The

Quarterly
Magazine
A Publication of The American Bridge Teachersʼ Association
Spring 2018 • Issue 225 • www.abtahome.com

Destination: Atlanta –
the 2018 ABTA Convention (July 24-27)
Why is Better Bridge Magazine a Great Tool for Teachers?
Each issue is full of current, relevant information to liven up your lessons. This magazine features articles
by Audrey Grant, David Lindop, and many other top-ranked players and writers including Latty Cohen,
Julian Laderman, Eric Kokish and Jerry Helms. Each issue features a variety of bidding quizzes, play and
defense problems, in-depth articles on particular dimensions of the game, and reports on the goings on
of the national and international bridge world.
Subscribe to Better Bridge today and observe the benefits of enriching your lessons. Encourage
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We are happy to provide complimentary sample issues and subscription postcards for your students.

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It is carefully written and composed to be relevant, interesting, and educational—Better Bridge Magazine
is a staple in the homes of bridge players all over the world. The quizzes, hands and articles are written by
the best teachers and players in the game who will get your students thinking and improve their game.
And now you can get Better Bridge Magazine through the mail OR digitally to your computer or tablet.

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iii
 “To help those who teach bridge
to do it better, more effectively, more
knowledgeably, more professionally.”
ABTA Membership ABTA Annual Membership Dues
At the American Bridge Teachers’ Association,
we strive to “help those who teach bridge to do
it better, more effectively, more knowledgeably,
more professionally.”
Who can join the ABTA?
Anyone can join the ABTA. You don’t have
to teach or even want to teach — all you need is
an interest in being affiliated with a professional
organization dedicated to improving the teaching of
bridge. Curious?
To find the advantages to a membership in
ABTA, read this magazine, check out our website at
abtahome.com, or call Kathy Rolfe at 816-237-0519.
How do I join or renew my
membership?
Joining the ABTA or renewing your ABTA
membership is easy: Mail in your check and
application or call Kathy Rolfe at 816-237-0519
with your credit card information.
If you provide us with your ACBL number,
your ABTA membership will be your qualification
for creating a teacher profile in the ACBL Teacher
listing. See next column for full details.
Advertising Rates
PLEASE NOTE: The ABTA Quarterly page
size is 8.5´´ x 11´´ — printed in full color.
Advertising rates for camera ready material:
1/8 page: $45 1/2 page: $100
1/4 page: $60 Full page: $150 2 pages: $250
iv
Dues for U.S. and all North American Members
All fees below are in US dollars.
One-Year Membership: $45
One-Year Household Membership: $70
Three-Year Membership: $120
Dues for Non-North American Members
Members residing in countries outside North
America are asked to pay a $5 (USD) surcharge per
year to compensate for additional mailing costs.
Thus with surcharge included:
One-Year Membership: $50 USD
One-Year Household Membership: $75 USD
Three-Year Membership: $135 USD
To pay by mail or phone
Go to www.abtahome.com to download and
print our PDF Application Form. Please fill out
all details of the application form and send it
with your check or money order to: ABTA c/o
Kathy Rolfe, P.O. Box 232, Greenwood, MO
64034-0232. Call 816-237-0519 to pay by phone
with a credit card. For any questions or concerns
regarding membership fees, email Kathy Rolfe at
abtaemail@gmail.com.
If your ad is not camera ready, our editor
can assist you, but there will be an extra
charge for the work involved. See page 10 for
ad specs. Please contact the Editor for details.
Brent Manley, Editor
brentmanley@yahoo.com 901-246-6477
 Contents
Spring Issue
Membership page iv
The Quarterly Officers & Directors 2
Magazine Officers and Appointments 4
A Publication of
Editor message 5
The American Bridge Teachersʼ Association
Spring 2018 • Issue 225 ABTA back in Atlanta for 2018 (by Kathy Rolfe) 6
www.abtahome.com
Atlanta ABTA Convention Registration 8
A message from the President (Betty Starzec) 9
Apple Basket submission tips (by Brenda Montague) 9
Submission guidelines/TOY notice 10
News you can use (by Stephanie Threlkeld) 11
Synrey Bridge 12
Welcome new members 14
Book Reviews 18
Advancing a takeout double (by Eddie Wold) 20
Effective Teaching (by Jim Ricker) 22
Mini Lesson (by Jim Ricker) 23
Rules for success (by Randy Baron) 26
Using Probabilities (by John Ebden) 28

ON THE COVER
Advertisements
The 2018 ABTA Baron Barclay Bridge Supply Inside Front Cover
Convention in and Facing Page (iii)
Atlanta Synrey Bridge 15
See page 6 IN A DAY Instructor’s Sets: Notrump, Basic Splinters
& Jacoby 2 NT, by Patty Tucker 16-17
Cover photo: Fox Theatre & cityscape.
Atlanta photos courtesy of A Declarer’s Workbook 23
Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Beginning Bridge – Using 2 Over 1, By Jim Ricker 24-25

Master Point Press Inside Back Cover and Back Cover
1
 Officers and
Regional Directors
Officers Regional Directors
President East Canada
BETTY STARZEC MB ON PQ NB NL NS PEI
1414 Forest Bend Drive KATHIE MACNAB
Sugar Land, TX 77479-6282 5 Wren Street
lstarzec@comcast.net Halifax, NS B3M 2R1 Canada
kmacnab@eastlink.ca
President-Elect
HENRY MEGUID New England
2139 Monthaven Dr. CT ME MA NH RI VT
Durham, NC 27712-1927 BRENDA MONTAGUE
henry@bridgeacademync.com 14 Capstan Way
Swampscott, MA 01907-1231
Recording Secretary bestbridgeteacher@yahoo.com
SHARON CARTER
North Pacific
573 Golden Links Drive
AK CO ID MT OR WA
Orange Park, FL 32073
BRENDA SIMPSON
sharoncarter1950@att.net
11725 E. Glenview Circle
Spokane, WA 99206-5716
Immediate Past President
bsbridge@aol.com
PATTY TUCKER
4757 Luray Drive South Atlantic
Dunwoody, GA 30338-5214 FL GA NC SC Caribbean
wimsey@mindspring.com LINDA GREEN
40 Bosun Way
Delray Beach, FL 33483
irwinlinda@bellsouth.net
Special Officer
North Atlantic
Business Secretary/Treasurer DE DC MD NJ NY PA VA
KATHY ROLFE SHERYL McEWAN
P.O. Box 232 129 Church St.
Greenwood, MO 64034-0232 Summit Point, WV 25446
abtaemail@gmail.com sherylmcewan@aol.com
2
 North Central Southwest
IL IN KY MI OH WV WI AR OK TX
ROSALIND HACK SANDY STEVENS
200 East Ravine Drive 1712 Hwy 21E
Mequon, WI 53092 Paige, TX 78659
roshack@gmail.com sandy.stevens9086@gmail.com

South Pacific West Canada

AZ CA HI NV NM UT AB BC SK
GLENNA SHANNAHAN DELMA MURRAY
44-324 Mesquite Drive 1297 Ocean View Road
Indian Wells, CA 92210 Victoria, BC V8P 1J6 Canada
gkshannahan@gmail.com delmabridge@live.ca

South Central Midwest

AL LA MS TN IA KS MN MO NE
JIM RICKER ND SD WY
1825 Raven Hill Ct. MICHAEL HUGHES
Knoxville, TN 37922 312 Benton St.
865-805-0420 Jefferson City, MO 65101-4007
jdricker.jdr@gmail.com michael@jcbridge.org

The American Bridge Teachers’ Association Quarterly

Magazine (ISSN 0891-6462) is published quarterly by The
American Bridge Teachersʼ Association. Periodical # 005-998.
Office: 490 N. Winnebago Dr., Lake Winnebago, MO 64034.
Website: www.abtahome.com.
Business Mailing Address: P.O. Box 232, Greenwood, MO
64034-0232. Call 816-237-0519 to subscribe.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the American
Bridge Teachers’ Association Quarterly Magazine,
P.O. Box 232, Greenwood, MO 64034-0232.
Committee Chairs
(See contact information on the following page.)
Apple Basket Brenda Montague
Book and Software Awards Pat Harrington
By-Laws Rosemary Boden
Historian Pat Harrington
Membership Credentials Kathie MacNab

ABTA Quarterly Nominations

Parliamentarian
Patty Trucker
Sandy Stevens
deadlines for 2018 Publicity Jim Ricker
Quarterly Brent Manley
Spring – March 28
Teacher of the Year Richard Braunstein
Summer – June 13 Technology Henry Meguid
Fall – October 17 Web Manager Michael Hughes
Winter – December 19 Special Asst. to the President Sandy Stevens

