Editorial

With one notable exception, it has been good news for Staffordshire Bridge over the last quarter. Let's start with the bad news.

John Hudson, former secretary of SCBA and maybe the one who has done more for Staffordshire Bridge than any other, is leaving for a new home in Spain. John made his thoughts felt at both County and National level, and the green points in this years Bearn and Staffs Cup are directly due to Johns efforts. John has made a farewell contribution, and while we will all feel some sadness over his departure, after you have read it, maybe there will be a little envy too.

It seems the Spanish have bridge as well as the weather!

The good news that is being covered in reports are:

• Staffordshire win the Midland heat of the Tollemache
• Bob Beech's team defeats Sowter in the Gold Cup
• Staffs Cup report: Perry v Mallett
• Muggins makes his debut!

JIM RILEY'S LETTER

Staffordshire is about to lose one of its leading Bridge Personalities. John Hudson is leaving shortly to live in Spain. John has had various successes at the bridge table, winning the First Division Teams of Four League, playing for the County, and so on. However I am sure he will be most remembered for his administrative flair.

I first met John at a County Management Meeting; it was the first time for both of us. In minutes he had 'set the place on fire'. Within a few weeks he became the County Secretary. At that time the County was at a low ebb but John inspired us all. I became County Chairman and was privileged to work with John for the next three years. During this time he reorganized the Bearn and most of the County competitions. County membership went up and so did the morale of the County. We owe much to John, green points for County events being only one of John's crusades at the EBU Management Meetings. Not the easiest of men but one I am proud to have been associated with. I must not forget Rene, his long-suffering wife. She sacrificed a lot for the County as well. Good luck and thanks Mr and Mrs Hudders. Spain won't be the same again.

Jim Riley

JOHN HUDSON'S LETTER

The Old Villa
Alsager
27th January 1982 S-O-T, ST7 2LR

Dear Les,

Thank you very much for kindly inviting me to write a farewell letter.

For those who do not know, I had finally to give up my losing battle to stay at work and Renee and I have bought a farm cottage 3½ kilometers from Javea (pronounced Havea) Alicante in the foot hills of the mountaims that surround this lovely very old small Spanish agricultural market town and 1½ kilometers from Benitachell, a lovely country village. We took up residence there in September of last year and intend to live there; if only the rogue cells in my body would be a bit less active we would be there now, and we hope to go for a much longer stay on March 31st.

Javen - Denia - and Morairs are also small fishing ports nestling on this land promontory where the mountains come down to the sea 40 kilometres north of Benidorm. The foothills are a mass of white dots where the northern Europeans have migrated to the warmth of Spain ; but as yet insufficient villas have been built to spoil the area. On Tuesdays Javea market is a kaleidoscope of activity and we do our weekly food shopping there. The small farmers who bring produce for sale are the most delightful rogues and personalities you could wish to meet; goods are cheap even to the obvious tourist and even cheaper still when you have learnt to say in broken Spanish (always with a broad smile - never in anger) "How much would it be if I were not an English tourist?" and "How much does it weigh if you take your thumb off the weight pan?"

I am telling you this because we play a lot of bridge in the area and I want to try to persuade you to come and join the circle for two, three or four weeks, or more if retired, during the months of April, May, June September, October, November; these, weather wise, are the prime months out of season when accommodation is cheap and discount flights are relatively easy to come by; its too damn hot in July and August, very overcrowded and expensive. You wouldn't come on a bridge holiday so much as a holiday with bridge. So what's the scene?

