The Petra Mansell |
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Last updated : 5th Aug 2024 22:48 SAST |
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We pass on the very sad news of the sudden passing of Brian Thomas last Friday the 19th July 2024.
Brian was educated at Glenwood High School and the University of Natal where he obtained a BSc in chemistry and later a second degree in commerce.
He first started playing bridge in the early seventies on Tuesday nights in a social group which included his best friend Keith Hitchcox, Dick Carter and Norman Zebert.
Brian spent most of his working life at ABI where he regularly played bridge at lunchtimes with his colleagues. The group decided to take their bridge to the next level and went to Petra Mansell for lessons.
Brian was a very good bridge player and achieved the level of grand master. He won all the major tournaments in KwaZulu-Natal and several events at the National Congresses. He represented KZN on numerous occasions and was particularly proud of being part of the team winning the Medwin trophy in last year’s inter-provincial. His regular partners included Phil Perry, Graham Burrows, Robyn Fletcher, Warren Dobes, Denise Nordengen, Roger Wilson and Mark Oliff. He was playing online with Mark on the afternoon he first took ill but, typical Brian, finished the game despite being in pain before going to hospital.
The one tournament Brian didn’t manage to win was the Schweppes Challenge held at Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg. This competition was the brainchild of Brian and Keith, and was the most popular bridge tournament in the country’s history. Numbers were limited to 212 pairs as this was the maximum that the venue could accommodate. At the prize giving the “Brian and Keith Show” gave away fantastic lucky draw prizes including fridges, Sun City holidays and even a ton of sugar.
Brian was a great administrator and served on many committees including the KwaZulu-Natal Bridge Union. He learned how to score with Bridgemates and offered his services to several clubs.
Brian’s passing is a huge blow to the bridge community and the KZNBU extends its sympathy to Ann, his children Robyn, Leanne and Paul and his grandchildren.
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Last updated : 6th Aug 2024 13:03 SAST |
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Hand of the month - June |
This hand cropped up at the EC Sunshine Coast club last week on Tuesday, 25th June, 2024
Sitting South, you get to 6NT and, after east put in a cheeky heart bid, west leads the ♥6
When dummy comes down you start counting your tricks; 6 spades 2 hearts 3 diamonds and a club.
It looks straight forward after you take the opening lead in dummy with the ace and lead a small spade towards hand.
Unfortunately, East shows out and your count of tricks has dropped to 11
This is a double-dummy exercise, so looking at all hands is permissible and your task is to make 12 tricks despite the spade break. As you can see diamonds break normally, 4-2 and the club finesse is not making
Before reading on see if you spot the way to twelve tricks on best defence.
You have 10 tricks on top; 2 short of your goal
For a squeeze to work, you must get it to be 1 short of the goal
You duck a heart at trick 3. This is critical as you want to be able to play 3 rounds of hearts without letting east in to run them
On the small heart, west happily discards a club. If east returns a club, you spurn the finesse, winning with the ace
Cash the ♥K
Now West is in trouble; what can he discard?
He gets squeezed in all three suits
If he throws a diamond, you cash out 4 diamond tricks, forcing west to choose between pitching a spade or the ♣K
Whichever suit he chooses, you take all the remaining tricks
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This hand cropped up at the EC Sunshine Coast club last week on Tuesday, 25th June, 2024
Sitting South, you get to 6NT and, after east put in a cheeky heart bid, west leads the ♥6
When dummy comes down you start counting your tricks; 6 spades 2 hearts 3 diamonds and a club.
It looks straight forward after you take the opening lead in dummy with the ace and lead a small spade towards hand.
Unfortunately, East shows out and your count of tricks has dropped to 11
This is a double-dummy exercise, so looking at all hands is permissible and your task is to make 12 tricks despite the spade break. ..........
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Last updated : 15th Jul 2024 20:04 SAST |
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WHY WE NEED THE SABF |
Dear KZNBU bridge players
I am reading emails and hearing comments from people asking why we have an SABF and why do we need to pay R250 a year to the SABF to be affiliated.
I have therefore decided to set down my views in writing as your KZNBU representative on the SABF.
The playing of bridge is recognised by SASCOC (The South African Sports Federation) as a sport that qualifies for the awarding of national colours to players representing our country. The SABF is recognised by SASCOC as the national body representing bridge. So, the SABF is the governing body representing competitive bridge in South Africa.
In saying this I accept that some people see bridge as only a social event and see no need for Master Points and participating against Grand Masters in national tournaments, never mind representing South Africa at international tournaments.
There are many aspects to the role of the SABF, which include:
- Regulating the rules under which bridge is played
- Taking disciplinary action against players who cheat and thereby maintaining fair play in our competitions
- Producing an annual calendar to prevent tournament clashes
- Holding the national license for BBO and distributing the 70% of all BBO tournament fees that are returned to the SABF by BBO, back to the unions
- Licensing tournament directors for BBO tournaments
- Organising the national bridge events, such as Congress
- Awarding Master Points and recognising the grading of players from beginner to Grand Master
- Representing the interests of South African bridge through membership of the International Bridge Federation and the African Bridge Federation
- SABF continually offers workshops and other courses to all the Unions for the benefit of all members
Recognising the need to introduce new players to bridge, the SABF initiated a programme of online courses for beginners, led by Arie Ridderhof and Carol Stanton. This also involved the purchase of hundreds of copies of the teaching books by Paul Marston, for use in these courses. These courses continue to be offered.