www.abtahome.com
3

Officers
President
BETTY STARZEC
1414 Forest Bend Drive
Sugar Land, TX 77479-6282
lstarzec@comcast.net
President-Elect
HENRY MEGUID
2139 Monthaven Dr.
Durham, NC 27712-1927
henry@bridgeacademync.com
Recording Secretary
SHARON CARTER
573 Golden Links Drive
Orange Park, FL 32073
sharoncarter1950@att.net
Immediate Past President
PATTY TUCKER
4757 Luray Drive
Dunwoody, GA 30338-5214
wimsey@mindspring.com
Business Secretary/Treasurer
KATHY ROLFE
P.O. Box 232
Greenwood, MO 64034-0232
abtaemail@gmail.com
Regional Directors
East Canada
MB ON PQ NB NL NS PEI
KATHIE MACNAB
5 Wren Street
Halifax, NS B3M 2R1 Canada
kmacnab@eastlink.ca
New England
CT ME MA NH RI VT
BRENDA MONTAGUE
14 Capstan Way
Swampscott, MA 01907-1231
bestbridgeteacher@yahoo.com
Officers and
Appointments
North Pacific West Canada Parliamentarian
AK CO ID MT OR WA AB BC SK SANDY STEVENS
BRENDA SIMPSON DELMA MURRAY 1712 Hwy 21E
11725 E. Glenview Circle 1297 Ocean View Road Paige, TX 78659
Spokane, WA 99206-5716 Victoria, BC V8P 1J6 Canada sandy.stevens9086@gmail.com
bsbridge@aol.com delmabridge@live.ca
Publicity
South Atlantic Midwest JIM RICKER
FL GA NC SC Caribbean IA KS MN MO NE ND SD WY 1825 Raven Hill Ct.
LINDA GREEN MICHAEL HUGHES Knoxville, TN 37922
40 Bosun Way 312 Benton St. jdricker.jdr@gmail.com
Delray Beach, FL 33483 Jefferson City, MO 65101-4007
irwinlinda@bellsouth.net michael@jcbridge.org Quarterly
BRENT MANLEY
North Atlantic Arlington, TN
DE DC MD NJ NY PA VA Committee Chairs 901-383-8782
brentmanley@yahoo.com
SHERYL McEWAN
Apple Basket
129 Church St.
BRENDA MONTAGUE
Summit Point, WV 25446 Teacher of the Year
14 Capstan Way
sherylmcewan@aol.com RICHARD BRAUNSTEIN
Swampscott, MA 01907-1231
454 Haverhill Road
bestbridgeteacher@yahoo.com
North Central Lancaster, PA 17601
IL IN KY MI OH WV WI br1rich@msn.com
Book and
ROSALIND HACK
Software Awards /Historian
200 East Ravine Drive Technology
PAT HARRINGTON
Mequon, WI 53092 HENRY MEGUID
19262 Winding Way
roshack@gmail.com 2139 Monthaven Dr.
Fort Myers, FL 33908-2991
Durham, NC 27712-1927
ppharrr@gmail.com
South Pacific henry@bridgeacademync.com
AZ CA HI NV NM UT By-Laws
GLENNA SHANNAHAN Web Manager
JOYCE PENN
44-324 Mesquite Drive MICHAEL HUGHES
jpenn@columbus.rr.com
Indian Wells, CA 92210 312 Benton St.
gkshannahan@gmail.com Jefferson City, MO 65101-4007
Membership Credentials
michael@jcbridge.org
KATHIE MACNAB
South Central 5 Wren Street
AL LA MS TN Special Assistant
Halifax, NS B3M 2R1 Canada
JIM RICKER to the President
kmacnab@eastlink.ca
1825 Raven Hill Ct. SANDY STEVENS
Knoxville, TN 37922 1712 Hwy 21E
Nominations
865-805-0420 Paige, TX 78659
PATTY TUCKER
jdricker.jdr@gmail.com sandy.stevens9086@gmail.com
4757 Luray Drive
Dunwoody, GA 30338-5214
Southwest wimsey@mindspring.com
AR OK TX
SANDY STEVENS
1712 Hwy 21E, Paige, TX 78659
sandy.stevens9086@gmail.com
4
 From the Editor’s
Desk
Brent Manley
The things that stand out are often
the oddities.
— Pierre Salinger Later in the game, the bidding went Pass on my
right, Pass by me and Pass on my left. Partner opened
Strange fascination 2♠, which, according to our agreements, showed a
I’ve been playing bridge with a former colleague good suit of at least six cards and a sound opening bid.
two or three times a month. I never thought I would Unfortunately, I forgot about RHO’s opening Pass and,
get into the daytime games in Memphis, but it has thinking partner was showing a weak two-bid, I also
happened. I’m hoping that more regular play will passed. Making five. Rats!
resuscitate my bridge game, which is nowhere near It’s tough to get good results when your body is on
what it once was. Earth and your mind is on Mars.
Days like Tuesday of last week do not augur well Our game was looking pretty sad, but we were
for success, however. All in all, it was a strange day. rescued by strange events from the opponents.
On one deal, after I had raised my partner’s 1♣ Check out this deal:
bid during the auction, the opponents landed in 4♥. Dlr: ♠KQ98
My partner led the ♦A (a singleton) and I saw four Vul: ♥92
to the K-J in dummy. I didn’t know it at the time, ♦ A J 8 7 4 3
but partner was planning to underlead his ♣A to ♣ K
my king so that I could give him a diamond ruff.
Unfortunately for the defense, I followed with a ♠ J 6 5 3
low club. ♥AK6
I quickly discovered that
I had a diamond (three of
them), and the director was
All in all,

♦Q5
♣A643
I found myself in 4♠ after RHO opened
called. He gave declarer her
choices, including requiring
or prohibiting a club lead by
it was a 2♥ and partner made a takeout double after
two passes. I got a heart lead, of course, and
won.
partner — or letting him play
whatever he wanted. strange I played a spade to dummy’s king, and
RHO won the ace. He exited with the ♥Q,
She chose Door No. 3 (take
your pick). Fittingly, whatever
my partner did was wrong (too
day. which I took with the king. I thought I should
try for some tricks in diamonds, so I played
the ♦Q, covered by the king and ace. RHO
bad he had to suffer the poor followed with a low heart (Yuck! Trumps are
result I had created). He couldn’t underlead his ♣A 4-1). I played the ♦J and RHO again followed with a
because I would have to follow with my penalty card heart.
(a low club). Declarer made her contract and we got I started ruffing in both hands. On the third round
a poor board. It was a no-play contract that I brought of diamonds, RHO ruffed in with the ♠4 (!??!). I can
back to life. conclude only that as he was making his plays, RHO
must have been thinking, “What would Brent do in
this situation?” I ended up with 12 tricks for a good
www.abtahome.com score.
I hope I take my brain to my next bridge game. ❚
5
The ABTA in
Atlanta Again!
By Kathy Rolfe
ABTA Business Secretary-Treasurer/
Convention Manager
Most of the details for the
convention this summer are worked
out. Read about what we do know
here and send in your registration
form that follows. The convention,
workshops and banquet will all
be held at the Atlanta Marriott
Marquis at 255 Peachtree Center
Ave. Convention cost is $215, but
a $15 discount is available if you
register by June 1. Hotel room
reservations are available through
the ACBL website.

Linda Green is our Program

Chair, and is working her magic
again! Our Atlanta hostesses are
Patty Tucker and Mary Catan. Atlanta downtown.

Monday Evening, July 23

Master Teacher Interviews. If you are interested,
you can find more information about the process,
including an application, at www.abtahome.com. Click
on Master Teacher Program to find all the information
about the program, including sample questions and how
to apply. You can also request a Pre-Test to help you
assess whether you are ready to go through the process.
For more information, including getting the Pre-Test,
please contact Kathie Macnab at kmacnab@eastlink.ca
We also hold a work meeting to get your folders
and goodie bags ready. Any board members already
in town are asked to attend and help out. Details as to
time and place will be forthcoming.
Tuesday, July 24
11:30-1:00: First- and second-time attendees’
luncheon - Meet your Board members and get to
know one another before we start! The luncheon is
hosted by President-elect Henry Meguid and will be
held at Ray’s in the City, not far from the hotel at

Pemberton Place. Centennial-Olympic Park.

6
240 Peachtree St. NW. Cost is $35 and includes your
choice of salad or seafood gumbo, roasted veggies
and whipped potatoes, your choice of entrée: salmon,
chicken or steakhouse salad, with cheesecake for
dessert.
12:45-1:30: Registration and check-in
1:30-4:45: Using Technology for Teaching Bridge
1:30: BBO Presentation
3:15: Synrey Bridge
6:30-8:30: Jacoby 2NT Workshop presented by
Patty Tucker
Snacks will be provided at both the afternoon and
evening presentations.
Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad.
Wednesday, July 25
8:00-9:00 Continental Breakfast
8:30-9:00 Annual Membership Meeting
9:00-4:00 Convention
Speakers to include Audrey Grant, Corey Krantz,
Stephen Smith, Ray Lee, Robert Todd, Jim Ricker,
Eddie Wold and Bob Morris.
4:20-9:30 Nothing says Atlanta more than the
Fox Theatre and the Georgian Terrace!
The Fox Theatre Tours is a 60-minute guided
program that will showcase the must-see details of the
Fox (https://foxtheatre.org/) and its remarkable history.
Guests will tour over 10 locations throughout the
World of Coca-Cola.
building – from the orchestra pit and Might Mo’, the
largest working Moller theatre organ in the world to the
Men’s Lounge featuring the original furniture chosen by Thursday, July 26
the wife of movie-mogul William Fox. They will also 8:00-9:00 Continental Breakfast
learn the incredible story of how the citizens rose up to 9:00-4:00 Convention (afternoon snacks
save the Fox from the wrecking ball while walking the provided)
very same halls as Elvis and the Rolling Stones. Speakers to include Stephanie Threlkeld,
After the Fox tour, enjoy dinner at Baraonda, Teacher of the Year Presentation, Brenda Manning,
right next door to the Theatre. For those who are so Jeff Bayone, Jim Maier, Julian Laderman, and
inclined, join Patty and Mary at the Georgian Terrace Jerry Helms.
(https://www.thegeorgianterrace.com/) after dinner for
a nightcap. Built in 1911, the iconic Georgian Terrace AWARDS BANQUET, July 26
is across the street from the Fox Theatre and is the 6:00 – 9:30 Cash Bar
undisputed Atlanta Grand Dame hotel, a 20th century 7:00 – 10:00 Pro-Panel and Awards Banquet
Beaux-Arts beauty that’s deeply etched in the city’s Cost is included in the convention registration fee.
heart, history, and Southern heritage. $105 for guests.
Optional Dining and Entertainment, Confirmed panel members include George Jacobs,
4:20-4:30 (cab, Uber, or walk to Fox Theatre) Sylvia Shi, Daniel Korbel, Robert Todd and Randy
4:30-5:30 Fox Theatre for a Behind the Scenes Baron.
Tour, Cost $11
5:30-8:00 Dinner at Baraonda, next door to Friday, July 27
the Fox, Cost $50 8:00-9:00 Continental Breakfast
8:00-9:30 Meet for drinks, at your own expense, 9:00-11:00 Convention
at the Georgian Terrace Hotel, across Speakers to include Randy Baron, Jan van Cleef
from the Fox and Gene Simpson. ❚
7
 2018 Atlanta ABTA Convention Registration
________ Register me for the Convention, held at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center
Avenue, Atlanta, GA - Tuesday afternoon July 24, 2018 to Friday morning July 27, 2018.
Cost: US $215. ($15 discount if you register by June 1)
DO NOT MAIL AFTER JULY 7 POSTMARK
Call (816-237-0519) or email (abtaemail@gmail.com) to register and pay in person or
with a credit card over the phone or online after this date.
Cost includes: Snack break during Tuesday afternoon and evening Workshop. Snack break
Thursday afternoon. Continental breakfast from 8 to 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
mornings. Don’t miss the Thursday night Banquet as this is when our very popular pro-panel
will be joining us!
Tues. Jul 24: 12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Check-in
1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Using Technology for Teaching Workshop: BBO
and Synrey Bridge Presentations
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Patty Tucker: Jacoby 2NT
Wed. Jul 25: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Annual Membership Meeting
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Convention
Thurs. Jul 26: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Convention
6:00 p.m. Cash Bar Opens for Banquet Attendees
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Awards Banquet (Buffet Dinner) & Pro Panel,
Fri., Jul 27: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Convention
_________ I am unable to attend the Thursday evening banquet, deduct $25
_________ Please register my guest(s) for the Thursday evening banquet:
$105 US per guest (list guests on the back or separate sheet)

Additional options and costs:

__________ 1st & 2nd Time Attendees Lunch, Tuesday July 24, 2018
11:30 – 1:00 at Ray’s in the City, Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, GA
(just a short walk from the hotel).
Cost: $35 Officers and Directors are invited to join this group as well.
Deadline: July 16.

