THE GOSPORT EAR (Number 21) by LEPUS

Gianfranco Cannardli (1931 - 1997) was a very strong Regional Bridge player in Calabria, who was on the cusp of the Italian Blue Team. He was also a noted amateur mathematician of near-Wrangler standard and he developed a theorem in Logic that has been dubbed The Cannardli Principle, which has had subsequent impact on Bridge theory.

Take this example from modern bidding: -

[1♦]   [2♠](a)   [3♠]   [4♥](b) /
[P]     [4♠]       [X]    End.

(a) Weak Jump Overcall: - ♠ KJxxxx ♥ Kx  ♦ Qxx  ♣ xx
(b) Qbid, or is it?

This sorry contract went for -800, (conceding an oceans of imps), when all the enemy might (with care) make was [3♦=] for +110.

Now as the responding hand could show spades by doubling [3♠], the Cannardli Principle applies: [4♥] Cannardli be a Cue-bid! See Note 1.

Here's another recent example: -

[1♣](c)   [X]        [P]   [1♦](d) /
[P]          [3♦](e)   End

(c) Better Minor, in a 5-card Major system
(d) Unexceptional, holding: - ♠ Jxx ♥ void ♦ A8xxx ♣ Qxxxx
(e) Forcing, or is it?

This contract scored +170, and conceded several bushels of imps.

The doubler, holding about a 5 LTC hand, would like to hear more from the responding hand (so as to not miss a potential Diamond Slam), and certainly [2♣] would set a forcing sequence in train which would assure that, at least, one, or two, more bids would follow, and, on hearing (say) [3♦] could think in terms of bidding [5♠], or [6♦], or [4N] then [6♦], and, on that basis, the Cannardli Principle applies: [3♦] Cannardli be forcing! See Note 2.

Note 1.  ♠ x       ♥ AJTxxx  ♦ x        ♣ KQJxx

Note 2.  ♠ AKx  ♥ AKJxx   ♦ QJ9x   ♣ x

Opening Weak Two bids have been in fashion since the early 1960's when the Italian Blue Team introduced them in the World Championships. The Americans took some while to adopt them sticking (rather stubbornly) to their treatment of Strong Twos, but realising over time that by playing (as the Italians did) a constructive Weak Two they would be able to compete on a level playing field. Nowadays many tournament players are using 3 Weak Twos with [2♦] as well as both Majors.

The general enquiry from the responding hand has been accepted as [2N] and most follow the replies as outlined in Terence Reece's book on the Blue Club system. By steps the opener shows his range and trump quality with the first step showing the weakest combination of both poor trumps (not as good as two of the top three honours) and 7-9, rather than 10/11 HCP. Also over time the ranges have become more attenuated and I have quite often played against a 0-6 HCP range: Bridge having become Poker(!)

To my mind the published method is not very good since with the best "Weak" hand you lose room to explore for a Slam. It is inefficient to use [2N] always as an enquiry bid, rather better is to use the next available bid as the enquiry, that is [2N] over [2♠]; [2♠] over [2♥], and, if you are so inclined, [2♥] over [2♦]. With this scheme the rebid of the opened suit is the weakest response, and the strongest response is the next available bid. i.e. [2♥] [2S] / [2N] 10/11, two of the top honours, while [2♥] [2♠] / [3♥] is a POF (Pile of Filth).

Additionally I suggest that any other suit response (other than to ask) is a natural one-round force that also suggests no more than a singleton in the opened Weak Two. Opener will raise the natural bid with any 3-card (or better!) fit, or a top honour doubleton. e.g.

♠ 76  ♥ KQ9653  ♦ 963             ♣ Q5

♠ A3 ♥ void        ♦ AQT8752   ♣ AJT3

[2♥] [3♦] / [4♦] [5♦] End

Meanwhile, in a practice session for the Pottage Cup, at a local club, the "Gosport Mafia" played the following cards: -

♠ KQT753 ♥ 8            ♦ 7            ♣ QT853

♠ void       ♥ AK7643  ♦ KQJ863 ♣ A

1. [2♠] [4♥] End 10 tricks

2. [2♠] [2N] / [3♠] End 8 tricks

3. [2♠] [3♥](!) / [3♠] [4♦](!) / [4♥](!) [6♥](???) [X] End 10 tricks

As LHO held ♥ QJT8, the first sequence worked well with 10 tricks being the limit of the hand, but had the opener held something like:

♠ QJT753 ♥ 8 ♦A92 ♣ QT3

then [7♦] would have been the optimum contract, while with:

♠ QJT753 ♥ 8 ♦ T72 ♣ KJ5

the Diamond Small Slam would have gone begging.