Questions have been raised about the need for affiliation fees when the SABF has R3 million is reserves. The SABF has not increased fees since 2019 and the recent R50 a year increase represents an increase that is way below inflation. The view was taken by the SABF that we should not see competitive bridge as a dying sport, but one that will continue into the foreseeable future. So, to deplete the reserves does not make sense, as then a large annual affiliation fee would be required to continue the work of the SABF into the future.
The SABF has also taken steps to tighten the conditions under which players qualify to be subsidised to represent our country in international tournaments. It is not true that a large part of SABF affiliation fees is still used to pay for these players to travel.
Most of the work of the SABF is carried out by volunteers, but there is a need for administrative support that has to be paid for.
I believe that for a cost of just over R20 a month, we get many hours of enjoyment from bridge and are able to grow our skills by playing with and against those who are better than we are. I accept that COVID changed the face of the game as we moved to online bridge, but that is not how it was intended to be played.
I also accept that we need to grow the game and introduce new people to bridge – the initiative of the SABF needs to be given serious consideration by all of us.
Neil Macleod
KZNBU committee member
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Last updated : 19th May 2024 13:01 SAST |
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ONLINE BRIDGE |
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The KZNBU runs 3 events on BBO
Monday morning, starting at 9:30 registration by 9:20
Durban Duplicate Bridge Club plays on Monday evenings, starting at 7pm, registration (under DDBC) by 6.50pm, run by Peter Bircher
Find these tournaments on BBO in Virtual Clubs, South Africa
Entrance fee is $1.50 per player. Contact Jenny Ten-bokum 083 485 0477 to register your BBO name
The Midlands Club also has a tournament on Friday morning on BBO at 9.00am. Registration by 8.50am. Cost $1.50 per player. Contact Sonja Purdon 082 805 8050 or Pippa Faul on 082 776 0330
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Last updated : 10th Jun 2024 16:23 SAST |
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FACE-TO-FACE BRIDGE IN KZN
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Last updated : 24th Nov 2023 12:24 SAST |
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Kloof Bridge Club - Wedneday Morning |
Kloof Bridge Club plays at the Kloof Catholic Church (Our Lady of Mercy) Hall 79 Old Main Road starting on Wednesday, 8th February
They play only on the first four Wednesday morning’s of each month
For details, contact Lyn de Mattos on 071 526 4406
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Last updated : 24th Nov 2023 12:23 SAST |
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The KZN Bridge Club - Thursday Morning |
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We play every Thursday Morning - all welcome!
The club operates at their new home, the Presbyterian Church Hall at 154 Lilian Ngoyi (Windermere) Road, opposite the Windermere Centre
Off-street parking behind a locked gate is available
The entrance is from Yule Lane, which runs behind the church. Overflow parking is in Yule Lane with car guards
There is a pedestrian gate entrance on Lilian Ngoyi
Starting time is 9am with registration from 8am to 8.45am.
For more information, WhatsApp Jenny Ten-Bokum on 083 4850 477
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We play every Thursday Morning - all welcome!
The club operates at their new home, the Presbyterian Church Hall at 154 Lilian Ngoyi (Windermere) Road, opposite the Windermere Centre
Off-street parking ..........
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Last updated : 14th Jun 2023 17:00 SAST |
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Le Domaine Bridge Club - Friday Morning |
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Starting at 9am
The club is thriving running two sections each week; an A and a B section
Visitors are welcome to play at the club, but they need to book in advance. Louise Gibbon has the Le Domaine booking group on WhatsApp. Her number is 082 577 9942. She also requires visitors’ car registration numbers for the security check point at the entrance gate to the estate
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Last updated : 22nd Jun 2023 16:41 SAST |
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Domaine RealBridge Club |
Where players can see and talk to each other while playing online
For events, results, and information on the Domaine RealBridge Club website and Le Domaine face to face Bridge Club please click on this link: www.bridgewebs.com/domaine
MANAGEMENT TEAM CONTACT DETAILS:
Administration and ollection
of playing fees: Louise Gibbon - 082 5779942
Website administrator and
Technical Advisor: Peter Coombe - 082 9604824
Tournament Director: Rod Pienaar - 079 6735077
THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ARE BEING RUN:
Domaine Thursday
- A RealBridge pairs tournament starting at 9am every Thursday.