I am busy trying to help build up a bridge club in Javea. We play Tuesdays and get an average of eight tables; the standard is only slightly below club standard in Staffordshire. We have only just started duplicate - before, all English clubs played partnership rubber bridge - I don't find partnership rubber bridge - as opposed to cut in - too bad a game; however duplicate is catching on fast. It was not popular at first - you can see how great a boost it would give us if we have 4, 8 or 12 visiting pairs each month playing in our duplicate night. We also play at Denia B.C. which is run by a nucleus of Dutch people in a lovely country club with restaurant facilities and waiter service to the bridge room. Standard - every bit as good as club bridge here and truly international - Dutch, French, German, Spanish and English. On Tuesdays we play an average of 11 tables on Fridays sadly only 5 or 6. The format - bridge starts at four and goes on until eight; yes, a bit slow but you must remember time is no object. You then dine - you don't have to - but at 550 Pts for a three course dinner with wine on the house, why not? Meanwhile three avid committee members knock out a result on a portable computer and in forty minutes the results go up on the board, and wine is distributed down to 6th place. The three top pairs receive a bottle of top quality wine from the club cellar, a bottle to each player; the next three pairs get a bottle of plonk per player. So ignorant is my palate for wine I prefer the plonk - on two counts - I like it better and the bottles are much larger; this is all to the good since we usually finish 5th to 9th. The phrase 'knock out a result' was chosen with care because rumour has it that the computer is programmed to see that the wine is widely distributed amongst competitors - so what - it's all good fun. Again you can see how an influx of holiday players would liven the proceedings, especially on Fridays. Monday evening and Thursday evening, if you have a mind, you can play partnership rubber at Moraira B.C. standard very mixed - but watch it - the odd pair will surprise you. The committee are trying to start duplicate - there are normally 5 to 8 tables in play, again, a few visitors would go a long way to making duplicate a viable alternative.

On many weekends you can play in a Spanish Congress; these are immense fun and nothing like the dour, rather surly play at one of our Congresses. The Spanish "EBU" is organized in provinces, each province has a Congress circuit. We play in the Valencia circuit; the circuit issues "Monster Points" - Spanish "Greens". Their system is just as daft as our system(memo - I must NOT get embroiled in this one). According to your holding of points you are graded A or B or "unplayable with" (unplayable with's are still allowed to enter). Renee and I are "unplayable with" (not surprising, as she has to put up with my histrionics); she did try feeding me a special relaxing pill before one congress with disastrous results; I played nearly every contract in 6 or 7 of something doubled; and burst into fits of uncontrolled laughter as I went 2-3- or 4 off doubled. However I was telling you about the format.

Saturday - you play duplicated hands in sections of 11 tables and scoring is across the board. This sorts you out for Sunday into an 11 table Grade A final, an 11 table Grade B final and the rest into the "unplayable with" final. We managed to sneak into the Grade A final to play for a first prize of 20,000 Pts. But three Spanish Grade A pairs had failed to make the cut (a grade A pair cannot win a Grade B prize). So the lowest placed non-grade A qualifiers have to make way for them. You have a carry forward score so the referee pats you on the back and says "Never mind, you'll walk off with the Grade B prize - a mere 10,000 Pts. We approached Sunday with great expectations, and we blew it - NO, I blew it. Your entry fee includes a prize-giving dinner - and this is special, a real fiesta. EVERYONE but everyone gets a prize. I personally found it a bit embarrassing when the 56th, 57th, 58th pairs went to choose their prizes - but even these can be worth £2 per person; moreover it doesn't seem to embarrass them. The applause, shouting, and wise cracks that greet each pair was deafening, the noise not in proportion to their skill but their popularity on the circuit. It does not pay to be an ungracious opponent on the Valencia circuit.

Well, I hope I have wet your appetite for a visit to Javea. We would be delighted to act as couriers to any group of players wishing to try a spell here. We might be able to help with accommodation and flights. I am actively negotiating with Saga and Portland to try and get some sort of bridge activity holiday in the Javea area. Now I must take my leave.

I enjoyed every minute of my stint as Secretary and would like to thank everyone who helped me. I would like to congratulate those who have carried on rebuilding the county's fortunes; especially this years committee who I feel have made some excellent innovations to the County events. My largest thanks must go to Jim Riley whose constant support and encouragement helped me through many a bad patch, and whose wisdom as a chairman was superb; and to Les Broomfield and Basil Cooke and all who worked unstintingly to make my central venue project a success. Maybe I'm prejudiced but I find our bridge room at Stafford second to none in Staffordshire and better than most of the venues that I have played at in our neighbouring counties. it has come a long way from when I persuaded a reluctant Stafford B.C. committee to join forces with us and take on two derelict rooms in the members' pavilion. I bought the wrong kind of heater, green mould grew on the walls and, finally, the roof fell in - only Jim and I know how much stick I had to take. I don't think my staunchest critic will now begrudge me praise that I stuck to my guns - nor will I forget the support from a small band of stalwarts led by Les and Basil. I still have one brick to throw; last night I played in the (what should be) teams selection trials pairs league (9½ tables). If only our top flight and better than average players (the large number who were there excepted) would give up only 7 night per year to support this event we could easily have 14 tables; a first and second division of 7 tables playing a Howell movement providing team play experience to pairs who aspire to a second team place against the best players in the County. It just must be the right way to do things; what a boost it would give to County morale.

