

TheypushustofiveandleadouttwoacesButItrumpthesecond-thelookontheirfaces!Drawingtrumpsisnoproblem,thesplitisn’tbadAndalongsuitindummy-moretrickstobehad.Igetridofmylosers-theyshouldhaveledclubs.It’satop,notabottom,sowe’reofftothepub!

Anon

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:4

ABF’S DAILY BRIDGE COLUMNOn 1st March, the aBF intrOduced an innOvative cOncept - a daily Bridge cOluMn. it is suBscriptiOn-Based, cOsting $52 per annuM, Or a Mere $1 per week, FOr a Bridge cOluMn that yOu receive By eMail each day. there are seven cOntriButing jOurnalists, writing articles aiMed at the everyday Bridge player, FOr learning and educatiOn purpOses.

the FOllOwing is a saMple OF what yOu get, this Being the First cOntriButiOn FrOM Mike lawrence, a wOrld-renOwOned Bridge authOr and teacher FrOM aMerica.

iF yOu enjOy this article, yOu shOuld cOnsider suBscriBing. the daily cOluMn requires suppOrt FOr its OngOing success.

GUESSING EVERYONE’S SHAPE BEFORE THE OPENING LEAD IS MADEBy Mike Lawrence

Everyonehasoneofthosespecialmomentswhenyouseesomethingthatmightnotnormallybespotted.Afewweeksago,Iwasteachingagroupofplayersatmyhouseandthishandcameup.IsatSouth.WestDealer:NilVulnerableWest North East South1♦ Pass 2♦ PassAllPass East’s2♦raiseshows6-9supportpoints.

Thiswasmyhand:♠J94♥Q103♦J97♣KJ42

Atthetable,beforemypartnermadeheropeninglead,Inoticedsomethingveryrare.Withoutseeingtheleadorthedummy,itwaspossibletostatewhateveryone’sdistributionwas.Thisisnotatrickquestion.Allthefactsyouneedareinplace.Herearesomeimportantquestionsyouneedtothinkof.Howmanypointsdoesyourpartnerhave?Whydidyourpartnernotovercallorbalance?Ifyouaregoingtotrytoworkthisout,youshouldstopnowanddoit.Ifyouwanttheanswer,continuereading.Firstly,openerdidnotbidagainsoopenerratestohaveaminimumhand.YourRHOonlyraisedto2♦.Hewon’thavemucheither.Thismeansthattheycanhavefrom18to23points.Youhave8points.Ifyouropponentshave18,yourpartnerhas14.Notlikely.Theymusthavealittlemorethanminimumvalues.Ifyouropponentshave23,yourpartnerhas9points.With9pointsormore,yourpartnerwouldtrytobalanceifshecould.Itisverypooringeneraltoheartheopponentsbidasuitandraisethatsuitandthenallowthemtoplayitthere.Theyhaveafitandlettingthemplayinoneofthesecontractsisusuallybad.Whydidpartner,whonormallyisaggressiveatbalancing,notbalancethistime?

Thelogicalansweristhatherdistributionisbad.Shemighthavethreediamonds.Ifyourpartnerhasthreediamonds,itmeansthattheyhaveseven.Almostsurely,Eastwillhavefourofthemfortheraise,andthatmeansopenerhasthree.Whatshapemightopenerhaveifshehasthreediamonds?Openercanhaveonlyoneshapewiththreediamondsthatopens1♦instandardbidding.Openerhas4-4-3-2distribution.Ifmypartnerhasthreediamonds,shewouldleantowardbiddingafourcardmajorifshecould.Shewouldberootingformetohaveoneortwodiamondsandhopefully,somesupportforhermajor.Butmypartnerdidnotbid.Itsoundslikeshehasnofourcardmajor.Thatleavesherwith3-3-3-4distribution.Iknowshehasthreecardsineachmajorbecauseifshehadtwo,theopponentswouldhaveaneightcardfitandtheywouldhavebidit.AllofthisleavesyourRHOwiththreespades,threehearts,fourdiamonds,andthreeclubs.Hereistheactualhand.

♠K82 ♥J76 ♦832 ♣AQ95♠AQ106 ♠753♥A842 ♥K95♦K64 ♦AQ105♣108 ♣763 ♠J94 ♥Q103 ♦J97 ♣KJ42

Thebiddingmaylookjustalittleodd.ManyplayersholdingtheEasthandwouldbid1NT.Actually,IlikeEast’sraise.Itallowsopenertobidnotrumpiftheywant,andthatsurelywillbebetterthanhavingEastbidnotrump.HisthreelittlecardsinspadesandclubssuggestthatnotrumpfromEast’ssideofthetableisnotagoodidea.Onthishand,the2♦raisedidnotworkwell.Butitwaswellthoughtoutandonanyhandwhereopenerisabouttolookforgame,givingopenerthechancetoplaythehandisagoodthought.Incidentally,ifWesthasahandwithdiamondsandsomeshape,East’s2♦bidwillhelpWestjudgewhentoplayinadiamondcontract.Anice,unselfishbidbyEast.

RETURNING THE SUIT PARTNER LEDThecardyoureturninpartner’s‘openinglead’suitshouldhelpyourpartnerknowhowmanycardsyouholdinthatsuit:With4+cards,youreturnyouroriginalfourthhighestcard;With3cards,youreturnyourhigherremainingcard(youhaveadoubletonleft);With2cards,youreturnyouronlyremainingcard.Ifyoufollowthisformula,yourpartnerwillusuallybeabletodeterminehowmanycardsyoustartedwith,andthentheycandeterminedeclarer’sholdinginthesuit.

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:5

BRIDGE AT BEAUMONT PRESENTS

CHRISTMAS IN WINTERBRIDGE CONGRESS

AT MT OSMOND GOLF CLUB

60 Mt Osmond Rd, Mt Osmond

ON

SUNDAY 23rd JUNE 20192-session Graded Matchpoint Pairs with a

two-course Christmas lunch & Red MP awards

Start time: 9.30amFinish: approx. 5.15pm

COST$50 per person ($100 per pair)

includes the two-course Christmas lunch

DIRECTORBarbara Travis

barbara.travis@hotmail.com0437 919 928

Filling fast! Don’t leave entering for too long.Entries are not complete until fully paid.

BRIDGE BY “NUMBERS”There are a number of helpful rules (some humorous) to help us with our bidding, play and defence. I recently found a few different sets of these rules, many thatI had never heard of. Here are some examples:

RULE OF 2 (play)Witha‘doubletenace’,suchasAQ10orKJ10,itisusuallybesttofinessetowardsthelowerhonourfirst.

RULE OF 4 and 4 (bidding)Itisnormallybettertoplayina4-4fitthana5-3or6-3fit(assumingbothfitsareofthesamerank).Thisisbecauseyoucanusethelonger(unequal)sidesuitfordiscardinglosers.This rule can affect the auction. Ifyouholdgamevaluessuchas♠KQ2♥AQ64♦A765♣43,andpartneropens1♠,youshouldrespond2♦first.Ifyourpartnerrebids2♥,youwillplayin4♥(the4-4fit)ratherthan4♠(the5-3fit).Ifyourpartnerrebidssomethingelse,youreverttothespadegame.

RULE OF 10 (doubling a part-score)Whencontemplatingapenaltydoubleofasuitcontractbelowgame,addyourexpectedtrumptrickstothenumberoftrickstheopponentsaretryingtowin.Iftheansweris10ormore,youhavetherightnumberoftrumptricks,sodoublingisOK(thoughitwon’talwayswork!).

RULE OF 15 (opening in 4th seat)Indecidingwhethertoopenthebiddinginthe4thseat,theplayershouldaddtogethertheirHCPsandthenumberofcardsheldinspades.Iftheanswerif15ormore,thenyoushouldopenthehand.

