Well this week, provoked by Ted, we experienced an 'arrow switch'. On the last round, the moving pairs became North-South. This mixing effect makes the scores more comparable, though it did cause some confusion!

And we had a tie this week (on a very good 68% score) - between Elizabeth Twine & Jan Allen and John Dourleyn & Lesley Garner. Well done to both pairs.
Elizabeth and Jan frequently do well in their unobtrusive way. I am going to nickname them the Quiet Assassins - we'll see if they live up to it!

It's not often you have 7-card support for partner's opening bid and two singletons to boot. This was East's situation on board 15. The hand only had four points but how many tricks will it produce? Loads. 
I'm pleased you all reached game. Anne Hague and Bernard Stacey actually made 4H doubled giving them a top and helping them to their third place finish.

We looked at how declarer should handle trumps. Most of the time, you should be trying to draw the enemy trumps to stop them trumping your winners while retaining your remaining trumps to keep control of the hand. 
But, there are times when this is not the right policy and the most frequent reason is when you want to use the hand with the shorter trumps for trumping in. 

Attached is one of the hands we discussed and it brings out an important principle:
Remember: trumping in the hand with fewer trumps gains you a trick (trumping in the hand with the longer trumps doesn't).
In the example, the two heart ruffs both gained a trick giving you 10 tricks overall instead of eight.

Colin

North

♠   K 10 4

♥   6

♦   J 7 6 3 2

♣   K 7 5 2

South

♠   A Q J 9 7

♥   10 5 3

♦   A 5

♣   A 8 3

South reaches on optimistic 4♠ contract and West leads the Q♣.

South has 8 tricks on top – 5 spades, the A♦ and the A, K♣.

If you draw trumps (this will take three rounds) prospects for extra tricks are remote and as soon as the defence get in they will cash heart winners.

Instead, make use of that singleton in dummy and aim to ruff hearts in dummy. Each time you do it will be worth an extra trick.

So win the first trick with K♣ and play a heart. The defence will see what you are up to and may well return a spade (there is nothing better for them). Win this in hand and trump a heart. Cross to A♦ and trump another heart. Cross to A♣ and cash your trump winners, conceding the last two tricks.

You have made your 8 top tricks AND two extra trump tricks in dummy!

Footnote: the only defence is for West to lead a trump at trick one and play another trump when declarer plays a heart. Then declarer will only be able to get one ruff in dummy.

Sorry for the delay in getting the results out - but Heather and I had a super few days in London (despite England's batting collapse!).

Those not attending on Thursday missed a treat - Anne Hague brought in two splendid gateaux in celebration of her birthday. Thank you, Anne.

John Dourleyn and the experienced Sandra Cavaciuti finished some way ahead in the bridge, leaving a tie for second between Marilyn Sheppard & John Cavaciuti and Julie Vennard & Ted Heath.
Roger  & Doreen were evidently resting on their laurels after their excellent showing at the Open Evening.

We looked at the 'barrier' in the teaching slot (see notes attached).
Remember: If, as opener, you bid a second suit above the barrier, you are showing a stronger hand (15+ points).
                    With a weaker hand (12-14), rebid the first suit rather than going above the barrier.
In any case rebidding a second suit shows at least 5-4 in the two suits (except for some dreaded 4-4-4-1 hands which we will cover on another occasion).

Colin

The ‘barrier’

When does it apply?

   Rather over-hyped, the ‘barrier’ applies when opener has two suits, at least 5-4.

It is to do with opener’s rebid. Bidding above the barrier shows extra strength because responder is forced to bid at the three level in order to play in the first suit bid.

What level is the barrier?

   Having opened one of the longer suit, the barrier is set at two of that suit.

What do I do on weak openers 12-14?

   If balanced we should always open 1NT, but with a 5-4 hand (or more shapely) open 1 of the longer suit. Over partner’s response, bid the 4-card suit only if it is below the barrier. If it would be above the barrier, rebid the first suit instead, showing at least 5 cards in the suit. Responder can then stop at a low level unless they have an interest in game.

What do I do on stronger hands 15+?

   Open 1 of the longer suit but rebid the second suit even if it is above the barrier. This gives much more information and allows the auction to develop naturally. Bids above the barrier show the stronger hand as well as the unbalanced shape.

Examples

In the last example, note that a weak hand can bid 2♣ as it is below the barrier.  With a really strong hand (19 points say), make a jump bid 3♣ on the second round to make sure game is reached.

Despite the holiday season we had nearly full six tables, which is very encouraging.

North-South pairs were scored separately this week from East-West pairs, but by coincidence the winners each way had the same score.
Well done to Ted Heath & Julie Vennard and Marion Symons & Elizabeth Twine.

I am keeping the notes short this week, but I intend to send out another e-mail tomorrow covering the Friday Open Evening results.

We will be back to normal Thursday bridge next week (July 16), including some teaching on playing bridge rather than the mechanics.
That said, you all seemed to cope with the Bridgemates without too much difficulty!

Colin 
 

Well, I hope you've all got over the technology buzz(?) from using the Bridgemates! They are confusing at first but I thought you all picked it up remarkably quickly.
We will be using them next Thursday too in order to gain familiarity before the Open Evening on Friday July 10th.

A good number of you already have your names down for the Friday. You are all invited of course - just let me know if you would like to come.
Most of you are coming with a partner, but it's not essential (just like on a Thursday).

I expect you saw the results on the computer last night but they are copied below. A 'top' on a board was 10 and the different Maximum score reflects the different number of boards played.
The ranking is based on the percentage scored.

The Bridgemates rather precluded any bridge teaching, but a number of points arose at the table.
a) Holding a weak hand (say, 5 to 9 points) and a 7-card suit, you can open at the three level - and very effective it is too. But what do you do with a stronger hand and a 7-card suit?
The danger of opening a stronger hand at the 3-level is that you are liable to miss game. So, simply open at the one-level and rebid the suit next time round at the 2, 3 or 4-level depending on how strong you are. 
b) I was asked by several of you what to bid on this hand  in response to partner's opening 1S bid  -   S  Q x x,   H  K J x x,   D  A x x,  C  K Q x.
The most practical bid is 3NT - we have the points between us and it is a completely flat hand. 
c) This was the spade suit on one hand: Dummy A J x x,  Declarer K Q x. Playing in No Trumps you can make all four tricks without wasting an entry to dummy by playing the king and queen first and then crossing to the ace and jack.
It is easy to gaily play off the ace first but this blocks the suit and, if there's no outside entry to dummy, the jack will be stranded.Remember: Play the honours from the short suit first.

Just to say there is bridge next Thursday (as well as Friday),

Colin 

The top three (with not a helper in sight) finished well ahead of the field. So, well done to -
Marion Symons and Rob Bagshaw who won with 62%, and Marilyn Sheppard & John Cavaciuti, Anne Moyle & Angela Snow second equal on 60%.

I pick out Anne and Angela here for recovering extremely well after some early revoking! People do revoke (i.e. by discarding when they could follow suit).
It's not a major crime and the Director can sort it out - it's often a one trick penalty (but not always). 
Remember: You can try to prevent your partner revoking by asking them politely " Having none?" when they show out of a suit.

Generally, I think you are all progressing very well. Bridge is not an easy game to pick up and there is always more to learn, which is what makes it so interesting.

There was a play point on hand 1. This was the spade suit:    West  10 7 2,    East  K Q 6 5.  East was playing the hand.
The best chance of making tricks is to lead low from dummy hoping North has the ace. If they play it, you will make both your K and Q and perhaps a third one if the suit breaks 3-3.
If North doesn't play the ace (their best play), you will win with the king and then have to enter dummy on a different suit to lead another spade towards the queen.
As it happened North did hold A x x, South J x x and three tricks could be made in the suit.
Remember: Lead towards your honours, if necessary more than once.

We went through the use of the Stop and Alert cards at the beginning  and also Announcing the meaning of some of the more common bids like the 1NT range and Stayman.
Remember: It is the partner of the person making the bid who  makes the announcent or waves the Alert card.