And now a hand from the Denia Congress that helped to loose yours truly 10,000 Pts. Cover the page and work down to the full happening - it's interesting.

Renee and I say farewell, thank you for your help and company; come and see us in Javea. If you think you can assist drop us a line. We won't be really settled until September - we've no electricity for starters and I have only just dispensed with the line and bucket to draw water from our well.
Finally a special thank you to those who visited me in hospital and wrote to me when I was at a low ebb.

Sincerely,

John Hudson

PS We have room to accommodate caravans at our cottage and would welcome a visit from any caravanning bridge players.

NEWS... NEWS... NEWS...

Congratulations to Bob Beech on his promotion to Life Master.

Oncoming Events

• County Mixed Pairs Stafford 21st March
• Bearn Semi-final Stafford 25th April (NEW DATE)
• Bearn Final Stafford 2nd May
• A.G.M. Stafford 7th May

Results

County Men's Pairs

1. Martin + Leese
2. Beech + Beavon

County Ladies' Pairs

1. Mrs Kitchenham + Mrs Hudson
2. Mrs Gane + Mrs Sumberg

County Individual

1. D. Downs
2. Mrs Dumbleton
3. R. Trounce

County Novices Pairs

1. R. Stubbs + Miss M. Swale

Staffs Cup - Rounds I and II

K. Slyde (Mrs Slyde, R. Steele, A. Hatrick) Beat D. Davies by 19 imps
F. Dumbleton (Mrs E. Dumbleton, I. Steele, Mrs C. Johnson) beat R. Cartwright by 79 imps
R. Perry (G. Feltbower, D. Downs, D. Sartain) beat A. Mallett by 21 imps
J. Riley (L. Kendall, Mrs G. Derry, Mrs E. Watterson) beat G. Thomas by 38 imps
M. Harris (P. Jones, C. Barnard, I. Pendlebury) beat Mrs M. Dash by 10 imps
Mrs S. Anslow (Mrs Harrop, Mrs Jamieson, Mrs Thomson) beat A. Wilkinson by 46 imps
R. Threlfall (Mrs W. Threlfall, A. Tabbernor, Mrs P. Tabbernor) beat S. Jarvis by 43 imps

The above winning teams collect ¼ green point each and join the teams receiving a bye in the second round.
K. Slyde beat M. Horsley by 87 imps
R. Stubbs beat F. Dumbleton by 23 imps
R. Beech beat L. Broomfield by 78 imps
R. Perry beat L. Meredith by 58 imps
J. Wernick beat R. Martin by 13 imps
J. Riley beat Mrs E. St. John Jones by 69 imps
M. Harris beat Mrs S. Anslow by 87 imps
Mrs P. Poxon beat R. Threlfall by 80 imps

The above winning teams collect ½ green point each and proceed into the quarter-finals where the winners will be playing for ¾ green point.

TOLLEMACHE (INTER-COUNTY TEAMS OF 8 CHAMPIONSHIP)        Bob Beech

The Staffordshire team of A. Bloxham/G. Davies; P. Topley/P. Tottenham; G. Link/R. Keane; D. Beavon/R. Beech just avoided throwing away their massive lead earned on the Saturday of the Midlands Heat of the Tolle to scramble home winners on the Sunday and join other Area winners in the final at the Grand Hotel, Birmingham on 27/28 February.