The players in the second sequence were clearly not following the advice of LEPUS!

The final sequence started really well by exploring for both possible RED suit Slams, but, as the opener has raised neither suit, then any Slam is a mere distant mirage: responder forgot to allow his partner to make any appropriate move; it was possible also that the opening hand could have been a 6.0.2.5 shape, when even the lowly [4♥] might fail(!)

THE GOSPORT EAR (Number 23) by LEPUS

You are playing TEAMS (Green v Red), and are in the fourth position at the table, holding...

♠ 32 ♥ 976 ♦ 5 ♣ AKT8762

...and you can now think what you might be bidding (perhaps some level of Clubs?) as the developments around the table begin to unfold.

LHO holding: - ♠ QJ5 ♥ AQJT5 ♦ T43 ♣ Q9 which is a minimum hand (8 LTC) but with a suit of some quality (that can be rebid!) went for the opening salvo with [1♥], a bid which was replicated at the other table.

Partner looking at: - ♠ KT9864 ♥ 43 ♦ K ♣ J543 decided that as he was only ever going to make one bid on this hand, and, that if he wished to offer something for the defence then he should do so now, laid [1♠] on the table, and although this is by no means an automatic bid the good impletion of the suit does offer a degree of safety. Meanwhile, at the other table, this hand was introduced into the bidding via a WJO of [2♠] (that is, a Weak Two opener), which is almost safe at the prevailing vulnerability: "it does what it says on the tin" - is Weak, a Jump and is an Overcall(!)

So, the first two players were congratulating themselves on having said something, while the next player to bid was not so sanguine, as he held: - ♠ A7 ♥ K82 ♦ AQJ98762 ♣ void, and had been wondering what to open: now it had become what to bid. Asking for Aces would achieve little if only one Ace were to be shown (the opener does not have to hold the ♥A) and if it were ♣ A then that card could be considered somewhat redundant in a hand playing some number of Diamonds. A Qbid (of Spades) would certainly be forcing but might strongly suggest an Heart fit, while most pairs could be content that a bid of [3♦] would be natural and forcing (whenever not playing BERGEN, or Weak Jump Fits, or even pre-emptive bids...such is life!). However, a low-level bid might allow the next hand to make a far from convenient bid, and in that case the bid hand would be back to guessing what to do next. Perhaps none too strangely the players at both tables came to the same conclusion that bidding what might be the best contract should happen now: so [6♦] hit the tables(!). Both these players considered that the opening bid might well show some good Hearts when the Slam might make even on a Spade lead (without any second stop) by winning, cashing ♦ A (and if ♦ K does not appear) run Hearts, hoping that the suit stands up for three rounds, when the fourth Heart will see the spade loser pitched.

What now does the last player say?

If [6♦] has a Club loser then the rest of the hand will be solid. However it is more likely that there is a Club void, so now if our side has a Spade trick then any other loser(s) will go on the Heart suit. It is just about possible for our side to have the cashing ♥ K, and a Spade trick (on an opening lead of ♠ 3), however that would seem to be an unnecessary risk, as the vulnerability favours some sort of action (other than Double).

So what have you decided?

At the other table [6♦] ended the bidding, and +1390 was recorded.

At your table [7♣] was bid, and promptly doubled. The big hand considered bidding [7♦] but the last player may well have held ♦ K5, and would certainly know what to do. There was little in the play (with LHO finding it difficult to lead ♠ Q) so only ♥ A, ♦ A, ♥ K, and ♠ A, were lost for -800, and +11 imps.

So here's the sequence that you don't see often, all four suits bid, and a Grand Slam in one round of bidding...

[1♥] [1♠] [6♦] [7♣] / [X] End

Don't try this at home!

THE GOSPORT EAR (Number 24) by LEPUS

 My name is Spayed, Sam Spayed. I'm a Private Eye. The job is old, the name is new.

I'm here sitting in the office, just resting my eyes. It's about 8 p.m.The thunder is drifting away, but the rain is still trying to beat the window by two falls, or one submission.

I changed my name by dead-poll: it seemed right, after the Old Woman suggested that we didn't need children, and that a vasectomy would be good. Then she filed for divorce: "Judge" she said "we're incompatible. He cannot father a child". So Spayed.