A good number of you are coming to the Open evening on Friday July 10 (thank you for supporting it). If there are others who can make it you will be most welcome.
Details are attached and can also be found on Jackie's website.

Colin

Stop Cards, Announcing and Alerting

The procedures are set by the English Bridge Union and do change from time to time!

Stop Cards

   Procedure. Whenever you make a jump bid, you should produce the Stop Card and face it on the table before making the bid. The stop card should be left there for about ten seconds and then placed back in the box. Your left hand opponent should not bid during this period.

   Why is this? It is to give your left hand opponent a chance to think in what may be an awkward situation without giving information to their partner. Without this, players would pause over, say, a 3♥ opening and then pass, which compromises their partner.

   What is a jump bid? It is a bid where the player could have bid in the same denomination at a lower level.

Examples of jump bids:  3♠  or  1♥ 2♠  or  1♥ 2NT  or 1♦ 3♣,  but not  1♠ 2♥.

Announcing

   When your partner makes one of the following bids, you should announce its meaning.

Note that it is the partner who makes the announcement and that it only applies to these specific bids.

Alerting

   Procedure. When your partner makes a call which is not natural, you should show your Alert Card to both opponents. Example, your partner opens 2♣.

   Why is this? The idea is to draw the attention of the opponents to a call which may have a special meaning.

Either opponent may ask the partner of the bidder about the meaning of the bid but only when it is their turn to call. Indeed this applies to any bid, not just ones that have been alerted.

   Alerting exceptions. The following calls should not be alerted:

Most calls above 3NT even if artificial, so don’t alert 4NT Blackwood, for example.

Doubles of natural suit bids if for ‘take out’; doubles of NT bids if for penalties.

Problems

   Things not infrequently go amiss. If in any doubt, call the tournament director … but do so in a way which respects your opponents, not in an aggressive manner. You are merely seeking to have a situation clarified.

Much closer this week and a win for Marilyn Sheppard and John Cavaciuti by 1 point (gaining an 1100 penalty on board 10 helped!).
The runners-up were Ted Heath and Jeff Parsons (good to see you there, Jeff - and Ted of course but he is one of the regulars).

Hand of the week. Board 5.
North:  S  A 10 x,  H  K Q x x,   D  K x x x,  C  J x.
South:  S  K Q,      H  A 10 x x,  D  A x x x,  C  x x x.
Recommended bidding:  North 1NT (12-14), South 2C (Stayman), North 2H, South 4H.
Recommended play:  If the opponents start with three rounds of clubs, trump the third round and draw trumps in three rounds. 
Then you should make 10 tricks  - three spades (as long as you keep KD as an entry to make the AS), four hearts, two diamonds and the ruff.

Yes it was a chance to use Stayman (which we covered last week)! When North opens 1NT, South could go straight to 3NT but on the way it is better to find out if there  is a 4-4 fit in hearts.
Star pair on this hand - Marion Symons (who bid Stayman) and Rob Bagshaw (who made the contract). The other scores were 3NT-1 (twice), 3H+1 and 4H-1 (well bid).

As usual, notes are attached on the teaching point - things you should be asking yourself as the bidding progresses. Margaret Lomax seemed particularly on the ball.
Remember: If you can support partner's major suit, do it straightaway (and show how weak or strong you are).

Finally, a reminder that the Taunton Club is holding an 'open evening' on Friday July 10th for people like you to come and play on a club evening.
It starts at 7pm as usual but in the big room next to the kitchen. You are all very welcome and I hope you'll come. I'll talk more about it next week.

Colin
 

Bidding flowchart

In general, bidding a new suit once the auction has started is forcing for one round (partner shouldn’t pass!).

No Trump bids, supporting partner’s suit or rebidding your own suit are all ‘limit’ bids and can be passed,

so bid at the appropriate level (Weak, Encouraging or Strong).

Note that if a minor suit fit is found, it may still be better to play in No Trumps, particularly if you want to be in game (3NT is often easier than 5♣ or 5♦ providing you have a stopper in each suit).

Wow! What a score from Margaret Trump and Jackie Reid - over 76%. They had six tops in twelve boards and their worst score on a hand was 2 out of 6.
Bernard Stacey did well too, scoring 68% with John Angell, often a winning score. 

Board 6 was interesting. South held  S  A Q x x x x,  H  A K x x x,  D  K x,  C  none. This was Bernard's hand and after a pass from East he opened 1S. West, very reasonably, overcalled 2C. North found the enterprising bid of 2S, holding four spades to the K J and nothing else (honours in partner's suit are always good cards). East passed and Bernard went straight to game with 4S (indeed he was contemplating going for a slam). He made 10 tricks as did others, but they weren't in game. Although Bernard only has 16 high card points, the hand has terrific shape. Once he knows there is a spade fit, this is a huge hand. The opponents A K Q J in clubs are completely nullified by the club void and lots of trumps.

Most of you seemed to have a good grasp of Stayman and coped well with the prepared hands. Some notes are attached and copied below.
Remember: 
2C over an opening 1NT asks "do you hold a 4-card major?" (it doesn't show clubs).
The 2D reply to 2C says "I haven't got one" (it doesn't show diamonds).
These artificial so-called 'conventional' bids are by agreement with your partner but nearly every bridge player plays this very useful convention.

The Stayman 2C bidder shows their strength on the next round.
Jump to game on the second round holding 13+ points (we know partner is 12-14).
Make an invitational bid of 2NT or 3 of the major with 11/12 points. Opener can then go to game with 14 points.

I hope to see more of you there next week,
Colin

Stayman 2♣

            Stayman allows you to find a 4-4 fit in a major after a 1NT opening. It’s a ‘conventional’ response of 2♣. This doesn’t show clubs. Instead, it asks partner to show a 4-card major or bid 2♦ without a 4-card major.

When is 2♣ Stayman?

            2♣ is Stayman only when bid by the responder to partner’s 1NT opening or partner’s 1NT overcall.

It doesn’t apply once your side have bid something else.

            Instead of alerting, partner should announce “Stayman” to inform the opponents. This happens with a number of common conventional bids.

Replies to Stayman 2♣

            With both majors bid the hearts first.

Continuations with a game going hand (13+ points opposite a 12-14 1NT bid)

            Simply bid game, either 3NT or, if you have found a 4-4 fit, 4 of the major.

Continuations with an invitational hand (11 or 12 points opposite a 12-14 1NT bid)

            Bid either 2NT or, if you have found a 4-4 fit, 3 of the major. The 1NT bidder should then accept the invitation by advancing to game with a maximum, or passing with a minimum.

            Note that distribution can make up for points if you have found a fit.

Can I bid Stayman on weaker hands?

            On weaker hands, game is unlikely. Bidding 2♣ pushes the bidding up without any guarantee of a fit. Consequently it is often better to pass.

            However, if you can cope with any of the three replies and stay at the 2-level, you can try 2♣.

            2♣ Stayman over 1NT works well on the following weak hands:

5 spades and 4 hearts. Then over a 2♦ reply to Stayman bid 2♠ (to play), or pass if the reply is 2♥ or 2♠.

5 hearts and 4 spades. Then over a 2♦ reply to Stayman bid 2♥ (to play), or pass if the reply is 2♥ or 2♠.

4 spades, 4 hearts and 4 or 5 diamonds. Then pass the reply to Stayman. This may seem risky over a 2♦ reply, but without a 4-card major the 1NT bidder is likely to have at least 3 diamonds, perhaps more.

            These are the main cases when a weak hand can try to improve the contract by bidding 2♣. But don’t do it on hands where you will have to bid 2NT if a fit isn’t found – remember this would invite partner to bid 3NT on a maximum.

Stayman 3♣

            Stayman can also be used over partner’s 2NT opener. The bid now is 3♣ which is also announced as “Stayman”. The replies are very similar:

            Continuations are fairly straightforward, though sometimes you need to think about a slam!

