Silver Spring, MD U CooL W time at L a Sectional!B U L L E T I N July/August 2006 There are events...

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www.Wash ing tonBridgeLeague.org

July/August 2006

TThheerree aarree eevveennttss tthhrroouugghhoouutt tthhee ttoouurrnnaammeenntt ffoorrppllaayyeerrss ooff aallll lleevveellss iinncclluuddiinngg aa ffuullll sscchheedduullee ooff iinntteerr--mmeeddiiaattee aanndd nnoovviiccee ggaammeess.. EEnnjjooyy tthhee uussuuaall ffaammoouussWWaasshhiinnggttoonn hhoossppiittaalliittyy ffrroomm NNaaddiinnee aanndd KKiittttyyiinncclluuddiinngg ffrreeee lluunncchheess oonn tthhee wweeeekkeenndd..

FFoorr tthhee ccoommpplleettee sscchheedduullee,, sseeee ppaaggee 33..

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WBL75thAnniversary

WBL75thAnniversary

6611SSTT AANNNNUUAALL

PPOOTTOOMMAACC VVAALLLLEEYY TTOOUURRNNAAMMEENNTT

AAuugguusstt 33--66,, 22000066

Silver Spring, MD

Have aCooLtime ata HOTSectional!

It’s

SummerBridgeand

Don’t miss the2:30pm Saturday Panel Show!

-- 11 --

CCOONNTTEENNTTSS

ARTICLE PAGE

President’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .by Fred King 2

WBL 61st Annual Potomac Valley Tournament — August 3-6, 2006 . . . . 3

76th Annual D.C. Championships — October 19-22, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Bits and Pieces...

Welcome to the WBL; District 6 & NVBA Lose Long-Time Volunteer

Bette Dudka; Congratulations to the District 6 Grand National

Team Winners! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Bridgeisms!; Best Leads Against NoTrump by Steve Robinson . . . . . .20

WBL Solvers’ Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .by Steve Robinson 7

Thursday Night Unit Game...

2006 Trophy Race Standings . . . . . . . .by Webmaster, Don Berman 14

0-20 Game & Lesson Thursday Nights, Carpools . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Schedule, Map, GGuuaarraanntteeeedd PPaarrttnneerr PPrrooggrraamm,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

It Takes a Village to Run a Bridge Club, Spare Brains or

Muscle?; Upcoming Sectionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Committee Action #53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .by Rich Colker 17

A Remembrance of Carole Geagley . . . . . . . . . . . .from Bryan Coleman 21

Reflections on the History of the WBL as our 75th Anniversary

Celebration Approaches, Part I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .by Bob Levey 23

Area Bridge Class Offerings — Leslie Shafer’s Fall Classes . . . . . . . . . .25

Advertise? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

2006-2007 North American Pairs District 6 Finals . .by Barbara Doran 26

New D.C. Bridge Game Off to a Good Start! — Sunday Bridge Fiesta! . .27

Stepping Up to New Heights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

NLMasterPointers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .by I/N columnist, Sandy Forsythe 28

Need a Partner or a Ride to the Unit Game? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .back cover

Solvers’ Club’s New Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .back cover

♣♦♥♠ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ∼ ♣♦♥♠deadline: August 28, 2006

to submit new articles to the editor for the September/October 2006 issue

Washington Bridge League BBUULLLLEETTIINN (usps #861-240)VOL. 64, #4 — SUBSCRIPTION $2 PER YEAR FOR MEMBERS OF UNIT #147 (INCLUDED IN ACBL ANNUAL DUES).NON-MEMBER SUBSCRIPTION RATE IS $21 FOR THREE YEARS. PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY BY THE WASHINGTON

BRIDGE LEAGUE AT 14517 PERRYWOOD DRIVE, BURTONSVILLE, MD 20866. SECOND-CLASS POSTAGE PAID

AT BURTONSVILLE, MD. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO WASHINGTON BRIDGE LEAGUE BULLETIN,ACBL, 2990 AIRWAYS BLVD., MEMPHIS, TN 38116-3847. ALL EDITORIAL AND GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE

SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE EDITOR AT 901 CLIFTONBROOK LN., SILVER SPRING, MD 20905-3711.

Editor — Donna Rogall (301-421-9615), [email protected]/N Columnist — Sandy Forsythe (301-592-9177), [email protected]

Columnists — Steve Robinson, Richard Colker, Fred King, Bob Levey, Barbara Doran, Bryan ColemanThe opinions expressed by our columnists do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ACBL, the WBL,or even the editors of this publication. The WBL is not responsible for the claims of its advertisers.

Fred King, President — (703-536-1914), [email protected] Berman, Vice President — (301-776-3581), [email protected]

Steve Robinson, Treasurer — (703-379-4371), [email protected] Ferrin, Secretary — (202-265-0718), [email protected]

UNIT DIRECTORSBarbara Ames — (202-439-5667), [email protected]

Ellen Cherniavsky — (301-649-1350), [email protected] Kruskal — (301-927-1023), [email protected]

Bob Levey — (301-654-7033),[email protected] Rind — (301-315-2211), [email protected]

Barbara Summers — (301-598-5838), [email protected]

SOME KEY VOLUNTEERSNadine Wood — Tournament Chair (301-565-9555)Ann Lindley — WBL Ombudsman (703-360-9087)

Frances Burke — Membership Secretary (301-384-6103)Ted Ying — Unit Game Chief Director (301-490-3154)

Michael Carroad — Unit Game Manager (301-322-4289)Barbara Doran — Unit Game & Tournament Partnerships (301-608-0347)Kitty Gottfried — Unit Game and Sectional Hospitality (301-587-3981)

Dick Wegman, Past President — (301-365-2228), [email protected]

WBL WEBSITE: DISTRICT 6 SITE:www.WashingtonBridgeLeague.org www.districtsix.org

WWBBLL OOMMBBUUDDSSMMAANN

Any player with helpful directorissues including criticism or praise of thedirecting staff may contact theOmbudsman, Ann Lindley and beassured that the source of the informa-tion will remain confidential. Informationshould be provided in writing and maybe handed to her at any game, or mailedto her at 8822 Fircrest Pl., Alexandria,VA 22308.

SSUUGGGGEESSTTIIOONN BBOOXX

Do you have a suggestion thatmight help to increase membership orotherwise improve the WashingtonBridge League? Give any and allideas to Don Berman, 301-776-3581,[email protected], 13707Engleman Dr., Laurel, MD 20708, orwww.WashingtonBridgeLeague.org.

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PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT’’SS LLEETTTTEERR

bbyy WWBBLL PPrreessiiddeenntt,, FFrreedd KKiinngg

Woodward and Lothrop, Garfinkels,Hechinger, People’s Drug, Dart Drug,Raleigh’s. All of these are just a few of theWashington institutions that have disap-peared during my time here. One institutionthat has kept going strong throughout thisperiod is the WWaasshhiinnggttoonn BBrriiddggeeLLeeaagguuee.. Indeed the WBL has now beenaround for 75 years (even longer than theACBL!) and we want to have a wonderfulDDiiaammoonndd AAnnnniivveerrssaarryy celebration. Alreadyyou have heard about some of the upcomingactivities. Many of them will center on theOctober D.C. Championship sectional. Wewill make the first award of the MMaacchhlliinnSSppoorrttssmmaannsshhiipp TTrroopphhyy during the tourna-ment. We will reinstitute the Eynon trophyfor the team winners. Other possible activi-ties are still being planned.

Those of you who have played in theWBL games over the years have had theopportunity to play against famous bridgeplayers such as CChhaarrlleess GGoorreenn,, AAll RRootthh,, SStteevveeRRoobbiinnssoonn,, and oh so many more. But in addi-tion to those who have won fame in bridge,you have had the chance to play againstworld-class athletes like PPaauulliinnee BBeettzz AAddddiiee,,one of the best women tennis players in thehistory of the game. EEddddiiee EEyynnoonn owned theWashington Senators baseball team. U. S.Senators and members of the House ofRepresentatives, Supreme Court Justicesand other high government officials havebeen regulars at WBL games. (Despite hisgreat love of the game, we have no evidencethat PPrreessiiddeenntt EEiisseennhhoowweerr ever joined theWBL.) Of course there have also been somescoundrels in the league, but I will let youname them yourself.

BBoobb LLeevveeyy has contributed his first of (atleast) two parts on the history of the WBL

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61st Annual Potomac V61st Annual Potomac Valley Talley Tournamentournament

Silver Spring, MD: August 3-6, 2006

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♣ StrataFlighted Open Pairs (A/X unlim/3000, B/C/D Separate 1500/1000/500)(both sites); Stratified NLM Pairs (NLM/100/50) & 0-20 Pairs (Christ the KingChurch only); Stratified 199er Pairs (Beth El only)Beth El Congregation, 3830 Seminary Rd, Alexandria . . . . . . .7:00pmChrist the King Church, 2301 Colston Drive, Silver Spring . . . . . . . . .7:30pm

Capital Beltway to Connecticut Ave. South. Left on East-West Hwy. Right onGrubb Rd. 1st left on Colston. Church is on the left before the next intersection.

Friday—at Christ the King Church Only♦ Stratafied Pairs (2000+/1000/500) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10:00am♥ StrataFlighted A/X (unlim/3000) & B/C/D Pairs (1500/1000/500) . . . 2:00pm♠ Barometer Pairs StrataFlighted A/X (unlim/3000)

& B/C/D Pairs (1500/1000/500) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30pmCheck your scores every round! Friday nights are your chance to try a different form of the game.This one-session Barometer Pairs has no qualification necessary. Everyone plays the same boards at thesame time and you can see how you’re doing after every round.

♣ Intermediate/Novice Pairs (300/200/100/50/20)(single sessions) . . . . . . . . . . . .10:00am, 2:00pm, 7:30pm

♦ StrataFlighted A/X Pairs (unlim/3000)(single sessions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:00am, 3:30pm♥ StrataFlighted B/C/D Pairs (1500/1000/500)(single sessions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:00am, 3:30pm♠ Intermediate/Novice Pairs (300/200/100) (single sessions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:00am, 3:30pm♣ Newcomer Pairs (50/20/5) (single sessions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:00am, 3:30pm♦ Panel Show between sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2:30pm

♥ A/X Swiss Teams, VPs (unlim /3000, 7 round playthru w/short break) . . . . . . . . . . . .11:00am & TBA♠ B/C/D Swiss Teams, VPs (2000/1000/500, 7 round playthru w/short break) . . . . . . . .11:00am & TBA♣ 300/200/100/50 Swiss Teams, VPs (single sessions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:00am, 3:00pm

♣ Full Schedule of Intermediate and Novice Events ♥I/N events: 0-5, 20, 50, 100, 200, 300; Stratification at Director’s Discretion.

Famous Washington Hospitality includes snacks, drinks and Friday, Saturdayand Sunday lunch free of charge. Chair: Nadine Wood, 301-565-9555, [email protected]. VolunteerCoordinator: Barbara Summers, 301-598-5838, [email protected] Hospitality: KittyGottfried, 301-587-3981, [email protected] Partnerships: Barbara Ames, 202-439-5667, [email protected] or try the easy Online Partnership Bulletin Board: www.WashingtonBridgeLeague.org

Friday, August 4

♦♦♦ Sat.. && Sun. at the Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center Only ♥♥

1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring, MD: From Beltway exitGeorgia Avenue north (toward Wheaton). Turn right at first trafficlight onto Forest Glen Rd. The Senior Center is .7 mile on your right.

Thursday, August 3

Sunday, August 6

It’s SummerBridge and

Don’t miss the2:30pm Saturday Panel Show!

Saturday, August 5

Have aCooLtime ata HOTSectional!

WBL75th

AnniversaryWBL75th

Anniversary

with major assists from our historian, PeterBoyd. (See page 23.) Still I am sure that themembership has memories and memorabiliathat you could share with us and I wouldurge you to do so.

We want to celebrate those who havebeen members of the WBL the longest. Ifyou joined the WBL before 1965 and havebeen a member ever since then, please letus know.

