Join us on Wednesday evenings (6:50 for 7 PM)
for Duplicate Bridge in the Knowle Village Hall
Welcome to Knowle Bridge Club
Player of the Month for March
Player of the Month for March

 

Congratulations, Jan Hornby and Rosie Billington, winners of our 'Player of the Month' prize for March.

 

Close behind (also playing well last month) were Faye Doble, Flora Blackett and Liz Brown.  Well done to all of these ladies! 

 

To qualify for our 'Player of the Month' prize, members must play in at least three sessions during the calendar month.  Results are compared with past performance.

 

Watch your opponents' discards
Dlr:North
Vul:N/S
  • spade 8 3 2
    heart K 6 5
    diamond Q 9 8 4
    club A K 6

    12 H.C.P.
    Length Points
    Shortage Points
    Support Points
    4 Controls
    2½ Quick Tricks
    8½ Losers
    spade 8 3 2
    heart K 6 5
    diamond Q 9 8 4
    club A K 6
  • spade  
    heart  
    diamond  
    club  

    4 H.C.P.
    Length Points
    1 Shortage Point
    Support Points
    1 Control
    ½ Quick Trick
    10 Losers
    spade  
    heart  
    diamond  
    club  
W
E
S
T
NORTH
E
A
S
T
5
SOUTH
  • spade  
    heart  
    diamond  
    club  

    3 H.C.P.
    Length Points
    Shortage Points
    Support Points
    Controls
    Quick Tricks
    11½ Losers
    spade  
    heart  
    diamond  
    club  
  • spade A K J 4
    heart A Q J 9
    diamond A 2
    club Q 9 8

    21 H.C.P.
    Length Points
    1 Shortage Point
    Support Points
    7 Controls
    4½ Quick Tricks
    5½ Losers
    spade A K J 4
    heart A Q J 9
    diamond A 2
    club Q 9 8
Bidding
WNES
 
Pass
1NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
6NT

 

Here is Hand 5 from Wednesday 19th February.

 

Everyone likes the excitement of a slam hand.  By the time South had sorted his hand and decided to open 2NT, partner had opened 1NT.

 

There may be a 4-4 fit in either major so South could have started with Stayman.  But with 33-35 combined points N/S can expect to make 6NT for a better score than 6  or 6♠ .

 

East leads the 5♠ .  Plan the play.

 

 

ANSWER

 

Hearts and clubs together give you 7 tricks.  You need 5 more but A and K in ♠  and A  leaves you two short.  The spade finesse and Q  are your only high card hopes.  You don't really expect to make the last spade or diamond for an extra trick but let's delay the decision by taking the first trick with the K♠ .

 

Now play four rounds of hearts throwing a useless spade from hand.  Both of the opponents follow to three rounds.  This tends to confirm that the opponents have balanced hands.  On the fourth heart West throws a diamond and East a club.  Now, it's possible that the remaining diamonds could break 3-3 giving you a chance of making your fourth Diamond.  You can't make the contract unless West has the K  but you don't want to lose control of the suit so keep the Ace and lead towards the Queen.  The K  pops up so the Q  is your 11th trick.  West returns a diamond to the Ace.

 

Now when you cross to hand with a club and cash the Q the remaining diamonds fall.  The 9  will be your 12th trick so you have no need to take the spade finesse.

 

TIP:    When you are running your winners, watch your opponents discards carefully.   (TC)

Prizewinners - AGM and Social event (December 2024)
Prizewinners - AGM and Social event (December 2024)

After the December AGM, Tony organised and ran a most enjoyable ten table event in which every player played two boards with each of eighteen (!) different partners.  Prizes were awarded for the top two scores in each of the North, South, East and West positions.

 

 The prizewinners pictured above (from L to R) were Faye Doble, Dick Birkin, Margaret Leighton, Tony Cundy, Shirley Lamb, James Dance, Louise Payne and Caroline Richards. 

With a balanced shape and 12-14 points, open 1NT
Dlr:East
Vul:All
  • spade 5 2
    heart 8 4 2
    diamond K Q 9
    club A K Q 9 2

    14 H.C.P.
    1 Length Point
    1 Shortage Point
    Support Points
    4 Controls
    3 Quick Tricks
    6 Losers
    spade 5 2
    heart 8 4 2
    diamond K Q 9
    club A K Q 9 2
  • spade  
    heart  
    diamond  
    club  

    6 H.C.P.
    Length Points
    Shortage Points
    Support Points
    2 Controls
    1½ Quick Trick
    10 Losers
    spade  
    heart  
    diamond  
    club  
W
E
S
T
NORTH
E
A
S
T
10
SOUTH
  • spade  
    heart  
    diamond  
    club  

    9 H.C.P.
    1 Length Point
    1 Shortage Point
    Support Points
    2 Controls
    1 Quick Trick
    9 Losers
    spade  
    heart  
    diamond  
    club  
  • spade A Q 9
    heart J 7 5
    diamond A 8 6 2
    club 10 6 3

    11 H.C.P.
    Length Points
    Shortage Points
    Support Points
    4 Controls
    2½ Quick Tricks
    9 Losers
    spade A Q 9
    heart J 7 5
    diamond A 8 6 2
    club 10 6 3
 

 

Here is Hand 10 from Wednesday 19th February.

 

How should the bidding go?

 

Think about both the North and South bids before reading on.

 

 

ANSWER

 

5-3-3-2 counts as a balanced shape.  With 12-14 points North should open 1NT.

 

South has 11 points.  Usually 25 points are the minimum for 3NT so with 11 it is right to invite with 2NT.

 

(Note:  Some people would bid 2♠  here, to show 11 points or a long minor suit, but that is another story!)

 

South may be a little worried about holding a rather flat shape, but should be reassured that partner will be happy to see two Aces.

 

With the maximum 14 points and a super 5 card suit, North should raise to 3NT.

 

Click SHOW ALL HANDS

 

East will almost certainly lead the 6♠  (fourth highest of longest and strongest) and with the Spade finesse working and the Diamond and Club  suits breaking favourably, N/S can make 11 tricks.

 

TIP     With 12-14 points, and a 5-3-3-2 shape open 1NT, especially if the five card suit is a Minor suit.

 

Bridge Tips
Bridge Thoughts
  1. Defending: Make partner’s life easy in defence.

    AR

    Ref: 134.
Where are we?

Knowle Village Hall, St. Johns Close, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0HN

 

WELCOME!

We play in the Village Hall every Wednesday evening at 7 PM.Arrive before 6.50 PM please.

Visitors will be made welcome. Table money is £2.50 including tea/coffee.  Card payment preferred

There is free parking after 6pm outside the Village Hall (or walk across from Tesco's car-park).

POSITION OVERVIEW

We are in the centre of Knowle, close to Tesco's.

CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED MAP

Results
Wednesday evening (Club night)
Director: Tony Cundy
Wednesday evening (Club night)
Director: Paul Hardstaff
Wednesday evening (Club night)
Director: Fran Baxter
Wednesday evening (Club night)
Director: Andrew Taylor
Wednesday evening (Club night)
Director: Fran Baxter
Calendar
30th Apr 2025
Wednesday evening (Club night)
Director: Paul Hardstaff
7th May 2025
Wednesday evening (Club night)
Director: Andrew Taylor
14th May 2025
Wednesday evening (Club night)
Director: Fran Baxter
21st May 2025
Wednesday evening (Club night)
Director: Tony Cundy