The senior pair of Phil Topley and Peter Tottenham with one notable lapse by Peter - an 1100 penalty- were at their most consistent during the weekend. Graham Link gave little away and brought back many wondrous results to their waiting teammates - they were always last to finish but their scores were always worth waiting for. The slam bidding of Arthur Bloxham and Geoff Davies was aggressive (naturally) and successful. It needed to be to nullify the indifferent slam bidding of Dave Beavon and Bob Beech - who tell me that next to being dummy, defence is their strong point.

A hand from the weekend:

With spades breaking 2-2 and clubs 4-3, the heart finesse was not needed and 13 tricks rolled in. But the bidding!!

(1) Beavon - thinks - should be a slam here if partner's trumps are good and he has a heart control. Let's try 4D (an unnecessary jump agrees trumps and shows first round control.
(2) Beech - thinks - Hallo, I've heard this sequence before, now where was it? Swiss! That's it. 13-15 points without 2 aces and a third feature. Better sign off in 4S.
(3) Beavon - thinks - I wonder if that idiot opposite has taken my 4D as Swiss? Impossible, even he couldn't think that I could raise to game with a 13-15 point hand. Must have at least 2 heart losers. Better pass it out.

Team Result

Flat board - no swing. Well, that's what teammates are for isn't it?

STAFFORDSHIRE CUP - ROUND I REPORT        Bob Beech

Congratulations to the teams of Slyde, Dumbleton, Riley, Mrs Anslow, Threlfall, and Harris for winning their first round matches and joining the teams of Horsley, Stubbs, Beech, Broomfield, Meredith, Wernick, Martin and Mrs St. John Jones, who received a bye in the second round of the competition. The big match of the first round was undoubtedly that between Tony Mallett ( Geoff Salwey, Arthur Bloxham, Geoff Davies ) and Roger Perry (Geoff Feltbower, Dave Downs, Dave Sartain). Your reporter was there to record the details for posterity. The line up remained unchanged throughout the 32 boards, at Table 1 Perry/Feltbower N/S. Mallett/Salwey E/W and at Table 2. Bloxham/ Davies N/S, Sartain/Downs E/W.

Questions first.

1. Vulnerable partner opens 4H, do you make a try with

2. Game all you hold

What do you bid?

3. And finally you hold

1. The very first board at Table 1 (board 5) produced a 13 imp swing.

At Table 1 Perry played safe and made an overtrick (+650). At Table 2 Bloxham played to drop the KQ diamonds in three rather than taking a ruffing spade finesse and relying on a 4/3 diamond break. The result -100 and 13 imps to Perry but had it made it would have been 13 imps to Mallett.

2. It was not until two boards later (board 7) that the next double figure imp swing took place.

At Table 1 Perry went a quiet one off in his contract (-100) whilst at Table 2 Davies with his heart lead missed his one chance of defeating the contract with diamond/diamond/diamond ruff. Sartain made his contract (+750) and that was a further 12 imps to Perry instead of 7 imps to Mallett. A further 12 imps to Perry on board 2 following an inspired opening lead from Sartain against a vulnerable 3NT, together with bits and pieces off the other boards, left Perry with a lead of 42 imps after 8 boards.

The second set was notable for its flatness, four swings of 2 imps each equally shared between the teams. The third set produced one hand of interest to your reporter where, following a Bloxham "competitive" double, Davies doubled the final vulnerable 4S contract holding ª Q9xx and § Ax. He made those two tricks but Sartain made the rest. Plus 990 and a further 7 imps to Perry.

3. With a lead of 46 imps going into the last 8 boards, Perry might have wished for a set of boards similar to the second set. It was not to be, Mallett picked up 45 imps with typical aggressive bidding on boards 25, 27, 30, 31 and 32 and when the smoke had cleared.......but first, have a look at board 26.

At table 1 6S duly made and, thanks to the 3-3 diamond break, an overtrick appeared (+1460).

At table 2, the (?) lead directing double of the 2H negative produced the final nightmare contract of 2H redoubled. Thanks to the same kind breaks that permitted 7S to make, 2H redoubled just made on top tricks. Who was to blame? Davies maintains that that had Bloxham bid 2S instead of passing the redouble, his next bid was 5NT Grand Slam Force. Bloxham would show Hxxxx and the Grand slam would be bid. In any event it was 12 imps to Perry instead of 13 imps to Mallett. This swing together with an optimistic vulnerable 3NT by Bloxham going two off and one flat board(!) completed the final set. So it's congratulations to the Perry team who held on to win by 21 imps.