- Cost R25 per player
- Booking essential through Louise Gibbon
Le Domaine Bridge Club: Chairlady Lu Cholerton 082 8411549
- A face-to-face pairs tournament starting at 9am every Friday at the Le Domaine Clubhouse
- Cost R40 per player
- Numbers are limited and booking essential through Louise Gibbon
Domaine Saturday
- A RealBridge pairs tournament at 2pm if there are enough pairs available to play
- Cost R25 per player
- Booking essential through Louise Gibbon/Rod Pienaar
Social Bridge
- A RealBridge social game is open every day of the week and available for play anytime of the day
- 4 players can arrange to meet on the site and play
- Cost R10 per player
- No booking required
Supervised Play and Teaching
- A supervised RealBridge game can be enjoyed on the social site
- 4 players can arrange for a supervised session with a teacher watching them play and guiding and commenting
- Teachers who would like to teach a group of 4 beginners or supervise the play of a group wanting some input with their game can arrange to meet on the social page for this purpose
- The teacher must contact Louise Gibbon for a link to allow real-time viewing and teaching
- Cost R25 per player (excluding the fees of the teacher)
- Arranging to meet with a group and agreeing on, and collecting the fees is the teacher’s responsibility
Teachers
- Anyone who would like to use this site for the purpose of teaching, please contact Louise Gibbon
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Last updated : 30th Nov 2023 12:54 SAST |
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Hand of the week |
DDBC - Monday 20th May 2024
The bidding was vigorous at most tables when this hand was played, although some pairs let East/West play quietly in 4♠, making on the nail
However, a few of the Norths decided not to let E/W have it their way and competed to 5♥, a good save
The choice whether to bid on or double is always tricky, and in each case West made the correct choice by doubling, as 11 tricks is not possible with correct defence
It’s not easy finding your way to 3 defensive tricks to pick up your 200, beating this contract, even if you see all four hands
At the tables where West was on lead, all chose the singleton diamond hoping to be able to put partner on lead with a spade and get a diamond ruff
Singleton leads are like a 2-edged sword, and handled with indifference, may come back to bite
Unfortunately, the lead set up a long diamond in dummy for a club discard, and 5 hearts was now unbeatable
Back to the opening lead. Can you spot the killer lead.
To beat this one, you have to start with the K♣, partner playing an encouraging card. Next, you have to fly up with the ace of trumps, cash Q♣ of clubs and give partner a club ruff
Did you find it?
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DDBC - Monday 20th May 2024
The bidding was vigorous at most tables when this hand was played, although some pairs let East/West play quietly in 4♠, making on the nail
However, a few of the Norths decided not to let E/W have it their way and competed to 5♥, a good save
The choice whether to bid on or double is always tricky, and in each case West made the correct choice by doubling, as 11 tricks is not possible with correct defence
It’s not easy finding your way to 3 defensive tricks to pick up your 200, beating this contract, even if you see all four hands
At the tables where West was on lead, all chose the singleton diamond hoping to be able to put partner on lead with a spade and get a diamond ruff
Singleton leads are like a 2-edged sword, and handled with indifference, may come back to bite
Unfortunately, the lead set up a long diamond in dummy for a club discard, and 5 hearts was now unbeatable
Back to the opening lead. Can you spot the killer lead. ..........
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Last updated : 4th Jul 2024 21:48 SAST |
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Hand of the month - 2nd May - EC Sunshine Coast BBO |
This remarkable hand popped up on BBO on Thursday
Although the spade slam was a potential contract, 6NT was the more common choice.
6♠ had no chance when trumps broke badly
In 6NT, many South declarers were gifted the 12th trick when West led a small spade, won in dummy, setting up the spades, without loss.
However those that received J♠ lead, had their work cut out to make 12 tricks
I cashed the A-K of spades and was not surprised to see east show out
Faced with 2 losers, I led a heart to the jack, which held, and a heart back to the queen, which also held!
What now?
I was about to cash out 11 tricks for 1 down when I decided to play for the only distribution that would offer me a glimmer of hope.
If hearts were 5-2 then there was a chance.
I then led a low spade towards dummy!
West had to take the 10, otherwise she would not make a spade
Fortunately, she was now out of hearts, and I could claim; 4 spades, 2 hearts, 3 diamonds and 3 clubs
East rued the fact that she had not taken her heart ace when she had the chance
However, if she had taken either the 1st or 2nd heart, declarer clears his hearts, west throwing a club on the 3rd
Declarer cashes the A-Q of clubs, reaching this 6 card position:
On the king of clubs west is squeezed, having to find a discard
As a spade would surrender the suit, she has to let go a diamond giving declarer 4 diamond tricks
Hand submitted by Peter Bircher
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This remarkable hand popped up on BBO on Thursday
Although the spade slam was a potential contract, 6NT was the more common choice.
6♠ had no chance when trumps broke badly
In 6NT, many South declarers were gifted the 12th trick when West led a small spade, won in dummy, setting up the spades, without loss.
However those that received J♠ lead, had their work cut out to make 12 tricks
I cashed the A-K of spades and was not surprised to see east show out
Faced with 2 losers, I led a heart to the jack, which held, and a heart back to the queen, which also held!
What now?
I was about to cash out 11 tricks for 1 down when I decided to play for the only distribution that would offer me a glimmer of hope. ..........
..... see more |
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Last updated : 10th Jun 2024 16:19 SAST |
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Hand of the week - Opening bid? |
BBO Eastern Cape, Tuesday, 27th February 2024
You are playing 2 over 1 on BBO and deal.
Neither vulnerable.
What do you open?
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When making an opening bid always consider what your rebid will be whatever partner's response is.
If you were to do the "normal" thing of opening 1♥, go though the responses that partner may make, and then consider your rebids
1♠ Easy! You can raise to 2♠
2♥ No problem
A 2♣ or 2♦ response by partner are also easy to deal with. After a 2♣ response, a rebid of 2♠ is not regarded as a reverse as you are already in a game forcing situation
But what about the possible response by partner of 1NT?