Even though the WBL has been aroundfor a very long time, it has changed greatlyover the years and continues to change. Onearea of great change has been the types ofgames that we run at our sectionals. When Ifirst came to Washington the sectionalschedule was very simple. Thursday nightthere was an open pairs run in conjunctionwith the NVBA (which, by the way, used tobe part of the WBL). On Friday afternoonthere was an Open Pairs and on Friday nightthere was the Mixed Pairs. Saturday therewas a two session Open Pairs with a qualify-ing session and a consolation for those whodid not qualify. Finally on Sunday was theteam game, usually Swiss, but occasionally aBoard-a-Match. Look at the tournamentschedule in this bulletin and see how muchthat has changed! What changes have younoticed since you have been here?

What ways would you like to see us cel-ebrate the WBL’s long run? Speak to me orany other member of the board or send usyour thoughts in an email. The WBL belongsto its members and we need your ideas tomake your celebration the best it can be.Diamonds are forever, but our diamondjubilee lasts only one year, so come out andenjoy it with us.

Fred King

-- 55 ---- 44 --

...continued on p. 20

76th Annual76th AnnualD.C. ChampionshipsD.C. Championships

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♣ StrataFlighted Open Pairs (A/X unlim/3000, B/C/D Separate 1500/1000/500)(both sites); Stratified NLM Pairs (NLM/100/50) & 0-20 Pairs (Christ the KingChurch only); Stratified 199er Pairs (Beth El only)Beth El Congregation, 3830 Seminary Rd, Alexandria . . . . . . .7:00pmChrist the King Church, 2301 Colston Drive, Silver Spring . . . . . . . . .7:30pm

Capital Beltway to Connecticut Ave. South. Left on East-West Hwy. Right onGrubb Rd. 1st left on Colston. Church is on the left before the next intersection.

Friday—at Christthe King Church Only♦ Stratafied Pairs (2000+/1000/500) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10:00am♥ StrataFlighted A/X (unlim/3000) & B/C/D Pairs (1500/1000/500) . . . 2:00pm

♠ IMP Pairs, Champagne & Caviar . . . . . . . . . . 7:30pmStrataFlighted A/X (unlim/3000) & B/C/D (1500/1000/500)Friday nights are your chance to try a different form of the game. With IMP pairs, you onlyneed one partner, but it scores like a team game. Your score will be averaged with all the

other scores from your direction on each board.♣ Intermediate/Novice Pairs (300/200/100/50/20)(single sessions) . . . . . . . . . . . .10:00am, 2:00pm, 7:30pm

♦ StrataFlighted A/X Pairs (unlim/3000)(single sessions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:00am, 3:30pm♥ StrataFlighted B/C/D Pairs (1500/1000/500)(single sessions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:00am, 3:30pm♠ Intermediate/Novice Pairs (300/200/100) (single sessions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:00am, 3:30pm♣ Newcomer Pairs (50/20/5) (single sessions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:00am, 3:30pm♦ Machlin Sportsmanship Award Presentation & “The History of . . . . . . . . . . .2:30pm

WBL Bridge” Panel Show

♥ Eynon TrophyFirst awarded in 1931— Try to add your name to the famous names inscribed here!

A/X Swiss Teams, VPs (unlim /3000, 7 round playthru w/short break) . . . . . . . . . . . .11:00am & TBA♠ B/C/D Swiss Teams, VPs (2000/1000/500, 7 round playthru w/short break) . . . . . . . .11:00am & TBA♣ 300/200/100/50 Swiss Teams, VPs (single sessions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:00am, 3:00pm

♣ Full Schedule of Intermediate and Novice Events ♥I/N events: 0-5, 20, 50, 100, 200, 300; Stratification at Director’s Discretion.

Famous Washington Hospitality includes snacks, drinks and Friday, Saturday and Sun-day lunch free of charge. Chair: Nadine Wood, 301-565-9555, [email protected]. VolunteerCoordinator: Barbara Summers, 301-598-5838, [email protected] Hospitality: KittyGottfried, 301-587-3981, [email protected] Partnerships: Barbara Doran, 301-608-0347, [email protected] or try the easy Online Partnership Bulletin Board: www.WashingtonBridgeLeague.org

Friday, October 20

♦♦♦ Sat.. && Sun. at theMargaret Schweinhaut

Senior Center Only ♥♥

1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring, MD: From Beltway exitGeorgia Avenue north (toward Wheaton). Turn right at first trafficlight onto Forest Glen Rd. The Senior Center is .7 mile on your right.

Thursday, October 19

Sunday, October 22

Saturday, October 21

WBL75th

AnniversaryWBL75th

AnniversaryIt’s our

DiamondJubilee, so

come help the WBL cel-ebrate 75 years of thebest bridge inWashington. We willhave our usual firstclass hospitality as wellas awards honoringthose who have helpedmake bridge here sogreat. We will revive oldtraditions, institute newones, reminisce aboutthe past and look for-ward to the future.Don’t miss it!

Silver Spring, MD: October 19-22, 2006

A Diamond is Forever...

75th

BBIITTSS AANNDD PPIIEECCEESS

WWEELLCCOOMMEE TTOO TTHHEE

WWAASSHHIINNGGTTOONN BBRRIIDDGGEE LLEEAAGGUUEE

The WBL welcomes the following newACBL members: MMss EEddiitthh EE BBuurrzziioo,, MMss AArriiaanneeCCoohhnn,, MMrr EEddwwaarrdd JJ GGoorrmmaann IIIIII,, MMrrss JJeeaannnneeHHaajjii,, MMss FFrraanncceess TT JJoonneess,, MMrr SStteevveenn SS MMaazzzzoollaa,,and MMrrss MMaassuummii TToocchhiissaakkoo..

In addition, we welcome the following trans-fers from other units: RRoobbeerrtt DD AAbbbboo,, MMrrssSSoonnnnyy FF AAddeellssoonn,, MMrr CCaallvviinn HH CCoobbbb JJrr,, MMrrTThhoommaass WW CCoonnlleeyy,, MMrrss LLyynnnn AA JJoonneess,, MMrrssAArrlleennee LLaanntteerr,, MMrr JJoovviiccaa MMeeddiicc,, MMrr LLeewwiiss AAOOnnddiiss IIII,, and MMrrss AAddeellllee WWeeiissss..

Please join us at our weekly UnitGame on Thursday evenings and frequentthe local bridge clubs in the area.Information can be found on our website,www.WashingtonBridgeLeague.org.

DDIISSTTRRIICCTT 66 && NNVVBBAA LLOOSSEE

LLOONNGG--TTIIMMEE VVOOLLUUNNTTEEEERR

BBEETTTTEE DDUUDDKKAA

BBeettttee DDuuddkkaa,, long-time dedicated volun-teer and Board Member/Officer at all levelsof bridge administration, passed away onThursday, June 22 after a brief bout withcancer. Bette was active in the NVBA unit,serving in all officer positions except that asTreasurer and on the NVBA Board continu-ously through 2003, as well as holding theposition of NVBA Tournament Chair formany years up until 1989. She was alsoactive at the District 6 and Mid-AtlanticBridge Conference (MABC) levels, again inpositions of Secretary, President, Boardmember, and MABC Tournament Chair,holding the position of District 6 Secretaryright up until her death. Bette had long beenone of three District 6 representatives to theACBL Board of Governors, relinquishingthat position only in May of this year whenher health no longer permitted her to remainactive in that role. Her contributions will belong remembered—she will be missed.

CCOONNGGRRAATTUULLAATTIIOONNSS TTOO TTHHEE

DDIISSTTRRIICCTT 66 GGRRAANNDD NNAATTIIOONNAALL

TTEEAAMM WWIINNNNEERRSS!!

Good luck to our first place teams at theSummer North American BridgeChampionships in Chicago.

CChhaammppiioonnsshhiipp FFlliigghhtt11 MMaarrkk DDaahhll –– DDaavvee BBuuttlleerr ––

AAllaann SScchhwwaarrttzz –– AAii--TTaaii LLoo

2 Steve Robinson - Peter Boyd - Bill Cole -Beth Palmer - Bill Pettis - Steve Landen

3/4Earl Glickstein – Bob Bell – Fred King –Bryan Coleman

Fred Steinberg – Dave Ruderman – GeneKales – John Adams – Andy Gofreed –Alan Tenenbaum

FFlliigghhtt AA ((00--55000000))11 BBeenn BBrriillll -- BBiillll HHaacckkeerr --

DDiiaannee WWaallkkeerr -- KKeennttoonnSScchhooeenn -- MMiillllaarrdd NNaacchhttwweeyy --LLiinnddaa MMaalloonneeyy

2 Sumner Steinfeldt - Hal Hindman -Rusty Krauss - Barry Falgout - JoanLewis

3/4Ellen Cherniavsky - Tom Musso - EllenKlosson - Brad Theurer

Dhirendra Ghosh - Shuba Dey - SvenPride - David Genne

FFlliigghhtt BB11 JJoohhnn CChhrriisstteennsseenn –– HHoonnggmmoo

WWaanngg –– SSuueelllleenn PPoollllaanndd ––LLaarrrryy BBrraaffmmaann

2 Shuba Dey – Jay Kelkar – DebnarayanDhar – Dhirendra Ghosh

3/4Michael Cheng – Helen Cheng – RobertZier – Henry Strauch

Larry Kahn – John Edmonds – DavidGenne – Sven Pride

-- 77 ---- 66 --

Congratulations to DDaavviidd RRooddnneeyy andDDeeaann PPookkoorrnnyy who tied for first with a scoreof 480. They win a free entry to the UnitGame and will be invited to be on a futurepanel. Tied for third were JJeerrrryy PPrruuzzaann,,CChhuucckk YYaappllee and MMiicchhaaeell FFrroosscchh with a scoreof 450. Sixth was RRiicchhaarrdd RRiisseebbeerrgg with ascore of 430. Tied for seventh were RRoossssiiLLiinnddssttrroomm,, WWiilllliiaamm ZZaannee,, SSaamm GGuummbbeerrtt,,PPrraahhaallaadd RRaajjkkuummaarr,, MMaannuueell PPaauulloo,, TToommMMuussssoo,, LLyyllee PPooee and WWeess GGoollddbbeerrgg with ascore of 420. Fifteenth was PPeettee WWhhiipppplleewith a score of 410. The average score of the125 solvers was 348. The average score ofthe experts was 420

All readers are encouraged to sendanswers and/or new problems to SteveRobinson, 2891 S. Abingdon St. #A2Arlington, VA, 22206-1329. In addition tothe winner receiving a free play at the WBLUnit Game, Steve will play with anyone whogets a perfect score or who exactly matchesall five of his answers. If you send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the aboveaddress along with your answers, I will sendyou a copy of the new problems to ensure thatyou can meet his next deadline. You can pickup a copy of the problems at the WBL UnitGame in Maryland, and can send answers orrequests for problems to [email protected] can also see and answer the problems atthe WBL web site. WBL Solvers Club usesWashington Standard as published July 1996.

I personally score all the problems. If amajority of the solvers vote for an answer, andthe answer is reasonable I will give that answer100 points. I will not give 100 points to ananswer that I consider bad no matter how manyexperts vote for it. There are times when I wantto make a point. I will give that answer 100points and will therefore give the majorityanswer 90 points. For the other answers I con-sider how good the answer is and how manyexperts vote for it for its score. If you submittedan answer that got 20 points, that bid would get

a bad score at the table. A good exercise wouldbe to figure out why I gave your answer 20points. You might have misread the problem.

The book Washington Standard secondedition is out. If you are a serious bridge play-er, this book is a must. You can purchase acopy from Steve for $25.00 at the Unit Game,at tournaments or can send him a check for$29.05 that includes $4.05 for priority mail.

11)) IIMMPPss BBootthh VVuullnneerraabbllee

♠A1096♥5♦AJ1054♣A65

SSOOUUTTHH WWEESSTT NNOORRTTHH EEAASSTT1♦ Pass 2♣* Pass???? *GF

AAccttiioonn SSccoorree VVootteess SSoollvveerrss2♠ 100 5 793♥ 70 2 023♣ 70 2 192♦ 50 1 23Pass 20 0 013♠ 20 0 01

How do you describe a hand with fourspades, five diamonds and three clubs? Easy!You open 1♦, bid spades and then supportclubs. I don’t see any other choice. If youraise clubs directly, partner will not know thatyou have a singleton heart and might assumeyou have four clubs. If you bid 3♣ and part-ner bids 3NT, do you pass 3NT and find part-ner with Qxx of hearts or worse, or do you pulland find partner with AKQ of hearts. Youcan’t jump to 3♥ showing short heartsbecause that promises four-card support.