GOLD CUP REPORT

After comfortable victories against moderate teams in the initial rounds Bob Beech's team of David Beavon, John Morgan and Roger Keene had the misfortune to draw the seeded team of Sowter/Lodge (back from their Bermuda Bowl jaunt), Forrester/Brock and Kirby/Armstrong (Internationals all) in Round 4. The opposition, who converged on Stafford Bridge Club from all parts of the country, were 17 imps up after the first set of 8 boards and a further 7 imps after the next set. Then, with the prospect of food in the offing, we pulled back 10 imps, leaving us 14 imps down at tea. Suitably nourished and with the opposition sleeping (or suffering from indigestion), after the meal we picked up 25 imps. With this lead of 11 imps after 32 boards Bob went across to the opposition to thank them for the game. They regretfully pointed out, however, that the match was over 48 boards, so battle resumed.

A storming session by John and Roger in this set helped to balance out the indifferent results, of their team mates and hold the opponents to a gain of 1 imp. With 10 imps up and one set to play, a switch was called for and John and Roger took on Forrester/Brock whilst David and Bob played Sowter/Lodge. Flat boards were what we needed and flat boards is what we got. Another 3 imps came our way and we had won by 14 imps!

One hand haunts me from this match -

(1) Baron 2NT - 16+ points
(2) I am not sure whether he is supporting me on a trebleton as he does not normally bid 2NT with 4 card support. I will try a temporising bid of 3NT.
(3) His 4C must now guarantee four card support for spades and as I have nice shape and controls - BASH

Now the play with an opening lead of a small spade. Thinks for two minute, reject the line of ruffing out clubs, decide to find the heart Queen. Play low from dummy on the opening lead (in case of singleton Jack with East) and win with the Queen. Cash spade King and note that both follow. A spade towards dummy reveals west started with Jxx, East discards a club. Diamond x from dummy (safeguard in case East shows out or plays a stiff King) to my 8 and West's Jack. Small club from West, reject the finesse, and play the Ace. Diamond Queen, small, small, small! One hurdle over, now where is that heart Queen? Diamond 10, King, Ace, small club. Stop again and consider alternate lines of play. Technically correct is probably a diamond to the 10, club ruff, heart to the King, last trump and heart to the Ace if club King has not appeared. This wins with singleton or doubleton heart Queen or club King and heart Queen in the same hand. Reject this and run the heart Jack. Opening my eyes I see that it has held the trick. Home and dry!

Reasoning behind the play -

(1) Opening lead. Good players seldom lead from Jxx trumps against a slam as it might give a trick if partner holds Qx. So he was probably stuck for a lead.
(2) Imperfect shuffle rule. With no clues to guide you Queens will slightly more often sit over Jacks.
(3) Instinct. I felt he had that heart Queen.

His hand was Jxx; Qxxx, Jx; Kxxx but no swing resulted from the board as 6S was played by North at the other table with a club lead into the AQ.

After thoughts (from our kibitzer Graham Link) instead of running the J, play heart to the King, heart back to the Ace, then run the Jack. Gaining with a doubleton or singleton Queen with East being picked up.

Never mind - all's well that ends well!

CLUB SCENE

Wolverhampton Bridge Club

The Series Competitions run on Tuesday and Thursday nights from July to December aroused some interest but not as much as was hoped for.

Beginners' classes which ere started at regular intervals, on different nights, continuo to be full subscribed and anyone with friends who wish to learn can have full details by telephoning Peter Tottenham on Wolverhampton 20927

Tettenhall bridge Club

Despite the wretched conditions outdoors, the Tettenhall Club had a good turn-out for their Annual. Christmas Bridge party at their headquarters at Wolverhampton Cricket Club. The teams bridge was limited to 18 tables and 14 teams braved the weather to attend. Members were given a glass of punch and free food for a nominal 50p - and the members of each of the first 10 teams received a prize! The winners were Mrs. Sheila Green, Mrs. Elsa Williams, Paul Barrow and Mrs. Jessica Jacobi. Other members arrived after the bridge for a social when music was provided. Mrs.Maya Twine and her helpers provided the food and Ken Slyde organised the movement and mixed the punch!