2♠ is a reverse and promises a better hand.
Rebidding hearts would promise 6 cards
Passing is out of the question, because in 2 over 1 a hand responding 1NT could have as many as 12 points
A raise to 2NT promises 18 or 19 points. or a very good 17
So, we come back to the opening bid
The solution to this hand is not to open 1♥, but to open 1NT!
It shows your points perfectly, but with the obvious flaw - the singleton
"But I can't open 1NT with a singleton!", you cry
You can!
The rules of bridge changed in 2017 allowing one to open 1NT with a singleton so long as it is the queen, king or ace
What are the risks of a 1NT opening with a singleton club?
On this hand virtually none at all!
if partner Puppets, transfers or Staymans we are very well placed
If partner can't do any of the above then he must have a fair number of cards in the minor suits so you are likely to be able stop the clubs being run
In any event if you are playing in 1NT, how often does the opening leader lead away from the ace?
It happens quite often, and you make the king
All Easts opened 1♥. From there paths differed - some, not playing 2 over 1, were able to pass the 1NT response
Some easts reversed into 2♠, a bit of an overbid and ended up in the unmakeable contract of 3NT
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BBO Eastern Cape, Tuesday, 27th February 2024
You are playing 2 over 1 on BBO and deal.
Neither vulnerable.
What do you open?
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When making an opening bid always consider what your rebid will be whatever partner's response is. ..........
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Last updated : 10th Jun 2024 16:19 SAST |
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Hand of the week - Thursday, February 15th 2024 |
When you look at the makeable, or optimum contract, the way of making it is not immediately obvious
On this deal played on BBO, the man-in-the-box says you can make 12 against best defence
The bidding may tip you off to find the line, but even double dummy it is not that easy
If North bid 4♦, vulnerable, it must be on an 8 or 9 card suit. In that case the heart finesse is likely to fail
The probability of clubs breaking is also not good
But you may be able to put pressure on south for the 12th trick
You ruff the second round of diamonds, draw 2 rounds of trumps, cash the ♥K and lead the ♥J
South covers, of course, and you win with the ♥ace, smothering the ♥9
You play 2 more rounds of trumps arriving at this 5 card ending
On the last trump, you throw the ♥6
But South has a problem as he can't throw out the top heart so pitches a club
This gives you a 4th club trick, making 12 in all
If south had thrown the ♥10 your ♥8 would become trick 12
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Last updated : 10th Jun 2024 16:18 SAST |
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Defence at the EC |
Hand played at the EC (Sunshine Coast)
on the 13 February 2023
Bidding should tell you a story
If you don't listen then you may miss an opportunity to give declarer the most difficult road to travel on!
You are West, defending 3NT on the bidding shown, and lead the obvious king of spades and, after declarer holds up, you continue with the queen, ducked once again by declarer
The question is, what next? Of course, the safe play is to continue spades
Count the defencive tricks. You will always make 3 spade tricks if you woodenly contine with another spade, but you need 2 more to defeat 3NT
Look at the bidding. South failed to open and then bid 2NT showing about 10 or 11 points
More importantly, South failed to respond 1♥.
If south had had 4 hearts he may well have responded 1♥.
But he didn't. So we can assume he has only 3. You have 4 and dummy has 1, leaving partner with at least 5
A heart switch now may cause declarer a major headache.
Lead the ♥Q
Is there any risk?
No, not at all. As east is marked to have 5 hearts he is guaranreed to hold at least 1 of the 3 other honours, probably 2
Declarer can hold up once or twice but must then run for home as a losing club finesse will prove disastrous
In this particular case you can't defeat 3NT but you can hinder declarer from making the10th
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Hand played at the EC (Sunshine Coast)
on the 13 February 2023
Bidding should tell you a story
If you don't listen then you may miss an opportunity to give declarer the most difficult road to travel on!
You are West, defending 3NT on the bidding shown, and lead the obvious king of spades and, after declarer holds up, you continue with the queen, ducked once again by declarer
The question is, what next? Of course, the safe play is to continue spades
Count the defencive tricks. You will always make 3 spade tricks if you woodenly contine with another spade, but you need 2 more to defeat 3NT
Look at the bidding. South failed to open and then bid 2NT showing about 10 or 11 points
More importantly, South failed to respond 1♥.
If south had had 4 hearts he may well have responded 1♥.
But he didn't. ..........
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Last updated : 10th Jun 2024 16:18 SAST |
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Hand of the Month - February |
This deal was played on KZNBU BBO on Thursday, 1st February
Every now and again you come across a hand that is perplexing.
The field find their way to 4S and every pair takes the 11 tricks without further thought.
It's only when you later look at the optimum contract that you realise that 12 tricks are there for the taking - apparently!
There is no finesses available and ruffing the 3rd heart is futile as the trump is a trick regardless how you take it and then the defender will make the jack of trumps at the end leaving you no better off
There is no squeeze available.
Then it dawns on you. If you can stretch you trumps to 6 tricks you can make the 12th!
How is this possible?