Six tables, our best yet, and a welcome visitor, Peter Stuckey, from Hong Kong (news travels far!).

Doreen Duhaut and Roger Skinner scooped first prize with a 59% score, followed by Julie Vennard and Ted Heath (58%). The full results are attached.

One hand (board 3) was passed out at most tables but John Dourleyn and David Porter managed to get into the bidding and squeezed home in 1NT.

On another hand (board 10) the bidding at the table I saw went 1H Pass Pass to North who held S  Q x x x,  H  x,  D A J x x,  C  A Q x x. What would you bid?
Well done if you thought that double is the bid. It's the perfect shape for a 'take out double' - remember it shows an opening hand, shortage in the suit bid and asks partner to show their longest suit.
Ask me to explain this to you if you weren't at the session which covered this - it is a very useful bid but you and your partner both need to understand it. 

We had a counting session at the beginning.
If Michael Caine played bridge, he would say that "not everyone knows that there are 13 cards in each suit and that 4 cards have gone if everyone follows to a trick", but you do - put it to good use.
Some notes and the hand we played are attached and copied below.

And finally, advanced notice of Taunton Bridge Club's open sess

Colin.ion on Friday July 10 at the Catholic Centre.
This a 7 pm start in the big room, next to where we play on a Thursday. You should all come if you can - it's designed specially for you. It will be a gentle duplicate session for anyone who would like to try it.
I am hoping my wife will give it another go - she's not very experienced but played in it last year and enjoyed it. Table money will be the usual £3.
Please put it in your diary!

Counting

   On a good day, most bridge players can count up to thirteen. But it isn’t always evident!

   It’s not practical to remember every single card that has been played (though it would be useful). But try to keep track of the top honours played and also the number of cards that have gone in at least one suit.

   Playing in a suit contract, it’s important to count the number of trumps that have gone to know how many the opponent’s have left. In No Trumps count the number of cards which have been played in your critical suit.

   It can help to count in fours – every round which has been played to which everyone follows is four cards gone.

   Also, as each suit is played, try to work out the distribution and gradually form a picture of the hand.

   You’ll find this improves with experience, but you do have to concentrate – and this can be difficult, especially towards the end of the evening.

   Bidding:       N         E          S          W        N

                        1♣       1♥        2NT     Pass     3NT     All pass

   Lead:            7♥ to East’s K; the 6♥ is returned to the J, 9 and 5.

   We have 8 tricks on top – two spades, two diamonds, three clubs and the heart we have already made. How can we make a ninth trick? There are possibilities in clubs and diamonds.

   If the clubs break 3-2 we can make an extra club. Play off the A and K and see if they both follow. If they do, eight will have gone, we still have four more between us, so there is only one left. The Q will drop that and our 6♣ will be a winner! Cash that and don’t risk the diamond finesses for an overtrick – if it’s wrong we would go one down.

   But, on the second round of clubs, East discards a small diamond. So, only seven clubs have gone and with our four left, West has two more. We are only going to make our three top club tricks. Now the only chance of making the contract is to take the diamond finesse. So, cross to the A♦ and lead a diamond to the jack. Phew, it wins! And, when we continue with the K♦, East plays a spade and West the Q♦.

   We have our nine tricks, but is that 3♦ a winner or is West mucking about playing the queen? We have had three rounds of diamonds, but East showed out on the last round, so that is eleven gone. The 3♦ makes twelve so is there one left? If you remember East discarding a diamond you will know there isn’t, but to be safe let’s cash the A, K of spades and the Q♣ (that’s nine tricks) and then try the 3♦. Well, we’ve ended up with an overtrick; that should be a good score.

Most people seemed to enjoy our fairly frivolous bridge evening on Thursday and it was very good to see we had 7 tables.
Marion's food was absolutely splendid and we managed to get through a fair few bottles as well!

Thank you all so much for the unexpected gift - I made the mistake of telling my wife Heather about Marion Symon's suggestion so it is now earmarked for a dinner out rather than the more practical train set.
The card was very nice too and I was more discrete with Heather when it came to 'who is Elizabeth the Assassin' - well you can't be too careful.

As for the bridge, the quiz winners were Pat and David Sweet & Lizzie and Tony Davis - your score of 17/20 beat quite a few of our tables when I re-ran it at our Friday Club night yesterday.
The main competition was won by Bernard Stacey (well done) with Elizabeth 'ahem' Twine second on a split tie. The hat competition was won by Jackie Denton-Cox with Ted Heath second and we think Doreen Duhaut was third though Roger went away with the prize.
Now to the serious stuff: prizes went to Ted (for discarding an ace, Julie his partner taking it very well), Lizzie Davis (for taking a trick with a two), Elizabeth (for being the first player to recapture a hat) and Julie Vennard for being the unluckiest player of the evening (not because she has to partner Ted, but for being dealt a Yarborough - that's no card higher than a nine).

The good news is that we are going to resume our Thursday sessions in the New Year. I am planning to run them twice a month with Lesley Garner (the new Club Secretary) doing it once a month. On the other week, we are encouraging you to play on the Friday when quite a few of the club players are away at Woolavington playing in the County League. I am hoping Jackie Moody will be around too - she has been invaluable.
So the dates in January are : Thursday 7th and 14th, Friday 22nd, Thursday 28th. All will start at 7 o'clock as usual. I hope to see you there.

Very best wishes to you all for Christmas and the New Year - remember when you are playing bridge you are not doing the ironing,

Colin

 

The chaotic parking (as a result of the school nativity play) no doubt resulted in some of you not making it. 
Hopefully the problem will not recur next week, although with Christmas shopping it will probably still be busy.

Anyway we still had three tables and we played the same hands as had been played the evening before in a four club 'simultaneous pairs'. The clubs were Taunton, Exeter, Torquay and Newton Abbot.
Using the scores from all four venues we could compare scores with the 64 pairs playing and I have scored our results on that basis, so a 'top' is 62. A 'bottom' is still zero!

Rex Amor & Jackie Moody emerged top scoring 506 to Julie Vennard & Ted Heath's 505, so close. Keith Colman & Moira Grant were third.
However I am sure Rex won't mind that I am awarding first place to Julie and Ted as Jackie was a dubious entry! 

Apologies for losing the traveller for board 4 (I've scored everyone as average on that board). 
It could be a Freudian slip as that was the board I bid to 6S on Wednesday and went one down when the diamonds broke 5-1. I am not expecting a lot of sympathy!

Next week, Thursday December 17th, is our Christmas bridge party. Please come (we can expand into the larger hall if we need to). You don't need a partner.
It's a 7pm start as usual - and there will be some lighthearted bridge (in which party hats play a significant role) along with a quiz and a chance to natter.
Marion Symons is providing most of the food (a big thank you to her) but if you would like to bring something along (a bottle or a small prize) that will be welcome but not necessary.

Colin

Not a great deal for me to say this week, except thank you to those of our Thursday group who were able to play yesterday (we had five pairs).
 

We played 24 boards in 12 rounds so you can see it is a step up from our normal speed of play where we play 15 boards.

Our best pair was Doreen Duhaut and Roger Skinner who always seem to do well in these events. Doreen and Roger finished 15th beating two very experienced pairs. 
Next were Marilyn Sheppard and John Cavaciuti who were 17th beating one of those experienced pairs. But well done to all of you. It is a tough group to play in - but it is a good way to improve.

Roger made the point over tea that, when they looked at the scores after playing a hand, the pairs sitting the same way often seemed to take more tricks than they did. 
And it's true you have to try to take as many tricks as you possibly can. I'll try to do more on play and defence over the coming weeks.

Next week we're back to our regular Thursday evening format - that's on Thursday November 19th.

I hope to see you there then, Colin
 

Well, the news this week is that the Gang are back in town. Very good to see Marlene Ewens & Catherine Berry and Anne Moyle & Angela Snow, original members of Dave Latchem's learning group.
They may be a bit rusty at the moment but the rest of you will need to watch out!