Four experts agree with me and bid 2♠.Bidding 2♠ suggests five diamonds. After2♠, partner’s most likely bid will be 2NT.Now you can bid 3♣ and partner will knowthat you have short hearts and only threeclubs. If opener has a balanced hand, open-er should rebid either 2♦ or 2NT dependingupon stoppers in the majors. I think 2♦should be opener’s default. Opener shouldrebid 2♦ whenever 2NT, two-of-a-major or

WWBBLL SSOOLLVVEERRSS’’ CCLLUUBB

MMooddeerraatteedd bbyy SStteevvee [email protected]

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Please join us for the Third Annual District 6 Bridge Cruise...STEVE ROBINSON will direct and teach several sessions of bridge both during thedays at sea and in the evenings. You must be a part of this group to play in thesesessions. ACBL points will be awarded, but youneed not be a bridge player to join us on thiscruise. Once again, there will be lots of oppor-tunities for bridge as well as visiting fascinatingports of call.

Day Ports of Call Arrive Depart0 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 5:00 PM1 At Sea2 At Sea3 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 7:00 AM 9:00PM4 Mazatlan, Mexico 8:00 AM 5:00 PM5 Topolobampo, Mexico 5:30 AM 11:00 PM

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WASHINGTON AREA BRIDGE PLAYERS

10-Day Mexico Cruise Vacation

I T I N E R A RY

10-day Mexican Riviera & Sea of Cortez CruiseRoundtrip San Diego...February 21 - March 3, 2007On board ms Ryndam

-- 99 ---- 88 --

3♣ are not good descriptions of the hand.Holding♠xxx♥xxx♦AKQx♣Axx, openershould rebid 2♦ which will allow responderto play notrump.

LLaannddeenn:: “2♠—I will follow up by sup-porting clubs. I’m not sure what partner’soriginal 2NT would have been inWashington Standard. If GF, then it’s almosta certainty that partner has five+ clubs. I’dbe more likely to splinter then, but I’d stilllike to have a fourth trump.”

HHooppkkiinnss:: “2♠—I plan to support nextand suggest the pattern of my hand.”

RRooggaallll:: “2♠—Whether 2♣ shows atleast five clubs when all of responder’snotrump ranges are covered by other bids orat least four clubs otherwise, I don’t want tosplinter or raise directly because that wouldshow four-card support. With my slam goingvalues, I’m happy to pattern out with clubsupport at my next opportunity. There’s alsono reason to temporize with a waiting 2♦rebid, when I’ve got a very descriptive andnatural call to make at a low level.”

WWoooollsseeyy:: “2♠—My understandings arethat this promises at least 5-4 in the pointedsuits, but does not show extra strength. Overpartner’s expected 2NT call, I can bid 3♣,completing a perfect description of my hand.If he bids something else we won’t belong innotrump, and I can afford to support clubs atthe four-level.”

Four experts raise clubs immediately.There’s a big difference between three-cardsupport and four-card support. Supposepartner held ♠KQJ♥xxx♦KQx♣KQxx. Hewould respond 2♣ and would be sadly dis-appointed to play in 6♣ opposite three-cardsupport. Two experts splinter. Splinter showfour-card support.

CCaappppeelllleettttii:: “3♥—Splinter - you wouldlike to coax partner into biddingBlackwood.”

PPaarrkkeerr:: “3♥—Splinter. Always set trumpsas soon as possible. I have great controls anda singleton so we are going slamming. Givepartner ♠Kxx♥Axx♦Kx♣KQxxx and wehave a lay down grand.”

If you held ♠A109♥5♦AJ1054♣A65x,7♣ would be a decent contract. Oppositeonly three clubs, 7♣ is poor contract, onethat needs a diamond finesse and a 3-2

club break.Two experts bid 3♣. I should have made

them tell me what they would do if partnerbids 3NT.

AAddaammss:: “3♣—2♠ rates to be a heavyfavorite among solvers, but is not the rightbid playing Robinson style WashingtonStandard. Robinson style, 1♦ - 2♣ bidrarely has a four-card major, if ever, and theclub bid shows at least five clubs. Since Ialready know where our fit lies, it’s best totell partner. No splinter, as that shows atleast four trumps.”

RRoommaann:: “3♣—Supporting partner is thebest bid in bridge. 3♥ is a splinter, butshows four trumps.”

One expert will take a long time todescribe his hand. I would think that bid-ding 2♠ would not only show four spades, itwould also show five diamonds.

KKiinngg:: “2♦—Leave partner as much roomas possible to describe his hand while show-ing the fifth diamond of mine.”

In constructive auctions, it’s importantthat partner knows how many trumps youhave when you support.

22)) MMaattcchhppooiinnttss NNoonnee VVuullnneerraabbllee

♠A3♥Q65♦54♣1087654

SSOOUUTTHH WWEESSTT NNOORRTTHH EEAASSTTZZZZ 1NT Pass Pass????

Your bid and what system are you playing?

AAccttiioonn SSccoorree VVootteess SSoollvveerrssPass 100 6 763♣ 90 3 022♠ 60 0 042NT 50 0 02

Double 40 1 302♣ 40 0 11

Partner has to have a balanced handwhen you have six HCPs and 1NT getspassed to you. If partner has an unbalancedhand, he would have bid something. Partnerhas to have at least two clubs and clubs ratesto be a playable spot. In your dreams, youwould bid 2♣ and buy the contract but theopponents are out there and probably will beable to bid a higher suit at the two-level. Theright call on this hand is 3♣.This makes itdifficult for the opponents to will very likely

will buy the contract. Over 2♣, respondercan easily bid a four-card suit.

Two experts agree with me and bid theirlong suit. Assuming the opponents have atleast one eight-card fit, 3♣ in your eight-card fit has to be a Law follower.

RRooggaallll:: “3♣— The system I’m playing isRobinson. (Aren’t we all?) That means I’vegot two ways to show clubs. I can double toshow either a four-card major and a longerminor, or just a long minor, or some hugehand. I can also jump to 3♣. I’m not pass-ing because you always want to take themout of a non-vulnerable 1NT at matchpointswhen you’ve got a six-card suit or ninecards in two suits. Additionally, there’ssome extra safety in this case. We’re alsonon-vulnerable and partner didn’t bid, sothis guarantees that partner is balancedwith at least two-card club support. Doubleis tempting because there’s some chance wecould get to play at the two-level. There’snot much chance partner will ask for mymajor, since with 5-4 or better and many 4-4’s, partner would have already bid, but inthat case, I might even pretend to have fourhearts. However, it’s much easier for theopponents to find their fit in these cases, soI’d rather take my chances with an immedi-ate preempt.”

WWoooollsseeyy:: “3♣—I’m assuming a strongnotrump opening. Against this I play thatdouble shows a four-card major (usually)and a longer minor, 2♣ shows both majors,2♦ shows one major, two-of-of-a-majorshows five of that major and a minor. Partnerclearly has some values, yet he didn’t doubleor bid 2♣. The conclusion is that he musthave at least a doubleton club, since if hehas a singleton club he would definitelyhave had the shape to find some call. I coulddouble and hope that partner bids 2♣ passor correct, but that gives the opponents roomto find an eight-card major suit fit. 3♣ putsit to them, and is probably safe enough.”

Next we’ll hear from the six wimps.CCaappppeelllleettttii:: “Pass—Partner has fewer

than 15 points - and will probably lead amajor.”

True. Partner will probably lead a majorbut how many tricks are you going to set upin partner’s four-card major?

AAddaammss:: “Pass—Washington Standard isto play “Robinson.” Playing Robinson, Icould double hoping partner bids 2♣, or Icould bid 3♣. I do not think partner willexpect a weak hand for 3♣ in pass out posi-tion. Double is just wrong. If we do have afit, and stop at 2♣, then the opponents havea fit, and we are letting them find it. If we donot have a fit, we end up in 3♣ and we canbe in trouble. Strange, fit can stop at 2♣; nofit must get to 3♣.... I pass, and hope to winmatchpoints by having the opponents play alower scoring part score.”

PPaarrkkeerr:: “Pass—Sometimes they get toplay a contract. I play Robinson.”

LLaannddeenn:: “Pass—I usually playCappelletti, so I’d pass; I’m unwilling to bidto the three-level. If I could double (whereshowing a single suited club hand is one ofthe options) or bid 2♣ natural, I would.”

HHooppkkiinnss:: “Pass—I expect partner to leadhis longer/better major and I am well pre-pared for this. My system is 2♣ natural; 2♦Multi; two-of-a-major is single-suiter andgood; double is majors, minors or diamondsand 2NT is a big two-suiter. I could bid 2♣to play but 1) this might help them get to apreviously unreachable 4-4 major suit fitand 2) RHO is reasonable likely to have aminor-orientated hand and we might be outgunned to boot.”

RRoommaann:: “Pass—Whatever convention Iwas playing. This is a really tough problem,because ordinarily I am willing to take seri-ous risk to not allow my opponents to play1NT when they are non-vulnerable. Herehowever, my suit is weak, it is likely that I’llend up playing it at the three-level, I have ahonor in whichever major partner leads, andthe opponents may back into a major suit fitthat responder wasn’t strong enough to lookfor the first time. When I add all this up, Idecide to go quietly.”

One expert follows the slow road.Bidding at the two-level allows the oppo-nents to easily get into the auction.

KKiinngg:: “Double—Playing Woolsey wheredouble shows a four-card major and a longerminor or just a long minor. Seldom right tolet them play in 1NT when you have a distri-butional hand.”

When faced with the choice between bid-

-- 1111 ---- 1100 --

ding and passing, bidding is usually right.It’s best to show a long minor over 1NT byjumping to the three-level.

33)) IIMMPPss YYoouu’’rree VVuullnneerraabbllee

♠765♥5♦AKQJ1054♣A5

SSOOUUTTHH WWEESSTT NNOORRTTHH EEAASSTT1♠ 2♠

???? (Michaels)

AAccttiioonn SSccoorree VVootteess SSoollvveerrss3♦ 100 6 293♥ 60 1 254NT 50 3 264♥ 40 0 076♦ 40 0 024♠ 30 0 074♦ 30 0 055♠ 30 0 045♦ 30 0 03

Double 30 0 106♠ 30 0 01Pass 30 0 043♠ 20 0 013NT 20 0 01

Partner has opened 1♠, and you havethree-card spade support. However, youmight not belong is spades. You won’t haveany trump losers if diamonds are trumps. Ifyou bid 3♦, forcing, and partner rebidsspades, then you might belong in spades.Picture partner with ♠Axxxx♥AKJ10♦-♣Kxxx. You can make 7♦ but you make atbest 5♠. Diamonds should be trumps unlesspartner rebids his spade suit. You don’t wantto play in spades opposite a bad five-cardspade suit. Matchpoints would be different.There is another small problem. The oppo-nents could have many hearts and you mightfind your next bid at the five-level. Thatproblem is secondary, however, to getting tothe correct trump suit.

Five experts join me in bidding theirsolid seven-card suit. Making the same bidas if you had two small spades.

AAddaammss:: “3♦—From my perspective,Spades will not have safety against theexpected bad break. Diamonds will. Sincethis hand is in the slam range, I need to getdiamonds into the picture before spades.”