RULE OF 15 (takeout double)Ifyouarethinkingaboutmakingatakeoutdouble,countyourHCP,thenadd6foravoid,4forasingletonor2foradoubletonintheopponent’ssuit.Ifyourtotalis15orgreater,thenyoucanconsiderdoubling.

RULE OF 16 (raising 1NT)Ifyouareconsideringraisinga1NTopeningbidto3NT,countyourHCPsandthenumberofcardsinyourhandthatare8sorhigher.Ifthesumofthetwoisgreaterthan16,raiseto3NT.Thisavoidstheneedfortheuseof2NTasaninvitationalbid,freeingupthe2NTbidfor‘better’uses.

RULE OF BOSTON (opening leads)Thisisanacronym,commonlyusedintheUSA,whichstandsfor“BottomofSomething,TopofNothing”.

QUEEN-FINDING RULEIfyouhaveatwo-wayfinesseforaQueen,finessetheopponentyoulikeleast…orifyoudislikethembothequally,playforthedrop!

RULE OF 160Iftheagesofyouropponentsaddupto160(ormore)…don’tunderestimatetheirability!!

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:6

WHAT DOES A 4NT BID MEAN TO YOU? by Jon Hunt

Howmanyusesdoesyourpartnershipputtothebidof4NT?Formanypairstheanswerisprobablyonlyoneortwo;mostoftenwherethebidisusedtoaskpartnerabouttheirKeycards(orAces)or,lessfrequently,asaninvitationtobidaslaminno-trumpsifpartnerisamaximumfortheirbiddingsofar(eg1NT-4NT).Somepartnershipswillhaveameaningforanopeningbidof4NT.Ipreferthistoshowaweak(veryweak?)two-suitedhandintheminorsuits,intendedasawhollypre-emptiveaction.Theaim,ofcourse,beingtomaketheopponentsguess;perhapsgettingthemtoanon-makingcontract,orrestrictingtheirabilitytobidamakingslamorsimplyfindingaprofitablesacrificeagainstwhatevertheircontractmightbe.Makingtheoppositionguessisthebestpartofpre-emptivebidding!Sometimes,however,theshoeisontheotherfootwiththeopponentspre-emptingandthen4NTcanbeusedtotrytofindafitatahigh-level.Forexample,ifyourright-handopponentopens4S,whatdoesabidof4NTshow?ThisratherdependsonhowyouplayabidofDoubleover4S.IfyouplayXtobetakeout,then4NTinsteadwouldshowatwo-suitedhand(5-5orbetter).Somepairsmightagreethistobesimplyfortheminorswhileothersmightchoosetoplayitasany2suits.Yourresponsetothisbidwouldassumeinitiallythatpartnerholdstheminorsuits.If,ontheotherhand,likemanypartnerships,yourdoubleof4Sispenalties(orperhaps,justshowingvalues),then4NTcouldbeusedtoshowatwo-suitedorthree-suitedhand.Whataboutifweopenthebiddingandtheopponentssubsequentlypre-emptsay,bidding4Soveryourpartner’s1Hopening.Double,inmanypartnerships,wouldbeforpenalties(or,moregenerallyusedtoshowvalues).Whatwouldbethebestuseof4NTinthatauction?Therearetwopossibilities.Eitherretain4NTasKeycardinsupportofHeartsorperhapsuseittoindicateatwosuitedhandintheminors,such as ♠3♥Q♦AJ1092♣KJ9753

However,youcanonlyassignoneoftheseasthemeaningsforthebid,andyoumustdecidewithyourpartnerwhichislikelytobemostusefulinthelongrun.Theconceptofusing4NTtoindicatethepossibilityofplayinginasuitnotpreviouslymentioned(ratherthanasKeycardBlackwood)isonethatdoescropupfromtimetotime.Here’sahandfromtherecentSASenior’sTrials. North ♠J6 ♥void ♦AK109543 ♣Q952

South ♠Q875 ♥Q2 ♦Q8 ♣AKJ86

DavidParrott,North,openedwith1♦.Eastbid4♥,IdoubledwiththeSouthhandandDavidrebid4NT.Mydoubledoesn’tguarantee4spades,sothere’snomajoragreed.Wehadnotdiscussedthistypeofsequence,butitdidn’tmakesenseforthistobeanysortofKeycardask.Indeed,Davidintendedhisbidtoshowlongdiamondsandsupportforclubs.Fortunately,wewereonthesamewavelengthso5♣wasaneasycallandtheplayjustascomfortable.Whataboutthishand?North♠8♥Q♦AK96432♣A642

Youopen1♦,thenexthandbids4♥andpartnermakesanegativedouble,passedbacktoyou.Whatlevelofcontractfeelsrighttoyou?Five,sixorsomewhereinbetween?Partnerwouldprobablystretchtodoublewithanyreasonable4or5-cardspadesuitandareasonable(8)9+HCP.Inthatcase5♦wouldbebestor,asintheprevioushand,youcould4NTtoindicatetheclubsuittogetherwithyourlongdiamonds.Inthe2007BermudaBowl,thatauction,1♦ 4♥ Double Passwasfoundat11ofthe22tables.AtallbutoneofthosetablesNorth,whilesurelytempted,restrainedthemselvestoonlyrebid5♦(onlyoneoptimisticNorthbid6♦)andthatendedtheauction.AsyoucanseeSouth’spassover5♦isquitereasonable,andyet6♦isagoodcontract.

North South♠8 ♠AQ63♥Q ♥95♦AK96432 ♦J105♣A642 ♣KQ98

Ifyouhadasinkingfeelingthat5♦wasjustabitofanunderbid(butthat6♦wasanoverbid)isthereasequencethatmightjustgetyoutotheslam?Whataboutthisauction:

North East South West 1♦ 4♥ Double Pass4NT(1) Pass 5♣(2) Pass5♦(3) Pass 6♦ AllPass

(1)Suggestingalongdiamondsuitwith4-cadclubsuit: choice of contract(2)Agreeingclubs(3)Nowinvitingslamindiamonds

Ormaybeit’salljustabitoffantasyonmypart?[Ed: This is a great use for the 4NT bid - showing both the suits, then suggesting the slam, plus an even-longer diamond suit.]

Jon Hunt

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:7

GRAND BIDDING by Barbara Travis

♠AKQ1083♥AQ32♦2♣AK

Youhappilyopenthishandwith2♣,theauctionprogressing:

You Partner2♣ 2♦(1)2♠(2) 3♠(3)4NT(4) 5♣(5)5NT(6) ?

(1)Weakorwaiting(2)Gameforcingwithspades(3)Strongerthan4♠(4)RomanKeyCardBlackwood(5)1keycard,i.e.♦A(6)Howdoyourespondto5NT?

Youreallywanttoknowwhetherpartnerholdsthe♥K,notthe♦K.Iftheyholdthe♥Kyouwanttoplayin7♠butiftheyholdthe♦K,youwanttoplayin6♠,andeventhatcontractmayhingeontheheartfinesse.

Yourresponsesto5NTshouldnotbe‘numeric’,astheywereinthedaysofstraightBlackwood.Yourresponsesshouldshowspecifickings.Inotherwords,yourebid6-trumpsuitwithnokings,andbidthekingthatyouhold.Thoseplaying‘numer-ic’responsesfaceda6♦bid,leavingthegrandslamopentoguesswork.OnedeclarerheardtheirRHOdouble6♦,drawingtheconclusionthatpartnerheldthe♥Kandbiddingthegrandslam.However,thoseplayingspecifickingresponseshearda6♥bid,denyingthe♦Kbutshowingthe♥K.Nowthegrandslamwasabletobebidconfidently:

♠AKQ1083 ♠J96♥AQ32 ♥K4♦2 ♦A876♣AK ♣Q983

43pairsoutof112pairsintheSouth-WestPacificTeamsbidto7♠,soclearlymanypeoplehadgoodtoolsattheirdisposal.