The answer is by using a technique called a dummy reversal
For a dummy reversal to work you need:
- the trumps in dummy to be strong enough to do the drawing of trumps
- to be able to return to dummy often enough to complete the process
One thing you cannot do is draw trumps first as you only have 2 trumps in hand to ruff with
In this deal you must engineer a way to ruff 3 clubs in hand giving you your 6 trump tricks in all
Assume the Club ace is led. The defender sees dummy and switches to a trump
You lead a club to hand and ruff
You get back to dummy by drawing another round of trumps and ruff another club
You get back to dummy via one of the red suits and ruff another club
You can hop back to dummy and draw the last trump
There is no way of stopping declarer from taking 12 tricks so long as declarer gives it a thought before all trumps have been drawn
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This deal was played on KZNBU BBO on Thursday, 1st February
Every now and again you come across a hand that is perplexing.
The field find their way to 4S and every pair takes the 11 tricks without further thought.
It's only when you later look at the optimum contract that you realise that 12 tricks are there for the taking - apparently!
There is no finesses available and ruffing the 3rd heart is futile as the trump is a trick regardless how you take it and then the defender will make the jack of trumps at the end leaving you no better off
There is no squeeze available. ..........
..... see more |
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Last updated : 10th Jun 2024 16:18 SAST |
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Hand of the Month - December |
On Monday evening, 4th December, at the Durban Duplicate online bridge club, North declared in a perfectly normal 6♥ contract which, on most days, would have been a cake-walk
Without any prior bidding from the opposition, West suddenly puts in a double of the final contreact
If trumps had been no worse than 4-1 you can knock out the ace of trumps and claim the rest
On the day the three of spades lead was taken by the Queen
Time to take stock
West doubled the final contract and this can only mean that trumps are breaking badly
If you were to play a trump at this point, correct defence, will lead to defeat
This is how it will likely proceed
West takes the ♥A and coninues with a spade. This may not appear to be a significant problem, but the premature removal of the spade entry to dummy will lead to a problem at trick 11
You cash the A-K of diamonds and then draw a round of trumps, ending in dummy and start running the diamonds
West follows for 2 more rounds but ruffs the 5th round of diamonds. You overruff, of course, but are stuck in hand, with no way to reach dummy to draw the last trump to enjoy the diamonds
If you play a trump to the Queen, the ♥7 is established for west. If you cash the ♣A and ruff a club with the six it is over-ruffed
Back to trick 1. If West's double is to have any meaning it must be that he has all the trumps and you will need to keep that ♠A intact
So at trick 2 you unblock the ace-king of diamonds and then lead a top trump. West can win the trick and knock out the ace of spades
But this time you are in control. You cash 2 more rounds of diamonds and switch back to a round of trumps
Then you can cash the ♣A and ruff a club high, while west discards a spade
You continue to cross-ruff the rest of the hand while west follows helplessly underruffing the last 3 tricks!
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Last updated : 7th Jan 2024 16:47 SAST |
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Hand of the Month - November |
This gem cropped up on BBO this month
After north had opened 1NT, he declared in 6NT
Assuming East does not lead a give-away spade, making 12 tricks on a neutral club lead is quite a challenge
You knock out the ♣A but before cashing the clubs, which may be needed later for transport, you test diamonds
When east discards a spade on the 3rd diamond you cash the A-K of spades and run the clubs
Before the last club is cashed, with the lead in dummy, this is the 4-card ending:
♠ 5
♥ A2
♦ 6
♠ Q
♥ Q87 ♥ J95
♦ J
♥ K106
♣ J
When declarer cashes the ♣J, west has to hold on to the ♦J, so throws a heart
Having done its job, north can now throw the ♦6
East is under pressure having to hold on to the ♠Q so also pitches a heart
The ♥10 now becomes trick 12
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Last updated : 17th Dec 2023 13:25 SAST |
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Hand of the Month - October |
10 October, Kruger Day, Sunshine Coast, Board 1
Oom Paul, an accomplished hunter, was known to have a keen instinct, useful in the Transvaal bushveld of old
North gets to 4S after West threw in a heart bid along the way
Instinct may be good for the wilds of Africa, but in bridge it can lead to defeat
The six of hearts was led, taken in dummy
Declarer plays a diamond at trick 2. West takes the ace and continues hearts, ruffed by declarer with the 10.
East is at a critical point in the hand
He must decide whether to overruff or not.
If you instinctively overruff with the queen, declarer can now pick up your king via a simple finesse and then concede a trick to the ace of clubs
Contract making
The question is, how does east know not to over-ruff?
Before you decide to over-ruff let's assess your trump holding. As the 10 has already been played your K-Q-9 combination must make 2 tricks, enough to beat the contract
This is because when declarer plays a trump towards dummy you rise with the queen forcing the ace. Now the king will take care of the bare jack, setting up the 9
No matter which trump declarer plays you are assured of 2 trump tricks. A low ruff, of course, is over-ruffed with the 9. But a high ruff by declarer must be ignored
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10 October, Kruger Day, Sunshine Coast, Board 1
Oom Paul, an accomplished hunter, was known to have a keen instinct, useful in the Transvaal bushveld of old
North gets to 4S after West threw in a heart bid along the way
Instinct may be good for the wilds of Africa, but in bridge it can lead to defeat
The six of hearts was led, taken in dummy
Declarer plays a diamond at trick 2. West takes the ace and continues hearts, ruffed by declarer with the 10.
East is at a critical point in the hand
He must decide whether to overruff or not. ..........