RRooggaallll:: “3♦— Tough choice between 3♦and 3♥. Using 2NT Jacoby I could find out

if partner has a singleton and take control ofthe hand. However, I won’t know if partnerhas more than five spades and partner willthink I have four-card support so we couldeasily get to the wrong strain. Splintering isout since it really doesn’t do anything usefuland again misdescribes my spade length.Since 2NT is Jacoby, 3♥ shows any limitraise or three-card support, game forcing. Ifpartner bids game and I’ve got the room, Icould bid RKC next. With all the key cards,I could bid 7♦ to offer partner a choice.Partner can evaluate her spade holdingaccurately knowing my exact trump lengthand that there’s a bad trump split likely.However, I can’t offer a strain choice at thesix-level after RKC because 6♦ asks forthird-round diamond control. I could startwith 3♦, since my diamonds are solid, andit’s IMPs. However, we could be in trouble indiamonds if there’s a spade void. Also, bid-ding diamonds makes it easier for them tofind a club fit. Nevertheless, diamonds arehigher than clubs, and I could still mentionmy secondary spade support if they show aheart fit. The critical bonus of starting with3♦ is that partner is highly likely to rebidspades with six or more and then I’ll knowthat spades has a good shot.”

HHooppkkiinnss:: “3♦—Natural and forcing. I mayeven learn something from my partner’sresponse and even the opponent’s bidding thatmay help me aim towards our best contract.”

True! If partner rebids spades, then youcould then consider spades as the trump suit.

KKiinngg:: “3♦—Natural and forcing. Let’shear what partner has to say.”

RRoommaann:: “3♦—In contrast to Problemone, here, I don’t want partner thinking Ihave a hand I love with spade support, Iwant him to find out I have a hand I love withdiamonds and if I get the chance later, I’llwhisper “spades” to him.”

One expert sets spades as trumps by bid-ding the one suit shown by the opponent.

LLaannddeenn:: “3♥—I’d rather bid 3♦ forcing,but I think that should be competitive. 3♥ isusually played as limit or better in spades.The real problem comes if partner signs offin 3♠. I guess I’d have to make one more trywith 4♥. If partner jumps to 4♠ I’ll tryRKC. If he bids 4♠ after LHO bids 4♥, I’ll

also try RKC. We might get to five down one,but anytime partner can play spades for nolosers we make at least six. RHO rates tohave at least six or seven HCP in hearts andclubs. That doesn’t leave partner muchbesides good spades.”

Three experts jump to 4NT. Sometimesit’s best to jump directly to 4NT when there’scompetition. If you bid make a bid at thethree-level or four-level and an opponentbids at the five-level, then you’ve lost yourability to check for aces. I would like to havea spade honor to bid a direct Keycard.

PPaarrkkeerr:: “4NT—RKC - This must beBlackwood for spades. If partner has theright cards I can find out now, not after someconvoluted auction. I will bid 6 or 7♦s.”

WWoooollsseeyy:: “4NT—RKC. I plan to pass ifpartner bids 5♦, and to bid 6♦ if partnerbids 5♥ or 5♠. If partner bids 5♣ (0 or 3),my continuation will depend upon my agree-ment about how we handle a potential zeroor three conflict. I think this covers all basesand figures to get us to the right contract.”

CCaappppeelllleettttii:: “4NT—Since 3♥ would setspades as trumps, 4NT is regularBlackwood. If partner shows two aces, try5NT. This hand will play in diamonds or innotrump.”

Whether or not 4NT is regularBlackwood or Keycard is partnership under-standing. Most partnerships would play it asKeycard however.

Three small is the worst possible trumpsupport. Solid seven-card suits usually makevery good trump suits.

44)) IIMMPPss YYoouu’’rree VVuullnneerraabbllee

♠AKQJ♥Q54♦A32♣K32

SSOOUUTTHH WWEESSTT NNOORRTTHH EEAASSTTZZZZ ZZZZ 1♥ Pass????*

*2minor GF, 2NT= GF 4-card forcing raise

AAccttiioonn SSccoorree VVootteess SSoollvveerrss2♣ 100 6 171♠ 70 2 702NT 50 0 114NT 50 1 112♦ 50 0 022♠ 40 0 126♥ 20 0 02

At first glance, you might bid 1♠. Butthere are some of partner’s rebids whichcould make the auction difficult. Supposepartner rebids 2♦ over your 1♠. Now youmust bid 3♣ since no other non-game bid isforcing. Over your 3♣, partner bids 3NT andthere you are, never having supportedhearts. Suppose partner raises to 2♠ holding♠xxx♥Axxxx♦KQJx♣Q. Blackwood inspades will get you to a no-play slam. Inorder to get to a good slam you need partnerto have good hearts. The only way to checkon hearts is to make them trumps. Supposeopener rebids 2♥. On this hand you can bidRKC and easily count tricks. But supposeyour spades were a little weaker, AKJx forinstance. Again, the only way to set hearts astrumps is to go thru new minor and thatcould lead to some difficult sequences.

Five experts agree with me and start witha two-over one. Bidding 2♣ will not stop youfrom finding your eight-card spade fit. Over2♣, opener will bid 2♠ holding four spades.

CCaappppeelllleettttii:: “2♣—Give partner a chanceto show six hearts. Then support hearts, thenbid Blackwood. Bid a grand if partner hasAKxxxx and an ace.”

AAddaammss:: “2♣—Honestly, I do not see theproblem here. 2♣ is game forcing, and if Ilater support hearts, it shows three. Bidding1♠ is silly, as I can’t conveniently supporthearts and be forcing. Jacoby 2NT I reservefor four-card support, unless I plan to becaptain, which I do not. That also gives upon the 4-4 spade fit which we could findafter 1♥- 2♣ 2♠ if partner has some sort ofFlannery (defined by opening style).”

RRooggaallll:: “2♣—Robinson’s guideline ofonly bidding spades over hearts when youhave three more spades than hearts workswell. Otherwise, you have trouble showingyour strength and your heart length. Here, Ican bid 2♣, creating a game force and thenbid hearts at my next opportunity to showexactly three-card support (unless partnerrebids spades). After that’s done, I can startlooking for slam, having learned more infor-mation about partner’s hand. I don’t thinkthis is the type of hand to take over with 2NTJacoby, which would make partner do all thedescribing and me do all of the deciding. Imight do that if we were playing a modified

-- 1133 ---- 1122 --

response system and I could learn a lot moreabout partner’s hand than with standardJacoby rebids. In this case, there needs to bemore give and take so I can later offer part-ner a choice of strains.”

HHooppkkiinnss:: “2♣—I don’t like to misrepre-sent my hand but I want to set the force andkeep the level low so partner can describehis hand easily.”

KKiinngg:: “2♣—These auctions always gobetter if you start with a game force.”

RRoommaann:: “2♣—Auctions that begin 1♥ -1♠ can be awkward for showing slam tries(partner bids 2♦, we now have to bid 3♣, hebids 3NT, and we...?) and should be avoidedwhenever possible. Here, partner didn’topen Flannery, 2♣ is forcing to game, I canbid hearts next, and eventually I will get toshow a slam try with three hearts.”

WWoooollsseeyy:: “1♠—It is vital to introduce thespades here, even if partner will automatical-ly raise on three which he will playingFlannery, since the 1♠-call is assumed to bea five-bagger. I want that. Playing in spadesfigures to take one more trick than playing inhearts. For example, imagine partner with♠xxx♥AKJxx♦Qxx♣Qx. 6♥ has no playunless they give you a trick on the lead or youcan successfully Morton fork them in theclub suit and the king of diamonds is on. But6♠ is cold with normal splits unless Westleads a diamond and East has the king.”

LLaannddeenn:: “1♠—What else? Is this anadvertisement for 2♣? That bid would helpeliminate the problem of sorting out suitlengths that might develop if partner raisesspades, but what if partner were 4513 andraised to 3♣? You’d bid 3♥ and spades, theprobable best trump suit, would be lost in thewash. As 3♥ would be forcing after 1♥-1♠-2♠ I don’t see why I wouldn’t bid my solidsuit even if it’s only four long. How would youget to 7♠ facing ♠xxx♥AKJxx♦x♣Axxx ifno one bids the suit?”

PPaarrkkeerr:: “4NT—RKC - Once again why setup an auction where you need three bids to raisehearts and then you will bid RKC anyway.”

Not true about bidding RKC. Suppose theauction starts out 1♥ - 2♣ - 2♦ - 2♥. We areat the two-level in a game-force and heartshave been set as trumps. Supposed partnerbids 3♥ showing a minimum. With extras he

should show his shape by bidding his three-card fragment, rebidding a five-card suit or bybidding 2NT with 2542. Over 3♥ showing aminimum, you now bid 3♠ which is a slam tryopposite a minimum. If partner has two of yourmissing three keycards (Ace-King of heartsand Ace of clubs) he will cuebid. If partnerbids 4♥ over 3♠, there is no reason to bidRKC because the most keycards partner canhave is one. Is it nice to be able to play in 4♥when partner has ♠xx♥Kxxxx♥KQJx♣QJ?

1♥ - pass -1♠ can lead to bad auctionsin standard and you should try to avoid themwith game-forcing hands.

55)) MMaattcchhppooiinnttss NNoonnee VVuullnneerraabbllee

♠KQ9875♥Q5♦32♣AJ9

SSOOUUTTHH WWEESSTT NNOORRTTHH EEAASSTTZZZZ 2♦(weak) 2♥ 3♦3♠ Pass 3NT Pass????

AAccttiioonn SSccoorree VVootteess SSoollvveerrss4♦ 100 5 074♥ 80 4 284♠ 70 0 24Pass 50 1 624NT 20 0 014♣ 20 0 03

You bid 3♠, which is forcing. Unlessyou’re a passed hand, new suits are forcing inresponse to an overcall of preempts. Thequestion now is which game do we play? 3NT,when diamonds have been bid and raisedseems like the least likely to be the game thatwill take the most tricks. Partner could haveonly one diamond stopper. So which major dowe play in? Your spade suit could be a lotworse. Make the five of spades the five ofclubs and you would make the same 3♠-bid.You want to give partner a choice of majorswith the emphasis on spades. 4♦ is the wayto do that. You want partner, if he holds twospades and five hearts to bid 4♠. If you hadonly five spades, you would bid 4♥ givingpartner the choice of 5-2 fits. Whatever 4♦means, partner is going to do the right thing.He won’t rebid hearts unless they are good.He won’t support spades without two.

Four experts agree with me and bid 4♦.If partner bids 4♥ and you correct to 4♠,then this sequence shows a spade slam try.

AAddaammss:: “4♦—This is clearly choice ofgames. I’d like to play spades, but heartscould be better if partner has one spade.Partner might even have six hearts.”

LLaannddeenn:: “4♦—Good problem. Four-of-either-major might be best and it’s possible wehave a slam. I believe most experts would treatthe 4♦ cuebid as initially asking partner topick between the majors (“choice of games”).I will pass four-of-either-major. Unless partnerhas a double diamond stopper or we’re run-ning both majors we rate to make more trickswith a trump suit than in notrump.”

KKiinngg:: “4♦—I want partner to pick amajor. While we are likely to have ninetricks, at matchpoints, I think we need toplay in a major.”

RRoommaann:: “4♦—Choice-of-games cuebid.Six spades, two hearts, “pick a major suitgame partner”...perfect.”

Four experts bid 4♥. Bidding 4♥ won’tget partner to correct to 4♠ holding Jx ofspades and AK109x of hearts.

PPaarrkkeerr:: “4♥—Partner should only havetwo diamonds, thus only one stopper. He shouldassume I have six spades and two hearts for thisauction. 3NT will not produce many tricks if hedoes not have the Spade Ace.”

WWoooollsseeyy:: “4♥—Partner may have beenforced to bid 3NT with a single diamondstopper, and that could be very bad. 4♥ letshim choose his major. If 4♦ is choice ofgames that is okay also, but there might besome ambiguity. But pass is very wrong (as itwas in real life if I remember correctly).”

CCaappppeelllleettttii:: “4♥—Partner might haveonly one diamond stopper.”