Winners this week were Eveleen O'Farrell & Jackie Denton-Cox, followed by Elizabeth Twine & Jan Allen - well done. The full scores are attached.

 I tend to pick out one of the more eye catching hands, but this week it's more prosaic. On board 6, North held a balanced 17-point hand:
S   Q 10 7 6
H   J 10 8 6
D   A K 3
C   A K
Too strong to open 1NT, the best opening bid is 1H which allows you to explore a fit in either of the majors. South responds 1NT (showing 6 to 9 points but importantly denying four spades). What now?
In No Trumps try to assess the combined point count of the two hands. Here it's 23 to 26. Game might be on but it might not so bid 2NT inviting partner to bid 3NT with 8 or 9, but passing with 6 or 7.
After 1H 1NT, with 15 points pass (the most you can have is 24), with 19 points bid 3NT (the least you can have is 25) and with 17 points bid 2NT (an invitation - let partner decide whether game is on).
You don't need to remember this, just work it out at the table.

Remember, in No Trumps try to work out the combined point count of the two hands.  25 is usually enough for game.

In the teaching spot we covered  the exotic 'ruffing finesse' where if the high card for the defence is on the right side, we may be able to squash it. This is covered in the attachment (copied below).

Colin

The ruffing finesse

   We are used to taking a finesse in this position:  West  x x     East  A Q J x x.

West, as declarer, leads towards dummy and plays the queen, hoping the king is with North.

   A ‘ruffing finesse’ works in this sort of position:  West void     East  K Q J 10 x.

West is playing in a suit contract. Lead the king from dummy, hoping South has the ace.

If South plays the ace, trump it and you have established several tricks without losing one.

If South plays low, discard a loser. This may lose to North’s ace, but at least you will have set up the suit.

   Another example would be:  West  x     East A Q J 10 x.

You could try the normal finesse, but in a suit contract you have the option of the ruffing finesse by playing the ace and then continuing with the queen hoping South has the king.

   Let’s see it in action:

West                      East

♠  A Q 10 6 4 3     ♠  K 9 7 2

♥  A 8                    ♥  5 4

♦  A Q 5 2             ♦  8 3

♣  6                       ♣  A Q J 10 8

   With an excellent fit, West pushes on to 6 spades. North leads the king of hearts.

Win with the ace and draw trumps in two rounds. Now you could take the finesse in clubs and if it works discard the 8 of hearts on the ace of clubs. But if South has the king, the defence will take that and cash a heart.

   What happens if you try the ruffing finesse? Play a club to the ace and continue with the queen. If South plays the king, trump it and re-enter dummy with a spade and discard the heart on the jack of clubs. If South plays low, discard the wretched 8 of hearts – the queen will win if South has the king.

   The beauty of the ruffing finesse is that we will probably still make the contract even if North has the king. The king will win but there is no heart for the defence to cash and the losing diamonds will go away on the established clubs. So the ruffing finesse is usually the better option because you can discard a loser in the process.

   In the infamous Jackie Denton-Cox hand, the hearts were

West  2     East  J 10 9 5 4.

   Playing in 6 diamonds doubled, the defence started with the ace of hearts and continued with the 3 to the 9 and Q, ruffed by West. After drawing trumps, play the jack of hearts from dummy and discard a loser unless South plays the king. If South plays the king, ruff it and we have established the ten as a winner.

   How can we be so sure South has the king? Well, if North had it surely they would have played it at trick two after the ace won the first trick.

Sixteen of our group played on Friday - that's even better than last time we tried it. Thank you for coming!
And we managed to play 24 boards which is quite a lot more than on our usual Thursday.

Our best performing pair were David and Pat Sweet with over 54% - a very creditable score in that company, well done.
Eveleen O'Farrell and Jackie Denton-Cox were doing even better at one stage and, despite falling away a little,  finished above average with 51%.

Details below on how to access Jackie's website  - the full results are there already.

Board 19 produced some exciting bidding:
West                                    East
S   A K 4 3                      S   none
H   6                               H   J 10 9 7 4
D   A K J 7                      D   Q 9 8 6 5 3
C   A Q 3 2                     C    6 5
A difficult opening bid for West. I recommend 1D to see what develops. At the table I watched, North jumped to 2S, East supported with 3D and South passed.
Jackie D then bid 5D, very reasonably on her strong hand, but North persisted with 5S. Eveleen now bid a very enterprising 6D! It was close to making after the lead of AH and another heart to the nine and queen.
Anyway one down wasn't too bad a score as some North-South pairs were allowed to play in spades making nine or ten tricks their way. East-West did best when allowed to play in 5D.

I may talk about this hand next Thursday so make a note of your bidding if you can remember it.

Yes, we're back to our normal Thursday session next week - Thursday October 29.

Colin

And you can see the full results on the Club website run by Jackie Moody. Here's how to do it:

1. Go to the Taunton Bridge Club home page either by googling Taunton Bridge Club or by using this link:  https://www.bridgewebs.com/taunton 
2. Scroll down the right hand column to see the heading 'Results' near the bottom. Click on 'Fri 25th Sep'. You should see the ranking list. 
3. To see your scorecard click on your name. This gives the result on each board, who you played it against, what percentage you scored on that hand etc.
On the right-hand side you will see all the scores for board 1 (the equivalent of the traveler). You can see the scores for any of the boards by clicking on the board number above this.
4. To see the complete matrix of scores, click on 'Matrix', in the centre at the top.
 

Next week: there is NO BRIDGE on Thursday October 22.
Instead you are all welcome to come to the normal club evening at Taunton Bridge Club on Friday October 23 (7.00 start as usual).

Again this is a county league night and a number of our club players will be away at Woolavington playing in that. So it is a good chance to play on a club night in less intimidating conditions!
When we tried this before, twelve of our group came and I encourage you to come this time if you can. I will be there to make sure it all runs smoothly. As on a Thursday, you don't need a partner - just turn up.

Now back to yesterday's bridge. Another new pair this week - welcome to Sue Walsh and Marie Comrie, who settled in just fine; we'll see them again in a few weeks time.

The winners this week were Ted Heath & Bernard Stacey (a new combination I think) - well done to them. 
But I was especially pleased to see Jackie Reid & Margaret Trump doing well (such are the ups and downs of bridge). They finished second equal alongside Rex Amor & Jan Allen.

Board 1 was a little freaky (but dealt at the table beforehand).
West                         East
S    A K 9 5 4 3         S    8 2
H   A                         H   none
D   Q 9 2                   D   A K J 10 6 4 
C   A Q 7                   C   9 8 5 4 2
Playing in a spade contract, it is crucial to remove the opposing trumps, even though they broke 4-1. Marion Symons did this and was then able to make the rest of the tricks with those lovely diamonds.
There are no other entries to dummy so you must get rid of those enemy trumps first. 
Interestingly some of you bid to 5H with the North-South cards. Going two down (even if doubled) was a good save, losing less than the opponents making game - well done to those who were bold enough to bid it.

In the teaching spot we looked at overcalls and the take-out double. The take-out double is a little tricky to get used to but it is a really handy bid.
Remember it shows an opening hand (12+ points), and a shortage in the enemy suit, hoping to find a fit in one of the other three suits. If the next hand passes, partner must respond, showing their longest suit.

For some tables we went on talk about biding in fourth position if the bidding goes 1 of a suit Pass Pass.

A reminder that next week the bridge is on Friday.
And we will resume our normal Thursday sessions on Thursday October 29th.

Colin

Competitive bidding

Overcalls

If the opponent opens 1 of a suit e.g.1♦, these are the main options:

1♥, 1♠ A simple overcall at the one level shows 5+ cards in the suit bid and 8+ points.

            The suit should pass the SQOT test (length + honours ≥7).

2♣       A simple overcall at the two level shows 5+ cards in the suit bid and 10+ points.

            The suit should also pass the SQOT test (length + honours ≥8).

2♥, 2♠ Jump overcall. A matter of partnership agreement.

            Can be played as weak, 6-10 points, 6-card suit.