Thishandwasalittledifferent:

♠AK8♥Q♦A72♣1076543

You Partner 1♣3♥(1) 4♣(2)4♦(3) 4♥(3)4♠(3) 4NT(4)5♠(5) 5NT(6)?

(1)Asplinterbid,showingclubsupport,asingletonorvoidinhearts,and10-13HCP.Giventhat1♣canshowa3-cardsuit,thesplinterguaranteesatleast5clubs.(2)Settingclubs,andshowingslaminterest(5♣wouldbe‘fastarrival’),askingforcuebids(3)1stor2ndroundcontrolinthebidsuit(4)RomanKeyCardBlackwood

(5)2keycards+the♣Q–orinthisinstance,showinganex-traclub,meaningthe♣Qisunnecessary.Whenpartnerholdsthe♣Q,asshedid,sheknowsthatyouhave6+clubs.(6)Showingallthekeycardsandinterestinthegrandslam.

Alittlethoughtrevealsthatanykingresponsetakesyouabove6♣,soonlyonekingmustbeneededforthegrandslam.Consequently,youshouldbid7♣,althougha6♠responsewillleadtothesameoutcome.

Thetwohands:

♠AK8 ♠10♥Q ♥AKJ3♦A72 ♦K93♣1076543 ♣AKQ92

Ifyouthinkthatgrandslamsnevercomeup,boththesegrandslamsoccurredduringtheSouth-WestPacificTeamsinCanberrainJanuary.

Belowisatablewiththerecommendedresponsesto5NT,showingallthekeycards:

Response Meaning7-trumpsuit Showsalongsolidsuit(5+cards)thatisa

sourceoftricks(KQJ10x)orsignificantextratrumps

6-trumpsuit 0outsidekings6-newsuit KingofTHATsuit(ie6♣shows♣K)

Withall3oftheoutsidekingsyoushouldalsobid7-trumpsuit

Barbara Travis

PUZZLE CORNER: Place the AcePlacesAces(letterA)inthegridsothateveryrow,column

andoutlineshapecontainsexactlytwoAces.

CellscontainingAcesmaynottouch,notevendiagonally.

(Solution can be found on page 13 – if you get stuck.)

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:8

The Camrose Trophy is the English equivalent of our Open Interstate Teams, being a battle between Open Teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland, plus a ‘host’ team (to remove the bye).[It is interesting that Great Britain has now removed the bye, whereas the ABF has reinstated the bye!]

Lookatthefollowinghandfromthe2019CamroseTrophy,playedinMarch: ♠KJ8432 ♥A8 ♦2 ♣10852♠A765 ♠void♥109 ♥754♦AQ109865 ♦KJ743♣void ♣K7643 ♠Q109 ♥KQJ632 ♦void ♣AQJ9

Therewerethreematches,sothehandwasplayedsixtimes.Hereiswhathappened:

ENGLAND v. ENGLISH BRIDGE UNION (‘host’ team)

Table 1West North East SouthEBU England EBU England 2♦(multi) Pass 2NT(enquiry)3♦ 3♥(max♠) 4♣ 4♦(cuebid)Pass 4♠ 5♦ 6♥(good♥s)Pass 6♠ Pass PassDouble AllPass

Eastledthe♦3,making12tricks.England+1210.

Table 2West North East SouthEngland EBU England EBU 2♠ Pass 4♠5♦ Double 6♦ 6♠Double AllPass

Eastledthe♣3,down1.England+100.(He held too many diamonds to lead a diamond!).England+16IMPs,thoughtheylostthematch.

WALES v. SCOTLAND

Table 1West North East SouthScotland Wales Scotland Wales 3♠ Pass 4♠AllPass

Eastledthe♦4,making12tricks.Wales+480.

Table 2West North East SouthWales Scotland Wales Scotland 3♠ Pass 4NT(!)Pass 5♥(2key) Pass 6♠Double Pass Pass RedoubleAllPass

Eastledthe♦3,making12tricks.Scotland+1620.Scotland+15IMPs.

NORTHERN IRELAND v IRELANDUnfortunately,therearenorecordsofthebiddingforthismatch,althoughIhavetheresults:

Table 1NorthernIrelandbidto6♦X.Northledthe♥Abutmusthaveswitchedattrick2.Westnowusedhisentriestodummytoestablishthefifthclub,discardinghisheartloser.6♦X,making12tricks.NorthernIreland+1540.

Table 2Irelandbidto6♦X.Northledthe♥Aandcontinuedwithanotherheart.6♦X,down1.NorthernIreland+200.NorthernIreland+17IMPs.

Whenpeopleaskabouthigh-levelbiddingandsacrifices,Itendtosaythatit’sachallengingarea.Thesesixwildlydifferentoutcomesreflectthateventhetopplayersinacountrycanfindthesedecisionsjustaschallenging.6♦isobviouslyanexcellentsaveagainst5♠,buttwotablesneverevenbidasEast-West.Clearlythe3♠openingbidhadafarmorepre-emptiveimpactthanthe2♦(multi)or2♠openingbid,thoughIwouldhavethoughtthatWestshouldbebidding5♦onhisshapelyhand,especiallywhenEastseemstobeshortinspadesontheauction.6♠isafinecontract,thoughtheScottishauctionisunconvincing.TheuseofRKCBwithavoiddidnotassistSouthwithhisslamdecision;giveNorththe♦Aandit’sadreadfulcontract.However,Easthadtofindaclubleadtodefeatthecontract–aviableleadifWesthadcomeinwithdiamonds,butaguessotherwise.Ofcourse,6♠bySouthiscold!(Nowadays,thoseusingmulti2♦dotrytomakethestronghandthedeclarer,whichshouldhavebeenthecaseintheEnglandauction.)

HIGH LEVEL DECISIONS

COVERING AN HONOUR WITH AN HONOURThereasonyoushouldcoveranhonourwithanhonouristotrytopromoteatrickforyourpartnership.So,ifyoucanseeasequenceofhonoursindummy,eg.Q-J-10-9,clearlyplayingyourKingontheQueenisNOTgoingtopromoteatrickforyourside,soyoushouldplayalowcard.Thetimewhenyoushouldcoveranhonourwithanhonouriswhenthelasthonourisledfromdummy(ifthereisasequence).Bydoingthat,youarehelpingtopromoteyourpair’scards.Ifdummyhasalonehonour,thenyoushouldcoverthathonourwhenitisled,unlessyouhaveextralengthinthesuit(meaningthatyourhonourcannotbefinessedaway).

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HOW TO LOSE 5 IMPsThis article, written by Christine Duckworth, is reproduced from MetroNews (UK), Spring 2018 (editor Christine Duckworth)

YouareplayinginaMixedTeamseventwhenyoupickupabalancedbutchunky19count,nilvulnerable.LHOpassesand,toyoursurprise,partneropens1♦.Youbidaquiet1♥andpartnersurprisesyoufurtherbyrebidding2NT.Sincethisshows18-19HCP,youhavenodifficultyinpullingtheremainingcardsoutofthebiddingboxandsaying7NT.Thesearethetwohands:

♠AH3 ♠VB♥AHV7 ♥53♦109 ♦AHVB5♣H1073 ♣AB52

No,thosearen’ttypos.IomittedtotellyouthatyouareplayingintheNetherlands.HsareHeren(Kings),VsareVrauen(Queens)andBsareBoeren(Jacks).Hereisthewholehand,translatedintoEnglish:

♠AK3 ♥AKQ7 ♦109 ♣K1073♠9872 ♠10654♥862 ♥J1094♦82 ♦7643♣Q986 ♣4 ♠QJ ♥53 ♦AKQJ5 ♣AJ52

Youclaimyour13tricksandmoveontothenextdeal,assumingthisisaflatboard–afterall,itwasn’texactlydifficulttobidthegrand.