RRooggaallll:: “4♥—We’re in some netherworld

here, guessing what the four-level bidsmean. I want to offer partner a choicebetween the majors. (Partner is smartenough to be able to tell if the diamond stop-per needs protecting.) But, what’s the bestway to do that? I’m arguing that bidding 4♥does this. Would I really pull partner out of3NT with only one place to play? What pos-sible hand can I hold? Not three-card heartsupport and mediocre spades — I neverwould have mentioned the spades. Not two-card heart support and mediocre spades —I’d pass 3NT. 4♣ is natural and forcing. If Ibid 4♣, partner can raise clubs, bid 4♦RKC, bid a major, or return to notrump. Idon’t want three of those things to happen, so4♣ is out. Normally, a cue bid below gamewhen we haven’t found a fit would be achoice of games. However, since we’vealready got 4♣ and 4♥ to offer choices ofgames, 4♦ is freed up to be a slam-try inspades — the only suit not covered for slam-going bids. With a heart slam-try, I wouldhave cue bid initially. Note: I’d only makethis ideal 4♥-bid in an ideal world such asthis bidding contest. At the table, I’d guessthat 4♦ would be read as choice of majors.”

Only one expert passes. This is match-points and if one of the majors does not runyou will get a poor score.

HHooppkkiinnss:: “Pass—I hope we can run sixheart tricks or six spade tricks plus partner’sdiamond stopper and a couple of clubs. If Iwere slightly more distributional I suppose Icould offer partner a choice of games by bid-ding 4♦.”

Flexible bids are used to help you get tothe best spot.

SSOOLLVVEERRSS’’ SSCCOORREESS

John Adams 3♣ Pass 3♦ 2♣ 4♦ 470Mike Cappelletti 3♥ Pass 4NT 2♣ 4♥ 400Robbie Hopkins 2♠ Pass 3♦ 2♣ Pass 450Steve Landen 2♠ Pass 3♥ 1♠ 4♦ 430Fred King 2♦ Dbl 3♦ 2♣ 4♦ 390Steve Parker 3♥ Pass 4NT 4NT 4♥ 350Steve Robinson 2♠ 3♣ 3♦ 2♣ 4♦ 490Donna Rogall 2♠ 3♣ 3♦ 2♣ 4♥ 470Jeff Roman 3♣ Pass 3♦ 2♣ 4♦ 470Kit Woolsey 2♠ 3♣ 4NT 1♠ 4♥ 390

LLoovveennbbeerrgg1 87.09 Alfred Steinberg2 85.44 David Ruderman3 84.99 Steve Robinson4 74.91 Michael Gill5 71.78 Noble Shore6 70.06 Arnie Frankel7 69.30 John Adams8 60.27 Benjamin Brill9 55.89 Ellen Klosson

10 55.39 William Hacker11 54.10 Fred King12 49.10 Mark Shaw13 48.27 Earl Glickstein14 47.13 Larry Kahn15 45.40 H John Edmonds16 45.18 Donald Berman17 44.54 Mark Rosen18 43.71 Leon Letwin19 42.68 William Cole20 42.23 Robert Bell21 41.48 Eugene Kales22 40.63 Clyde Kruskal23 39.92 Donna Rogall24 37.92 Eugene Fisher25 37.44 Diane Walker

The Lovenberg Race is open to all WBL members; the Izzy CohenRace is open to all WBL members who started the calendar year withfewer than 1500 masterpoints; the Tubbs Race is open to all WBL mem-bers who started the calendar yearas a Non-Life Master; the WoolridgeRace is open to all WBL memberswho started the calendar year withfewer than 20 masterpoints.

Winners in each category willreceive four sessions of free plays.Second place gets two and thirdplace gets one.

This list is up to date throughJune 8, 2006 including the UnitKO, but not the Fidelity & TrustRound Robin. All points are subjectto audit by the WBL Director.

22000066 TTRROOPPHHYY RRAACCEE SSTTAANNDDIINNGGSS

wwwwww..WWaasshhiinnggttoonnBBrriiddggeeLLeeaagguuee..oorrggUpdated by our Webmaster, Don Berman

00--2200LLEESSSSOONN

&& GGAAMMEE

GGUUAARRAANNTTEEEEDD

PPAARRTTNNEERRSS!!

77::3300PPMM --

1100::3300PPMM

JJOOIINN AANNYYTTIIMMEE

The cost is $5. Thisincludes a 30 minutelesson by Dr. StevenForsythe followed byfun, enjoyable bridgefor players with 0-20masterpoints.

Lessons will coverslam bidding, weaktwos, 3 level+ pre-empts, overcalls,takeout doubles, neg-ative doubles, open-ing leads, and signal-ing. Each lesson willbe tailored to theneeds and interests ofthe players.

This is a great pro-gram for beginners aswell as experiencedsocial bridge players!Partners will be pro-vided if needed. Formore information callor email Steve orSandy Forsythe at(301) 592-9177 (email:[email protected])

∼ ♣♦♥♠ ∼ -- 1155 --

IIzzzzyy CCoohheenn1 74.91 Michael Gill2 55.39 William Hacker3 45.40 H John Edmonds4 44.54 Mark Rosen5 37.92 Eugene Fisher6 36.12 Jason Rosenfeld7 35.91 Charity Sack8 35.64 Lloyd Rawley9 33.16 David Genne

10 32.32 Philip Mittleman11 31.89 Janet Dence12 31.81 Danut Gliga13 30.49 Joel Miller14 29.89 Angeliki Magklara15 28.37 Richard Ferrin

TTuubbbbss1 31.81 Danut Gliga2 29.89 Angeliki Magklara3 25.66 William Kingery Jr4 22.58 Katherine Rabenstein5 20.20 Daniel Koch6 19.33 Shyam Giridharadas7 18.59 Roma Chandra8 17.90 Shawn Stringer9 17.24 James Wisman

10 16.95 Prem Garg

WWoooollrriiddggee1 16.17 Amy Bloom2 13.56 Marie Saeger3 10.88 Jose Porres4 10.70 Andrew Jacknain5 8.18 Grazyna Gdula6 7.04 Paul Chassy7 7.04 Reina Chassy8 7.03 Cynthia Harrison9 6.14 Kay Miller

10 5.98 Sheila Kaplan

-- 1144 --

UUNNIITT GGAAMMEE CCAARRPPOOOOLL AAVVAAIILLAABBLLEE

To arrange a carpool, contact Don Berman, Carpool Coordinator, at301-776-3581 or [email protected]. ....Or log on to the WBL’snew OOnnlliinnee CCaarrppooooll NNoottiicceess at: www.WashingtonBridgeLeague.org.

MMAAPP TTOO CCHHRRIISSTT TTHHEE KKIINNGG CCHHUURRCCHH

♣ UUNNIITT GGAAMMEE ♦ WWBBLL ♥ UUNNIITT GGAAMMEE ♠ TTHHUURRSSDDAAYY NNIIGGHHTT ♣ UUNNIITT GGAAMMEE ♦ WWBBLL ♥ UUNNIITT GGAAMMEE ♠ TTHHUURRSSDDAAYY NNIIGGHHTT

WWBBLL GGUUAARRAANNTTEEEEDD

PPAARRTTNNEERR PPRROOGGRRAAMM

You never need to miss theunit game because you don’thave a partner at the lastminute! The WBL has a guaran-teed partner (GP) program forplayers who occasionally need apartner for the unit game. Here’show it works: we provide astandby partner; if an odd num-ber of people in need of a part-ner arrive, we match the playersas best we can, and the GP playswith the one who is left. (If thereis an even number of playerslooking, the GP goes home). Youcan always get a game.

Players in search of partnersshould try to arrive between7:00 and 7:15 (or call ahead).The partnership desk closes at7:25. You can call the WBL cellphone ((330011)) 339955--22776600 at the lastminute if are on your way andknow you’ll be at bit late.

To find a partner at least aday in advance, contact BBaarrbbaarraaDDoorraann (see below). or log on tothe OOnnlliinnee PPaarrttnneerrsshhiipp BBuulllleettiinnBBooaarrdd at: www.WashingtonBridgeLeague.org.

You might want to volunteerfor the GP program yourself. It’sa great way to meet people. Ifyou play on the night you’re theGP, you play free. If you volun-teer, you receive a free play forany future unit game whether ornot you play that night.

Email BBaarrbbaarraa DDoorraann [email protected] or [email protected],or call her at (301) 608-0347.

PARTNERSHIPS CLOSE AT 7:25PM

TO START THE GAME PROMPTLY

AT 7:30PM. CALL IF YOU’RE LATE,OR YOU MAY NOT BE ACCOMMODATED.

∼ ♣ ♦ SSCCHHEEDDUULLEE ♥ ♠ ∼AAllll GGaammeess hheelldd aatt CChhrriisstt tthhee KKiinngg CChhuurrcchh

07/27/2006 ......StrataFlighted Unit Championship08/03/2006 ......WBL Sectional08/10/2006 ......Stratified NAP08/17/2006 ......StrataFlighted Club Championship08/24/2006 ......StrataFlighted International Fund Game08/31/2006 ......StrataFlighted Unit Championship09/07/2006 ......NVBA Sectional09/14/2006 ......StrataFlighted Unit Championship09/21/2006 ......StrataFlighted Upgraded Unit Championship09/28/2006 ......Stratified STaC10/05/2006 ......StrataFlighted Club Appreciation 10/12/2006 ......StrataFlighted Appreciation BAM/Swiss 10/19/2006 ......WBL Sectional10/26/2006 ......StrataFlighted Club Championship11/02/2006 ......StrataFlighted GNT Swiss11/09/2006 ......NVBA Sectional11/16/2006 ......StrataFlighted Unit Championship11/23/2006 ......CLOSED (Thanksgiving)11/30/2006 ......StrataFlighted Unit Championship12/07/2006 ......StrataFlighted GNT Swiss12/14/2006 ......Holiday Party/Stratified STaC

FFoorr aa LLaasstt--MMiinnuuttee PPaarrttnneerr,, ttoo tteellll ssoommeeoonnee yyoouu’’llll bbeellaattee,, ttoo hheeaarr aannnnoouunncceemmeennttss,, oorr ttoo ccoonnttaacctt tthhee UUnniitt GGaammeeffoorr aannyy rreeaassoonn,, ccaallll tthhee WWBBLL CCeellll PPhhoonnee::

((330011)) 339955--22776600

-- 1177 ---- 1166 --

Few situations at the table result in asmuch unpleasantness as those involving dis-puted claims. The following case, from amatch played in Hong Kong last year, wassent to me for my opinion by one of the par-ticipants. South was the dealer at favorablevulnerability.

North♠ Q73♥ Q108♦ 985♣ A1085

West East♠ A8654 ♠ J♥ 7 ♥ AKJ3♦ J10643 ♦ AKQ72♣ 92 ♣ J63

South♠ K1092♥ 96542♦ —-♣ KQ74

West North East South2♥(1)

Pass Pass 3NT PassPass Pass

(1) Alerted; 6-11 HCP, at least 5-4 in the majors

South led the ♣K against East’s 3NTcontract and continued with the queen andanother club. North won, cashed his fourthclub, and was on lead at trick five when Eastfaced his hand. After some time (see below)declarer indicated he would take the rest viathe heart finesse. At this point North calledthe Director explaining that about 8-10 sec-onds had elapsed before declarer made hisstatement. (South and West agreed withNorth’s time estimate; East thought that only

CCOOMMIITTTTEEEE AACCTTIIOONN#5533

bbyy RRiicchh CCoollkkeerr,, [email protected]

about 5-6 seconds had elapsed), duringwhich time N/S’s failure to accept the claimalerted East to the need for the heart finesse.

The Director determined that East’s fac-ing of his hand constituted a claim and thathis subsequent statement had served only to“clarify” that he was claiming the rest of thetricks. He ruled that East’s delay beforemaking his statement had not helped him toplace the ♥Q with North since no rationalalternative line of play was possible. TheDirector assigned the result for 3NT making,+600 for E/W.

N/S appealed this decision. At the hear-ing N/S told the Committee their under-standing of the Claim Laws was that when aplayer claims and makes no statementimmediately about his line of play, he maynot take a line whose success depends onfinding one opponent or the other with aspecific card or cards. Thus, he may nottake a line of play that places a specificcard in one opponent’s hand if a rationalalternative line of play is available thatwould be less successful.

Here, with South having shown at leastfive-four in the majors, declarer had analternative line of play available: play Southto hold the ♥Q and ♠KQ109. Following thisline, he wins the ♥A at trick five (if Northshifts to a heart) and runs the diamonds,squeezing South in the majors. Since thisline would fail on the actual lie of the cards,and since declarer did not make a timelystatement of an intended line of play, andsince the pause could have alerted him tothe need for the heart finesse, he should notbe allowed to succeed in his contract.