..... see more |
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Last updated : 9th Dec 2023 18:42 SAST |
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Hand of the month - September |
Sometimes the bidding goes awry, and one ends up in an inferior contract
This happens when the poor cousins of the bridge world (the minor suits) get overlooked!
And you end up in a Moysian* fit slam, certainly not the best contract
This happened at the KZNBU BBO pairs last week
Perhaps north should put in a second double after west rebids her hearts
A second double cannot be for penalties – just reaffirming the powerful nature of the hand and (by standard) declaring 3 card spade support, asking south to rebid spades if a 5-card suit or “do something!” Just don’t pass!
However if north had bid thus, the story would not have been quite so interesting
When North jumped to 4♠, it’s hardly surprising that south, with a heart void and some good spade honours, went on to slam,
But sometimes the Gods are smiling down on you and 6♠ is unbeatable
The ace of hearts was led, ruffed by declarer
He then played a spade to the ace, took the spade finesse back and cashed the king, mildly disappointed to see west show out, meaning that East had a sure trick
A diamond to the Queen held and clubs were started from the top, pleased to see the ♣Q fall in 2
Declarer continued clubs, waiting for east to ruff with the master trump. When in, east led a heart to the king
The ♦A caught the king, establising the jack, and the hand was high
There is no lead to beat the spade slam
Seeing all four hands, it's easy to spot the best contract, either minor grand slam! Not so simple at the table
But the most interesting part of this hand is that the "optimum contract" is not, as your would expect, 7♦ or 7♣ but 7♥X by west!!
Yes, if a vulnerable grand slam is available to N/S, then west can save a few points by bidding 7 hearts, getting doubled and going down "only" 7!
* Moysian fits (named for Alphonse "Sonny" Moyse) are simply 4-3 trump fits
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Last updated : 9th Dec 2023 18:41 SAST |
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Hand of the Month - August |
The bidding started off with a Multi 2♦ and then the 2NT rebid showed a balanced 20 or 21 point hand
A puppet enquiry revealed that south had a 5 card heart suit, guaranteeing a 10 card fit
The RKC enquiry confirmed possession of all keycards. Having 10 hearts including the ace and king meant that even if the queen of trumps was missing it should fall in 2 rounds, making the slam a good prospect.
As north had bid hearts when making the relay bid, after the Multi opening by south, he ended up as declarer. West chose a club on opening
Plan your play.
It looks like 2 finesses in spades will be needed, giving one a 75% chance of making the slam
However there is a line that is guaranteed to make despite both spade honours being off side
After drawing trumps, he proceeded to eliminated the minors, ruffing a club and and played 3 rounds of diamonds ending in hand
Declarer led the ♠J and let it ride
West was caught without a suiatble exit card. He didnt want to lead a spade into dummy so chose a diamond, giving declarer a ruff and spade discard, negating the need for another finesse
6 hearts bid and made
On the day, in a small field of 5 tables, only one other pair reached 6♥, but failed after attempting 2 finesses in spades
The contract can be beaten, when north is declarer, but only on a spade lead, as the above endplay cannot be utilized
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The bidding started off with a Multi 2♦ and then the 2NT rebid showed a balanced 20 or 21 point hand
A puppet enquiry revealed that south had a 5 card heart suit, guaranteeing a 10 card fit
The RKC enquiry confirmed possession of all keycards. Having 10 hearts including the ace and king meant that even if the queen of trumps was missing it should fall in 2 rounds, making the slam a good prospect.
As north had bid hearts when making the relay bid, after the Multi opening by south, he ended up as declarer. ..........
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Last updated : 25th Aug 2023 12:57 SAST |
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Hand of the Month - July |
The Links, Saturday 1 July
Quite a few of the KZN players play at the Links on a Saturday afternoon
This hand cropped up last week, giving declarer a challange in 3NT.
This was the bidding:
You start with 8 tricks, 2 spades, a heart, 3 diamonds and 2 clubs.
With spades breaking badly, even with the benefit of double-dummy it’s not easy finding your 9th.
You receive a diamond lead, won in dummy with the king, South dropping a spade.
You play the ♦J taken with the ace. West perseveres with a diamond, won in hand, while South pitches 2 hearts.
You try the spade finesse losing to the King and the 8♥ is returned, and ducked (important, as it removes a potential exit card for South later) and the continuation is won in dummy.
You now play off the top two clubs, noting the fall of the queen
When you cash the queen of diamonds, your 6th trick, South has a choice of discards from:
♠ 965
♣ J8
He can’t afford to throw a spade giving you 3 tricks, so pitches the ♣8
This is the 4-card ending:
You play a spade to the ace and throw South in with a club
With only spades left he has to lead one into dummy’s Q-7
If played from East's side, the contact is impossible on a heart lead, as the hearts are setup before declarer has dislodged the A♦
Hand submitted by Peter Bircher
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The Links, Saturday 1 July
Quite a few of the KZN players play at the Links on a Saturday afternoon
This hand cropped up last week, giving declarer a challange in 3NT. ..........