Butno…Yourteam-mates,whoareDutch,areplayingthiscuteconventionwhereby2♥and2♠openingbidsshow0-7HCPandatleast4cardsinthebidMajor.Sometimesthisleadstosomegreatresults,butitisdefinitelyatwo-edgedweapon.Onthisoccasion,whenEastopened2♥Southdoubledandeveryonepassed.Thatwas-1700,and-5IMPssincedeclarermanagedtomakejustonetrick.

Itwasashamereally,asshecouldequallywellhavechosentoopen2♠,andthatwouldprobablyhavebeenatrickcheaperandasmallswingtous!

Christine Duckworth

Written by Paul Linxwiler, published in the IBPA August 2018.

AttheUSNationals,JoviSmederevac,ofVienna,Austria,foundtherightdefenceonthisdeal,basedonaninferencefromthebidding.SmederevacwasplayingwithJadeBarrettinthefirstsemi-finalofthevonZedtwitzLifeMasterPairs.

DealerEast ♠A92BothVul ♥K765 ♦J105 ♣A83♠QJ1053 ♠K7♥J1042 ♥83♦932 ♦AKQ764♣4 ♣KQ7 ♠864 ♥AQ9 ♦8 ♣J109652

West North East South 1♦ Pass2♥(1) Pass 3NT AllPass

(1) 5spades,4-5hearts,weak

AsSouth,SmederevacdecidedtoattackheartsbyleadingtheAce.HerrationalewasbasedonEast’schoiceof3NT.“Declarerdoesn’thave18-19balanced,becausewiththattypeofhandshewouldhaveagreedspadesortriedtofigureoutifpartnerheldfivehearts.Therefore,3NTmustbebasedonlongdiamonds.”

Barrettencouragedonthe♥Alead,soSmederevaccontinuedwiththeQueenandalowhearttotheKing.Thiscauseddeclarersomediscomfort.Unabletodiscardaclub,declarerdiscardedthe♠K.SoNorthcashedthe♠Athenexitedwithalowclub.Lockedinhand,declarercouldrunthediamonds,butwasthenforcedtoplayclubsfromherhandfortwodown,givingSmederevacandBarrettatopscore.

AUCTION INFERENCE

JoeHaffer(left)andhispartnerLeighGoldattheGoldCoastCongress

JohnLokanattheGoldCoastCongress

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CANBERRA SELECTION by Barbara TravisDEFENSIVE DEDUCTION ♠Q6 ♥KQJ8432 ♦54 ♣J4♠J943 ♠875♥109 ♥A6♦AJ76 ♦10932♣K32 ♣A1095 ♠AK102 ♥75 ♦KQ8 ♣Q876

ThishandcomesfromtheNationalWomen’sTeams.Ateverytablebutone(of18),declarermadeatleast10tricksin4♥,whetherfromNorthorSouth.

Atourtable,Southopened1NT(14-16HCP)andNorthtransferredto4♥.The♠4wasled,andpartnerquicklycashedthreetopspadestodiscardaclubloser,making10tricks.Ourteam-matesweretheonlypairtodefeat4♥!

KateMcCallumledafourth-highest♦2toVanessaBrown’s♦A.Attrick2,Vanessaswitchedtoaheart,whichKatewonwiththe♥A.Thetrumpswitchgotherthinking,andshereachedsomeimpressiveconclusions.HerfirstdeductionwasthatVanessamusthaveatleastfourdiamonds,soknewthattherewerenomorediamondtricksavailabletothedefence.Thatledhertothewinningdefencewhichwasthattheyneededclubtricks,andquickly.Therefore,Kateledthe♣Aandreceivedanencouraging♣2fromVanessa.Anotherclubsawthedefencetaketheirtopfourtricks–whichiseasywhenyoucanseeallfourhandsbutisnotnecessarilythatstraight-forwardatthetable.(Onthishandtheopeningleadwasalsorelevant–anopeningspadeleadmeantthecontractwouldalways make.

Nowondersheisaseven-timeworldchampion!!

DEFENSIVE DISASTER ♠AJ4 ♥J32 ♦A105 ♣10853♠Q1076 ♠853♥74 ♥AKQ109865♦QJ8742 ♦---♣6 ♣A9 ♠K92 ♥--- ♦K963 ♣KQJ742

DealerEast,EWVulWest North East South 1♥ 3♣(1)Pass 3♥(2) 4♥ 5♣Pass Pass 5♥ PassPass Double AllPass

ThishandcomesfromtheNationalWomen’sTeamfinal.Thisauctionoccurredatmytable.CandiceGinsberg’s3♣overcallshowedan‘intermediate’overcall,soIwaslookingforgamewithmy3♥cuebid.DespiteEast’s4♥bid,Candicefelt

confidentthat5♣wasagoodcontract.ItbecamebetterwhenEastbidonto5♥,whichIdoubledwithmytwoAcesoppositeadecentovercall.

Whendeclarerwonthe♣KwiththeAce,IcouldplaceSouth’sremainingvalues!Itwasjustamatterofdeclarer’sshape.

Sheruffedtheclub,thenledSheledsixroundsofhearts,soIdiscardedtwoclubsandthe♦10,encouraging.Meantime,Candicediscardedfourclubsandonecardineachothersuit.Eaststillhadsomehopethatthe♠Jwasonside,soshetriedasmallspadetodummy’s♠10,andIwontheJack.Iledthe♦A,toclarifywhatwashappeningdefensively.Whendeclarerruffed,itwaseasytotakeherdownonetrick.

Attheothertable,afterasimilarauction,KateMcCallumplayedin5♥(undoubled).Shefollowedasimilarlineofplay(cashingsixhearts),butbothNorthandSouthwereslightlycarelesswiththeirdiscarding.Wheneachdefenderdiscardedaspade,declarerwashome.Thethirdspadebecamethe11thtrick.Thatresultedin13IMPstoourteam.

Itisveryimportantwhenyouhavetofindlotsofdiscardstotrytokeep‘different’suitsfromeachother.OnceSouthdiscardedaspade,Northhadtoretainspades.Thatiswhy,atourtable,Ithrewclubsfirst–itgavemetimetowatchCandice’sdiscardsandknowwhichsuitIhadtokeep.

WHEN THERE’S ONLY ONE CHANCEYouareNorth,playingin4♥aftertheopponentshavebidandraisedspades. ♠K10 ♥AQ10952 ♦J76 ♣Q4♠J632 ♠A9754♥76 ♥J♦Q108 ♦K5♣K732 ♣J10965 ♠Q8 ♥K843 ♦A9432 ♣A8

Tomydisappointment,Eastledthe♣J.GiventhatIhadtolosethe♠Aandpotentiallytwodiamonds,IhadtohopeEasthadledfromKing-Jackinclubs.Iduckedthelead,butWestwonwiththe♣K,andreturnedaclub.Idrewtrumpsintworounds,thenledasmallspadetowardsdummy.IwashopingthatEastmightduck,thenIwouldend-playhimwiththesecondspade–butno,Eastwonthe♠Aandexitedwithhisspade.Therewasoneremainingchance…oneplayerneededtoholdthe♦K-xorQ-x.Itwastimetocashthe♦A.IfEastkepthisKing,hewouldbeend-playedwiththeseconddiamond;hewouldhavetoreturnablackcardandIcouldtrumpindummyanddiscardmydiamondloserfromhand.Ifhethrewhis♦KundertheAce,thenIcouldleadanotherdiamondtowardsmyJack,makingitbecomeawinner.Therefore,thecontractmade.

HowardMelbournewassittingWestonthishand.Athistable,trick1wentthesameway,sohewasonleadwiththe♣K.Hegaveseriousconsiderationtoleadingthe♦10attrick2,which‘surrounds’declarer’sJackanddummy’s♦9.Itistheonlycardtodefeatthecontract!