The Appeal Committee agreed with N/S

IITT TTAAKKEESS AA VVIILLLLAAGGEE TTOO

RRUUNN AA BBRRIIDDGGEE LLEEAAGGUUEE

bbyy BBaarrbbaarraa SSuummmmeerrss,, VVoolluunntteeeerrCCoooorrddiinnaatteerr,,

[email protected]

Behind the scene volunteers are helping keepthis game we love alive and thriving.

The GGuuaarraanntteeeedd PPaarrttnneerr PPrrooggrraamm run byBBaarrbbaarraa DDoorraann guarantees a partner for those whoneed one on an occasional basis and has manyvolunteers show up and sometimes be needed andsometimes not be needed. The volunteer gets afree play for being willing and available to play.Those that have volunteered include SStteevveeCCaarrmmeenn,, WWiinnssttoonn EEddwwaarrddss,, DDoonn BBeerrmmaann,, FFrreedd KKiinngg,,RRiicchhaarrdd FFeerrrriinn,, KKiittttyy GGoottttffrriieedd,, VViinnccee WWiillmmoott,, BBoobbBBeellll,, RRaamm SSaarraannggaann,, BBiillll CCoolllliiggaann,, CChhaarriittyy SSaacckk,,TTiibboorr RRoobbeerrttss,, CChhrriiss MMiilllleerr,, BBaarrbbaarraa DDoorraann,, JJaanneeSSttuurrggiiss,, LLllooyydd RRaawwlleeyy,, BBaarrbbaarraa SShhaaww,, AArrnniieeFFrraannkkeell,, DDiicckk WWeeggmmaann,, SSaauull PPeennnn,, RRoonn ZZuucckkeerr,,AAlllleenn SShhaaww,, SStteevvee CCzzeecchhaa,, JJiimm GGeeiisstt,, CCaarroollee BBaannkkss,,SStteevvee NNeessssiieerr,, RRoonn SSuussii,, MMaarrcc WWeeiinneerr,, DDaavveeRRuuddeerrmmaann...many have been volunteer partnersmore than once. Please contact BBaarrbbaarraa DDoorraann [email protected] if you would consider beingon our VVoolluunntteeeerr PPaarrttnneerr SScchheedduullee.. Right now weneed volunteers for Thursdays in August.

This is just part of a continuing (and growing)list of our VVIILLLLAAGGEERRSS...... Please let me addyour name next time.

DDOO YYOOUU HHAAVVEE AANNYY

MMUUSSCCLLEE OORR BBRRAAIINNSS

TTOO SSPPAARREE??

The Washington BridgeLeague could use a little ofeither! In order to keep eventsexciting and entry fees low, theWBL relies on the goodness ofour members to volunteer forsmall jobs at the Unit Gameand Sectional Tournaments.Some jobs require brains whileothers require muscle. We’ll behappy to employ either.

From setting up andbreaking down tables, to pub-licity and events develop-ment, a little effort from youwill make our bridge commu-nity even better. Busy sched-ule? No worries. Most volun-teer assignments take only 15minutes to 1 hour a month.

HHeerree’’ss hhooww ttoo hheellpp::1. Reply by email, phone

or in person if you are willingto help in any way.

2. Please indicate if you canoffer any special skills (such asmarketing or a strong back).

3. Someone will contact youshortly with a choice of assign-ments you can pick from.

BBOONNUUSS – You will be invit-ed to the summer VolunteerGathering and BBQ Party.

Thank you in advancefor any assistance youcan provide.

BBaarrbbaarraa SSuummmmeerrss,, Volun-teer Coordinator, 301-598-5838, [email protected],

UUPPCCOOMMIINNGG

SSEECCTTIIOONNAALLSS

August 3-6 . . . . . . . . . . .Silver Spring, MD

September 7-10 . . . . . . . . . . .Arlington, VA

October 19-22 . . . . . . . . .Silver Spring, MD

November 9-12 . . . . . . . . . . .Arlington, VA

January 4-7, 2007 . . . . . .Silver Spring, MD

February 8-11, 2007 . . . . . . .Arlington, VA

-- 1188 -- -- 1199 --

that East should not be allowed to finesseNorth for the ♥Q. East’s failure to state anintended line of play suggests he might havemiscounted and thought he had the rest ofthe tricks when he claimed. Thus, had henot claimed and had North led a card attrick five he might have simply won thetrick with a top honor and started cashinghis winners from the top before he realizedhe was a trick short—at which point itwould have been too late to take the heartfinesse. But even if East knew he was a trickshort, the possibility of squeezing South inthe majors meant there was clear doubtabout his “intended” line of play. TheCommittee therefore adjusted the result to3NT by East down one, +100 for N/S.

I agree with the Committee’s decision,but one additional issue still needs to beaddressed. If the description of South’s 2♥opening is accurate (6-11 HCP with 5-4+ inthe majors), and if we may assume that N/Swould not open 2♥ with sound opening bidvalues (12+ HCP), then playing for thesqueeze against South is not a viable optionsince it would require him to have opened2♥ holding ♠KQ109 ♥Qxxxx ♦—-♣KQxx, which is a good 12 HCP plus dis-tribution (a sound opening bid for mostplayers). So an East player who is in touchwith the hand would not play South for thatholding and would likely have taken theheart finesse.

But East’s failure to make a statementsuggests that he had no line of play in mind,perhaps because he had lost touch with thehand and thought he had the rest of thetricks. If East knew he needed the heartfinesse he should have mentioned it when heclaimed, since any experienced playerknows he cannot take a winning finesse ifhis claim does not include a statement tothat effect. Could East have thought it was soclear to take the heart finesse that he simplyneglected to mention it? I doubt it bothbecause of the timing given in the report and

because he did not ask whether N/S mightopen 2♥ with 12+ HCP.

So I believe East’s failure to mention theheart finesse strongly suggests he was out oftouch with the hand, and might have playedfor a possible misdefense or a “possible”squeeze on South. Add to that the possibili-ty that if North had been given the chance toswitch to a “deceptive” ♥10 at trick five hemight easily have been talked out of theheart finesse.

It is easy to confuse “irrational” with“careless” when considering whether adeclarer might adopt a certain line of play—especially one that is so “obvious” with all52 cards in view. If East thinks he has therest of the tricks, or if he thinks South couldhold all the remaining HCP, he could easilyrise with the ♥A (careless, but not irra-tional) if North leads the ♥10 at trick five.He might even miscount the outstandinghigh cards and place South with only 11HCP—even with the ♥Q.

In these “lazy” claim situations, my pol-icy is that the claimer needs to CONVINCEme he knew what was going on in the handwhen he makes no statement about hisintended line of play and more than oneplausible line is available. My bias, andthat of most appeals people I know, is topresume he is out of touch with the handand might play carelessly—unless it wouldtake a glaring mind loss not to know whatwas going on (such as playing a player tohold a card in a suit he has previouslyshowed out in). In the present case Ibelieve that East’s playing for a misdefenseor a squeeze on South is a lot closer to care-less than it is to irrational.

So E/W deserve to receive –100 on thedeal both because of the negligent form ofthe claim as well as for depriving North of achance to talk East out of taking the heartfinesse by switching to a high heart at trickfive—even if East “knew” he needed it.


GGuuaarraanntteeeedd ttoobbeeaatt aannyy

ccoommmmiissssiioonn bbyy$$5500

♠♠♠

EEvvaa KKlliivviinnggttoonn –– OOwwnneerr,,PPrriinncciippaall BBrrookkeerr,, VVAA,, MMDD,, DDCC

““SSPPEECCIIAALL BBRRIIDDGGEE PPLLAAYYEERR”” DDEEAALLHHooww ffaasstt ccaann wwee sseellll yyoouurr hhoouussee??

SSttaarrtt PPaacckkiinngg!!

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-- 2211 ---- 2200 --

We recently lost a trulyremarkable lady, someoneour local bridge world isgoing to miss greatly.Carole Geagley, of Severn,MD, passed away on June19 after a battle with can-cer. Carole was a memberof the Washington BridgeLeague for more than thirty years and inthat time served as unit president, vice-president, secretary, unit board member,cheer and sympathy coordinator, babysit-ter chairperson at our 1984 nationals,prize chairperson at our July 4th region-als, and in an unofficial capacity, a longtime unit volunteer taking on a myriad ofjobs too long to list here.

Carole met her loving husband, longtime director Ron Geagley, at the bridgetable in 1975. They married two yearslater and the two became pretty muchinseparable. They raised their daughter,Lori, who now resides in Frederick, MD,and who provided them with four beauti-ful grandchildren all of whom Caroleloved dearly.

She was the office manager at the lawfirm of Seltzer and Suskind from 1971 to1977, after which she started a career onCapitol Hill working for the JointEconomic Committee, where she rose tothe position of personal assistant to theexecutive director. In 1990 she joined

the Senate AppropriationsCommittee staff and asthe senate majoritychanged over the years,she worked for senatorsTom Harkin (D, IA) andArlen Specter (R, PA),helping manage the seam-less transition between

chairmanships – a task she performed inexemplary fashion for more than fifteenyears. Both senators publicly recordedtheir praises for her tireless work in thesenate chamber when she retired at theend of March last year.

Carole was well known for her endless-ly cheerful disposition, a truly quick witthat rarely missed its mark, and a dazzlingsmile that just brilliantly lit up her face.Those truly fortunate to know her on a per-sonal level discovered a fiercely loyalfriend whose companionship was asunique as it was wonderful.

Her loss is one we will always mourn.We will continue to run our regionals,play our cards, run our boards, but it willnever be the same for many of us. Weshare her family’s grief for we too have alost an important family member. Just asthe lone chair stands out at a bridge tableof three, so does the space left by Carole- a void that serves as a painful reminderof that which we have lost and will neverfind again.

AA RREEMMEEMMBBRRAANNCCEE OOFF

CCAARROOLLEE GGEEAAGGLLEEYY

ffrroomm BBrryyaann CCoolleemmaann

BBiittss && PPiieecceess,, continued from p. 5...

FFlliigghhtt CC11 NNeeaall RRoosseenntthhaall –– EElllleenn

RRoosseenntthhaall –– RRiicchhaarrdd LLeevviinn ––MMaarrcc WWeeiinneerr –– SShhyyaammGGiirriiddhhaarraaddaass –– PPrreemm GGaarrgg

2 Jim Rankin – Larry Cowan – MaryNewton – Dan Traub

3 Dennis Schwanz – Susan Miskura –Walton Francis – Duke Wilson

4/6William Colket – Doreen Colket – PattiDrummond – Diane Lucci – RobertEdwards

Eberhard Jehle – Owen Byer – LeahBoyer – Narayan Govind – Forrest Swope– Chris McRae

Jim Rucker – John Wisk – Dot Sorto –Paul Anderson

BBRRIIDDGGEEIISSMMSS!!

compiled by Ron Kral

I’d like a review of the bidding with allthe original inflections.

Card sense is when it’s technically rightto do something, the little man that sits onmy shoulder or anyone else’s shoulder says,“Don’t do that.” And you say to yourself,“Well, wait a minute, that’s the right way toplay.” And he says, “Yeah, but you don’twanna play that way.” That instinct is cardsense. It’s almost an ability to feel where thecards are. It’s something that you can’t buy,you can’t find; you’re born with it. The abil-ity to do the right thing at the wrong time orreally to do the wrong thing at the right time.Barry Crane

The real test of a bridge player isn’t inkeeping out of trouble, but in escaping oncehe’s in. Alfred Sheinwold

If you have the slightest touch ofmasochism, you’ll love this game.

BBEESSTT LLEEAADDSS AAGGAAIINNSS

NNOOTTRRUUMMPP

by Steve Robinson

When you lead an honor against notrumpyou want to get the best possible signal from

your partner. In order to get the best possi-ble signal, your partner has to know whatyou have. (x) represents one or more spotcards.