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Last updated : 19th Aug 2023 14:03 SAST |
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Hand of the month - May |
This hand was played on Monday 29th May (am) on BBO
The X is a support double
Opening lead: ♥A
After successfully getting to 6♠, you need to ensure 12 tricks
The Ace of hearts is ruffed, of course
The illusion on this hand is that to make 12 you must try to ruff both remaining hearts in dummy
In fact outside losers can be discarded on the clubs - no further heart ruffs are required.
You are not in a grand slam so to make your small slam you can take some form of insurance
The trick is to lose a trump early, maintaining one trump in dummy to take care of a heart continuation
lead a trump to the ♠9 happy to lose a trump at this point
If hearts are continued you can ruff with the last trump, cross to hand with a diamond, draw the remaining two trumps and cash out the clubs, making 12
Of course seeing all four hands you can make 13 by running the ♠J, smothering the ♠10, whether North covers or not
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This hand was played on Monday 29th May (am) on BBO
The X is a support double
Opening lead: ♥A
After successfully getting to 6♠, you need to ensure 12 tricks
The Ace of hearts is ruffed, of course
The illusion on this hand is that to make 12 you must try to ruff both remaining hearts in dummy
In fact outside losers can be discarded on the clubs - no further heart ruffs are required. ..........
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Last updated : 22nd Jun 2023 16:37 SAST |
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What is your bid? |
Hand 20 played on KZN BBO on 24th April
West, your partner, passes and North opens 1NT
You are east with this hand
What action do you take?
What can/should you bid with 18 HCP's and a nice 5 card major?
You really want to bid - after all, it's your best hand of the day. A juicy double is maybe worth 500. Or should you simply overcall 2♠
Make your choice before reading on.
If you double you just know your partner will take it out, and most likely, into clubs. Why? Because that's your short suit. That's life, that's bridge!
If you do double and west bids 2♣, now what? Rebid 2NT and possibly down 1 or just rebid 2♠? If partner leaves you in 2♠ it makes, when the ♠J gets swallowed up for +110. Could so easily be 1 down for -100
Jan Chemaly has been around the block a few times and taught bridge for over 40 years! (or is it 50 years)
She knows there is no game on. She notes that N/S are vulnerable and reckons that 2 down will be 200, and a good score. Of course she doesn’t know that for sure, but it is likely, even if partner is a yarborough
A couple of the east players overcalled 2♠ and a couple doubled and a couple passed. Barbara Becker, another very experienced player, was the other east to pass
Those that did double all recorded a minus score in 2 (or 3) clubs or a forced rebid of 2NT, neither making
Sometimes it pays to be silent. Here the green card is the gold card!
Nothing south could do to save partner, except to note what experienced players do
Sometimes there is a call for passivity and silence is golden
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Hand 20 played on KZN BBO on 24th April
West, your partner, passes and North opens 1NT
You are east with this hand
What action do you take?
What can/should you bid with 18 HCP's and a nice 5 card major?
You really want to bid - after all, it's your best hand of the day. A juicy double is maybe worth 500. Or should you simply overcall 2♠
Make your choice before reading on. ..........
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Last updated : 9th Jun 2023 14:30 SAST |
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A tip for defenders |
In a hand played recently most of the field ended up in 3♥ after West had invited game
Sitting North you start by leading the singleton J♦. Partner wins with the ace and returns a diamond, which you ruff
The question is how can you get back to partner’s hand for another ruff.
If partner has the ace of clubs, then a club is called for. However, if partner has the ace of spades, then a spade is the way to partner’s hand
If you and your partner have no idea about suit preference signals, then it is a guess.
Playing suit preference signals (SPS), it depends on what diamond partner returned for you to ruff
I watched, this deal and the South carelessly lead back the ♦2 for north to ruff. After ruffing North had to decide which black suit partner might have as an entry. North, noting the 2♦ , decided on a club. Tickets!
Declarer won with the queen, drew trumps in two rounds, cashed the ♣A, ruffed a club and notched up 11 tricks, after disposing of the spade on a long diamond
Clearly, South had a preference of which suit he had an entry, spades
Looking at dummy, the nine of diamonds is as valuable, in real terms, as the two
So, using SPS South must return the ♦9 as a clear and unambiguous signal to North where he has an entry
Failing to follow this basic principle cost the defence 3 tricks!
Hand submitted by Peter Bircher
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In a hand played recently most of the field ended up in 3♥ after West had invited game
Sitting North you start by leading the singleton J♦. Partner wins with the ace and returns a diamond, which you ruff
The question is how can you get back to partner’s hand for another ruff.
If partner has the ace of clubs, then a club is called for. However, if partner has the ace of spades, then a spade is the way to partner’s hand
If you and your partner have no idea about suit preference signals, then it is a guess. ..........
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Last updated : 25th Apr 2023 14:05 SAST |
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Optimum Contract. What is it? |
I find the optimum contract suggested by the BridgeWebs results file often quite interesting
The suggestion, upon analysis, has always made perfect sense
Of course, the assumption that the rest of the field will bid to the optimum, is no guarantee for a good result. So going for -1400 (6♠X vulnerable -5) against your opponents 6♥ vulnerable slam making for -1430 may not always work out as you might hope
In the expert game, more so, as the rest of the field are likely to bid to the slam
On Tuesday you may wonder why 4SX for - 300 is the optimum contract as suggested on board 14
Until you notice that 3NT is makeable on the slimmest of spade stops, but only if played by West
Remarkably, 3 pairs did reach this shaky game and, what's more, 2 made their contract!