Barbara Travis

THREE-BID TEAMS - AN INTERESTING NOTIONAttheHainanBridgeFestivalinChina,theyhold15events,onebeingaThree-BidTeams.Ithasauniquerule:eachplayercanmakeonlythreebidsperboard,excludingPass,DoubleandRedouble.Onceyouhaveusedupyourthreebidsbutwanttomakeafourthbid,theopponentscanacceptornot.Ifthefourthbidisnotaccepted,theoffendingside’splayersmustbothPass.Ifthefourthbidisallowed,thenthebiddingjustcontinues.

HereareafewinterestingdealsfromtheHBF’sThree-BidTeams,reportedintheIBPABulletin,December2018.

YouareNorthandhold:

♠AJ632♥96♦AK9753♣void

West North East SouthPass 1♠ Pass 2♥Pass 3♦ Pass 4♥Pass ?

Thisisyourlastbid!WhatinformationdoyouhavefromSouth’sbidding,given3♥wouldhavebeenforcing.Youknowhehassolidheartsandagame-forcinghand.So,youcangambleonaslam–nomorebidscanbeused–6♥or7♥shouldbeyourchosenbid.Hereisthefulldeal:

♠AJ632 ♥96 ♦AK9753 ♣void♠K94 ♠Q10875♥73 ♥void♦86 ♦J104♣K98765 ♣AQJ32 ♠void ♥AKQJ108542 ♦Q2 ♣104

At12ofthe50tables,North-Southbidto7♥.Thediagrammedauctionwastheusualroutetothegrandslam.

♠AK43 ♥102 ♦J9632 ♦102♠QJ10765 ♠void♥J8 ♥AK953♦7 ♦AQ4♣K963 ♣QJ854 ♠982 ♥Q764 ♦K1085 ♣A7

West North East South2♠ Pass 2NT* Pass3♦* Pass 3♥ Pass3NT Pass 5♣ AllPass

2♠wasweak,with2NTbeingarelay.3♦showeddiamondshortageand3♥wasnatural.3NTdeniedheartsupport,soEastnowknewthatWestheld6spades,asingletondiamond,

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andnoheartsupport.Thatmeanthehadatleast4clubs,making5♣areasonablebid.Furthermore,therewasnoneedtoworryaboutamisunderstandingbecauseWesthadtoPass!

Hereisanotherboardwherethebiddingsideranoutofbids:

♠A43 ♥Q95 ♦J10843 ♣A9♠76 ♠KQ109♥KJ1072 ♥A843♦Q ♦962♣108653 ♣72 ♠J852 ♥6 ♦AK75 ♣KQJ4

West North East SouthPass 1♦ Pass 1♠Pass 1NT Pass 2♦*Pass 3♦* Pass 4♦*Pass Pass! Pass

2♦wasanartificialgameforce,and3♦showeda5-cardsuit.4♦wasaslamtry,butSouthhadforgottenthathispartnerhaduseduphisallocatedthreebidsalready,andthereforehadtoPass!

This is certainly a novel sort of event. I don’t know whether there is space in the local calendar for such an event, but it could prove to be a ‘fun’ one-night experience!

SallyLuke,playingwithDiMarler,wontheGawlerCongressPairsAGrade.

Australian Bridge Directors Association Seminar in VICTORIA 2019

A Weekend of Seminars and Workshops for Directors Note: Participants will be welcome, with preference given to

current ABDA financial members.

The sessions will be of enormous value to directors at all levels and will feature presentations by several Elite National and International Tournament Directors:

Each day will comprise formal presentations, followed by workshop discussions, with abundant opportunities for questions and discussions. Dates: Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th JULY, 2019 Times Saturday 9:30 am – 4:30pm, Sunday 9:30 am – 3:30pm Venue: VICTORIA BRIDGE ASSOCIATION 131 POATH ROAD. MURRUMBEENA. VICTORIA 3163 Cost: $55 for both days to cover lunch, morning and afternoon tea, coffee each day. Subsidy: ABDA members who were financial as at 31st May travelling more than 100km one

way to will be eligible for a travel subsidy at 30cents/km (one way) capped at $400, the subsidy will be paid after full attendance over the two days.

Accommodation: There are a range of accommodation options available in the area – here is a

link to the ABDA website and a map of how to get to the venue

Registrations and enquiries to abda@abf.com.au with payment by EFT to ABDA, Commonwealth Bank, BSB 062-911, Account No 10275825 quoting ABF number and “Seminar”. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REGISTRATION DETAILS REQUIRED Name: ………………………………………………. Email Address……………………………………………… ABF Number……………………..........Club Name and No………………………………………………... Director for………………years Director Level: Club / Congress / State / National

http://www.abfevents.com.au/directors/index.asp

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:12

COACHING SESSIONS WITH BARBARA TRAVISatBeaumontBowlingClub

71DevereuxRoad,LindenParkJUNE - JULY 2019

THURSDAYS, 2.30pm to 4.30pmCARD PLAY TECHNIQUES

30thMay COUNTING-Howtocountahand 6thJune COUNTING-Cluesfromthebidding 13thJune MANAGINGENTRIES 20thJune SAFEv.DANGERHANDS- Keepinganopponentofflead 27thJune COMBININGOPTIONS- Findingmorethanonelineofplay 4thJuly PERCENTAGES-Choosingoneline 11thJuly WHENTODUCK,WHENTOWIN 18thJuly ELIMINATIONPLAY- Howtoexecuteastripandendplay

SuitedtoIntermediateandAdvancedPlayersBookingsnotrequired-allwelcome

$15perperson,persessionBarbaraTravis

email:barbara.travis@hotmail.comphone:0437919928

COACHING SESSIONS WITH BARBARA TRAVISatBeaumontBowlingClub

71DevereuxRoad,LindenParkJUNE - JULY 2019

TUESDAYS, 2.30pm to 4.30pmSECOND ROUND BIDDING

Your second round choice of bid (opener and responder) is one of the most important bids, trying to define your hand type and

point range to partner. 4thJune FORCING/NON-FORCINGBIDS& COPINGWITHMISFITS 11thJune FORCINGTOGAME 18thJune GAMETRIES 25thJune REVERSES-BiddingBeyondBarrier 2ndJuly FOURTHSUITFORCING(1) 9thJuly FOURTHSUITFORCING(2) 16thJuly NEGATIVEDOUBLES

SuitedtoSupervised,IntermediateandAdvancedPlayersBookingsnotrequired-allwelcome

$15perperson,persessionBarbaraTravis

email:barbara.travis@hotmail.comphone:0437919928

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:13

A GAME AT THE CLUB by Barbara TravisArecentsessionhasprovidedmewithplentyofhandsforanalysis. First,Iheldthishand:♠K82♥QJ4♦KJ8765♣K

Me LHO Partner RHO 1♠ Pass2♦ 3♥ 4♠ Pass?

WewereplayingStandard,somy2♦responsemerelyshowed10+HCPratherthanbeinggameforcing.Thismeantthatpartner’s4♠rebidshowedaverygoodhand.Myproblemwas:Didwehavecontroloftheheartsuit?Wehadnoagreements,soIjustpunted6♠,successfully.

Afterthesession,Idiscussedthishandwithafewfriends.My‘correct’rebidwastobid5♠.Biddingourownmajorfreelyatthe5-levelisnotasignofmadness.Itactuallyaskspartnertobidslamwithcontroloftheirsuit.(Refer to the Open Playoffs article in December 2018, where Andy Hung now bid 6NT, protecting his K-x in the suit – both from the lead and from a ruff.)

Partner’shandwas: ♠AQJ9653 ♥K ♦A ♣A862somy6♠bidworkedthistime.

Trythishand:♠2♥K972♦K9762♣A102

Board1,nilvulnerable,andtheauctionstarted:West North East SouthMe Partner Pass 1♠ 2♥?

Atthevulnerabilityandwithmylackoffitforpartner,Idecidedtotryforapenaltyifpartnerre-openedwiththehoped-fordouble.Pass Pass 2♠ Pass?