__________ WED. NIGHT OUT July 25: 4:30 – 5:30 Tour of the Fox Theatre Cost: $11
__________ Dinner after at Baraonda, right next to the Fox Theatre 5:30-8:00 Cost: $50
Join us for drinks after dinner at the Georgian Terrace. Guests are welcome as well, at the same
price. (Must receive your reservation by July 18, first come, first served) This is less than
a mile from the host hotel, we encourage you to carpool via cab or Uber to attend the tour
and dinner.
GUEST NAME:_____________________________
PLEASE PRINT:
TOTAL $____________
Name ____________________________________ City, State______________________________
Telephone _________________________ Email ________________________________________

Send your registration and check to: ABTA, P.O. Box 232, Greenwood, MO 64034-0232
Registration available soon at abtahome.com to register and pay via Paypal in U.S. dollars
Or call Kathy at 816-237-0519 and pay with credit card (U.S. dollars)

8
 President’s
Letter
With the arrival of spring, my thoughts are focused
(along with many others) on our ABTA Convention
in Atlanta this summer. Patty Tucker and Mary
Catan have planned some great activities for us to
enjoy. Linda Green is working her magic in bringing
together an impressive amount of talent and creativity
with our speakers and presentations. The Master of
Ceremonies for our Pro Panel will once again be the
amazing George Jacobs. Kathy Rolfe will take your
reservations and make sure we are all set up and ready
to have a great event.
President-Elect Henry Meguid has been focused
on getting our new website up and running. We hope
to accept your ABTA renewals and registration for the
upcoming convention online shortly. He will also give
us a presentation on working with the new site.
Patty Tucker will once again be delighting us with
a presentation that will go behind the wall on our
website. Last year, everyone was extremely positive
about the presentations Patty and the Schuetts (Jeff
Apple Basket
By Brenda Montague
Our popular Apple Basket
contest will take place again at our
meeting in Atlanta. Please submit
the method you use to interest your
students in a particular concept,
hand or a dilemma that they
frequently encounter. An entry may
be a way that you present a concept,
things you do in class to hold their
interest, or any other way that you make their learning
experience memorable. Your tip must be original.
 Remember that your successful technique(s) may
be of great use to other teachers, so please send in
your best teaching tip.
We request your discretion in not speaking about
9
Betty Starzec
and Ginny) facilitated. We are excited that Patty will
do another one for us.
Once again, I would like to welcome our new
members. I was fortunate to meet all the participants
in the ACBL’s first “Bridge Teaching Dynamics
Workshop” in Philadelphia and welcome them to our
organization.
In addition, I visited the Learn Bridge In A Day?
accreditation event and welcomed them as well.
We now have two members from Greece! A special
“thank you” to the ACBL Educational Foundation for
continuing to subsidize the memberships for these new
faces. Welcome to all!
One of the things I always try to stress in my
classes is how important it is to maintain focus. Well,
I committed a real gem in Philadelphia that I’m eager
(I think!) to tell my students (they love when I mess
up) and share with everyone in Atlanta. Here’s a hint:
Read Saturday’s Daily Bulletin from Philadelphia and
plan to just shake your head! ❚
your submission until the voting process is finished.
On the final day of the convention, we may ask the
winner and top place finishers to showcase their
entries. Bring your own props, if needed, to our
annual convention in Atlanta. You may submit more
than one entry.
Please send your submission directly in the body
of the email or as a Word file.
Submissions must be received by July 14, 2018.
Submissions may be made by regular mail to:
Brenda Montague
14 Capstan Way
Swampscott MA 01907
Or you can send an email to:
bestbridgeteacher@yahoo.com ❚
Honoring
teachers
At the ABTA Conference in Toronto, Enid Roitman
was named 2017 ABTA Teacher of the Year, an award
sponsored by Master Point Press (see page 6, Fall
2017 Quarterly). Now it’s time to start thinking about
nominees for the 2018 award.
We are looking for bridge teachers like you as
nominees. We need teachers who provide something
extra in the classroom and share their enthusiasm and
passion for bridge with students.
The 2018 Teacher of the Year will be revealed
and the award presented to an ABTA member at the
Conference in Atlanta this summer.
The search for 2018 nominees began Sept. 1. We
are looking for teachers who go that extra mile to
Submission guidelines
This publication is by and for members of
the American Bridge Teachers’ Association.
The editor relies on submissions from members.
Here are some tips for making the process work
smoothly.
Deadlines
Deadlines will generally be on Wednesday.
In general, deadlines are not flexible. If
circumstances make a submission delay inevitable,
contact the editor (brentmanley@yahoo.com)
before the deadline day to make arrangements.
ABTA Quarterly deadlines for 2018:
Spring - March 28; Summer - June 13;
Fall - Oct. 17; Winter - Dec. 19.
Photographs
An article about a person should include a
photo of the subject of the article. The photo
should be high-resolution, taken with a digital
camera rather than a phone.
An article written on a technical subject —
e.g., the Eddie Wold article on page 20 in this
10
create a wonderful atmosphere in the classroom.
If you would like to be considered for the award,
ask your students to begin the nomination process
for you, by going to our website (www.abtahome.
com) and completing the student nomination form.
Additionally, you will need to complete the teacher’s
nomination form.
Yes, you are welcome (and encouraged) to
reapply if you were considered in previous years.
Any material previously submitted is retained by
the ABTA and will be reevaluated, along with your
updated application. 
Questions may be directed by email to Joyce Penn
at: abtaTOY@gmail.com
issue — should include a photo of the author.
Please do not paste photographs into articles.
Photos should be sent as attachments rather than
pasted into files.
Format
The preferred format for submission of articles
is Microsoft Word. If necessary, submissions will
be accepted by articles pasted into emails.
Ads
Preferred formats are PDF, JPG or TIF.
Resolution should be at least 300 dpi at full
size. The color format is CMYK. Fonts must be
outlined or embedded where applicable.
Ad size options:
Full page ads with bleed: 8.75” x 11.25”
Full page live area: 7.75” x 10.1875”
Full page ad, no bleed: 7.75” x 10.1875”
Half-page horizontal ad: 7.75” x 5.25”
Half-page vertical ad: 3.75” x 10.1875”
Quarter-page ad: 3.75” x 5.125”
Eighth-page ad: 3.75” x 2.375”
 News you can
use from ACBL
By Stephanie Threlkeld
Spring has sprung, and with it comes a fresh
approach to training teachers! Also, the ACBL has
been working on creating temporary memberships and
further developing the College Bridge programs.
Bridge Teaching Dynamics (BTD)
Workshop
The pilot of our new Bridge Teaching Dynamics
(BTD) Workshop was held at the Philadelphia NABC.
We had a good turnout with 27 participants in spite of
the nor’easter. Attendees gave the course rave reviews,
saying it had “excellent framework, guidelines and
ideas” and was “encouraging and empowering.”
The BTD Workshop is the centerpiece of the updated
Teacher Accreditation Program. It implements the best
practices recommended and validated by more than 400
teachers, many of them ABTA members, via a recent
survey. The unique aspect of the course is that it focuses
on training teachers how — rather than what — to teach.
These workshops feature simulations to engage
participants in analyzing teaching tactics, practicing
these methods and giving and receiving feedback during
bridge lessons. Beginning in Gatlinburg, participants
may opt to demonstrate their proficiency in BTD and
earn a certification as an ACBL Best Practices Teacher.
CALL
  FOR ENTRIES
Attention book authors and publishers: Do you
have a work published since May 1, 2017 that is
a good resource for bridge students or teachers?
Contact us to submit it for the ABTA Book of the Year
Award. We also have a Software/Technology award.
 
Attention ABTA members: Send suggestions for
new works you think should be considered for these
awards.
 