HERE IT IS! 'Muggins makes his debut. These are the humorous adventures as retold by my Northern Roving Reporter (sorry I can't say who he is, as Roy Martin would like to remain anonymous).

1. BRIDGE PLAYER EXTRAORDINARY - MUGGINS REFLECTS

Once every blue moon I plan bridge with the Welsh Pedlar, ("If it's soft and sticky or coated in chocolate I can sell it", is his proud boast.) Now you know why Wales ' most popular disease is dental caries.

We figure we're a pretty hot pair so to give the rest of you n chance we handicap ourselves by playing Imprecision Club - you know, that system where Club bids don't show Clubs, Diamond bids don't show Diamonds, one Spade is bal­anced and one Notrump shows Spades - Hearts are still natural but we're working on it.

Anyway, we're playing in a friendly team of four match and somehow the half-time comparison of score cards show us to be 20 imps down; unbelievable! We pointed out to our teammates the 4 spade contract they didn't bid on a combined 19 count; they countered, unfairly I thought, with the 1 diamond contract we played in on the same board which went 4 off vulnerable. A 3-3 fit 10xx opposite Jxx with a 10 card club fit outside, was just unlucky - diabolical opponents drew trumps and cashed umpteen spades.

The second half seemed to be going quite well and when the last board arrived we figured to have cut a big hole in those 21 imps: The Bidding:-

The opening Club lead gave me a lot to do ...
7C - 1 in our room, 3NT + 1 in the other ....
We lost the match by 7 imps ....
No- you knew why my partners politely refer to me as extraordinary and my opponents know me as 'Muggins'.

2. NATIONAL PAIRS 1977 - MUGGINS TRIUMPHANT

So there we were, at the Midland Pairs Championships, having qualified from our local Club, (Bellepel inexplicably didn't overbid and I managed to make a few contracts - so we actually won our local heat), and at last being able to challenge the big boys on their own turf. They were very pleased to see us, judging by the delighted expressions they wore as we left their tables - mind you, the tops we gave them might have had something to do with it.

The 147th board of the session (at least it felt like the 147th) saw us with the following hands:

Vulnerable against not I opened 1 Spade ('A bit thin', you say; Nonsense! A typical sound Muggins opener considering the rubbish I'm usually dealt) and the bidding proceeded fluently:

Opponent started with a (singleton) spade lead and after drawing trumps in two rounds (among my many accomplishments the ability to subtract 10 from 13 is one of my strongest - I admit to having difficulties when opponents have 5 or 6 trumps and tend to go to pieces when they have 7 or 8, which they frequently do) I led the diamond from dummy. Right hand opponent shot up with the Ace and led a heart all in the same movement. (I discovered later it had something to do with a discard her partner had made - I hate these clever Dick players, don't you?), so I played the Q as would anybody (What'd you mean you wouldn't?) and it was covered by the King. Needless to say the Clubs didn't break (surprise! surprise!) and 6s - 1 wasn't too good a score - zero out of 182 to be exact.

On the way back in the car it came to me, so I explained it to Bellapel: "Play the small Heart taking dummy's Ace. Return to hand with a trump and ruff a Diamond; now run trumps and cash the King of Diamonds - if an opponent began with 4 Clubs and the King of Hearts he will be squeezed.

West held

so I would have made it. Bellapel put a damper on my triumph by remarking "It's called the Vienna Coup and it's a pity it didn't occur to you at the table where it counts".

BOY OH BOY, PARTNERS CAN BE A REAL PAIN SOMETIMES ....

The next Bulletin will before the A.G.M. and will therefore include any articles that need to be discussed at the A.G.M. Contributions by 11th April, please.

Stop Press: Staffs Cup Semi-final line-up:
Slyde v Beech
Riley v Harris

Editor: LES KENDALL, Bromfield Crescent, Wednesbury, West Midlands, WS10 0TS