Partner’s2♠rebidindicatedsheheldahandunsuitedtopenalising2♥.NowItestedpartner’sknowledgeofcontinuations:2NT AllPass

Wehavesincediscussedthatmy2NTbidshowsahandthatindicatesIwasinterestedinpenalising2♥.Mindyou,Iprobablyshouldhaverebid3NT,andsoshouldsheafter2NT.

♠2 ♠AKQ10963♥K972 ♥10♦K9762 ♦A5♣A102 ♣Q98

Sheshouldhavebid3NTnow,comfortablethatshewasgivingmesevenoreighttricks.2NTmaking12trickswasouronlybottomoftheday.I’mpreparedtotakealargeproportionoftheblameformy2NTbid,butshe’salsolearntthatsolidsuitsaregoodforraisingto3NT.Inevermindabadresultifitleadstoaneducationaloutcome.

Afewhandslaterwehadanotherresult‘linked’tonegativedoubles.Theauctionstarted:1♦ (1♥) 1♠…Ouropponentsendedupin3♠ona4-3fit,forthedreaded-200,andouronlytopoftheday.Whensomeoneovercalls1♥,oneagreementwhenplayingnegativedoubles,istousethedoubletoshowa4-cardspadesuit,andbidding1♠shows5+spades.Thisapplicationallowsyoutomakeuseoftheovercalltobemorepreciseaboutyourspadesuit,sothatyoursideknowswhetherthereisafitornotand,therefore,whethertokeepcompetinginthespade(“master”)suit.

Onanotherhand,mypartnerthoughtIwasageniusformyopeninglead.MyRHOhadopened1NTandplayedthere.Iwasonleadholding:♠1073♥A98♦A1097♣A86

Foranumberofyears,Ihavebeenphilosophicallyopposedtoleadingfrom3-cardor4-cardsuitheadedbytheAcewhenonleadagainstNoTrumpcontracts.Basically,itseemstogiveextratrickstodeclarer.Thatreasoningwasbehindmyleadofthe♠10(Ididn’tleadalowonebecauseIdidn’twanttoencouragemypartner!).Partnerwonthe♠Q,withdeclarerdroppingtheJack,andcontinuedaspade.Thisisthewholehand: ♠42 ♥Q754 ♦QJ6 ♣Q1042♠1073 ♠KQ9865♥A98 ♥3♦A1097 ♦532♣A86 ♣975 ♠AJ ♥KJ1062 ♦K84 ♣KJ3

Thespadeleadgaveustimetocashoureightwinnersquickly,resulting in an equal top.

Afterthesession,quiteafewpeopleaskedmehowtodealwiththefollowinghand;therehadbeenvariedoutcomesafterRHO’s4♠openingbid:♠A32♥K♦A94♣KQJ963

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HOW TO DEAL WITH OPPOSITION INTERVENTION AFTER YOUR PARTNER HAS OPENED THE BIDDING

Howoftendoesanopponentovercallyourpartner’sopeningbidandmessupyourplannedresponse?Forexample,partneropens1♦andyourRHOovercalls1♠:♠98 ♥KQJ7♦976 ♣J1098

*YoucouldPass,butthatisnotsatisfactorywith7HCP.*1NT(6-9HCP)isnotappropriatewithnospadestopper.*Abidatthe2-levelshows10+HCP.*Youshouldn’tsupportdiamondswithonly3cards.Butequally,youdon’twanttoPassjustbecauseoftheintervention.

Handswhereyouwanttomakeapenaltydoubleoftheopponent’sovercalloccurrarely.Insteadweusedoublesoflowlevelovercallstogivepartnerthemessage:“I would have responded to your opening bid but the overcall has made my life difficult.”

ThesedoublesarecalledNEGATIVEDOUBLESandareliketakeoutdoubles(exceptyourpartneropened).Theysay:•Ihavetheothertwo(unbid)suits,or•Ihaveaone-suitedhandwhichIcannotbidfreely(notenoughHCP),or•Ihaveoneoftheothersuits(major)andsupportforyoursuit(minor)

Onthehandabove,youwouldmakeanegativedouble;youhavetheperfecthandforit,beingabletocopewithanyrebidpartner makes.

POINT COUNT FOR NEGATIVE DOUBLES:•Atthe1-level6+HCP •Atthe2-level~8+HCP(moreshape=fewerHCPsallowed)•Atthe3-level10+HCP•Thereisnoupperlimit(HCP)fornegativedoubles.

HOW HIGH TO PLAY NEGATIVE DOUBLES:Iwouldrecommendplayingthemtothe3-level,butitisamatter for partnerships to agree on.

WHAT OPENER DOES NEXT:•Openerintroducesanew4-cardsuit.•OpenercanrebidNTwiththeopponent’ssuitstopped.•Minimumrebidsshowminimumhands.•Youneedtojumptoshowastrongeropeninghand(16+HCP)orbidgamewithenoughvalues.(REVERSESarecancelledbecausethedouble‘forces’partnertobid).

EXAMPLE1:Theauctionstarts: 1♥ (1♠) ?Youhold: ♠xx ♥xx ♦KJxx ♣Kxxxx

Whatcanyoubid?*Youcannotbid1NT(6-9HCP).Thatshowsaspadestopper.*Youcannotbid2♣becausethatshows10+HCP.

Aftersomethought,Ichosetobid5♣,primarilybecauseIdidn’twanttodouble–showingagoodhand–andhearpartnerbid5♥.Partnerheld: ♠J ♥A10964 ♦KJ732 ♣75

Ifyourpartnerdoublesa4-levelopeningbid,4♠onthishand,ratherthancommittingtooneparticularsuit,youarebetterservedtorespond4NT.This4NTbidindicatesthatyouhavetwoplacesyouwouldbehappytoplay.Sowhenpartnernowbids5♣,you‘correct’to5♦toshowbothredsuits.Onthishand,youwouldfinishin5♦,whichmakes–asdoes5♣(clubsbeing4-1).

InDecember’s“A Game at the Club”,Imentionedthatpeopleneedtobalancewhentheoppositionsubsideatthe2-levelinaknown8cardfit.Obviously,mypartnerhadlearntthislessonwell,becauseshedidbalanceafterthisauction:

West North East SouthMe Partner 1♦ Pass 2♦Pass Pass Double

Theauctioncontinued:Pass2♥ Pass Pass 3♦Pass Pass 3♥ AllPass

Partnerbidonto3♥hopingwehelda9-cardfit:

♠K2 ♥J9 ♦K9642 ♣AQ73♠J76 ♠Q543♥A854 ♥KQ763♦AJ8 ♦10♣1065 ♣J98 ♠A1098 ♥102 ♦Q753 ♣K42

Givenwewerevulnerable,itwasimportanttogodownonlyonetrick;-100wouldbebetterthan-110or-130,but-200wouldbeabottom.Onadiamondlead,andwiththeheartsbreaking2-2,Iwasabletoeliminatethediamondsuit,thenexitinclubs,makingtheopponentsstartthespadesuit,andgettingaspadetrickattheend,for-100.

Onesessionandsomanylessons!Barbara Travis

NEGATIVE DOUBLES

OPENING LEAD TIPDon’tjustleadfourthhighestofyourlongestandstrongestsuit:•Listentotheauctionbeforeleading.•Workoutwhatyouknowabouttheopponents’lengthindifferentsuitsandtheirHCP.•ThinkabouthowmanyHCPyoucanexpectfrompartner.•THENmakeyourlead.

Youhaveanidealhandforanegativedouble.*Ifpartnerbids2♣or2♦(minimumopeningbid)youwillhappilypass,havingwonthepart-scorebattle.*Ifpartnerrebids2♥(showing6cards)youcanpass,havingwonthepart-scorebattle.*Ifpartnerjumps,dependingonwhattheybidyoumaypassorheadtogame.

EXAMPLE2:Theauctionstarts: 1♦ (2♣) ?Youhold: ♠Kxxx ♥Kxxx ♦Qx ♣AKx

Whatcanyoubid?