Contact Awards Committee Chair Pat Harrington
at PPHARRR@gmail.com for details on how to
submit your work to the five committee members,
which also include Sam Marks, Henry Meguid,
Brenda Montague and Karen Walker. Submission
deadline is May 1, 2018.
11
We will offer
the BTD Workshop
along with an
abbreviated Mini-
Workshop (for
ACBL-accredited
Teachers and
ABTA Master
Teachers only) at the Gatlinburg Regional in April and
the Atlanta NABC in July. The BTD Workshop will be
held over three half-days, and the Mini-Workshop will
take place over one half-day. We hope to add more
opportunities at upcoming tournaments. For more
information, visit our website: acbl.org/tap.
Temporary Membership
Did you know that you can now offer your students
a taste of ACBL membership for just $7.99? With the
new temporary membership option, they’ll get one
month of member benefits including an issue of the
Bridge Bulletin, the ability to earn masterpoints, access
to tournament play and a permanent member number.
In addition, you’ll get $5 for each initial temporary
membership you sign up. Find out more at acbl.org/temp.
College and School Bridge
College Bridge continues to gain steam with the
tantalizing offer of free trips to play in Atlanta. The
ACBL and the ACBL Educational Foundation will be
providing 10 colleges with team travel packages to the
Bridge Bowl during the Atlanta NABC.
If you teach high school juniors or seniors,
encourage them to look for or start a bridge club when
they head off to college. You can see a list of colleges
with bridge programs or teams at acbl.org/CollegeList.
Also encourage them to apply for the Educational
Foundation’s King/Queen of Bridge Scholarship. The
application deadline is May 31, 2018. Find out more at
acbl.org/KingofBridge.
As always, I am so excited to have the opportunity
to speak to the members of the ABTA through this
column, and I welcome ideas and suggestions! Please
send your input to stephanie.threlkeld@acbl.org ❚
Synrey Bridge, a
Unique App for
Bridge Education
Where does this App come from? innovation and intelligence.
Synrey Bridge is an educational bridge app. Nowadays, Synrey Bridge is widely used by more
The app was developed by the team of Dr. Erik Liu, than 1,000 bridge teachers, more than 200,000 bridge
plus an experienced players and hundreds of
software engineer and schools and universities
an enthusiastic bridge in China.
teacher. The mission of
Dr. Liu has worked Synrey Bridge is to
six years for Ericsson Double the Population
in The Netherlands as of World Bridge.
a software engineer. Synrey Bridge is on its
When he worked in The way.
Netherlands, he played
in Dutch bridge clubs How does
and enjoyed his bridge
Synrey Bridge
life. In 2002, Dr. Liu
went back to Beijing. support bridge
In the past 15 years, he teaching?
created several successful Groups with
start-up companies in Pre-Dealt Hands
different areas, including Compared to the
telecommunication, Dr. Liu, left, with colleagues Liang Fan and Weiling Zao. learning of other
health and bridge. individual activities
Dr. Liu has taught bridge in Beijing University like playing the piano, learning to play bridge is much
of Posts and Telecommunications since 2014. He more challenging because it is a group activity. New
was later invited by the Chinese players find it hard to practice the game. To start
Contract Bridge Association as a bridge game, getting four people together is
a key teacher to promote bridge the basic requirement. Moreover, it takes about
in China. As a bridge teacher and 8-10 minutes to finish one deal with only one
promoter, Dr. Liu has taught bridge player among four in declaring practice, which
in 13 universities or high schools means it requires 32-40 minutes for each student
and eight enterprises. to declare at least one contract. Meanwhile, the
Based on his teaching practice deals must be closely related to the
experience, his team started to topic of the given bridge courses. Therefore, it is
build a tool to support bridge very hard for students practice at home with the
education with modern techniques traditional teaching approaches.
of mobile internet and artificial In Synrey Bridge, the teacher may create his/
intelligence, which later evolved her own student groups and upload the pre-dealt
into the Synrey Bridge App. hands to the groups. The students can practice
Synrey is a created word, the those hands through the Synrey App with three
pronunciation of which is close Trick-taking bridge in robots. It usually takes three to five minutes to
to a Chinese phrase representing the Synrey app. practice declaring one hand in the Synrey App.
12
Compared to the 32-40 minutes
mentioned above, the Synrey
Bridge practice is much more
efficient. Last but not least, the
bridge teachers have the permission
to monetize the playing statistics of
each group individual, so that they
can discuss the boards accordingly
with their students.
Easy Start from Trick-Taking
and Mini Bridge
There are many new concepts
that could confuse bridge
beginners, making bridge teaching
very difficult. Very few beginners
survive and move on to be a
duplicate bridge player. Dr. Liu
believes there are easier and more University students using trick-taking Bridge during a promotion course.
enjoyable ways that will help retain
more players. As a result, Synrey invented the Three- After a beginner plays two hundred deals in Trick-
Steps Teaching Method: Trick-Taking Bridge, Mini Taking Bridge and Mini Bridge, his/her declaring
Bridge and Contract Bridge. skill is greatly improved, along with his/her skill to
Trick-Taking Bridge is the first step of bridge evaluate hands and to select contracts. All the three
learning. When learning Trick-Taking Bridge, the skills mentioned are crucial to understanding a bridge
concepts of contracts and HCP are not mentioned. bidding system. Now they are ready to graduate and
The students are move on to learn bidding.
only asked to pick Excellent Presentation
a trump suit, based During a bridge class, analyzing a played deal
on their knowledge dynamically in front of a big class is a challenge for
of their own hands teachers. The challenge gets tougher when teachers
and the distribution are trying to discuss some advanced topics such as
of partners’ hands. endplays and squeezes. The needs inspired Synrey
Their goal is to Bridge to develop a web-based presentation tool that
take as many tricks allows a teacher to play and analyze a pre-dealt hand
as possible. It dynamically in his/her class. The teacher can change
takes only around the settings to decide which of the four hands to
five minutes for a control, the rest of which will be played by Synrey
beginning player to Robots.
learn “trumps” and
“tricks”, and then
he/she is ready for How does Synrey Bridge support
Trick-Taking Bridge bridge students?
games. Scholarship winner Jiaheng Hu, Educational bidding instructions
left, and Erik Liu. The best way to learn a bidding system is to learn
Trick-Taking
Bridge, together with the Synrey App, is widely used from playing. The Synrey App offers well-designed
in the school bridge promotion. bidding instructions. By tapping on robots bidding
or players’ current bidding choices, the players know
The second step is Mini Bridge. In Mini Bridge, right away what each bidding sequence means. Lots
partner’s distribution and HCP are given as clues to the of Chinese students learn an entire bidding system by
player, who is then required to directly pick a contract playing deals in the Synrey App.
and start playing. When learning Mini Bridge, the For Synrey users, Synrey Bridge is more a game
concept of games and slam are reinforced and practiced. than a bridge course.
13
 Replaying and Self-Studying
No players play perfectly in all deals.
Sometimes a player may want to play the
same board twice to try different plans.
He also wants to see how other players
play the same board for a better score.
Synrey Bridge allows the players to retry
all boards, and watch other players’ lines
of play. The replaying and self-learning
is well supported.
Playing with World-Class Robots
There is a world computer bridge
championship held by WBF (World
Bridge Federation) every year. In
2017, the Synrey robot won the second
place in 21st World Computer Bridge
Championship in Lyon, France.
Supporting Junior Bridge Events Students play with the Synrey app during the promotion course.
To introduce more juniors to bridge
and to encourage more junior bridge players to continue playing, Synrey Bridge held and sponsored
two junior bridge events in 2017. In October, Synrey
Bridge held the North American Junior Scholarship
Incredible! Mini Bridge Competition. The competition lasted for
For good reason, most players don’t like it nine days with a total of 72 boards of Mini Bridge. A
when the opponents make psychic bids (and it’s total of 58 junior players attended the event. Jiaheng
very uncool versus newer players). Here’s a psych Hu won the $700 scholarship and attended the 2017
perpetrated in a national teams match more than Fall North American Bridge Championships in San
50 years ago. The deal: Diego for more bridge games.
Dlr: North ♠ 10 8 7 6 4 3 On November 11, Synrey Bridge partnered
Vul: E-W ♥ A 10 6 with NAAAHP (National Association of African
♦KQ6 American Honors Program), ABA (American Bridge
♣7 Association), Patty Tucker, Bridgelovers.com, and
♠ A ♠KQ2 started a Mini Bridge scholarship tournament for
♥ K J 9 8 7 5 2 ♥Q3 students from the program. A total of $500 worth gift
♦ A J ♦ 10 8 7 5 4 3 2 cards and souvenirs were given out.
♣ A K 4 ♣2
♠J95