Dbl      for ‘take-out’, showing 12+ points and shortage in opponent’s suit, looking for a fit in one of the other suits. It should have at least one four card major.

1NT    15-17, balanced, with at least one stopper in the opponent’s suit.

Suit Quality Overcall Test – the length of the suit plus the number of honours in the suit (A,K,Q,J or 10) should be at least as many as the number of tricks contracted for.

Responding to simple suit overcalls

If possible support partner’s suit (showing 3+ cards in the suit). With 6-9 points support to the ‘level of the fit’ assuming partner has a 5-card suit, i.e. with 3 / 4 / 5 card support bid to the 2 / 3 / 4 level.

With 10+ points and 3+ card support, cue bid the opponent’s suit, an ‘unassuming cue bid’.

Only bid another suit if you don’t have support. You need the same values as if you were making an overcall (including SQOT). Just pass if you are weak.

Responding to a take-out double

If the next hand passes, bid the longest suit (a major for preference) ignoring the opponent’s suit –

             even with no points.

Note if the next hand bids, we no longer have to bid, so if you do, you show normal responding values.

On stronger hands you can jump in a suit with 9+ points or cue bid the opponent’s suit with 12+ points.

Responding to a 1NT overcall

Responses are the same as responding to a 1NT opener except that we can be three points lighter (as partner is three points stronger). So, 2♣ is Stayman asking for a 4-card major, 2NT is invitational (8 or 9 points),3NT on 10+.

And a final tip:

Bid boldly when you know there is a good fit. Bid cautiously if it looks like a misfit.

Protective bids

            If the opponents are at the 1 or 2-level and a ‘Pass’ by you would close the auction, think about whether you should compete for the part-score.

            The classic situation is when it goes 1 of a suit on your left, Pass, Pass. You know there is a weak hand on your right and partner must therefore have some points. This is called ‘the protective position’ as opposed to overcalling directly where the opponent’s strength is unlimited.

            In the protective position try to find a bid if you can – you could bid a 5-card suit on quite a weak hand or make a take-out double on 9+ points rather than the usual 12+ or bid 1NT on 12-14 rather than the 15-17 you need for a direct overcall.

            A good guide is ‘to borrow a king’. Imagine you have an extra king in an outside suit and then bid as you would as the direct overcaller. This works because you know partner has some values. The corollary though is that your partner should be more cautious, conscious that the hand opposite may have ‘borrowed a king’.

            There are other situations where you should consider competing, for example

1♥ Pass 2♥ Pass Pass ??

1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 2♦ Pass Pass ??

1NT Pass 2♦ (transfer) Pass 2♥ Pass Pass ??

            In all these cases, the opponents have no great strength and there is a reasonable chance that your partner will be able to help you. This is particularly so when the opponents have found a ‘fit’ in a suit. If the opponents have an 8-card fit it is likely that your side does too (and if the opponents have a 9-card fit, you definitely have an 8-card fit somewhere).

            In all this, the idea is either to pinch the part-score contract for your side or to push the opponents up a level, hoping that this is a step too far for them. It’s not without risk, but on balance it pays off.

So, don’t give the opponents an easy time.

Compete for the part-score if you can by bidding boldly in the protective position.

First of all, a welcome to Lizzie and Tony Davis, playing bridge together for the first time after many years of marriage (let's hope it stays that way!). They did well on some fairly chaotic hands.
It transpired at tea-time that Tony knew a late friend of mine (and bridge partner for over 30 years) - they had worked together on the first computer weather forecast (?in the late 1950s). Tony was at ICL, a computer company, and Fred was in the Met Office.

Very well done to Margaret Lomax finishing top, playing with my helper Jackie (recently returned from a holiday in the Rockies). Doreen Duhaut & Roger Skinner did well too, as is not uncommon I have noticed.

A special word for those finishing lower down - as far as I am concerned, by far the most important thing is that you enjoy the evening, then I hope you manage to pick up a few things about what is quite a difficult game, and least important are the results. We have quite a range of experience in our group and that does make a difference, so please don't be discouraged! 

Because I was playing, I didn't manage to cover the topic I was planning to (but this can hold over to another week).

There were some very distributional hands last night and these are tricky to deal with. Fred used to love them as he had a flair for the game and was quite a poker player too.
But the part-score hands count just as much. On Board 13, South held something like S  K 10 6 5 2,  H  A K 7,   D  9 4 3,  C  7 5.
West opened 1H followed by two passes, so we know East doesn't have much. Bid 1S and compete for the part-score. As it happens N-S could make 8 tricks in spades but at worst you will push E-W up a bit, perhaps too high for them.

Rather brief this week - but we are off to St Mawes this morning for a long weekend with the Ramblers.

Colin

Six full tables this week - which is excellent. And a particular welcome to newcomer Eveleen O'Farrell playing with Jackie Denton-Cox.

Two weeks ago Rex Amor made his debut at our club and this week he won playing with the capable Marion Symons. Well done!
It was only by one point (see, that extra trick can make all the difference!) from Julie Vennard and Ted Heath - in their beautiful pea green boat perhaps?
Another single point behind were Doreen Duhaut and Roger Skinner.

Board 3 was exciting. South may well have opened 3S with a 7-card suit. This makes life very difficult for West (with seven clubs and 13 points) - it's tough to bid at the four level straight off. That's why pre-empts are so effective.
In fact N-S can make 10 or 11 tricks in spades while E-W can make 10 tricks in clubs. 5C is a good 'save' over 4S. 6C might have been a good save too, Elizabeth, except that E-W were vulnerable and a thoughtful double by Jackie D-C gained 500 beating the game score.

We discussed the play on these two hands:
S  A K Q 10 6 4     S  J 7 5            West is in 4S.
H  8 3                    H  A 10 4        The lead is the JC which wins, followed by the 10C.
D  A 10 5 4           D  K 7 3 2        
C  6                       C  Q 9 5
There are nine tricks on top (six spades, one heart and two diamonds). The tenth trick has to come from the diamonds.
So, draw trumps first (they break 3-1) and then play on diamonds hoping they break 3-2. If so, our fourth diamond will be a winner.
It is possible to cater for South having four diamonds but let's not worry about that. The important thing is to draw trumps first.

S  A K Q 10 6 4     S  J 7 5            West is in 4S.
H  8 3                    H  A 10 4        The lead is the JC which wins, followed by the 10C.
D  A 10 5 4           D  K 7 3        
C  6                       C  Q 9 5 2
Not quite the same hand. Drawing trumps and playing A, K of diamonds will work if diamonds are 3-3 and also when North holds Q x or J x. It is a reasonable line of play and this is what most club players would do.
But there is a better alternative, taking advantage of the powerful spade suit. At trick 3 a top player would play A, K and another diamond. On regaining the lead with, say, the AH, she would cross to hand with the AS and trump the last diamond with the jack of spades.
This can't be overtrumped and we can now draw the last two trumps. The line works as long as there isn't a 5-1 break in diamonds.

What do we learn? 
Draw trumps before establishing a long side suit (hand one).
Before drawing trumps, check if you want to trump first - remember it must be in the hand with fewer trumps in order to gain a trick.

We'll do some bidding next week,
Colin

 

     Twelve of our Thursday group played yesterday - with some doing very well. In fact Roger Skinner and Doreen Duhaut were leading the field for quite some time.
In the end, Ted Heath did the best finishing fourth with Heinz Brunsch. Heinz is a strong player and told me at the tea break of a killing lead Ted found against a small slam.
Our leading pair were Bernard Stacey and John Dourleyn, finishing 7th out of 16, scoring over 50% - an excellent result in that company; there were several good pairs below them!

   Actually I thought everyone did well - we played a lot more boards than usual (24) and still managed to finished just after 10 o'clock.

   Next week, we are back to normal playing on THURSDAY October 1st.