Lead the Ace from AKx or longer. Thiswill get partner to signal encouragementwith the Queen and discouragement with theJack. From AKT9(x), you want partner toencourage with the Queen and discouragewith the Jack.

Lead the King as the power lead. Partnerplays an honor if he has one, otherwise part-ner gives count. From AKJT9(x) lead theKing. Partner plays the Queen if he has itotherwise partner gives count. You want tobe able to run the suit if declarer has Qx.Lead the King from AKQT(x) to get the Jackor count. Lead the K from KQJT9 to getcount or get partner to unblock with the Ace.Lead the King from KQT9(x) and get theJack from partner.

Lead the Queen to get attitude for theJack. KQT(x), KQ9(x) and AKQ(x) aresequences where you would lead the Queen.You want partner to encourage with the jackor a higher honor. If you lead the Queen andfollow with the Jack that shows length andpartner is supposed to unblock with the AceIf you lead the Queen and follow with theKing that shows shortness and partner is notsupposed to unblock with the Ace.

Lead the Jack to get attitude for the T.KQJ(x), QJ(x), AQJ(x) are sequences whereyou would lead the Jack. You want partner toencourage with T or a higher honor. Youhave to be careful when leading the Jackfrom KQJ since partner will not know thatyou have the King. If you lead the Jack andfollow with the T that shows length and part-ner is supposed to unblock a higher honor. Ifyou lead the Jack and follow with the Queenthat shows shortness and partner is not sup-posed to unblock with a higher honor.

Lead the T as a standard Jack lead.AJT(x), KJT(x) or JT9(x) are sequenceswhere you would lead the T.

Lead the 9 as a standard T lead. AT9(x),KT9(x), QT9(x), AQT9(x), AKT9(x) andT98(x) are sequences where you would leadthe 9.

Lead the 8 from 98(x), T87(x), KJ98(x) orAQ98(x). Second or fourth best.

-- 2233 ---- 2222 --

We are thrilled to present this series of arti-cles from Bob Levey. For more than 36 years,he was a reporter and columnist for TThheeWWaasshhiinnggttoonn PPoosstt. Throughout that period, heedited TThhee PPoosstt’’ss bridge columns, and oftencontributed articles about bridge to nationaland international publications. In addition,Mr. Levey is a member of the WBL Board.

The WWaasshhiinnggttoonn BBrriiddggee LLeeaagguuee turns 75this fall. It is almost as old as contractbridge itself.

Just six years after contract bridge wasinvented in 1925 (aboard a New YorkCentral Railroad train), the game wassweeping the country. Washington was beingswept by it, too.

Cafeterias in federal office buildings sawdozens of shuffle-and-deal lunch-hourgames. TThhee EEvveenniinngg SSttaarr and TThheeWWaasshhiinnggttoonn PPoosstt both carried daily bridgecolumns. Trumping your partner’s ace was asin known from sea to shining sea.

When a woman killed her husband inKansas for failing to bring home a touch-and-go four-spade contract, The Post played thestory on page one—complete with an analysisby famed bridge theoretician EEllyy CCuullbbeerrttssoonn ofhow the poor, deceased declarer might havemade his bid and spared himself.

In the Washington of 1931, bridge wasplayed largely at kitchen tables, inembassies, at country clubs. There were nomaster points, no official tournaments, noplayer ranking systems, no such thing as aduplicate or a Swiss Teams.

But one evening in the fall of that year—history does not record exactly where, exact-ly when, or exactly who was in attendance—the WBL was born. It has played a major rolein organized American bridge ever since.

Eleven WBL members have won interna-tional championships. Dozens have wonnational championships. Scores have wonregionals and sectionals. The WBL ranks as“one of the oldest and longest-standing bridge

organizations in the United States, wrote DDiicckkWWeeggmmaann,, former WBL President, in theNovember/December 2005 WWBBLL BBuulllleettiinn..

For more than 40 years, the WBL’sThursday Unit Game has been widely knownas the toughest test south of New York City(the Unit Game was originally held onWednesday, but on March 6, 1958, forunknown reasons, it moved to Thursday,where it has remained ever since).

In 1981, a player named AAnnnn SScchhwwaarrttzzracked up a 203 1/2 game at a WBL section-al mixed pairs. She backed it up with a 209in the next day’s sectional open pairs.

Schwartz finished third in the mixed andsecond in the open.

“Ann, around here, it takes a GOODscore to be a winner,” wrote the late JJiimmWWoooodd,, the editor of the WBL Bulletin formore than 20 years.

The first organized bridge tournament inWashington was held in May, 1931. It wassponsored by The Washington Post. Itattracted more than 600 players. The firstWBL tournament was held in December ofthat same year. That December tournamentwas the first to award master points.

From the very beginning, the WBL was avibrant organization—full of characters,controversy and exceptionally talentedbridge players.

One of its founders was EEddddiiee EEyynnoonn,, theowner of the WWaasshhiinnggttoonn SSeennaattoorrss baseballteam. Eynon also lent his name to the official sil-ver trophy that goes to the winner of the WBL’sannual team championship. The trophy will bereactivated at the WBL’s October sectional inhonor of the organization’s 75th birthday.

An early president of the WBL (in the mid-and late 1930s) was JJaammeess HH.. LLeemmoonn,, a localinvestment executive who later became partowner of the Senators himself. Lemon alsoserved as an early president of the ACBL.

In 1952, the official WBL membershiplog lists CCaarrll BB.. AAllbbeerrtt and PPaaggee BBeellcchheerr.. Both

RREEFFLLEECCTTIIOONNSS OONN TTHHEE HHIISSTTOORRYY OOFF TTHHEE

WWBBLL AASS OOUURR 7755TTHH AANNNNIIVVEERRSSAARRYY

CCEELLEEBBRRAATTIIOONN AAPPPPRROOAACCHHEESS,, PPAARRTT II

bbyy BBoobb LLeevveeyy


-- 2255 ---- 2244 --

BBrriiddggee ffoorr AAbbssoolluuttee BBeeggiinnnneerrss.. Wednes-day mornings, 10 a.m. to Noon. ((LLooccaattiioonnttoo bbee aannnnoouunncceedd..)) Eight weeks beginningabout September 27th. Learn the greatestcard game of all time! Have a great timeand meet new friends while playing lots ofhands. Course designed for those whohave never played before. Registerthrough Leslie.

BBeeggiinnnniinngg BBrriiddggee––PPaarrtt BB.. Mondayevenings at the WWoommeenn’’ss CClluubb ooff CChheevvyyCChhaassee (Conn. Ave. at E-W Highway), 7:30to 9:30 p.m. Eight weeks beginningSeptember 18th. Includes takeout doubles,overcalls, pre-emptive bids and strong 2Copeners. Continuation of beginning classor great as brush-up for those who haven’tplayed in years. Come prepared to havefun and play lots of hands. Registerthrough Leslie.

PPoolliisshhiinngg YYoouurr BBaassiiccss––PPaarrtt 11.. Tuesdayevenings at the PPoottoommaacc CCoommmmuunniittyyCCeenntteerr,, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Eight weeksbeginning September 19th. For Adv.Beginner to Intermediate players.Concentrates on the common bidding situa-tions that your partner doesn’t get right allthe time. Play lots of hands each lesson.Register through Montgomery CountyRecreation Department.

AAddvvaanncceedd BBrriiddggee DDeecciissiioonnss.. Wednesdayafternoons, 1:00-3:00 p.m. ((LLooccaattiioonn ttoo bbeeaannnnoouunncceedd;; ffoorrmmeerrllyy aatt KKeennwwoooodd..)) Eightweeks beginning about September 27th.For Intermediate to Advanced players.Includes losing trick count, opening handevaluations, deciding which game to playin and other topics that need more than asimple rhyme to understand. Registerthrough Leslie.

MMyy FFaavvoorriittee AAddvvaanncceedd CCoonnvveennttiioonnss..Monday mornings at the PPoottoommaaccCCoommmmuunniittyy CCeenntteerr,, 10 a.m. to Noon. Eightweeks beginning September 18th. Foradvanced players. Includes Jacoby 2NT,Splinter Raises, Drury and when to use themin competition. Play lots of hands each les-son. Register through Montgomery CountyRecreation Department.

TThhiinnkkiinngg BBrriiddggee;; MMoorree MMaaggiicc HHaannddss..Tuesday mornings at the WWoommeenn’’ss CClluubb ooffCChheevvyy CChhaassee (Conn. Ave. at E-W Highway),10 a.m. to Noon. Eight weeks beginningSeptember 19th. For advanced players.Each hand has a trick to it that you need tosolve at the table. Starts with hand #101.Register through Leslie.

AARREEAA BBRRIIDDGGEE CCLLAASSSS OOFFFFEERRIINNGGSS

LLEESSLLIIEE SSHHAAFFEERR’’SS FFAALLLL CCLLAASSSSEESS

Contact Leslie at [email protected] or call 301-977-0314 for more information.

AADDVVEERRTTIISSEE??

Advertisements are welcome inthe WBL Bulletin. We distributeapproximately 1900 copies of eachissue, every other month. Advertisingrates are:

$75 for a full page ad

$50 for a half page ad

$30 for a quarter page ad

$20 for an eighth page ad

The sixth consecutive appearanceof an ad runs free.

were members of Congress from Oklahomaat the time, and Albert was soon to be HouseMajority Leader.

By 1941, a wartime code-breaker namedAAllffrreedd SShheeiinnwwoolldd was playing in—and win-ning—local tournaments. Sheinwold waslater the pre-eminent bridge columnist of hisera and a many-time captain of U.S. interna-tional teams.

Four years later, a young player named AAllRRootthh—later a much-decorated champion—won the annual WBL pairs championship.Eight years after that, Roth and three team-mates won the WBL team championship(and the EEyynnoonn TTrroopphhyy). One of Roth’s team-mates was a Philadelphian named CChhaarrlleessGGoorreenn—who was later featured on the coverof TTiimmee MMaaggaazziinnee in keeping with his glam-our-boy reputation as Mr. Bridge.

In the 1950s, a regular winner of WBLevents was MMiikkee MMiicchhaaeellss,, inventor of theMMiicchhaaeellss ccuuee--bbiidd (it shows two suits immedi-ately over an opponent’s bid). Michaels latermarried and played with TTeerrrryy MMiicchhaaeellss,, whoran a popular bridge club at Van NessCenter in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Bridge in Washington was glamorous andvery upper-crust in that early era. WBL tour-naments were held at the Shoreham Hotel,right down the hall from the legendary BlueRoom, where the likes of CCoouunntt BBaassiiee andFFrraannkk SSiinnaattrraa entertained. Players dressedin their Sunday best, even if it wasn’tSunday. Early players often spent the nightin Shoreham suites (WBL tournament flyersadvertised reduced rates for members).

Membership growth was steady andsolid. In April 1937, six months before theACBL was officially founded, the WBL had246 members, according to official records.A year later, that figure stood at 340.

By April, 1958, the WBL had 1,000members. It reached a high-water mark of2,600 in April, 1974. Although membershiphas fallen since, the official membership of1,663 in 2006 is somewhat misleading,since that total does not include unpaidWBL life masters. The accurate currentmembership total is believed to be about2,000, according to ACBL officials.

When it was founded in 1931, the WBLwas a port in a stormy city. The Depression

had the country in a headlock. Washingtonhad not fully recovered from the strains ofWorld War One. It was suffering from asevere housing shortage, and sharp racialsegregation. The federal government had notmushroomed in size, as it soon would, underthe first FDR Administration.

The Twenties were no longer around toroar. Washington was a bit gloomy, a bitsleepy. It gravitated to bridge as a way tosmile.

And as a way to shine.By 1937, when the ACBL was born,

Washington was chosen as the site of the ini-tial Fall Nationals. In the previous fewmonths, as ACBL tournaments began to beheld all over the East Coast, “more than 50[WBL] members have been awardedNational Master Points, indicative of being awinner or a runner-up in an ACBL master-point tournament,” according to the official1937-38 report of the WBL Secretary.

World War Two put a crimp in WBL oper-ations and attendance. Because the federalgovernment required a 48-hour work week,including Saturday afternoons, tournamentsshrank to single sessions on Friday andSaturday nights. Only on Sundays did WBLtournaments offer two sessions.