Welcome
♥4
♦9
♣ Q J 10 9 8 6 5 3
South, Marty Cohn, heard two passes. His bid:
3♥! The Hall of Fame Player on Cohn’s left could
not double for penalty and East, another Hall of
Famer, had no bid in the passout seat, so 3♥ it was.
Cohn went down six, but it was a huge gain because New Members
at the other table South opened 5♣, West overcalled
5♥ and North doubled. The contract goes down Vicki Rubin Sumner Freedman
only if North starts with the ♥A and another heart. Boynton Beach FL Short Hills, NJ
North did not find the heart lead and West made sumnerfreedman@yahoo.com
12 tricks for plus 1050 for a 13-IMP swing.
14
15
16
17
Playing 2/1
The Rest of the Story
By Paul Thurston
Reviewed by Dee Berry
This reviewer strongly believes
the book, published last year, should
have been titled “A Different 2/1
Story.” Thurston (Ontario, Canada)
is an international player who writes
a syndicated daily bridge column for
Canada’s National Post newspaper.
I doubt if the vast majority of 2/1
players will be interested in switching
to an approach where 2♥ and 2♠ are natural responses
to a 1NT opening. Thurston acknowledges that “this
will undoubtedly cause the most opposition.” Of course,
hands are chosen to illustrate the benefits of this style.
More palatable will be his suggested approach to
responses to third- and fourth-seat major-openings:
• 2 of opener’s major=6-8 HCP, 3- or 4-card support
• 2♣, four-card or longer support (Drury), 9-11
HCP (leaving more room for exploration)
• 2♦, three-card support (Drury) 9-11 HCP
• 1NT, semi-forcing with 5-11 HCP but never with
concealed support for pard’s major
• 2NT, unusual NT with 5-5 or better in the
minors, game invitational
• 3 Major, weak and preemptive
• 3♣, 3♦, single-suited invitational hands.
The reviewer has tried this and really likes it.
• In addition, 2♥ over 1♠ by a passed hand,
9-11 HCP and at least five hearts.
• 1♠ over 1♥, four or more spades, 6-11 HCP and
fewer than three hearts.
Thurston’s points on hand evaluation are superb,
as is his coverage of XYA, one of the newer popular
conventions. “The Rest of the Story” on handling
continuations of auctions that include three bids
of different suits at the 1 level is the best I’ve read
anywhere.
The book, labeled Intermediate/Advanced, is
18
published by Master Point Press. Email info@
masterpoint press.com or go to www.masterpointpress.
com. The book retails for US $19.95, CAD $23.95,
GBP 12.95.
The Big Payoff
Slam Bidding at Bridge
By Bill Treble
Edited by Ray Lee; Reviewed by Dee Berry
Treble previously authored “Two-
over-One: A First Course” and the
2017 ABTA Book of the Year award
winner: “Defending at Bridge: A First
Course.” The Canadian author is
always a high finisher in the Canadian
National Teams Championships.
The author’s “general approach”
is 2/1 game forcing; after a 2♣ opening, a 2♦ bid is
“waiting” and 2♥ is artificial, showing a hand with no
ace or king. Other suit bids are natural, showing good
suits (two of the top three honors or close to it) and
a 2NT response shows a good heart suit. Roman Key
Card Blackwood (1430) is the keycard asking bid,
with further progressive asking bids.
With minor-suit auctions, three-level raises are
preemptive, two-level raises are one-round forces
promising 10+ HCP. If opener rebids 1NT or 2NT, the
other minor asks for what opener has in the major suits.
At the two level, the “new” minor is invitational but
after a 2NT rebid showing 18-19, it is game forcing.
With major-suit auctions, jump raises are
invitational, showing four or more trumps. New suits
by opener are help-suit game tries. Reverse Drury is
used. 2NT by responder is a game-forcing raise.
Fast arrival is practiced. “Lots and lots of splinters”
are advised. All this is covered in the first two pages!
In 11 concise chapters, Treble covers everything
from “What it Takes to Bid a Slam.” through
“Cuebidding: A Recipe for Success,” “Major-Suit
Auctions,” “Minor-Suit Auctions,” “1 NT Auctions,”
“Strong Hand Auctions,” “Ask and Blast,” “More
Sophisticated Techniques,” “Slam Bidding in
Contested Auctions,” “Final Practice” and “Leftovers.”
There are eight to 13 practice hands after each chapter.
Treble uses the “general cuebidding approach used
on this side of the Atlantic,” which means “the first
cuebid is usually an Ace.” He points out the Italian
method, wherein kings and aces are bid “up the line,”
has some advocates in this country. He adds that there
are some cases where cuebidding a king makes sense:
If you have the king in a suit partner is known to have
length in or if partner has shown a 20+ point hand,
This reviewer especially liked Treble’s explanations
of some of the “newer” gimmicks such as Kokish
Relays, Puppet Stayman, ways using 1430 to find
out about third-round control of a suit, Exclusion
Blackwood and Serious 3NT.
The 244 page soft-cover book is published by
Master Point Press, info@masterpointpress.com and
(647)9-56-4933. It retails for US $21.95, CAD $25.95,
GBP 13.95.
Wanna Play Bridge
the 2/1 Way?
By Kathy Rolfe
Reviewed by Sharon Carter
The author describes this book as
one that can be used to teach children as
young as 6 as well as adults; for novice
players who need practice with bidding
and playing; or for those who already
play but want to learn 2/1. The writing is
done in a manner that feels like you are
a student in the classroom — right down
to the asides and exclamation marks for emphasis.
The introductory chapters lay down the basics and
mechanics of the game followed by exercises done
in Whist style. The concept of high-card point count
is introduced and more exercises follow that allow
bridge play without bidding, using the HCP count
to determine declarer. These exercises provide an
excellent foundation for introducing bidding.
As the book moves into bidding, each concept is
followed by sample hands. Each hand diagram includes
double-dummy analysis, which is explained but may
be TMI (too much information) for a beginner. The
hands are presented so the dealer rotates N-E-S-W but
the declarer is always South. This makes it easy for a
teacher to use the hands as presented. Bidding and one
or more lines of play are given for each hand.
Also included in the hand analyses are suggested
19
opening leads and possible lines of defense. Counting
winners and losers is done within each hand rather
than as a separate explanation of how to do so. The
author gives options on the line of play depending
on what the defenders do. Also, conventions such as
Smolen, Jacoby 2NT, and splinter bids are introduced
within the explanation of appropriate hands.
The author provides a variety of exercise formats.
Many of the exercises ask the student to explain the
meaning of each bid in terms of HCP, length of the
suit, and whether it is a forcing or non-forcing bid.
Some of the exercises use hands and ask what the
corresponding bid should be. Teachers and students
will find these exercises helpful.
“Wanna Play Bridge the 2/1 Way?” is loaded with
information and exercises.
This reviewer feels it would be very valuable for
a teacher who needs a blueprint for setting up classes
for the groups targeted by the author. As a beginning
student text, it may be too complex for independent
study but excellent in conjunction with lessons.
The book is an Honors Book from Master Point Press.
It is sold for US $19.95, CAD $23.95, GBP $12.95.
You can purchase the book from the author by
visiting WannaPlayBridge.com.
Outsmart the Bridge Experts
By Danny Roth
Reviewed by Dee Berry
“This is the fourth in the series
of bridge problems highlighting
hands which have been reported in
books, magazines and newspapers
in which the ‘expert’ has either
misanalysed the problem or totally
missed the point of the hand,” says
the cover blurb about this book by
Danny Roth. Roth is a British bridge
professional player, coach, teacher and writer.
The book is far beyond the level of any of my
students but was fascinating for me and would be
intriguing for the majority of teachers. IMP scoring
is assumed throughout. Roth includes 60 challenging
hands in this 168-page paperback. Readers would
benefit from his suggestions about “how to tackle the
problem” and “what analysis is required.”
“Outsmart the Bridge Experts” was printed by
HNB Publishing, 20 Otis Drive, Palenville NY, 12463
Visit www.hnbpub.com.
The book sells for $14.95 plus $2.95 for shipping. ❚
 Advancing a
takeout double
By Eddie Wold
I. What information do we have from
partner’s double?
A. If the double was made with 10-16 HCP
1. At least 3-3 in the majors.
2. Double might be light on HCPs (9-11)
with good shape: 4-4-4-1 or 4-4-5-0
3. With good high-card structure, (aces,
kings, 13+ HCP), it is okay to make a
takeout double with honor doubleton in
the other minor.
4. “Equal level conversion” – A takeout
double can be made over 1M (major)
with four cards in the other major and a
good diamond suit of at least five cards
without regard to the club suit — with
the plan of converting partner’s response
in clubs to an equal level of diamonds.
e.g. (1♥) X (P) 2♣ (P) 2♦. Hand could be
♠ K Q x x ♥ x x ♦ A K 10 x x x ♣ x
B. If the double was made with 17+ HCP
1. Double can be made with any shape with
a very strong 5-card or 6+-card suit.
2. Balanced NT hand should contain
19+ HCP.
II. Responding with no intervening bid from
Responder
A. Bidding 1st up suit
1. Advancer should respond in up the line
with no real suit to bid.
e.g. (1♦) X (P) ... with
♠J x x 10 x x x x x x Q x x respond
20
1♥ not 1♠. Partner should be aware that
you might not have a real suit to bid.
2. With a real suit, 1M can be bid with up
to 8 HCP.
B. Bidding 1NT
1. After a 1m opening, a 1NT response to
a takeout double shows 8-10 HCP and a
stopper.
2. After a 1M opening, a 1NT response
shows a stopper (length) but not much
else. This bid can be made with 1-9 HCP.
This is also a more modern treatment.
C. Bidding 2m
1. This tends to be a real suit more often
than not.
2. With only a 4-card suit, this bid might
even be made with a flat 10 count.
D. Jump to 2M
1. This bid might be made with only a
4-card suit.
2. The general range for this bid is
9-11 HCP.
3. With a 4-card major and a 5-card minor
invite in the major.
E. Cuebid
1. After a 1m opening, a cuebid is forcing
to 2NT or major suit agreement. This bid
is not a Western cuebid. Advancer has
one of the following type hands:
a. Game Forcing 1-suiter
b. Game Forcing 4-card major and
longer minor
 c. Game invite with at least 4-4 in the
majors.
2. After a 1M opening, a cuebid is game
forcing with one of the following type
hands:
a. Game Forcing 1-suiter
b. Game Forcing 4-card major and
longer minor
c. Game Forcing 4-card major with a
stopper in opener’s major
F. Jump to 3m — This bid is game invitational
and shows 4+ (usually 5+) cards in the suit
and usually looking for 3NT.
G. Double jump to 3M
1. This bid is preemptive.
2. You should have 6+cards and 0-6 HCP.
H. Jump cuebid – asks the doubler to bid 3NT.
I. 4m — preemptive bid.
J. 4M — to play usually based on a long suit.
K. 3NT — to play.
III. Responding with an intervening bid by
Responder
A. Responder redoubles
1. Advancer’s key concern here is to avoid
a big penalty if your side has a minimal
fit. Remember, redouble announces a
desire to penalize. Do not advance in the
most distant suit without a real suit and
lead value. You can always get to this
spot.
e.g. After (1♦) X (XX) ____ ,
do not bid 2♣ immediately with
♠Jxx xx xxx ♣Jxxxx
1. X – is a responsive double. It shows both
Partner might have
♠ K Q 10 x ♥ A K x x x x x Q x;
make the opponents double you in 1♠
before running to 2♣.
2. Without a clear action, it is best to PASS
and let partner offer a suit.
Talk to the editor
Submissions are always welcome. You can
simply send in your article – with a photo of you –
4.
or you can send an email describing your proposed
topic. Write to brentmanley@yahoo.com
21
3. After a redouble, advancer cannot show a
good hand by jumping. It is very unlikely
for everyone to have a good hand unless
you are playing with a pinochle deck!
4. All jumps are preemptive.
5. A cuebid still shows some game interest,
probably very distributional.
B. Responder bids 1 of a new suit.
1. X – Penalty double, not responsive!
This shows a hand with 4+ cards in the
doubled suit & 8+ HCP. This prevents
the opponents from psyching and allows
you to possibly double them if they run.
2. 1NT – shows a stopper in the opener’s
suit and 8-10 HCP.
3. New suit
a. 1-level bid – this may be bid with
only a competitive hand.
e.g. ♠ K J x x x x x x x x x x x
(1♣) X (1♥) 1♠ is the clear choice.
b. 2-level bid – this may be bid with a
competitive hand also.
6-7 HCP.
4. Jumps in a new suit are invitational.
5. Bidding Responder’s suit – natural. This
shows a hand with length and strength in
Responder’s suit but not much else.
e.g. x x ♥ K Q 9 x x x x x x x x
(1♦) X (1♥) 2♥ — bid 2♥ natural
6. Cuebidding Opener’s suit – still shows
strength and asking doubler for a major,
stopper, etc.
C. Responder raises Opener’s suit.
suits of the opposite rank.
(1♣) X (2♣) X – shows Majors
(1♠) X (2♠) X – shows minors or a weak
hand with hearts (competitive)
2. New suit at the 2-level – can be
competitive
Example: (1♣) X (2♣) ? with
♠ K Q x x x x Q x x x x x x bid 2♠.
3 Cuebid is a game force because you can
double with lesser hands.
Special (1♠) X (2♠) 3♥ is invitational.
Double first, then bid 3♥ to just
compete. ❚
 Effective Teaching
— Dealing Sheets
By Jim Ricker