   I hope to see you there, 
   Colin

And you can see the full results on the Club website run by Jackie Moody. Here's how to do it:

1. Go to the Taunton Bridge Club home page either by googling Taunton Bridge Club or by using this link:  https://www.bridgewebs.com/taunton 
2. Scroll down the right hand column to see the heading 'Results' near the bottom. Click on 'Fri 25th Sep'. You should see the ranking list. 
3. To see your scorecard click on your name. This gives the result on each board, who you played it against, what percentage you scored on that hand etc.
On the right-hand side you will see all the scores for board 1 (the equivalent of the traveler). You can see the scores for any of the boards by clicking on the board number above this.
4. To see the complete matrix of scores, click on 'Matrix', in the centre at the top.

First of all please note that the bridge is different next week (just for one week):

There will be NO BRIDGE on Thursday September 24. 
*** Instead, I hope you will all come on Friday September 25. This starts at 7 pm as usual and you don't need a partner.
*** I am taking advantage of the county league programme being on that night so the more intimidating players on a Friday will be away!
*** It gives you the chance to play on a normal club evening to see what it is like. Please come if you can. I will be there to help.

Our normal Thursday evenings will resume on Thursday October 1.

Now back to yesterday's bridge and a welcome to newcomer Rex Amor taking up bridge again after a long absence - and doing very well finishing third with Elizabeth Twine. 
Thank you Elizabeth for helping Rex with the mechanics of duplicate. We also had our first spectator! This was Meda Amor who is hoping to start learning bridge (she starts with the advantage of playing whist).

The lead see-sawed between John Cavaciuti & Marilyn Sheppard and Bernard Stacey & Moira Grant, with John and Marilyn edging out on top - well done. The results are below.

This was board 9, an awkward hand to bid and contracts ranged from 4H and 3H by West to 3D by East.
West                       East
S    A Q 4 2              S   8 
H   A 10 8 7 3         H   K Q 2 
D   J 8 5 4                D   A Q 9 6
C   void                    C   K 10 7 5 4
It was possible to make 4H but keeping trump control is not easy and I'm not at all surprised those in 4H didn't make it. A club lead is especially awkward with the ace sitting over the king. This forces declarer (West) to trump.

However, it is reasonable to hope the trumps divide 3-2 (which happens two thirds of the time). So, first draw three rounds of trumps ending up in hand. 
Then take the diamond finesse. Even though the king is with North, you will probably still lose a diamond and the defence will lead another club to force you to trump again. 
You are now out of trumps, but can cross to dummy with a diamond and stake everything on the spade finesse which works on this occasion. You emerge with 10 tricks: five hearts, three diamonds and two spades.

There is a completely different alternative line which works too. It's called a cross-ruff. At trick two, you play AS, then trump a spade in dummy, trump a club, trump a spade, trump a club, trump the last spade.
At this point, trump a fourth club with the 10, hoping you are not overtrumped. North has four clubs so cannot do so. We can now cash the AH and the AD. That's also ten tricks: eight hearts (!) and two outside aces.

With some tables we talked a little more about the Losing Trick Count, an alternative way of evaluating your hand and working out what level to play at. 
It only applies when you have found a good trump fit (the familiar points system ace 4, king 3 etc works much better for No Trump contracts).
Below is a repeat of last week's notes but attached (as a Word document) is a fuller account. By all means ask me questions about it.

Don't forget there is no bridge next Thursday,
Colin
 

Limit bids and the losing trick count

How do I keep the bidding going?

            The bid of a new suit is normally ‘forcing’ i.e. partner shouldn’t pass. There are a few exceptions but this is a good general rule. One of the exceptions is if the responder has already passed. For example, Pass – 1♣ – 1♥ could be passed with a weak opener as the responder cannot have more than 11 points.

What is a ‘limit bid’?

            When the partnership bids a suit for the second time or bids No Trumps, this is a ‘limit bid’. It is not forcing. So whoever does this must bid to the limit of their hand. With a minimum, bid at the lowest level; with an intermediate hand jump below game level as an encouraging bid; with the strength for game, bid straight to game. Remember Weak, Encouraging, Strong. Examples:

Weak               1♠ – 2♠            1♣ – 1 ♥– 2♥              1♦ – 1♥ – 1♠ – 1NT                1♥ – 2♦ – 2♥

Encouraging    1♠ – 3♠            1♣ – 1 ♥– 3♥              1♦ – 1♥ – 1♠ – 2NT                1♥ – 2♦ – 3♥

Strong             1♠ – 4♠            1♣ – 1 ♥– 4♥              1♦ – 1♥ – 1♠ – 3NT                1♥ – 2♦ – 4♥

            Sometimes there isn’t room for the encouraging bid. For example, after 1♠ – 2♥ opener with heart support can only choose between 3♥ and 4♥, but at least responder has shown a stronger hand by bidding at the two level.

The losing trick count

            This is an alternative method of evaluating your hand for suit contracts, when there is a good eight card suit fit with partner. These are the mechanics:

1. Count your ‘losers’. In each suit, including trumps, how many of the top three honours are missing. Ignore the Q with a doubleton; ignore the K and Q with a singleton. So, the losers in these side suits are:

J x x  3;  x x x x  3;  A x x  2;  Q x x  2;  A Q x  1;  K Q x x  1;  K x  1;  Q x  2;  x  1;  A  0;  K  1; void  0.

2. Work out the ‘losers’ in the two hands added together. As opener, assume responder has no more than 9 losers. As responder, assume opener has no more than 7 losers. Later in the auction you may know that partner is stronger, with fewer losers. 

3. Take the number of losers in the two hands away from 18. This is the level you can bid to!

            Examples as opener: after 1♣ – 1 ♥, opener has four card support for hearts.

He has 7 losers. Add 7 to responder’s assumed 9 to give 16. 18 – 16 = 2. Bid 2♥.

With only 6 losers, 6 + 9 = 15. 18 – 15 = 3. Bid 3♥. With 5 losers, bid 4♥.

            Examples as responder: after 1♦ – 1♥ – 1♠, responder has four card support for spades.

She has 9 losers. Add 9 to opener’s assumed 7 to give 16. 18 – 16 = 2. Bid 2♠.

With only 8 losers, 8 + 7 = 15. 18 – 15 = 3. Bid 3♠. With 7 losers, bid 4♠.

With a mere 5 losers, she should consider 6♠, perhaps by bidding 4NT.

            Examples of further development:

After 1♠ – 3♠, responder has shown an 8 loser hand. Opener with the basic 7 losers should pass 

(7 + 8 = 15; 18 – 15 = 3), but with 6 losers can accept the invitation and bid 4♠.

After 1♣ – 1♥ – 2♥, opener has shown 7 losers. Responder with the basic 9 losers should pass (9 + 7 = 16, 18 – 16 = 2), but bid 4♥ with 7 losers. With 8 losers, a further try of 3♥ (invitational) might be justified.

            Summary. The basic method works surprisingly well. The magic numbers are 7 losers for a minimum opener, 9 losers for a minimum response at the one level. Take the combined losers from 18 to determine the level.

Well done to the three pairs who played in the county No Fear pairs at Woolavington on Sunday September 6th.
Rob Bagshaw & David Brooks-Daw, Marion Symons & Roger, Ted Heath & Julie Vennard all did creditably and Rob & David were unlucky not to finish higher with a score of 59%.

As for yesterday evening, the experience evidently helped as Ted & Julie romped home with a 60% score! Time for a new nickname perhaps - how about the owl and the pussycat?
Second were Elizabeth Twine & Marion Symons and third were Anne Groves & Eileen Sweet.

A good few of you picked up the 'Losing Trick Count' remarkably quickly. For most, it will take some time to get used to it - but it's well worth the effort.
it can help you to get to the right level once you have found a trump fit (that's at least 8 cards between the two hands).

The two hands I included were board 7 (a good chance of making 4S despite a combined 23 high-card points) and board 11 (difficult to make more than 8 or 9 tricks despite a combined 25 points).
But the hand that really caught my eye was one of the dealt hands, board 10.