The question is, if East declares in 3NT, how do you make sure you beat it?
In this case, the ♠J seals East's fate
The Jack holds, and a small spade is won by north
North keeps firing hearts through, finally forcing an entry to South's hand and he eventually has to capitulate - 2 down
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Last updated : 25th Apr 2023 14:06 SAST |
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Card reading - 4th highest |
This hand cropped up on Thursday morning, 19th January.
You are West
North opened 1NT and, after South failed to find a major fit, lept to 3NT.
Your partner leads the ♣8 and dummy plays the ♣2
Plan your move.
What do you know about the club suit?
If the 8 is a 4th highest that means there are 3 cards higher than the 8 outside your partner's hand
How do we know this?
Subtract the card led from 11 (Rule of Eleven) and you have the answer:11-8 = 3
Dummy has 1 and you have got 2
Suddenly it dawns on you that declarer has no card higher than the 8!
And this means the 8 is winning and will win the trick, even if you play low
This is this time to take control of the defence. If you let the 8 win, there is a remote chance that partner may switch
So, taking no chances you overtake the 8 with the 9, cash the ace and fire back the 3 and down goes 3NT
On the actual day, sadly, a large number of Wests flew up with the ace and returned a club. This now sets up the queen and, without an entry to East, his hand withered on the vine, leaving a bad taste in his mouth and -630 on the scorecard.
Sour grapes, perhaps?
The Rule of Eleven is one of many "Rule Of's" that have been around since the days of Wist
The Rule of Eleven, although an invaluable tool for the defence, can sometimes also be used to declarer's advantage, knowing exactly what card to play from dummy. The knife has two blades!
The other useful "Rule Of" in NT is, this time, for declarer
The Rule of 7 tells him or her how many times to hold up on standard 4th highest lead
This is it in a nutshell:
Subtract the total cards you and dummy have in the suit led from 7 and that number tells you how many times to hold up
So if dummy has 94 and you have A75, you should hold up twice (7-5 = 2)
But with 94, and you have A752, you can hold up once (7-6 = 1)
I will try to demonstrate this, with examples, at some future date
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This hand cropped up on Thursday morning, 19th January.
You are West
North opened 1NT and, after South failed to find a major fit, lept to 3NT.
Your partner leads the ♣8 and dummy plays the ♣2
Plan your move. ..........
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Last updated : 25th Apr 2023 14:07 SAST |
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The fight for part-score |
Although tight games and difficult slams are the "stuff" of bridge columns, the fight for a partscore can be just as rewarding in the pairs game.
This hand cropped upon the 9th January 2023 on KZN BBO
It illustrates the point beautifully
Many pairs were permitted to play in 2♦ after North put in a spade overcall, with South remaing silent, making 8 tricks for an average, +90
However at some tables South, not content to leave E/W to make their part-score, put in a belated bid "stealing" the contract with the master suit.
If 2♠ makes then an excellent result ensures
However if N/S go 1 down, vulnerable, its -100 and a very poor result
Now its up to East/West to get their +100
East leads the ace of diamonds and, after noting West's encouraging card, must decide what to do next
At one table, East cashed the ♦Q and switched to the singleton club
Declarer rose with the ace, entered hand with a heart and ruffed a diamond
The Jack of spades was tabled, and whether covered or not, had to concede a club and a heart and a trump, to make on the nail, E/W conceding -110 for a very poor percentage
Lets go back to the first trick
Its not easy for East to find the switch at trick 2 to defeat the contract
Can you spot it.
A trump switch will ensure declarer cannot ruff a diamond and will fall one short of his target; +100 to East/West
Even after cashing a second diamond it would be too late to switch to a trump as declarer still has one trump in dummy to take care of his third diamond
These part-scor contests have their counterpart in an evenly matched fencing duel - lunge, parry and riposte!
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Although tight games and difficult slams are the "stuff" of bridge columns, the fight for a partscore can be just as rewarding in the pairs game.
This hand cropped upon the 9th January 2023 on KZN BBO
It illustrates the point beautifully
Many pairs were permitted to play in 2♦ after North put in a spade overcall, with South remaing silent, making 8 tricks for an average, +90
However at some tables South, not content to leave E/W to make their part-score, put in a belated bid "stealing" the contract with the master suit.
If 2♠ makes then an excellent result ensures
However if N/S go 1 down, vulnerable, its -100 and a very poor result
Now its up to East/West to get their +100
East leads the ace of diamonds and, after noting West's encouraging card, must decide what to do next
At one table, East cashed the ♦Q and switched to the singleton club
Declarer rose with the ace, entered hand with a heart and ruffed a diamond
The Jack of spades was tabled, and whether covered or not, had to concede a club and a heart and a trump, to make on the nail, E/W conceding -110 for a very poor percentage
Lets go back to the first trick
Its not easy for East to find the switch at trick 2 to defeat the contract
Can you spot it. ..........
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Last updated : 12th May 2023 15:05 SAST |
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Hand-of-the-month - November |
Work out how to make 4♥, after ♠A is led
Then a small ♠ to the queen
Click for solution
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Last updated : 27th Oct 2023 12:38 SAST |
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Hand of the Month - October |
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