Students often ask “How am I ever going

to remember all of this?” and I respond with an
analogy I got from a Barbara Seagram presentation
at the 2015 ABTA Conference in Chicago. She
said: “Imagine you have just crossed a field with
very tall grass. You pushed the grass aside as
you moved through the field but once you passed
through the field and look back the grass moved
back together. You cannot detect the path you took.
“However, after passing through the field many
times a path begins to form and now you can easily
see the way every time. In bridge, the same method
(repetition) is the key to easily remembering
conventions you learn.” This is an analogy that
every student understands.
One of the teaching methods I have come
to appreciate is the use of dealing sheets to teach What is a dealing sheet?
conventions. Why? Dealing Sheets were used before
Repetition! If I avoid dealing machines became prevalent to
the useless activity of ask the player population to assist in
handling the boards, preparing the boards for play. However,
counting the cards, these can be also used for fast and
sorting the cards, putting efficient hand presentation.
the cards back in the
container and switching
How are Dealing Sheets
to the next board (and
instead use dealing sheets) produced?
I can generally get the Deal Master Pro (http://dealmaster.com)
class through two to is a program that many clubs use to create
three times more hands their club hands.
to improve the learning Deal Master Pro creates output files
experience with more used by dealing machines. During the
repetition. process of creating hands one of the
Often, students will options allows for the creation of Dealing
put a bidding box in the Sheets. As you may notice this is also
middle to obscure their how the hand records are created.
view of partner’s holding. Give it a try. ❚
22
 Mini-Lesson
By Jim Ricker

The Great Escape — after an correction — if Responder had a five-card Major suit
opponent’s double (x), redouble (xx) he would have simply transferred). A transfer to clubs
is a relay to 2♣ would result in a three-level contract. Knowing that
systems are ON after a double, look at the hand to the
There is one special bid which can be used ONLY left and see if you can come up with a better solution.
after your RHO Doubles (X) your partner’s 1NT You cannot. This is a very nice solution. Other than
opening bid. It allows Opener to escape to a two-level Trash Stayman, there
minor when systems are on. exists no other method West North East South
When you REDOUBLE (XX) your RHO’s to play in a two-level 1NT X XX
Double you force partner suit contract when P 2♣ P ?
(Opener) to bid 2♣ This partner opens 1NT.
is commonly referred to ♠ J 9 5 3 Making a 1NT
Responder’s XX is a special
as a relay because the
destination suit might be
♥87 doubled contract is bid (over RHO’s double)
a great result. There
clubs (if true, Responder ♦93 is no reason to use
which requires Opener to
bid 2♣. Responder will
will pass) or Responder
will bid diamonds (to
♣J7654 redouble (XX) as a either Pass or make a 2♦ bid
positive. Instead, use that is “to play.”
play). This mechanism this ESCAPE method
allows partner to get out of the bidding at 2♣ (or as your definition of REDOUBLE (XX).
the two-level diamond bid that Responder bids as a Your students will like this simple solution. ❚

Scorpion
The site of a remarkable Truscott wrote, “Bridge
bridge game that occurred was almost certainly born in
in 1917 in the Turkish the Ottoman Empire, and many
harbor of Constantinople, of the Turkish magnates were
now Istanbul. The story of enthusiasts. Babbit had a happy
Scorpion comes from the thought. He challenged Talat to a
late Alan Truscott rubber, with the ship at stake. If
An American gunboat, he lost, the Scorpion would go to
the Scorpion, was attached the Germans. If he won, the vessel
to the American Embassy. It would be interned where she was.
was boarded by the Turks, “Talat accepted the
who were German allies, remarkably creative suggestion,
when the U.S. entered World War I. and play began. Everything hinged on the final deal,
The German Navy, present in force, wanted the on which Babbitt had to play 4NT, a contract that was
Scorpion for use as a decoy, but the crew much very rare in the auction game.
preferred to be interned under Turkish control. The “He made the contract, Talat kept his word and
ship’s fate was to be determined by Talat Pasha, the Scorpion and her crew remained in Turkish waters
the powerful Minister of the Interior, who happened until the war was over.
to be an acquaintance of the ship’s captain, “For the rest of his naval career, the Scorpion’s
Lt. Cdr. Herbert Babbit. captain was known as ‘Four Notrump Babbitt.’”
23
 Finally, an Instructional Book for Beginners
that includes 2 over 1.
Beginning Bridge Using 2 Over 1
By Jim Ricker
$25, Softcover, 202 pages (Instructor’s Guide is 194
pages and free to verified teachers)
Looking to the Future
“We already had students complain that shortly
after graduating from the [newcomer Standard
American] class, everyone encouraged them to learn
2 over 1,” writes Jim Ricker, a club manager, direc-
tor and teacher from Knoxville, TN. “They asked,
‘Why didn’t you teach us that in the first place?’ A
reasonable question.”
LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!
Thought I wouldn't like the idea of not opening 1NT
with a 5-card major but love how you've made it
simple. LOVE the full auction approach. Not just
chapters on opening followed by a chapter of re-
sponding. LOVE the analogies...they relax the
reader. I'm super impressed.
In case I didn't make myself clear - I LOVE IT. Solid
material.
Carol Mathews
30 yr teacher, ABTA member and TAP trainer
An Instructor’s Guide is available, including dealing machine files,
hand records with analysis, and weekly handouts.
Available on Amazon.
www.diamondbookspublishing.com
24
Ricker attempts to provide a solution in “Beginning
Bridge Using 2 Over 1.” It is a solid effort, broken up
into 17 lessons, including sections on basic opening
bids, 1NT forcing, competitive bidding, defensive
bidding and opening big hands. There are various
2/1 styles, and Ricker makes it clear that in his ver-
sion, 1NT forcing denies a game-forcing hand.
The author communicates with a pleasant, conver-
sational style. Indeed, according to Ricker, “This
book is written as if the author were standing in front
of a class of students.” He provides several practice
hands to illustrate his points in each lesson. Readers
may also be amused by stories of auctions gone
awry or the perils of planning a spaghetti supper for
up to 100 bridge players.
One of the most useful features in the book is a
mock-up of a 2/1 convention card. Ricker completes
the card with descriptions of several common bid-
ding sequences and notes the page numbers so
readers can refer to the relevant sections for greater
detail.
Although most of the manual is about bidding, the
discussion of defensive carding is where Ricker hits
his stride. He teaches attitude carding and presents
four acronyms that players can easily remember as
a guide: LLL Leading Low Like), LHH (Leading High
Hate), FHL (Following High Like) and (Following Low
Hate).
Reviewed by Rob Clark
Associate Editor, The Bridge Bulletin (ACBL)
Modern Approach to Learning Bridge
Our club, Duplicate Lite in Surrey was looking for
a text book for our beginning students with a 2/1 ap-
proach. We reviewed Beginning Bridge Using 2/1
and ordered 25 copies with the Teachers Manual.
The books sold out within a week and we had a wait-
ing list. We sold over a 110 copies in a month. Our
students like the excellent explanation of concepts
and flow of the material. The teacher's manual
saves us time in lesson preparation and our stu-
dents love the review PDFs document from the
teaching materials that we send electronically after
the lesson. The book and the teaching materials
help us to offer a comprehensive and modern ap-
proach to learning bridge!
Jane Youngberg
On July 20th, at the 2017 Toronto NABC, the ACBL Board of Governors voted
to allow Masterpoint awards for Student games that have prepared content-
related hands.
Board of Governors Item 172-09: Club Game Lesson Hands for Teaching
Regular Club games with a masterpoint limit of 20 or less (0-5, 0-10, 0-20) are allowed to use prepared lesson hands for teaching
purposes. A prepared hand is set up to allow students to practice a specific skill. The game must consist of at least six but no more
than 12 boards and be held in conjunction with lessons. A minimum of at least eight players is required. If there are only two tables,
the game must be run as a team event, individual event or Swiss pair game. Masterpoint awards are based on the club masterpoint
games award chart.

Students NEED content-related hands during the classroom experience to help

internalize the learning process. Awarding Masterpoints during the learning
process helps engage the students in the joys of Masterpoint accumulation and
also immediately turns most of the students into ACBL Members.

STUDENTS LOVE IT
“My students find this the best book on learning bridge that they
have ever used. No slight to other great bridge authors, this is the
finest beginning bridge book ever! I learned 2/1 from the Max Hardy
Book, and Wow! that was difficult. My life partner is learning faster
than she believed possible from Jim’s book, and improving by leaps
and bounds.
I find the book to be laid out in a very logical manner; the quiz-
zes are excellent. The hand selection for barometer work in class is
straightforward and has real application to duplicate bridge. I am sold
on this being the best of the best, and look forward to future books.”
Al Spaet

STUDENTS ARE BETTER PREPARED

“The book is a godsend. Students love it because they can under-
stand the concepts. I’ve now used the book twice and the students
are better prepared and do turn into paying customers at our regular
games. Jim wrote the book with the learner in mind. He gives appro-
priate exercises and they are wonderful. I require students to do them
all. I’m lucky enough to have my own dealing machine so every lesson
has course appropriate examples.”
Dr. Dixie Sue Allsbrook

Beginning Bridge Using 2 Over 1

By Jim Ricker
$25, Softcover, 202 pages (Instructor’s guide is 194 pages and free to verified teachers)
This beginner’s course curriculum includes 2 Over 1 as a core element of the lesson series.