According to WBL records, Unit Gameattendance fell from an average of 30 1/2tables in January, 1941, to 25 1/2 a yearlater, to 17 two years later, to 15 three yearslater. The official history of the WBL’s first50 years says it was “several years beforebridge activity in Washington returned to itsformer level.”

But the WBL’s biggest test began toarrive in 1956.

A federal manpower executive namedVViiccttoorr RR.. DDaallyy—who was African-American—applied for membership. He mailed in a $2check to cover one year’s dues.

The check was returned.Over the next five years, the WBL nearly

disintegrated over the issue of whether toallow blacks to play in WBL games or join asmembers. Even when the question wasresolved in 1961, resignations, short tem-pers and hard feelings were everywhere.

(To be continued in our next issue)

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NNEEWW DD..CC.. BBRRIIDDGGEE

GGAAMMEE OOFFFF TTOO AA

GGOOOODD SSTTAARRTT!!

What makes a successful bridge game?Pleasant people? A comfortable, well-lit facili-ty? Good food? Easy parking? The WashingtonBridge League’s new non-Life Master duplicategame in Washington D.C. has all that and more!

At the inaugural game on Sunday, June 4,nine tables were in play in a beautiful, sunlitroom at the Methodist Home of WashingtonD.C. Subsequent games have boasted similarnumbers. Each game is preceded by a lightlunch at 12:30 and a lesson by Steve Forsytheat 1. Game time is 1:30. Steve’s “Relaxedrules” create a friendly atmosphere and keepdirector calls to a minimum.

The Home is located at 4901Connecticut Avenue, NW (just south of theintersection of Connecticut and NebraskaAvenues). Parking is available in theHome’s lot or on the street. Please bringyour friends and join us any Sunday!(Except during tournaments.) If you haveany questions about the game, please callemail SStteevvee oorr SSaannddyy FFoorrssyytthhee [email protected] or call 301-592-9177.

JJuunniioorr MMaasstteerrss ((55 MMaasstteerrppooiinnttss))Jacqueline Doherty Dr Cynthia Harrison

CClluubb MMaasstteerrss ((2200 MMaasstteerrppooiinnttss))Robert Claypool Grazyna Gdula

SSeeccttiioonnaall MMaasstteerrss ((5500 MMaasstteerrppooiinnttss))Joyce Bladen Suzanne FloydJoav Steinbach

RReeggiioonnaall MMaasstteerrss ((110000 MMaasstteerrppooiinnttss))Lorraine Davis Helen Fillion

NNAABBCC MMaasstteerrss ((220000 MMaasstteerrppooiinnttss))Roma Chandra William Kingery JrDr Angeliki Magklara

SSTTEEPPPPIINNGG UUPP TTOO NNEEWW HHEEIIGGHHTTSS::

As of June 1, 2006

choice. The Northern game will be onDecember 02 at the Gwendolyn CoffieldCommunity Recreation Center, 2450Lyttonsville Road, Silver Spring, MD at 12:30and 6:00. The Southern game will be heldOctober 14 at the Peninsula DBC 640A 79thStreet, Newport News, VA at 11:00 and 4:30.

Three pairs in each flight will qualify forthe National Finals, held during the Spring2007 NABC in St. Louis, MO. In the 0-2000and NLM Flights, first and third place willcome from the site with the larger atten-dance and second place from the smallersite. The Open Finals will be held March06-07 in St. Louis; the 0-2000 and NLMFinals will be held March 17-18.

The qualifiers will be subsidized (to var-ious extents) for travel expenses and hotelrooms by the ACBL and/or District 6.Membership dues or Life Master service feemust be current and continuous from thestart of the District Final to the completionof the North American Pairs Final at theNABC in order to play in the National Final.

For more information, visit the District 6web site or contact BBaarrbbaarraa DDoorraann by phoneat (301) 608-0347 or by email [email protected]. For Southern site spe-cific information, contact David Burnes [email protected]

Directions To Peninsula DBC: fromInterstate 64 (either East or West) take exit263 (James River Bridge ~ US 258 South ~Mercury Blvd West). Proceed 2.5 miles onMercury Blvd. to Newmarket Dr. (Searsshopping center is on your right ~ Wendy’s ison your left. Turn left (South) ontoNewmarket Dr. and proceed to 79th Street(first traffic signal ~ about 1/4 mile). Turnright onto 79th St. into old (circa 1964) stripshopping mall. Bridge Club is located about200 yards away next to US Post Office. Note:Bridge Club is identified with large letterson the awning.

OOccttoobbeerr 1144--1155,, 22000066((SSoouutthh,, BB aanndd CC oonnllyy))

aannddDDeecceemmbbeerr 0022--0033,, 22000066

((NNoorrtthh,, aallll FFlliigghhttss))The District 6 Final for Flights A and B will

be held the weekend of December 02-03,2006. Flight C will be a 2 session event onSaturday only. You must be a member of aUnit in District 6 and have qualified for theevent at the club level to play in the District 6Final. The CLUB qualifying period is Junethrough August.

The Open Flight, a 4-session event inwhich half the field will qualify for Sundayplay, will be held on December 02-03 at theGwendolyn Coffield Community RecreationCenter, 2450 Lyttonsville Road, SilverSpring, MD on Saturday and at the Viers MillLocal Park, 4425 Garrett Park Road,Wheaton MD on Sunday. Game times will be12:30 and 6:00 on Saturday and 11:00 and4:30 on Sunday. Mid-chart conventions willbe allowed in the Open Flight only.

The 0-2000 Flight, a 4-session event inwhich half the field will qualify for Sundayplay, will be played at two sites. Players mayplay at the site of their choice. The Northerngame will be held on December 02-03 at theGwendolyn Coffield Community RecreationCenter, 2450 Lyttonsville Road, SilverSpring, MD on Saturday and the Viers MillLocal Park, 4425 Garrett Park Road,Wheaton MD on Sunday. Game times will be12:30 and 6:00 on Saturday and 11:00 and4:30 on Sunday. The Southern game will beheld on October 14-15 at the Peninsula DBC640A 79th Street, Newport News, VA at11:00 and 4:30 on both days.

The NLM Flight will be a 2-session eventand will be played at two sites on Saturdayonly. Players may play at the site of their

22000066--22000077 NNOORRTTHH AAMMEERRIICCAANN PPAAIIRRSS

DDIISSTTRRIICCTT 66 FFIINNAALLSS

bbyy BBaarrbbaarraa DDoorraann,, DDiissttrriicctt 66 NNAAPP CChhaaiirr

SSUUNNDDAAYY

BBRRIIDDGGEE

FFIIEESSTTAA!!

♣♦ EEVVEERRYY SSUUNNDDAAYY ♥♠SStteevvee FFoorrssyytthhee’’ss

FFrriieennddllyy BBrriiddggee GGaammee0-300 masterpoints

&

UUllttrraa FFrriieennddllyy BBrriiddggee GGaammee0-20 masterpoints

~Relaxed House Rules~

Refreshments . . . .12:30 p.m.

Lesson . . . . . . . . . . . .1 p.m.

Game . . . . . . . .1:30 - 5 p.m.

Location: MMeetthhooddiisstt HHoommee4901 Connecticut Ave.,

Washington, DC

(just south of the intersection ofConnecticut and NebraskaAvenues)

$10 (includes lunch)

PPaarrttnneerrss GGuuaarraanntteeeedd

~Social bridgeplayers welcome~

For more information:SStteevvee oorr SSaannddyy FFoorrssyytthhee

(301) 592-9177,[email protected]

www.districtsix.org/WBL/Novice/Novice.htm

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NLMasterPointersby I/N Columnist, Sandy Forsythe, [email protected]

TTHHEE TTOOPP 1100 WWAAYYSS TTOO

IIMMPPRROOVVEE YYOOUURR BBRRIIDDGGEE PPLLAAYY

((wwiitthhoouutt lleeaarrnniinnggaannyytthhiinngg nneeww!!))

You can improve your play, today, with-out studying, without fancy new conventions,without tricky holdup plays or double finess-es! Read on for my top 10 ways:

1100.. LLeeaadd ppaarrttnneerr’’ss ssuuiitt.. You can’tgo wrong leading partner’s suit, especiallyon the opening lead. If he didn’t want youto lead it, he shouldn’t have bid it! Unlessyou think you can get a ruff, you havepoints and a really good suit of your own,or you have a better lead, lead pard’s suitif you want a ride home. (What’s a betterlead? Ace from ace-king is one example.Lead the ace and see whether partnerencourages or discourages.)

99.. LLooookk aatt wwhhaatt’’ss bbeeeenn ppllaayyeeddbbeeffoorree yyoouu ppllaayy.. When you’re thelast person to play to a trick, as declareror defender, stop to see whose card ishigh before you play! You’d be surprisedat how many times I’ve seen new playerstrump or play a higher card when theirpartner has already won the trick. Unlessyou need to be in the lead right now,don’t win if you don’t have to. And unlessyou need to unblock, don’t play a highercard than you have to.

88.. RReemmeemmbbeerr tthhee ccoonnttrraacctt..What’s more embarrassing than forget-ting to ruff (or letting the opponents ruffa trick you thought was good) becauseyou thought you were playing notrump?

Trying to ruff with the wrong suit!

77.. RReemmeemmbbeerr wwhhaatt’’ss hhiigghh.. Whensomeone plays the ace in a suit, I say tomyself, “Now the king is high.”(Especially if it’s MY king!) I do the samething each time a high card is played.When you get good at this, you’ll knowwhen you can safely cash your eightbecause only the seven is still out…andyou’ll know when partner’s card is high,and when you need to ruff!

66.. WWaattcchh ppaarrttnneerr’’ss ssiiggnnaallss.. Youand partner can talk about defensive sig-nals until the cows come home, but itwon’t do you a bit of good until you startpaying attention to what card partnerplays! Absent any special agreement, abig card says she wants you to continuethat suit, a small card says she doesn’t.Discards are especially important,because they let pard send you a mes-sage about the other suits. How will youknow what to lead if you don’t know whatsuit partner likes?

55.. RReemmeemmbbeerr ttoo ssiiggnnaall.. Seeabove. We don’t allow you to flash yourring around if you want a diamond lead,or clutch your chest if you want hearts. Ifyou haven’t bid, pard won’t know whatsuit you want him to lead. The only wayto tell him is with a signal!

44.. TTaakkee tthhee sseettttiinngg ttrriicckk.. You’rein the lead, you have a winner in yourhand…unless you know you can winmore tricks later if you wait, plunk thatsucker down! If you let declarer get backin the lead before you take your trick,

you may not get another chance. Be care-ful: declarers can be tricky, and beinggreedy could cost you!

33.. PPuullll ttrruummpp.. Don’t let the opponentsruff your tricks when you’re declarer!Even if their trumps are higher thanyours, you don’t want them scoring theirtrump separately. If they have five trumpbetween them and you don’t pull them,that’s five potential tricks for the oppo-nents. Unless you need to ruff losers inthe dummy, or you need to use trumps fortransportation, pull trump as soon as youget the lead.

22.. MMaakkee aa ppllaann.. Any plan! Are yougoing to crossruff? Set up your long suit?Pull trump right away? Any plan is bet-ter than no plan. After you have someexperience with making a basic plan,you’ll begin to think about what could gowrong, and how to make your plan better.

......aanndd the number one way toimprove your bridge play without learninganything new:

11.. CCoouunntt!! Count your points, count yourpartner’s points, count the opponents’points. Count how many cards have beenplayed in each suit, and how many areleft. Counting points will help you tomentally place the high cards in eachhand, so you can visualize where yourside’s tricks might come from. Countingcards will help you to know when yourremaining cards are good, when youshould ruff, and when you need to ruffhigh. Counting everything is hard! Butcounting anything is a good start. Withpractice, you’ll get better.

See how easy this game is? You canimprove your play without learning any-thing new!

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Silver Spring, MD U CooL W time at L a Sectional!B U L L E T I N July/August 2006 There are events...

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Transcript of Silver Spring, MD U CooL W time at L a Sectional!B U L L E T I N July/August 2006 There are events...