North held  S  7,  H  A Q J 10 8 4,  D  A Q 10 7,  C K 5.   South had  S  A 4,  H  K 6 2,  D  K 8 5,  C  A J 9 8 2.
Let's see how an experienced pair might bid it. It was South to open - 1C;  North 1H (a change of suit is forcing so there is no need to rush).
South 1NT (showing 15 or 16 points); North 3D (jumping to make sure game is reached and showing at least 5-4 in hearts and diamonds). South 3H (showing three card support).
Time for North to assess the hand - an 8-card fit has been found. Now, what does the Losing Trick Count suggest. Count our losers - wow, just one in each suit (that's four in total) and partner has opened so we can expect no more than 7 losers.
The combined total is 11. 18 - 11 = 7, so perhaps a grand slam is on! At least we can explore a small slam. North could bid 4NT, Blackwood (how many aces do you have?), South replies 5H (two aces).
At this point North could simply bid 6H or if really brave try 5NT (how many kings do you have?). In any case, imagine the buzz when 12 or 13 tricks roll in.

Don't worry about not bidding slams at this stage - it's much more important to decide between playing in a game or a part-score. 

Next week we'll recap on the Losing Trick Count and add a little to the main idea:
When an 8-card fit has been found, add up your losers in each suit (one for each of the A, K and Q you are missing, ignoring the queen if you have a doubleton and ignoring the K and Q with a singleton).
As responder, expect partner to have no more than 7 losers. As opener, expect partner to have no more than 9 losers.
Assess the combined losers in the two hands and take them away from 18. By magic, this tells you the level to bid.

It's not infallible, but it's a really good guide.

Have fun with your bidding,
Colin

Limit bids and the losing trick count

How do I keep the bidding going?

            The bid of a new suit is normally ‘forcing’ i.e. partner shouldn’t pass. There are a few exceptions but this is a good general rule. One of the exceptions is if the responder has already passed. For example, Pass – 1♣ – 1♥ could be passed with a weak opener as the responder cannot have more than 11 points.

What is a ‘limit bid’?

            When the partnership bids a suit for the second time or bids No Trumps, this is a ‘limit bid’. It is not forcing. So whoever does this must bid to the limit of their hand. With a minimum, bid at the lowest level; with an intermediate hand jump below game level as an encouraging bid; with the strength for game, bid straight to game. Remember Weak, Encouraging, Strong. Examples:

Weak               1♠ – 2♠            1♣ – 1 ♥– 2♥              1♦ – 1♥ – 1♠ – 1NT                1♥ – 2♦ – 2♥

Encouraging    1♠ – 3♠            1♣ – 1 ♥– 3♥              1♦ – 1♥ – 1♠ – 2NT                1♥ – 2♦ – 3♥

Strong             1♠ – 4♠            1♣ – 1 ♥– 4♥              1♦ – 1♥ – 1♠ – 3NT                1♥ – 2♦ – 4♥

            Sometimes there isn’t room for the encouraging bid. For example, after 1♠ – 2♥ opener with heart support can only choose between 3♥ and 4♥, but at least responder has shown a stronger hand by bidding at the two level.

The losing trick count

            This is an alternative method of evaluating your hand for suit contracts, when there is a good eight card suit fit with partner. These are the mechanics:

1. Count your ‘losers’. In each suit, including trumps, how many of the top three honours are missing. Ignore the Q with a doubleton; ignore the K and Q with a singleton. So, the losers in these side suits are:

J x x  3;  x x x x  3;  A x x  2;  Q x x  2;  A Q x  1;  K Q x x  1;  K x  1;  Q x  2;  x  1;  A  0;  K  1;  void  0.

2. Work out the ‘losers’ in the two hands added together. As opener, assume responder has no more than 9 losers. As responder, assume opener has no more than 7 losers. Later in the auction you may know that partner is stronger, with fewer losers.

3. Take the number of losers in the two hands away from 18. This is the level you can bid to!

            Examples as opener: after 1♣ – 1 ♥, opener has four card support for hearts.

He has 7 losers. Add 7 to responder’s assumed 9 to give 16. 18 – 16 = 2. Bid 2♥.

With only 6 losers, 6 + 9 = 15. 18 – 15 = 3. Bid 3♥. With 5 losers, bid 4♥.

            Examples as responder: after 1♦ – 1♥ – 1♠, responder has four card support for spades.

She has 9 losers. Add 9 to opener’s assumed 7 to give 16. 18 – 16 = 2. Bid 2♠.

With only 8 losers, 8 + 7 = 15. 18 – 15 = 3. Bid 3♠. With 7 losers, bid 4♠.

With a mere 5 losers, she should consider 6♠, perhaps by bidding 4NT.

            Examples of further development:

After 1♠ – 3♠, responder has shown an 8 loser hand. Opener with the basic 7 losers should pass

(7 + 8 = 15; 18 – 15 = 3), but with 6 losers can accept the invitation and bid 4♠.

After 1♣ – 1♥ – 2♥, opener has shown 7 losers. Responder with the basic 9 losers should pass (9 + 7 = 16, 18 – 16 = 2), but bid 4♥ with 7 losers. With 8 losers, a further try of 3♥ (invitational) might be justified.

            Summary. The basic method works surprisingly well. The magic numbers are 7 losers for a minimum opener, 9 losers for a minimum response at the one level. Take the combined losers from 18 to determine the level.

First of all, a big thank you to Richard Feetenby for running last night and doing the scoring. Results are attached (in the usual format).

Note from Richard: Board 14 was a slam where we helped all pairs other than the first time played. For fairness I corrected 4H to 6H.

Sorry to inform you that I will be back next Thursday (September 10) - my bad mood after the cricket yesterday may have subsided!

Meanwhile, I wish the best of luck to all those playing in the county No Fear competition at Woolavington on Sunday.

Colin

We had our complicated 4-table movement last night with everyone moving around except for Keith and Moira!

And the favourites Jan Allen & Millie Angell finished on top. But not by much, with joint seconds Julie Vennard & Ted Heath and Rob Bagshaw & David Brooks-Daw running them close.
Not often featuring in dispatches, Margaret Lomax & Marion Prince also did well finishing fourth with an above average percentage.

If you're really keen (Rob), you can see the contracts and scores achieved by our Wednesday night club players on the same hands we played.
Go to the website https://www.bridgewebs.com/taunton/  At the bottom of the right-hand column you will see Results. Click on Wed 26th August 2015. Under the date (central, towards the top), you will see four buttons. Click on Travellers.

For example, on board 8, all our pairs played in 4H by West, going one down. This was a common result on Wednesday too, but a couple of pairs managed to make 4H when declarer was able to discard a loser before the defence made their four tricks. One declarer went two down (I don't know how). Results on this board were fairly consistent, but look at board 11 where the results are all over the place - no two results the same. This can happen in bridge especially on competitive hands with both sides in the auction.

In the teaching slot, we did some bidding practice where the four players at the table bid a hand with me as their partner. It is clear you all have a good grasp of the opening bid and the first response. It gets more tricky after that as you need to work out the best bid to describe both the strength and shape of your hand so as to reach the best contract. You have to assess the combined strength of the two hands and find out if you have a fit.

Remember: If you find a good fit, bid up. If there is a misfit, stay low. 

Next Thursday there will be bridge as usual, but Richard Feetenby will be looking after you (I will be at the one-day England v Australia cricket match at Southampton).
Enjoy your bridge and the best of luck to those playing in the County No Fear Pairs on September 6th!

Colin
 

Thanks to our budding new Director, Jackie Moody, it was a very smooth evening - everyone completed all 15 boards with time to spare.

And with her partner Marion Symons, they scored over 70%. However, setting aside the ringers, the real winners were Rob Bagshaw & David Brooks-Daw.
I never thought I'd have to say this, but it's very good to see the Pirates back in form!

Just behind them were Keith Colman & Moira Grant and Marilyn Sheppard & John Cavaciuti. Well done.