Content Specific Prepared Hands

The Instructor’s Guide includes hands designed to provide reinforcement to the lesson content. Included with the Instructor’s Guide
is a CD with lesson handouts (PDF), dealing machine files (DUP), dealing sheets (PDF) and hand records with commentary (PDF).
Starting with Lesson 4 it is recommended to award Masterpoints as part of the classroom experience.
Lessons 4-17 include two additional sets of hands per lesson to allow variance of hands presented if students repeat the class or if
the class is offered at more than one time each week.

Student Manuals are Available on Amazon (or in bulk from Diamond Books Publishing)
Contact DiamondBooksPublishing@gmail.com to request your Instructor’s Guide or to place bulk orders

25
Ten rules guaranteed to
make you a better player
And you’ll have more fun, too
By Randy Baron
1. Play only with partners you like and whose opponents will know more about your hand than you
company you enjoy. would like, but it’s a small price to pay for accuracy
This is, of course, very simple advice, but if you and partnership cooperation.
look around your club or tournament, there are many 4. Do not underlead an ace on opening lead
people who ignore this at their against a suit contract.
peril. Who needs the aggravation There aren’t many rules that
of playing with someone who you should follow 100% of the
isn’t compatible with you? I time. I think this is one of them.
realize we all want to win as You have seen hands in the
much as possible, but choose newspaper or magazine when
someone to sit across from you an expert underleads an ace on
who allows you to be yourself. opening lead and it leads to a
2. Consent to play only brilliant result. If you make this
conventions you are totally play, know that there are many
comfortable with. negative possibilities, especially
Stayman and Blackwood the fact that your partner will
are the only conventions that have no idea what to play on
are absolutely necessary for the first trick. It can destroy
most players (I’ll add in Jacoby partnership trust and ruin the
Transfers and negative doubles defense. A good plan: If you are
as close behind). The important defending against a suit contract,
point is that if you place a new with a suit headed by an ace,
convention on your card, make in most cases it makes sense to
sure you understand it and have lead another suit on opening lead
discussed it at length with your (of course, there are exceptions
partner. Many players think such as when your partner has
it makes them look “cool” bid the suit or you decide to
or experienced to have all the new bids as part of make an aggressive lead with a holding such as A-x).
their arsenals. Sure, many of the top players use 5. Play structured takeout doubles.
complex bidding systems, but they study and practice Here is another rule I never violate, as long as
constantly. If you don’t play often or have various I have about 12-17 high card points when I make a
partners, adhere to the KISS (Keep it simple, stupid) takeout double. This means that I have tolerance for
principle. all three unbid suits. If you have 18 or more HCP, you
3. Use specific opening preemptive bids. don’t need to have tolerance for all three unbid suits,
When you open the bidding on the two or three because you can double and then bid again to show
level, make sure you and your partner have discussed a strong hand. If you decide to violate this rule, it’s
the quality of your suit and the limits to your outside a great way to get into trouble because your partner
cards. For example, I play that I don’t open on the will often bid the suit you don’t have support for. You
three level with an outside ace. This makes it much usually cannot resolve the problem, because when
easier for my partners to evaluate their hands and you have a normal takeout double (12-17 HCP), you
decide whether to bid or defend. Occasionally, the shouldn’t bid again.
26
 6. Think before you play at trick one, especially
as declarer.
A great habit for any level player is to take a while
to play once dummy is spread. If you always take
at least 10 or 15 extra seconds before calling for a
card from dummy, you have given the opponents less
information than if you simply play quickly when it’s
an easy hand and you hesitate when the hand is more
difficult. Of course, there are some hands that take
extra planning and that’s perfectly fine. Just try to be
as consistent as possible. If you have ever watched
some of the top hold ’em poker players on TV, almost
all of them are very consistent in their initial action
after they see their first two cards. You can certainly
learn from these experts even though it’s a different
game.
7. Relax and keep your wits when things aren’t
going well.
It’s so easy to lose your cool and concentration
when the bridge gods frown upon you, whether for
one deal or for a longer period. One of the differences
between a top expert and a good player: the expert
can usually put the bad results behind him more easily
than the good player. They have learned that some
poor results are inevitable and you just have to go on
to the next deal. At golf, Tiger Woods was the classic
example of someone who was called a “grinder,” a
term of praise for someone who continues to do his
best regardless of what just happened. If you grind out
your best result board after board, you will improve
your results and accomplish as much as possible every
time you play.
8. Open 1NT with 15-17 HCP when you have a
five-card major (assuming that is the range of your
1NT openers). This
makes rebidding
much easier most
of the time.
If you open 1
of a minor and then
rebid 1NT after
your partner’s bid of
1♥ or 1♠, it shows
about 12-14 HCP;
1 of a minor and
then a rebid of 2NT
after your partner’s
bid of 1♥ or 1♠
shows about 18-
19 HCP. So if you
don’t open 1NT with
27
15-17 HCP with a five-card major, it is difficult or
impossible to show your actual hand in many auctions.
There are also many conventions available to show
your partner you have a five-card major after a 1NT
opening and a Stayman bid by your partner.
Even if you miss an eight- or nine-card fit in a
major because you opened 1NT with a five-card major,
you might still achieve an average or better result.
9. Practice counting as much as possible (as
play progresses, keep track of how many points
each player has and also how many cards they have
in each suit).
It certainly takes constant practice, but counting
definitely pays huge dividends in the long run. The
more you do this, the better you become at it and after
a while, counting becomes a treasured habit. When
you watch a top player who seems to know where
every card is located, counting is the reason their play
is so impressive. Avoid being lazy and just throwing
cards on the table as play proceeds. This will help you
eliminate those no-win and embarrassing moments
when you aren’t sure which card to discard at trick 11
or 12 (which can hand declarer an impossible contract
or an undeserved overtrick).
10. Make sure you are an ethical player. It’s
much more important than winning.
This is expressed perfectly by the profound quote
from Grantland Rice, a brilliant early 20th century
sportswriter: “When One Great Scorer comes to write
against your name, He marks, not that you won or lost,
but how you played the game.”
Treasured memories in the sunshine
state from a hairy senior bookseller
I luckily learned the world’s greatest game in
1970 at the University of Florida. The memories of
studying old world championship books with Mark
Yaeger and Lee Bukstel in Gainesville are still with
me. Although we came pretty close to flunking out
because we played too much bridge as seniors (which
wouldn’t have been a happy event with the Vietnam
War waiting for us), we were usually more concerned
with getting better at the game.
An incredible group of future experts awaited us at
the duplicate game at the Student Union: Ron Schonoe,
Pat and Adrian Dovell, Markland Jones and Hector
Camberos, who played internationally for Chile.
We were collectively called “The Hairy Guys,”
because Mark and I could match our quantity of hair
(continued on page 30)
 Using Probability
to Find the
Winning Play
By John Ebden
Almost every
hand we play involves
selecting from two
or more alternatives.
We might see that we need one or two (or even three)
finesses to come home. Maybe it will be a choice
between a finesse and a favorable split. Knowing the
individual probabilities means that we can combine
them mathematically to find the overall odds of
making our contract.
For example:
Dummy ♦ A Q 4 3 ♣ Q 7 2
Hand ♦ 7 6 ♣AK65
A B
We need two extra tricks and situations A and B
can provide that. In A we need the ♦K to be onside.
The individual probability for this is P(A) = a = 50% =
0.5. In B we need the clubs to split 3-3. The individual
probability for this is P(B) = b = 35.5% = 0.355.
For two extra tricks we need both A and B to be
true. Logically, the probability of this is written as
P(A AND B). If the two events occur independently of
each other:
P(A AND B) = a × b (1)
Thus, the probability of getting two extra tricks is
0.5 × 0.355 = 0.1775, or approximately 17.8%.
Now suppose we need only one extra trick. We
need only one of the two cases to be true. This is
written as:
P(A OR B) = P(A) + P(B) – P(A AND B)
= a + b – (a × b) (2)
If you are wondering why we subtract, it is
because for each probability we included the fact that
the other could be true as well: i.e. we cannot count
either one twice. So the chance now of success will be
0.5 + 0.355 – (0.5 × 0.355) = 0.6775, or approximately
67.8%.
Often our success will depend on three or even
more situations being true. Thus,
P(A AND B AND C) = a × b × c (3)
28
Or
P(A AND B AND C AND D) = a × b × c × d (4)
and so on. But to calculate the probability of at least
one situation being true, the math gets really unwieldy.
Fortunately, there is a neat way around this: we simply
consider the probability of no situation being true. Let
us revisit our example above. The chance for either
or both of the two situations being true was 0.6775.
Thus the chance for neither of the situations being true
would be 1 – 0.6775 = 0.3225 or 32.3%. Logically we
would modify equation (2) as:
P(A NOR B) = 1 – (a + b) – (a × b) =
(1 – a) (1 – b) (5)
Thus, for three situations we could write:
P(A NOR B NOR C) = (1 – a) (1 – b) (1 – c) (6)
and for more than three situations we simply extend
equation (6).
Let us take an example. As well as situations A and
B already mentioned we need a 3-2 trump split (hearts).
We will allocate C for the third situation and P(C) = c =
0.678. Thus from equation (6) we will have:
P(A NOR B NOR C) = (1 – a) (1 – b) (1 – c) = (1
– 0.5)(1 – 0.355)(1 – 0.678) = 0.103845
Thus the chance for any one or all of the situations
working will be 1 – 0.103845, or approximately 89.6%.
Let us now consider a full deal:
Dealer: South ♠ Q 10 9
Vul: Both ♥ A 6 5 4
♦ J 7 4
♣ Q 4 3
♠ 7 6 5 ♠ 8 2
♥ K Q 8 3 ♥ J 10 9 2
♦ Q 3 ♦ A K 10 9 6
♣ J 8 7 2 ♣ 10 9
♠ A K J 4 3
♥ 7
♦ 8 5 2
♣ A K 6 5
 West North East South
1♠
Pass 2♠ Pass 3♣ 1
Pass 4♠ Pass Pass
Pass
West leads the ♥K against your 4♠ contract. How
do you play?
You count your losers as three diamonds and one
club. You can do nothing about the diamond losers but
how can you eliminate the club loser?
Method 1
Win the ♥A and draw trumps (it doesn’t matter
how they split). Play the clubs and hope for an equal
split. As in the first example, the probability that the
clubs will split 3-3 is 35.5%. Thus the probability for
success using this method is 35.5%.
Method 2
Win the ♥A and, banking on the more likely 4-2
club split (48.5%), consider ruffing a club in dummy.
Unfortunately, if you draw trumps you will not be able
to ruff a club. So draw two rounds of trumps only. If
both defenders follow, you know that the trumps have
split 3-2 (67.8%).
Now you have to hope that the player with four
clubs started with three spades. When you play the
clubs you will be able to ruff your last one (the other
defender had two clubs but also two spades). Ruff a
heart to return to your hand and then draw the last
trump. You will only lose the three diamonds. (Should
the trumps split badly you will have to fall back on a
3-3 club split.)
Success with this method needs a 3-2 trump split
combined with a 4-2 club split, and must be further
combined with the four clubs and three spades being
on the same side. From equation (3) the probability is
0.678 × 0.485 × 0.5 which is 16.4%.
Our best play is thus to employ a combination of the
above two methods. Start by winning the ♥A and draw
two rounds of trumps. If either opponent fails to follow
on the second round of trumps, fall back on Method 1.
If they both follow to both rounds employ the rest of
Method 2. The total chance for success is 0.355 + 0.164
= 51.9%†, which is a significant improvement.
Method 3
Careful study will show there is a third way
of playing the contract. The honors in dummy are
equivalent to those in your hand. Look at playing the
contract from the perspective of the dummy. There are
three losers in diamonds and in hearts. Assuming a
29
3-2 trump split, dummy’s trumps can be used to draw
trumps and declarer’s trumps used to ruff dummy’s
heart losers.
So win the ♥A and ruff a heart with the ace, low
trump to the 9, ruff a heart with the king, low trump to
the 10, and ruff the last heart with the jack. Get back
to dummy with the Q♣ and play the Q♠ to draw the
last trump. Now play the clubs. Should they split 3-3,
you will make an overtrick as the last club enables
you to pitch a diamond (you are counting losers from
dummy). All you need to make this contract is a 3-2
split in trumps, i.e., 67.8%.
Not only is Method 3 (a dummy reversal)
significantly better than the other two methods, but
there is a further 35.5% chance of an overtrick should
the clubs split 3-3.
Checking all four hands, we see that Method 1 will
not work here, but the others will.
† The probability for method 1 or method
2 working can be written as:
P(1 OR 2) = P(1) + P(2) – P(1 AND 2)
But Method 1 is based on a 3-3 club
split and Method 2 is based on a 4-2 club
split. Since they both cannot occur at the
same time P(1 AND 2) will be zero. (The two
events are mutually exclusive.) Thus, for this
particular deal:
P(1 OR 2) = P(1) + P(2)
Addendum
The purpose of this article has been to show how
to calculate the probabilities for different ways of
playing a bridge hand. The equations shown depend
on the individual probabilities being independent of
each other. Sometimes this will not be the case.
In the last example, a case was shown where A and
B were mutually exclusive.
Sometimes A and B are not independent situations.
For example, let us find the probability for a finesse
working when two are available:
For example:
Dummy ♦ A Q 4 3 ♣ A Q 8 5
Hand ♦ 7 6 ♣732
A B
Applying equation (2) gives P(A OR B) = (a + b) –
(a × b) = 0.5 + 0.5 – 0.5 × 0.5 = 0.75 or 75%.
However, the probability for the ♦K to be with
West is 13/26 and the probability for the ♣K to be also
with West is 13/26 × 12/25 = 0.24. The probability for
the ♣K to be with East and the ♣K to be with West is
13/26 × 13/25 = 0.26. In other words, the location of
one king affects the probability of the location of the
other. Thus A and B are not independent events. We
can construct a table:
Case West East % One or Both
Finesses Work
1 ♦K ♣K 24 Yes
2 ♦K ♣K 26 Yes
3 ♣K ♦K 26 Yes
4 ♦K ♣K 24 No
P(A) = Probability ♦K is onside = Case1 + Case 2
= 0.24 + 0.26 = 0.50
P(B) = Probability ♣K is onside = Case1 + Case 3
= 0.24 + 0.26 = 0.50
P(A AND B) = Probability both kings onside =
Case 1 = 0.24
P(A OR B) = P(A) + P(B) – P(A AND B) = 0.5 +
0.5 – 0.24 = 0.76 or 76%
Now let’s reverse the clubs:
Dummy ♦ A Q 4 3 ♣732
Hand ♦ 7 6 ♣AQ85
A B
Ten rules By Randy Baron
(continued from page 27)
against anyone. Instead of drinking or doing drugs as
seniors, we drove 75 miles to Jacksonville on most
weekends to play in a lovely duplicate game there
run by Mrs. Remlinger. Mark, Lee and I would find a
fourth to round out our foursome; besides playing in
Jacksonville, we would play in Swiss teams around
north and central Florida.
Some of our toughest competition came from the
talented and friendly group from Jacksonville: Larry
Griffey, Bob Dennert, Loren Axstel, Gary Tinkley
and Leon Smith (who we used to call the Buffalo).
The Precision Club was popular, so I remember
playing only that system and having to study
Standard American to learn what everyone else
was bidding.
Although I’ve won many championships over
the years, I don’t think I’ve ever had a bigger thrill
than when Mary Yaeger and I won a sectional in
Tallahassee when we only had a few masterpoints.
Back then, they gave out silver-plated trays to the
winners and I still have mine from that event. Another
cherished memory was winning a regional in Sarasota
30
And we will redo the table:
Case West East % One or Both
Finesses Work
1 K♦ K♣ 24 Yes
2 K♦ K♣ 26 Yes
3 K♣ K♦ 26 No
4 K♦ K♣ 24 Yes
P(A) = Probability ♦K is onside = Case 1 + Case 2
= 0.24 + 0.26 = 0.50
P(B) = Probability ♣K is onside = Case 2 + Case 4
= 0.26 + 0.24 = 0.50
P(A AND B) = Probability both kings onside =
Case 2 = 0.26
P(A OR B) = P(A) + P(B) – P(A AND B) = 0.5 +
0.5 – 0.26 = 0.74 or 74%
We see that the probability for making one of two
finesses in this situation, is never 75% but either 76%
or 74%.
This is due to the location of one king having
some dependency on the location of the other.
However, looking at the calculations above the
probability of each king being onside is still 50%. ❚
when I had fewer than 100 masterpoints. That made
me think that I knew how to play this game (like golf,
you realize eventually that you never master it).
My not-so-memorable moment from Sarasota:
I used to always take my beloved cocker spaniel,
Smotanto, to tournaments back then. Jeff Glick was
the tournament chairman and he was responsible
for how the tournaments were run. When Smotanto
couldn’t wait to relieve himself any longer after
the session in Sarasota, he did so in the lobby of
the hotel right in front of Jeff. So to this day I feel
responsible for having dogs banned from Florida
tournaments. Those really were the good old days
of bridge.
The author founded Baron Barclay Bridge
Supplies in 1974 and was the president of the company
for more than 30 years, before selling it to his partner,
Jim Maier. Baron has written more than 20 books on
the game and is a respected teacher, publisher and
tour leader who treasures those early memories in
Florida. ❚
 New from
Master Point Press
Demystifying Defense
Patrick O’Connor
O’Connor established himself as a leading author for
beginning players with A First Book of Bridge Problems,
which won the American Bridge Teachers’ Association
Book of the Year award in 2012. Now he addresses the
hardest aspect of cardplay: defense. After carefully
explaining the basic concepts, he takes the reader through
forty problems, using an ‘over the shoulder’ style, and
explaining every play as it is made. Beginners typically
have more trouble with defense than any other part
of the game, and this book will go a long way towards
removing their unease.

