Abbey has opened her Master Class in Hand Evaluation to players from clubs other than her own (ASBC), taking place on Saturday 28^th March 2026 and the same session on Wednesday 8^th April 2026. The seminar will be held at Drayton Parslow Sports and Social Club. Abbey will provide an entertaining and informative mix of teaching, practical advice and exemplar hands. All levels of experience are welcome, you don't need to be partnered. The usual facilities will be available to you - tea, coffee and biscuits, and, of course, the bar will be open at the end so you can chat to each other and to Abbey. £20pp for ASBC-members and £25pp for non-ASBC-members. Abbey regularly plays for England and her style of teaching is relaxed, and fun. Follow this link for more details and to book a place.

Only one slam this week which, according to the computer, can’t be made. On Board 22 my partner and I bid 4H, something also done by surprisingly few pairs although I suppose East, with a singleton, is not going to get excited about playing in Hearts. I managed 12 tricks but it was made easy for me when South returned J clubs after winning the initial diamond lead. The J,Q, K and Ace of clubs went away on this trick, leaving the suit established and a clear path to 12 tricks. One pair, however, bid the slam and got an unhelpful trump lead. It’s still possible to set up the clubs by leading, say, the 10 from hand, needing North to put the king up and I imagine that must be what happened; if North does not play the king, the slam cannot be made. The successful pair last night, dropping strong hints that this should be HotW, offered to tell me the bidding. Not wanting to be influenced, I declined their offer but now I wish I had listened as there does not seem an obvious path to 6H, with each partner having a singleton in the other’s main suit. It probably depends on whether East chooses to open the bidding, which will get West excited. My partner did open as East but NS interfered in diamonds and I eventually had to guess and pull out the 4H card which ended the bidding. Anyway, whatever their auction, well done, Mike and Jonathan.