*IfyoubidaMajoratthe2-levelitwillshowyourpointsandbeforcingBUTitwillshowa5+cardsuit.*Youcouldbid3NT(valuesforgame,clubsstopped)BUTyouhaven’thadtheopportunitytoexploreforaMajorfit.Furthermore,youclosedowntheauctionwhenyoumightbelonginslam.

Youshoulduseanegativedoublefirst,becauseyoucanalwaysbid3NTwithyournextbid.Youarenowreadytodealwithwhateverpartnerrebids.*Ifpartnerrebids2♥or2♠(minimumopeningbid),yournextbidwillbegameinthatsuit.*Ifpartnerrebids2♦,thenyoucanrebid3NTconfidentthatyouhaveeliminatedaMajorfit.*Ifpartnerrebids3♥or3♠youcanexploreforslaminthatMajor.

EXAMPLE3:Theauctionsstarts: 1♣ (2♠) ?Youhold: ♠x ♥K10xx ♦AKxx ♣Axxx

Whatcanyoubid?

*Biddinganewsuitatthe3-levelwouldbeforcing,butwouldshowa5+cardsuit.*Biddingclubs(3♣)wouldbenon-forcing.

Youhaveaperfecthandforanegativedouble.Afterpartner’srebidyouwillbeinagoodpositiontodeterminewheretogoin the auction.*Ifpartnerrebids2NTyouwillbid3NT.*Ifpartnerrebidsanewsuitatthe3-level(minimumopeningbid),youwillsettleforgame.*Ifpartnerjumpstoshowastrongeropeningbid,youwillheadtoslamviaRKCB.

EXAMPLE4:Theauctionstarts: 1♥ (2♣) ?Youhold: ♠AQ10xxx ♥x ♦Qxx ♣xxx

Whatcanyoubid?

*Ifyoubid2♠youareshowingthe5+cardsuit,butyouareshowing10+HCPandmakingaforcingbid.*Atthesametime,youdon’twanttopasswithsuchanice

hand/suit.Again,youstartwithanegativedouble.*Ifpartnerbids2♦or2♥,younowbid2♠.PartnerthenhastoworkoutthatyouhaveaWEAKhandwithalongsuitofyourown;ifyouheld10+HCPthenyouwouldhavebid2♠atyourfirstbid,soyourhandbecomeslikeaweak2♠opening.

WHEN YOU WANT TO DOUBLE FOR PENALTIESWHENYOUPLAYNEGATIVEDOUBLESYOUCANNOLONGERDOUBLEANOVERCALLFORPENALTIES.

HOW DO YOU PENALISE THE OVERCALL:Whenyouwanttopenalisetheopponent’sovercallyouhavetoPASSandwaitforpartnertodouble.Whenyouhavelengthintheopponentssuit,askyourself:•DoIwanttoplaythishandordoIwanttodefendandtakethemdown?•Iftheansweris‘Defend’,thenyouneedtoPassfirst,thenPasspartner’sdouble.

Thereismoreonusontheopenertolookattheirhandandthinkaboutwhetheryoumayhaveapenaltydoubleifthebiddinggoes:OPENINGBID–OVERCALL–PASS–PASS…

Opener must think:•AmIshortin‘their’suit?Wherearetherestofthatsuit(sinceRHOhasn’traised)?•Wherearetherestof‘their’suit(givenRHOhasn’tbid/raised)?•Iftheansweris“Withpartner”,thenyoumustre-openwithaDOUBLE,whichinitiallyaskspartnertobidanothersuit(i.e.youareshortintheirsuit)ORtoPASSiftheyhadapenaltydoubleoftheovercall.•WherearetheHCPonthishand(sinceRHOhasn’tbid)?•Iftheansweris“Withpartner”andpartnerhasn’tbid,thenclearlyyourpartnerhastheopponent’ssuit!Ifyouhaveany‘normal’shapeforyouropeningbid,andshortagein‘their’suit,thenyoumustre-openwithaDOUBLEwhichallowspartnertoPASSwiththepenaltydoubleoftheovercall,orbidanothersuitiftheyare,infact,weak(whenyounowfindyourbestfit).

OpenerMUSTreopenwithadoublewhenshortintheopponent’ssuit–i.e.singletonorsmalldoubleton.Theonlyexceptioniswhenyouhave‘extreme’shape(likea7-4or6-5)whenyoubidyourshape/suits.Otherwise(forexamplewitha5-4-3-1,shortintheovercall)youshoulddouble.

EXAMPLE:Theauctionstarts: 1♠ (2♥) ?andyouhold: ♠x ♥KJ10xx ♦Axx ♣xxxx

Youwanttopenalise2H,soyouhavetoPass.Nowtheauction continues: 1♠ (2♥) Pass (Pass)andpartnerisexpectedtore-openwithadoublebecausetheywillbeshortinhearts: Double (Pass)andnowyoucanconverttheirdoubletoPenaltiesbypassing.Ontheotherhand,ifyourinitialpasswasbasedonapoorhand,thenyoumustbidafterthere-openingdouble.

Barbara Travis

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:15

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:16

Directors Forums

John McIlrath, the ABF National Director Development Officer is returning to Adelaide to present two Director’s Forums:

Saturday 27th April 2019 10am – 4pm

“So you wish to be a Director!”

Looking at Scoring Programmes/Movements/Laws/How to run a session.

(For those wishing to learn about directing)

Sunday 28th April 2019 10am – 4pm

“What makes a good Director?”

Including table simulations, and a general discussion on more interesting laws with a question and answer session.

(For current directors)

There will be a lunch break around 12.30pm each day. The Forums are free. All current and potential directors are urged to attend.

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:17

ACES ON THE ASTRAL PLANE by David LuskMYSTRALA GETS THE SCREAMING HORRORSReprinted from Australian Bridge, April 1995

TheAceshadfinallyselectedtheirfourforthecentenarymatchagainsttheScreamingBanshees.OlafwastolineupwithSirRichardandMystralawasplacedoppositePaxacotl.TheImphaddeclaredhimselfunavailableforanumberofreasons.ThemostsignificantwasthathebelievedtheBanshees,whowereeffectivelyfourmanifestationsoftheonepersona,wereincommunicationwithoneanother.ThistheoryhadbeenrefutedmanytimesbyOlaf,whohadmuchevidencetothecontrary.TheImp’sstatedreasonforstayingclearwassimplythenoise,anexcusewhichallacceptedasgenuine.

FatherO’Loughlin,whohadmissedselection,agreedtoactinanofficialcapacity,buthadexpressedsomeconfusionovertheevent’stitle.“CentenaryMatch?”heenquiredofMystrala.“Doesthismeanthehundredthannualmatch?”

Mystrala’swhisperedanswerwasinthenegative.“No,Father.Itmeansthatweplayamatcheveryhundredyears.Pleaserememberthatinaplacewheretimehasnomeaning,ahundredyearsmightjustaswellbetenminutes.”

FatherO’Loughlinsuddenlywishedhehadn’tasked.

Oncethematchgotunderway,Mystralahadachancetoshineononeoftheearlyboards.

DealerNorth ♠87 ♥J8 ♦AK9864 ♣A65♠Q10954 ♠6♥9 ♥AK10765♦Q7 ♦J105♣Q7432 ♣J108 ♠AKJ32 ♥Q432 ♦32 ♣K9

West North East SouthMystrala Banshee Alpha Paxacotl Banshee Beta 1♦ 2♥ 2♠Pass 3♦ Pass 3NTAllPass

Mystralaledthe♥9withoutmuchconviction.BansheeBetaululatedhisthanksforthedummyandscreamedforalowheart.Paxacotlwonwiththe♥Kandcashedthe♥A.Onthe♥A,Mystraladiscardedthe♦Q.BansheeBeta’scacophonyreachedanewcrescendoasherealisedthatthecontractmayhavebeenrenderedunmakeable.