Planning the Play: The Next Level

Barbara Seagram and David Bird
Seagram and Bird’s Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand
was named Book of the Year in 2010 by the American
Bridge Teachers’ Association. It introduced the basic
concepts of how to go about making a plan as declarer
for beginning and improving players, and is a popular
text for bridge teachers. This sequel extends the plan to
more complex situations, and covers ideas such as safety
plays, avoidance play, trump control, dummy reversal, and
endplays. It will appeal to players who have a good grasp
of the basics of declarer play, and are looking to improve
from there.

MASTER POINT PRESS sally@masterpointpress.com

214 Merton St. Suite 205, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1A6 647.956.4933

31
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MEMPHIS, TN
Greenwood, MO 64034-0232 Permit No. 960

Master Point Press

Are you using a curriculum from the 1950s
with your 2018 students?
Today’s audiences want as much to be entertained and have fun as
they do to learn the game. Students walking into your classes today
don’t have anywhere near the card skills that people had 25, 30 or
40 years ago. No one plays cards at home any more. Bridge is not the
regular “kitchen table” family-oriented evening activity that it was
before TV, computers and cell phones took over.
A Taste of Bridge is only 200 pages. Do you know what the first
hundred are all about? Play, play, and more play. Bidding starts on
page 101 and doesn’t get past 1NT - 3NT and 1S - 2S.
It’s a fun, easy-to-read book that never sounds like a textbook.
It’s a “less is more” approach. No one ever quit their classes because
the lessons were going too slowly or weren’t complicated enough.
Here’s the best part. Everything you need to make the switch and more
is contained in the 19.95 USD (less discount) package below that you
will be getting when you try “A Taste of Bridge”.
The “A Taste of Bridge” package: A TAsTe of Bridge
• The book. Jeff BAyone
• A free downloadable teacher resource package including Honors Bridge Club, NY
◦ Guide for each of the six 2-hour lessons that the book covers.
◦ Student notes for each of these six lessons.
◦ Four or more hands per lesson for you to use, and hand out. Each hand comes annotated in
PBN form.
• Plus: Your students will receive six weeks of free access to bestebridge.com, a wonderful
interactive teaching site that Honors has been working with for over a year.

MASTER POINT PRESS sally@masterpointpress.com

214 Merton St. Suite 205, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1A6 647.956.4933