Marion Upton & Angela Hendry did very well on board 10. As E-W, they bid and made 3D. This was a competitive hand where North-South can make 9 tricks in clubs or spades, but East-West can make 9 tricks in diamonds.
This was only matched by Doreen Duhaut & Roger Skinner. Elsewhere, North-South managed to secure the contract.
Remember these part-score battles are just as important as the big hands where game can be made. That's why it's good to get into the auction if you can and bid up if you find a fit.

Star of the evening was Jackie Reid for her excellent defence on board 7. Sitting South, Ted Heath opened 1NT and this was passed out.
Dummy went down with only 6 points including K J 8 4 of hearts. Ted, as declarer, had Q 10 3. You would think Ted would make three heart tricks, just losing one to the ace.
Jackie was East holding A 7 2 of hearts. But when Ted led the 10 from hand, she let it win the trick. Ted continued with the queen and she let that win too. 
A third heart went to the jack and ace. The king was now a winner in dummy, but there was no way of getting to it, so Ted only made twoheart tricks.

Remember: In No Trumps, it is often good play to hold up the ace in the opponents long suit . . . and this applies for defenders as well as declarer.

Sorry there was no teaching this week. Normal service will be resumed however.

Colin 
 

First a welcome to newcomers David and Pat Sweet. They did well finishing fourth and were the only pair to score a 'top' against my helpers Jenny and Pat. This was on board 17 where they made a crucial overtrick in 4H.

Discounting Jenny and Pat (by playing it meant we avoided having a half table), the winners were Jan Allen & Elizabeth Twine but only just, one point ahead of the Jackie Reid and Jackie Denton-Cox. Well done.
So, the Quiet Assassins strike again. John remarked that they were really very nice but somehow, unnoticed, they managed to get three good boards against him!

The Agatha Christie book which features bridge as an important part of the plot is 'Cards on the table' (a Poirot novel}. I can't remember how this came up in conversation.

We discussed how declarer could handle certain suit combinations to best advantage. There were solid suits (sequences of honours between the two hands where we needed to knock out the opponent's top cards to establish winners), broken suits (where finessing is needed to make extra tricks hoping that the opponent's honours are well placed) and 'frozen' suits (best avoided if possible hoping that the opponents will open up the suit for you). A table of examples is attached - by all means ask me about any combinations you don't understand.

In broken suits the main message to take away is to lead towards honours rather than away from them. 
With A Q 10 (as declarer) and 4 3 2 in dummy, you will only make one trick if you lead the high cards from hand but if you enter dummy twice and lead towards your hand you have a good chance of making two tricks, or even all three if the hand on your right has the K and J.

Colin

Suit combinations

            In the following examples, West is declarer. Assume we have control of the hand and adequate entries – the question is how many tricks can we make from the suit and how should we go about it.

            This table is NOT for memorizing (!), but it’s useful if you can understand it. The single most important point is to lead towards honours rather than away from them. It’s surprising how often an extra trick emerges.

            Note that circumstances can change things. For example, the idea behind leading towards the ten first with K 10 x opposite x x x in dummy is to cater for the situation when South has Q J x (x). If it loses, we are still going to make a trick if South has the ace by leading towards the king the second time. But if there is only one entry to dummy, you have to lead towards the king the first time – it’s the only chance of making a trick in the suit. The same would be true if you can only afford to lose the lead once. Sometimes too, the bidding or play give you information about where certain cards are.

A little more chaotic than usual with the flower show affecting car parking - but not at the tea break with fewer of us to try Marion Symons' excellent chocolate cake (it may have been in celebration of England's best day at the Ashes!).
A particular welcome to Marion Lipton and Angela Hendry - there's a lot to take in at first but they did well and were the only pair to make a contract on board 3 stopping prudently in 1C.

The top four were close - but one of the Quiet Assassins did the business again (was the other one away on a mission?).
Well done to Marion Symons & Elizabeth Twine, one point ahead of Julie Vennard & Ted Heath, one point ahead of Margaret Trump & Jackie Reid, one point ahead of Jennifer Bryant & Bernard Stacey.

We covered 'Weak twos' (see the hand out attached) and a number of prepared hands were included to try them out (boards 2, 8, 10 and 13).
So, if you and your partner agree to play them, 2H and 2S are weak pre-emptive bids with 6-10 points and a six card suit (similar to an opening bid at the three level but with a 6-card rather than a 7-card suit).
The idea is to make life difficult for the opponents and, if you do go down, to lose less than the opponents could make if they played the hand.

Remember: If you play weak twos, an opening 2H or 2S shows only 6-10 points but a SIX card suit.

A reminder that the county is holding a special 'No Fear' pairs event at Woolavington village hall on Sunday 6th September starting at 2pm, especially for newcomers to the game starting to play in club duplicates.
You can enter via the county website www.bridgewebs.com/somerset or let me know next Thursday and I will make a block booking.

Colin

Weak twos

            In most systems, 2♣ shows a strong hand (alertable as it is does not refer to clubs). Originally Acol had 2♦, 2♥ and 2♠ as strong hands with 8-playing tricks in the suit bid.

            Nowadays many players use these bids to show weak, pre-emptive hands holding a

6-card suit. They are designed to make life difficult for the opponents.

Note that in Benjamin (or ‘Benji’), 2♦ is a strong conventional bid (with 2♥ and 2♠ as weak).

Opening a weak two

            To open a weak two, you should have a 6-card suit and 6-10 points. It is similar to a pre-emptive 3-level bid but with only six of the suit.

            The suit should be a reasonable one with at least one of the top three honours.

            Natural 2-level bids should be announced; partner should simply say “Weak”.

Responses to a weak two (e.g. partner opens 2♥)

Pass                 Not strong enough to bid.

3♥                    Pre-emptive, usually with 3-card support (opener should pass this).

4♥                    Either pre-emptive with 4-card support

                        Or on a stronger hand expecting to make.

2NT                  16+ points – an enquiry bid (alertable) seeking more information

                        (may be weaker with a fit in trumps).

2♠, 3♣, 3♦       Natural (5-card suit at least), forcing for one round, 16+ points,

                        may be short in partner’s suit.

Opener’s rebid after 2NT response

There are different systems but one common one is Ogust:

3♣                   Weak (6-8)                  With fewer than 2 of the top 3 honours.

3♦                    Weak (6-8)                  With 2 of the top 3 honours.

3♥                    Strong (8-10)               With fewer than 2 of the top 3 honours.

3♠                    Strong (8-10)               With 2 of the top 3 honours.

3NT                 Strong (9, 10)              With all 3 top honours.

Five tables again and, setting aside Wally and Mary (our helpers on the evening), it was extremely close, with only 3 points separating the next five:
Julie Vennard and Ted Heath 56, Anne Groves  and Eileen Sweet 55, Marion Symons and John Dourleyn 54, Jackie Reid and Maggie Trump 53, Roger Skinner and Janet Fronicke also 53.
You see, that extra overtrick can make all the difference! The full results are attached.

Well done too to Jackie Moody our other helper for, inter alia, conquering the washing up machine!

Board 8 saw East holding  S - A Q J 10 9 8 x x,  H - void,  D - K x x,  C - K x.
On this sort of hand you don't need to look for a fit, just insist on playing in spades (even if partner has none, we will only lose one spade trick).
West had some bits and pieces but not in the right places (K J x x x in hearts were waste paper) and I'm not surprised most made only nine tricks.
The one pair to make ten tricks (Anne and Eileen) stopped in 2S but still emerged with the top E-W score on the hand.

We talked about 'third in hand' play, trying to work out how best to play the suit.
When partner leads fourth highest, third hand plays high is often best but there are exceptions.
When partner leads an honour remember to signal to say whether you like it or not - high to encourage, low to discourage.
See the examples in the table below.

And finally, I very much welcome feedback on whether the sessions are what you want - the main thing is that the evening is an enjoyable one. 
Colin

Third in hand play

            When partner leads a new suit, try to work what sort of lead it is.

The cards in dummy may help you. Then play accordingly.