UnabletoestablishthediamondswithoutyieldingatricktoEast,declarerisreducedtojust8tricks.

BansheeBetamadeavaliantefforttoestablishthespadesuitforoneloser,butconcededtwodownwhenthatchancefailedto materialise.

Attheothertable,Olafwasdeclarerinthesamecontract:

West North East SouthBanshee Delta Sir Richard B’shee Gamma Olaf 1♦ 3♥ 3NTAllPass

BansheeDeltaledthe♥9.Olafplayeddummy’s♥8andEastplayedlow.

Olafwonthe♥Qandledasmalldiamond.Heplayedthe♦AonBansheeDelta’s♦7,andreturnedtohandwithaspade.

Onplayingaseconddiamondtowardsdummy,Olafsimplycalledfordummy’slowestdiamondwhenWest’s♦Qappeared.

Notunexpectedly,WestcouldnotproduceanotherheartandOlafwasabletoclaim10easytricks.

David Lusk

TONY BEMROSEINSURANCE BROKERSwww.tbib.com.au

PLACE THE ACE: Solution

SABA SWISS PAIRS CONGRESS (February2019)A GRADE1st CathyChua-JustinWilliams2nd PeterChan-PhilGue3rd AlexBremner-MiltonHart

B GRADE1st JinnyFuss-JackieWard2nd Carolyn&BrianLeach3rd AnneHenesey-Smith-TriciaLonn

C GRADE1st HeleneMaddern-PatriciaMaroney2nd Margaret&HerbertNeumeister3rd MelindaAndrews-AllisonBullock

SABF RESTRICTED BUTLER PAIRS1st JoanneBakas-TassiGeorgiadis2nd Maggie&NickTruscott3rd AliceHandley-MonikaVnuk

GAWLER PAIRS CONGRESSA GRADE1st SallyLuke-DianneMarler2nd WendyHooper-AdelAbdelhamid3rd ThereseDemarco-LoriSmith

B GRADE1st Carolyn&ChrisMroczek2nd PaulAcfield-GrahamStucley3rd MaureenWilson-TerryHealey

C GRADE1st ClaireDeLambert-DarrellMitton2nd Patricia&JohnSharpe3rd ChrisBrady-ZhihongMiao

RESULTS

OPEN TRIALS FINAL (SAOPENTEAMfortheANCInterstateTeams)1st GeorgeSmolanko-JustinWilliams2nd DavidAnderson-IanHilditch3rd AttilioDeLuca-DavidLusk

OPEN TRIALS PLATE1st AndyBabiszewski-PeterPopp2nd PaulHudson-ChrisLorimer3rd JudyHocking-KevinLange

DAYTIME TEAMS FINALSDELUCA:AttilioDeLuca-SusanEmerson,GaryDeaton-PeterColmer,ZOLLO:JudyHocking-KevinLange,RogerJanuszke-JohnZolloDOECKE:CathyChua-JustinWilliams,MikeDoecke-DavidParrott-YadiParrott-GeorgeSmolankoTRAVIS:SheilaBird-FelicitySmyth,ThereseDemarco-LoriSmith,PamMorgan-King-JeffTravisSEMI-FINALSDELUCA 90 defeated DOECKE 61ZOLLO 99 defeated TRAVIS 71

PRELIMINARY FINALZOLLO 74 defeated DOECKE 51

FINALZOLLO 140 defeated DELUCA105

SABA GRADED PAIRS(March2019)OPEN PAIRS1st JimBurke-ColinTwelftree2nd JillKnight-MikeRobertson3rd MaureenWilson-TerryHealey

RESTRICTED PAIRS1st HeleneMaddern-PatriciaMaroney2nd PaulAcfield-GrahamStucley3rd Pat&JohnElliott

NOVICE PAIRS1st AnneBurke-JudeTwelftree2nd Julie&StephenSavage3rd ChristineRoberts-LenBell

SUPERVISED PAIRS1st MeaganZander-OwenTeakle2nd DavidPollock-IanWoolley

SENIORS’ TEAM (SASENIORS’TEAMfortheANCInterstateTeams)1st RusselHarms-JeffTravis2nd AndyBabiszewski-PeterPopp3rd YadiParrott-FelicitySmyth

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:18

GeorgeSmolanko,winneroftheOpenTrialsFinal(withJustinWilliams)

SABFNewsletter:April2019 Page:19

INTERNATIONAL EVENT IN AUSTRALIA, 2020

InApril2020,PerthwillhosttheAsia-PacificBridgeCongress.Thisisaninternationaleventopentoallbridgeplayers,withthemaincompetitionbeingteams-based,butsomepairs-eventswillalsobeprogrammed.Seethepreliminaryflyerbelow:

COMING SABF EVENTS

GOLDEN BUNNY TEAMS Marion Friday19thApril2019

AUTUMN NATIONALS SABF Thursday2ndMaytoMonday6thMay(AdelaideShowgrounds)

SABA GRADED PAIRS CONGRESS SABA Sunday19thMay2019

MORIALTA & UNLEY ROTARY PAIRS SABA Sunday2ndJune2019

CHRISTMAS IN WINTER Beaumont Sunday23rdJune2019 (MtOsmondGolfClub)

BAROSSA PAIRS Barossa Saturday6thJuly2019 (Tanunda)BAROSSA TEAMS Barossa Sunday7thJuly2019 (Tanunda)

COMING CONGRESSES

WOMEN’S TRIALS Friday12thApriltoSunday14thApril2019

ANC RESTRICTED TRIALS Sunday14thApril2019

STATE SWISS BUTLER PAIRS Thursdays9thMay,16thMay,23rdMay,30thMay,13thJune

STATE TEAMS PHASE 1 Thursdays20thJune,27thJune,4thJuly,11thJuly,1stAugust

President AdelAbdelhamid aabdelha@icloud.com 0402433674

Secretary AngelaNorris anorris@adam.com.au 0419039782

Treasurer PaulWalker pvwalker@gmail.com 0433397532

ABFDelegate AdelAbdelhamid aabdelha@icloud.com 0402433674

TournamentConvenor DavidAnderson revoke1@live.com 0403278754

Education/Training DavidParrott yadi.david@bigpond.com 0882630397

Finance PaulWalker pvwalker@gmail.com 0433397532

Newsletter BarbaraTravis barbara.travis@hotmail.com 0437919928

YouthCoordinator JustinWilliams sayouthbridge@gmail.com 0407979610

AutumnNationals JinnyFuss ANOT.Organiser@gmail.com 0474074005

Constitution PhilMarkey

Ethics DavidCherry

Appeals RexWhitford

Counsel PhilMarkey

Sponsorship/Promotion vacant

CommitteeMembers: DavidGue(AdelaideBridgeCentre),JohnSmith(SABA),PeterTeubner(Glenelg),JillAllanson(Barossa),SuePhillips(BridgeintheCity),JinnyFuss(ChristiesBeach),DavidAnderson(Reynella),BarbaraTravis(Beaumont),DavidParrott(SABA),MoiraSmith(Gawler),JohnElliott(Alexandrina),JimCoffey(Whyalla)

SABF CONTACTS

Autumn Nationals 2019Ridley Centre, Wayville Showgrounds

Thursday 2 & Friday 3 May - Swiss Pairs(Open, Seniors, Women, Under Life Master)

Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May - Teams(Open, Under Life Master)

Monday 6 May - Consolation Teams and Pairs(and Teams final)

All events attract Gold masterpointsPQPs awarded in all events except Consolation and Under Life Master

Entry fees: Pairs $260, Teams $540(Special discount where entry fee paid in full in one transaction by credit card or EFT by 3 April)

Consolation $10 per player

Tournament Organiser Jinny Fuss04 740 740 05

ANOT.Organiser@gmail.com

See website for full details - www.abfevents.com.au/events/anot/2019Not comfortable with computers or the Internet? Just ring Jinny