The office door banged open: I tipped my hat back. The broad was backlit by the outer office light. 'Nice gams' I thought. A lighting flash over my shoulder showed that the front of the property wasn't too bad either.

"I'm Dorothy Bland, I need help" she breathed "My Bridge partner has been shot. Five bullets from a twenty-two and the police are investigating ('So another foul-up'). The word on the street is that you used to be a mean Bridge player, and I need a partner for the Biltmore Classic Mixed, which starts in an hour. I have just got to beat my best friend Vanessa Gatsby: we've competed for years"

Another flash. She didn't seem old enough for 'years'.

Anyhow, not to be churlish I agreed, and she managed to kit me out in black tie, and tux: I scrub up good!

The event went well. 1st Helen Sobel and Charles Goren $4000, 2nd Josephine and Ely Culbertson $3000 and 3rd Dorothy Bland and Sam Spayed $2000; well ahead of her friend.

This hand, against Vanessa, helped.

♠ A       ♥ QJ76   ♦ AKJ83 ♣ Q76

♠ Q865  ♥ 9543   ♦ void    ♣ A8543

[1♦] [1♥] / [2♣] [3♣] / [4♥] End

The shyster on my left led ♦ 2, and after some thought I played ♦ J (which held) and discarded a Club. Then I pitched another two Clubs on the top Diamonds, and ruffed a Diamond, all followed. A trump to the ♥ J held the trick. On the ♦ 3, when Vanessa tipped a Spade, I pitched my last small Club. The trick held. ♣ A. ♠ A. Club ruff. 'Spayed' ruff (don't you just love that!) Club ruff (again best friend forgot to ruff). LHO sheepishly disclosed ♥ AK. Eleven tricks, and a TOP.

LHO (must have) held: - ♠ K97 ♥ AK9 ♦ QT42 ♣ J92. After an opening attack of three rounds of trumps, the winning play is ♣ A, followed by ducking a club, for 10 tricks.

The rest of the night went really well, besides a Grand of prize-money was never to be sneered at.

Of course the cops will never work out that Vanessa shot the man: the twenty-two was the give away.

THE GOSPORT EAR (Number 25) by LEPUS

Andov the Weak was an early hetman of the Rus (the tribe would eventually become the nation of Russia) who, it is thought by modern historiographers, earned his sobriquet from a childhood illness (perhaps polio?), but achieved his status through the brilliance of his mind that could easily encompass the strategy, and tactics, of what was essentially early cavalry warfare (plus politics!): he would doubtless have been a good modern Bridge player.

So, (from an early manuscript) let's see Andov the Weak in play(!)

♠ void   ♥ AT9   ♦ AKT853 ♣ A965

♠ Q843  ♥ KJ86  ♦ 64          ♣ KQT

[1♦] [1♥] / [2♣] [3N] / [4♥] End.

Some explanation of the bidding might help. The Rus opening bid was always sound, while the two-level rebid guaranteed not less than 15 HCP, hence the game jump (which otherwise might have seemed intemperate). His partner must have said, "Four Hearts looks safer, partner!"

The opening lead of ♦ 2 (an obvious singleton) gave pause for thought. One method might be ♣ K, Spade ruff, ♣ Q, Spade ruff. ♥ A. ♣ A then pitch a Spade on the 13th Club, if the Club suit proves to be 3:3. However, at the table, that play, while close, would have failed, losing a Spade, and three trump tricks. Not that any method (double dummy) is totally secure.

After winning the Diamond, ♥ T was passed, and won the trick. ♣ K, followed by a small Diamond, and LHO ruffed, and exited a Club to the ♣ J. ♣ Q. ♥ A followed and a low Diamond was ruffed with ♥ J, and over-ruffed (oops). LHO exited a trump, overtaken in hand by ♥ K, and then ♥ 8 drew the last trump. Dummy was now high.

LHO seems to have started with something like: - ♠ Axxx ♥ Qxxxx ♦ x ♣ xxx.

If the opening lead is a Spade, it is ruffed and, using the two high Club entries, another two Spades are ruffed. When ♣ A reveals that this suit breaks, the last Club is played and ,when RHO ruffs, the last Spade is pitched, forcing LHO to discard the ♠ A. Now a Spade, ruffed low, and over-ruffed, will end-play LHO. Win the trump exit and lead the last Diamond, and CLAIM.

However, eleven tricks certainly qualifies this as Hand of the Week!